NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 729, 20 October 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

New Barometer and Anemometer at Lyttblton.—The harbor authorities have received per s.s Easby, an anemometer and a standard mercurial barometer, for use in weather reporting. They were sent down from Wellington in care of Captain Kennedy, from the Central Weather Office, by Commander R. A. Edwin, R.N. The anemometer or wind measurer will be placed on the Gladstone Pier, and the barometer in the Pier Master's office. They are both splendid instruments, and will no doubt prove of great service. Supreme Court. —The case of Kieley v Rolleston (Superintendent) was tried before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston and a special jury yesterday. The plaintiff claimed damages for assault and false imprisonment, for ejection from a railway carriage, and subsequent detention in the guard's van under a charge of evasion of fare. The jary found a verdict for t.ie defendant, damages £l5O. A point of law raised hy Mr Garrick for the defendant has been reserved for argument, leave being given to dt faudant to move to set aside the verdict on it.

A Youthful Coiner.—At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday a young man named Knibbe was committed for trial for coining. The dies produced in Court, which *rere intended for the manufacture of two shilling pieces, were most ingeniously made The coins produced, though rather clumsily finished, yet were sufficiently close in their resemblance to the genuine article to have passed into circulation without exciting i.uspieion. The same prisoner was committed for trial for stealing letters from a private box at the Jtost Office,

The San Francisco Mail.—The outward mail, consisting of sixteen bags, fourteen from Ohristchurch, one from Hokitika, and one from Lyttelton, went in the R.M.S.S. Australia yesterday afternoon. St John's Association. The usual weekly meeting of the association was held last evening, at the schoolroom, the Rev H. 0. M. Watson in the chair. There was a good attendance of members. Mr F. Hobbs read a paper on "Larrikinism and its Causes," in which he pointed out the nature of larrikinism, tracing its causes to the ab sence of home training and innocent sources of amusement. An interesting debate, in which several members took part, followed, at the conclusion of which a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Hobbs for his carefully prepared paper. The meeting closed in the usual manner. Caution to Cabmen.—Mr Superintendent Harris had two cabmen before the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday for driving over the hose of the engines and damaging them, also for obstruction to the brigade. For some time past Mr Harris has had great difficulty with cabmen, who, on driving fares to the scene of fire, go recklessly over the hose despite the warnings of the brigade. So annoying has this become, that the superintendent of the brigade determined to bring the matter before the Bench, with a view to put a stop to such practices in future. It is to be hoped that the fining of two of the fraternity yesterday will have a salutary effect Lyttelton Town Clock —This clock has been placed in position, and is now in full working order. It has a handsome appearance, but the numbers on the dial plate are rather indistinct. The machinery is, we understand, really good, and the clock second in this respect to none in the colony. It was originally ordered by the Government from Messrs Petersen and Co, of Ohristchurch, and is of large dimensions. It is what is technically called a dead beat Graham's escapement, the length of the connecting rod is 3ft, and the rod thence to junction with the dials is 2ft 9in, the weight of the pendulum is lOOlbs, and the length of swing sft 6in. At present the clock will only go for four days without winding up, but when the weights are at a greater distance from the clock, which will be managed by means of holes cut in the floor of the tower and chamber underneath, it will go for ten days. The diameter of the dials is 4ft 6in, and the bell, which is a very resonant one, and can be heard at a great distance, is placed in a small tower above the clock, which has been added since the buildings were finished for its special accommodation. The lines, instead of being of hemp, are made of iron wire, a great improvement, as with a sixth of the bulk they have double the strength. The clock is intended to be illuminated at night, and has a special apparatus by which it can light and extinguish the burners illuminating the dial, as regulated according to the different seasons of the year. Mr Gunderson, who has fitted up the clock for Messrs Petersen and Co, deserves credit for having completed his work in such an able manner, and we must congratulate Lyttelton in possessing such a handsome and useful timepiece.

Exported Stock. —By the R.M.S.S. Australia were shipped some splendid animals for other ports, which will tend to make Canterbury well spoken of elsewhere. Mr Sinclair is the spirited gentleman who ships them, and we hope that the enterprise will prove a great pecuniary success to him. We first mention a blood entire horse, by Traducer out of Frolic, named after the estate where he was reared " Spreydon." He was bred by Mr William Pyne, and is a bright bay with black points. This colt possesses great ; :,ower, and in spite of his big bone, his quality is undeniable, He should be the sire of many a good horse wherever he goes, and no doubt the people at Honolulu, for which place he is bound, will appreciate him. Mr Sinclair also took with him a good two-year-old bull named Royal Butterfly, bred by Mr G. R. Bell at his run, at Waimea, Southland. Messrs Hay purchased him when a calf, and have since had htm at their station at Pigeon Bay. His sire, King of the Butterflies, realised 575 guineas when sold at Ohristchurch. Royal Butterfly is a wellmade even bull, of fair size, showing great quality. He is of the fashionable color, being a really splendid roan, with bright skin, and is a wonderful handler ; short well-built, and in grand condition, he should ba a great acquisition to Honolulu, and tend to spread the fame of our New Zealand stock.