NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 315, 16 June 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Volunteer Engineers.—The above company will parade to-morrow evening, at halfpast seven, for Commanding officer’s inspection. Waimakaeiri Punt.— This punt has been impassable since Saturday, on account of the heavy flood, but it is expected that dray traffic will be resumed this afternoon. The Match Against Time.— The match T. Skellie against time for £IOO, on which a deposit of £lO in all had been made, has fallen through. Skellie paid forfeit last night at the Golden Fleece Hotel. Fakir of Oolu.— There was a very good attendance at the theatre last evening, on the occasion of the second appearance of Dr Sylvester in his clever and amusing entertainment. In the first part, the illusions of the talking money, the enchanted glass of water, and the lion Leo, were admirably executed, and elicited loud and well-deserved plaudits. The ebony rod, too, is well worth seeing, defying as it does all laws of gravitation. The second part, introducing Miss Daisy Sylvester, was again a complete success, the various illustrations being received with loud plaudits. This is certainly one of the best illusions ever presented here, and together with the enchanted fountain, bears off the palm from anything of the kind'ever attempted. To-night the Fakir offers a tempting programme^

Public Meeting. —ln compliance with the requisition presented to his Worship the Mayor, the public meeting called by him to consider certain alterations in the Education Ordinance introduced by the pr sent Government, will be held this evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall, at seven o’clock.

CANTERBURY STEEPLECHASES.— A committee meeting was held last evening, at Morton’s Hotel. Present—Messrs S. Garforth (in the chair), R. H. Campbell, E. W. Millett, J. Campbell, and P. H. Digby. The secretary, Mr R. H. Campbell, stated that his Honor the Superintendent had consented to act as patron of the meeting, and that Sir Cracroft Wilson, owing to his Parliamentary duties, would be unable to accept the position of judge. After some business of a routine nature had been disposed of, the meeting adjourned until the 29th inst, to meet again at same place. Ashburton Race Meeting. — A meeting of the committee took place in the Court House, Ashburton, on Monday evening last. The balance-sheet of the late race meeting was submitted and adopted. It showed that the total sum received was £520 19s, and that the accounts liquidated amounted to £451 12s, [leaving a balance to the cred t of the fund of £69 7s, and in addition to this sum, there are subscriptions not yet paid amounting to £ll 8s 6d, which gives a total credit of £BO 15s 6d. It was resolved —“ That the stewards of the district race meeting, 1875, be informed that the committee recommend that the accounts remaining unpaid from last year’s race meeting be liquidated, viz:—Trustees Middleton and McQuade’s estate, £42 ss; William Smith, £ls 14s ; and the Press company’s account, £5 16s Bd, less the credit remaining to the Ashburton race fund account in the Bank of New Zealand, Ashburton.” A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr J. Stanley Bruce, honorary secretary and treasurer, and the meeting terminated.

SOUTHBRIDGE RAILWAY OPENING DEMONSTRATION.—A meeting of the general committee appointed to carry out the arrangements in connection with the opening of the railway, was held at Southbridge on Monday afternoon, Mr T, Acland occupied the chair, and most of the members of the committee were present, and took part in the proceedings. It was resolved “ That the action of the committee in reference to the accepted tender of Mr Osborn be confirmed ; also, that the list of names of guests to be invited, as furnished by the invitation committee, be adopted ; and that tickets be duly forwarded to them by the treasurer.” Captain Willis, as member of the decoration committee, informed the meeting that he was prepared to carry out the decorations, and expected contributions as to bunting, &c, and anticipated no difficulty whatever in the matter. The chairman stated that he had spoken to Mr Maxwell that morning, who had promised to let him have the very earliest information as to the exact date on which the line will probably be opened. A sub-committee was appointed to wait on the Government with reference to a special train on that day, consisting of Messrs Lee, Acland, Bourn, and Willis. After some desultory conversation the meeting adjourned. We understand that the railway will be opened on the 14th prox.

Deutscher Yerein. —The annual dinner of the Canterbury Deutscher Yerein took place last evening at Carl’s Empire Hotel, and was largely attended. The chair was occupied by Mr Berg, the president of the society for the ensuing year, the vice-chair being occupied by Mr P. Taylor, vicepresident of the society. A very capital dinner was placed upon the table by Mr Carl, which was done ample justice to. The usual loyal toasts, including the health of the Kaiser Wilhelm, having been proposed and duly honored, the following toasts were given:—“The Governor,” “The Superintendent and Provincial Council,” “ The Mayor and City Council,” responded to by his Worship the Mayor; “ The Retiring President of the Society,” responded to by Mr Nees; “ The Present President,” responded to by Mr Berg; “The Secretary and Officebearers of the Society,” responded to by Mr Schwartz; “The German Church and the Rev Mr Lohr,” proposed by his Worship the Mayor, and responded to by Mr Lohr; “ Kindred Societies,” responded to by Mr J. Milsom and Mr Sunderland; “ Prosperity to the Deutscher Yerein,” proposed by Mr Fuhrmann; “ The Visitors,” proposed by Mr Tisch; and " The Host and Hostess.” During the evening some very good music was rendered by the members of the Christchurch Liedertafel, the Misses Carl, and others; and altogether a very pleasant evening was spent by those present. Philadelphia Exhibition.— ln accordance with a request from his Honor the Superintendent, a meeting of gentlemen interested in the province being represented at the forthcoming Philadelphia Exhibition in 1876 was held in the Superintendent’s room yesterday, at 10 a.m. After some discussion the following resolutions were agreed to : “ That the General Government be requested to issue a memorandum showing the form and quantity of the several exhibits of raw products which they desire to have forwarded." “ That this committee recommend that exhibits of the following products be, in the following quantities, viz;—Wool, not exceeding 601 b; grain, not exceeding half a bushel; coal samples, not exceeding 401 b or 501 b; timber, uniform samples; flax, not exceeding 501 b,” “That Dr Von Haast, Messrs Potts, Eennah, Inglis, Coates, Lane, Aynsley, Cunningham, A. Duncan, Montgomery, and L. E. Nathan, form a committee to promote the proper representation of the products of this portion of New Zealand in the Philadelphia Exhibition, 1876, with power to add to their number.” “That Mr Lane and Mr Cunningham be requested to act as a sub-committee to ensure the proper representation of grain products; that Messrs Aynsley, Hennah, Inglis, and Coates be requested to act as a sub-committee to ensure the proper representation of wool products; that Dr Von Haast, Messrs Montgomery and Potts, be requested to act as a sub-com-mittee to ensure the proper supply of exhibits of timber, stone, coal, and minerals ; that Messrs Nathan and Duncan be requested to act as a sub-committee to ensure the representation of miscellaneous articles.” The meeting then adjourned. A boy having been told “ that a reptile was an animal that creeps,” on being asked to name one on examination day, promptly and triumphantly replied “a baby.” On a recent rainy day a wag was heard to explain :—“ Well, my umbrella is a regular catholic.” ‘f How so ?” J‘ Because it always keeps lent,"