NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2275, 2 July 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

J. Boycs was brought up before the Wahnatc Bench yesterday, charged with the larceny of a saddle and bridle valued at ,fl. The charge was proved but the accused was strongly recommended to mercy and he was therefore merely ordered to be imprisoned until the rising of the Court. A number of unimportant civil cases were also disposed of. A laboring man apparently about -10 years of age named Homy Davis, was brought before Mr B. Bcctham, 8.M., this morning charged with wilfully damaging property, value £2. The evidence shewed that he had been arrested last evening for deliberately breaking the shop window of Mr Herman, tobacconist, in Main South Bead. Ju explanation Davis pleaded that lie was a member of the unemployed ; that searching for work lie had travelled on foot from Woka Pass to Nelson, and from Nelson back to Timaru ; that he arrived here yesterday footsore, penniless, and destitute, and that he told the police during tbc day that he would have to commit some offence so as to avoid death from starvation. The bench took pity on his misery and sentenced him to fourteen day's imprisonment.

There was a curious invention on view on the railway platform, this afternoon. This was a velocopcde, designed to run on the railway line, and fitted with a peculiar grooved wheel for that purpose. These machines are used by the inspectors when travelling, and differ considerably from the velocopcde. They arc extremely hghtj neatly and compactly made, and do not stand more than 3ft. high. They arc very generally used in America, bin this is one of the first imported to this colony. It is capable of being propelled along the line at the rate of IS to 20 miles an hour, with the utmost case.