NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5014, 23 May 1889, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Our Waimate correspondent informs us that some pieces of quartz which have been found on the Gorge Hills have been sent to Wellington, to bo tested for the precious metals.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Waimate, on Tuesday last, before His Worship the Mayor, Mr F. Sloe, and Mr Manchester, J.P.b, Patrick Fogarty and William Shirley, two lads, were charged with stealing a pair of slippers and a whip, the properly of Thomas Cronin, of Painstown. The case was remanded for bearing before the Resident Magistrate next Thursday.

On Thursday and Friday evening* nrxt week, at the Assembly Eooms, the residents o£ Timaru will have an opportunity of hearing the celebrated Payne family of musicians, whose performances in Dunedin during the past week have been creating quite a stir, numbers of people being unable to obtain admission each evening. The family comprises Mr Payne, tenor; Miss lizzie and Nellie Payne, sopranos, violinistes and pianistes; Miss Maud- Payne, contralto, violiniete and pianiate; Mr W, J. Payne, baritone and flautist; and Mr Halph Steele, baritone and pianist. They come from Ballarat, Victoria, of which city they are natives, and have been successful in winning two first prize gold medals at the Welsh Eisteddfod musical competitions held there annually. During the past four years they have made a very successful tour of Australia and Tasmania, being everywhere received with great favour by the Press and public. They arrived at the Bluff on the 15th April, and have been doing a splendid business right along to Dunedin, where our contemporaries speak in the highest terms of praise of their performances. To-morrow being Her Majesty’s Birthday the garrison corps will parade in the morning to fire the customary royal salute and/cm cle joie. The C Battery parade at 9.30 a.m. 1 in marching order—No. 1 drivers, &c., at 9 a m., to harness and hook in ; and the Navals and Hides at 945 a.m. in review order. We have not been able to ascertain for certain where the salute will bo fired. After the parade the 0 Battery will proceed at once to the bluff overlooking the Washdyko lagoon where shot and shell practice, including the annual competition for Mr Sinclair’s challenge cup, will be held. Targets will be erected on the spit between the Washdyke lagoon and the sea, and we need hardly say that the public will do well to avoid taking their walks abroad on the spit to-monow after, say, 11 am. Mr Moss Jonas, agent for the Canton Insurance office, brought under our notice yesterday one of the groat benefits in marine insurance which is a special feature of the office named. Mr I. L. Morris in effecting an insurance paid £74 2s 3d and has Just received advice that as a bonus he has got returned the sum of £l4 16s sd. This in reality means a return of 20 per cent, and as it is likely that 5 per cent more will bo handed back when the accounts are finally adjusted, clients will thus get back 25 per cent of their money, or in other words reap as direct a benefit almost as do the shareholders in the Canton office. The case of Mr Morris does not stand alone, for Messrs Blair, Jonas, Patterson, Clulee, and others, have received bonus warrants for certain sums, which vary in amount in accordance with the total of the premiums paid. The cases cited show the great advantages of insuring in a company whose customers participate in its profits in like manner as do its shareholders.

A meeting of the Waimate Debating Cub was held on Tuesday evening, at tho Library Hall. There were about forty members present. Mr J. C. Adams, the president, was in the chair. Fifteen members were ballotted for and unanimously elected, and several others were proposed to be ballotted for at next meeting. The debate for the evening was “Is a limited monarchy to be preferred to a republican form of government.” Messrs W. H. Beckett and A. Hayes took tbc loading parts, Mr Beckett taking tho affirmative and Mr Hayes tho negative. Both sides of the question were brought out very clearly by the leaders, and a very interesting discussion took place. Tho president, after saying a few words on behalf of monarchy, took tho vote, which resulted in a tie. He then gave his casting vote in favour of Mr Bcckeit’s side. A member suggested that a longer time should bo given to the leaders in debate, as the present time, namely, 15 minutes, was totally insufficient. The president explained that nothing could he done unless a notice of motion were given. A member thought that the system of voting by show of hands was unsatisfactory, and suggested that in future the voting bo done by ballot.

The question of the salaries paid to bank officials was raised at the half-yearly meeting of the National Bank. Mr Zeal, M.L.C., the acting chairman of directors, said that (he statements which had been made in the press and by gentlemen holding high official positions to tho effect that bank clerks wore underpaid, were untrue. Mr Zeal read a return, showing that out of 509 officials in tho employ of the National Bank, five received salaries ranging from £1250 to £ISOO per annum ;10 from £650 to £1230; 35 from £l5O to £650; and 76 from £3GD to £450, This, he claimed, was of itself an answer, so far as tho National Bank was concerned to the charges made. It was also pointed out that while in tho Bank of Scotland probationers commenced at a salary of £lO per annum, witli annual increases of £lO for the three years succeeding, probationers at the National Bank never received less than £4O, and often received £SO par annum, and as soon as an official showed any special fitness for his duties he received substantial increases. Mr B. J. Fink considered that no increase in salaries would entirely prevent fraud 5 and Mr J. M. Prett urged that better accommodation should bo provided for junior clerks at the country branches.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Temuka School Committee was held on Tuesday evening. Present —Messrs K. F. Gray, Blyth, Allan, Rutland, and Story. Mr Gray was voted to the chair. Correspondence was received as under:—From the Education Board, enclosing the summary of attendance returns for the South Canterbury District for the quarter ending 31st March. From the same, a circular intimating that schoolrooms should not be used for any purposes other than ordinary school work or for religious services, without the consent of the board having been first obtained. From the same, notifying the confirmation of the appointment of Miss Phillips as successor to Miss Ladbrooko. From the same, stating that, £ll 7s fid had been placed to the credit of the committee for the quarter ending 30th June. From Mr E. Brown, containing quotation for coal. The headmaster’s report was received and showed Average roll: 19T6 boys, 1696 girls, 364-3 total; average attendance : 142 - 4 boys, 137 girls, 279 4 total; highest attendance : 163 boys, 146 girls, 309 total. The report also gave a list of stationery required, and enclosed £1 4s, stationery fees received to date. The quantity of pencils, etc, used was commented upon by the members present, and it was resolved 11 That in the opinion of the committee greater care should bo exorcised in the use of load and slate pencils, and that the toaohers in each class should bo entrusted with the distribution and collection of the same.” The headmaster also enclosed a list of those children whoso attendances wore very much below the average and the secretary wa's instructed to

take the necessary steps to have the notices served upon the parents. Accounts amounting to £G Gs 8d were passed for payment. It was decided to obtain from the headmaster a list of those persons who had not subscribed to the incidental fund. Mr W. Story was appointed visitor for the month, and the meeting terminated. The fuwarrow islands, which have just been annexed by Great Britain, constitute a group four in number, situated about midway between the Samoan and Society Islands, in latitude 13dcg 6min to 13deg 15min, and longitude 163dcg 23min to 163 deg 31min. They were discovered by a Russian warship of the same name in September, 1814, and are uninhabited. These islands do not appear to be of any value for settlement; hut from their position they offer considerable strategic advantages, and regarded as a coaling depot on the Panama route their acquisition by Great Britain is highly satisfactory.

The Malaura Ensign reports that Miss Sarah Macpherson, of Wendon, had a miraculous escape from death on Thursday last. The young lady, who is 19 years of age, went to a paddock to catch a horse, taking with her a long plough rein for a halter. As she was trying to adjust the rope after catching the horse, so that it would form a headstall, the animal jumpod suddenly, and that portion of the rope lying on the ground got twisted round Miss Macpherson’s ankle. The horse cleared away at a smart pace, dragging Miss Macpherson over the ground. Her screams attracted the attention of her brother and 1 father working in an adjoining paddock, but the horse becoming excited by the galloping of a number of young animals in the paddock continued its mad gallop, dragging the young lady over the ground. A five-feet wire fence with a barbed wire on top. was cleared by the horse, and the young lady was dragged through, three of the wires being broken. The horror of tho father and brother who were following the animal at this stage can be better imagined than described. After about two miles had been covered, the brother caught the rope, and the father coming up managed to cut it and release his daughter, whose clothes were torn to ribbons. Strange to say, Miss Macpherson, though bruised and cut about in a shocking manner, escaped broken bones, and even her ankle, round which the rope was twisted seven times, was not dislocated. She was taken home and attended to, and now lies in a precarious condition, but quite conscious. The verdict of all who have used he •'Jumbo” brand Baking Powder, is that it makes light, nutritious, and digestive bread, cakes, pastry, etc. As the ingredients are of the finest qualities, and no injurious elements used in the preparation, bread, etc., made with this [powder will keep fresh and moist longer than any other powder. Ask for Anderson’s "Jumbo ” brand Baking Powder. —[Auvt.] Certainly the best medicine known is Sanubb and Sons’ Eucalypti Exteact. Test its eminently powerful effects in coughs, colds, influenza ; the relief is instantaneous. In serious cases, and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy—no swelling —no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, swellings, etc. ; diarrhoea, of the kidneys, and urinary organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over the globe ; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at Internatioijl Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article and reject all others. FAdvs.]