NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2072, 12 November 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

'I here was no business at the Magistrate's Court to clay. O’Brien, who was injured in a well at Oamaru on Monday, died yesterday An adjourned meeting of the Borough Council will be held this evening

Tbo streets of Wannate were swept clean by a whirlwind on Monday afternoon. It is in>ended to impose a duty on coal imported into the Colony, and to increase the duty on hops. The Government propose to amend the Lotteries Act, so as legalise the totalisator on New Zealand race courses.

'! he heavy storm experienced yesterday was purely local, extending no farth-, r northwards than Washdyke. The weather in Christchurch was beautiful. It is rumored that Mr Curtis, the defeated member for Nelson and of Education renown, willibe called to the Upper House.

The position of the friend'y societies is being reviewed by a Parliamentary Committee. It is said that an actuary in his evidence declares that few of them are solvent.

The Lyster Opera Company pays a visit to New Zealand, and \vi 1 open in Dunedin on December 6th The Company unfortunately will be shorn of its great attraction — Signora Link, ■he Dunedin engagement extends over the New Y ear holidays. Mr H. Tewsley has resigned his appoint 1 ment as Chairman of the Otago Harbour Board, owing to ill health. The Bonrd yesterday passed a resolution expressing regret at the cause of Mr . ewley’s resigna l tion.

We learn that certain elders of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints have arrived m Timaru and tha 1 they are prepared to gi. a information to inquirers concerning their “ Zion home in Utah,” and and their views of religion. Free meetings from which the co lection plate will be strictly exc uded are about to be held in the Mechanics’ Institute.

The fobowiug tenders were received yesterday for the construction of the second section of toe breakwater :—Jones and Peters (accepted', £ll 128 7s It ; McKenzie and Peid, £ll 891 15s ; John t gilvie and Co , £11,977 17s 6d ; James i-mall, £13,171 13s 4d; Henderson and Fergus, £l3 600; Allan and Stumbles, £13,795. A final payment of £2757 was passed by the Harbor Board to Messrs Allan and Stumbles.

There was a large attendance at the sale J of the wrecked portion of the N.M. and A Co.’s stores, at McLean and tewart’s today. The goods offered comprised flour, sugar, clover and grass seeds cement, &c. Most of the parcels were badly damaged, and contrasted with 'heir original va'ues, the prices rea ised showed an alarming sacrifice cement fetching H and Is 6d per barrell, and other w ods going at proportionately low rates During the cross-examination of a defendant in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, some amusement was ex* cited by the way in which lie evaded certain questions relative to the terms on which he had bought a baker's business. At first he denied emphatically that the goodwill of the business had even been discussed, but eventually he admitted that something was said of the goodwi 1 but it was considered of no value ‘i n fact.” said the witness. • that goodwill was worse than value’ess, for we 100 £ls by the customer ” The goodwill of some tradesmen would appear from thii fo be rather a doub fui asset The following principles have been adopted by the Christchurch Liberal Reform A ssociation ; Ist) Manhood suff rage with- a residential qualification of twelve months in the colony and three months ih the distr ct ; (2nd) no plural voting ; 3rd) all elections 'o be on -me day; (4th) provision to be made for polling places in proportion to the number "{ electors in the electoral divisions, in order to diminish the cost of elections to candr dates byobviaing the - ecessity for cab hire, etc. ; Csth) registration to be op n as long as possible during the year; (6th) disputed elections to be decided by the Supreme Court; (7 th) to provide De uty Elec oral Registrars, so as to facilitate registration by electors in country districts (postmasters may be made registrars) ; (Jjth) to extend the hours of polling. In the Idouse of Representatives yesterday, it was stated that the Financial statement won d probably be brought down on Monday. The propriety of extending the services of public analysts is to be considered. l revision is to be made in the Kstimates for opening up and constructing roads through t rown Lauds in impecunious county districts The Government promised to briug down a Bid dealing with the establishment of small farm settlements on the deferred payment system, by settlers to whom employment will for a lime be afforded upon public "works. A Bill to amend the Otago University Site Exchange Act. introduced by Mr Macandrew, and a Land Tax Colleciou Bill, by Major Atkinson were re id a first time. The Qaalifica tion of Electors Bill was fur; her considered in committee, and an amendment, giving the residential franchise io females, was nega ived by 37 to 29 A mongst the victims of the police raid on the owners of totalisators in Melbourne was Richmond Thatcher, the theatrical agent. I he total wool clip of the world last year was about 1,496500u0u1b. this, when scoured, would yield about 852 000,0001 b clean wool lhe clip for 187 ■< was sma.ler than for 1877 by 10 000,0001 b. The ■ an Francisco “ Post,” referring to New Zealand, says :—*■ New Zealand is perhaps the most prosperous section of the British Umpire, owing to its ent rprise in building railroads and pub'ic works.” The correspondent of the Auckland *■ Star ” hopes that kind ‘‘individual, Cap'.. W. J- Barry.” will not perform a ‘lectural” tour in England. Asa matt rof f act Mr W. J. Barry's lectures have proved fadures even the penny illustrated papers have dropped him, and the “ Tichborne Association” appear to cry • hold, enough !” The •• t dago Daily Times ” says :—“ It takes a good deal of knocking about to kid a healthy Colonial boy. On Minday morn mg as a youth of about 15 was renirning from church, he beheld a building in course of erection, and was immediately seized wi h aui'ea that a little gymnastic exercise won d improve his appetite for dinner. Acting on the impulse i■£ the moment he mounted i o the scaffolding, and was soon mnning at the rate of about five miles an hour along the top of an unfinished brick wall, a Bible in one hand and his hat in the other. Unhappi y. he made a fa ! se step, and fell heavily to the ground, a distance of 80ft, Happily, he alighted on his head, which appeared to bo of tolerably substantial material, for. after crawling to a log and seeking the consolations of religion by the perusal of a few pages of ihe Sacred Book, to which he had held fast in his suddenjdescent, he arose and walked briskly homewards.