NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2235, 17 May 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY .

A general meeting of the Timaru Athletic Club, will be held at 8.15 this evening, at which the handicaps will be declared and final arrangements made for the sports meeting to be held on Monday next. The two boys Eli Jones and George Dodge, who, it will be remembered, recently escaped from the Burnham Industrial School, were brought up at the Ashburton R.M. Court on Friday last and re-committed to the school. They had gone through some adventures after their escape, and presented a very woe-be-gone appearance in Court,

The new number of the “ New Zealand Herald ” contains a view of Takaka river, Nelson, several sketches of Victorian scenery, and a good portrait of the late Rev Joseph Dare, D.D.,

An accident occurred last night near the Melville Hotel. Two young men had driven down from the Otaio in a dog cart, the bit being out of the horse’s mouth on the journey down; when near the Melville one of them got out to adjust it when, before this could be done the horse suddenly started off at full gallop and not being bitted, the driver was unable to control it. He therefore jumped out and landed without injury. Horse and vehicle now rushed helter-skelter down the hill to the great danger of foot passengers. A horseman at the Melville offered to join the pursuit but on nearing the runaway his own horse took fright and bolted to. The horse with the dog cart having reached George street, turned down to the beach, and coming, back, was caught just by the Club Hotel. The horse is somewhat lamed and the vehicle has sustained some damage one shaft and both splash-boards being broken.

The following is a list of the cases already set down for hearing at the next session of the Supreme Court at Timaru, which commences on June 10th next:— John Griffin, larceny as a servant; William Reilly and Robert Robertson, larceny from the person ; Same, robbery with violence ; William Reilly, larceny from the person ; Edward Kelly, larceny from the person ; Dennis Barratt, forgery ; Same,, forgery and uttering ; Thomas Dawber, shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm ; William Quinn, Michael Lynch, Joseph Sims, Chas. Pontifex, and Charles Hawkins, forcibly entering on lands at Makikihi, occupied by James Coll, and expelling Coll therefrom ; William Charles Kidney, larceny of watch, valued at £7 from a shop ; James Kelly, larceny of £2 from a dwelling; William Bradshaw, stealing from an office a theodolite, valued at £2O ; Charles Henderson Clarke, Annie Clarke, Robert Thomson, and George Hayes, arson at Waimate.

The following is one of “ iEgles’ ” stories;—‘‘.‘The recreations of a country parson’ in Riverina arc not invariably agreeable. A worthy and sincere young incumbent, with a parish of 100 miles diameter, endeavored to make friends with the two-year old child of a selector. He was unexpectedly assailed with a torrent of oaths of the ruddiest complexion. Passing the evening at the station of one of the pastoral aristocracy, he related to his pleasant and kindly ‘ hostess his painful experience of the morning. At this juncture the young scion of the house was brought into the room. The reverend guest, making some advances, found himself repelled with language almost identical with that used by the embryo selector. Mamma was greatly disconcerted, and explained that she was quite at a loss to account for her child’s bad language, as he had never heard anyone swear * except his father! ’ ”

In a circular to the registrars of electors Mr Under-Secretary Cooper says:—“lam to impress on you that this provision (section 6) is of the utmost importance, and was clearly intended by the Legislature to expedite the preparation of the rolls, and to make these rolls when compiled as complete as possible. It is therefore, the duty of each registrar, not only to receive such applications for registration as may be made under the 7th clause, but himself to place on the roll the name of every person of whose qualification he has any means, by inquiry through the public or otherwise of satisfying himself. It is for this among other reasons, that the police have been instructed to afford the registrars every assistance in their

power.” During the meeting of the Waitaki County Council on i Thursday afternoon, Mr W. Sutherland called attention to the fact of 240 ounces of gold having been taken from Livingstone to Naseby for sale within the last two months and a-half. He stated (says the “ Oamaru Mail”) this was the result of the Oamaru bankers declining to purchase, and said they should be ashamed of themselves for adopting such a course. He also mentioned that during his recent visit to the Old Country he had sold several ounces of gold in London at £4 2s 9d an ounce.

At the last meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council, the following resolution was carried: ‘‘That the chairman be instructed to draw the attention of the Government to the great necessity there is for it to take steps at the earliest moment to prevent the removal of diseased cattle from any district, and especially is it deemed necessary at the present time to prevent the introduction of cattle into the Middle from the North Island, where pleuropneumonia exists.” At the Easter camp of the Sydney Volunteers the Governor was one day expected, and nearly all were on the qui vive. A fatigue party, in charge of Lieutenant Shoulderbelt, was in camp kitchen, one of the party being busy with a rake, and another having a broom in active use. His Excellency, surrounded by the staff, approached rather suddenly; the lieutenant shouted as well as he was able, “ Sh-Sh-Shoulderarms !” The implements of peace were suddenly brought up to position, Iris Excellency acknowledging the salute as he passed on. The men declare that they were never more sorrowfully sober in their lives. It is stated that the hands employed at Bruce and Co.’s woodwarc factory struck work this morrning. Trade has been dull for some time past, and in consequence the men were offered employment at half-time, or for three days a ■week, conditional upon their accepting a reduction of 2s per day on their usual rate of wages. These terms were rejected and hence the strike. As many of the hands employed at the factory have families depending upon them, a lock-out at the present time when the labor market is so depressed, is much to be regretted. The diver was engaged at the breakwater to-day, and should the weather prove favorable, operation with the next block will be commenced to-morrow. It is intended for the future to allow the blocks ample time to settle before laying the monolith. The anniversary of the Eoman Catholic Church, Timaru, was celebrated yesterday. High Mass was performed, and effective sermons preached, suitable for the occasion, by Father Chatagnier. There was a crowded attendance at the morning and evening services.

His Worship the Eesident Magistrate expressed his astonishment to-day while investigating a case in which bankruptcy proceedings were involved, at the mysterious ways of bankrupts and the often beneficial effects of the whitewashing process. " But if there is one tiling that annoys me more than another,” said his Worship, "it is to see bankrupts walking about and coming into court and elsewhere bejewelled with rings and pins and chains —it is positively disgusting.” These remarks had, as they were doubtless intended to have, a peculiar significance.

The old Supreme Court at Dunedin, which has lately been occupied for office purposes by Mr Conyers, Commissioner for the South Island railways, was almost completely destroyed by fire on Saturday. All the books and papers belong to the Commissioner and Locomotive Engineer were destroyed, including a number of returns prepared for Parliament. Mr Conyers is now in Wellington. The origin of the fire is not known. The other offices burnt are the Eesident Engineer’s and Assistant’s, but their books were in a strong-room, and were saved,

Mr Seddon, M.H.E, for Kumara, addressed his constituents on Saturday night. He advocated the repeal of the Property Tax, reimposition of the Land Tax and Beer Tax, if necessary, and supported the abolition of local subsidies. He did not think that the Opposition could form a Ministry if the present Government were defeated. He would not follow Mr Macandrew because of the latter’s support of the District Bailway Bill. He would follow no party blindly in future. A vote of confidence was unanimously proposed. The “ Saturday Advertiser ” thus refers to the Property Tax:—The time is close at hand for the collection of this tax, and then colonists will be able to appreciate, at its full value, the Modern Inquisition. A whole army of Paul Prys will be set to work over the entire colony to poke their noses into the private affairs of everyone of us. An Income Tax would have been preferable to this iniquitous measure. The clerks of the various Eoad Boards have been appointed, we are given to understand, to perform the disagreeable duties of collectors of the tax in the country districts. We would not for a single instant suggest that any one of those gentlemen would take advantage of his position to favor a friend, or annoy an enemy. Still, had they the inclination to do so, the power is placed in their hands. The whole thing is repugnant to the spirit of British institutions, and the sooner it is repealed the better will it be for the country at large. If the Hon. John Hall and his gallant friend the Major cannot hit upon a better plan for “ raising the wind” than this iniquitous and bungling Act, they should retire from the Ministerial benches, and make way for bettor men.

It Ims been suggested that a list of the bankruptcies that have occurred in Timaru and other centres during the past two or three years, together with details of the cost of winding up the estates, dividends, and other statistical information would be most valuable. There is a probability of the work being attempted. On the West Coast an effort in this direction has already been made, for we learn that Mr L. L. Levy is compiling a list of all the bankruptcies which have occurred in that district in the three years ending December, 1879, together with the names, residences, occupations, Jassets and liabilities, dividends declared and probable dividends, trustees, Ac. The list will be complete in about a month, and will be issued only to subscribers. The “ Ballarat Courier writes:—" An ingenious contrivance has been hit upon by the landlord of the well-known hostelry where shareholders congregate. Very often the doorway is blocked up, thus preventing customers from entering. A large placard, with the inscription ‘ wet paint,’ kept the gangway clear for a day or two; but of late brokers have been callous to every attempt. The last plan ran as follows: — ‘ Water-pipes have been laid on to the above doorway,’ ending in a “rose.” ’ When the doorway is blocked a tap is turned, and the pathway to the bar is free. The people who saw the first experiment were divided into two classes —those who admired the ingenuity of the scheme, and those who were in the doorway when it started. The first said it was just what was wanted; the second got friendly brokers to wring them out over the kerbstone.” A skeleton has been discovered by a Native in the vicinity of Huntley, Waikato, but it is not known yet whether is a native or European.

A memorial is being got up to be pre. sented to Mr A. A. Fantham, for his exertions in preventing the spread of pleuropneumonia in the Waikato district.

As the schooner Telegraph was being towed into the Waitara River by a steamer, the hawser broke, and she went ashore at the North Spit. An attempt was made to get her off, but she still remains there.