MEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3347, 24 December 1883, Page 2

MEWS OF THE DAY.

John Whiteside, of Eangiora, attempted suicide on Saturday by cutting his throat with a dinner knife. He has been arrested.

Charles Bright the free-thought lecturer, with Mrs Bright who also lectures, will shortly arrive in Dunedin, where they will remain for some months.

On Saturday night in Christchurch there was an open air meeting of the unemployed to organise a Working Men’s Protection Society, but it was very thinly attended.

The correct insurances of Watt's Sandridge hotel. Sydenham, burned down on Saturday morning were:—On the building £ISOO in the National (£SC9 of which is reinsured in the Union) ; stock, &0., £6OO in the Australian Mercantile Union.

A stroll through town on Saturday evening enabled one to note the attractions displayed in the windows of the tradesmen; the confectioners and fruiterers having decorated their windows with special taste and profusion. Donald Dinnie passed .through Timaru by the express train to Dunedin on Saturday. He is to compete at the Caledonian Society’s sports there on New Year’s Day. The famous champion is the observed of all observers wherever he goes, being an abnormally muscular man.

The Waimati Public School broke up for the holidays on Thursday last, end the gaily decorated school was quite filled with the children and their friends. The Eev. Messrs O. Coates, McKee, Griffin, with Mr Stewart, M.H.E., and Mr Ward, Head Master, took part in the proceedings. The Christmas Carols at St. Mary’s Church last evening, attracted a numerous congregation. The carols sung were “ See Amid the Winter Snow,” “Good King Wenoeslas,” " The Kings of Orient," and “ The First Noel.” They wIP. be repeated to night, and jjthero will be a vigil service at 1 o’clock.

A match was played last week between the Standard and Crusader Cricket Clubs, in the Public School grounds. It was begun on Tuesday evening and ended at dusk on Friday, the members being able to attend only in the evenings. The match resulted in a victory for the Crusaders by one Innings and 53 runs to spare. G. Ellis captained the Standard and J. Lawrenson the Crusaders.

Mr Peter Cunningham’s cups, won at the Metropolitan Agricultural and Pastoral Association Show were on Saturday presented in the Art Gal'ery of the Christchurch Exhibition, to Messrs Boag, Howland and Duncan, There was a large attendance, and after the ceremony a number of friends met at a champagne luncheon.

In the Supreme Court, Gisboue, judgment has been given for the Native Land Company in the action brought by the natives to upset a conveyance of certain land, Leave was reserved to move the Court at Wellington to reverse the judgment on law points. Four of the nine native plaintiffs asked that a final judgment might be given at once, leaving the lawyers to fight out the law points on their own account.

The Committee of the Caledonian Society at a meeting on Saturday evening at the Qrosvenor Hotel, accepted the tender of Messrs Dunne and Watson, for £163 for the gates on the two days of the forthcoming sports. The Artillery Band will play at the Sports, and on New Year’s Night there will be a grrnd Caledonian concert in the Theatre, for which all the best talent available from Christchurch to Camara has been secured, The most strenuous efforts are being made to ensure its success. The Banks in Timaru will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday next, the 25th and 26th inst. —[Anvr.]