NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2184, 18 March 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Arethusa Star Dramatic Company will commence their season at the Theatre lloyal, on Saturday evening, with the emotional drama, “ The Two Orphans.”

Several Christchurch tradesmen have lately been fined for using the footpath as a show-room.

Mr Blackwall, C.E., proposes to supply Christchurch with water pumped from the river by the agency of turbine wheels. The cost of the scheme is £BO,OOO, and maintenance £IOOO per annum. By a proclamation imblishcd in the “Gazette” of March 11 550 acres of land, parts of Bcserves Nos. 818 and 1(550 at Orari and 27 acres, being Blocks XVIII. and XIX., also at Orari, arc set apart for sale as village settlements on deferred payments. Eeservcs Nos. 118 and 111, Waimatumata Bush (? Waimate), containing 150 acres are similarly set apart, and also 11-1 acres within the township of Hinds. According to the “ Crown Lands Guide,” these blocks will be open for application in “ village allotments ” of one acre, and “ surburban areas” of live to ten acres each, and small farms of not more than 50 acres, the lowest price being not more than £5 for a {village allotment, or £1 per acre for small farms.

Deer (states the “Geelong Advertiser’’) arc said to be very numerous in the Brisbane ranges. A sportsman who has recently visited that locality observes that on the account of the dry weather, they arc forced to leave their haunts in the secluded gullies and travel in search of water, generally visiting some of the large dams in the more open country. ’This gentleman states that a short time back, one morning about day-break he saw no less than 35 of these animals come down from the ranges for a drink.

'The “ Southland News ” tells of a rather singular incident which occurred on the arrival of Pastor Chiniquy at the railway station on Saturday evening. the train came in,the constables on dut}'formed an opening through the crowd opposite the entrance, so that there should be no hitch or stoppage of any kind, and it was naturally expected that the pastor would avail himself of this lane. It happened, however that the carriage which he occupied was not quite close to the place, and so the Pastor, and those who were with him, pushed through the crowd, passed out into the passage, and had entered a cab, and were being driven off while the majority of those present were awaiting his appearance. At this stage the Rev. Father Larkin, who had travelled in the same carriage, came through the opening and the impression became general among those to whom the genial priest was not known, that he was Father Chiniquy. Any doubt that might have been felt on the point was removed by a railway official, who took in the situation at a glance, and wickedly whispered, loud enough to be heard by those around, “ That’s the man.’ And thus it happened that many people left the station without seeing the object of their curiosity. It is said that when the circumstance was mentioned to Father Larkin he fully appreciated the joke, goodhumoredly remarking, “ You see what a fine presence does.”

Of the £(5000 voted for works in the North, it has been decided that £BOOO is to be at once expended under the superintendence of Mr Fairburn, engineer, and the balance divided amongst the County Councils and Highway Boards, to be expended on local works.

The Ecv B. Westbrook, formerly a primitive Methodist Clergyman at Ashburton is to be inducted as a Presbyterian Minister at llakaia.

The Local Industries Commission after appointing its chairman and ordering circulars to be addressed to the Chambers of Commerce, adjourned for a month.

There was a striking falling oil yesterday in the prosperous appearance of things that has usually been presented at the Oamaru race meeting. The proceedings were unusually tame. Only one or two bookmakers put in an appearance, many members of the fraternity doubtless being away in the North Island. 'Hie two totalisators on the ground attracted few patrons, money being very scarce. The proprietors of lucky bags wheels of fortune, steeplechase boards, Ac., Ac., were as usual to the fore but did not find business brisk. Indeed more fun has frequently been seen at an upcountry meeting than those races have yielded this year.

The “ Thames Advertiser ” is very angry at the stoppage of the railway works in that locality. It says:—“lf Mahomet will not come to the mountain the course is dear, and the sooner we set about it the better. We do not advise a public meeting until all power of persuasion fails. It would be undignilied to dismount and ask as a favour what had been demanded as a right. We all admit the j ustice of the claim but it is necessary to adapt ourselves to circumstances. The Thames people are in something of a quandary. They desire to show Ministers their magnificent river, and to convince them how admirably adapted it is for navigation, and at the same time they wish to endeavour to persuade them that it is absolutely necessary to make a railway alongside it.

At the Maori Parliament, which opens to-day at Orakei, resolutions arc to be submitted condemnatory of the arrest and trial of the West Coast prisoners ; also of the appointment of Sir William Fox and Sir 11.I 1 . D. Bell as Commissioners.

A somewhat singular prosecution for embezzlement occupied the attention of Mr Guinness, 11. M., at Tcmuka yesterday. Francis lunes, a Christchurch brewer, proceeded against Thomas Fenton on a charge of embezzling £5. From the' evidence it appeared that on the 15th January an arrangement -was entered into between the prosecutor, Innes, and the accused, by which the latter was to take over the Caledonian Hotel, limes receiving £l5O as security for the transfer, and Fenton handing over the cash receipts in liquidation of the stock-in-tradc. Subsequently Fenton repented of his bargain, and Air Beattie having been put in charge of the house, it was arranged that Innis should have his £l5O repaid, on executing a transfer of the license. On March 1, accused ceased handing over the takings to Innes, and a dispute having arisen in consequence the present proceedings were taken. Mr Austin, solicitor, stated that Innes called at his office on March 2, and said he was quite willing to settle with Fenton if the license were transferred, and ’witness agreed that this should be done on receipt of the money in cash. The next day Innes and Fenton called at his office, and went into the accounts. A balance was struck, and it was arranged that limes should telegraph to Christchurch for the money. At the Licensing Court witness again asked limes for the money, and he said he would have to go to Christchurch about it. It transpired that Fenton had taken out a summons against limes for the recovery of £154 Ills (id, but Innes declared that criminal proceedings were instituted before he received the summons. The case was dismissed, the Ilcsidcnt Magistrate stating that it should never have been brought before the Court.

Thacker’s Hotel at Okain’s Bay, was burnt down on Tuesday night, and nothing was saved. Air and Airs Thacker escaped with difticulty from the burning building. The stock and furniture were insured in the South British Company for £I2OO.

A prisoner who was yesterday committed for trial at Christchurch for stealing a draper's cashbox, boars a name which for length places royalty and even Vice-royalty as wc recently enjoyed it in New Zealand at a serious disadvantage. His name is George Wilson, alias Alartin OTlalloran, alias Mark O’Halloran, alias George Crosly, alias Joseph Dubbo, alias Dublin Joe, alias James Wilson, alias Alartin Wallace. AVith such a list as this the record of previous convictions must be quite unnecessary.

There is nothing like coolness! Arnold Alittou, late librarian of the Dunedin Athemeum who should have stood his trial 'for embezzlement at the recent sittings of the Supreme Court at Dunedin but absconded from bis bail, was after a good deal of trouble arrested by the Timaru Police on a run near the Cave, where he had been skulking. On his arrival at Dunedin, he complained to the Bench that he had been arrested without a warrant. The Inspector of Police, however, assured him that he had really no grievance, as being charged with a felony, and being also an absconder, his arrest, under the circumstances was perfectly regular. Alitton was then committed to gaol to await his trial at the next criminal sessions of the Supreme Court.

Alessrs Cliff and Co. will sell at their rooms, to-morrow, at 1.30 p.m., sections of land, together with a lot of furniture, Ac.