NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 373, 23 August 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Football .-j-The alphabetical match projected for Saturday last did not take place, but a scratch match was got up by those present, in which some good play was shown. . Child Drowned, —An infant male child, belonging to John Sheehan, laborer, living at Tai Tapu, was accidentally drowned about 12 o’clock on Saturday last. It seems the mother was proceeding to a creek near the house for water, carrying the infant, which was only two months old, in her arms. While stooping down to»fill a bucket, she lost he? balance and fell into the creek, and before she could extricate herself and child, the latter was dead. An inquest will be held to-day. The Poultry Show. —The show was again largely attended on Saturday evening, and the general financial results, so far as the association is concerned, is by far the most satisfactory it has had during its existence. We are glad to be.able to record this, as the association has done a good work in the improvement of the breed of all kinds of poultry, and for a long time under circumstances of some difficulty. The distribution of the art-union prizes was managed most satisfactorily, and generally the show was a complete success. During the day Mr J. Wood’s magnificent collection of Brahmas disposed of by art-union. Soap. —Manypersonswho have cometothis 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 tria will prove the foregoing facta to the satisfaction of all.— Adyt.

Telegrahhic. —The steamer Omeo is expected to leave Hokitika at 11 a.m. on Tues day, the 24th inst. Telegrams for tUe Australian colonies or Europe via Java cable will be received at the Christchurch telegraph office for transmission to Hokitika up till 10 a.m. of the 24th inst. The Judges. —Mr Kolleston has given notice that he will move on Wednesday—- “ That it is desirable that the House should be informed in what manner the Legislature signified its desire for the shifting of the Judges of the Supreme Court to different circuits, as stated in the letter of the Acting Colonial Secretary of 6th March, 1375, in the following words;—‘ln making the proposal the Government was actuated by a desfre to carry out the expressed wishes of the Legislature.’ ” • "*• , ; Coombs’ Tannery.— We are glad to notice that Messrs Coombs and Son, not at all dispirited by their recent heavy loss by the fire which destroyed their premises, have cleared away the charred ruins and commenced a substantial brick structure. Owing, to the fine weather the hands previously employed have been able to work in the open air, and thus have not .suffered much by loss of time. Eight new liquor pits have been constructed, and, the . tannery will in a very short time be again in full operation.— Otago Daily Times. Proposed Annexation of New Guinea. —A Cabinet minute from His Excellency the Governor, for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, has been laid on the table of the Assembly of New South Wales, and contains the following passages: —“ My colleagues and myself venture respectfully to offer the opinion that on many grounds it would be desirable in the highest interests of civilisation that Great Britain should, with as little delay as possible, take possession, not only of the magnificient island of New Guinea, but of the islands of New Britain, New Ireland, and the chain pf islands to the north-east and east of New Guinea, from Bougainville Island to San Christoval, the south-eastern-most of the Solomon group ; the group of New Hebrides, including Espiritu Santo, Malicolo, and Sandwich, with the smaller adjoining islands ; and Marshal Gibert and Ellice Islands, to all of which the traffic from Sydney extends. It appears to us that more extended dominion over these waters on the part of the British Empire would not only be consistent with the maritime supremacy of England, but conduce much to the tranquillity and peace of the Australian colonies, while the occupation by foreign Governments of large islands in the immediate neighbourhood of our coasts, and on the very tracks of our ocean communication with the mother country, might and would be in time of war fatal to our free navigation of the sea which adjoins our terriiory, whose coast line, stretching from our capital northwards to within sight of New Guinea, is 1700 miles in extent. The extension of British sovereignty over Polynesia would not only, as it seems to my colleagues and myself, open ud new and rich fields for the employment of British capital and enterprise, but tend to the immediate mitigation of many evils which naturally follow from the lawless condition of some of these islands, and to the early extinction of the greatest of all of these—unlawful traffic in labour. Of the possibility of any one or more of the Australian colonies undertaking with Imperial sanction, and by means of powers specially conferred, the annexation of these islands, or any one of them, my colleagues and myself desire to express our concurrence in the view taken by Sir James Martin on this subject in a letter addressed to the Earl of Belmore on Bth August, 1871. We are of opinion that no such scheme is possible. Even if the inhabitants of these colonies, the resources of which are so largely drawn upon for the construction of great public works and the opening up of improved means of internal communication, were able or disposed to bear the necessary expenditure (which we do not believe would be the case), it would be impossible for any colony or group of colonies to exercise the powers and authority and inspire the obedience which belong to a great empire.” •