NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 298, 27 May 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Kaiapoi Railway Station. Persons who recently leased the coal sites allotted by auction at this station have now received notice that the sites are wanted for the purposes of the Eyreton railway. The narrowgauge engine-shed is now nearly finished. Telegraphic.—The steamer Alhambra is expected to leave the Bluff at 11 a.m. on Friday, the 28th instant. Telegrams for the Australian colonies, or Europe via the Java cable, will be received at the Christchurch Telegraph Office for transmission to the Bluff up to 10 a.m. on the 28th instant. Popular Concerts. —We are glad to learn that a movement is on foot for the giving of a series of weekly concerts in the Oddfellows’ Hall during the winter months. An efficient choir of some twenty voices, under the able leadership of Mr J. T. M, Smith, will perform solos, duets, choruses, part songs, «Scc.; and as the price of admission has been fixed at one shilling, every one will have an opportunity of enjoying some of the best music at a small cost. The want during the winter of such a series as is now projected has been long felt, and we hope the experiment will meet with the success it merits. Found Dead.—lnformation was received at the police depot this morning, at eight o’clock, that a man was lying dead in a deep drain in Salisbury street east. On Sergeant Kennedy proceeding to the spot, he found a man lying on his side in the ditch, dead, the water reaching about half way up his face. On being taken out a small bottle of spirits was discovered in one of his coat pockets. Deceased proved to be a man named Charles Wedge, who had been living, with his wife, in Salisbury street east, and was employed as gardener at the Hospital. He was seen alive between six and seven o’clock last night. The body was removed to the Foresters’ Hotel,

Volunteer Lodge, 1.0.G.T. — A tea meeting and entertainment in connection with the above lodge will be held at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Montreal street, on Friday evening next. Votes Rejected. Council last evening the vote for public buildings, of £14,540, was struck out; that for the Museum, of £13,624, was also rejected, and so was the vote of £BOOO for the College. Pedbstrianism —A match was made last night between Pentecost and Young Delaney to run 300 yards for £lO a-side, the course to be between Fend alltown bridge and the Riccarton Hotel, The race will be run on next Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Mr B. C. Maxwell has consented to act as judge, and the starter will be chosen on the ground. Queen’s Birthday at Akaroa.— Monday last was observed here as a close holiday, all stores and places of business being shut. At noon twenty-eight rank and file of the No 8 company of volunteers were paraded under the command of Captain Bridge. After firing a salute, the band playing “ God save the Queen,” they were marcned to the heights which overlook the town, where they attacked an imaginary enemy. In the afternoon the company engaged in rifle practice at the target. Evening setting in before the match was finished, it will be continued on Saturday afternoon. Accident. —An accident happened in the Ashburton river on Tuesday morning. A servant at Mr Allan McLean’s was being driven from the township back to the station, when, in crossing the south stream of the river, the horse refused his collar, and slightly swerved down stream. The river being both swollen and rapid, the buggy and horse were carried down, and the young woman jumped out into the stream, and would have narrowly escaped being drowned had not assistance been immediately rendered. Fortunately both occupants of the buggy escaped with a good ducking. It is believed that the new combined railway and road bridge over this river will be opened in a few days for public traffic, and it is therefore to be hoped that this is the last accident which will have to be recorded as happening in the Ashburton river,

United Methodist Free Church, Bingsland. —The anniversary services of this church was held on Sunday last, when two sermons were preached by the Rev S. Macfarlane, both the services being well attended. On Monday, the 24th inst, the annual tea meeting was held, and notwithstanding the threatening aspect of the weather there was a large attendance, the tables being abundantly furnished by Mrs Pearce, Mrs Vivian, Miss Seager, and Mrs Flesber. After the tea Mr J, T. Brown took the chair, and the reports read showed that the church was progressing, especially in the Sabbath school, which had largely increased during the past few months, and that there was a good prospect for the future. Addresses were delivered by the Revs S. Macfarlane, R. Morton (Baptist), W. Lockwood, Messrs J. Munday (Wesleyan), J. Scott, and W. Tremayne. Members of the St Asaph street and Addington choirs sang several pieces during the evening, which greatly contiibuted to the enjoyment of the meeting. Chamber op Commerce. —A special meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon for the purpose of taking into consideration a communication from his Honor the Superintendent re the Philadelphia Exhibition, to be held in 1876. Present—Messrs Nathan (chairman), Inglis, Dymock, Hassal, Coates, Palmer, Lane, and Connell. The chairman stated the object for which the meeting had been called. He said the Superintendent was very desirous of securing the co-opera-tion of the Chamber in the matter. Several members expressed their entire concurrence in the movement, and thought that everything should be done to assist the Provincial Government in getting our Province well represented at the forthcoming exhibition. The following resolution, proposed by Mr Palmer and seconded by Mr Lane, was carried—“ That a committee of this Chamber, consisting of Messrs Inglis, Coates, Lane, Murray-Aynsley, Cunningham, Duncan, Montgomery, and the chairman, be appointed to co-operate with any general committee that may be formed for the purpose of collecting exhibits for the Philadelphia Exhibition, and that a copy of this resolution be at once, forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent.” The meeting then closed. Peninsula Races.— The usual yearly gathering of the sporting fraternity on the Peninsula came off on the Queen’s Birthday under unusually favorable auspices for the time of the year. Not only was the weather beautifully fine, and the muster of people from the adjacent bays in excess of what we remember to have seen upon former occasions, but the sport was really fine, consider-

ing the small amount of funds at the disposal of the committee. As usual, the horse races were held on the beach, and run in heats, Old Brown Stout sustained his reputation as a hurdle racer, winning without an effort, Mr Shadbolt’s Black Pine being second. The second event on the programme was a Trial Stakes over the flat, weight for age, which was won hands down by Mr Brown’s Mountain Nymph, beating a field of five, Emperor Alexander second. The third event, a Handicap, was also won by Mountain Nymph, giving some of the Peninsula cracks no less than 2st, and winning easily. The Consolation fell to the lot of Black Pine, and the Hurryskurry to Mr Armstrong’s bay pony. The dinner provided by Mr Barker was excellent in its way, and the committee may be congratulated on the successful termination of an excellent day’s sport. Killinchy.—A concert was given on Friday evening last in the Killinchy schoolroom, in aid of the funds of the Leeston Presbyterian Church, Mr Meharrey in the chair. The attendance was remarkably good and a very creditable balance must have been realised. Mr Harper presided at the piano, and accompanied the various songs in good style. A varied and amusing programme was gone through, and the marked endeavors of the performers to ensure the success of the entertainment, was in every respect crowned with success. The following gentlemen sang some (very good songs :—Messrs Robb, whose rendering of “ Robin Thompson’s Smiddy oh ” was very good, and received a merited encore; Messrs Baldwin, North, Crocker, and Harper, whose songs, in character, were very well received. The songs were interspersed with recitations by Messrs Rice, Watts, Meharrey, and Bev J. W. Cree, who read “ Mark Twain’s Autobio biography.” At the close of the entertainment a hearty vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and the different gentlemen to whose exertions the success of the evening was mainly attributable,

Volunteer Reserve Corps.—A meeting of the promoters and those persons desirous of joining the above corps will be held this eveningat half-past seven o’clock, at Warner’s Commercial Hotel. It is intended that this company shall be composed of officers, noncommissioned officers, and men who have had experience in the volunteer service, and the promoters believe that the formation of such a corps will give an impetus to the volunteer movement here, and be the meai s of establishing a good defence fore?.