NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 573, 20 April 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The General Assembly.— Parliament las been summoned to meet on June 15th for the dispatch of business. Accident —An accident occurred last evening to Mr Percival Pearce, by which his leg was broken. It appears that Mr Pearce was walking on the footpath, near the Provincial Hotel, when he slipped on the kerb stone, and falling broke his leg. He was conveyed to his house in a cab, where he was at tended to. Mb Charles Bright. —We remind our readers that Mr Charles Bright will this evening re-deliver his lecture on “ Victorian Reminiscences,” which was so successfully given recently. The chair will be taken by Sir C. Wilson, and those who attend will, we are sure, spend a very pleasant couple of hours in Mr Bright’s company. Mdlle Ilmadb Murska. —Arrangements are in course of being concluded for the appearance for a short season here of this celebrated singer in concerts. She will be supported by Signor Susini (basso), Signor Rosnati (tenor), and Signor Giammoni (flautist). The exact date has not yet been fixed, but will be shortly, as Madame de Murska’s Dunedin engagement is for six nights only. Race Ball. —The Race Ball, under the auspices of thoC.J.O. took place last evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall, and wa«. very successful. The attendance was large, and the committee had decorated the room very tastefully. M, Simonson’s orchestra was present and discoursed some of the newest dance music.

The Lynch Family.— The Lynch trouje of bellringers start to day overland to Inver cargill, calling at the different townships on the way. On Friday the troupe will appear at the 7oluuteer Hall, Temnka, and on Saturday and Monday at Timaru. The following week the bellringers perform at Waimate and Oamaru. In about six weeks time they will re appear for a short season in Christchurch.

Blondin. —There was a large audience last evening on the occasion of ML Blondin’s night ascension. The various feats were performed with admirable dexterity, and the fireworks called forth loud and well merited admiration. On Saturday by request M. Blondin will give ano her day performance. Blast. —Messrs Hawkins and Co fired a blast at their woiks on Officer’s Point, Lyttelton. on Tuesday last at 3.45 p.m. It wa« most successful, no less than 60,000 yards of stone being displaced. The powder was distributed in four chambers, three of which contained seventy and the other sixty-six kegs, in all 6920 lbs.

Fire. —A fire broke out on Saturday even ing at the Traveller’s Rest Hotel, Head of the Bay, Akaroa, by which the stab’es attached to the hotel were totally destroyed. The building was not insured, and the fire is supposed to have originated from the over heating of the hay, of which there was a large quantity on the premises.

Lyttelton Borough Council The polling for the vacancy in this Council, caused by the retirement of Or Chalmers, took place yesterday. There were only two candidates, Dr McDonald and Mr W. Holmes, and the contest was a remarkably close one, the seat being won by only a single vote. The following is the official declaration of the pollH. McDonald, 105 ; W. Holmes, 101

Sudden Death.—A woman named Mary Arm Foster, residing in Springfield road, and who had for some time past been suffering 'from disease of the heart, died very suddenly yes'erday afternoon. One of the inmates of the house had only been absent from her for a few minutes, when on returning she discovered her to be quite dead. Dr Deamei was at once sent for, bat his services were, of course, useless. The Opera. —“ Lucia di Lamraermoor” was repeated last evening to a very good house. The acting and singing of Madame Simoneen throughout, but more especially in the mad scene, was excellent, and at the close of the act she received a well deserved cdl before the curtain. In the small part of Alisa Mies Minna Fisher did what little she bad to do well, Signor Morlcy’s Edgardo was a very finished performance, and he shared worthily with Madame t he honours of lha evening. Mr Barrington as Bide-lhe-Brent has only one solo, but he sang that capitally. The chorus went well, and the orchestra as usual played with accuracy and effect. Horticultural and Arboricultubal Society. — A meeting of this society was held last evening at the Clarendon Hole! } Mr Stevens in the chair. The meeting had bean called for the purpose of paying the special prizes and winding up the affairs of the s ciety. After all accounts had been paid it was founl that there was a small sum over, which was left in the hands of the secre tary to pay any small accounts which might have been overlooked. Arrangements were made for the secretary to hand over the books to the amalgama’cd society. A vote of thanks to the president was unanimously carried, for the interest he had taken in pro moting horticulture and furthering the interests of the society during the last two years, after which the meeting brpke up,

Sheffield. — The third anniversary services of the United Methodist Free Church were conducted by the Rev W. Cannell on Sunday, when the church was well filled, A collection was made during the service for the circuit fund. There was a tea meeting ou the following day, when the church was twice filled. Trays were provided by Mosel ames Cooper, D. Jebson, Lawry, and J. Jebson. A public meeting was held afterwards. Mr Jebson was voted to the chair, and addresses were delivered by Rev J. Pendray, Mr Parker, Rev Wilkinson, &c. Several selections of sacred music were sung during the meeting. The report, given verbally, showed that recent improvements of the church left a debt of £4O, and the anniversary subscriptions would reduce it by about £ls. Nearly £4 were collected in the meeting for the harmonium fund.

Found Drowned. —The Timaru Herald says “On Saturday last a dead body was found between the Whale’s Back and Sawdon Station, Mackenzie Country. It was identified as that of a man, name unknown, who had been working about the country for some time past; The body is supposed to have been lying for ten days or a fortnight as decomposition had set in. When found a dog was keeping guard over it, the poor animal having lived on wekas, a large quantity of the skins of those birds being found lying about. The men who found the body had some trouble to get it away on account of the dog. Mr Denniston, J.P., of Sawdon Station was sent for and held an inquest on Monday last. There was no outward sign of how the man died, and, from appearances, it was not for want of food.”

Telegraphic News. —From the telegrams published in the Indian papers, we ( Argus' ) extract the following items:—The difficulty between Japan and the Corea has been settled. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have proceeded to St Petersburg. The German squadron in the China seas is to to be reinforced. Advices received from Cairo on March 13th, from Massowah, state that the Abyssiniaus were routed by the Egyptians on the 9Lh, and that King John was suing for peace. Meanwhile hostilities were suspended, and negotiations for peace proceeding. Datu Sagor, upon whose head SOOOdol was awarded by the Governor of the Straits Settlements, has been made prisoner, and it was rumored that ex-Sultan Ismael, with his regalia, has been captured. At a meeting of the Court of Common Council, held on 10th March, it was resolved to cHer a public reception in London to the Prince of Wales on his return from India.

Papanui Library. —The annual meeting of the above library was held on Tuesday evening last, in the reading room. There was a large attendance of subscribers, Mr H. Matson in the chair. The balance-sheet was read, showing a credit balance of £8 16s 2d. The report of the outgoing committee was as follows :—“Your committee reports that the accounts laid before the meeting this day show a balance of £3 16s 2d in hand, and that £3O has just been remitted to Mr B. Stanford, of London, for books. Judging from the last shipments of books received about this time last year, subscribers to the library may expect a very valuable addition to the 800 volumes already on the shelves.' These volumes include the very handsome gift by Mr Foweraker, of Ohalmer’s edition of the Biitish Essayists, complete in thirty-eight volumes, and also about eighty volumes of good useful reading, repaired and rebound for your committee by the Press Company. Ycu" committee trust that the subscribers will join them in thanking the Provincial Government for their care and forethought in providing yearly assistance to the library. The list of subscribers is cow forty, during the winter months an increase may be expected. Your committee have much pleasure in handing over to the new committee the management of the library, free from debt, and in good working order. The pain ring of the front of the building and windows, the covering of the tables and floor, has been attended to as suggested by the last committee, It is very desirable that a catalogue of the books should be made when in funds.” It was carried unanimously—“ That the report as read be adopted,” and also a vote of thanks to the retiring committee. The meeting then proposed members for the new committee, when the following were elected —Messrs H. Matson, Sisson, Godfrey, Jennings, Smith, Triggs, Jones, and the Rev F. G. Brittain, A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting. At the committee meeting Mr H. Matson was elected chairman for the ensuing year. Suicides —As a young man named Ray and a companion were passing up the river Avon in a boat yesterday morning, shortly after noon, and when about opposite to St Michael’s Church, they observed the body of a man lying at the bottom of the river on his face. They at once gave information to the police, who, on removing the body from the water, recognised it as that of James Kearney, for many years a cab driver in this city, the body was removed to the morgue at the Hospital, where it awaits an inquest. The deceased was last seen alive at his residence in St Asaph street, where he was living with his brother-in-law, Lawrence Zouch, about six o’clock yesterday morning, He then left the house to go to the stable to look after his horses, but not returning, his brother-in-law went out after him. He found his coat and hat, but Kearney had gone, and did not return, and was not afterwards seen until the body was discovered bj Ray as above. It seems that a short time ago the City Council refused to renew his cab license- on account of his drinking habits, and this threw him into a state of despon dcncy. from which he had not recovered at the time of his death.—ln the otln r case the victim was a young woman named Amy Thorne, aged nineteen, a domestic servant in the employ of Mrs Coster, of Opawr, She was last seen alive by her mistress on Sunday morning, when she was occupied with the housework. On returning from church Mrs Coster found that she had left the house, though the girl, from the state things were in, could not have been gone for more than ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. No suspicions of suicide were entertained, although it was known that deceased was in a very despondent state of mind in consequence of the recent death of her sister and brother. Search was made for the young woman, but without avail until four o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, when her body was found in the Heathcoto river. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon before Mr J. W. S. Coward, coroner, when an open verdict was returned. ‘ Constitutionally tired ’ is now the polite way of expressing the fact that a man is naturally lazy. We live in wonderfully refined times,