CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 19

CANTERBURY.

Three boys who absconded from the Stoke Industiial School and btole and Lulled a sheep belonging to Mr George Norgate, of Poor Man's Valley, were ordered at Nelson by Mr Robinson, S.M., to receive -.ix "-trokea with a birch rod for abeconding and six strokes for theft. Two other boys were sentenced to six strokes each and the charge against another was dismis=ec!.

At the Oxford Magistrate's Court on Monday au old-age pensioner named Wilkie, a German, was sentenced to 14 days' hard labour and ordered to Tofund £11, the amount of pension, improperly obtained by false representations. The proprietors of the Timaru Woollen Mills (Messrs Lane, Lillico. Walker, Crosby, and M'Rae) recently purchased the Aehbmton .Woollen Mills, agreeing %t the tua«

of the purchase that a dissolution of partnership should take place. The dissolution took place this morning, when Messrs Laneand Walker purchased th© sole right of the Ashburtcn mills, and Meesre Lillico, M'Rae, and Crosby bought the interest of Messrs Lane and Walker in the Timaru mills. Both mills will henceforth be carried on as separate institutions by the new owners. Tne Ashburton mills will commence work early next month. On Saturday afternoon James Burns an«?. Joseph Fogoan, prisoners in the Lyttelton Gaol, made a desperate assault on Warder Clung, blackening his eye and breaking a tooth. Burns, w"ho is serving a sentence of 14 years for attempted robbory under arms at Wanganui, had just been sentenced _to three days' confinement for threatening Ching, and was being taken across a yard to the cell when the assault occurred. Several prisoners who were in the yard crowded round, hindering the officials. Mr Clearly (gaoler) and other warders went to Ching's assistance. Mr Clcary collared % Burns, and Fogoan surrendered to him. A prisoner named Heatly, who obstructed the warders, was also locked up. The appearance of the sea serpent off the Australian coast has been further confirmed fry an officer of the Union St<jam Ship Company's s.s. WhancToe, which came to Lyttelton. from Newcastle on the 23rd. Mr Jeomans, the second officer of the steamer, is positive that he beheld the creature in ■broad daylight less than 100 yards from the steamer. He stated that about 3 p.m. on< July 6, when the Whangape was going from Devonport to Sydney, and was between Capo Everard and Gabo Island, he wae on tho bridge. He saw in the water, on the etarlioartl 6ide, about 80 yards from the steamer, a large snake-like creature swimming vigorously i« a direction opposite to that in which the Whangape was proceeding It appeared to be about 50ft long, and was black in colour, with a head resembling in ciz r and shape that of a seal. It was furnished with large fin-like appendages, or flappers, of which there appeared to be two. Mr Yeomans watched it for a few minutes while it pursued its way with undulating motion. It was about seven miles off -shore. He scouted the idea that what he saw could have 'been floating logs or seaweed, because, as ho says, the thing was plainly alive. The weather was fairly clear, and there was only a moderate eea running. On arriving at Newcastle shortly afterwards th© officers of the Whangape learned that the serpent had been seen from the c.c. Chil'.agoe in the same vicinity as that in which it was seen by Mr Yeoinaos. Tho Canterbury College Board of Governcrs considered a motion on Monday that exhibitions ot free tuition at high schools be granted to all candidates who gain 50 per cent. or more pi the total munbei of mafks obtainable at the echolarahlp examinations of the Board of Education." The Governors have not yet finally dealt with the question, but will wait for a report from the College Commute*.

Dr Evans, who is in charge of the Chemical Department of Canterbury College, has written to the Board of Governors explaining why he has sent orders for apparatus to Germany instead of England. He makes a strong case out against English manufactur?r?, who, he says', are unreliable and slow, while the English articl« is inferior to the German. He alto says it is much cheaper to get apparatus from Germany, especially when large numbers of small articles are. ordered.

The engine of the train to Waikari struck a cow near Chaney's corner, and ' partially left the raiU. '.The lino was blocked, but no damage was done The passengers were uninjured.

The Waimate Hospital Trustees m«*t tho South Canterbury Hospital Board ou Monday t:> peek a separation from the Litter body. They suggested dividing the Otaio Riding, but tho board would not agree to this. After a long discussion the board agreed to make the Makikihi Ri\er the boundary, claiming that this meant a sacrifice of £130 of their latcs in faiour of Waimate.