NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2226, 6 May 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Extempore speaking is the programme arranged for this evening’s meeting of the Literary and Debating Society. Stacey’s Panorama of Australia and New Zealand opens this evening at the Theatre Royal for a short season. The Exhibition, covering 14,000 ft. of canvas, should be worth seeing, comprising, as it does, views of all the chief places of interest in the colonies. Its attractions are not a little enhanced by the performances of Mr G. W. Corbett, a clever ventriloquist, and Miss Lilly “ the charming little vocalist.” A number of gifts will be distributed amongst the audience at the conclusion of the entertainment.

Mr J. G. Allen succeeds Mr Thomas Howley as clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru.

Harry Barlow, a gentleman of Maori extraction, appeared before Mr T. W. Hall, J.P., at the Police Court, this morning, charged with being drunk and disorderly. Harry was dismissed with a caution on this charge, but the police stated that he had been amusing himself during the night while in the cells, by tearing up the Government blankets. He was ordered to pay the damage amounting to 255, and somewhat ruefully produced the money.

Cattle disease is not the only drawback with which the settlors of Waikato have to contend. An epidemic has broken out amongst sheep. Some owners arc losing fifty a week. The cause is unknown.

At the inquest on the body of Austin, alias Fitts, who was found dead in a gutter in Auckland the medical evidence showed that death had resulted from extreme diarrhoea.

In consequence of a second outbreak of diptheria at the Lyttelton Orphanage, the medical officer of the institution was led to make a careful examination of the rooms in which the disease occurred. He had some flooring taken up, and at once found sufficient cause for the outbreak. The ground was sodden, giving out unpleasant and unhealthy odors. It had been imagined that from the very nature of the building there could not possibly be any lodgment of water under the floors, and the discovery look the Charitable Aid Board by surprise. Such sanitary improvements as are deemed necessary will bo immediately made.

Mr Gatehouse, cx-Mayor of Melbourne, a confirmed jokist, who on one occasion rode home at night on a hot saveloy can, and subsequently distinguished himself by placing a presentation coronet upside down on the head of a famous tragedienne, has been fined £SO at Geelong, Victoria, for injuries done to the victim of one of his practical jokes.

At the special meeting of the Vincent County Council on April 28. Mr Tyke, in answer to the query “If any attention was to be paid to the very generally expressed opinion that subsidies ceased on March 1,” is reported to have said “he had little doubt of the subsidy being continued. The circular from the Under-Secretary was framed in utter ignorance of the distinct views of the House expressed last [session, or was an attempt on Jthe part of the Government to set aride the expressed wishes of the House. If the latter they would find themselves in the cold.” A fatal railway accident occurred on the Hunedin-Balclutha line last evening. The late goods train from the South had just passed Waihola when the engine apparently struck something, and the train was stopped immediately. The guard, on looking about, found a man dead lying across the rails. A telegram was received in town this afternoon intimating that the body has since been identified as that of one James Bacon. It was removed to Waihola, where an inquest will be held in due course. An examination of the engine attached to the goods train which followed the express, showed that there were marks of blood and brains upon it, so that the deceased must have been killed by this engine. A lady in this City has been good enough to show us'“ The Devil’s puzzle,” which is the latest novelty in parlor amusements our American cousins have invented, and is the rage in the United (States. Into a square box fit blocks of wood, sixteen in number, which are numbered from 1 to IG. These numbers are placed promiscuously into the box ; that numbered 1G is removed, and you are expected to arrange the other numbers consecutively, so that the missing one shall fit into its proper position. The puzzle is simple enough to look at but rather difficult to work out. The “ diamond puzzle ” is much on the same plan, but in it you have to so arrange the numbers that counted up and down the squares they shall tot up 48, which is, of course, much harder. —Dunedin “ Star.” A general meeting of the Timaru Athletic Club takes place this evening at the Club Hotel, at 8.15. '