NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 594, 15 May 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lyttelton Oddfellows’ Amateur Christy Minstrels. —As will be seen by advertisement, the above company will give their first entertainment at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, to-morrow night. Sporting.— We remind owners of horses that acceptances for the Grand National Handicap Steeplechase, and entrances for the Maiden Plate and Hunt Club Cup, close this evening, at 8 p.m., at Warner’s Hotel. Fire at West Oxford. —A fire, the cause of which is at present unknown, broke out on Saturday at West Oxford, doing a great deal of damage. No particulars are yet to hand, but we learn that the saw mills of Mr Sladden and Messrs Cusden and Bowman were destroyed, together with a large extent of bush. A quantity of stacked timber in the railway yard was also burnt, and it was only by dint of very great exertions that the goods sheds and station were saved. Canterbury Archery Club. The shooting for prizes was held in the Domain on Saturday, and resulted as follows; Ladies—Highest score (Lady Wilson’s prize), Miss Parkerson; second highest (club prize) Mrs Turnbull. Prizes given by the president (Mr Rolleston), Mr Worthy, Mr F. H. Britt an, and Mrs Peacock, were gained by Mrs Hennah, Mrs Peacock, Mrs M. S. Campbell, and Mrs Feveday respectively; the remaining club prizes being taken by Mrs Morris, Mrs Cowlishaw, Mrs Worthy, and Miss Peacock. Gentlemen—Highest score (club prize), Mr Fereday ; second highest score (Mrs Worthy’s prize), Mr M. 8. Campbell. Consolation prize for the highest score among non-winners (given by Mrs Worthy), Mr Holderness. The season prizes for highest gross scores were gained by Mr ‘Tereday and Mrs Peacock, while the attendance priz fgiven by Mr Fereday were taken by Mrs Worthy (1) and Miss Ross (2). The prizi s were presented by the Lady Paramount, Lady Wilson. Rifle Match. — On Saturday a match was fired at the Kaiapoi butts, between the Christchurch Engineer Company and No fi Company 0.R.Y., for £5 5s or a trophy The teams were under command of Captain Ross and Lieut Wearing respectively. During the firing the wind blew hard from the N.W., and interfered with the marksmen The ranges fired at wore 200 yards, standing position ; 400 and EOO yards, any position ; regulation target ; five shots at each range. The total scores made were—Christchurch Engineers, 272 ; No 6 C.R.V., 271 ; th» former thus winning the match by om point. The names of those on the winning side were—Sergeant Beattie, Sapper Pope, Sapper Costly, Sapper Marshall, Corporal Chapman, Lance-Corporal Buckley, Sergeant Major Manning. No 5 C.R.V. Lieui Wearing, Private Templeton, Corporal J Perrin, Corporal G. Wright, Corporal W H Perrin, Private Hayman, and Corpora Campbell. The match was a most fiiendh one in every way, and the Ohrialcburcl visitors expressed themselves highly pleased with the treatment which they received.

Mutual Improvement Association,— The first of a aeries of entertainments in connection with the Christchurch Mutual Improvement Association will take place this evening at the Wesleyan schoolroom, Durham street. Cathedral Guild—A general meeting of this society will be held at eight" o’clock to-morrow evening, in the College Library, when the Rev H. Glasson will read a paper entitled “ Personal Recollections of the Church Afloat. 5 ’ The Rev A. B. Lingard will also give a reading, and daring J the evening a selection of music will be performed by the choir. The public are invited to attend, - New Zealand Certificated Teachers’ Association, Canterbury Branch —The monthly meeting was held in the Durham street schoolroom on Saturday, ..13th inst. The president, Mr Onmberwortb, took the chair at one o’clock. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The chairman then read correspondence from Otago, re the New Zealand Certificated Teachers’ Association, and was authorised to forward a reply. Correspondence from the Wellington branch of the association was likewise read, expressing concurrence in all the resolutions passed by the Canterbury branch, with the exception of the last clause of No 1, On the proposal of Mr Hill, seconded by Mr Ford, and carried unanimously, the resolution was amended to read thus :—“ That for every ten members an association shall be allowed to have one vote in the general conference of certificated teachers.” The meeting then adjourned till Saturday, 10th June. Cheques.—By an Act of the last session (No 522, s. 6) a very important and beneficial alteration has been made as regards bankers’ cheques (says the Melbourne Argus). The banks have hitherto objected to cheques payable to “ order,” as it threw on them the responsibility of seeing to the genuineness of the signature of the payee. The result was that persons had to make their cheques payable to “ bearer,” and thus take the risk, in case of transmission by post, of thf ir falling into wrong hands. By the late Act, when a cheque is payable to “order" on demand—that is, where the word “ order” is substituted for “ bearer ” in the’ common form of cheque now in use—the banker is not responsible if the “ order ” is a forrery ; so that while the banker incnrs no fresh or greater responsibility than at present, the drawer has the increased security afforded by the necessity of the payee’s signature, which may possibly be well known to the banker, as well as the fear of the punishment lor forgery in ease that offence should be committed. Agricultural Statistics of Wellington. — Mr C. P. Powles has forwarded us (.Evening Post) a return of the amount cf land in cultivation, and of the agricultural produce thereof in the province of Wellington, recently compiled by him as Superintendent Collector under the Census Act. We have not space to give the figures in detail, but the following are the general results Number of holdings, 1800. Extent of land broken up but not under crop, 6567£ acres, [n wheat sown for grain only, 1422 J acres ; estimated gross produce (in bushel*';, 27,346£ In oats, for green feed or hay, 862 acres; for grain, 6666| acres; estimated gross produce of grain (in bushels), 166,231. In barley, sown for grain only, 172 acres ; estimated gross produce (in bushels), 43411 n sown grasses, in hay, 5241 J acres; estimated grass produce (in tons), 8227; in permanent artificial grass, including land in hay, 422.445 f acres. In potatoes, acres ; estimated gross produce (in tons),- 6035 The quantities of last year’s crops remaining on hand at date of return being made up were as follows Wheat, 520 bushels; oats, 2440 bushels; barley, 220 bushels. The following figures show the total number of acres under crop, including sown grasses, in the various electoral districts of the province :—Wanganui, 52,812; Rangitikei, 70,639; Manawatu, 32,807 ; Wairarapa, 205,733 : Hutt, 23,859 ; Wellington Country Districts, 44,536 ; City of Wellington, 1190 J ; making the total number of acres tinder crop within the province, 432,076 J. The increase in the estimated crop of wheat, oats, and barley for 1876 as compare! with 1875 are as follows ; Wheat, 6144£ bushels ; oats, 54,390 bushels ; barley, 75J bushels. The estimate of the potato crop for 1876 shows a decrease of 219 J tons as compared with the yield for 1875. r

Fire in Christchurch. —Shortly befon three o’clock yesterday, afternoon the fire bells of the city rang out an alarm, and in a very few minutes crowds of people weie hurrying in all directions to get a view of the cause of the commotion, which turned out to be a fire in a cottage and carpenter’s shop at the corner of Worcester and Barbadoes streets. Mrs Phillips, the wife of Mr Phillips, watchmaker, residing next to the cottage on fire, was the first to observe that anything was wrong. A few minutes before three she saw smoke and flames coming from the cottage in quest! in, which was in the Occupation of and owned by Mr John Lee, carpenter. ' £ Adjoining the house on the western side was a carpenter’s shop, which was used by Mr Lee for the purposes of his business. Immediately on discovering the fire Mrs Phillips raised an alarm, and her husband at once threw a couple of buckets of water over the part on fire. The cottage was a two-roomed one, with a lean-to at the rear, with a chimney in the centre. The flames were coming out of the lean-to. Mr and Mrs Lee and family, were out at the time, and Mr Phillips endeavored in their absence to stay the progress of the flames, but without avail, for fire soon burst out of the roof in a dense volume that speedily threatened destruction to the house and the carpenter’s shop adjoining. Although he could not save either of these from the flames, Mr Phillips succeeded in rescuing soma of the furniture from the house and some of thtools from the shop. The fire brigade was very soon upon the spot, with Mr Superintendent Harris at its head, but their services were useless, as both cottage and shop were very speedily destroyed. All the members had to do was to prevent the fire from spreading to any of the surrounding buildings. The police also were speedily on the spot in force, under the .command of the commissioner and Mr Inspector Buckley. Mr Lee states that he cannot account for the origin of the fire. He and Mrs Lee left the house at a quarter past two, and at that time everything was safe._ After locking the door he had taken the key away with him. The children had gone out previously. The buildings were insured in the South British for £IOO, and the tools and furniture in the same office for a like amount. Mr Lee states that his loss will be £3OO over and above the insurances.

In a Fit.—Shortly after eleven o’clock yesterday morning, as a man was passing along Cashel street, and when in front of Cobb and Co’s booking office, he fell down in a fit, very severely cutting his head. Constable Watson at once had him removed to the Hospital, where hia injuries were attended to by Dr Robinson. Peabl Bashing .—The Jtago Guardian, remarks:—“A correspondent from Invercargill writes to say that a most valuable discovery has recently been made on the beach near Orepnki. It appears that on a recent visit there of Mr John Turnbull, he noticed some very choice specimens of pearls in (he possession of the Maori girls. The matter attracted his attention, and he enquired of the Maories and half-castes, who are numerous in that locality, where they had procured them, when his surprise was intensified in a few minutes to find at least half a dozen diving in three or four fathoms water and returning to the beach with a few exquisita pearls to gratify his curiosity. Returning to Invercargill, no time was lost-in procuring and fitting out a craft with diving and other appliances,: which it is to he hoped will form the nucleus of a prosperous pearl fishery, and reflect becoming credit on tha energetic and enterprising manager of the New Zealand Trust and Loan Agency Company. ’ Colonial Engines.—The Otago Guardian of Friday says;—"Yesterday afternoon we had the pleasure of witnessing the trial trip of one of the new engines built by Messrs James Davidson and Co, of the Otago Foundry, which is intended for the passenger and goods traffic on the Awamoko line, running between Maerewhenua and. Oamaru. The line in question is what is technically known as a light one, the rails being only 28 lbs, instead of 40 lbs, as on the other lines, therefore requiring engines of a special construction. Two of these were built by contract for the Government, and the first, as tested yesterday, was found (o work admirably. Although just turned out of the shop and hoisted on to the rails but a few hours before, nothing could te more satisfactory than yesterday’s test, a fact whrch speaks well for the engineering skill of the firm. The engine is what is known in the trade as a saddle-tank one—six-coupled, with 8-incn cylinder and 14 inch stroke—and weighs when empiy 9 tons 8 cwt, and when ready for a start wiih water and coals, 10 tons 17 cwt 1 qr. With the exception of the framing and the wheels, the other portions of the engines were manufactured by Messrs Davidson, at their foundry in Cumberland street, where they have every facility for carrying out the work with*, despatch. The second engine is now im course of construction, and in three weeks' hence it will also be turned out. The firm is likewise building one of exactly similar proportions for the Kaitangata Coal Company, which is to be used by that company for the traffic to and from the mine. Steam was got up yesterday shortly after three o’clock, when, with Mr Conyers and several other gentlemen on board, the engine was run down the line as far as Burke’s Brewery, going most of the way at full speed. Here a brief stay occurred, after which the return was made to town, and the engins fully tested, when it was found to run as smoothly as if it had been on the line for months instead of only a few hours. The injector and 1 pumps worked beautifully—in fact everything appeared to be in capital order and so far, therefore, the test was in every respect successful.”

Museum Buildings, Dunedin. The' Otago Guardian of Friday last says—'• Theworks at the Museum building, King street,, are pragressing well, although there is little to be seen by a passer-by to indicate that much has been done for some time 1 hirteen of the fourteen massive iron columns which will support the first gallery have beem erected, and iron girders are now being: placed on them preparatory to laying theiron framework which will intersect the concrete that will form at once the ceiling: and the lower portion of the flooring o£ the gallery.. These pillars, which are fourteen feet high, and weigh about one ton, have been cast by Messrs Davidson and Co. The concrete floor of the large hall has been laid, but the wooden supports underneath have not been removed, and will be« kept in their place until all the building work has been completed; Next week a commencement will be made in laying the concrete for the gallery floor, and to facilitate • operations in this and in building the walls: a six-horse power steam engine has beem fitted for winding. The large hall measures: 90 feet by 45 feet.and will be very lofty, with: two galleries running round it. Great care is < to be taken to make the building fire-proof;; for, with the exception of the fittings and: the boarding which will be laid on the concrete floors, there will be nothing combust tible in it when operations have beem finished and the wooden centerings taken: away. It might be well to consider whether' it would not be advisable to substitute flooring tiles for boards, so as to remove the risk, caused by having wooden floors ; it being so* very desirable to have the least possible chance of the valuable collection whiottiwilU be contained in the Museum destfpoyerf' by' fire. The building should be out of the contractors’ hands at the end of the year.” Railway Accident.—A railway accident, resulting fatally, occurred on .Friday, says the Otago Daily Times, on the Dunedin and (Jlutha Railway, to Richard Thomas, driver of a goods train. The train, which was a special one, consisting of four waggons and an engine driven by deceased, left Dunedin ■ at 9 a.m., and all went well until Stoney Greek was reached at 12.50 a.m. A short distance beyond the Creek the line runsthrough a cuttin", and the district road is: carried over it by mtans of a bridge, havingposts about 4ft 6in from the permanent way. This bridge was ihe cause of the accident. Alex Govv, the guard, was looking out of his van when he saw the deceased man leaning out from the engine, the train travelling about 20 miles an hour. As soon as the bridge was reached, it caught Thomas, and hurled him off the engine. The breaks were at once put down, and the fireman reversed promptly, and on going back about 20 yards, the unfortunate driver was found on his back in the ditch. He was at once placed in the van, and the train went on to Stirling. There they fortunately found Dr Smith, of Balclutha, who, on examination, pronounced the man to be sufferkg from concussion of the brain and other u. juries. v Everything that could be devised for the r. lief of the sufferer was done, and ho was placed in the train which arrives in town at 850 At six minutes to nine Thomas expired,!- never having spoken from the time of the accident. He was single, and had been emoloyed on the Otago railways about two years—h: II of that time in Southland.

Football —A m atch was played on Saturday afternoon between a scratch fifteen and the Club. As on the previous Saturday the Fifteen played short, being represented by only eleven men, while the Club mastered twenty-one. If members who are advertised to play with the Fifteen, and are unable to do so, were to give due notice to the eecrc tary, the vacancies could be filled up, and the sides would be more evenly represented. The game on Saturday, however, p oved a most enjoyable one throughout. The Jiub had decidedly the best of it at first, some fine runs made by Stringer being of great assistance to them, and just before time was called they succeeded in obtain irg a touch down ; but the attempt at goal proved a failure. In the second spell they secured another touch-down, but again the kick was • unsuccessful. After this the Fifteen pulled themselves together, and being in better condition than their adversaries, the tables were completely turned. The forward play was especially good, the men backing each other up very effectively, the Fifteen qaiokly obtaining two touoh-downs, neither of which unfortunately were converted into a goal. No other advantage was gained by either side, and on time being called the match was declared a “ draw.” For the Fifteen Thompson played remarkably well, setting the others a good example in backing up, Matthias also distinguished himself by some good play. We should like to see more dribbling introduced into the game, as it is a great mistake for players to imagine that the ball should be picked up whenever it comes near them. It would also be a great advantage if some of the members were to come a little earlier and practice their dropkicking before the game commenced. Tai Tapu Library.— A general meeting of subscribers to this library was held in the schoolroom on Thursday last, May 11th. There was only a limited attendance The president of the institution occupied the chair, and presented the following report of the retiring committee: —“The retiring committee have the honor to report since their election on the 9th September, 1875, they have met seven times to transact the business of the library, and have great pleasure in stating that the half acre of land given by Mr R. H, Rhodes h*,s been duly conveyed over to the Superintendent ; also, that they have received from the Government the sum of £9O, being £SO granted for 1874, and £4O for 1875 ; also, that they have added to the library 126 books, at a cost of£32 9s, making a total of 222 volumes now in the library. The committee regret to State that the subscribers to the library are not so numerous as they could desire, only numbering at the present twenty-two sub BCribers, but as plans have been prepared and a tender accepted for £9O, ; for a new library and reading-room with internal fittings complete, and to be finished by the 24th of June, it is to be hoped that this valuable institution will be better supported ; and more especially as the committee intend having the daily and weekly papers, one or two English and Australian papers, and periodicals ordered for the use of the subscribers so soon an the reading-room is completed,” The balance sheet showed the receipts to have been from all sources £142 11s; the expenditure bad been £34 17s lid; leaving a balance in hand Of £lO7 13s Id. It was moved by Mr Tanner, and seconded by Mr J. Champion—“ That the report and balance sheet as read be received and adopted.” Carried. The chairman stated thenext business to be the election of a managing committee for the en suing year, and read the clause in the Public Library ordinance in reference thereto. It was moved by Mr Forbes, and seconded by Mr Tanner—“ That the retiring committee, consisting of Messrs H. W. Perryman R. Forbes, Tanner, J Champion, S. Nutt, C. Dnnsford, C. Barrett, W. Wheeler, and Watkins, be rc-elccted, with the exception of Mr Watkins, who had left the district, and that Mr Martin’s name be substituted in his place.” Carried, The officers appointed were —Mr H. W. Perryman, president; Mr R. Forbes, hon treasurer, and Mr Martin, lion secretary. 'A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. Floods in the Rivers.— During Friday and Saturday the nor’-wester blowing, accompanied by heavy rains in the hills, caused the rivers Rakaia and Waimakariri to be heavily in flood, and yesterday the water had reached such n height as to damage the southern approaches to the railway bridges, and also to flood the adjoining neighborhood. From the Bealey a telegram reicbed Kaiap i at noon on Saturday to the following effect: — “Heavy flood here. Kiveis rising fast, under continuous heavy rain ; will reach you before to-morrow.” Telegrams were also received by Mr Lawson, traffic manager, and Mr Warner, railway engineer, from Kaiapoi to the same effect. Messrs Lawson and Warner proceeded by special train yesterday morning to the Waimakariri, and they found that the groin protecting the southern approach of the bridge bad been carried away ly the force of the flood, and that the approach itself was in course of being washed away. They returned to town at once, and Mr Warner made arrangements for filling in and making the approach good to-day. With regard to the flood in the Bakaia, at 10 a.m. yesterday morning, Mr Warner, Railway Engineer, received the following telegram from the station master there :—“ Fresh in river; two breaches made in formation, about three chains. Men at work at one of these, but cannot do anything with second breach until water subsides. Greater fresh than the former one.” Mr Warner at onci telegraphed to bis resident staff at Ibe Bakaia to use every despatch to make good the breaches in the embankment there, and, aa wilt be seen by the later telegram received, h s instructions were carried vigorously into effect. At sp.m. last night Mr Warner received the following telegram from the stalionrm ster at Bakaia—“ River ia going down slowly since morning ; tne water has carried away more of the embankment, making a breach about two chains long and six feet deep. Men aie still working at the first breach, which is left dry S disconnected by fish-plate bolts giving way, submerging about three lengths nf rails.” From the tenor of the above telegram it will be seen that should the water not subside to allow of the re-co: nec tion of the rails, it will be necessary for the -passengers to be taken over by means of nlauking Arrangements have been made 11 the department to have this done il ■necessary, so as to prevent «ny senoasicterrnption of the passenger traffic, bhoulo •the water subside, as there is now even probability of it doing, the work of repair intake damage will not occupy more than tv o davs Mr Lawson proceeds per first tram to Bakaia this morning, and Mr Warner |.o /Kaiapoi, to superintend the work now in progress for restoring the line. .

Holy Trinity Church, Lyttelton.—A vestry meeting was held on Friday night last. Drs Donald and Bouse, Mr H. B Webb, and Captain Rose were appointed nominators for the year. The churchwardens were requested to obtain an estimate of the cost of insuring the church. Mr W. Graham was unanimously re-appointed verger, several gentlemen speaking highly of his past services. It was determined that the balance of the church repairs fund should be appropriated for the gas account, and that the incumbent's stipend be raised to £250 from the t ime of his taking office. Messrs Nalder, Edge, Hawkins, and F. Graham, the committee appointed to consult with the churchwardens and vestry rc church accommodation and removal of cemetery, reported that they' recommended Dr Rouse should see the Provincial Secretary in reference to the cemetery, and that Mr Dudley be written to, informing him that the vestry consider it expedient to secure the services of an assistant curate, and asking him if he would give his consent that the endowment made by him to the Dampier’s Bay Church be applied to the above purpose until such time as it shall be necessary to erect a church in Dampier’s Bay ; agreed to. In reference to removal of parsonage it was resolved —“ That the standing council of the Diocesan Synod be written to, asking if they are willing to allot the present site of parsonage reserve No 2 to be sold, in order that another parsonage may be built on a more convenient site. The Hunt Club —The Timaru Herald of Saturday says :—“ The hounds of the Canterbury Hunt Club met at Mr Turnbull’s bouse at Parcora yesterday at about twelve o’clock. The weather in the early morning seemed to threaten a north wester, but as the day grew, a light southerly breeze arose, which made it all that could be desired for a hunting morning. A large number of guests assembled, making up in all nearly two hundred people, who met with the well-known hospitality of Mr Andrew Turnbull. Perhaps half the visitors were ladies, who, we were sorry to say, contented themselves with looking on instead of going with the field. At about two o’clock Fred Hedge and the second whip appeared with the hounds, and quickly trotting away made for the coverts away made house. In the meanwhile, the ladies, accompanied by a large number of men who were unprovided with mounts, had gone to the top of a bill, from whence the whole run might be seen. Shortly after the throw off, the voice of the master, Mr A. Cardale, was beard—»Gone away.’ Every rider crammed his hat hard down, and prepared for the bullfinches in store. The first fence was negotiated in good form, but the huntsman unfortunately came to grief, recovering himself, however, as only an old cross country rider can do. The hounds now settled down well to their work, and with a screaming scent breast high, it wanted a flyer to be anywhere near them. The next fence told on the horses that were out of condition, but a good part of the field managed to get over somehow. Then we saw the prettiest part of the whole hunt, reminding us more than any other of the old country. The hounds going well, and every man riding in good form, with a bit of colo" from the huntsman in front, over two or three fields of rape and turnips, and some nasty fences to get over, made up a picture not easily to be forgotten. The bounds threw up their heads in a grass field, and after Fred Hedge had made one or two casts, the cry was once more * Gone away,’ The jumping horses were wanted now, for the fences here were pretty stiff, and the pace very hot as well. However, with a good lead the bulk of the field were all there, the weeds dropping behind. A queer piece of country on the slope of a bill had next to be tackled, especially a naity piece of timber which, fortunately for a good many, was broken down by one of the leading horses, A check occurred at this point, but in a very short time the hounds were again on good terms with the herring, and raced away through a gorse hedge close to the house. The field took the fence in fair style, but one or two came to grief. Away then over the open to a gum tree spinney where the hunt had to meet the most awkward jump of the day. Six riders only took it, the rest preferring to go through a gap, and two saddles were emptied, one of the riders, we were very sorry to learn, being slightly injured. A very pretty spin after this brought the first hunt in South Canterbury to a close, after one of the most agreeable days that has ever been spent in the district. We trust we shall often see Mr Cardale and his hounds down here in the future, and that this noble sport will become an established institution with us.