NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2193, 30 March 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The steamers Charles Edward and Grafton had a narrow escape from collision in the French Pass on Saturday night. The former just managed to bach out of the channel in time.

Bishop Redwood and Pastor Chiniqny have started for San Francisco in the same boat.

Cottages in and around Dunedin arc becoming singularly inflammable of late. Last evening a three-roomed wooden cottage, owned by W. Gordon, and occupied by C. Dale, a shoemaker, in George street, was destroyed. The insurance was £IOO in the Standard.

The trial of fhe occupants of the Oamaru den of infamy, where the riot occurred on Sunday night, bad to be postponed yesterday, the chief Avitncss being so badly injured that he could not appear. Mr Gisborne, M.H.R., addressed his constituents last week at Ross and Woodstock. At each meeting he Avas well received, and unanimous votes of confidence in him as their representative Averc passed. Mr Gisborne condemned the system of government by Commission, which he characterised as neither fish or flesh, but perhaps red herrings drawn across the scent. Ho enlarged upon the unfair treatment the West Coast had received in comparison Avith the imports and exports. Three little boys Avere brought before the Auckland Police Bench the other day for killing a cat with a stone, and two of them Avcrc severely lined. The “ Herald ” says that their counsel, Mr Keatlcy, vainly pleaded in extenuation ‘‘that marbles is out and cats is in,” and that “ where there Avas a stone and a cat, it was second nature to boys to have a shy.” His Worship Avas inexorable. The learned counsel had but one shaft left in his quiver, and ho sped it, but in vain, namely that “ the dcatli of the unfortunate cat would in all probability be a blessing to the neighborhood,” for the boys had conferred a boon upon the residents who had long sighed for some— Soothing catnip helleborons, Anything to still the chorus Of their piercing, wild, sonorous Nocturnal yells!

A cricket match played at Oamaru on Good Friday Oamaru Tradesmen v Tirnaru Pluenix Club —resulted in the easy victory of the former, the Oamaru men scoring 108, against 37 made by their opponents. Professor Hughes, assisted by Mr J. M Morgan, will this evening deliver his lecture on the poet Thomas Moore, at the Oddfellow’s Hall, Barnard street. Tire lecture Avill be interspersed witli vocal and instrumental selections and should attract a good house.

An extraordinary case of accidental hanging has just occurred in Aberdeen. It appears that a Mrs Gibb was returning from the gasworks with a bag of cinders strapped to her back by a rope, and when half way up the stairs she had placed her back against the railing with the view of resting when the bag slipped over the railing, jerked the rope from her breast to her throat, and choked her.

Mr Connor, the champion walker, informs us that the result of the recent challenge between himself and Bowlcy, of Christchurch, has not been correctly represented. In the fust place Connor sent a challenge to Bowlcy to walk seven miles for £2OO a-side, at the Eink, in Christchurch. This Bowley declined, but, in return, he offered to walk Connor on the turf at Haglcy Park or Christchurch Cricket Ground. This offer is now under consideration, but in the meantime Connor has intimated that he will not be prepared to take part in any match until after the Timaru races. It will thus be seen that the inference that Connor had declined Bowie,y’s challenge is totally erroneous, and that, on the contrary Connor’s original challenge was declined, and the subsequent offer made by Bowley has not been definitely decided upon.

Yesterday evening, information was received by tlie police, that a woman resident m Church street, had attempted to poison hersely by taking laudanum. On enquiries being made, the statement was found to be correct, and medical aid was at once summoned, when the usual remedies were resorted to, and with success, although the woman is still very ill from the effects of the drug, and is confined to her bed. It appears that she had had a few words with her husband during the evening, and this is the only motive ascribed for the act. As soon as she is sufficiently recovered she will be brought up at the B.M. Court, and charged with the attempt upon her life.

It is stated, and wo merely give it for what it is worth, that all doubts as to the ownership of the goods in bond, part and parcel of which F. A. Sims was, at the instance of the National Bank of New Zealand, prosecuted and imprisoned for stealing, have not been set at rest, and that the question whether they belong to the Bank or to Sims’ creditors will come before the Supremo Court for solution. The anxiety of settlors {says a Southern contemporary) since the publication of deferred payment defaulters has grown to the extreme, and feelings of despondency over an inevitable fate gains ground on the minds of many, whilst others, more active are talking of again petitioning Parliament for consideration. Unfortunately there arc two parties—one having their land at a low rental, and another at a high price ; one desires deferring paying the rents to some long term—say to make it fifteen years’ instead of ten, and allow the extra live years to remain unpaid, but charged as a loan with interest; then the party who arc paying high rents find that would be no advantage, and they desire to get the rents lowered. It is more than likely the result will be divided action.

A worshipper at the shrine o£ Bacchus (says a country paper), who had dissipated all his ready cash, recently resorted to a most unusual method ol raising the wind. Having exhausted every other dodge he went to his employer on a Sabbath and said he was desirous of borrowing a prayer-book, as he was going to church. Having obtained possession of the book, a petition for the loan of a sixpence to put in the plate quickly followed. The sixpence was forthcoming, but although the man went to church, the coin found its way to the bar. It is to be noticed that Presbyterians do not use prayer-books, and cannot therefore be imposed on in this manner. We understand that among the lucky ones over the Christshurch races a wellknown young Tirnaru cabdrivcr drew Camballo in Cameron’s sweep, and would have netted £9OO but for the fact that he sold a third share to his employer, and another third to an auctioneer, for £SO. The cabman and his speculative partners have thus netted £3OO each—not a bad day’s work. Messrs Jonas, Hart, and Wildic will sell at their Booms, to-morrow, at 2 p.m., Household furniture and effects, together with the balance of Mr E. llcece’s Ironmongery stock, Ac.