NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2215, 23 April 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

We understand that the prayer of the memorialists in the case of F. A. Sims has been granted, and that the pardon will reach Timaru in a few clays. The Dunedin “ Star ” says that more information concerning the Rev. Arthur Graves was received by the last mail. It transpires that lie is no novice in crime. Not only did he commit offences in Carlisle, in respect of which informations were withdrawn owing to the interest of his friends, but he underwent a sentence for forgery at Winchester, in Hampshire, and was only released from gaol on the eve of sailing for this colony.

Contrary to general expectations the oflice of Inspector of Works for the City Corporation of Dunedin has been conferred on a Mr Crawshaw and not on Councillor Barnes. What has Councillor Barnes done?

Dunedin is investing largely in fireworks. Two 250-candlc-power Argand lamps arc to be substituted as an experiment for the 10 ordinary street lamps at present burning in the Octagon. A munificent bequest of 200,000 has just been made to the City of Glasgow' for educational purposes. Mr William Marshall, a well-known merchant in that city, died recently, leaving the residue of his property for the erection and endowment of an institution for the education, board and the training of destitute boys and girls, A sister of the donor had the life-rent of the money, but her death is now announced, so that the magnificent legacy will be applied to the purpose for which it was bequeathed. We must confess (says .the Dunedin “ Star,” our great surprise that any respectable journal should have given publicity to the subjoined extract (which appeared originally in ajTemuka paper) without making inquiries as to what foundation in fact it had:—“Wo have been informed that an individual here states that he was acquainted with Mrs Dewar from a child > and that she was married previously to another man, who was not proved to be dead. If these arc facts, there is a possibility that the first husband committed the murder; there is, at any rate, room for a motive.” The publication of the paragraph, which is a foul libel on the memory of one of the victims of the Cumberland street tragedy, has caused the greatest distress to Mr and Mrs Aitchcson, her parents. Mr McCaughan, M.H.lt.’s West Wains estate near Invercargill is shortly to be submitted for sale in small sections.

Undcr the heading “ No Sinecure ” a Southern paper has the following :—A person applied recently for information respecting the duties of the secretary of the Timaru Harbor Board. The following brief account of the duties required was summarised horn his information :—“ To attend all the meetings of the Boar - ' 1 ., keep minutes of business, accounts, Board’s books, conduct correspondence, and act as treasurer. To poiform the duties of clerk at the landing service, to keep correct tally, and take measurements of all goods landed or shipped. To keep the books of the landing service ; to collect the accounts and disburse the payments ; to collect all shipping dues and port charges ; to keep tally and take measurements of all goods landed or shipped at wharf, and to collect all accounts and dues on goods, keeping books showing all the transactions, and generally to devote his whole time to the service of the Board.” The Taranaki Jockey Club Stewards had to meet peculiar opposition on their first race day. A Mr Snell erected a stand on the section outside the course. The action taken by the Stewards is thus told by the “Herald”: “It was intended to charge only one shilling for admission to this stand. We say intended, for the owner had not an opportunity of carrying out his intentions, as none of the public would patronise it. The Jockey Club were naturally much incensed, at this invasion of their rights and they ordered a screen to be erected about 15 to 20 feet high in front of the opposition grand stand in order to intercept the view of the race course. This was done so effectually that it complctcly destroyed all the hopes of the owner of the impromptu stand, and ho was consequently a loser by the transaction, nor did we hear any person utter one word of commiseration on the result of bis enterprise. The usual weekly meeting of the Timaru Literary and Debating Society took place last night. There was a large attendance of members, and a good many ladies were also present. The debate, “ Who was the greatest general, Napoleon or Wellington ?” proved a most interesting one, Mr Duval taking up the cudgels on behalf of the great French soldier, while Mr Davidson led in favor of the Englishman. Perhaps it was not altogether surprising, under tire circumstances, that, on a vote being taken on the question, the majority of those present voted in favor of Wellington. Had there been an equal number of Frenchmen in the room the result might have been different. At the Police Court this morning, a first offender charged with being drunk and disorderly and with using obseno language, was fined 5s for the first, and 20s for the second offence. A man charged on remand with being of unsound mind was discharged having sufficiently recovered. Another man having undergone a medical examination as to his sanity, was committed to the Suunyside Asylum. The Court then adjourned.

At the Quarterly meeting of the Canterbury Reform Association on Tuesday evening last, it was resolved: “That the committee of the Association be instructed to draw up a petition to the Government asking them to bring in a Redistribution of Heats Rill upon the basis of population, during the next session, and that it take effect ns early as possible after the rising of Parliament.”

An interesting railway collision between a policeman and the departmental bylaws, engaged the attention of the Resident Magistrate at Ashburton on Tuesday. Constable John Rowse was charged with jumping off a train while in motion. The defendant stated that he had to alight from the train at Dnnsandcl, and as it did not stop there he jumped off, thinking as it was not an ordinary passenger train he had committed no breach of the railway by-laws. The Bench considered the offence had been committed under extenuating circumstances and inflicted a nominal fine of Is and costs.

A serious accident occurred at Cornelius’ stables at half-past nine this morning. Caleb Dunn, a young lad was riding out on one of the horses when the animal refused to leave the stable, and being urged forward, reared up and fell back on the saddle, with the boy underneath. In this manner it lay till the unfortunate youth was dragged out. Dunn was found to Ire scvcrley crushed, and Dr Lovcgrove, who was at once sent for, ordered his removal home.

An advertisement in another column notifies that Mr E. I I. Tate having resigned his position as secretary of the Timaru Permanent Building Society, and Mr William Sims having been appointed as his successor, the business of the society will in future be carried on at the office of Messrs Ross, Sims and Co. A Social Meeting of the Lifeboat Lodge will be held this evening, at 7.J0, in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Sophia street. All Members of the Order are invited.

Dr Neville, Bishop of Dunedin will eonduct the morning and evening services of St Mary's Church on Sunday.

Attention is called to Bell’s consultation on the Christchurch steeplechase to be run on May 2-1. Tickets are being rapidly disposed of.