NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2537, 9 May 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY .

An adjourned meeting of the Timaru School Committee will be held to-morrow evening, at the usual time and place. The Lydia Howarde troupe, comprising an host of favorite artistes, open to-morrow at the Theatre Royal for a short season.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council takes place this evening, at the usual hour.

The members of the Caledonian Lodge of Freemasons are notified that the regular monthly meeting will be held to-morrow at eight p.m. The business will consist of passing candidates, election of officers and auditors, and other important matters for consideration. A full attendance is requested. A well finished canoe has just been built by Mr P. Bradley of this town, and may be seen lying inside the Breakwater. This is the first boat of the kind, yet introduced here, and people have not been wanting of course, to predict all sorts of terrible things for those who may use it. But no one need have any fear of getting aboard this little craft; she has been specially constructed to ride on salt water. She is 13 feet in length, and 2ft. 10 in. in the beam—an unusual breadth—and has been built with water-tight compartments, so, that even in the event of a spill, the paddler could not come to much harm, Yesterday afternoon Messrs Bradley and McLaren, showed the capabilities of the new boat taking her in turn out in the rough water, and making her travel in first-rate style. The trial was witnessed by crowds of people from the Breakwater.

On Saturday night last a hot pieman took up his position at Messrs Coy and Drummond’s corner, and appeared to do a fa’r 1 usiness. The caterer for passing pedestrians is the well-known T. Mewis. who intends to continue his new avocation nightly throughout the winter, Mr Geo McLean, M.H.R., addressed his constituents at Waikouaiti on Saturday and received a vote of confidence.

The date of the meeting of Parliament for despatch of business has now been definitely fixed for Thursday, Junq 9. The rabbit pest is making its appearance on the Taieri Plains, and complaints have been made of the destruction caused to crops by bunny. Says the “ Taranaki Herald ”“ The Cape Egmontcamp must be a very lively one. There are about thirty-five men stationed there, and we learn on good authority that over £2OO has been taken in cash at the canteen during the last month, besides a considerable amount of book debts has been contracted.

The following cablegram has been re* ceived from the Merchant Shipping and underwriters’ Association :—London, May 5. Arrived—Wanganui, ship from Auckland—left January 18th A telegram, dated London May 5, states that Mr Parnell has given notice in the House of Commons of a motion for the rejection of the Irish Land Bill in both Houses of Parliament.

It is telegraphed from Napier tint there is some speculation in Southern Cross Petroleum Company’s shares, owing to a discoyery on the Company’s claim of a thick vein of a peculiar substance which the local chemist states contains 50 per cent of pure paraffin, as taken from the shaft, and is said to be worth £lO per ton. It is in enormous quantity. Mr Mulligan, the explorer, and one of the discoverers of the Hodgkinson goldfield has undertaken, under subsidy by the Queensland Government, afresh expedition of discovery in a north-westerly direction, with the intention of terminating it at Cape York. The Palmerston “Times" says:—“An instance of a very prolific yield of wheat grown by Mr M. C. Orbell, Matanake, has been brought under our notice—being no less than 72 bushels from one acre. The wheat is what is called 1 Pedigree,’ and was purchased at Home by Mr Orbell.

The Dunedin “ Times ” correspo dent telegraphs from Wyndhsm on Saturday : Thirteen more bodies have been recovered. Four have been identified, viz., John Scoone, Alexander Rae, W. White, Robert Shaw, and Russel Marsh. One is the body of a man about 50 years of age, sft, high, stout build, light beard, mixed with grey, heavy boots, with heel and toe plates, dark coat, light-colored trousers, had on a miner’s chamois bag. Ten bodies have been interred in the Fortrose cemetery. A number of bodies are now coming ashore. It has been determined to bury them within an enclosure on an acre of land near the scene of the disaster.

The “ Reefton Herald” states that Courtney’s express arrived from the Lyell, bringing oOOoz of gold, being the result of a crushing of 70 tons of stone from the Maruia Company. This mine is owned by four men.

By cable we learn that on Thursday last motions were passed in the House of Commons conveying a vote of thanks to the officers and men of the British army who were engaged in Afghanistan and the Transvaal for their gallant conduct during the campaigns in those countries.

It is said that a steel ship can carry onefifih more weight than an iron ship of the same dim ns’ons, providing that the freight is of a character to admit the difference in loafing. It is unged against steel ships that salt water will work on the material with more corroding effect than upon iron. But this is not yet established as a fact.

Mr. R. E. House, one of the original telegraphers of the Morse time 30 years ago, has, it is said, perfected a telegraphic machine by means of which from 250 to 300 words a minute can be fra emitted, received, and permently recorded, and which is automatic in its action.

Messrs Ford and Newton sold by auction the High Peaks Station, on account of the executors of SirCracroft Wilson, at Christchurch, on Saturday. The estate which is situated in the Malvern district, contains 1643 acres freehold, 7700 acres leasehold, 7500 sheep, house and improvements. The purchaser was Mr Duncan Rutherford of Leslie Hills, the price being £B4OO. Owing to the sensational stories circulated about the alarming increase of Chinese immigration to New Zealand, the Government have had a return prepared showing the arrivals and departures of & 4 Chinese in and from this colony during the last two years. From this it appears thav in 1879 329 Chinese arrived in New Zealand, and 396 departed, a decrease of 67. In 1880 296 arrived and SB6 left, being a further decrease of 90. The The present year, however, is believed to be likely to reverse this order of things, the tide of Chinese immigration apparently having again set in toward New Zealand. On this head, however, no reliable information is forthcoming as yet.

Special Announcement.—New Winter 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.— [Advt.]