NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2371, 22 October 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Judges Ward and Broad have been gazetted for the District Courts of the South Island.

Win. Carpenter, employed on the steamer Alma, at Cfreymouth, was drowned while going on board yesterday morning. Miss Tilly Andrews the popular actress who was so great a favourite some months ago with Christchurch theatre-goers, has just obtained a divorce from her husband, Harry Simmonds. Miss Andrews has now altogether resumed hey maiden name. She is at present in San Francisco, where she is appearing with considerable success. The following story of an extraordinary rifle shooting match comes to us from Waikato. Two worthy settlers, to wit, Hugh Kirkwood (a publican and sinner) and Oliver (a Maori trader), in their cups one night made up a rifle match for £3 aside, 15 shots at 300, 100, and 500 yards. Some of the A.C. gave their assistance as markers, and one line afternoon the shootists, with their rifles, ammunition, and a few bottles of P. 8., appeared before the butts. The firing commenced at 300 yards, and the spectators, who were numerous, had an exciting time of it. At the first range there were no hits, so someone suggested that instead of going back to the next range they should move forward to the 200 yds, but as no hits were made at that range the competitors fired their last live shots each 100yds. range—with the same result. The crowd breathed freely when the “ cease lire” was sounded, and now “ rifle shooting ” is a forbidden topic at a certain street corner in Alexandra.—“ Free Lance.”

The Auckland Dioccsian Synod have passed three resolutions on the education question. The first stated that the Synod did not desire a return to denominational education. The second declared that the Synod could not endorse the recommendation of the General Synod for grants in aid of schools established by any religious denomination, provided the attendance and instruction came up to the standard required by Government Inspectors. The third recommended that Government be petitioned to grant an amended Education Bill, to give facilities for religious teaching such as are at present given by the New South Wales Act.