NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 68, 19 August 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Good Templars at St Albans.—lt will be seen from our advertising columns that the members of the Order of Good Templars intend giving an entertainment on Thursday evening next.

Steam Fire Engine.— The new steam fire engine, imported by the Government for use at the railway station, from specifications supplied by Mr Harris, was tried yesterday afternoon. It was put to a series of tests and was found to work most satisfactorily. The Crops.— lt is computed that a more extended area of land in the northern district has been broken up for crop this season, and ploughing is well forward. Early sown wheat has already shown' itself above the ground, and one or two fields at Waikuku,, on the North road, are especially well forward.

St Michael’s.— The first of the series of entertainments in connection with St Michael’s, will take place this evening, at the Oddfellows’ Hall. If the excellence manifested in the opening programme be kept up through the series, the committee will have no reason to complain of small attendances.

Accident. —On Monday evening as Mi Rankin, grocer, Lincoln Road, was returning from Halswell, his horse stumbled, and threw his rider, and then rolled over him. Mi Rankin was conveyed to town and medical attendance procured, when it was found that although no bones were broken, he was very severely injured. _ California Minstrels.— The Califor nia Minstrels gave their first performanc< in Canterbury last night at the Lytteltoi Colonists’ Hall. There was a large attend ance, and a considerable amount of monej was refused at the doors, as there was n< room for those anxious to enter. Th< audience seemed delighted with the bill o fare.

St. John’s Entertainment— The usual weekly entertainment in connection with St. John’s, Latimer Square,took place last evening at the schoolroom, when a, good programme, comprising musical selections, readings, &c., was gone through. New Enterprise. —Amongst the new institutions rapidly springing up in the streets of Christchurch —a la boot-blacking —is that of an individual who has come to the rescue of broken-down cane-seated chairs. A late arrival might this morning have been seen seated under verandahs, with bundles of cane, busily engaged in making new “ any old chairs to mend.” We wish him success, and have no doubt he will make a good thing out of the novel, but useful speculation.

Inquest at Rangiora. —On Tuesday an inquest was held at Joyce’s Club Hotel, before C. Dudley, *sq. Coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr C. Metcalf was foreman, touching the death of Annie Hill, aged sis months, daughter of Mr Charles Hill, The father and mother of the deceased, and Dr Burrows, gave evidence of the facts stated in yesterday’s issue, when the jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental Death,” caused by suffocation.

Smith’s Combination.— There was a very good house last evening at the Theatre Royal, on the occasion of the benefit of Mr John Smith. The programme submitted was a thoroughly excellent one, and all engaged went through their respective performin a highly creditable manner. To-night is the last performance of this clever troupe, and in addition to a grand bill' a reduction in prices is announced, which should draw a full house.

Lyttelton Borough Schools.— lt is to be hoped that the new buildings will be ready before the hot weather sets in, the present schools being quite inadequate for the proper accommodation of the numbers now in attendance. It should be added that in consequence of the want of properly fenced playground the boys range over the town in the intervals allowed for play. The highly dangerous practice of lighting fires in the gullies near the schools is on the increase. The other day a narrow escape occurred in the immediate vicinity. Benefit for the Widow and Children OF Captain Hart. —The committee to arrange about the concert for the benefit of Captain Hart’s widow met last night. It was decided to ask all the captains in the port to assemble on the platform and give their patronage to the entertainment, and if the N.E weather holds there will no doubt be a goodly assemblage. The arrangements are very complete and no doubt a good entertainment will be provided. We have to thank the people for their kindly concurrence as many who were asked are coming to assist at Lyttelton at great inconvenience to themselves. A great number of tickets have been sold, and in every way this meeting promises to be (as it certainly should) a great success. Crown Grant Fee Cases.— These Crown Grant Fees are proceeded for by the Receiver of Land Revenue under the Crown Grant Acts of 1866 and 1870. The present registered owner of the land named in a Crown Grant was intended by the Acts to be made liable for the fees, but on this point the Act broke down, when brought to the test of a judicial decision in the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch, some time back. The original grantee (or grantees) is also by the Act made liable for the fees. The grantee has no defence and must pay the fees, whether he has ceased to own land or not. It is only in the case of bankruptcy that he becomes absolved from some portion of the fees. The fees are usually £1 for grant; 14s or more for registry of deeds fee, and 6d a month for custody of the fee, since the grant was issuable. This latter fee is always accumulating against the grantee till he takes up his grant at the Land Office.

“Blazing with Diamonds.” —The expression “ blazing with diamonds,” was realised at a ball at New York by the attire of the wife of a millionaire. All the points at which diamond ornaments are usually worn were decorated. Her hair seemed “ aflame ” with precious stones. She had diamond earrings, bracelets, and a diamond necklace of magnificent proportion ; but the lady was not content with these, and displayed her ingenuity by novel decorations. On each shoulder she had placed four stars, the size of a half-crown, of large stones, and a bandeau on her brow. Upon each side of her chest were two circles of diamonds about the size of the palm of a hand, and from them depended lines and curves reaching to the waist, and merging into a broad and diamond girdle. On the skirt of her dress in front were two large peacocks wrought in lines, also of the same precious gems, and there were two large rosettes of them on her slippers, and others, large and small, wherever they could be crowded in. It was calculated that as she stood her attire was worth over a million dollars. Christchurch Poultry Association.— The exhibition to be held on Friday and Saturday next promises to be a very great success, the entries numbering no less than 42 in excess of those at last year’s show. The principal increase is in the Dorking, Houdans, Brahmas, ducks, pigeons, and canaries, more especially in the Brahmas, 40 entries having been made as against 27 last year. The entries for canaries also exceed those of last year by 12, including two entries of four birds in each cage. It is also generally understood that the quality of the exhibits will be above the average, especially in the dark Brahma chicken classes and in canaries. The following are the number of entries in each class :—Game, 45 ; Dorkings, 13 ; Cochins, 10 ; Brahma, 40 ; Hamburg, 10 ; Houdan, 7 ; bantams, 9 ; ducks, 16 ; pigeons, 33 ; canaries, 47. In addition to these, there are several small entries in other classes. Accident. —When the up-train from the Eakaia had reached the Addington station last night, the gatekeeper at the Selwyn street crossing, thinking the train had not left the station, opened the gates to allow a cab to pass, and while doing so held tho signal lamp in his hand. Before he could close them, and with only time to escape by running a few yards up the line, the train passed through, smashing the gates to pieces a splinter from one of them unfortunately striking Mrs O’Malley (who had been standin** outside the gates talking to her husband) onthe right temple, inflicting a very serious wound two and a half inches long. The poor woman, who bled profusely, was at once picked up insensible, and conveyed to the hospital, where in addition to the wound her face was found to be so swollen as to completely hide her left eye. It was also feared last night that she was suffering from concussion of the brain,

Bailway Traffic.—No less than 13.9 trucks went through the tunnel on Monday, carrying 800 or 000 tons of dead weight. Certainly the largest business done on any one day since the opening of the tunnel.

Southbridge. —We learn that the Government having fixed upon Southbridge as the most convenient site for the erection of immigration barracks in the Ellesmere district, have succeeded in purchasing an acre of land immediately opposite the railway terminus, from Mr John Smith, of Bell field ; and as Mr Thomas Gee, in whose hands the contract for the building haa been placed, has got everjthing in readiness to proceed at once with the erection of the building, we have no doubt but that he will have the work completed within the specified time. Mr D. Petrie, the contractor for the immigrants’ cottages, has made considerable progress towards their completion, so that before many days have elapsed, the newly arrived immigrants will be enabled to be forwarded direct to Southbridge. and the farmers of the district will be in a position to obtain the necessary labor with the same facilities as at present enjoyed by the residents of the Ashburton and other parts of the colony. Presentation. —With reference to the presentation to Captain Brown, now of the City of Adelaide, by the New Zealand Government, the Sydney Morning Herald has the following “It will be in the recollection of our readers that on the downward voyage of the City of Melbourne, s.s., chartered by the A. and A. Mail Company, she had to diverge from her proper course for the purpose of carrying on the English portion of the New Zealand mails from Kandavu to Auckland, consequent on the accident to the steamship Macgrcgor. In recognition of the services then rendered by Captain Brown, the Honorable D. McLean, Minister for Native Affairs in New Zealand, has presented Captain Brown, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, with a very handsome tea and coffee service, the principal articles bearing the following inscription ‘ Presented by the New Zealand Government to Captain J. W. Brown, in recognition of his promptitude in taking the Californian mails to New Zealand, April?, 1874.’ ”