NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2378, 30 October 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A loan of £IO,OOO for the completion of Oamaru waterworks, has been successfully floated in Melbourne.

Sheep and rabbits are being exterminated |n company by the use of poisoned grain on the runs of Southland. Yesterday a fanner at Wakanui, near Ashburton, had one of his legs cut off through accidentally slipping into a threshing machine.

The mostjvigorous stroke of retrenchment yet achieved has been made by the Clutha County Council, who have resolved to subject their chairman’s salary to a reduction of cent per cent. The District Court stands adjourned from the ordinary day of sitting on the first day of the month to November 11. In future the 11th of each month will be the regular day of sitting. The revenue of the colony has received a donation of £lO from Samuel Cox, keeper of a restaurant at the Theatre in Auckland who has been selling bottled stout without a license.

Mr John Smith Wilcox, one of the oldest and most respected residents in Lyttelton, was found sitting in a chair in his office at seven o’clock last evening dead. His death is supposed to have been caused by disease of the heart.

The largest downstairs audience ever known at the Timaru Theatre Royal assembled on the evening of the last show day to sec the present company. It is no exaggeration to say that they were packed like herrings in a cask.

The sale of the goods remaining undisposed of at the Primitive methodist Bazaar in Messrs Priest any Co’s rooms was stopped last night by the turning off of the gas at the main, in consequence of the lire. The sale will therefore be continued this evenin g at 7.30.

Just as the train from Invercargill to Clinton left the Edendale station last evening, a woman named McNulty attempted to leave one of the carriges, and fell between the carriage and platform, receiving such injuries that she died in a few moments.

The Auckland Land Board have received a telegram from the Minister of Lands intimating that the Government cannot agree to assist in the conveyance to the colony of English farm laborers for the Lincolnshire settlers. The Board profess entire ignorance of such a request having been made.

Mv W. Rutherford, of Montrose, Amuri. reports the appearance of sc'ab in his Hock. This outbreak will cause much uneasiness to Hockowuers between Waiau and Hurunui, for should it unfortunately spread across the Hurunui-by way of the back country runs, its eradication will be most difficult. It is stated on good authority that Mr Rutherford purposes destroying the whole flock (about 7000) running on the infected country.

At the R. M. Court this morning, before R. Bcetham, Esq., R.M., three men named S. Hayes, D. Hayes, andJ. Hornby were charged with stealing timber of the value of £B, the property of Messrs Lovegrove and Bourn, from the Hook Bush, near Waimate. The men were only arrested yesterday (by Detective Kirby and Constable Neill), and the police therefore asked for a remand in order to get time to prepare the case. The accused, in reply to His Worship, pleaded not guilty, and stated that they knew of no one who would go bail for them. They were remanded until Wednesday next.

The Waimate plains land sale at Hawera was continued yesterday. All the cash and deferred payment sections have been sold. The value of the cash land was nearly £•11,000, and nearly £BOOO was receieed on deposits for cash land. Many purchasers are strangers from Auckland and Southland. The bidding was cautious in most instances. The deferred dayment land averaged £7 an acre, and the cash land averaged £O. The sale was conducted by the new Commissioner Mr Wray.

The acceptances for the Timaru Athletic Club handicaps close on Monday, November 1, at Messrs Collins and Co.’s auction mart, at 8 p.m. sharp. The acceptances must be in at this time,otherwise intending competitors will be debarred from contesting the handicap events.