NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 24, 27 June 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Merivale Church. —In consequence of the alteration to the church, the services tomorrow will be held in the school-room. Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge. —A summoned meeting of the above lodge will be held on Monday evening at 7.30 for the transaction of important business. Papanui Entertainment. A soiree and entertainment, in aid of the Papanui library fund, will be held in St Paul’s schoolroom, Papanui, on Thursday, July 2nd, Artesian Wells at Sumner. —The sinking of an artesian well in the township of Sumner has resulted in perfect success, a capital flow having been obtained. Measures are now being taken to sink a second in close proximity. Theatre Royal. —The “ Grif” dramatic company, which has been playing with great success in the southern parts of the colony, will make its debut this evening, in the new drama of “ The Waif of the Streets,” Dedication Festival. —The dedication festival of the Riccarton Church will take place on Monday next, when a concert will be held in the large district schoolroom at 7.30 p.m. Divine service will also be celebrated in the Riccarton Church at 6 p.m. Church Extension Fund. —The Bishop of Christchurch, Primate of New Zealand, is announced to hold services to-morrow at St Thomas’ Church, Byreton, 11 a.m. ; Chapel of Ease, Kaiapoi Island North, 2.30 p.m.; and St Paul’s, Flaxton, 6.30 p.m. The offertories to be devoted to the church extension fund.

Human Skeleton. —lnformation was received at the Police Depot this morning that Mr B. J. Joblin, a farmer at Shirley, when turning over some ground at the back of his house, early this morning, came upon a human skeleton, a little below the surface. The skeleton is perfect and seemed, to have lain in that position for a lengthened time. Further particulars were not given, but Inspector P>ucklcy purposed visiting the place this afternoon.

New Caledonia. —The following intelligence from New Caledonia is published in the “ Sydney Morning Herald” : “ The Sibylle left Brest on the Ist of February, to act as convoy to 290 deportes about to be taken to New Caledonia. She arrived at Oran on the 16 th of February, and left again on the 2nd of March, The Alceste takes the place of the Sibylle at New Caledonia as a man-of-war.”

Time Table. The Government have issued a time table called the “ Combined Australian and New Zealand Time Table, 1874.” It is very neatly printed on a small card, which folds in three. It gives the dates of the arrivals and departures of the San Francisco, Suez, and Torres Straits mails ; the postage rates by those routes for letters, book-packets, pattern parcels, and newspapers ; together with an almanac for the year.

The Basilisk Seizures. —“ The lawyers acting for the owners of ships seized for breaches of the Kidnanmaer ' tlct hy Captain Moresby, of fl '° Basilisk, wore informed by telegram some short time since,” the “ Sydney Empire ” states, “ that the vessels would be restored by the Imperial authorities. Letters in confirmation of the telegrams have been received by the Californian mail. The conditions attached to the restoration are that the owners stay proceedings in appeal, and pay the law costs incurred.” Pigeon Match. —A number of gentlemen met at the Carlton Hotel yesterday afternoon for the purpose of trying conclusions in a friendly pigeon match. The birds having been obtained an adjournment was made to the paddock. The conditions being the ordinary ones of rise and boundary, with three birds to each competitor. Four sweepstakes were contested, one being taken by a well-known amateur, but darkness setting in the other three had to be divided between ties.

Body Found.— -The “ South Canterbury Times” says that, on Thursday morning, as a son of Mr John Irvine, residing near Temuka, was going down to the lagoon opposite his father’s house, he noticed something floating on "the water, and, on information being given to the police, Sergeant Scott went and got it out of the water, when it proved to be the body of Mr John Trainer, who had been missing for the past fortnight. The body was conveyed to the Crown Hotel, and an inquest was to be held yesterday, before B, Woollcombe, Esq., Coroner. The Fire at West Eybeton.—The stacks of cocksfoot grass belonging to Messrs Threlkeld and Guild, destroyed on Tuesday night, it appears were five in number, and of the value already given. It is supposed that the fire was caused wilfully. The night was calm and wet, and as there was a distance of thirty feet between two of the stacks, and in this space a quantity of threshed hay, which was not burnt, the impression is that each of the stacks were set on fire. They were not insured. The threshing had been let to a person in the neighborhood, who had been at work about two days. He states that when he left off work there was no sign of fire. Transit of Venus. —By the last English mail intelligence was received in Wellington, says the “N.Z. Times,” from Sir G. B. Airey, Astronomer Royal, to the effect that the English party of observation appointed to watch the transit of Venus, would arrive in New Zealand during the coming month. The names of the persons comprising the staff were not given, but, as is already well known, they will make the Christchurch station their head-quarters. Six other stations have been appointed in various parts of the colony, Wellington being one, so that in 1 the event of the weather being unfavorable for observation in any particular locality, i accurate observations will be made in another. < The transit will take place on December Oth. ’

GOOD Templarism. —The usual weekly session of the Dauntless Lodge was held last evening, in Gee’s schoolroom. There was a very large attendance ; five new members were initiated and several proposed. A motion was carried that the rule of the lodge with respect to the initiation of new members be strictly adhered to after the commencement of next quarter. A motion was also carried that the lodge take fifty shares in the Good Templar Hall Company, to be vested in trustees for the benefit of the lodge. Brother Hawkins consented to transact all the legal business connected with the lodge gratuitously. The Excelsior Lodge, of Woolston, is making good progress. It is contemplated to hold a tea meeting and entertainment on t he 9th July, on which date the new hall will be opened.

Samoa Rush.— The “ Daily Times ” says : —ln a private letter received by a gentleman in this town from a friend in Auckland the writer states that the Samoa rush is a regular swindle. This bears out to a great extent the telegram we published yesterday. The writer says : —“ The specimens were taken down to Samoa by a Thames waterman for the purpose'of a swindle. They were eventually brought back here, and recognised by the captain of the schooner who took the waterman to Samoa. The boatman, who has returned here, when accused of the deception, fully admitted that the specimens were obtained from the Long Drive Co.” It will thus be seen that the advice we gave to Mr Cole and his party before leaving here was sound, and if acted upon would have saved the party a useless trip to Samoa.

Rata pot Choral Class.—The third concert given by the members of this class took place at the institute on Thursday evening, and was in every respect a success. Every seat in the hall was filled. The performers showed that they had gained much by regular practice since the last concert, and some of the songs it will be seen were encored. The following was the programme : Soli and chorus, “ All hail, Zealaudia !” lady amateur ; pianoforte solo, “ Les Hirondelles,” Miss B. M. Shine ; chorus, “ The Earth is the Lord’s” ; Duo, “ O Lady Moon,” a lady amateur and Mr J. T. M. Smith ; chorus, “ Spring Song,” ; song, Mr W. S, Smith ; Madrigal, “ Down in a Flowery Vale,” ; ballad, “ The Old Armchair,” a lady amateur (encored) ; part songs, “ Give Heed” and “ Stars that Gem” ; serenade, “ Stars of the Summer Night,” Mr J. T. M. Smith ; part song, “ Wedding Song” ; duett, “ The Minute Gun at Sea,” Messrs T. M. Brooke and W. S. Smith (encored) ; glee, “ The Harvesters” ; anthem, “Hear my Cry;” pianoforte solo, “Ocean Spray,” Miss E. M. Shine; song, Mr W. Smith ; chorus, “ Happy are they ; ” dub, “ A Voice from the Waves,” A Lady Amateur and Mr J. T, M. Smith ; anthem, “ Our Soul waiteth for the Lord ; ” ballad, “Wearily Waiting,” Mr T. M. Brooke (encored) ; chorus, “ The flowing Spring ; ” aria, “Di Pescatore,” A Lady Amateur ; part songs, “ The Mourners,” “ The Passing Bell,” and “ Farewell;” song, “Thinkingof Home,” Mr J. T. M. Smith ; chorus, “ Hail to the Chief.” The two pianoforte solos were played with excellent taste, and Miss Shine also played the accompaniment to the songs and choruses. At the conclusion, Mr Smith thanked those present for their patronage, and stated that the class would give a fourth concert in September, on the anniversary of theclass. The National Anthemwas then sung.

Ships op Wak in Australian Ports. —The “ Argus” says “ A despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of the occasional visits of Her Majesty’s ships of war to the capitals of the Australasian colonies has been laid before the Assembly, On the 30th August last a circular was sent from the Colonial Department to the Governors of the various colonies, suggesting that naval officers should sit as members of courts of inquiry into circumstances attending the loss of merchant vessels in colonial waters. In reply to this circular the Marquis of Normanby, Governor of Queensland, sent a despatch, pointing out that whilst the Queensland Government agreed that in certain cases the assistance of a naval officer would be most advantageous, and was willing to accord to him a fitting position as member of any such court, it was nevertheless impossible to obtain the services of an officer, owing to the infrequency of the visits of her Majesty’s ships of war to the ports of the colony. The Secretary of State for the Colonies communicated with the Lords of the Admiralty, expressing the opinion that it was important that her Majesty’s vessels should, as often as possible, show themselves in the neighborhood of the British colonies, and he was certain that their more frequent presence in the ports of the Australasian colonies, other than Sydney, would give great satisfaction to those loyal-and prosperous communities. He trusted that for a short period at least in every year the vaiious Australian colonies would be allowed to benefit by the presence at their capitals of one of her Majesty’s ships of war, and that their lordships would issue instructions accordingly to the commodore on the Australian station. The Lords of the Admiralty adopted the suggestion, and instructions have been sent out to the commodore to the effect that “ their lordships desire that each of the colonies should have the benefit of the presence of one of the ships under his orders as frequently as their services can be spared, and the exigencies of the station will admit.”

Submarine Volcano. —Capt, M'Kenzie, of the schooner Kenilworth, gives the Auckland “ Star” the following account of an extraordinary phenomenon witnessed by all on board that schooner on the 30th April, while the vessel was midway between the islands of Tonga and Haabai, two of the Friendly group. Early in the morning a fountain of water was seen rising from the sea, accompanied by clouds of steam, which effectually prevented it beiug taken for the spouting of a whale. As the schooner approached nearer to it its volume was found to be very large. The stream of water was projected into the air to a height over a hundred feet, and fell over in graceful curves. From the quantity of steam which was evoked it seemed nearly certain that the projected water was boiling. The spot is marked on the chart as a shoal, although it is fully twelve miles from land. In consequence of this, Captain M‘Kenzie was deterred from approaching close to the singular phenomenon. It continued with very little variation, at the same height, all the time it was in sight. Mariners have noticed that the small islands in this neighborhood are continually altering in elevation. They arc no doubt subjected to strong volcanic agency, and the strange spectacle observed by Captain M'Keuzie was probably one of the few instances on record of the visible working of a submarine volcano,

Entertainment at Sunnyside. —An entertainment was given last night at the Asylum, Sunnyside. by the amateurs who performed lately at the Theatre Royal in aid of the widows’ and orphans’ fund of the A.0.8\, when the “ Spectre Bridegroom” was repeated, Mesdames West and Addison, and Messrs Ford, Tngleson, Hobbs, Gapes, Crooks, and Addison, taking the same characters in which they had formerly appeared. The performance went off successfully, and seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed by the audience, The scenery was arranged by Messrs Rose and Heath, and the band comprised Messrs Thompson, Gardiner, Petrie, and Nesbitt. At the conclusion of the performance Mr Morris sang “ Sweet spirit hear my prayer after which dancing commenced, and was kept up until half-past ten, when the visitors returned town.

Avonside Entertainment.— The third of the series of winter gatherings in aid of the organ fund was held last evening at the Avonside schoolroom. There was a good attendance, and the programme comprised the following : Pianoforte duet, Misses Marshmau; part song, choir; song, Mr Acland; song, Mrs lunes; recitation, Mr Ness: duet, Misses Templar and Wake; reading, Rev A. E. Glasson ; charade, lady and gentlemen characters ; pianoforte duet, Misses Marshmau ; song, Mr Hobbs ; song, Mias Marshman; song, Mr Acland ; song, Mrs Morris ; song, Mr Bell; part song, choir ; grand charade, lady and gentlemen characters. The audience testified their approval of the musical portion of the programme, while the charades excited both attention and commendation, the “ courtship” scenes being especially appreciated. An agreeably spent evening was brought to a close by all present singing “ Auld laug syne.”

Christchurch Harmonic Society.— The fourth concert of the Christchurch Harmonic Society was held last evening in the Music Hall, and was well attended. Schiller’s fine descriptive poem, “ The Lay of the Bell,” with the simple yet artistic setting with which Romberg has clothed it, formed the first part of the programme. The music is neither grand nor difficult, but is very pleasing, and many of the melodies are graceful, and in some cases full of pathos, and the concerted pieces contain some fin« harmony. “ The beautiful episodaic pictures iof various scenes of life, with which the 1 sounds of the bell are connected,” and which Schiller has introduced so effectively into his poem, have received from Romberg an ornamentation of highly descriptive, and in some cases touchingly pathetic music. It is not saying too much to state that the cantata was well executed. The orchestral, portion was effectively given, the instruments accompanying not drowning the voices, and the choruses were well balanced, and sung with much precision, a little more attention to piano and forte, or as it would be called in a sister art, light and shade, would, however, have rendered them more effective. The part of “ The master,” which consists of a series of basso recitatives and arias, and to sustain which well is a somewhat difficult task, on account of the continued strain on the vocal powers, was rendered with great fidelity by Mr Knox, who evidently had a clear conception of both words and music, and infused into his rendering that expression, without which even correctly executed music falls tame and spiritless on the ear. Amongst the solos, “Hark 1 ’tis some birthday’s joyful meeting ” (Soprano, Mrs Denham) ; “ The morn has fled ” (Tenor, Mr Price) ; “When metals, brittle” (Basso, Mr Dunlop) ; and “ Lo, it is the wife beloved (Soprano, Miss Rowley) ; were sung in a manner deserving of commendation. The duet, soprano and tenor, “Oh I tend’rest passion,” was expressively vocalised by Mrs Denham and Mr Price ; and The quartettes, “ Now the father with growing pride,” and “ Peace, sweet concord,” were well sung. Mr Walcot, the conductor, is to be congratulated upon the success which has attended the production of “ The Lay of the Bell.” The second part consisted of miscellaneous music, amongst which were a tenor solo, “ The Lord is my Shepherd,” Horsley, which was well sung by Mr Appleby ; and a capital glee for male voices, “ Hie thee, shallop.” “ Scenes that are brightest,” from Wallace’s opera of “ Maritana,” was effectively given by Miss Winter. There were also two choruses, which would have been all the better had they received previously a little more practice. The concert was closed with the “ National Anthem.”