NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3788, 28 May 1885, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A private meeting of shareholders in the Colonial Insurance Company was held at Wellington last evening but Press representatives were not admitted.

Two of the Volunteers at Wellington who fired their rifles in the train on Monday hare been placed under arrest by order of the Adjutant,as they are non-commissioned officers.

The Hospital Committee, Greymoutb, having received no replies to telegrams sent to Government asking for funds to carry on the institution till the end of the financial year, June 30th, have resigned in a body. A meeting of subscribers to accept their resignation is called for Wednesday night. The ■ Grey district subscribes he largest amount of voluntary funds to tbe Hospital of any district in New Zealand.

Up to 23rd instant, 189,669 sacks of grain had been received in Timarn ; 137,387 by rail and 50,282 by road. The application of Mr T. Keen for tbe office of ponndkeeper was accepted by the Waimate Borough Council on Tuesday evening. He offered £7 10a per annum for tbe right to collect Pound fees. Or Cameron was elected a member of the Works Committee, vice Mr P, Gaitt, resigned. A meeting of the Hokitika Gas Company took place last evening. There was a large attendance of shareholders. The Auditors’ and Directors’ reports, together with the statements of accounts for tbe year, were read and received. A dividend at tbe rate of 8s per share was declared, which with 8s paid in November, makes 33 per cent for the year. At the annual meeting of the Forbnry Park Land Company, a dividend of 4 per cent, and a bonus of £2 10s was declared and £483 carried forward.

Robert Goodson, who was connected some time ago with a peculiar transaction in horses, was charged yesterday at Dunedin with the larceny of three horses whilst acting as bailee. The case was remanded.

A girl named Isabella Brown, 15 years of age, died suddenly in Dunedin yesterday from an epileptic fit. She died in a few minutes.

The railway works now in progress in Otago are estimated to cost £200,000. There are still 105 men engaged on the defence works at Dunedin and Port Chalmers. The magazines at Forbnry and Lawyer’s heads are completed, and the earth work parapet wall is well advanced. At Taiaroa Heads it is proposed to allow the lighthouse to remain for some months, and proceed with the erection of a barracks to accommodate 40 men. A dray road and landing are also being formed.

Inspector Petrie, of Dunedin, has drawn the attention of the Education Board to the accounts of the peripatetic system of teaching science, as carried out by the Birmingham School Board. He points out that though an elaborate programme of elementary science lessons are prescribed, they have proved anything bnt a success, and suggests that tbe Board should follow the example of Birmingham and establish the peripatetic system for Dunedin and suburbs, and it would gradually extend throughout the country. The first cost at Birmingham was £IOOO, and tbe year’s expenses £SOO and Mr Petrie thinks £6OO a year would keep an establishment in working order here.

At the Benident Magistrate's Court, Temuka on Wednesday, before J, Beswiok, Esq , 8.M., and 8. D. Barker, Esq., J.P., the following civil oases wore heard J. 8. Hayes v. H. Smith, claim £2 12s 6d. Mi Aspinall for plaintiff. Judgment for amount claimed by default. 0. Mathews v. T.Foley, claim £4. Adjourned for the production of an important witness. 0. Matthews v. D. Hefferaan, claim £2 15s. Adjourned on application of plaintiff. 0. Mathews v. F. Toner, claim £6 10a. Defendant paid £6 into Oonrt. Judgment for amount paid into Court; plaintiff to pay costs. J. Hayhurst r. J. Gain, claim £3O 10s, for rent. Judgment for amount claimed and costs. A. Toomey v. K. Cameron, claim £2 10s, and 0. Cliff r. Same, claim £5. Judgment for plaintiff by default in each case.

This is what the “ Sydney Mail” says of the draught stock imported into Sydney from New Zealand :—“The bene market of this city is glntttd with heavy draught stocks We are not astonished by this statement. During the last two or three years New Zealand'horias have been arriving at the rate of about scores per week. Last Monday salesmen advertised for sale daring the present week, 150 head of geldings and mares. It seems to us impossible to advantageously place so many animals. As a matter of fact, the business of importing from Maoriland is overdone. A fresh field must be found for the surplus of our neighbors. There will, of course, remain the ordinary market for horses of good quality ; but Sydney is not likely, at least for many years, to become again the site whereon any kind of' rubbish’ can be shot. We use the term ' rubbish' for the simple reason that a large proportion of sockjwhich the dealers picked up in New Zealand was of the poorest kind. Any equine with a frame opon which the rich grasses of that colony could place fat was considered good enough for New South Wales. In view of the "present condition of the market, further importation would be injudicious,”

Wicked toe Clergymen.—" I believe it to be all wrong and even wicked for clergymen or other poblic men to be led into giving testimonials to quack doctors or vile stuffs called medicines, but when a really meritorious article is made up of common valuable remedies known to all, and that all physicians use and trust in daily, we should freely commend it. I therefore cheerfully and heartily commend Hop Bitters for the good they have done me and my friends, firmly believing they have no equal for family use. I will not be without them.” —Rev. , Washington, D. 0.. U.S.A.