NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2138, 28 January 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Wellington from London, with 400 immigrants reached the Otago Heads today. Wc learn that the Queen’s Hotel has changed hands, Mr D. M. Ross, being the purchaser, and the price paid £3OOO. Colonel Scratchley has done tho Dunedin harbor with celerity. Ho is now inspecting the Bluff.

Considering the prevalence of monster sweeps, sham art unions and other forms of lottery speculations, an opinion just issued from the office of the Assistant Attornc3'-Gcncral for the Post office Department of the United States, will he read with interest. Its purport, says the New York “ Tribune,” is that according to the provisions of the statutes, letters addressed to lottery companies, or to individuals as agents of such companies, are unmailablc “per sc,” and that the postmasters must refuse to register such letters. There arc said to be at least one hundred lottery schemes, Ac., which hereafter will he cut off from the use of the post office. They can neither send circulars, nor can letters to he sent by mail be addressed to them. It will now bo held that the fact that the letter is addressed to a lottery company must he taken us furnishing sufficient evidence that it is a letter containing a lottery, and is, therefore, unmailablc. The ingenuity of the lottery men is boundless,and so is the cupidity of their customers ; hut at any rate, the Government, so far as possible, will not he made a go-between in this business.

The whole of the boats belonging to the Timaru Landing Service haring been thoroughly overhauled and repaired, the service is now in good working order. The new surf boat is expected from the Canterbury Foundry, Christchurch, shortly. The heavy rain on Monday night has fortunately done but very little damage to the splendid crops in this district. The sports and entertainment in connection with the Pleasant Valley school will be held on Thursday next.

An entertainment at Pleasant Point is to be held shortly for the purpose of raising a fund for the purchase of a boll for the English Church. Mr Rolloston, Minister of Lands, visited Timaru yesterday, and, accompanied by Mr Turnbull, M.H.P., and his Worship the Mayor, made a tour of inspection through the town. Referring to the question of a new Supreme Court house for Timaru, which he was informed was much wanted, Mr Ilollcston said this was not within his jurisdiction ; he could not therefore promise that the Government would take any steps in the matter.

The artillery cadets paraded for their monthly inspection last night, Capt. Jackson in command.

Colonel Scratchlcy, who passes through Timaru to-morrow or the next day, has expressed a desire to inspect the Timaru volunteers. It is not yet certain on which day the Colonel will arrive here, but on the day he does come the call will be sounded in the street in the morning, and the volunteers and band will assemble at the drillshed at 1 p.m., and from thence will march to the railway station, where the inspection will take placd. At the iSuprcrao Court, Dunedin, in the case of Meldrum v. Proudfoot, an action brought to recover damages by the representatives of the man killed on the tramway the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for £2OO. The jury recommended that men only should be employed as conductors.

The Lincolnshire farmers’ delegates visited Kaiapoi and the adjacent country yestrday, and were considerably astonished at the enormous crops they saw there. They arc, however, very reticent, and keep their ideas very much to themselves. Dr Wait has been appointed house surgeon of the Oaniaru Hospital. The Dunedin City Council have just about reached the end of their financial tether. They have to meet the interest on a colossal loan. Their Municipal credit account is now reduced to £7OOO and the Finance Committee recommend that the idea of completing the Town Hall bo abandoned; that the Works Committee he instructed to dispense with all surplus labor now employed ; and that the Council abstain strictly from ordering new works. The post-master at Otaki has been suspended in consequence of his having dated a letter enclosing an entry for the Wellington Races, as being posted on Jan 19, when really it was posted on the 20th. It is believed that it was so stamped to suit the convenience of the person entering the horse.

Nelson has asserted Woman’s rights by electing Mrs Gribbs to the Education Committee.

At Auckland yesterday a man named William Samuel Tidmarsh was remanded on a charge of criminally assaulting Harriet Shakespeare. Tidmarsh appears to have a mania for assaults of the kind and has already been in trouble on that account. The barge Makaru, lying in Auckland harbor was nearly burned by the explosion of Kerosene lamps. Mr John Sheehan, ex-Nativc Minister is going into business in the Waiakato as a general dealer in native lands.

Messrs Jonas, Hart and Wildie will sell at their rooms to-morrow at 2 p.m., freehold property at Silverstream, a section of land at the corner of liose and William streets, and also those valuable properties now in the occupation of Messrs Hargraves, Wakefield, 11. Cathan and L. Moses. Messrs Maclean and Stewart, will sell at the Geraldine Pound, 16 head cattle to-mor-row at noon.

The usual weelcly meeting of the Alexandra Lodge will be held at the Oddfellow’s Hall, Barnard street, to-morrow evening, at 7.30. The election of ollicers will take place during the evening.