NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2720, 7 December 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The inward mail, via Suez, arrived by the express train from the South yesterday.

A movement is on foot at Makikihi for starting a contingent of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry.

The Rose Show held at Christchurch yesterday was a good one, as regards the flowers shown, but the attendance was not large, the weather being unfavorable.

A cable message, informs us that an extensive conflagration in Boston has caused the destruction of property to the value of half a million of dollars.

The Australian clipper Dundee, while proceeding down the Thames, ran down a yacht off Gravesend, causing her to sink. Seven occupants of the yacht were drowned. Mr J. T. Partridge addressed the electors of Timaru at the Oddfellow’s Hall, Barnard street, last night, His speech contained nothing new. At the conclusion Mr Partridge received a vote of thanks,

The olive truncheons under the care of the Curator of the Domain at Christchurch are now making good progress, and the white mulberry trees planted in connection with the. silkworm industry are showing well.

The programme of a musical entertainment to be given in the Wesleyan Church Bank street on Thursday evening appears in our advertising colmus. From the names of those who are announced to take part in it an enjoyable evening may be confidently anticipated. It is reported in Christchurch that judgment has been given in the Court of Appeal, in the totalisator case, in favor of defendants. The Press Association, howeyeri has not advised us of the fact,

A private company have started a patent chicken incubator by the hot water process at Glendermid, Otago. The thing promises to be a great success, amd it is claimed that 40 per cent more chickens can be reared successfully than by hens. A machine is now being constructed to fatten the birds for market as is now being done in America and France. The “ Clutha Leader ” states that wild ducks seems to be getting very tame in certain quarters. On Friday last, when a number of gentlemen were passing up the main street of Stirling, a wild duck, followed by a brood of nine ducklings, deliberately walked across the street beside them. This tameness would appear to have been taken advantage of elsewhere. It is stated that an eel was recently caught in a creek at Akaroa and on opening it a young duck was found inside. A boat accident occurred at the Bay of Islands on Monday. The occupant was a man named H, Either, who was saved by a whaleboat that happened to pass some time after the capsize, Either having held on to the bottom of the boat.

The mail steamer' from Auckland on Dec 5 took 7752 ounces of gold.

A slight difference has arisen between Boyd and Hanlan with regard to the locality of their sculling contest for the Championship. Hanlan insists on rowing on the Thames, and Boyd on the Tyne.

It appears that Government are not yet satisfied with the position - of Native affairs. Fifty members of the Armed Constabulary will be sent from Wellington to Opunake, enroutc for Parihaka, on Friday, to strengthen the force stationed there.

The consecration and dedication of a new Freemasons’ Hall Auckland took place yesterday, in the presence of a large gathering of Masons. The D.G. Master Bro G. S. Graham and Bro the Hon F. Whitaker took part in the ceremony. The Dunedin Harbor Board have received advices of the detention of their dredge at Malta through a breakdown in the machinery. The repairs there will occupy ten days or a fortnight. The dredge is expected to arrive in the middle of January.

Mr Mellish, R.M, at Chrstchurcb, believes in the “ Cat.” A lad of 14 was convicted before him on Monday of stealing a couple of walking sticks. Mr Mellish sentenced him to 48 hours imprisonment and 18 lashes with a cat-o’-nine-tails. This certainly looks rather too severe a punishment for such an offence.

At Dunedin a man named George Schieb was found dead in bed last night. He lived alone, and had been ailing for some time.