NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2377, 29 October 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

At the Waimate R.M. Court yesterday, before K. Beetham Esq., R.M. and His Worship the Mayor, Mr Gall was charged with selling laudanum without being registered to sell poisons. A tine of 10s and costs was inflicted, A number of unimportant civil cases were also disposed of. The following item from a Sydney paperwill be news to a good many New Zealanders “ The initiator of the free breakfast table in New Zealand, Mr Woolcock, exM.H.R., is now acting in the capacity of ganger over the unemployed. Ycrily 1 a man in his time plays many parts,’ especially in the Australasian Colonies.”

The services of MrR. S. Thompson, Government Interpreter at the Constabulary Camp, Taranaki have been dispensed with. It is understood this step is taken in consequence of his writing a letter to the Native Minister protesting against the action of Ministers in selling the Waimate Plains.

The ports of Whangarei, Tauranga, Haveloch, Kaiakora, and Aharoa are closed as ports of entry.

Sir F. Dillon Bell is expected to leave for England about the middle of December. Mr G. B. Davy Eeun is appointed Eesident Magistrate for the Wellington district, with extended jurisdiction to £IOO. Bishop Neville, of Dunedin, is interesting himself, on behalf of the Chinaman Ah Lee under sentence of death.

The takings at the gates of the Show Grounds for the two days amounted to a little over £2oo, of which £o 12s 6d only was taken on the first day.

The Church of England Bazaar closed last evening. About £220 was taken during the day, making a total of £9OO for the three days, or about £BOO net after allowing for expenses, etc. A considerable quantity of goods remain unsold, and will bo stored up for future use. The Primitive Methodist Bazaar has also been successful. The admission will be free this evening, when the unsold goods will be disposed of. At Geraldine on Wednesday Mr Johnston, on behalf of the bar of South Canterbury, bade Mr Guinness, E.M., a complimentary adieu, expressing his regret that the Government had thought proper to remove His Worship from the Geraldine district to another which was comparatively isolated and out of the world. Mr Guinness acknowledged the compliment by stating that ho should always remember his experiences in the district with pleasure.

The Government have offered to the promoters of the Wellington-Foxton Eailway Company to hand over the whole of the work already done on the Wadestown section, including the survey, levelling, cuttings, earthworks, tunnelling, culverts, rails, iron bridge, rolling stock and all the land required for the line, on condition that the Company will complete it as far as Foxton. The question of guaranteeing a percentage on the cost has been deferred for the consideration of Parliament.

The Yen. Archdeacon Harper was last night presented by Mr Belfleld, in the name of a number of ladies and gentlemen, with a beautiful salver of brass and of exceptionally fine workmanship. The salver, Mr Beltield said, was intended as a souvenir of the bazaar, and in recognition of the Archdeacon’s untiring energy in connection with the same, to which its success was in a large measure attributable. The recipient of the gift replied in suitable terms.

A telegram from Hawera states that the sale of the Waimato Plains yesterday attracted about 300 persons. Sections sold from £5 Is to £lO 2s fid. There was keen competition for some of the sections, but others went low. Captain Wray, the new commissioner, sold the land. Major Baddeley, the receiver of land revenue; Mr Robinson, the ranger ; Mr Wilkinson, land officer at Hawera, and Mr Baggett, clerk of the land office, were all present. Everything went off smoothly. Mr Breet has been badly injured through a coach accident.

Alex Annan, who was recently fined £2OO with the alternative of twelve months’ imprisonment, for illicit distillation at Waihemo, near Palmerston, paid the fine yesterday and was immediately discharged from Dunedin goal. Philip McCarthy, for aiding and abetting in the offence, was discharged on bail on his own recognizance of £4OO and two sureties of £220 each for his appearance at the coming session of the District Court, Palmerston, pending an appeal by Mr MacDermott. Mary Hoad remains in gaol at present.

The meeting of the members of the Loyal Orange Lodge, will be held in the Oddfellow’s Hall, Barnard street, at 8 o’clock this evening. Mr D. McGuinness’ big £3OOO sweep on the C.J.C. Handicap has tilled up beyond all expectation, and the list will close in a day or two. Telegrams to hand state that the books in all parts of the colony have been rapidly disposed of.