NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10237, 4 January 1894, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

f [Pm Pesss Association.] | AUCKLAND, Jan. 3, The meteorological returns show the I past year to have been tha wettest on I record. In Auckland every month exceeds ! the average rainfall save March, May and i October. j The charge against a gum-digger, I Arthur Turk, or Kirk, of alleged attempt |to drown Matilda Wetheridge, at Pahi, i was dismissed, owing to contradictory ' evidence. Some witnesses swore that the , woman fell overboard the vessel, and the I man jumped in to save her, | - NAPIER, Jan. 3. | At & largely-attended meeting of country i settlers, a strong committee was appointed | to not in conjunction whh tho engineer in | tho formulation of a general scheme for tha ■ protection of the Ahuriri fiats from floods. lln responeo to a request by Captain j Russell,, tho Postmaster-General has proS raised to instruct country postmasters and I telegraphists to rfepors tha rise of rivers, f in the same way an weather warnings are | given, go that settlers in the plains below I may move their stock and household goods I when floods are threatened. Captain j Russell is now asking him to have tha | warnings posted ab telegraph offices on the j plains, as they might act ba published | soon enough in the newspapers. Heavy j rain sat in this afternoon. The rivers are j nearly bank high, and are rising- fast. | Unless tho rain soon ceases, there will ba a I renewal or the floods.