NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3322, 24 November 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mr Mitchelson was duly sworn in yester day as Minister for Public Works.

The Courtenay Agricultural Show was very successful yesterday. Mr Ebenezer Smith has on view, at his office, a single lump of Kaitangata coal, weighing 3J cwfc. Mr Gurr, Inspector of Schools, has reported most favorably, upon tbe Kingsdown School under Mr Harlock,

The Hon. Mr Holmes, Messrs J. Reid, B. Mcnlove and the N.Z, and A,L, Co., will show no more stock at Christchurch for three years to come.

It has transpired that even the captain of the Anteres (London to Auckland) did not know that he had Judge Mauing’sbody on board. It had been placed in the vessel as ordinary cargo.

It is asserted that a sheep which got its broken in a pen at the Dunedin Show has been forwarded to Tapanui in the same state to be shown there, the excuse being that to kill it would spoil the pen.

The Summerhill Estate at Kaitangata, the property of the late Mr Rutherford M.U.E. for Bruce, was offered at auction ycsteiday in Dunedin, The best offer was £9IOO, but the reserve was £9500.

At a meeting of the Floral Society, last night, Mr Gibson in the chair, certain preliminary arrangements were made in connection with the forthcoming show, and Messrs Langdon, Lewis, Bargefrede, and Sealey, were appointed collectors for the year.

It is understood that Dr Hammond has applied to the Government for an enquiry into the management of the Wellington Hospital, but the Government have declined to grant his request on the ground that the management of the Hospital generally has been impugned.

Affairs meteorological appear to be still in a very unsettled state. Last evening a violent wind storm sprang up, and during the night there was a good deal of rain. The changes are remarkably sudden, and inexplicable, at this season of the year, by any ordinary theory. The annual meeting of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company was held yesterday, at which a report and balance-sheet were adopted. AlO per cent dividend was declared, £4OOO carried to the reserve fund, and £1384 carried forward. The Hon. Matthew Holmes and Mr A. Gillies, retiring Director, were re-elected,

The Napier Chamber of Commerce have decided to memorialise the Government to return to their former plan of crediting exports of first entry, instead of to ports of final departure, so that the products of each district may be more accurately ascertained It was stated at tbe last meeting of the Chamber of Commerce that the delay in the prosecution of the railway works was due to a scarcity of labor.

A case of some interest was heard at the E. M, Court, Waimate, on Thursday. Mr W. S. Armitage sued the Waimate A. and P, Association, for £4 10s, amount of prizes won by him at the Show in Nov., 1882. For the defence, Mr Clement submitted one of the rules of the Association, viz., “That all prizes not claimed within six months after the Show, be forfeited.” Mr Armitage had never claimed his prizes till September last. The Bench reserved judgment till 29th inst. At the Appeal Court Wellington, yesterday, the case of Warder Scott v. Northern Shipping Company was heard. This was an appeal from Judge Gillies, Auckland. After argument, their Honors upheld the decision of the Court below, and dismissed the appeal on tbe grounds that no knowledge was given to the Company’s servants of the nature of the contents of the missing box, and that there was no contract between the parties to carry merchandise. The costs were £9O.

At the inquest in Wellington on the body of the Rev. Mr Sheriffs, a verdict was returned, of suicide while of unsound mind, The sad news caused widespread grief at Napier, as Mr Sherriffs was much respected. About two months ago, after an illness, his brain gave way. It was feared he would develope suicidal mania, and when here he was watched night and day. It was hoped his affliction would be only temporary, and to keep his family in the meantime, a subscription was started, over £3OO being raised to date.