NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2257, 11 June 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The South Canterbury Football Club has decided to challenge the Dunedin, Southbridge, and Christ’s College Clubs, to pi a}' in Timaru, and endeavors arc to be made to raise a team to visit Christchurch next month. The local match arranged for next Saturday is the Banks v. the World. A luckless juror who was late in attendance at the after lunch sitting of the Supreme Court, yesterday, was severely reprimanded by his Honor Judge Johnston who asked him what excuse he had to offer. He replied that when he got home his dinner was not ready, and he was not coining away without it. His Honor remarked : “ And so you would keep fifty people waiting while you got your dinner ? Were not this unpunctuality very uncommon, I should inflict a very heavy fine. You may take your seat.”

Few paintings have attracted greater attention than one which is now on view in Jonas, Hart and Wildic’s auction rooms, It is the representation of a Maori mother and child, and it is the effort of an Auckland artist. The features arc life-size, and they are rendered with exquisite fidelity. The tatoosd lips of the parent are graced with an innocent smile, and the pleasing confident glance of the youngster is slightly relieved by the furtive yet happy expression of the mother’s features. The Maori drapery, greenstone pendants and other ornaments produce a characteristic and felicitous combination. The picture created no little excitement among a group of Maoris who visited town, yesterday, and it will repay the inspection of admirers of genuine art.

Effoits are being made to get a branch post office established at Maori Hill.

The lime of the nomination for the South Canterbury Coursing Club’s Lames’ Bracelets, has boon extended to June 23,

His Honor Judge Johnstone is usually 7 more oeppery than sugary, and after flic opening of the criminal sessions yesterday a juryman, who returned late from Ins dinner, spoiled the judicial temper, which is rarely very placid. Shortly after the scolding of this juryman, a knight of the theodolite was in the witness box relating some piscatorial adventures with the prisoner in the dock. “It was Sunday morning and as we went towards the beach wo saw fish lying thick about the roadstead,” said the witness. “ Now. you wish the Court to believe Hint do you V” said His Honor, cocking up his left ear in a moat astonishing manner. “Yes! your Honor, retorted the witness. “ What, sir,” roared the Judgcin :r voice of thunder, “do you mean to say 7 there were roasted fish lying about everywhere on Sunday morning. Is that your story.” “Not roasted, your Honor, the fish were lying about the roadstead,” said the abashed witness. “Ah !” said the judge, and “ Silence !” yelled the crier, as an audible litter rang through the precincts of the Hall of Justice.

By a strange and melancholy coincidence Colonel t’ickard, Y.C., the bravo and gallant soldier who died recently at Cannes from a brief attack of illness —violent congestion of the lungs—was buiicd on the very day which had been originally fixed for Ills wedding. His marriage to Miss McNcilc, daughter of Sir John McNeilo, who also died within the last few months, had been fixed to take place that day. This young lady has lost her father and affianced husband within the short space of three months. The very wreaths which wore to have been used at the wedding became funeral garlands to be thrown on the coffin, and the bridal veil and dress wore lying ready to be put on by the now widowed bride. Death was caused by the rupture of a blood-vessel in the lungs, and the poor young bride sat up three hopeless days and nights watching the life slowly sinking away.

Crime appears to be on the increase not only in Melbourne and the suburbs, but in all parts of the country. At the present time there arc over 700 prisoners at the Pentridge Stockade, the greatest number confined there at one time for the last 12 years, and drafts arc weekly sent from the Melbourne and up - country gaols. As the accommodation is limited at Pentridge, it has beoemo necessary to rc-open the labor yard at the Melbourne gaol, which has been closed for over 12 months.

The “New York Iloald” rcmaiks that “ the spring opening in the murder line is decidedly lively,” and nobody would (says “Truth”) be disposed to cavil at the statement after reading a single day’s tragedies. In a southern town several rowdies entered a bar and assaulted a policeman, who shot one dead and wounded another. At Ht. Nicholas a waiter shot dead a traveller who found fault with the quality of the eggs supplied for his breakfast. At SlaugbtcrvilJe, Kentucky, the marshal having been threatened with death by a citizen, who considwcd himself wronged by that official, went to the house of Iris enemy and shot him dead and the same fate beiel a man engaged in ", strike; while A colored boy of fourteen cut the tin oat of :<■ colored girl because she refuse to got up to find him a pen. Pretty well Ibis ! ’or one day.

Wc have much pleasure in directing attention to the trade announcement re the Ship Hotel, which has just changed hands, and has undergone a number of important additions and improvements.

Attention is called to the announcement of Mr A. Blytt, watchmaker and working jeweller, who has opened tire premises at corner of Beswick street and Great North road.