NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 339, 14 July 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Bible Society, Lyttelton.— We see by advertisement that a meeting of this society will be held in the church school room, Ljttelton, this evening. Heathcote Rowing Club. —A special general meeting of the above club will be held at the Woolston Hotel, on Saturday evening next, at eight o’clock. The Accident on the Ashburton River. —The unfortunate man McLeod, who fell over a terrace on the Ashburton river, particulars of which were given in our issue of yesterday, was brought to the Christchurch Hospital yesterday, and died about two hours after arrival. Drainage Conference.— The drainage conference met this morning at the City Council Chambers, when it was resolved that a Bill should be prepared for making provision for the drainage of Christchurch and suburbs in conformity with the resolution passed at the last meeting of the conference. Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw were appointed solicitors to draw up the Bill. Acclimatisation. Forty-five young trout, averaging five inches in length, of nine months of age, have been recently safely conveyed to, and liberated in, Ihe Malvern district, by Sir Cracroft Wilson, A large number of the young trout in the gardens will this season be old enough for spawning purposes, bo that it is hoped a large supply of eggs may be obtained. The supply has hitherto depended almost exclusively on the old original fish imported about seven years ago, most of which were males. Attempts to Upset Railway Trains, —Upon four separate occasions within a few months, boys have been brought before the magistrates charged with attempting to turn the trains from the metals on the Oxford line by putting stones thereon. The last case, that of Vavasour, will surely however act as a warning both to boys and their parents. The delinquent was sentenced to three years’ service at the Kohimarama Naval training station, during which time his father will have to contribute weekly towards the lad’s maintenance,

Hereford Street Baptist Sunday School. —The panorama of the Holy Land, the property of the Canterbury Sundayschool Union, was exhibited last evening at the schoolroom. A descriptive lecture was also given by the Rev R. Morton. During the evening several of Sankey’s hymns were sung by some members of the Congregational Church. The sum of £4 was added to the funds of the school. Mr Hart’s Prize Essays.— Professor Bickerton and Messrs H. J. Tancred, and E, GL Wright, and Dr Symes, who composed the committee to whom the essays on the best means of improving the sanitary condition of Christchurch were submitted, have awarded the first prize of £SO to “ XYZ ” (Mr John Marshman), and the second of £loto “ Hippocrates” (his Worship the Mayor.) Professor Bickerton, Mr Tancred, and Mr Wright, who had previously considered the eight essays sent in, attended this morning at the Council Chambers, when Mr Hart, in their presence, opened the envelopes which had accompanied them. Bazaar at Southbridge.— The bazaar in aid of St. James’s Parsonage Fund was held in the Town Hall, Southbridge, yesterday. the approaches to which were tastefully decorated, and reflect great credit on Mr Bourne and his able assistants. The inside of the building presented quite a gala appearance, the sides and roof being covered with festoons of evergreens, interspersed with flags and ornamental shrubs. The stalls were arranged on each side of the hall, and were presided over by Mesdames Bluett, Jollie, and Bourne, Mrs Bluett being assisted by Mrs Acland, Miss Reeves, and Mrs James Campbell; Mrs Jollie by Mrs Bridge, Mrs Wavington, and Mrs M. S, Campbell, A refreshment stall, which was well supplied with various creature comforts, was in charge of the Misses Bourne. The articles exhibited in the various stalls were of themselves sufficient proof of the energetic manner in which the ladies had exerted themselves for the cause, and we are sure that overflowing coffers will be the result of their laudable efforts. The ladies of the bazaar request us to take this opportunity of expressing their sincere thanks to the traffic manager, Mr J. Lawson, for his courtesy in procuring a special train to run during the day, and which did not leave Southbridge till 7.30 p.m., thus allowing a great number to avail themselves of this means of returning to Christchurch, and so giving them a longer period to enjoy themselves, Mr C. Clark kindly officiated as auctioneer, and the articles not previously disposed of, by his persuasive powers then lound ready purchasers amongst the assembled company, and brought one of the most successful gatherings ever held in the district a satisfactory termination.

Change Anniversary in Lyttelton. —The Loyal Orangemen of Lyttelton, held their annual dinner on Monday evening last, in their lodge room, Lyttelton. The room was nicely decorated with flags ahd banners, inscribed with mottos emblematical of the principles of the order, the well-known standards being hung at the upper end of the room, at the rear of the seat of the W.M. Grace was said ,by the chaplain. The dinner being at an end, the W.M. rose and called on all present to charge their glasses for the first toast of the evening. He gave them the health of “ Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales; and all the members of the Royal Family.” The toast was drank with loyalty. The W.M. again rose, and said that the toast which he was about to propose to them would meet with the most hearty response from all present; “It was the glorious, pious, and immortal memory of William HI,, Prince of Orange.” The toast was drank with enthusiasm, and with three times three. Song—“ The orange and the blue.” The D.M. proposed the health of “ The Governor and Legislature of New Zealand.” Drank with all honors. Song—- “ The battle of the Boyne.” The W. M. next gave “The Grand Master of the Order, the Earl of Enniskillen.” The toast was well received. Song—“ The boys of Lundy Row.” The following toasts were given from the chair, each of which were well received and responded to by the brethren ; “ The Grand Master of the Middle Island of New Zealand,” “ The Superintendent and Provincial,, Council,” “ William Johnston, Esq, M.P., of Ballykillbeg,” “All True Orangemen round the Globe,” and “Our Kindred Societies.” The evening was enlivened by songs from most of the brethren, and after singing the National Anthem the brethren separated.

Dr Fbatherstonb and the Home Agency. —Under the above heading Mr John Cargill, of Dunedin, writes as follows to the Otago Guardian: —“ 1 notice a local in your paper of to-day, giving an extract from the Argus in reference to Sir Julius Vogel : —‘ To our minds the personal abuse which some of the newspapers are heaping upon an absent man. and that man the Premier of the colony, is a disgrace to journalism.’ All rightminded men must concur in this. But should not the same rule be extended to another absent man and a distinguished colonist, Dr Featherston ? than whom, were he in New Zealand, no one would be more able to defend himself from attacks made on him. In a leader on the subject of the Home agency arrangements, you accuse Dr Featherston of flagrant dereliction of duty in introducing shipload after shipload of the halt, the lame, and the blind ; and that disease, whether mental or physical, has not been deemed a disqualification ; but the contrary; and that it is notorious that lunatics and imbeciles have been wilfully and knowingly forwarded at the expense of the colonists. And you further state that bis conduct of emigration affairs has been marked by almost criminal negligence. No one who is acquainted with Featherston’s business capacity, his known administrative ability, and zealous discharge of all public duties, but will be slow to believe in such sweeping accusations, and even those who do not know him will feel the justice of withholding their judgment until his correspondence or explanation is before them. Dr Featherston was directed by the Government to send out 25,000 emigrants during the six months succeeding his receipt of the order sent him. He did so, and I doubt if there is a man in the colony who would have accomplished the task in so satisfactory a manner. No similar number of emigrants were ever shipped in finer vessels, as well provisioned, or with so low a sick or death rate. This is an admitted fact by all those at home qualified to give an opinion on the subject, such as her Majesty’s Land and Emigration Commissioners, and firms long engiged in the conveyance of emigrants to the various colonies. That there should be sickness at times in ships, where of necessity a number

of people are crowded into a comparatively small space, is a matter that will not surprise anyone who will think out the subject, nor that when sickness does break out that the mortality should be the greatest amongst young children. That oqcasionally a lunatic, and oftener a ne’er-do-well, is smuggled off by their friends, to be taken care of by the colonists, is a circumstance not confined to the emigration conducted by the Agent - General. Old colonists will bear me out that during the whole emigration, from the commencement of this settlement to date, lunatics and other undesirable persons have been shipped out with our immigrants, and in proportionably as Urge numbers as recently. If the matter is looked at impartially, I think we have no reason to be dissatisfied with the average quality of the emigrants sent out by the Agent-General, and judging from the official reports, the. other provinces seem to have arrived at the same conclusion. I have made these few remarks not controversially, but only to show that there is another side to the picture, and appeal to your sense of fair-play to extend the same consideration to Dr Featherston as we are called upon to do towards Sir Julius Vogel, and for the same reasons. Soap. —Many persons who have come to this province of late, may not know that the soap branded with a star, is of a very superior description, to most other sorts in use here. Very severe tests have proved that it is manufactured on the strictest chemical principles so as to produce an article, which whilst it possesses thorough cleansing properties, does not injure the finest fabrics, or affect the hands in the slightest degree. The public generally, will find it to their advantage to use this soap. As in addition to the above mentioned qualifications, it is sold at a lower price than most other kinds, A single trial will prove the foregoing facta to the satisfaction of all.—Aayvr. * How much did he leave ?’ said an Aberdeen lady, on being told of the death of a wealthy citizen. ‘ Everything,’ responded the lawyer; *he didn’t take a shilling with him. It is stated that a curious volume will be published shortly, recording the experiences of an English gentleman who has spent a long time in the remotest of the Polynesian Islands, wholly apart from all European society.