NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2434, 6 January 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A Literary Gaelic Society is in process of formation in Duuedin.

John Bilcot of Ashburton has invented a mechanical roadman which will fill ruts, spread shingle and keep roads in repair. Only 159 of the Lady Jocelyn’s passengefs remain at Tauranga, the balance come on to Auckland iu the vessel.

Messrs G. Gabites and A. J. H. Bower, have been nominated to fill the seat in the Borough Council rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr George Jones. A poll will he held on Jan 10.

Joe, the Fijian murderer, has gpt quite fat and sleek in Mount .Eden goal,’and has obtained the soubriquet of “ Happy.”

A Hokitika miner named Robert Armstrong has been missing since Monday, and is supposed to have fallen down an abandoned shaft. * !

A Greymouth telegram states that the Government have refused to unload the Company’s coal without an increase in the price per ton

Andrew McKinnon, V prominent member of the Fishiles in the Dunedin City Council, and who took an active part in the proposed purchase of a rotten hulk for a floating bath, has tiled a declaration of insolvency. Liabilities, £llß2, .Assets, nil.

Mr Justice Richmond has repeated in Wellington his opinion of the colonial custom of giving bills as well as mortgages concurrently, (o secure the same liability, and said he felt certain the giving of a negotiable and non-negotiable security for one obligation would yet result in difficulties and a great amount of agitation. Touching the story recently made public that the Prince of Wales is again in financial straits, the “ World’s ” special cable says :—“ It is now that the Prince has himself determined to appeal to Parliament for aid, and that his friends in the House will explain to the satisfaction of the country why the country should be so generous to him if not altogether just to the people on this occasion," In a recent case at Levuka, the ChiefJustice of that colony pronounced the following dictum with regard to outrages in the South Pacific “If the whites who are engaged in recruiting labor or trading commit an outrage on the natives and the later retaliate, then the natives are justified by the law ; but if the natives are the aggressors, the white is justified in defending himself with any weapon or by any means in his power.” A writer in Chambers’ Journal gives an incident connected with the calamitous failure of the City of Glasgow Bank, illustrating the remarkable vagaries of fortune. A young man had been left a legacy of £10W), and, having no immediate use for the money, he paid it into the bank. In a few days ho saw an advertisement about business for sale, and, entering into negotiations with the proprietor, ended by making the purchase. Singularly enough, the amount required was exactly what he had in the bank; so, closing his account, he paid for the deeds’’ and entered into possession. The outgoing tenant, having no immediate use for the money, invested it in shares in the City of Glasgow Bank. The next day the failure of the bank was announcce 1.

The Auckland Star ” alluding to rumors of foul play at the late race meeting says:—Bookmakers and their horses are obtaining the supremacy in the New Zealand racing world. Their rule is becoming quite absolute. The national pastime once followed for the sake of sports—is fast degenerating into a low scramble for public monej’. Bookmaking assumes an undesirable phase when the ‘ talent’ own or have control of the best horses. How much more is the disgust felt at the disquieting reports which have floated so often on the public ear, that certain bookmakers, horse-owners, and handicappers have indentical interests, the end and aim of which has been to fleece the general public. If a rule were laid down that horses should start or no bet, there would be a little chance for confiding investors. The racing atmosphere is very tainted, and a moral thunderstorm is required to clear the air. At how many meetings has money been taken on horses that were either crippled or were known to be nonstarters by those who took the money? And, if so, is not this downright robbery ? In order to discourage jobbery and corruption, most stringent rules should be laid down for the protection of the outside public.”

Speaking of the severely deluded Ycsey Stewart settlers who have just arrived in the Colony by the Lady Jocelyn, the N.Z. Herald says —As the Government cannot be exonerated from their share of responsibility we trust that no undue severity will be exercised on these settlers, the majority of whom have bound themselves to reside continuously on their 10 acres for live years, or incur the penalty of forfeiture of their holdings, and, we assume, all they have paid for them. What can we suppose to be the feelings of these settlers when they come and iind that nearly one-half of their land has been valued by surveyors and bought from the Government at one-sixth of what they are charged for it, and the remainder at two-thirds of what they pay, and that adjoining their lands and in the same block land of the finest quality over which they can pick and choose for themselves can be had from the Government at the original price of Mr Stewart’s best land. This is a matter in which the fair fame of the Colony is concerned. With reference to the words uttered by Te Whiti to the Governor's Aide-de-Camp, that •' the potato is cooked,” the natives say Te Whiti has privately expressed his meaning to be, “ The land is taken, the land is sold and now being settled upom and what now is the use of discussing about it '!" The natives arc beginning to feel the effects of their indolence and improvident habits. A gentleman who came through Parihaka two days aj;o states that food is very scarce at the settlement, and the natives arc digging np half-ripe potatoes in order to supply their daily wants. Many natives have been driven back from Parihaka to their own settlements, owing to the insufficiency of foo l. Mr J, Boulter has been appointed Janitor of the Temuka School, at £BO per year. While the Express train from the South was near Rolleston on Tuesday night, a young man giving his name as Willie Hopkins, who had evidently been drinking pretty freely, having as he said, just come from the West Coast, thinking the platform of the carriage a suitable place to turn a somersault, in humble imitation of one of the acrobats belonging to Cole’s circus, was caught by two of his fellow passengers just as he was disappearing over the steps, and saved from what looked like a job for the Coroner.—Ashburton “ Guardian.”

We learn that Mr Durham is still registrar of dogs for the Geraldine County and Mpnnt Cook districts, his resignation tendered at yesterday’s meeting of the Council not having been accepted.

Some time ago the Otago Branch of the Anglo'-Jewish Association wrote Home complaining of the visits of the Sheluchim—begging messengers from the Holy Land—who it is said, “ drain the sources of real charily." The “ Jewish Chronicle," (London), commenting on this communication, gives some information regarding the Sheluchim, which we have no doubt will be news to most people. It says “ .’A messenger sent to collect money from his coreligionists in all parts of the globe for a presumably beneficent object, invariably receives “ forty per cent" of the sum so raised, and travels wherever his will leads him, free of cost or charge. A case was mentioned in our columns in which one individual enjoyed a gratuitous tour of two years, and collected no less a sum than £5200 on which his commission would he £2oßo—a colossal fortune in Jerusalem. He is now enjoying his of him c inn (fh/nitrite in the happy consciousness of having done his dutv.

An Auckland traveller to Taranaki furnishes a few “ Jottings ” to the Star: Dec. 11—Arrived off Taranaki 0 a.m.; landed through the surf all right, in the city of the four families, who have married and inter-married and cross-married until a special act of the Assembly will be needed to legalise the ownership of the “kids.” Note: that the obtaining an act of the Assembly would prove a formidable undertaking to these families who are the aristocracy, so-called, ami the big guns of the Government, who keep in proper subjection the turbulent under classes, IGth : Visited the breakwater : what a sell ? one-fourth of the grant expended and the breakwater not yet commenced. Where are the odds? The four families and their henchmen finger the big part of the expenditure. Goode's plans, which cost so much, have been improved on, and soon the remainder of the grant will have followed Goode's plans to astonish the fishes. The old Scotch game of “ scratch back ” is here thoroughly understood and vigorously prosecuted.

It is reported (says the “ New Zealand Herald”) that one of the chief events of next session will be the withdrawal of the tax on beer, and the imposition of school fees. That is to say, an attempt will be made to have these two things done, am l if the Ministry do not yield and work with those who lead the movement, then the Government will be opposed on those points. The interests connected with the beer tax are powerful, and they are prepared to play a strong hand next session The whole beer interest, it is thought, will be secured for the proposal to re-irapose the school fees, seeing that the removal of the tax depends upon it. There will be numerous and powerful auxiliaries in the shape of the Catholic party, who are against the system, the Bible in schools party, and those who are opposed to the State paying for the education of the young.

“ Above-board ” writes as follows to the “ Kaikoura Star ” Over twelve months since subscriptions were obtained for the purpose of aiding an unfortunate man named Campbell, who was sent to the Wellington Hospital, being provided with funds. Getting somewhat better, he removed to Blenheim, where, however, he died, being possessor at that time of a fourth of the money given him. This is not what I desire to direct attention to. What I want to bring forward is the fact that a member of the committee has not accounted for a considerable sum of money collected by him, and all attempts made to obtain it have proved futile.

The purchasers of the land on the Waimate Plains (says the Hawera “Star”) do not appear to care much for the idle threats of the natives, and apparently pay little heed to the hundred and one rumors floating about. Mr Muir, of Auckland, has built his house, and slept in it. Mr Hast'ie another purchaser from Auckland is build, ing, and he intends to take a family of seven children on to his holding. Mr Box has been living on the Plains for some time, near a stream to which he has given the pretty title of “ Rosie Creek.” There is also a two-rooraed cottage at Okaiawa, but we were unable to ascertain the name of the occupant. Mr York, Mr Eainie and otheis are busily at work. In less than twelve rrionths, if all goes well, there will be several homesteads in the place so long covered with fern.

Under the heading, “ How we have advanced since A.D. 1800.” an English contemporary says “In 1800, London had a population of 80,000 against 1,714,000 today. In 1802, London had 08 acres of docks ; now the extent is 000 acres. The stone used for Plymouth breakwater would be sufficient lor the great pyramid of Cheops. A single private ship-build ing yard has produced more tonnage per annum than thewholc of Elizabeth’s Jleetopposed to the Armada. Great Britain exports enough coal to freight all the merchantmen in the world. In this century more bridges have been built thau in all the previous years since Cmsar saw Britain. Sanitary improvements have in Great Britain added six years to life, Charity in its material form lias in England grown twice, and in France three times, as fast ua public wealth. The earnings of the British nation have doubled in twenty years, and quadrupled since Waterloo, and this exclusive of untaxed incomes. . .

An outrage which can scarcely be matched for barbarism is reported to have occurred in the neighborhood of Shanagolden. A number of men having their faces blackened, under' the cover of the the darkness, broke into the house of a man named Martin, who resides at Ballyanhill, and who is bailiff on the estate of Mr Blennerhassett. Having beaten the unfortunate man most unmercifully, the miscreants next proceeded to tie him in the bed where he lay, and having done so, one of them with a clasp knife completely deprived him of hia ears. The nearest constabulary barracks is situated about four miies from Martin’s house.

The “Liaogahna Herald” understands that a,writ'for for breach ofpromise has been served bn Mr J. B. Fisher, M.H.R. for the Bullor.

At the B.M. Court this morniijg, before Mesrss Woolcovnbo and • Sterickcr, an inebriate was discliaiged with a caution. A hospital patient who yesterday exhibited symptoms of insanity was remand-d.

Potatoes, which some months ago were so plentiful in South Canterbury that they were allowed to rot on the land where they were grown, while in Timaru they were heaped in the premises of our auctioneers, qnite unsaleable, are likely to be scarce this season. • The quantity ‘planted is very limited, and at present the new samples are in good demand, so that those who have good crops are likely to do well by them.

“ Man wants but little here below,” is a lie says a famous wit. “He wants all he can grab, and when he grows old ids grasp on the dollar grows grippy.” Man has a natural liking for money. He imbibes it with his mother’s milk. So long as he keeps fairly within the right path in his efforts to make money, however, the world will applaud him. But still the world will not allow him to "make” money for himself in a literal sense, and it is this fact that has led to the discomfiture of a worthy couple in Liverpool. It is reported that the police in that flourishing seaport have discovered an extensive base coin factory in full work. A pan of metal was on the fire,three moulds were in the oven with base coin in them ; there were also a plating battery, a quantity of meta 1 , gear, and bottles of acids, besides some base shillings wrapped in paper and a brush used for polishing. The worthy pair who occupied this intcrcstii g apartment are now residents in one of Her Majesty’s prisons.

The Wellington correspondent of the “Lyttelton Times” says: —The question of the legality of most of the assessments under the Property Assessment Act continues to excite public interest. It has been pretty plainly intimated that the Government intends to protect itself against the consequences of any bungling that has taken place behind the following words in the seventy-fourth clause: —“The validity of any assessment shall not be affected by reason that any of the provisions of this Act have not been complied with.”

The correspondent of the “ New Zealand Times,” writing from Pungarehu under date Jan. 4, gives the following account of Te Whiti’s reception of the Governor’s letter: —ln reply, Te Whiti said “ The potato is cooked,” by which he meant that his people had suffered such great wrongs as would debar them from helping themselves, and he wished to intimate that it was for someone else than himself to help them. .Stripped of metaphor, Te Whiti’s reply means—“ lam helpless, and at the mercy of my oppressors. It is for him in whose name the wrong is done to give us relief. It is useless to complain to the agent. If the Governor comes, he will come as the doctor tc a sick man. The sick man lies in his place, and the doctor goes to him.” The natives say that Te Whiti has told them to make no further reference to the letter, for if the Governor is a good Governor he will come to him.

At the Christchurch District Court, yesterday, a deed of assignment was put in (says the “ Lyttelton Times.”) Incorporate i therewith was a power of attorney, and the attention of the Court was called to the fact that this portion of the document was unstamped. Mr Spackman guaranteed payment of the required amount, £5 10s, on behalf of his client; and His Honor remarked that he had known some lawyers whose word would not be taken for £5. Mr Joynt hoped His Honor would name them, or the the reporters would be having something to say about serious imputations upon legal gentlemen in Christchurch. Mr Spackman said he had not got £5 in his pocket, and he did not suppose his learned friend had. Thereupon Mr Joynt rose briskly, exclaiming, “ ITI make you a bet I have,” and sinking back into his seat, he concluded, “ I beg your Honor’s pardon.”

The following letter, re the Constabulary force appears in the Taranaki Herald : First, 1 object to the number of servants the officers monopolise at the public expense, the majority of them having town and camp servants, and some of the men, I believe, rank above an ordinary constable, which of course entitles them to more pay. Second, you will find that one doctor will be quite sufficient for the number of men they have, and, sir, I think it a shame that we should have to pay a postillipn 0 or 7 shillings a day to accompany a doctor while going his rounds on private practice. Thirdly, they will find that . even sergeants are allowed servants. In my daily walk for the past twelve months I have noticed on an average two constables working at a sergeant’s residence. There is also another sergeant in charge of Marslaud Hill, who, I suppose, has another servant. Fourthly, sir, the constabulary pay is 5s l()d a day for a third class constable, and lOd a day extra for road work, and they are also allowed Gs a day travelling expenses. If a member of the force only leaves his station for a day on duty his pay is at ouee more than doubled. Sir, if the constabulary were totalled up to-morrow it would be found that more than half our army is composed of officers, sergeants, second class and first class constables, and flunkies.”