NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 236, 12 March 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Theatre Royal. There was a good house at the theatre last night, |and tie play, "Rosedale," went well throughout. The piece will be repeated this evening. New Zealand Shipping Co.—We are informed that the New Zealand Shipping Co, and the agents of Messrs Shaw Saville and Co, have resolved to reduce the freight on wheat from 55s to 50s per ton, at which rate the vessels of both lines are now loading. Fire.—On Wednesday evening a stack of wheat, containing somewhere about 450 bushels, was destroyed by fire on Mr Bennett's farm, Wakanui, Ashburton. There were several other stacks close to the one burnt, but which were all saved. Detailed particulars had not come to hand when the mail left the Ashburton. Rev Charles Clark's Last Appearance.—The announcement that the popular lecturer would give his last entertainment this evening (the Oddfellows' Hall being otherwise engaged next week), caused a great demand for reserved seat tickets at Mr Bonnington's this morning. There is no doubt that the hall will be crowded to excess in every part to-nigiit. It will be understood, that, though bearing the same title as his first lecture, the one to be delivered this evening is entirely different in every part. C.C.C. v U.C.C.C. (Second Elevens.)— The following players will represent the C.C.C. in this match to-morrow (Saturday), and are particularly requested to be on the ground before 2 o'clock, in order to make an early start, as it is impossible to play later than 6 o'clock on account of the light getting bad, viz : Messrs W. Beard, T. Chapman, C. Fearon, C. Frith, K. C. Kent, R. A. Kent, F. J. Reeder, G. A. Taylor, J. M. Taylor, D. Thompson, and G. Turner, jun. Dunedin Race Course.—With reference to the Forbury Park racecourse, the Daily Times says it is in a disgraceful condition at the present time, and something should be done to put the running ground in order before the races take place. In some places the course appears to have been cut up by heavily-shod being allowed to graze there, and we are informed that this was actually the case a few weeks ago when the ground was soft. Even in the straight the grass is patchy and the ground uneven, and from the state of the course it is evident that horses in training have been doing their gallops on it. The Jockey Club should never have allowed horses to train on the running ground, and if horses have been galloped there without permission, their owners should be punished. Canterbury Rowing Club.—A committee meeting of this club was held at Maples' Garrick's Hotel last evening. Present —A. Blakiston, captain (in the chair), Messrs Denham, Turnbull, Gordon, Templar, and Kilgour (secretary). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following entries were received for Mr S. S. Bevan'sprize for junior four-oars under nineteen, on Saturday next:—Messrs W. Calender, P. H. Duncan, J. C. Martin, J. W. Holt (stroke): Messrs J. Winter, J. Rule, D. Hartland, E. A. Pavitt (stroke). It was decided to make post entries for the ladies' prizes on Saturday next. Entries for the Kaiapoi regatta:—Senior Four, J. Knox (stroke), H. E. Templar. J. Grey, J O. Jones. Senior Four, J. Grey, J. O. Jones (stroke). Junior Four, W. Callender, P. H, Duncan, J. C. Martin, J. W. Holt (stroke). Junior Pair, J. C. Martin, J. W. Holt (stroke). That the captain be allowed to make further entries should he think fit. Half-holiday will be proclaimed by his Honor on Wednesday next for Kaiapoi regatta (St Patrick's Day). It i 3 rumored that the captain and vice-president of the C.R.C. will compete for the ladies' prizes on Saturday next, and we may, therefore, expect to see some very fine rowing. Serious Accident at Otago.—The Daily Times of March 9th gives the following account of a serious accident:—We regret to have to report a serious accident that occurred at that section of the Dunedin and Moeraki Railway known as the Deborah Bay Tunnel. It appears that two men named William Stevens and John M'Grath were working in the centre section of the tunnel at the south side of the hill. They had charged a hole with powder and were tamping it, when, by accident, the fuse slipped into the hole altogether, and before its disappearance was observed the men had tamped over it. This necessitated drawing the charge, or, in other words, emptying the hole again. "Jumping" the charge out was proceeded with, and the,.hole.was kept full of water according to the rules of the work. One of the standing orders of the contractors, however, is that no charge shall be drilled out in the event of a miss-fire, but another hole bored alongside of it instead. In the present case, however, there was only one inch of tamping on the powder, and so it was thought that the operation might be risked. The result, however, was lamentable; for notwithstanding that the hole was kept full of water, the powder ignited, an explosion followed, and the two men were hurled backwards and received fearful injuries. Mr M'Kenzie immediately procured a conveyance from Port Chalmers to remove the men in—thiß being after dark, for the accident happened at about half-past seven in the evening. By ten o'clock the unfortunate fellows reached the Port, and were attended upon at tbe Port Chalmers Hotel by Drs O'Donoghue and Gregg. An examination followed, and it was ascertained that M'Grath was fearfully wounded, the drill, or jumper, having been driven into his chest and penetrated the left lung. His left hand was blown off, and his body and limbs wounded in various places. Stevens escaped with less injury, although it is feared that he will lose his left hand, it is so badly shattered, and his face is also much scorched and swollen. After being attended to, the men were sent to Dunedin in the steamer Golden Age, and were lodged at the Hospital in due course. Funeral Reform. —On this subject the Argus writes : —The movement which was commenced, and, we hope, is being persevered in, by the inhabitants of South Australia for a reformation of the costly, barbarous, and irrational funeral customs which we have imported into these colonies from the old world, is attracting attention both in England and the United States. It was commented upon with warm approval by the New York Tribune, in the latter country ; and the proceedings in the Town Hall at Adelaide are described in the Pall Mall Gazette, which observes that there is everywhere a general admission of the necessity for funeral reform; Indeed, it would be au

interesting subject of enquiry to ascertain how much mouey has been wasted in this city alone during the late sickly season, upon cen monials and. costumes which could not possibly benefit the dead, and which, in many instances, must have seriously impoverished the living. As'to the hot, cumbrous, and unhealthy mourning, which people wear in obedience to tyrannical custom, it was something not to be spoken of in even temperate language when the thermometer was marking three figures. The disfigurement which most people undergo when clothed with " customary suits of solemn black " is probably a relic of savagery. Instead of cutting and gashing ourselves when we lose a relative, as many uncivilised races do, we effect a sort of compromise. We put on the gloomiest and ugliest garb which human ingenuity has yet succeeded in devising ; and we endure the discomfort and the unsightliness of the disguise with a desperate resignation, because it is an ancient usage. There can be no possible connection between the sentiment in our minds and the color and material of the clothes upon our backs ; but these are regulated for us by that mysterious entity called society ; and the " outward shows of grief " are also graduated by a scale of relationship to the deceased, and not by his or her personal qualities, and by the hold which these bad obtained upon our affection or regard. The whole system is so preposterously unreasonable that we may exclaim with Hamlet, " 0, reform it altogether." East Christchurch School Committee. —The district school committee met last evening, in St John's schoolroom. Preseut —Messrs W. H. Wynn Williams (chairman), Dymock, Kirk, Jameson, and Thomas, and the Revs W. J. Habens and H. CM. Watson. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education, sanctioning the business transacted at the last meeting of the committee. It was decided to remove immediately a gorse fence in dangerous proximity to the new school, in Gloucester street. A letter was read from Mr James Bruce, offering the committee a section oi land at the corner of Gloucester street east and the Belt, and the committee decided to apply to the Board of Education to sanction the purchase of the same. The following report from the inspector of schools, as to the school at Bingsland, was read : —" The organisation, discipline, and tone of the school are as good as the building, in its present overcrowded state, will permit, and are therefore highly creditable. The scholars have a cheerful interest in their lessons, and are attached to their school. The programme submitted by the master affords a fair sample of the standard attainable in the best district schools if provided with teachers well up to their work, the results show good grounding and a steadily increasing accuracy." A letter was read from Mrs Haughton, head mistress of St John's school, in reference to the payment she was to receive for instructing pupil teachers ; and also complaining of the dirty state of the yard at St Andrew's school. The committee decided to refer the matter of payment for instructing pupil teachers to tha Board of Education, and with reference to the yard of St Andrew's school, Mr Kirk was requested to see the landlord and draw bis immediate attention to it, as being contrary to the terms of his agreement. An application from Mrs Haughton for the post of head mistress of the Gloucester street school was read, and the consideration thereof deferred. A letter was read from the Bev J. Armitage, stating that being about to remove to Oamaru, he should be reluctantly compelled to remove his son, one of the pupil teachers at the Music Hall. Applications for employment were received from Miss M. Kaufmann and Mr F. J. Vincent, which the secretary was instructed to acknowledge. An application from Mrs M. Smith for the remission of household and building rate, on the ground of poverty, was deferred. The Bingsland sub-committee brought up a report of certain works necessary at the Bingsland school, an estimate of the cost of which was submitted. It was resolved to request the Board of Education to sanction the immediate carrying out the works ; also to allow a course of asphalte pavement to be laid down round the building. Mr Kirk reported that he had received two tenders for the erection of a lavatory and coalshed at the South town belt school. It was resolved to accept the tender of Mr Clarkson, subject to the sanction of the Board. It was decided not to distribute prizes until after the opening and reorganisation of the new schools. After passing some accounts the committee adjourned. Now that contagious diseases are abroad, every housewife should use carbolic soap for household purposes, as it is a thorough disinfectant, and recommended by the faculty.—• [Advt.] The Trustee Trade.—" What trade would you like to be brought up to, my son?" asked a gentleman of a boy. " The trustee trade; 'cause ever since pa has been a trustee we've had puddin' for dinner."