NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2337, 13 September 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

* An ordinary meeting of the Borough Council takes place this evening. The Artillery Band’s usual weekly concert and dance took place on Saturday night, at the Queen’s Hall. The third of the series of lectures to teachers was given on Saturday by Mr Hammond, when sixty teachers were in attendance. Young Willis of Auckland, one of the late additions to the walking prodigies of the colony, attempted to walk 108 miles in 21 hours at the end of last week but broke down at his 85th mile. The proceedings were diversified by a few fights. At the Magistrate’s Court, this morning an inebriate was find os, and a man named Herbert F. Farr, for usuing obscene language while intoxicated was ordered to contribute 10s towards the interest on the national debt. Mr Beetham, E.M., presided.

The fact that over 18,000 gallons of white spirit should be taken out o| the Government bond during one year for consumption and use in Sydney, is terribly suggestive. This white spirit is pure alcohol, and, whilst it is very useful in arts and manufactures, it is also extensively employed in the manufacture of cheap and poisonous spirits and wines. , ' ■ The Palmerston “ Times ” says “It is rumoured, with what colour of truth we cannot say, that the member for Waikouaiti district, Mr George M‘Lean, contemplates making a trip Home, and . that he intends resigning his seat in the House of Representatives, and consequently severing his connection,, politically,.withihe. district.” ..At Bright, Victoria, on Aug. 27, a selectornamed Charles Wilkins was killed in a very curious manner. He was engaged in grubbing a tall dry stump, which toppled over before he could get away, and crushed him to the ground. After falling the top of the tree broke off, and the stump righted itself, which left him free, but being severely injured he was unable to get out of the hole.

Among other changes contemplated by the Government it is rumored that the district Judgeships of Westland and Nelson are to be amalgamated, and one Judge will have to perform the whole of the duties of the office. The “ Grey River Argus ” remarks that if such is to be the case it will take hij» all his time to get through his work.

They say (writes a London correspondent) the times are hard. Mr “ Phil ” Morris has painted “ The Sons of the Brave,” a picture of soldiers’ orphans leaving school. It had nothing very strikingly remarkable about it I am told, though a good, straightforward, honest piece of work. He has sold it, however—for what price think you, in these days when landlords talk of ruin, manufacturers of the union, and the poor of famine? —for no less a sum than £3OOO. A fairly good sum is that for a picture.

The football match Wellington v. Auckland, came off on the Auckland Domain, in the presence of about two and three thousand people, on Saturday, and proved a complete victory for the Wellingtonians, who were better organised, and half-a-stonc per head heavier than the Aucklanders. There were scrimmages innumerable, but by a strange run of luck no bones were broken.

M. Ader, Hvhosc name is so well known in connection with telephonj', has succeeded in improving the power and distinctness of the Bell telephone receiver by a very simple but ingenious device. This consists in fitting a second diaphragm of soft iron in front of the one already existing, and providing a central hole for the passage of the inner plate to the ear. The effect of the second plate is to itensify the attraction of the magnet on the speaking diaphragm when the current passes. This is clearly demonstrated by holding a piece of watch spring in front of a magnetic pole, and bringing up a piece of soft iron in its rear, when the spring is immediately attracted to the pole. In M. Ader’s telephone a horse shoe magnet, with poles brought very close together, is employed.

An old colonist brained Armstrong (says the Sydney “ Bulletin”) died at Kiama last week, at the great age of about 107 years. He was an Irishman, and for [several years after bis arrival in the colony farmed at Mangeston Grange, Wollongong. About 30 years since ho bought a farm near Kiama, and resided there until his death. Until very recently he used to ride about Kiama, and he married a second time when on the verge of the century, his wife being his junior by an ordinary lifetime. He was highly respected, as also are his many descendants.

For the authenticity of the subjoined elegant specimens of the art of polite letterwriting an influential correspondent of a Sydney paper vouches. All names arc suppressed for obvious reasons:—“ Sydney, August 27, 1880.—Dear Sir, —My wife, myself, and daughter are invited to the Mercantile Bowing Club affair to-morrow. To make a creditable appearance it only necessitates my wearing one of your frock coats, which would admirably suit me. Thanking you for past favours and (if you can) this, I remain yours truly, .” The addressed of the above, who is located in York street, replied thus : —“ The long continuance of the winter season necessitates my personal use of my frock coat, and as much uncertainty must necessarily exist as to the state of the weather on the coining festive day you allude to, I can only come to the conclusion that it would be imprudent for me to lend you my coat and make shift for myself.”