NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 529, 28 February 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Ram Pair. —Entries for the ram fair close to-morrow at 5 p.m.

Flower Show.—The autumn exhibition of the Christchurch Horticultural Society takes place at the Music Hall to-morrow, when the band of the C.Y.C, will be in attendance.

Heathcotb Rowing Club.—A special general meeting of this club will be held at the Wharf Hotel this evening, to consider business in reference to the Heathcote regatta. Railway Tariff.—The Timaru Herald understands that the railway authorities contemplate a still further reduction on the rate of goods between Timaru and Christchurch, Diocesan Choral Association.—A rehearsal will take place this evening in St Luke’s Church, at a quarter-past 8 o’clock. The attendance of all who intend to take part in the service is request.

Scarlet Fever in Dunedin.—A recent telegram from Dunedin stated that the Dunedin School Committee had decided to close their schools in consequence of the outbreak of scarlet fever. This appears to have been a mistake, as according to the Daily Times the following was the resolution which was curried :—“ That the School Committee, while fully sympathising with the Municipal Council in their desire to extinguish the scarlet fever, do not consider that closing the schools under their control—in which no fever is reported to have been communicated —would be productive of benefit. They therefore consider it inadvisable to close the schools.”

Fire. —Yesterday at 2.30 p.m. the Lyttelton fire bell rang out its first peal in its new position. The wisdom of the change in its position was clearly shown by the fact that people in all parts of the town heard it distinctly. The brigade mustered in full force, and a fair proportion of the fire police made at once for the scene of action. Luckily, however, their services were not required. The fire proved to be merely in a gorse fence at the back of Mr H. R. Webb’s on the College land, and was soon extinguished by the residents in the neighbourhood. It is supposed lo have been caused by some of the youths of Lyttelton playing with matches, several boys having been seen running away directly the flames broke out. Late European News. —The following cable telegrams, published in the Argus , supplement the telegrams already published by us:—“London, February 11th. In the House of Commons, the Merchant Shipping Bill introduced by the Government has been read a first time. It defines the responsibility of shipowners, and gives to seamen a civil remedy. Surveys are to be continued, and deck cargoes are to pay tonnage dues, A load line clause is also introduced, and the temporary Act is to be made permanent. Mr Plimsoll partly dissented from the measure, but regards the Bill as a good framework; An Imperial Edict at Pekin degrades Lu-se-tai-hai, the Chinese general implicated in the Margarey outrage, and he has been sent to Yunanfoo for trial. London, Feb. 12th. A Bill introduced by the Government retains the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords, and two of the judges will be created life peers for the purpose of acting as assessors. The death is announced of Mr Reverdy Johnson, formerly Dnited States Minister to England. Mr Layard, formerly Consul in Fiji, has been gazetted as English Consul in New Caledonia. Determined Suicide. — A very deter mined suicide occurred this afternoon shortly before 1 p.m. A collector named Horace Freeborn, well known in Christchurch, who had been staying at the Criterion Hotel, was in conversation with Mr J. Garforth, of the late firm of Garforth and Lee, in the commercial room, and shortly afterwards left the room and went up-stairs into his bedroom. He was only absent a few seconds when he returned, walked through the commercial room, and out into the back yard. There was nothing in his demeanour to give any clue to the rash act wh’ch followed, and those present were startled shortly after by a man running in and stating that Freeborn had shot himself through the head with a revolver. On going to the spot it was found that he had placed the revolver to his forehead, putting back his hat to enable him to do so, and that the ball had passed through his head, killing him instantaneously. Drs Prins and- Nedwill were speedily in attendance, but their services were of no avail, as the man was dead. Various reasons are assigned for the commission of the rash act, but as an inquest will be held to-morrow we refrain from noticing what can only be rumours, The body was removed to the Hospital by the police during the afternoon.

Opening of the Imperial Parliament. —The following cable telegram, dated London, February Bth, is published in the Argus ; —Her Majesty the Queen opened Parliament in person today The speech from the throne stated that the foreign relations were cordial. Her Majesty had

!•; •iotc-i !r tie duty not to stand aloof from !In, rffor's put forward by the alli- d powers o pacify Bosnia and the Herzegovina, and therefore, while respecting the inde pendence of the Porte, had joined in urging the adoption of reforms in favor of the Christian population of those provinces. An agreement had been made to purchase the Khedive’s shares in the Suez Canal, in the belief that the public interests were deeply involved, and the ratification by Parliament of the purchase was relied upon. The representations of China relative to the Burmah expedition of 1875 had been received in a friendly spirit, and Her Majesty’s advisers were convinced that the present inquiry would lead to the punishment of the offenders. Her Majesty was deeply thankful for the coustant health of her dear son in India, and the warmth of his reception assured her that happiness existed under British rule, and that there was loyalty to the throne. When the direct government of India was tiansferred to the Crown, no formal addition had been made to the style and titles of the Sovereign, but a Bill for supplying this omission would be introduced. A Royal Commission of Inquiry would be appointed respecting the suppression of the slave trade. It was trusted that the ability and energy of the operations on the Malay Peninsula would be the means of restoring order, and the authority of England, in that part of the British possessions. Bills would be introduced for the appointment of an ultimate tribunal of appeal, for an amendment of the Merchant Shipping Laws, and legislation would also be proposed concerning the Universities, and on the subject of education.

Orchestral Society.— The first concert of the sixth season of this society will be given in the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Thursday evening next. The programme includes symphony (Mozart) ; concerto for pianoforte and orchestra (Sterndale Bennett) ; overture (op. 115 (Beethoven) ; and “ Massaniello ” (Auber) ; together with vocal solos and part songs.

The Cable, —With reference to the completion of telegraphic communication between Australia and New Zealand, the Argus says —“ Sir Julius Vogel, if there is any truth in astrology, must have been born under a lucky star. Success attends his enterprises, even to the laying down of the cable that now links Australia to New Zealand. He floats the loan and sinks the wire with equal facility, and to-day we have to congratulate the far-off colony which he represents—the Britain of the south—npon being brought into immediate connexion with the Britain of the north—with the heart of the Empire. No one of the Australian colonies, if we exclude the little handful of settlers who are isolated in the jarrah forests of the west, but can now talk direct with London as though time and space were not, and thus the most important step towards the federation of the Empire has already been taken. That idea ceases to be a dream. Years alone are required to develope it. Victoria has had no hand in this transaction, but it is one which affects her more than any of the colonies, and though the wire is nominally laid to Sydney its real shore end is in Hobson’s Bay. The passenger traffic of the sister isles is nearly all with Melbourne, and so is the intercolonial trade. Of the flourishing province of Otago, indeed, it may be said that it is an offshoot of Victoria, and Dunedin, the real capital of the land, is but a junior Melbourne. Intercourse will now be facilitated, and, moreover, it will to a great extent cease to be abused. In the absence of telegraphic communication, New Zealand became the first flight of every absconder from justice, defaulters quietly stepped on board a steamer and transferred themselves without delay to the Californian' mail, and if detectives were sent after them they were pretty sure to arrive two or three days too late. This bole has now been stopped against the foxes of society, and offenders will find it as dangerous to book passages for Hokitika or the Bluff as for Adelaide or Sydney. The new cable will take congratulations to New Zealand from many centres of communities, from Montreal, from Washington, and from Westminster, but the heartiest of all may well be sent from the capital of Victoria.”