NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2739, 31 December 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The champion outrigger sculling race at the Mercury Bay Regatta, distance miles, was won easily by Carter, of New South Wales, against Floyd, also of New South Wales, and Albert White. The Williamsons are doing a big business in Dunedin, with “ Struck Oil.” , The Will amson Opera Company will follow with “ Patience,” an opera satirising some prominent features of modern English society. “Struck Oil” will be played in Timaru shortly. The Inspector of Police at Hokitika received a telegram from Ross yesterday stating that Allan and Nelly, the two Returning Oflicers who were supposed to be lost down South since December 12, are aaf e and on their way to Ross. The Auckland Magistrate has decided that riding on the platform of a railway carriage ia not riding in the carriage, and therefore that a passenger who remained on the platform could not be said to ride in a wrong carriage.

Mr J. Robson, who has won great praise for his readings from the Press of Australia and of southern New Zealand towns, where he has commenced a tour of the colony, purposes to give the people of Timaru a couple of opportunities of hearing his elocutionary entertainments. Mr Eobson is said to be a reciter of the highest order, and his Shakesperian readings to be intellectual treats. He recites the deepest tragedies of Shakespeare with wonderful effect, and selections from a variety of authors “ from grave to gay,” with equal success. He is besides a talented musician, and sings soprano songs of the most florid composition ,in clever imitation of the phenomenal singers of worldwide repute-, tion. His flexibility of voice u said to be something marvellous.

The wife of Zane, a supposed-to-ba respectable man, recently convicted »t Auckland of wholesale larcenies, has become, insane, and has been sent to the lunatic assylum. At the Timaru Court this morning, bebefore W, C. Beswick, Esq J.P., Alexander Bell, charged with failing to provide hia wife and children with support, was remanded till Jan 4. Charles Kotepahi, charged with larceny at Temuka, was further remanded till Jan 4,' and a first offender was fined 5s for being drunk and dissorderly.

A correspondent of the “ Lyttelton Times" wiring from Notmanby yesterday says All along the coast the Natives complain of want of food. At Tiori, four miles north of Opunake, during the late rough weather, the Natives have been living on cabbage tree and wild pork. The last two days they got fish. These people have no canoes ; they make a moki, or raft of flax sticks, and move out a short distance from the shore to fish. Another plan is to get on a totara log which lies on the beach, and go out on that. At many places fishing has become absolutely necessary, and stormy weather means hunger. Meanwhile the destruction of crops goes on at Parihaka, It is stated the Government does not intend to allow the Natives to starve. Work will probably be given them, such as was found for the unemployed.

Christmas Holidays.—H. Coxhead, having secured the services for the Xmas holidays, of Mr Gamble, for many years head operator with Mr Cherrill, Photographer, Christchurch, is now perpared to execute with despatch, first-class photographs at from 12s fid per doz. A large assortment on hand of Photographic Views and Frames suitable for Christmas presents.— [Advt.]