NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 273, 27 April 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Ashburton Races. Sweeps on the various events at the Ashburton meeting will be drawn this evening at Warner's Hotel. 1.0.G.T. —A meeting of the members of the Advance Lodge, Waltham, will be held this evening, at half-past peven, to elect officers. Panopticon.—There was a fair house at Spensley's Hall last evening, when the Dickens panorama and that of the FrancoPrussian War was exhibited. Mr Skinner sang several songs. To-night is advertised as the last appearance of the company, when children will be admitted at half-price. L.O.L. —A special meeting of the members of Lodge No 3, C.T.8., will be held this evening for the purpose of unfurling the new banner. Visiting brethren are invited. Advantage will be taken of the occasion to present Bro R. Russell with a silver tea and coffee service, as a mark of esteem for kindness rendered to a deceased brother. The Autumn Meeting.—The settling for the late autumn meeting took place yesterday afternoon at 5 p.m., at Warner's. The amounts received by the various owners were as follows :—Mr F. W. Delamain, St Leger and Flying Handicap, £340; Captain Hutchinson, Trial and Selling Stakes, £l5O ; Mr H. Redwood, Champagne Stakes, £lB3 ; Mr Watt, Great Autumn Handicap, £400; Mr R. H. Campbell, St George's Handicap, £135; Mr Stevenson, Hurdle Race and Consolation Stakes, £105; Mr Hawkins, Cavalry Purse, £25; Mr Lunn, Hack Race, £lO. Tradesmen's Athletic Club.—A meeting of the Tradesmen's Athletic Club was held last evening, Mr Scrimgeour in the chair. It was resolved to hold the sports on the 24th May, in the paddock adjoining the Riccarton Hotel. It was intended to have held the sports at the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Grounds, but it was considered that the grounds near the Riccarton Hotel would be the best. A subscription of £3 was received from an anonymous donor. After drawing up the programme of the sports, the meeting adjourned. The Convict Sullivan.—The Melbourne correspondent of the Bendigo Advertiser, writing on the 10th April, says:—" I understand that the Government has definitely decided not to send the convict Sullivan back to New Zealand. Some correspondence which has passed between the two Governments upon the subject has, it seems, induced that of Victoria to adopt the above decision, as the communication from New Zealand showed that the murderer's transport thither would give great offence to public opinion in that country. It does not appear that the Victorian Government has yet hit upon any other ultimate plan of dealing with the prisoner." The Governor.—Yesterday his Excellency the Governor, accompanied by his Honor the Superintendent, visited the Lincoln road school, in the West Christchurch educational district, and was received by the chairman and several members of the school committee, together with the Inspector of Schools, Mr Restell. At the request of the inspector some of the elder boys drew maps of the North Tsland, and the younger children sang. His Excellency expressed pleasure at his visit. Afterward the viceregal party visited Christ's College grammar school, and were received by the Most Bev the Primate, the fellows, and the masters. After the schools had been inspected, at his Excellency's request three days' extra holidays were given to the boys, an announcement which was received with great cheering. A special train, to be driven by the railway engineer, will leave the Christchurch railway station to-day, at 10.45 a.m, carrying his Excellency the Governor, the Minister for Public Works, his Honor the Superintendent, and others, as far as the Ashley Bank, where the new bridge will be inspected. On the return trip his Excellency will arrive at Rangiora about 11.50, where he will receive an address of welcome from the chairman of the district Road Board. At Kaiapoi, it is expected a short address will be presented by the mayor and councillors, when the company will proceed to town.

Narrow Escape.—An accident which might h?ve been attended with serious consequences, occurred yesterday on the narrow road leading off Stanmore road to New Brighton. A man, whose name we did not learn, was driving two horses with a load of sand along this road, when a steam threshing machins was suddenly drawn on to the road, at the same time letting off steam. This frightened the horses in the dray, and the result was that they swerved, capsizing the load into a deep ditch on the driver. Fortunately Mr Wagner, of the Clarendon Hotel, drove up at the time, and calling for assistance, in a few seconds succeeded in releasing the unfortunate man, who, when taken out, was insensible. Mr Wagner drove him to the hospital, but shortly before arriving there he recovered consciousness. Presentation. The staff at Argyle House met last evening for the purpose of taking leave of one of their number, who is leaviDg the firm to commence business on his own account at Rangiora, having purchased the business of Messrs Beath and Co in that town. Mr Malcolm occupied the chair. After the usual loyal toasts had been houored, the chairman proposed the toast of the evening, " Our guest," speaking in the highest terms of Mr Best's character and ability. The chairman then presented Mr Best, on behalf of those present, with a gold pencilcase and a handsome timepiece, bearing the following inscription—f To Mr Best, from his friends in Argyle House, on his leaving for Rangiora, April 26th, 1875." Mr Beath also presented a handsome silver teapot and of silver spoons to Mrs Best. The following toasts were also duly honoured :—" Prosperity to Rangiora," ''The Early Closing Association," ". Our Lyttelton Branch," " The Volunteers," " The Good Templars," " The Ladies," " The Chairman," and " Our Host." Mr Beath very liberally provided the wines and other delicacies on the occasion,

Extension of the Railway Line Yesterday another section of the branch lines of the province was opened for traffic, being a portion of that between Racecourse and Southbridge, as far as the Selwyn Bridge, the station being named Ellesmere. The length of line opened is fifteen miles sixty chains, and is narrow guage from the Racecourse Junction. As we have stated, the line is now open for passenger and goods traffic to the Ellesmere station, and it is anticipated that no long period will elapse before the line is opened right through. The contract for formation of the permanent way has been carried out by Mr W. White, jun; the fencing being in the hands of Messrs Cuff and McNamara. At present two trains per day will be run. Inquest at Oxpoed.—An inquest was held on the body of Robert Garlech, sixteen years of age, at the Harewood Arms, Oxford, G. Gorton, Esq, J.P., acting as coroner, on April 24th. George Garlech, duly sworn, deposed through an interpreter—l am the father of the deceased Robert Garlech. On Thursday the 22nd inst, at 10 a.m., my son and I were in Lees Bush, falling a tree. When cut half through the deceased put a wedge in the cut, and I drove it in with a maul. After a few strokes the maul flew off the handle, striking the deceased on the left side of his head. By the Foreman—l always tried to keep the maul in good order. By the Coroner—The deceased sat down and called out for St Marie Joseph to help him, and about five minutes after got up to go home, which he did by himself, a distance of two miles. The doctor was sent for at 8 p.m, when alarming symptoms set in. Charles Henzie, storekeeper, sworn—Was in Lees Bush at 10 am. on the 22nd inst. Saw deceased and his father falling a tree. While the father was driving home the wedge in the cut the head of the maul flew off the handle, striking the deceased on the head. The deceased seemed stunned for a few minutes, when he got up to go home. Coroner—Wab the maul in good working order? Witness—The handle might have been loose, or not properly wedged. Dr J. E. Weld sworn—l am a duly qualified medical practitioner. I knew deceased Robert Garlech. I was called, in on the 22nd inst, at 9 p.m. Pound deceased insensible, and breathing heavily. Was told he had received a blow on the head. Examined him and found a slight abrasion of the skin over the left temple. Could not detect any fracture of the skull. I attribute the cause of death to extravasation of blood on the brain. The jury, after a short consultation, agreed to a verdict of " Accidental death." Sporting.—The "sporting writer of the Australasian says :—The committee of the V.R. C. met during the week and framed the programmes for the season of 1875-6. The stakes to be offered at the Spring Meeting have been increased by £325, the Melbourne Stakes being £ 150 instead of £75, the Flying Stakes £IOO instead of £SO, the Steeplechase £3OO instead of £2OO, and the Flemington Plate has been increased to £3OO. But it is the New Year's Day list that has received the lion's share of the additional money, the stakes being increased from £IOSO to £2450, the principal item being £ISOO for a Champion Race of three miles, which will not only attract the best horses in the colonies, but many thousands of people as well, so that it is only the proverbial throwing of the sprat to catch a mackerel. Entries for this and the Melbourne Cup close on the Ist of June, and it will be observed that all horses foaled north of the line are to be allowed 71b. The Steeplechase and Midsummer Handicap are increased to £2OO each, and in the autumn the first of the hurdle races is increased to £2OO, the Town Plate to £SOO, the Steeplechase to £3OO, and the Handicap for Three and Four Year Olds to £200; It would have been far better had one hurdle race been expunged altogether, and £2OO given for a mile and a half weight-for-age race on the first day; The Melbourne Cup still remains at £3OO, and what with the Hobarton, Wagga, and Tattersall'B Cups, with their £SOO added money, the big handicap will in a year or two sink into comparative insignificance. The resumption of the champion races, however, is a step in the right direction, and with the prospect of so many good three-year-olds next season, the contest on New Year's Day will be the most interesting, perhaps, that has ever taken place at Flem ington. The Oaks and St Leger of future years are to be increased to £3OO, and Mj Bagot's suggestion that the Melbourne Cup of 1875 should be run on Tuesday, the 9th oi November, which is the Prince of Wales'* birthday, has been adopted, the competitor at the, meeting being allowed a day's spel between each day's racing, the third day being on Thursday, and the fourth on Saturday. 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.l