NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2709, 13 December 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Novel Treatment.— The Bench this morning went out of the usual groove in dealing with a drunkard. A man who had been uproariously drunk, and who had behaved himself indecently at the same time, made a strong appeal by his counsel for lenient treatment, on the ground that he had a wife and eight children dependent on his exertions. He admitted having been convicted four times in the year of drunkenness ; he had, in fact, been fined for that offence only the day before, but he was now penitent, and intended to reform. Mr Whitefoord, who presided, said this was a usual plea. Offenders, failing any excuse, tried to shelter themselves behind the pity excited for their families, who were generally the greatest sufferers in these cases. The Bench would give this delinquent a chance, however, and adjourned judgment, ordering him to enter into his own recognizance of ,£25 for one month. If he re formed, behaved himself in that time, and became a Good Templar, he would be let off with a nominal penalty. If he broke out again he would be severely punished. Valuable Statistics.—Our contemporary the “ Lyttelton Times ” this morning makes the startling assertion that Rome, with a population of 23,000 inhabitants, has 7500 priests. Rome is thus made hardly more than half the size of Christchurch and üburbs, and there is one priest to every 3.3 of men, women and children. As there are fully 10,000 Jews in the city and several thousand Protestants, not to mention that there are about 8000 troops quartered there, these priests must have an easy time of it, having rather loss '.than nobody to look after. Latest statistics gives the real numbers as follows .• —Population, 229,356 ; priests and friars, 4500 ; nuns, 2000. Quoits. —A match took place on Saturday last between the Rangiora and Southbrook Quoit; Clubs, and resulted in a very close game, Southbrook eventually winning by a few points. The highest scorers were Adamson, 20, for Southbrook; and Hammond, 10, for Rangiora. A dinner was held at Mullins’ Red Lion Hotel in the evening. R.M. Court, Lyttelton.—Mr John Ollivier, R.M., sat this morning, and disposed of the following business: —W. Kelly, chargedlwith breaking a door at the Saxon Hotel, was fined 5s and costs, and ordered to pay damage done, 12s. A little boy named Gray, charged with stone throwing, was caution', d. Langdon and Judge sued W. Davey for £,7 12s Gd. Mr Haider appeared for defendant. Prom the evidence it appeared that the account was a mistake made by the former manager for the plaintiffs in Lyttelton, and judgment was accordingly given for defer}daut with costs and counsel’s fee. A case, Edgar v Cook, was adjourned to December 20th. Masonic. —The installation of officers of the Kilwinning Lodge, No. 555 S.C., took place last night at their hall, Lyttelton. Bro. Rev. J. Hill, P.M., conducted the ceremony, and duly installed and invested the following officers in a very impressive manner:—R.W.M., Bro. James Grubb; D.M., Bro. J. L. Carrell; S.M.. Bro. P. Cooke; S.W., Bro. Neale; J.W., Bro. Cowper ; S.D., Bro. Jory ; J.D., Bro. Dix ; tyler, Bro. P. Arnold; stewards, Bros. W. G. Johnston and J. Brice; secretory, Bro. M. Brown; treasurer, Bro. John Grubb. A large number of brethren wore present, including several visitors. After the ceremony was completed a very pleasant hour was spent in the anteroom, several Masonic toasts being given, and a few good songs rendered by some of the brethren present

Graving caisson of the dock was yesterday tested for the last time and found to be satisfactory. Tho work of taking out the coffer dam will now be pushed ahead with, and the dock made ready for the official opening on the 3rd prox.

Entertainment at Sumner. —We understand the young people of Sumner, through the kind and liberal support of their Christchurch friends and the Sumner residents, had a grand success on Saturday last, and succeeded in getting rid of nearly all the articles made or given. Several donations in money were forwarded by people who were unable to attend personally, so that they will be able to send home a sum of .£32, enough to maintain, educate, and teach a trade to two hoys, who would otherwise most likely go the downward road to ruin. There will he asmall sum over, which will he reserved to a new effort with, and they are looking forward to even a grander successnest year, as they feel assured that the bettor Dr. Bernardo’s Homes for Destitute Children are known the more people will he inclined to help in the support of this useful institution.

Sheep Worms. —Mr E. Foster, inspector of sheep, while going through a flock in the northern district a day or two ago, observing some of the hoggets scouring was granted permission to have one killed for the purpose of inspecting it for the bronchial worms, hut as the lungs and heart were sound he found on further examination that in the larger intestine leaving the stomach there were present a number of small worms ( trich.occph.alus ) present, and from the existence of which parasites the flock was evidently suffering. Hr Foster purposes to communicate the result of his investigations to the " Country Journal” for the benefit of flockmasters interested.

Board ot Conservators. —The last meeting of the present members of this body was held yesterday afternoon. There was very little business done beyond the reading by the chairman of a statement of their proceedings during their term of office. It gave a very hopeful account of the concerns of the Board. On January 2nd, ISS3, a new Board will be elected for a term of three years.

Bakers’ Picnic. —A meeting to decide upon tbe holding of a haters’ picnic was held last night. Mr Robertson -was elected to the chair. The following officers were elected: —Secretary, Mr Burns ; treasurer, Mr Plumridge; committee, Messrs Sutherland, Lloyd, Farrar, Miles, Drew, Marshall, Hopper and Williams. It was resolved that the picnic he held on the third Wednesday in January. Kaiapoi Rifle Club. —A meeting of the committee of this club was held on. Monday evening in the Municipal Chamber. Mr Caleb Smith, a vice-president, occupied the chair, and eight were present. It was reported that the targets had been removed from the range, and steps were taken to obtain others in their place. The City Guards Company applied for permission to use the range, and suggested it should be used for the firing for the district prizes. It was decided to agree to the same. A letter was read from the Kowai club in reference to a triangular match, and also a competition between, that club and the E Battery. The 30th was suggested as the date for those matches, and the 23rd for a match with the City Guards. Ashbueton Boeough Council. —The

ordinary meeting of the above Council

took place on Monday evening. Present— His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Bird, Friedlander, Harrison, St. Hill, Nelson, A. Orr,

and Roberts. In his opening remarks, the chairman said complaints had been made against the borough scavenger, and the subject would have to be dealt with by the Council that evening. Correspondence was read from the Deputy Property Tax Commissioner re the valuation of the borough, and from Mr T. Bullock, the latter asking for permission to erect a verandah in front of premises in Burnett street. Permission granted. Mr Potter wrote re the scavenger, and the scavenger himself, Mr Taylor, wrote, asking the Council to overlook the charges of neglect, &c., that had been brought against him. The report of' the inspector of nuisances was read,, which stated the borough scavenger had been neg'.ecting his duty, and great complaints had been made of the way in which the work had been done, some of the refuse of the borough having been emptied into the Domain reservoir, whilst at other times it had been found deposited in the side channels. The police also reported that the scavenger had on one occasion emptied his cart into the main stream of the river. The Chairman remarked that he had seen for some time prist that Taylor was not a fit person toholdthe position he did, and he thought it was quite time the Council dispensed with his services. Cr. Priedlander also complained of the conduct of the scavenger. Cr. Harrison moved —" That the scavenger’s contract be cancelled, and that steps be taken to fill his place.” Several councillors expressed themselves strongly against the actions of Taylor, and Cr. Harrison’s motion was put and carried unanimously. After some discussion, it was resolved that the Council grant totheir employes a holiday on Monday next,, in lieu of Saturday. The clerk, Mr C. Braddell, was appointed Returning Officerfor the borough licensing district. The Mayor expressed himself in favor of applying to the Government for the appointment of a Resident Magistrate for Ashburton. After the ordinary business of the Council, the Chairman reported that the Minister for Public Works had visited the district on Saturday, and in company -with members of tne County and Borough Councils, bad made an official inspection of' the Mount Somers railway line. The Chairman also stated that he thought the Hon. W. Johnston was in favor of a deviation of the present route.

Resident Magistrate run Ashburton —For a considerable time past parties having business at the Magistrate’s Court have been put to great inconvenience, owing to the absence of a Magistrate, and in many instances pe pie have come from a distance for the purpose of having theircases decided, but have had to return and incur the expense of another journey to town on some other occasion. Already the Minister of Justice has been communicated, with on the subject, and a petition is now being numerously signed in Ashburton and other parts of the district, asking that a. Resident Magistrate he appointed for Ashburton. The petition was laid before the Borough Council at its meeting on Mondayevening, and signed by all the Councillors present.

Inquest at Kaiapoi.—An inquiry into the death of David Ramsey, a boy about ten years old, who was drowned on Tuesday, while bathing in the Waimakariri, near Adam street, was held the same day, before C. Whitefoord, Esq., coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr W. Fraser was foreman. The evidence was to the effect that the deceased and some other boys were bathing in the river, and that not being able to swim he got into deep water and was drowned. The coroner complimented the hoy W. Edmonds for his plucky efforts to save his companion. The jury returned a verdict that the cause of death was accidental drowning, and added a rider agreeing with the coroner’s remarks as to the conduct of W. Edmonds. They alsowished to compliment Louis Edmonds for the prompt way in which ho gave assistance.

The Small Bied Nuisance. —A meeting of the committee of the Southbridge Farmers’ Club was held in the Royal Hotel, Southbridge, on Monday evening,, to consider what arrangements could be made for canvassing the district for signatures to a petition re the small birds nuisance. Mr G. C. Waby occupied the chair. On the motion of Mr John Campbell, the following petition was adopted, and it was decided to circulate the same through the -district—“ We, the undersigned ratepayers in the Ellesmere road district do hereby petition the Ellesmere Road Board to levy a special rate of one penny in the .£ upon all rateable property in the Ellesmere district for the destruction of birds, in accordance with the Small Birds Nuisance Act, 18S2, the same to be collected with the usual Road Board rate.’' A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.

Weather Exchange. Yesteruai Zealand : Fine weather, with Kesb northerly winds, except in the South, where it has changed to light S.W.; heavy rain at the Bluff at night. Australia : Ihe pressure recovered; light rain at Hobart ; wind N.W.; otherwise fine, although cloudy; S.W. winds in the south, easterly in the west, and S.E. at Sydney. Barometer—Russell, 30.3 ; Wellington, 30.1 ; Bluff, 30.2 ; Albany, 29.9 ; Portland, 30.1; Hobart, 30.0 ; Sydney, 30.0.