NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 42, 18 July 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Telegrams.—lt will be seen that the English mail via Torres Straits has arrived at Auckland by the s. s. Hero. The news has been in a great measure anticipated by the telegrams received on the arrival of the Claud Hamilton at Hokitika. Supreme Court.—The special jurors and witnesses summoned to attend on Monday next, the 20th instant, in case of Drury ▼ Pain, are not required to attend until Thursday, the 30th instant, at 11 o’clock. Canterbury Flax Association. A meeting of the committee was held at their rooms on Thursday last, at 3 p.m., for the purpose of passing sundry accounts and winding up the affairs of the association. The secretary stated that all the samples had been packed up and stored away. The committee agreed not to disband, but to keep themselves together, though without incurring any further expenses in connection with the working of the Association. The committee then adjourned. The Press op this Colony.—Mr Woodward’s paper in the Premier’s new “ Handbook for New Zealand ” states that there are seventy-seven newspapers published in this colony. Their distribution is as follows ; Otago, 19 ; Canterbury, 8 ; Marlborough, 3 ; Nelson, 10 ; Westland, 8 : Wellington, 10 ; Hawke’s Bay, 5 ; Taranaki, 2 ; Auckland, 11. At Christchurch and Dunedin an illustrated paper is published monthly ; a Maori paper is issued fortnightly ; there are 27 weeklies, 9 tri-weeklies, 11 bi-weeklies, and 28 dailies. The Colonial Bank.—A public meeting was held at the Pier Hotel, Kaiapoi, on Thursday last, to afford the inhabitants of that locality an opportunity of hearing from members of the managing committee the principles upon which it was proposed to conduct the bank. Mr C. R. Blakiston and Mr Curry addressed the meeting. Their remarks elicited many enquiries from persons in the room, which were apparently satisfactorily answered, as after a vote in favour of the establishment of the Bank, every one present applied for shares. It was stated that applications for upwards of 6000 shares had been received in Christchurch during the last two days. Theatre Royal.—Mr Towers’ benefit was hardly so well attended last evening as his merits as an actor deserved, but probably the bitter coldness of the night had something to do with the small attendance. The first piece was “ The Little Devil,” in which Miss Rosa Towers and Mr Towers and Mr Hydes were very good, and “ The Lottery Ticket.” Mr Towers’ Wormwood is well known here, and it will suffice to say that it was fully equal to his previous impersonations. To-night is the last night of the season, when “ Capitola, or Life in the South” will be produced. Sunnyside Asylum.—The annual attendant’s ball in connection wth this Asylum took place on Thursday evening, and was a most enjoyable affair throughout. The hall and the corridors leading to it were most tastefully decorated with evergreens, &c., and some well-executed transparencies. The music supplied by the Christchurch quadrille band, under Mr Gardener, was unexceptionable. About 150 ladies and gentlemen were present, and all enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Dancing commenced at nine o’clock, and was kept up with great spirit until early morning, when the party broke up, having spent a most pleasant evening. Last night the convalescent patients had their entertainment, comprising singing. &c., at the close of which a short dance was| im provised, and carried out very spiritedly. Sefton Ploughing Match. A meeting of the committee was held at Collier’s City Hotel, Leithfield, on Wednesday evening. Mr L. C. Williams in the chair. Mr McDonald reported that Mr Baldwin, Royal Hotel, was the successful tenderer for the refreshment booth, and that the annual dinner would be held at the Royal Hotel, Mr Baldwin’s being the only offer. Messrs W. McAdam, Hanna, Cameron, and Frame, were elected a sub-committee to lay off the land for the match to be held on Tuesday, 21st instant. Messrs Williams, McDonald, and Hanna, were elected as a committee to arrange the prizes. Private prizes were announced as having been offered by Mr McNaught, saddler, Leithfield, and Mr Hausen, saddler, Kaiapoi. The funds towards the match were reported to be coming in very well. A great number of teams are expected. Entries will be received by the hou secretary up to 9.30 a.m on the day of the match.

Fatal Accident. —A telegram was received in town yesterday notifying that an accident terminating fatally had occurred ou the Peninsula to a man named Kershaw. It appears that he was felling a tree, when it fell upon him, killing him upon the spot. Colonial Industry. —There is now on view at the establishment of Messrs Petersen and Co’s, High street, one of the finest specimens of silversmith’s work wo have yet seen turned out in the colonies, and one that reflects the very greatest credit alike upon the manufacturer and the firm named. It consists of a silver claret jug and six silver , cups to match. The jug itself is of burnished silver, of a very artistic shape. A vine branch in frosted silver with the tendrils and leaves beautifully worked encircles the ■upper portion, bunches of grapes here and there depending. The handle is formed by the larger stem of the branch most faithfully imitated in frosted silver, while on the top of the lid is a bunch of grapes resting on a leaf. In the body of the jag are four greenstone oval medallions let into silver rims, which have a very pretty effect, and altogether the workmanship is excellent throughout, the minutest details being worked out with care and finish. The lid is so contrived as to be self-acting in opening, so that no trouble is occasioned in pouring out the wine. The goblets are also of burnished silver gilt inside and are really exquisitely got up. The jug was manufactured by Mr Stokes, from a design by Mr Hogarth, of Melbourne, who has taken several prize medals at exhibitions for silversmith’s work. The Immigrants at Rangiora.—Mismanagement, we are informed, has occurred in some way in reference to about sixty German immigrants sent- to Rangiora on Tuesday last by the morning train, with the intention that they were to be conveyed to Oxford. On reaching Rangiora it appears that no coaches or waggons could be hired, and during the best part of a damp day these immigrants were k' pt waiting about the platform of the station or under shelter of the verandah, till the station master, seeing how cold several of them seemed to be, allowed them to take up one of the waiting rooms, and gave them a good fire. They were subsequently housed for the night in a small gatekeeper’s cottage, and huddled in anyhow, with only the clothes they had on, and the bare floor to sleep on. During the night, a child which may have been sickly before, died, A small qantity of coffee and sugar and thirteen loaves of bread, it is said, were all these poor creatures had to live upon from Tuesday morning till Wednesday afternoon, when Mr H. Blackett, storekeeper, hearing of their condition, took the responsibility of sending a supply of meat and other suitable provisions which were received. with hearty thankfulness. A number of them have since been taken on to Oxford where it is to be hoped, in the interests of common humanity, they will be better provided for. At present only a few remain in Kangiora, Mr Emerson has consented to allow himself to be put in nomination as a candidate for the Lord Rectorship of Glasgow University. He writes to say that at first he thought the proposition to be merely the compliment of a few friends, and not one to be seriously entertained ; but, he adds, “on thinking it over, I find that it is for you and ; not forme to judge of the probabilities of the election, and that you, and not I, must decide whether these are such as to justify you in actually proposing my name to the electors. If you persist, you are at liberty to propose my name, and, if elected, I shall certainly endeavour to meet your wishes and those of the University as to the time and the duties which the office shall require.” A petition has been presented to Congress from Mennonites established in America, and from others in Southern Russia who propose to make America their home, praying for a grant of land to some 40,000 Russian Mennonites who, to avoid the new law of uni- ' versal military service, wish to settle in the United States. The Mennonites are a peculiar Christian sect who object to killing and, as a " corollary, to being killed by their fellow - creatures. They are to be found not only in Russia, but also in considerable numbers in Prussia, ’ ; where the Government, while respecting their religious scruples, turns their services to account by employing them in- the sanitary departments of the army. It is strange that the Russian Government, after borrowing from Prussia its military organisation, has not known how,-after the example of its model, to adapt it to the needs of such a • simple and tractable community as that of the Mennonites.