NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3370, 22 January 1884, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The latest hypothesis about the red sunsets is that the earth is passing through the tail of a comet.

According to the": Rev. J. Berry, the manufacture of decanters has been seriously affected by the success of the Blue Ribbon Army. The celebrated Angelique Therasse, the heroine of the stolen dolman and of several animated Parliamentary debates, is now resident at Hawera, where she is reported to be well and thriving: Professor Strong, of Melbourne, intends to visit Glasgow and Rome, and to study educational matters. This is visiting “ opposite poles,” with a vengeance.

Two men named Welsh have been committed for trial at Auckland on a charge of brutally assaulting a male relative. The New Zealand Shipping Company have been advised that their new steamer, Ruapehu arrived at Tenetiffe on Thursday last, and left the same day for New Zealand.

An official enquiry into the stranding of the barque Fusilier has not yet been held. The delay is attributable to the Captain wishing it to be held in Wellington, instead of Wanganui.

Mr Speight, the newly-appointed Chair, man of the Victorian Railway Board, is a widower with 10 children, says the Auckland "Star.” It is difficult to see what interest this item of news can have for the general public. It should be related to the Ladies’ column.

Sergeant Andrew Clark of Auckland was brutally assaulted by Michael Dugan of the ship Turakina, whilst endeavoring to effect his arrest for a breach of the Seamen’s and Shipping Act. Dugan had to be placed in irons during the voyage. Two constables assisted Clark to take him to the lock-up. Some members of the Hospital Committee (says the “ Thames’, Star ") have a peculiar idea of the fitness of things. Evidently filled with the laudable desire to save Government funds, they went to lump their medical service with supplies, and call for medical attendance as well as for tea, sugar, meat, &c. It is only rational to suppose that if this course be followed, the lowest tenderer, irrespective of capability, will be successful, and the unfortunate patients will have to suffer from such folly.

It is denied that the young man Ward hurt on the Auckland wharf on Saturday, is a son of Judge Ward.

The revenue of the Auok.and Harbor Board during the year exceeded the estimate by £IOOO, Jas; Meinister, alias Morton, a gumdigger, out his throat and then drowned himself at Kaiho.

The equal dividend for the year declared to Presbyterian ministers in Otago from the sustentation fund is £224 4s 3d, which is the largest yet attained. In the case, E. O. Jones, Engineer to the Wellington Harbor Board v. J. Duthie, member of the same, for alleged defamation of character, damages £2OOO, a nonsuit has been entered.

At an adjourned inquest at Auckland on the body of W. Bartlett Langbridge, a verdict of 11 Found dead, shewing the effects of serous apoplexy caused by

cessive drinking,” was returned, A post ■mortem examination revealed extensive disease of the internal organs. The Hon Mr Mitchelson, Minister for Public Works, has informed a deputation of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce that he recognised the necessity for a double of railway to Penrose. Plans were now being prepared for an alternate line to Penrose, yia Hobson’s Bay, Yesterday at Auckland, the Bev. W. Tebbs made a presentation, on behalf of Miss Walker, sister of the late Professor A. Walker, of a gold medal and framed portrait of her brother, to each of the lads, W. A, Mayfield, and W. F. and P. L. Steward, who attempted to rescue him, as well as Professor Tucker.

The Government have received a despatch from the Imperial Government to the effect that a supplemental/ charter has been issued granting and declaring that degrees in science conferred by the University of New Zealand shall be recognised as academical distinction, and that rewards of merit are entitled to rank according to precedence and consideration with those of the United Kingdom and in the British Colonies and possessions.

A north-west gale with heavy rain has lasted uninterruptedly at Wanganui, for 24 hours, and there is no sign of its abatement. The weather is bitterly cold. Gloomy accounts as to its effect upon the growing crops come in on every side. The destruction to grain in some parts of the district, especially northwards up the coast, is so great, that farmers deem it useless to out the wheat, and have turned cattle into the fields to consume it as fodder. The ory of scarcity of labor is now changing into anxiety as to how the laborers can be employed during the autumn and winter. It would seem, says the “ Sydney Herald’> that the Government of New Zealand looks better after its immigrants than does the Government of New South Wales. Some time ago the ship Oxford arrived at Port Nicholson with immigrants from Plymouth. There were eight cases of typhoid fever during the voyage, of which two were fatal. The Government at once appointed a Royal Commission to inquire into the origin and existence of the disease on board the ship. .Had the Oxford come to Sydney, instead of Wellington, half the passengers might have died, and no enquiry would have been made by our paternal Government, and the only notice taken of the matter would have been the Health Officer’s report.