NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 174, 29 December 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

American Circus. —This company, numbering twenty performers, will arrive by the Taranaki, from Wellington, to-morrow, and will open on Thursday evening. The notices accorded by the press to this troupe in the north island have been of a most laudatory character, and a first-class entertainment may be looked for. The performers are all new to Christchurch, though many people have been misled by the similarity of names between Mr King and the gentleman who was here with the Japanese troupe lately. We are requested to state that there is no connection between the parties, and that this is the first appearance of the American Circus in this town. The Smallest Post-office in the World.— The smallest post-office in the world (says the New Zealand Herald) is kept in a barrel, which swings from the outhangincr rock of the mountains overhanging the urfcuu oi iviageuan, opposite Lena aeiFucgo. Every passing ship opens it to place letters in it or take them out. Every ship undertakes to forward all letters in it that it is possible for them to transmit. It hangs there by its iron chain, beaten and battered by the winds and storms ; but no locked and barred office on land is more secure. It is not in the track of mail robbers. Death from Drink. The Timor u Herald says:—William Carter, a laborer’ lately working on the Point railway, drank a pannikin full of neat brandy off at a draught on Christmas morning, at the Point, and immediately became unconscious. As he remained in this state, he was brought to the Timaru hospital on Saturday by Mr Warne, arriving there at about eleven o’clock. Notwithstanding every effort to restore him, he died about one o’clock. The cause of death was apoplexy, brought on by the drink the man had taken. CRICKET.— A match wiU be played on Friday next, New Year’s Day, between Tall and Short, the standard being taken at sft lOin. The following will represent the Tall —Messrs Baker, Dixon, Lee, Mclntyre, Moore, Monck, Nalder, Ollivier, Stevens, Sweet, Turner, Triggs, and Watson. Short Messrs Alpe, Beard, D’Emden, Dickinson, Fowler, Fuller, Loughnan, F. Pavitt, Eeader, Kent, Souter, Taylor, and Wood. The captains of the respective clubs will deem it a special favor if the above players will be on the ground punctually at 9.45, that play may commence at ten o’clock sharp, and thus show that some interest is taken in cricket on the occasion of the approaching interprovincial match with Otago.

Presentation. —The Grey Elver Argus sa y S: _“For the last few days a very handsome silver tea and coffee service has been exhibited in the window of Messrs Forsyth and Masters, intended for presentation to Caleb Whitefoord, Esq., lately Resident Magistrate and Warden of the Grey Valley district. It consists of four pieces, and was selected in Melbourne by Mr Masters and Mrs Kennedy. On one of the pieces is the following inscription : —‘ Presented to Caleb Whitefoord, Esq., late Resident Magistrate and Warden, by the inhabitants of the Grey Valley and Greymouth. (Dated) Ahaura, 7th December, 1874.’” Narrow Escape— On Saturday last the Dunsandel and Southbridge coach had not proceeded more than half a mile from the Dunsandel station, when the passengers were alarmed by the capsizing of the body of the coach, the accident being caused by the breaking of the axle of the hind wheels. Luckily, the fore-carriage was separated from the body, and although the coach was crowded with passengers no very serious harm was done : a few slight bruises and the annoyance of a short delay being all the inconvenience experienced. The horses finding themselves freed from the body of the coach, and attached only to the fore-carriage, attempted to run away, but were stopped by the driver before they had been able to proceed far ; and, thanks to the liberality of Mr Benry, who with his usual kindness, supplied the necessary conveyances, the passengers were at last transported to their destination, although at a late hour. GAS FOR Timaru.— The Herald informs us that a meeting of those interested in the establishment of gasworks at Timaru was held at the office of the Borough Council on Thursday. Mr F. LeCren was voted to the chair. The business consisted mainly of discussion as to the best means of effecting the object of the meeting, and ihe reception of a variety of information from different sources;

after which ihe two following resolutiors were carried. Moved by Mr LeCren, seconded by Mr Jonas : —“ That it is now time that Timaru should be provided with gas, and for that purpose a company be formed, say with £IO,OOO in 2000 shares of £5 each ; and that a provisional directory be formed, consisting of Messrs Cliff, Woollcombe, D. M‘Lcan, Jonas, Ormsby, Chisholm, Green, LeCren, Fraser, Cain, Huggins, Sutter, and Tate, with power to add to their number; and that Messrs M'Lean, Ormsby, Tate, Chisholm, Huggins, and the mover be appointed to collect all available information, and draw up a prospectus, and submit it to a meeting of Provisional Directors on Tuesday, January sth, 1875, at 7.30 p.m.” Moved by Mr Jonas, and seconded by Mr Woollcom.be —“ That Mr M'Lean be requested to act as secretary, pro tevi," The Lords of the Admiralty have intimated that they are about to submit to the Queen for her approval a scheme for establishing a fund for the relief of widows and orphans of seamen of the Royal Navy, and of the Royal Marines.