NEWS OF TEE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2295, 26 July 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF TEE DAY.

The twelfth report of the directors of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand shews that the net profits for the half year were £16,411 16s Od. A dividend of 8 per cent per annum on the paid-up capital is recommended.

The funeral of Mr John Kelleher, P.M., took plate yesterday afternoon, at the Timaru cemetery. About 800 persons were in attendance, including a large number of masons. The 11 cv L. L. Brown performed the service.

An inquest was held on the body of the infant daughter of Mr A. Gibson, of the Hook, at the Waimate Courthouse, on Saturday, before It. Bectham, Esq., Coroner, and a jury. It appeared from the evidence thar the poor little thing had got at some matches and eaten the tops off them. Dr Hoadly, who was called in, stated that he was unable to state the exact cause of death, a post mortem examination not having been made. Death might have resulted from congestion of the lungs or from eating the matches. The jury considered that a post mortem examination was not necessary and returned a verdict of “ death from natural causes.”

'1 homas "Walker, the trance lecturer, who visited New Zealand a couple of years ago is drawing large audiences at the Cape, Mr Walker, though he speaks blindly, has a keen eye for the diggings.

The circumstances connected with the death of a little girl aged live years named McCutcheon at .South Dunedin, on Friday morning were peculiarly sad. A tram car was coming from Cavcrsham and had reached a crossing. The girl was standing within a yard or so of the line, and stood quite still till the horses were almost abreast of her, when she started to cross The little thing was struck by the horses’ feet and knocked down, and the wheel of the car passed over her back and right arm. Evidently she had been internally injured also, for she died almost immediately. The scene when the child was taken to her father’s house was a very painful one, as a marriage was to take place the same day in the family.

In consequence of a typographical error in our report of the District Court proceedings on Saturday, the judge’s ruling on a point raised by counsel was altogether reversed. The sentence should have read “ After a good deal of argument His Honor ruled that a trustee, not having given notice of opposition as a trustee, cannot now oppose as a creditor, and that a trustee is not entitled to appear by counsel.”

The following instance of cannic sagacity in connection with the fire which destroyed a wooden building in Dunedin on Thursday morning is recorded in the “Herald: — “ Joscirh Alikins states that he lived on the premises, his only companion being a retriever dog, four months’ old. He had been working at his bench between the hours of nine and ten o’clock, and shortly after retired to bed. About 1 o’clock the following morning, he was awakened by the dog violently pulling at his shirt sleeve. He felt nearly stupified by the smoke, but managed] to dress himself, and save Mr Stewart’s books and papers. He thinks the lire must have commenced in the west corner of the room, but its origin still remains unknown. Mr Inglis leased the top story as a workshop and storage room. The damage he has sustained is so very trilling that £-5 will repair it. This is no doubt owing to the fact that the top floor was composed of concrete, and what little fire did reach it found its way through a beltshaft and trap-door. We arc informed that Mr Ankins has refused an offer of £SO for the dog, and the matter has been placed in the hands of the Humane Society.

“ The Vagabond,’ 1 writing in the Brishano “ Gaily Observer” in reference to the lotiilisutor, says:—“ The success of this adjunct to a raeoeomso in (Queensland is very gialifying to tire writer. I was the first to run it there, and proving its perfect legality and fairness, it has since been introduced into .South Australia and New Zealand. At the cost of much social odium, of ‘ chaff ” in the Press, of loss of time and money, I accomplished what I set myself to do, and in which the public so well supported me. To all racing clubs in the Colonies which intend running a totalisator I give the advice, ‘ Work it yourselves.’ You can always realise a good addition to your funds, and if yon sell the right to outsiders it might be bought by a representatve of the ring and worked in such a manner as to cause disputes and odium to be thrown on tiro system. Father Tierney, who acted so bravely at the burning of the Glcnrowan Hotel, is the prarsh priest of Bccchworth —a man (says the “Hanawatu Times’") who cannot be far from 70 years of age. The spectacle of a patriarch of three score and ten undertaking a perilous task while a poxac of policemen stood around, and an enthusiastic crowd cheered tire hero, must certainly have been a strange one ; and although we believe a few of the constables were shamed into action, that they should require to be stimulated by such an example is by no means flattering to their courage or manhood. Father Tierney has been located in the Ovens district for the last quarter of a century, and although now a weak and delicate old man, it would appear Ire is a true soldier of the Cross in the strongest meaning of the term.