NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 392, 14 September 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Late Mr Councillxob Raphael.— Many of our readers will regret to learn the somewhat sudden death this morning of Mr Councillor Raphael. For a week or so past Mr Raphael had been confined to the house, but nothing serious was anticipated until the disease—congestion of the lungs—manifested alarming symptoms. Though of a peculiar temperament, the late Mr Raphael yet rendered considerable service in the Council by his business acumen, and privately his death will be mourned by a large circle of his private friends. Hospitable almost to a fault, in his own house a genial and pleasant companion, the late Mr Raphael will be missed from amongst us.

Geraldine Racing Club —A correspondent telegraphs : —The nominations are as follows :—Hurdle race : Stranger, Muscatel, Alice Grey, Kitty Clyde, Tommy Dodd, Theodore, Eclipse. Publicans’ Purse ; No Gentleman, Tadmor, Lady Ellen, Muscatel, Alice Grey, Seven Bells, Pakeha, Wavcrly, Mignonette. Geraldine Cup: Tommy Dodd, Nectar, Waverly, Pakeha, Mignonette, Hector, Tantrums colt, Tadmor, No Gentleman, Kitty Qtyde.

It has been arranged to combine pleasure with business in the monster sale of boots and shoes at Spensley’s, Cashel street. A brass baud, consisting of first-class musicians, has been engaged, and will perform on Saturday evening. Spensley must be very well satisfied with the patronage he has received to provide music free to the public. The sale is on for this mouth.—[Advt.]

Lecture.— A lecture on “ Future Punishment ” was delivered last evening, at the Oddfellows’ Hall, by Mr B. Cass, to a moderately large audience. The chair was taken by Mr A. Saunders, who briefly introduced the lecturer. Mr Cass read his lecture, which was somewhat lengthy, and at the close a discussion took place, two of the audience expressing opinions contrary to Dose held bv the lecturer.

Telegraphic. —The system of telegraphy introduced by Dr Lemon, General Manager of Telegraphs, and known as the “ duplex,” enabling two messages (one from each end) on a single wire, to be transmitted simultaneously, is now working successfully between Christchurch ;and Blenheim. It has been in operation between Blenheim and Wellington for some time. By the introduction of this system the working capacity of a single wire is practically doubled.

Board of Conservators. —The usual monthly meeting of the Board of Conservators was held yesterday at noon. Present— Messrs R. J. S, Harman (in the chair), J. T. Fisher, J. N. Tosswill, and his Worship the Mayor. It was resolved that so soon as the chairman had arranged the matter of a loan with the Sinking Fund Commissioners, he be empowered to proceed with the construction of the upper bank, which had be in authorised for some time. After passing some accounts the Board adjourned. Townhall, Southbridgb. —A dramatic and musical entertainment in aid of the funds of the Ellesmere Cricket Club, was given in the above hall on Saturday evening last. Great credit is due to the officers of the club for the trouble taken in carrying out the arrangements; and although the back seats were not as well filled as might have been expected, the financial results will yet be satisfactory. The performance commenced with the well-known farce —“ A Regular Fix,” the various characters in which were well personated by local talent. After an interlude of a few minutes, several songs were sung by Miss Frankish, who was loudly encored, Messrs T. D. Acland, R, Willis, H, Clark, and W. Little, Mrs Campbell playing the accompaniments on the piano. The performance concluded with the farce “Mol Round the Corner.”

Papanui Library. — A meeting of this committee was held on Friday evening last, at the institute. Present—Mr H. Matson (president), Rev Brittan, Messrs C. Jennings. K. Triggs, H. Godfrey, F. Sisson, W. Smith (secretary). The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the chairman stated that he had written to the Government, and had received a reply sanctioning the expenditure of £2O on improving the building, &c, and £BO to be sent home through the Government for books. Several minor matters, such as furnishing the room and employing a painter, were left in the hands of the chairman. A discussion ensued as to the best means of obtaining a list of books to make up the order to be sent home, when it was resolved—“ That the meeting adjourn till Friday evening next, each member of committee to furnish a list.” The usual vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting.

Many people do not know the reason why some descriptions of soap, when being used, cause the hands to smart and feel sore. It is simply owing to the imperfect knowledge of some soap boilers, who not being thoroughly acquainted with the ingredients they are using, do not compound them in a scientific manner, or as is more commonly the case, that manufacturers either try to pass off a spurious adulterated article, or else by using an undue quantity of the cheapest commodities, make one of inferior quality. We are aware that the Star Brand Soap is made on the strictest principles of chemical affinity, and that every care is taken by the manufacturers to produce an article possessing the strongest abstergent properties. All persons, whether old colonists or new arrivals, should use the Star Brand Soap, as it is the best in this market. [Advt.] Drainage Bill, —At a meeting of the City Council last evening, a resolution was carried unanimously, approving of “ Christchurch District Drainage Bill,” now before the House.

Heavy floods have occurred in Lancashir 0 and Yorkshire. The river Calder overflowed its banks for twenty miles from Halifax to Barnsley. Roads are submerged, also many streets and houses in Todmorden, and the East Ward bridge has floated away. The Dou threatens to inundate the low-lying parts of Sheffield. The Ribble rose and overflowed the country for a distance of thirty miles. A special to the London Early News from Lisbon reports that a drouth in several districts of the province of Minho has destroyed the crops and pastures, and a famine is threatened. Riots against grain exporters are imminent. Cattle are dying of hunger. The local authorities say it will be impossible to collect taxes in many places, and the attempt to do so they fear would cause an insurrection. Accounts from Algarve show a a similar state of affairs in that province. The Government is sending relief to the afflicted sections.

Don Carlos, in his letter to Alfonso, states that the cruelty of the measures ordered by the Madrid Government is unprecedented, and will, like the blood of martyrs, raise up Carlists everywhere. He says he himself, who comes to his country to be King of all Spaniards, allows Alfonsists to live peacefully within his territories. He says he is confident of success, for it is impossible that Spain can flourish under a government of chance. The letter contains no threat of reprisals on the part of the Carlists. The North German Gazette, commenting on the recent submission of Catholic clergymen to the law for the administration of chnrch property, says the Episcopate has thereby abandoned the principle hitherto maintained, that political and ecclesiastical matters can only be regulated by means of independent arrangements between State and Church. The Gazette, infers that the Roman cura has given permission to the clergy to decide for themselves, at the same time securing a decision that submission will not be regarded as an act of disobedience to Papal authority. This, continues the Gazette, may be considered as changing the struggle between the political ecclesiastical powers, and the Catholic Episcopate will probably urge upon Rome the necessity of extending still further freedom of action in these m dters.