NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 48, 25 July 1874, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

New Post Offices.—The following additional post offices have, been opened in Canterbury—Blackford's, Newtown. St. Luke's.—A confirmation will be held by his Lordship the Primate, at St Luke's Church, to-morrow afternoon. Service will be held at 3.30 p.m.

Peeress Immigrants.—The immigrants by this vessel were transhipped yesterday to the s. s. Wellington and p.s. Comerang, and proceeded to their destination, Timaru.

No. 4 C.R.V. (Rangiora.) A meeting of this corps will be held this evening, to consider the question whether the company shall be disbanded or otherwise. Supreme Court.—The case of Rhodes and another v Ellis concluded yesterday, when the jury returned a verdict for the defendant on all the issues.

Torres Straits Mail.--Some English letters were received per the Wellington yesterday, having come by the Torres Straits Mail vid Sydney, and per the Hero to Auckland.

Musical Festival.—The musical festival to celebrate the opening of the new organ in the Durham street Wesleyan Church will take place on Thursday next. The programme will appear in a few days. 1.0.0.F..M.U. The anniversary of the Loyal Benevolent Lodge will be celebrated by a ball, which will take place at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street, on Tuesday, 4th August. Full particulars will be seen in the advertisement.

I.O.G.T.—The usual weekly meeting of the Dauntless was held last evening, at Mr Gee's schoolroom, when six new members were initiated and several proposed. Many members of the other lodges were present and congratulatory addresses were given concerning} the great success of the recent Good Templar demontration.

Kennedy's Songs op Scotland.—Mr Kennedy and his talented family have revisited Canterbury, and propose to give a few more entertainments in Christchurch. They are so universally and favourably known, that the advice to go and hear them is probably rather superfluous; but as there may be some who have not yet heard Mr Kennedy's anecdotes and songs, we Bay,]don't lose this opportunity, as we may not receive another visit from the Kennedys for some time. The entertainments commence on Monday next, as will be seen in our advertising columns. Dtjnsandel.—An entertainment took place last night in the library at Dunsandel, in aid of the building fund. A long programme was successfully got through, the parts of the entertainment which seemed to give most satisfaction to the crowded audience being the piano solo by Mrs Stocker, songs by Mesdames Stocker and North, and by Messrs Wraight and M. Smith, the latter gentleman being vociferously applauded for his song (in character) of " Betsy Wareing." Every performer, however, came in for applause for their efforts to please, and the company finished the evening with a dance, separating at about ten p.m., well satisfied with the success of the entertainment afforded them.

Municipal Revenues Bill.—A meeting was held at the Oddfellows Hall last evening, which was but sparsely attended, to consider the advisability of petitioning the General Assembly to grant the fees and fines arising in the municipalities of the colony to them for their revenue. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and resolutions were unanimously passed in favor of it, when a telegram was read just at the close of the meeting from Dr Foster, stating that Mr fiicharrlsou had declined to take charge of the'Bill, and counselling its withdrawal. The resolutions however were passed, and so the matter rests.

I Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association.—A public mjeting was held at the Road Board office, Rangiora, yesterday, for the purpose of taking steps to form this association. Mr J. Macfarlane occupied the chair. The secretary pro tern read a list of intending members, amounting to one hundred and thirty-two. A long discussion took place as to the propriety of Starting the association, when it was moved and carried, " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that a working committee should be appointed to carry out the details connected with the establishment of a Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association." A working committee was appointed to collect subscriptions and elect officers and council of the association. After some discussion it was resolved that before the boundaries of the district are decided on a public meeting of members be called. Thursday next, at 2 p.m., was the date fixed forthe meeting, The meeting then adjourned. At a committee meeting subsequently held, Mr Macfarlane was'elected president, Mr W. Buss secretary, Mr F. M. Rickman treasurer, Messrs J. E. Brown, H. Blackett, R. L. Higgins, and M. Dixon, vice-presidents. Want of space prevents us from publishing a full report in this issue. Eyreton Railway.—A meeting of the Eyreton Road Board was held at Middleton's Hotel, Kaiapoi, on Monday in reference to the question of making the railway upon the road. The members present were Messrs Dixon (chairman), Wilson, Coup, and Bradley. The chairman reported the result of an interview which he had with Mr T. W. Maude. It was unanimously resolved that the Board would contribute £SOO if necessary towards the extra expense of the embankment works if the Government would make the line on pri/ate property to the south side of the Oxford and Ohoka road from Wilson's Mill to the corner of Clist's section and thence to Eyreton, as the engineer might advise.

Mexico is said to be like the earth, because it has a revolution every twenty-four hours. The Poverty Bay " Herald " says :—" A cask of beef came to light a few days ago under rather unusual circumstances. A prisoner was engaged in cleaning up the yard of the lock-up, when he came across a hard substance buried some few inches below the surface, which proved to be a cask of salt beef. On being exposed to the light of day, the cask was found to be in an advanced state of decay, but the meat was in a far better state of pieservation, considering that it has remained hidden upwards of five years ever since the eventful Poverty Bay massacre when it was planted in case of a siege place. Although far from being decomposed, the beef was not exactly eatable, and it was again buried by the police."

The Pope, remarks the " New York Herald," is unable to find a properly constituted female sovereign belonging to the Church to whom he might present the golden rose. Empress Eugenie and Isabella of Spain were the latest recipients of the rose, and to neither of them did the present bring good fortune.

Did you ever play at pool? Taking it for granted that you do occasionally join in the merry billiard game, we may ask whether you have not sat down somewhat disconsolately upon losing your third and last life, knowing that no .star could shed its lustre upon your fate? Here is the wish of a player, muttered from an adjacent seat: "Oh ! that T were a cat, for then should I have nine lives !'

It is always pleasant to read of rewards given to good actions, and so we note that which- hath come to a gentleman" of ' the timely, name of Blossom. ,'Tis' now many years ago—more than twenty—that this Blossom, blooming in Washington, wooed to the ways of uprightness and self-respect a young man to whom wine was a familiar demon. Blossom took him from the roadside mud, Blossom gave him a pleasant home, Blossom counselled him, and at last reformed him entirely. Then the young man went west—which was the eminently proper thing to do—and disappeared for ever from the vision of Blossom. But Blossom was not forgotton. A few months ago he saw a newspaper advertisement inquiring his address, and, having responded, was informed that the young man he had reformed was dead, and had left him a small remembrance of 1,000,000 dols—all his property. It's this sort of anecdote that preserves the journalist's belief in human nature, and his hope for the continued existence of Sundayschool literature.—" New York Tribune."

A most disgraceful transaction was brought to light recently, in the Adelaide Police Court, before which tribunal Henry Rath, Arthur Johns, and George Britcher were charged with conspiring, at the Adelaide races to defraud Samuel T. C. Getting of £25, by falsely pretending to run the horse Nannygoat against Touch-Me-Not in a fair and honest manner, whereas Nannygoat was purposely ridden inside a post on the course, and became thereby disqualified—the going inside the post being done with the intent to defraud S. T. 0. Getting. In the course of the hearing, the following evidence was elicited from George Alford, the jockey was rode Nannygoat:—" Had 'instructions from Mr Johns as to how the mare was to be ridden ; they werq—,' I was to go inside the post, and to come in. first,' because he knew the mare was much faster than the other one. Got between £4 and £5 altogether. Mentioned the riding to others. Did not call it unfair riding to go inside a post when ordeied to do so. Told Mr Dickson all about it when asked. Knew that a jockey was not liable if he rode to order. Did not think it dishonest. Could have kept the horse straight if he had chosen. Of cour?e he knocked his leg against the post. He was ordered to do it as neatly as he could, so he made as neat a shave as he could. (Laughter.) There were plenty of people looking, and they no doubt saw how it was done. When Johns first spoke to witness he told him to go inside the post. The other two defendants had spoken about the running inside the post before the race came off. Rath told witness to keep quiet until it was all over ; that was' paid outside the course before the race. After the race Britcher spoke to witness about going inside the post, and asked him, after the decision, to come and have a drink. He gave witness ss, and said, ' You did it well.' Johns'.never asked him to ride to win." The defendants were committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

The "New Zealand Herald" of the 3rd inst says :—" We extract the following from the leader in yesterday's issue of the * Waikato Times':—'lt is to be hoped that during the approaching session the North Island members will unite to force from the Government a statement of the secret expenditure of the Native Department. It i important that the country should under stand the exact position in which we stand with the native race, and nothing, we predict, would so clearly explain it aa a statement of the money expended upon our brown brethren. The statement should define to whom presents (bribes) have been given, and for what services they are to be considered compensation. The amount of money which disappears mysteriously every year is of little importance compared with the bad effects that are likely to arise from our gross truckling with those who already hold us in contempt. We cannot, of course, produce evidence to the fact, but we are convinced that mauy aggressions are promised with the sole object of extorting money or its equivalent from the Native Department. Experience has taught the chiefs that they have only to hint at disturbance to receive a present of some kind. The maintenance of peace is of the greatest importance, and we should be the last to complain at even thrice the expenditure that takes place if there was a probability that the money spent was the actual means of maintaining it."

The Aparima bridge being a work of considerable importance, not only to the immediate district but to the province at large, we (" Western Star ") have collected a few particulars respecting it that will be perused with interest, especially by our readers in mere distant localities. Mr Dawson, the contractor, has very courteously shown us over both jetty and bridge. For the information of matters of detail furnished below we are mainly indebted to that gentleman. The bridge, when complete, will be 782 ft long x 19ft wide ; it has 23 spans of 34ft each ; seven piles in each pier, with the necessary ties and braces, which part of the structure is nearly completed. The upper work is also in an advanced state ; seven of the spans have the longitudinal beams over them, five beams to eacli span, of 14in x 12in timbers, which are strongly understrutted by 12in x Din timbers ; five bays or spans are planked, and the hand railing built. The contractor is about to commence the upper work at the other end of the bridge, which will materially facilitate the progress of the same with the increased number of workmen now empioyed. The whole of the timber has been obtained within a few miles of Riverton, and is composed of black pine and totara of the very best quality, and is now being delivered in sufficient quantities and in a satisfactory manner. There are thirty men now employed on the works, the majority being carpenters. The jetty is 100 ft long by 21ft 6 inches wide, abutting on to the bridge at the seventh and eighth pier, an angle of 65 deg. The piles of the jetty are nearly all driven. Wo learn that the contractor hopes to have both works completed within three months from date.

When the celebrated French chemist, Orilla, was on one occasion a witness at a trial for poisoning, lie was asked by the president if he could state the quantity of arsenic requisite to kill a fly;' "Certainly, M. lc President," replied the expert; " but I must know beforehand the age of the fly,| its sex, its temperament;,, its, condition, and habit of body, whether married or single, widow or maiden, widower or bachelor.

Mr George Cruikshank delivered an address, on Monday last, on intemperance, at Manchester. In supporting a vote of thanks to the veteran artist the Mayor referred to Mr Cruikshank's illustration of Charles Dickens's works. Mr Oriiikshank, in responding, said the only work of Dickens which he had illustrated was the " Sketches by Boz." Then came the question why he had not illustrated the other. The Mayor: You forget "Oliver Twist." —Mr Cruikshank: That came out of my own brain. I wanted Dickens to write me a work, but he did not do it in the way I wanted. 1 assure you I went and made a sketch of the condemned cell many years before that work was published. I wanted a scene a few hours before the strangulation, and Dickens said he did not like it, and I said he must have a Jew or a Christian in the cell. Dickens said, " Do as you like," and I put Fagin, the Jew, into the cell. Dickens behaved in an extraordinary way to me, and I believe it had a little effect on his mind. He was a most powerful opponent of teetotalism, and he described us as " old hogs."