NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2215, 1 April 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court.— The landlord of the Royal Hotel was fined 10s this morning at this Court for a breach of the Public House Ordinance, and a charge of delaying admission to tho police preferred against the landlord of the Saxon Hotel was dismissed with a caution. Dr. Donald, 8.M., was on the Bench.

Comps bison op Death Rates.— Residents of Christchurch, who are accustomed to hear frequent complaints of our sanitary efficiency and general state of health, may take heart from a perusal of tho following totals of mortality during March for the three eities mentioned:—ln Dunedin there were 121 deaths ; in Wellington, 109 ; while in Christchurch there were only 64. Tbain Accident. —Shortly after the aflernoon South train had left Ohertsey yesterday some bags of grass seed fell off, and throw three waggons off the line. They were put on again after three-quarters of an hour’s delay without anything having sustained damage. Habboe Boaed.—At the Harbor Board meeting yesterday a return was laid upon the table showing the amount claimed and drawn as travelling expenses by members of tho Board during the last four years. Tho amounts are as follow : H. Allwright, £l2 19s 6d ; J. T, Bouse, £4 17s 6d ; H. Sawtell, £2 5s ; E. G. Wright, £47 17s 8d ; D, Craig, £2 15s j R. J. 8. Harman, £3.

Duck Shooting-. —La*t evening on the main roads converging towards tae haunts of the wild ducks there were to be met large numbers of sportsmen, evidently preparing to begin shooting as early as possible to-day. On the road to Labe Ellesmere the sportsmen seemed to bo particularly numerous, some of whom wore provided with tents and light boats, and in one instance a famous shot, counting on the number of birds to be bagged, had chartered a covered van to bring home his spoil. Whimsicalities teom the Witnessbox. —The frequenter of the Courts, if be thinks at all on the subject, must be convinced that the great majority of our longrobed gentlemen are neither witty themselves nor the cause of wit in others. This observation, of course, has aolo.referenca to their public efforts. If their talks to witnesses and addresses to the Bench are—as they mostly are —prosy, the average stupidity of their natural prey is marvellous and painful to behold or listen to. Sometimes, though, a sly thrust is got home, the unexpected result of the coaxing or bullying which is mostly submitted to with such patience and appreciation as may bo found for the occasion. Yesterday, for example, a smooth-tongued barrister was, in his oiliest tones, trying to persuade a farm-labourer to admit having been insolent to his master. “Try, now,” said he. “to recollect what you did say.” “I have been trying,” said the witness ; “ but I remember nothing particular, and I do not wish to tell a lie.” “ Well, let me assist you,” went on Mr X, insinuatingly. " You probably told your employer that he was a mean—a very mean—man now?” “Oh, yes,” returned the witness. “ I might have said that; I believe I did, for I would not tell a lie to him more than to you.” There was humour in that reply, but what can be said of the following quotation from the lips of another witness, who spoke in all the melody of the sweet Gorman accent :—“He axed me for vorrick ; I said I got no vorrick. I axed him to pring iat barty wot vant dose draws. Ho refoosed to pring dat barty, and it vas not likely I seal! gif him vorrick, nefer ! I haf nodings more to say ; I haf noder witness, but ho has shoosl gone op the door out ! ” The above was funny enough for a while, but after several repetitions it became so wearisome as to create loud murmurs among the audience, which were not to be entirely allayed by the usher’s monotonous cry—- “ Silence in the Ooort ! ” The witness, a sufferer from assault and battery, who enumerated among his symptoms : Item : One violent black eye—ho called it “voilont,” but that does not matter—probably spoke feelingly, and know exactly what he meant, as, indeed, did all his hearers—and seers, and the expression is sufficiently odd to deserre a place in these cursory remarks.

West Coast Railway. —The following letter accompanied the rough drafts of bill submitted to the Premier as published in our issue of the 30th ult. :—“ Christchurch, March 30th, 1881. —The Hon. the Premier.—Sir, — By direction of the committee of the promoters of the West Coast railway scheme, I have the honor to enclose herewith suggestions for a Trunk Line of Railway Bill, applicable to the colony at largo, which to the deputation yesterday you expressed your willingness to accept and consider. For the reasons advanced by them and reported in today’s “Times” and Press (sent herewith) they trust his Excellency’s Executive will be able to introduce and carry such a measure at toe next Parliament. To elaborate upon the advantages which must result from the construction of trunk lines throughout the colony with private capital is, in the opinion of the committee, superfluous. With a heavy burthen upon the colony, in face of our inability to negotiate further loans, tho ono object of Parliament should be, we think, to open the country in manner suggested, to the end that that portion of tho public estate which, being inaccessible, is worthless, might bo made available, that the Customs revenue might be augmented, that the security of the public creditor might be improved, and that employment might be given in tho development of our vast resources to those who at tho public cost have been brought to our shores, and who should be retained and made reproductive. I shall be glad if you will kindly send me for the use of the committee any Bill your Government may deem it wise to introduce before Parliament meets.—l have, &0., R. Pbbstok Bain, secretary. City Improvements.—A rather important step in the way of city improvements will shortly be taken in the shape of the erection of an imposing block of offices on lots 6 and 6 of the Barker Estate in Worcester street. The proposed block will have a frontage of 44ft. to Worcester street, and a right-of-way 22ft. wide running from Oxford terrace. All the frontage is available. Tho building will be devoted to offices, which from its close proximity to the Poet-office, Supremo Court, and Resident Magistrate’s Courts will prove most central. There will be three floors, the building son ling well back into the section so as to afford room for spacious offices. Strong rooms will be built up from the basement, and every convenience provided for the offices. The block will be built in brick with otacco front, and there will be four suites of offices on each of the top floors, and two large ones on the ground floor. Messrs Carmichael and Son are the contractors, and Mr F. Strouts the architect. It is probable, seeing that the traffic is setting very largely in the direction of Cathedral square, that other large blocks will follow, indeed some are already spoken of as likely to be erected during the present year.

Westport Coax. —At the meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, hold yesterday, a repoit from the Board’s superintending engineer with reference to a trial made of the Westpart coal was read, and will be found in another column. It wi’l be seen that the coal in question proved if anything superior to the imported artiole from Newcastle.

Vital Statistics. —During the past month 159 births, 23 marriages, and 64 deaths were registered for the City of Christchurch and district. In the corresponding month of 1880, the numbers were—Births, 164 ; marriages, 53; deaths, 79. Railway Band Concert.— Tho Railway Band gave a special open air concert in Cathedral square yesterday evening, when as per published announcement they performed besides other pieces a grand fantasia " The Wedding Day,” in excellent style, A large crowd surrounded tho Godley statue from the beginning to the end of the concert. New Zealand’s Credit. —“ Westgarth's Circular,” of February 11th, reports :—ln the midst of the prevailing dulness New Zealand securities have alone advanced since our previous issue, and the last loan (5 per cent. 1889) with its present monopoly of 4 per cent, inscription hag been especially enquired for. The demand has been fitful and occasionally heavy, as if the buying came from some of the larger financial institutions, amongst which tho New Zealand Government’s policy of retrenchment is gradually restoring the colony to its former position of financial credit.

Supreme Court. — The quarterly criminal sittings of the Supreme Court will open on Monday next before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston. The calendar, though not lengthy as regards the number of cases for trial, yet includes some grave charges. The following are the cases:—Regina v Walter Gibson, murder; Regina v G. Douglas, larceny; Regina v Henry Jackson, arson; Regina v Alfred Westlake, maliciously wounding a horse; Regina v D. J. Philips, unlawfully pawning ; Bogina v John Boaufield, attempt to murder; Regina v Edward Wells, forcible entry; Regina v Robert Wyatt, malicious injury to machinery. The list on the civil side is this session a very lengthy one indeed. The late Captain O. A. Bettington.— Some little time back the nows was received here of the receipt by Captain 0. A. Bettington of the O.M.G. distinction for his bravery during the Zulu war whilst in command of Bettington’s Horse. By the last mail his numerous friends in Christchurch will learn with regret that the news of his death was received. Captain Bettington, on reaching England from New Zealand, proceeded to the Capo, where, when the Zulu war broke cut, he with a troop of horse volunteered for active service. He went all through the campaign, and distinguished himself on several occasions, more particularly at Ulundi, the closing battle of the war. He was twice mentioned honorably in despatches, and at the conclusion of the war returned to England, and through the influence of Sir Garnet Wolsoly, obtained an appointment in the Houssa Force on tho West Coast of Africa, wnere ho died after a short illness of malignant fever. This sudden close to what promised to be a brilliant career oannot but bo deeply regretted. A New Zealand he at Home.—Mr J, E. Gorst,tho Conservative member for Chatham, who recently moved that a new writ should be issued for Northampton (Mr Bradlaugh’s constituency), was formerly a resident in Now Zealand, where he held the appointment of

civil commissioner of Waikato from 1861 if 1865, -,i He •published in 1864 a work oa the Maori War, entitled the “ Maori King.’* He sat for the borough of Cambridge from 1866 to 1868, and was elected for Chatham in February, 1875,

A Hartford clerical friend, who knows the dramatis personal, informs us of this occurrence, which took place a few-Sundayu ago in a Sunday school not more than twenty miles from that city. “Is there,” asked the teacher of her juvenile class, “ any mention in the Bible ot any dumb animal talking?” Long and awkward pause. At last one little seven-year-old lifts her hand. "Can you toll?” asks the teacher. “ Yeth ’m. After the whale thwallerod Jonah he felt very uncomfortable round here ” (rubbing her lower stomach), “ and he exclaimed, ‘ Thou almotht perthuadeth me to be a Christian," ”

“Anything new or fresh this morning ?” a reporter asked in a railroad office. “Yes,” replied the lone occupant ot the apartment. “What is it?” queried the reporter, whipping out his note-book. Said the railroad man, edging his way towards the door, “ That paint you are leaning aaainst.” The railroad man is now in the hospital, and the reporter is in gaol.