NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 590, 10 May 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Queen’s Variety Troupe,- There was a good house at the Music Hall last night, when this company again appeared. They will give another performance this evening, when a new performer will appear. The Hunt Club. —The hounds of the Canterbury Hunt Club will meet at Mr Turnbull’s station, Pareora, on Friday next, and at the Washdyke on Monday. Good fields are anticipated on both occasions. Land Transfer Office.— The appointment of Mr J, W. Davies as draftsman in the office of the Registrar-General of Land and in the Land Transfer Office, Christchurch, is gazetted. The resignation of Mr E. N. VVilberg, as clerk and draftsman in the Land Transfer Office, is also notified. Imported Stock —The Home News says —“The Zuleika, for Otago, takes out three cows, valued at £3OO, a horse valued at £2OO, two mares at £l5O, and two dogs at £7. The Desdemona, for Canterbury, takes five bulls, valued at £SOO, eight sheep at £2OO, two rams at £llO, and five ewes at £BS. Accident. —An accident happened yesterday afternoon in Colombo street, through a buggy coming into collision with an omnibus. The shaft of the buggy went through one of of the panels of the ’bus, and one of the occupants of the former vehicle, Mr Stephen Warren, was thrown out, and the wheel of the ’bus passed over his foot. He was at once removed to his own residence. The busman was in fault it is said, and a summons has been issued against him for driving on his wrong side. Accident at Woodbnd.— -On Sunday evening a woman named Rachael Markham, eighty-five years of age, whilst crossing the road from Mr Ayres’ to the Wesleyan Chapel, was knocked down and ridden over by a horseman, who was riding at a rapid pace, and could hardly have seen any one as he turned the corner. She was seriously cut and bruised on the head, remaining up to Tuesday insensible. The rider forthwith brought Dr Downes from Eangiora, and although the shock to the system of an elderly person must have been very severe, it is to be hoped she will recover.

Lyttelton Harbor Works Loan.—lt is notified in the New Zealand Gazette that the Superintendent of the province of Canterbury has made an arrangement that the principal and interest on the Lyttelton harbor works debentures shall be payable at the Bank of New Zealand, London. As it is necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the Abolition of Provinces Act, 1875, that the consent of the Governor-in-Oouncil should be given, in order to enable such arrangement to be carried out, it is notified in the Qasette that each consent has been Siren,

Mb J. L. Hall.—Letters received by the mail from this gentleman state that he, with Mrs Hall, will leave shortly for New Zealand. He is at present in America managing the Julia Matthews’ Op c ra BoufEe Company, in connection with which he has been playing with great success.

Nabrow Gauge Trucks— ln reference to the deputation that waited upon the Secretary for Works on Monday, wa learn that it has been found impossible to comply with the request preferred by Mr Cuff on behalf of the shipping interest, as the narrow gauge trucks are so urgently needed upon the Southern line that they cannot be spared for the purpose. The suggestion of the deputation therefore cannot be carried out.

Rate List. —An adjourned meeting of the City Council was held at half-past ten o’clock yesterday morning for the purpose of considering the objections lodged against the rate list for the current year. All the members of the Council were present; his Worship the Mayor in the chair. The following is the result of the meeting S.W, quarter, 12 objections allowed ; 8 disallowed. S.E. quarter, 29 objections allowed ; 6 disallowed. N.W. quarter, 19 objections allowed; 6 disallowed. N.E. quarter, 9 objections allowed ; 7 disallowed. Total, 69 objections allowed ; 27 disallowed. The objections not allowed by the Council will be heard by the Resident Magistrate at three p.m. to-morrow afternoon.

Woodend Mechanics’ Institute,— The annual general meeting of the members was held in the reading-room on Saturday evening, Mr H. B. Gresson, president, in the chair. Several members were present. The treasurer’s balance sheet for the past year read, showed a balance in hand of £l4. The president reported that a consignment of books to the value of £ls was daily expected, per Desdemooia. The following officers were then duly elected for the ensuing year ;—Mr H B. Gresson, president ; Mr Walker, treasurer ; Mr M. Brown, secretary ; committee —Messrs J. Little, F. Horrell, H Burgess, J. Stokes, T. Ayres, E. Cole, and T. Gibbs. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.

Boat Building.— There has just been completed at Kaiapoi. to the order of the Dunedin Telegraph Officers’ Club, one of the best specimens ever seen here of colonial boat building. It is a four-oared outrigger racing gig, the workmanship in which does great credit to Mr R. H. Mathews, the builder. Its length is 43£t Sin, beam 3ft, and depth 9in. The materials used in construction are ash frame, covered in with cedar planking on the Carver principle, each side being formed on one plank. The lines are exceedingly perfect. It is intended for a heavy crew. The fittings of the sliding seats, stretches, rowlocks, and the two water tight compartments, are finished in a manner equal to that expected in a boat imported from one of the most noted makers in Eng land. The price of the boat is about £65. Kaiapoi Borough School Committee The monthly ' meeting was held on Monday evening, all the members present. The accounts, as audited bj the Provincial Auditor, were laid before the committee. It was resolved that the chairman ascertain from the Riccarton school committee when Miss Hookham, recently appointed mistress at the Kaiapoi school, would be allowed to commence her new duties. A medical certificate from Mr O. W. Exall, assistant master, was read, explaining the reason of his absence from his duties. Accounts amounting to £lB 7s 3d were passed. It was decided to finish the committee room, Messrs Whitefoord and Pashby were requested to superintend the planting of the site as sanctioned by the Minister for Education. WOODBND. — A new hotel on the site of the former Woodend hotel has recently been completed by Mr M. H. Thompkins, which in every respect is equal to the best hotel in the Northern district. Not only is the outward appearance good, but it is convenient internally, with plenty of space in the rooms. On the ground floor the building, which is mainly of wooden construction, has 47 feet frontage and goes 49 feet back. The stud is 22 feet, the inner walls plastered, and the roof covered with slate. It contains a capacious dining room, sitting-room, bar, bar-parlor, kitchen, and other rooms downstairs, and in the upper storey nine bedrooms and private sitting-rooms. Water is supplied to the rooms from a tank rn the roof, and each chamber is fitted with a patent ventilator. Under the hotel is a large cellar, rendering the premises very complete. The landlord intended laying out the grounds round it with lawn, walks, and ornamental trees.

Inquest. —An inquest was held at the Irwell hotel on Saturday, the 6th instant, before Mr C. J. Bridge, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr C. T. Dudley was chosen foreman, touching the death of Patrick Herliky. Ole Thorsen deposed that he had found the deceased lying on his face in one of Mr Coe’s paddocks early on Friday morning, with both his feet in the stirrups, and the saddle on the ground. He covered the body and went immediately to Mr Coe’s house for assistance. Mr John Coe’s evidence went to corroborate that of the former witness. He also stated that the deceased, who had been in his employ for nearly fourteen months, always bore an excellent character. Mr James Millar, a contractor living near the Irwell hotel, gave evidence as follows :—He had been in the company of deceased on the evening previous to his death. He was riding a rather flash and skittish horse, which he appeared not to have thoroughly under control. The deceased was perfectly sober when they parted company. Dr Chapman, who had made a post mortem on the body, deposed that the skull was fractured in such a manner as might have been caused by a fall from a horse. The jury, in face of the evidence adduced, recorded a verdict of “Accidental Death.”

The Volunteers. —There was a special parade of the Volunteers last evening at the Central drill shed, for the presentation of the prizes won at the last District Firing. There was an excellent muster, the corps represented being the Cavalry, the Artillery, the Engineers, the City Guards, and the Cadets. Colonel Packe and Major Lean were present, and put the Volunteers through a number of company and battalion movements, which on the whole were performed with great steadiness. Before presenting the prizes, Colonel Packe explained the object of the parade, and said that now, as upon previous occasions, he had much pleasure in making the presentations. He then referred to the very excellent standard of shooting at the last district firing, saying that it was far higher than that of the previous year, when the first prize was taken by

a score of - 58 ; whereas, this year, it was secured by a score of 76. The first presen* tation was made to sergeant Fox, one of therepresentatives of Christchurch at the late firing at Wanganui. Sergeant Fox was one of the winning team “ Carbines v Rifles," and as such was entitled to a Snyder rifle or a carbine. He had preferred the former, which he (Colonel Packe) had great pleasure in handing over to him, which he did amidst loud applause, remarking that sergeant Fox was the life and soul of the meetings. In presenting gunner Hill with a district prize, Colonel Packe congratulated him upon being one of the prettiest shots in the colony, and said he was quite sure it was due to accidental circumstances that he had not been among the representatives at Wanganui. He then proceeded to distribute the remainder of the district prizes, making a few appropriate remarks with each presentation. We have already published the list of prize winners. The band was present in force, and during the evening enlivened the proceedings with their strains of martial music There was a considerable attendance of the public, amongst them being several ladies.

Streets Paved With Gold. —“ Streets paved with gold” is a poetic phrase, but in this country (the Ballarat Star remarks) it has often had prosaic illustration. Here is one. In Ligar street, Ballarat, there lay heaps of quartz metal put down by the City Council for the maintenance of the streets. The stone was from the “ knobs ” thrown out of the New Koh-i-noor Oempany’s puddling machines. One day Mr Ware Copeland’s son picked a specimen out of a heap of the stone, and Mr Copeland and Me Luplau resolved to test the heap. They bought six tons from from the Council, and had it crushed at Mercer’s battery, the yield being loz 9dwt 12gr of gold, value £6 6s Id, so that the Council is actually metalling streets with quartz that the Llanberris Company is glad to crush, and can make pay moderately well. Messrs Copeland and Go’s speculation stands thus:—Paid Council, £1 lls 8d ; cartage, £1 ; crushing, £2 16s—total, £5 6s 8d; profit, 14s lOd. Not a very Urge matter certainly, but then who can say that we are not sometimes metalling our streets with quartz of double the value?”

Melbourne Aquarium.—Full particulars of the scheme for the establishmeat of an aquarium by a company, with a capital of £IO,OOO, are given in the Argus: —“ The object of this company is to provide in Melbourne an aquarium, on a site applied for (near Prince’s bridge), from the corporation. The principal features of the aquarium will be the exhibition in their natural condition of the inhabitants and wonders of the deep which exist in endless variety on the coasts, rivers, and seas of Australia. It is also proposed to add a summer and winter garden, together with realing and refreshment rooms. The building will be constructed as economically as possible, consistent with the requirements. The centre or main saloon will be principally of glass and iron, forming a conservatory and promenade, flanked on each side by corridors containing the deepsea tanks. The Crystal Palace and Brighton Aquaria may be pointed to as very successful instances of these enterprises, as both render a very satisfactory return for the capital employed,"

Discovery in Ceylon, Gold coins, solid pieces of gold, and gold rings, to the value of about £SOOO, were (says a contemporary) recently discovered at a place called Wattala, in Ceylon. A local paper says there were more than a thousand gold coins, and most of these were examined by a Buddhist priest, but he could not read the insciiption on any. The letters are said to be Devaisagari. The natives believe every ancient writing they cannot read to be Devanagari. Wattala,or P-sbefai, is a place of historical note from a very ancient time. There was a Wihara (sacred temple) close to the spot where the treasure was found, but the building has long ceased to exist. The Pattini Dewala of Gonakowila (bullock’s temple) is also close by, and is generally believed to be existing from hoar antiquity. The notaries believe it to be a place of great sanctity. As soon as the village headmen knew of the finding, they went to the spot, and endeavoured to get possession of everything that was found ; but the fortunate finder had secreted the valuables, in consequence of which the Vidana Arachchi has presented a petition to Mr Layard, and we may expect the Government to take action in the matter. The Lahrivikirana thus notices the discovery ;—“ The gold of the coins is 10£deg. The. characters inscribed on both sides are Alkuran. The inscription in the middle reads Sultan Mahommede Nabee, and that along the circle are the four names, Abubakar, Omar, Dduma, and Ali. The coins were struck in the twenty-seventh year of the Mahomedan Era, which is now 1293. Thus these coins are 1266 years old. The Mahomedans assert that the four names are those of Mahomet’s Ministers of State. These coins must have found their way into Ceylon when the Arabs carried on trade with it.”

Spain and England.— The question of Spanish interference with British trade in the vicinity of Gibraltar, is likely, says the Home News, at no distant date to occupy the serious attention of our Government. Only a few days since the seizure was reported, under extraordinary circumstances, of the British schooner Amalia by a Spanish revenue cutter, off Gibraltar, The merchantman was placed in charge of a prize crew, which, however, was overpowered by the men of the Amalia, and the schooner, with the prize crew still on board, was tiken to Gibraltar. The Spaniards were handed over to the lawful authority, and there has been a question of trying them for piracy. This has naturally given great offence at Madrid, where questions have been asked in the Cortes, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs has announced that he has demanded satisfaction from the British Government as for an injury, and protested against the contraband trade carried on by English vessels from Gibraltar. We hear that the Spanish Government has now formally demanded the release of its prize crew. While this dispute is still fresh, another seizure has been made by the Spaniards, and this time the unlucky vessel has been taken into one of their ports. A British felucca, the San Francisco 11, a vessel which has been for many years engaged in the regular trade between Gibraltar and Tetuan, left the former port on March 7ch with a valuable cargo, consisting in great pnrtof British manufactures. On the evening of the same day, when about half a mile from Europa Lighthouse, a small boat came out from behind the rock, and out of it jumped seven armed men, who sfrang on board the felucca, and threatened to sTioot any one dead who should either make any resistance or raise any alarm, The close

proximity of the vessel to the rock doubtless suggested to the Spaniards that if the crew of the San Francisco 11, shouted, assistance would certainly arrive. The vessel having been tbps captured was taken across the Bay of Gibraltar to Algesiras, where, it is stated, the cargo has been discharged, and an inventory of it taken by the Spanish Custom authorities. The fact that the felucca had several passengers for Tetuan on board made it extremely improbable that it was engaged in any unlawful enterprise, not to mention that the vessel when boarded was steering south—that is, away from the Spanish coas". The Recent Case of Swindling in Dunedin. —Mr W. R Windsor,of Melbourne, writes as follows to the Argus :—“ Sir, — tn article in your issue of to-day, with the heading of “ Extraordinary Attempt at Swindling,” and in which the names of myself and Mr G. W. Taylor, auctioneer, Collins street, appear, has taken me completely by surprise. The facts of the case being entirely at variance with such statements, as far as I and Mr Taylor are concerned, I am compelled immediately to give the latter a most emphatic contradiction, and to claim your indulgence in addressing you for the purpose of setting ourselves right. The gentleman named (Mr A. R. Moule) left Melbourne for Dunedin on the Ist of March last, and was entrusted by me with certain deeds and documents relating to property previously bought'and paid for, for the purpose of obtaining thereto the signatures of certain persons who were supposed to be in New Zealand, and whose signatures were found to be incidentally necessary, although they were not beneficially interested in the property in question. These documents were prepared under the opinion of eminent counsel, who advised upon the whole matter, and I shall be happy to produce the drafts of the same to you, in proof of the bona fides and strict regularity of the business, if required. Mr Moule left with most positive instructions to place himself in the hands of-the most respectable solicitor he could find immediately on his arrival in Dunedin, to do nothing except under the the advice of such solicitor, and to spare neither expense nor trouble. It would appear, however, that said gentleman has totally disregarded the explicit directions given to him, and has taken upon himself to act in a manner for which, in the absence of any information other than the newspaper article alluded to, I am totally at a loss to account, and which, besides the dire consequences to himself, is calculated to bring down every odium upon innocent persons. Not doubting that you will kindly insert this letter without delay, I am, &c. —W. R. WINDSOE.”

Dynamite fiends—Those who go from one lunch house to the other and dine a mite in each place. The Prince was recently greeted with the motto, in a Hindu triumphal arch, “Greatest among fishes Whales. Greatest among Princes—Wales. ” The Welsh citizens of Philadelphia hare arranged for a national eisteddfod in that city during the Centennial Exhibition. Prince Napoleon’s organ in Corsica and M. Rouher’s paper are carrying on war to the knife. The former describes M. Rouher as a Mayor of the palace, who has seized on Napoleon lll.’s son, interned him at Chiselhurst, and drawn a cordon sanitaire round him to prevent the truth from reaching him, “ A letter received in Rockhampton, Queensland, a few days ago from a gentleman in the west,” the Northern Argus remarks, “calls attention to a subject of increasing importance—viz, the way in which Kanakas are treated on their tiring and often fatal march up country. They are handed over to carriers, who deliver them, according to order, at the various stations along the road ; but many of them never reach their destinations, the fatiguing journey and the want of their accustomed food telling with fatal effect upon the less robust of the gang, who generally die of dysentery and exhaustion. The matter has attracted the attention of several newspaper correspondents lately, and the writer in question adds his individual testimony to the facts already accumulated. He says that the slave trade is spreading in the west, and that some of the carriers are making a good thing of it. His computation is as follows: —Average sum for delivery of niggers, £7 a head; cost of food, £1 a head, the dietary consisting of bread (damper), opossum, and water ad libitum ad nauseam— at least in wet weather; carrier’s profit, £6 a head. The writer says he can see no real difference between the African and Queensland ‘slave trades,’ excepting that, in the former case, the niggers had to travel from the interior to the coast, while in our case they have the voyage first and the travelling afterwards. In both cases they travel, in gangs, and the horrors of the march are pretty much alike. He makes one practical suggestion that should receive attention, viz, that the police authorities, say at the point of starting, should telegraph to all the police stations along the road when a consignment of Kanakas is despatched for the up country districts. The police could then look out for their coming, and see that they were not neglected ”