NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1739, 16 September 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Suez Mail, —The Arawata, -with the Suez mail, arrived off the Bluff last evening. Owing, however, to the thick weather, Capt. Sinclair considered it advisable not to enter the harbour until this morning. A special train was waiting at nine o’clock last night ready to convey the mails direct northward had they been landed. Resident Magistbatb’s Coubt. —To-day Jane Mahoney was charged with forging and uttering a cheque for £lO on the Colonial Bank at Rangiora, The said cheque purported to be signed by her husband. The case was remanded to Rangiora, to be heard on the 23rd inst. Woeks Committee. —The works committee of the newly constituted Council, met this morning, present—Messrs Gapes, King, and England. It was resolved to make certain additions to the plant used in connection with road making, and the committee authorized the City Surveyor to proceed with the channelling of new streets. Obittjaeies Extraobdinabt.—Says the “ Evening Post” :—lt has not unfrequently happened that persons in a state of exceptional vitality have been startled and amused by reports of their death. As many people are aware, the London “ Times” published no fewer than three obituary notices of Lord St. Leonards, and two of them the eminent Lord Chancellor had the pleasure of reading himself. It will be also remembered how his Lordship availed himself of the opportunity to correct one or two little inaccuracies in the notices, the principal one being, perhaps, the statement that he had actually departed this life. A day or two ago a report was spread about Palmerston that the body of Mr G. S. Lockie, sergeant-major of the local volunteer corps, had been discovered on the Mount Stewart road, and taken to Sanson for the inquest. After wiping away a few unaffected tears for the memory of the “deceased,” the editor of the local journal proceeded to business, and took steps to “ work up the item.” Ho first despatched the following telegram to to a gentleman at Sanson : —“ Is it fact that Lockie found dead on road ? Reported so Palmerston. If so, when inquest held ? Reply paid.” After a delay of about two hours the following laconic answer was received from the “deceased” himself :—“Not dead, but sleepeth.—G. S. Lockie.” It is needless to say that the characteristic reply was heartily welcomed by those who had been fmly convinced that Mr Lockie had “ shuffled off this mortal coil.” Later on in the evening Mr Batchelar received an official communication by telegram from the lost one ’ —“ My corpse will bo down by ambulance to-night.— G. 8. Lockie.” Ocean Cubbentb. —lt will be remembered (says the “ Waipawa Mail ”) that in August, 1877, the rail of a vessel, with the name ‘ ‘ Antafogasta ” upon it, was picked up near Cape Farewell. It was feared at the time that she ship had been lost, with all hands on board. However, such was fortunately not the case. By the last mail, Mr John Harding, of Mount Vernon, received a letter from his son, who is now at Antafogasta. He saw the captain of the vessel, who explained that the rail was lost in latitude 43.20 S., longitude 137.40 8., in October, 1873, during his first voyage to England. The board was found 1650 miles from the spot where it was lost. To have reached Cape Farewell it must have gone south to have cleared Tasmania, and then floated north again. This is important to marines, as showing the set of the currents in this quarter of the globe.

The Collingwood Election. —It will be seen from Tuesday’s telegrams that Mr Gibbs has been declared duly elected member for tho Collingwood district.

Inspectob op Weights and Meabubes. — Constable Stephenson has been appointed Inspector of Weights and Measures for the city, and commenced the duties of bis office on Tuesday. Oeiminal Assault. Two men, John Millar and Edward Clarkson, have been committed for trial by the Akaroa Bench for a criminal assault on a married woman, about a week ago. Bathing in the Pakk. —Complainte have been made of a practice which has obtained since the waim weather began, of batbing in the Avon at exposed places, directly in the course frequented by boating parties. This was a source of annoyance last summer, and only last Saturday a number of youths were bathing in the river, above the central bridge of the Park, during the afternoon, while numerous boats were passing up and down the stream. News phom the Nobth. —The Auckland “Heuld” says: —The rumour all over the South is, that when Parliament meets Mr Montgomery will move that “ This House has no confidence in the Government as at present constituted.”