NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume II, Issue 153, 30 November 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Reserves. —A number of reserves made temporarily are gazetted. Educational.— -A rate of fivepenco in the pound has been levied in the Selwyn educational district. The rate has to be paid to Mr G. Burgess. Christchurch Hospital. — A return is published in the Gazette of the diseases treated during the six months ended June HOth: -Remaining on December 31st, 1873, 37 ; admitted. 271) ; total treated, 316 ; discharged. 2-18 ; died, 25 ; remaining June 30th, 1871, 13.

Woodend. —A trotting match is expected to come off on Thursday, between Messrs G. S. Palmer’s Clipper, P. C. Corr’s Polly, and John Wilson’s Major ; distance two miles ; starting post at Harrison’s bridge, and winning at Conway’s White Crane Hotel. The stakes are £lO each. Mr Corr’s well-known mare Pollv is a hot favorite for the match.

New Theatre. —The provisional directors of the new theatre company have, we believe, received offers of several eligible freehold sites for the erection of the building on good terms, and they will be able to lay before the next meeting of shareholders a goodly nomber of offers from which a selection can be made. Once the difficulty as to the site is got over there need be no occasion for any delay in the erection of a building which will be a credit to the city, and obviate the discomfort and annoyances to which at present playgoers are subject.

Teachers’ Association’. — A meeting of the sub-committee of the Canterbury Certificated Teachers’ Association, appointed to reporton the subject of Superannuation, was held in the Durham street schoolroom on Satuiday afternoon ; present—Messrs Cumberworth (in the chair), Gumming, J. B. E. Taylor, Mitchell, Elwin, Souter, Hill, G. N, Phillips, and Miss Grierson, It was resolved that pending the next sitting of the Provincial Council, when it is hoped a Government grant will be made, the committee recommend to the next general meeting that every member of the association subscribe a sum of not less than 10s to any case of distress arising.

Registrar’s Returns—A return of the births, marriages, and deaths in the Christchurch district for the month of October is published in the Gazette Births—City of Christchurch, males, 21 ; females, 26 ; total, 50 ; Christchurch district, males, 06 ; females, 66 ; total, 162. Deaths —City of Christchurch, males, 8 ; females, 10 ; total, 18. Christchurch district, males, 19 ; females, 12; total, 81. Marriages—City of Christchurch, 12 ; Christchurch district, 7. During the corresponding month in 1878, were ; Births—City of Christchurch, 50; Christchurch district, 76. Deaths—City of Christchurch, 15 ; Christchurch district, 13. Marriages—City of Christchurch, 14 ; Christchurch district, 4, A Curious Occurrence. —As Captain Williams, of the ship Merope, was at breakfast in the cabin in port the other morning, he noticed a minute spiral column of smoke rising from the swing tray suspended from end to end above the table. Hia first impression was that some one had carelessly laid down a lighted match upon the tray ; but on inspection it appeared that the sun’s rays had penetrated through the skylight of figured glass and concentrated in a glass water bottle, thereby forming a focus and igniting the tray alongside the bottle. Captain Williams then applied a piece of paper to the spot, which quickly took fire. He stated that after breakfast was over the cabin was frequently not used again for hours, and that the chances are, that had he not observed the smoko the cabin would have taken fire.

Inspectors of Slaughter-Yards.-Mounted constables F. H. Morice and H. Man son are gazetted Inspectors of SlaughterYards in the Christchurch district, Female Refuge. —A meeting of subscribers and others interested in the above institution will be held to-morrow afternoon at three o’clock, at the office of his Honor the Superintendent. The Opera. —Offenbach’s comic opera of “ Bluebeard ” was played on Sal urday evening, to a good house. Miss Alice May, as Roulotte, entered thoroughly into the fun of the niece, and both by her singing and acting rendered the parts of the opera in which she appeared very successful. Miss Lambert made a charming shepherdess a hi Watteau, and sang the music of Fleurette very well. Miss Howe was good as the Queen, and sung the air “ You take a maiden ” very successfully. As the polygamous Bluebeard, Mr Vernon was capital, both in a dramatic and musical point of view, and Mr Templeton succeeded equally well in the part of Prince Sapphire. Mr Newton’s Popolaui was not so good as on a former occasion, but Mr Lester as Count Oscar, and Mr Levison as King Bobeche, were capital. We cannot say much for the way in which the choruses were rendered, as in many cases they seemed to prefer a totally independent lime and tune of their own, quite irrespective of the orchestra, and the result was hardly so successful as could be wished. The company left yesterday by the s.s. Beautiful Star, for Tiraaru, where they play during the week under engagement, returning to Christchurch on Monday next for a short season. Woodend —The Kaiapoi Choral Class, under the leadership of Mr J. T. M. Smith, gave a concert at the district school here on Friday evening. There was a large attendance, 'an appreciative audience filling the room. The following are the items of the programme, Mrs Donovan’s song, “ In the moonlight long ago,” receiving a deserved encore; the solos were all well received; — Part song, “ Up, quit thy bower ” (Richards); chorale, “ Russian National Hymn;” chorus, “Credo (Haydn); song, “ Things that never die,” Mrs Donovan; chorale march, “God and King” (Eli); glee, “The morning is breaking;” song, Mr J, T. M. Smith; chorus, “Spring song "(Root); glee, “The harvesters;” ballad, “ Put me in my little bed;” chorus, “ Light-hearted are we ” (Haymakers); chorus, “Hail to the chief” (Bishop); part song, “Love and sorrow” (German); madrigal, “ Down in a flowery vale” (Fcsta); song, “In the moonlight long ago,” Mrs Donovan; chorus, “ Happy are they ” (Root); chorus, “The earth is the Lord’s” (Mason); part song, “Wedding song” (German); Scotch song, “ Scots wha hae,” Mr J. T. M, Smith; part songs, “ Give heed” and “ Stars that gem;” glee, “ Sleep, gentle lady;" ballad, “ Kiss me, and I’ll go to sleep;” chorus, “ The comrade’s song of hope” (Adam); finale, “ National Anthem.”

Lyttelton Regatta.—A meeting of this committee was held on Friday night. Preseut —Messrs Nalder, Packard, Webb, Allwright, Rich, Plobbs, Eyes, Jacobson, Saunders, and Talbot. The minutes having been read and confirmed, the Vice-Commodore stated f hat nothing had been done by the subcommittee as to arranging the ballast race and preparing rules, and he proposed that the meeting proceed at once to do the business. The rules of last year could be gone through. He did not think much alteration was required. The old rules were then passed, with the following alterations and additions In rule Bto allow ten seconds per ton in the ballast boat race, to be calculated by the burden. It was arranged that centre board boats or vessels sail with their centre boards up or down, and that all yachts were to be measured according to the Royal Thames Yacht Club rules. The Vice-Commodore then called upon those present to state what amount of subscriptions they had collected, and, this having been stated, a discussion ensued with regard to the finances, from which it appeared that about £25 more was yet required for successfully carrying out the programme, but most of those present thought there would be little difficulty in raising the amount. The vice-commodore reminded the meeting that the last time they met £2O had been voted for the ballast-boat race, contingent on their having the funds to spare. After a lengthy discussion. Mr Eyes moved, and Mr Talbot seconded, that the first prize in the ballot-boat race be £ls, and the second £5, entrance 21s. Carried. The hon. secretary read letters from Dunedin and Christchurch, asking for information with regard to the races and programmes, and pointed out the advisableness of having some printed form to send, and it was moved by Mr Webb that vice-commodore and hon. secretary arrange the programme, and ha”e it advertised once in each daily paper. Carried. The vicecommodore having apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr 11. P, Murray - Aynslcy, the meeting adjourned.

Madame Goddard. —As we anticipated, the welcome tendered by the people of Christchurch to this distinguished artiste on the occasion of her fir»t conceit here, will in no way be inferior to that of (he o'.her cities of the colony in which she has already appeared. Nearly the whole of the available seats in the reserved portion of the hall have been taken up for to-morrow evening, and a large number for the second concert. The programme for to-morrow, which has already appeared, promises in all the items a great treat, one which a Christchurch public has not had before, and will in all probability not have again. The only regret connected with Madame Goddard’s Visit amongst us is that her stay is of such brief duration. Of the lady and gentlemen by whom Madame Goddard is accompanied, Mr Eainford is the only one who has appeared here before. Mrs Smythe, under her maiden name of Miss Amelia Bailey, is well and favorably known to Victorians amongst ns as a talented artiste and pleasing singer. During her Indian tour with Madame Goddard she won golden opinions from those who heard her. Of the gentlemen who make their dehut to-morrow evening we may say that Herr Doehler comes to us with a European reputation ns a violinist of repute, and the verdict of the leading journal of Australia is also a favorable one. Mr Skinner lias succeeded in making himself a favorite in New Zealand, and Mr Harcourt Lee, as an accompanyist, is spoken very highly of. In view of the great crush of visitors tomorrow evening, it has been resolved to sell tickets for the unreserved seats and gallery during to-day. For ladies especially, who may wish to occupy seats in this portion of the hall, this will be a great convenience, A late train will run to Lyttelton, and in order to afford the residents there an opportunity of selecting their seats, unreserved and gallery tickets can be obtained from Mr J. Carder.

Canterbury Railways.— The traffic returns for the four weeks ending October 29th, are published in the Gazette. The following are the totals ;—Passengers—Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway, £O9O 9s 8d ; season tickets, £77 2s Od ; parcels, &c, £46 4s 3d. Passengers—Great Southern Railway, £llOO 19s 7d ; season tickets, £29 7s Id ; parcels, See, £IOO Is 9J. Passengers— Great Northern Railway, £O2l 13s Id ; season tickets. £42; parcels, &c, £4O Is 2d. Freight up—Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway, £16.34 Is ; do down, £334 8s 4d. Freight up—Great Southern Railway, £283 Is 10J ;do down, £903 16s Id. Freight up —Great Northern Railway, £122 0s 2d ; do down, £245 4s 6d. Storage, £326 4s 5d ; labor, £124 18s 2d ; wharfage, £331 16s Id. Totals, £7064 9s 2d. The editor of a Yankee newspaper says that he never dotted an i but once in his life, and that was in a fight with a contemporary.