NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 93, 17 September 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Entertainment. —The combined entertainment of the parishes of St. Luke’s and Avonside will take place in the Oddfellows’ Hall to-morrow evening. Theatre Royal.— “ Behind the Curtain ” was produced last evening at the theatre, to a very fair house. Mr Chapman.—This gentleman, assisted by Miss Ida Bonnifon, will give an entertainment at the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton, tomorrow evening. Professor Bxckerton’s Lecture.— The last but one of the series of lectures delivered by Professor Bickerton will be given this evening, at the Oddfellows’ Hall. The subject will be “ Conversion of voltaic electricity into other forms of energy.” Journeymen Bakers’ Association. — The first annual meeting of the above association will be held at the Garrick Hotel this evening, at half-past seven. Mr O’Rokke. —The Auckland correspondent of the Daily Times writes:—“A subscription is being got up, and I am told being liberally responded to, in order to provide Mr O’Rorke with a fitting testimonial of respect for his honourable conduct iu resigning a lucrative office rather than do violence to his convictions ” Concert. —The class taught by Madame and Miss Winter in Lyttelton, will give a concert at the Colonists’ Hall this evening, assisted by Madame, Miss, and Mr Winter. A very good programme has been selected, and as the members of the class have, under Madame Winter’s tuition, made very satisfactoiy progress in the “ Joyous science,” a pleasant evening may be anticipated.

Lyttelton Fire Brigade.— A meeting to arrange for an entertainment to be held, in aid of the funds of the Lyttelton Fire Brigade, was held in the Town Council Chambers on Tuesday night. Mr A, Chalmers occupied the chair. A committee having been appointed, Mr Sedcole, secretary of the brigade, was elected secretary of the entertainment committee. Mr T. Y. Whitmore was deputed to call upon the members of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, and ask their aid for the forthcoming entertainment. It was arranged that Mr Packard act as treasurer, and that the entertainment take place on Thursday, October 15th. The meeting .then adjourned. Cricket. —The Daily Times says : —“ A correspondent, signing himself ‘ Wicket,” sends us a long letter upon cricket. He says—“ It is possible that the attempt to bring over a Victorian team to New Zealand may fail for this season, because of the dilatoriness of Canterbury, without whose assistance a sufficient proposition cannot be made to Victoria ; but a leading Otago cricketer, now on a visit to Australia, will try to arrange with Mr Handheld, of the M.C.C.,to send over to Dunedin and Christchurch in February next a strong eleven, with Mr Robert mat its head—he who captained the Melbourne eighteen in the hrst match with Grace’s team.”

Inquest. —An inquest was held yesterday at M'Guinness’ Foresters’ Hotel, before J. W. 8. Coward, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a man named James Smith, who died suddenly on Monday morning in a house in Salisbury street. The evidence showed that the deceased, who was a late arrival by the ship Hereford, had been unwell all the voyage, and continued so since his arrival, While in bed on Sunday night he took seriously ill and died at 4 o’clock the following morning. From the post mortem examination, it was proved that death had resulted through one of the large arteries of the heart having burst, and the jurv returned a verdict of “Died from naimal causes.”

Acclimatisation.— As the increase of the English trout in the Avon has not been so marked as might be expected considering that four or five years has elapsed since the society placed some 500 fish in it an investigation has recently been made into the causes. One important drawback appears to be the small quantity of ground suitable for spawning purposes. In the course of the examination no less than four nests were found within a few feet of two waterfalls, over which the young fry would be precipitated to destruction ; whilst four others, each containing some thousands of eggs, with not a single good one amongst them, were found in a spot subjecfto suqden floods every time the mill is stopped. There can be little doubt that the greater portion of the trout liberated by the society at first, were speedily devoured by eels, &c, the society, in their early days, not having the convenience for rearing a large number of fish to the size of the 300 recently liberated in the Avon by the society. Two improvements suggest themselves, as calculated to render the Avon far more productive and suitable for rearing a very large number of trout, viz :—providing additional spawning ground, and erecting a fish ladder at Lane’s mill. The ladder would not only give the trout access to more extensive and better spawning ground, but would also stock the upper waters with an abundant supply of fish food, in the shape of whitebait “and other estuary breeding fish, whilst a few loads of small shingle in suitable localities would supply the other deficiency. The plan of leading in a stream from the river through the gardens of the society, and adapting that stream as a natural spawning ground, to which the trout in the Avon might have access, would, doubtless, prove an important and lasting improvement, and be an immediate advantage to the large stock of fish already in the gardens, the great want for many years having been a sufficient supply of running water of a food bearing quality.