South Canterbury Times. SATURDAY, JAN. 3, 1880. NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2116, 3 January 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. SATURDAY, JAN. 3, 1880. NEWS OF THE DAY.

A Court for granting Slaughter-house licenses will be held at the E.3VX. Court on Monday Jan, 5. Two sharks were caught off the breakwater last night. The detachment of armed constabulary lately stationed in Timaru left for Lyttelton by the early train this morning, whence they proceed to Wellington, A man named Buckley sustained a serious injury yesterday while working at the engine shed excavation. A quantity of earth suddenly fell on the poor fellow completely burying him beneath it. On his removal to the hospital Dr Hogg ascertained that his spine was injured. Some time ago we recorded the advent of the steam policeman on a northern railway. Another instance of his efficiency has just been telegraphed from Auckland. On Hogmanay, an inebriated Aucklander, stood on the line near the range as the train came along. He staggered clear of the engine, and then caught hold of the hand-rail of the carriage. He was dragging along, but driver Cook slackened the speed and threw the man clear of the rails. The plate-layers seized the eccentric individual, who said he was one of the Kelly gang, and handed him over to the police.

. On Thursday James Kelso, a young lad residing at St. Albans, near Christchurch, was arrested on the charge ,of causing the death of a lad named W. R. Hobbs’, by injuries inflicted on the night- of Christmas Eve. These two lads, it seenis, belong to mobs of boys who live in St Albans, and some months ago they quarelled with each other. The night in question ■the two parties were in towu, and Kelso and deceased, who were among them, renewed their quarrel in front of Poole’s shop, Colombo street, Hobbs then went on towards home, and Kelso is alleged to have followed and knocked him down. Hobbs was then taken home by two men, with his jaw, temple, and arm hurt. He was better next day, and went to the cricket ground. Subsequently he complained of his head being very bad, and Dr Prins was called in. He became worse and died on Thursday morning. At the inquest a verdict of “ Died by misadventure ” was returned and Kelso was discharged.

i*- Akaroa was beautifully illuminated on Christmas evef ’On that night 100 cases of Paraffin oil, stored near the Akaroa Lighthouse; were, destroyed by fire. Nothing is known as to the cause. Luckily the store house was some distance from the

main building, and the Lighthouse escaped. |. -The man Elisha Harris, who was stabbed near the region of the heart by a night prowler in Dunedin is likely to recover. By dismissing some of its officers, the Auckland Harbor Board has effected a saving in its expenditure of £650 per annum.

A genuine Captain Ginger, not the hero of “ Our Girls,” has turned up in New Zealand. Captain William Stanley Ginger has been appointed to. the command of the Kakaramea Rifles.

The s.s. Rotomana is obtaining a celebrity for something besides rapid passages. On New year’s day she made an excursion to to the harbor of the Great Barrier, six miles from Auckland, with 35 on board. She was piloted by a master of long experience in trading to the island. When leaving Port. Fairy she struck on a rock, but passed safely over, and returned to Auckland without making water. It is believed she is not damaged, but divers have been sent down to examine her. She leaves for the South.

A carbine match between the Nelson Artillery Cadets and the Wellington Artillery Cadets was fired at Wellington on Thursday and was won by the former by one point.

In Dunedin, New Year’s Eve passed off more quietly, than it has done for years. Rowdyism is evidently on the decline.

An enterprising assassin named Gonzales Galican endeavored to terminate 1880 and the young King of Spain in company by firing a joistol at His Majesty as he was entering the Royal Palace at Madrid for the purpose of wishing his second bride the compliments of the season. The shot missed the King, but the public executioner is not likely to miss Gonzales.

The sixteen convicts who seized a schooner recently, at New Caledonia and sent the captain ashore in a dingy have been recaptured, and restored to the bosom of their sorrowing comrades in irons.

The flag of defiance in the shape of a broad neckerchief of a bright orange color was sported by a tall raw-boned resident at the Caledonian Sports, on New Year’s day. There were a few friendly remonstrances, but as “ touch it if you dare ” was the inevitable reply of the wearer, nobody cared to interfere.

Next week Chiarini’s famous circus will arrive in Timaru, when it will open for a brief season of two days. As Chiarini’s is one of the largest and best circuses travelling, everyone should seize the opportunity of of seeing its wonders. Special railway arrangements have been made for the accommodation of visitors. A special train will leave Timaru for Albury and intermediate stations at eleven o’clock on Tuesday, evening, and for Waimate on Wednesday evening, in each case returning immediately after arrival at destination.

Reminiscences of the Victorian bushranging days of the Black Forest, when Black Douglas ruled the road between Aiken’s Gap and Sawpit Gully, were recalled recently at the Melbourne Police Court, when an aged blind man named Thomas Flood, for the last score of years has subsisted on the charity of the public, was charged, for about the dozenth time, with vagrancy. Flood stated that he had about 2oz. of shot and slugs in his face and head, which had been lodged there by the fowling-piece of one of Black Douglas’s gang in an encounter with a party of diggers who were returning from Forest Creek after having made their “pile.” Flood, it appears was one of the lucky diggers, and resisted the robbers, who eventually retreated without obtaining their expected booty. Since that time Flood has earned a precarious livelihood by begging. The prisoner, whose story was corroborated by Mr W. H. 'Whelan, the clerk of the Court, was sent to gaol for. 12 months.

Chiarini’s Circus has been doing an immense business in Christchurch, the large marquee being Crowded night after night. The opening performance will be given in Timaru on Tuesday evening, and special train arrangements have been made for the convenience of country visitors.

No one can suppose (remarks the “Pall Mall Budget) that the steady increase of the Russian squadron of swift cruisers in the Pacific Ocean has been effected with a view of piece in those waters. Russia has no commerce thereabouts worth speaking of, and before the despatch of the vessels recently sent thither she was quite strong enough not only to protect her own intrests, but to inflict considerabla injury upon any antogonist. Neither Afghanistan nor Austro-German arrangements ought to divert public attention in this country from the far East. Whether powerful Russian squadron has been reinforced with a view to the misunderstanding between China and Japan, or whether this has been in order to act promptly in the event of European complications, it equally behoves our Government not to be taken unawares. Ordinary prudence would counsel the immediate strengthening of our altogether insufficient squadron in the Pacific.

The “ Zulus ’’ were brought before the bench this morning. The proceedings commenced at 10 a.m., and were shortly after I p,m. There were nine : prisoners and seven magistrates. The witnesses comprised two orangemen who had lost their scarves in the row, a bootmaker whose evidence was very clear and pointed, and several members of the policy forces The whole of the accused were committed for trial but bail was allowed, and at four ' o’clock they were liberated. By direction of the bench the prohibition under which O’Driscoll’s house has been closed was re-' moved.

An amateur company styling itself the Chicago Juvenile Troupe, appeared on new year’s night at the Queen’s Hall. The entertainment was truly described ; as a variety one, and comprised songs, dances, sketches, and a stump oration. The usual monthly parade for inspection of the No 1 Temuka —Rifle Volunteers — was held at the Volunteers Hall, last evening. Captain Young, was in command, 29 rank and file were in attendance. Afterwards a meeting was held and the following promotions were made .’—Corporal George Woodhead.as Sergeant ; privates Uprichard, Hobbs and Lewis, elected as Corporals.

After the rioters had been disposed of to-day, a sorrowful-looking little man was brought before the Bench charged with creating a disturbance at the Queen’s Hotel. The arresting constable stated that the man was the worse for drink, and that on ejecting him twice from the Queen’s Hotel he returned to the charge exclaiming, •* You put me out because I’m a Catholic, I could beat all the Orangemen in Timaru.” Mr Beetham : It : 3ems you were pot valiant. This is the effect of taking too much on New Year’s Day. See that you behave better in future. This time you can go.