NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 549, 22 March 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Good Templars Lecture. —The Rev S Macfarlane will deliver a lecture to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock, in the Good Templar Hall. Subject-" A jolly good fellow." Calcutta Sweep.—A Calcutta sweep r n the Dunedin Cup was drawn last night &■ Warner's Commercial hotel, when ths follow ing prices were realised:—Guy Fawk '", ■£">; Templeton, £4; Cloth of Gold, £2; King Philip, £3 6s ; Daniel O'Rourke, £5; Rory O'More, £2 ; Fishhook, £ll ; Sir William, £1; Tattler, £ls; Tadmor. £4; Gamecock, £3 10s; Pangawerewere, £9; Right Bower, £10; Korari, £6 ; Seabird, £2 10s; Merry Monarch, £1 10; Amohia, £3 10s. Value of sweep, £96 12e 6d. Sweeps will be drawn thi» evening at tbtljMse plwe,

The Boy Kent.—Despite the strict search which has been made for the boy Keut, who formed the subject of an application to the Supreme Court a few days ago, no tidings have been heard of him.

Kaiapoi Begatta. His Honor the Superintendent has notified that the Provincial Government offices will be closed from noon to-morrow, ou the occasion of the Kniapoi Begatta. Christchurch Volunteer Artillery —The annual inspection of guns, arms, and accoutrements in possession of this battery was made by the colonel commanding the district last evening at the Drill shed, when he expressed himself satisfied with the result. A few articles appertaining to the guns were worn out, and the colonel stated that he would represent the matter to the General Government, so that taey might be replaced. Bobbing a Store.—On Saturday night a store at Halkett, in the Malvern district, belonging to Mr Eobert Dearsley, was broken into, and a number of articles Btolen; Last evening a man named Dennis Oullen was apprehended in Christchurch by Sergeant Wilson on suspicion of having committed the robberv. He'was brought up at the Besident Magistrate's Court this morning and remanded to the 30th insfc.

Athletic Association.—The members of this association will hold a meeting this evening at Warner's Hotel, to receive entries for the sports ; to appoint a selection committee to select the prizes ; to discuss Mr T. Gordon's motion to rescind the following motion passed at the general meeting of the club —" That all winners in the various events, not handicaps, of this club be subject to the following penalties for each time of winning such event, to include the last spor s : 100 yards, I yard ; 200 do, 2 do; 440 do, 5 do ; 880 do, 10 do ; 1760 do, 20 do ; high jump, 1 inch ; long jump, 3 inches." The club having secured the use of the old ground at the park, and entries being likely to be numerous, we may look forward to a successful meet on Saturday. Kaiapoi Wesleyan Circuit Meeting. —The quarterly meeting was held in the vestry of the chapel at Kaiapoi, on Monday. There was a large attendance ; the Bev W. H. Beck, superintendent, presiding. The stewards' balance sheet shewing the income to be £73 8s 9d, and the expenditure a like amount for the quarter, was considered satisfactory. There were reported to be eightysix members and six on trial. Mr Bates' report on the Sunday Schools in the circuit was unanimously adopted. It was resolved to establish a bible class for young men not identified with the Sunday School. It was decided to request the leaders to relieve the minister from the charge of one class, so that he could visit each class in the circuit during the month. The meeting, which was opened with praise and prayer, was closed in a similar way. Kaiapoi Begatta Committee. A meeting was held at the Borough Council Chamber on Monday evening, to receive entries, a list of which, appeared in yesterday's issue. There were eight members present, and the commodore presided. It was resolved that, as some misapprehension appeared to exist with regard to the time for closing entries, the time be extended for all the events till this (Wednesday) evening, at 3ix o'clock, and that notification of the same be made by advertisement in the Christchurch papers on Wednesday morning. Additional entries will be received by telegram. A subcommittee, consisting of Messrs Middletcn, Macfarlane, and Wearing, was appointed to see to the conveyance of Christchurch boats from the railway station to a store near the wharf, which had been placed at their disposal by Birch and Co. The Mayor of Kaiapoi telegraphed to his Honor the Superintendent yesterday, requesting him to proclaim a public half holiday on Thursday afternoon, and his Honor replied that a half holiday would be proclaimed as desired.

The Fibb Brigade's New Station.— The site of the new station to be erected for the use of the Fire Brigade is in Chester street, at the rear of the Oxford Hotel. The plans, as approved at the last Bitting of the City Council, are very complete, and tenders have already been called for the erection of the building, which will be 77ft in length, by 32ft in depth. It will be a two storey structure, with p bell and look-out tower rising from the centre, and 66ft from the ground. The ground floor will be appropriated to an engine house, Superintendent's office, single men's day room and kitchen. These occupy one-half of the ground floor, above which, on the second storey, wi'l be separate bedrooms for nine unmarried men; also a lavatory and bath. The other half of the building will be divided into three distinct four roomed houses, one of which will be occupied by a man in charge of the horses, another by the engineer and his family, and the third by the engine keeper. The whole of the building will be fitted with the necessary appliances for facilitating the work of the brigade as well as for securing the comfort of the inmates.

Wesleyan Chukch, Rangioba. The local preachers' meeting was held on the morning of Monday last, The attendance was good. A resolution was passed stroHgly approving the result of the late leaders' meeting re Mr Thomas Sharplin, and requesting the publication of the said resolutions. The quarterly meeting was held in the afternoon. Twenty-two members were present, also the Rev J. A. Luxford and Mr Dewsbury, of Christchurch. The circuit income for the quarter was £126 lis sd, and the expenditure £ll4 17s. Au interesting letter was read from Mr Atkinson, of Woodend, acknowledging in appropriate terms the letter of sympathy sent to him from the last quarterly meeting. Although Mr Atkinson is at present unable to enter upon the active work of the circuit, owing to his recent accident, the meeting was pleased to be assured of his continued interest in the welfare of the circuit. Mr T. Wilson was elected circuit steward, with Mr J. Thompson, junr. A committee was appointed to take immediate steps towards the erection of a new parsonage. The thanks of the meeting were presented to Messrs Little, Wilson. and Skevington, for their services in connection with the Woodend minister's horse, and Messrs Little and Skevington were appointed a committee to purchase a new one. The resolution passed by the local .oreachers in the morning re the late leaders' -neeting was again brought forward an>i approved by a large major'ty. This bsiuv he last quarterly meetiag that the preset! ministers, Revs H. Bull and P. W. Fai: jlougb, will attend in Rangiora, a cordifi vote of thanks, coupled with best wishes foi their future happiness, was passed to each o; them. The meeting closed with the Bene diction.

Sunnyside Asylum—The amateur performance of " Black Eyed Susan" by the attendants of the Asylum will take place this evening, and promises to be very successful.

Mining Matters at the Thames.— Speaking of the meeting recently held, at which resolutions in favor of winding up were passed by the Long Drive, Kuranui, Albion, and Shotover Companies, preparatory to a proposal for amalgamation, the Southern Cross says:—" From the prospectus and the discussion our readers will gather full information as to the intentions of the promoters of this step, which is fraught with importance to the future of the goldfield. Amalgamation of the four companies named will be a bold step in a direction which the deep mining of the Thames, and the expensive character of the workings, has rendered necessary—viz, combination of capital, and operations upon an extensive and scientific scale, with large areas to operate upon. Should the proposed amalgamation be effected, a strong combination of means and material will be the result. One company will contribute a battrry proportionate to the magnitude of the undertaking ; another a pumping apparatus, adequate to all probable contingencies ; a third, a considerable amount of reserved capital ; and the last, great facilities for developing the common property. Together there will be an area of some fifty acres, equal to 150 men's ground. In the event of expectations being realised in the deep levels, it will promise a permanency of operations commensurate with the amount of capital, and the importance of the interests involved. The combination will be powerful, and, at all events, ought definitely to solve the important problem of the deep lode resources of the goldfield."

Mount Grey Brewery Company.—On Saturday evening a meeting was held at Flynn's Ashley hotel to consider the question of establishing a brewing company. There were about twenty-five persons present. Mr 0, Ff. Pemberton was voted to the chair, and said that from the increasing population and advantages of railway communication, the brewery at Mount Grey, half a mile from the railway station, which had been idle for some time, could be opened with fair prospects of success. He pointed out that the water at that brewery had been pronounced by a noted Melbourne analyst as the best in the province. This brewery had also for some years past taken prizes for its mild and bitter ales. It wonld be necessary to establish a malt house, and this farmers would find to their advantage, as they have every facility for growing barley in that district. It rested with the meeting to propose a resolution on the matter, and then to decide on forming a company with limited liability. After some discussion, Mr Thomas Croft moved, Mr John Bell seconded—" That it is desirable to establish a Brewery Company (limited) at Mount Grey." Carried unanimously. Mr F. Croft moved, Mr Flynn seeonded—" That the amount of capital be £BOOO, or 600 shares of £5 each." Carried. It was then resolved that the chairman be requested to get out a prospectus, and also prepare lists to be forwarded to the parties interested, and that the meeting be adjourned till Tuesday week. About £SOO worth of shares was subscribed for in the room.

New Theatre.—After many abortive efforts to provide Christchurch with a theatre worthy alike of the city and the drama, it is pleasant to be able to record the fact that in all probability steps will be immediately taken to supply what is now felt to be a great want amongst us. Yesterday the present building was submitted to public auction, and after a somewhat spirited competition knocked down to Messrs Hoskins, Baylee, and Beatty for £9OO. Since the completion of the purchase, a proposition has been made to the purchasers by Mr Wynn Williams for the acquiring of the site and building on behalf of a projected new theatre company for the purpose of erecting a large and commodious building. Mr Hoskins being a< present absent in Dunedin, the offer remains in abeyance, but it is very likely that the arrangement will be made; the purchasers being prepared to take the purchase money in paid-up shares of the new company, in addition to subscribing £IOOO for shares. This will at once give the company a start in their share list of some £2OOO, leaving only about £3OOO to be subscribed by the outside public. With a manager of such large experience and popularity as Mr Hoskins at the head of affairs, this will be easily accomplished. The proposed building will be fitted with all the latest improvements, and will have, what is so much needed, a separate entrance for the dress circle quite distinct from the other parts of the house. Under Mr Hoskins' management, and with the improved appliances at his command, playgoers may look forward to having placed before them the latest novelties in the dramatic world in a style which hitherto, from various reasons, has been unattainable ; besides, the additional room will enable the management to treat with companies which under present circumstances they cannot do.

Non-Explosive Lamp Powder.— The Sydney Morning Herald of the 2ad instant says : " Another' non-explosive lamp powder' we have had an opportunity of inspecting is manufactured by Whittnell and Co, who claim for the powder that it is unrivalled as a preventive of accident through explosions of kerosene. A number of gentlemen, including some of the officers of the City Council, witnessed a test of the capabilities of the powder at the establishment of Messrs Myers and Solomon, George street, thismorn ing, A common kerosene lamp was partly filled with kerosene oil (comet oil and Devoe'p), into which some of the powder was put without causing any discolouration of tl e oil, and the top of the lamp having been screwed on and the wick lighted, the lamp vvai turned upside down, and the oil w s all >wed to pour from the lamp through tl e wi :k to the ground. There was not th sli »htest sign of an explosion. The next experiment was to ignite the end of the wick, and while it was flaming put it into the oil in the lamp, and sciew on the top of the lamp This test also was, as far it was made, very satisfactory. It only remained for the oilwithout the powder to be tested in order tc ascertain whether it would or would not explode. If it exploded, the explosion would establish the value of the powder as a preventive ; if it did not explode, the test tha hid been made with the powder would bo o course unsatisfactory. But no one wouh try the experiment with the oil itself. It ip however, the intention of the manufacturer' to have a public test of the powder on Moor Park, o" some other place, where no harm u 'ikely to result to anybody if a lamp kste< without the powder should happen l explode,"

Inangahua.—The Inangahua Crushing Company's returns for the week ended Saturday last, are given by the Herald. Two hundred aud twelve tons of stone were passed through the batteries, made up as follows :—Keep-it-Dark, 60| tons, yielding 920 z sdwt amalgam ; Golden Ledge 51-tons, yielding 620 z 13dwt amalgam ; Independent 100 J tons, amalgam not given. The manager reports :—lndependent ceasing crushing with five heads ; will continue crushing for an indefinite time with one battery. The Golden Ledge are cleaning up, and will cease crushing for a short time. The Keep-it-Dark are crushing with ten head for this next week, when the Hercules will take up a battery.

The Manuka Creek Tunnel. —The Otago Daily Times of March 15 th says : " The Manuka Creek tunnel on the Tokomairiro and Lawrence line of railway, was pierced yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock, the miners on each side having met at that hour. When the meeting took place the work was exactly in line, there not being the difference of the width of a whipcord between the two centre lines. The level was only a quarter of an inch out, and the distance, in which a small error might have been expected, was only an inch out. This was as great a degree of accuracy as it was possible to expect. The tunnel, which is the most important work on the line, was commenced in July, 1873, by Mr Strachan, of Wellington, contractor. After making about 200 yards of headings at both ends he abandoned the work in January, 1875. The contract was re-let to Messrs A. J. Smyth and J. Wain in May, 1875, and it has since been carried out by Mr ISmyth, with all the energy characteristic of him. The length of the tunnel is 484 yards, being only forty yards less than the Chain Hills tunnel. The tunnel is on a gradient of 1 in 41, consequently the Tuapeka end is about thirty-five feet higher than the other." The Intehcolonal Cricket Match.— Commenting on this contest, the Argus writes : —" The defeat of Victoria in the Sydney cricket field has not been so decisive as the disaster on the ground of the M. C.C, and that is all the consolation that is left the once conquering colony. Cricket h&s its share of luck, but there can be no doubt now that the best team Australia can put in the field hails from Port Jackson. And we must not grudge our friendly rivals a success which has been fairly earned. They bore their defeat year after with British pluck, and set themselves resolutely to work to alter the position. Two All-England Eleven men were first retained to play in their ranks, but Caffyn and Laurence failed to turn the scale, and we may lay this lesson to our hearts in Victoria, Importing talent is of very little use, and Sydney has found that the true policy is to foster native ability. She has depended of late upon her own resources, and now, in Spofforth and Evans, she has two bowlers of a calibre not often met with. That terrible Evans, with his pace, pitch, and break, would be a 'bright particular star' in any part of the cricketing world; and there will be much curiositj as to how he will come off Against the formidable All "England Eleven which is to visit us next season. His right arm will not, we may trust, have forgotten its cunning twelve months' hence, and then, if backed up by a good team, he ought seriously to disturb the batting average of the British champions. The cause of the Sydney victories over ourselves admits of being tersely summed up, though a great deal has been said and written on the subject. It is 'better bowling.' Our weakness lies in that department of the game, and the patrons of cricket would do well to take a nate of the fact. The cups are given and the prizes that are awarded nearly all go now to the batsmen, whose showy part of the contest needs little encouragement. Attention re quires to be paid to bowling talent, and if good men are made as much fuss of—are as much praised and as much rewarded as dashing batsmen, Victoria may not be long before she has an Evans of her own. Until we have, and so long as Sydney has constant practice against better bowling than our own, Sydney is likely to stand first and foremost in the cricketing contests of the colonies. One other word ought to be spoken. In dark years the Sydney motto has been ' Never despair.' When her champions were defeated in one innings, or by 200 runs, she did not reproach or put a slur upon men who had done their level best; and her manly conduct must be our own."