NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2168, 28 February 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The rink was open again last evening and attracted a number of amateurs. Tonight a steeplechase with water jump is promised, while on Monday the “Eink Masquerade ” will take place.

The case, Murphy v. Jonas and another, claimed £75 12s 5d for a quantity of bricks which it was alleged had not been delivered, was settled) to-day, Mr Austin for the plaintiff, electing to take a nonsuit. There was no other business at the E. M. Court to-day.

In one of tire suburbs of Sydney a boy, aged six years, was hacking at some bushes with a hatchet when out flew a death adder and bit him in six different places on his leg. His mother, who was hanging out clothes, fainted on the spot when she saw what had taken place. This caused a gicat loss of most precious time, for no one but herself was near the child to help him. "When she came to, the little fellow was standing by full of concern on her account, innocent of the imminent danger that threatened his own young life. As soon as consciousness returned she snatched up her child and rushed to the next neighbor, who did all in his power to arrest the diffusion of the poison into the boy’s system. The doctor followed suit with all possible expedition ; but, alas, it was all too late, for the interesting prattler died six hours after he was stung. He was an only child, and very intelligent and promising.

The Dunedin police have been sampling the grog and beer at the races. If found to be adulterated, the publicans arc to he had up before Mr I. N. Matt, E.M., who ought to he a capital authority on ardent spirits.

Air Guiness, E.M., attended at the Timaru Hospital on Thursday, and took the depositions of the man Edward Hamer, who was shot while trespassing in a garden at Orari on the night of Jan. 80. Hamer’s statement was to the effect that he was employed at the Orari station as a shepherd; that in company with one Webster he went into the station garden between 10.30 and 11 p.m. ; that Thomas Dawbcr called on him to “clear out,” saying “I know you shepherd! You devil!” and that he ran off, and had got outside the garden when Dawher shot him, and he fell. Dr. Hogg proved that Hamer was suffering from weakness and exhaustion consequent on gunshot wounds received between the shoulders, in the loins, and back of the thighs. lie did notapprehendfatal results. Dawber was remanded to Temuka, to nppcar again on Wednesday next.

On one of the Victorian railway lines recently a train twice, on ' different clays, l)nt at the same spot, came upon a mass of grasshoppers. [The contact completely destroyed all friction 'between the rails and wheels, and the result was that the train came to |a standstill. The dilticulty was only got over by the driver getting down and shovelling a quantity of sand from the embankment on to the rails, and thus enabling the engine to creep over the impediment which had so curiously interfered with the traflic.

The following information relative to employes may be useful in the ease of insolvent estates. It is clause (i of the Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Act, and was passed on the fifth of December : —“ Any artisan, laborer, or workman may claim out of the debtors’ estate any sum of money as a preferential claim in respect of wages due to him, not exceeding two months’ wages at current rates to such artisan, laborer or workman.”

A serious accident occurred to-day at Waimate to a man named Edward Mudgar, in the employ Mr CL Ottaway, contractor. He was riding at a furious rate along Queen Street, and on reaching the junction of Parsonage road, his horse turned sharply round and threw its rider, causing concussion of the brain. Dr i loadley was quickly in attendance, and ordered his removal to the hospital.

The nominated immigration list for despatch by the out-going Frisco Mail is smaller this month than usual, as it only includes 13 souls, equal to 12 statute adults. They are all,however,likely to make useful colonists.

Mr and Mrs Florence gave their second entertainment at the Theatre Royal last night. .

An adjourned meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening, for the purpose of considering the new bye-laws which were read aloud by the Clerk and most carefully considered. Ultimately the following resolution was passed:—“ That a special meeting be held at Bp.m., on March 8, for the purpose of adopting the bye-laws now considered and approved.”

The tender of John Watson, Dunedin, to erect the Balclutha bridge for £10,953 has been accepted. Janies Geering, a man who was lately discharged from a Lunatic Asylum, drowned himself in a creek near Oamaru yesterday. Mr Drumming, hotelkeeper, of Dunedin, has gone into the show business, having bought from Mr Frank Gardner the wax figures that were recently exhibited in Timaru. The spec promises well, about £SO having been netted from the murderers’ effigies at the Dunedin race meeting.

Mrs Collins has opened a fancy repository in Main South Hoad, which is stocked with an attractive assortment of articles, toys, vases, tobacconist’s and stationery goods, railway library, Ac. She also intimates that a consignment of Pianos, American Organs, and music of every kind, will shortly be added. Parties desirous of investing in works of art and literature, will do well to pay the “ Original Curiosity” shop a visit. The Primitive Methodist Bazaar which has already been announced in our column as in course of preparation, will take place during the Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s show week. Those who take an interest in the Church are respectfully invited to forward their contributions. We need not say that novelties and works of art will be highly esteemed, as the promoters of the bazaar arc anxious to make the display as interesting as possible. Meetings of the Latter-Day Saints, will be held in the Mechanics Institute tomorrow at 2.30 p.m. and (5.30 p.m.