NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2794, 8 March 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The annual meeting of the Timaru Investment and Building Society, will be held in the Oddfellows Hall Sophia street, at 7.30 p.m. to-morrow (Thursday) evening. For details of business, see advertisement.

This morning, before E. G. Sterricker J.P., Thomas Collins, an old offender, was fined five shillings for being drunk and disorderly. The following crew will represent Otago in the Interprovincial Boating Race to be held at Christchurch just before Easter : LeCren (bow) I Dr Roberts, 2 ; Fowler, 3; Aspinall, stroke. At the Temuka Court to-day, Frederick Wellsman was brought up [and remanded till Monday next, on two charges of embezzlement from his . employer, Mr Charles Story. Mr Mendelson was the presiding justice.

A second dynamite charge for removing the obstructing rock near the Breakwater was fired this morning at 11 o’clock, in the presence of a numerous gathering of spectators. The immediate effect of the explosion was to cause the death of some and the stupefaction of other fishes in the vicinity, to the intense delight of the idlers gathered about* some of whom pursued the creatures in boats. The result of the action was carefully examined into by the diver, who made a careful survey of the spot. We learn, however, that the charge was not successful, and a further charge of double' power will be tried this evening. The " Australasian Sketcher” of Feb 25, is up to the usual mark and contains some good pictures, notably a “ Back Country Race Meeting,” a portrait of " Mrs Watson, the Lizard Island heroine,” and " In the Drought." The sale of the Rotorua township was a great success, the average increase on the upset price being 60 per cent, and sometimes 100. Suburban and rural lands brought an increase of from 100 to 200 per cent. Things are looking up in the other island. *

Our Waimate friends have a Mayor who really looks after the interests of the town. His Worship drew the attention of the Engineer to a certain well situate in the centre of a considerable number of dwelling places, and only ten feet from an old water closet. The Engineer thinks that though thewateris manifestly unfit for culinary purposes, there is danger of its being used for such purposes, many persons residing near it. We commend this to anybody who looks after sanitary conditions, whether they are Borough Councils or Hospital Commissioners. A committee of the University Senate has been appointed to consider the advisableness of prescribing the medical curriculum.

The premises of Messrs Coombs, drapers, Auckland, together with an allotment having 22 feet frontage to Queen street, fetched £8,300 at auction yesterday.

A neat monument, subscribed for and erected by the cabmen of Christchurch, has been erected over the grave of the cabman Kerr, who lost his life attempting to save the lad Chapman in the Heathcote.

The Bev. 8. Macfarlane lectured last evening in the Congregational Church on New Guinea, It is a matter of regret that the attendance was somewhat limited, for the lecturer dealt with most interesting matter in a most interesting manner giving a very full description of the habits and mode of living of the people of this great island. New Guinea he pronounced to be no field for settlement.

Jem Macc fias brought his belts to New Zealand. His “ statuesque illustrations,’’ which the public will have an opportunity of seeing, have been well spoken of by the English Press. His favorite characters are Hercules struggling with the lion, the quoitthrower, the African alarmed at thunder, Samson carrying away the gates of Gaza, the ancient and modem fighting gladiator,, and the dying gladiator.. Although he is now fifty years of age, Mace’s physique is said to be splendid. The Bishop of Melbourne's hesitation to order a form of prayer for rain, referred to in our telegraphic summary yesterday was fully explained by him to his flock. His Lordship added ironically that if anybody was anxious to use a prescribed form, he was welcome and had the Bishop’s full consent to use the following:—" Forgive us, 0 Lord, that we have so indolently and irreligiously broken Thy natural laws, and despised the indications of Thy will in the time past; and give us grace, we beseech Thee, so to. lay to heart Thy present grievous and just chastisement, that we may bestir ourselves to conserve and employ Thy psecioua gift of water to the fertilising of our fields, the relief of our necessity, thf i replenishing of our land with prosperous .and happy people, and the glorifying of Thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Bishop Moorehouse is not mealy-mouthsd or a timeserver. We admire him.

The “ Lyttelton .Times” Wellington correspondent learns that the Hon. Mr Br.yce is to be knighted in recognition of his servicen in settling the question of Parihaka. All hail, Sir John I

The Aucklanders want a University College in Auckland, but Mr Whitaker “don’t see it.” At first sight, neither do welet them come down south to pick up learning and civilization.

Law-makers should not be law-breakers.' Our illustrious Premier neglecting to pay his proper ty tax in time was fined ten per cent as " b.v statute made and provided.” We learn, of a Fenian plot for the destruction of the Limerick Custom House, by dynamite. Fortunately the material was discov* sred in time. English people mujit he get ring rather satiated with this sort of excitement.

His Eminence Cardinal Howard, who has recently been raised by Pope Leo XIII to the dignity of Arch-Priest of the Basilica of St. Peter’s at Borne, and who is remember ed in London as leading, thirty years ago, when an officer in the Life Guards, ■ the procession at the funeral of the: Dial ,e of Wellington, is the second English man on the roll of the arch-priests of the I jasilica of St. Peters. The other cardim J arch-priests of the Basilica was Henry , Cardinal York, the brother of the Younj ; Pretender.

Ac ase of attempted suicide occurred at Wail .ari on Saturday evening. Charles Cede' lus, a man in the employ of Messrs R. Fan ;elly and (X, endeavored to terminate

his existence by utKing-poison. Yesterday he was in a very critical condition, no ho/ pea of l”’s recovery being entertained.