NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 311, 11 June 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Oxford Railway.— The opening of the extension of this line from Oust to Oxford, it is stated will in all probability take place on Thursday, the 17th instant. The Education Bill. —We understand that a requisition is in course of signature to his Worship the Mayor, asking him to call a public meeting on Wednesday next to consider the Education Bill. THE SESSION. —It is understood that the Oouncil will be prorogued on Wednesday next, if the motion of the President of the Executive for a sitting on Monday next, at 5 p.m., is carried. Drainage op Christchurch and Suburbs. —A conference between the drainage committee appointed by the City Council and the chairmen of the various Road Boards took place yesterday at the Council Chambers. A lengthened report appears elsewhere. Scabby Sheep; —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Leithfield, on Wednesday, Mr Moore, of Glenmark, who failed to produce a clean bill of health for 20,000 sheep, for which he had been fined some months ago, owing to the same being scabby, was mulcted in the highest penalty that the Ordinance empowers the Court to inflict, viz, £IOO, on seven separate informations, with costs.

Constitutional Changes. —Mr Jebson has given notice of the following motion for Monday next—“ That in the opinion of this Council it is inexpedient and unconstitutional to entertain and carry into effect any proposal to abolish the provincial form of Government in the Province of Canterbury, until a majority of the people of the province have clearly and unmistakeably expressed a desire for such a change.” Veteran Volunteers. — A meeting of the members of the corps was held last evening at Warner’s, Captain Ross in the chair. Although several'new members had joined during the last week, it was resolved to further postpone tendering the services of the corps to the Government till a larger number had joined. The meeting then adjourned till Thursday evening, when a full attendance of intending members is particularly requested. East Christchurch Educational Committee.—The usual fortnightly meeting of the East Christchurch district school committee was held in St John’s schoolroom last evening. Present—Revs W. J. Habeus and H. C. M. Watson, Messrs Jameson (in the chair), Kirk, Dymock, Mitchell, and Thomas. Leave of absence was granted to the chairman (Mr Wynn Williams). Letters were read from Miss Bolton, accepting the situation of head mistress of the Gloucester street school. From Mr Hill, of Bingsland, requesting permission to hold evening classes ; and from Mr Flesher, inclosing copies of resolutions passed at a public meeting held at Bingsland, of which the writer was chairman, concerning Mr Hill’s removal from the school in that locality. It was decided with reference to Mr Hill’s letter, that permission be granted, subject to certain conditions, The consideration of Mr Flesher’s communication was deferred till next meeting. After transacting some routine business and passing various accounts, the committee adjourned,

Pedestbianism. —The final deposit for the match between Young Delaney and Collins, to be run on to-morrow, was made last night at the Golden Fleece. The following are tbe entries and handicaps for two of the extra events. 150 Yards, W. Kelly and D. O’Brien, scratch; J. F. Gough and W. Calvert, 5 yards; B. Derrett and R. Mason, 10 yards; W. Frith, 12 yards; F Hedge, and G. F. Bowley, 14 yards. 440 Yards, T. Skellie, scratch; J. F. Gough, 10 yards; D. O’Brien, 11 yards. Entries for tbe Mile Walking race will be received on the ground. It is not unlikely that a match for £25 a-side will shortly be made between Delaney and a sprint runner named Buchanan, in Dunedin, as the latter has telegraphed his desire to try conclusions with him. If the preliminaries are satisfactorily arranged, the match will be run in Christchurch, as Delaney has agreed to allow half expenses that it should be so. Robbery at Waimate. —The Tribune of the 9th instant says:—A most daring robbery of jewellery was committed in Waimate on Saturday night last. It appears that Mr Young, watchmaker and jeweller, turned out the lights in his shop about twenty minutes to ten o’clock, went out for a short time, and on his return found a pane of glass in a back window of his premises broken. This naturally caused him some uneasiness, and induced him to go into his shop, when he discovered that a glass case, containing £3O worth of jewellery, had been stolen. On Sunday, about noon, the case, uninjured, was found by a little boy, in a paddock belonging to Mr Dickison, some distance from the scene of the robbery. The robber must have been aware of Mr Young’s absence—having probably watched him leave his shop—and also of the arrangement of interior of the building and stock, as he did his handiwork very effectually. It is to be hoped, however, that the rogue will speedily find himself in durance vile.

Christchurch Harmonic Society.— Costa’s oratorio “Naaman,” now in active rehearsal by this society, is announced for performance on Thursday, the 24th instant, and every care is being taken to render this last concert of the season attractive and successful. Great efforts are also being made, in preparation for the society’s new season, in order that it shall have a satisfactory commencement, both financially and musically. Authorised collecting cards have been issued for obtaining subscribers, &c, and the committee meet regularly every week for the purpose of forwarding the business ol the society. The following were amongst the questions discussed at the last meeting, and postponed for further consideration : —l. The desirability of asking the lady members for a small subscription. 2. Reducing the subscription paid by gentlemen (vocalists), with a view to largely iucreasing theif number. 3. Mode of issuing tickets to honorary members, «Scc, &c. Lyttelton Gas, Coal, and Coke Company.—A meeting of the directors of this company was held at the company’s offices, Norwich Quay, on Tuesday evening, at 7.30 o’clock. Present—Messrs P. Cunningham. H. Hawkins, R Wood, H. Allwright, J. T. Rouse, George Mackay, and the secretary. The chairman (Mr H. Hawkins) made a statement of the financial position of the company. It was decided to offer the eightynine unallotted shares to the shareholders at a £1 premium per share, and an offer was made by one of the directors to take the whole lot at par, but this was refused. As will be seen by advertisement, two calls were made on the second issue, one due on the 4th of June, and the other on the 4th of September. It was resolved to at once pay all the outstanding accounts. It was decided to advertise for a competent gasfitter to erect the fittings at once, and to advise the Government that the company were in a position to place fittings in their public buildings. It was determined that some of the directors should visit the company s buildings, and report to the next meeting on the best means of protecting the gas-hblder. After transacting other business, the meeting adjourned. The buildings of this company are now rapidly approaching completion. The greater part of the fittings have arrived, and are being discharged from the Cicero and Mystery, and the remainder will come by the White Rose, now due. The mains are on board the Marmion, which is expected about two months hence.

American papers have usually a space devoted to “ personal ” items. Under that head one just to hand says that George Augusta Sala “ has a short turn-iip nose.” This is certainly “personal.” The Academy states that Mr Longfellow has almost ready for the press a translation of the “ Niebelungen Lied” into verse and a sacred tragedy conceived in the spirit of his “ Judas Maccabaeus,” which runs to no fewer than 15 acts. Mrs E. F, Harper, a colored woman, has made her appearance as a lecturer. We hope this is a sufficient demonstration to the author of all that he might just as well have saved the dye and made all women white. The faults of the creature are more than skin deep anyhow, and while a woman lives she will be a cantankerous, whimsical, lecture, delivering creature, be she black or white. At the same time our confidence in the negro race is shaken. Thanks to a beneficent providence, however, the races are not yet exhausted, and once more with the confidence of a child we pin our faith on the coppercoloured maiden of the lava beds, and the no colour-in-particular of Chinese production, and mercifully trust that they won’t come back on us with a lecture too. We can keep up our confidence as long as the supply lasts. The proceedings against Bentley and Hughes, the late manager and accountant of the Bank of New South Wales at Beechworth, were concluded in the local police court yesterday, says the Argus, of May 20th, before the police magistrate, Mr Pitcairn. Two charges against Bentley, for converting to his own use valuable securities the property of the bank, viz, bills of exchange drawn by Messrs Gray and Co, were dismissed, evidence being given that the bills representing in the bank books so much cash had never been drawn by Gray and Co, and, as far as could be ascertained, never had any existence at all. On another charge, that of making a false entry in the bank books, Bentley was committed for trial, and both defendants were committed for trial on the charge of falsifying the bank returns. Bentley was further committed for trial for destroying a valuable security, the property of the bank, being a bill of exchange drawn and endorsed by Dr Mousse. The defendants, who had on the previous day been committed for trial on other charges, were allowed bail,