NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2583, 1 July 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Forty-four births, nine marriages, and fifteen deaths were registered for ths Timaru district during the month of June.

The Customs returns for *he month of June amounted to £1584 3s lOd, spirits heading the list with £505, and publicans’ licenses coming next with £402. Messrs Burnett, Chapman, Eichbaum, Hedley, King, Lough, Mackay, Pigeon, sen, Shepherd, Shirtcliffe, Smith and Wilson will play the rest of the Club to-morrow, at football. Play commences punctually at 3 o’clock.

A meeting was held at Wai-iti last night to consider the question of erecting a church there. Archdeacon Harper presided. It was moved by Mr Tosswill, seconded by Mr Fyfe, and carried—“ That a Committee be formed to consider the question of purchasing a site for a church at Wai-iti, and of obtaining the necessary funds for the purpose, to report to a meet ing to be held on Monday, July 18, at 7.30 p.m., the Committee to consist of Messrs Tosswill, Tasker, Lewis, Cork, and Walker.”

In the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon Mr Whitaker said Government were considering the question of altering the constitution of the Council, but had arrived at no final determination, and would not until the Financial Statement had been disposed of. The finances were taking all the Government’s time at present. The San “Francisco Post” says :—“ Tllustrative of the value of the New Zealand and Australian markets to American manufacturers, wc were informed by the general agent for the Dcering harvesters and twine binders, who arrived by the Zeaiandia, that he sold last season fifty odd machines in Sydney and Melbourne and one hundred and eighty-six in New Zealand. In his opinion, New Zealand takes hold of an American invention much quicker than Australia does.” The “ Arrow Observer ” remarks that the past session has been unfavorable to quartz-reefing, owing to the deficiency of a water supply. Nevertheless it says that some 3,100 ounces of gold have been extracted during that term from the Macetown stone. Mr M'Donald, manager for the Aurum Company, Upper Shotover, brought down a small cake of GOozs, the result of a crushing of miscellaneous stone. A cake of about 80oz also came down from the Phoenix claim Skippers, the greater portion of which the manager, Mr F, Evans, estimates was obtained from ten tons of stone, running about ooz to the ton.

The English spotting correspondent of the “ Leader” writes :—“ Of late sportsmen—perhaps for want of something better to do—have been pigeon-shooting mad. An American (Dr Carver), styling himself champion of the world, and an Englishman (Mr Scott), styling himself champion of England, have been shooting a series of matches for any amount of money aside, though I have many reasons to believe no cash was ever really staked. In reality, however, they are ‘ gate money’ affairs, and mediums of advertisements for a cheap daily London newspaper. As far as the ‘ champion’ character taken by each man is concerned, I may state that there arc several gentlemen, members of Burliugham and the Gun Clubs, who could beat either at trap hooting, did they care to oppose them. The Dunedin Licensed Victuallers Association has forwarded the following telegram to the Colonial Secretary at Wellington ;—We are authorised to direct your attention to the injustice likely to be ,donc by the operations of the following clauses in the Licensing Bill.—Clause 12—We object to Sir William Fox’s amendment, as as it is the worst form of local option, and would jeopardise the value of hotel propeaty, which has been increased so much of late years by the Government through the Licensing Commissioners. We also consider that the only people who would vote at such elections would be total abstainers.

Keast and McCarthy’s brewery business has been sold to Mill Bros. Dunedin, for £IB,OOO.

In another column will be found the result o£ theplebiscite on the Bible in schools question. Want of space prevents us dealing with the matter in our present issue.

A certain bankruptcy case is just now causing some commotion in Timarn, and promises tofurnish some legal complications of a lively kind. Some time since a wellknown tradesman found it necessary to file his schedule, and a trustee was duly appointed who worked hard for the creditors in collecting monies due to the estate. But owing to an informality in the whitewashing process, the debtor piesently discovered that he would have to file again, and, of course, a second trustee was apappointed. Now came the tug of war. Trustee No. 2 demanded from Trustee No. 1 all the money he had collected during his term of office, and this claim Trustee No. 1 held himself perfectly justified in resisting. The debtor was passive. The wrangling of the rival trustees amused him, but nothing more. And so the case is to be handed over to the gentlemen of the long robe, no fewer than five of whom, we understand, have been engaged by the different parties to unwind the tangled skein.

The Gastonia revenue for the six months ended yesterday at Dunedin was £207,884 6s 6d, against £182,929 19s 0d for the same period last year. The Hineraoa left Wellington yesterday afternoon for Lyttelton. She has several members of Parliament on board who are en route for the Dunedin Exhibition.

The number of publicans’ licenses taken out yesterday for Wellington City and country districts was 98, the fees for which amounted to £4200.

The Lyttelton Harbor Board are very much adverse to Mr Allwright’s proposal to rate the Board’s property, and intend communicating with Government on the subject. About a dozen of the Wellington unemployed were sent toPatea yesterday afternoon where employment has been found for them by Government.

Wednesday’s Dunedin “ Star ” contained the following .-—Some diversion was evidently expected in a portion of Princess street this forenoon. A youthful member of the Hunt Club had possession of the footpath ; and, as he was armed with a horsewhip, and appeared to be unusually excited, it got to be whispered about that he was waiting to inflict condign punishment on someone who had, he alleged > insulted him at last Saturday’s meeting of the Club. That person, whoever he was, thought discretion the better part of valor, and declined to exhibit himself, either for the amusement of those who had assembled or the satisfaction of the aforesaid young gentleman. Humor saith that the matter will, however, have a peaceful termination. A deputation of Wellington Licensed Victuallers waited on the City Members yesterday, urging them to endeavor to have the Licensing Bill thrown out. Messrs Hutchison and Levin replied that .while they agreed that several amendments were necessary, the Bill was a right one in principle, and if thrown out would be prejudicial to the interests of the public.

Mr W. Wadlow, fruiterer and confectioner, opposite Club Hotel, has an announcement in another column.

The Proprietor of the Hibernian Bakery announces bread and confectionery of the best.

Mr G, Bowker, land agent, announces a number of town and suburban sections for sale; also, money to lend on freehold security.

Mr W. Ferrier, photographer opposite Theatre Royal, has now a number of instantaneous photographic views of the town and neighborhood in stock, suitable for sending Home to give friends and relations some idea of what- Maori-land is like.

The third promenade concert by the members of the Timaru Artillery Band takes place to-morrow night at the old Artillery Hall, Le Cren’s Terrace, on which occasion Mr Snodgrass will also perform on the horizontal bar.