NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2540, 12 May 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

As an k'Stanceof journalistic enterprise, wo may mention that the Melbourne “ Argus ” telegraphed to New Zealand for full telegraphic details concerning the wreck of the steamer Tararua. The it Argus ” received some 3000 words, which cost it in round figures about £l5O,

The North Phoenix Company at Gympie has distributed £17,000 in dividends in six weeks.

The Chinese-American treaties recently made are pooh-poohed by the Hons Kong local Press and American residents.

The population of the electoral district of Waitaki is 18,348, made up of 7319 males and 6029 females. At the census in 1878 it was 11,595.

The Victorian Government are blasting the Lightning Hock, at Port Philip Heads, to give a 30 feet clear entrance to the bay. Steps are being taken for the establishment of a woollen factory at Masterton, Wairarapa. Mr W. fl. Rennal, the Mayor of the town, has, it is stated, promised to subscribe £SOO.

It is singular that two of the fiercest partisans of Ireland for the Irish are of the fair sex—Miss Fanny Parnell, who writes lyrics, and the Nun of Kenmare. who indulges in polemical pamphlets on the same subject. A new serial story will be commenced in the supplement to this journal on the 21st inst. The author is Mr Sylvanus Cobb, The title of the story will be “ The Ferryman's Secret,” The weather has been tolerably warm in Christchurch this week for the season of the year, At half-past one o'clock Tuesday afternoon the thermometer registered 68£ degrees in the shade. The head of the Good Templar movement in this colony has issued a circular to the various lodges, calling on them to see that every member is placed on the electoral roll, in view of expected legislation auent the liquor traffic.

The Government have offered £SO a year to a doctor to attend the Maoris at Kaiapoi, he finding the medicine. The cost of the latter alone amounts to more than the salary. The result of the police inspection of manufactories in Auckland was that not a single one complied with the provisions of the Employment of Females Act. The employers have been allowed a fortnight’s grace.

A public meeting was held at Westport on Monday evening at which it was re* solved to urge the Government to proceed with the works for the improvemegt of the harbor, such works being of great importance to the whole colony as well as to the district.

Mr Wales, who visited the meat freezing works in Victoria and New South Wale#, informed a meeting held yesterday afternoon in Dunedin, to establish such an industry, that the total cost of the undertaking would be between £6OOO and £7OOO. Some alarm has been caused at Natal by a reported rising amongt he Zulus, There was, it appears, some agitation among the tribes in one district, but the disturbance?, which were not of a serious character, were promptly suppressed without difficulty. Amongst the farmers of England a strong feeling is prevalent as to the hopelessness of competing in the growth of cereals against importation from the United States. 1 1 Norfolk agitation has been set on foot for the purpose of urging Parliament to impose a small duty on imported wheat in order to equalise prices and enable English farmers to produce at a profit. The movement meets with much support from the farming community. The " Southland News ” has been requested to publish the following intelligence from Spiritland:—“ The spirit of the late John Tyerman, controlling at the ‘South Star Circle’ on Sunday, May 8, wished us to publicly thank all those kind friends who so nobly contribute to the relief of his wife and fatherless children. He also wished ns to say that * Those that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord.’— T. Boxall.”

A correspondent of a contemporary writes Amongst the rumors that are flying about is that several members of the Legislative Council have been sounded as to how far they would support a Bill to repeal the Triennial Parliaments Act; but if what I heat is correct, those who would favour this step have not met with much encouragement from *' our Lords.” If such a measure could be passed, the effect would be to prolong the existence of this Parliament for two years more. Can it be that Ministers see in such a desperate move the only means of averting the ** dreadful looking for of judgment ” which a rapidly approaching general election must to them be suggestive of ? Mr Oliphant, an old friend of both the Carlyles, has an article in the current number of “ Macmillan's Magazine” on the “ Reminiscences, ” which attracts much attention. She maintains that Carlyle never intended their publication, as proved by Froude’s admissions, that Carlyle forgot all about the sketch of Edward Irving. Mrs Oliphant insinuates that he neglected his wife, and had some occasion for remorse on her death. She was left out of all his invitations to grand houses, and she used to make bitter remarks thereupon. She spoke of his “ Frederick the Great” as the “ Valley of the Shadow of Frederick,” and looked upon his weakness with a sort of affectionate contempt. lam informed that Carlyle died worth £40,000. The Wellington correspondent of the “ Lyttelton Times ” thus discoursesOf all colonial capitals Wellington is—during the recess—perhaps the most uninteresting of any. But for the special correspondent it possesses one inestimable advantage. It is a matter of certainty that sooner or later the match boxes dignified by the term “ buildings,” forming the principal portion of the town, will be destroyed by fire, and it is always on the cards that an earthquake may bring them down with a run. To the aforesaid “ special,” therefore, the ringing of a fire-bell in Wellington has more interest than it would have in substantially built centres of population, and a “shake” is instantly suggestive of (possible) columns of description. These probabilities tend to make life tolerable in the Empire City. But when —as actually occurred on Saturday at 4 a.m.—the violent ring of the fire-bell is immediately followed by a decided tremor of the ground, it is altogether “ too much joy.” Speaking, of course, professionally, it is unfortunate that both events did not come off simultaneously. Such chances do not happen more than once in a lifetime.

A single case of drunkenness was the only business at the Resident Magistrates Court this morning.

The prosecution at Auckland of the sailors of the ship Oxford, for broaching cargo, cost Captain Braddock £2OO. The nautical enquiry into the loss of the Tararua was continued yesterday, when the chief officers evidence was concluded. Nothing fresh of any importance was elicited. The second officer was also examined. The statements of both differed little from the information they had already given the press, and which has been published. Mr Saunders, M.H.R., for the Cheviot, addressed a full meeting of the electors in the Waikari schoolroom last night. Mr N. C. Wade was voted to the chair. At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks and confidence was proposed by Mr R. Fraser, seconded by Mr Jas. Lance, and carried unanimously.

A very interesting scientific work f the most important of its kind yet attempted in the kingdom, has just been completed. It is the great refracting telescope, constructed by Mr Grubb, of Rathmines, Dublin, for the Austro-Hun-garian Government, and it is to be placed in the observatory at Vienna. A commission appointed by the Government to examine the work have ransmitted to the AustroHungarian Embassy in London a report expressing their full approval of the manner in which the task has been completed, It is a matter of no little pride to Ireland that she has produced the 1 rgest refracting as well as the largest reflecting telescope in the world.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday, Ellen Frost, Mary O’Kane and Ellen Noland, appeared on remand on the information of the Superintendent Whitelaw, charging them with having, on Feb. 10, ill-treated a general patient in the Asylum. The information was laid just previous to the appointment of the recent Eoyal Commission, but was adjourned to enable the Commissioners to send in their report. After hearing the charge, the Bench said they were of opinion there was not sufficient evidence of illtreatment of the patient, and the accused were discharged. The proprietor of the Sydney “ Bulletin” is again in trouble. A cablegram from Sydney, dated May 11, states that the lessee of the Clontarf Pleasure Grounds, in Middle Harbor, has brought an action for libel against the proprietors of the Sydney "Bulletin” on account of a paragraph which appeared some time ago in that paper. The trial commenced on Thursday last and will be continued daily, but it is unlikely that the case will be concluded this week. The action is attracting great attention, and the Court has been crowded daily.

A Melbourne paper records that during the recent Volunteer encampment at Portsea, a gallant captain was so affected by the heat of the sun that he became troubled with the staggers in his legs. The medical officer, after feeling his pulse, ordered perfect rest for the over-burdened soldier. Best was obtained on the Golden Crown on her upward trip to Melbourne, The influence of the voyage was not so beneficial as was expected, and it is expected that there will be one combatant less next field day. _____

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 Road, Timaru.—[Advt.l