NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2465, 11 February 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY .

The usual monthly sitting of the District Court was adjourned this morning until Monday next, in consequence of the Assessment Court sitting. There was only one police case this morning when an inebriate was brought before Mr Sterickcr, J.P.. and tined ss.

Mr T. W. Draper, of the firm of Draper, Charters, and Co., of Christchurch, died suddenly yesterday of congestion of the brain. His life was insured for £2OOO. That married life in New South Wales has its troubles occasionally seems pretty evident from the following advertisement, which appeared in a recent number of the “ Town and Country Journal :—“ Notice. I, John Kelly, at present living at Budgery (late Block L.), Hermitage Wains, Nyngau, give notice to Mary Kelly, my lawful wife, that if she marries again it will be at her own risk, and God help her husband. (Signed) John Kelly.” There was a sort of awakening in Timaru yesterday afternoon. Many who had begun to he sceptical respecting tho doctrine of divine retribution had their doubts removed and 'their belief confirmed. The question “ Did you hear that the ‘ dawg ’ is impounded ? ” passed from mouth to mouth. Everybody from the Mayor and members of the Borough Council downwards, had the term#' dawg ” on the tips of their tongues. True enough “ tho dawg ” had fallen a victim to the vigilance of the Town Clerk, and was awaiting the advent either of his master or the hangman in the condemned cell below the Borough Council Chambers. A notification above showed that a tan mastiff had been impounded, and would be destroyed if not claimed within -18 hours. The unregistered “ dawg ” is the favorite companion of the member for Geraldine, who is great on “ dawgs,” and is the father of the “Dawg Act.” That is why the belief in divine retribution has been renewed.

Thirty years ago Great Britain consumed foreign cheese to Ihc amount of only 11b per head per annum ; to-day it is nearly Gib., or a total of 1117,000,0001 b. Alas for posthumous fame I (says an Australian writer), Not much is heard of the statue to Sir Redmond, but his effigy is at the Waxworks. And the Collingwood larrikin performing the part of cic/ronc to his mate from the rag-store, indicates the figure with dirty thumb over his shoulder, .and says, “ That’s him as hung Ned 1”

’ At an enquiry into the charges made by Dr Purchase against the masters of the Auckland Grammar Schoo', Dr Purchase withdrew clause tof his memo, against Mr Anderson, classical master. He had heard since that Anderson was abstemious as to stimulants, and expressed regret at making such a charge, Mr Anderson declined to accept the apology. A notable example of the profits of sheep husbandry, under good management, is the record of a Kentucky flock, of Messrs E. and C. Brown, of fifteen Cotswold ewes, costing 150 dollars in 18GG. In ten years, selling wool and male lambs annually, they had realised from wool and sheep 4800 dollars, retaining the ewes ; in 1877 their sales were 1500 dollars, and 900 dollars in 1878, leaving in 1879 a flock of 190 sheep, worth 2800 dollars—over 10,000 dollars in twelve years from an original flock of fifteen head.

A rare fight between two gentlemen of the long robe at Dunedin is on the tapis. MrW. Downic .Stuart, M.l 1 Jl. and attorney, having refused to go on his knees and beg the pardon of Mr Townsend McDermott for charging the latter, in the course of a police court “ barney,” with "touting for business,” the veteran cx-Aitorney-Gcnerul intends to give Mr Stewart an opportunity of justifying his remarks by seeing him in the Supreme Court for £2OOO damages.

It has often supprised us, says a Northern paper, that none of our botanical people bare crcr taken the trouble to investigate the me.lical properties of onr New Zealand vegetation. Bushmen declare that llax gum heals sores and cuts,and that a decoction of rimu bark is excellent for colds. The virtues of koromiko for djsentrj is well-known, and water, after supplejack roots have been well boiled in it,makes sarsaparilla. Some people mix llax roots with the last, and speak of it as an excellent medicinp.

An encpiiry into the cause of the recent lire at Otcpopo, in the Oamaru district, has resulted in the following significant verdict : —“The jury find that the Otepopo mill, belonging to Diehl and Davidson, was burnt down on the night of January 27th under very suspicious circumstances, but them is no evidence to show how the tire originated. They have also to comment in strong terms on the unsatisfactory nature of the evidence given by Janies Davidson, one of the partners of the firm.’’

A new reason for Mr Proctor’s sudden withdrawal from the New Zealand lecturing platform, is furnished by our Australian exchanges. The “ Argus” says : —Mr E. S. Smythe, who left four months ago with Mr Proctor for New Zealand, and who returned to Melbourne on Friday J an. 21, informs us that the West Coast and other important districts in New Zealand were not visited by Mr Proctor, that gentleman having been precluded from prolonging his stay by European engagements. On his return to England it is the intention of Mr Proctor to publish a new magazine, entitled “ Knowledge.” The Auckland fruit market is glutted at present. Whangarei is pouring tons of assorted fruits into Auckland by every steamer, and large quantities are going to waste for want of consumers. The " Star ’ of Friday last, commenting on the state of affairs, says It is a great pity that some of our industrious farmers cannot see their way clear to turn their fruit into jams, <to., and in such a way prevent stocking the market and rendering the importation of Hobartown preserves quite unnecessary. The immense quantity now in the market and the low prices realised will give evidence of the necessity of some such step.

The Consul-General of the United States in Melbourne, has received an official despatch from Washington, in which the elforts made by the officers and crew of the s.s. Dawn, in saving the survivors of the Eric the Red arc gracefully recognised. The despatch intimates that it has pleased the President to award as testimonials for the occasion—A piece of plate for Captain Jones ; a gold chronometer watch and chain for Mr Poat, chief officer ; a gold medal and dOdol, for Mr Christie, second officer ; for Mr Dove (purser), Mr Lean (providorc), and each member of the crew, a silver medal and 25d01.

Particulars have been received of the death of Lieutenant Ilcyland, of the Minotaur, who was drowned in saving the life of a sailor. It appears that during a gale on November 25, while the sea was running tremendously high, the ship rolling thirty degrees each way, and it was almost impossible to lower a boat, a man fell overboard. The engines were stopped, and Lieutenant Hey land jumped overboard with a line and swam to the man s assistance. He succeeded in reaching him, in making the line fast to him, and the man was hauled on board and saved ; but Lieut. Hey land, exhausted by his efforts, sank close to the ship, within a foot or two of a ladder which had been lowered over the side. Mr Hey land was in his twenty-ninth year, and entered the service as a naval cadet in 18(51.

To Whiti’s cooked potatoes are becoming more plentiful than pleasant at his camping ground. According to an official telegram another large lire has occurred at Parihaka, causing an extensive destruction of potatoes. Fully 50 acres were totally destroyed, and a lot of wlrares and other buildings were burnt. It was only with the greatest difficulty the natives were able to save their dwellings. All the men, women and children worked like horses to save their homes and personal possessions. The lire is said to have originated through the hush becoming accidentally ignited by people of the Ngataruanui tribe, who were clearing some hush land for sowing and set fire to fallen timber, the llames spreading to the forest and rapidly gaining the mastery.

Great sympathy is felt for the widow and orphans (nine in number) of the late Michael Tregonnirig of Wairnatc. The de-

ceased was an old Wairnatc resident, who was at one time well to do, but who latterly encountered many misfortunes, and after one-and-twenty years colonial experience has died leaving wife and family totally unprovided for. On, Wednesday evening a meeting was held at Wairnatc to consider what steps should be taken to assist Mrs Tregonning and her children, and £lO was collected in the room. Efforts arc to be made to purchase a house for the widow, and a number of gentlemen have voluntarily formed themselves into a committee to canvas the town and district for contributions towards the purchase of the same, Mr J. B. Taylor has been appointed secretary, and Mr B. Me Owen, treasurer of the committee.

At an election for a place which shall be nameless, a candidate whose party seemed to bo going to the wall, was in frequent communication with his agent on the spot where the fight was to be fought out. At length he intimated that he would go down address the electors, and make a personal canvass. "When ho reached the railway station he was agreeably surprised at his reception. The electors were in enthusiastic crowds, and cheered him to the echo. His spirits rose, but his astonishment was undiminised. As he was bcinc triumphantly escorted to his hotel, he said aside to his agent, “I can’t understand this, Jones; how have you managed it?” “Oh,” said the agent, "I claim no credit—your telegram did it.” “What telegram?” demanded the candidate, surprised in turn. “ Why, this—here it is—genuine, I suppose : —‘ Down to-night, 5 p.m.’—meaning, of course, £5 per man. I took care to put the news about.”—“ /Eglcs.”

A man named Ernest Noff'kc was drowned in a gravel pit at Halcombo a few days ago, while bathing, under singular circumstances. It appears from the evidence given at the inquest, that on Saturday evening ns he passed the gravel pit he saw u man named Carl Marbach bathing there. Marbach’s wife was also on the edge of the ■water-hole washing their children. Noffke joined Marbach in the water, which was not more than five feet dee]) in the deepest part, and in some unexplained manner suddenly disappeared. His companion, instead of attempting to rescue him, rushed out of the water, and he ran one way and his wife another, to call for assistance. When help came the body was found floating back up in about two feet of water. The medical evidence showed that deceased must have fainted in the water, and struggled very little before drowning, death resulted while Noffke was in a state of syncope, probably caused while going into the cold water while his body was heated fiom active exercise.

In giving judgment on a recent bankruptcy ease His Honor the Chief Justice made some sensible observations, lie said that while a large amount of consideration fairly might be accorded, to persons in trade who had failed, often from causes either unforsecn or beyond their control, no similar consideration could justly he claimed by a person whose name was not in trade, but who knew almost to a penny what were his means and prospects of payment when he contracted his debts. He would only have a claim to leniency if he could show that be was in a better position when he incurred the liabilities than when he failed. If a man with a fixed and limited income, or with no income, ran up debts, he bad no right to claim his discharge from the Court unless his creditors were willing to release him. If they did not think him entitled to his discharge, the Court would not take it on itself to reverse their decision, or to override their resolution. In that case the debtor would have to go to work and do his best to pay his creditors, at any rate a sufficient dividend to win their consideration and leniency.

Garrard, the apostle of the unemployed in Auckland, owns it appears, some land in the Kirikiriroa Highway District. In Dec. laG the Secretary wrote to tins. gentleman for the amount of his rates, addressing the letter to '• Mr Garrard, unemployed, Auckland,” thinking this the surest way of finding him. In reply, the following fiery epistle was received “ Auckland, Dec, 2fird, 1880.—Sir—i will or might be able to scud you the rates and taxes for the little allotment in east hamilton Waikato, No. 2013, in the course of a mouth ; and how dare you sir, to have the imprudence to address the letter to me in the impertinent way in which you have done, i shall acquaint your superior olliser on the subject, it is no matter to yo, sir, if i ham out of imploy. i ham shurc your worship the mayor did’nt tell you to address your letter in that way. mind yourself sir.—Mb vV. G. Gabba.bd, P. 0., Auckland.” The envelope containing Ids haughty announcement was add reseed thus “To the Clerk at the County Council that receives the rates, West Hamilton Waikato, paid pauper in imploy.”