NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2444, 18 January 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A big shark was captured in the roadstead last evening. The monster measured nearly Bfb from tip to tip. The Government intend to make further reductions and amalgamations in the Civil Service.. The work of inspecting the departments with a view to suggesting desirable reforms has been entrusted to Messrs Batkin and Seed.

At can adjourned meeting of the Timaru School Committee held last evening', a report,and balance sheet, to be presented at the annual meeting of householders, to be held on Monday next, was approved of. Mr Hall proposed, and Mr Hart seconded) “That Messrs H - Bcllield, and B. 13. Walcot, be nominated to fill the vacancies on the Board of Education, Carried. The meeting then tciminalcd. A marriage in high life is on the cards, the individuals concerned being well-known residents of South Canterbury. The attachment on the part of the young lady who is the inheritor of a fortune, of about £IOO,OOO in round numbers is said to be of a-somewhat romantic character, the impending alliance having been contracted with the bosom fi rend of a deceased lover.

Some idea of the way in which land has gone up in value, in Timnru in spite of the bad times, may be formed from the fact that the owner of a section situated not a gunshot from the. South Canterbury Times office, which was purchased with its present improvements four years ago for £4OO, has lately been offered £IBOO for his bargain, but he declines to take less than £2OOO.

The following paragraph from the “ Press” is rather hard on Dunedin’s pet criminal the notorious Butler: having been considered expedient to ensure the safer custody of Butler, the Dunedin murderer, and another long-sentenced man named Garrett, than is afforded in Dunedin gaol, the two prisoners were brought from that place under escort by last night’s express train to Christchurch, and they were at once forwarded on to Lyttelton gaol.

The Timaru Fire Brigade hare decided to send a delegate to the Brigades Conference, which takes place at Wellington, on Jan 21. At least sixteen brigades will be represented. They take their departure by the Express to-morrow, and leave Lyttelton for Wellington on Thursday. Free railway passes have been granted and the Union s.a. Company have made a reduction in the usual fares. Another effort will be made to pass the Fire Brigades Bill during next session of Parliament.

Mr Vesey Stewart has been appointed Resident Director in New Zealand for the New Zealand Corporation, which has taken over his interest in the Te Puke Special Settlement. The Company is reported to have raised £65,000, which is to be expended in improving and cultivating such land as has not been allotted to settlers. After unoccupied land has been improved it will be open for free selection by new settlers, who will have the opportunity of inspecting and examining the various blocks previous to purchase.

The fame of Dr Wilkins, the well-known oculist and aurist, is spreading apparently all over the colony. According to a Wanganui paper, the blind pauper, Hudson, who was recently sent to Wellington Hospital, from Patea, to be operated on for ophthalmia, is to be sent to Christchurch if the doctors there, on receiving a report of his case, think it curable. The doctors at the Wellington Hospital have been unsuccessful with the case, but a similar one from Patea was cured at Christchurch some time ago. Dr Wilkins is the surgeon who takes charge of these cases at the Christchurch Institution.

Entries for the Sires’ Produce Slakes to be run for in 1883, will be received up to Feb. 1, next by the Secretary. Foals by Castawayare eligible for the race.

The following which we clip from an Auckland paper relates to a well-known sporting card, and will, be read with interest“ Wanted Known—That there is a Woman in Auckland, belonging to the Dramatic Profession, fabely representing herself to be my wife. She is in no way connected with me, either by marriage or relationship, and I will not be responsible for any debts she may contract in my name.—Alfred Drake, Bookmaker, Albert Hotel, Auckland.”

At the Presbyterian Synod of Otago, held in Dunedin on Friday, the Rev. L. Mackic, in accordance with notice given moved that a memorial from the Synod and the members of the Church should be forwarded to Parliament,praying that such amendments be made in the Education Act as would provide for the reading of the Bible (under time-table and conscience clause) in the common schools. The Rev. Dr Stuart proposed an amendment— “ That this Synod, recognising the great educational and moral value of the reading of Holy Scripture in the schools of the people, ask the Legislature by petition to effect such an alteration in the Education Act as will allow the school committees, should they sec fit, to arrange in their several districts for the reading of the Bible during the first or the last half hour of a school day, under a stringent conscience clause.” It was agreed to incorporate the amendment and motion. Professor Sahuond moved as an amendment—“ That the > ynod, impressed by the advantages offered by our present system of national education, deprecate any interference with its provisions which would tend in the direction of denominationalism, and urge on the ministers to employ to the extent of theirpporerw r er the facilities already accorded by the Act for religious instruction of our youth.” At 12,40 a.m. on Saturday the Synod divided. For the amendment there voted—Professor Sahuond, the Rev Mr Waddel, the Rev Mr Lothian, and another member; against it, 34. The f ollowing letter addressed by “ A Vi-iior” to the editor of the “Post"is rather good in its way : —“ Sir,—As a visitor to your Colony, may 1 be permitted to point out /ii'o honopnhlico what I deem the folly of which your railway authorities are guilty in indiscriminately refusing to grant ■ railway passes to strangers for travelling. I may as well state that I am a clergyman of the Church of England, stationed in the centre of a large farming population in Victoria, and, therefore, what I can see of New Zealand is likely to become somewhat, widely circulated. It is not possible for me to make use of railway travelling at my own expense, which will preclude me from seeing some of the most important parts of this delightful country, I must say that I felt considerably repulsed by the direct refusal which I received from your Railway Commissioner this morning upon applying to him for a pass, and I do dot think the loss is all my own. I understand -that your Government spends large sums annually in paying emigration lecturers in the Old Country— the same objects might be accomplished by mdiiect methods in the way indicated. Trusting that you will give publicity to this—l am, &c„ A Visitor.”