NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2644, 10 September 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Timarn Act Amendment Bill was read a second time in the Leg! Infivc Council yesterday. Great takes of herring have been made from the Breakwater lately. One fortunate individual innmgcd to hook len dozen yesterday.

There was a clean sheet again this morning, at the R.M. Court * c

The quarterly sitting of the Christchurch Supreme Court, which was to hare been been held on the first of next month, has been adjourned until October IS, in consequence, probably, of Judge Johnstone’s absence in Dunedin.

A large gathering of members ,of the Orange Institution assembled at the Waitohi last evening, a number leaving Timaru to attend. The visitors wore most hospitably entertained, the farmers turning out in force to form a guard of honor and escort to the District Master, Mr J, M. Shepherd, the horsemen accompanying the carriage to the ford bn the return journey. The moon being now about full and at the same time having a high south declination, while the sun is still north, the present Spring tides have a noticeably increased rise and fall. This morning, for instance, the boatways at the Landing Service were for a good while useless, standing high out of the water, so that the boats could not be worked from them. The full moon we are now having should be, we believe, the “harvest moon” for the northern Hemisphere, but being so high in our southern skies, it will not be of much use to the other half of the Globe.

Our readers will find in our advertising columns this evening the prospectus of the New Zealand Paper Mill Company, Temuka. The capital to be raised before any further steps are taken, £20,000, will cause a considerable drain upon the accumulated funds of the district,decreased as these have been by the severe demands of the past two years, but we do not doubt that the required sum will be raised with assistance from other districts. The shares being fixed at £1 will enable working men as well as the capitalists to invest their savings in the scheme, and as every now industry increases the demand for labor, the scheme should meet with their support. There can be no doubt that a paper mill, properly constructed, supplied with the best machinery, and well managed would pay very well in this country, and a better site, or rather choice of si'es, could scarcely be found anywhere than in the neighborhood of Temuka. The raid against the Sunday-trading publicans in Victoria continues unabated.

Nine births, one marriage, and two deaths were registered at the Geraldine office in August. Sir Arthur Gordon left Wellington yesterday for Auckland, en route for the Fijis. "

A large and handsorde lia.ll is to be erected in the centure of the city of Melbourne by the Masons of that community. The Church of England Synod in New South Wales has presented a petition to Parliament, prai ing for legislation to ameliorate the evils of the liquor traffic, An eminent writer is advocating the idea of canals for the purpose of inland communication in Australia, in preference to railways. Dr Hayes this week reported to the Temuka Local Board of Health that scarlatina and typhoid had made their appearance in the district.

Messrs Collett, Childs, and Hunt were elected members of the Waimate Borough Council on Thursday. There were four other candidates, The three retiring members, Messrs Gascoyne, Sellars, and Neilson, did not again present themselves.

The chiming apparatus of the Christchurch Cathedral bells was tried for the first time yesterday. This was the first occasion on which the sound of the bells has been heard, as the ringing practice has always been done with clappers muffled. .Much satisfaction was expressed at the sweet and melodious tones of the hells, and the time when they will be rung regularly is looked forward to with much pleasure.

At a meeting of insurance agents a list was made out of the sums paid for fire losses within the provincial district of Auckland for the year ended August 31, 1881. The amount iwns £14,800. Three offices’ losses were not included.

An accident occurred to the WcllingtonMasterton train on Thursday. When descending a deep gradient north of the Upper Hutt, a truck ran off the line, and was dragged a distance of 80yards. Fortunately the other carriages did not leave the metals. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is understood an enquiry will be held.

A Durango (Mexico) correspondent describes a terrible scorpion known as the alacran, which infests that region. Its sting is mortal in every case, and no remedy has ever been found to counteract its deadly poison. The spasms are so violent that it takes three or four strong men to hold a patient stung by it. Happily the suffering is short, for after two or three •hours it is all over.

The following obituary notice, from the " Tapanui Courier,” tells its own sorrowful story :—“ Death. —Waikaia.—In the House' of Assembly, this session, of Hallism and secret plotting, the Electoral District of Waikaia."

Thomas Collcrick, late telcgralrist at Whangaroa, Auckland, whom attempted suicide there by taking choral, and was sent to the Lunatic Asylum for a short time, was killed by the Waikato down train at 8.15 p.m, at the Ellerslie cattle crossing. He is presumed to have been awaiting the train, as his head was found on the train’s cow-catcher, which struck him and knocked the body down the embankment. His nose had been bleeding, as his pocket handkerchief was stained with blood. His wife and children are living at Auckland. At its last meeting the Hokitika School Committee passed the following resolution" That Messrs Jack and Rae be empowered to take such action as they may deem necessary in connection with the illegal proceedings of the Education Board."

Messrs Park and Anderson, the purchasers of Mr J. Strachan’s millinery busines-, bid well for public support. Their windows are very nicely dressed,and when lit up this evening should prove attractive to the many who perambulate the streets on the evening of tho last dj\y of the week, Their show of spring and summer hats is something to see. Their notice elsewhere gives the n raesof a great •variety of styics, from an " Uld _ Mother Hubbard ’’ to a "Spanish Prim css.”

During stocktaking and until Saturday, 17th inst, an allowance of three shillings will be returned to purchasers for every pound’s worth of goods bought at J. Strachan’s Clothing and Boot Establishment, — [ADVT.] H. Coxhead, photographer, has taken those premises lately occupied by the Americans, in George Street, near Railway Station, and having had extensive alterations, can now take photos instantaneously. A trial respectfully solicited. Photographic albums and views on sale, and can be seen in the window.— [Advt].