Mr H. W. Batger, the amateur champion hurdler of New Zealand, who leaves by the Kaikoura on Saturday to represent this colony at the English Championship Meet ing, arrived by the Takapuna on Saturday, to spend a few days with his parents before departing on hie long journey. Mr Batger is looking very well, and the Auckland athletes, although favoured with long starts, will require to be in their best form to beat the champion on Saturday next. Hempton, the crack sprinter, who letc Wellington with Batger, stopped at ISew Plymonth to say good-bye to his relatives. Hempton, Cuff, P. Wood and D. Wood will arrive on Wednesday afternoon. While the cricket matches were proceed ing in the Domain on Saturdry, a fire was observed in a dilapidated shed adjacent to the old blockhouse. The shed was burned down, but the block house itself escaped injury. Yesterday morning it was also dis covered that a small fire had broken out in the premises recently burnt near the bottom of Grey-street. The outbreak was noticed by a neighbour, who extinguished it with a few buckets of water. Subsequently Senior-foreman Harley, of the Fire Brigade, visited the premises, and made things safe.
