NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 576, 24 April 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Merivalb. —The animal pariah meeting will be held at the schoolroom at 7 o’clock this evening. Loyal City op Christchurch Lodge, —The members of Lodge No 4602, M.U, are summoned to attend a meeting at half-past 7 o’clock this evening. St Michael’s,—The annual meeting of the parishioners of St Michaels will be held at half past seven o’clock this evening, at Ihe school-room, in Durham street. Loyal Orange Lodge,— An A.P. night, in connection with the lodges No 2 P.S., and No 3 C.T.8., will be held on Tuesday evening, at the Orange Hall, Worcester street, at 7.30 p.m. Hunt Club—The Canterbury Hunt Club hounds will meet at the Prebbleton Hotel at 2 p.m. on the 291 h inst; at the Rangiora District on the 4th May, and at the Timaru District on the following Tuesday, o'h rox. R.M. Court.— The charge sheet at the Resident Magistrates’ Court this morning was a very light one. An inebriate, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined ss, while John Duncan, who had been found in a similar state while in charge of a horse, was ordered to pay 20s. G. L, Lee, Esq, J.P., presided. Timaru Harbor Works.— The Herald says : —“ That in compliance with the requ"st of a number of the ratepayers of Timaru, his Worship the Mayor has convened, by advertisement, a public meeting to consider the advisability of appointing a Harbor Works Committee for the purpose of promoting the commencement of harbor works, and assisting, as far as possible, in matters affecting the interests of the port of Timaru. A Caution.—We have been furnished with the following particulars from a gentleman holding a high position here, and residing in Cashel street east, with the double object, he says, of cautioning his neighbours, and of increasing the vigilance of the police patrol. He states that between seven and ten o’clock last night, a person entered his back premises, deliberately broke open the door of a meat safe with a well directed kick, and succeeded in purloining therefrom a large sirloin of beef. The Rangitata Bridge.— The Timaru Herald of Saturday says :—“ We are informed that a number of the orates forming the protective works to the ordinary traffic bridge over the Rangitata have been washed away, and that it will cost a considerable sum to repair the damage. Mr Rochfort examined the place where the damage was caused, and a special unofficial meeting of the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works was held yest- rday morning at their offices, to consider his suggestion for undertaking protective works. It was decided to communicate at once with the Government with reference to the proposed protective works, in order that a reply might be received before the next ordinary meeting of the Board, when the question will be fully discussed, and some plan of protection decided upon. Chevalier Blondin.— This celebrated artiste gave his last mid-day performance on Saturday, when there was a very large attendance, including many who had travelled from Timaru specially to see his wonderful feats. The various items on the programme, including the chair and the velocipede act, were gone through most successfully, and the applause was loud and frequent. In the evening the large enclosure was again well filled, something over 3 00 persons being present. Professor Ireland’s fireworks, especially the new series, were exceedingly good. As will be seen by advertisement elsewhere M. Blondin’s stay here only extends to Thursday next, as he leaves in the mail steamer for San Francisco. In order to afford an opportunity to everyone to witness this ’extraordinary performance, which it is not probable will ever again be seen in this part of the world, the prices of admission though exceedingly moderate previously—have been still further reduced during the remainder of M, Blondin’s stay. Width of Tires Ordinance.—A meeting of the committee, appointed at the recent meeting of carriers and others, held to consider the best means of averting the disartrous consequences to their business of some of the provisions of The Width of Tires Ordinance, 1875, was held on Saturday evening, at Warner’s Hotel, Mr W. Coup, of Springvale Sawmills, Little River, was appointed chairman of the committee. The committee considered the subject carefully, and prepared the draft of a petiiion to the House of Representatives. The petition prays for an amendment of the existing law, where it is found to press hardly and unjustifiably on carriers, and also for an indemnity to such officers of the Colonial and Provincial Governments as might justifiably exceed their lawful authority in restraining the enforcement of the provisions complained of during the interval between the present time and the meeting of the Assembly. They also drafted a letter to the Colonial Secretary, to be signed by the leading members of the different bodies interested, in which the petition is to be enclosed, with a request that the Government will ensure its presentation, and the advocacy of its prayer in both Houses. The petition will be in charge of Mr Gair, St. Asaph street west, and copies will also be placed in the hands of various members of the committee, resident in rural and suburban districts, for signature. The purport of the prayer is that the Assembly will avert the necessity, under penalty, of using broad tires on unmetalled roads, and this is so reasonable that no doubt the petition will be largely signed,

Football.— The opening match of the Christchurch Football Club was played on Latimer square, on Saturday, and judging from the number of players who attended, we may venture to say that a considerably greater interest than in former years is being felt in the game. The contesting sides were Banks and Civil Service v the Club, the former wearing blue and white, the latter red and black. About twenty minutes past three the ball was kicked off, and wae quickly worked into the Olub quarterp, who were compelled to touch it down in selfdefence. Upon the ball being kicked off again the Club buckled to their forward playing well together, and scrimmage after scrimmage ensued, the backs on the Rank side playing too well to allow tbe Club to gain any advantage. At about half time the ball was worked close up to the Bank's goal, and J. Anderson managed to secure the first touch down for the Club, who, however, were unable to secure th" goal. After this tbe Banks were compelled to act upon the defensive, their goal being several times in danger, and shortly before time being called the ball was rushed over their goal line aud a touch down occurred by Evans ; the kick, however, which was a very difficult one, was again unsuccessful. Aiterjthis no special advantage was gained by either side, and the game ended in favor of the Club by two touch downs. For the Club some very serviceable runs were made by Stringer, whilst for the Banks, the play of Mathias and E. Cotterill was specially noticeable. The game, which was played under the Rugby Union Rules, passed off very pleasantly, and considering how little, practice many of the members have had at the new rules, we may congratulate them upon the few mistakes made. By an advertisement in the Argus, the Right Hon Lord Rivers, Mr Guildford Onslow, and Mr Wm Quartermaine East, offer a reward of £2300 for the production in London of Arthur Orton, son of the butcher in Wapping. The postal card system has come into operation in Victoria, and though there hn« been but little public reference to the matter, ssles on the first day were effected to a eonsiderable extent, some 10,000 cards being sold. This number of course includes the packages sold to booksellers, tobacconist, and others licensed to sell stamps, who ars also authorised to vend the cards.