NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2297, 28 July 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Tiuraru portion of the ’Frisco mail is expected here on Friday evening. The petition of the 'Winchester residents that the express train might stop at Winchester, has been favorably considered by the authorities, arrd arrangements have been made accordingly, A petition is being signed at Pleasant Point, urging the Government to forego their intention of removing the only constable from that district. A barrister’s wig-box had to do duty for a ballet-box at the Palmerston District Court on Monday. During 187t)-80, the homeward mails by the San Francisco service were, with a single exception, delivered in London within the contract time. The average for the 12 months was—Auckland, 40.17 days: Wellington, 42.17 days ; arrd Dunedin, 43.02 days. The homeward mails via Brindisi reached London on the average in 50.17 days from the Bluff. The field force of the armed Constabulary under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Roberts, includes : —1 superintendent, 1 inspector, 0 sub-inspectors, 1 paymaster, 2 surgeons, 1 interpreter, 1 sergeant-major, 18 first, 12 second, arrd 20 third-class sergeants, arrd 012 first-class constables. Not a bad crowd for tire colonial taxpayer. Major Marr, Native Agent for Auckland and the Waikato, in referring to the Native schools, says, in his report to the Government, that it is a melancholy fact that, as a rule, the uneducated or primitive Maori is morally a better nran than the one who has received a partial English education.

The total return of volunteers in New Zealand on March 31 last stood thus: Cavalry, 732; artillery, 1170; engineers, 407 ; rides, 0310; navals, 780—total, 8458. Cadets, 3311.

A shocking death is reported by the Mastcrton paper. A man named Moran went up to Mr Stuckey’s, at Itangitumau, to apply for work. Apparently he was suffering from “ the horrors,” and two men wore dispatched back with him to Mastcrton. The man was too ill to reach the town and lie was left in a native whaic on the road to Itangitumau, where he died on Tuesday evening last. Two well-known members of the Georgia Minstrel Troupe have got into trouble at Wanganui through stealing a cashbox containing from a public bouse. Edward Clarke (corner man), and Lilly Wilson (bones) have both been committed for trial. Their next performance will be “ trial by jury.”

Tohiti and Maria Islands have been annexed by the French and a protcctionate has been proclaimed over Paumutu and the adjacent group of Islands, (i 8 in number. A strike has taken place amongst the men engaged in loading and discharging the Union Company’s steamers in Port Lyttelton. Hitheito the men have been paid 2s an hour in the day time, and 8s per per hour at night. The Company have reduced these amounts to Is (id and 2s fid, which the men refuse to accept. Yesterday’s Christchurch •* Press” says:— A tale was told yesterday to the committee of the nencvolei.it Aid Association, which if true certainly requires investigation by the resident [engineer here. It is to the effect that a married man applied for and obtained work under the Government regulations at Albury. On arrival there ho was told he would have to do gravel shifting at Jd a yard, which instead of giving him 28s per woei: as stated, would not enable him to provide him,self with food at thceuneut lation lates, let alone send anything to his wife. The matter has been referred to Air Austin for explanation, and no doubt he will take measures to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the statement.

John Marshall, formerly a police-con-stable at Macraes, who was remanded for furling the consent of his wife's parents to her marriage, has been discharged, the prosecution breaking down through the accused having forged the name of the mother instead of that of the father of tire girl. Tire contract laborers on the Otago central railway arc petitioning for a competent monthly measurer. Great dissatisfaction prevails amongst the men with regard to their pay and general treatment. Captains of vessels visiting Dunedin sometimes get into trouble with the oHieious Captains who guard the property of the Otago Harbor Hoard. A few days ago Captain Stevens, Deputy Harbor Master, collided with a Captain Dox. The latterbeing asked to remove some timber off the wharf, retorted that the Harbor Hoard’s adjective crane was more in tiro way than than the timber and told the men at work to take no notice of ('aptain Stevens as Ire was only “ small potatoes.'’ The deputy’s blood rising, be rejoined that if bo wore not an official Captain Dox would not dare to make. “ spuds” of him, 'and Captain Dox replied by hitting Captain Stevens behind the ear and converting his eyes into telescopes filled with “stars." Captain Dox had to interview tire bench arrd was lined -10 s.

Tire Commissioners of police for the various provincial districts arc unanimous in urging that a pension fund should be established irr connection with the force. Mr Hrolram, of Canterbury, remarks that few coir,stables will look upon the force as a permanent abiding place without some inducement being offered them over arrd above their daily pay. The hope of a pension in the future, he adds, or some retiring allowance after a life’s service, will alone give stability to the force, arrd cause men to take police employment as a permanent calling.

Home amusement was occasioned this afternoon, by the exploits of arr amateur equestrian, who, desirous apparently, of emulating the feats of Mr Winkle, of Pickwickian fame, was proudly careering down the Main South Hoad, on a steed engaged from a livery stable. When near the postoflicc the horsey marr endeavored to show off Iris skill to the admiring by-standers. He pulled sharply at the horse’s head, and the next moment was seated in the middle of the road looking “unutterable things” at his unfortunate horse. Not to be discouraged, he again mounted, arrd once more turned a remarkably neat somersault, agairr alighting in the mud. This was too much, and the disgusted rider finally led oft Iris horse in the direction of the Saltwater Creek, were the ground is of a much softer nature.

Home samples of oatmeal manufactured by Moir and Co of Christchurch and forwarded to the Sydney Exhibition have obtained the highest class certificate of mer it which it was irr the power- of the exhibition commissioners to award. The meal was manufactured at the Houthbiook mill, owned by the firm, arrd it is noteworthy that, as Mr Muir merely serrt the sample in order to add one more exhibit from Canterbury, the meal was simply taken from the bulk of ordinary manufacture and brought to town and sent forward irr bags. Ever since tire samples left Canterbury the miller has been deploring the fact that he had not more time allowed him to maka a special sample arrd pack it irr a zinc lined case. Naturally (says the ‘ Press ’) the firm is delighted with its success in competition with all the Australasian colonies, arrd with the fact that the oatmeal stood the journey from Houthbrook mill to Hydney irr an ordinary canvas bag, its freshness arrd quality being still preserved. The points reserved far appeal in the ease of the National Hank of New Zealand v. Macintosh were argued in banco at Christchurch, before Judge Johnstone, yesterday. Mr Htout, with him Mr Hanrersley, applied for a rule nisi for a new trial in pursancc of leave reserved at the trial of action at Tiuraru, and on the ground that the verdict of the jury on the issues put to them was inconclusive. It was agreed that a rule nisi should he granted calling upon the defendant to show case why judgment should not be entered up for plaintiff, with leave reserved to defendant (1) fo argue for a nonsuit; (21 that a new trial should be granted on the ground of iuconclusivcness of the verdict of the jury on the issues.

It is feared that a brother of the nnfortutatc settler Gordon, who perished in a snowstorm in the Ashburton district about this time last year, has met -with a similar fate. In the present instance, Gordon was seen in the Ashley Downs, near Christchurch, about a week ago, and his disajrpearanco since has excited the fears of his friends. Some civil cases were disposed of yesterday, after our reporter left the Court. In the following, judgment was given for the plaintiff with costs Collins and Co. v C. Collins, claim £B3 (is Oil ; McGcown v. Sullivan, claim £2 11s lid ; Howe v. Puttick, claim £G (is Gd (Mr Reid for plaintiff); Morris v. McLiskcy, claim £3 IGs ; O’Connor v. Leonard, claim £7 2s (Mr Austin for plaintiff) ; Crerar and 'Whitcombe v. Crawford, claim £1 12s lid ; Hobbs v. ITeffernan claim £1 10s. Cooper v. King, claim £ll •Sd. Plaintiff was nonsuited with costs; Young v. Ogilvic and Dyers, claim £Gjudgment for defendants without cost. J* W. "White v. W. M. Southan, claim £11) IGs l>d, judgement summons; after sonic evidence had been taken the case was adjourned until August G. C. F. Hallam v. T. D. Manning, claim £1 15s, judgment summons; amount ordered to be paid on or before August G, or in default 11 days imprisonment.