NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3312, 13 November 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mr J. H. Sutter, addresses the electors of Pleasant Point to-morrow evening. The collections in Christchurch last Sunday (Charity Sunday) realised MOO. Attention is drawn to an edvertisement before the leader of Messrs Messiter, Power and Orannitch, who have opened a new boot shop in Main North Road, There was a crowded meeting in Knox Church, Dunedin, last night, in commemoration of the birth of Martin Luther. All denominations were represented. A similar meeting was held in Invercargill. Messrs P. Sinclair, Mncpherson, D. Stuart, J. Meikle, and P. L ? gertwood have been appointed to prepare a programme for the entertainment to be given by the Calc, donian Society on January 1, Tbe use of the Theatre has been secured. The testing of the Queen of Beauty mine at Makara took place yesterday. Tbe referees were Messrs J. 0. Harris, of the “ New Zealand Times,” and Mr H. Blundell, of the “ Evening Post.’’ Two mining experts were also present. Twenty-one dishes of stuff were washed with unsatisfactory results, only a few specs of gold being obtained. The Gas Company was again the subj .ct of municipal facetiousness last night, In the course of the debate on a proposal to remit a water rate, the Mayor remarked, meditatively,—"l don’t think the Gas Company would remit a rate, now.” “Ohl yes they wouldl” exclaimed Cr Sutter with vivacity, “ Your Worship takes far too unfavorable a view of the Gas Company.” The Council smiled iu a body.

“ Hercules ” is kept pretty busy on the Breakwater now, raising displaced blocks, and placing foundation blocks for the new structure. The contract will take two years to execute, the Ist November 1885 being the date on which it is to be completed. Had it not been that a new crane has to be constructed and a block-yard as already described, eighteen months or even less would have sufficed lor the work. Those who are dissatisfied with the management of gas works by private companies urge that, the Municipality of the town should take them over. This was done in Dunedin some years ago, but now there is a strong feeling in favor of their being disposed of again to private proprietory. A correspondent of the "Dunedin Star’’says :—For years past the mismanagement by the Corporation of the City Gasworks has imposed on the citizens and gas consumers grievous losses and pairful inconveniences.

A pleasing episode in journalism has occurred in Dunedin. In connection with the recent suicide of Flora Webb in that city, the “Evening Star,” prior to the inquest, made certain remrrks calculated to convey to the public mind, an impression that domestic unhappiness had some, thing to do with the sad occurrence. At the inquest, the Coroner animadverted severely upon the conduct of the “ Star" in making these comments or statements. The “ Star” pub li .shed the remarks in full, while the “ Times” and “ Herald” omitted all mention of the castigation receiv d by their rival,

Application for the admission of Mr W. S. Staite as a solicitor was made at the sitting of the Court of Appeal yesterday Counsel informed their Honors that since he had been struck olf the roll, Mr Staite had taken up his residence in Christchurch and had conducted himself in a satisfactory manner, of which fact two or three legal gentlemen and clergymen of Christchurch had testified in writing. Mr Chapman appeared for the Wellington Law Society, and objected to the application bjing granted unless separate affidavits as to the behavior of Mr Staite were made. Their Honors thought the request of the Society a reasonable one, and Mr Shaw agreed to obtain the affidavits required. The Lyttelton Naval Brigade’s new cutter was christened on Saturday by the Governor, The Press gives the following account of it: —On the arrival of Sir William Jervois at port on Saturday, His Excellency was asked to christen this the first of the corps’ purchases in the line of vessels for war purposes, and quaintly named her Ye Fayre Childe. As Capta n Fairchild, of the Government steamer Hinemoa, was present at the moment, the happy thought of the Governor found expression in a hearty laugh. The pretty lines of the boat and her genera’ y pleasing appearance in the water quite entitled her to the term “ fayre,” as her size from a gunboat point of view warranted the other title.

Dunedin is in the dumps, the “ Otago Daily Times ” asks Why should the Otago Agriculture. Show play second fiddle to the Canterbury one ? Or if it must be inferior, why should it be so very inferior as it is ? It certainly is not the fault either of the committee or Mr James; Of late there seems to have been a want of “go ” about the people of Otago as compared with their Canterbury neighbours. Here is Christchurch holding its third exhibition within four years ; its agricultural shows arc the best in Australasia ; its Museum is the best ; and we of Otago vainly look around for some sign of progress in the community. The success of the Dunedin Orchestral Society in Christchurch is the one brilliant exception.

Several complaints recently made respecting the treatment of patients at the Wellington Hospital, resulted in an interview taking place between the Colonial Secretary and Dr Hammond, the Superintendent. The upshot of the conference was that Dr Hammond has decided to resign.

The following gentlemen were elected members of tbe Otago Harbor Board ; Messrs Thomson and C. Barnes for Dunedin ; for the suburban municipalities, Captain Scott, R.N. ; for the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Donald Reid; for Port Chalmers, Messrs Elder, Mills and Thomson ; Mr Fish retired from the contest and Captain Scott beat Mr Larnaoh.

This morning about 9 o’clock a ketchrigged yacht belonging to Mr James Brown and lying in the harbor, broke away from her moorings, and after dodging about in the harbor for a few minutes, she was taken by a current past the end of the breakwater right out to sea. The accident is generally ascribed to a weak shackle in the mooring chain, but the gyrations of the little craft showed the strength of the prevailing currents. She was formerly one of the Duke of Sutherland’s boats.