NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2394, 18 November 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

In our fourth page will be found the first of a series of letters from our own correspondent, on the Melbourne Exhibition. The letters will appear 'from time to time as they come to hand by the Australian mail, and being thoroughly original and the productions of an experienced and able writer, we have no doubt they will prove interesting to our readers.

The practice of opening the Post Office Savings Bank for an hour on Saturday nights will be discontinued after the end of this month. Dr Wilkins since his arrival in Timaru on Tuesday, has been extremely busy and his consulting room at the Grosvenor Hotel has been crowded with patients who will testify to his skill and efficiency.

A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening, His Worship the Mayor presiding, to consider certain matters connected with the Waterworks. The Engineer submitted specifications for cutting Iwater-pipes, which were approved and adopted, and tenders ordered to be called for doing the work. It was also resolved to secure the services of a person as foreman of works on the Waterworks construction. After the transaction of some further business the meeting terminated. There is a certain chemist in Auckland who has been trying a meat diet on rats. He says they are cheap and plentiful. Some M.H.ll.’s will have to be careful—says the “ Star.”

Mr Watt lI.M. of Dunedin disapproves of caning school children on the hands. He believes strongly in Hogging across the back especially by a gaoler. Mr Watt says he knows of one case in which a boy lost three fingers through caning on the hands. He neglected to add that the cane in that particular case was a cleaver.

Dilllcultios aiising out of the pronounciation and spelling of native names arc of frequent occurrence. A Timaru lady visiting Makikiki the other day asked the name of the place, and was informed “ Makihi,” which is the popular way of expressing it. Proceeding to head a letter she began by asking her friend to spell it. “ Maki,” said the latter, “ yes,” “ ki,” she continued. “ Gracious me,” said the astounded one, what a place for “ kicks” you’ve got.

William Barnes, in whose possession was found a portion of the jewellery stolen from Government house, Victoria, and belonging to Lady Robinson, Lady Normanby and others, has been sentenced to three years with hard labor. According to the 11 Australasian,” Mr Barrell’s now play, “ A Trump Card,” will not add to his fame as a dramatist. It is only a dish of dramatic odds and ends, badly cooked. When Mrs Darrell died, the genius of “ George ” departed.

A Proclamation in the “Gazette” further prorogues Parliament to March 1. The directors of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company don’t simply talk about supporting colonial industry. They have accepted the tender of Messrs Scott Brothers, of Christchurch, for a large condensing engine of l-IO horse-power for their factory. It is stated that on no occasion have the directors sent out of the province for anything which could be produced within it. I'. Nealson, a contractor at Beeftou has been sent to gaol for three months in default of payment of a debt due to a storekeeper, which he tiled his schedule in order to evade. Nealson declared his assets to be “ nil,” but £3O was found on his per-

A deposit of nearly pure plumbago of considerable extent and in a very accessible position, has been found in the Malvern Hills. Another good seam of coal has also been found there.

An amusing incident occurred recently at the Custom House, Wellington. Mr Pemberton, jun., a son of the inventor of a patent refrigerating candle - making machine, who was on his return to the North Island, had been presented by his father with one of these machines, which he carried ashore, not thinking of being questioned, when he found himself the object of serious attention. Before he could explain he was led into the Chief Commissioner’s room, and subjected to a rigorous cross-examination as to his name and antecedents, and the authorities having satisfied themselves that the machine was nothing short of a still, were about to put the law in operation and have the instrument detained, and the offender brought to summary and condign punishment. He then perceived the mistake of the Customs authorities, and explained the working of the machine, which suddenly obtained his release. The officials, it is said, were very abject and apologised after this. Pumpkin pie and pickled cucumbers will be unknown in Poverty Hay this season, in consequence of the late frosts. A cheese factory has just been established at Featherston. The plant is of the most complete description, and great success is anticipated for the venture. Miss Lottie Wilmot, lecturess of Dunedin, filed a declaration of insolvency the other day. On the Sunday following she appeared on the stage of the Princess’ somewhat late, and just as her audience was getting impatient. Miss Wilmot, in apoligising, explained that she had been detained, as the bailiffs were knocking about, and in order to make sure of the proceeds of her lecture, she had, for once, to officiate as money-taker. At Palmerston, on Tuesday, Thomas Lawson, editor of the local “Times,” was charged before the Bench with libelling Mr William Robertson, a saddler, and member of the Borough Council. The alleged libel was contained in a letter signed “ Zetus,” published in the “Otago Daily Times” some time since, and reflecting very severely on the action of certain residents, including Robertson, in preventing what they considered to be a waste of the public money. It was shown that Lawson had written the letter and afterwards induced a youthful apprentice in the office to attach his signature, being either ashamed of the production or fearful of the probable results. At the close of the evidence the Magistrate committed Lawson for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, bail being allowed—accused in £SO, and two sureties of £26

The Timaru portion of the San Franciso mail arrived per express at 1 p.m. to-day, and the letters and newspapers were immediately sorted for delivery. MrWm. Lynch, of the Bellringer family, is laid up at Kangiora with congestion of the lungs. The barqucntine Annie Bow from Newcastle arrived this morning, and moored inside the Breakwater. The Annie Bow is the largest sailing vessel as yet that has taken up this position. A shearing match took place yesterday between B. Jellett and J. Burton for £25 a side at Woodville, near llolleston. The number of sheep shorn was 100 each. Jellett won easily in o hours and 43 minutes. The Christchurch bench yesterday, fined a man named Thomas McCallum in the sum of £lO for deliberately riding another man down on the racecourse. Dr Prins said it might be several months before the injured man recovered the use of his shoulder.

Complaints in town and country regarding the long continued dry weather are becoming general. In town the drying up of wells and tanks combined with the allprevailing dust, are beginning to interfere seriously with social comfort. From the country we learn that the young crops are looking red and sickly and more moisture is earnestly prayed for. In the vicinity of Saltwater Greek several hundreds of acre s of wheat will bo totally destroyed, should the weather not speedily take a change for the better. The heat since the beginning of the week has been almost tropical. It is stated that Thompson, the Government Interpreter, who had the temerity to remonstrate with the Native Minister in respect to certain lands to which he said his wife had a claim, and who was dismissed in consequence, intends to transmit a memorial to the Secretary of State on the matter as soon as Sir Arthur Gordon arrives. The memorial will be presented through the Governor.

The and wastefulness of the natives has this year reduced many of their number to absolute want. Several hapus living between Waikato and Taupo have been obliged to return to the customs of their forefathers, and are subsisting mainly upon fern root, with little prospect of bettering the character of their diet except by the sale of their patrimonial estate, for so far no provision seems to have been made for the coming year by planting, and the big meetings held daring the early part of this year demolished the bulk of their provender. It is hard to account for this exceptional disregard of the principles of thrift even among the natives, and the only solution of the matter which is at all feasible is that they contemplate migrating to the more immediate neighbourhood of the King Country, after the manner of the natives in the vicinity of Maungatautari.— “ Waikato Times.’ -