NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2832, 22 April 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Native meeting in Auckland under Tawhaio takes place shortly. His Worship the Mayor has proclaimed two half holidays on Tuesday and Wednesday next to give ihe public an opportunity of attending the races.

The Otago Education Board have appointed Mr Goycn, Inspector under the Southland Board, one of their Inspectors. Napier is quite a fever bed. Mr Tait, traveller for Messrs A. and T. Burt, has died of low fever, contracted in that city.

At the settling up on the Ashburton Races, the following amounts were paid over Robinson, £lO9 15s ; Saunders, £BO 15s; Thomson, £7l 5s ; Goodman, £57 ; Mcßvedy, £2B 10s ; Sherwin, £9 ; Miller, £7los ; total, £373 ss. Our telegraphic summary to-day contains an announcement of the death of Mr Darwin, the distinguished naturalist and propounder of the theory of development, which startled the world and is still vehemently discussed.

The City of Sydney, leaving Auckland 26th of last month had a quick run to Frisco, being two days ahead of contract time. But her speed was not too great for a friend of ours who was a passenger.

There is consternation among the Bicyclists in Christchurch, for it is rumored that proceedings are about to be taken against them for having posted bills, announcing their races, on Sunday, on the telegraph posts of the city. This, it appears, is contrary to-the regulations. The barque Janet McNeil,'from Glasgow, which arrived in Dunedin yesterday, reports* that whilst running through the north-east trades she was covered with clouds of fine dust of a light cinnamon color, which continued to fall until she got to the southward of the Cape De Yerde Islands. Another case of death from excessive drinking is reported from Auckland. Those publicans who supply drunken men with liquor will never take warning until the offence is called by its proper name. If a man, after being so supplied, is proved to have died from drink, the man who supplied him should be charged with murder. The Timaru High School Board has divided the School year into terms instead of quarters as heretofore. Full particulars of the revised scale of fees will be found in another column. There will be three terms in each year, beginning on January 31, May 19, and September 12, respectively. Mrs Hampson’s fifth service in the Presbyterian Church, last evening! was attended by a great crowd of persons. The address concluded with a stirring and powerful appeal to those present to embrace and support total abstinence. In her efforts in this direction Mrs Hampson deserves the hearty thanks of the community. The Waitangi, from London, brought 18 Southdowns, six rams and 12 ewes, from the flock of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, and six prize pigs, comprising one Berkshire boar, one Yorkshire boar, and four sows. The stock arrived in splendid condition.

During these last two weeks Williamson has done a splendid business in Christchurch, averaging considerably over £IOO a night. The amount of money taken is phenomenal. The season ends on Tuesday.

Miss Mary Francis, of Nottingham, England, a Jewess, who celebrated not long ago her hundredth birthday, has become a member of the Catholic Church. A very unusual departure, at a very unusual time, of life 1

The carpenter of the s.s. Rotorua, Thomas Raikes,who fell down the hold of the ship at Auckland yesterday, died almost immediately after his admission to the hospital. His wife and family are in. Port Chalmers. The unfortunate man’s right temple was laid open, and his life was, from the first, despaired of. It would be satisfactory to learn that the Company acted with liberality towards the bereaved.

They talk of starting a third paper (evening) in Invercargill. This is a great country for newspapers.

The Mastodon Minstrels will open to-night. Their visit has been anxiously looked forward to by the numerous admirers of Christy business, in which they are superlatively efficient. The Company’s march through town this morning, to the music of their fine brass band created quite a sensation, and business was suspended fora few minutes as effectually as if a big lire had happened. They have two or three genuine negroes among them, one of whom (the drummer) looked very impressive in a long-ta : led frock.

Sydenham is apparently the only district in New Zealand in which any interest has been taken in the licensing question. The borough has always been a stronghold of temperance, but at the election of the Licensing Committee the publican managed to steal a march on the teetollars and returned a committee wholly in the licensed victuallers’ interest. This woke the others up and they set to work in earnest to prevent the licenses being increased, and it would seem that some sort of a reaction has set in, for the publicans got a majority of 36 on their licenses; all the other licenses, however, were refused—the New Zealand wine license by five votes, and the accommodation license by one, The majority against bottle licenses was larger, being 33. About 600 ratepayers in all voted out ol 1300. Vehicles were freely used, and altogether there was nearly as much excitement ns over a political alcclion.

To their verdict in the criminal libel case action, Quin v. Hitchcock, convicting the latter of the offence, the jury added a rider recommending on public grounds that the working of the Benevolent Institution

should bo enquired into. The statement made at the trial have left an uneasy impression on the public mind that all is not wel.

A notice to the members of L.O.L. Nos. 13 and 35, appears in another column. A notice appears in our advertising columns, in reference to services in the Mechanics’ Institute to be held by Mr Johnston, Baptist Minister, of Invercargill.

A soiree in connection with the Primitive Methodist Church will b: held in the Oddfellows Hall, Barnard street on May 9. The English Lodge Victory, 1.0:G.T., invite the attendance of Mrs Hampson’s converts to temperance, at their meeting on Monday evening in the Foresters’ Hall.