NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 45, 22 July 1874, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

License Fees. —We understand that a requisition is in course of signature to his Worship the Mayor, asking him to call a public meeting at an early date to elicit an expression of public opinion as to the license fees collected within the city being handed over to the Corporation. Runaway. —The horses in an omnibus belonging to Mr J. Page, while standing at the market place yesterday, took fright, and suddenly started, throwing the driver off the box on to the stones, and rendering him insensible. He was carried into the Market Hotel, and soon recovered, when it was found that beyond a severe shaking, he was not otherwise injured. The horses were subsequently caught near the South Town Belt, having smashed the pole of the ’bus in their career.

Licensed Victuallers’ Association.— A meeting of this association was held last evening at Morton’s Hotel. There was not a very large attendance. Mr W, Schmidt occupied the chair. The secretary (Mr F. C. Tribe) read a letter from Mr J. W. Oram apologising for his absence, and enclosing the following telegram received by him that day from Mr John Studholme : —“ Mr Vogel intends introducing a new Licensing Act this session of a more liberal character.” A letter was read from the Wellington Victuallers’ Association, asking this association to unite with them in making suggestions with a view to having them inserted in the new Bill, as Mr Vogel had stated to some of their members who had waited upon him that if they had any suggestions to make they had better enclose them to the Colonial Secretary. The letter also stated that it was contemplated in the new Bill to do away with the annual Licensing Court. The following recommendations to this meeting were brought up by the sub-committee. “1. The Ordinance passed last session to be repealed." “2. Quarterly licensing meetings to be held, as well as annual one.” “3. Superintendents to have the power to issue license? in cases where they have been omitted to be taken up on the proper day, by paying an extra additional fee of £10.” The recommendations were adopted. A discussion of a conversational nature took place on the advisability of endeavoring to have the hotels opened during ccitain hours on Sundays ; several of the members giving their experience of this custom in England, which they said worked well there, and they were of opinion that if such was the law here it would do away with all sly drinking on that day. Mr D. McGuinness moved “That this meeting is of opinion that it would be desirable that a clause should be inserted in the new Licensing Act, which would permit the hotels to be opened on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m., and from 8 to 10 p.m., and that the secretary be instructed to write to the Wellington Association, stating that this Association will be happy to cooperate with them to effect this object. Mr Smith seconded the resolution, which was carried. Mr Warner, after stating his reasons for the proposition, moved—“ That a clause should be inserted in the new Licensing Act granting licenses to keep open until 12 o’clock at night, and a night license on payment of an additional fee.” Mr Beattie seconded the motion, which was carried, A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting.

Immigbants to Otago. —lt appears that some very exaggerated statements have been made regarding the character of the single girls by the Caroline, which arrived in Port Chalmers a short time ago. The “ Otago Guardian ” remarks as follows on the subject ‘'We understand that the single girls by the Caroline are keenly hurt at the statements concerning them which have appeared in the Press, and which they seem to think emanated to a great extent from the captain. These statements are regarded by them as a cruel attempt without any grounds to destroy their prospects in the colony to which they have come. Some of them have been distressed even to tears at the sweeping condemnation which was passed on all of them who did not come from the Cork Workhouse. Of course, as they are interested parties, if their own assertions were unsupported by those of disinterested persons they might naturally enough be viewed with a certain amount of distrust. But it is only fair to them, as strangers here, and having but their characters to depend upon, that it should be publicly known that they regard the aspersions which have been so freely and gratuitously bestowed upon them as without foundation in fact. We hive been informed by the Barrack-master that since their arrival in the barracks at Caversham their conduct has been all that could be desired, and very different from that exhibited by some of their predecessors there. On the night of their arrival at the barracks they conducted themselves in the most orderly manner. The matron (Mrs Thompson) of the ship, as well as the two assistant matrons, positively deny that the conduct of the girls, excepting that of one of them, was marked during the passage out by any impropriety whatever. In four or five other cases they admit that language of an unedifying tendency was made use of. They also state that during the passage the captain never in a single instance complained of any improper conduct on the part of the girls beyond checking them for singing, dancing, or such amusement. “ Why should he act in that way towards you ?” asked our reporter. The answer was, “ Because we came from Ireland, and he appeared to think that nothing good could come from there.” The majority of the single women were put on board the ship Caroline on the morning previous to its departure, the exception being those from the workhouse ; and we are informed that the former felt considerable annoyance at being compelled to have the latter for their shipmates, and now think it hard, because 40 of their number came from a workhouse, that the entire 160 or 170, or even half of them, should be branded as a bad lot before they were really known to be so ; and that they should have their future actions prejudged, and their characters taken from them before they had any opportunity of obtaining situations. These girls will be open for engagement at the barracks to-day, and it is to be hoped that persons requiring servants will not be led away by the reports which have been published, but will judge for themselves, as the girls are apparently intelligent, and have made a favourable impression on those who have visited the barlacks since their arrival there.

According to an official report of the Church statistics of Prussia, the Protestants have 12,959 churches; the Catholics, 997 and the Jews, 1440 places of worship.