NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2821, 10 April 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

1 The heavy continuous rain has served to show the inadequacy of the road making arrangements of the Council. The roads indeed are simply muddy lakes, and footpaths are all but impassable, It is high time some scheme was adopted by the Council for placing the footpaths in proper repair. Their condition now is scandalous. An emergency meeting of the Caledonian Lodge, E.G., will take place this evening. The monthly meeting will be held tomorrow night*

The medical adviser of the Premier has advised him to resign on account of illhealth, and it is understood that Mr Hall will act on the advice.

One hundred and sixty people left Dunedin by the night train for Christchurch on Saturday and large numbers booked at intermediate stations.

Owing to the rain, the Volunteer Church Parade in Christchurch did not come off yesterday, and the men occupied the morn, ing in drill at the shed instead. The body of Lee who was drowned at Auckland, has not yet been recovered, the weather being too rough for the water police to search for it. Mr Norris, the enthusiastic bicyclist who undertook to travel on his bicycle from Christchurch to Dunedin, arrived in Timaru on Saturday night. The wet weather made the travelling very heavy and it is probable the through journey will have to be deferred for a time.

A gift auction was held on Saturday in connection with the Knox Church, Waimate. The weather was anything but favorable, and the attendance at the sale was not large, Mr Manchester succeeded in disposing of most of the goods at fair prices.

It has been raining almost continuous since Saturday, and many Timaru people who had made arrangements to witness the Exhibition opening ceremony have reluctantly decided to remain at home. Notwithstanding the pouring rain this morning at 5 a.m., a large number of people left for Christchurch by the special train. To-day’s telegrams inform ns that heavy rain has fallen during the past fortyeight hours in all parts of the colony. The Wesleyan tea meeting held atßangitata Island on Good Friday was ;well attended. Tables were provided by. Mesdames Granger, Turner, and the Misses Buxton, and after tea addresses were delivered by the Rev. Mr Pee, Messrs Buxton, Brown, and Miles. The local choir, under Miss Brown’s direction, contributed several sacred songs in a creditable manner. The result of the gathering was a success financially. At a meeting of the Waitohi School Committee held on Monday last, Mr J. Talbot presiding, it was,reported that the average attendance during the previous month was 52 out of a roll of 81. The Chairman pointed out that the Inspector’s report on the late standard examination had not been received. It was decided to ask for it to be supplied without further delay. A suggestion for the appointment of a mistress was deferred. It was decided to ask the schoolmaster not to keep so many pigs in the school ground in future, A meeting of the Timaru Floral and Horticultural Society was held on Saturday night. The members present were, Messrs Gibson (Chairman), Harney, Sealy, Mair, Atkinson, Whittaker, Knowles and Grey. Mr Chisholm wrote stating that he would give his special prize as usual. It was decided to thank Mr Chisholm and award the prize to the winner of the highest number of points in class A., for pot plants and cut flowers., The further revision of the prize schedule and the printing of the same was left to a Sub-Committee. The rule defining an amateur was again discussed and it was resolved as follows:—"That the rule adopted by the Society on the Ist Sept., 1875, be rescinded and the following be adopted in lieu thereof— 1 That any nonprofeasionol person cultivating his own garden or employing only occasional assistance will be considered an amateur, and that all cases of dispute as to the definition of a professional or an amateur, should be referred to the Committee whose decision shall be final.’ " The meeting then adjourned. At Auckland, on Saturday, at the inquest on the body of the boy Charles McLaughlin, a victim of the late cab accident, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, with the rider that the police should close streets from traffic when opened for drainage works. It turns out that Frederick Fairburn, the surveyor who-was committed for trial for breaking into and entering. the residence of the Rev, William Gittos,at Kaiparawas, when discovered in the house, horsewhipped by Mr Gittos’ two daughters, and was knocked down by a servant man who came to their assistance. He had been forbidden to visit the house. Mr Gittos was away preaching at Kainai station that evening.

. It is reported from Auckland that Mr Whitaker has resigned his seat in the Ministry. Is this wily politician beginning to dread the approaching meeting of Parliament, or has he been again dabbling in his favorite passtime—land speculation? We hope the report of Mr Whitaker’s resignation is correct as he is one of the members of the present Ministry that we have no faith in.

Professor Westen, whose performances have been so highly spoken of by the southern Press, will open for a short season at the Theatre Royal to-night. Mr Westen’s dogs are said to be splendidly trained, and his'feats of legerdemain are astonishing. Mr Denton, the popular lecturer, has been for the last two weeks up north hunting out fossils, etc. He has secured three cases of moa bones alone, and speaks highly of the Amuri country as a field for the geologist.

At the Taeri races on Saturday the principal handicap was won by Katerfelto with Boughleen Dhoun second. A young lad named Arthur Smith, of Dunedin, was thrown and badly hurt in the Ladies’ Purse, the horse ho was riding having bolted and tumbled over a fence. He was picked up insensible.

The Sunday Observance Association has evidently not yet got into full swing in Christchurch. The Press Association says: —The Exhibition building is finished, and to-day (Sunday) was occupied in cleaning it up, hanging banners, curtains, See. The exhibits arc not 11 in, but the work has been going on day and night, and an excellent show will be made to-morrow(this day), much bettor, in fact, than was at first expected. 'J procession to-xr.r-rovv will contain between 4000 and 5000 men, and will be a very striking feature of the day’s proceedings,

The Borough of Eangiora was lighted on Saturday night for the first time. Notwithstanding the wet weather, upwards of 3000 persons visited H.M.S. Miranda at Lyttelton yesterday.. At the inquest on Richard Gandy, who was killed at Petone, Wellington, by a truck passing over him, a verdict of accidental death was returned.

A man named Power, when endeavoring to get aboard the hulk Cora last night, fell off the breastwork at Wellington. A lady who was passing threw a rope to him, and, after a little difficulty, he was rescued, though much exhausted.

A man named Albert William Tomes, who is supposed to have been in straitened circumstances committed suicide at Eangiora on Thursday last by shooting himself with a revolver.

“ Patience ” is now drawing crowded houses in Christchurch. We hope Mr Williamson will have a good time of it during the first two weeks of the exhibition, for no showman in New Zealand better deserves success.

The Hinemoa left Wellington at 3.30 yesterday afternoon for Lyttelton. Captain Russel and Mr Coster were passengers by her. She will return to Wellington with His Excellency, who is expected to leave Christchurch this evening or Tuesday.

It is stated that, so far as the returns of the colonial revenue have been made up, tho receipts exceed the Colonial Treasurer’s estimates by £140,000, but in accepting this statement the public must remember that Major Atkinson is a perfect juggler in finance.

The Russian authorities are putting various obstacles in the way of the Jews earning a livelihood in Russia, apparently with the view of compelling them to leave the country. All jews who are carrying on the trade of chemists have been ordered to cease their business,

The Wellington correspondent of the Cbristceurcb '‘Press” says It is rumored here that there is a probability of Sir Hercules Bobinsou coming back to New Zealand as successor of Sir A. Gordon. It is known that Sir Hercules is very desirous to return to this colony, and his friends in Wellington seem sanguine that his wishes will be gratified. Regarding the despatch from Melbourne to the Russian Minister of Marine by Admiral Aslanbegoff, Sir Bryan O’Loghlen has decidedly stated that he did not intend to examine any records in the Telegraph Office with the view of confirming the asasverations made by Mr Bryant, as the Admiral was the representative of a friendly Power, and the system of over-looking telegrams or correspondence could only be excused in time of war, or in the case of crime. He regarded the secrecy of the Post and Telegraph office as inviolable.

The autumn Show of the Waimate Horticultural Society, combined with a show of grain, roots, and dairy produce, was held on Thursday last. The floral display was equal to that of the previous year, and the building in which the Show was held was neatly decorated. The show of roots was very creditable to the district, and the grain samples showed that despite the dry season, the land in the Waimate County can produce excellent wheat and oats. Some of the samples were beautifully plump and fine skinned. The dairy pro duce was of good quality and the odds and ends, viz., flour, bread, hams and bacon> jams, pickles, &c., all tended to make an excellent show.