NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 256, 7 April 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Grants |to Municipalities.— The Government have given notice of their intention to introduce a Bill intituled the Municipal Corporations Revenues Ordinance, 1875. Reply to the Address. —The reply to his Honor’s address, will be moved by Mr J. W. White, the newly elected member for the town of Timaru. Canterbury Horticultural and Arboricultural Society.—A meeting of the committee will be held this evening, at the Clarendon Hotel, at half-past seven o’clock. Grand Lodge, L.O.L.—An emergency meeting of the Grand Lodge, L.0.L,, will be held in the Old Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street, to-morrow evening, at seven o’clock, on important business. The Railways. —ln the Provincial Council last evening, the Secretary for Public Works announced his intention of making a statement relative to the present position of the railways, at the sitting of the Council to-night, on the motion for going into committee of supply. Recognizances Estreated.— Yesterday Mr Justice Williams at the Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court, diiected the recognizances of Thomas Davis and Seth Kingsbury, two witnesses, to be estreated, for failing to appear and give evidence before the Grand Jury. Telegraphic. —The steamer Otago is expected to leave Hokitika at 11 a.m., on Thursday, the Bth. Telegrams for the Australian Colonies or Europe via Java cable, will be received at the telegraph office for transmission to Hokitika, up to 10 a.m. of the Bth, The Grand Jury. —The Grand Jury will not meet again until Thursday morning, at 11 o’clock. This is owing partly to the nonattendance of Thomas Davis, a material witness in Fox’s case, and partly from the fact of two other committals for trial being expected. Theatre Royal. Scandal” was produced last night at the theatre, Mr Hoskins taking the part of Charles Surface, and Miss Colville appearing as Lady Teazle. Mr Collier -was cast for Joseph Surface, and Mr Searle for Sir Peter. The piece was loudly applauded throughout by a very large audience,

Accidents. —Two cases were received into the hospital yesterday—one a little boy named Joseph Gray, spn of Thomas Gray, laborer, living in Gloucester street, who was carrying a loaded pistol outside his father’s back door, when the hammer, which was down at the time, struck against something and the pistol exploded, the ball entering the lower part of the left thigh above the knee. The other was a man named J. D. Moore, who was returning home to Dampier’s Bay on Sunday night and fell over a deep cutting, fracturing his left ancle -joint.

Christchurch Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Society. — A meeting of the above society was held last evening at the Oxford hotel, to consider the adyisableness of amalgamating with the Trade Society in England, and after considerable discussion, it was decided not to do so at present. It was stated that, very probably, a society would be formed in connection with the home society, as many members wished to join it. The following officers were elected for the ensuing halfyear. President, Mr J. Dixey; secretary, Mr J. Turner; treasurer, Mr Joseph Turner; committee, Messrs W. Hobbs, W. Jeffreys, G. Evans, J. Radford; trustees, Messrs H. Oxford and J. Mundy. The Criminal Sittings Nearly the whole of yesterday was occupied by the trial of William Longley Fowler, for sheepstealing atthe Waiau. The trial resulted in a verdict of acquittal. Charles Major and Harriet Major, husband and wife, were indicted for stealing a cheque on the Union Bank of the value of £22 10s. The male prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to six mo-ths’ imprisonment, with hard labour. The Crown prosecutor entered a nolle prosequi as to the female prisoner, who v\as discharged. Alex, be Bas, who had been convicted on the previous day of forgery and uttering, was sentenced to three yea’s’ penal servitude. Frederick Cooper, who had pleaded guilty to two charges of forgery and uttering, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, with hard labour, on each charge, the sentences to be cumulative. The Court adjourned until this morning at ten o’clock.

Ashley Railway Bridge. —The testing of this bridge was carried out on Monday and Tuesday by Mr Lock, clerk of the works, and Mr Triphook, an engineer of the General Government. Two sets of trucks, loaded with thirty tons railway metal on each set, were slowly pushed over it. The deflection in no instance appeared to exceed half an inch, and even then plenty of cumber is allowed for the timbers setting together. The trial was highly satisfactory. On the latter day No 6 locomotive, driven by George Dorn, passed over with the loaded trucks, and was received by a number of persons at the Ashley station buildings. The engine returned across the bridge, a length of 3060 ft, in It may be noted that the larger blocks put on the bridge to which are attached the suspension rods in . the truss, ordered by the Engineer - in - Chief on his last inspection, add considerably to its stability. The next matter is when will it be opened. A public meeting was held in the district school on Monday evening, Mr P. Fawcett in the chair, at which it was resolved that on the opening of the Northern railway to the Ashley a public luncheon be given, at which the officials will be invited, and other members of the public be admitted by ticket. A number of subscriptions in money and kind were promised towards it.

Acclimatisation Society. A special meeting of the council of the society was held yesterday afternoon, at the Public Library. Present: Sir Cracroft Wi'son (in the chair), Rev W. J. G. Bluett, Dr Campbell, and Messrs Thomas, Bird, Wallace, Johnstone, Farr (hon secretary), and Colonel Brett. A letter was read from Mr Ottywell, dated London, February Bth, forwarding a statement of the expenditure of the funds placed at his disposal, and forwarding copies of vouchers and policy of insurance for £3OO against total loss, covering birds, house and fittings, &c, but not against mortality or other risks. Mr Ottywell concluded his letter with a hope that the undertaking would be successful. The accounts for the birds, &c (a list of which we have already published), and other expenses, showed an expenditure of £312 Bs, leaving a balance in Mr Ottywell’s hands of £6 7s. A discussion took place as to the price to be charged for birds to members, but no decision could be arrived at till they were landed. The secretary said the object of the meeting was to make provision for Mr Bills’ s ilary and other expenses, Mr Johnstone thought as the Council was sitting, an application should be made to have a sum placed on the estimates. He considered that the introduction of salmon ova and birds should have been a charge upon the General Government. The society had not confined their introduction to Canterbury. He moved—“ That a deputation, consisting of the mover, Colonel Packe, Mr. Wallace, Dr Campbell, and the secretary, wait upon his Honor the Superintendent and Executive, to urge the utility of placing a sum of £2OOO upon the current year’sestimatesfor acclimatisation purposes." Mr Bird seconded the resolution, which was carried. Mr Bluett asked if the society were offering a premium for the destruction of hawks. He had been informed that the hawks were killing the young pheasants; if the society would do this, he was informed, many would subscribe, but not otherwise. He might mention that he had seen the magpies attacking hawks. Sir Cracroft Wilson corroborated this latter statement. Mr Bluett moved—" That the society offer the sum of one shilling per head for every hawk and black shag delivered to the curator at the society’s grounds.” Mr Farr seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. Mr Bluett moved—" That the secretary write to the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, stating that the southern society will receive the earliest intimation of the number of birds which may have arrived in good order, and of the mode of their distribution.” Colonel Packe seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Johnstone said he had been told that the pheasants had increased considerably on the Peninsula, and it might be advisable for the Society to consider at some future date whether permission should not be granted to owners of land there to shoot cock pheasants within certain dates. It was resolved to recommend the appointment of the following gentlemen as rangers : Messrs John Murray, Tai Tapu ; Neil MacLean, Rakaia; William Josling, Kangiora ; John Boss, Springfield Farm, Kaiapoi ; and Henry D. Gardiner, Purau. The Council then 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.— [Adyi.]