NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2292, 22 July 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A man named Heaton was charged at the police Court this morning with being drunk and disorderly, and with obstructing a constable. Constable Simpson stated that he saw the accused yesterday walking arm-in-arm with another man and they were both drunk. Ite attempted to arrest the other man, Summcrficld, but the accused refused to let go his friend’s arm and a scuffle ensued in which Summcrficld got away. It was very hard work to get the accused to the station. The Bench dismissed the charge of drunkenness, and for obstructing the police inflicted a fine of 10s with the usual alternative. The new Courthouse at Waimato was opened yesterday. The first occupant of the dock was Charles Falconer, who was charged with being drunk and disorderly. His Worship the Mayor, who was on the Bench, let off the accused in honor of the occasion. A large number of townspeople were present. At the Temuka It. M. Court, yesterday, P. Grealish, for fighting in the public street, and resisting the police, was fined 20s on each charge, with the alternative of 0C hours imprisonment. AY. Bryan was charged with obstructing a constable, but was so drunk when he appeared that he was sent to the lock-up to get sober. The telegraph station at St. Andrews is now open to the public. A petition to Mr Back, General Manager is in course of preparation, praying that the express trains may stop at AVinchcster, in addition to the other places of call.

The amount paid by the Government to Messrs Grant and Foster, the Lincolnshire delegates was £547, including £249 passages to New Zealand and £245 passages to England. Dr. Lemon has a peculiar method of recognising and rewarding talent. He evidently considers excellence a nuisance and the result is that all the clever hands are being carefully weeded from the telegraph department. The latest victim of his vigilance is a clever caricaturist—who would probably make his fortune on London “ Punch.” A few years back he flourished in the telegraph department at Wellington, but having committed the unpardonable sin of making free with the features that grace the bar of Bellamys he was removed to Wan-

ganui. From Wanganui he was transferred to Oamaru, but he was evidently a “ marked man ” for recently he received a week’s notice to quit. Fortunately his brief connection with our Southern neighbors had made him many friends, and a petition from a number of influential merchants in Oamaru, having winged its way to Wellington, the clever young man is likely to be reinstated. A caricature of Dr Lemon at his hands would probably be worth preserving. The Rev Father OTteilly died at Wellington yesterday, aged 72. He was one of the first prists in New Zealand, and was greatly respected by all classes. A rush has set in at Mapourika, 50 miles to the south of Hokitika, and steamers have been laid on for the conveyance of Mainers. The “ Ellesmere Advertiser” was published at Southbridgc for the first time yesterday. Another journal, the “ Guardian,” is announced to make its appearance at the same place to-day.

The following return (says a contemporary) shows the number of brewers’ premises in New Zealand, the number of barrels brewed, and the description of material used in brewing as registered by the brewers, in pursuance of the requirements of “The Distillation Act, 1(5(58 ” :—Number of breweries, 108; number of barrels brewed, 18(5,00(1; malt, bushels, 50-1,11-1; hops, lbs, (132,65(5; sugar, lbs, 2,-181,588 ; glucose, lbs, -12,306; isinglass, lbs, 572 ; coriander seed, lbs, 300. One great objection to the Civil Service Commission, says the Auckland “Herald,” is that its inquiries were conducted privately. The almost inevitable consequence is that when the report and evidence appear, the Commissioners arc assailed, and in many eases it must be with justice. Men with spites, and prejudices, and grievances have come before them, and poured onesided statements into their cars. All this being kept secret, there is no opportunity for refutation, and the Commissioners necessarily report on evidence which is incomplete and unfair. The olhccrs of the British Army are again to change their uniform. The tunic is to be altered by abolishing the badges on the collar and the distinctive facings on the cuff, and henceforth the rank of the officer is to be denoted by stripes round the sleeve, similar to those worn by naval olhccrs. The crimson sash is also to be done away with, and a brown cross-belt, with fieldglass, worn instead. The handsome new forage cap is also prematurely condemned, and probably a sort of Glengarry will be worn in its stead.

The annual return 'which has been prepared by the Levels Head Hoard for transmission to the Government gives the following information; —Number of ratepayers in district 1811 ; number of rateable properties, 231)7 ; estimated annual rental as per valuation for 18S0, £77,353 IDs (Id. There arc 97 miles of made roads in this district, and 12!) in course of construction, The total receipts of the Board during the past year amounted to £lO,lOl 2s lid, and the expenditure during the same period was £5237 3s Od, leaving a credit balance in hand at present amounting to £IBO3 IDs sd.