NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 577, 25 April 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Musical Entertainment.—The first of a series of musical entertainments, in aid of the choir and organ fund of St. Mary’s, Merivale, will be given by the choir at the schoolroom this evening. Lecture.—The Rev T. Buddie delivered a lecture last evening, in the Wesleyan Chapel, East town belt, in aid of the building und. The subject was “ Courtship and Marriage,” and the rev lecturer contrived to make it both interesting and amusing. Pupil Teachers—Notice is given by the Minister for Education that pupil teachers, having passed as assistants, can be retained at the same rate of salaries they were receiving at the time of examination, but that payments for their instruction will cease. Successful Blast.—Messrs Hawkins and Co fired another successful blast at their works at Naval Point on Saturday last, at 11 a.m. The mine was in four chambers, the total contents of which were 60001 b of powder. A great quantity of stuff was removed. St John’s, Eangiora.—A confirmation service was held in this church on Sunday morning by the Most Rev the Primate, Bishop of Christchurch ; the prayers and lessons being read by Rev Canon Dudley. Twentyone female and seven male candidates were admitted to the sacred rite. His Lordship then delivered an address. The church, inclusive of the new portion, was densely crowded.

Chevalier Blondin.— There was again a very large attendance at M. Blondin’s evening performance last night. The various feats already referred to were performed, and in addition the Chevalier performed the overture to Offenbach’s “ La Belle Hcldne” on a harmonium on reaching the middle of the rope. The Chevalier will appear agaip this evening, and on Thursday will give his last day performance. St Peter’s Parish, Akauoa. The annual meeting of parishioners will be held in the Town Hall on Friday next, at 7 p.m. In addition to the usual business, plans for the enlargement of the church, which is much required, will be laid before the meeting. The memorial window in memory of Messrs Nalder and Sayle, will be erected during this week ; it unfortunately arrived too late to be put in its place for Easter Day. Harvest Thanksgiving services will be held next Sunday, when the special form of service authorised by the General Synod will be used.

Choir Picnic.— The choir of Holy Trinity Church, Lyttelton, had a picnic to Sumner on Saturday last. A start was effected at 10 a.m., in traps kindly lent for the purpose by Mr W. Graham. Sumner was reached at 11.30, and all sorts of fun enjoyed. A capital spread was heartily partaken of, the purveyor, Mr Hunter, deserving great credit. About forty persons were present. The picnic was due to the kindness of the Rev F. O. Lloyd and the churchwardens, who were indefatigable in their endeavours to make it what it was, a great success,

Strike of Railway Employees. —This morning the staff of the employes at the Canterbury Railways at the Christchurch station, comprising the warehouse hands, goods and passenger guards, to the number of about seventy, went out on strike. The cause of the grievance, so far as can be learnt, is that the Government refuse to pay overtime to the permanent hands, who may be called upon by the exigencies of traffic to work over the eight hours. That is to say a man who works 12 or 15 hours does not receive overtime money, but is not required to attend the next day his full number of hours, the amount worked over the eight hours being allowed to him. This the men object to, and hence the strike. No interruption has yet taken place in the passenger traffic, but the goods department is of course greatly impeded. Woodend-Kaiapoi Road.—A portion of this road near the Sandhills always appears to be out of repair, and from the manner in which the Mandeville and Rangiora Road Board, within which district it is, from time to time attempt to remedy the evil, it seems to increase rather than become a better road. It would be a very simple matter, after the sand has been screened from the shingle, to prevent it drifting by getting up a plantation of broom or gorse, either of which grows readily enough. This is the season when this work should be done, and once performed well must save a large future expenditure.

SOUTHBRIDGE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.—A meeting of the committee, to receive applications for the appointment of master for the district school, was held at Spring’s Southbridge Hotel on Saturday evening. Present —All the members; Mr G. Bourn in the chair. The minutes of the previous committee meeting having been read and confirmed, the chairman stated that he had received ten applications for the appointment. The testimonials and certificates of the various candidates were then carefully considered by the committee, and it was finally resolved that the voice of the meeting be taken as to whether the situation should be given to Mr J. Elwin or Mr Bishop, both of whom held certificates of an equal standard. The result of the ballot was in favor of Mr Elwin, who was duly elected. Several matters of routine were then discussed and satisfactorily settled, and a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman.

Pbebbleton. —A concert was held in the Prebbleton schoolroom on Friday iast, Mr J. N. Tosswill in the chair, but owing to counter attractions, was not so well attended as on former occasions. A very good programme, consisting of readings, recitations, and songs, was submitted, the performers being Mrs Amos, Misses Bennetts, Amos, Jackson, Thompson, Rev De Berdt Hovell, Messrs Wilson, Gates, Henry, Amos, and Comerford, all acquitting themselves most creditably to an appreciative audience. After the programme had been gone through, the chairman proposed a hearty vote of thanks to those who had contributed to the evening’s entertainment. The Rev R. Jackson, on rising, said he was pleased to second the vote of thanks, and in doing so, expressed his pleasure at having been present that evening, and passed a very high eulogium on the performers, and before sitting down would say that he thought the success accruing from these entertainments was in a great measure due to the painstaking organist and choirmaster of Prebbleton. The national anthem was then sung, which brought one of the best enterments ever held at Prebbleton, to a close.

The New Theatre.—A meeting of those interested in the formation of a company for the erection of a new Theatre in Christchurch will be held on Friday afternoon at Mr H, E. Alport’s rooms. The want of a new Theatre has been so keenly felt that we hope to see a crowded attendance on the occasion. The projectors of the company propose to purchase the lease of the present site which has a long term to run, and to build thereon a new and commodious theatre fitted with all the latest improvements, both in the auditorium and on the stage. They also propose to acquire the land at the western side of the present site aad access from Cathedral square. The plans include perfect ventilation and a due regard to acoustics, cloak and retiring rooms for ladies, &c, and also provide for perfect freedom of ingress and egress in the case of a large attendance. Theprojectors have now before them for acceptance four sets of plans, one very elaborate and modelled on the latest Parisian theatre, and three others of a less elaborate character. The first of these is estimated to cost £IO,OOO, and the others about £SOOO. The proposed capital of the company is £7500 in £5 shares; and, looking to the stigma which has so long rested on Christchurch of having the very worst Theatre in the colonies, we should say no difficulty will be experienced in raising the required capital. We may mention that both Mr Baylee and Mr Beatty have procured plans for the erection of new buildings on either side of the proposed Theatres- [We have been favoured with a sight of the four plans for the proposed new theatre, and shall be in a position to give an accurate account of the dimensions, &c, in to-morrow’s issue.—Ed Globe] A raw countryman from Lamplugh, whilst on a visit to some friends in Whitehaven, was taken to the tree to see “ King Lear” played. Our friend bore with “Lear” for some time, although he had evidently no great affection for him, but at last his patience fairly gave way, and when the aged king, in all the sorrow and majesty of aflliotion, tottered on the stage, the visitor exclaimed, * Tut, tut, tut! Dear me ! Here’s that daft old man agean.’