CHRISTCHURCH.

Colonist, Volume XXVII, Issue 3856, 1 March 1884, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

' • ■ ■ February 29. Several burglaries are reported in the city; apparently some dangerous characters are at large. The Auriga, barque,..which "arrived -: • from Glasgow to-day, reports;having successfully used oil bags twice to allay rough seas. Several of the New Zealand Ship,-.* .>.v ping Company's directors have gone" to Auckland to be .present ;at the *'; dinner on board the Kaupehu. Mr Smart the managing director of the Premier Prospecting .Company, . •; \ who for some three weeks past has ' '"■' been engaged in prospecting the valley of the Eakaia, returned to town yesterday, tie found some "boulders'" •"- of quartz showing gold, and also came across large deposits of sand in the river bed, precisely similar to that on the Southbridge.beach in which gold , r ;i is found.' Mr Smart also discovered " ' certain signs of copper which induced him to come to town and secure a license to search for this metal over 250 acres of land in the Fighting Hill district. A case of supposed larcency of a cheque has occurred at Kaiapoi. A short time ago Vincent and Co., brewers of Christchurch, forwarded a letter containing a cheque for £75 to a Mrs Hanson, but it is supposed that through an error in the local post-office it was delivered to one Hanson, who proceeded to Oamaru and there presented "the cheque for collection through the Union Bank. The money was remitted in due course, \ but afterwards the bank officials • found that the cheque had got into : the wrong hands, and a warrant has. been issued for Hanson's arrest. DUNEDIN, - : February 29. The Fenstanton discharged in six days 2300 tons of cargo, took in 1000 tons of coal, 6400, bales' of wool and 7450 carcases of frozen mutton. She sails to-day. "•' ; ' Tenders jyere invited on January 17th for the completion of the section of the Catlin's river railway, but no tender has yet been accepted. -- • Mr Thomson, M.H.E., for Clutha, having telegraphed to ask whether any tender had been accepted has received a reply from Mr Mitchelson stating that the vote being exhausted, he cannot accept any tender.' Mr Thomson has written topointoutthat£l2,soo is actually available for expenditure on the line. ' ' Two sudden deaths have occurred in the Clutha district. In one case a young man, named Forrester, was found in a field where he had been working, and the medical evidence was that death resulted from sun stroke.: In the other case David Spence died after an hour's illness. Death was stated to be from apoplexy. Deceased had had a slight sun stroke. some days previously. The Trades and Labor Council have resolved to convene a public meeting for Friday next to protest against the action of the Land Board in reference to the Borthwick and Herslett case of dummyism, and to call upon the Minister for Lands to vindicate the law. Messrs Gillies and Kirford, members of the Victorian Ministry arrived from the Lakes on Thursday. They leave for North on Monday. WANGANUI, February 29. At a numerously attended public ..'/•' meeting held to-night Mr E. Winter, ; J late of the 'Chronicle,' and now editor of the ' Maiiborough Express,' was presented with an address and a purse of sovereigns. The address was signed by leading merchants, bankers, professional men, and tradesmen. NAPIER. February 29. A six-roomed house, workshop, and stable were destroyed by fire early this morning in Main street. The inmates were aroused by the screams of the children, by which time the flames had a.good hold. The family escaped in their night clothes. By the time the Brigade arrived there was no hope of saving the premises and the fire had communicated with the stable and workshop, which, being but shells containing inflammable materials, were quickly consumed. The insurances are : On the dwelling £250, and on the furniture £100; workshops and staWs £25 each, all in the Victoria office.