NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 589, 9 May 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

OVA. The commanding officer will inspect the Volunteer Artillery this evening, at 7.30, and prizes will also be distributed. St Luke’s. —Mr W. G. Meddings has been elected as Synodsman, to represent the parish of St Luke the Evangelist. North Canterbury News.— lt is reported that the publication of this paper at Rangiora has ceased Its first issue came cut Dec. 4th, 1875 ; its last, May 2nd, 1876 Queen’s Variety Troupe.— This company appeared last evening at the Music Hall, when there was rather a small attendance, They appear again to-night.

Winter Evening Readings at Lyttelton. —The first of these entertainments was to have taken place on Friday ; but, owing to several gentlemen who were to have assisted being unavoidably engaged that evening, it has been postponed for a week. Lecture. —The Rev J. Elraslie, M.A., deliver- d a lecture at the Congregational schoolroom, Manchester street, last evening to a very large audience. Mr J. H. Twenty man occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the lecturer. The rev gentleman then proceeded to contend that the Moabite stone, one of the oldest Semitic relics yet discovered, proved incontestably the truth of the Old Testament, confirming its traditions in an extraordinary manner. He also explained at some length the discovery of the stone, and succeeded in making his lecture thoroughly interesting from first to last. This is the first of a series of lectures which are intended to be delivered in connection with the Young Men’s Christian Association,

INQUEST.— An inquest was held at Jollie’s Pass, Amuri, on Saturday, 6th inst, before Thomas Cartel, Esq, J.P., on the body of Peter McDonald, drowned in the Waiau river, on Thursday, the 4th inst. Mr J. G. Russell was chosen foreman of the jury. Harry Brener, bricklayer, Hanmer Plains, deposed that deceased and himself arrived at the Waiau river on the day in question ; the river being high witness went across first and called out to deceased not to follow, unless his horse could swim. Deceased, however, did not appear to hear and entered the river; immediately after his horse got into deep water and went under; witness next observed deceased’s head above the stream for a few yards, when it dis appeared. Saw nothing more of him until body was found next day. Verdict “ Acci dental Death.” As this inquest was termi - nating. a messenger arrived from Waiau, informing the police officer that the body of a drowned man had just been found in the river bed opposite the Waiau township.

Deputation. —A deputation, consisting of Mr Cuff (of the firm of Cuff and Graham), and some half a dozen ship captains, yesterday waited upon the Secretary for Works, to bring before his notice a very great evil which they alleged existed in the means of discharging vessels lying alongside the Gladstone Pier, Mr Cuff, as spokesman, stated that the hardship was this. It seems that the supply of the broad gauge trucks upon the port line is very limited, and that as a consequence the shipping lying at the pier in question very materially suffers, as all the cargo has to be transhipped in these trucks, which nothing like meet the supply. Indeed whereas now perhaps a vessel only has four or five trucks into which to discharge cargo, it could easily employ some twelve or thirteen and so get discharged in half the time. It also appears that the trucks on the narrow gauge line, after taking grain and other produce from the country to the port, usually go back empty, that is to say, pass Christchurch, often without stopping, and with nothing whatever in them. The object of the deputation was to see if these ti ucks could not be utilised iu the transmission of goods from the port, which would not only enable the cargoes of the various vessels alongside the wharves to be more rapidly conveyed to Christchurch, but would also relieve the stores at Port, which were often choked up with goods. Besides, the using of these narrow guage waggons for the purpose would relieve a number of the broad gauge trucks now used upon the Gladstone Wharf, and allow them to be made serviceable for the other piers. There appeared (said Mr Cuff) to be little difficulty in the matter, for the narrow guage line ran down the Gladstone Wharf. The Secretary for Works said he had heard complaints on this subject before. He would work fully into the whole matter, and see what could be done.

The Cabmen. —The cabmen of Christchurch are beginning to take up a considerable portion of the time of the City Council. Yesterday that body was engaged for over an hour discussing various questions in connection with that fraternity, and a very considerable amount of warm feeling was shown by more than one of the councillors in discussing the matter. In the first place the question of the cabmen occupying the south side of Gloucester street was brought forward, and as it was found that at present they could not be prevented from remaining on their self-allotted stand near the Theatre, it was resolved to have the by law on the subject altered. Then a considerable amount of talk ensued as to whether they should in the meantime be requested to stand in the middle of the road or on the north side. Motions were brought forward, but nothing was done in this matter. It was stated by the inspector of nuisances that, with a few exceptions, the men were willing to submit to the wish of the Council, and councillor Jones observed that they were not only willing but anxious to do everything in their power that was agreeable to the Council. Councillor Ick gave it as his opinion that they had always pursued a directly opposite course. Ultimately it was resolved that the bye laws should be strictly enforced, and that any cabman leaving his horse’s head, or remaining on the south side of the street after the closing of the theatre, should be at once proceeded against. Next, a letter was read from a gentleman complaining of the conduct of McTeggart, a cabman, who had, so the writer alleged, refused to take two ladies to their destination because, it appeared, that he (McTeggart) had a grudge against the gentleman to whoso house they wished to be driven. McTeggart was sent for and the letter read to him, when he denied the charge. His Worship informed him that it would be necessary to inquire into the facts of the case, and dismissed him. The next delinquent was a cabman named John Brown, against whom there was a complaint of having insulted a lady and refusing to allow her to leave his cab until she had paid the fare demanded. Brown appeared before the Council and was severely censured by bis Worship, and ordered to write an apology to the lady.