NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2791, 4 March 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

We arc unavoidably compelled to withhclu “ Cool Spray ” until Monday, It is proposed to float a company for establishing a huge hotel in Auckland with a capital of £15,000.

Mr John Hislop, secretary to the Education Department, is going Home on twelve months’ leave of absence.

A woman named Elizabeth Barrett was remanded at the Auckland Police Court yesterday on a charge of bigamy by her marriage with Francis M. Hewson in 1874, her husband, Robert Barrett being then alive.

Councillor N, Evans’ motion to invite tenders for the electric lighting of the City of Wellington has been withdrawn in favor of a motion to ask the Agent-General to make full enquiries on the subject. Wright and his wife were committed for trial on a charge of burning down their house in the Lincoln road, Christchurch. Another Insurance Company is abont to enter the field to bid for a share of the high premiums paid in the colony. The Fire Insurance Association of London has established a branch at Wellington and are about to establish agencies throughout the colony.

Our cablegrams this evening contain an account of the attempt of a lunatic to shoot Her Majesty QueenVictona. Happily his murderous intentions were frustrated by his inability to use the weapon he carried. Of course he was immediately arrested, and will probably become a guest of the Government during the remainder of his life.

Ihe great expense of scavenging-empty-ing the closet pans, at the Timaru Hospital—about £3O a year at the present rate—should, we think, suggest to the managers that a trial of some of the dry earth systems, now before the public, should be made. There is the ordinary system which has been used in a few instances in Timaru ; there is the cindersifting ash closet, some of which are to be used at the Christchurch Exhibition : and there is Dr Bell’s dry-oloset system. The last, we should imagine, is particularly applicable to the circumstances of the case inasmuch as the closets were designed in accordance with a scheme somewhat similar, but wanting in deodorising and desiccating arrangements. At present the scavenger has to visit the Hospital twice a week, but if the dry closet system were adopted once a week or once a fortnight, would be sufficient, or even less, and the work being inoffensive should be done for much less money each time.

Major Atkinson, the Hon. Hessrs Oliver and Reynolds, and Mr Driver, M.H.R. are at present on an excursion to Lake Wakatipu. At the Dunedin E.M. Court yesterday, Messrs Hamilton and Willis obtained judgment for £75 against the Union Company for the failure of the latter to land the Pomeroy Troupe in Dunedin from Christchurch in time to perform on the evening advertised.

The Christchurch “ Telegraph ” expresses dissatisfaction with the manner of the appointment of a successor to Mr Restell, as Inspector of Schools for North Canterbury, “ The Board present their compliments to Mr Curnow and requests his acceptance of the Inspectorship of Schools : Mr Curnow presents his compliments to the Board and has the utmost pleasure in acceding to their request.” The " Telegraph” thinks that, “ although Mr Curnow were a prince among Inspectors, that is not the way for a public body to deal with a public office.” The least they could have done was to call lor applications in the ordinary way, and in making an appointment which was not a promotion within a department, the Board transgressed the " implied limits beyond which they should not go in offering situations privately.”

At the Ashburton Police Court yesterday, a boy eight years of age was charged with indecently assaulting two little girls of the same age, The Resident Magistrate sentenced him to a good birching and to be sent to the Burnham Industrial School for five years. Mr Joseph Ivess has notified that he will again stand for Wakanui. Mr Saunders addresses the electors on Tuesday next,and Mr Wason the night following. Nothing definite has yet transpired as to whether Mr Saunders will retire and Mr Wason stand, or what will be done. The Government line of railway to Wairoa with the further extension belonging to the Nightcaps Coal Company was formally opened yesterday by the running of a special train from Invercargill. The Coal Company took advantage of the occasion to celebrate the completion of their means of putting coal in the market by inviting the Mayor and Council, and the members of other public bodies to visit the coal-field and partake of a lunch there. A large party took advantage of the opportunity to visit the mines and locality, which have hitherto been almost shut out from visitation owing to the want of road facilities. The Company is now in a position to put out coal in regular and increasing quality. The line opened consists of 10,} miles of public and 2£ of private railway. A big children’s picnic was held at Gapes' Valley ou Thursday, when about 300 child rep, and as many adults, from the surrounding districts assembled. The picnic was most successful, old and young enjoying themselves thoroughly. The Temuka Brass, and Fife and Drum Bands were engaged for the occasion and added largely to the life of the gathering. Juvenile sports of all kinds, running, sack, and three-legged races vaulting, and so forth, were the order of the day and were indulged in with great zest. A large tent was erected, capable of holding 70 people at one sitting down, and the tables was never empty from one o’clock till 6. Hams turkeys, ducks, fowls, geese, chicken pies, rounds of beef, sucking pigs, saddles of mutton, sandwiches, fruit pies, cakes, blanc-manges, jellies amd fruit, disappeared rapidly to be as rapidly replaced. 130 gallons of tea were consumed, and 3000 tea cakes with them. These numbers give some idea of the gathering, The members of the Brass Band had a race among themselves for which the winner received a little doll and a baby’s bottle. Dancing and kiss in the ring were kept up with great spirit during the afternoon. A large number of prizes had been obtained which were distributed by the Bcv. VV. Preston, assisted by Mesdamea Preston and Fish, the funds for purchasviig them having been collected by Miss Gapes. A special distribution of prizes was made to the children belonging to the Gapes’ Valley school, two handsoi-ue books, the gift of Mr Hutton, of Timaru, being given to the boy and girl who had been best behaved during the year. The picnic was most enjoyable, but owing to showers coming on had unfortunately to be broke up at a comparatively ca,rly hour.

The survey of the Hamilton and Cambridge railway line is finished and the station at Cambridge fixed.

A man named William McLean has been committed for trial for attempting indecent assault on a girl of thirteen, while on her way to one of the Auckland public schools.

M. Joubert was a passenger by the Albion, on her last trip from Melbourne and brought with him all the British, foreign and Australian entries for the Christchurch Exhibition, up to the date of his leaving Melbourne. The collection of paintings, statuary, and works of art is of the choicest and best description.

To-day were borne to their last resting place the remains of Mr John Macintosh, whose kindly genial presence will be long and sorely missed. In this age of “working men’s friends,” one who was revered by the working man for his sterling kindness and not for any meretricious qualities, will be ever remembered with grateful respect.