NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2203, 18 March 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Committal. —J£dward Longmore has been committed to take his trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court, at Ohristohurch, for stealing a cash-box, containing money and valuable documents, from the Botherfield Hotel, on the 17th instant. Prisoner was detected in the act and almost immediately arrested. He pleaded guilty at the preliminary examination this morning. Lyttblton Natal Bbigadb Entertainmknt. —The concert to be given in aid of the funds of the Lyttelton Naval Brigade will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall hero, and not at the Port as has been reported. The date of holding it is the 24th instant. LITTBIiTON Magibtatb's Cotjbt.—At this Court this morning William Cook and Colin Cook, butchers, were charged with a breaoh of the borough by-laws, by keeping swine within sixty-six yards of a public thoroughfare, and with allowing them to stray along the public road. Defendants admitted the charge, and were fined 20b and costs. The following civil case was disposed of :—" Lyttelton Times " v George W. Cole, claim £3 14); judgment by default. Cbime in Chbistohubch. The cha-go sheet at the R.M. Court this morning was principally devoted to thievery, though examples of other of the fine arts were not wanting. Three drunkards headed the list. They were not " known to the police," and two of them were lightly fined ss, the other, who had added obscene language to bacchanalian revelry, was mulct in double the amount. The next case was probably the worst of the morning's batch. A girl, not yet fifteen years of ago, was brought up under the Tagrancy Act, and this was her second appearance. The police had not a good word to say about her or her belongings. Her father and mother were bad and so was she. She frequented the noisiest public houses in the company of the most depraved in Ohristohurch of both sexes. She had been let off before to "go home to her father," but she had not gone, or at any rate had not stopped there. The Benoh expressed themselves as puzzled to know what to do with her. They did not like to send her to gaol for a lengthened period, and she ought not be allowed to go on as she was going. They finally sent her to prison for fourteen days. The next on the roll was an old thief, the victim of savoral previous oonviotions, whose little game had been inveigling a nearly drunken woman into a public-house and robbing her of her hard won earnings, as a general servant, to the amount of £6. This was the second hearing of the cape, which looked very black against accused; but, with the assurance and experience of an old hand, he stringently and (hrewdly cross-examined every witness at each hearing up till the last minute. The case closed for the proseoution. The evidence was read over, when, to the surprise of everybody, prisoner said he had nothing to say ; except that he was guilty! He got twelve months to reouperate at Addington. The caae that followed had better be read on the record of Court proceedings, to be found elsewhere—there is food for hard thinking in it. Afterwards appeared a man who, with over £5 in cash in his pocket, essayed to steal a cash box from a cupboard at a public-house in the open light of day. The landlady, however, caught the box, and the thief was duly caught without muoh fastidious delay. He also pleaded guilty, but for somo reason was not dealt summarily with. He was sent up for trial. Lastly came a young mas who, like he whom " Peter Pender pinioned," might be described aB a "party picking pockets " —a not usual diversion in this oountry. There vfus a clear case against him notwithstanding his denial, and he got one month in gaol. Impudent Tiibft.—An attempt was made yesterday, by a man namod Longmore, to steal a cash-box from the Botherfield Hotel. Mr Deal, the landlord, had occasion to go out for change, and Longmore slipped into the private room, where the cash-box waß kept, and made off. . Just as he got to the door Mr Deal returned, and Longmore, dropping his booty, ran off. A hue and cry was raised, and after a smart chase he was captured near Messrs Harper, Harper and .Scott's offices and taken to the lock-up. A New Industry.—Thero is now on view at the shop of Mr Turner, seedsman, Colombo street, a very fine sample of locally grown tobacco, both in the green leaf and prepared for smoking. It was grown at Qlenmark, and Mr Tarner states that both cigars and smoking tobacco of good quality have been made by the gardener at Qlenmark from this tobacco. The plants are said to ba 9ft high, with a prolusion of leaves.

AN Old Pbactitionbb.—The "Poet" states that the oldest, medical man in New Zealand is Dr. Watkins, of Abaroa He is 87 years of age, and his diploma boars date 1816. Ho has thus been ? up'warde or Bixtyfour years in practice. ■ - - ■?'

Sunday School Association.—The usual monthly meeting of the Diocesan Sunday School Association took place last evening in St. John's School-room. A lecture was delivered by the Her.' B. G. Penny,' subject, " The Apostolic Fathers." There was a moderate attendance. , •'■■-.

Moonlight Excr/BSION.— L»jr night the" third trip took plao>>, and was a most en-joy-able affair. The Titan left the wharf at 7.50, and went two trips to the Heads and back, the Railway Band playing selections and dance music, and the young people dancing to the same.

Thbatsical. —It is more than prababli that the Lydia Rowarde Company will return to Christchurch about Faster for a short season, during which they intend to produce a pantomime. The Juvenile "Pinafore" Company, which comes to New Zealand under engagement to Mr Walter Reynolds, opened in Inveroargill on Tuesday evening to a full house. They play here some time in April. Savings Banks in Schools.—At yesterday's meeting of the Education Board the chairman announced that the Government had forwarded a supply of the " notices " in connection with the "penny poßtage" scheme, introduced fcy the Government with a view to encourage thrift among the children in State schools. Tho notices are to be posted up in the various schools within the district. Sebiotts Accident at Kaiapoi Island— A serious accident happened yesterday to Mr John Merrin, farmer. A fenco having caught on firo he and his son were endoavoring to stop it, the latter using a gorse knife to cut a gap in it. In making a blow at the fence with the knifo, he accidentally struck his father on the hip, cutting a wound about sin. in length, from which the blood flowed profusely. Dr. Ovenden, who was brought immediately from Kaiapoi, attended, and last evening Mr Merrin was doing as well as cjuld be expected. Eipobt or Malt.—lt is not perhaps generally known, remarks the " New Zealand Times," that the little port of Blenheim exports considerable quantities of malt. We havit it on good authority that more than 450 tanks, averaging about two tons each, have been brought over to Wellington and shipped to Sydney during the last eight months, the whole of this quantity being from the malthouse of Mr O. Bedwood. This year's harvest in the Wairau Valley appears to have yielded an enormous quantity of barley, and there is every prospect of the export returns for the current year being far in excess of those registered last year. It is probably as little known that the same distriot will export a large quantity of peas this year, a shipment of about 300 sacks having already been seoured for the Home market.

The Ministbb fob Public Wobks.— On Tuesday morning, Mr Oliver, accompanied by Mr Blair, inspected the country through whioh the Northern railway will run. On that afternoon he drove through the Weka Pass to the Waikari, and thence on to Horsley Downs. He was taken to the top of Horsley Downs Hill, from whioh a most commanding view is obtained of the surrounding country. The Minister was astonished at the large traot of agricultural country whioh met his view, and said that, in his opinion, the distriot was equal to the Taieri Flans. Next day he drove to the Hurunui township, and across the bridge into the Nelson Provincial district, returning to the Waikari by the ooaoh road, down the Waikari Valley to Mr Saunderson's. Thence he drove down the Omihi Valley to Amberley. He went on to Ohristohuroh the same evening, starting yesterday morning for the South by the express.

Bbsidbkt Magistrate's Court.—At thin Court yesterday, before Mesora Q, L. Lee and B. Westenra, judgments went for plaintiffs by default in Murphy v Bray, £3 12b ; Soott v Vigor, £2 ; Barker v Bowen, 18b 9d ; G-air v Toppin, £4, 10a ; Shattock T Clarke, £1 4* ; Nathan v O'Brian, £3 ; Price v Fowler, £ls Is 6(1 ; Smith v Smith, £1 0a 65 ; and Jaokson r James, £3 16s. Ruff ell and Priddy v Wagstaff was a olaim for £9 9s 4d, for extra work done on a building contract. Mr Stringer appeared for plaintiffs. Defendant pleaded that the charges were exorbitant, but failed to establish the allegation. Judgment for plaintiffs, with costs and solicitor's fee. Sharp v Williams, £2 3b 6d, for grazing one pony and expenses of catching and delivering tame. The charge for grazing only was allowed. Judgment for plaintiff for £ll7s 6d and costs. Hargrcaves v Brown, £5 15s for a saw bench and saw. In this case plaintiffs claimed as trustees in the bankrupt estate of James Booth, for property which had been sold by him to defendant, and subsequently returned by defendant to the bankrupt, but not accounted for to the trustee by the bankrupt. The evidence showed that the transaction had been bona fide on the part of the defendant. The Bench ruled that plaintiff must look to Booth for the saw bench, and nonauited him with costs, allowing defendant half a day's wages as his expenses. Patterson t Levy was adjourned till March 23rd.

Hbathcote aitd thb Ward Siatem.— A largely attended meeting of the ratepayers of the Heathoote dietrict was held last evening at the Fhillipstown schoolroom, to consider the advisability of dividing that district into wards. Mr F. Jones, chairman of the Heathcote Road Board, waa in the ohair, and read the clauses of the Act bearing on the question. On the motion of Mr J. 11. Hopkins, seconded by Mr Hawker, it was unanimously resolved—" That in the opinion of this meeting the time hss arrived for the division of the Hdathoote district into five wards." The resolution was spoken to by Messrs E. J. T. Ford, John Ollivier, R. Olephane, and J. B. Maroh. Mr Clephane moved, and Mr Staples seconded—" That the Heathoote Road Board be requested to confer with Suburban Road Boards on the necessity of increasing the number of members of their Boards, and urge the same on the Q-oneral Government." Messrs J. A. Morgan, T. Favitt, and E. J. T. Ford spoke to the resolution, the latter gentleman moving as an amendment —" That the Road Board be requested to take steps to obtain an amended Aot, so that an increased number of members can be elected for this district, not to exceed nine members in the whole." On being put tc the vote, the amendment was lost. The original motion was then pet and carried by 20 to IS. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.

A Woed fob thb Maobis. —In an article on the great gathering of Natives at Te Ore Ore, the Wairarapa daily says:—"Forty years ago a similar meeting was held at the same spot, and there are among the 'visitors now at Te Ore Ore two or three old men who were present on the former ocoasion. Then the whole of the Wairarapa belonged to the Natives —now but a small tithe of it remains in their hands. In forty years hence, we assume, the period will have arrived for another meeting, but then will there be a thousand Maoris to be got from north, south, east, and west to attend it. Or will a single acre of Te Ore Ore call a Maori its master ? We expect not. The aboriginal race is being civilised off the face of the land. Visitors to Te Ore Ore cannot fail to be struck with the magnificent physical proportions of mary of the Natives assembled there. The stock from whioh they came must have been a good one, and it seems a pity that a fine people should have to move slowly and silently off the land of their forefathers." In conclusion, our contemporary says—" Visitors to Te Ore Ore cannot but notice the kindness, the hospitality, the geniality, and the sobriety of the large concourse of Natives. It might almost be said of these Maoris, as of the Highlanders, that each one of them is a gentleman ; we feel sure that all Europeans who visit the scene will find them aot as such, and that an equal amount of courtesy would not be found in any equal number of Europeans." Fibb. —A fire took place at Sumner on Wednesday afternoon, by which a house belonging to Mr Duckworth, grocer, was totally destroyed. Before the neighbors could render assistance the place was so thoroughly on fire as to prevent the possibility of the furniture being removed except a few articles. Sadmhbb' Pionio.—The saddlers of Ohristohurch and its vicinity assembled in Cathedral square yesterday morning in full force, and, preceded by Button's Band, a start was Biado for Sumner, where a most enjoyable day was spent. The party returned to town about 7.30 p m. Aooidbnt.—A man named Albert De?g was admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon, suffering from an injuiy to his thigh. It appeared that he was riding on a cart, laden with hay, on the Lincoln road, when a sudden jolt of the vehicle threw him to the gronnd. He was severely shaken.

Was in tho Business.—A quiet, man was travelling a short time ago by rail, and was annoyed by the noise which two or three men * n tn'oime carriage, were making. One at them had boon telling tremendous stories about himself in a loud Voice, and had tried once or'tTrieo'tto draw out the quiet man, but in vain.,' At last he turned to him and said, rather offensively, " I fear, Mr, that our noise has rather inconvenienced you. ? " " Not in the replied., •" " I thought," returned, tho noisy man, ''that you did not seem interested jri' my stories." " Quite the reverse, my dear sir," said the quiet one ; " I was very much so—in fact, I am a bit of a liar myself—" London Vanity Fair." A well-known professor went into a restaurant a few days ago, and sat down, a Transatlantic contemporary tells us. No ■ooner had he been fairly seated than a learned doctor came and seated himself at the other side of the table. They were strangers, but of course two euoh learned men could not keep still. The doctor opened the conversation by remarking to the man of hard words, " Are not these meteorological disturbances somewhat peculiar for these latitudes ?" The professor paused a moment, as he was mashing a potatoes, and replied, " It's about the same thing every year." "In seasons of atmospheric depression, alternating with unexpected boreal excitements and rapid changes resultant on sudden accumulations of moisture, such dispositions of the storm belt are not, in my opinion, entirely uncalled for." " Exactly," remarked the professor. The doctor continued in the same ■train, till at length the professor, knocked around the ring and orowded to the ropes, so to speak, was roused to his position, and slogged for the other's nose at once. " Ah, exsotly, my friend ! In the ledge are vast deposits of minerals. Found in volcanic matrices and disintegrated by the upheaval of plutonio rock and aemifused masses of silicious alumina, mingled with homogeneous debris of porphyry, the molecules of kaolined feldites, with a slight potesh base, the decomposition of the felspar is most affected along the line of the horizontal cleavage, and necessarily the liberated oxide of manganese, oombining with the percolation of the alkalis which permeate the entire mass, causes a pronounced stita of 'polarisation, which cannot fail to account for the peouliar attraction in the vicinity. I might further explain the intricate chemical properties of the belt by illustrating the " By this time, however, the doctor, who during his round had been verbally pasted in the jaw, smashed en the nose, and biffed in the eye, rose from his ■eat, paid full price for his half-eaten meal, and shot out of the plaee.