NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2448, 22 January 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A half-caste, named Wilson, was killed by a fall of earth in the manganese mines. Bay of Islands, on Jan. 12th.

The child of a settler at Tauranga, named Delaney, had its arm cut oil a few days ago by a mowing machine.

The Taranaki people are drowning their dogs in large numbers to avoid t.ho Dog Tax.

Stealing horses in New Plymouth, and selling them at Parihaka, is being extensively practiced by natives.

The sudden death at Auckland is announced of Mr J. W. Chisholm, late assistant Accountant-Inspector of New Zealand.

Sir Arthur Gordon who is doing the Northern provinces had an excellent reception at Hamilton yesterday, the volunteers and population turning out en manse. At Cambridge his Excellency laid the foundation stone of St Andrews’s Episcopalian Church.

The “ Wanganui Herald ” says :—Some maintain that Te Whiti meant to tell the Governor to “ take a hot potato,” in other words to “ shut up.” Or perhaps there may be a close resemblance between the words meaning “ potato ” and " carrot,” as there is between the former and the word for “tree.” If so, Te Whiti may have invited His Excellency to “ Take a carrot.”

The discovery of Enfield cartridges in a Maori whare at Gisborne, recently telegraped, is satisfactorily explained. The amunition was given to the friendly natives during the troubles of 18G0, The police knew they had it, and onty seized it because it was left in an old whare, and there was a fear that some European youths in the district might get it and do some damage.

The disgraceful and disgusting facts connected with the Auckland divorce case of Hedley v. Hedley and Anderson, came before the Chief Justice at Wellington yesterday. The jury found the adultery proved, that there had been no connivance, cruelty, or desertion, and gave damages for £330.

Mr John Conway writes to Australia.: — “ It is the intention of Messrs J, Lillywhite and Alfred Shaw to form a first-class team of English professional cricketers for the purpose of making a tour of the Australian colonics and New Zealand during the cricket season 1881-82. They purpose starting from England in the autumn in 1881, play four or live matches in the United States, leaving ’Frisco for New Zealand by the October mail. Their first match will be played in Auckland in the end of November after which they will journey south and play at Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.”

The society journals of Melbourne and Sydney are not to have the field to themselves. The Melbourne “ Herald ” lately devoted over a column of its space to a description of the toilettes of the ladies who attended the Hon W. J. Clarke’s soiree musicale at the Town Hall. This is the way it describes the hostess: —“ The graceful hostess wore a unique costume, the color of which it is somewhat difficult to describe accurately. It is something of a very dark green or black brocade, trimmed with cream lace. The front breadth was a sort of biscuit-colored brocade with two falls of lace at the bottom. Her bonnet was of the same color as the front breadth of her dress, the strings being fastened by a crimson flower.”

Colonel Whitmore has sailed for England.

A man charged with being drunk and disorderly was fined 3s at the R.M. Court this morning. A number of fine mullet were caught this morning from the Breakwater, one rod bringing up two and three fish at a time—until a shoal of porpoises suddenly put in an appearance, when the mullet lost no time in making themselves scarce. A meeting of residents interested in the annual race meeting took place at the Point Hotel on Wednesday evening last. There was a good attendance, and considerable interest was manifested in the proceedings. It was resolved, after some discussion—“ That a racing club be formed at Pleasant Point, the annual meeting to be held on St. Patrick’s Day.” A considerable sum of money was promised in the room, and the meeting ought to prove an enjoyable one.

According to the “ Northern Miner,” the rising generation on Charters Towers is not being brought up with that reverence for things sacred so desirable. Some time ago a teacher in the State school there, who had lost a good deal of his hair through severe study or home causes, gave his scholars a narration of the fate of the children who mocked the prophet. They were all duly impressed, save one youngster, who remarked emphatically, “ I don’t believe it. You’re a bald-headed old buffer yourself. Get up ! Now trot out your bears.”

A sad story concerning one of our oldest and best endowed earldoms will! shortly see the light. It seems that a peer, lately gathered to his fathers, whose name he did not endow with great lustre, is now alleged to have been married, and to hare had a family at the time lie made the only marriage the world has yet recognised or heard of. The result of this alleged fact, which from all I hear seems but too certain to be established, is that the peer’s widow will cease to be Lady H., and will become plain Miss 8., whil-t her son and daughters who have recently been brought out in society, will be placed in a very painful position. The young ladies will, however, as I learn, still retain the fortune of £12,000 a-year each, left to them by their grandfather ; but their brother will lose an earldom, and with it an income of £90,000 a-year, I understand that the Queen, who takes the kindliest interest in the poor lady who has been so abused, will, in the event of the worst expectations being realised, probably give her another title in lieu of that whereof she will be deprived in so shocking a manner.—Vanity Fair.

Temperance circles in New Zealand should feel rejoiced at the evidence that statistics are furnishing of a decline in the consumption of stimulants and the wonderful growth of the tea trade in the colonies. Westall Galton and Co.’s tea letter, dated Foochow, 13th November, shows the wonderful expansion of this trade. At the same period in 1879, the amount sent to New Zealand and Australian ports was 14,701,3811b5, which for 1880 had swelled to 19,510,692, an increase of 4,809,3111bs during 12 months. This is a large expansion of one branch of trade, when the comparatively small population is considered. New South Wales shows a decrease of nearly 10,00,0001bs while Victoria shows an increase equal to the decrease in New South Wales. South Australia doubles her supply, and New Zealand does even more, increasing from 1,136,3051bs to 3,400,9651b5. During the first ten months of 1879 the amount exported from Foochow to all European countries was 59,992,0971bs which in 1880 had decreased to 55,983,418 lbs. From the same circular we learn that 132,3491bs were sent to New Zealand by the steamer Bowen on the 11th November.

The death is announced of Mr Waters, editor of the Sydney •' Evening News.” Mr Waters was a young man, but he had made his mark as one of the most vigorous and incisive writers on the colonial press. In the dispute with Mr Justice Windcyer, a few months ago, Mr Waters, backed by Mr A. Bennett, the enterprising proprietor, of the‘‘News,” and ‘‘Town and Country Journal,” vindicated the liberty of the press against the arrogant assumption of the Supreme Court, Though the Judges abused their power by fining the journal £250, one of the largest public meetings ever held in Sydney denounced their conduct, a verdict which was endorsed by the whole press of Australasia. The fine was subscribed without difficulty and the Judges came out of the business with their robes and integrity very much bedraggled. They cut but a sorry figure, and will not, we should imagine, attempt a repetition of their conduct. Mr Waters’ early demise will excite the sincere regret of all colonial journalists, in whose common cause he rendered such excellent service,