NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 38, 14 July 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

St John's Entertainment, —The usual weekly entertainment in connection with St John’s will bo given this evening in the schoolroom. St Luke’s Winter Entertainment,— This entertainment will be given in the schoolroom on Thursday next, with a special programme, when the electric light will also be exhibited.

Sudden Death. —A shepherd named Ncilsod, in the employ of Mr Holmes, of Bangor station, was found dead in his bed yesterday. An inquest will be held on the body to-day, at the Selwyn Hotel.

The Kennedy Family. —This talented family will return to Christchurch in a few days, and give the first of their farewell performances at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Monday, 27th inst., in their entertainment of *' Twa Hours at Hame.”

Inquest.—An inquest was held at Timaru on Wednesday last, on the body of Elizabeth Catterick, alias Eliza Shipley, who died on board the Beautiful Star on Wednesday morning. The jnry returned a verdict of “ Died in an epileptic fit, brought on by excessive drinking.” The College and the Domain.—A public meeting of citizens, called by his Worship the Mayor, will be held this evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall, to consider the question of the proposed erection of the Canterbury College in the Domain.

The Ward-Chapman Telegraph Case. —lt is rumored, says the “ Southern Mercury,” that the directors of the “ Daily Times and Witness” Company have been served with a writ, at the suit of Judge Ward, for publishing telegrams which the plaintiff alleges are forgeries. Damages are laid at £2OOO. Theatre Royal. —“ Uncle Tom’s Cabin ” was repeated last evening to a very good house ; Mies Rosa Towers’ impersonation of the character of “ Eva ” eliciting loud aud wcT deserved plaudits. Mr J. P. Hydes also came in for his share of the applause for his capital acting. To-night will be a juvenile evening.

Wesleyan Musical Festival. —A rehearsal of the choruses for the above took place last evening in the Durham street Church, when the new organ was tried for the first time, and though incomplete, was found to answer admirably. The instrument is a very powerful one, and when the lower pedal pipes were being used the vibration was felt to be very strong throughout the galleries. This may, however, be less perceptible when the church is full.

Smith’s Combination Troupe. — Mr Kirby, the agent of the Smith Combination Troupe, which has had so successful a career throughout Australia and the Northern Provinces of New Zealand, arrived yesterday by the Ladybird, in advance of the company, who will arrive on Thursday next. The troupe will open in Lyttelton at the Colonists’ Hall on Thursday evening next, and from the accounts we have read of them, should be well supported by our friends in Port. They will make their first appearance in Christchurch at the Theatre Royal on Monday next, 20th iust. Supreme Court. —The Judge sat specially in Chambers yesterday, when the argument in South v. Palmer began on Friday last was continued. This was a motion to dissolve, an exparte injunction granted by his Honor to restrain the defendant as registered officer of the Union Bank of Australia from enforcing certain securities. Mr George Harper appeared in support of the motion to dissolve Mr Garrick contra. After hearing counsel on both sides his Honor took time to consider.

Arkest. —The “ Brnce Herald” says;— Constable Baird, of Balclutha, arrested a man named D. Agan for forgery, on a telegram from Christchurch, at the Waipake, on the evening of Thursday, the 2nd, and arrived at Balclutha in safety with his charge on the following day. Agan’s prompt arrest has saved the public from a recurrence of the swindles of Sutherland and Bruce Barkley, as we understand a cheque prepared and about to be given to a local storekeeper was found on his person at the time of arrest. SOUTHBRIDGE AND RACECOURSE RAILWAY. —During the past week, we arc glad to chronicle the approach of this line to Southbridge, and must congratulate the contractor —Mr McNamara—on the rapid rate of progress maintained since the commencement of his contract. The permanent way, which has now almost reached the terminus, has been in hand for some months, and as there have been but few engineering difficulties to contend against, the rapid progress achieved has been merely a matter of labor. The fencing, the material for which is all to hand, is to be immediately proceeded with, and the contractor anticipates finishing the whole of his contract in the course of six weeks. The contracts for the laying of sleepers, plates, &c., have been advertised for, and all the necessary plant being at once available, there is no doubt that before many months have elapsed the lino will be completed, and the fanners of the district will bo reaping the benefit of the easy transit of their produce to market,

Resignation. —The resignation of Lieutenant T. A. Young, No 1 Company, Canterbury Rifle Volunteers, is gazetted. Inquest.— -An inquest was held at Tiraaru on Saturday last on the body of a child named Elizabeth Lawry. From the evidence it appeared that the child, one of a family, all young children, who were usually left by themselves all day when the father was absent at work, on the previous afternoon was seen running from the house with her clothes on Are. Some neighbors put the fire out, but the child died the same evening. The jury returned the following verdict ; “ That deceased, Elizabeth Lawry, came to her death by injuries caused by accidental burning.” Rider —“ From evidence adduced the jury are of opinon that the children of William Lawry have been much neglected, and recommend the removal of the remaining children to the Orphan Asylum.”

Accidents at the Waitaki Bridge.— The •* North Otago Times ” of the 10th states :—“ Two accidents have, we regret to say, just taken place in connection with the works at the Waitaki Bridge, the former resulting in the fracture of a leg (the sufferer being David Wilkie), and the second in death—-James Glancie being the victim, Wilkie is in the Hospital doing well. James Glancie, who had both legs fractured and smashed, was compelled from their oaturo to undergo the operation of amputation of both limbs. This was successfully performed by Dr Wait assisted by Dr Fleming, yesterday afternoon. The patient survived about an hour after the operation was completed, and then succumbed. This we cannot but look upon as a release to the man himself rather than otherwise. In both cases the accidents were occasioned by the giving way of the supports of the cylinders while being placed in position. It would seem that the Waitaki Bridge is beginning to acquire an unenviable reputation for accidents, and we feel sore that the public will agree with ns that these constant accidents must have a cause, and that they have a right to expect some explanation of them.

New Zealand Handbook.— The following arc the contents of the New Zealand Handbook, of which the Premier is the editor; —“ Introduction,” by the editor; “ Discovery and Early Settlement of the Colony,” by the Hon W. Fox, M.H.R.; “The Native Race,” by the Hon D. McLean, C.M.G., M.H.R., Native Minister; ‘‘Present Form of Government,” by the Hon W. Gisborne, Commissioner of Annuities; “ Climate, and Mineral and Agricultural Resources,” by Dr Hector, Colonial Geologist; ‘‘Animal and Vegetable Productions,” by Mr Travers; “ Some of the Institutions of the Colony, also N otes, Statistical, Commercial, and Industrial,” by Mr Woodward, Public Trustee; “Latest Statistics,” by Mr Brown, Registrar-General, Mr Batkin, Secretary to the Treasury, Mr Seed, Secretary to the Customs; “ Public Works Department,” by Mr Knowles, Under-Secre-tary for Public Works ; •' Immigration Department,” by Mr Haughton, Under-Secre-tary for Immigration ; “ Official Directory,” by Mr Cooper, the Under-Secretary. The articles descriptive of the provinces arc stated to have been furnished by the Superintendents, and to have to have been prepared— In Otago, by Mr Mclndoe; in Canterbury, by Mr W. M. Mask ell; in Westland, by Mr J. Driscoll; in Marlborough, by Mr A. Maskell; in Nelson, by Mr C. Elliott; in Wellington, by Mr Henry Anderson—the Manchester Settlement, by Mr A. P. Halcombe; in Hawke’s Bay, by Mr N. W. Carlile ; in Taranaki, by Mr C. D; Whitcombe ; in Auckland, by the Rev R. Kidd, L.L.D, assisted by Mr T. W. Leys.

The forthcoming new edition of the “ Encyclopaedia Britaunica,” is making satisfactory progress. The first volume will probably (says the “ Pall Mall Gazette ”) be ready towards the close of the year. Professor Bastian, of Berlin, has received favorable news from the German expedition on the west coast of Africa. Dr Gussfeldt, who is at the head of the expedition, has advanced into the interior, and reached the Faugela country, which, it is believed, is the right point for further advance into Central Africai The travellers at the latest dates were at the station of Chinchato, and were busied with the preparations for the more important expedition. Queer notions of prayer some people have. At a meeting in the northern part of Maine, the pastor remarked that if any present had relatives or friends in distant lands, prayer would be offered in their behalf. Then uprose a simple looking individual, and said—- ‘ I would like you to pray for my brother. He went away two weeks ago, and I haven’t heard from him since. I don’t know just where he is, but you needn’t pray below Bangor,’ Two or three new operas have recently been produced on the Continent. At Dresden a new opera, entitled “Die Folkunger,” by Herr Kretschmer, has been brought out with great success. At Florence “La Oacciata del Duca d’Atene ” (“ Expulsion of the Duke of Athens”), a new opera by Signor Bacchiui, has been brought out at the Pagliano. At Baden a new opera by Herr Marpurg, entitled “ Agnesvon Hohenstaufcn,” has been favourably received. At Brussels Mr Henry LitolfE’s opera, “The Sleeping Beauty,” has been produced at the Chatelet under the directorship of M. Hostein.

The “ Otago Daily Times ” says :—The moa leg bone with the large piece of flesh attached, found lately up country, has arrived safely at the Museum. We understand that it will be exhibited and described by Captain Hutton at a meeting of the Otago Institute, to be held on Monday evening. The bone with its covering gives a vivid idea of what the moa must have been. It is in really a wonderful state of preservation, and it is not improbable that at this meeting of the Institute there will be a large attendance to view these interesting remains, and hear them described.

A conference on the subject of a tunnel under the Channel from England to France has been held in Paris. A special French committee composed of railway directors invited the chairmen of the English railway companies interested in the question to confer with them in Paris. The conference, which lasted two days, has served to establish the bases on which the preliminary experiments must be made to prove the possibility of such an undertaking. The President of the Republic has expressed hia interest in the object which the conference had in view. It is thought that, in the meantime, until the question of a tunnel he decided, that of a port on I he- French coast for improved steamboat service will be considered.

Young Simpson, beginning the study of natural philosophy, became fond of applying technical names to common objects to impress hearers with a sense of his profound knowledge, and tried the game with his father one evening. When he mentioned to him that ho had swallowed some marine acephalous molluscs, the old man was much alarmed, and he suddenly seized Simpson and threw him to the floor, and held him and screamed for help. And when Mrs Simpson came with some warm water, and the hired man rushed in with a garden pump they forced half a gallon of water down Simpson’s throat, and then held him by the heels over the edge of the porch, and shook him, while tho old man said, "If wo don’t get them things out of William ho will be pizened.” And when they were out, and William had explained that the articles alluded to were merely oysters, his father fondledghim with a trunk strap for scaring the family. Subsequently Simpson framed his language in a more familiar phrase— American paper. Those ladies whoso tales of " blighted affections ” are poured into the sympathising cars of an English jury are (says the “ Pall Mall Gazette”) far better off than their suffering sisters across the Atlantic, for tho judges of the United States tribunals are apt to take a harsh and ungallant view of actions for breach of promise of marriage which is anything but acceptable to those who believe in the infallibility of woman. The New York journals contain the account of an action brought by Miss Amelia Domerschlag against Mr Augustus Becker for the recovery of 200 dollars as compensation for his refusal to execute a formal promise to marry. The defendant, while admitting that he had proposed to and been accepted by the young lady, stated that after spending eight months on a visit to her mother, he had arrived at the conclusion that his future mother-in-law’s temper would be an insuperable barrier to their wedded happiness. The following dialogue then passed between the judge and the defendant: —Tho judge—" Had your intended mother-in-law announced her intention of residing with you after the marriage, of keeping bouse for you, and tak ing care of your moneys ?” Thejdcfendant—“Yes, Mr Judge,” The judge (sympathetically)—“ Proceed, young man.” The defendant—“ I was very fond of Miss Amelia, but I broke off the engagement because of her mother.” The Judge—“ Well, my young friend, would you rather pay 200dols to tho plaintiff or marry her and live with your mother-in-law ?” The defendant (emphatically)—" Pay the 200dols.” The judge then proceeded to give judgment in the following terms :—"Young man, permit me to give you a cordial shake of the hand. The Court was once placed in the same predicament as you, Mr Becker, and had the Court possessed your decision of character, the Court should have been spared five and twenty years of infinite worry and vexation. The Court had the choice of paying 150dols in gold or of marrying; being poor, the Court accepted the latter alternative, and have bewailed it ever since. The Courtis pleased to meet a man cast in your mould. My decision is that you are acquitted, and that the plaintiff must pay a fine of lOdols, with the costs, for attempting to place an honest man beneath the yoke of a mother-in-law. You may go 1”