NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 543, 15 March 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Registration of Voters.—A box for the reception of claims to vote for Ihe electoral districts of Christchurch, Heathcote, Avon, and Kaiapoi, is placed at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Christchurch. University op New Zealand.—Applications are invited for the united offices of secretary and registrar. Applications to be sent Chancellor's office, Christchurch, ou or before 18th April next. H.A.C.R.S.—A grand concert in celebration of St Patrick's Day will take place, under the auspices of the Christchurch Branch of the H.A.0.8.5., in the Oddfellows' Hall, on Friday evening next.

Eeathcote Regatta.—A well attended meetingof the committeeof the late Heathcote Regatta was held last evening, at Warner's Hotel, Mr H. Thomson in the chair. The business before the meeting consisted of the reception and passing of accounts in connection with the regatta. Impoeted Rams.—By the Ringarooma the Hon John Hall imported two grand merino rams from Tasmania, from the well known flock of Mr W. H. Gibson. The sheep are two-tooth, and show great quality, with good constitution and large frames. The wool is peculiarly soft and brilliant, with great length of staple. No doubt our breeders will warmly welcome these splendid accessions to our flocks, which will be at once sent up to Mr Hall's run at Horarata. Shark.—Yesterday morning a man named Clarke, working on the railway, fell out of a truck on the Gladstone Pier, aud was precipitated into the water between the pier and the ship Soukar's side. Luckily he escaped unhurt, and was hauled out, but not a minute too soon, as a minute or two afterwards a large shark was seen to swim between the vessel and the wharf, just where the man had been. The shark has been seen inside the breakwater for several days, and all bathers should be extremely careful.

Cricket.—The return match between the Sunnyside and United Printers' Clubs is fixed for Saturday next, on the ground of the former. Subjoined are the teams: Sunnyside Clarke, Coster, Flint, Hill, Kinsman. Page (captain), Petrie, Seager, Streeter, Watts, and Whitley. Emergency —Maynard, Morris. Printers—Ashbolt (captain), AtackW. H., Asquith, Collins, East, Ellis, Francis, Gerard, Gray, Gregory, and Triggs. Emergency—Paul, Elvines, and Smith. A conveyance will be ready at 1 p.m. punctually to convey the latter to Sunnyside, starting from the Hospital corner. Inquest.—An inquest was held at Mr W. Harrison's house, Fernside, ye3terday, on the body of his son, aged two years and throe months, who was killed on the previous day. Dr Dudley officiated as coroner, and Mr J. Patterscn was chosen- foreman of the j'ny. It appeared from the evidence that the boy had been put upon the top of a load of shingle, and by Borne means fell off, and the dray wheel passed over his head, killing him instantaneously. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death," and stated that no blame could be attached to the parents. The horses were perfectly quiet, and the child had several times ridden on the dray bjfore.

The Normal School.—The following appointments to the practising department of the Normal School are notified :—Bojs' Lower School : Master, Mr J. R. Thornton ; assistant master, Mr J. R. Wilkinson. Boys' Upper School: Assistant master, Mr J. J. Patterson. Girls' Upper School : Mistress, Miss Perry ; assistant mistress, Miss Kelly. Girls' Lower School : Mistress, Miss Kesteven : assistant mistress, Miss Whyte. Infants' Upper School: Mistress, Mrs Hill. Infants' Lower School: Mistress, Miss Dunnage. Pupil Teachers: Messrs Roskruge, Brock, Allan, and J. M. Beechey ; Misses Bowles, M. Hall, F. Bartram, M. Allison, Davison, L. Allison, M. Dixon, and Leach. Cathedral Guild. —A general meeting of the members of the Cathedral Guild was held last evening, at the College Library, and was well attended. The chair was taken by the Very Rev the Deau, who congratulated the members upon the success which bad attended their efforts, and upon the flourishing condition of the finances of the Guild, which had been greatly augmented by the munificent gift of £SO, transmitted from Italy by Mrs John Bealey. The treasurer, Mr H. Thompson, stated that the balance in hand, after all accounts were paid, amounted to upwards of £l4O. The Rev J. W.Stack read an interesting paper entitled " Notes of a Trip to Stewart's Island," and Mr Worthy read Kingsley's "St Maura." The choir, under the conductorship of Mr Parker, who presided at the harmonium, sang Rossini's solo and chorus, "Eia Mater," Weber's " Dona nobis pacem." and Miss A. S. Taylor sang most artistically Hand<-l's sparkling aria, "Let the bright seraphim." The proceedings were closed by singing the chorale "Holiest, breath an evening blessiDg," and the Chairman pronouncing the Benediction. Postal.—The European Mail says : "The Postmaster-General of the United States has, it is understood, given notice to the Postmaster-General of Great Britain that the postage rates to be charged by the United States Government for the conveyance of the British mails between New York and San Frr.ncisco and vice versa, for Australia and New Zealand, will be raised to 33 cents per pound, as from January Ist, 1876. At this rate the postage payable to the United States Government for the conveyance of a single newspaper, weighing 4 oz, will be somewhat more than 4d for the transit between New Toik and San Francisco. Newspapers have hitherto been conveyed for Id from England to Australia or New Zealand, and no announcement has yet been made by the English Post Office of any alteration in the rates of postage on newspapers sent by the San Francisco route. We cannot say how far this report chimes in with the arrangements made by the Hon Saul Samuel, out it was understood they were to be final—for some years at least."

A New Cetacean from New Zealand. —A correspondent- writing to Nature says : —"I have just received from Dr Julius Von Haaet, of Canterbury, New Zealand, for presentation to the Zoological Society, an account of what appears to be a new species of Ziphioid Whale. As far as can be at present ascertained, for. unfortunately the heads only of three individuals, and these not in a perfect state, were obtained, it is nearly allied to the genus Mesoplodon (Gervais) but differs from the known species in the possession of a row of small pointed, conical, recurved teeth, about twenty in number, in the hinder part of the upper jaw, in addition to the usual single large tooth, placed near the middle of the ramus of the mandible. This is a very interesting circumstance, as connecting the peculiar dentition of the ziphioids with that with that of the ordinary dolphins. Another fact, new in the history of the Cetacea of this group, is that they belonged to a shoal of twenty-eight, all stranded together on one of the Chatham Islands, whereas all previously recorded examples have been either solitary or in pairs. It is evident that the attention which the naturalists of New Zealand are paying to the Celacea, will throw much light on the history of the order, and it is to be hoped that they will persevere in collecting and preserving every specimen which may come within their reach. Dr Halt's paper has been read at the Zoological Society,"

Wreck op the Cora Lynn.—A fine barque, says the European Mail, was recently wrecked in the Huraber, and four lives were lost. The wreck occurred on the Old Warp Sand, about eight miles west of Hull. This sand is very dangerous, and if once a vessel strikes upon it, there is very little chance of her coming off again. The barque in question is the Cora Linn, a vessel of 467 tons, hailing from Shoreham, and commanded by Captain Henry York. She arrived in the Hull Roads from Lyttelton, New Zealand, laden with a cargo of wheat, which was to be delivered at Goole. At eight o'clock in the morning she left the Hull Roads for her destination, being taken in tow by two tug steamers. All went well for about an hour, and then the barque struck the sand. The tide was running strong at the time, and the vessel at once capsized. The captain's wife and two children were in the ship's cabin, and so sudden was the disaster that they were unable to make their escape, and the three were drowned. An apprentice, named William Swann, of Storeham, was also drowned. In October, 1869, a French vessel ran upon the same sand, and three or four lives were lost. This vessel gradually buried herself in the sands and was never again seen. Rifle Association.—A meeting of the council of this association was held at Warner's Commercial Hotel on Monday evening last. Present—Mr Wynn Williams, President (in the chair), Messrs Hesketh, Gunderson, Raven, Burnett, Ross, Hill, Fox, Radcliffe, Strange (hon treasurer), and Appleby (hon secretary). The receipt of the handsome sum of £23, from the Lioensed Victuallers of Christchurch, was reported, to be shot for as " The Licensed Victuallers' prize." The unanimous thanks of the council was accorded for the donation. The secretary was requested to write to Colonel Packe for permission to use the officers' mess tent and four bell tents at the Easter meeting. Messrs Fox and Hill were appointed as a ' range committee, to inspect the grounds, targets, &c, and to carry out any repairs or arrangements necessary. It was decided that a fully competent person should be employed to take charge of the markers on days of shooting. The matches were then considered seriatim, the programme finally adopted, and ordered to be printed. It now stands thus :—Number of matches, 10 ; value of prizes (exclusive of companies' and international match), £l7O ; number of match prizes, 30 ; range prizes in different matches, 13 ; and 20 prizes for the first twenty highest scorers in the aggregate. It was also agreed that a ladies' match should be arranged, to take place at as early a date as possible. The conditions are as follows :—That any lady subscriber shall, at her option, nominate a gentleman to shoot in her name, and the prizes to be carried off in the names of the successful lady competitor. This match is expected to meet with the warm approbation and support of the lady friends of the association. It was also resolved that the council write to the National Rifle Association of England for its medal, to be given at the future meetings of the council. The council then adjourned.