TIMARU.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1149, 20 December 1879, Page 2

TIMARU.

(FROM our ows correspondent.) December 16. Of news there is little to tell. The very unsettled state of the weather is driving us to our wits' end, and it seems as far from any change for the better as it did a week ago. The sun is seldom seen, and when he does appear it is only

for a few short hours, when clouds and thick mist again usurp his place. When the state of the atmosphere will become anything like uniform and settled is a problem long since abandoned, and we now only hope for better days, leaving the issue with a wise Creator. \ The Supreme Court opened on "Wednesday last, and occupied onlyjifcae days, Kthough it should have en4( Sj the week, but for weak-down of the two last anoyuH mosH important cases, those of Manrflft ancflj ''Saimders. It is generally belimMj thaH the latter was quite doubting the genuineness of tion, while James was manifestly a tool in the hands of the formefcj The case created the most inteuse excitement in the town, tho Court being literally crammed throughout, and the police, under the direction of Sherilt Beetham and Inspector Pender, having much difficulty in keeping order at the door. While all eyes and ears were turned on the prisoner Manning, the worthy judge, in a very bad humor, inwardly anathematising the architect for making so bad a job of the building, in which it was obviously never intended that evidence should be distinctly heard. Great, then, was the surprise of the auditors, and greater still that of those outside, when, after eight hours' hearing, Mr. Stout won another addition to his already large stock of laurels by his success in persuading the Court that this interesting case must fall through, owing to a very old statute, made in the rign of Henry YIH., remaining unrepealed, and which distinctly sets forth that a landowner must, before conveying property to another, have been himself in actual possession, or at least have been receiving the full benefit of the estate for a period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of conveyance. Consequently the deed drawn up and signed by James was illegal, and therefore could not defraud. Surely the public owe a deep debt of gratitude to this distinguished lawyer for such valuable information obtained gratis ; for this wrinkle that will serve as an infallible guide in future transactions, and which will inevitably prove the means of effecting such a reform in our laws as will render the perpetration of a great swindle a matter of absolute impossibility. Popular opinion says that if James had pleaded not guilty, and persistently impersonated the real owner, no one would have been able to swear otherwise, and if such had been the case, the ends of justice would have been totally defeated, and Manning permitted to carry off his prize. Although we now find ourselves at Midsummer, money is as scarce as ever, if not more so. Wherever you go, the cry is " no money," and of course collectors have abandoned their "dunning" pursuits, and are going in search of more lucrative occupations. Hundreds of families are living in the mere hope of better times—or, as Jonathan calls it, " living on sawdust " —and see little or no prospect of being able to pay their small debts for many months to come. The advent, too, of a few scores of unfortunate immigrants per the Lady Jocelyn, tends to still further darken the scene, and to add more misery to that already existing—misery in which tliey themselves must share, and for which we have to thank the renowned Sir Julius and those of his legions who have been, and who still are, spreading falsehood broadcast throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. Now, however, that the poor beggars are here in our midst, I suppose it will be the duty of our " most generous " Government to provide for their little wants, and, as usual, charge the amount to the half-starved and too confiding public. The military forces at Temuka having, a few days ago, waged war with Timaru, and intimated their intention of storming the " city," our local men, in response to the challenge, marched to the Washdyke early this morning in the drenching rain, under command of the gallant Captain Hammersley, and took up a position at the Meat Preserving Company's works on the hill. Shortly the enemy appeared, led by Captain Young, and immediately the conflict began. The Timaruites were repulsed for about two miles, when they again made a stand, and after a desperate, though bloodless, battle, the aggressors surrendered, and were marched in front of our soldiers into town. Consequent upon the rough weather, the barque Glimpse dragged her auchors on Sunday night, and soon drifted to the reefs, where she began bumping and making so much water that the crew decided to abandon her for the night for fear that she would break up before daylight. Yesterday morning, however, they returned, and spent some time in an abortive endeavor to kedge her off. She would probably have gone to pieces in time had not the agents for the New Zealand and the Union Insurance Companies, believing that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, promptly wired to Dunedin for a steamer, which made her appearance early this morning and took the barque to a safer berth. With this one exception, there have been no misfortunes in the "Timaru Roads" of dangerous repute. I will merely mention that the Regatta and Horticultural Society's Show passed ofi' with the usual degree of eclat, but these being tame affairs, the details would only be monotonous to your readers, so I will not dwell upon them.