NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2133, 23 January 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Alexandra Lodge, No 21, 1.0.G.T., held its usual weekly session last night at the Oddfellow’s Hall, Bro, Henry Barker, W,G.T., presiding. After the usual preliminaries three candidates were proposed for membership, two initiated, one admitted on clearance, and one brother re-obligated. The question of holding an open meeting in connection with the lodge was brought forward but its further consideration was postponed. Bro. Thomas Buchanan was recommended as Lodge Deputy. The District Deputy read a communication from the Grand Lodge announcing the intention of presenting Bro J. W. Jago, P.G.W.C.T., with a testimonial in recognition of the valuable services rendered by that gentleman to the cause of temperance in New Zealand, several members put down their names as contributors. Some other matters having been disposed of the Lodge was closed. The members of this Lodge are now working together in harmony for the advancement of Good Templary in Timaru, and there is no doubt that if they continue as they are doing their efforts will be crowned with success.

A distribution of some special prizes took place at the Public School, Pleasant Point, yesterday. The prizes were awarded to certain scholars who had been acting as monitors during Mr Henri’s absence, in recognition of their assistance to Mrs Henri. Mr Henri having thanked these young people, and complimented the whole school on its good behaviour, presented the following pupils with prizes:—The Misses Edith Kee and Annie McKinnon, and masters, Greig, and Grant. The “ South Australian Advertiser ” has been informed by the Government that Sir A. Blyth, the Agent-General, in a despatch received by the last mail from England states that his attention had been called by the representatives of the Melbourne “ Argus ” in London to a telegram published in this colony, stating that “ The Imperial Government are considering the expediency of limiting the borrowing powers of the colonies.” Sir Arthur Blyth adds that he feels sure if such a step had been thought of he would have been informed either verbally or by letter. He states that he knows nothing whatever of the matter, and does not believe that anything of the kind is intended.

Charles Johnson, alias Henry Lockwood, a lad of eighteen, wag charged at the R.M. Court this morning, with being drunk and disorderly and resisting 1 ' the police. Inspector Pender stated that the accused had Been getting into bad company lately. The accused, who presented a very woe-be-gone appearance, thereupon began to cry, and pleaded that drink was the sole cause of his trouble. He was fined 10s, or 21 hours’ imprisonment. This was the only case at the Court to-day.

A cricket match, Married v. Single members of the Timaru Club, takes place on Saturday.

The Timaru Literary and Debating Society held their first ordinary meeting, for the present year, last evening,' There was a good attendance of. members,, and the debate of the evening “ Should trial by jury be abolished,” was listened to with much interest. Mr Duval opened the debate in favor of the abolishment, Mr Scott led on the opposite side. A division was ultimately taken on the question, when six voted for the abolition of the jury system and ten against. The Society meets again on Thursday, when “ Extempore Speaking ” will be the order of the evening.

: We have received the January number of the “ New Zealand Country Journal,” published by Mr M. Murphy, Secretary of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Christchurch. The number in question forms the commencement of the fourth volume of this ■ useful periodical. The journal assumes to be a record of information connected with agricultural, pastoral, and horticultural pursuits and rural sports in New Zealand. So far from degenerating, it has hitherto fulfilled its destiny nobly, and, as the latest issue attests, it betrays convincing signs of steady improvement. We are not in the habit of puffing trashy and uninteresting literature, but we have no hesitation in recognising intrinsic merit, and therefore we can strongly recommend the “ Country Journal” to our country readers. Every farmer, settler, and sporting gentleman in the district should subscribe to it. It is neatly got up, replete with valuable information, contains hints that practical farmers may turn to golden account, and its pages are adorned with well-written, original articles and carefully-elected extracts. If the settlers of Canterbury desire to keep pace with the times they must make, their acquaintance with this neat little publication —a journal that has been started entirely in their interests, and is devoted to information and subjects of discussion that immediately concern them. The “Country Journal,” of the success of which we had originally our doubts, is conducted in a way that renders it a credit to its authors, and entitles it to liberal encouragement.

The work of laying the concrete blocks at the Breakwater is being rapidly pushed forward. The overseers justly complain of the annoyance caused by the public insisting on making a promenade of the Breakwater during working hours. While heavy blocks are being' lifted and shifted, and the crane is at work, accidents are always liable to happen; and the practice of crowding round the men just when they are most busy not only hinders the work, but is attended with danger to the visitors.

“No Work” writes thus to the Dunedin “ Star” on the subject of railway management:—“l have waited some time for an abler pen than mine to reply to your correspondent “ Shareholder.” He ought to be glad to know that our railways pay 3 per cent, on the capital invested; he should know that the present Administration have gone straight for retrenchment, and dismissed a good few unnecessary officials who earn a small pittance to support their wives and families by hard labour. I would suggest that the Commissioner’s salary be raised to £3OOO per annum; that all the hard-working men who only receive £SOO to £3OO have their salaries doubled and that all the officials who earn their money by the sweat of their brow be dismissed. The public of New Zealand appear to appreciate useless officialdom, and should not object to pay for the luxury.”

Scottish caution was recently illustrated in Marlborough by a new arrival, a young woman, who caused a good deal of amusement in the Supreme Court, where she quickly secured to herself the title of “ the positive woman.” The “ Express ” states that she was a witness in a case of theft, and was very positive in her identification of several articles. At length she came to the question of four £l-notes, and she here was quite as positive as she had been in the case of a piece of board. The counsel for the prisoner tried very hard to trip her, and wanted her to inform the Court how it was that she could swear to four £l-notes, when there were so many thousands all alike. “ That may be,” said the witness, “ but these were the first £l-notes I had seen in the Colony, and ,I,marked the occasion by making a cross on the back of each of them before I gave them over to the police.” His Honor remarjked ,that he hoped the notes in question, if they were the first, would not be the last the witness would see, and he did not think they would, for she was evidently a woman to get on in this country.

In reference to the Waimate Plains question, the Wellington “ Post,” which is said to be the organ of the Government, has the following : “ Pending the report of the Eo.yal Commission about to be appointed, no steps will be taken which are at all likely to excite opposition or ill-feeling on the part of even the disaffected natives. All that is to be done in the way of roadmaking or surveying at present will not be on the debatable ground ” at all, but on land the title to which is unquestioned, and with the full concurrence of the natives themselves. The Government will render their position as strong and favorable as possible by road-making, and by opening the country in all directions where practicable, but nothing will be done that is in any way calculated to provoke the opposition or resentment of the Maoris. All moot questions of title, Government promises, etc., will be left open for the Royal Commission to pronounce judgment on.

An Auckland man named Alfred Sharpe has been fined 60s and costs, for boxing the ears of a servant girl, who failed to make his breakfast “ sharp enough.”

A Chinese packer named Yu Chong has mbt with a singular death at Riverton. Deceased was returning from Round Hill after delivering a load of pork, and was riding on the pack-saddle, when he must have fallen off, his feet catching in the strap used as a stirrup. Hanging in this position he was found with his neck broken and his knee dislocated. His clothes were completely torn off him.

Luers’ saw-mill at Oxford, with iha. chinery and 80,000 feet of timber, was burned down yesterday morning. The fire is supposed to have been caused by a spark getting into the sawdust and smouldering during the night. The loss is £BSO. It was insured for £4OO in the South British.

A Brookside (Ellesmere district) farmer has just threshed out sixty bushels of barley to the acre, and thirty of rye-grass seed. The Glendore station, belonging to J. R. Aitken, and containing 2500 acres of freehold, has been sold for £15,000. It is rumored that Mr E. Hamlin, M.H.E., for Franklyn, intends resigning and proceeding to Napier to settle. Mr Hobbs will probably come forward. An Auckland telegram states that the native parliament is about to meet, to discuss native affairs of interest to the Northern tribes.

One of the discriminating thieves that recently entered the Foxhill railway station near Nelson, and carried off £5 in coin, leaving the notes behind them has been rewarded. The culprit —a boy aged 13, named Thomas Bray, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. He had entered the office by the window.

Mr Van Asch, the Deaf and Dumb instructor, recently appointed by the Government, has arrived at Lyttelton, and is now on the look-out for an Asylum and inmates.

Mr Swanson, M.H.R. for Newton, is exciting the alarm of his friends. Seized with a sudden attack of unbounded liberality he has presented Master Fred. Bettany with a guinea’s worth of books, in recognition of his success in headingjthe list at the scholarship examination, and the circumstance has been wired all over the colony. Under ordinary circumstances a guinea’s worth of books would not be worth chronicling, but from the member who lately lost his festive speech it is a wonderful occurrence. What has gone wrong with the honorable gentleman ? Has he seen his “ wraith ” or have symptoms of approaching dissolution manifested themselves that he is bent on recklessly squandering his fortune ?

Messrs Jonas, Hart, and Wildie will sell at their Rooms, to-morrow, a choice lot of Draught Maresjand Geldings, also Reaper and Harness. Messrs Maclean and Stewart will sell at their Horse Bazaar, to-morrow, at 11 a.m. six first class Mares and Geldings, and at their Rooms, a cropof, 56 acres Rye-grass and Clover, growing on the Blairbeg property.

Messrs Collins and Co. will hold a sale at their Rooms, to-morrow, commencing at 1 o’clock. The goods to be submitted are Farm Produce, Household Furniture, and an assortment of Boots.

Lovers of good beer should lose no time in paying a visit to the Clarendon Hotel, where Mr Edwards has now on draught some Tasmanian ale of exceptionally fine quality. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and, during the hot weather, especially, no better drink can bo found than this “.Cascade ale ” which, possessing a capital flavour, is as clear as sherry, and as mild as lemonade.— [Akvt.J The public support which Messrs Peacock and Geaney now receive is a sufficient guarantee that the quality of their meat is superior to that of any other firm in town. Throughout every branch of their business it is their constant endeavor to provide the best of everything, and that their efforts are appreciated is evidenced by the very large trade they are now doing. Indeed, since the New Year their business has increased so enormously that they have been compelled to give an order for the enlargement of their West End shop, which, when conqdeted, will be the finest in town and will place further facilities at their disposal for attending to the wants of their customers. [A.nvx.]

Messrs Clilf and Co. have commenced business as auctioneers, in the Main North Koad. Their advertisement will be found in another column.