LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 241, 30 January 1877, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We do not know who is responsible for the vagaries md in with rega~d to the hours at which the Police Court opens, but certainly they are such as we have not seen carried out elsewhere. On Saturdays the Court opens at ten o'clock, and we believe that on other days eleven o'clock is the appointed hour, but very often the business is not commenced until twenty minutes or half an hour later. This morning, however, thsrj was a changi in another direction, and although oar reporter was in atten lance punctually at eleven, he found the business had bcon in progress from half-past ten. It is possible there was some reason for the change, but we think it is not asking too much to request that when such becomes necessary an intimation of the fact should lie given to the Press. Very often the Court is att- nded at an inconvenience, and it is not very satisfactory when being there at the appointed hour to find either that the business Ins been tnnsactcd, or half an hour has to be lost before it is commenced.

We have been a*ked to correct an error into which our contemporary has fallen with regard to the appearance of Harlow's Circus. It is not this evening, as stated, but tomorrow cv« n'ng on which it will make its first appearance.

We have r.-ceived the amended railway timc-taVc for the month of February, but have licmi unable to publish it in this issue. I; w'l*. hnvevcf, a;>pcar i.i to-m »rrow evening".* publication.

During tli i hearing of a case brought nn Icr the Work rooms and Factories' Act at B. llarat, Mr. Finliy-on, a solicitor in try. ing to giin his point, asked one of the lady witnesses if the sewing girls worked in a body, or in >hift<, me.ning. as m : ner3 do, in relays?, but the witness put a w.de y different construction on the term, blush sufFuselv, and loiket scornfully at counsel, to the no small amusement of that gentle m -in and of others in Court, but he explained that she had quite misinterpreted his words.

As is proposed acco ding to the Auckland Ihrabl, to start another whaling venture in Auckland, the proprietors being Mr. James Macf.irlane and Mr. Ford. It is intended to start an association with a capital of £IO,OOO. A regular company will not, however, be formed, nor will the shares be of am- stated value. The subscribers will be allowed to put any sum they like into the venture, and their share of the profits will be in proportion to their investments. The association is to place the management o! its affairs in the hands of a coinpent agent, who will lie allowed to act on his own discretion, a-id without any appeal to the shareholders, whose safeguard will be the integrity of the m.ui they choose for the position, and the condition that he shall hs largely intere-ted in the success of the undertaking When once the required capital is subscribed, it is intended to purchase the Magellan Cloud and a barque of about 2.30 tons. The two vessels will be fitted out, and during the humpback season will work together.

The death from a curious sourcs is thu3 related In the Hey of Plenty Times :—"Cap* tain Tovey, J. P., Coroner, held an inquest at Ohinemtttu on Saturday, on the body of Helen H'uemna Wihon, agid two years and eight month?, the youngest daughter of Mr. Isaac Wilson of that township, who died on Friday from falling into a hole of boiling water in her father's garden. It was adduced in evidence that there h a boiling spring at the foot of Mr. Wilson's garden, and that near to it a hole has been dug, and a barrel put into the ground, into which the boiling water from the spring is conducted for washing and other purposed. The spring was protected by a fence, but there was nothing round the top of the hole to prevent people from falling in. The poor little child fell into this hole, and died half an hour afterwards, though without suffering any Dain after she was taken out of the water. The jury returned the follow'ng verJict: —' That the deceased was accl&atally scalded to

death in consequence of falling into a boiling spring at Ohinemutu ;' and added as a rider, •That the jury are of opinion that the dangerous spot near Wilson's Hotel, where the accident happened, should be at once fenced off, according to his expressed intention, by the proprietor, to prevent furthei accidents.'"

We notice that our Christchurch neighbors have taken the initiative in the matter of providing bathing accommodation for the citizens. Speaking of the subject the Star says :—"The bathing enclosure in the river Avon has already become a great attraction. Notwithstanding that none bat those able to swim are admitted, the attendance siuce the opening has averaged sixty per day. As the water is too deep at both ends for nonswimmers, a timber staging, 4)ffc. by 30ft., is being constructe I, and when ready will be lowered, so as to give a depth of 2ft. 6in. at one end, and 4ft. at the other. This work will be completed next week, when a very large increase in the attendance may be expected. The scale of chargei has not yet been definitely arranged, but a charge of threepence per day, or one shilling per week is now made. Mr. Aitken, who has a place for letting out pleasure boats near the bathing enclosure, is at present acting as custodian, so that the necessity for employing a man to devote the whole of his time to the work is avoided."