NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2352, 30 September 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The District Court will open at eleven to-morrow morning. A large number of adjourned civil eases figure on the list and there is also a fair amount of bankruptcy business to be disposed of. The troubles of school committees arc not confined to Timaru and Waimato. The Little Rakaia School Committee have recommended their teacher for dismissal, and as the Board refuses to comply they threaten to resign and withdraw their children.

At the R. M. Court to-day, before T. W. Hall, Esq., J.l’., George Harris, on remand from Oamaru, was charged with obtaining by false pretences from George Wildcrmott on April 10, the sum of £ll2s (id in money and clothing to the value of £1 7s (id. On the application of Police Sergeant Haldane the accused was remanded till Wednesday next. The intersection of the Main South road and North street was a terrible scene of carnage this morning through the upsetting of Johnston’s butcher’s van. Horse and vehicle rolled clean over, and a battlefield on a small scale was immediately represented, but the damage done to joints and harness was trilling.

Some of the residents of Timaru, who at considerable expense and privation recently made their way to the West Coast rushes, have been hawking baskets for a living ; and yet a Greymouth correspondent writes in the following highly flattering terms:— “ It is quite true that thePaparoa Mountain range, from Cobden, immediately opposite Greymouth, to Charleston, in the Duller district, a distance of GO miles in length by 10 miles in width, is on both its eastern and western slopes highly auriferous. I am much mistaken if a line city of the future don’t take root by-and-by at Point Elizabeth.”

H.M.S. Danic will leave Auckland for Fiji shortly, to bring Sir A. Gordon to the colony.

The brigantine Active, from Samoa, reports that affairs are still in a disturbed state. It is probable a company will be floated to take over Godeffroy’s business. J. M. Robinson’s stock (late Auckland Clothing Company) has been purchased by Garlic and Cramwell at 11s 53d in the £ There were six tenders.

In the appeal case of Duncan v Duncan, the Supreme Court at Wellington has ruled that half brothers are liable under the Destitute Persons’ Act.

At a public meeting at 'Wanganui a letter of sympathy was presented to Captain Harvey late of the Rangitara. The letter was signed by 11G of the leading residents, and was couched in the warmest terms of sympathy, and concluded with an earnest hope that he would ere long be in command of another steamer trading to Wanganui. Captain Harvey, in reply, said the loss of the steamer was solely the fault of the mate, who had been employed against his (Harvey’s) will, and was kept on board even after he (Captain Harvey) had rccpiested the Directors to remove him.

The prosecution of R. A. Dunne, secretary to the Hibernian Society, Dunedin for failing to furnish tbs returns required by the Act, has been abandoned, the omission having been rectified.

In consequence of suspicions of foul play David Hutchison, the husband of the woman who, together with her infant son, was burnt to death at Kanieri, near Hokitika, on September 22, was yesterday arrested on a charge of murder. The police will apply for a remand. It happens that the Christchurch volunteer review committee have a deficit of £ll3 to face. Yesterday a deputation waited on the Premier, but he could promise no assistance beyond stating that he would see if the Defence Department had any money to spare. A resident of Christchurch who had been trying the stupid experiment of pouring spirits down to keep his spirits up was rescued from the Avon in a boat yesterday.

The last heat of the pigeon race from Timaru to Christchurch, was won yesterday 7 by Mr A. William’s I’inlirc, in 2hrs ISmius ; Mr Hicks’ Bow Bell, 2hrs IS.lmins, second.

The stables of AV. J. M. Larnach, of Dunedin, situated at Larnach Castle, near Portobcllo, were burned down last night. The damage is estimated at £2500. The insurance was £SOO in the New Zealand Office. Nothing is yet known as to the origin of the lire.

The seven Christchurch rioters who were sentenced to twelve month’s imprisonment some time ago for breaking the heads of the orangemen, have had their sentences remitted by order of the Government. Four others who are doing eighteen months have been admonished to be “good boys ” and they will be discharged in November.

A magisterial enquiry was commenced yesterday at Wellington into the alleged inhumanity of the constables who arrested a man with a broken leg for drunkenness. The complainant’s evidence having been taken the enquiry was adjourned till Friday evidently to enable the police to obtain rebutting testimony, llathcr a novel way of eliciting the truth ! The irrepressible Dr Dakcwcll has been contributing to the “ Lancet ” a lengthy report of eases of hydatic diseases he treated in the Totara (West Coast) Hospital. One of them was remarkable for the enormous size the liver attained. It is stated in the report that at the post mortem examination the liver weighed Kijdb, the usual weight being between Mb and 11b. The “ Fielding Guardian ” is responsible for tire following :—“ A man was confined in the Otaki lock-up a few days ago on a charge of drunkenness. After he had remained there for some time, he wandered to find a J.P., to whom he thus addressed himself : ‘ Mr Simcox,aml drunk or sober?’ 1 Well, I don't really think you’re drunk.’ ‘l’m ■ well sure I’m not : but the bobby says I am, so I suppose I must be, so I’d better go hack.’ And he did so, greatly to the relief of the constable, who fancied he was off for good.” Further changes in the police force are contemplated. It is understood that the head-quarters of Mr Weldon, Chief Commissioner of Police, will be removed from Dunedin to a more central locality, and Inspector Mallard, who has proved himself a shrewd, intelligent, and skilful officer will have the full control of the Otago constabulary. Conflicting rumours arc knocking around, but there is good reason to believe that the change referred to will be carried out.

The “ Ellesmere Guardian” is informed by several leading farmers besides Messrs Campbell Bros, whose venture has been previously alluded to—that they have every reason to be pleased with the result of their shipment of oats to the London market, the value obtained being sui'licient to bring them ‘2s 2d per bushel here, after paying all charges, including the heavy freight that was ruling when the grain was forwarded. This is especially gratifying when it is remembered that, at the time of shipment, quantities were being offered at one shilling per bushel. Sir Diehard Weaver, a teamster of considerable means, who left this district last April for the Cape of Good Hope (says the “ North Otago Times,”) has returned to Duntroon a wiser and a poorer man. His experiences since he set out for fresh fields and pastures new have not been happy. The only good thing about the Cape is its climate. On his way back, Mr Weaver called at the Temora diggings, in New South Wales. Having smile two shafts of 50 feet each, and one of 110 feet, without getting even the colour of gold, he sickened at the thought of prolonging his adventures, and put himself on board the lirst steamer for Dunedin, resolving to lay his bones in dear old New Zealand, the best of all the places he ever saw. Poor Weaver!

The Melbourne Supreme Court, in its divorce jurisdiction, was occupied in hearing a case which has disclosed some very painful revelations. Leonora Martina Davis, ?tee Simonson, a young lady fa'orablc known in musical circles, by her friend, Martin Simonson, her father, sought to obtain a dissolution of her marriage with David Davis on the ground of the latter’s ill-treatment and adultery. The petitioner and respondent were married in the Jewish Church at Christchurch, New Zealand, in October, 1870, and they cohabited together until June 20 last, her age at the pr-sent time being twenty years, and his about twenty-eight years. Two children were born of the marriage; Ihe petition alleged acts of cruelty during the time they lived together, and set out:as a reason for her final separation the seizure of a contagious complaint, imparted to her knowingly by her husband. The respondent in his answer denied each and every allegation in the petition, and pleaded that the petitioner remained away from him in consequence of her father desiring that she should go upon the stage, to which he (the respondent) would not consent, Hcfurther alleged that the entire proceedings were a conspiracy on the part of Messrs Kronheimer and Salinger (merchants) in conjunction with Mr Martin Siraonsen, his wife’s father, to get his wife away, in order to pay Kronheirner £IOOO which Simonsen owed him. Late telegrams informed us that the Court granted the divorce.

The spectacle of the sun shining at midnight attracts many foreigners in Swedish Lapland during the month of June. For six weeks there is scarcely any night in the north of Sweden ; the sun never sets, and the soil, constantly heated, produces in a month and a-half barley and other crops. At that time of the year the Laplanders pen up their reindeer and move their huts towards the cultivated fields, dicing very hospitable, they greet with joy the arrival of tourists, who generally meet at Mount Gellaware, 118 kilometres from Lulca. From that hill, which is 580 metres high, the beautiful spectacle of the “ midnight sun ’’can be admired under better conditions than from any other place. June 21 is the day selected for the ascension ; it is the longest day in the year, the sun being 22 hours above the horizon. This year June 21 was not favored by fine weather, and owing to a cloudy sky, the sun was not visible at midnight, but the following day travellers were well rewarded for their trouble, the sun shining brightly at midnight.

Mr J. J. Croft, the well-known lecturerwill deliver a lecture in the Oddfellows Hall on Monday week. The subject will be “ Spiritualism, it phenomen and cause.” Mr Croft has been lecturing lately South to very large audiences, the local Press speaks very highly of his ability in treating this subject. Captain Parry having recovered from his egg-shower has resolved to make another effort to deliver his lecture in Timarn. lie arrived from Ashburton early this morning in a shower of rain, and he intends holding forth (D.Y.) at the Theatre lloyal on Saturday night. Mr Parry informs us that his lecture will be replete with startling novelties, and that his expedition on the whale’s back will be quite eclipsed by his experiences among the British aristocracy. He is, however, exceedingly anxious that the proceedings should be orderly, as the last meeting in Timaru has partially ruined his reputation.