NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2479, 1 March 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

John Eiordan, an Auckland teacher, has suffered concussion of the spine through a fall from his horse. Fatal consequences are feared. One of the Christchurch Building Societies has determined to resist the demand for property tax on the monthly subscriptions on investment shares. Several impudent burglaries have been been committed simultaneously in Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland. In the latter city a man named Ben Bennett has been arrested for removing six watches from a jeweller's shop in broad daylight. Lightband, Allan and Co, of Christchurch have obtained a third order of merit for boots and shoes at the Melbourne Exhibition. We understand that several first orders of merit would have been conferred on the Timaru St Crispins, but they reserved their exhibits for the World’s Show in America.

A laborer named Jas Mulvelhille has been arrested while making off to Melbourne, on a charge of obtaining a saddle and bridle from a Waimate saddler, by false pretences. With reference to the Wellington Lunatic Asylum enquiry the Correspondent of the “ Lytteltou Times ” telepraphs :—ln view of the nature of the evidence adduced, Government has under consideration the advisability of suspending the result of the enquiry now proceeding. It is said Mr Whitelaw wished to resign at the outset of the enquiry, but that Government would not accept his resignation. To night’s “ Post ” comments upon the indecency of Mr Woodward sitting as a member of the Commission, when as official visitor he is personally responsible for the mismanagement, I saw Mr Shaw, complainant in the Asylum case to-day, He seems to regret having closed his case yesterday' as evidence which he believed would strongly support it has since come to his knowledge verbally, and by letter. He has what he believes to be reliable evidence of a patient having been wantonly lashed across the face with a bunch of keys ; and has also received a letter from a former inmate of the Asylum purporting to explain how the patient Anderson, whose name has been frequently mentioned during the investigation, met with the violence which caused his disfigurement.

The Zealandia from Port Chalmers and Wild Deer from the Bluff, have arrived at London. A man named J. IT, Charter was charged before the Waimate Bench yesterday, with having kicked in the front door of Mr W. Hillary’s private residence, Waimate, and done other damage. Mr Hillary is the Waimate County Engineer. Charter was fined 40s and 60s damages, or to go to gaol for one month. The money was paid.

At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council a petition was read from a number of business people asking that tin* Council would establish a municipal weighbridge as being a necessity much felt by the business community here. The general opinion of the councillors seemed to be that this was a question nunc for the consideration of the Harbor Board than for the Borough Council. It is to be farther considered at the next meeting of the latter, however.

The second annual rowing match between the Otago and Canterbury Rowing Clubs took place on the laieri river yesterday. A splendid two and a half mile course was selected, below Titro, where the river is wide enouch for four or five boats. Canterbury took the lead soon after the start and won easily by two lengths in 11 minutes 55 seconds. Canterbury rowed a quick stroke of 44 to the minute, while Otago never rowed faster than 35.

Some of the promoters of the East and West Coast Kailway scheme had an interview with the Hon Mr Richardson yesterday in reference to their project. In the course of his remarks Mr Richardson said the real question at issue was not the practicability of Messrs Thornton and Brown’s route, but whether it was actually the best

procurable. IE Thornton’s line were dr farto the best, he could not sec how tne colony could refuse to sanction the scheme. Ultimately the meeting agreed to take no further steps in the formation of a company pending the report on the Government engineer’s survey. It was also determined to collect subscriptions to complete the survey from the head of Cannibal Gorge to the head of the Manna plains, to connect with the existing Government surveys,

Two new rules have been adopted by the Canterbury Corn Exchange, which arc expected to have a very beneficial effect. The rooms are to be open for the receipt of samples, and the transaction of business, every working day, .and Wednesdays and Saturdays are especially set apart for the disposal of grain and other produce. To

farther this end buyers will be allowed to set up desks in the rooms, and circulars are being sent to grain merchants, inviting them to take advantage of this. It is hoped

that these innovations will have the effect of making the days named regular market days for grain sales, and farmers who use the rooms will not have the trouble of hunting about town for purchasers, with attendant delay and loss of time.

The Education department has issued a circular relative to the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Sumner, Christchurch, intimating that it will be opened on Saturday next, and that there is ample room for additional pupils. To persons interested, the following information will be of considerable interest The system of instruction is that which is known as “ The Articulation System,” by which deafmutes are trained to the use of the organs of speech and learn both to speak—in the ordinary sense of the word—and to understand (from the motion of the lips) the speech of others. The use of finger-signs or other conventions used as substitutes for speech is strictly excluded. The course of instruction includes reading and writing in the first instance , followed by English composition, arithmetic, geography, history, drawing, &c. The result of the complete course of instruction will, in almost all cases, be to enable the pupil to read with thorough comprehension, and to hold oral conversation with relatives and friends, and even with strangers. The charge for board and education will be £4O per annum. Persons unable to pay this rate are invited to communicate with the Minister of Education.