NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 528, 26 February 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Order of Druids.—The members of this order will meet to-night at 8 o'clock, at the Garrick Hotel. Bowling Club. The next practice meeting of this club will be held at the residence of the Hon J. T. Peacock.

Special Services.—The Rev P. P. Agnew will preach in the Theatre Royal (which has been placed at his disposal by Mr Hoskins) to-morrow morning and evening. Ram Fair. —We remind owners of sheep that the entries for the Ram and Ewe Fair, to be held on the grounds of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, on March 2nd and 3rd, close on Tuesday next. Chevalier Blondin. —M. Blondin, having made arrangements to appear in Dunedin during the race week in March, will perform there prior to coming on here. He commences a short season at the Theatre Royal, Wellington, this evening. Masonic —The brethren of the craft in Timaru hold high festival at an early date, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of a new Masonic Hall there for the lodges working under the Scotch constituion. In view of the railway now beiDg complete, brethren resident in Christchurch and Lyttelton will doubtless take this opportunity of fraternising with the Masons of Timaru.

Accident. —On Thursday afternoon a little boy three years of age was plaj ing on the unfenced land in Allen street when he approached a horse which was tethered thereon. The animal kicked, and struck the boy on the forehead, inflicting a severe injury. Dr Doyle waß sent for, and it was at first thought that the injury would be fatal; but, according to the last accounts, the child was improving.

Laerikinjsm.—For some time past the the boatiDg men on the Avon have been annoyed by boys stationing themselves on Stanmore bridge and dropping stones into the boats as they passed under. Last evening one of these youngsters, a biggish boy, was caught, and was forthwith conveyed to the boat shed, where be was threatened with such summary vengeance that he was glad to promise he would never do so again. Castaway. This well-known thoroughbred horse was submitted to public auction to-day by Messrs J. and R. H. Campbell. After some little delay a bid of 400 guineas was made, and from this figure he rose in two bids to 500 guineas, at which figure he was knocked down to Mr R. Wilkin. Mr Wilkin informs us that, according to present intentions, Castaway will not be sent away from Canterbury, but will be at the service of breeders in this province next season. The success of the season just over, though influenced by the fact that the horse was not brought before the public until a late period, fully justifies Mr Wilkin in the course he intends to pursue. Aquatics.—The competition for a representative of the 0.8. C. in the Sculling Race at the Heathcote Regatta came off yesterday evening, on the Avon, from Butterfield's to Herdson's. Two started, Bowron in the Moa (north bank), and Jones, in the Tui(south bank). A good start was effected by Mr Herdson, the Moa drawing slightly ahead, and led to the corner below Pratt's, where the Tui, having the inside, drew level, passed, and won by about five lengths. The competition for representatives for the Pair-oar Race, for which there are two, and the Maiden Pairs (Club Race), for which there are four entries, come off this day, about I 2.30 p m, each race finishing at Cowlishaw's corner. St, Luke's Sunday School Treat.— The annual treat given to the children attending St Luke's Sunday School, took place yesterday. The children, with their teachers and friends, numbering about 350, assembled in the schoolroom at 9.15 am., and proceeded to Sumner in seventeen waggons, The morning, until dinner time, was spent in sports on the beach, and then a plentiful meal having been spread on the grass, it was partaken of with keen relish. After dinner there were a variety of games for prizes, and scramble after scramble for a profusion of fruit and lollies, which afforded much amusement to the juveniles. At 4.30 pm. the party started for town, which was safely reached at six o'clock, and then a hearty tea having been partaken of in the schoolroom, the youngsters were dismissed to their homes, ! not a sing e mishap having occurred to mar. the enjoyment of the day, I

Papanui v Ellesmere.—This match, ! which was unavoidably postponed on account of the weather on Thursday, will take place on Monday, commencing at 10.30 a.m. The following will represent Papanui—v'z, Horner sen, Horner jun, Dr Brittin, J Davis, Ritso, Triggs, G. Dickinson, U. Dickinson, J. T. Matson (captain), J. Hill, and A. Marsden. St. Michal's Sunday school Treat.— The annual festival of the children attending the Sunday-schools of St Michael and All Angels was held yesterday. The children, with the Incumbent, their teachers and friends, met in the schoolroom at 9.30 a.m., and proceeded by train to Lyttelton, thence by the steamer Gazelle to Rhodes' Bay, Where, owing to the kindness of Mr Walters, tables were provided for the ample supply of provisions which were furnished by members of the congregation. The day was spent in a variety of sports, and the party returned to town, which they reached at half-past Bis o'clock. Tea was then partaken of in the schoolroom, after which Mr Seager gave an exhibition of dissolving views, accompanied with descriptive music on the pianoforte by Miss Toßßwill. During the evening Mr Seager threw upon the sheet a magnified photograph of the music and words of the well-known hymn " Shall we gather at the river"; the children at once struck up the air, and sang it correctly through with pleasing effect. Flower Show. —The last exhibition of the season, under the auspices of the Christchurch Horticultural Society, will be held in the Canterbury Music Hall on Tuesday r ext. While admitting that the existence of the two societies has to some extent stimulated horticulture in the province, it seem a to us that it would be far better if the two societies could arrange to amalgamate, as there certainly does not appear to be room for both to work successfully. Were this to be done, a suggestion which has been made by an old horticulturist as to the way in which the shows might be made both attractive and remunerative might be carried practically into effect. The suggestion is that the shows should be held in the Go vernment Domain, the use of which, for these occasions, might be obtained from the Domain Board, and a small charge, which no one would object to pay, made for admission to the marquee. With a band in attendance, the show would become a source of attraction as a promenade, and instead of as now a few persons dropping into the hall, looking at the flowers and retiring, there would be something not only to induce them to come but to remain. It certainly is worth while considering, and of course, when this is done, many details which are not now brought forward, would be able to be carried oat, and the resnlt, we think, would be found to be satisfactory. Heavy Rainfall. —Yesterday's Timaru Herald says :—The town and neighborhood of Timaru were visited during Wednesday night and the early part of Thursday morning, with by far the heaviest rainfall that has been experienced for many years past. Commencing about half-past seven o'clock on Wednesday evening, the rain continued to fall in a perfect deluge until about 6 o'clock yesterday morning, when it began to moderate, and by 10 o'clock the sun was shining out in all its brightness. We learn from Dr Cole that during the twelve hours succeeding 10 pm. on Wednesday, the fall as measured by him reached the enormous amount of 3 25 inches. Thin, he informs us is 1.33 inches more than the great rainfall occuring in Dunedin in one day during a period of seven years. The only damage of any extent caused within the town was the bursting of the dam at the Gas Company's Works, a clean breach of about 15ft having been made. The water thus let free was precipitated on to the lower part of the town, flooding the main street opposite the Bank of New Z raland to a depth of two feet; and making an entrance into several of the offices on both aides of the road. In Messrs Tate and Boss' and Mr Ormsby's premises, it rose to a height of several inches, seriously damaging some valuable parchments belonging to the latter gentleman, which were in a cupboard on the floor. The composing room of the Timaru Herald offices was at one time flooded to a depth of pome eight or nine inches, amongst which the unfortunate printing staff had to stand and paddle about, with no option but to grin and bear it. The only other place which suffered by the wet was the Besident Magistrate's Courthouse, the front wall of which gives one the idea that it will come down by the run, the cob having been washed away to such an extent that a powerful kick would send the existing remnant flying. We have, as yet, received no accounts from outside the immediate neighbourhood of Timaru as to the damage done by the heavy rainfall, but the standing crops must have suffered very severely. The rush of water has, however, done a considerable amount of good in town, by sweeping away numerous nuisances, prominent amongst which was that in the Brown street gully, which has caused so much unpleasantness of late in the neighbourhood. This has, together with the mass of gravel recently heaped on top of it by the Borough Council to keep it down, been swept bodily out to sea; and its remembrance only exists in the nostrils of those who had inhaled it day after day for some weeks past. Despite the quantity of water which fell, the streets by noon yesterday were almost dry again, and by to-morrow will, no doubt, be some incbess deep in dust. Since the foregoing was in type we learn that the walks and borders at the Domain have been much disfigured by the water scouringruts and channels on the Steep portions of the planted ground, but the precaution that Mr Hislop has taken in laying out the walks, and by means of cross channels, the trees have escaped injury, although in some places channels and holes are now two and three feet deep. The footbridge across the gully had a narrow escape from haying the south approach washed away, but a chanpel put across the walk a few feet from the bridge diverted the watei past the approach.