NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 544, 16 March 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Bank Holiday.—To-morrow being St Patrick's Day, will be observed as a Bank holiday. Sporting.—The Oxford and Ellesmere meets are fixed for to-morrow, and from the number of entries good fields may be expected.

Football Club.—We remind members of the Football Club that the annual general meeting takes place to-morrow evening, at Warner's Hotel, at 7.30 p.m. 1.0.G.T. —Last evening a lecture, to which the public were admitted, on " Total Abstinence," was delivered in the Good Templar hall by Mr H. Bennetts. The chair was taken by the W.C.T. of the Excelsior Lodge, Mr French.

Kaiapoi Swimming Club.—A meeting was held at Middleton's Hotel on Tuesday evening, Dr Dudley in the chair. It was resolved to hold the winding up match of the season on Saturday, March 25th, when the ladies' prize and other prizes are intended to be offered for competition. North Canterbury Races.—A meeting of the managing committee for carrying out these races was held at the Red Lion Hotel on Tuesday evening. The amount of subscriptions promised were reported to be £7B, It was decided to adjourn for a week, in order to canvass the district thoroughly for further funds. Supreme Court Examinations.—The examination of candidates for admission as barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court will commence on the 27th instant. Candidates will have to give notice of the nature of the examination they propose to undergo (whether for a five years or a three years' candidate, whether final or preliminary, in general knowledge or in law), and if in general knowledge, of the authors in whose works they are to be examined.

Popular Lectures.—The first of a series of popular lectures on scientific subjects, to be delivered by Professor Bickerton and Dr LI. Powell, will be given this evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, by the former. The subject chosen is " Electricity and its application to submarine cables," which, from its bearing on the cable recently laid, connecting us with Europe, cannot but prove highly interesting; The price of admission has been fixed at a very moderate figure, and we anticipate a large attendance during the course.

Hop Culture.—A very pleasing instance of the advance of Canterbury was yesterday to be seen in the shape of some fifteen persons "engaged in hop picking on the plantation of Mr Wm. Wilson, near Ohaney's Corner. The hops, we may say, are of splendid quality, and about 25cwt is the produce of the acre. The experiment made by Mr Wilson proves incontestably that we in Canterbury can grow hops equal in quality to those produced elsewhere, and no doubt now that has been ascertained, the industry will be more largely engaged in. St Patrick's Day.—To-morrow being the anniversary of the Patron Saint of Ireland will be celebrated by the H.A.C.B.S. by a concert in the Oddfellows' Hall to-morrow evening. The programme, as might be expected from the character of the celebration, contains a large proportion of Irish music, in which selections from Benedict's romantic opera " The Lily of Killarney" figure prominently. The lady vocalists will be Miss Winter, Miss Little, and Mesdames Barry and Palairet, and the gentlemen Messrs Stephens, Sheath, M. Winter, and Knox, Madame Winter wilVpreside at the pianoforte.

Kaiapoi Regatta Committee.—This committee met at the Borough Council Chamber on Tuesday evening. Dr Dudley, commodore, presided, and eleven members were present. Messrs Sims, C.B.Dudley, and Wood were appointed a committee to lay off the courses decided upon, the winning point in each instance to be the Northern Store wharf. It was resolved—" That the sailing race be held on March 25th, at 2.30 p.m., course from bridge round boat at fisherman's hut and boat at railway bridge, and win at starting point, prize £5, second do £2, entrance 10s." Arrangements were made for the various matters connected with the regatta, and the meeting adjourned till Monday next for receiving entries.

Oxford Road Board Election.—A meeting of the ratepayers was held at the Road Board office on Monday, 13th inst, to elect a member in place of Mr H. Sedcole, resigned. Mr J. R. Pearson, chairman of the Road Board, acted as returning officer, and having explained the object of the meeting, and called upon the electors to propose candidates, Mr J. R. Gorton was proposed by Mr Fisher, seconded by Mr McGrath ; Mr G. Cooper was proposed by Mr Stout, seconded by Mr Lough ; and Mr R. Perham was proposed by Mr Sedcole, seconded by Mr Ahrens. The candidates having addressed the ratepayers, a show of hands was taken with the following result, viz. :—Gorton, 18 ; Perham, 7 ; Cooper, 6. A poll was demanded, and closed with the following result, viz. : Gorton, 88 ; Perham, 68 ; Cooper, 20. Mr Gorton was therefore declared duly elected.

Masonic—From the Timaru Herald we learn that the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Caledonian Lodge, No. 534, S.C, took place at Timaru on Tuesday, with the usual ceremonies. There was a large muster of the craft, including many brethren from Oamaru, Lyttelton, and Christchurch. The stone was laid by Bro T. E. Price, W.M, of the Lodge, and the ceremony was witnessed by a number of ladies. Previous to the laying of the stone the following address was presented to the W.M,, together with a handsome mallet and trowel, bearing masonic emblems and an appropriate inscription :—" Right Worshipful Sir and Brother—We, the officers and brethren of this Lodge, being desirous of evincing in some way our appreciation of your valuable services as Master, consider this a fitting occasion to do so ; and have to request your acceptance of the accompanying mallet and trowel. In making this presentation we would state that during your different terms of office, in this capacity, we have found you always anxious to promote the general welfare of the craft, besides being ever zealous for the prosperity of tnis parti' cular Lodge with which you have been so long and honourably identified. We trust that the excellent example shown by you will prove an incentive in promoting the general interests of Freemasonry, and k!fo pray that the Great Architect of the Universe will long spare you to live amongst us as one of the brightest ornaments and most favourable adherents." The W.M. having responded to this address, the laying of the stone was proceedei with in the usual Masonic foim. In, the evening a banquet was held.

Little Rakaia Library.—A meeting of the committee of the above library was held in the schoolroom on Monday evening last. The following members were present:— Messrs W. Gabbie (in the chair), T. Cannon, T. Walsh, and R. Thompson. The chairman stated that since the last meeting a voucher for £3O was passed to their credit by the Government, and that it was for the meeting to decide in what manner this grant should be made use of. Considerable discussion then arose on the subject, and it was ultimately decided to purchase, through Messrs Moore's Canterbury agent, books equal to the amount of grant. A list of suitable works was then decided upon, and Messrs Cannon and Walsh were appointed a subcommittee to carry out the ideas of the meeting. A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman, and the meeting adjourned sine die. Licensed Victuallers' Association. — We extract the following from the Licensed Victuallers' Gazette :—" A special meeting of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers' Association committee was held on Wednesday evening, to consider the course to be adopted with reference to certain summonses that have been served, under the Adulteration of Food Act, upon the following members of the trade :—Mr Thiel, as representing Messrs Oram, for the sale of whisky at the City Hotel, and for the sale of sherry at the White Hart Hotel; MrHiorns, of the Central Hotel, for the sale of a bottle of rum and a bottle of brandy ; and Mr Simmonds, for whisky, all of which are set forth as being adulterated or not pure. There were present—Mr Schmidt (in the chair), Mr Morton, Mr Beatty, Mr Hiorns, and Mr F. C. Tribe (secretary). Mr Thiel said he represented Mr Oram, who had been summoned for selling adulterated whisky and wine. He suggested that the association should take the matter up, and that should they be fined, to ask for such a penalty as would admit of an appeal ; and sard that provided the association would not take the matter up he would himself. He said that he thought this matter was a trade question, and ought to be fought to the end. Mr Morton proposed, and it was carried, that Mr Thomas (the solicitor to the Licensed Victuallers' Association) be instructed to appear on behalf of the defendants, and that Mr Joynt be requested to act with Mr Thomas. The secretary was instructed to write to that effect, and add that in the case of the decision being adverse, that the magistrate should be asked to inflict such a fine as to allow of an appeal."

Anniversary and Valedictory Tea Meeting,—The anniversary of the Southbrook Wesleyan Church was celebrated in the usual manner on Sunday and Monday last. In addition to being an anniversary occasion, the tea was made a valedictory one, to bid good-bye to the superintendent of the circuit, the Rev H. Bull, whose term having expired, is removing to Greymouth. On Sunday, the Rev W. H. Beck, of Kaiapoi, preached the anniversary sermons to good congregations, that of the evening being especially large. On Monday, a tea meeting was held in the old chapel, when tables were provided and presided over by Mesdames Wallace, Myers, Archer, Protheroe, and Graham, about two hundred sitting down to tea. This over, a public meeting was held in the church, which was crowded, Mr D. Graham being called to preside. He explained the objects of the meeting, and ex pressed their regret at losing their superintendent, Mr Bull. He gave an account of the finances of the church, which showed that only a small debt remained on the building. The trustees had decided from that time to abolish seat rents. He then gave an address on the subject—" Let no man glory in man." The Rev P, W. Fairclough gave an interesting address on " Prejudice." Mr J. Little spoke on " The Rangiora Circuit, past, present, and future." He showed that during the past the Wesley an cause in that district had gone on and prospered ; how that several new churches had been built and others repaired, without incurring any very large debts. He spoke in a hopeful manner of the future. The Rev H, Bull followed, and spoke on " Our itinerant system, its advantages and disadvantages." Mr Thomas Wilson, of Waikuku, said that he had been intrusted with a very pleasant part of the evening's proceedings, viz, to present the Rev H. Bull with a purse of twenty sovereigns in recognition of the esteem and respect in which he is held by those in the circuit. The district had not been canvassed, or the purse would undoubtedly have contained a good deal more, but every one wished the Rev Mr Bull a long and happy life. He then with a few appropriate remarks, handed the purse to the Rev Mr Bull, who said that while receiving the gift thankfully, he took it as a special mark of their respect and goodwill towards him. He would look back upon the three years he had spent in that circuit as one of the happiest periods of his life. He had mixed a good deal amongst the poople, and had studied them, and was glad to find that he had pleased them in his ministry. He regretted that he had to part from them, and hoped that under his successor the circuit would go on and prosper. Mr Joseph Thompson spoke at some length on the Wesleyan conference at Wellington, and the Rev W H. Beck briefly addressed the meeting. During the evening a number of sacred pieces from Sankey's hymns and the " American Songster" were given by the choir, under the leadership of Mr J. Head, Mr R. J. Jennings presiding at the harmonium. Votes of thanks were passed to the ladies who had provided the tea, the choir and organist, and the chairman, and the meeting terminated with the benediction.