NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 407, 1 October 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Timaru-Temuka Railway. —The South Canterbury Times states that this line is now completed, and is informed that it will be open for traffic in a few days. Accident. —We learn that a daughter of Mr Thomas Johnston, of the Irwell Hotel, was accidentally killed yesterday, being run over by a dray. Pater Mills. —The Bruce Herald reports that every effort is being made at Mataura to start the paper mills. Some of the buildare nearly finished, and in a very short time the race will be cut. Waitaki Bridge. —The Waitangi Tri hune states that the work of decking this bridge is going on expeditiously, nearly onehalf of that work having been finished, and it is expected that the whole will be completed within contract time. Gloucester Street School. —At the meeting of the Bast Christchurch School Committee last evening, the chairman announced that Mr Loughrey, of Melbourne, had accepted the mastership of the Gloucester street school. Avonside Church. —The ceremony of opening the new transept will take place this evening, at half-past seven o’clock. There will be full choral service, and the sermon will be preached by the Bight Bev the Primate, The ladies of the parish have very liberally provided a tea, which will be held in the schoolroom at six o’clock. Cricket. — A preliminary meeting was held at Addington, relative to the formation of a junior cricket club in that district, but there was but a limited attendance. The offices of captain, secretary, and treasurer were filled np. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, October 7th, at 7 o’clock p.m. P.OMAN Catholic— An effort is being made to secure the services of a Roman Catholic clergyman to minister to the wants of the congregations at Kaiapoi, Bangiora, Loburn, and Brackenfield, which, it is said, have been long neglected, in consequence of the difficulty in obtaining a minister. Municipal Election.— The polling for the vacant seat in the City Council will take place on the 7th instant. From the length of time elapsing between the day of nomination and polling, public interest has somewhat died out, but the friends of the various candidates are working hard, and a keen contest is anticipated between Messrs Hart and Hawkes. r Fire at Winchester —The Winchester correspondent of the South Canterbury Times states that one-of the immigrants’ cottages, at Winchester, was burnt down on Sunday morning last. The occupants lost nearly all they had. The roof being thatched with straw, and a strong wind blowing at the time, it was quickly burnt to the ground. A subscription list was at once raised, and it haa been liberally responded to, for the benefit of the sufferers. The house will be at once re-built, thanks to the liberality of the subscribers. South Town Belt School. —A discussion at the meeting of the East Christchurch school committee last evening reveals a state of things at the school in Barbadoes street south which demands instant attention. It appears that from some cause or the other there is at the present time, and has been for several weeks, a considerable depth of water lying under the floor of the school. It will at once be seen that the continuance of a body of stagnant water under the floor of the school cannot but be prejudicial in the highest degree to the health of the children attending, and if allowed to continue, now that the hot weather is setting in, will infallibly act as a fruitful source of fever. We commend this matter to the consideration of all those concerned, in the hope that steps will be taken without delay to remove so great an evil. Canterbury Tradesmen’s Athletic Club. —A meeting of this club was held last evening at Maples’ Garrick Hotel, Mr Bowley in the chair. The secretary, Mr Gough, reported that there was a credit balance in the bank from last sports of £35 6s. It was decided that the forthcoming sports should be held on Boxing Day, and on the grounds of the Agricultural Association if procurable A discussion took place on the value of prizes to be given at the sports, when it was resolved that for the handicap race of three distances, there should be three prizes—viz, £lO, £5, and £2 forffirst, second, and third. It was also resolved that for the walking race there should be a first, second, and third prize, the amounts being £5, £2, and £l. The secretary stated that Edwards had consented to walk seven miles on that day in fifty-nine minutes, under the conditions that if successful he should receive one-fifth of the gate money, and nothing if he did not do the distance in the time. Edwards had also intimated his intention of walking in the handicap race with Bowley and others. A resolution was passed that the subscriptions of memoers would have to be paid to the secretary on or before the Ist November. It was resolved that a committee should be appointed at the next meeting to arrange the programme to be submitted at a succeeding meeting,

II anqiora School Committee. —A mooting of this committee was held on Wednesday evening. Present —Messrs Cunningham (chairman), Blackett. Bell, Johnston, Stephens, Aherne, and the Hev Canon Dudley. It was resolved—“ That the Minister for Education be informed of the continued illness of Miss Hurrell, one of the pupil teachers, and the consequent appointment of a substitute, requesting him to sanction an extra fee ; also, to advance £lO to the master and mistress, to enable them to keep a sufficient supply of books and school requisites.’ It was resolved to recommend certain persons to his Honor the Sunerintendent as being unable to pay the household rates, requesting him to exempt them from the payment. The quarterly pay sheet was then passed, and the committee adjourned.

Accident on the Lyttelton and Christchurch Line.—An accident, fortunately unattended with any serious consequences, occurred yesterday afternoon on the Lyttelton and Christchurch line of railway. As the driver of the 3.80 goods train from port was nearing Opawa, he observed four horses at some distance ahead apparently inside the fence along the line. It proved, however, subsequently, that they were on the line, having strayed in through a gate, and as the train was approaching them, they in a moment doubled across. Before the driver could pull up, the engine struck one of the horsesj passing over and cutting it completely in half, the shock throwing two of the trucks off the line. As soon as possible the train was brought to a standstill, and the driver having uncoup ed the engine came on to Christchurch for assistance. Mr Warner, railway engineer, at once returned to the spot with a gang of men, and soon raised the trucks on to the line again, the 4 o’clock down train being only delayed half an hour by the accident No blame whatever for the mishap can be attached to the railway department. The horses are said to be owned by Mr Johns. Jewish Synagogue, Timaru,— We take the tollowing description of this building from the South Canterbury Times-. —The building is situate in Bank street, directly opposite to the Wesleyan Church, is built of blue stone with white facings, and the front has a very prepossessing appearance. On entering the door to the left of the vestibule there is a flight of stairs leading to the gallery over the entrance, for the use of the lady members of the congregation. The gallery is comfortably seated and well lighted. On entering the synagogue itself the eye is at once struck with the comfortable appearance of it. In the centre of the floor is the reading desk, approached by a flight of three steps covered with rich carpeting, for the Rabbi to perform the sacred functions appertaining to his office, the desk is covered with a white cloth, the double triangle is embroidered in a blue color. At the right and left hand of the desk are placed two pedestals for holding candles. At the eastern end of the svnagogue the ark is placed, in the Holy of Holies. In the ark is the scroll of the law of Moses, The Holy of Holies is covered with a white curtain, known in Scripture as the Veil. It has a blue border, and there is a Crown of Glory worked thereon. Above the whole there are two tablets, and the Ten Commandments are written thereon in Hebrew in gilt letters on a black ground. The Holy of Holies is approached by a flight of three steps richly carpeted, and to the right and left of the lower step are two large candlesticks for holding candles. Matting is placed on the floor of the Synagogue, and chairs for the use of the members are placed around the side walls. The building is lighted by a massive chandelier for kerosene lamps and also side lamps.

The VVaitaki Bailway. —We extract the following abridged account of this ceremony of that appearing in the North Otago Times, from our Timaru contemporary : —The opening of this railway from Oamaru to the Waitaki river on Saturday last, September 25th, though a hurried and almost impromptu alfair, may be considered to have been a success. The small amount of funds available prevented anything like elaborately finished arrangements. To the last moment telegrams were sent to Dunedin urging upon the Executive the claim of the town to some little expenditure on such an occasion, but the reply invariably was, as it always has been, “no funds available.'’ The Municipal Council erred on the right side, if they erred at all, when they voted £45 on a free lunch. It was the smallest sum that anything could be attempted for, and it was all that the Council felt justified in voting. Indeed, we know that at one time they considered whether, instead of voting ratepayers’ money, they should subscribe among themselves the required amount. We cannot but think that considering the importance of the occasion, and the benefit the line will be to Oamaru, they would have been fully justified in voting money to enable the celebration to be worthy the occasion. The day opened as bright and lovely as could possibly be desired—with a clear sky, a warm sun, and a gentle breeze. If all could have been arranged to order it could not have been better. And the Oamaruites seemed determined to enjoy it, In answer to the request of his Worship the Mayor, many business places were closed from noon till five o’clock, and in some instances those who could not close (Saturday being an inconvenient day for a halfholiday) allowed their assistants leave. Judging by the numbers who went by the train, we should say that there could not have been a vast number of men of business left behind to buy or sell. By eleven o’clock people were seen gathering about the railway station, although the train did not start till one, and by half-past twelve they filled the platform, besides stretching beyond on all sides. No 1 Company, 0.8. V., No 4 Company (Cadets), and the Caledonian Band were also in attendance, and at length about fourteen hundred people presented themselves at the station for a trip to the Waitaki —men, women, and children, bankers, merchants, judges, barristers, clerks, doctors, masons, shopmen, &c, a truly representative collection—and such a number of children ; the sight of them alone would have dispelled any doubts as to the future of Oamaru. At about one o’clock, all this mass of persons having been disposed in carriages, the train slowly moved off from the platform. And here we desire to say a word as to the admirable arrangements of the officials, and the more than courtesy which all received at their bands. From Mr Conyers and the District Engineer lownwards instead of having been harrassed by a large crowd, and the responsibility connected therewith—as they well might have been—they had pleasant words and looks for all, more as though they were playing host and the crowd

the part of guests than anything else. At length the excursion started, and in due course arrived at the Waitaki, after a tolerably rapid run, without anything particularly of note. On the plain, by the river, the crowd dispersed rapidly, and the band took up the position at the hotel, and commenced to play, but the bulk of people wandered down towards the bridge, which was the centre of interest. We have so recently described this fine structure, that it is unnecessary to do so again now. It was slightly decked out in holiday costume, an arch of flags waving in the breeze at one end. Down the centre of the bridge was laid a table of planks, upon which was laid out the luncheon provided by the Corporation, All that could squeeze near the table did so, but a considerable number had made their own preparations for picnics, and soon small parties were seen dotted about near the river, in every available spot of shade or hollow. After the luncheon had been duly disposed of, and the usual loyal, and the toast of the day duly honored, the people made their way back to the railway train, and reached Oamaru safely by about seven o’clock.

“ You’ve a cowld, Mrs Leary, clear,” said one of a swarm of Irish hop-pickers to her crony. ‘ ‘ Indeed, an’ it’s thrue for you, Mrs Mahon!” “And where would you get that, honey ?” “ Sure, and I slept last night in the field, and forgot to shut the gate !” 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. ]