NEWS 0F THE DAY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 129, 29 October 1874, Page 2

NEWS 0F THE DAY.

Dr Carr. —Dr Carr will tgive a lecture and seance this evening, at the Oddfellows’ Hall. The Doctor is leaving Canterbury, and the lectures to-night and to-morrow will be his last for sometime in this province. Strike. —It was reported yesterday that the men employed at work at the ballast pits on the Oxford railway had struck for an advance of wages from 8s 6d to 10s a day. Lake Ellesmere.— The contractor for opening Lake Ellesmere has at last accomplished his task, which owing to the unfavorable weather of late, has been one of more than ordinary magnitude. Six or seven times has he succeeded in opening a course, which has each time been blocked up by the heavy surf occasioned by the southwest gales. The water from the lake has at present taken complete possession, and runs out into the sea defying the strength of the surf, and presents one of the grandest sights to be seen in this part of the province. Death of a Child Waikuku.— On Tuesday a female child, youngest of five, in the family of Mr Thomas Griffiths, was reported to have died suddenly. Mrs Griffiths stated that the child, which was about two months’ old was put to bed between five and six p.m. At seven o’clock she went to give it food and discovered it lying with its face downwards dead. From enquiries since made, the child’s body and face were found flattened, as if from heavj pressure. Mr Griffiths was from home at the time. An inquest will be held to-day before C. Dudley, Esq, coroner, at 3 p.m, at Conway’s White Crane Hotel, Woodend. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. —The following are the arrangements for the forthcoming Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s exhibition. All entries close at 5 o’clock p.m. on the 4th November. Sheep must be on the ground by 12 o’clock on Wednesday, the 11th November, in order that the judging may commence. The committee deemed it necessary to pass this resolution, as, for the last two or three years, judging the sheep has taken up nearly the whole of the day. The gates will be open to the public after 2 o’clock p.m. on the 11th. Price of admission, os ; on the 12th (the general show day) prices of admission are, as usual, from 9 till 12, 2s. fid; after 12 o’clock, Is.

Lyttelton School Committee. A meeting of this committee was held on Tuesday evening. Present—Mr H. R. Webb (chairman), Drs Donald, Rouse, and Messrs Allwright and Grange. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Letters were read from the Board of Education rc payment of teachers’ salaries ; from the same rc furniture for new school. The chairman stated he bad ordered the bell for the school of Mr Anderson, its weight to be 150 lb, at 2a per lb. A long discussion took place about the teaching power, and the appointment of the pupil teachers, and it was eventually moved—“ That the committee finding there has been some little irregularity in the appointment of Miss Janet Sinclair, Miss Elizabeth McGowan, and Mias Jessie McGowan, that the chairman be requested to write to the Board asking them to date their appointments from the time of their becoming teachers.” (Carried,) A letter from Messrs Hanmer and Harper was read, insisting on progress payment on account of furniture to Mr Nees, and it was moved an'd carried —“That the chairman endorse the architect’s certificate for progress payment of £l5O for furniture to Mr Rees.” The njeeting then adjourned,

Sporting.— From a private telegram we learn that Mr Walters’ Yatterina and a colt are on their way to this province, and are expected to arrive by the Wellington on Friday. Timaru Show. —We publish elsewhere a short telegraphic account of the result of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s Show held yesterday. The Herald of the 28th gives the following list of the judges Merino sheep, W. Gardener, R. Chapman, R. Rutherford : Leicester, M. Studholme, J. Grigg, James Hay ; Lincoln, H. Gray, W. Marcroft, S. Bristol ; Romney Marsh and others, J. T. Ford, J. B. Mitchell, P. C. Threlkeld ; cattle, J. Page, J. Macintosh, —Ensor ; draught horses, G. Buchanan —Boag, A. Martin ; other horses, Percy Cox, Lovegrove, J. McLean ; poultry, A. Perry and another ; pigs, W. B. Howell, G. Cliff ; implements, E. G. Stericker, James Anderson, and John Anderson (Christchurch) ; dairy, C. Green, B. Woolcombe, J. Shephard ; agricultural produce, A. McKellar, W. K. Macdonald, W. Parr ; extra exhibits, D. McLean, E. Elworthy, and H. Ford. Philosophical Institute.—A special meeting of the Philosophical Institute was held last evening, at the Public Library. Present—Dr Haast (president), Revs C. Fraser, and J. W. Stack, Drs Powell, Coward, and Bullcr, Professor Bickerton, and Messrs Hall, Inglis, Fcreday, Smith, Corfe, L. Walker, Ross, Lewis, and J, Anderson, jun. The following new members were proposed : —Messrs T. P. Maxwell, C.E. ; H. B. Seymour, H. B. Johnstone, J. Ollivier, and Thos Douglas. Dr Buller read the following papers : —I. “ On the existence of two species of Hieracidea in New Zealand.” Specimens of these hawks were exhibited at the meeting, and the author’s argument went to prove that the two forms were specifically distinct. 11. “ On a new species of Procellaria.” Dr Buller described in this paper a new form of Petrel obtained in this province, which he proposes to name Procellaria aflinis. 111. “ A treatise on the study of Ornithology.” This paper was too exhaustive to allow of its being read in full, but the author gave an abstract of its contents, and indicated its general scope. The paper will be printed in extenso in the “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,” where those interested in this subject will have an opportunity of studying it. In the discussion which followed, both Dr Haast and Mr L. Walker expressed their belief that two species of the Hieracidea existed in New Zealand, the latter gentleman stating that the larger bird was common in his part of the country. Professor Bickerton read an interesting paper on “A Scheme of University and General Education,” the discussion upon which was postponed. On the motion of Dr Coward, seconded by Mr Lewis, his Honor the Superintendent was chosen to vote in the election of governors of the New Zealand Institute. The election of an honorary member of the institute was postponed until next meeting to be held in November, Meeting at Lincoln.— A public meeting was held at Mr Sluis’ Hotel, Lincoln, on Friday last, to consider the best means of improving the drainage of the land affected by LI and No 2 Rivers. Mr W. Moffat occupied the chair. The following resolutions were carried: —“ That this meeting recommends that the river flowing through this district hitherto known as the LI and No 2 Rivers should henceforth be called the Lincoln River.” “ That this meeting is of opinion that the amount of the grant of £3OO voted by the Council is inadequate to meet the pressing necessity of lowering the bars of the river.” “ That application be made to the Road Board for assistance by special grant in aid of this work, on the ground of procuring drainage of roads now being formed, and hereafter to be formed, through the swamp.” “ That the members of the district in the Provincial Council be requested to bring the subject before the Council at its next session, with the object of obtaining a sufficient grant of public money to make a permanent work of lowering the bar of this river, and that they be also requested to urge the Government to procure information as to the large amount of most valuable land adjoining the river now affected by the want of drainage.” A vote of thanks to the chairman was passed, and the meeting terminated. Avonside New Church —The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Avonside Church, intended to replace the present erection, which is one of the elder churches of the diocese, took place yesterday morning. The portion now intended to be built comprises the chancel, transept and organ chamber, and will be in stone, the remainder of the church to be erected as the means are at the disposal of the members of the congregation. The present extension, or perhaps, more strictly speaking, the commencement of the new building, is due mainly to the liberality of a parishioner, owing to which the parish has been enabled to make a start with the work, and should the good example thus set be followed by others, the parish will be able to push on rapidly with the erection of the whole building according to the plans. The cost of the parish work now commenced will be £1350. The chancel, painted windows, corona lucis, and other fittings are. gifts from various donors. A large sum has been raised to defray the heavy cost,’ and it is hoped that additional subscriptions and a bazaar at Easter will cover the balance. The Bishop and clergy, having robed in the schoolroom, proceeded in procession to the church, singing the processional hymn No 164, “ We love Thy place, O Lord.” The choral celebration of the Holy Communion then took place, the rite being administered by the Primate, assisted by the Very Rev the Dean, Archdeacon Harper, and Canon Dudley, to a large number of communicants The musical portion of the service was excellently rendered by the choir of thechurch, who, under the able superintendence of Mr Woodford, the choirmaster, are makingrapidstrides towards perfection. After the Communion a procession was formed to the stone, the choir singing the processional hymn “ Onward Christian soldiers.” On arrival at the stone the Diocesan order for laying the foun-dation-stone was observed, Mrs Palairet laying the stone. The Primate then delivered a short address to those present, in which he alluded to the interest he took in Avonside, peculiarly so from the fact of his having consecrated the existing church some seventeen years ago (the first he had consecrated), and also paid a well merited eulogium on the liberal spirit which had been shown by the parishioners, and especially of her who had laid the stone, enlarging upon the duty and privilege of devoting of our substance to the glory of God. The 370th Hymn was sung, during which the offerings of those present, amounting to nearly £2O. were gathered by the churchwardens, and laid by the Bishop on the stone. A bountiful luncheon, given

by the ladies of the parish to the Bishop and clergy, members of the Synod, and strangers from a distance, followed,'presided overby the Primate, who, during the entertainment, proposed the health of the incumbent and churchwardens, and Mrs Palairet, Mr Slater responded for Mrs Palairet, and Mr Cuff for the Incumbent and Churchwardens, with judicious brevity, speeches being voted “out of order.” The clergy present were —The Right Rev the Primate, Very Rev the Dean, Yen Archdeacon of Westland, Canon Dudley, Revs Paige, Bowen, Glasson, Edwards, Cooper, Cocks, Brittan, and Preston. Deputation. —A deputation, consisting of Messrs Wm. Wilson, G. Hart, W. S. Robinson, and E, Ford, yesterday waited upon the Hon E. Richardson, Minister for Public Works, at the General Government offices, to represent the great delay that has taken place in the completion of the contract for the formation of the Malvern and White Cliffs line of railway. It was stated that the contractor has already been double his contract time in the formation of the line; and that through this delay the prosperity of the district was materially affected, as a number of buildings which it was contemplated to erect, could not be proceeded with owing to the present difficulty of conveying materials. It had come to the knowledge of the deputation that some of the sheds attached to the coal pits in the district were so full of coal that a number of men had to be discharged, a large market being at the same time available for this coal if communication existed. It was known authoritatively, if the line were completed, that several persons were prepared to establish potteries in the district, and to manufacture fire bricks, as it had been proved that the hills contained an abundance of suitable clay for those purposes, and such manufactories would have been started some time since, if the difficulty of conveying plant could have been overcome. A member of the deputation stated that even the difficulty of written communication was so great, that every letter received in Christchurch from the neighborhood of the proposed White Cliffs line of railway, cost 10s to deliver at the nearest Post office, and through the expense it was found impossible at present to carry on works there, either properly or profitably. Mr Richardson having listened attentively to the representions made to him, told the deputation that the line to Little Racecourse Hill would be completed in about a month. Tenders would then be called for the platelaying on the White Cliffs line, and the materials could then be easily carried to that point. So far as was possible, he would see that the line was quickly pushed on to completion, and the stations were no.w being rapidly erected by the contractor. The deputation having thanked Mr Richardson for his courtesy withdrew,

A builder, when returning thanks to those who had drunk his health, modestly observed that he was “more fitted for the scaffold than for public speaking. ” A gravedigger, walking in the streets of a country town, chanced to turn, and noticed two doctors walking beside him. He stopped till they passed, and then followed on behind them, “And why this?” said they. “ I know my place in this procession,” said he.

The Bishop of Ripon, in opening a mission at Idle, told the following story;—“At a school board in the north—not, he was glad to say, in the Ripon diocese—it was determined that the Bible should not be taught. In advocating the exclusion of the Bible and the Church Catechism, and everything else of a definite religious nature, one of the members said, * And I don’t like them ’ere Ten Commandments at all, for they have a strong smack of the Church Catechism.’ ” In illustrating the fruits of advertising, an exchange says: “A family in Florida lost their little boy, and advertised for him in a daily paper. That very afternoon an alligator crawled up out of the swamp and died on the front door-step. In his stomach was found a handful of red hair, some bone buttons, a pair of boot heels, a glass alley, a pair of check pants, and a paper collar. The advertisement did it.”

A professor in a certain college had taken his class out, on a pleasant afternoon, to exercise them in a practical surveying. The next morning they were examined on the same. The first man was called up. Said the professor : “ How would you go to work to survey a lot of land ? ’ (Deep thinking, but no answer.) “If a man should come to yon and get you to survey a lot of land, what would you do ?” “I think,” said the student, thoughtfully, “I should tell him he had better get somebody else.”