NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 324, 26 June 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

R.M. Court. —The only business at the Court this morning consisted in fining two inebriates 5s each. Telegraphic. —The steamer Alhambra is expected to leave the Bluff at 2 p.m.on Monday next. Telegrams for the Australian colonies, or Europe via Java cable, will be received at the Christchurch Telegraph Office, for transmission to Bluff, up till 1 p.m. of the 28th inst.

Intercolonial Cricket Match. —We learn that the committees in the following provinces—Auckland, Wellington, Otago, and Canterbury—have agreed to the proposed contributions towards the Intercolonial Cricket Match. No answer has as yet been received from Nelson, but in all probability a reply from this province will .be in Mr Meares’s hands to-day. A message has been forwarded to Mr Goldsmith, secretary E.M.C.C,, to that effect. Census of New Zealand.—We have received from the Registrar-General a copy of further abstracts of the census of New Zealand for the year 1874, consisting of preliminary report, general index: pare VII, education of the people ; part VIII. sickness and infirmity; part IX, land crops, live stock, butter, cheese, and agricultural machines; part X, industries, land and building societies, public libraries, mechanics’ institutes, places of worship ; appendix A, Maori population ; appendix B, boundaries of electoral districts. Fakir of Oolu. The Theatre was again largely attended last evening, when the programme of the preceding evening was repeated. The Fakir leaves on Wednesday next to fulfil an engagement in Wellington, whither Mr Whittington, the energetic business manager, whose arrangements have contributed so much to the success of the season, proceeds per Phoebe to-morrow. On Monday the Fakir will introduce some new illusions, which should prove quite as attractive as those which have been given lately. The City Rate List for 1875.—The total amount of the rate as per the valuer’s return was £155,139, and the rate list now completed amounts to £150,626, showing a reduction by the City Council and R.M. Courts of £4513. The'amount of rates to be collected will be as follows :—City rate, £7531; Waimakiriri, £1255; drainage, £3138. Total, £11.924. The amount of the rates for last year was £8946, showing an increase this year of £2978. The valuations of the city last year amounted to £113,005 ; this year it amounted to £150,626, being an increase of £37,621. Durham Street Sunday School. —An entertainment, consisting of a panorama of scenes in Palestine, the property of the Sunday School Union, was given last evening in the Durham street school, in aid of the fund of that Sunday school. There was a very large attendance, over 350 persona being present. Mr Connell described the different scenes represented, with their historical associations. At intervals Messrs Sankey and Moody’s hymns were rendered in a very pleasing manner by the Sunday-school children. Mr Jones presided at the harmonium.

West Christchurch Educational District.—The committee of this district met at the Lincoln road school on Wednesday evening, the 23rd instant, at 7.30. Present — Messrs Bird, Bowie, Harris, and Thornton. Mr Bird was voted to the chair. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Board of Education, sanctioning the gravelling of footpaths at Lincoln road school, the procuring of a stove for Durham street school, and the appointment of a secretary. A letter from Mr J. W. Treadwell relative to gravelling the back entrances of the Lincoln road school was read, but the committee could not see their way to comply with his request. The tender oi Whittington and Co for gravelling footpaths, accepted by the visiting committee, was confirmed by the committee. A letter from Mrs Bevan with reference to her rates was referred to the Board. A letter was received from Miss Brittan, acknowledging her appointment as mistress at Lincoln road school. A letter from Mr Elwin, of Durham street school, was referred to the visiting committee to report. The secretary was directed to apply to the Board for their sanction to obtain the whole quantity of gravel required. After passing accounts, the compaittee adjourned,

METEOR. — A very brilliant meteor was observed last evening in the R.W. about a quarter to seven o’clock. The light emitted during its fall was exceedingly brilliant, and illumined the sky for some distance round, Eyreton Railway.— On Friday the first locomotive placed on this line ran up the metals for a distance of about six miles—two miles above the Ohoka station. The contractor has lost no time with his work, and the line in a short time will be ready for traffic.

LO.Gr.T. —A very enjoyable and diversified programme was presented at the Good Templar Hall last evening, by the members of the Dauntless Lodge T.OG.T., and several musical friends. The first part comprised music, in which Miss Ness sang several ballads very nicely indeed, particularly “ The murmur of the shell,” which was encored, and responded to with “ She wore a wreath of roses.” The same compliment was paid to the next song, sang by the same lady, “ Won’t you tell me why,” which was responded to with “ We’d better bide a wee.” Mr Bell sang “When the swallows” excellently, and also took part in a duet with Mr Walcot. The latter gentleman also sang a ballad. Mr Button’s brass band played two pieces very well, though the music was somewhat loud for such a confined space. In the second part, Mr C. J. Martin took the audience into wonderland fora few minutes, and the tricks performed by him elicited much laughter. The programme concluded with the trial scene from “ The Merchant of Venice,” the parts being sustained by members of the Lodge. Mrs Delamare made a very fair Portia, and spoke the celebrated speech “The quality of mercy.” very nicely; while Miss Ballinger did the little she had to do as Nerissa well. Mr Ness was the Shylock, and Mr Dale made quite a hit in his part. The other characters were taken by the members fairly. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance. A vote of thanks to his Worship for presiding closed the entertainment.

A Cleveland youth of rather fast proclivities fell in love with a parson’s daughter, and as a clincher to his claims, said to the reverend gentleman—“ I go my bottom dollar on piousness.” Some of the household recipes given in the papers are calculated to do more harm than good. Mrs Hopson’s servant girl recently read in the paper that “potatoes should be of uniform size to cook evenly.” It was more than two days before she found the meaning of “ uniform,” and then she went to work on half a stone of potatoes. As she couldn’t make the smallest the size of the largest, she pared down the large ones until they were as small as the smallest, and, as the latter was about the size of a walnut, she had a weak lot of potatoes by the time she had made them of uniform size, and a quart measure would have held them all. The potatoes were “short” for dinner that day, and, as an explanation and some very sharp words followed, Mrs Hopson’s servant girl now cooks potatoes of all sizes in one pot.

Table Manners. —Harry sat at his father’s side, at a friend’s table. Somebody passed him the bread. Harry touched a piece that was dry, so he dropped it and took a softer one. “My son,” said the father reprovingly, “ never touch a piece of bread or cake that you never mean to take !” Harry eat his bread and remembered. After Pa while the cake was passed round. When it came to Harry, the little fingers made a quick, adroit movement, and hauled off three large slices. “Why, Harry!” cried his father. “ Well, papa,” said the boy, bravely, “ you told me to take all the pieces I touched, and I touched all these.” “No, no, my son; I said touch only what you mean to take.” “ And that’s just what I did, papa. I meant to take every one, and I tried for that other big slice, with the pile of sugar on it, but I didn’t quite get it.” Everybody laughed, and the father wisely concluded to give Harry his next lesson in table manners at home.