NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 446, 18 November 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Outward San Francisco Mail.—The B.s. Wellington, with the outward San FrauCisco mail, sailed yesterday at 3 30 p.m. Canterbury Scandinavian Society.— A meeting of the above society will be held this evening at the Scotch Stores. Geraldine District, Mr Alexander Wilson has announced himself as a candidate for the Geraldine district. St Andrew's Church—The annual soiree in connection with the St Andrew's Presbyterian Church will take place this evening at the Oddfellows' Hall. East Christchurch School.—The formal opening of the Gloucester street main school of the East Christchurch district by his Excellency the Governor took place yesterday. The proceedings, a report of which appears elsewhere, passed off very successfully. Opening Match C.C.C.— We are glad to mention that the dispute between the abovementioned club and the D.C.C.C. has been amicably settled. The opening match has been arranged for Saturday next, between married and single members of the club. The following are the names of players : Married Beaumont, Carrick, Dixon, E. Fowler, Gray, Monck, Mclntyre, Morris, Morgan, F. Pavitt, Turner, R. K. Wright, Palairet, and Reeder. Single Chapman, D'EmdeD, Fairhurst, J. Fowler, Glen, Hislop, E. Hill, K. Kent, Nation, Watson, Moore, White, Olivier, and Macready. The Governor. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by his Honor the Superintendent and the Hon C. U. Bowen, and attended by Captain Le Patourel, visited the Lyttelton Borough School yesterday. He was received by Mr H. R. Webb, chairman of the school committee, and his Worship the Mayor (Dr Rouse). The various classes were at their ordinary work. His Excellency expressed himself highly pleased with the general arrangements, and granted a holiday on the request of a deputation from the senior class. After paying a short visit to the gaol and orphanage, the Governor proceeded to town by special train at 5.25 p.m. Narrow Escape from Fire.—About half-past seven o'clock yesterday morning detective Thomson, when walking through the laDe near the Times office, observed smoke issuing from the yard at the rear of the Central Hotel. On proceeding to the spot he found an old mattress, that had been thrown into a wooden case alongside the kitchen, was on file. Buckets of water were quickly obtained, and the fire was soon put out. It is fortunate it was discovered so soon, as a strong north-east wind was b'.owing at the time. It seems that shortly before this one of the servants had thrown some ashes into the case, among which there must have been some live embers. Shocking Occurence. Yesterday's Timaru Herald says:—A woman named Catherine Drake murdered her child at the immigrants' barracks last evening, by nearly severing his head from his body, and attempted to destroy herself by cutting her throat. The woman is the wife of a laborer, who with a family of three or four children, arrived here by the Merope. The tragedy took place at about eight o'clock, and caused great excitement in the barracks, and among the residents in the vicinity. The woman has been suffering from insanity lately, and yesterday afternoon was brought before the Resident Magistrate and committed to the Lunatic Asylum. From the Court she was taken to the barracks to be left there till the following day, when she was to be removed to Christchurch. At the barracks she was in charge of her husband, and at about €ight o'clock, while he had left the room for a moment, she shut the door and locked it. The door was at once broken open, and upon the people outside entering the room they found that the woman had almost cut her child's head off, and cut her own throat from ear to ear, the windpipe being partly severed. The child died almost immediately. The deed was performed with a razor, which the woman had taken out of a box. Constable Thoreau just arrived at the barracks as the deed was committed, having gone there to make arrangements for conveying the woman to Christchurch in the morning. He sent for Dr Macintyre, who was in attendance very quickly. After the gash had been sewn up, the woman was conveyed to the Timaru Hospital. The cut is so serious that very faint hopes are entertained of her recovery. The child was two years and two months old. It is supposed that the knowledge by the woman that she was about to be separated from her child prompted her to commit the horrible deed.