NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 295, 22 May 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Mails by the Schiller.—We learn from the Post-office authorities that the New Zealand mails lost in the Schiller were those sent from this colony last March per the Mikado.

Canterbury Railways.—The railway department notifies that for the ordinary trains on Queen's Birthday, single fares for double journeys, will be issued at all the stations. There will be no goods traffic on that day. Oxford Railway.—lt is intended to celebrate the opening of che Oxford line by a demonstration. A general committee has been appointed for this purpose, and will meet at Olphert's Hotel, Oxford, on Tuesday, 25th instant, at half-past seven, to arrange preliminaries. Colonial Bank.—lt is reported that this bank has arranged for securing premises for conducting a branch agency at Rangiora, the premises referred to being those lately occupied by T. Thompson and Co at the corner of Main and Drain roads. Reserve Corps.—A meeting of the subcommittee of the newly formed Reserve Corps was held last eveniDg, at the Commercial Hotel, when a report was adopted for presentation to a general meeting. We understand that a considerable number of names have been enrolled.

Steeplechase.—A private telegram to the Press received from Wanganui states that at the Jockey Club meeting held on Thursday evening it was decided to hold the annual steeplechase meeting on June2yth. The principal event is one of 100 sovs, and there will also be a maiden steeplechase of 50 sovs.

Holy Ikinity, Lyttelton.—To-morrow, being Trinity Sunday, is the festival of the dedication of the above church; there will be full choral service both morning and evening. The Kev J. H. Wills will preach at both services. We learn that the nominators have been requested to meet early next week, when an incumbent will be nominated to the vacant parish.

Timaru Harbor Works. —A deputation of Southern members waited upon the Government yesterday for the purpose of urging upon them the necessity of constituting a Harbor Trust at Timaru, similar to the one existing at Oamaru. The deputation having explained their views ou the subject at some length, the Government promised to take the matter into consideration at once.

St. Luke's Parish Meeting.—A meeting of the parishioners of Bt. Luke the Evangelist was held last evening in the schoolroom. The incumbent, the Rev E. A. Lingard, presided, and briefly stated that the object of the meeting, which had been called to fill up three vacancies in the vestry, and to receive a report of the sum collected towards the erection of a new church in the Caledonian road. Messrs Wyatt, Fitzgibbon, and Parson were elected as vestrymen, and it was stated that the sum collected for the new church was £344 16s, inclusive of a grant of £IOO from the Church Property Trustees,

Returning Officer. —We regret to learn that Dr Donald who has held the position of returning officer for a period of twelve years has, on account of failing health and inability to stand long journeys, deemed it advisable to resign his appointment. The election at Rangiora yesterday will probably be the last held under his presidency.

Chiustchurch Hospital.—Dr Guthrie, M.8.C.M., Glasgow University, who has received the appointment of resident surgeon to the Christchurch Hospital, arrived yesterday from Pigeon Bay, where he has been practising his profession, and took charge last night. Mr J. W. Parkerson, who has lately been appointed Registrar for this district by the General Government, has also been appointed house steward at the hospital by the Provincial Government.

Christchurch Artillery.—A committee meeting of this company was held last evening in the Drill-shed, Captain Craig in the chair It was resolved that the battery proceed to Lyttelton on Monday, May 24th, by the 10.40 a.m. train for shot and shell practice with the howitzer. Captain Craig presented £4, to be divided into three prizes of £2, £1 ss, and 15s. It was decided to postpone the firing for the silver inkstand given by Gunner Hall. The Lyttelton Artillery and band will meet the battery at the Lyttelton station on Queen's birthday.

Waddington.—The new Primitive Methodist Church was opened on Sunday, May 16th, when three sermons were preached by the Rev B. J. Westbrooke. On Monday a tea meeting was held, when, notwithstanding the very unfavorable weather, a good number were present. Tea was provided by Mesdames Bradbury, Gambel, Symmans, and others. Afterwards a public meeting was held ! Mr Watkins, of Ashburton, presided. Mr John Parker, the treasurer, said the church had cost £l9B, and that £SO had been subscribed, besides the proceeds of the tea meeting, and the Sunday collections amounting to about £9. Messrs Bourne. Cutler, and C. Rudd, and Revs Sharpe and Westbrooke gave addresses, and several hymns were sung, and the meeting closed with the singing of the doxology.

Chbistohuech Harmonic Society.—A special general meeting of the society was held last evening at the Music Hall, the president (Mr Q. Bowron) in the chair, to devise means for raising funds to liquidate the debt of the society. The president addressed those present on financial and general iratters, strongly urging the claims of the society on their support, and that of the music-loving people of Christchurch. After considerable discussion, in which several gentlemen took part, it was resolved to open a list at the meeting for donations, the members promising to do their best, both by subscribing themselves, and collecting from all persons interested in the cause of music, so as to free the society from debt before the close of the financial year in June next. The treasurer stated that the deficiency to the end of the present year would be about £56, and the list for donations being opened about £25 was at once jromised. The meeting then terminated.

Sporting.—The Eeralcl of yesterday says: —" It will be remembered that a protest was entered against Mr Lunn's Nectar, the winner of the Tradesmen's Handicap at the Timaru races, on the ground that the owner stated to one of the stewards on the evening previous to the race that he had scratched his horse; and that the stewards, after considering the protest, requested Mr H. P. Lance to give his opinion on the matter. Mr Lance has furnished the secretary, Mr Cork, with his decision. He says that he has read the evidence carefully, and has no doubt about Nectar's being entitled to the stakes. The racing law he says is—" No horse shall be considered as struck out of his engagements unless the owner or some person authorised by him shall give notice to the keeper of the match book or his clerk or to one of the stewards present." In the case under consideration Mr Lance states that Mr Cork answered to the keeper of the match book and took his acceptance. The only steward Mr Lunn appeared to have spoken to was Mr Martelli, and the horse was not scratched by his authority. Mr Lance is clearly of opinion that if Mr Martelli had scratched the horse after what Mr Lunn had said to him it would have stood good. Opawa.—After the failure of the vestry of the Heathcote parish to carry their resolutions for the division of the parish, some of the ex-churchwardens having been informed that the vestry were not in a position to guarantee the incumbent's stipend, invited the parishioners residing at Opawa to meet at the Hillsborough schoolroom on the 20th instant, to consider what steps ought to be taken to put matters on a more satisfactory footing. Twenty-eight church members responded to the invitation, and resolutions affirming that " in the best interests of the church, it was desirable that Opawa should beconstituted a|separate parish," settingforth the boundariesoftheproposed parish, adopting a petition to the standing committee, and appointing a committee to carry out the the object of the meeting, were unanimously carried. Indeed, the greatest unanimity prevailed, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the promoters for the trouble they had taken in calling the meeting, preparing the resolutions, and drawing up the petition submitted.

Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society.—A branch of the above was duly opened in Lyttelton on Thursday evening, 20th instant. The permit appointing Bros J. Taaffe, P.P, T. O'Oonnell V.P, David McGuinness, treasurer, and E. O'Connor, secretary of the Christchurch branch, to open one in Lyttelton, was received a werk ago from the executive directory, Melbourne. The ceremony of balloting and initiation took place in the church, a portion of which was partitioned off for the occasion. In addition to the above named office s, there were also present from Christchurch—Bros C. Walsh and Joseph B. Sheath. Immediately after the opening a meeting of the brothers was held, when the following were elected officers of the new branch:—President, Bro Biyan Weyburne; vice-president, Bro A. H. Blake; secretary, Bro P. A. Pope; treasurer, Rev F. Francis; guardian, Bro Deverioux; warden, Bro Owens; and were duly installed by Bros James Taaffe, P.P, and Thomas O'Connell, V.P, ChriFtchurch branch. An adjournment was then made to the priest's house, where supper was laid. The room in which the tables were placed was tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens, the letters H.A.0.8.5, worked with laurel leaves, being very conspicuous. After the cloth had been removed, the usual toasts were proposed and responded to, and after spending a pleasant evening, the company separated about 11.30 p.m. * I

Hedge Tbimmep.—Yesterday there w*B exhibited in Mr J. Johnston's yard, Rangiora, a novel machine for trimming gorae hedges manufactured by Van Osoel, of New York, imported by Mr J. Evans Brown, which was undergoing certain alterations, to make it available for cutting a hedge on a bank where a ditch intervened. The machine can be drawn by a pair of horse*, and works with two knives, one trimmiug the front of the hedge, and the other the top. Several miles of work could be performed in a clay, and by adjusting levers the knives could be regulated to cut at various heights, or to trim a hedge square or taper. Mr Brown intends putting it in operation on his farm at Swannanoa.

One caution must be given in reference to tobacco, and that is, as to its consumption by the young and growing. There is no question about the deleterious action of tobacco under these circumstances, and the objection to its use by boys and youths who have not ceased growing, is correct and wellfounded. Even if it is a harmless luxury in moderation to grown men, such is not the case with growing youths. Like indulgence in alcohol, it arrests their growth, and not only that, but an enervated type of man is the consequence of too early indulgence in neurotics. In other instances no doubt the case is somewhat the reverse of this, and the use, or rather abuse of alcohol and tobacco is the consequence of a precocious and early development; a development, however, which is not a very fine type of humanity. Tobacco, though a harmless associate for grown man, is a dangerous and seductive acquaintance for boys. A gentleman recently set a meeting in good humour again, which else threatened to be rather angry on church matters, by relating the following apropos anecdote of exaggera tion, which is good enough to repeat: —" A Highland minister, given somewhat to exaggeration in the pulpil, was remonstrated with by his clerk, and told of its ill effects upon the congregation. He replied that he was not aware of it, and wished the clerk the next time he did it, to give a cough by way of a hint. Soon after he was describing Sampson's tying the foxes' tails together. He said, ' The foxes in those days were much larger than ours, and they had tails twenty feet long, ' Ahem !' came from the clerk's desk. 'That is,' continued the preacher, 'according to their measurement; but by ours they were fifteen feet long.' ' Ahem !' louder than before. ' But as you may think this is extravagant, well just say they were ten feet.' 'Ahem! ahem! still more vigorous. The parson leaned over the pulpit, and shaking his finger at the clerk, said, ' You may cough there all night long, mon, I'll nae tak off a fut more. Would ye hae the foxes wid nae tails at a' ?"

According to the Prussian correspondent of the Times, an article written in a calm, argumentative style, " but feebly repre senta the sensation produced at St Petersburgh" by the British refusal to attend the conference on the usages of war. If this a correct account of Russian feeling, England seems to be as much misunderstood in that country to-day as she was in the years immediately preceding the Crimean war. There are some misconceptions as to English policy and sentiment which are intelligible. We can see how they have arisen, we can even admit that it is our own fault that they exist. But to feel surprised at a refusal on the part of England to take a part in a conference which aims at making every man a soldier argues either inexcusable carelessness or extraordinary blindness. The nations of Europe have for some time been divided into two classes —those who wish to carry on war on a system which shall bring out the two advantages which they themselves enjoy in a preeminent degree, and those who wish to carry on war on a system which shall allow of one advantage being set against another. The preat military monarchies possess a large population and very great power over it. Consequently, it is their interest to make their reserves embrace every man who is able to bear arms. The other States rely either on wealth, which will enable them to attract a large voluntary army, or on an active patriotism which, when there is a real call for troops, will make a conscription unnecessary." That England would be disposed alike by traditions, by antecedents, and by obvious interests to sympathise with this second view, and to oppose by every means in her power any organisation of warfare which tends to establish the former view, was, we should have said, understood by every statesman and every publicist in Europe. As the " sensation" at St Petersburg is too violent to be reproduced in argument, and as Prince Gortschakoff has intimated that if at any future time England desires to play into the hands of the great military Powers, it will still be open to her to do so, we must credit the Russian public with a political ignorance which it is almost equally difficult to accept as genuine and to believe to be feigned.