NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2614, 6 August 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

In another column will be found a full repo; fc of the preliminary meeting held last evening to consider the establishment in Timaru of an important local industry —a cloth and woollen factory.

The Timaru Mechanic's Institute Bill was read a first time in the Legislative Council; esterday. The report of the anniversary meeting, held last night, of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society is unavoidably held over till Monday. Herr Bandmann, who will b“ supported by Miss Louise Beaduet and Messrs Hall and Cathcart, together with the other wellknown members of his talented, company, commences a farewell season at the Theatre Royal on Monday evening. The opening performance will comprise the famous tragedy of “ Bichelieu,” and there will be a change of programme every evening. In accordance with a resolution passed by the Timaru School Committee on Monday evening, that in the event of the attendance at the main and side schools not improving during the week those schools should be closed for throe weeks, they were closed yesterday, the attendance not having increased owing to the sickness prevalent. Mr Cary’s company appeared for the last time at the Theatre Eoyal yesterday evening, when “ H.M.S. Pinafore” and the first act of “ Pirates of Penzance,” made a most attractive bill, with which the crowded audience appeared to be much pleased, encores being frequent and hearty. The company has been so well supported here, that Mr Cary promises to pay ns another visit on his way back from Dunedin, when probably he will put before us, thhighly successful comic opera "Les Cloches de Corneville.”

One of the novelties patented for Mackay’s new theatre in New York, is, it is said, a seat which disappears when the audience rises, leaving the entire floor of the auditorium clear. A local contemporary says the legislature will probably oblige all theatres to adopt this patent seat, ■which will remove all danger from panics and crowding.

We-leitnHhat at the 1.0;G.T., converzione advertised to take place at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Barnard street, on Monday, the 15th inst., the Grand Worthy Secretary of the Ordes William Price, Esq. of Wellington, will officiate as Chairman, and will be supported by the local clergy and other friends. The Committee has been exceedingly successful in procuring a large portion of the best local'talent, which will be seen in the programme to be published next week. It is expected that a special session. of. the Grand Lodge will take place during the visit of the executive officer. If so, it will probably be the first one under the English Order of Good Templars in this Island;

Mr Chief Justice Way. of Adelaide, has sentenced an insolvent named Donald M‘Askell, a farmer, to twelve months’ im. prisonment for fraudulent preference, and given him a second-class certificate, suspending him for eighteen months. He had gone insolvent to spite a creditor, who had Issued a writ against him, and distributed his assets to his other creditors before adjudication in insolvency. A letter has been received in town (says the “ Lyttelton Times”) from which we learn that the well-known comedian, Mr Hoskins, is for the third time about to enter the matrimonial estate, the bride elect being a Melbourne lady still in her ’teens,