NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 80, 2 September 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sudden Death at Woodend. On Tuesday morning, an elderly man, named Thomas Edlin, died somewhat suddenly. So far as can be learnt he was not seriously ill, except complaining of a cold. On the previous evening he retired to bed at seven, tiia wife giving him fifteen drops of chlorodyne, a ul at 11 p.m. thirty drops more. About 3.30 a.rn. the wife noticed him making a peculiar noise, and tried to him, but failing to do so she sent for assistance, but he dii d shortly after,when one of the neighbors had arrived. An Inquest will be held.

I’ARANUi 8011000.—An entertainment comprising magic lantern exhibition, songs, &c, will be given at the Papanui schoolroom on Friday evening next. The Railway.— No less than 151 waggons, loaded with at least 11,000 tons of dead weight, passed through the tunnel yesterday, the largest quantity, by 800 tons, that has ever passed in one day. Lecture.— A lecture on “ British colonization” will be delivered by the Rev W. J. Walkin in the Durham street Wesleyan school room this evening at half-past seven. Selections of vocal music will be given at intervals. St John’s Entertainment.—Notwithstanding the unpleasant nature of the weather there was a fair attendance at St John’s parish entertainment last evening. A very good programme of vocal aud instrumental music and readings was gone through satisfactorily. Money Orders. —The Now Zealand Gazette contains a statement showing the number, amount, &c, of money orders for the quarter ending June 80th, throughout the colony. The number of orders issued were 15,7-11, to the amount of £67,189 Os Id; the number paid were 10,875, to the amount of £46,355 7s Bd. During the corresponding quarter of 1878 the number of orders issued were 12,591, to the amount of £58,292 10s lOd, aud the number paid were 9,077, to the amount of £38,825 17s sd, Savings Banks. —The transactions of the Savings Banks, for the quarter ending June 20th, are published iu the Gazette :—2567 accounts were opened, and 1856 closed. The number of deposits were 18,100, aud the withdrawals, 6896. The deposits amounted to £171,745 10s, and the withdrawals to £160,886 5s 2d. During the corresponding quarter of 1878, the deposits were £146,420 19s Bd, and the withdrawals £103,150 8s lid. Theatre Royal . —We regret that the management, after the unanimous condemnation of the comedy of “ Owing and Paid ” did not see their way to alter the bill last evening. If such pieces as this are to be produced, it is far better that the theatre should remain closed, aud it is matter for wonder that the audience could quietly sit out such a mixture of profanity aud vulgarity as the piece under notice. As we stated yesterday, we regret for the sake of theatricals in Christchurch that the management should have had the bad taste, to say the least of it, to place such a piece before a Christchurch audience. Not only will it militate against the success of the present season, but it will also go far to prevent persons attending our theatre at a future time. To-night a new comedy, “ Behind the Curtain,” of which we hope better things, will be produced. Lyttelton Building Society. The fourth annual meeting of the Lyttelton Permanent Land, Building, and Investment Society was held at the Colonist Hall on Monday evening, Mr Bunker in the chair. The balance-sheet" and the statement of the assets and liabilities of the society, duly audited, were received and adopted. The report showed that the society was in a prosperous couditiou, no loss whatever had occurred since its establishment. The report announced that the committee had added a bonus to the guaranteed interest of those terminating shares that had been in existence four years or would complete their fourth year before the next annual meeting, making them equal to their subscription and and nine pounds per cent compound interest, A special general meeting was afterwards held for the appointment of secretary, when Mr John S. Willcox was unanimously elected. 1.0.0.F.M.U., ‘RANGIORA. — A summoned meeting of the Loyal Rangiora Lodge was held at the hall of the Order on Monday evening. Forty brethren were present. The N.G. stated that the question of how best to celebrate the anniversary on October loth would have to be considered. After some discussion it was decided that on the day named there should be a procession of the members of the Order, and a lunch in the evening a dinner, probably also games would be arranged for the afternoon. Bros. Aherne, N.G., Truman, G.M., Jarrett, V ,G., Metcalf, Stephens, C. Luxton, and Norfolk, were appointed a committee to carry out the details of the affair. The N.G, read invitations from the Leithfleld and City of Christchurch Lodges asking members to attend their anniversary meetings. During the evening a resolution was passed that notice be given to move—“ That the district meetings be always held at Christchurch.” The proceedings were concluded in due form. Chess. —The clubs at Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Kaiapoi, from the little which has been heard of late respecting them, appear to have broken up, and since the tournament of April, 1870, iu which the lastnamed club, through their representative, Mr Hookham, were the victors, a public match has not been played. Recently, however, it may be stated, that efforts have been made iu the country districts to establish clubs for the encouragement of this game, aud a hope is ventured that these will receive every encouragement, and also that the older clubs will again take the matter up warmly. There is at present every inducement for clubs to play matches either by correspondence, or by telegraph, or the railway communication would permit representatives to meet at convenient times. It may here too be noted that the games played by telegraph iu 1870 wore charged for at the, rate for press messages,and as the tariff has been considerably reduced, if the same privilege would still be granted by the department, Hie cost of each game would be considerably reduced. One of the local clubs which has taken the game up this season—though, by the way, it is somewhat late—is the Leithfield club, which has among its members three or four real enthusiasts. For some time they have been prepared to challenge or accept. They communicated with the Kaiapoi and Rangiora clubs, neither of which were iu a position to accept, the former being disbanded and the latter only lately established. They then challenged Mr Hookham, who was quite ready to take up the gauntlet, and a match arranged to be played, Mr Hookham versus Messrs VV. McAdam. W. Hunter, Jas. Frazer, and J. Smellie. The conditions were concluded last week, the principal of which were, that the winner of the first three games shall be declared the winner of the match, and the opposing paities played the first game on Saturday, at the Kaiapoi Institute, commencing at 11.80 a.m., and, with only two short intervals, continuing till 10 p.m., when the Leithfield men called “ mate.” The game was an interesting one. The Leithfield club are to be congratulated on their victory, but it is only fair to say that Mr Hookham had not played a game for several mouths,

Lyttelton Borough Council. —We hear that of the seven gentlemen who were nominated yesterday only four are eligible for election, as Messrs McClatchie, Allwright, and Burnip were not proposed by a ratepayer who had paid his rates, and are therefore disqualified by the Act. Southbridge. —This district was visited on Friday evening last with a very severe thunderstorm, accompanied by some flashes of lightning. The family of Mr Carr, living in the township, were greatly alarmed by the lightning striking a sheet of corrugated iron in the garden, ploughing up the ground, and charring a gum tree. Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. —A committee meeting of this association was held yesterday, at Tattersall’s. Present —Messrs W. Norman (chairman), W. H. Strange, Henderson, Alport, Fantham, Fergusson, R Wilkin, Mcßeth, J. T. Matson, W. Boag, W. Holley, J. Mann, and J. T. Ford (hon secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr J. T. Brown, requesting the committee to allow black birch to be substituted for V.D.L. in the construction of the new yards. It was resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the yard committee. Mr Matson handed in a cheque, received for the timber in the old yards sold by him, when a vote of thanks was passed to him for selling the timber free of charge. The selection of judges for the November show then took place ; after which Mr Matson moved, and Mr Fantham seconded the following motion—“ That the resolution passed at a previous meeting restricting the number of exhibits in any one class to thTee, be rescinded, and that the number be increased to five ; and that double entrance fee be charged for any exhibits in excess of that number.” After some discussion, Mr Ford proposed the following amendment — “ That every member of the committee be written to and asked to express an opinion on the subject.” Mr Alport seconded the amendment. Both amendment and resolution were lost on being put, and the resolution previously passed confirmed. It was decided that the annual horse parade be held on Saturday, 26th September, under the auspices of the Association, and in their ground, and that it be advertised. The following gentlemen were elected a sub-com-mittee to carry out the arrangements in connection with the horse parade;—Messrs Norman, Strange, Boag, Page, Henderson, Bruce, Wilkin, and Fergusson. The committee then adjourned. Killinchy. —An entertainment in aid of the funds of the Killinchy Church was held in the schoolroom on Friday evening, 28th instant, when, notwithstanding the unpropitious state of the weather, which just before the time of meeting turned into one of the heaviest thunder storms that have been felt in this district, there was a crowded attendance. Mr H. F. Kuyvett was voted to the chair. The following programme was gone through, the respective pieces eliching numerous marks of approbation. Overture on piano—Mrs Bluett ; song —Mr Montague Smith ; comic song—Mr Mayer ; recitation —“ Richelieu,” Mr Sherratt ; song—“ Man, know Thyself,” Mr Kit Frankish ; song- “ Bold Fisherman,” in character, Mr Sutherland, which evoked a well-merited encore, and was responded to by “ Down amongst the coals song—“ The Village Blacksmith,” very tastefully rendered by Mrs Bluett; comic reading on the “ Horse,” by Mr Edward Earle ; song by Mr J. Maddison, encored ; he then gave “ Conversion of the Jews ;” song by Mr Hartland—“ Men of Merry England ;” song by Mr Montague Smith —“ Betty Weave,” rapturously encored, to which he responded to by singing “ The jolliest girl about ;” song by Mr G. Frankish—“ Pretty Jem bn a comic dialogue— Messrs Bell and Sherratt ; Mrs Bluett then played a solo on the piano, which was very nicely rendered; song —Mr Hartnal l , “It’s funny when you feel that way,” one wed; he then gave “ The Jolly Spade song, Mr Smith—“ Popping the Question,” encored, followed by “ Do you really think she did reading—Mr Knyvett, from “ Mrs Caudle’s curtain lectures;” song—Mr C. Frankish, “The bashful young man” (encored); duet —Mrs Bluett and Mr M. Smith, “Very suspicious,” which was loudly encored; recitation—Mr Rice, “The outlaw;” after which the nigger farce of the “ Shaving saloon ” was given by the following local amateurs; — Messrs Unwin, Sutherland, Bell, and Clifford, sour and junr, which fairly convulsed the audience. The National Anthem was then sung, after which the chairman stated that the proceeds were highly satisfactory, considering the state of the weather, and considerably more than the committee at first expected. He begged to thank all those ladies and gentlemen who had so cordially given their assistance that evening; also their especial thanks were due to Mrs Bluett for kindly lending her piano for the occasion, at considerable inconvenience to herself. The Canterbury Government Printing.—With reference to Mr Reeves’s extraordinary assertion that his firm had not for some years tendered for any Provincial Government printing, the New Zealand Timet of Friday last published the following letter:—“ Sir, —In the telegraphic report, which appeared in the Lyttelton Times of Friday last, of the proceedings of the General Assembly, Mr Reeves, the member for Selwyn, is reported to have 1 explained that the charge against him of being a provincial contractor was untrue. In consequence of those miserable charges, his firm had not for years tendered for the Provincial Government printing. They had not done so for several years.’ How far Mr Reeves’s explanation is correct your readers can judge by the following statement of facts In the Appendix of the published ‘ Proceedings of the Provincial Council of Canterbury, Session XXXIX,’ will be found a return of the printing tenders sent in to the' Provincial Government in the year 1878. and amongst those named as tendering is the Lyttelton Times (Mr Reeves’s firm.) Again, the Provincial Canterbury Gazette , issued by the Provincial Government during the year's 1870, 1871, 1872, 1878, aud up to April 25th of this year, 1871. are all noted as being “ printed under the authority of the Provincial Government of the province of Canterbury, by William Reeves, official printer for the time being to the said Government,” I think it will be found that Mr Reeves’s firm have always tendered for the provincial printing ; except, perhaps, for this year, and that exception may be accounted for by the fact that a gentleman who is understood to be a member of Mr Reeves’s firm is a paid political member of the Provincial Government. —I am, &c., A Canterbury Elector,”

The Narrow Gauge.— The laying of the narrow gauge has been completed from Rakaia to Dunsandel. On Sunday forenoon a pilot engine made an experimental trip, and the distance, eleven miles, was done in twenty-five minutes, including stoppages on account of a number of sheep being on the line. At 3.30 a passenger carriage was attached to the engine, when about thirty passengers availed themselves of the opportunity to visit Dunsandel. The line was opened for traffic on Monday, so that for the future broad gauge carriages do not go beyond Dunsandel.

A Kentucky farmer refused to look at a sample sewing machine, recently, as he always* sowed wheat by hand. He is related to the man who did not want a threshing machine on hia farm, * for.’ said he, * give me a harness tug, or a barrel stave, and I can make my family toe the mark according to the law and Scriptur.’ Chili has either released or not released Captain Hyde, the accounts differing utterly, though the latest seems to imply his release ; but Guatemala is evidently inclined to atone for the outrage on the British ViceConsul, Mr Magee, it is said, has been offered £IO.OOO, and Colonel Gonzalez is to be whipped and shot. The whipping is superfluous, and could have been threatened only by a half-civilised power, but Guatemala clearly intends to show repentance. It is greatly to be regretted in such cases as this that the European Powers cannot act together, and taboo States where such outrages can occur from all the Exchanges of Europe. Five years, say, without loans, would be felt at once.

A few days ago a young couple in this city were “sighing for the knot there’s no untying.” They had known each other long, and thought .they knew each other well. One evening the gallant called upon his future bride. He had passed the previous night with a party of bachelor friends and didn’t *go home till morning.’ As a consequence not even the bright eyes of his Dulcinea could drive sleep from his eyelids. He reclined upon the sofa and suddenly dropped into the land of dreams. Heavy breathing was followed by a slight snore, which developed into a snort which caused the house to tremble. There was as little variation in the nasal music as in the puffing of a high pressure steamer. The young lady began to think of the future—then wept. She shook her sleeping lover, but he suored with renewed vigor. At last she was furious, and seizing his hair gave it a jerk that brought him to his feet. He stammered, “What’s the matter, my ?” “Matter enough,” she replied : “ I shall die an old maid before I marry a man that snores. Good night !’ She left the parlor—he the house. The young lady could notkeep the secret, and the reason why the match was broken off is now generally known among their circle of friends.—American Paper.