CHRISTCHURCH. August 20.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2564, 21 August 1880, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH. August 20.

The new Tattersall's, belonging to Matson find 00., was formally opened today. It is the largest building for stock sales south of the line. Mr Chartors, Secretary of the Local Industries Association, was pre»entod last night with a wittoh and a purse of sovereigns. The Tramway Company have ordered ft tram oar from a Ohristchuroh firm, in order to test the ability of local manufacturers to compete with the imported article. A fire yesterday, caused by the breaking of a lamp, destroyed the premises of Daliireo, photographer, Oxford. The damage amounts to L2BO, and the insurances to Ll5O. Reports from the country distriots state that the past winter has been most favorable to the farmers. The young wheat is looking well. The estimated area under crop is not quite bo great as last year. A terrific nor'-west galo has been blowing all day, exceeding in violence tho storm of Soptember, 1878. It was soverost in tho morning, and blow so hard in town that what dust there was was swept away instantly and showers of small atones wore flying about from all parts of tho country. Accounts of damage by it aro coming in, but nothing very sovoro has yet been reportod. Tho principal ravages are confinod to troos, outhousos, windows, fences, <feo, Some valuable trees in the domain here were completely destroyed. A branch ot a blue gum was torn from the trunk at Cashmoro and hurled into a buggy. The man and horse were underneath and tho man was nearly killed and lies in a critical state. The others were injured. At Lyttelton, a prisoner was at work on the roof of a building in the gaol yard. Tho hurricane tore tho roof and tho man bodily off, and by the full of some 30 feet the man recoivoil suoh injuries that hit rooovery is doubtful. The high fence round tho Maori prisoners' quarter* was levelled with tho ground. Anothor man on the roof of his house was blown off and badly out by a sheet of iron. At Leithfiold, the Presbyterian Ohuroh was shifted off its foundations. The stack of ohimnoys of a large hotel just ereoted in Rangiora, in imitation of Wain's hotel at Dunodin, was blown down. The tents of tho unemployed at Woka Pass have suflered severely, and the railway station at Selwyn has undergone considerable damago. No damage was done to the shipping in port, as tho g»le was foretold by Lieut. l§dwin at Wellington, and pror cautions taken. This aftomoon it gradually softened down, and eventually subsided, bom ? «ucqqedod by vivid lightning on the mountain*, The glass has boen falling steadily, and when it commonQes to riso a vigorous blow is expeotod from tho south-west. Owing to the north-west jfeather of tho last three days, heavy flood.* *r4 PJpeoted, and the Wain-wkariri hat alFoady bflnun *9 FJ? e - Applications for •have* in tfy« ftaiapoi Woollen C>. are coming in fast, oue-thijrd of tho present issue being Already applied for. The capital is to be increased from L 15.000 to LlOO.OOO. At present there aye fifteen shareholders only of LlOOO each, and boiug prainped for want of capital it ijus been dotorminod to throw tho entorprlgft open to tho public. L3 ; 74£ profit was made kst year, The 0.J.0. to-day affirmed the desirability of a handic.ipper being appointed for the whole of No«v Zealand, tho principal clubs to share the cost and the

man selected to noither own, baok, or have any interest in the running of lioraos. Plum fur a now stand, with 142 feet frontngo and in the same style as tho RAndwiok Grand Stand wero approved and tonders ordered to be invited. It will not be ready for the November meeting. 10 p.m. Imports of damage by the gale itill come to hand. Tho most nerioun is from Wrtiinnto, where tho fire bell tower was blown over and the walls of the Primitive Methodist Churoh of brick wrecked.