NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2324, 28 August 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

—— The second of the Saturday evening Promenade Conceits by the Timaru Artillery Band will take place at the Queen’s Hall this evening. A number of vocal selections by lady and gentlemen amateurs will also be given.

The Timaru portion of the ’Frisco mail is expected to arrive here per special train to-morrow (Sunday). The ollice will he opened to the public for one hour after the mail is sorted, when letters may be obtained from the Delivery Department, also those usually delivered by the letter carriers. A number of members of I’aiLament arc expected to arrive in Christchurch by the mail boat, Southern members availing themselves of the special train South.

The signal lights that for years were kept burning at Mahia near Portland Island as a warning to coasters have just been extinguished, their author “Happy Jack” alias John Greening having taken his departure for a region unknown. A piebald ball came off at Moeraki, near Oamaru, on Thursday night. Seventy natives assembled at the invitation of the whites, and the exhibition of dancing and drinking proved mutually interesting. Lyttelton Gaol is getting stuffed up with Maori prisoners. The Hincmoa brought (i(3 to that establishment yesterday making a total of 180 black-birds. This is cheerful news for the taxpayers. The Whitewash epidemic in Dunedin shews signs of abating. Only one new case been Hied during the week.

A regulation is gazetted under the Prison Act exempting Jews from compulsory labor on Saturdays or other Jewish holidays. Lazy Gentiles will, no doubt, take the hint.

Mr Wiliam Lee, contractor, was drowned on Tuesday in the river Wilberforce. He was driving a dray, and the stream capsized it. His brother, who was on horseback, tried to save Lee, but failed, and had a narrow escape of being drowned.

Misfortunes never come single. Pilot Louden, of Port Chalmers, who was ordered to be summarily dismissed a few days ago by the Otago Harbor Poard, because he declined bumping a heavily freighted ship over the Otago bar, has had his house and all its contents reduced to ashes. The house was insured by the owner, but Pilot Louden’s property was not. I* ortunately the rage of the Harbor Board has subsided, end the members arc now considering the expediency of reinstating the dismissed pilot.

Judge Bathgate,, of Dunedin, one of the oldest and most highly respected District Judges, and Ilcsidcnt Magistrates in Now Zealand, will retire from cilice at the end of the month. Although recently Judge Bathgate has been a target for captious remarks, his character as a magistrate, during a long, active, and useful career has been unimpeachable ; Iris decisions have been as painstaking as they have been sound in point of law, having rarely or never been successfully appealed from ; and his retirement will undoubtedly be a severe loss to the bench.

Shipments of wheat from America to England are by latest advices diminishing.

The demand for wool at the London sales is animated.

Ligurean bees have arrived by the ’Frisco mail steamer and arc winging their way from Auckland to the secretary of the Christchurch Acclimatisation Socict3'.

The Breakwater presented a busy appearance this morning. The work of laying apron or side blocks, was proceeding at the farther end, while the wharf hands were also busily employed. Another section of 18ft will be finished to-night. Finlayson, diver for the wharf contractor, descended in the forenoon for the purpose of guiding the iron spike at the end of each pile into the hole bored for it in the rock. Several piles have now been driven in, and already this portion of the Breakwater is beginning to wear a different aspect.

Willis, the pugilistic schoolmaster is to undergo his two months in the Wellington gaol. So much, for deputations.

An hospital enquiry has been instituted at Wellington, apparently for the purpose of giving the oflicials a good character. A couple of first offenders were brought before Sir Jlcctham this morning and fined os each for drunkenness, with the usual alternative of 2-1 hours imprisonment. The s.s. Wallace grounded on the North Spit at Okarito, West Coast, yesterday, but if the weather is favorable she will probably get off without damage.