NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 217, 18 February 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Baker’s Hibernicon. There was a better house last night at this entertainment, and the audience were very appreciative of the merits of the different items on the programme. There will be an entire change of programme to-night. Theatre Royal, —The drama of the “Geneva Cross” was repeated last night, and has now been withdrawn to make way for the well-known drama “East Lynne” which will be produced this evening. Good Templarism.— The Hon S. D. Hastings will address a public meeting in the Foresters’ Hall, Lyttelton, to-night, at half-past seven. At the close of the meeting a Good Templar lodge will be formed. Horticultural and Arboricultural Society. —The autumn exhibition of the above society will be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Wednesday, 24th inst. School children in charge of their teachers will be admitted free from three to half-past four o’clock. Railway Coal Sites.— Yesterday Mr Hawkes, auctioneer, submitted to public competition the coal sites at the Raugiora and Kaiapoi railway stations. At the former station one site was let, and at the latter four sites, all at the upset rental of £lO per annum each. Victoria Bridge. —The work of preparing for the erection of the galleries outside this bridge is progressing, and it is expected that shortly the danger of collisions which now exists from the large amount of traffic passing over the bridge and the narrowness of the roadway will be removed. The northern side footpath has been asphalted and it is now intended to commence that on the south side. New Caledonia.— The Newcastle Chronicle learns, from private sources, that the Ministry of France has instructed the Government of New Caledonia to arrest sixtysix residents of that colony for b' ing connected with the escape of Rochefort. The principals amongst the persons to be arrested are Dussere, Sohn, Cassan, and Blaise, all of whom are well known in the political circles of France. The new Governor is expected to arrive in New Caledonia in March next. The Para Para Company. —We observe (remarks the Nelson Colonist of the 6th instant) “ that the Para Para Iron and Coal Company are beginning to make their presence felt. The has called for tenders for the construction of a wharf at Collingwood, and as this is to be erected for the purpose of facilitating the loading and despatching of ships with coal, we may presume that the company will soon be a position to commence business operations. The wharf will be seven chains in length, and will have a double set of bunkers, and matters will be so arranged that a vessel may go alongside, be loaded, and leave again by the same tide. The construction of the tramway is being rapidly proceeded with,” Railway to West Coast.— With reference to the survey of this line, we learn from the West Coast Times that Mr Foy, C. 8., and his exploration party have met near the Teremakau from the weary and trying mission in which they have for some months been engaged—the exploring of the country for a practical route for the construction of a railway between the Bast and West Coasts. The appearance of the party, it is said, fully indicated that they had penetrated far into the bush in what is, perhaps, one of the roughest pieces of country in the colony. We, says our contemporary, are without particulars as to the result of their exploration, but believe that some available passes have been discovered through which a railway may be constructed without any extreme difficulty. Ohinemuri. —We take the following with reference to the Ohinemuri rush from the Herald of the 10th :—Considerable excitement appears to have been occasioned at the Thames yesterday by the arrival there by the Enterprise of the Australian miners brought over by the Wonga and the Hero. Yesterday about 100 miners left the Thames for Ohinemuri, and hundreds of others are ready to do so at any moment. The Thames looks extremely lively at present with the number of persons waiting there for the result of Sir Donald McLean’s next move. If payable gold is discovered we look for this to be one of the biggest rushes since the early goldfield days of the colony. There is, however, plenty of time for this to take place. It is just possible Sir Donald will not be able to close his negotiations under a fortnight at the earliest; and up to the present, it must be remembered, there has been afforded no reliable evidence of the existence of gold. Ironsand. Another experimentalist claims to have succeeded in converting, by a simple process, ironsand into marketable bar iron. The Auckland Herald says:—lt is with no small gratification we have been allowed by Mr Bennett, of the Hero, to inspect several specimens of iron, consisting of bars, horse shoes, &c, made at one process by Mr Bassett, of the Vulcan forge, Sidney, from a small quantity of black sand which he lately received from Auckland (Manukau). Mr Bassett claims to have been successful, after many experiments, in being able to produce a marketable bar iron by an exceedingly simple process, and offers to convert the sand into iron in the presence of any person who will take him the raw material to do it with. Mr Bassett is confident of taking fifty per cent of pure metal out of the sand.

Discovery op Manganese.— A very rich lode of manganese (says the Auckland Star) has been struck on the property of Mr George Graham on the island of Waiheke, We need not say that manganese on that island is not a novelty, but this discovery is most favorably circumstanced as regards access to water carriage, and is unusually rich. Mr Graham’s men have been prospecting for the past three weeks, and already five tons had been taken out and brought up to Auckland. At the place in question they tried lower clown than before, and near the base of the mountain, and were obliged to penetrate some ten feet through quartz of a very diffi cult character, when they came upon this valuable discovery. It. is within about half a mile of water carriage, and some two miles distant from Mr Stovin’s mine, showing how generally extended this mineral is on the island. The Island of Waiheke has been generally regarded as one of the neglected appendages of the province, but with'manganese now quoted at £9 to £llathome, and copper to which that former metal is the indicator, this island is evidently destined to advance to no inconsiderable extent the wealth of the province»

Lyttelton Yachting Club. —A meeting of the members of this club took place on Tuesday evening at the Mitre Hotel. There was a fair muster. Mr P. Cunningham occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting, containing the rules of the club, were read and finally confirmed. The sub-committee appointed to enquire as to the purchase of a yacht, handed in a written report, in which it was stated that the committee were in coramuuication with Auckland, Dunedin, and Sydney, and expected to be in possession of particulars at an early date. A general discussion took place as to the advisableness of purchasing a yacht second hand. The chairman thought it would be as well not to go too early into the market, as the yachting season in most places had not yet closed, and no doubt later in the year yachts could be purchased cheaper. The committee were empowered to continue their duties, and the meeting was adjourned till such time as the secretary considered it necessary to call another. Immigration in South Canterbury.— We learn from the Herald that twenty-five laboring men, immigrants by the ship Rakaia, arrived at Timaru by the Beautiful Star on Monday. ‘Our contemporary says that owing to the great want of agricultural laborers in Teraukn, all of the twenty-five were forwarded there at once. A number of married couples and single women from the Rakaia are expected to arrive by the next steamer from the north. We learn that all the barracks are empty in the southern district, and that the supply of laborers is not nearly up to the demand. As a proof of the high rate that wages are ruling just now, consequent on the scarcity of labor, we may mention that at Temuka £4 a week is being paid to harvest hands, and in Timaru a short while back several men who were unloading timber from boats at 12s a day struck for 2s an hour.

Hbathcote Regatta. —This regatta, which, thanks to the indefatigable zeal and energy of the committee has been brought to a successful issue so far as a liberal prize list is concerned, takes place this day on the estuary. A capital course has been staked out, and should the weather prove fine we anticipate a very good attendance and keen contests. The first race will start at 1.30 p.m,, and the following are the events to be rowed off :—Junior pairs with coxswains; Rob Roy canoes; Senior fours, with coxswains, open to all comers; Junior fours, under twentyone; Scullers’ race, with coxswains, to be pulled in stump outriggers, only one competitor from any one club; Senior pairs, with coxswains; Sculls v Oars; Consolation pairoars, stump out-riggers. Every arrangement has been made by the committee to secure a successful result. The Christchurch Telegraph Office. —The Telegraph department has now taken possession of the new instrument room which has been recently erected on the vacant space behind the old office. It is situated on the ground floor, and ample space has been provided, the room being 36 feet by 20 feet. The roof is lofty, and the ventilation good, and every convenience for the comfort of the operators has been supplied; The building is lighted from the roof. The instruments, thirteen in number, are ranged in pairs, the batteries being placed in cupboards alongside their respective instruments. There is, however, space for ten additional ones if required. The public office will also be rearranged, so that in place of the present inconvenient desks, there will be a long circular counter properly fitted up in a similar manner to those in banks. This-change, when it is completed, will be greatly appreciated by the public. We believe that when all these alterations are effected, the Christchurch Telegraph Office will be the finest in the colony. Meeting op Good Templars.— A general meeting of Good Templars, from all the lodges in the Christchurch district, was held last evening in the Foresters’ Hall, for the purpose of welcoming and hearing brother the Hon. S. D, Hastings, Past Worthy Chief Templar of the universe, who had announced his intention of addressing the members of the Order. The lodge was opened in due form, the officers officiating being Bros. S. P. Andrews, W.C.T.; W. Jacques, W.Y.T, ; E. Trenwith, W.S. : W. Ness, W.A.S. ; Williams, W.F.S,; J. B. Dale, W.T.; Buxton, P.W.C.T. ; Gavin, W.C. ; E. Clarkson, W.M. ; Galloway, W.D.M. ; Little, W.I.G. ; Morrison, W.O.G. ; Mills, W.L.H.S. Bro. Hastings occupied a position at the right of the W.C.T. After the lodge had been opened in due form, Bro. Andrews briefly introduced, in appropriate terms, the visitor. Bro. the Hon S. D. Hastings addressed the lodge for a considerable time, pointing out that lodges were to be found in all the Australian Colonies, in the Cape of Good Hope, in Japan, in China, East India, in France. And coming to England there was the Grand Lodge of England—the most powerful of all Grand Lodges, having 4000 subordinate lodges in its jurisdiction, presided over by Bro. Joseph Malings, who was a noble Good Templar. The hon. gentleman then touched upon the progress of the Order in Scotland, Ireland, Bermuda, Newfound-

land. Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Canada, the latter being the seat of the largest grand lodge on the American continent. Mention was here made of a North American Indian named Brother “ Oranatika”—who is a most prominent and well respected Good Templar. The speaker next travelled to the state of Maine, where the Governor of the state is a Good Templar; thence to Massachusetts, where resides the Vice-President of the United States, also a Good Templar. The various cities of the United States were next touched upon, Brother Hastings relating in the most interesting manner the various incidents which had occurred in different localities, as to the growth, progress, and success of the Order, among other things tendering to the representatives present the special fraternal greetings of the Grand Lodge of his native city—Winconsin. California next came in review, where (said the speaker) the Good Templars were more in earnest and liberal than anywhere else in the world. There they had built an asylum for Good Templar orphans, the building being worth 50,000 dollars, and were now supporting over seventy orphans. Having taken his audience around the world, the hon gentleman re? ferred to the good which had resulted throughout the world through the spread of Good Templarism—nations being bound together by its means, and fraternal feelings disseminated over the universe. Brother Hastings concluded a most interesting address by a powerful appeal to all Good Templars not to slacken their earnestness and zeal in the cause. After a cordial vote of thankg bad been passed, the lodge was formally Closed'

If the time ever comes for the explanation of the mysteries of this world, we shall be glad to know why the young man who remarks on leaving church, * I can preach a better sermon than that myself,’ is content to wear out his life over a counter at SOdols a month. Theophile Gautier, whose passion for the feline race was well known, once had a splendid Angora cat presented to him. “ Ah,” said he, “ this cat is a veritable Apollo, but he will certainly ruin me, for I shall never dare to give him anything to eat but white mice.” The principal literary events of the week have been the publication of the first volume of Mr Theodore Martin’s “ Life of the Prince Consort, and the Shah’s diary of his visit to Europe, of both of which works copious extracts have been published in the newspapers. Mr Martin’s volume brings down the history of the Prince Consort’s life to the year 1848. With respect to forthcoming works, it is reported that Lord Lytton is engaged upon an important work, “in the nature of a romance in verse, or lengthy love-poem,” Another literary rumour is that Mr Gladstone is “ preparing a Homeric Dictionary, which he bebeves will take him two hard years to complete.” A Daily News telegram from Rome says that the Pope has approved the report of Archbishop Manning on the progress of his diocese during the last four years. It is reported in influential clerical circles that Archbishop Manning has submitted to the approval of the Pope a scheme respecting the conduct of the Catholic Church in England in its eventual struggle with the Government. The nomination of the new cardinals is again postponed. This is said to be partly owing to the opposition of Antonelli and other cardinals, who object to the elevation of foreigners. The “ cold spell,” as the Americans call it, of the week ending the sth inst killed off Londoners very fast. The weather was atrocious, cold, damp, and windy, and the very old and very young perished under it like flies. Though cold diminishes some forms of disease, still the mortality rose to 2,122, or 417 over the average mortality of that week in the last ten years, and sixty per cent higher than it had been six weeks before. In the three weeks ending 14th November, the annual death rate among persons above sixty was only 65 9 per 1000, whereas in this week it rose to 137’7.