NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2824, 13 April 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

In Auckland another child has fallen & victim to eating lucifers. The Oddfellows’ sports at Geraldine will beheld on the'Queen's Birthday. . ~ The Royal Commission on Volunteer claims .is sitting at the Thames. The Mosgiel Woollen Factory has declared a dividend of 10 per cent. A horse stealer up north escaped from custody, and is now pursuing the even tenor of his way in freedom. . ■. f • The Waikato natives are not agreed about the proposed meeting and a very small attendance is expected. Ballance is going to contest Stanmore. Most people thought he would never stan(d) more.

Sir George has been counting his supporters in • the House. What a joke if he should actually go to windward of everybody, and form a strong Cabinet I Heteri te Parata, an influential Taupo chief, has arranged for the supply of a large block of land in the King Country. He states that an agreement exists between Government and Tavvhiao whereby all sales are prohibited, while leasing only is to take place through the Government.

Mr Rolleston is reported to be quite ready to assume the Premiership. A good many other people are quite ready too, and would jump at a chance. It is announced that Mr James Shand has bought the famous Edendale Estate in Southland from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, but the price has not transpired.

Te Aroha diggings are showing up well, and stampers are being erected t o deal with the excellent quartz. In Pethrick v. Ambrose in Wellington, for slander a verdict was given for the defendant. The damages laid wereJEIOOO. It is somewhat strange and to be regretted that the African missionary’s address in the Congregational Church last night was not notified, lor a great many persons would have been pleased to hear him.

The Auckland people are going to hold a meeting for the purpose of protesting against the treatment of the Jews in Russia. It is astonishing that so little general interest is taken in this matter.

Professor Weston did not have so good an audience last evening as was expected, and nothing like so good a one as the performance merited. No doubt he will have a larger number to-night. His entertainment is moat.amusing, and pleases everyone who sees it. Settling up on the C.J.C, meeting has been made as follows :—H. Horseford, £590 ; Hon. W. Robinson, £479 ; J. Lee £137 15s ; Obrien, £l2B ; E. Gutts, £7O ; G. Bates, £64; S. Powell £3B; P. Butler, £25 ; J. Bell, £lO ; G. Fraser, £5 ; total, £1549 15s.

Local option yields very diverse results, hi Wellington the poll for the Porirua Licensing District has resulted in favor of an increase of all descriptions of licenses except bottle licenses. Very few votes were recorded, and in no case did the majority exceed two.

Exhibits have been divided into 21 classes for the purpose of judging, and three jurors will be appointed in’most of them. In one or two cases five will be chosen. The jurors are to be selected partly by the exhibitors and partly by the Committee of Judging and Awards. The jurors to be chosen by exhibitors will be chosen at 9.30 a.m. on Monday.

The case against Waldemann, for attempted arson at Queenstown, has just concluded. This is a case in which the circumstances are that in a cottage he spread tar on the floor, piled up brushwood, scattered matches, etc., and left a lighted candle to burn down to the inflammable material. The jury were out about two hours and brought in a verdict of guilty. Several legal points were reserved for the Court of appeal affecting the ■ validity of the insurance, and judgment was deferred. The Victorian Education Department seems to have a somewhat unmanageable crew to deal with. The following is a specimen, and there appear to have been a good many such of late The-teacher of the Little River State school, who was suspended for having severely chastised some of the pupils, and for having addressed indelicate remarks to others, has applied for a hoard to investigate his case. The Minister will accordingly recommend to his colleagues that such a board should be appointed, a police magistrate, a chairman of a board of advice, and a head teacher, to be its members. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a Timaru Intellectual Improvement Society, was held last evening, in the Foresters’ Hall. Mr J. Kirby was unanimously called to the chair. Rules were submitted, discussed, and adopted and 18 members were enrolled, The object was stated to be the intellectual improvement of young men in Timaru. The election of officers resulted as follows : President, Mr J. Kirby; Vice-President, Mr E. Dove ; Secretary, Mr E. Dimant ; Treasurer, Mr J. King; Managing Committee, Messrs R. Cuthbert and W. Farrier. A very moderate rate of subscription was decided upon, two or three proposals for membership were made, and provision for next meeting to be held on Wednesday,the 19th inst., when the President will read an address.

The quarterly meeting of the Court Southern Cross was held at the Forester’s Hall on Tuesday evening last, There was a good number of members present. After the ordinary business the auditors, Bros. Hill and McGowan, presented their report and balance sheet for the quarter, shewing the total worth of Court funds on March 31 to be over £4OOO, ah increase of £SO during the quarter, the number of members being 204. The officers for the ensuing term are:—Chief Banger, Bro; Jabez Lnkey; Sub-Chief Banger, Bro. P. Kelly; Treasurer, Bro. J. S. Bennett; Permanent Secretary, Bro. Werry; Assistant Secretary, Bro. E. Dye ; Minute Secretary, Bro. H. Whittaker; Senior Woodward, Bro, T. Harris ; Junior Woodward, Bro. T. Arscott; Senior Beadle, Bro. J. G. Hall; Junior Beadle, Bro. J. Baker; Surgeon, Dr. Lovegrove. f It is satisfactory to learn that the Wanganui Naval Brigade pinnace was successfully launched at half past four o’clock yesterday. She was christened the “Baumi” by a little daughter of Captain Abbott’s. The wharf and reclaimed land were crowded with spectators, and after the- launching a crew of twenty navala were put on board of bet 1 , together with the drum and fife band of the corps. Captain Abbott having invit eg the officers of the other Volunteer corps and the representatives of the Press on board, the twenty oars were put in motion and the Baumi proceeded a mile and a half up the river and back, the time occupied being about an hour, This is the sort of Volunteering the country wants. The following testimony to worth is the the more valuable as coming from one not given to inordinate love of ecclesisticism. Many Victorians will appreciate a reference to one of the very finest men that ever came to the colonies “I have a notion—l hope an erroneous one—that the colony of Victoria has lost for aye the benefit of the residence amongst us of Charles Strong, Presbyterian minister, and despite the apparent contradiction, largehearted evangel. Mr Strong has been—although surrounded by staunch and enlightened friends of all sects and churches —the victim of much persecution—of more worry than the world knows of. Men of his stamp are not so numerous but that the big British market should secure the article when it comes in its way.”