NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2405, 1 December 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The customs and other duties for the month of November, amounted to £1,3-10 15s Id.

The Tapanui branch railway was opened yesterday in the presence of a large crowd of Dunedin residents.

A young man engaged with a survey party in Auckland named Cathcart, has expended his thumb and forefinger on a dynamite cartridge.

The Wesleyan Mission Stations of the North Island arc to bo supplied with Maori ministers as soon as practicable.

Several human bones recently unearthed at Plymouth, U.S., are claimed to be part of the Pilgrim Fathers who were buried there in the first winter, which made such havoc with them.

It might perhaps be as well for the Borough Council to notify their special or extraordinary meetings in some way for the future, in order that the representatives of the press may know when anything of the sort is contemplated. If advertising is too expensive the clerk might at least be directed to drop a post card to the newspaper offices.

Dr Chilton’s watch and chain still repose peacefully at the bottom of Mr Arthur Perry’s pond—that is presumably so, but there seems to be considerable doubt as to whether the missing jewellery was overthrown into the pond at all. Several days of careful searching have failed to bring the treasure to light anyway.

During the heat of the Wellington mayoral election an old lady at I’olhill (fully, whose name is on the burgess roll, but who detests the very notion of voting, was greatly astonished to sec four cabs rush up to her door in quick succession, their drivers urging her to “jump'in, marm, and roll up to the poll.” It transpired that some waggish individual persuaded each candidate for the mayoralty to send up a cab for the lady, but, disgusted at their pressing attentions, she indignantly declined to vote for any of them, and has given strict orders that her name shall be at once taken oil the roll,

Mr Greenaway, a well-known seedsman and nurseryman of Christchurch, was killed on the tram line on the Papanui road last night. Particulars show that Greenaway was stepping from one tramcar to another, when he fell, and was dragged under the wheels. Both thighs were broken and he received servere internal injuries. He only lived a few minutes. He was Secretary to the Horticultural Society and was very well known in the city, where he has long been a resident. The Tramway Company made no report of the accident to the police, and the latter only heard of it by accident. The news spread about town in a very short time, however.

The Lynch Family of Bellringers gave one of' their popular * drawing-room entertainments at Geraldine last evening, and were vyell patronised, the Hall being unusually crowded. To-night they appea* at Temuka.

Through a blunder in'our report of the the civil business at the B.M. Court, yesterday the name of W. E. Woolcombe figured as a witness, instead W. E, Whitcombe.

There are fill hands at present employed on the A 1 bury railway section. The work is progressing slowly. Burnham Industrial School is losing its attractions. Two little boys named Armishaw bolted on Monday evening and were recaptured footsore and jaded at Addington yesterday.

It is stated that another new railway tariff moulded with a view to appease the discontented grain merchants of the plains will shortly see the light. This continual tinkering with railway rates is becoming demoralising.

The “Taranaki News” says“ It will be satisfactory to our readers to learn that the late sale of lands on the Wairnatc Plains have yielded the magnificent sum of £IB,OOO to the New Plymouth Harbor Board and the coming sale will in all probability yield an equal sum,’’ Happy Taranaki!

We clip the following illustration of the amenities of journalism in the Empire City from the “ Wellington Chronicle ” of Nov. 27 The New Zealand Slop-pail, issued this morning, will be read, re-read, and read again by many householders, who will never make head or tail of its meaning. It contains a specially uninteresting and “diffuse aggregation” of stale news, and there are some items of exceptional insanity for the benefit of country bumpkins, for whom the lop-pail is no doubt the true and only tWc inccinn.

The “ N.Z. Times” which has lately been acquiring a notoriety of stepping from the sublime to the ridiculous, referring to the Opunakc tragedy when the occurrence was first telegraphed, remarked that " someone must be brought to justice and hanged for the foul murder.”

The Bev W. Gittus, of the Auckland Grammar School, referring to a visit that he paid to Parihaka says that the Government agents there are debased and degraded and have corrupted the Maoris. There are only twenty-seven blocks to be laid down at the breakwater in order to complete Messrs Jones and Peter’s contract. Should the weather be favorable the work will therefore be finished by the end of the week. A stone has been prepared with the name of the contractors and date, for insertion in the last section of the monolith. The next 55 feet will be constructed by day labour.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Wellington, before Edward Shaw, Esq., Eesidcnt Magistrate, Mr Bcw, late A.B, on board of the steamer Tararua, sued the Fnion Steam Company for the sum of £l2, under the following alleged circumstances: —He had been engaged at Melbourne to do the trip to Auckland, and actually landed there, and had been induced to re-ship, but arriving in Wellington, he was ordered ashore. On declining to leave the vessel, the captain threatened to send for a constable and have him arrested. He thereupon left the vessel. The further hearing of the case was adjourned until December «th.

Christchurch paragraphers have been bringing a four-legged chicken into prominent notice lately, but Timaru has developed something in the same line only far more wonderful. A fowl belonging to Mr J. B. Stanscll, of Wai-iti, has succeeded in hatching a chicken with three legs, and it has the great advantage over the Christchurch quadruped of being alive and three days old. Two legs are in their natural place, while the third limb occupies a central position slightly in the rear, and is furnished with a hand instead of a foot. The chicken is quite a curiosity, and judging from present appearances it has no intention of kicking the bucket. It is the produce of some bought eggs brought from Timaru.

Gisborne is noted fur the Jaw-indulg-ing propensities of its inliabitants. Some of them arc constantly in “ hot water’ with sheriif’s officers, bailiffs, and others of that kidney. An amusing incident is reported by the “ Herald” to have taken place a few days ago. The proprietor of a well known hostelry was in trouble with his creditors, one of whom sent two bailiffs to take possession of the place. They locked the unfortunate landlord in the bar, and thus became masters of the situation. At last they wore tired of lolling about, and went into the bar for a “ refresher.” They had no sooner got there than the representatives of another creditor came in and locked the lirst two bailiffs in with the landlord. They then barred the place »p just in time to prevent the entrance of two representatives of a third eueiliffor. The latter were at latest adJvSew* [pacing up and down in front of the hotel, impatiently waiting until the bailiffs No 2 became thirsty in turn. The population of G isborne must include an unduly large percentage of bailiffs.

Special attention is called to the price list of the llodanow Manufacturing Co., of Poston, 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 linn was’ established in LSI!), and since then have gained prize medals at the Exhibitions of London, Paris, Vienna, etc., for excellence of manufacture. They are appointed, by warrant, watchmakers to the Queen of England, Prince of Wales, the Emperor of llussia and the P»cy of Tunis. [Advt.J

VITAL STATISTICS. - ~ The following are tlic vital statistics for September : Births. Deaths. Mgs. Timam 38 5 4 Christchurch 107 50 30 Oainaru 57 5 «>,- Invercargill 5-1 10 <>