NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 270, 23 April 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Woollen Factory —The factory atKaiapoi is now in full working order. Sporting. —Owners of horses are reminded that nominations for the Champagne of 1876 and the St Leger, 1877, close on Saturday evening, at Warner’s Hotel, at 8 p.m. Christchurch Horticultural Society. —We understand that there is a probability of a show of outdoor grapes and crysanthemums being held in connection with the next monthly meeting of the Christchurch Horticultural Society. Canterbury Railways. —lt is officially notified that the Racecourse and Southbridge line, between the Racecourse Junction and Ellesmere (Selwyn). will be opened for goods and passenger traffic on and after Monday next, 26th instant. The Governor. His Excellency the Governor, and Lady Normanby, accompanied by his Honor the Superintendent, drove out yesterday to the Lunatic Asylum, and went over the convalescent wards. Both Lady Normanby and his Excellency expressed themselves highly pleased with the arrangements of the Asylum. Theatre Royal. —The attendance at the theatre last evening was but moderate. The first piece was “His Last Legs,” in which Mr Collier assumed the character of O’Callaghan excellently. The concluding farce of “A Model of a Wife” went well. To-night a change of programme is announced. O amaru Breakwater. The North Otago Times says:—Within the past few days the contractors for the Breakwater have finished a 17ft pocket, and they will begin putting down foundation blocks for another, probably to-morrow or next day, should the weather continue as favorable as it has been for the past week. Ascent of Ruapeka.—The Wanganui Herald states that Ruapeka, the highest mountain in the North Island, the summit of which has hitherto been considered inaccessible, has been successfully ascended by Mr. P. Richards, who accomplished his difficult task without a companion. The 11th of March was the day on which Mr Richards reached the summit. Rangiora Race Committee —A meeting of the members of this committee, was •held at Sinclair’s Junction Hoiel, on Tuesday evening; Capt Parsons in the chair. The accounts connected with the races on Easter. Monday, shewing receipts to be £B7 12s 6d; expenditure, £69 7s, inclusive of £l6 10s paid for levelling the course, leaving a balance to be carried forward of £lB 5s fid. were passed. After other routine business, a sub-committee was appointed to carry out further improvements on the recreation reserve, and the meeting then adjourned. Baker’s Hibernicon. —Mr Baker and the other members of this company are such prime favorites with the Christchurch audiences that it is not to be wondered at that their re-appearance was signalised by a good house assembling at the Music Hall. Sir Charles Verner takes the Irish comedian line of business, vice Mr John Mooran, and he is assisted by Miss Ettie Martineau Mr Verner made a great hit in his different songs last night, and the Messrs Baker sang in tlieir usual finished style. Mr W. Baker is announced to sing “ The death of Nelson” to-night. ’

Resident Magistrate’s Court. There was no business to transact at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning.

The Labor Market in Otago.— We learn from the Daily Times that, at present, all the immigration barracks, with the exception of that at Caversham, are empty. There are six depofs over the province, and not in one of them is there a single immigrant: all have found employment. The only immigrants inmates of the Caversham depot are three males, three females, and three children, equal to 7£ statute adults, and they are detained there, not being sufficiently strong, after injuries received on ship board, to do any work at present. Employment has been found for every immigrant capable of work.

Good Templar Hall. —The formal opening of the Good Templar Hall, took place last evening, presided over by the G.W.C.T. Bro S. P. Andrews. About 250 persons sat down to tea, provided by a committee from conjoined lodges, and presided over by lady members of the order. After tea, addresses were delivered by the Rev S. Macfarlane and the Rev B. J. Westbrook, and a concert of vocal and instrumental music was successfully carried out. Votes of thanks having been passed to the ladies and those who had contributed to the tea and entertainment, the proceedings were terminated by singing the National Anthem. The proceec s will be devoted towards defraying the expenses of lodge furniture. Protection of Birds. —When speaking, a few days ago (says the Daily Telegrapli), of the [large consignment of English birds that has just been shipped for New Zealand under the able and experienced charge of Mr Bills, the agent of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, we pointed out that the purposes of this “ assisted emigration” of the fringillidoe was “'an eminently practical one,” the New Zealand farmers standing sorely in need of birds to keep down the ravages of blight and canker. It now seems that the Empire of Germany is in the same strait as New Zealand, and finds that small birds are not only the farmer’s best friends, but that they are absolutely indispensable to his operations. The Petition Committee of the German Parliament, in accordance with an address from the landed proprietors of the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, are, we are informed, going to move for the conclusion of International Treaties with Italy and other southern countries tending to protect birds of passage. It appears that, owing to the multitudes of feathered passengers annually caught while passing from and to Africa by way of the long-stretching Peninsula of Italy, the number of migratory birds is steadily diminishing in Germany, while dangerous insects are proportionately on the increase. In Germany heavy fines are imposed for ensnaring a single nightingale,while they are roasted and eaten by thousands as soon as they cross the fron--tier ; and the idea of placing the whole tribe of birds of passage under international guardianship has long been suggested by German agriculturists. ■lt is interesting.to find so strange a point of contact, or—to borrow an apt phrase from the language of the calculus—“osculatory point,” between international law. and ornithology, and it is to be hoped that, for so laudable and interesting a purpose, publicists on the one hand, and ornithologists on the other, will work in concert and heartily. It may, perhaps, tend to partly reconcile the ornithologist to the extirpation of rare birds which, like the bittern and crane, are of no particular use, or of others which, like the pigeon tribe, are positively mischievous, if the law will spread its regis over those of his feathered friends on whose behalf a good case can be made out, and protect them against a wanton destruction that, if unchecked, can only end in their entire extermination.

Calcutta Sweeps. —Sweeps were continued last night at Tattersall’s and Warner’s Hotel. The attendance at both places was good, and the desire to possess fancies was evidenced by the long priees realised by comparison with the preceding evening. Tattersall’s, especially, wore its erstwhile look, and the sweeps were pulled off in quick time. For the Autumn Handicap Templeton still reigns first favorite, with Castaway, King Philip, and Parawhenua immediately following. Daniel O’Rourke was made first favorite for the Champagne Stakes, with Pngawerewere close up, Somnambula being chosen tor the St George Handicap. Thejfollowing is a detailed list of sweeps drawn at Tattersall’s, with prices realisedGreat Autumn Handicap, value of sweep £B6 I9s—Templeton and King Philip, £22 each; Castaway, £l6; Parawhenua, £ls; Tadmor, £10; Princess Mary, £4; Hercules and Guy Fawkes, £3 each; Ngaro, £2; Right Bower, returned to drawer. Champagne Stakes, £7l ss—Daniel O’Rourke, £25; Pngawerewere, £l3; Gilda, £l2; Lough Neagh, £11; Phoebe colt, £7; Castillian, £2; Folle Farine (no bid). 8t George Handicap, value £Bl—Sonnambula, £23; Rory O’More, £23; Guy Fawkes, £l3 ; Castaway, £l2; Spritsail, £8; Ngaro, £7 ; Nectar, £6. Great Autumn Handicap, £5 sweep, value £236 —Templeton, £72 ; Castaway, £SO ; King Philip, £46 ; Tadmor, £4l ; Parawhenua, £34 ; Princess Mary, £l3 ; Guy Fawkes, £l2 ; Ngaro, £ll ; Right Bower, £10; Hercules, £B. Great Autumn Handicap, £2 sweep, value £l3B— £3O; Castaway, £2B; King Philip, £27; Parawhenua, £2O; Guy Fawkes, £l3; Right Bower and Tadmor, £ll each; Princess Mary, Ngaro, and He r cules, £4 each. St George Handicap, £2 sweep, value £7l —Sonnambula, £2l; Rory O’More, £ls; Castaway, £l3; Ngaro, £9; Spritsail, £8; Guy Fawkes, £4; Nectar, no bid. The sweeps drawn and prices realised at Warner’s Hotel are as follow- —Great Autumn Handicap, value, £47 19s—Templeton, £10; King Philip, £6 10s; Parawhenua, £5 10s; Castaway, £4 10s; Ngaro and Tadmor, £4 each; Hercules, £2; Guy Fawkes, Right Bower, and Princess Mary, £1 10s each. St George Handicap; value, £47 —Castaway, £9; Guy Fawkes, £7 ; Sonnambula, £5 10s; Spritsail. £5; Rory O’More andßgaro, £3 each; Nectar. £1 10s Champagne Stakes; value £57 10 —Daniel O’Rourke, £l6 10s; Lough Neagh, £l2 10s; Pngawerewere, £11; Gilda, £5 10s; P : oebe colt, £4 10s ; Folle Farine and Cas tillian, £2 10s each. Sweeps will be drawn at both places to-night, and to-day’s results will no doubt lead to long prices being fetched to-night for fancies. “Is your horse gentle, Mr Dabster?”— “ Perfectly gentle, sir. The only fault he has got (if that be a fault) is a playful habit of extending his hinder hoofs now and then.”—“By extending his hinder hoofs you don’t mean kicking, I hope?”—“Some people call it kicking, Mr Green,.but it’s only a plight reaction of the muscles—a disease rather than a vice.” . . nov . •