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South Canterbury Times, Issue 5004, 11 May 1889, Page 2

The Sydney Morning Herald, which is said to return a profit of about £BO,OOO a year, has just passed into the hands of Mr j. R. Fairfax and his three sons, Charles, Geoffrey, and James. Mr E. Boss Fairfax, the younger brother of Mr J. R. Fairfax, has sold out his share, and means to settle down in England. It is said that a million sterling was lately offered for the paper without leading to business.

At Quirindi, New South Wales, a marker has recovered £350 from a volunteer for being shot through the leg by the latter. The ‘•cease firing” had sounded, but the rifleman was either too intent on his aim to hear it, or too anxious to complete his score to heed. The British Jack Tar has become a very thrifty person. The Naval Savings Bank shows every year an increased number of deposits, and largely increased average value. One ship of the Royal Navy, lately paid off from China, had over £IO,OOO due to the crew.

New Caledonian papers report that a steam sloop engaged in the timber trade in the Isle of Pines has been seized by five escaped convicts, who put out to sea in her and got clear off. She had been loft in charge of a Kanaka, whom the marauders stupified with drink and deposited in a drunken slumber on the beaih. The vessel contained an ample supply of provisions, as she had eight days’ rations o board for two of the camps. Aa M. Houetfe, the Inspector of Works in the South Bay, where the sloop was lying, is considered to have displayed great laxity of conduct in the matter, the penal authorities have ordered him to pay £2BO, being the estimated value Urn repeal.