NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2522, 21 April 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Property tax defaulters are to be prosecuted forthwith.

John Harris, a carrier from Westport, has been killed at the Greymouth racecourse through an old culvert collapsing, and a wagon load of women and children tumbling on top of the unlucky driver.

An examination into the mental state of the imprisoned Maoris is about to take place with a view to their liberation, prior to the meeting of Parliament. An Auckland telegram states that W. H. Leckey, a son of Colonel Leckey of Wellington, who had become insane while working in the Waite swamp, jumped from Mr Northcroft’s trap while crossing the Hamilton bridge, and fell fifty-four feet into the river, turning over in his descent. He struck the water head first, and swam apparently uninjured to the shore, where ho, was re-captured. The disparity in the carriage rates on the railways of New Zealand and those in the Australian colonies has been repeatedly pointed out. In New South Wales firewood is carried fifty miles for 4s lOd per ton ; in New Zealand double the amount is charged. Coal is carried in the former colony the same distance for 5s 3d per ton ; in the latter colony 9s 4d for foreign and 7s 8d for local coal. Milk is carried in New South Wales, under 300 gallons, at Id a gallon ; above it, |d ; but in New Zealand it is per gallon all round. In New South Wales flour is carried fifty miles for 5s 8d per ton ; in Victoria, 7s 3d ; in Queensland, 8s 4d ; in South Australia, 10s od ; in New Zealand, 12s lOd. The price in New South Wales for all agricultural produce is 5s 8d for fifty miles. In New Zealand it is, as above stated, 12s lOd.— Dunedin “ Star,”

The Tararua gold robbery has not been forgotten. The last issue of the “ Gazette” contains a proclamation offering £IOOO reward for such information as will lead to the conviction of the offender and the recovery of the property. This is in place of the reward of £SOO previously offered by the Union Company. What interest has the Government in the missing parcel when they offer such a large reward for it? Families have been murdered in cold blood yet no such reward has ever been offered for the detection of the murderer. The Government must be growing liberal with the State revenue.

A curious story is related by the “ Eangitikei Ad vocate.”An individual,whom it calls M‘Full, had been imbibing rather copiously, and was going home in a dray in company with a bottle of whisky and several other friends. In the course of the journey, M'Full must have fallen out from the tail end of the dray, where he was sitting in company with the whisky bottle, for after the friends bad gotabout five miles from the township they became aware that he -was missing. They pulled up, proceeded to make a search, and found him about half-a-mile in the rear. They brought him along to whore the horse was standing, and, inspired by bold “John Barleycorn,” he began to punch the horse’s head. The animal, not liking this unprovked assault, “ went for him,” and, striking him with his fore foot over the left eye, rushing right over him, and bolted at the top of his speed. The unfortunate man was picked up senseless, and his companions had to go back to the township from which they had started fora conveyance in which to carry him home.

Nominations for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechases must be sent in to the Secretary, Mr G, F. Clulee, Timaru, on or before Friday, April 22 at 8 p.m. Weights will be declared on May 2. Acceptances, with sweepstakes, to be sent to the Secretary on or before May 16. It will be seen from our advertising columns that the service of song entitled “ Uncle Tom ” will, by request, be repeated by the Trinity Church Choir, on Friday evening of this week, in the Oddfellow’s Hall, Barnard Street. As this was very much appreciated on the former occasion, no doubt it will be on this also. Lovewell, Wing and Company’s iron photographs have created quite a sensation. During the holidays the studio of the firm near the Railway Station has been besieged. The photographs excite admiration because of their clearness of outline, fidelity to nature, and general beauty. Another great advantage is that they are produced at a few moments notice and at a merely nominal cost, the price ranging from about a penny upwards. The imperishable gems mark quite a new era in the art of portrait taking. Mr T. G. Rowley, notifies, that the Davis Vortical Feed sewing machine, can be seen at anytime working at his establishment. These machines carried off the only first prizes at the Melbourne and Sydney Exhibitions. Their success since their introduction into Timaru has been simply unprecedented and they now hold a foremost place in the estimation of the ladies. As an illustration of the wonderful adaptability of the Davis, we may mention that it will without altering the tension, stitch sheets of lead together or hem the finest cambric handkerchief.

Mrs Holder, a lady preacher who ha 3 recently arrived in the'colony from England, will conduct three services at the Primitive Methodist church on Sunday. On Monday evening she will deliver a lecture on “ Home, the Palace and the Go' i.'-vgo/' On the afternoon of Tuesday, a so':- . r wide? left from the late church b.i-suar. v. i’i h- h-ld, and in the evening a t«a mcci.oi./ v,,‘i I'u;.- place in the Oddfellows’ Bali, ikuuard saoet. The collection o)i (Sunday v.ni be o om u f r|r-;r Church Gir'-.mi Fund, Mrs ; 5. .'o be.;- cconpiod th-j pulphs a; Ohristchim.;. p., ; <;,. r aUiMic. and i..cuurd at icMiuka and -■ i; large asu'-mMages. hire in repr<> •. ; be afiuent and iepwvcaiv; --pi-ahcr, ■■oJ v,.have no doubt the noway of a !cc> ureas in pulpit and on platform will au vaci large audiences in Timaru. Special Announcement—New Wini'--Drapery—Wood and Smith beg to announce that they have opened a splendid assortment of Autumn and Winter Drapery, comprising an immense lot of Maids’, Ladies’, and Children’s Jackets and Ulsters, at exceptionally low prices. New Millinery. —Shepherd’s Buildings, Main South Eoad, Timaru,— [Adyx.l