NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 183, 9 January 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

West CHRisTCHURca District Schools. —These schools will re-opeu on Monday next.

Gas for Tima.ru.—The promoters of a gats company for Timaru seem to be making progress. At a meeting of the directors, held on Thursday, we loam that a number 6f.sb.ares were applied for, and a prospootus was drawn up and adopted.

Senor Gonzales.—This talented member of the company now appearing in the freat American circus takes his benefit on. lohday night next. On this occasion several gentlemen amateurs will appear, and a bill containing numerous novelties has" been issued. Senor Gonzales is decidedly the cleverest tumbler in the colonies, and we trustjafull house will be present to show their appreciation of Jai,s efforts to amuse the general public, i ... . ■_* Synod op Otago and Southland. — The approaching General S.ynod of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, which commences its session ,on the 13th in Dunedin, is of some interest tq Presbyterians in .this province, as among !%he matter to come before it will be the question of union with the .Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. The Rev Mr Paterson, of Wellington, the Rev Mr Ross, of Turakipa, and Mr James Smith, of Wellington, are the deputies from the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to the Synod. New Coal Seam at Malvern Hills. —A report has been received by the trustees in the the estate of Mr I. B. Sheath from Mr Jebson that on an 80ft shaft being sunk on section 3717, River Selwyn, a seam of coal 6ft in thickness was cut through, of good quality, and giving about 7,200 tons to the acre. The measures are said to be regular, giving an indication that the coal extends extends over a large area. Water is rather plfintiful in the shaft, and the report stated that pipes and scaffolding would have to be fixed before the boring could be further proceeded with.

American Circus. —This placepf amusement was again crowded last evening, when the programme was repeated with its former success, Siguor Gonzales making a feature by his clever double som'mersaulfc in mid-air over nine horsei. In addition to the midday performance to-day there will be an evening performance with an en tire change of programme, to conclude with the sensational piece of " Turpin's ride to York," in which Mr King will by request repeat his representation of the historical highwayman. Accident.—An accident which luckily was not attended with any serious consequences happened this afternoon in Cashel street. The driver of a spring cart came out of Mr Montgomery'B yard at a smart pace, and brought the trap he was driving into violent collision with a Hansom cab just then passing along the street. Fortunately the damage was confined to a broken shaft, but the consequences narrowly missed being very serious, as the cabhorse was grazed by the point of the shaft, and if it had gone an inch or so further it would have inflicted a serious wound. Reckless and incompetent drivers seem at a premium just now. "

Dauntless Lodge op Good Templars. —A tea meeting and entertainment took place last evening at Gee's schoolroom in connection with the above lodge, a large number o£. members, of _the order, as well as many ladies and gentlemen not members, being present. The ten, which was abundant in quantity and tastefully arranged, was supplied by the lodge, to which full justice was done. After the tables had been cleared the entertainment followed, consisting of sougs, duets, pianoforte selections, and recitations, all of which were given in a very pleasiag and creditable manner. The company broke up shortly after ten o'clock, having spent a most enjoyable evening.

Burnt-to Death.—A sad accident is reported from Otago. The Dunstan Times says : —lntelligence reached us of a more than ordinarily terrible occurrence at Drybread, resulting in the death of one of the oldest residents in the person of John Owens. The facts are—On Sunday night the deceased, who had been in the township all day, went home, and it is conjectured that in lighting his lamp he must have set fire to his hut. At any rate, his nearest neighbor, on getting up in the morning, discovered that the hut had been burnt, and poor Owens amongst the ruins, burnt entirely to a cinder, nothing save the head being left. The occurrence has cast quite a gloom over the district.

Sale op Railway Plant.—.—The Provincial Government of Otago have succeeded in disposing of their surplus plant in a most satisfactory manner. The tfuardian says : Some time ago it was decided to alter the gauge of the Bluff railway, so as to bring it into working harmony with other portions of the Main Trunk line. Consequent upon this decision it became necessary to dispose of the present rolling stock ; but the difficulty was where to find a purchaser. We are glad to learn that this difficulty has been surmounted. Mr Horaco Bastings, M.P.C., having been duly commissioned for the purpose, proceeded to Australia on this errand, and succeeded in concluding terms with the Government of New South Wales for the sale of the entire rolling stock. Mr Bastings is known to be a shrewd business man, and he certainly has not belied his reputation in this transaction.

The Labour Market.—Mr Parker reports the labour market as follows for the week ending January 9th, 1875 :—Business has been brisk as regards the demands for labour, but what I complain of is the great scarcity of agricultural labourers. Of course there are many men unemployed, but the majority of these are unsuitable for our requirements, as it is essential that men should have a thorough knowledge - off all work in connection with a farm ; suchj men as these will meet with ready employment at good wages. The contractors for the railway have given employment to large of men during the week, bo that there is ajlarge amount of work going on in all parts of the province. Good female servants arei still much in demand, but married couples are now seldom asked for. Rates of wage's for the week ending January 9th: Cookp—in private families, £3O to £35 per annum ; in hotels, £4O. General servants, £3O ; tipper nurses, £25 ; under nurses, £2O : houseniaids, £3O; kitchen maids, £2O to £25. [Menservants : First-class farming men, £ls per week, second do £1 10s, both with rations ;. coachmen, £6O per annum ; waiters, 26s to 30s per week. Contract mowing, per'acre, from 10b to 12s, .?' r

FOUTTTBIUTJGETOWN HALL COMPANY —The adjourned half-yearly meeting of shareholders in the above companj will be held on Thursday eTening next, at half-past seven.

Immigration to Otago.—The demand for labor in Otago still keeps up, notwithstanding the large a'rivals from home. Speaking of immigrants per- the NeUon from Glasgow, the Guardian '■'says alt the single meu have readily met with employment at very high wages indeed, the demand being exceedingly great. Five married couples also obtained situations, at salaiies which must have almost surpassed their expectations. The following engagements, were effected:—Farm servants, six at! £55 a.year, one at £BO and find himself, one at £72 do, four at £6O and found, two at £65, two at £54, one at £52; two milkboys, one at £4O a year, and the other at 15s a week. Manied couples—one at "£BO, one at £B2, two at £7O, one at £IOO and find themselves Lyttelton Colonists' Society.—A meeting of the committee was held on Thursday evening last. Present—Messrs Allwright, (chairman), H. R Webb, Rouse, Hobbs, Plimmer, Fyfe, Rich, Rev Pember, and Jacobson. The minutes of last meeting were confirmed. A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary in reference to grant of money and books, and stating that the application from the Colonists' Society would bo considered shortly. In reference to carrying out the repairs to the hall authorized by the committee, it was arranged that, the : president, vice-president, and Messrs Weyburne and Willcox be appointed a sub-committee to carry out same. In reference to an application from Mdme. Winter for the use of the Colonists' Hall for a singing class on Friday evening, it was determined she could have the use of same providing not more than four lamps were required at a charge of 12s 6d per week, this including Saturday mornings. It appeared the New Zealand Timet was not Bent regularly, and thescretary was instructed to write and remind them. In reference to making back entrance for removing the rubbish from the back of the building, it was determined the sub-committee for repairs arrange the matter. Th.ojfcreßsnrer stat.fjji._tb.aro- »Mo.AJB»l4»o«e»ln" hand of £99 16sl6(?. Account were passed to the amount of £9 9s. With reference to the Catholic bazaar, it was determined that a charge of £l2 12s be made for the use of the hall—£6 to go to the general fund, and £1 7s to the piano fund, the other £5 5s to be remitted. It was decided to ask Mr P. Cunningham to become a member of the committee, vice Mr H. Hawkins, who retires owing to having been, absent for three con* secutive meetings. .... Capture.—We learn from a recent issue of the New Zealand Times that a clever capture was effected in that city—" Some time since a man named Stewart set fire to his own house at sandridge, the Victorian seaport, and recovered the insurance money before suspicion was aroused. Circumstances came to the knowledge of the police led to the issue of a warrant, but before it could be rendered effective the bird had flown, no one knew whither. It leaked out at last that Stewart bad -sailed for Greymouth, New Zealand, in a small schooner, and from there he was traced to Oamaru, though the police could never come up with the fugitive.. From Oamaru be went to Lyttelton, and the first that was heard of the matter here was the receipt of a telegram from the Christchurch police, stating that the prisoner sailed North in the schooner Dunedin about the 11 th instant. Almost immediately after being furnished with the description of the person 'wanted,' Sergeant Price met a man on the wharf whose appearance tallied closely with the description, and in ten minutes from the receipt of the telegram Stewart was lodged in the lockup. When first questioned by Sergeant Price, Stewart gave the name of Davis, but it has since been ascertained that he has also given the names of Thomas Douglass and Thomas Smith. He also said that he had not been in, Victoria for the last five years,,but to the captain of the schooner he said that he had a wife and family in Victoria whom he had not long left. He was brought up at the Resident Magistrates' Courts charged with arson, during the day, and remanded till to-morrow to await the arrival of a Victorian detective, sent in search of the prisoner, who is at present in Lyttelton."