NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1644, 28 May 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sydney Exhibition. —A meeting of tbe looal committee was held to-day at 2.30 p.m. It was resolved to vote £SO to Dr. Haast to defray any expenses that might be incurred in selecting articles from the Museum for transmission to Sydney, The secretary was instructed to apply for an imprest of £IOO fjom the central committee.

Resident Magistbate's Coubt.—To-day all the business done was the fining of one inebriate 5b and another 10s. Local Woeks. —The Public Works committee of the City Council met this morning, when several matters of local intorest were dealt with. It was resolved that tenders should be called for a supply of timber for fencing in the Avon at different places. It was also resolved to inspect the East Belt bridge, and to recommend the formation of street crossings in the most urgent cases. CONUNDEUMS EXTBAOEDINABY.— Our old friend the Diorama of the Russo-Turkish War is pursuing its career through the land, offering prizes for the beßt and worst conundrums as usual. In Wellington the winner of the first prize perpetrated the following : " Why should the proprietor of the diorama be considered the strongest man in Wellington ?—Because he is able to shift large cities with eaße, and frequently brings down the house in doing so." As this was the best, a faint idea of the quality of worst may be eastfy formed. The "G-bave" Joke Again.—A gentleman in this city, who revels in the soothing occupation of an undertaker, was considerably startled on his own premises one evening during the present week. On going out into the back yard, as is his nightly custom, to inspect the outside stock in trade, he received a Bhock by hearing some strange sounds proceeding from a corner of the yard. It was like a cougning in the hearse, which (as he explained afterwards) " quito made a body shake." He approached the sombre vehicle carefully and listened for further " manifestations," and he was not disappointed, for presently he heard a sort of muflled melody like the " Sweet bye and bye" being wafted through a human nose. Upon this the undertaker sagely remarked unto himself "That's more in this than meets the eye," and he went for assistance and a weapon. Then the hearse door was carefully opened, when the cause of all the mystery was discovered in the person of an unfortunate tramp who had sought a resting place (for the night) in the hearse as a sort of refuge for the destitute. Not a bad shelter, perhaps, for one hard pressed, but not to be considered a desirable sleeping apartment for a person of a highly imaginative organisation. Lawyers and the Haed Times.—The "Oamaru Mail" tells the following story, and it is worthy of consideration, as the only parties who " wax fat" in these dull times are the lawyers and their confreres— trustees : " Whilst on our way to the editorial chamber this morning, we were stopped by a citizen, and we chatted awhile with him touching the present awful state of the money market Suddenly he said, "Ah 1 I have it. In these days of mealy bugs and Colorado beetles there is only one way of settling matters comfortably. Let the Government suspend the functions of all judges, resident magistrates, clerks, and bailiffs on the courts for say three months ; then no writs or summons can issue. What do you think of the suggestion ?" At this moment one of our local lawyers joined us, and the matter was referred to him. Ho exclaimed, "Oh ! hang it, that will never do unless the Q-overnment introduces in tho meantime some system of public works in order to afford us some other congenial and remunerative, and, if possible, more honorable employment." Not an Old Settles.—" Will you settle that old account of yours this morning ? " said a colonist. " No, sir ; you are mistaken in the man; I am not one of the old settlers."

KAiTANaATA Kelief Fund—A meeting of the Raitangata Relief Fund Committee of the City Council will be held on Friday, for the purpose of considering a letter fvom the Secretary to the Fund Committee in Otago, as to the best means of disposing of the surplus funds. A Conscientious "Bobby."—At the Kumara Police Court on Thursday, a police constable laid an information against himself for allowing his chimney to catch fire. This rare example of a conscientious "bobby" was fined 10s and costs. Malapministation or Justice.—The injustice to which person? arrested upon most trivial charges have been subjected at Lyttelton, in consoquonee 0- tho neglect of tho Government to appoint a Magistrate for the Court there, has been repeatedly referred to by the Press. A case in point is reported in the Magisterial column elsewhere. A seafaring man was given in custody yesterday by the master of a vessel named the Orient, now in port, for refusing to perform tho work he was put to. There was no flagrant crime committed, no outrage upon society, yelthe offence is deemed one of sufficient importance by the laws that it cannot be trusted in tho hands of one Justice of the Peace to adjudicate upon. When the man was presented for trial, it appealed that but one Juet'ce was in attendance, and the police were unable to find another willing to attend. The pniico officer present thereupon asked the Bench to order that the man be locked up in prison until next Monday (fivo days), or as he put it, " be remanded '' until Monday, and by that lime Mr Whitofoord, R.M,, of Kaiapoi, may be present. The Bonch seeing no other course open, granted the request, feeling, no doubt as every one present must have felt, that a very pross injustice wns done to the accused and to the taxpi-yor, upon whom must fall the cost of keeping u presumably innocent man in gaol. Kaiaioi BoEor/Gii Council. —The usual meeting of this Council was adjourned from hat evening till this evening, owing to Mr 13owon's meeting. Baebadoes stbeet Beipgfe. —At tho mvfing of the City Council last night it was decided, as tho subscriptions received amounted to over £2OO, to proceed with the work iitonce.

Temvlady.—Tho Hope ef Christchurch Lodge held its usual monthly open meeting lust night. There was a large attendance, tho room being nearly full. An excellent address was delivered bv Mr Heath, and a number of plees, Bongs, and readings were contributed by tho members.

Sheepstealing.—At Kainpoi Magistrate's Court yesterday John Dippenhiem, arrested for complicity in shcepetealing, was brought up, and a remand was asked for by the police till next day to produce evidence. Granted. Accused applied to be allowed to find bail. Inspector Buckley observed that his supposed colleague in the transaction was out on bail, and could nowhere bo found. Bail was refused.

Softh Rakaia Road Boaed.—A special meeting cf the South Rakaia and Mount Hutt Road Boards was held conjointly at the South Rakaia office on Monday last, to consider the best mode of distributing the funds of the old Road district. Present —South Rakaia Road Board: Messrs Mackie (chairman), D. G. Holmes, Neil Maclean, and E. S. Coster; Mount Hutt: Messrs Edward Chapman and R. McMillan. After some discussion, it was resolved to divide the funds according to the area of freehold and the amount expended within the two districts since 1874. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. Alleged Assault on a Bailiff.—At the Ashburton Magistrate's Court, yesterday, Charles J. Hicks charged Thos. Dudson with having assaulted him. The case arose out of a case of distraint. The complainant was a bailiff, and had taken possession of the defendant's shop on a warrant from Christchurch. Mr Ireland appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Crisp for the defence. Mr Crisp raised the objection that the information was not laid against Mr Dudson for assaulting a bailiff, but for assaulting a private individual. His Worship sustained the objection and dismissed the case with costs, stating, however, that the case had not been dismissed on its merits, but on a technicality, and in future cases of a similar charaoter in which bailiffs may be assaulted in the execution of a warrant, he should protect them, and the puniehment would be exemplary.