NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 277, 1 May 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Oxfoed Railway.—lt is expected that this railway may be opened in time for the Oxford races. Race Horses—The racehorses Right Bower, King Philip, and Rory O'More went to Dunedin in tbe Taranaki yesterday. Cheistchurch Club. The annual general meeting of the members of the Christchurch Club will be held this day, at 2 p.m. Heathcote Regatta.—A meeting of the Heathcote Regatta committee will be held on Monday evening, at half-past seven o'clock, at Warner's Comaercial Hotel. Bazaar—The bazaar held in Spensley's Hall in aid of the building fund of St Paul's Presbyterian Church was ctntinued yesterd ty, and was largely attended. A considerable quantity of the poods was disposed of, and those remaining unsold will be submitted to public competitition this evening at sftven o'clock. v * New Boating Club.—lt is in contera-. plation to establish a new Boating Club", tne sheds belonging to which will be erected near the Hospital, and a meeting of those favorable to the project will be held at Warner's hotel on Thursday next, at half-past 7 o'clock. There is great probability that if this club be started it will prove a success. The Convict Mercer.—We learn that the execution of Mercer is fixed for Friday next, May 7th. The tidings were conveyed to the prisoner by Mr Keston, the gaoler, yesterday, at the request of the sheriff, in the presence of the chaplain and the chief warder. It ia understood that the sheriff will convey the same news to him officially this morning. The Rev J. H. Wills has attended Mercer daily since his conviction, and the Rev F. Knowles has also paid occasional visits. The Breakwater.—A very successful blast was fired yesterday afternoon at 5 p.m. at Officers' Point Breakwater, Lyttelton. Quite a crowd assembled to see it. The huge mass toppled down without throwing out any stones, a sure sign of its complete success. There were four chambers in the mine, each containing sixty-five 251 b kegs. It is calculated that at least 50,000 tons of rock have fallen, and several large cracks at the top promise that more is yet to come. The Ova.—Yesterday, after the eggs of the ova selected had been placed in the hatching boxes in the fish-house, and a constant stream of ice water kept upon them, it was discovered that a still farther number of the eggs were opaque, and there now remains only about 100 eggs out of the whole shipment, of which even the slightest hopes are entertained. Last night some of them had improved in appearance, but not sufficiently so to hold out hopes of ultimate vitality. The result of the shipment will, it is anticipated, be fully tested in about a week. Football.—A general meeting of the club was held las* evening at Warner's Commercial Hotel. Mr G. A. Macquarrie, captain of the club, occupied the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following gentlemen were elected as members, viz. . —Messrs D. Suter, H. Bruce, J. Nation, Otterson, G. Brewster, G. Jameson, and G. Dawson. It was resolved that all members be requested to provide themselves with two jerseys. It was resolved that the colors of the jerseys, after a lengthy discussion, be scarlet and black, and blue and white. The Game Laws.—lt is with considerable satisfaction that we announce the liberation of Mr Knight, who was committed to gaol through inability to pay a fine for having in his possession a bittern and some wild ducks before the opening of the shooting season. The facts connected with Mr Knight's liberation are these : —Sir Cracroft Wilson paid the fine, and told Mr Knight, who was at once liberated, to say nothing about it. Mr Knight's gratitude, however, would not let so generous an act be unknown. Shortly after the fine was paid His Excellency issued a free pardon, so that Mr Knight now stands in the same position as if he had never been convicted. The Governor. —On Thursday afternoon his Excellency the Governor, accompanied by his Honor the Superintendent, paid a visit of inspection to Messrs Howland and Co's carriage factory, remaining nearly two hours. During his visit his Excellency examined all the various appliances for carrying on the work of the factory, and expressed himself highly pleased at the character of the work in course of progress and completed, and surprised that in so young a country such excellent carriages could be turned out. His Excellency also admired greatly the prize buggy, built by Messrs Howland and Co, which took first prize at the late Pastoral and Agricultural Show. Mr and Mes Bates.—These talents artistes arrived by the Taranaki yeeterdagU and will make their first appearance before a Christchurch public to-night, in the historical play of " Elizabeth." Mrs Bates, as the Queen, has been highly spoken of elsewhere, as being a very excellent piece of acting. Mr Bates also receives praise for his impersonation. Mr and Mrs Bates intend making a stay of some time amongst us, and we feel sure that our theatre-goers will be glad to hear that we shall have a performance worthy of patronage, as the repertoire of the new arrivals is a very varied and attractive one. We hope to see a good house to-night, to welcome our new friends, and hope that under their auspices the season may be a prosperous one. Cricket.—A meeting of the interprovincial match committee took place yesterday. Present —Messrs Stevens (chairman), Fuller, Ollivier, E. Fowler, and Sweet. Resolved—" That a committee meeting be held this day month, to close the subscription lists." A sum of £2O was voted to the United Canterbury CO., as compensation to that club for use of the ground for practices :ind playing the Otago match on, as the club had received no consideration for the past five years. Resolved—" That a public meeting of all cricketersof the province be called for Thursday, May 13th, at Warner's Hotel, Christchurch, at 8 p.m., to consider the question of playing an Australian eleven next season." A letter was read from Mr Gregory, of Sydney, asking what inducement would be offered to a visiting team from N.S.W. Also, a letter from Mr Meares, secretary of the Dunedin interprovincial match committee, requesting the cricketers of Canterbury to forward their general opinion as to which would bo the better colony to play, Victoria or Ne*v South Wales, and stating that Auckland had been requested to give a similar opinion, when it was resolved to a '' the meeting as above, The meeting 'flea adjourned,

Appointment of Postmasters. The following appointments have been made in Canterbury : Charles Smithel, Ashbunon Forks ; J. W. Piper, Heathcote Valley ; Jas. Speight, Little Akaloa ; Richard Dufßeld. Ohoka; Thomas Priest, Pareora; James Mitchell, Riccarton ; C, A. Wright, Southbridge; J. Hollis, South Rakaia ; H. Smith. Styx ; Abraham Absolam, Washdyke. Postal Changes.—On and after Saturday, the Ist day of May, mails will be despatched daily from Christchurch for Waimate, Waitaki, and all parts of the Otago province. The mails will c lose at Christchurch at 7.30 p.m. Correspondence for the Otago province must be specially addressed per " Overland route." The post-offices at Prebbleton and Lincoln have been removed to the railway stations. Mails for Upper Riccarton, Prebbleton, Lincoln, and Springston will in future be conveyed by the Racecourse and Southbridge railway inetead of by coach. Tbe time of closing the mails at Christchurch is changed from 2.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., and the time of arrival instead of 11 a.m. will be 7.15 p.m. F3te3 IN LYTTELTON.—About seven o'clock last night a fire was seen in Captain O'Brien's house, Oxford street, Lyttelton. The fire was in a bedroom up-stairs. Sergeant Maguire, Gonstables Wallace and McGorman, were quickly on the spot and rushed up-stairs, but were unable to enter the room from the excessive heat. A man named Slater, a foreman on the railway, climbed up the side of the house, and by throwing water through the window, succeeded in extinguishing the flames. The bedroom was one usually occupied by Mrs O'Brien, who was absent at church, the servant being in charge. There was a child's cot in the room, with curtains round it, and no doubt the girl had left the candle on a dressing table near the cot and it had caught the curtains. Nearly all the paper in the room was burnt. The escape from total destruction was little short of miraculous. Lyttelton Parochial Association.— A meeting of this association was held on Thursday night, in the Church of England schoolroom. The attendance was limited. Mr Webb occupied tbe chair. After prayers had been said by the Rev J. H. Wills, the chairman said he was sorry to see so few present. They had been pronrsed an interesting lecture on church music, but the lecturer, Mr R. Parker, had disappointed them (being engaged at the orchestral concert). He was very sorry to see that more general interest was not taken in the association. The chairman said that on learning that Mr Parker could not come he had contemplated postponing the meeting, but the Rev Mr Wills had kindly promised to give them a short sketch of the church in South Africa. Mr Wills had not known about it till that afternoon, so they must excuse shortcomings. The Rev Mr Wills then gave an interesting sketch of the state of the church in South Africa. He concluded his sketch by reciting Longfellow's " Two Angels." At the conclusion a vote of thanks to Mr Wills was carried with applause. Mr Newell Phillips dwelt at some length on the necessity of keeping up the association, urging a better attendance, and the importance of members offering their services to read papers. The chairman said that Mr Wills had spoken to him on the subject of having a school gathering, and he thought it would be a very good thing. A long discussion ensued, and the matter was eventually left in the hands of the committee. The benediction having been pronounced the meeting separated. The Lyttelton Gasworks. These works, under the superintendence of Mr Ashton, are rapidly approaching completion. As many of our readeis are aware, they are situated on a spot originally occupied by Mr Grubb's boat shed. The ground covered by the buildings is 132 ft long by 60ft broad, and is enclosed in a galvanised iron fence. The tank containing the gasholder is finished; it is 46ft by 12ft, and is of bricks laid in cement, with a concrete bottom. The gasholder is now being put together. The meter and purifying houses are both completed, and the coal store and retort house will be finished in a week. The stack is now 26ft but is to be 45ft high, and is 7ft at base, and will be sft 6in at the summit. The meter house is 18ft by 12ft, and the purifier house 24ft square. The retort house will be 26ft by 27ft, and the coal store 28ft by 27ft. There is also an upper store above the coal shed for fittings. The foundations for tbe condenser and scrubber are complete. The whole of the plant for the gasworks is on the ground. There are eleven retorts, eight of clay and three of iron. The mains have not yet arrived, but are expected very shortly, and there is every prospect of Lyttelton being lighted with gas in three or four months, as the works wili be finished in six weeks. The was taken by Scott Brothers, of Ij&ristchurch, and the work done appears to Pskve given satisfaction to Mr As'iton and all those concerned. The site cost the company £BOO, and the excavations will amount to £6OO or £7OO more. Theatre Royal.—Miss May Howard made her reappearance for one night at the Theatre Royal last evening in the character of Harriet Bouth in Edmond Yates' drama of "Black Sheep." There was a capital house, and the warm reception accorded to Miss Howard showed that she was not forgotten by Christchurch playgoers. We must say that we have seen Misg Howard in parts in which she has been far more successful than in that played by her last night. Her impersonatiou was uneven in force, and there was a tendency to drag in the scene where she discovers the murder that Stewart Routh has committed, which detracted greatly from the effectiveness of the climax. But while saying this we must accord high praise tc Miss Howard's rendering of the later portions of the play, more especially in the interview with Mrs Bembridge, where the apprehension for her husband's safety, and dread of losing him, together with the fierce mad passion of jealousy and a womar spurned, were all well pourtrayed, and with great force. Miss Lizzie Bushe played Mn Bembridge well; but it is scarcely a par) Buited to her, and Miss Richards made averj good Clara Carruthers. Miss Lily Maj played Jem Swain capitally throughout, and in a manner deserving great praise. Mr Collier as Stewart Routh was hardly at home, except in the latter part of the play, when he seemed to act with more spirit and energy. Mr Searle played Philip Deane, Mr Starke Mr Carruthers, and Mr Inglis George Dallas vary fairly. To-night Mr and Mrs Bates will appear in " Queen Elizabeth." Now that contagious diseases are abroad, every housewife use carbolic soap for household purposes, as v. j a a thorough disinfectant, and recommendeaijy fa e facufyy.-?-JAdvt.]

Canterbury Rowing Club.—A special general meeting of the members of the Canterbury Rowing Club was held last evening, at Maples' Garrick Hotel, Mr A. F. N. Blakiston in the chair. The Chairman said that the meeting was called to consider the propriety of sending to England for more boats, and also the manner in which the season should be closed. As to sending home for boats, the committee met the other evening, and they found that the state of the funds was such as not to warrant them in recommending that the boats should be senl for. As to the manner in which the seasoc should be closed, that would be a matter foi the meeting to determine. The honorary treasurer, Mr Denham, stated that the tota.' receipts up to the 29th April, 1875, were £454 Os Id ; total expenditure, £420 3s 4d ; balance in hand and in the bank, £33 16s 9d. He wished also to state that they would have only £IOO available to send home for boats, and they would cost, when delivered, £l6O. Some conversation ensued as to erecting ashed on the Avon, above Lane's mill for the accommodation of pair-oared boats, when the Chairman remarked that he thought the question of building a new shed or enlarging the present one had better be left to the annual meeting. Mr Douglas moved- " That the present season be closed with a concert or other entertainment, at which the presentation of prizes should take place, and that it be left to the committee to carry out the necessary arrangements for the same.' Mr Templer seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The chairman said it had been estimated that at the end of the present season there would be a deficiency of about £4O, which it was proposed to meet by subscriptions. The resolution arrived at by the committee at the last meeting was- " That after careful consideration of the present financial position of the club the committee resolves that it is not expedient to order fresh boats for the season 1875-6." Mr Collins moved—" That the resolution of the committee with reference to the nonpurchase of boats be adopted." Mr Bowron seconded the motion, which was agreed tc. This terminated the business of the meeting, but a subscription list was opened in the room for the purpose of liquidating the deficiency.