NEW ZEALAND

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5009, 17 May 1889, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND

(By Telegraph.)

WANGANUI, May 16.

At a meeting of the Tongariro Lodge, No. 705, E.C., to-night a resolution was passed in favour of the formation of a United Grand Lodge for New Zealand.

GI3BORNE, May I*.

A young man named Henry Cannon was drowned while attempting to ford a flooded oreek at Waipiri.

WELLINGTON, May 16,

The returns of immigration to and emigration from the colony for April show 495 more departures than arrivals. The arrivals wore: —From the United Kingdom, 131; New South Wales, 352 ; Victoria, 446; Tasmania, 50 ; other places, 119; total, 1098. The departures wore :—To the United Kingdom, 317; Queensland, 10; New South Wales, 691; Victoria, 511; Tasmania, 23 j other places, 131; total, 1593. A trial was made with ammunition manufactured by Captain Whitney, of Auckland, and that supplied by Ely, the English manufacturer. Those firing LieutenantColonel Hume and Captains Collins and Davey. The conditions were 5 shots with each ammunition, at 200 yards and 500 yards. At the 200 yards the aggregate score was 61 for Ely’s against 56 for Whitney’s. At the longer range the scores were : —Whitney 41, Ely 21; totals—Whitney 97, Ely 82. The unanimous opinion was in favour of tho Auckland manufacturer’s ammunition, both as regards accuracy in shooting and fouling of the weapsn. A further trial will be made shortly. The Hen. Mr Fergus, the Defence Minister, was present at the trial to-day. A man named William Media, who had been admitted to the hospital suffering from a dose of poison taken by mistake at Otaki, died to-day. At a meeting of the recently established Agricultural and Pastoral Association the Governor was elected patron, and Mr W. H. Levin, president, Tho first show will be held on the Hutt racecourse in November.

The Ministers’ Association are making efforts here to raise a fund in aid of those suffering from famine in China.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 16,

Mr F. Jones, member for Heathcote, received a vote of confidence at the Ferry Eoad to night. He declared himself opposed to altering the present educational system, and to centralism.

An interesting gathering took place at Lyttelton to-night. A number of passengers by the Tonic met at the Mitre Hotel and presented the chief engineer, Mr Purvis, with a handsome gold watch and an address in appreciation of his services in connection with the breakdown to the machinery of the vessel. James Dunn and Kale Harvey were committed for trial to-day on a ehargo of robbing Neil Leitch of £0 in tho Palace Hotel last Tuesday. Tho lonic’s cargo was transferred to the Coptic which sails to-morrow for London direct.

DUNEDIN, Mat 16,

At ameeting of the school committees’ conference resolutions were passed with a view of having uniform holidays. The conference favours five clear weeks at midsummer, oue week at midwinter, and about eight special days during tho year. It was decided to urge on the Government, who had intimated that it was not intended to introduce an amending Education Bill this session, the adoption of the alterations frequently urged, namely, abolition of the cumulative vole, prenomination of candidates, and a definition of householders.