NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 152, 28 November 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Good Templars.—The usual weekly session of the Ever Faithful Lodge was held in the Temperance Hall on Thursday evening, November 26th, when five persons were initiated and one admitted by clearance. This Lodge still continues to increase in a fair proportion to the other lodges of the town. A committee was appointed to report on a larger lodge room. Woodend Sports.—A meeting was held at the drill shed last evening, for the purpose of electing a working committee to make preliminary arrangements for carrying out this annual event. Mr R. H. Nicholson presided. A good muster attended. The balance-sheet from last year's sports was read, from which it appears that there is £2 10s 9d standing to their credit. The following gentlemen were then elected to act as committee:—Messrs R. Clayton, R. H. Nicholson, W. Bowie, M. Jones, F. Horrell, J. Bowie, G. Palmer, T. Smith, S. Porter, C. Simms, H. Eder, H. Hinge, J. Rickurs, A. McQuillin. It was determined to leave the decision of the day on which the sports shall be held to the committee. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close. Madame Goddard.—Christchurch maintains its position as the leading musical community in New Zealand, there having been a great rush for places when the plan of seats for Madame Goddard's first two concerts was opened yesterday. The programme of the opening concert appears in our advertising columns, and will be found to be extremely well selected. There is no doubt the Oddfellows' Hall will be crowded in every part on Tuesday ; in fact, Mr Smythe, the agent, has received two or three offers from speculative citizens for the purchase of the unreserved seats and gallery. It is not likely, however, that any offer of the kind will be accepted, as it is notified in the advertisements that tickets for these parts of the hall may be purchased at Mr Bonnington's during the day, to avoid the crushing at the pay boxes at night. Death op Mr George Healey, M.P.C. —A general feeling of regret (says the Tlmaru Herald) was caused at Timaru by the death of Mr George Healey on Wednesday last. Mr Healey was one of the oldest of our settlers, having been a resident here for nearly fifteen years. He had served the public in a variety of offices, having been a member of the Town Council, Borough Council, Board of Works, and Provincial Council. In intimate connection with Mr Kennaway, Mr Healey has long advocated the claims and interests of this district in the Provincial Council, with a degrse of activity and determination which made him in a special sense a representative man ; and it will not, we fear, be easy to supply his place in that respect. As an important proprietor and long-established resident in Timaru, Mr Healey held a considerable position in our small community ; and his death, which, though not sudden finally, was yet not anticipated many weeks ago, has created a blank in our social, as well our political circle. Lyttelton Benevolent Aid Society.— The committee of the Benevolent Aid Society would have had much pleasure in presenting to their constituents the report of their proceedings in the usual way, but having been discouraged by the scanty attendance at former annual meetings, they resolved to dispense with the public meeting for the present year, and instead thereof to publish a statement of income and expenditure, and the number of cases relieved. The amount received by the ladies in their districts is £3l 15s. The cases for relief have been comparatively few, as Lyttelton is participating in the general prosperity of the province and colony. The number of cases relieved is thirteen, the sum thus expended being £3l os. The cordial thanks of the society arc given to the medical gentlemen of Lyttelton, who, with their accustomed kindness, have attended on the sick poor. Mr Frank Graham, at the request of the committee, generously undertook the ofiice of auditor, for which the committee tender their best thanks.—Mr S. McGoWAN, President ; Frederick Pember, Secretary; Mr J. Watkin, Treasurer.

Sunday Observance League. The ! second address iu connection with the above league was delivered last evening iu the new Wesleyan schoolroom, Purhara street, by the Rev J. Bailer, on " The connection between Sabbath observance and temporal prosperity." There was a very large attendance, and the chair was occupied by Mr J. H. Tweutyman, who, after some remarks bearing on the observance of the Sabbath, introduced the Rev Mr Buller. The rev gentleman was listened to throughout with marked attention, concluding his address with one of Mrs Heman's sonnets, appropriate to his subject, and written by that lady on her last Sunday upon earth. The chairman read some extracts on Sabbath observance, forwarled by the Rev Mr Elmsley, of Wanganui. The meeting was also addressed by the Rev A. F. Douglas and Mr G. Booth. In answer to a gentleman in the meeting, the chairman said that he believed the Monday morning's paper could be got up on the Saturday evening, the same as it was on the other nights of the week. The Rev Mr Buller stated that this was the case with the New Zealand Herald, published in Auckland, in which office no Sunday work was permitted, and the Rev Mr Douglas mentioued that the bydney Morning Herald and the Daily Ilevicw, the latter one of the largest papers published in Scotland, were printed without encroaching on the Sabbath. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting was brought to a close by singing the Doxology.

The Opera.—Bellini 8 charming opera of " La Sonnambula " was produced last evening to a capital house, every part being well filled. The opera went splendidly from first to last, Miss Alice May as Amina, and Messrs Hallam and Templeton as Elvino and the Count, receiving quite an ovation for their respective solos. Miss Lambert as Lisa, and Miss Howe as Theresa were also good, aud Mr Vernon's Alessio was a capital bit of acting. The performance concluded with Arthur Sullivan's operetta of "Cox and Box" played for the first time here. We regret that we have only made the acquaintance of this moot amusing version of our old friend the well-known farce, at the close of the season. The music to which the words have been set is excellent, indeed too good for the character of the piece itself, which is simply a musical trifle in which Mr Sullivan has contrivpd to introduce some really exquisite music, which makes the absurdity of the piece more apparent. Of the acting of the characters, we can only say that Mr Vernon and Mr Templeton are simply excellent. It is impossible to help laughing at them, for they infuse so much genuine humour and fun into their impersonations. Their facial expression, particularly that of Mr Ternon, is something to be remembered. Mr Levison made a capital Bouncer, and sang the music of his part well. Indeed, the whole piece went excellently, and we have not seen the audience enjoy themselves more thoroughly Lhan they did last night. To night is the last of the season, when " Barbe Bleue" will be given. The company proceed to Timaru on Monday for a week, returning to Christchurch at the expiration of that time for a short season, prior to opening in Dunedin.

Mrs Palmer's Concert.—A most successful concert was given on Thursday night last in the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton, in which Mrs Palmer (Miss Rosini Carandini), assisted by Miss Lavinia Taylor, Miss Kent, and Messrs Appleby, Carder, Knox, and Searell, delighted a large and appreciative audience. The front seats were crowded. The performance commenced with an overture, <; Marche des Tambours," well played by Miss Carandini and Mr Searell, followed by Mendelssohn's part song, " Farewell to the forest," in which the parts were taken by Miss R. Carandini, Miss Kent, Messrs Appleby, and Knox. Braham's "Death of Nelson" was next rendered by Mr Appleby, Miss Carandini following with Benedict's " Rock me to sleep." Miss L. Taylor then played some airs from " Lurline" on the concertina. Glover's fine duet, the " Evening breeze," was given by Miss Carandini and Miss Kent. Mr Carder sang Hatton's ballad, " She was my boyhood's dream." Barnett's trio " This magic wove scarf," in which Miss R. Carandini and Messrs Appleby and Knox took part, brought the first part to a conclusion. After an interval of ten minutes, Miss R. Carandini and Mr Searell gave a selection on the pianoforte on themes from " Preciosa." Donizetti's exquisite duet from " Lucia di Lammamoor" was then sung by Miss Carandini and Mr Knox. Reichardt's song, " Love me beloved," was then rendered by Mr Carder, Miss R. Carandini following with Ganz's cavatina, " Sing, sweet bird;" another concertina solo, " Fantasias Bcossaises," arranged by Regondi, was played by Miss L. Taylor. The aria "Remember," from " Lucretia Borgia," was given by Mr Knox. Mendelssohn's part song " The Nightingale," was sung by Miss Carandini, Miss Kent, Messrs Appleby, and Knox. Austin Turner's " Land o' the Leal," having been given by Miss Kent, Balfe's trio, " Thro' the world," by Miss Caiandini, Messrs Appleby, and Knox, brought the concert to a successful conclusion. Miss Carandini sang beautifully throughout ; her " Rock me to sleep," being rendered with great taste and feeling. Miss Taylor's playing was as good as usual, we cannot praise it more. Miss Kent's rich low voice was heard to much advantage in the part music, as well as in her solo. Mr Mr Carder sang " She was my boyhood's dream," excellently. Mr Appleby, though he rendered great service in the trios and part songs, was not very successful in the "Death of Nelson." Mr Knox was in splendid voice, and sang well throughout, but particularly in the trio " Thro' the world." There were several encores. It is seldom that the inhabitants of Lyttelton have such a musical treat, and it is to be hoped it will not be long before they have something similar again. * At the recent musical festival at Munich the chorus numbered more than 5000 voices. Mr J. Lucas, of the Geological Survey of England, has just published a treatise " On Horizontal Wells," in which he asserts he gives a "solution of the problem of supplying London with pure water." Examining the geology of green-sands and chalk of Surrey, he finds that above 1,000 feet of porous strata rests upon a bed of " absolutely impervious clay," and he contends that "a tunnel driven along the strike of the beds, or water level, must of necessity arrest all the water that is flowing down it as far as the gallery is carried." The geological evidence given appears exact, and the reasoning conclusive; we may, therefore, hope that a source for the supply of London with "the best and purest spring water " has been discovered,