NEWS OF THE DAY,

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7080, 28 February 1893, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY,

The police arrested a number of men again yesterday for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. Just now the town is being visited by a number of harvest hands who are “ knocking down their cheques,” and by a number of, sailors who have apparently command of too much money. A Government parade of the Timaru Naval Artillery was held in the driilshed last night. Thera was a good attendance of petty officers and gunners, Lieut. Thomas being in command. The company was put through the manual and bayonet exercises and the new field manoeuvres, and acquitted themselves well. The Collector of Customs has received tho following telegram from tho Merino Depart- ( mont; —“ Warn masters of vessels that I 1 small temporary beacons have been erected at 1 Manakau Worth Head, and that the leading | lights will be shown again from both sides of > entrance, from and after to-night ” (Monday, I

February 27th). Tha dreaded Hessian fiy has extended its ravages over a much wider area than was at first anticipated (says the Clufha Free Press) It has been found pretty well all over the district between Waihola and Olutha. It in now found to have invaded the Tuapeka district, and its ravages may be seen in the wheat crops at Evans’ Flat and at Tuapeka West. The pest has also been found in the wheat crops in the Taiori, so that unless farmers wake up to the real danger ahead, and take prompt measures to suppress the pest, wheat growing will have to bo abandoned over a wide stretch of country for some years to comeAt the Borough Council last evening Councillor Burford said he had seen something in the newspapers about the overseer’s theodolite having gone wrong. He noticed that one corner had gone wrong, and if that was tha fault of the theodolite they had better get a new one ; the corner was out five inches. He would like an explanation. The overseer said the letter in the paper was a spurious one, the man was ashamed to put his name to it. The explanation was that the old kerb, with which the new work did not agree, was put down two years before the Government survey was made, and therefore at no particular level. The new work was put down to the standard level. It would not cost many shillings to alter the old work. '

A case just heard on appeal in the Supreme Court by Sir Justice Eiohmond (Andrews v. Smith) is worth special notice. The appellant is the Eev. J. C. Andrews and the respondent is the Wairarapa rabbit inspector. The proceeding, was an appeal from a judgment of the B.M. against the appellant, under the ninth section of “The Babbit Act, 1882”; —“ If immediately upon the service of such notice (to destroy rabbits) such one or more of the persons upon which the same is served do not commence to do all such acts, deeds, matters, and things as in the opinion of the inspector may be necessary to destroy the rabbits on the land mentioned in such notice in the shortest time possible, and having so commenced do not continue such action until such rabbits are destroyed, each of the owners upon whom such notice has been served shall be liable to a penalty of not loss than £l, nor more than £20.” The question which the court decided was in effect that the contention of the appellant (the defendant in the court below) was right— namely, that the fact of the commencement to use means to destroy rabbits was a question for the resident magistrate, and the opinion of the inspector was not necessarily conclusive. The conviction was quashed.

After the ordinary Government parade of the Timaru Naval Artillery last week the annual meeting of the company was held in the drill shed. Lieutenant Thomas occupied the chair, and there was ® muster of petty officers and gunners. The chairman explained the general items of the balance sheet, memher.s expressing themselves as well pleased wjtb the financial position of the.

company. The various committees for the year were then elected. Totes of thanks were unanimously passed to the retiring office bearers and committees for the excellent manner they had carried out their duties Presentations were voted to the late commander of the company (Lieutenant Gooch), the secretary, and the caretaker; a sum eat aside for shooting purposes, and after routine business had been disposed of the meeting closed. A few convivial hours were then spent in the reading room the eatables and drinkables being done full justice to, Various toasts were proposed, honoured in right royal style, and responded to, and numerous songs were rendered by the members, and wore much enjoyed, the applause being most hearty. The reunion broke up in the small hours of the following morning, all present agreeing that it was one of the most pleasant night’s that they had spent. UNIVERSAL PRAISE. Unimpeachable skin authorities, wellknown public men and actresses, to whom appearance is capital, have at one time and another come forward unsolicited to sing the praises of Peaks’ Soap.