NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2430, 31 December 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Waihi Bush Public School children will hold their annual treat to-morrow.

Governor Ucs Vccax has arrived at Fiji, where ho had a splendid reception.

Mr William Semmens, has been appointed gardener at the Domain in the place of Mr Hislop resigned. Through the capsizing of a vehicle at Wellington yesterday, a man named Abbot has been badly injured. A warrant has been issued against an armed constable named MeFabidge, for thrashing a young lady who secured his addresses.

On and after Jan 1, Superintendents of Police will be designated “ Inspectors,” and some reduction in their salaries will also be made. The Government steamer Stella has at last found an occupation. She will be engaged carrying the mails to ports south of Hokitika once every three months.

A woman named Linklater, at Kaiapoi, cut her throat in seven places yesterday. She had been in a desponding condition for some time past, owing to the loss of two children. It is doubtful whether she will get over the loss of blood. Those of the ratepayers who desire to see new blood in the Borough Council will have an opportunity of exercising their ingenuity in a few days. The seat vacated by Cr Jones resigned, Ims to be tilled. Wednesday next is the day of nomination and in case of a contest the election will take place on Jan 1!>. An ordinary meeting of the Timaru Harbor Hoard will be held at 1 a.in. on Thursday next, when in addition to the ordinary business, Mr Turnbull’s motion to rescind a previous resolution passed by the Board rr day labour, will be discussed. Tenders will also be opened for the extension of the breakwater, and for the supply of coal for the year ensuing.

The Bombay settlement in Auckland is acquiring a fatal notoriety. A few weeks ago a Mr White was killed by a horse, and now a boy named Waugh has his life despaired of through being kicked by the same vicious brute. Eaves, the Bombay settler, who hanged himself the other night, had been disturbed in Ms mind through so m e caudal, and he swung himself to the rafters, while his children were gaily waltzing.

The Auckland newspapers denounce the proposal of the Waste Lands Board to impose a tax on kauri gum. The “ New Zealand Herald” says : —“ It may be questioned whether there is not a lack of wisdom in raising this question of export duties, because commencing with Kauri gum we may not stop there. We may proceed to wool and grain, and to introduce a system of exceptional taxation that would be outrageously unjust. We do not say that an export duty ou kauri gum. and on wool and grain, would stand on the same footing, but we do say that if ever we begin to entertain the question of export duties, then distinctive features will be lost sight of.”

The appointment of the Hon. Mr Dick to the portfolio for Education has stimulated the Otago BibJc-in-schools party to renewed exertion. At a meeting of that body in Dunedin on Wednesday the following motion, amongst others, was agreed to, viz, “ That a meeting of parents be convened at an early dale, by invitation of this Association, for the purpose of ascertaining the feeling of such meeting as to Bible reading in the public schools, and to consider what action, if any, should be taken to have the Education Act amended so as to allow of such Bihlc-rcading, and generally to take into consideration such matters auxiliary to the subject as the meeting may determine.”

He was a spry old gentleman, and very susceptible, and thus it was, when that njte came to him the other day, and the writer desired one brief first and final interview before she left the colony for ever, what could he do but acquiesce ’ Certainly time and place were suspicious, but “amor rincit" &c. Ho, at 8 o’clock, in a secluded walk of aa umbrageous reserve, he leisurely paced back and forth,awaiting the lady who had fallen a victim to his fascination. He was naturally startled when two men stepped from behind the bushes with the ill-omened address, You’ve got a watch on yer—hand it over.” “ Surely,” he remonstrated, “ you would not rob me or use violence—of course you know me. I am no longer young.” “ Come, come .none of that—we know you well enough. Turn out your pockets smart. A word in your car— mi're Mary .Anne 1” That worthy citizen returned to his home with open eyes and empty pockets. “ iGgles’' in the ‘ Austral asian.”

There are 24 persons awaiting trial at the Christchurch criminal session*. The cases are as follows : —Forgery, 4 : burglary and stealing, 3 ; horse-stealing, 2 ; larceny 2 ; assault with intent, 2 ; perjury, 2 .; malicious wounding, 1 ; manslaughter, 1 ; escaping from custody, 1 ; making false declaration, 1 ; 'unnatural cft’enco, 1 ; indecent assault, 1 ; concealment of birth, 1 ; wilful murder,!.

A meeting of the Committee of the South Canterbury Caledonian Society took place last night at the Grosvenor Hotel. Present —Mr James Bruce (in the chair), and Messrs Meikle, Fraser, Sinclair, Bell, Maclean, Mills, King, and Mr W. B. Whitcombe (Secretary). The Ground Committee reported the ground in good condition and all the arrangements as being satisfactory. It was resolved to vote an extra sum of money for races for juveniles. There is every prospect of tomorrow’s meeting being one of the most successful gatherings ever held by the Society. The Committee will leave the Grosvenor Hotel at 10.30 to-morrow morning and, headed by the band and pipers, wid march to the ground when the sports will commence punctually at the advertised time—ll o’clock.

At the Queenstown Mayoral election, the grossest irregularities took place. The successful candidate did not make the statutory deposit of £10; the Borough Council appointed no returning officer ; the poll was not continued from !) a rn. till 0 p.ra., the clerk who constituted himself rturning officer, having absented himself from the booth at sundry times, and voted himself; the nomination paper of the suc-cos>-ful canidatc was received without being signed by any ratepayers ; the polling was conducted in a public-house: and no burgess roll was forthcoming. On those and other grounds the election of Mr Daniel has been petitioned against. The Magistrate will give his decision on Jan. 10.

There is a good story told concerning one of the candidates at the recent elections at New South Wales who forfeited his £4O deposit. A number of persons felt satisfied that he had no chance of being returned, and that he would not risk the deposit by being nominated and going to the poll. The candidate was just as confident the other way, and supported his confidence in himself by offering to “ lay odds ” that he be duly nominated and contest the election. It is said that he bet two to one at first, and afterwards three and four to one, until he stood to win more than £IOO. On the day of election he paid his £4O and went to the poll, and, though he forfeited his deposit, he won his wagers, clearing something over £OO by the transaction.

To-night, Timaru will be employed knelling the old year out and ringing the new year in. The members of the Fire Brigade will hold high carnival. The firebell will be rung a few minutes before midnight for the purpose of sending the year of retrenchment into oblivion, and at the stroke of twelve it will again be brought into requisition in hailing the advent of a more propitious year. On similar occasions in recent years the members of the Fire Brigade have assisted in commemorating the birth of another year by a display of fireworks, and at midnight this custom will not be departed from. We understand that the display wall be on a scale of grandeur hitherto unattempted in Timaru. The usual amount of “ fun ” will, we suppose, be indulged in, and let us hope that no accidents will result therefrom, or than anyone will so far forget himself as to have a morning’s reflection in the lock-up. Vigil services will be held in all the churches in town, commencing at halfpast ten o’clock.

Tenders am invited for alterations to Clarendon Hotel.

Eriedlandcrsjand Collins’ sweeps on the Melbourne Champion llace close to-night at S o’clock. The Committee of the Mechanics’ Institute invite plans for the new building.

Tenders are invited by Mr De H. Duval for the erection of an hotel.

The trustees in the estate of T. Scott,bootmaker, Geraldine, invite tenders for the purchase of the stock-in-trade. Tenders for the Tcugawai railway bridge close on Jan. 10.

New Year’s night is to ho celebrated in Timaru by an entertainment at the Theatre Royal, which ought to attract a big house. The programme will consist of the favorite comedy “ His Last Legs,” an interlude, when Miss Vernon and Mr Lennedy will give some vocal selections, the whole to conclude with the amusing farce of “ Sarah’s Young Man.” The members of the G.V.B, (G. Y. Brooke) Club, from Warm ate, nine in number, will appear in conjunction with Mr T. G. Kennedy.

Mr William Collins’ foOO Consultation on the Champion Race will be drawn at the rooms of W. Collins and Co , auctioneers, on Friday, Blst December, at 8 p.m. Early application is necessary to obtain tickets. The race will be run in Melbourne on New Year’s Day, 1881, at 2 p.m. Consultors only, on production of their tickets, will be admitted to the drawing.—Am r.