NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 8, 9 June 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

English Suez Mail.—The mail arrived in harbor this morning by the s.s. Lady Bird.

The Educational Rate.—Very novel objections have from time to time been made against the payment of the Educational rate, but none more so than two of the objections out of three summonses heard this morning in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The first objected to pay the rate on religious grounds ; the second that he never owed the Superintendent anything; and the third stated his objection as follows—" Your Worship : I beg to take this opportunity of publicly protesting against this rate, as I consider it to be an infringement of the liberty of the British subject." Judgment was given against the defendants in all the cases.

His Wobship's Official Expenses.— The voucher for £lB9 3s 6d, official expenses incurred by his Worship the Mayor caustd considerable discussion in the City Council last night. Originally a memo for £l5O expenses incurred at the late Mayoral banquet had been laid before the works committee, but that august body wanted "items." An amended account was then submitted which showed that if that amount had been passed, his Worship would have had personally to pay £39 3s 6d. The Council did not object to pay the sum out of the £3OO a-year voted to his Worship for official expenses but were at a loss to what account to debit it. Cr Jones facetiously suggested Drainage, as there had been considerable drainage on the occasion of the banquet. This was strongly objected to by Cr Lane, as being a dishonest course. Cr Ick felt that posterity would demur to paying for the eating and drinking of the present generation beyond the amount of one-third. Eventually it wa3 determined that the ratepayers should be granted the privilege of paying the whole amount, and it was passed and charged to the general account. Accident.—lt was reported in town today that Mr C. Newton, of Messrs Newton and Ford, had met with a very serious accident last evening. Full particulars have not reached us, but it is said that when he was returning home his horse shied on the Papanui road and then fell, throwing Mr Newton and partly falling on him. He was conveyed home, and was in very great agony this morning. It is feared that some of his ribs are broken. A messenger arrived in town this morning for medical assistance. Fire Brigade Practice.—The adjourned practice of the companies stationed at the Lichfield station took place last evening, with a full muster. The Deluge occupied a position at the tank in front of Matheson's Agency, and the Dreadnought in the Drillshed yard, where some of the members were exercised in hose drill. After the practice had extended over an hour, a return was made to the station.

Financial Statement. —The Provincial Secretary will make his financial statement this evening in the Provincial Council. The Secretary for Public Works has also a notice on the order paper that the House go into committee to consider the estimates for public works. Siamese Circus.—This place of amusement was crowded last evening, when a very good programme was gone through satisfactorily, the Japanese particularly coming in for a large share of applause. To-night a change of programme is announced.

Mr Gourlay's Entertainment. —There was a capital house at the Theatre Royal last evening, when Mr, Mrs, and Miss Gourlay gave their entertainment —" Mrs McGregor's Levee." The various characters which appear in this sketch were capitally pourtrayed by Mr Gourlay, especially that of Needle Tam, which was given with much humor and pathos. Mrs Gourlay sang several songs very well indeed, notably " Kate O'Shane," which was loudly applauded. Miss Minnie Gourlay sang two songs and was encored. Altogether the entertainment was very successful. The Gourlays appear again this evening. The Museum. —The Board of Governors of the Canterbury College will meet on Thursday next at four p.m., to consider the question of opening the Museum on {Sundays.

Divorce Court.—We learn from the Wellington " Evening Post " of June Ist that in the case of Barnett v Barnett and another the Court granted the decree for dissolution of marriage, the co-respondent to show cause next sitting day why he should not be ordered to pay the costs of the case. Novel Sale.—At the Oddfellows' Hall, yesterday, Mr Hargreaves submitted to public competition a series of, perhaps, the most peculiar " lines" ever coming under the hammer of an auctioneer. It included most of the notable personages .of our time —in wax—amongst others, her Majesty the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the original Hermit of the Vale, looking, however, somewhat different from Miss May in the same character in " Genevieve de Brabant." But this was not all, for the collection also comprised a number of noted persons—in quite a different sphere—who had in their time caused twelve of their countrymen considerable inconvenience, and last, but not by any means least, the mummy chief, upon whose supposed history Dr Carr discoursed learnedly and eloquently a few days back. The attraction of a " free show," with the certainty of plenty of amusement, drew a large crowd, the hall being filled during the whole of the time of the sale ; but it was evident that business was—not to a very great extent, at least—at all brisk. In the language of commerce, wax was dull of sale, and mummies mo Fed off slowly. After Mr Hargreaves' eloquence had been exerted in vain to get a buyer for the mechanical models of Sydney Heads and the Hawthorn tree, some most outlandish looking weapons from New Guinea were quitted at fair rates, the purchaser looking anything but pleased at his bargain. A move was then made to the room in which the mummy chief reposed in silent grandeur. Matter of fact nineteenth century business however, and not the enthusiasm of antiquarians, appeared to animate the crowd, and after a good deal of persuasion the magnificent bid of ten shillings was elicited, subsequently under pressure of popular indignation increased by the spirited bidder to 12s 6d, at which price the New Guinea chief was passed in. The wax figures were then offered, but only elicited a sporting bid of 10s each from two gentlemen well known " under the verandah" in Christchurch, who it was stated intended to run the show ala Artemus Ward. Mr Gourlay, however, declined the offer, and the sale concluded, the business done not being very large,

Okain's Bay.—A very heavy shock of earthquake was felt in this district about fifteen minutes before eight o'clock on Saturday morning last. The oscillation was apparently in the direction S. to N., was preceded by a slight rumbling noise, and lasted fully thirty seconds. We have not heard that any damage was caused by it.