NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2399, 24 November 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Last week a settler at Waikomite (North Island) prosecuted an expressman named John Taw for threatening to [skin him like an eel, dress him down like a sheep, and boil his bones, warning him at the same time to prepare for the speedy ordeal. Taw denied the language and the case was dismissed.

One of the Waikato Cavalry Corps had a curious adventure while undergoing drill on .Saturday last. He was pulling his horse to the hurdles when the animal balking suddenly, he was sent forward “ a crojjper ” and the spike of his helmet sinking into the turf, he was suspended for several minutes legs upwards while his comrades cheered and yelled in derision.

A strict believer in family discipline in Auckland rejoicing in the name of Joseph Caglcy, has been arrested and remanded for beating his wife within an inch of her life with a heavy cudgel and fracturing the wrist of his son with the same weapon.

Two cases of sunstroke are reported to have occurred yesterday. Reuben Fonseca, a youth of about 10, son of a dairyman at Wai-iti, was outside “ dinning ” bees, when he suddenly became giddy and only with difficulty reached his home. Dr Hammond was sent for and on his arrival found the lad in a semi-conscious state. Blistering and other remedies were promptly applied, but we understand that he remains in a somewhat dangerous condition. The other case is that of a child which was playing in Church street, when it was suddenly struck down, and medical aid had to be called in. On Sunday a child belonging to Mr King, of Buchanan street, was rendered delirious by the heat. Dr Lovegrove has been treating it for congestion of the brain, and symptoms of recovery have since been manifested. While the weather is so hot as at present parents cannot be too cautious about allowing children to play about in exposed places. By a singular coincidence two of the greatest legal and judicial lights of the age have flickered out within a few hours of each other. The one is Lord Chief J ustice Cockburn of England, the other Sir Redmond Barry of Victoria. Besides standing at the head of the legal profession, both gentlemen attained positions of eminence by mixing in popular movements. Sir Alexander Cockburn was a tower of strength to the Lord Palmerston Cabinet; Sir Redmond Barry was one of the greatest patrons of art and literature in the southern henrispheye. Both judges have their names associated with some of the most extraordinary trials on record. Lord Cockburn passed a double sentence on the Tichborne claimant; Sir Redmond Barry only a’ few days ago sentenced the last of the Kelly outlaws to death. Judge and criminal have travelled to the same bourne, but by different modes within a fortnight of each other.

A new chum, named Philip Huntley, who arrived in Auckland about the end of October, appears to have the organ acquisitiveness highly developed. He is now in custody charged with the following thefts :—(1); stealing two coats and a vest, value £1 ss, on Oct. 29, the property of Messrs Dunningham and King ; (2) pair of field glasses, value £3, on the 30th, the property of Archibald McMillan; (3) an umbrella, value £1 10s, the property of Cheeseman, on the 6th instant; (4) -pair binocular glasses, value £2, on the 13th instant, the property of Samuel Stevenson; (5) one white shirt, the property of Charles Dignan, on the 16th instant; (6) pair of shoes, value 7s 6d, the property of David Thomas. The accused has been remanded as a number of other charges are likely to be forthcoming. Would it not be worth the Government’s while to pay Huntley’s passage back to the Old Country ? At the U. M. Court yesterday afternoon, «iftor ont reporter left tliu court, tlio CftGO of C. Goodman v. James Kirby was heard, in which the plaintiff, a livery stable proprietor at Pleasant Point, sought to recover £25 damages for injuries to a buggy and pair of horses lent out to the defendant, such injuries being the result the plaintiff alleged of the defendant’s negligence. Mr Jameson appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Hamersley for the defendant. The evidence for the defendant went to show that he was not liable for what occurred, and that he had done everything in his power to prevent the horses bolting. Mr Jameson for the plaintiff, said he would rely upon a point of law, viz. that the defendant having hired the buggy to proceed to Pleasant Point had made a deviation from that road by returning through Arowhonna and that therefore he was liable for the damage. Mr Hamersley replied that it must he shown that such damage was caused by the deviation, Mr Jameson still maintained the deviation from the road was the cause of the accident. His Worship was of opinion that no negligence had been shown on the defendant’s part. The case would rest entirely on the point of law raised by Mr Jameson. The case was adjourned for argument until Friday next.