NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 259, 10 April 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Concert. Madame and Miss Winter intend repeating “ Maritana ” on Thursday next, at the Oddfellows’ Hall. POSTAL, —The Postmaster in Lyttelton has been instructed to sort English mails arriving on Sunday on that day, provided the outward English mail goes either the same day or on the following one. Grants in Aid to Municipalities.—A public meeting to consider the grants in aid to municipalities will be held this evening, at half-past seven, in the reading-room of the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton. St Michael’s Pa.eish Meeting.— The annual meeting of the parishioners of St Michael’s will beheld on Monday evening in the schoolroom at eight o’clock, Canterbury Spinning and Weaving Company.— The woollen works, Sidey Quay, are expected to come into full operation next week. A pair of blankets as a test were made up on Friday. Funeral Reform.— At a meeting held yesterday afternoon of the general committee of the Funeral Reform Association, the report of the sub-committee was brought up and read, and after some discussion it was resolved to defer further consideration of it until the suggestions as to mourning had been received from a committee of ladies to whom they had been submitted, Papanui Wesleyan Sabbath School. —The anniversary of the Wesleyan Sabbath School, Papanui, will be held to-morrow. Mr Cumberworth will preach in the morning, and address the children and parents in the afternoon. The Rev S. Macfarlane will preach in the evening. On Tuesday there will be a public tea meeting, when the Rev A. R. Fitchett aad other gentlemen are expected to deliver addresses. Fire. —The Timaru Herald of yesterday says :—“ A fire occurred at Hook Flat, about six miles from Waimate, on the night of Tuesday, the 6th instant, by which about 2000 bushels of oats and a large quantity of straw, the property of Mr S. Medlicott, were destroyed. The oats had been threshed by steam power a few days before the occurrence. The fire was first noticed about ten o’clock p.m„ and in a few hours the whole of the corn and straw were consumed. No clue whatever—that we can ascertain—has been discovered to account for how the fire originated. An old pipe was found among the ashes,

Wesleyan Sunday-school, Lyttelton.— The anniversary sermons in connection with the above institution will be preached tomorrow in Lyttelton. In the morning the sermon will be preached by Mr F. J. Garrick, and in the evening by the llev, W. Lee, Good Templar Hall.— From an announcement in our advertising columns it will be seen that a public concert will be given in this building on Monday evening next, under the auspices of the Southern Cross Lodge. The names of many of the performers are well known to Christchurch audiences, and an enjoyable evening may be expected. The Breakwaters at Lyttelton.— A very successful blast, which dislodged a large quantity of rock, was fired at the Eastern Breakwater at Officers’ Point, on Thursday afternoon, the charge consisting of 41 kegs of powder, This breakwater is now extended to a length of 1028 feet, and nearly the whole, of the materials for the extension of the Gladstone Pier, consisting of piles, &c., are now on the spot. The Western Breakwater is now 561 feet in length. Lecture. —A lecture on vocal music was delivered by Mr J. B. Stansell, at the Lyttelton Colonist’s Hall, on Thursday evening. There was an attendance of between 40 and 50 people, and Mr H. Allwright occupied the chair. The lecturer illustrated the lecture by singing “Will o’theWisp”and “ The Lugger,”' Mr Scarell accompanying, and also contributing two comic songs. At the close of the meeting the audience were informed that Mr Stansell intended opening a class to meet every Thursday night in the Church of England school-room. The chairman strongly advocated the advantages of music in his closing address. Juvenile Entertainment.— An entertainment was given last evening in St John’s schoolroom by the St John’s Juvenile Society, composed of the junior members of the choir of that church. There was a very good attendance. The programme, which consisted of songs, comic and sentimental, duets, trios, choruses, readings, and recitations, was got through very creditably. Mr Searell, who presided at the pianoforte, contributed two solos during the evening. It is intended by those who have the direction of the society to give weekly entertainments, the funds derived from the small entrance fee charged to be devoted to the purchase of music and books for the use of the members. With such an object in view, and as the result cannot but be beneficial to the young vocalists, it is to be hoped that the society may prove a success. Inquest. —An inquest was held yesterday at the Addington Immigration Barracks, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq, coroner, on the body of Anders Anderson, laborer, who committed suicide the previous day. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased had been 1 suffering for a long time from asthma, and on Thursday afternoon, while alone in his house, he cut his throat with a razor. Dr Patrick had been called in, but the man was dead when he arrived. After hearing the medical testimony, the jury returned a verdict “ That the deceased committed suicide whilst laboring under temporary insanity.” Managerial Courtesy. —ln concluding its notice of Mr Hoskins’s benefit last night, the Press of this morning says :—“ One fact in connection with Mr Hoskins’ benefit deserves recording as instancing the high eeteem in which he is held by his professional brethren as well as by the general public. In addition to the four entertainments given by the Rev Charles Clark and Miss Christian in the Oddfellows’ Hall, it was intended to give two extra entertainments at popular prices, but on learning that last night had been fixed for Mr Hoskins’ benefit at the theatre, the manager, Mr Smythe, mindful of old friendship, at once decided to have no rival performance on the occasion.” It may be remarked that not only is the fact mentioned a pleasing illustration of managerial courtesy, but no more gratifying indication could be afforded of the success which ha* attended Mr Clark and Miss Christian during their New Zealand tour than the circumstance that, when they were drawing full and fashionable audiences, they should be willing, at the suggestion of their manager, to dispense with a night’s receipts. Presbytery of Christchurch. At Christchurch on the Bth April, within the schoolroom of St Andrew’s Church, the Presbytery of Christchurch met, and was constituted with devotional exercises. Sederunt—The Rev W. H. Horner, moderator; Revs Fraser, A. F. Douglas, W. Douglas, McGowan, and Cree ; and Messrs Johnstone and Vallance, elders; and RevW. McGregor, clerk. The minutes of 15th January and 2nd February were confirmed. Commission from Mount Grey Downs session in favor of Mr Alexander Vallance, bona fide elder, was sustained. The Rev C, Fraser, moderator of Ashburton, reported that a house had been provided for the minister ; and a call would be moderated on 19th April. The Presbytery approved of Mr Fraser’s diligence. It was resolved that Mr Fraser, as moderator of Ashburton, make application on behalf of Mr Burnett to be put on the list of ministers for celebration of marriages, according to the Marriage Act, 1864. The moderator nominated the Revs A. F, Douglas and 0. Fraser, and Mr Johnston, elder, as a Presbyterial deputation to visit the congregation of Leeston on 28rd April. Agreed to. The name of the Rev W. R. Campbell, Waiau, was added to the Presbytery roll. It was resolved—“ That a committee be appointed to enquire into the payment of stipends throughout the Presbytery, and the practicability of immediately securing the minimum stipend of £250 ; that the committee consist of the moderator, the Revs Fraser, A. F, Douglas ; and Messrs Cameron and Johnson, elders; Mr Cameron, convener.” Having heard the letter of the Rev P. Hope, M.A., secretary of the Free Church colonial committee, Edinburgh, it was resolved—“ That the Presbytery do not require catechists ; have made provision through Church Extension Association for a two years’ term for probationers ; and would readily receive theological students who had gone through a full curriculum of Arts. The meeting was closed with the Benediction. Presentation. —On Thursday afternoon a number of the friends of the Rev J. K Willmer met in the Royal Hotel, Southbridge. for the purpose of presenting their late pastor with a purse of sovereigns and address prior to his departure from the Ellesmere district. Captain R. B. Willis being requested to take the chair on behalf of the gentlemen who had assisted them with contributions, said that he had great pleasure in acceding to the request. He had known Mr Willmer personally for" the last three years,-

during which period he could bear evidence to the indefatigable manner in which that gentleman had performed his very onerous duties. Since his arrival in the district, and mainly through his instrumentality, their church had been considerably enlarged. The churches at Leeston and Killinchy had been erected, and the Sunday-schools in connection with these three parishes had been inaugurated. From his knowledge, gathered from the diocesan statistics, their incumbent had performed more work than had fallen to the lot of any other clergyman. The Bishop decided some twelve months ago, that it would be advisable for Mr Willmer to remove to some smaller cure, in order that he might have more time to pursue his studies, but now his illness rendered it imperative that he should leave at once. Mr Bridge, as church officer, requested, before the presentation was made, to make a few remarks, which he did as follows:—He wished particularly to draw attention to the amount of work which had been done by Mr Willmer. He had spoken to the Bishop on the subject, and had been informed by him that the amount of work performed by their late pastor was far in excess of the duties of any other clergyman in his diocese. Besides conducting the services in the Southbridge, Leeston, and Killinchy churches, he had made a point of holding public worship in various outlying parts of the district whenever called upon to do so. By these indefatigable exertions his health was seriously impaired, and he was absolutely obliged to leave, them. He was glad to find that members of other denominations had come forward and shown their respect for Mr Willmer by liberal contributions. In conclusion, he would say that the whole congregation, church officers, and vestrymen, would be sorry to bid Mr Willmer farewell, Mr Willis then presented the purse, with the following address:—“Dear Sir, —We, the undersigned residents in the Southbridge, Killinchy, and Leeston districts, whilst expressing our regret upon your leaving us, beg to offer the accompanying purse of sovereigns, as a token of our esteem and regard; and in bidding you farewell, we sincerely trust that your health may soon be restored, and that success may still attend your ministrations.” Signed by R. B. Willis and 118 others. The Rev J. K. Willmer replied in feeling terms. He thanked them for the honor conferred upon him, and trusted that the seed which he had endeavoured to sow during his ministration in the Ellesmere district would, by the blessing of God, prove beneficial to the souls of many of his hearers. He thanked the Church officers and lay readers who had assisted him during the last few months, and wherever he might be, the days he had spent in the district would always be looked back upon with feelings of unmitigated pleasure, and the purse would be kept long after its contents had vanished as a souvenir of the Ellesmere ladies, and this never to be forgotten day. Mr Willmer’s health was then enthusiastically drunk. A Vote of thanks to Messrs Luckie, Wehb, and Moorshead, to whose indefatigable exertions this satisfactory result was mainly attributed, terminated the proceedings. 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. ]