NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2212, 20 April 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Kauri gum is fast coming into use in .America for tlie manufacture of varnish, and is rapidly increasing in value. This is good news for New Zealand. Instead of being worth about £65 per ton, it sells readily at from that figure up to TldO per ton. Copal is its only opponent in the market, and sells at something like £250 per ton. Kauri gum is found to make a varnish that is superior for many purposes, and meets with ready sale.

There was an attempt at horse-whipping last week, the result of which did not turn out to the satisfaction of the one wholrandled the horse persuader, an elderly gentleman who occupies a good position in the colony. It seems that he was rather partial to the company of a young man, whom he often saw with apparent pleasure at his place of abode. The young man took the liberty to fall in love with his elderly friend’s daughter and the still greater one of proposing to her. The young lady had the impertinence to decide for herself, and to lend a favorable car to the suit. Her father got wind of Ibis, and immediately made his way to the lodgings of the young man. The affair was a short one, for a few minutes later the old gentleman was politely bowed out at the front door, the young man holding in his hand a whip which neither the landlady nor any of the other inmates of the house remember seeing before. The young lady declares it served the old man right.—“ls. Z. Mail.”

The Wanganui “Chronicle” of Friday last says:—The announcement that Major Wallis has resigned his scat for the Rangitikei District has been the cause of some surprise, but the suggestion that any arrangement ever existed on the subject between him and Sir William Fox is, of course, without a shadow of foundation. Major Wallis has denied it in the plainest terms, and he is not a man to lie or prevaricate, nor is Sir William Fox the man to permit of profit by such a departure from the truth. The Rangitikei “Advocate” says :—“ Looking round for a representative of the interests of the country, we can lay our hand on none so suited to the position, both by ability and experience, as its old member, Sir William Fox. The fact that he is not only one of the oldest residents in the county, but also one of the oldest politicans in the colony, renders it unnecessary to speak further of his fitness to represent the interests of Rangitikei in the House of Representatives; neither is it necessary to allude to what he has accomplished in the past, to prove what he is capable of doing in the future.

There is evidently some mistake in the news about the floating of the Oamaru Waterworks Loan, The N.O. “ Times ”of yesterday says:—“ It is pleasant to contemplate £89,000 in a concrete form, and some pleasure may even Ire derived from contemplating such an immense sum in divisional parts, but—is there an Oamaru Waterworks Loan of £B9OOO on the London market or should it be the Oamaru Harbor Board Loan of £IOO,OOO ?

At the Wellington Supreme Court yesterday, in the ease of the Bank of New South Wales v. Richardson, an action to recover £2129, alleged to be due for an overdraft, it was pleaded that the Bank agreed to allow the defendant an overdraft to the extent of £9OOO for six months, which agreement had been broken. The jury gave a verdict for £2091, and £1 interest. In a counter action by Richardson against the Bank, claiming damages for alleged breach of agreement, the jury gave a verdict for one shilling damages. The Wellington firemen having resolved to disband, the Corporation laborers have been formed into a Brigade, with the City Engineer, as foreman in charge. A Nelson telegram announces that the tender of the owners of the Anchor Line steamer for the service of the West Coast, Middle Island, which was formerly performed by the Union Company's steamer Maori, has been accepted. A volcanic eruption is taking place at the Sugar Loaves, near the New Plymouth harbor works. A strong sulphurous smell prevails for a considerable distance off. Steam can be observed coming from a fissure in the rock IS inches long by 12 inches deep. James 'William Capper, proprietor of the “Commercial Gazette,” at Auckland, has been committed for trial on two charges of obtaining money under false pretences.

The following appointments appear m the “ Gazette” Philip Balter Boulton, to be Cattle Inspector for the cattle district of Canterbury; Reginald Robert Hoklenjcss, and James McDonald, to be Deputy-Cattle Inspectors for the same district ; Robert Wilkin, Frederick John Kimbell, Charles Newton, John Thomas Peacock, ami John Studhohne to bo memoers of the Local Cattle Board for the district of Canterbury ; Robert Wilkin, to be chairman of said Cattle Board.

Pulpit and bench were baptised in company up North yesterday. Mr W. Dane, J.P. and the Rev Mr Hawkes, Church of England minister, while crossing from Wangaroa to Totara in a sailing boat were capsized in a sudden squall. The seamen belonging to a convenient schooner went to the rescue.

The examination of the woman, Julia Paul, for the murder of her child in the Oamaru Gaol, on Sunday morning, has been adjourned for a medical decision on the question of her sanity. We understand that an up-country clerical gentleman has succumbed to the badness of the times. The bailiffs having taken possession of his worldly goods and chattels, he is about to call a meeting of his creditors.

A large quantity of oats was disposed of near Balclutlia on Saturday. Through a lire on the property of Farmer Wood, at Waitepeka, 1000 bushels of threshed oats, a stack of 200 bushels, and a barn were destroyed. The valuables were insured. Martin, the convict, who was sentenced, at the Christchurch sessions, to live months and two Hoggings for criminal assault, received his first punishment of 25 lashes yesterday. Tiro punishment was severe, but the recipient made no row. Christchurch is in the full enjoyment of a charming variety of epidemics. During the past fortnight four eases of dipthcria, ten of typhoid fever, and one of scarlet fever were reported to the local Board of Health. The health officer considers that typhoid fever is not infectious. This may possibly account for the way in which it is spreading.

Two stacks of wheat belonging to farmer Foley, of Papakaia, near Oamaru, were dctroyed by fire during the absence of the owner from home on Saturday night. The stacks were insured, but the cause of the fire is unknown.

Henry Aitken, a laborer, employed at a thrashing machine, died in the Oamaru I lospital yesterday from the effects of injuries received through falling out of an express at Duntroon on Friday last. The police prosecutionsarising out of the disgraceful scrimmage that occurred lately at Nelson, were disposed of yesterday. Regarding the charges made against Mr Teschemakcr, the Bench said he had acted in a manner becoming a gentleman and a magistrate, in endeavoring to keep the peace and prevent an assault, and his ease was dismissed. In the charge against Mr Bunny the Magistrate found he had acted simply in self defence, and dismissed the ease. Langley Adams was fined 20s and costs, and Percy Adams was hound over to keep the peace for six months, himself in £i3o, and two sureties of £25 each.

To-day, Mr Jones, Lyttelton Harbor diver, descended from a small boat moored off the end of tire Timaru Breakwater for the purpose of examining the sea bottom, preparatory to the laying of the next row of cement blocks.

Mr Thomas, Surgeon-Dentist announces that he will resume practice at his rooms George street, in a few days.

Messrs Maclean and Stewart will sell at Mr C. Johnson’s slaughter yards, at 10 a.m. to-morrow: sheep, cattle, and a quantity of fat.

Mr J. Jackson, coal and timber merchant, has removed his ollice from Church street to the corner of Main South road and Heaton street. It will be observed from an announcement elsewhere that in ease of sufficient inducement offering, a first class vessel will sail for Cape Town from Timaru direct about the end of the month. The vessel will be specially fitted up for passengers. Full information may be obtained from Mr Henry Green.