NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 591, 11 May 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Queen’s Variety Troupe.— There was a fair house at the Music Hall last night, when this company again appeared. There will be a change of programme this evening. Canterbury College.— The fourth of the series of lectures in connection with this College will be delivered this evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall by Dr Powell. Subject—“On the Structure and Functions of the Human Eye.” Acclimatisation. —An exchange says that a novel shipment will shortly be made to New Zealand. Sonntag and Co, of San Francisco, recently sent an order to a firm in Council Bluffs, lowa, to ship as early as practicable one hundred pairs of prairie chickens, ten pairs of wild turkeys, and ten pairs of wild geese to a house in Auckland for breeding purposes. Arrangements have been made to capture the birds, which is done by trapping the chickens and turkeys. New Theatre. —We understand that, after a short dramatic season by Mr and Mrs Hoskins and company, following the Simonsen Opera Company, Messrs Bay lee, Joskins, and Beatty intend entirely demolishing the present structure with a view to erecting a handsome and commodious Theatre. The contract for the erection will be signed shortly, and we hope that no obstacle will arise to prevent the erection of a building which will be a credit to the city. Coal. —At a sitting of the Waste Lands Board, held at Hokitika recently, John Renton applied for a license to prospect for coal over an area of 2000 acres, up the Hokitika river. In reply to a question from the Board, Mr Meyer, who was present, explained, says the Times , that the application had nothing to do with the block of land held by another party who had been prospecting for coal. Mr Robinson moved that an occupation license for one year be granted. Mr Fit/. Gerald seconded the motion. It would then be known whether the ground was simply held as a speculation, and whether it was worth renewing the license. Legislative Council.— The New Zealand Ecrald says “ From private intelligence from Wellington, it is understood that the question of calling Mr Hugh Carleton to a seat in the Legislative Council is under the consideration of Ministers. During the last few years we have had the resignations of Messrs 0, J. Taylor and Every Maclean, two of the members, and so far no notification of their successors has appeared. It was represented, we understand, some time ago, that the importance of the Thames goldfield warranted it being represented in our Upper Chamber, but no practical action has resulted from what then took place. The information, we may mention, comes from a a source which warrants us in stating that the step contemplated is being considered by his Excellency’s present Cabinet. Mr Carleton is well known to be a man of excellent abilities, and.with his great knowledge and extensive experience he would make a most useful member of the Upper House,”

Wonderful Shooting.-—The Scotsman of the 12th February says :—“ Mr Hercules Boss, son of Captain Horatio Ross, and the champion shot of India, has just carried off a cup offered by the Viceroy of India with the remarkable score 141, made with ten shots at 800, 900, and 1000 yards. Including two sighting shots at each distance, ithe score was made up of 30 bulls-eyes, 3 centres, 2 inners, an an outer. At 900 yards, 3 was registered for each of the 12 shots fired. Mr Ross, Jwho is to be home this year on leave, intends to compete for a place in the Scottish Eight for the Elcho Shield. ” Football. —The! match on Saturday next will be a scratch fifteen against the rest of the club, the former wearing red and black, and the latter blue and white. The fifteen will comprise the following players, viz;— Messrs J. Barker, W. Chapman, O. Croxton, J R. Evans, J. Fowler, E. G. Hawkes, M. Lewin, G. S. Matthias, H, McCardell, J. Million, A. M. Ollivier, J. Restell, M. S. Smith, and O. Thomson. As the match with the South Canterbury club is now drawing near, it is very necessary that members of the club should obtain as much practice as possible. For the purpose of obtaining this nights for practice will be shortly fixed by the committee, at which it is to be hoped all who can will attend. Christchurch Mutual Improvement Association.—There was a large attendance at the meeting held last evening ; Rev Mr Morley presiding. Messrs Wm Anderson, Geo Gapes, H. Peek, and A. Lawrence having been elected, and Messrs F. J. Vincent, Jas Oaygill, and Garraud nominated for election next week, the secretary reported the progress of arrangements for the entertainment to take place on Monday evening next. Mr H. Allison then read an essay “On the relation which capital sustains to labour.” Messrs Connal, Atkinson, Brooker, Wilson, and Booth took part in the debate which followed, and the meeting closed with the benediction. Bishop op Fiji.—lt is said to be not unlikely, says an exchange, that a bishop will soon be appointed for the new colony of the Fiji Islands. The Rev Mr Selwyn, a son of the Bishop of Lichfield (late Bishop of New Zealand), who was placed in charge of the Melanesian Mission (the islands of the South Pacific), formerly presided over by the martyred Bishop Patteson, will be consecrated as soon ag circumstances will admit, strong representations having been made to the authorities of the Church at home that the mission is likely to suffer if it has not a bishop at its head.

The Beemebhaven Explosion.—The Berlin|correspondent of the Times telegraphs on March 14th, the following particulars regarding the assassin ‘‘The real name of Thomas, the Bremerhaven assassin, appears to be Alexander Keith. His father was a brewer, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the assassin was born. Before attempting the destruction of the Mosel, Keith shipped an infernal machine on board the German Lloyd steamer Rhine, insuring the chest for £9OOO. The machine actually made the voyage to New York, but did not explode, the clockwork being damaged in packing.” Egypt and Abyssinia. —The Cairo correspondent of the Times telegraphs on March 13th as follows “On the 7th inst the Abyssinians attacked the Egyptian intrenched camp at Goorah, but were repulsed. The following day Prince Hassan, with several battalions, made a sortie and succeeded in taking an important position in the vicinity, after which he returned to the camp. There were heavy losses on both sides in these affairs. On Thursday the Abyssinians renewed their attack, when a great battle was fought, resulting in the complete defeat of King John with very severe loss. The Egyptian army again attacked the Abyssinians on Friday, when the latter retreated. King John subsequently wrote to Prince Hassan Pasha to sue for peace, in consequence of which hostilities were suspended. Negotiations have now been commenced offering every prospect of a successful issue.” Accident at Kanieri. —An old man named Russell was burned to death at the Kanieri on Saturday afternoon, says the West Coast Times. He had for some time past been living alone in a hut at the back of the township, and for two or three days he had been complaining of illness. A woman who had been residing close by went to the house of the deceased on Saturday afternoon to make enquiries, as a neighbor, as to the state of his health, and to see if she could render him any assistance, when she discovered that he had fallen into the fire and had been burned to death, the shoulders and upper part of the body being frightfully scorched. It is supposed that he must have fallen down in a fit. Sergeant O’Malley, who was immediately communicated with, went to the place, and found that life must have been extinct for some time. The deceased was sixty years of age, and had been working on his own account as a miner.

Parish Meeting.—The annual parish meeting in connection with St John’s Church, Okain’s Bay, was held in the church on Monday evening, May 7th, 1876. The Rev D. O. Hampton presided, and opened the proceedings with prayer. The chairman read over and dwelt upon at length his annual statement of the amounts raised within the mission district towards the church work extension fund, from which the stipend of the mission clergyman is derived. From this statement we learn that the work of the minister in the various parts of his district is fully appreciated, the sum of £222 17s lOd having been received by donations, offertories, &c, during the past year, of which sura £L33 2slod was especially given towards the stipend of the officiating clergyman. The rev clergyman spoke very strongly of the great liberality shown in some parts of his district, and expressed a hope that Okain’s Bay would endeavour to do more in the future than in the past year towards this work. Mr Bishop read a statement showing the amount raised by offertories and other means to cover the incidental expenses of the church, and how the amount had been expended. Considerable discussion followed, upon the best means to be used to put the building in a more efficient state of repair, and of preventing the penetration of the damp through the walls of the building. It was ultimately resolved to cover the whole of the exterior of the walls of the building with cement, and a subscription list was opened at once towards defraying the cost of the same, when about £lO was promised by the few present Messrs Bishop, Moore, Sefton, Harris, and Ware were elected to act as church officers for the ensuing year. The reverend chairman thanked those present for their attendance and hearty sympathy in his work, and closed the meeting with prayer,

East Christchurch School. The usual meeting of the East Christchurch school committee was held on Tuesday evening. Present—Bev W. J. Habeas (chairman), Messrs G. L. Lee, A. Bose, Kirk H, Thomson, Farr, and J. P. Jameson. The chairman reported that Miss Harband and Miss B. Johnson had resigned as pupil teachers. Miss B. Jones and Miss Spence were appointed to fill the vacancies thus caused. An application from Mr Sopp for permission to teach singing in the Bingsland school was acceded to. An application from Master Pole for employment as a pupil teacher was ordered to be recorded. Mrs Woodall applied for a remission of rates. Referred to the collector to report upon. Permission was granted to Mr Woodford to use a class-room at the Main school for the purposes of an evening school on certain conditions. Mr Bose reported that he had visited the South Town belt school, and had found that a serious leak existed in the roof. It was decided that this should at once be attended to. It was resolved to plant the various school sites, and the respective visiting committees were requested to have the work earned out under their supervision. The question of providing swimming baths at the Main school was again discussed, and it was resolved to remit the consideration of the matter to a sub-committee, consisting of the chairman, Messrs Thomson, Veel, and Farr. After disposing of some further routine business, the committee adjourned. His Excellency.—flis Excellency the Governor and suite left Auckland on the 4th for the Bay of Islands, on his promised visit to the northern settlements. The Herald says :—“ The Pearl weighed anchor shortly before three o’clock, aud was accompanied by H.M.S. Sappho, Captain Digby. Lord Henry Phipps was on board the latter ship. The Government steamer Luna also proceeded in company, having on board the Hon Sir Donald McLean, Lord Hervey Phipps, Messrs Thomas Henderson, Morpeth, Davies, and Hori Tupaea. Both the Pearl and Sappho left the harbour under sail, a steady westerly breeze and ebb tide favouring their departure without the use of steam, the Luna going at half speed to enable the men of war to keep pace. The Sappho took the lead, with the Pearl following, and the Luna in the wake. In this order they left the port. The fires on board the Pearl and Sappho were banked, and on the wind falling light, both vessels would get up steam, and the convoy would probably reach Bussell this morning, We understand that the Pearl will continue her passage to Samoa, but that the Sappho will remain in attendance on his Excellency the Governor. The places to be visited by the vice-regal party are Bussell, Mongonui, Wangaroa, and Wangarei. His Excellency may be expected to be absent a week.”

Fibb at the Tima r u Herald says : —“ The stables in connection with the Doncaster Hotel, Washdyke, were destroyed by fire during the night of Monday and Tuesday. The fire was first observed at about a quarter past one, and at this time it had a great hold of the building. Upon the alarm being given, a number of people turned out to render assistance, in the way of rescuing the horses and pigs that were known to be in the stable, and to prevent the fire from spreading to the hotel, which was about twenty yards away. All the horses (four in number) were got out unhurt with the exception of one belonging to Mr Orton, a steeplechaser, which was badly burnt about the head. The fire spread so rapidly that the attempt to save the pigs was unsuccessful. None of the contents of the building, which included 600 bushels of oats, which had been stored by the proprietor (Mr Compton) on the morning of Monday, a saddle belonging to the same person, and a quantity of harness, horsefeed and oats belonging to Mr P. Blake, contractor, were saved. Directly after the fire was first seen Mr Palmer, an expressman, who lived near, drove to Timaru and fetched a number ef buckets from the Fire Brigade Station, with a view of stopping the spread of the flames to the hotel. The building, which was of wood and two storied, was consumed in a very short space of time, the heat being so great as to considerably endanger the adjacent buildings. The stable was insured, and the loss is estimated at about £ISOO. None of the contents of the stable were insured. It was reported that a man had been burnt in the stable, but no remains have been found among the debris, The origin of the fire is unknown.”

Auckland Harbor Works,—The prolongation of the breakwater is fast approaching completion (says an Auckland exchange) so far at least as the solid portion is concerned, for which Messrs McCabe and Walsh are the contractors. A few days ago, at low tide, the corner stone of the retaining wall was laid, and a few weeks will see the whole work completed. It has been of a remarkably heayy character, and the contractors have had to contend with unusual and unexpected difficulties. The cornerstone just laid is at a depth of 12ft at low spring tides; and from the oozy nature of the ground, and the peculiar texture of the bed rock upon which the retaining wall has been built, the labor of laying down the foundation course and of keeping the cofferdam free from water, is very greit. Notwithstanding all their troubles, the contractors have at last succeeded in doubling the cape in a most satisfactory manner. The work is one of the heaviest ever yet undertaken in Auckland, and does immense credit to the contractor, who have, in spite of many obstacles, contrived to deposit those immense foundations and facing blocks of scoria, some of them weighing more than a ton and a half, to the satisfaction of everyone, and to bind and cement them in a manner which will render the structure weather-proof. To all appearance the wall is as likely to stand to future ages as the Pyramids, and will stand as many northeasters and south-westers as are likely to blow here for many hundreds of years. Beefton. —The calls during the present month (says the Inangahua Herald) are exceptionally heavy, no fewer than sixteen companies having made calls. With the exception, however, of some two or three companies, the money called up is for the purpose of progressing with the development of the relative properties. As a set-off to this, the Wealth of Nations Company have declared a dividend of 3s, and the unfortunate strike being at an end, handsome parcels of gold will be forthcoming at the and of the month from the Energetic, Independent, and other mines. The Golden Fleece is proving a most valuable property, che size and quality of the lode at the lower level being quite equal to anything obtained m the field. The Keep-it-Dark mine is also working its way to a pmjmnent position, the stone being estimated

the reef is 18ft in thickness. The Vulcan Company will keep five heads of -stampers employed for a lengthened period, and the Keep-it-Dark probably fifteen head, as soon as the Independent has cleared up. Latest accounts from Rainy Creek state that the stone is showing better, owing to greater care in crushing clean stone and the improved condition of the copper tables. The Alexandra Company’s crushing, though very indifferent in its results, has proved better than was anticipated, and we are glad to learn that the company has arranged satisfactorily for the settlement of all demands. The Hopeful Company’s prospects are most encouraging. There are sixteen faces open, all showing an abundance of stone, and the next crushing is expected to result in a cake of 2000ozs. Chess Contest. —Four “ parties” have now entered the lists (says the Herald ) as competitors for the silver cup offered for competition by Mr W. Aitken, amongst the chess players of the colony. The competitors will bo Auckland, Otago, Hawke’s Bay, and Canterbury. The wianing province will carry off the cup, and then the players of that province will compete amongst themselves for its permanent possession. In all the above mentioned places, the crack players are now busily employed competing for places, selecting the twelve best men to form the team, and placing them as nearly as possible according to merit, so that the first man here shall be pitted against the first man in Dunedin, or elsewhere. In the late match between Auckland and Dunedin, nine players were engaged. Of these, one (Mr Nixon) has left for the South, so that, supposing the eight to play in the forthcoming match, four more will have to be selected. We have no doubt that the contests now going on will product four good men, who will each come victorious out of a series of battles. The first match for the cup will probably take place on the Queen’s Birthday, the 24th inst, and will be between Auckland and Otago. A keen and close match may be expected. Cobomandbl. —This district appears to be again looking up. The Nero Zealand Herald says “We recently drew attention to the improved state of mining matters at Coromandel, and are glad to learn that the good finds are extending to other portions of the district besides the beach. From a gentleman who arrived from there by last steamer, we learn that a splendid reef, averaging nearly three feet in thickness, has been intersected on a piece of mining ground in the Tiki district, and within a short distance of the Matawai battery. The prospectors not having sufficient funds in hand to develop the property, one of them came to town and has been successful in getting the “ ready.” A testing of the quartz from the lode has given satisfactory proof of its gold-bearing qualities. The discovery was consequent upon finding some small specimens in the bed of the adjoining creeks. The lucky party are sanguine of having got what is known in mining language as a good thing. It was only a few years ago that the surface finds in the Tiki district attracted a large exodus of miners, and we believe when the different leaders traced are properly worked, a quick and better future .is in store for Coromandel.” Detroit policemen don’t seem to be very good marksmen; ‘I want you either to hit me or stop making such a blamed racket,’ said a thief in that city at whom a policeman was shooting. Ned and Zack are sad topers. Ned told Zack his nose was the last rose of summer. Zack retorted, ‘ ’tain’t blooming alone.’ They left a good deal of ground ploughed up, and both noses are poulticed. A simple-looking country lad, to whose lot fell the leading question in the catechism, 1 What is your name 7 ’ replied, * Carrots I ’ ‘Who gave you that name? ’ —‘ All the boys in the parish, sir,’ whiningly replied the redhaired urchin.