NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2209, 16 April 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Rev. B. Dudley, of Auckland, wilj conduct the services in St. Mary’s Church, on Sunday. Various clergymen will officiate during the sitting of the Synod at Christchurch.

There was a largo attendance at the Weekly meeting of the Literary and Dcbat* ing Club last night, many ladies being present to hear Mr W. S. Stewart’s essayon “Lord Byron.” An accident occurred to Kennedy and Carter’s coach on Wednesday afternoon. After meeting the train at Orati as usual, the coach proceeded to Geraldine, but had not gone very far when one of the wheels came off, and the vehicle fell over on its side. The passengeas, two men and a young girl escaped with a few bruises and a good shaking. The horses, fortunately, stood quite still or the consequences might have been much more serious.

In compliance with a petition from the Swiss and German vignerons the Auckland Land Board have set aside 20,000 acres at Wanganui North for fruit and wine culture. Some thousands of acres are to be placed at the disposal of the Kati Kati settlers under the homestead system. At the New Plymouth District Court yesterday a man named John Dale, charged with a revolting offence on his own daughter, a girl of ten years of age, had to be discharged in consequence of Mr Standish, the Crown Prosecutor, having left on Sunday for Australia without signing the indictment. If justice is not to be converted into a laughing-stock Mr Standish, on his return to New Zealand, should be placed in exactly the same position as that of the prisoner. Negligence in such cases should be made to take the place of the original crime. Portions of the clothing of the young men who went shooting on the Wairarapa Lake have been found. There is therefore little doubt that they have been drowned.

It is understood that the directors of the Working men’s Small Farm Association are negotiating with the Government, and that two of the directors leave Wellington on Saturday with a view to inspect a large block of land, and to ascertain if it will supply the wants of the Association. A Hokitika telegram states that six or seven shafts has been bottomed on payable gold, at a new rush at the Forks, Okarito. The ground is proved about 400 feet in breadth, and if others bottom who arc sinking on the same line, it is thought that a considerable rush will shortly set in. At Christchurch yesterday a resident named David Thornton was prosecuted under the Health Act for not reporting a case of typhoid in his family as required by law. As it was shown to be impossible for defendant to tell whether his child was suffering from typhoid or not, the case had to be withdrawn.

The Government steamer Stella, while sailing from Queen Charlotte Sound at full speed an Wednesday, struck on a sunken rock amidships. The rock is between Coamoroa and White Eock, and a quarter of-a-milc outside of any rocks marked on the chart. Its bearings will be taken by the Marino department, and the Stella is to be placed on the slip. Arthur Cox, an luvcrcargi’l cadet, who on Easter Monday shot another boy has been committed for trial for manslaughter.

A house and furniture belonging to the Mayor of Nascby, insured in the Norwich Union have been burnt down. The Manager of the Union Insurance Company has received a cablegram announcing the loss by collision of the Calypso, homeward bound, near Margate. All hands were saved. The Calypso was commanded by Captain Hiard, and left Port Chalmers for London on January 19th. Her cargo consisted of -1976 bales of wool and sundries of a total value of £87,89(5. She was owned by Captain Leslie and other's, and was fully insured, all the colonial offices having full lines upon her.

The Lynch Family of Bellringers an Company appeared at the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, last evening, and were greeted by one of the !largest audiences ever seen in Temuka, the hall being completely packed from stage to door. The performance was, as usual, very successful, and a second entertainment was announced for this evening.

A man down South went through the bankruptcy court. He owned a fine horse and gig, and they both disappeared for a time; but by-and-by the horse and gig were doing service for the same owner again. On being asked what this meant, the man’s reply was : “ I went through the bankruptcy court, but the horse and gig went round.

The “ Oamaru Mail” of Wednesday describes the boarding houses of Oamaru as dens of thieves and prostitutes, and calls upon the police bench and public to assist in their extermination.

Wellington being dissatisfied with a central railway station of weatherboards, the Government has comforted the inhabitants by intimating that they will get bricks when the colony gets richer, and a Bill for the abolition of earthquakes has passed both Houses.

Mr Martin Simonson is on his way from Australia, and will visit Timaru in the course of a few weeks. He brings with him a company of American stars, entitled “ The Froliqncs.” The company includes vocalists of no mean pretentions, some capital dancers, and good comedians. The performance commences with a Christy Minstrel circle, in which both ladies and gentlemen ‘take part. Then follow amusing sketches, Mr Martin Simonsen on the violin, character songs, Miss Lottie Elliott, the famous skipping-rope dancer, an indiarubber man, and other novelties. A tramway accident which has terminated fatally occurred on Wednesday evening in Dunedin to a boy named Edward Haughtou, 13 years old. He, with a number of other boys, had got upon the tramcars which were being taken down Battery street to the shed, and when near the railway crossing, in attempting to get from one car to another he slipped and fell to the ground, and the car ran over his legs. The cars were at once pulled up, and the boy was taken to the Hospital, where it was found that his left leg was broken and his right leg very badly cut and bruised. He'died from his injuries yesterday.

Messrs Jonas, Hart, and Wildie will sell at their yards at 11 a.m. to-morrow, Horses, Ploughs, Harness, Ac. Messrs Cliff and Co. will sell, at their Rooms, to-morrow, Pigs, Poultry, Bran, Sharps, etc. Oysters! Oysters ! ! Oysters !! ! W. Hurcombe has now on hand one of the Choicest Displays of Fish and Oysters ever seen in South Canterbury. [Auvr.] A Saddle of Mutton, representing the Ship Comadre, wi” be exhibited to-night and to-morrow night at Peacock and Heaney’s, Church street. [Adyt.J Messrs Peacock and Gcancy are showing a grand display of Prime Beef, Mutton, A c., Ac., at their shops, the West End Butchery, Church street, and London Butchery, North street. [Auvx.]