NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3107, 17 March 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Governor fixes Tuesday, 20th inst., as the opening day of the shooting season.

Five insolvencies have taken place in Wellington this week. One is that of Mace a well-known brewer.

-1. Thomas Guthercole, junior, a settler in the Auckland district has been committed for trial for cattle stealing.

The Fire Insurance Association of Auckland will not contribute any further to the maintenance of the Fire Brigade. Madame Simonsen has had a grand benefit in Auckland, The circus shut up for the evening and Macoabe gave his services free.

The Hekateramea Licensing Committee consists of Messrs Studholme, O’Brien, Marton, Hayes, and Douglas. Tawhiao’s secretary has issued a circular to Te Whiti and the whole Maori race, calling meetings of all the tribes, to be held next month at Whatiwhatihoe,

The hon Secretary of the Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals yesterday addressed the Public School children on the object of the Society. The address was much appreciated by the youngsters.

To-morrow, the 10th inst., anniversary sermons will be preached at the Congregational church by the Rev. Mr Grant, of Port Chalmers. There will be a tea meeting and sacred concert on Wednesday evening. Mr Bryce has met the leading chiefs of the kingite country, and received from them permission for the railway survey, which was the other day stopped by natives, to be proceeded with. Her Majesty the Queen will not disallow any of the Acts of the last session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Amnesty Act, the West Goast Peace Preservation Act, and one or two other specials, are assented to by the Queen. Eliza Diedrioh, who was with 'the unfortunate woman Duncan when the latter was drowned a few nights ago at Aucklandi has been arrested for vagrancy, but was released on condition of her clearing out for Sydney.-'

The Oamaru “ Times ” thinks a more frequent inspection of the water race which brings in the borough’s supply is requisite. It thinks so because the body of the man Quayle lay decomposing in the race for a period of ten days. ,■ The Oounties Handicap at the Oamaru Meeting yesterday was won by Mokarakara with Senorita second, and Magician, third. Violin won the St. Patrick’s Handicap, Tasman second, and Marchioness Neil third. The Novel race went to Jeweller, and the Consolation to Marchioness Neil.

The Regatta Committee met last evening, Mr E. Cook in the chair. Subscriptions were announced to the extent of £9O. Mr C. Bourn was appointed Judge, and Mr B. Cook starter. On the motion of Captain Bascand, seconded by Mr Hall, it was resolved—“ That all boats and crews be subject to the approval of the Committee, who reserve to themselves the right to return any entrance moneys they may think proper-, and to disqualify any boat, vessel, person, or crew from entering or competing in the regatta.” After transacting some minor business the meeting dispersed.

Bishop Luck writes to the "Auckland Star” as follows:—In a paragraph in Saturday’s issue I regret to say you have made me pose before the Catholic public in both a false and painful position. Whatever my own views are about the visit of Messrs Redmond—and those can be learned from a letter addressed by me to the President of the Hibernian Society—they arc not such as I seek to impose on any of

Irish diocesans. I regret .my your statements about a pastor' -tremely dressed by mo to my clergy .<*l letter addiSerence of views V •" and about the them, and their in* • myself and supposed paste- . " e “ tion to disregard my say, that sucV, - , u e^ ances - 1 regret, I peared, have apmisa»'- -' ;Cia yat a mo ment when prehensions may give. rise to mi? . understandings. Those statements are untrue. You have mad, e me poge aQ attitude which is mor jt offensive faofch myself and many C /atholica _ an in fine, most alie A to the wishes and the sympathies of r Ay heart.” It i 3 understood that the. i e (te r referred t 0 j n the above is a very lengthy episb’ie, setting forth the Bishop’s reasons for a dvising the Society to refrain from takinr, any steps to support Mr Eedmond’s 'mission. The Hibernian Society adopted a resolution thanking Bishop luck for his letter, but drawing his attention to fr e Society’s rule excluding all political m- a tters from discussion by the Society.

The Artillery Band will, weather permitting, play in front of Mr O'Driscoll’s Hibernian Hotel,Latter street, this evening.

Another “ tale of levant ” is told in Dunedin, A mining and commission agent has made a sudden excursion to Melbourne, and his many enquiring friends fear they will “ never see his face again,” The ballast of the ship Ugglan, consisting of 140 tons of French flint shipped at Bonen, has been bought by the Borough Council and is being spread in the Main South Koad.

A laugh was enjoyed at the District Court yesterday afternoon. Mr Perry objected to Detective Kirby’s giving evidence as to some marks on certain luggaee, contending that sign-boards, luggage, and the like must always be produced in evidence. “According to that, then,” said his Honor “in giving evidence as to the brand on a bullock it would be necessary to produce the bullock himself in Court,” Mr Perry confessed that that this would be somewhat inconvenient.

In Wellington at the Magistrate’s Couit yesterday, before Justices of the Peace, a man named John Bussell was brought up on remand for the fourth time for the larceny of a watch. The accused had been remanded to enable a prisoner to give evidence. Chief Detective Browne intimated to the Bench that since last sitting application had been made for the release of the prisoner Harris, at present undergoing a term of imprisonment, in order that he might give evidence on behalf of the accused, and a reply has been received to the effect that as the witness was not required for the prosecution, the Government did not feel called upon to incur any expense in the matter, particularly as Bussell was represented by counsel. The Bench said they wished to know whether the Government distinctly refused to allow Harris to be present in Court. Mr Browne replied in the affirmative, and in reply to another question from the Bench, said that at last sitting he was led to believe that the man Harris could be brought from gaol if the proper forms were complied with. In dismissing Bussell, the Bench remarked that unpaid magistrates had hitherto been of opinion that Government would assist a prisoner to prove his innocence, but it appeared now that they would do nothing of the kind, which was a very great surprise to many people.