NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2287, 16 July 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

An innocent looking individual named John Leonard was brought up before the Auckland Bench the other day and charged under the Vagrant Act with being an habitual drunkard. It appeared that there were no less than 51 previous convictions against the accused, and the result of the 55th was a sentence of imprisonment for three months. It would he interesting to know how much of this man's life lias been passed in gaol. The Sydney “ Bulletin’’ tells its readers how George Darrell, the actor, found a capitalist:—“ The capitalist, whose, name was Dcaly, was a voiy clever young fellow, who declared lie had .310,000, which he was anxious that Darrell should invest in taking an Australian company Home, to play Australian plays at an Austialiau theatre in London. Darrell believed him, and was induced to remain a week in Urisbanc after the termination of liiscngagcmcnt the young man nuclei taking to pay all his x’s. Darrell did the block with that young man, liquored him up, and introduced him to the ladies of the theatre. On the fifth day that young man disappeared, and handsome George had to leave without again meeting him.'’ The Volunteers are bringing pressure to bear to prevent the proposed abolition of the capitation allowance.

It is stated that the astronomer Proctor lias discovered a gold mine in the Sun which is yielding him at the rate of sixty ounces a week.

Colonel I’rett has an exceedingly poor opinion of the present commanders of our Volunteers. In calling attention to the enquiry farce in Dunedin he appealed to the Legislative Council “whether it was right to allow Colonel Htavcly to occupy his present responsible position. The man was not capable of commanding a corporal's guard, to say nothing of a large force. lie (Colonel Brett) had seen a little of his military abilities when ho had the misforfortuno to attend the funeral of the late Sir John Hichardson, and he certainly was incapable of performing lire simple duties which be was then called upon to discharge.” The Colonel went on to say that they (the Council) should take steps to see whether Captain Smith had acted proyrerly, or whether he should he removed from the force as an incllicicnt olliecr. It was also a question whether a certain captain of that force should hold so high a rank as captain who wrote a letter out of the twenty words in which not one was spelt correctly. He spelt “conduct” with half a dozen *’ k's,” “ city” with half a dozen “ t’s,” and the proposition “ to” he spelt “ t-o-o.” It was not to he endured that such a man should hold such a rank as that of captain.

The Eoyal Commission appointed for the purpose of reporting on the Supreme Court system and practice, with the view to the simplification and cheapening of legal procedure, seems to be constitute (says the “Dunedin Star”) on the principal of setting a congress of wolves to devise measures for the better security of the lambs. All the gentlemen appointed, unexceptionable as they are personally, without exception derive large incomes from the present state of things. A sprinkling of intelligent litigants who have had good fat actions in the Supreme Court would have given zest to the proceedings of the Commission and have rendered the report, if ever one was agreed to, less one-sided than it is likely to be under present circumstances. The latest novelty in Timaru is a decayed organist with a wooden leg over his shoulder, who is going about soliciting subscriptions for a boot to lit the timber. The two tribes of Maoris who jealously guard the llotomahana terraces and boiling springs have resolved to reduce their charges to visitors.

A severe shock of earthquake, lasting half a minute was felt at Wairoa at ',1.30 on Wednesday evening.

Temuka was somewhat enlivened and astonished yesterday by a visit from Mr D. MeGuinness, of the Ship Hotel, splendidly mounted, brilliantly caparisoned, and decorated in his ga3*cst uniform as a Quarter-Mastor-Sergeant of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. Unfortunately, what began with a raid on the champagne terminated rather unluckily, for as the Quartcr-Mastcr-Scrgcant was returning to Timaru his noble Arab descried at an imaginary Eussian, and the rider “like a hero fell.” As might be supposed, Mr MeGuinness fell heavily, and and it was reported that one of his arms was broken, necessitating the attention of a surgeon. The case, however, has progressed so favorably that Mr MeGuinness was to-day shaking the hands of his' customers with the damaged arm, as vigorously as if nothing had happened. More than that, he has erected opposite the hotel corner, to-day, an Argand lamp of beautiful design and 100 candle power, which threatens to take the shine out of everything else in Timaru.

ThcHon Mr Edwards. M.L.C., died at liis residence Sunnyside, Nelson, jesteiday, aged ,38.

The Lyttelton Harbor Board contemplate lengthening the Lyttelton dock by 50 feet, which will make it 'l5O feet on the floor. It will then be the longest dock in the Southern Hemisphere. The Dunedin correspondent., of the “ AkaroaMail” complains that the Dunedin coroner, who is described as “medical man of Herculean proportions ” is in the habit of summing up at inquests before he hears the evidence. This is very hard on Hillock on.

The business of the Government Insurance Department for the year ending June 20, shows the following results .-—Over three thousand proposals were received for more than a million sterling. Of these proposals upwards of 2,200 became policies, assuring a sum exceeding £750,000. New premiums exceed £27,000, which is considerably in excess of last year, notwithstanding the depression which has prevailed. The quinquennial investigation has now commenced and the results after being examined and certified to by eminent English actuaries, will be laid before Parliament next session.