NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 161, 10 December 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Cricket.—The match A. to M. v M. to Z., began last Saturday, will be continued next Saturday, at 2 p.m. punctually. Slaughter-House Licenses.—A special meeting of justices of the peace will be held at thp Resident Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, on Thursday, 24th irist, to consider applications for slaughter-house licenses. Legal.—His Honor the Judge proceeds to Timaru to open the Circuit Court there on Monday next. The Registrar of the Court has already gone and formally adjourned the Court until his Honor's arrival.

Excursion, —Two pleasure parties left Lyttelton to-day. The Rev Mr Ferguson took his pupils and a number of their friends for a trip in the Halcyon; and another party proceeded to Raupaki to open the new Roman Catholic Chapel there.

CONCERT. —Madame and Miss Winter will give a concert in the Canterbury Music Hall on the evening of the anniversary day. They will be assisted by some of our best amateur talent, both ladies and gentlemen, and a good programme has been prepared. A Waif of the Sea.—On Wednesday last, says the Timaru Herald,, an old Maori canoe drifted on to the beach near the Government Landing Service. From the number of barnacles which adhered to the boat, it would seem to have been in the sea for a considerable time.

The Opera.—The bill of the previous evening was repeated last night at the Theatre Royal. To-night the " Crimson Scarf," a new operetta, will be performed for the first time in Christchurch, followed by the witch scene from " Macbeth," with the Locke music, the musical burletta of " The Waterman" concluding the entertainment. The bill is a very good one, and should draw a crowded house.

Entertainment. A grand vocal ami operatic entertainment in aid of the Ash burton Library, will bo given in the district Library Hall, on Wednesday, the 16th inst A very attractive programme has been prepared, ahd an many of the amateurs who will take part in it are already known to fame, and have been in constant rehearsal for some time, a good evening's amusement may be anticipated.

Christchurch Excelsior Lodge.—The usuai. weekly session of the above lodge was held in Gee's "schoolroom, on Tuesday evening, when three new members were initiated and six others proposed. The lodge is steadily increasing in strength, and now numbers 118 members. The Sandhills Reserve—ln response to an invitation from the Mayor, Crs Hobbs, Raphael, Gapes, and Jones accompanied his Worship to the Sandhills reserve yesterday afternoon. Several of the pits were partially uncovered, and the opinions formed during the inspection as to the property of sand as a deodoriser will no doubt be given on Monday next, when the report is laid before the Council. New Congregational Church.—The opening of the new church erected in Manchester street will take place at an early date, when it is expected that a gathering of ministers from various parts of the colony, including one from Victoria, will take place. Advantage will be taken of the presence of the ministers to form a Congregational Union. Akaroa Regatta.—lt will be seen that this regatta is to take place on the 16th inst, when the Bruce ss. is laid on to convey excursionists to Akaroa and back on that day. The regatta is expected to be a very successful one, as liberal prizes have been offered, and should certainly gain a considerable number of entries. There need be no fear of the races being postponed on account of the weather. It is nearly always fine at Akaroa, and the harbor seldom if ever affected by the wind or sea. Alarm of Fire at Kaiapoi.—At 11.23 a.m. on Wednesday, the fire-bell rang out an alarm. Within five minutes the Volunteer Fire Brigade, under Mr Foreman Smith, arrived on the scene of the supposed fire—a cottage occupied by Mr J.Dawson, adjoining the Institute, Raven street—with haud and steam engines ready for work. Fortunately it was only the chimney of the bouse which was on fire, and there was no danger. The way in which the brigade and the engines were got out did that worthy body infinite credit. Dampier's Bay Road.—On the left of this road going from town, where the bathinghouse was, a portion of the road is not fenced about one chain in length, and has continue I in this state for days. No light is hung out to show the danger, and if anybody took too short a turn round the corner he would probably suffer a 200 ft fall. On the right of the road the Council has laid heaps of broken metal, very much to be avoided. Notwithstanding all this, there is not only not one light up the road, but the lamps are positively removed, and this at the time of the new moon. Lake Ellesmere.—We are sorry to have to state that last week's south-west gale has had the effect of reclosing the outlet to this lake, an expensive and laborious task, which has only lately been accomplished after repeated failures and great loss to the various contractors who undertook the work. It is high time that some steps were taken by the powers that be to obtain efficient means for the prompt carrying out of this most essential work. The wonderful grazing properties of the reclaimed laud will be sadly missed by the owners of stock, who are accustomed to rely on it at this season of the year. South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society.— Che Herald says—A meeting of gentlemen interested in a Game Society, was held at the Ship Hotel on Saturday afternoon. There was a good attendance. It was decided that the title of the society should be the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, and that its object should be the introduction solely of game of a useful description. Mr P. B. Luxmoore was elected president, and other officers were appointed. A number of rules were also submitted and adopted, and it was resolved to take steps at once to raise funds to carry out the objects of the society. Crops in the Ellesmere District.— Owing to the welcome change in the weather that has been long and anxiously waited for, the crops in this district have assumed a more healthy appearance, and the benefits that will accrue therefrom to the farmers will be almost incalculable. In many places in the dry parts of the districts the continued drought was having the usual effect of causing a visible falling off in the growth of cereals in general, and wheat in particular ; and even now the rain has held off too long for thoroughly revigorating the very late crops on poor land. But on the other hand, we notice some remarkably fine specimens of early barley in various parts of the district, notably some paddocks in the immediate vicinity of Southbridge, which we are confident will yield a splendid return.

Lyttelton Parochial Association.— The usual monthly meeting of this association was held on Tuesday evening last. The Rev F. Pember occupied the chair. The chairman suggested that it would be advisable to hold the meetings the same evenings as those of those of the Sunday School teachers. Mr H. R. Webb, while regretting the scanty attendance of male members of the congregation, did not agree with the rev chairman in thinking that the business of the association should be amalgamated with that of the Sunday school. He looked on it that if this association succeeded in awakeuing more interest in religious matters than at present existed among many nominal members of their church, that it would be fulfilling a thoroughly practical and worthy object. Dr Rouse inquired how many meetings of the association had been held, and whether anything more than mere desultory discussion had resulted from them'. Mr Phillips said that seven meetings had been held, and four papers read—two by the rev president, one by Mr W. Graham, and one by himself—but there was a difficulty in getting any other gentlemen to come forward and help them. A discussion followed on the musical services in the church. Dr Rouse objected to a full choral service, especially to the clergyman's intoning, which he thought destructive to the true feeling of devotion. MrH.R.Webb expressed himself, with certain limitations, in favor of choral services. Mr Phillips as a member of the choir might say that nothing more ambitious was intended to be done than to hold a semi-choral service or festivals, he could not admit, however, that intonation and musical services were necessarily undevotional, on the contrary, experience had shown that where music of too elaborate a character was eschewed, congregations soon learned heartily to join in them. Messrs Graham, Derbidge, and the chairman also look part in the discussion. It was decided that the Rev F. Pember read a paper on Olurch music at the next meeting, the holding of which should be as widely made know as possible by advertisement and handbills,

Sir George Grey.—The Auckland correspondent of the Daily limes writes : " There is some talk of Sir George Grey coming out for City East at the next election. This is the seat at present filled by MrVogel, but there would be no doubt of Sir George's return. In fact it is extremely doubtful if Mr Vogel will, under any circumstances, get in again for the same constituency. They are too much displeased with the tone taken by him at the last meeting, and the assumption of superiority with which he met them, The rumour of Sir George Grey's intention to stand is very general, but I have it on good authority that he is not likely to do so. His chief interest is in the constitutional question, and he is of the opinion shared by most men here, that it stands no chance of being considered on its own merits while the great loan expenditure is goiug on. His desire is to see it put off until that is over, and he will then, I believe, be ready to devote himself heartily to the greater work of settling the constitution on a firm basis, and bringing it into accord with the will and wishes of the people after those wishes have been maturely formed and clearly expressed.