NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 99, 24 September 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Quarantine Station.—Mr George Plummer has been gazetted assistant to the superintendent of the quarantine station at liipa Island. Postal —Tn consequence of the stoppage of the San Francisco Mail service, all correspondence for America, will in future be forwarded via Suez, and full rates of postage must be prepaid accordingly. ODDFELLOWSHIP. —The anniversary dinner of the Loyal City of Christcburch Lodge will take place this evening at the new hall. His Honor the Superintendent will occupy the chair. Cricket. —A meeting of cricketers will beheld this evening, at Warner s Hotel, at half-past seven, to consider arrangements for a match with a Victorian eleven, and elect a match committee. Addington and Rangiora Railway.— The by-laws, orders, rules, and regulations made by the Superintendent of Canterbury for the working of the Addington and Rangiora line, have been confirmed by his Excellency, and declared to be in force. They are published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 17th inst. The Palmer River Diggings. A meeting was held last night at the Borough Hotel, for the purpose of ascertaining how many persons intended proceeding to the Palmer River rush. Mr J. C. Stott occupied the chair. About fifty persons entered their names on a list of intending passengers, and after some discussion the chairman was deputed to ascertain on what terms a vessel could be chartered, to report the result to a meeting to be held at the same place this evening. Theatre Royal.—" Nine Points of the Law," inyvhich Mrs Hill, Miss Willis, Miss Ettie Martineau, and Messrs Musgrave, Hooper, Clinton, and Steele, appeared successfully, formed the opening portion of the programme at the theatre last, evening. Mr Musgrave as Joe Ironside was very good indeed, and as a whole, the piece went capitally throughout. The Loyal Combination Variety programme concluded the bill. Mr McLean's dancing in which was exceedingly good. Good Templars.—A juvenile temple in connection with the Star of St Alban's Lodge, was instituted on Tuesday last, in the readingroom. Owing to the very inclement weather the attendance was not so large as expected. Brother J. A. Efford presided, and was assisted by several adult members of the order. Fifteen juveniles were initiated as members of the temple. It was decided that the name should bo "The Guiding star." The election of officers was deferred until next meeting. CONCERT. —The concert at the Oddfellows' Hall last evening for the benefit of Mr H. Eastwood was fairly attended. The programme was shorn somewhat of its attractions in consequence of the absence of Mrs Long, Miss Winter, and Mr Carder. However, the ladies and gentlemen who came forward carried out their portion of the programme very satisfactorily, Miss Kent, Mr Price, and Mr Anthony singing their respective solos well. The first part concluded with the second sight illusion by Mr Chapman and Miss Ida Bonnifon. Wc must not omit to mention that the instrumental portions, comprising two overtures, were excellently rendered by the septette band under Mr Bonnington. Southbridge Railway. —On Tuesday the second narrow guage engine for this line made her trial trip, in spite of the inclemency of the weather, under the pilotage of driver Townsend. She arrived at Prebbleton about one p.m. with several of the railway employes as passengers on board. Her performance down the line was highly satisfactory, having attained a speed of about twenty miles an hour, notwithstanding the very imperfect state of the line she had to travel over, which is only partially ballasted in places. VVhen she reached the crossing of the Prebbleton and Halswell road, the party adjourned to the Prebbleton Hotel, where numerous healths were drunk to celebrate the auspicious event ; after which, the oassengcrs having returned, the engine was christened in clue form the " Pride of Prebbleton." The return journey was then commenced, which understand was even more successful than the down trip, as the stopping powers of the engine were put to the test, proving that when travelling at the rate of about fifteen miles an hour with a heavy truck attached, she could be brought to a standstill iu something under two chains,

Kaiapoi Fire Police.—A meeting to reorganise the fire police as an auxiliary body to the fire brigade, is to be held at the Borough Council Chamber, on Monday evening, when intending members will be sworn in. Immigrants per Ship Merope.—The following is a summary of the trados and occupations of the immigrants by the above ship now daily expected—Farm laborers, 18; gardeners, 4 ; general laborers, 53; miner, 1; navvy, 1 ; platelayer, 1; carpenters, 14; sawyers, 2 ; blacksmiths, 6 ; tin plate workers, 3 ; bricklayer, 1 ; masons, 4 ; tiler, &c, 1 ; shoemakers, 2 ; bakers, 3 ; carman, 1 ; confectioner, 1 ; engine-driver, 1 ; miller, 1 ; painter, 1 ; plumbers, 2 ; printers, 4 ; railway porter, 1 ; school teacher, 1 ; sugar refiner, 1 ; tailors, 4. Single women—Cooks, 4 ; dressmaker, 1; general servants, 25 ; housemaids, 4 ; machinist, 1 ; nurses, 5 ; parlor maid, 1. Summary—Male adults, 136 ; female auults, 105 ; male children, 47 ; female, 2!) ; infants, 14. Total, 131 ; equal to 279 statute adults. Northern Rivers. —On Tuesday, with the effects of the late rains, it was evident that most of the rivers would be in flood. On Wednesday this was verified. The Waikari was hich and the mails Lad to be returned. The Weka creek could not be forded on horseback, and the Hurunui was in heavy fresh. The Waian was high, and the Hawkeswood mailman couldj not come on. In the morning, Sansom and Lee's coach for Kaiapoi, from Leithfield, crossed the Ashley bridge on the north road, but then the river was out on the north side, and it was not deemed safe for the coach to return. The coaches will resume running today. The Waimakariri seems to have been least in flood, and not seriously influenced by the rainfall. The Cust on both days was swollen and out on the Oxford road, so as to be up to the floor of Seaton's coach, which got through, and the Oxford railway was also partly covered with water, and the ballast shifted, so that the engines of the contractor will not be able to run past Fernside for a day or two, and other parts of the line were also injured. The main drain through Flaxton was full to overflowing, the large body of water overflowing finding its way on to the drain road near to the new bridge lately put across the drain. The flood was finding its way latterly across about 400 acres of land, and towards the northern railway, at a serious rate, but it was expected that the volume in the drain would decrease rapidly, and take back the overflow before it would have time to reach the line. It may be stated the stream had made a breach in the embankment of the drain above the bridge, partly caused by the piling of the bridge holding the large tree roots and debris, thus forming a dam to the current. The rain ceased about noon, and no danger of other floods is apprehended.