NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2616, 9 August 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

To night Herr Bandmann will open at the Theatre Royal with his Australian company of picked artistes, Miss Bcaudet, and also a number old Timaru favorites, amongst whom will be found Mrs Walter Hill and Mr Musgravc. “ Romeo and Juliit ” will form the attraction this evening, but there will be a change of programme nightly. Herr Bandmann received a .most enthusiastic reception on the occasion of his last appearance here, and many Timaru play-gocts will doubtless be glad to renew their acquaintance with so talented an artiste.

Timaru certainly cannot complain of any lack of amusement of late. Mr Cary having left us, to-night Herr Bandmann takes possession of the boards,' while on Monday evening, August 15, we arc promised a visit from Mr W. 11. Leake’s company. Mr Leake is a young comedian who has made some stir in Dunedin lately* where he has been appearing with great success in the capital comedy of “My Partner ” and also in the “ Galley Slave.” These pieces, together with other novelties, will be placed on the boards here and will doubtless prove attractive. At Dunedin yesterday, the case against W. G. Neil, for offering for sale spurious tea, was dismissed, as the defendant had no knowledge of It being adulterated.

was proved that it came to him from ft casual agent at Melbourne. The furious nor-wester on Sunday made itself particularly felt at 'the Rakapouka Bush, near Geraldine, where 30 trees, some of them 60 feet high, were torn up by the roots. One monater tree fell in dangerous proximity to the house of a settler named Dicrck, and the escape of the family is regarded in the district as providential.

It will be con by advertisement in another column Hint the first special session of the Grand Lo ! gc of New Zealand, 1.0.G.T. (Knglish Constitution), will be held at the Foresters’ Hall on Saturday evening, the 13th inst., commencing at 7 o’clock. The subordinate lodge will opyn punctually at 8 o’clock. Candidates for initiation and those desirous of being rc- : nsla!o 1, arc requested to be present punctually at that hour. The conversazione will take place at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Bernard street, on Monday evening, the loth, and as a large nnmb’er of tickets have been already sold, those i-esirous of being present at the enjoyable entertainment should secure tickets at once. A splendid programme B in course of preparation, and will be published on Saturday next.

Mr HSU stated yesterday that he hoped to move the second reading of the Redistribution of Seats Bill on Friday next. Mr Charles Bowker has forwarded to the Captain of the Titnaru Fire Brigade a letter enclosing a cheque for £5, for distribution amongst the members of the Brigade in recognition of their services, at the late tiro at the Cash Palace.

His Worship the Mayor has received a second telegram from Mr Turnbull, M.H.R. stating that the Minister of Public Works has accepted a lender for the Albury Railway Extention cont'act. The name of the successful tenderer has not been made known.

New Zeal; nd wheat occupies the first place in the estimation of English buyers. A reference to cable news will show that it is quoted at a sixpence higher (ex ship) than Adelaide (ox warehouse). This brings its market value up to something over a sixpence more than Adelaide, and there need be little difficulty in retainin'? tnis position if the grain is shipped in good order.

The first tramway in England worked entirely by steam power was formally opened at Blackburn in May last. It is four miles in length ; and connects the towns of Blackburn and Over Darwen The cars are drawn by engines made by Messrs Ritson and Co;, of Leeds, which work almost noiselessly and emit no smoke. Half of the tower of St John’s church, Chester, fell on May 1 *5. No lives were lost, nor was the main body of the church injured. The sides of the tower still standing will have come down, but the precarious foundation on which it stands will make the work of demolition most dangerous. The peal of eight bells still remain in the bclfrey. A good story comes ti us from America. A spiritualistic seance was being held, at which it was announced the spirit of Fully Shakespeare would passthrough the room. A sceptic took a handful of tacks, and very quietly sprinkled thorn on the floor. The solemn moment came—a ghostly form entered an 1 took a noiseless stride forward. There was a idight shiver In the white object, and a muttered noise was heard as a second st p followed not quite so’stately, and another mutterel ejactulation ; but at the third stride Shakespeare’s isembodied fo m sat plump down upon the floor, and swore like the British army in Flanders. — Tableau.

The Ru-sian Government, according to a telegram from Rome, has proposed to the Powers that at tempts against the lives of sovereigns .-lioiild ce i.se to be regarded ns political crimes, and their perpetrators be rendered liable to extradition,

On account of the Princess of Wales liding on the opposite ?ido of her horse to that which ladies usually do, there have been of late ,-everal imitators of the fashion seen in Lon do i. It is ea-der, though, to admire the loyalty than the common sense of the fair imitators.

A Mr W. Hardy, of Grantham, England, has just patented a safety case that will not only be found invaluable to ladies; but also to wholesale jewellers and others carrying valuable articles. By a simple arrangement, the box when properly set cannot be moved without settling in motion a powerful alarm, which ruiu for eleven minutes, and cannot be stopped except by the owner, With such a case there should be no excuse in future for undetected jewel robberies.

Mr Moorhouso, the Member for Ashley, and formerly Superintendent of Canterbury, is seriously indisposed. As a result of the inspection of the harbor and soundings taken on Saturday, the Dunedin Harbor Board Engineer now declares the Uawea and such steamers will be able to get all the way to Dunedin by February.

It is stated that Sir Arthur Goadon will leave for Fiji almost immediately after the prorogation of Parliament. H.M.S. Emerald will be here about Sept. 5 to convey His Excellency to Fiji and the Pacific Islands.