NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 336, 10 July 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Maiden City Lodge, L.O.L.—We notice that this lodge intend celebrating July 12th in their lodge room at Lyttelton.

I.O.G.T.—An entertainment, consisting of pongs, glees, &c, will be given at the Good Templar Hall, Worcester street, this evening, at 8 p m. Colonial Bank. —A branch of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand will be opened at Rangiora on Monday next, for the transaction of ordinary banking business. The Railways. —We learn that there will be several alterations in the running of the trains on and after the 13th instant. The alterations will be chiefly on the Lyttelton and Christchurch Line.

The Late Fire at Dunedin.— The agent of the Transatlantic Insurance Company informs us that the loss of £2500 was sustained by the Standard Company, Jand that a portion of their policy was re-insured with the Transatlantic.

Gas Company, —A meeting of the shareholders of the Gas Company was held yesterday afternoon at 330 p.m. Mr W. H. Lane occupied the chair. It was resolved that an ad interim dividend of 6 per cent should be declared, after which the meeting adjourned.

Montreal Street Bridge.— The asphalte covering of this bridge was stripped yesterday. It is intended to commence to remove the earthwork approaches this morning. All communication by the bridge will be closed for some little time. Harmonic Society. —“ Elijah ” was put iu rehearsal last evening at the usual weekly practice of the Harmonic Societj, and considering that the music is new to a number of the members, went fairly. The part of Elijah will, we believe, be taken by a gentleman belonging to the Dunedin Society.

Arrest. —The New Zealand Times , of the 7th, says :—“ A man naified John Pugh, for whose apprehension a warrant had been issued at Christchurch, was . arrested last evening. He is charged with having left his wife without the means of support, and will this morning be remanded to Christchurch. It may be mentioned that he was arrested on the strength of his resemblance to a photograph which had been forwarded from Christchurch.”

Oxford Railway Accident. —Yesterday as the up-train, departing from Oxford at 655 a.m.,, was nearing the Bast Oxford platform, under easy steam, Layton, the engine-driver, observed that the points into a siding had been tampered with, although they were locked. He signalled to the guard (Macfarlane), and instantly the brakes were put down, but the train, consisting of three passenger carriages and luggage van, had forced the engine off the line. No damage was done, the few passengers in the carriages feeling the shock only slightly. Within about fifteen or twenty minutes the engine was set on to the main line again, reaching Rangiora half-an-hour too late for the 8,45 a.m, train.

Accident. —A boy, named Wm Nicholls, met with an accident on Thursday night, on the Harewood road. The boy, who was employed as conductor on one of the Papanui coaches, was riding a horse into town, when the coach starting from near Barlow’s Hotel with passengers from the ball, frightened the horse, which at once bolted off, making up the Harewood road. On arriving near the river bed the boy was thrown, and on recovering from the immediate effects of his tall found he could not walk. He succeeded in reaching the house of Mr Stokes, farmer, some short distance off, when it was found that the boy’s right leg was broken. Mr Stokes at once kindly sent a messenger to Papanui for Dr Brittin, who arrived shortly afterwards, and pronounced the leg to be broken below the knee. The leg was at once set by that gentleman, and yesterday we learnt that the lad was progressing favorably.

Melancholy Case of Drowning.— Mrs Annie Thorapstone, residing at Lansdowne, Halswell, met with a sad death on Thursday night last. Mr Thompstone and his wife had been out driving on that day with a horse borrowed from a neighbor, and after returning home Mr Thompstone left the house to return the horse to its owner. When he again reached home Mrs Thompstone was not there, and receiving no answer to his repeated calls, he went to the river—only a short distance from the house—and found the unfortunate lady partly in and partly out of the water, but quite dead. At this spot the river is only about 3ft 6in deep, and it is supposed that when going to draw some water Mrs Thompstone fell into a fit, to which she had lately been subject, and overtopping into the river her final struggle, when completely exhausted, placed her in the position in which she was found. On the body being taken out everything possible was done, and Dr Symes sent for, but the unfortunate woman was beyond all hope.

Midwinter Show.— The cattle pens for the midwinter show of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, to be held in the Drillshed and grounds, on Thursday next,, were finished yesterday. The pens are forty in number, arranged alongside the western sides and end of the enclosure. They are constructed very* strongly, being composed of 6x3 and 4x3 scantling, kindly lent for the occasion by Messrs W. Montgomery and Co. All the fastenings are made with strong cording (not a single nail being used), thus preventing the possibility of the timber being injured. The pens for the pigs will be arranged in continuation along the sides of the fence towards the shed, while the sheep pens will be erected in the centre. The very large extent of the Drillshed will afford ample space for the exhibition of produce. Altogether the proximity of the ground to the centre of the city, kindly placed at the disposal of the association for this occasion, with its perfect suitability for an exhibition at this time of the year, should attract a large number of visitors on show day. We remind intending exhibitors that entries close this day at 5 p.m., at the Secretary’s office.

Loss OP the Rangatira; —The Argus of the 26th ult gives the following account of the loss of the Rangatira : —At an early hour this morning a telegram was received from Sydney announcing the loss on a reef at the entrance of Noumea harbor of the A.S.N. Company’s steamer Rangatira. The passengers and crew were saved, having proceeded from the scene of the wreck in boats to an island twelve miles distant, from whence they subsequently reached Noumea. The Rangatira, under the command of Captain A. Woods, left Sydney for New Caledonia on 10th May, with twenty-one passengers and a general cargo. The vessel, which was 460 tons register, was well known in the intercolonial trade. The same journal of the 27th says :—Messrs W. P. White und Co, the Melbourne agents of the A.S.N. Company, have received no further particulars of the wreck of the s.s. Rangatira. It may be stated that the A.S.N. Company are their own underwriters, and at the commencement of the last financial year they had £70,000 to the credit of their insurance fund, so that the loss of the steamer is fully covered. The Rangatira and her captain (Captain Woods) were well known in Melbourne, and great sympathy is expressed for Captain Woods in his mishap. The full particulars of the wreck are anxiously looked for. The ss. Rangatira was for many years employed in the branch mail service between Melbourne, Adelaide, and King George’s Sound, under the Peninsular and Oriental Company’s old mail contract. She was then under the command of Captain B. Paddle, who is now in charge of the A.S.N. Company’s s.s. Wentworth. Captain Woods, who was in charge of her when she was lost, had been to Noumea on a previous voyage. It was understood that on the return of the Rangatira she was to have been laid up to receive new boilers and a general overhaul.

Christchurch Poultry Association. A meeting of the committee of this association was held last evening at Warner’s Hotel. Present —Messrs G. A. Macquarrie (chairman), G. A. Reade, A. Walker, T. Stapleton, J. Wilkin, B. H. Banks, B. Bees, W. H. Porter, and W. G. Walker (hon sec). The secretary was instructed to procure a brand for the purpose of branding the new canary cages and poultry pens. A sub-com-mittee, consisting of Messrs Macquarrie and W. J. Watson, was appointed for the purpose of procuring new pigeon pens. Messrs J. Wood, sen, and Mr Wm. Mardon were nominated as members of the managing committee, and the secretary was requested to write to those gentlemen on the matter. The secretary stated that he was afraid that if the association insisted upon the Pigeon Plying race being started from the Rakaia, very few entries would be made, as the winter coming on wou 1 d prevent much training being done. All the members of the committee were of opinion that the distance should be shortened, and the race was ultimately fixed to be started from Kolleston, to be flown the first day of the exhibition A number of special prizes were reported, and the members of the committee undertook to make a thorough canvass. The following judges were nominated—For Game, Malays, and Bantams, Messrs E. Rees and J. Todd ; Dorkings, Spanish, Hamburghs, Polish, French fowls, Brahams, and Cochins, Messrs T, Stapleton, B. H. Banks, and A. Walker ; for pigeons, Messrs J. Short, J. R. Hill, and B. Garrick; and for canaries, Messrs Muschamp and Batchelor. The secretary was instructed to obtain the Music Hall, if possible, for the exhibition, and if it could not bo secured, he was authorised to engage the Oddfellows’ Hall. Several accounts were passed by the committee, and with a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting adjourned till Wednesday nest. -

Local Industry. — A commodious omnibus has just been completed by Messrs Elmsly and Denham, coach builders, Oxford terrace, to the order of Mr John Harper, coach proprietor, to run between the Post-office and Ferry road. The omnibus will carry fourteen inside, and having a width of four feet in the clear will have ample room between the line of occupants, while large glass sliding windows will afford ample ventilation and opportunity for observation. This portion of the coach has a very nice appearance, the seats being covered with Utrecht velvet, the sides tastefully grained, while a mirror and lamp fill up the space at the upper end. The outside appearance of the omnibus is also good-looking, not unlike a gentleman’s family omnibus. The body is painted ultramarine, relieved with white and red lines, the under carriage vermillion, picked out with black and white lines. A seat, capable of accommodating four passengers, is placed at a short distance behind the driver’s seat, access to it being very easy, while two passengers can sit alongside the driver. A very great advantage this omnibus possesses is the free action of the front lock. It can be run with either two or three horses. The vehicle is unique- of its kind, is constructed of the best materials procurable, and is a credit to the builders.

Masonic. —Hitherto (says the Otago Daily Times ) the North Island of New Zealand has not possessed any District Grand Master of Freemasons under the English Constitution, although there is a Deputy Grand Master in Auckland under the Scottish. In the Middle Island Mr J. H. Harris is District Grand, Master for Otago ; Dr Donald, of Lyttelton, is District Grand Master for Canterbury ; and Mr J. Lazer is District Grand Master for Westland. Lately, communications have passed between some of the lodges in the North Island and the District Grand Master at Otago. The result of the correspondence has been that Sir Donald M‘Lean has been requested to accept the office of District Grand Master fori he North Island. Sir Donald M'Lean has 'agreed to accept the office, and it is expected that in a few months his commission will be sent out from the Grand Lodge at home. It is likely that the installation will take place at Wellington in October next, and that it will be conducted by the District Grand Master of Otago, assisted by the various officers from the other lodges of the Middle and North Islands. The event will be a most important one in many respects, and it is expected that the installation will be conducted with unusual ceremony.

Half-yearly Meeting District Lodge A.O.F,—The half-yearly meeting of the Canterbury United District, A.0.F., was held at Lyttelton, on Thursday, July Bth, 1875. In consequence of the Foresters’ Hall being occupied by the Good Templars the meeting was held at the Colonists’ Hall. The following officers and delegates were present— D.0.R., Bro Ford ; S.D.C.R., Bro Weyburn ; D.T., P.D.C.R., Bro Crooks; D.S., P.D.G.R,, Bro Ness ; P.D.0.R., Bro Allwright; P.D.G.R,, Bro Willcox ; 0.R., Bro Gapes; P.0.R., Bro Ablett. The usual routine business was gone through. The payment of funeral allowances for deceased brothers and wives was authorised. The secretary reported, respecting'the Foresters’ scholarship, that four boys, the sons of Foresters, had competed ; that the one who had obtained the highest number of marks (Cooper) had failed by one mark, in one subject, in obtaining the per centage required by the Board of Education. A discussion ensued, and it was then finally resolved that the scholarship be granted to him for one year. The subject of the laws respecting friendly societies was then brought before the meeting, it was urged that in matters on which the societies ought to be free to act as they pleased, they were bound (by the present Act) by absurd and unjust restrictions, and that in matters where they really required legislative enactments the law was perfectly useless. It was decided that the officers of the district should be empowered to call a meeting of delegates of courts of the A.0.F., and invite the other friendly societies to unite with them, in order to obtain at the ensuing meeting of the General Assembly an alteration of the present Act. Bro D.O.R. Ford, who is about to visit England, was appointed delegate to the High Court, at its annual meeting in 1876. The D.O. was then closed. The brethren adjourned to the British Hotel, where an excellent supper was provided, the usual toasts were given, and the brethren separated.

Theatre Royal.— -The Wheeler and De Glorion troupe, which has recently arrived in New Zealand from San Francisco, gave their opening performance at the Theatre Royal last night to a capital house. The entertainment comprises what is known as a “variety" performance, including ballads, Irish character songs, costume songs, and gymnastic and trapeze acts, the programme thus being a varied one: The opening item on the programme was a trio from “Ernani,” sung by Miss De Courcy, Mr Wheeler, and Master Bennie. Miss De Courcy has a very sweet soprano voice of good compass, and she sang her part in the trio very nicely. In the ballad which followed also she was very successful. In addition to her vocal powers, Miss De Courcy is an actress of no mean talent, as evidenced by her assumption of the lady characters in the two sketches in which she appeared, and altogether she established herself as a favorite with her audience. Mr Wheeler has a very good tenor voice, which he uses with much skill, particularly in Irish songs,- in which he successfully pourtrays the humor and pathos which are so characteristically blended in this class of music. In the sketches, more particularly of Irish character, which appears to be his especial forte, he was very good. Master Bennie is exceedingly clever in his character impersonations, particularly in that of “The Dashing Belle,” in the first part and the negro in the last sketch. The gymnastic portion of the entertainment was contributed by Mdlle Lo-Lo and the De Glorion Brothers. The lady, in the trapeze performance, is very good indeed, her acts being performed with a swiftness and grace more nearly resembling Lottie than any lady gymnast we have yet had here, the flying trapeze, from the dress circle to the back of the stage, being executed with much daring and success. The De Glorion Brothers are also very good on the trapeze, but their performance on the Roman rings was not so successful as others We have had here. In response to the loud plaudits which greeted one of the sketches, “ Barney’s Courtship,” Miss DeCourcy and Mr Wheeler danced an Irish jig, which had the merit of being more like the real thing than the usual stage dance which does duty, for it. Altogether the entertainment is a very fair one, and is likely, judging from the applause last flight, to become popular,

Found Dead.— -The Timaru Herald, of yesterday, says A woman named Frew, who resided at Waimate, was found dead in her bed about the hour of 10 o’clock p.m. on Tuesday last. Some of her children on finding their mother dead raised an alarm, when Mrs Drummond, the nearest neighbor, went to the house and found Mrs Frew quite dead in her bed, her husband being in the house under the influence of liquor. Sergeant O’Connor and Dr Dunkley were in immediate attendance, but the woman was supposed by the doctor to have been dead two hours. No marks of violence or accident were discernible.” Late Gale in Auckland —The Herald of the sth inst gives the following particulars of the late severe gale:—“On Saturday evening the barometer commenced to fall, and gave every indication of bad weather approaching. During the night a hard gale blew from the N.E., accompanied by heavy rain. This continued until the morning, when the weather slightly moderated and the wind shifted round to the northward. During yesterday, however, fierce squalls passed over the harbor. Towards afternoon the wind further shifted round to the N.W., and increased in violence, and at night a violent gale pervaded from the westward. A number of vessels that had taken their departure on the previous day returned to port in consequence of the severity of the weather outside. Amongst these were the schooner Clyde, which came back with her mainsail split. The cutter Start also came in with her mainsail rent. The little schooner Firefly, which had arrived duiiag Saturday, came to grief yesterday morning. Finding that she was riding heavily, the hand on board attempted to give her more chain, but in doing this the yessel slipped her cable, and she came down on the wharf, carrying away her bowsprit and bulwarks forward, besides sustaining other damage. After some difficulty she was securely moored. The yacht Alice dragged her anchor, and coming in contact with the wharf received such injury that she sank. The Rapid, cutter, also sank alongside the wharf. The greatest damage, however, took place last night. The schooner Coronet, which had been partially hauled up on Gouk’s slip, received such a knocking about that it was deemed advisable by Captain Rose to scuttle her, and this was accomplished to prevent further damage. The ketch Speedwell and the cutter Magic came to grief at the Gore street jetty ; and the yacht Lizard is a complete wreck to the west of the wharf. The frame of a new schooner, building by Messrs Henderson and Spraggon, received a large amount of injury through the force of the wind and sea. Mr J. Waymouth’s boat building shed, at Smailes’s Point, also succumbed to the fury of the gale, and was swept away. The s.s. Gemini, which was anchored to the westward of the wharf, dragged her anchor, and came down on to Oxley’s store shortly after nine o’clock, receiving such injury that will cost her owner a considerable sum to repair her. The cutter Diamond was also reported as sunk ; while several boats, including three of the watermen’s, were either washed off the gridiron or broken away from their moorings. Owing to the darkness it was impossible to ascertain the full extent of the damage ; but great fears are entertained for several vessels which had previously sought shelter to the westward of the wharf, and were consequently, from their close proximity and exposed position, in great danger of collision. Besides many cutters, the schooners Speedwell and Sunbeam were in jeopardy. It was also reported that the p.s. Enterprise No 2 had sustained considerable injury.