NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 850, 15 March 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Grain Market.— A private telegram from Sydney, dated to-day, states that the wheat market is dull and overstocked. New Zealand is quoted at 5s fid, and Adelaide at fis fid. As this is so entirely opposite to the information supplied by the Tress Agency, we have retained the private telegram, which can be seen on application.

A Theatre for Oamaru.—Oamaru is congratulated by its local organ, the Times, upon the probability of its soon possessing a theatre, to be built there in a central situat on by Mr Samuel. Gibbs, from designs by Mr Hardy, architect. The new theatre will be seated for 1000 visitors, and will be 80ft in length and 60ft in width, and will contain the orthodox dress circle, pit, parquette, orchestra, boxes, and stage, with green room and dressing rooms. Bob Roy Canoes.— Canoes resembling the original “ Rob Roy” are now to be seen in most parts of the colony, and this summer several excursions have been made in them. One gentleman went lately to the West Coast of this island, and has been “ paddling his own ” among the beautiful sylvan scenery of the rivers Hokitika, Grey, and Buller, Another canoe of the kind was Idely built at Auckland for its purchaser at Taranaki, where it has made several successful trips to sea over the rather treacherous surf.

Another Muff Match —At a meeting held last evening in connection with a muff match to be played between the local publicans and the wine and spirit merchants and brewers, it was decided that the match should be played at 11 a m. on Monday next. It was also resolved that the match should be of one innings only, stumps to be drawn at 6 p,m. Messrs Beatty, Cookson, and MeGuinness were appointed a committee to arrange the necessary details in connection with the match, and to report at an adjourned meeting, when it is hoped that there will be a full attendance. Professional Hangmen.— lt is stated by the Auckland Star that Colonel Haultain, in his capacity as sheriff, has received a letter from an old soldier at Hokitika, in which application is made for the permanent situation of hangman in the district of Auckland. The writer treats the subject in a very business like manner, and his letter deserves attention. He gives his qualifications and references, and esks if some small Government billet in conjunction with the hangmanship could be provided for him, as the fees, by themselves, would scarcely be sufficient to keep him respectably.

An Old Resident,— The death of an old resident of the Oamaru district is noticed in the North, Otago Times, namely, Mr Joseph Wilson Farrar, a descendant of an old English family—the Farrars of Parnley Hall, also of Clapham, in the county of Yorkshire. Mr Farrar was probably best known in the district as at one time the proprietor of the Kakanui Fellmongery. Nine years ago his property was destroyed by flood, but nothing daunted by his misfortune he, by his great perseverance, soon re established the works. His generous affable manner had won for him many friends, who will mourn his loss. Accident on the Waiareka Railway. —A young man named Taylor, brother of the Mr Taylor who was killed by the boiler explosion on the Waiareka railway some months ago, met with a painful accident on the same line on Saturday afternoon, at the level crossing in Cave Valley, From the account in a local paper, it appears that in attempting to get on the engine before it had quite stopped his foot slipped, and one of the wheels partially passed over it, cutting off the little toe, stripping the next of the flesh, and taking the tips off the next two. Dr Garland was sent for, and the patient was removed to the hospital, where the fourth too was amputated, and the wounds w f 'healed.

Bank Holiday.—ln accordance with the usual custom, the Banka will be closed on Saturday next, St. Patrick’s Day,

Judicial.—-Mr Justice Richmond will take the April Bitting of the Circuit Court in Wellington, and will probably proceed on to Wanganui immediately thereafter.

Board of Education. —The Board held a sitting yesterday, but very little business was done of public importance. That transacted was principally of a routine character.

t chool Committees —The annual meeting of householders to elect members to serve on school committees for the ensuing year will be held on Monday, April 9th.

Railway Time, —lt is notified that from and after Saturday next the afternoon trains on that day and on Wednesdays, on the Malvern and Whitehills branches, will leave Christchurch an hour earlier than at present Ecclesiastical, —Bishop Redwood left Wellington for Nelson last week on his way to the West Coast, where he is now paying his second episcopal visit since his arrival in the colony.

Kaiapoi Wesleyan Church Bazaar.— This bazmr was continued during the afternoon of Tuesday, when a further sum of £4O was realised, making the total receipts £224. The goods remaining unsold will probably be held over for a time, and the bazaar be reopened.

Military. Captain Toogood, Royal Artillery, has been unpointed aide-de-camp to Major General Phillpotts, Inspector General -of Artillery. Captain Toogood served in New Zealand during the Waikato and Wanganui campaigns, and was present at Nukumaru and the Patea River (medal).

A Point of Practice —ln the course of Ihe proceedings in the Bankruptcy Court st Dunedin, a few days ago, Mr Howorth, addressing Mr Justice Williams, said: —“Your Honor, I observe that you have taken judicial notice to-day of the Oazette. I tiled an affidavit in some cases, but I see you have granted orders this morning without affidavit His Honor—On production of the Gazette; I believe that was the practice in ray predecessor’s time, and I see no objection to it. At first I thought an affidavit was necessary, but I do not now think it is, I shall be content with the production of the Gazette." A Political Professor.— The intrusion of a learned professor into the arena of politics in Victoria has excited some attention in that colony. The learned gentleman is Professor Pearson, who is thus referred to by the correspondent of a contemporary:— “ He is an elderly gentleman, who came out from England about two years ago as a Professor of the Melbourne University, but he resigned that situation to become head master of the Presbyterian Ladies College. He has delivered a lecture on land taxation, which brought him into notice, and he is allied with the Liberals altogether, being one of their pet candidates for the general election. His mixing in politics has not satisfied his employers, and he leaves the College next June. By that tkne he will probably be in the Legislative Assembly.” A Mystery. —About three weeks ago a man was seen on an island in the Waitaki river. Reappeared to be unable to get off it, as he was walking up and down, and signalling for assistance. Attempts were made to reach him from the north side of the river, but without success ; and eventually a constable was despatched down the other bank. This was on Tuesday, February 20th, and since then nothing has been seen or heard of the man. There was no sign of him on the island the next day, and the constable on the Otago side, we believe, saw nothing of him on proceeding down the river on the Tuesday. Since then two men from Oamaru named Charles Bentley and John Bazant determined to go to the Waitaki and explore the island. “ With this intention in view ” (says the evening paper of Monday last) “the/ procured a canvas boat and a spring cart, and left Oamaru at seven o’clock on Sunday morning, Arriving at the Waitaki, they crossed the river in the boat, and made a thorough search of the island, hut without any satisfactory results. They state that there is no man at present on the island, but that there can be no doubt he wi s there, as they found footprints in the sand, evidently made by someone who had been there very recently.” There is a mystery about the affair which is very unsatisfactory, and which, it is feared, will be cleared up, if cleared up at all, by the finding of a body somewhere near the mouth of the river.

When you see a black-eyed woman following a blue-eyed man with a broom handle, you can make up your mind the man will soon have black and blue eyes.