NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2548, 21 May 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

We regret that an error crept into oar report of the opening remarks make by the Mayor, who presided at Mr Turnbull’s meeting. He was reported to have said that Mr Turnbull had “ obtained a grant of 32,000 acres which was alienated from the Crown far educational purposes, and over which Mr Turnbull had been made trustee.” What Captain Sutter really did say was;—“ That there were 32,000,000 acres of land unalienated from the Crown, over which they (the electors of Timaru) had appointed Mr Turnbull a trustee.” Rapid progress is being made with the wharf extension at the Break wa'er, over a hundred feet of new piles having now been sunk. The end blocks at the Breakwater were covered with anglers this morning, and several good takes of rock cod were made.

The Government have notified the Hamilton Borough Council that unless they took up the bridge debentures faster the Controller-General would levy a rate. The Council have agreed to spend £2OO in hand to liquidate a portion of their liability For the vacant clerkship in the Auck. land City Council there were 80 applications.

A boat, with three young men capsized near the entrance to the Auckland harbor on Thursday. All were good swimmers and reached the shore much exhausted, after having been about an hour in the water.

Mr John Smith’s Racing stud was offered for sale at Auckland yesterday, but withdrawn at the reserves. The highest bid for Xantippe wrs £SO, and for Tim WhifHer £l2O. The An ckland Stud Company offered £SOO for Maid of Honor. A cable message from Melbourne states that the Reform Bill is making very slow progress in the Assembly on account of the tactics of Mr Longmore and the Corner Party.

A case of breach of the Public Health Act came before the Resident Magistrate at the Thames yesterday morning through the defendant neglecting to report a case of scarlet fever fully to the local Board. The case was dismissed. Scarlet fever is very prevalent, and defective drainage is blamed.

At a meeting of the Cabinet yesterday evening the case of Dr Skae, inspector of Lunatic Asylums, was carefully considered. The evidence given by Dr Skae before the Commission and the Commissioners’ report and Dr Skae’s reply thereto were du’y considered, and the Gorrenment decided to give Dr Skae six months' notice of the termination of his engagement. By a telegram from Grey mouth we learn that the Rev. Father Mahoney has been for some days collecting subscriptions to* towards the re-erection of St. Mary’s Homan Catholic Church at Nelson, which was recently gutted by fire, and nearly all that was valuable within it destroyed. He has betn very successful in the work he has undertaken. At the Root and Grain Show held at Balclutha yesterday, a sample of wheat grown by Dyson Brothers, weighing 70£ lbs to the bushel, took champion prize. The prize sample of oats went 491bsto the bushel. First class canary seed was shown, grown in the district. Amongst other town property sales announced at Dunedin, is one by the “ Daily Times and Witness” Company of their former premises, near the Railway Station, to the Union Shipping Company for £10,550 cash. It is stated that a detective has been placed in the Melbourne Civil Service refreshment room, to watch the “ alcoholic tendencies” of the clerks employed. If the Doer accounts are to be relied upon their losses are not much more than 100 men, while those of Her Majesty’s army (killed, wounded, and prisoners included) cannot be much less than ten times that number.

The " New York Times ” says that over 4.000. is invested in peach orchards along the Hudson, and next season 5.000. frees will bo in bearing. It is expected that this season’s crop will be light. It is stated that as Mr John Sheehan does not stand a chance of re-election for the Thames, he will oiler himself as a candidate for the representation of Napier. The “ Times ” is said to have paid a thousand pounds for the privilege of giving its readers one or two specimen chapters of Endymion before its publication. Sydney papers comment on the recurrence of fires in Auckland, ard significantly remark, “ bad times still.” Two red deer, costing £2OO, arrived at Melbourne recently to the order of Sir Samuel Wilson. A bush fire at Tahoraite, Hawke’s Bay burning for a fortnight, has destroyed at least £SOOO worth of totara trees belonging to the Maoris.

There was a clean sheet at the R.M. Court to-day.

Referring to the will of the late Sir William Martin the “ Guardian ” says Sir W. Martin having given his widow a life interest in his entire estate (£1000), directs that at her death £IOOO shall be divided among four n eccs whom he names, and the remainder of the estate shall be realised and the proecds paid to the Bishop of Auckland, for the Native Pastorate Fund for endowment purposes.

Victoria statistics prepared from the census returns, show that the area of land devoted to wheat crop has increased 220,000 acres since last censr.s. The yield has, however decreased during the same period by 205,000 bushels.

The detached squadron arrived off Cape Otway yesterday. The Princes Albert Victor and George of Wales will probably come on from Albany by the next Peninsular and Oriental Company’s steamer instead of waiting until the repairs to the Bacchante are finished.

Bismarck is still grappling with the Socialists. A Berlin telegram of lApril 2 says:—“ In the Reichstag to day, during a discussion on Bismarck’s schemes for the compulsory insurance of workmen against accident, Herr Richter vehemently attacked the Bill, which he said was merely a set-off against the anti-Socialist law. He warned the Reichstag against the dictatorial proceedings of Bismarck, whoso prestige, ho declared, was fortunately o& the wane. Bismarck replied that the Bill was not a Socialist measure, but one furthering practical Christianity, and it should be judged on its merits, and not with the watch-ery, '* Away with Bismarck.” The Wellington correspondent of the " Lyttelton Times” states:—Should Mr Richmond be elected it is more than probable that ho will shortly find a seat in the Cabinet. It has been denied that some time ago he was sounded as to whether he would accept a seat in the Upper House, and the native portfolio made vacant by Mr Bryce’s resignation. The denial is probably right so far as any direct offer is concerned, but there is no doubt he was " sounded.” As a matter of fact, I know that the question was discussed by the Cabinet, and the idea abandoned solely on the ground that it was inadvisable to introduce any more of the Taranaki element into the Ministry,

There is now on view at the premise ß lately occupied by Mr Turnbull, adjoining the Theatre Royal, one of the smallest dwarfs it has been our lot to interview This little gentleman is Baron Puck, a native of Wellington, ten years of age, 17 lbs in weight, and 2ft 2in in height. He Is very well made,and exceedingly intelligent. He apppers in full evening dre*s a -d a large man might put him in his overcoat pocket* and walk away with him with the greatest ease. The Baron’s levees were largely attended in Dunedin, many of the medical men taking the opportunity of makmghis acquaintance.