NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 402, 25 September 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Springston Library.—The annual meeting of subscribers will be held in the reading room, on Monday, October 4th, at 7 p.m.

The Ship Merope.—The Chief Immigration Officer received the following telegram yesterday, in reference to the ship Merope, now lying at Timaru—" Merope anchored; ship examined and cleared; all well; everything satisfactory. Immigrants will be landed early in the morning. (Signed) —F. Le Cren, Immigration officer."

Volunteer Inspection.—An inspection of the Engineers aud Cadtt Companies was made last night at the drill shed, by the colonel commanding. The men and boys were drilled very effectively, more so than we have observed for some time before, though the success of the parade was somewhat marred by the drill sergeant having to recall orders, which caused unwitting confusion to the covering sergeants.

It has been arranged to combine pleasure with business in the monster sale of boots and shoes at Spensley's, Cashel street. A brass band, 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 month. —[Advt.] PedestriAnism. —Edwards, the pedestrian, started last evening at eight o'clock to attempt the feat of walking one hundred and five miles in twenty-four hours. The place chosen for the exhibition was the Oddfellows' Hall, and punctually as the hand of the clock pointed to eight, Edwards started on his arduous task. He was accompanied for the first hour by Bowley, and walked in a very fair and even manner, seldom varying his pace, except when in answer to a round of applause he spurted once round the hall. The details of the first part of the undertaking having appeared in the morning journals we shall merely say that up till 10.58 this morning he had accomplished 69 miles, leaving him 9 hours to accomplish the remaining 36 miles. He at this time was walking as strongly as ever, and seemed very confident of beating the old scythe-bearer. At 1.10 p.m. to-day he finished his 78th mile, and he then took his third rest, starting again at 1.27, having then 27 miles to complete his task. At 2.45 he had completed 83 miles 762 yards, and was to all appearance fresh enough to do the remaining distance in the stipulated time.

Progress of the Railway in South Canterbury.—The Timaru Herald says : " Messrs Derby and Philip's contract for the Hook Bridge is progressing rapidly. The station at the Orari is now in course of erection, the framework being already up, and that at the VVaihi wiil be begun in a few days. The contractors appear to be using every effort to forward the work. We understand that the railway will be open from the Raugitata to the north bank of the Orari within a fortnight, and there seems to be no reason why it should not be completed to Temuka within two months. All the piles of the Orari Bridge are driven, and it now only remains to put on the superstructure. Messrs Allan and Stumbles finished the formation of the line between Timaru and the Pareora some time ago, and would have completed their contract before this if timber had been procurable for the bridges. The reason that the timber could not be obtained is owing to the inability of the contractors to get vessels to bring it from Australia. The line has been ballasted, and the rails laid on it from Timaru to the Saltwater Creek, a distance of about a mile. A considerable portion of the line between the Pareora and Waitangi, under the contracts held by Mr Proudfoot and Messrs Pratt and Martin, has also been formed." 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.]

Stone-Breakers. —Mr J. Newton's larger and smaller Maisden's stone-breaking machines were being worked nt the same time yesterday in Cathedral Square, by means of his 12-horse power engine, The gauge of the former having been altered it was throwing out *2£ inch metal, £ which placed in the smaller machine*.,-vs.? reduced to a useful size for oi binding. Both machines were working in an exceedingly satisfactory manner.