NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2842, 4 May 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Rocket Brigade meet to-night to consider the proposal re forma’ ion of a Naval Brigade.

: They were going to build a public hall at Wade (Auckland), but some incendiary set fire to the timber, and it is a (h)dl burned. Another commercial man has faded away from Auckland this time. He said be-was off to the Lakes for a spell, and went away by himself to try and recover his wonted serenity of mind.

A constable in Auckland has lost his cousin. He is properly sorry, of course, but as it brings him £2OOO per annum he is trying to bear up. He will bo seen no more upon his beat.

The date of the Christchurch Tire Brigade torchlight procession has been altered to May 18th instead of the Queen’s Birthday, the latter being a moonlight night. The Customs revenue for the port of Lyttelton for April, : 1882, was £21,957, against £19,185 for the .corresponding month last year. The beer duty amounted to £1249, as against £1066. - '

There is a considerable amount of light wreckage washing about in the vicinity' of the Duke of Sutherland, such.as hen-coops, bulk-heads &c. There afe ; numbers of fowls, too, and boats are out picking up such trifles as are handy. ■The enterprising burglar is still making his rounds in Christchurch, but he has not been very success! lately. Two. attempts have been reported within the' last few days,which came to nothing in consequence of the inmates being ready to receive the marauders. :

Eaudwiok’s disqualification has been endorsed by the Ashburton Racing Club. The Club have also endorsed the Dunedin Jockey Clubs disqualification of the jockeys Hoskins and Butler, for not discharging tho fines inflicted on them at the recent meeting. The historian of the future rcad'ng the archives of the South Canterbury Board of Education will cry—“ There were giants in those days.” No sooner had the mighty influence of Geraldine waned away than Waimate sprang to the front, Mr Steward has a quiet persuasive Parliamentary persistence that carries the Board along insensibly. Let Waimate be thankful for so faithful a Steward of its interests 1

A royal commission on the Benevolent Asylum scandal in Dunedin is to be formally asked for. In consequence of the bad state of the weather, the Stewards of the Placing Club, Palmerston, decided on Monday to postpone the races advertised for the sth inst, until Friday, the 19th inst. Kain commenced to fall on Sunday morning, and continued until last night, when a flood took place. The Shag river was in full flood, but it is now falling. Several cases of damage arc reported. The Naseby down coach could not cross last night, Cook bringing the mads in on horseback, having taken the ranges for it. Although the weather has slightly taken up the appearances are not altogether promising, the glass now stand ing at 9i).Cl).

The late Town Clerk of Duncd’u, J. M. Massey, who was plaintiff in the libel action Massey v, Allen some time ago, ascerts that his services were illegally dispensed with, and claims £320 for salary due since his discharge. The Council merely received his letter. Ihe weekly meeting of the Timaru Intellectual Improvement Society was held in the Foresters’ Hall last evening. There was a good attendance of members, the President be : ng in the chair. After the usual preliminaries had been disposed of, some exce”ent readings and recitations were rendered. A programme was arranged for the next night of meeting, the 10th inst., and on the following Wednesday evening it has been decided, on the suggestion of the President, to hold a mock trial by jury.

A letter received in Wellington, from Kope, Japan, states that an apprentice named John B..ker (who shipped at Wellington on board the schooner May, for Japan) fell from the mizzenmast head on the 2nd March, and received serious injury from which ho is not expected to recover. On'the 4th March he was still in a very critical condition. Captain Grant writes that he sails for Wellington with 530 tons of rice. Young Baker s parents it is understood reside near Palmerston North,

Larrikinism of a very pronounced kind has broken out in Lumsdcn,Southland. They have injured passers by, and are given to use oaths and knives with equal freedom, and have possessed themselves of the town. Edward Murphy, charged before the Resident Magistrate, this morning, with being drunk and disorderly, was fined 20s, in default three days in gaol. He chose the lat'

An emergency meeting of the Caledonian ■Lodge takes place this evening.