NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2305, 24 August 1881, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Case op the Dos “Marmion” ob •'Lbebx.”—At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning in the above ease, heard on August 17tb, Mr Wood gave the following judgment:—“Piper v Thomas.—The first question, 1 Were the rules of the Canterbury Coursing Club adopted by the Papanui Coursing Club ? must be decided in the affirmative, as proved by the minutes of the secretary, 2nd. ‘Was the entry of ‘ Lelei’ contrary to the spirit of those rules ?’ The dog ‘Lelex’ was formerly called ‘ Marmion,’but as there is no evidence that he ever ran in public under that name, it is of no importance, and the question is thus confined to his nomination, and whether he was disqualified through not having paid a penall y imposed on him. I find that ‘ Lelex’ was not the bona Jide property of a member of a recognised Coursing Club at the time he was entered, and _ I find the plaintiff entered the dog as his own property, and neglected the prefex of 1 (n.s.)’, as provided by rule 5, Mr Piper elates that he was the owner of the dog till after the course, but rule 5 must be read with rule 4, and the note to rule 4, which must be looked at as the interpretation clause of tho term bona fide, provides that 1 no dog purchased or procured in any way for a limited time to be held as bona fide property.’ As regards the second objection, which was the real cause of the disqualification of ‘ Lelex,’ viz., that his owner had been fined £1 under rule 22, which provides that ‘ any person allowing a greyhound to get loose and join in a course which is being run shall be fined £l,’ and the club not having any other means of recovering a penalty, have protected them•elves under rule 33, which provides that the committee or stewards may, in addition to any pecuniary penalty so inflicted, declare the person so offending incapable to run or enter a greyhound in his own or any other person’s name during any subsequent period that they may decide upon, and, therefore, that the stewards were justified in disqualifying ‘Lelex.’ Verdict for defendant, with costs of Court, expenses of one witness 10s, and professional fee £1 Is.”

Pabliambntaby.—A telegrsm reached up from Wellington at three o’clock this afternoon stating that the H me continued fitting up till 1 p.m. to-day, at which hour a motion to report progress was negatived by 29 to 19. Dbainagb Boabd —A special meeting of this Hoard was held to-day, at noon, for the purpose of defining the boundaries of the suburban and rural districts for the rating purposes of the Board. Present—Mr H. J. Cancred (chairman), Messrs W. White, jun., J. B. Brown, O. Guff, and E. J. S. Harman. The boundaries, as defined by the committee, wore duly submitted and confirmed. Mr O. Guff moved —“That the Board notify their intention to mate the following rates on the undermentioned districts under the Board, viz :—Christchurch, XOd in tho £ ; suburban, 10d in the £ ; rural, Sydenham, 2d in the £ ; rural, Spreydon, 2d in tho £; rural, Avon, 8d in the £ ; rural, Heathcote, s|d in the £ ; rural, Eiooarton, 2Jd in the £ ; also, that the said rate shall be for the period commencing on Ist January, 1881, and ending on the 31st December, 1881, and that the said rate shall be payable in one sum on the 15th September, 1881, and that the rate book is open for inspection at the office of the Board, Hereford street, Christchurch.” Mr R. J. S. Harmon seconded tho resolution, which was carried unanimously. This was all tho business. Lyttelton Maqistbatb’s Ooubt.—Mr J. Beswiok presided at this Court this morning and disposed of the following businesss:—An appication for a transfer of the wine and beer license of the Victoria Dining Booms from O. Johnson to W. Morling, Mr N alder for the applicant, was adjourned until Friday for tho police to report. Civil oases as follow were heard :—Bain v Fitzgerald, claim £5 6s 6d ; judgment for plaintiff. Guff and Graham v Sheath, claim £7 12s; Mr Nalder for plaintiff. Defendant had paid the amount into Court the day before the day of hearing, but it being shown that no notice of the same had reached tho plaintiffs, judgment was given for tho plaintiffs, with costs and counsel’s fee. J. Pope v Hughes, claim £8 12s 9d. Plaintiff failed to appear, and judgment was given for the defendant by defanlt. Thbatbb Boyal.—“The Galley Slave” concluded its career last evening.” To-night “ Eustacho the Convict” will be produced.

The late Attempted Suicidb.—The man Tobiason, who attempted to kill himself by taking strychnine on Monday last, is past all danger, and will be quite recovered from the effects of his rash act in a few days, when no doubt he will be called upon to answer for his conduct at the B.M. Court.

The Dbuids.—The Mistletoe Lodge held their usual fortnightly meeting on Thursday evening last, at the Star and Garter Hotel, Oxford terrooe, A. D. Bro. Hepburn in the chair. There was a fair attendance of members, end several visitors from other lodges. The centenary delegates gave their report, and stated that [everything was in readiness for the grand demonstration on tho 25th inst., and hoped that the members would turn out in strong force. The lodge closed in the usual form at 10.40 p.m. Diocesan Synod.—The annual session of the Diocesan Synod was opened yesterday at 230 p.m. by tho Primate at the College Library. The President delivered the annual address, which touched upon the various topics of interest to tho churchmen of the province. The various reports of committees, Sc o., were laid on the table, and after the appointment of the usual sessional officers the Synod adjourned until 4 pm. to-day. The usual services in connection with the opening of Synod were conducted at St. Michael’s church at 11 a.m. and 7 pm. The service in the evening was fully choral, the preachers being, in the morning the Primate, and in the evening the Rev. Mr Watson. Neglected Ohildben.—Yesterday four children of Richard Lancaster, Ashburton, ranging in years from twelve to one and a half, were sent by the local R.M. to the Burnham Institution for seven years each, the father to pay 6s a week for the support of each child.

Cm OoxjKcrx, Eiaoriow.—A meeting of the ratepayers of the South-east Ward, favorable to the re-election of Councillor C. F. Hulbert to the City Council, was hold last evening, in the Academy of Music. There was a large attendance; Mr W. P. Warner being elected to the chair. The meeting was called for the purpose of electing a committee, &c., but several questions were asked by Mr Clarkson and satisfactorily answered. With regard to the question of the fire brigade, and its cost to the city. Councillor Hulbert admitted that a very high rate of insurance ruled in this city, hut wished to point out that the £250 paid by the Insurance Companies of Cbristchurch did not represent the total contributions from that source. Ho referred to particular incidental contributions, and added that the Insurance Companies had promised to give a third of the cost of the proposed new system of fire alarm signals. He was of opinion that the Insurance Companies have paid as much towards the prevention of fire as in any other parts of the colony ; but he might say at once that he would not be a party to abolish the brigade. The best method of reducing the rate of insurance, and at the same time lessening the cost of fire prevention, was, in his opinion, the introduction of a sufficient water supply. With regard to the relatione between the City Council and the Tramway, he pointed out that it was too late now to consider whether the latter body had obtained their privileges too cheaply, the agreement having been made; but in the event of any future concessions being required of the Council, he would make it his business to see that the city should receive a fair share of the benefit from such undertakings. In reference to the reorganisation of the Council staff, Councillor Hulbert said the necessity for such was only too apparent, commencing with the highest official on the staff, viz., the town clerk. But he would say no more on this point, as he had tabled a motion on the subject, which would be fully discussed at next meeting of the Council. Councillor Hulbert also replied to some other questions of minor importance. A number of gentlemen then signed their names as supporters of the cendidate, and an influential committee was formed to secure his return.