NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2523, 22 April 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Rev Mr Ferguson, of Invercargill, is reported to have said at a meeting of his congregration that there were several families in that town actually starving. The diver was down this morning for the Harbor Board as a preliminary step to the fixing of extra moorings at the Breakwater. This looks healthy. Referring to the announced retirement of Mr W. A. Murray after the ensuing season, the “Bruce Standard” inquires “ shall we be able to find a member to fill his place who will talk as much, and accomplish so little ? We hope not.” New Zealand a few years ago made it penal in £SO to shoot a rabbit; now the pests have decreased the wool shipments of Southland by on.e-third, and runcarryiug capabilities from 25,000 to 8000. What can be achieved by a handful of people in a new country is perhaps nowhere shown more remarkably than in Australia, where a population of only two million people has a total export and import trade of over one bundled millions.

The Poverty Bay “ Standard” contains the following remarkable item “It is stated that a dwarf, measuring onlv two feet three inches in height, has arrived in Gisborne, and will exhibit himself in aid of the Roman Catholic Church funds. He is said to be a native of Bengal, and reputed to be very wealthy.

One would imagine that there was little inducement at the present time in this colony for sailors to run away from their ships, and yet, we are informed that two vessels, the Comadre and the Mercia, have been thus deserted by their crew#, who have taken French leave of them, while in the Timaru roadstead lately. The Comadre procured a fresh crew last week, and the Mercia was newly manned to-day. This state of things is suggestive of the old days in Victoria during the gold fever when the sailors ran away to go to the diggings as a matter of course. But now—well perhaps the runaways have been tempted by the accounts of the Waimatc diggings. Another instance of the biter being bitten occurred on the Christchurch racecourse on the second day of the late meeting. A man named John Dooley who appeared extremely anxious to get people to bet with him, was walking about the course, rather ostentatiously displaying a pocket book crammed with notes. Finding that no one appeared inclined to make their fortune by accepting his offers, Dooley returned the book to his pocket, and in less than a minute afterwards it was missing. The unhappy owner, nearly mad with vexation, reported his loss to police, but with no result. The queer part of the story has yet to come. In the pocket in which the book was placed was a pockethandkerchief as well, but, strange to say, this was found all right after the book w 7 as missed. The pocket-book contained £TB in notes, and a half sovereign. A volcanic eruption has taken place on White Island, resulting in the conversion of the flat which formerly existed on the far side of the hot lake into an active volcano. The new crater reaches from near the landing to Big Ben, the name of one of the blow holes on the island, which is also showing unusual activity. The changes on the left hand side of the island are greater than those on the right. The steam from the crater is visible for a considerable distance at sea.

The South Canterbury football season opens to-morrow, and the fact is an unmistakeable reminder that winter is with us once more. The match will take place in Woollcombe’s paddock and sides will be chosen from the following :—Messrs Buchanan, Bourne, J. and H. Bradbury, Chapman, Campbell, D’Emden, Bichbaum, W. and F. Fraser, Gordon, Grant, Hawkins, Hay lock, Hughes, Hendley, Jackson, Jones, P. and F, King, Lough, Luxford, Luson, Melton, Moorhousc, Mitchell, Mackay, Pigeon, Raymond, Shirtcliffe, Stevens j Turnbull, Wood, and Wilson. Members who want to play had better roll up by 2.30 p.m. How benches are packed. The Melbourne “ Daily Telegraph” draws attention to the fact that previous to the hearing of the Munro-Sergeant assault case at the City Court, and while the case was going on, there were seventeen magistrates upon the Bench, including the police magistrate, Mr Cali; but directly after the decision fourteen of the seventeen magistrates left the Bench, thus leaving only three, Messrs Call, Craven, and Hanna, to conduct the remaining cases, which were exceptionally heavy. At the R.M. Court this morning, before R. Bectham, Esq. R.M., Jane Smith, against whom there were several previous convictions, was fined lO shillings, with the usual alternative, for being drunk and disorderly. The captain and the carpenter of the ship Comadrc, appeared and relieved themselves by indulging in a mutual growl. The carpenter Stevens), accused the captain of using language the reverse of complimentary to him, and hinted that he didn’t care about taking the trip home with him ; and the captain returned the compliment by charging the carpenter with insolence and neglect of duty. His Worship explained that he could do nothing in the matter as no information had been laid on either side. The Court then rose. Later in the day the carpenter laid an information against the captain for saying that he would “ paint his face.” The case will be hoard to-morrow morning. A Maori was rather astonished by Professor Haselmayor the other day says the •‘Hawke’s Bay Herald.” The simple aboriginal hitched his horse up to one of the posts at the edge of the footpath, and the Professor immediately began to admire the animal, but, whilst feeling its points he somehow touched the saddle-llaps when shillings unaccountably fell into his outstretched palms. The native noticing the silver torrent, and thinking he had been defrauded of some bidden wealth he bad never been aware he possessed, rose to the occasion, and jumping around, let loose the girth and battered the saddle against the

post, but couldn’t raise even a jingle. Dismay was depicted on his bronzed and dark-complexioned face, and as he hurriedly rode away, he exclaimed 1 ' Taipo.” Mr I. N. Watt of Dunedin has descended from the sublime to the ridiculous. His latest appearance in the Dunedin Police Court has been in the capacity of a bereaved pup owner, A bitch belonging to Mr Watt had a litter and one of the pups were promised to a friend, but the latter instead of awaiting the present look the pup away. Mr Watt’s grievance was that the defendant took the wrong pup hut the Bench treated the complaint as doggrel and the case was dismissed.

A concert in aid of the school funds takes place at the Washdyke schoolroom this evening. The affair promises to be a great success.

Acceptances with sweep and general entries for the ensuing S.C.J.C. meeting ill be received by the Secretary, Mr E. cp. Kerr, up to and not later than 8 o’clock on Monday, April 25. The service of song, “ Uncle Tom,” will be repeated by the choir of the Trinity Presbyterian Church this evening. The pcformancc was very highly spoken of on its first production, and there will probably be a crowded attendance this evening, the repetition being by special request. The proceeds will be devoted to the Presbyterian Sunday School. Mr James Granger has 20 acres land for sale near Sutherland’s railway station, and has also 500 acres ploughing to lot on Hakateremca.

Mr Abraham, the well-known sweepist, announces a grand novelty consultation on the Birthday Handicap, Dunedin, and Grand National Steeplechase, Timaru. Both events will be run off on May 24 ; the holder of one or more tickets having an interest in both drawings. Tickets to be obtained in Timaru from Mr H. Friedlander, tobacconist, Main North road. The Saltwater Creek brickyard company is now prepared to supply bricks of a superior quality at reasonable rates. Orders may be left with Mr E. H. Tate, and at the Brunner coal company’s yards, Cain’s Terrace, where a stock of the bricks will be kept on hand.