NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2441, 14 January 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A strong shock of earthquake was felt at Cromwell at eleven minutes past one yesterday. The Wellington Waste Lands Board have decided to put 30,000 acres in the market next month.

A quantity of antimony has been discovered between Reefton and Ada Pass, close to the proposed line of the West Coast Railway.

Dr Duller has effected an amicable settlement of the Waito survey difficulty. The theodolite and other survey instruments seized and impounded by Henata’s people some weeks ago, have been ultimately delivered up to Mr Lessong, and satisfactory terms arranged.

There was a rowdy scene at the Napier Borough Council last evening, over the appointment of Mr Marchant as Borough Engineer. An adjournment was ultimately agreed to, as Mr Marchant’s supporters, knowing that the majority was against them, were talking against time.

The Captain of the Northumberland has been called upon to enter into a bond of £IOO, under the Imbecile Passengers Act of 1878, in consequence of having brought a youth, Henry Rotherger Wells, who has just been committed to the Lunatic Asylum. The Governors of the Wellington College, with a view to reorganising that backward institution, have given the masters six months’ notice that their services will be dispensed with. Another flood of learning will then be spread over the potatoe fi4i tls It is said that an action will probably be instituted against the Government in connection with the late fatal accident at Rakaia railway station, by which a child of Mr Hcfford’s, of Papanui, was killed. It will be remembered that the jury appended to llie'r verdict a rider which was virtually a censure on the department.

A match for £ls a side for one mile is be run at Hagley Park, Christchurch, between F. S. Fagan and John Groves of Ashburton. The race arises out of the Timaru one mile handicap, in which Fagan won through Groves, it is alleged, being jostled by the crowd. Groves challenged Fagan afterwards, and the forthcoming match is the result.

The waterworks engineers are busily taking the town levels preparatory to laying down the pipes in the various streets. The contract for earthenware pipes has been, completed, and the principal works are in a forward state. The last lot of service and other pipes for the reticulation of the streets will probably arrive within the next four months, and there is every likelihood of the supply being in full swing before the end of the year.

The Hoh G. M. Waterhouse writes A property.tax is likely to be a permanent institution in New 'Zealand'” Mr /Water-, house is an bid man, but we venture to predict that he will live to see the property tax abolished.

The s.s. Arawata is getting like the man that brought despair on the phrenologist—-bump-proof. It is alleged that yesterday she crossed the Otago bar at nearly low; water, drawing 16 feet without bumping. This is the most wonderful performance on record.

A report from Clive states that a man named Caldwell met his death in a singular manner. He was carting earth from a swamp for Mr Lascelles, solicitor, and his mate found the horse and cart overturned in a ditch at the edge of a swamp. He lifted it over, when Caldwell’s dead body was found underneath.

It is said that since Ouida’s morals were brought prominently under the notice of the directors of the Edinburgh Philosophical Institute (the marks of this authoress having been recently placed on the index expunjation- of the Institute), the directors have gone in for a hearty course of “ Ouida,” with a view probably to qualifying themselves in passing judgment upon her when their final decision is given,

This is how the judges sampled the beer at the Melbourne Exhibition :—“ They sat in a room and the various samples were brought to them in glasses. After rejecting the samples considered unworthy of a place, those passed were again gone through and the process was repeated until the final selection was made. -Some idea of the work may be gathered from the fact that something like 150 samples in many of the classes had to be adjudicated upon.” What a fearful tale of suffering ? Says the Dunedin “ Star ”; “In dramatic performances in the Colonies, those who have charge of the properties are occasionally very indifferent as to the appointments they use, but we doubt whether anything more ludicrous can be imagined than the following inscription which was placed on the tombstone intended for the last of the Ravenawooda at the opera last evening:—‘ In memory of E. Hamilton, a victim of Sibbald’s beer.’ ” This is very hard on Mr John Sibhald, proprietor of the theatre and publican. The health of Lady Robinson during the voyage Home in the Orient steamer John Elder, was such as at one time to cause considerable anxiety. Her ladyship, it appears suffered severely from the heat in passing through the Red Sea, and was attacked by a somewhat serious illness, which for some time necessiated constant nursing and attendance. On arriving in colder latitudes, however, Lady Robinson gradually re covered, and on reaching London had nearly regained her former health. The only business at the Waimate Court yesterday was the hearing of a few civil cases. Cruickshank v. Daly—illegal detention of a spring cart, value £7, was postponed at defendant’s request. Cruickshank v. Meek and another—a claim for 335, expenses as a witness, resulted in a verdict for defendants, as it was shown that the plaintiff, by his misconduct, had brought about the litigation. Judgment was given for the plaintiff in the case of Clarke v. Corcoran —claim £lB 11s 6d for wages, but on the application of Mr White, who appeared on behalf of the defendant, execution was ordered to be stayed for one week, to allow of a cross-action to be heard. Mr Beetham, R.M., and Mr J. Manchester were the presiding Magistrates. A good story is told by the “ Auckland Star” anent the visit of a Queen street chemist to Te Aroba. En passant, the chemist professes a knowledge of metallurgy. He was in a miner’s tent one night when old produced a peculiar lookpiece of metal, and with humility asked the savant what it was. The would-be metallurgist held it up to the light, examined it ciitically, and burnt it in the flame, of the candle. “ That ? Why that,” said be, “ I call carbonate of antimony.” “And I,” said old , with a sly chuckle, “ call it carbonate of gold.” It was a melted cake of gold from one of the Tc Aroha reefs.

A meeting of the She idan Dramatic Club, was held last evening at Stone’s Hotel, Mr T. J. Kennedy in the chair. It was resolved to alter the name of the Club to the Sheridan Dramatic and Musical Club, the formation of a christy minstrel troupe, in connection with the existing Club, being contemplated. It was resolved to give a benefit entertainment during the visit of the Australian Eleven, in aid of the Tinuru Hospital, and the Secretary was instructed to write to His Worship the Mayor and the members of the Borough Council, the Hospital Commissioner’s, and Mr Alexander, the agent of the Australian cricketers, soliciting their patronage on the occasion. After discussion it was resolved that (he programme consist of the comedy of “The Spectre Bridegroom the farce of “ The Irish Tiger," and a musical interlude. The meeting then adjourned until Wednesday, January Ifith, at the same place.

A curious and even sensational history of the caucus of the Eadical party in Victoria, which followed the defeat of the Service Eeform Bill, was given by Mr M'Kean recently. The 42 members, he says, were addressed by Mr Berry. “ Let us go the country and oppose Service,” wa,s Mr Berry’s advice, “ a Eeform Bill is not necessary.” “I sprang to my feet,” narrates Mr McKean, -‘ray warm Irish blood was up. I asked if a fraud had been played upon the people for three years ? Was Mr Berry to go on carrying out a fraud? No sooner had I sat down than Mr Vale arose, and moved that we go to the country with a Eeform Bill. I seconded the motion and it was carried, and Mr Tucker, sitting upon the table, took the heads down as we discussed them.” According to Mr McKean the Chief Secretary was not in earnest about reform then, nor are Ministers now, and hence it was that “ their followers had that evening to flog them as a wagoner flogs an unwilling horse.” Mr M'Kean offered to support his views by resigning his seat if the Chief Secretary would do the same, and then, he said, he would contest Geelong with the hon. gentleman.—'' Argus.”

Mr James Tyson, the well-known squatter is the richest man in Australia. He is, in fact, ■; said to be Worth more than any other five men in' the colonies- put together, Nothing less than ten millions would represent his wealth which is being continually added to from an ineome of about £500,000 per annum.

What may happen to a steamer when it grows old and cranky is thus related in the “ Grey River Argus ” of Friday last: — “Rather a strange circumstance happened in connection with the p.s. Dispatch. Yesterday morning the vessel was laying alongside the wharf, Mawhera Quay, when it was discovered about six o’clock to' be nearly full of water. Assistance was at once procured, pumps rigged, and the services of the donkey engine brought into requisition, when the coals were taken out, and the water got rid of. The cause has not yet been discovered, but there are certain suspicious circumstances in connection therewith that demand a searching inquiry.” The vessel is suspiciously old, and probably needs repairing. A meeting of the Yestry and Building Committee of the St. Mary’s Church was held yesterday afternoon. Present —Messrs Belfield.(chairman), Christophers, Wethey, Woollcombe, Tate, Hammond, Goodall, Wa'cot, Stericker, and Proctor. The chairman intimated that a donation of £SO had been received from the Von. Archdeacon Harper, as a contribution towards the general ebureb expenses, and that the gift bad been acknowledged with thanks. The following resolutions were then carried :—“ That tenders for Contract No. 2 be at once called for, and in the meantime every effort be made to collect the promised subscriptions.” It was also resolved that tenders for the work be invited in both morning and evening papers. That the architect be asked to submit to the meeting of the Yestry to be held on the 27th in t. a statement otthe full estimated cost of polirhed Aberdeen granite columns landed in Tiraaru.” “ That the parish be divided according to the residence of the parishioners, and that the churchwardens and vestrymen being supplied with a list of parishioners in each division, they canvass for subscriptions in the ''{visions thus arranged.” '• That fire circular ventilators be inserted in each of the aisles of the church, and that the churchwardens be requested to get this done.” The meeting then separated. On the beach, close to the Breakwater, are lying a great number of iron hoops from the cement or other casks, which are carried off by juveniles as playthings, .and left about the streets and roads, to the inconvenience of pedestrians, and the danger of those who are riding. Only the other night a gentleman who was riding in the direction of Stone’s Hotel, narrowly escaped an accident, his horse happening to tread on the edge of one of these hoops, which sprang up and grazed the the animal’s leg caused it to swerve and pitch its rider forward on to its neck, and it was only by the greatest care that he avoided being thrown. Surely something ought to be done to prevent the removal of of these dangerous playthings from their resting place on the beach. The Waimate Plains’ correspondent of the Auckland “ Star,” referring to the murder of Miss Dobie, says :—“ Wharengaro, father of the miscreant, is said to be a man of a vile temper, and bad disposition altogether, but he certainly will not be allowed to make a national matter of a treacherous murder. Such a proceeding is diametrically opposed to the teachings of Te Whiti. and it is probable that the comings and goings of Wharengaro are not unwatched. The day before the murder, father and son were working with a bullock team, when, through some inadvertence on the part of the former, the wheel of the dray passed over Tuhi’s foot. He complained very much of the pain, and his father got off the dray and stooped to examine the wounded member, and whilst in this position the son exhibited his filial affection by springing on his father, throwing him on the ground, and attempting to throttle him, an attempt which would probably haTe proved successful but for the interposition of other Natives. Subsequently himself and his father had a very violent quarrel, and it is thought by many Natives in the neighbourhood that the murderous spirit then aroused had not subsided when he met the lady, and that this spirit, only dormant, not extinguished, prompted the sudden impulse, which was consummated by murder.