NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 470, 17 December 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Selwyn District. —Mr C. A. Fitzroy announces himself as a candidate for the Selwyn district, in the House of Representatives, in opposition to Mr W. Reeves. Bazaar. —A bazaar in aid of the building fund of Avonside Church was held yesterday in St John’s schoolroom, and was well patronised. The most noticeable feature was a splendid Christmas tree, which was greatly admired.

The Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton.— The Messrs Cameron Bros have let the contract for erecting the new Mitre Hotel to Hollis and Williams. Work will be commenced on Saturday. Mr Jacobsen is the architect. The building is to be of galvanised iron, plastered throughout. New Zealand Scenery.— Mr Hoyte, of Auckland, has on view, at Warner’s Commercial Hotel, a series of New Zealand paintings, recently exhibited at the Mel bourne and Auckland exhibition. Mr Hoyte intends leaving by the next steamer foi Dunedin, en route to the Otago jakes, and will exhibit his sketches on his return, in about a month’s time.

Fire. —Yesterday afternoon, between four and five o’clock, the fire bell at the Market station sounded an alarm, and was quickly followed by the Lichfield street bell. It turned out that a quantity of fireworks intended for the torchlight procession, which were stored at the rear of the Market station, had accidentally ignited and set fire to the building. The fire was extinguished before much damage was done. Woodbnd.— The Hon C. C. Bowen met the electors at the district school on Wed nesday evening. About fifty were present, Mr C. J. Norton in the chair. After Mr Bowen’s address he answered questions put by Messrs Horrell, Wilson, Porter, and others to their evident satisfaction. Mr Conway moved, Mr J. Bailey seconded, a vote of confidence, and that the meeting pledge itself to support Mr Bowen’s return. The motion was carried, only one or two dissenting, and a vote of thanks proposed by Mr Bowen was given to the chairman.

C.C.C. 2nd Eleven v. PapanuiC.C.— A match will be commenced between these clubs on the U.C.C.C. Ground to-morrow. Play to commence at 1.45 p.m. The following players will represent the 0. C. C. Messrs Reeder, Taylor, G. A., Beard, Frith C., Gray, White, Chapman, Tayler, J., Kent, K. C., Turner, junr, and Poore. A match between an eleven of the C.C.C. and the E.C.O. has been arranged for the 27th inst, on the ground of the latter at Southbridge.

Anniversary Day.— Yesterday, being the twenty-tilth anniversary of the settlement of the provinee of Canterbury, was observed as a public holiday. The public offices, merchants’ offices, banks, and the shops were closed, and it seemed as if the whole population turned out for the purposes of enjoyment. The observance of the day was appropriately commenced with a solemn thanksgiving service, held within the walls of the Cathedral. Tlt n fo'lowedjthe sports in Latimer Square, and in the evening there were the annual torchlight procession of the Fire Brigades, the theatre, and Miss Rosina Carandini’s concert at the Oddfellows’ Hall. During the day the city was gay with Hags, and there were several minor amusements. Many of the citizens took advantage of the opportunity offered by the steamers Wellington and Taupo t® visit Akaroa and its regatta, or by the Halcyon to visit Pigeon Bay, and there were also numerous picnic parties. Contrary to anticipations indulged in on the previous evening, the weather was brilliantly fine, although very warm until the afternoon, when a cool breeze sprang up and tempered the great heat of the sun’s rays,

Concert. —The concert given by Miss Ros na Carandini at the Oddfellows’ Hall last night was fairly attended, and if the applause was not so fr quent as is sometimes the case, the heat of the weather must he blamed for the circumstance. The various vocalists who assisted at the concert are all so well known in Christchurch, that any criticism on their differs t styles would be superfluous. Miss Carandini, as usual, had the largest amount of work to do, and of course did it well. Of all the items in the programme, we think her singing of “Once again ’ was the most successful, and her duet with Mr Knox, “ My sufferings and sorrows,” was almost equally so. Mrs Digby’s voice was heard to greater advantage in “ Looking forward ” than we ever remember before. Miss Kent seems unable to give any animation to her solos, though the songs are rendered accurately. Mr Knox was in good voice, and was successful in each of the items in which he took part. Mr Skinners articulation does not improve, but he was fairly successful in “No prize can fate.” Mr Barnet played a piece of Mendelsohn s, which, however, was not enthusiastically received. Mr Searell was an efficient accompanyist, and his duet on the pianoforte with the directress of the concert, was decidedly one of the best bits of the performance.