NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 525, 23 February 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Harbottle v. Fuhrman.— ln this case the Resident Magistrate gave judgment this morning for plaintiff, with £IOO damages and costs. Mr Harper, for defendant, gave notice of appeal. St, Luke’s Sunday School,—The teachers and scholars of this school will proceed to Rhodes’ Bay to-morrow for the annual treat. Parents and guardians of scholars can accompany the party on payment of Is. Christchurch Gas Company. The annual general meeting of the shareholders will be held in the Company’s offices on Wednesday, Ist March, at 4 p.m., to receive the directors’ report with the statement of accounts for the year 1875, to elect two directors, and to transact any other business. Fire at Waimate —On Friday evening, says the Timaru Herald !, a fire occurred on Mr Price’s farm, near Waimate, by which the produce of about five acres of wheat in stook was destroyed. The fire is supposed to have been caused by carelessness in lighting pipes with matches. Mr Price had the whole paddock of about 150 acres of grain insured previous to the commencement of his harvest operations. Timaru Races.—The settling up in connection with the Timaru races took place, says the Herald, on Saturday, and passed off satisfactorily. As regards the amount paid over as stakes, MrP, Campbell received £ll4 9s 63 ; Mr Coombs, £66 10s; Mr R, Barton, £66 10s ; Mr S. Hoskins, £3B ; Mr Thomas Shand,£l9 ; Mr R. Kavenhill, £l4 ss; and Mr Davis, £9 10s. Postal.—The agents of the steamers Wanganui and Taiaroa have arranged to run their vessels between Timaru and Dunedin, leaving the former port each Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings for Port Chalmers. Unless a steamer is advertised to leave Lyttelton direct for Port Chalmers, mails will be forwarded from Christchurch at 6 a.m. for Otago, and be sent by railway to Timaru, and from thence to destination by steamers sailing as above. As the punctuality of the service must de pend on the state of the weather at Timaru, correspondence intended for despatch by this route must be specially addressed via Timaru. Education Rate. —A point was decided yesterday in the case of the Superintendent v Morgan, in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, as to the liability of teachers occupying dwelling-houses in virtue of their offices to pay the household rate of £1 levied under the Education Ordinance. The Court held that the schoolmaster’s house was not the property of her Majesty, nor was it in the occupation of the Crown or of the Colonial Government, but was vested in the Superintendent, and therefore did not come under the exemptions mentioned in section 74 of the Ordinance. Judgment would therefore be for the amount claimed, £l, with Court costs.

Pigeon Flying. —The following will doubtless interest some of our readers, A day or so ago a few members of the flying club, to test the speed of some of their young birds, sent two pair and a half up to Ashburton by the last train. They were kindly taken charge of by Mr Bell and their wants attended to. Next morning they were all liberated at 9 a.m. railway time ; in two minutes and a half they were out of sight, making straight for Christchurch; the weather was fine and clear, with a slight wind blowing. Three of the birds homed at twentytwo past ten ; one at twenty-five past ten, and the fifth at twenty-three to eleven ; the first four making an average speed of a little over thirty-seven miles per hour, which will compare very favorably with the time done in the Old Country by young birds* United Methodist Free Church Sunday Schools.— The anniversary tea meeting of the United Methodist Free Church Sunday schools was held last evening in the church, St Asaph street. Nearly three hundred per sons sat down to tea, which was presided over by the ladies of the congregation. After tea a public meeting was held, the Bev M. Baxter in the chair. The secretary’s report showed that there were 171 children attending the schools, with eighteen male and eleven female teachers, and that after all expences were paid there remained a balance in hand of £l4. Addresses were delivered by the chairman, Bev S, McFarlane, Bev H. B. Wilkinson, Messrs Gr. Booth, W. Tremaine, and Lockwood. The proceedings were interspersed with music by the choir, Miss Oaygill presiding at the harmonium, and Mr 0. Hyde conducting. The usual votes of thanks terminated the proceedings. Extraordinary Case, — A remarkable case has been related to the Timaru Herald. On Thursday night, just after dark, while Mrs Strachan (wife of Mr Strachan, store keeper, Pleasant Point) and her two children were being driven in a trap near Mr Acton’s place, a vivid, flash of lightning struck the horse, and caused it to fall violently. The driver and Mrs Strachan were also affected by the flash, and they and the two children (one of whom was asleep on its mother’s knee) were all precipitated forwards on to

the ground when the horse fell. On recovering herself, the first thing that Mrs Strachan thought of was her children, and one she found lying partly on the horse’s neck, still asleep, the animal at the time not having recovered the shock, which had completely stunned it. The horse was shortly afterwards got on to its feet, none the worse for its violent treatment, There was no injury occasioned to any of the party, the buggy or harness, and after things were put right again the journey was resumed.

Importation op Greyhounds.—By the last trip of the Ringarooma there arrived a couple of very well-bred greyhounds, comprising a dogandslut. Both are veryfine animals with any amount of quality in them, especially the slut. Their pedigree, which we give below, Shows them to come of a good strain of blood. It is as follows :—Red and white dog, Whip, aged fifteen months, bred by Mr M. Murphy. Whip, by Buckley and Nunns’ fawn dog Wizard, out of M. Murphy’s Floss ; Floss, full sister to H. Bignell’s Bismarck and also sister to M. Murphy’s Young Britain, runner up for the Waterloo Cup. Mosquito, fawn slut, aged three years, out of Clark’s Nydia, by Buckley’s Wizard ; Nydia, by Pell Mell, out of 0. Jones’ Darkey, winner of several courses. The dogs are consigned to Mr Bradford, Press office, and are, we believe, for sale. Agricultural and Pastoral Association, —A meeting of the committee of the above was held yesterday at the secretary’s office, Hon John Hall in the chair. Several accounts were paid, and the annual accounts, as audited, were received and adopted. Mr Wilkin moved that the regulations in force, respecting the Ram Fair last year, be carried out in reference to that to be held on 2nd and 3rd March. This was seconded by Mr Norman, and carried. The following gentlemen were appointed as a yard committee to carry out the details of the Ram Fair, viz : Messrs Matson, Henderson, J. T. Ford, J. Campbell, B. Mitchell, W. Norman, H. E. Alport, Hu P. M. Aynsley, and R. Wilkin. The following ground committee for the year was appointed, viz :—Messrs Norman, Henderson, Wilkin, Ford, and A. Duncan. A letter was read, signed by Sir G. Wilson, Messrs R. Wilkin, T. Acland, G. G. Stead, Geo. Packe, and S. Garforth, asking that a meeting of the association should be convened as soon as possible, to take into consideration the statements made by Mr John Grigg at a general meeting on the 28th ultimo, and to afford Sir C. Wilson an opportunity of vindicating his character as a member of the association. Mr Henderson said he hardly thought this belonged to the business of the association, Mr E. Gray agreed with Mr Henderson, The chairman said it was for the committee to decide whether the meeting should be called or not, so that the onus would not rest on the secretary. Mr Aynsley said, as chairman of the general meeting referred to he had heard Mr Grigg’s remarks, but was not aware that anything Mr Grigg then said called for his interference. As chairman of the meeting, he felt a delicacy in voting on this question, as he was to some extent implicated from his position on that occasion. Mr Wilkin moved —“ That the secretary be instructed to call a meeting in accordance with rule 4, in compliance with the requisition signed by Sir O. Wilson and others.” Mr Norman seconded the motion. On it being put, four voted for the motion and eight against. It was consequently lost. Mr H. B. Alport said some members of the committee had asked him to apply for the office of secretary. He thought if elected he could provide office room for the association, and under the circumstances he would retire while the committee discussed the question. Mr Wilkin moved—- “ That a sub committee be appointed to consider the matter of the appointment of a secretary and to take into consideration the duties of the office, salary, and office accommodation ; the sub-committee to consist of the President, Messrs Aynsley, Duncan, Henderson, Norman, Ford, and the mover, to report at next meeting of committee in March next.” Mr Sutherland seconded the motion, which was carried. Respecting the treasurership, the chairman stated that Mr Craig had promised to continue to act until some one else was appointed. In reply to a letter from Mr J. A. Bird as to the investment of the £250 of the association, the secretary was instructed to inform Mr Bird that the money had already been invested, Mr Wilkin moved regular monthly meeting of the committee should be held at 2.30 p.m. on the last Thursday in each month, and that the secretary advertise same and forward circulars to each member of the committee showing the date, through the year, of each meeting.” The motion was seconded by Mr Henderson, and carried. Mr Wilkin stated that early in July he would publish the third volume of the “ Herd Book,” also, that he would read a paper on the grasses and forage plants best adapted to New Zealand, on the evening of the last Thursday in March. Mr Wilkin gave the following notice of motion for next meeting, viz, —“ 1. That to meet the contingency of a deficiency in the amount of entrance money at any of the shows, caused by inclement weather or otherwise, it is desirable to create a reserve fund. 2. That to form such fund 10 per cent of the money received at the gates at the last show be set aside, and invested as the committee may determine, and that a like proportion of future takings at the gates be similarly appropriated until the sum has accumulated to £SOO, 3. That whenever a deficiency arises in the entrance money, the same may be made up to au average amount from the reserve fund. 4, That whenever the reserve fund has been broken in upon it shall be made up to £SOO in the manner provided by clause 2. 5. That after the fund has reached £SOO, the interest thereon shall be used as the part of the ordinary funds of the association.” The meeting then adjourned.