NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2483, 22 March 1882, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Earthquake. —Two dstirct shocks wore felt at Lyttelton this tnornin at eleven minutes past nine o'clock, the second one following the first within a seco d or two. A sharp shock was also felt iu Christchurch at 9 9.

B.M. Coubt, Lyttelton. —A first offender, found for tho first time drunk sad incapable, was discharged with a caution at this Court this morning by Mr H. Allwright, J.P. Another defendant, who admitted he was drunk, was fioed 10s for resisting tho police and 20s for using obscene language. Pbbsbbted Fish. —An albicore and a kingfiob, captured on the passage from London of the barque Matanra, were put into tho freezing chamber by Captain Qreenstreet, and have arrived in a fine state of preservation. Captain Qreenstreet has promised the albicore to the Museum.

A Missing Boy —The parents of a lad named William EUtob, seven years of age, residing"'at Moa Place, Madras street north, reported late last night at the Police Depot that he has been missing frcm home since three o’clock in the afternoon of yesterday. He was as wearing a straw hat, brown -jacket and grey trousers. Wbatheb Exchange —Sydney yesterday —On west coast of Australia N.E. wind and threatening; on the south coast S. W. wind and hezy ; Tasmania, B.W. ; wind and fine ; New South Wales, N E. and fine. Barometer —Albany, 29 8 ; Portland, 30.2 ; Hobart, 30.0 ; Sydney, 80 3. Cantsebdrt Orphanage.— The master of the Orphanage wishes to acknowledge with thanks receipt of two cases of pears from an anonymous donor for the children in this institution.

Harness Bobbbbibs. —During tho past few days several robberies of harness have been reported. About a week ago a saddle was stolen from a farm at Swannanoa, more recently a saddle, bridle, and stock whip from Guthrie's livery stables, Eangiora, and on Monday night a set of light curt harness from Captain Parson’s, Fernando, and a bridle from Mr Bailey’s farm, near Fernside. Farmers would do well to see that their premises are secured against the visits of tramps and midnight intruders. Thompson’s Diobama. —There was a good attendance at the Gaiety Theatre last night, when the diorama of the Zulu war was again exhibited. The principal gift was a piano, which was disposed of in Mr Thompson’s usual satisfactory manner. To-night the Diorama will be again exhibited, and tomorrow Mr Thompson gives away his Zulu charger. Politicians. —During the delivery of his decision in the Wanganui election petition case, Judge Gillies said—“As for Askew and Middleton, he looked on them as utterly unworthy of credit. They wore of the untrustworthy class of old soldiers and public house loafers, men of whom his honor bad known much of in elections, men who were prepared to take either side and then betray it.”

Sposting and Science. —Mr Proctor, whoso lectures on astronomy will bo remembered with pleasure by many of our readers, has recently started in London a weekly publication called “Knowledge," an illustrated magazine of scienco, plainly worded —exactly described. In the number for •December )6th, he commences a series of papers on betting and mathematics, and he thus pleasantly discourses about a New Zealand betting man : —“A curious instance of the loss of ell sense of honor, or even of honesty, which batting begets, occurred to mo when I was in New Zealand. A bookmaker — 1 by profession,’ as he said—as genial and good-natured a man as one would_ cate to meet, and with a strong sense of right and justice outside belting, had learned somehow that ten horses can come in—apart from dead heats—in 3,62B,ooodifferent ways. This onrions piece of information seemed to him an admirable way of getting money from the inexperienced. So he began to wager about it, endeavoring—though it will be seen he failed —to win money by wagering on a certainty. Unfortunately, ho early came across a man as 'cute as himself, and a shade ’cuter (a brigand, brigand et demi ), who worded the question on which the wager turns, thus : “In how many ways can ten horses be placed?" Of course, this is a very different thing. Only the first three hor-es can be placed, and the sets of three which can be made out of ton horses number only ten times nine times eight, or 720 (there are only 120 actual sets of three, but each sot can be placed in six different ways). My genial, but (whatever he thought himself) not quite honest f-iecd, submitted the matter to me. Not noticing at first the technical use of the word ‘placed,’ I told him there were 3.628,000 different arrangements. He rejoiced as though the money wngored wore already in hia pocket. When this was corrected, and I told him his opponent had certainly won, us the question would be understood by betting men, he was at first depressed, hut, presently recovering, he said— 1 Ah ! well, I shall win more out of this little trick, now I nee through it, than I dose this time.’ ”

SOUTHBBIDGB S.Vt. COUBT.—Bofore iJi J. Lee and E. B. Willie, B>qe-. Frank Burns eras charged by the police with being drun , with using obscene language, in a pub 10 thoroughfare, and with assaulting and resisting the police. The charges were proved, and as there had been several previous convictions, the Bench sentenced the accused to two months' imprisonment with hard labour. _ Masonic.— There was a goodly gathering of members and visiting brethren at the regular meeting of the Eobert kodge last evening, to bid lon voyage tor.M.Hro. Christie, an old and respected member of the Lodge, who is about to pay a visit to England. After the closing of the Lodge Bro. Ohnstie s health was proposed by the B W.M. Bro. Gourlay, and responded t > by Bro. Christie in a neat speech. Me Denton’s Lectubbs. — The first of a second course of lectures was delivered last night in the Oddfellows’ Hall by Mr Denton. Hie lecturer took for hia subject, “ Man in the Stone Age," and gave a veiy interesting account of the old and now atone ago, the ago of bronze, and the age of iron. The lecture was illustrated with views, and was equally well delivered with those which have preceded it. It was listened to throughout with attention, and applause was frequent. To-night the subject will bo ‘‘ Ancient Egypt.” Accidents —On Monday a lad named Arthur Braufleld was engaged driving a horse attached to a raking machine, when the animal, being startled, kicked the boy and broke both his logs. Ho was taken to Ashburton Hospital.—Mr James "Wilkie, contractor, of Ashburton, was assisting in the stacking of timber yesterday at Mr Haya’s timber yards, when the stack fell, breaking one of Mr Wilkie’s legs immediately above the ankle. He was removed to Quill’s Hotel, whe;e every care was taken of him, and was attended by Drs. Koss and Murdoch. Stab op Oantbbbubt. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of Court Star of Canterbury, A.0.F., was held in the Foresters* Hall on Monday evening. Visiting brothers were present from Wellington, Dunedin, Oatnaru, Papanui, and Bingsland Courts. A letter was read from the district secretary re the Exhibition procession, and it was resolved to call the members together by advertisement. One of the Wellington visitors stated that it was quite probable about 200 of the members of his Court would visit Christchurch about the time of opening the Exhibition, Mr A. Loughrey was duly initiated into the Order as an honorary member. The remainder of the business of the evening was of the usual routine character, and at the close the O. E. closed the Court with the usual formalities. A Point op Law. —A rather curious point cropped up in the Bosidont Magistrate’s Court on the 17th, says the ‘‘Times.” When a civil case, MTntyrev Vetalli Ohezarce, was called on, Mr Gully, who appeared for the plaintiff, said, that evidence which had been taken in Christchurch, where the summons had been served, and forwarded to Wellington, made it evident that the wrong person had been served. It was quite clear that no judgment could be given against him, and he would therefore apply that the time for service of the summons might be enlarged. Mr Bell, who appeared for Ohezaree, objected to this, but Mr Gully contended that his learned friend had no locus standi, as he did not represent any party to the suit. Mr Bell said ha did not appear for the defendant in the case, but for the man who was served, and whose evidence was taken in Christchurch. He would apply for costs, and leave it to the Magistrate to say whether he would allow counsel's fee. Mr Gully said there was no reason why Mr Bell’s client should have taken any notice of the service at all. He had also called three witnesses to prove his own identity, and surely that was unnecessary. The case was struck out, no costs being allowed.

The New Libel Act. —The first case under the Newspaper Libel Act of last session was tried recently at the Newcastle Assizes, before Mr Justice Mathew and a special jury. The plaintiffs were two nurses at Gateshead workhouse, and the defendants the proprietors of the “ Tyneside Echo,” an evening paper published at Newcastle. It appeared that in October last, at a ratepayers’ meeting in Gateshead, an allegation was made that nurses at the workhouse drank whisky intended for the paupers in the hospital. The statement was published in that newspaper without the name of the speaker, who was unknown at the time, but has since been discovered. Subsequently the matter was brought before the Guardians, who passed a motion vindicating the character of the nurses and asking the paper in question to publish it. This was done, but at the same time a statement was made that the charges in question had been hawked about. The editor, however, expressed his pleasure in publishing the refutation. Both nurses now brought actions, one in respect of the report of the meeting, and the other in respect of the subsequent comment. The case excited considerable interest, and the Court was crowded. The defendants’ contention was that the report was privileged under the new Act, and that the comments were not libellous. The judge summed up in favor of this view, and a verdict was given for the defendants. Magistrate's Coubt, Banqioba. —At this Court on Tuesday the Magistrates present were O. Whitefoord, B.<q., 8.M.. A. H. Cunningham, and J. O. Boys, Etqs. No police oases were set down for hearing. In the cases of Luxton Bros, v J. Wheeler, £8 10s Bd, and F. Howell v Same, £2l Os 6d, judgment summonses, orders were made for payment of the amounts within seven days, or in default a term of imprisonment. D. Brown v Lee Bros., £4B for contract for sowing, reaping, and harvesting grain ; Mr Clark for plaintiff, Mr Gresson for defendant. The evidence showed that the plaintiff contracted with defendants to farm several hundred acres of land near Fernside, but defendants in settling up deducted from the payments due in respect of the labor included in the contract the foregoing amount for rolling and re-stooking part of the crop. The agreement between the parties provided that plaintiff was to receive notice when the crops ware to be rolled. This notice was given, but plaintiff not coming at the time, the defendants bad the work done. During a wind several of the stocks were blown down, and the defendants erected them, charging the labor at the price contracted by plaintiff. A sum of £1 4>i had been paid into Court, for which the Bench gave judgment, the plaintiff to pay all costs. Wakantjx Eeectoeatb. —lt will bo remembered that Messrs Joseph Ivess, J. O. Wason, and C W. Purnell were candidates for the suffrages of this constituency at the last election. The political battle having apparently to bo fought over again, Mr Purnell has definitely resolved not to come forward as a candidate on this occasion, but to support Mr Alfred Saunders in his present candidature in opposition to Mr Ivess. It is understood that the respective supporters of both Mr Ivess and Mr Saunders are making strenuous efforts on bahalf of their favorite, and that a large number of names of voters, supposed to favor one side or the other, have recently been added to the electoral roll. In this fresh campaign Mr Saunders has been first in the field, having taken the initiative by addressing the electors at Ashburton, and following this up by a second address announced to be given at Eakaia this evening. Mr Ivess has not yet re-addreosed the constituents of the maiden district of Wakanui, and appears to be reserving his energy until his opponent shall have fired off a few preliminary shots. Died tob a Coat —Among the charred human remains removed recently from the ruins of the Bing Theatre in Vienna wore those of Henry Samek, the chief of the claque, who, after displaying extraordinary gallantry in rescuing several parsons from the galleries of the burning house, lost his life in a vain effort to save his—overcoat ! His thorough knowledge of the ins and outs of the theatre enabled him to enter it again and again, each time with impunity and success, in his heroic purpose, while the conflagration was raging. He had just conveyed an Insensible woman from one of the lobbies into the balcony overlooking the Hess Gasse, when he suddenly remembered that bo had left bis enrtout hanging from a peg close to the exit from the third gallery, in which part of the house he had been seated when the fire broke out, and forthwith re moved to recover it. One of his subordinates entreated him to forego so perilous an enterprise, and even endeavored to keep him back by main force. But Samek, an extremely powerful man, shook him off, exclaiming—- <• Nothing can happen to me, for I know the house as well as I know my own pocket,” and vanished into the smoke, never more to emerge thence alive. Thus perished the head pu’.voyor of applause to the ill-fated Bing Theatre on the scene of his nightly labors. Ha died for a coat, it is true, but not until ho had proved himself a hero in a hotter cause than that lov which ho throw away hie life.

Tbamway Company. —This company have decided to call tor tenders for the supply of nones for working a portion of the line. The experiment will probably be tried on the line to the railway station for three months, and if successful no doubt it will be extended. Cautioning Pbisonbrs. —In the Supreme Court in Adelaide recently an old man, aged eighty-three, was indicted on a charge of arson. A trooper deposed to arresting the prisoner and cautioning him. In reply to Honor ao to the caution he used, the trooper sa’d that he had said to the prisoner that “ anything you may say will be used against you on your trial.” His Honor then refused to accept the statement made by the prisoner to the trooper. He had just been reading a case that occurred in England lately, when a learned Judge refused to accept evidence in a case exactly similar to the present one. No inducement or expectation should bo used to induce o prisoner to make a statement. He had read the case very carefully. A man in authority had said, “ What you say will be used against you.” It encourages the man to make out a case, and therefore was not evidence. It was the duty of a constable when arresting a man to eay, “ What you Bay may or may not bo used against you.” Ho had made a particular note of that case, and in the present one would follow the English authority and not admit the evidence. The trooper then said that the prisoner had said at the police station to a constable, “ I put the stack on fire.” Hie Honor —" What led up to this ?” The trooper said ho did not know. His Honor asked if the constable was present, and upon receiving an answer in the negative, said he would not recsive the evidence. It was most unfoir to prisoners, and they might bo punished in this way most unjustly. When the Crown was getting up a ease the prisoners had a right to have every oomidoration shown them. He then directed the jury to acquit the prisoner, which was accordingly done. Milking tub State Cow.— A short time ago, says an exchange, a County Council in Victoria got a very handsome subsidy by fraudulent means. A couple of the councillors handed in their cheques for considerable sums, and the amounts were credited to rates received, and in this way the Govern ment subsidy for the amount represented by the cheques was secured. The astute Ooun cillors then withdrew their cheques. The hospitals in Victoria are so liberally subsidised by the State that the committees sometimes find a difficulty Jn getting rid of the cash. One committee recently expended their surplus in laying out and beautifying a public garden, and another built a ‘‘swell” residence forth* hospital superintendent, which he and his large family are allowed to occupy rent free.

Ambeblby Faembbs’ Club, —A meeting of this club was held in the ante-room of the Town Hall on Monday evening ; Mr G. D Greenwood was in the chair, A letter wa. read from H. Mcllraith, E.q,, M.H.S., re the small birds nuisance, and asking the club to communicate with other clubs as to tho best means to remove the pest, to that united action could be taken in the matter. Tho hon. sec. was instructed to comply with the wishes of the letter. Mr E. Foster then read his paper on ‘‘ Diseases in Sheep,” and was listened to with marked attention by those present, and on concluding was loudly applauded. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Foster for his valuable paper, and a hope that ha would read another paper at soma future time. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. Evangelistic. —ln view of Mrs Hatnpson’s expected visit to Ashburton in about a month’s time, Mr T, E. Hodder has been elected secretary, and Mr H. J. Weeks appointed to organise a choir. The invitation to Mrs Hampson was conveyed to her by tho Bev. Mr Nixon.

Bacon Bissoi.es. —For these any remains of cold children or veal can be used thus — Free it from bone, skin, and gristle, and mince finely ; season highly with pepper and a little salt, and, if procurable, add two or three chopped mushrooms, some fine bread crumbs, and mis the whole to a paste with the yolk of an egg. H&vo some neatly cut slices of bacon, pare the edges, lay each slice out flat, and put a little of the mince on it, roll it up and skewer neatly ; fry in bacon fat and serve on toast.