NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 319, 21 June 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

R.M. Court, Lyttelton.— At this court on Friday last, Captain Athou, of the barque Speedwell, was charged with several cases of assault on the second mate. Mr O’Neill appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Nalder for the defendant. After hearing the evidence at some length, the Bench dismissed the case.

Spinning and Weaving Company.— In consequence of a strike among the operatives at the Spinning and Weaving Company’s works at Kaiapoi, the machines have been at a standstill for a tew days, but a number of new hands having been obtained, matters have been so arranged that operations in the manufacture of blankets and flannels will be recommenced to-day,

Winter Evening Entertainments in Lyttelton. —Another of these entertainments was given in the hall last Friday night. There was a very large attendance. The first part consisted of some readings and songs, contributed by Messrs Briggs, Fyfe, Carder, and W, and H. C. Jacobson, and a pianoforte solo by Mr Victor. The second part was a lecture on the American humorists with musical illustrations given by Mr James Yule; the incidental music being sung by Messrs Jacobsen, Carder, Hillier, Allwright, and Jeffreys. The lecture was a great success, Mr Yule succeeding in keeping his audience in convulsions of laughter.

Monday Popular Concerts.— The second of the series of popular concerts, under the management of Mr J. T. M. Smith, will be given this evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall, for which a very attractive programme has been prepared. Miss L. Taylor will play two of her popular concertina solos, those selected being a selection of airs from “ The Amber Witch,” and the second a fantasia by Blagrove on English airs. Miss A. S. Taylor will sing two solos, “ Lily bells,” by Vincent Wallace, and Hatton’s “ A bird sang on a hawthorn tree.” Several other solos will also be given, and with glees, part songs, and choruses by the choir, make up a very good programme. We hope to see the movement progress, as the attempt to provide good music at a low charge of admission deserves encouragement. Theatrical Items.— From Melbourne we learn that Mr Allen’s opera company opened very successfully at the Opera House there, with “ Maritana,” Miss Alice May and Mr Hallam receiving praise for their impersonations, Miss Jennie Nye returned to Australia by the mail steamer, after a lengthened tour through China and India. The Carandini’s returned to Melbourne on June 10th, and were giving concerts successfully. The Rev Charles Clark’s lecture on the Tower of London drew an audience of 3500 at the Town Hall, the receipts being over £2OO. Miss Rosa Towers, at date of last advices, was in Adelaide doing good business.

The Fakir of Oolu. —Dr Sylvester appears most thoroughly to have succeeded in pleasing Christchurch playgoers with his clever and amusing entertainment, as crowded houses have become the rule at the Theatre Royal, On Saturday evening the programme which has been gone through during the week was again presented with undiminished success. The illusion of the entranced lady and the beautiful fairy fountain drew forth loud plaudits, the charming combinations of color in the latter, varied and improved as they have been every evening, especially being warmly received. The dancing sailor, to which Mr Whittington’s skill as an artist contributes such a life-like appearance, created roars ot laughter from all parts of the house. To-night the Fakir will introduce two new illusions. In the first Miss Daisy Sylvester will rise from the stage into the air, and while so suspended will follow the Fakir around the stage by the motion of his fan, several of the audience being invited to come on the stage during the performance of this clever allusion. The second is classically named Aneotos, and comprises a very sensational performance, in which a head severed from the body will answer questions, &c. This illusion is illustrative of a legend of the Hartz mountains, the story of which is that offer the execution of a criminal the alchemist, personated by Dr Sylvester, questions the head on various subjects, to all of which answers are returned. By the aid of the lime light and other accessories, the Fakir renders this illusion most realistic and sensational, and the press of Australia and other parts speak of it as being one of best in Dr Sylvester’s repertoire. This, together with the fairy fountain, promises a very entertaining evening, and in the new programme, the Fakir will doubtless be as successful in pleasing his numerous patrons as in the one with which he has entertained them during the past week.

Destructive Fire at Sandridge.— The Argus of the 9th instant says:—Shortly after half-past one o'clock this morning, the Victoria Sugar Works, Sandridge, caught fire. The fire commenced in the top storey, or loaf floor, of what is kuown as the sugarhouse, apart fiom, but connected with, the factory. The goods stored in the house, however, were of such an inflammable character that the flames spread with almost inconceivable rapidity. They speedily enveloped the entire building, and threw a lurid glare over the whole of Sandridge, Emerald-hill, and Melbourne. In fact the light from the flames was so great that in many parts of Sandridge it was very easy to see to read in the streets. The Sandridge Brigade was on the spot and at work in a few minutes, and it was quickly followed by the Melbourne and the various suburban brigades. All their efforts were, however, unavailing to slop the fire. For an hour and a half after the fire commenced the liquid -mgar and spirit could be seen flowing from the vats and other vessels, and feeding the angry flames, which roared around and over the whole of the works. All that the brigades could accomplish was to prevent the spread of the conflagration to the adjoining ouildings, and great efforts had to be made to secure them, as the wind carried and

scattered masses of burning material for hundred of yards. About 150 persons will be thrown out of employment by the sad occurrence. From a full report in next day’s issue we extract the following:—At a rough estimate, the loss is set down at between £30,000 and £40,000, while the insurances only amount to £29,500. divided among the offices as follows : —On Sugar-house and Engine-house—Australian Alliance, £1000; Transatlantic, £500; New Zealand, £500; South British, £500; Victoria, £soo—total, £3OOO. Machinery.— Derwent, £2000; Cornwall, £1500; Imperial, £1500; Transatlantic, £1000; National, £500; Scottish Commercial, £500; Tasmania, £500; National, New Zealand, £500; South British, £soo—total, £BSOO Machinery.— Derwent, £1000; Victoria, £800; New Zealand, £soo—total, £2300. Stock—London, Liverpool, and Globe, £2000; Royal, £1500; Imperial, £1000; London and Lancashire, £1000; Standard, £1000; Australian Alliance, £500; Scottish Commercial, £500; Transatlantic, £500; New Zealand, £500; Tasmanian, £soo—total, £9OOO. Stock—Tasmanian, £1000; London and Lancashire, £1000; Victoria, £700; National, New Zealand, £3OO —total, £BOOO. Filter-house and Building— Imperial, £1000; Royal, £1000; Australian Alliance, £SOO ; National, £SOO ; South British, £500; National, New Zealand, £2OO —total, £3700.

Prbbbleton Entertainment. The second winter entertainment in this district came off on Friday last, the 18th. The schoolroom was moderately filled. The proceeds, which amounted to £l9, were towards the purchase of the fourth bell at the Prebbleton Church. MrTosswill said, during the evening, that the bell would cost £2O, towards which subscriptions amounting to £7 were in hand, and the balance would be easily made up his friends and neighbors. The Bank draft would go home by the next mail, and they might expect the bell to arrive in about six months. He also complimented the choirmaster on the advancement of the choir, and with the large amount of native musical talent in the district, ere long they would be able to give a good evening’s amusement without going out of the district for help. The entertainment on the whole was about the best that the district has had for some considerable time. There were several performers from Christchurch and elsewhere, and judging by the frequent applause given during the evening, all were well satisfied. At the close, the chairman (Mr J. N. Tosswill) proposed a vote of thanks to the performers, which was carried unanimously, and the singing of the National Anthem brought the meeting to a close.

“ I see very little of you,” said an old gentleman at a Louisville ball to a young lady whom he had met a long time before. “I know it,” was the artless reply, ‘.‘but mother wouldn’t allow me to wear a very low-neck dress to-night, the weather is so cold.

A serious scandal (says the Civilian') has recently arisen at the Army Clothing Department, Pimlico, where an official holding a high and influential position has been suspended on a charge of receiving bribes. It is not at all improbable that the inquiry row being instituted into the matter may lead to important changes in the constitution of the department. A Londoner, who lately crossed from Canada to Ogdensburg, asked his hackneydriver as to the population and form of government of Ogdensburg. On being informed that it was an incorporated city, the chief executive officer of which was a Mayor, he inquired, “ And does the Mayor wear the insignia of office?” “Insignia—what’s that?” asked the astonished hackney man. “Why, a chain about his neck,” explained the cockney. “Oh, bless you, no,” responded the other; “ he’s perfectly harmless, and goes about loose.” A recently made Benedict writes as follows concerning his young wife’s habits: — “ If there was a bedroom a mile long, and her entire wardrobe could be packed in a band-box, still you’d find portions of that wardrobe scattered along the whole mile of dressing-room. She’s a nice thing to look at when put together, but this wonderful creature is evolved from a chaos interminable of pins, ribbons, rags, powder, thread, brushes, combs, and laces. If there were seven thousand drawers in your room, and you asked but for one to be kept sacred and inviolate for your own private use, that particular oi e would be full of hair-pins, ribbons, and soiled cuff's. Some provision, some protection in this matter, should be made by Mr Disraeli this coming session if he gives such matters any consideration.”