NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3334, 8 December 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A sawmill at Kawakawa, Auckland, has been burned down.

The frozen meat by the s.s. Fcnstanton arrived in London in good condition.

Ye Olde Bnglyshe Fayre at Wellington has as yet netted nearly £ IOOO . It will be closed to-night.

A man named Peter Harper baa been committed lor trial, in Auckland, for stabbing a boarding-house keeper named Mrs Rogers. A boat-builder named Ambrose Ricketts age 76, was found dead in bed on Thursday at Nelson. A verdict of death from heart disease was returned at the inquest. At the Appeal Court yesterday an order was made reinstating Mr Staite, of Canterbury, a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court. The remaining judgments will be delivered on Monday morning.

Attention is directed to the advertise* meat o! W. Collins and 00., announcing the sale of privileges on Monday in connection with the Timaru Tradesmen’s Racing Club meeting.

An inquiry into the wreck of the barque India was held yesterday at Auckland, before Mr Smith, B'M., and Captain Frater, Nautical Assessor. After hearing the evidence, the Court reserved judgment.

Attention is drawn to an important advertisement in another column re 0. Battery orders. The Battery will fire for the District prizes on Friday next, and for the Ordnance prize on Monday 17th inst. Boron Neilson, of Masterton, has lodged a complaint before the Resident Magistrate at Wellington against the Burnham Industrial School, He alleges that three of his children who recently left that school were discharged dirty and ill-clad. The Agricultural show at Palmerston yesterday, was very successful. Messrs Cowan and Gemmel, respectively, took the leading prizes. During the show a boar got out of its pen and inflicted a gash nearly a foot long on a boy’s log, cutting it to the bone.

The Doric leaves Home on 13th, and the Fenstanton on 21st inst., for New Zealand. The gold medals presented to the High School Board by Messrs P.W. Hutton, A Go to be competed for by boys and girls in the branches of education known as Commercial and Domestic, were won by Henry J. Maclean, and Jessie Diamond, respectively, at a special examination. His Worship the Mayor in speaking at the distribution of prizes at the High School yesterday, caused a hearty laugh by one facetious remark. He said some of the pupils would grow up to be doctors and lawyers; and, he would add, some even mayors.” This pleasantry caused a hearty and general laugh.

The funeral of the late Mr W.J.W.Hamilton at Christchurch yesterday, was very largely attended. The Primate conducted the burial service and the representatives of the Educational and ecclesiastical bodies with numbers of the general public attended. The weather is fair and the bar smooth at Greymoutb. Owing to all the tracks and available storage being full the coal mines are at a standstill to-day. The Coal Fit Heath is now putting out 140 tons of coal daily, Tbe want of miners limits operations. Over 150 men have found work at Brunnerton dating the last few weeks.

Captain Jackson Barry writes to the “ Otago Daily Times” from Gisborne, giving a glowing account of Poverty Bay. He closes his letter by describing a “ spread” that was given him and of which he evidently retains a pleasant recollection. He says—"A more jovial party I never met. They made good speeches, sang good songs, and were no less good in doing ample justice to the flowing bowl. 1 was called upon to reply to the toast of " Our Visitors,”and I also sang "The death of Nelson*" The pressmen and " leading citizens” all treated the Captain well, except the unfortunate local reporter who criticised his lecture, and he disposed of that impertinent person by horsewhipping him.

The stranded steamer Triumph is likely to break up. Efforts are being directed towards keeping tbe vessel on the rocks in order to save tbe remainder of her cargo, machinery, etc, and an anchor has been thrown ont forward to assist in keeping the vessel in her present position. Pumping operations have continued. None of tbe fittings of the machinery have yet been removed, tbe reason being that the ship has been only insured against total loss. There is not the slightest doubt that thousands of pounds’ worth of fittings might have been removed to a place of safety, and principal amongst tbe property, the Haslam refrigerator, which could all have been taken away since Monday or Tuesday.