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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2414, 11 December 1880, Page 3

“Public Opinion” says:—“lt is not gratifying to our pride of place as a commercial and inventive nation to find small countries like Saxony showing us the way wc should go. For more than two months past Chemnitz has had a steam car at work in her streets. During this time it has carried 184 tons of merchandise in 44 journeys, saving a considerable amount of money, and without causing accident or fright of any kind.” The Melbourne “Herald,” referring to the death of Mr James Tyerman, at Sydney, says“ He some years since created quite a sensation in the Victorian churches by his rapid conversion from a dissenting minister to a Church of England parson, and then by an equally precipitative change to a red-hot spiritualist. With regard to his latest faith he never changed his opinion, but died in the full belief of the doctrine that has taken so strong a hold in America. He believed firmly in spiritualistic manifestations and in mediumship. He leaves a widow and large family.” The following is said to be the origin of the adoption of jersey’s by the fair sex : “ A sea-fishing party in the Solent were upset by a sudden squall, or some othe>incident of the treacherous seas, when- the only lady of the company—all of whom were saved—found herself hauled on board a yacht belonging to a stern batchelor, who, like the Lord of Monkbarns, objected to the presence on his decks of ‘ womankind,’ therefore there were no female clothes on board; hut to save the lady’s chest, which was weak, she was persuaded to don the jersey of a young sailor. We need hardly add, for the benefit of the romantic, that the very suitable top-gear costume entirely vanquished the obdurate heart of the yacht-owner, and that they lived happily ever after.”

The post of Parliamentary Librarian, vacated by the death of Mr M. McColl, is practically in the gift of the Library Committee of the General Assembly, and not of the Government, the function of the latter consisting simply in advising his Excellency the Governor to confirm the appointment recommended by the committee. It is thought likely that the new appointed will not be permanently made before next session. Already there arc crowds of applicants. The privileges in connection with the Friendly Societies’ sports to be held on Boxing- Day were offered at auction at Mr Moss Jonas’ rooms to day. The following were the purchasers and prices obtained :—Booth, T. Bichmond, £l4 ; refreshments, J. Douglas, £!* ; toy stall, Mrs Trilford, £2 ; games and cards, T. J. Kennedy, £5. The gates arc being ncgociated for privately. Mr Charles Green, whose name is as familiar as that of the Ship Hotel in Timaru, after a number of false starts, succeeded in finally tearing himself from his friends and starting on his way for the Old Country this afternoon. He was accompanied to the raiiwa}' station hy quite a* crowd of old acquaintances, and when he took his departure for Lyttelton his right hand was fairly prostrated. By a curious coincidence Mr Green sails in a vessel that bears the name of one of his truest friends and one of the last to see him away —the s.s. Durham. Something resembling a grand circus cavalcade enlivened the roads between Wai-iti and the town this afternoon. It was composed of about 30 splendid draught horses, the property of Mr-John Callanan, the well-known contractor, who is relinquishing business. The horses were in the finest of condition, groomed so skilfully that they absolutely shone, and got up with ribbons and plaits quite regardless of expense. At Jonas’ Auction Start they subsequently went through a variety of performances “ under the hammer,” and a fair proportion changed hands at good round figures. Tenders are invited for alterations to the Clarendon Hotel. The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the Timaru A. and I’. Association takes place on Monday. No Church parade of the C Battery, ,N.Z.A. Cadets will be held to-morrow. An inspection parade takes place on Tuesday evening. The Congregational Church will be reopened to-morrow, when the Bev. H. Williams, of Christchurch, will conduct the services. A tea meeting takes place on Tuesday.