NEWS OF TEE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2291, 21 July 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF TEE DAY.

The monthly inspection parade ol the C Battery, N.Z.C. took place yesterday evening, Captain Jackson in command. A certain witness in a civil case heard at the li.M. Court yesterday betrayed, while in the box, such unmistakable symptoms o£ having “ refreshed” himself “ not wisely but too well,” that Mr Hamersley, who was cross-examining, had very considerable difficulty in eliciting his evidence. The learned counsel looked appealingly at the Bench, but Mr Bcctham observed that he could render him no assistance in the matter. “ I suppose this is tire result of all witnesses being ordered out of Court,” despairingly remarked Mr Hamersley, after vainly endeavouring to get a reply to a question. “hi vino verilas ,” you know, said Mr Austin, who was seated at the solicitor’s table, and the case proceeded.

Messrs Do Lautour and Bain, M.H.B.’s have consented to act as the Board of Inquiry into the management of the Government printing office. Mr J. L. “Wilson, of the Auckland “ Herald” has been asked to he the third member of the Board.

The case McCarthy v. National Mortgage and Agency Company, claim £H'>, for the value of a horse, which was partially reported in our last issue, occupied the greater portion of the day in hearing. Mr C. Perry submitted that the Court had no jurisdiction in the case, the defendant not residing within the colony, the head office of the Company being in London. Mr Hamorslcy having replied, His Worship said he would reserve his decision. This will probably be given on Friday. There is a cruel as well as a merciful way of performing painful operations. The railway department appears to be studying the former in carrying out necessary reductions. Piceontly it was deemed advisable that a trustworthy and experienced servant in charge of a station not far from Timaru should be “ shunted” to make room for a boy of twelve. On Friday last the unfortunate officer received notice that his services would be dispensed with on the following day. The man had a wife and family to provide for, no fault could be found with his services, yet he gets 2-1 hours’ notice to pack and go. Such is the ebb and flow of Civil Service life in New Zealand. The head of a‘ family steady and industrious, is apparently in a constant billet to-day, and to-morrow he is without occupation. Well might the poet exclaim—- “ Man’s inhumanity to man, Makes countless thousands mourn.”

The Queen’s Theatre, Dunedin, is at present crowded nightly by audiences who are supposed to be attracted by a panorama but who in reality assemble to gamble for suites of furniture. The proprietors are said to be purchasers of 20,000 envelopes weekly, which contain the chances sold at the Theatre door. As this represents about £SOO a week, apart from admission money, the panorama ought to be a paying speculation.

The wife of “ one of our most respectable citizens” announced to her husband that she intended to embrace the tenets of Elder Sorenson’s faith and become a Mormon Instead of being dismayed the husband calmly acquiesced, and observing that ho should retain the children, tendered his spouse a cheque to pay her expenses to Utah. Strange to say the lady didn’t seem to like it, and has since made no further mention of the matter. This (says the local “ Star ’') is positively true, and occurred in Auckland a few days ago.

A pigeon flying match took place to-day. Five birds were liberated on the ground opposite the railway station for the East Christchurch Pigeon Club. The task was performed by Mr T. K. Kennedy. No. 1 bird emerged from the bag punctually at 10 a.m., and was two minutes before taking its final flight due west. No. 2 followed at 10.15 and was five and a half minutes before it took its final flight, also due west. No. 3 was liberated at 10.30, and was out of sight in four minutes taking a direction due north. No. 1 started at 10.45, and was out of sight in five minutes flying due west. 'The fifth and last bird was liberated at 11 a.m., and in four minutes had taken its final flight due north.

An interesting incident (says a Home paper) recently occurred at Windsor Castle, when Mr James Husscll Lowell, alias Deacon ifiglow, presented his credentials, was received in the usual form by the Queen, and dined with Her Majesty. For the first time in the history of the Victorian era, a royal reception included the rccogninition of guests whose best claim to honor is their connection with literature. Her Majesty had at dinner, to meet the representative of American literature, besides the most distinguished intellects of England —Tennyson, Carlyle, Raskin, George Elliot Ouida, Mr Tom Taylor, and George Simms.