NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 43, 20 July 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

St Luke's Church.—The Right Rev the Primate will hold a confirmation service next Sunday afternoon, in St Luke's Church.

Oddpellowship.—A summoned meeting of the Loyal Benevolent Lodge 1.0.0. F., M.U., will be held this evening at the Hall, Montreal street north, to receive the auditors' report and balance-sheet.

Domain Encroachments. —A meeting will be held at the Oddfellows' Hall on Tuesday next, to protest against the manner in which the promoters of the Bill to authorise the erection of the College on the Domain have acted, and to obtain signatures to a petition to the Upper House against the passing of the Bill. As will have been seen by our telegrams, the Bill has passed the Lower House, but will, of course, have to pass ths Upper House before becoming law. It has passed its first reading in the Legislative Council, but Mr Wynn Williams has received a telegram from a member of the Upper House stating that the second reading had been postponed to the 28th inst., in order to allow of an expression of public opinion from Canterbury on the subject. Roman Catholic Church.—On Thursday last the dedication and 'aying of the corner stone of a Roman Catholic church at Raupaki took place, the Rev Father Francis, of Lyttelton, conducting the ceremony. The corner stone was cut by Captain Giovanni Gaggino, of the barque Fratelli Gaggino, and bore a suitable inscription. The building was very tastefully decorated with flags, &c, and a large number of ladies and gentlemen from Christchurch and Lyttelton were present, together with a number of Maoris from the neighbourhood. After the ceremony was concluded a capital luncheon was spread, in a marquee, to which those present did ample justice. Father Francis addressed a few remarks to those present in English, and also in Maori. Captain Gaggino also spoke, and speeches were made by several of the gentlemen present, after which the assemblage dispersed. Theatre Royal.—" Capitola or Life in the South " was the piece selected by the management to close their season on Saturday evening. We regret that it should be so, as the piece under notice is one of a class which should never be put upon the stage of a theatre having any pretensions to be considered superior to what is colloquially known as '• the penny gaff" It says a great deal for the forbearance of Christchurch audiences that they sit out the representation of such pieces as " Waiting for the Verdict " and " Capitola." The latter piece is adapted from one of the class of publications known as " penny dreadfuls" and the plot is on a par with those of the highly special tales appearing therein. We trust that we have seen the last of such productions here, and that the next dramatic company will take a higher stand than the productions we have referred to. Of the characters, Miss Rosa Towers' talents were completely thrown away upon the part of the heroine, and the rest of the company, except Mr Towers, do not call for any special mention. The company left for Wellington yesterday en route for Melbourne, where we hope the undoubted talent Miss Rosa Towers possesses will have a chance of being more strikingly displayed by her being supported better than was the case during the past season here. Smith Combination Troupe.-—These talented artistes will make their first appearance this evening at the Theatre Royal. The various performers in their respective lines are the best procurable by Mr Smith, whose knowledge and skill as a purveyor for public amusement is well known, and we anticipate a great success for them during their short season here. Their performance on Saturday evening in Lyttelton, notwithstanding the short notice, drew a crowded house, and the large audience went away thoroughly delighted with what they had seen. Mr Vincent and Mdlle Montebello in their duets and sketches were loudly applauded, Mr Vincent receiving the compliment of a double eneore for his songs. The acrobatic feats of the DeCastro family were received with loud plaudits, and deservedly so, as they are truly wonderful. As for M. Airec in his balancing on the trapeze, the audience were perfectly astonished, no such performance having been seen like it in Lyttelton before. Val Vose, with his ventriloquism, causing roars of laughter by his clever semblance of conversation between two lay figures. Professor Saunders' harp solos were highly appreciated, and altogether the performance, from first to last, was highly successful. Boy Burnt to Death.—A fire occurred yesterday morning at the house of Mr William Wilson, a farmer residing on the North road, near the seven-mile peg, by which a little boy, eleven years old, of the same name, and grandson to Mr Wilson, lost his life. It seems that about four o'clock the servant girl was awoke by the boy calling out that there was something burning, as the room was full of smoke. She discovered the lower portiou of the house to be on fire, and awoke Mr and Mrs Wilson, who seeing the place in flames, rushed out. When Mr Wilson missed the boy, he, by the aid of a ladder, broke in the window of the room, but receiving no reply to his repeated calls, he obtained an axe and broke through the boards near where the boy's bed was placed ; still no answer could be obtained, and an effort was then made to enter the room, but it became filled with flame, and Mr Wilson had to descend for his own safety, the roof shortly afterwards falling in. When it could be got at the body, as might be expected, was one charred mass, and was removed to Treleavcn's Hotel. The house and contents were completely burnt, aud also about £6O worth of butter, all uninsured. Inspector Buckley visited the scene during the morning, when the house was still smouldering. An inquest will be held on the remains of the boy to-day at three o'clock, at Treleaven's Hotel,

Accident to a Coach-dbiveh. — The "Otago Dailj Times" of July 16th, says,— Cobb's coach ran a near risk of a mostseriotn accident yesterday about two miles this side of the Reliance Hotel. On passing Yeend'a coach one of the horses (Cobb's) shied, causing the near wheel to ditch, thus throwing the driver off. The horses then bolted, and but for the praiseworthy and brave conduct of a passenger (who is, we believe, an old " whip) on the box, who got down on the pole, and, holding the harness, worked along the pole until he secured the reins, the coach would have been upset. Crawley, the driver, had one of the small bones of hi* foot broken, through the wheel passing over it. His foot has been carefully attended to, and it is expected he will be able to mote about again in ten days or a fortnight. We may state that Crawley brought the coach into town notwithstanding his accident. Mr Crawley is well known to most of our readers, he having been for many years connected with coaching in this province. Football. —The match played on Saturday last was between fifteen and the rest of the club, the Utter wearing red and the former blue caps. Mr A. Ollivier had a difficult task as captain of the club aide. The fifteen losing the toss commenced the game shortly after three o'clock by kicking off f rem the south goal. At first the Club, by their superior numbers, and most of them playing up well, kept the ball dangerously near the goal of the Fifteen, but were unable to gain any material advantage. The Fifteen playing up well, although not always together, sometimes got the ball into the centre of the ground, but it was soon returned again, and their goal was nearly captured on more than one occasion. At four o'clock half-time was called, and the sides changed ends. The Club again took the ball down to their opponent's goal, but the captain of the Fifteen having arranged his men in order, and playing well together, the ball was quickly driven into neutral ground, and from thence close up to the club goal, which, after a good resistance, was captured by a well-judged kick by Bolton. After this, whether the Reds were exhausted by their efforts in the early part of the game or were disheartened by losing a goal, the Blues had it all their own way, and pressing the club hard during the rest of the game quickly scored two more goals, kicked by Messrs Macquarie and Dobson. The club rallied a little at the end, and at five o'clock, the time for leaving off, had the ball down at their opponents' goal. During the first hour of the game the play was moderately equal, but afterwards the club were evidently over matched. Those on the club side who tried to work at the latter portion of the game were prevented from doing any service by others who were continually in the way, and for the most part seemed frightened of the ball. The fifteen played very well, and after half time splendidly, not missing a chance. We cannot help giving a word of praise to Anson, who, as one of the half backs for the club played very well, and to him, in a great measure, is due the good resistance made by the o'pb during the first hour of the game. Wben the ball is coming towards him he did not handle it as nearly all our players do, and thus lose a lot of time, but, by well judged kicks returned it at once. It would be well if some of our other players practised this feature of the game. We hope to see this match played again before the season closes, as it gives an excellent, opportunity for the fifteen to play together, and Bhows what really can be done if players will only work together.