NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 654, 25 July 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Late Mr D. N. Dunlop.—A meeting of persons favorable to holding a concert for the benefit of the widow and orphans of the late Mr D. N. Dunlop, will be held this evening at Warner’s Hotel at half-past seven o’clock. Large Farm. The Otago Guardian says:—“ Ploughing operation's are being steadily prosecuted on the A. and N.Z. Laud Company’s stations at Mataura, We learn that it is contemplated to have thirty-five double'furrow ploughs shortly at work, by which means upwards of 100 acres per day will be turned up,” Inquest.—An inquest was held yesterday, at the Hospital, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq, Coroner, on the body of Sarah Wraggland, living in Canal Reserve, who died suddenly on Saturday morning last, John Wraggland, husband of deceased, stated that his wife had been complaining for some time past of biliousness and headache. On Friday last, when he returned from work, she said she did not feel well, and asked him to get a box of pills, On Saturday morning, about three o’clock, she got out of bed, and afterwards lay down without undressing. He went out for a horse and returned at daybreak, and found his wife much worse He then went to call a Mrs Murphy, a neighbor, and on his return found his wife dead. Dr Powell, who made the post mortem examination, attributed death to inflammation of the bowels and congestion of the kidneys. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with tjje evidence,

Oamaru.— -Mr W. J. Steward has been elected Mayor of Oamaru, by a majority of thirty-six over the other candidate, Mr Falconer. 1.0.0. F., M.U., Woodend.—An entertainment was given by the brethren of this lodge, assisted by the Misses Bowie and Mathias, at the district school, on Friday evening. Brother M. R. Thompkins occupied the chair. The programme included about twenty items, and a trapeze performance cleverly gone through by Brother T. S. Williams. Songs were contributed by Brothers Horrell, F. Smith, Nott, Brown, Thompkins, and Williams. There was a fair attendance. Entertainment. —An entertainment in connection with the Christchurch Mutual Improvement Association, presided over by the Rev W. Morley, was given last evening at the Durham street Wesleyan schoolroom. There was not a very large attendance, owing no doubt to the unfavorable nature of the evening. The programme consisted of songs, readings, and recitations, which were rendered in a very creditable manner. Votes of thanks to those who had contributed to the evening’s amusement brought the proceedings to a close. Blood Stock. —We understand that Mr S. Nosworthy yesterday disposed of his thoroughbred entire Slanderer to Messrs Brown and Mitchell, of Warrnambool, Victoria. It is almost needless to remind our sporting readers that Slanderer is by Traducer, out of Gitana, and consequently own brother to Calumny. He stands sixteen hands high, and is a dark chestnut, with magnificent shoulders and back and splendid legs and feet, and for make and shape will, we feel assured, thoroughly satisfy our Victorian neighbours. From an accident when a foal he has never raced, but he is in every respect a grand horse, and one which, we feel sure, will do as much credit for New Zealand in the paddock as his sister Calumny has done at the post. While regretting that Canterbury should lose the services of so good a horse, we must congratulate ourselves upon the fact that such experienced gentlemen as Messrs Brown and Mitchell should have thought it worth their while to come over specially to make this purchase, and we cordially wish them, what we feel sure they will have, every success in their speculation. Presentation. —Mr Samuel Lee, proprietor of the Northern Line of Coaches, having retired from the road, a few of his friends recently formed themselves into a committee to collect subscriptions towards the purchase of a testimonial to mark their appreciation of the manner in which he has catered for the requirements of the road, and the courtesy which he has shown to the travelling public. The testimonial took the shape of an excellent tea and coffee service of plate, procured from the establishment of Messrs Peterson and Co, on the salver of which a suitable inscription was engraved. The presentation was made on Saturday evening, in the presence of several of the subscribers, at the Royal Hotel, Leithlield. Mr L. O. Williams occupied the chair, and in making the presentation, stated that it was the expressed wish of several of the residents in the neighbourhood that Mr Lee should not retire from the road without some substantial mark of the respect in which he was held by them. Mr Lee replied in a suitable manner, and stated that as driver he had endeavored to cater for the public to the best of his ability ; and that, having retired from the road, his endeavors would still be to secure their esteem in the character of proprietor only. The toast of “ Success to Mr Lee” was then given and responded to enthusiastically. Other toasts then followed, viz—“ The Northern Whip,” “Mr West Chamberlain,” “ The Mercantile Interest,” “ The Agricultural Interest,” “ The Pastoral Interest,” “ The Licensed Victuallers,” “ The Visitors,” “ Mr Williams,” “ Mr Dumergue,” “ The Press,” “ Our Host,” “ The Chairman.” Songs were sung during the intervals, and altogether a very pleasant evening was spent, the company retiring shortly before midnight.

Another Libel Case in Dunedin. —The Guardian of Friday last says :—“An action for libel, in which Michael O’Heir, a contractor, sought to recover £IOQO damages from the Inspector of Works for the Corporation, occupied the Supreme Court during the whole of Wednesday and yesterday. Among local circles the circumstances out of which the action arose are well known. About twelve months ago the City Council received a letter from the Inspector intimating that he had found £1 on his desk in his office, and enclosing the money, as it did not belong to him. Nothing further transpired until ten months afterwards, when the Inspector had a bundle of notes, not placed on his desk, but, as he alleges, impudently stuffed into his hands, by one of the Corporation contractors. These attempts to tamper with the Inspector could no longer be suffered, and accordingly an inquiry was held, and in another letter the Inspector divulged the names of the parties who, ho alleged, had endeavored to bribe him in the discharge of his duties. The plaintiff was described as the man who placed the £1 on the Inspector’s desk. This accusation cast all previous aggravations in the shade, for if his bricks had been condemned before, his character was now likely to be the sufferer. To remove the injurious imputations, and to obtain redress for the damage alleged to have been done to his business, O’Heir brought the present action. The jury found a verdict for the defendant, and the plaintiff left the Ceurt with the dissatisfied air of a man to whom insult was added to injury.” Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay Railway.—“ It is now an understood thing (says the Argus) that the Government have under consideration the desirability of purchasing the M. and H. B. Railway. Negotiations have been opened on the subject, and a definite offer has been submitted by the directors of the company to the Government, naming the teims on which they are willing to sell their property. This proposal is now being dealt with, the valuations will be checked, and if the price named is considered satisfactory, Parliament will be requested to authorise the purchase. The answer given by the Minister of Railways oa Thursday evening, when questioned on this subject, was one calculated to mis lead. From an excess of caution, which defeated its own object, and which threw an unnecessary air of mystery over the transaction, he was led to deny the truth of the statement that negotiations were proceeding, and were nearly completed. As soon as a definite arrangement is concluded, Parliament will be furnished with tie fullest information on the subject. In 1873 the offer submitted by the directors of the company was to sell the property at twenty

years’ purchase, which, with the debentures, amounted to £1,826,243 16s Bd. The proposal of the Government was that the question at what price between £55 and £65 per share the property should be sold should be submitted to arbitration, and that from the sum fixed by the arbitrators should be deducted the amount necessary to be expended to place the way and the other railway works in a proper state of repair. The directors were willing to refer to arbitration the price between £65 and £75 per share, but those terms were considered too high, and the negotiations fell through. It would be premature, of course, at the present time to state the terms of the offer now under donsideration, but we believe the price will be between one million and a quarter and one million and a half.” Interference Checked. —The Eev Dr Lorimer, of Boston, tells a story that while he was in Kentucky he was invited to perform a marriage ceremony, and rode ten or twelve miles through mud and rain to unite the pair. At the conclusion of the ceremony the mother of the bride offered Dr Lorimer a filled wine-glass, which he declined, and said—“ You ought to be ashamed of yourself, madam, for offering these young people that which may ultimately work their ruin,” The woman, her arms akimbo, said—- “ Look h’yar, Mr Preacher, you kim to marry this yar couple. You’ve married this yar couple. Now git.”