NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2743, 7 January 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

This evening we have the pleasure of presenting to our subscribers, as a supplement, a sheet-almanac for the current year, containing in plain figures the calendar, and a table showing the times of arrival at and, departure from Timaru and the colony of the San Francisco mails. In the event of any omission on the part of the runners to deliver the almanac, subscribers can obtain copies by applying at the office. A smart shock of eorthquake was felt at Christchurch yesterday morning at 6-30,

An Auckland publican named Merton has been committed for trial for receiving stolen goods.

•An indigent named Cook, 60 years of age, shot himself at Drury yesterday.

The directors of the Waimate Gorge Railway Company have decided to go on with the project, and will invite tenders for the first section shortly. Carter, of Sydney, beat White, of Auckland, in the sculling match at Mercury Bay regatta. White says it was the boat, not the man, that heat him. Carter will change boats and whip him again. Match made on that condition, £SO a side.

16,000 persons paid for admission to the Caledonian games at Dunedin in the three days on which they were held. 6000 more went in without paying—members and children.

At Lyttelton yesterday, W. H. Clarke was charged with smuggling four boxes of cigars from the ship Phasis. The Collector of Customs said he had not elected to sue for a full penalty, but simply for treble the value of the cigars, £l2, in which amount the accused was fined.

A big reaper and binder t ial is to be held near Christchurch about January 17th for which ten machines are entered. Wire and twine binders will compete, a gold medal being given to the beat in each class, and a certificate to the second best.

Mr Joseph Ivess has lodged a petition against the return of Mr Wason for the Wakanuiseat in Parliament on the following grounds 1. Aliens being allowed to vote. 2. Minors voting. 3. The refusal of a scrutiny by the Returning Officer. 1. The acceptance of unqualified voters on behalf of the successful candidate. 5. The disallowance of qualified voters in favor of the petitioner. 6. Irregular compilation of the roll.

. Mrs F, H. Digby (Miss Solange Navaro), is about to take to the stage once more. She has accepted an engagement with the Williamsons, in Dunedin, and was to make her first appearance there at the beginning of the week.

At the Supreme Court at Dunedin, yesterday, Ann Byron Schade, and Thomas Byron, her son, were charged with shooting' with intent at John Thomas Thornton. The facts of,the case were peculiar. Prosecutor worked on a (station near Cromwell, and on November 10, got his cheque and proceeded to the Mount Pisa Hotel, kept by the female prisoner. He remained drinking till midnight, was then pushed out of the house and endeavored to gain readmission, when Mrs Schade called to her son to lire with a gun at him through a panel of the door which he had broken. The son did so, and the shot entered Thornton’s leg. For the defence it was alleged that Thornton had made improper proposals to Mrs Schade, which led to his being turned out, and that he had attempted to enter her bedroom window. Alter retirement, the jury found the son guilty of shooting with intent, and the mother of aiding and abetting him. A sentence of two mouths’ hard labor was passed on each.

A meeting of the Timaru United Cricket Club was held yesterday afternoon to consider a letter received by the secretary, Mr Courtis, from Mr Conway, asking wha terms could be offered the English Eleven to play a one day’s match at Timaru, as the Englishmen would have a day to spare, according to their programme, between the Oamaru and Christchurch matches. It was resolved to offer the tourists the whole of the gate money, less fifty tickets’admitting to ground and stand.

The business of the Castlemaine blanket and flannel mills appears to be queerly conducted. The Victorian Tariff Commission were informed by the directory that out of a nominal capital of £20,000, less than £12,000 had been subscribed, the balance being obtained from the banks at a high rate of interest. No dividend had been paid to the shareholders, although nearly £4OOO had been made on the operations of the company since starting, in addition to the payment of interest. The shares are at present quoted at only £4, although £5 has beeu paid-up. Several stories of marvellous escape from imminent injury during the late storms in Victoria, have been reported. The “ Ballarat Courier ” states that at a farm in the Learmouth district, on Monday, a little girl was, when the storm passed over the place, standing under a large tree, feeding a turkey with some grain. A lightning bolt struck the tree under which she was, splitting it from top to bottom, and the two parts fell to the ground on either side of the child. The turkey she was feeding was killed, but the child herself, though the fall of the tree brought the roots over which she was standing up with such force as to throw her up inio the air two or three feet, was not injured beyond a slight shaking.

Christmas Holidays.—H. Coxhead, having scoured the services for the Xmas holidays, of Mr Gamble, for many years head operator with Mr Cherrill, Photographer, Christchurch, is now perpared to execute with despatch, first-class photographs at from 12s 6d per cloz. A large assortment on band of Photographic Views and Frames suitable for Christmas presents.—[Advt.]