NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2396, 20 November 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

There was a clean sheet at the R.M. Court this morning.

' Information has been received of the arrival in London of the John Bull and Elizabeth Mentz, from Timaru

Coal is reported to have been found on the Harbor Board's property in Lyttelton. The specimens are very good. A shipment of wheat from Leeston has fetched 51s per quarter, or 7s yd per bushel in the Loudon market.

Following the Durham will come another of Money digram’s steamers, the Northumberland, chartered by the New Zealand Shipping Company, She left Plymouth on October 21th, and will leave Wellington for England some time in February.

A serious accident occurred at Geraldine yesterday, a lad named Coogin was in the act of catching a horse for his employer, a blacksmith, when the animal kicked him severely in the face. The sufferer was attended by Dr Fish.

Twenty-three persons were last night enrolled at the Ship Hotel as members of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. Captain Slater and Drill Instructor Dundas were present. The Volunteer Artillery Band were stationed in the vicinity of the hotel and played appropriate selections of music. Cole’s great American Circus. paraded Auckland yesterday. The cavalcade half a mile in length, was witnessed by thousands, and the verandahs were crowded. One lady fell through (i verandah on f.o a man and child below, and was seriously injured and cut by the glass. Referring to Moffatt, who was shot in the Upper Wanganui country a few days ago, the N.Z. “Herald” says:—Moffatt had practically outlawed himself by his manners of life, and his residence in Tuhua, where the Queen's writ certainly does not run, and it is not likely that the Government will strain itself to arrest the native who has killed him.

Mv W. J. Hurst, M.H.11, has taken legal advice as to the propriety of initiating proceedings against the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, for' not sustaining the award of the judges in reference to Bertie Saverna. It considers that although he brushed up his pig like an old boot, the committee had no legal right to take the polish off by disqualifying the animal.

The postal department intimates that on and after the Ist December next the commission on money orders issued in New Zealand on the United Kingdom will be charged according to the following scale:— For sums not exceeding £2, Is; for sums exceeding £2 and not exceeding £4, 2s ; for sums exceeding £1 and not exceeding £O, ils; for sums exceeding £0 and not exceeding £B, Is; for sums exceeding £8 and not exceeding £lO, ss.

The Tcmuka Chess Club having been lately dissolved in order to re-establish it on a better basis, a number of chess players yesterday met at the local Institute for the purpose of forming the new club. It was resolved that it be called the Tcmuka Class Club and that its business be conducted by a president, vice-president and secretary and a committee of four, three to form a quorum. Mr Cox was elected president, Mr Mcndelson, vice-president and treasurer. Dr Hayes, Messrs Mason, Nicholas and Black, committee, and Mr Bolton secretary.

The Oamaru Show, of IHHO, is over, nml the general opinion seems to be that it compared very unfavorably, as a whole, with our own Show. The draught horses were a fine lot of animals, however, and in this class the Oamaruites had the advantage over us. The Oamaru Showground, although conveniently near to town, is far too small for the requirements of the Show, and it is to be hoped that next year the Committee will malm arrangements for a more suitable site for the exhibition, A good deal of grumbling was heard yesterday in consequence of prisetakers and the unjudged exhibits being only on the ground. The whole of the exhibits not fortunato enough to secure a prize were removed from the ground on the first day, so that, as one gentleman expressed it “ Visitors cannot see for themselves why the defeated exhibits were licked.” And this is just what visitors like to see. .fudges are but mortals, and the public likes to be able to form some estimate of the value of the judges’ judgment.'

A midwife residing in Wellington having found it necessary to “ seek the protection which the Bankruptcy Court grants ” had, of course, to interview her creditors. The following coloquy is reported to have occurred :—“ Mr Waters, who appeared for debtor, proceeded to put one or two questions to her, with a view of showing how she came into her present unfortunate position. ‘ You are a midwife and accoucheur ? ’ interrogated Mr Waters. Mrs Thorpe nodded her head in the affirmative. ‘ And business is very slack, I believe ? ’ continued Mr Waters. The lady answered with a suggestive smile. ‘ I thought that it was the best paying trade in the colony.’ bluntly interjected a creditor, who, though possessing a wife, has the misfortune not to possess any children. ‘ Not if they all pay so well as you,’ retorted Mr Waters in the interests of his client.’ * I suppose I had better say no more after that,’ quietly remarked the creditor in question, doubless feeling very much sat upon.”

Special attention is called to the price list of the Rodanow Manufacturing Co., of Boston, published in these columns. All those wishing to secure an excellent and correct timekeeper are recommended to address themselves to this old and reliable firm. No further evidence of the invariable good quality of their manufactures will be required beyond the following facts ; The firm was established in 18R), and since then have gained prize medals at the Exhibitions of London, Paris, Vienna, etc., for excellence of manufacture. They arc apnointed, by warrant, watchmakers to the Queen of England, Prince of Wales, the Emperor of Russia and the Bey of Tunis. [Advt.]