NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2139, 29 January 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The laying of the foundation stone of the Convent of the Sacred Heart takes place on Sunday. It is expected that Bishop Moran will visit Timaru for the ceremony. The delegates from the farmers of Lincolnshire Mr Forster and Mr Grant, who are expected in Timaru very shortly now, will he received on their arrival by a number of influential residents by whom they will be “shown the ropes.”

The barque Glimpse, which stubbornly refused to become a wreck, although abandoned by captain and crew, in the roadstead here some time ago, has been docked at Auckland. As the result of an overhauling and examination by shipwrights, she is found to be little the worse for her bumping, the only injury perceptible being the loss of 12 feet of her main keel, and JO feet of her false keel.

The Waimatc County Council have resolved to return a blind emigrant named Charles Jones to his relatives in Great Britain. Jones, who was hopelessly blind before he was consigned to New Zealand, is anxious to get back to the bosom of his very considerate friends and the Minister of Immigration will be asked to pay his pas-sage-money.

The Eakaia and Alford Forest District railway will be opened for traffic in a few days, and the first section of the Mount Somers and Ashburton line will shortly be completed as far as the ballasting is concerned.

Foul Play was yesterday backed to win the Wellington Cup at sto 1. His price is now shortened to 4 to 1.

The New Zealand Shipping Company have declared the rates of freigtht for wheat to London at 50s a ton.

The Municipal Conference held its first meeting in Christchurch yesterday. The only business was the passing of a resolution affirming the desirability of the formation of a New Zealand Association, and another requesting the co-operation of all the Boroughs in the Middle Island. Further proceedings were postponed till answers are received from the municipalities in this Island.

At a trial of reapers and binders at Ashburton yesterday prizes were awarded to the “ Deering,” in the string binder class, and to McCormick’s in the wire binder class, the Johnston harvester being highly commended in the former class.

The farce of Whittington and his cat is entertaining the Auckland Bench. Yesterday a man named Dulberry (why not Dogberry?) was charged with stealing a cat worth £2 from Captain Norris, of the barque Glimpse, and was remanded for further enquiries.

There are some reticent little boys at Alexandra. At an inquest held there yesterday on the body of Albert Bayliss, a little boy who was drowned while bathing with some others, it transpired that his companions, being frightened, agreed to say nothing about the matter, but one, not being able to rest, informed his mother next morning of it, and she at once informed the father of the deceased. Constable McLeod recovered the body. A verdict of “ accidentally drowned ” was returned.

Unlike Sir Hercules and the Colonial Treasurer, a leading portion of the British press takes a hopeful view of New Zealand’s financial affairs. The Manchester “ Guardian ” says—“ New Zealand, in coal alone, could in time pay off the national debt of England, while probably its gold would discharge the public indebtedness of of all Europe.” The “ Northern Advocate ” thinks that in a few years an enormous amount of capital will be withdrawn from England to be employed in important industries in one of the finest countries the sun shines on—namely, New Zealand. The following important item comes from New South Wales The Bulli grog strike has been concluded by a compromise. Nobbers are again being supplied at threepence by the publicans, but for “ longsleeyers ” they charge fourpeuce.

The following is the platform of the Victorian Farmers’ Union ;—“ 1. The removal of duties upon agricultural machinery and implements, cornsacks, woolpacks, and salt. 2. The extension of railway communication into the country districts. 3. A more equitable distribution of public money in the country districts. 4. The proper conservation of water in the dry districts. 3. The reduction of freights of Victorian-grown produce carried on the Victorian railways. (3. The obtaining of a measure for the re-division of the electoral districts, with a view of securing direct representation of the agricultural community. 7. Retrenchment of public expenditure and reduction of taxation.

A new arrival (a strong able-bodied welldressed young man) made application at the Immigration Depot for assistance for a few days till he got work. The Immigration Officer, thinking it very strange, as the man described himself as nominated by friends in the place, questioned him and asked how he had been idle so long without his seeing him, finally offering him work at 15s a week and found on a farm. This sum, the man said, had been offered him several times, but he considered it too small to work for. He therefore evidently thought the Government would support him till he got the wages he considered his services were worth.—“ Southland Times.”

A prophetic correspondent gives the following sanguinary forecast of European events :—“ The battle of Armageddon will be fought out between two nations, vis., Gog and Israel, otherwise Russia and Britain. The approaching conflict in Europe will secure the supremacy of Russia and her allies, but Britain will take no part in it. Afterwards, Russia and her allies will come down with a mighty host to overwhelm Britain, then occupying Palestine and Asia Minor, but at the battle of Armageddon Russia will be annihilated, and from that time forward our nation will be supreme in all the world.” Mr Whitconil’e has supplied the “Taranaki Herald ” with the following information with regard to whitefish, which the Government are endeavoring to introduce into the colony:—Whitefish (Coregonus alba) indigenous to the Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior, Northern States of America (United States). The fish has been acclimatised in various other American lakes, among others in Lakes Tahoe, Tulare, San Leandro, Donner, Scrcuo, Ac., in California. Of these, Lakes Tulare, and San Leandro are at least as warm as Lake Taupo in this island, probably their temperature is even higher than that of the latter. The whitefish is described as the most valuable of all freshwater fish, ranking a food fish above every other variety ; it is extremely delicate in flavor, and grows to an average of one foot to eighteen inches in length, and to a weight of a pound and a-half to two pounds. They take bait freely, and arc caught in nets. They arc essentially lake fish, and will thrive anywhere if the water is deep enough and has a current running through it, and the bottom is sandy and gravelly. Their food consists of the small Crustacea adhering to the rocks and stones in freshwater lakes.

The fire at Oamaru yesterday was a most disastrous one. The efforts of the Fire Brigade, although deserving of all praise, were sadly handicapped by the want of a really efficient water supply. The fire is supposed to have originated in a bakehouse adjoining the store in which the flames were first discovered. The Queen’s Hotel was completely gutted, nothing but the bare walls being left standing. The fire was completely out and all danger over by 5 p.m. The following are the insurances : The buildings, the property of Mr J. Markham, were insured for the following amounts: — Eoyal, £2500; New Zealand, £ 10(30; Victorian, £IOOO (£SOO re-insured in Union); total £-1500. Mr Markham’s stock and furniture was insured for £IOOO in the New Zealand, £IOOO in the Transatlantic, and £OOO in the South British, half being reinsured in the Colonial. Messrs Bailie and Humphrey’s stock, Ac., was insured as follows :—Norwich Union, £IOOO ; Victorian, £IOOO (£SOO re-insured in the Colonial); Colonial £1000; United, £1000; Transatlantic, £SOO ; total, £ISOO. Mr Murray’s stock, slightly damaged, was insured in the South British for £2OO. Mr Mcßride’s stock, which was not insured, was fortunately saved. The total insurances amount to £II,BOO. Messrs Bailie and Humphrey value their stock destroyed at £SOOO. A “ dipping” exhibition that quite rivals that in which the ladies of Sandietown and the coal-dealer took part, attracted a crowd of a thousand people to the domain at Sydney a few days ago. The dipping machine was a sturdy elder named Warden, who, looking at the gaping assemblage, intimated that if they did not keep quiet they would find him a hot member to deal with. There was to be no pantomime. He regarded the occasion as the most solemn in his life, and though some things might look comical, there would be nothing to laugh at. After Mr Warden had addressed the assemblage, three or four ladies and about half a dozen men presented themselves, the former being arrayed in dark stuff dresses, and the latter in light trousers and white shirts. Mr Warden, who was attired in a long black garb, resembling a soutan, next descended into the bath, and was followed by the ladies, whom he successively dipped backwards. In one case it was seen that a portion of the head of one of the candidates had not been placed under the surface of the water, whereupon several persons cried out, “ Let her have it again !” but the operation was not repeated. Something of the same kind happened to one of the male candidates, and some of the candidates were heard to say, “ That’s not fair.” Mr Warden regretted the interruptions of the few, and expressed himself well satisfied with the good order preserved by the many. On his return to the city he was followed by a large crowd of persons, who hooted and flung stones ; but he got away in a cab without any harm being done.

The Auckland Harbor Hoard recently voted £25 to the Eegatta Committee. The chairman of the Board afterwards refused to sign the cheque as the vote was illegal Three of the members thereupon forwarded their cheques respectively for £8 Os Bd, so that the Boards intention® might be carried out.

The last section of the Breakwater in hand is rapidly approaching completion. The section was begun less than a week ago, and the work of filling up its monolith or upper casing, is being done to-day. This may be considered as fairly good work.

Mr Fredk Thorne, of Rangiora, an old colonist, died yesterday morning.

A young scamp who appears to be anxious to emulate the example of the late Brigham Young, Joe Smith and Mahommed has turned rq) in Melbourne under the name of Jones alias Armstrong. He was introduced to the Bench for stealing two brass whistles, and it transpired that he had previously spent twelve months in Pentridge for stealing a coat. Mr Hill stated that the prisoner was a clever lad, and while he was in Pentridge ho wrote numerous letters to him professing penitence for his past misdeeds. Among other things he stated that he was in the habit of saying his prayers, and once while engaged in this occupation fire came down from heaven and took the power of speech from him. He appears to have subsequently recovered his speech, but has used it for other purposes than saying his prayers, and the Bench sentenced him to one month’s imprisonment. Colonel Scratchley passes th rough Timaru to-morrow by the mid-day train, and will inspect the Timaru Volunteers, during the 20 minutes stoppage of the train. The inspection will take place at the Railway Station.

The Committee of the Thames Orphanage have decided to give an Orphanage infant, six months old, to a childless married couple, who are Protestants, notwithstanding a protest from the Catholic Priest and the congregation. The mother died in the hospital, and the child was christened by both Episcopalian and Catholic Ministers, the latter claiming it. Tt seems the child was illegitimate. The Catholics say they will get the father’s claim to it. There is likely to be trouble over the matter.

Mrs Scott-Siddons intends to visit the Colonies in about four months. She has separated from her husband, on whom she has settled the whole of her New Zealand property.

Apropos of the Wantabadgery bushrangers, particulars of whose execution appeared in this paper, the extraordinary statement was made in the Sydney Assembly by Mr Cameron, M.L.A., that he had been informed by Mr Williams, the the foreman of the jury who tried the bushrangers, that the woman who had been in-

teresting herself on behalf of .Scott had called on Mrs Stroll, the wife of the juryman alleged to be insane, and offered her a sum of money to swear that her husband was not in his right mind. Mr Buchanan observed that the woman ought to be proceeded against. A most glaring instance of impertinence, and, indeed, something worse has just been reported to the “ Oamaru Mail.” Two or three days ago, three men visited the farm of Mr Shalders, opposite the racecourse, entered his house, and refused to leave. When requested to do so, they assumed a defensive attitude, and said that if the rights of the proprietor were asserted they would use violence. One of these fellows drew a knife, and another lifted a hoc with which to strike Mr .Shalders. As an explanation of their conduct, they said, “ We’ve been sent out, and we don’t mean to go without what we want,” Ac. This is plainly a case for the interference of the police. Mr A. E. Falconer of Port Chalmers sends us a prospectus of a “ Sailors Best” which he desires to erect at that port. He defines it as a place, where seamen may meet, read, write letters and hear the Gospel. Donations in aid of the object will be received by Mr Falconer, who will also supply full particulars.

Messrs Jonas, Hart, and Wildie will sell, to-morrow, at the stores of Mr F. A. Sims, the whole of his stock-in-trade, consisting of wines, spirits, tea, matches, and a largo assortment of general stores, Ac. It is notified in another column that the railway department intend to charge the excess w r cight when bags of grain contain more than four bushels.