NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2696, 9 November 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mr C. Patton will offer an extended programme of dances this evening at the old Oddfellows’ Hall, to commence at nine o’clock.

The Secretary to the Artillery Band gives notice of a temporary discontinuance of their Saturday evening promenade concerts, The steam launch Lillie Denham will leave the wharf at 10.30 to-morrow morning on a fishing excursion, returning from the fishing ground at 3 p.m.

The Proclamation dissolving Parliament was signed by the Government at three yesterday afternoon. The Premier leaves Wellington for the South on Friday, and as Mr Eolleston is leaving “ the front,” probably he will come down too.

Another case of scarlet fever has occurred at Wellington College. The school has been broken up, and the boarders sent home till the building is thoroughly disinfected.

A twelve-roomed house, occupied by a Mr Stone, in Symonds street, Auckland, was burned down on Monday night. The occupants escaped by jumping out of the windows. The house and furniture were insund for £IOOO, in the Colonial and Standard offices.

During the sitting of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday, His Honor Judge Gillies commented more than once on the apparent eagerness of the police to convict prisoners of crime. He said the object of the police should bo to obtain justice and not conviction. Mr Robert Stout went up by the Express yesterday on his way to Wellington, to attend the Court of Appeal there. As he is a strong Maori sympathiser, Te Whiti and Tohu had better give him a retainer for their defence while he is up there. The insurances on the barque Craig Ard, which came into collision with the steamer Grimsby and sank, were £IOOO in the Union Company of New Zealand, and £BOOO in the British and Foreign Company.

An act of sacrilege was committed at the Roman Catholic Church, Rangiora, last Saturday. It appears that some person or persons entered the church and broke open the alms box and stole the contents, which amounted to a considerable sum. Other articles were taken from the church at the Same time.

A most unpleasant diversion occurred just before the band struck up for the start to the Athletic Sports this morning. Two of the large mastiffs well-known about town, Messrs Green’s and Hibbard’s, quarrelled about something and inconsiderately went into Mrs Percival’s millinery and fancy goods shop to “ have it out.” The gigantic brutes fought fiercely and frightened the occupants of the premises almost out of their wits. The dogs rolled about the place, capsizing tables, chairs, and show cases, making a terrible mess, the floor being strewn with articles of all kinds. It was some time before the brutes could bp got out, for it was no joke to run the risk of being mistaken by one or other of them for his antagonist. They were at length got out and sent howling down the street.

A sale of imported pure-bred Shorthorns was held yesterday by Messrs B’ord and Co. at Christchurch, Cows and heifers were sold at from 10 to 30 guineas. The imported bull Skobeloff was withdrawn at 45 guineas. These are not very high figures. There is great excitement in the sharemarket at Eeefton, owing to recent finds of good stone. It is estimated that the local mining stock has been increased in nominal value by £190,000 within a fortnight. Some speculators have made immense sums. Shares of the Kecp-it-Dark Company gone up from 19s to 40s 6d,and of the Golden Point, in whose ground the last find was made, from 3s 3d to 15s. The United Alpine Company for five and a-half days, obtained 2440zs retorted gold from 180 tons of quartz, and during the month 4310zs from 957 tons of stone. The Welcome Company’s return for five days is 1004ozs of amalgam.

John Dupree, a Dunedin policeman, was committed yesterday to take his trial for stealing fowls and ducks. He had been specially detailed to watch for the thief or thieves [who had previously stolen fowls from the same person, but his watch proved ineffectual. The owner traced the fowls stolen by the policeman to his house by the drops of blood that escaped from the birds as he carried them home after wringing their necks.

At the meeting of the Levels Road Board yesterday, present—Mr Moody (chairman), and Messrs Mee, Frew, and Macintosh, a letter was read from the Mount Peel Road Board asking the Levels Road Board to share the expense of building a bridge over the river Opihi, near the Gorge. The Board was compelled to decline rendering assistance, owing to lack of funds. A resolution was passed that all surface men in their employ be paid 6s a day. Tenders for contracts were accepted as follows No. 15 : N. P. Bracefield, £75 : No. 16 : Hughes and Rogers, £3l 10s : No. 17 : T. Tozer, £3O ; No. 18 : Hughes and Eogms, £35 ss. An application to have the road by Mr J. W. White’s metalled was referred to the Overseer to report upon. Accounts amounting to £402 were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned to Dec. 15. The following Press Association message was wiicd from Christchurch to the morning papers:—The entries for the Metropolitan Show this year number 1298. To-day was given up solely to judging certain classes and there was only a sprinkling of visitors. The medals awarded so far arc:—Best merino ram—Hon. R. Campbell; do ewe— Hon R. Campbell. Leicester ram—Mr P. C. Threlkeld : ewe —do. Border Leicester ram—Mr W. Boag ; ewe—N.Z. and A. Land Company. Lincoln ram—Mr G. G. Russell; ewe—Hon M. Holmes. Romney Marsh, ram and ewe—Mr J. Reid both. Cotswold, ram and ewe—Messrs Ford and Newton both. Southdown ram— Mr S. Garforth ; ewe—Messrs Wilkin and Carter. Best ram,Jany other Down breed — Mr Grigg ; best ewe —do. Champion Gold Medal, Draught entire—Mr McKellar’s Prince Royal; do mare—Hon. M. Holmes, Nancy Brown.

We pride ourselves very often on living in an age of progress. We think of those who lived a generation before us as being wonderfully behind. Some of our public speakers revel in rhetoric about our national greatness, and point with adulation to our triumphs and achievements. But, whether our Ministers make mention of it in our next session of Parliament or not, it is a well-known fact, here in South Canterbury, that the best value for ready money in all lines of men’s and boys’ ready made clothing, men’s, women’s and children’s boots and shoes, is to be had at J. Strachan’s. (Advt.)