NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1687, 17 July 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Resident Magisteate's Coubt. The only business done in the Court today was the fining of two inebriates 5s and 10s respectively. Brougiit Back.—The man Wood, arrested at Wellington on n warrant from hero for fraudulent bankruptcy and wife desertion, arrived at Port this morning by tho steamer Southern Cross, in custody. Te Wnni'a Last.—lnconsequence ofTe Whiti's prophecy that the natives would have to procure rams' horns and blow them outside tho prisons where the natives are confined, when tho walls would fall down, it is reported that rams' horns are at a premium in the North. The would-bo performers are hard at work, trying to get some sound out of these primitive instruments, and one of them is said to have suggested to Te Whiti that a jews-harp would be quite as scriptural and much easier to play. Recovering Damages.—ln tho case of North and Scoullar v. tho Dunedin Corporation we find the following report of what took place between a legal gentleman and a witness in tho case, which we commend to the attention of those who may ba found getting into law:—"Edward Pritchard, liviDg in Rattray streot, deposed that every time there was a heavy rain the channelling was swept away. Ho had seen as much as fifty yards washed away at one time. Mr Smith : You had a tidy little account against the Corpora tion ? Witness : Yes ; it nearly ruined me. Mr Smith: Why, did you not recover some thousands ? Witness : Yes ; but you gentlemen got most of it. [Laughter.]

Football.—The members of the Eistern Club are invited to join with the Christchurch Club on Saturday noxt, on Cranmer square, in their match Town v. Country. Colours — Town, amber and black ; Country, blue and white. Play to commenco at 230 p.m. sharp. Painless Surgery—The new antiseptic method of surgery which has but recently been introduced into America, has been twice successfully tried at the Alexian Brothers' Hospital, Chicago. In each case a leg was amputated, and tho patient rapidly recovered, experiencing no pain whatever from tho use of tho surgical instruments. The method of operation has follows :—" The surface of the limb to bo amputated is first sponged with a solution of one part of carbolic acid to forty of water, into the wound. This makes the operation perfectly painless, and does away with the necessity for using chloroform or ether. Tho wound is then dressed with oiled silk, saturated »lth sulphate of lead, which indicates the presence of sulphate of hydrogen by turning b'ack, and shows whether the wound is suppurating. Six layers of medicated gauzo are then placed over the wound, and the whole is covered with Mackintosh cloth." Post Oificj Clock.—By the end of the week a dock will be placed in the front of the now Post Office, over the main entrance. During the day a man has been engaged in putting up the foce of the clock, which will be the same size as that of the old Post Office.

A New Idea.—A Massachusetts teacher writos to the "National Journal of Education" describing an experiment in the schoolroom which seems to be successful. Instead of facing his pupils he has his desk behind them, and thus overlooks them to great advantage. The naughty little ones, not knowing when his eye is upon them, dare not whisper or play. " They have," he says, "so frequently come to grief in attempting to calculate chances, that they have concluded to make a virtuo of necessity, and give up play in the schoolroom as unprofitable, costing more than it comes to. .Another decided advantage of this system is, that it completely isolates classes reciting from the rest of the school —the recitation benches being in front of the teacher's desk, between him and the j school, and the backs of the pup : ls being 1 tyflkfili rule is that pupils shall not look around." Bullets Extbaobdinaby.—ln reference to the alleged shipment of marbles North from Dunedin, the " Auckland Star " says:— "It was notorious that during the war in Taranaki in 1850-1 the Maoris, when they had exhausted their supply of lead looted from the gutterings and settlers' houses, fell back upon marbles as a dernier ressort, and those missiles were very destructive at short ranges. The heads of wax vestas were also utilised as percussion caps ; and at Paterangi, with a singular contempt for intellectual benefits which Mr G-orßt's * Pihoihoi' was supposed to confer upon them, they fired back upon the troops the ' block letter' which Aporo, octing under Eewi's orders, had looted from the printing office at Te Awamutu.

The Heathen Chinee.—ln "ways that are dark" this individual is decidedly peculiar, as will be shown by the following anecdote: — In Otago a contract for grading a road was to be lot, and the lowest bid was signed "McPhorson." Notice was Bent to the said McPherson to meet tho Board and complete the contract. In due time they met, but behold ! McPhorson was yellow in hue and had an unmistakable pig-tail. " But," gasped the President, "yourname can't be McPherson?" "Alle lightee," cheerfully answered John; "nobody catch um contlact in Otago 'loss he named Mac." The contract was signed, and the Mongolian McPherson did his work as well as if he had really hailed from Glasgow.

Benefit to Mbs Hill.—A meeting of the managing committee of the benefit to Mrs Walter Hill and family was held yesterday, his WorsHp the Mayor in the chair. The programmo committee brought up their report, containing the draft programme for the two nights' entertainment. The programme was adopted. Several other reports of subcommittees were dealt with. It was resolved that rehearsal for those ladies and gentlemen who had kindly promised their services should take place on Saturday evening in the committee rooms, over Thompson's Sewing Machine Depot, Colombo street. The committee then adjourned until Monday next, at 4 p.m.

The Bakqtth Betxs.—The work of raising the stranded Bells is in progress. The diver, Mr Cannell, is engaged at it. Chains hare beon put under the stern of the vessel, and it is proposed to take the two coal hulks alongside to lift her. It is probable the steam pump service of the tug Lyttelton will be employed to pump her out. Sydney Exhibition.—The usual weekly meeting of the local committee was held yesterday. Present Messrs Beaumont, Turner, and J. A. Bird. The secretary reported that ho had shipped fifty-seven cases by the Rotorua, and that some additional exhibits would go forward by the Wakatipu This concluded the business.

Laeceny AS A Bailee.—David Mason, alias Mitchell, was sentenced at the Oxford Magistrate's Court, on Wednesday, to seven days' imprisonment for larceny of a gun from Mr Inglis, of Oxford, the gun having been entrusted to him to raflle.

The Gaiety.—There was a capital house last night at the Gaiety Theatre, when " Who Killed Cock Robin " and " Ike Pink Dominos " were repeated. The latter piece went excellently throughout, causing roars of laughter. To-night "East Lynce," with Mrs Darrell as Lady Isabel, will be produced, aud to-morrow Mrs Darrell will take her farewoll benefit, appearing in "Leah." On] this occasion souvenirs in the shape of albums with likenesses of Mr and Mrs Darrell will be presented. Spaebow Nuisance, Woodejjd. —A fairlyattouded meeting was held in the district school, Wooder.d, on Tuesday evening, to consider what stops should be taken for the destruction of tho sparrows. Mr E. Pateman was voted to the chair, and briefly explained the good results of last year's poisoning. It w»3 resolved—" That a committee, consisting of Messrs J. Judaon, Kay, Kesson, Petrie, and E. Horrell, be appointed to procure poison, wheat, Sic, and get the same ready for distribution." The committee met afterwards, and decided to purchase 12ozs. of strychnine, and mix the same with twelve bushels of wheat, Mr Judson being authorised to procure a tank for the purpose. It was decided to defray the costs in tho same way as last year, by an acreags rate,

ABHBUBTON COUNTY COUNCIL.—A special meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held on Wednesday, to consider a petition to the Legislature re the proposed water supply for the Plains. Present —Mr W. C. Walker (chairman), and Messrs Grigg, Beid, and E. GL Wright. The petition, which was discussed somewhat fully, was finally adopted by the Council, and ordered to be forwarded to Wellington. Kaiapoi Native Township.—At present surveyors are engaged in setting out the town sections and adjusting the boundaries, under the supervision of Mr Mnckay, Native Commissioner. The allotment to each person has a chain frontage, and runs back four chains. As soon as the fencing along tho road has been put into its proper place, the Road Board of the district will be aßked to form the footpath and shingle tho road, tho Maoris agreeing to find tho metal. _ Mr Maokay has been engaged for some timoin adjusting land questions with the Natives with satisfactory results. On Wednesday, whilo visiting the Maori school, Te Hira Mutu presented the Commissioner with a carefully drawn map of Now Zealand, the penmanship of Te Hira, which had been mounted on , rollers and varnished.

Spain and the Basque Pbovinces.—ln Spain a Royal decree proclaiming a state of siege in tho Basque territory, north of tho Ebro, has been issued. The Basque senators and deputies and delegations from the towns and provincial couccils have had an interview with tUe members of tho Cabinet to protest against this serious measure ; but the Council has decided to follow tho opinion of tho General-in-Chief of the army of occupation, who starts on Thursday to resume his command. The King signed the decree after a conference between Marshals Quesada and Martinez Campos.

Dynamitb in Mining.—The following circular letter has been sent to tho inspectors of mines throughout Victoria by tho chief inspector of mines :—" In reference to the recent fatal accident which occurred to Williom Eustace, in the Victoria Reef Gold Min s claim at Sandhurst, through the explosion of a charge of dynamite and blasting powder, I beg to inform you that Mr Cosmo Nowbery, inspector of explosives, has reported as follows with reference thereto :—'ln my opinion the danger in using blasting powder with dynamite is that tho forco exertod by the powder will not in most cases be sufficient to explode the dynamite. It will set fire to it; but unless the ground is very strong, it will not explode it. When simply liehted dynamite burns slowly, and if the rock gives [ way owing to the explosion of the powder, tho lighted dynamite may be blown away without igniting the whole of the charge, in which ca: 0 it is likely that some will remain in the bottom of the bore-hole. This is more likely to occur when the charge of dynamite consists of more than one cartridge, or, as is often the case, of broken up cartridges. I don't think that dynamite or lithofracteur should ever be fired without the detonator being inserted into the cartridge ; and when a blast leaves a portion of the hole it is good evidence that the dynamite has been burning, not exploded, and that a part of tho charge will be found in tha hole.' You should caution the mine-owners in your district of the danger of using dynami' o charges unless they be exploded by means of detonators ; and point out to them that should an accident hereafter occur from any such practice they will bo held responsible." St. John's Entertainment.—The entertainment in connection with St. John's will take place this evening, when the East Christchurch school band will play several selections, and vocal solos, readings, &c, will be given. Concert.— A concert by Mr Corrick's juvenile band will take place this evening in the free Methodist schoolroom, St. Asaph street, in aid of the Trust fund. Philosophical Institute.—The next of the series of lectures in connection with the Philosophical Institute will bo delivered this evening by Mr Clemenshaw, the manager of the Christchurch gas works. Farms in South Canterbury.—A sale of leases, with right of purchaao of sixty-eight farms on the celebrated and favorably known Waihoruuga estate, Pudding Hill, near Waimate, will bo held by Messr3 Wright, Stephenson, and Co., in conjunction with Messrs J. T. Ford and Co., at Waimate, to-morrow (Fric'ay), the 18th July, at 2 o'clock. The farms will vary in size from 100 acres to 500 acres, and the special attion of farmers is called to tho sale, as the terms of rental and purchase are fixed at snch very low prices, and the leases are for absolute sale, that an opportunity so rarely to be met with will offer of securing a homestead farm at very little present outlay; and as the land is all *W nan Uo A~~:--A f"- , <.H.io,j~« ~«ll -v^A climate, a man with any knowledge of farming will bo sure to make a profitable investment. Situated in a beautiful valley, with the waters of the Waiho running through it, enj lying a mild and genial climate, and surrounded by love'.y scenery, the country is all that the most ardent lover of nature could wish, and the land, being principally limestone downs, of first rate quality, and well watered in every part, is such as would delight the heart of a farmer. The property is intersected by very good roads, giving easy access to every farm. It is connected with Waimate by an excellent metalled road, and the Waimate branch railway villi terminate in about the middle of the ostato. Plans and full particulars can be obtained from the above-named auctioneers, or from Messrs Lees and Moor, Oamaru. —[Advt.]