NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 595, 16 May 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Calcutta Sweeps. Sweeps on the Grand National Steeplechase will be drawn at Warner's and Morton's Hotels on the evening of the 19th inst. Chmsty Minstrels. The Lyttelton Oddfellow-Amateur Christy Minstrels will give an entertainment at the new hall at half-past seven o'clock this evening. Sporting —The acceptances for the Grand National Steeplechase, and the entries for the Hunt Club Cup and Maiden Plate, appear elsewhere. West Coast Mails.—We learn that the coach which left Hokitika last Friday morning has met with an accident in one of the rivers. It is reported that some of the mails are missing Christchurch Fire Police.—A general meeting of the members of this force will be held at the Fire Brigade Hall, Lichfield street, at half-past seven o'clock this evening. i British and Foreign Bible Society. —The annual public meeting of the Canterbury Auxiliary Bible Society will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday evening; chair to be taken at half-past seven o'clock. Sale op Privileges.—Messrs J and R. H. Campbe'l will sell the usual privileges in connection with the Mew Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Club, at Warner's hotel, on Friday next. Appointments.—The following appointments are gazetted :—S. C. Phillips, acting gaoler to the Lyttelton gaol ; Constable F. Lindsay, inspector of slaughter yards for the Timaru district. Hurunui Mails.—ln conseqnenoe of the late hour at which Lee's coach left Amberly yesterday morning, caused by the delay in the arrival of the Northern train, the return coach from Hurunui was twenty-five minutes late. The train, however, waited for the mails, and brought them on. Amberly Racecoubse. —It is intended to form a race committee here as soon as practicable. In the meantime trustees are to be appointed to take charg e of the 300 acres of recreation reserve made by the Government. As soon as practicable the course will be ploughed, and sown with English grass, to be ready for races in December. Amberly. Considerable progress has been made in this township since the opening of the railway. Among the recent additions to the buildings may be mentioned Mr H. McLean's hotel, the stores of Messrs D. and D. Cameron, J, S. White and Co, J. McNaught, Benn and Parkerson, and J. Ward. Mutual Impbovement Association.— The first of a series of entertainments in connection with this association took place last evening atthe Wesleyan schoolroom, and was very successful. Readings, recitations, and music formed the staple of the programme, which was carried out capitally. School Committees.—A proclamation appears in the Gazette, calling a meeting of householders in the Ashburton Educational District, to be held on Thursday, May 18th, at 7 p.m, for the election of a School Committee. On the same evening a meeting of the householders of the West Oxford Educational District is also to be held for a similar purpose. Christchuroh Hospital.—A return of the patients treated in the Christchurch Hospital for the month of April appears in the Gazette :—Patients under treatment at date of last return—Males, 67 ; females, 29 j total 96. Admitted during month—Males, 41 ; females, 17 ; total, 58. DischargesCured—Males, 82; females, 19; total, 51. Relieved—Males, 1 ; ;.' females, 3 ; total, 4. Dead—Males, 5; females, 1; total, 6. Re« maining under treatment—Males, 70; females, 23 ; total, 93. Complimentary Dinner.— of gentlemen, convened by Mr T. D. Jones, was held last evening at Warner's Hotel, for the purpose of taking steps to give a complimentary dinner toJMr James Grey (for many years connected with the reporting staff of the Lyttelton Times') on the occasion of his departure from Christchurch, Mr Grey; having received a Government appointment at Wellington. A committee was appointed to carry out the object and also to obtain funds to purchase a testimonial, to be presented to him at the dinner. Swimming Baths.?—As will be seen by advertisement elsewhere, & meeting for the formation of a company to erect swimming baths in a central position in Christchurch will be held at Mr John Anderson's office tomorrow, at 4 p.m, The promoters will endeavor to secure the section fronting on Hereford street, now iu the occupation of Professor Ayers, and the inclusion of a tepid bath in the scheme will be sine qua nan, so that the baths may be used both winter and summer. The erection of snch an establishment in our midst will supply a want long felt, and will also tend to help on the foimation of a swimming club, which would be very desirable. Education Rate.—Proclamations appear in the Gazette levying the following rates: —One shilling in the pound in the district of Ashburton Forks, payable to Mr J. E. Buchanan ; one shilling in the pound in the district of Wakanui, payable to J. E. Buchanan ; one shilling in the pound in the district of Ashburton South, payable to J. B. Buchanau ; eightpence in the pound in the district of Brookside, payable to J. Baldwin; one shilling in the pound in the district of Wainui, payable to H. Hewer ; one shilling in the pound in the district of Duvauchelle's Bay, payable to H. Hewer ; ninepence in the pound in the district of Akaroa, payable to H. Hewer; and onpshilling in the pound in the district of French Farm, payable to H. Hewer,

Howard Burlesque Company.—This company, now playing successfully in Wellington, will open a season of twentyfour nights at the Music Hall, on the 12th proximo. Accident on the Southbribge Line. was received in town shortly after noon yesterday, that an accident.had happened to the goods train near Lincoln, in consequence of which the progress of that train had been delayed. It seems that the engine attached to the goods train going from the junction to Southbridge, had got off the line at the points near Lincoln, and was thrown upon its side. Fortunately no injury was done to life or limb, and a gang of men was at once despatched from town on receipt of the news to put matters right. We have not learned to what extent the engine is damaged. The Floods—Mr Lawson, the traffic manager of the railways, yesterday proceeded to Rakaia to inspect the damage done in that district by the late floods. He found that about two chains of the embankment on the southern side of the Rakaia, about 300 yards from the bridge, had been washed away, and that, as a natural {consequence, the rails and sleepers for that distance had' fallen in, and were quite submerged. An extra gang of men will be despa*ched to the scene at five o'clock this morning, and it is expected that passenger traffic will be resumed this evening, but goods trains will not be sent over that part of the line until several passenger trains have traveised it, as the goods trains are very heavy just now. Traffic will, however, in all probability be fully resumed by noon on Wednesday. On the Northern line the through traffic was resumed by the midday down train yesterday. The breach in the south approach of the South Waimakariri bridge was made good under Mr Warner's direction- with between eighty and ninety tons of stone ballast from Lyttelton. Very great credit is due to Mr Knight and the men under him for the manner in which they worked to make good the damaged part. At the Rangitata there was also a heavy fresh, rendering the temporary bridge over which the railway traffic was taken unsafe. Those in charge at the spot therefore removed the line from the; temporary to the permanent bridge, so as to prevent any stoppage of the traffic. 1.0.G.T.—A Lodge of the above Order was instituted by Mr S. R. Webb, D.D.G.W. C.T. for the Peninsula district at Pigeoa Bay, on Monday, May Bth. There were a large number assembled at the schoolroom at the hour appointed. A preliminary meeting was held to hear the Order, explained by the representative of the Grand Lodge then present. The District Deputy addressed the meeting at some length on the benefits to.be derived from joining, and pourtrayed many of .the evil effects of the intoxicating cup, requesting them not to grow weary, but to go on until the whole of the inhabitants joined in the work. Most of those present-twenty-one in number—signified ;their appreciation of the Order by joining. The Lodge was then instituted after the usual manner. It was resolved the Lodge should be called the Second to None. The following officers were then appointed—W.C.T. Bro G. McKay; W.V.T, T. White, jun ; W.S, John Robinson ; W.F.S,* John Pittegrew; W.T, Eli Scott; W.C, W. Lines; W.M, R. Litten ; W.I.G, James Pittegrew ; W.O.G, Lyons ; R.H.S, - Flynn ; L.H.S, D. Pitcaithloy ; W.A.S, G. Knox ; W.D M. W. Lyall. It was resolved that the night of meeting be Tuesday, at 7 p.m. After several more matters had been discussed, Bro Webb stated that he would, if possible meet them on Thursday, to put them in working order. Akaroa lodge was also visited by Bro Webb, who was much pleased with the progress made during the five months it has been instituted. It now numbers sixty-five good on the books, which speaks well for the energy displayed by its members, amongst whom are some of the leading men of the town, who assured the officer visiting that the effects of Gool Templary were being felt. According to arrangement, a meeting of the Second to None Lodge was held on Thursday, May 11th, when three more were added to the. number with the usual ceremonies. It was resolved that a set of officers' and two dozen members' regalia be obtained from the Grand Lodge, and other things that were necessary for carrying on the work of the lodge. A committee was appointed to see to the purchase of the same. Vote of thanks to the D.D. for his presence and the attention that he had paid them in working the lodge up in such a manner was carried by acclamation. The meeting then considered the matter of the instituting officer's expenses, who said that he had much pleasure in making that into a donation for the lodge, which was received with great applause. After which the lodge was closed in due form, the instituting officer wishing them God speed. Bitten by the Katipo.—»Mr J. M. Meek of Waiwera, Auckland, sends the following narrative of the effects of the bite of the Katipo, or native spider to the Auckland Herald of May Bth : Springs, May 3rd, 1876. —Sir, —Permit me, through the columns of your valuable journal to publish the following facts, which have reference to the nearly fatal result from the bite of a little black spider which the natives call katipo. It was on the morning of the 24th ultimo, at 3 o'clock, my son (a man of 31 years of age) was awakened from his sleep by the bite of one of those poisonous insects, and came into our room about an hour afterwards, and exclaimed to his mother and myself, ' I am bitten by one of those spiders that the natives have so often spoken to me about, and am full of pain. See, here it is, in the bottom of the candlestick,' I looked at the insect, whose body was about the size of an ordinary pea, and in oolor nearly approachr ing to black. His mother on looking at his back saw the puncture the spider had made, and immediately commenced sucking the wound. I proceeded to the hotel, and obtained the services of Dr Mohnbeer, when on my return with him to my house my son was suffering the most excruciating pain in the groin, the virus apparently working its way in that direction. After an application of ammonia by the dootor, the pain shifted from the groin and worked its way up the spine, affecting the arms and chest during the remainder of the day, and lasting till the following morning, my son moaning with pain the whole time. On Tuesday the pain became intense, the virus vvorking its way into his legs, causing the veins to swell very much. We applied turnip poulMce to the wound, and when taken off, a quantity of black fluid came from the sore During the afternoon, the pain in the legs and big toes still continued. Doctor Mohnbeer prescribed a liniment, which, after rubbing it well into the legs,

caused a black, inky-colored fluid to emit 1 itself through the pores of the skin in large drops, from which time my son began to improve, and has continued improving ever since but suffers much from weakness. From the time he was bitten on the Monday till the Friday following, he lost exactly 121bs in flesh. I forgot to state that when he was first bitten I gave him small doßes of brandy at intervals during the first two days, which seemed to have the effect of greatly relieving the pain. lam informed by Te Hemera, native chief here, and also by other natives, that many fatal among their ranks have taken place by the bite of the katipo ; they also believe that the sufferer is sure to die if they cannot find the Bpider; but, on the contrary, if they find it and burn it in the fire, the patient gets well in three days. If thev cannot fled the insect, they set fire to the house and burn the building, effects, and everything else. In this case the spider was found, and Dr Mohnbeer has it preserved in spirits in his surgery. I write this to caution persons to look well to their bedclothes before retiring to rest, as I have witnessed persons suffering from the bite of snakes and other reptiles in Australia, but never saw anyone in such agony as my son during the time the poison was taking effect," SPANISH GUARD A COSTAS.—The following from the Gibraltar Chronicle of March 9th gives fuller particulars of the outrage committed there recently than we have yet published : outrage committed upon the British schooner Amalia by a Spanish guardacosta, we have to record another piratical attack and illegal seizure by the same force. The particulars, as furnished to us, are as follows :—The British falucho San Francisco 11, Jules Alvarez master, a vessel for many years past engaged in the regular trade between Gibraltar and Tetuan, left this port on Tuesday afternoon between four and five o'clock with a valuable cargo, consisting in great part of British manufactures. At about seven o'clock, when between half a mile and a mile from Buropa Lighthouse, steering south, a small boat came ?out -from behind, the rock and ran alongside the falucho. Her crew, consisting of seven armed men immediately jumped on boird and threatened to shoot the master and crew of the San Francisco II if they offered the slightest resistance or gave any alarm by shouting out, their close proximity to the rock, no doubt, rendering them apprehensive that they might be interfered- with in thtir nefarious proceeding if an alarm was given. Having taken possession of the vessel, the escampavias towed her into Algecirap, where, we are informed, the cargo is being discharged, and an inventory made of it by the Spanish Customs authorities. She had on board several passengers for Tetuan, clearly proving the bona fide of the voyage. She was in British waters, and the course she was steering was the direct opposite of that which would have taken her towards the Spanish coast. Every pretext for overhaul* ing this vessel was, therefore, wanting. We see it stated in the Gibraltar. Guardian of yesterday that these escam,' paviag of the Resguardo Marimo form no part of the Spanish Navy, " and that many of them are private boats hired for the service. This, perhaps accounts for their excesses, and for the instances we hfan of private plunder perpetrated under cover of a public service. But, if these escampavias are not subject to the discipline of the Spanish Navy, nor controlled by its officers, there is the gieater need that their violation of British waters and piratical attacks on British vessels should be vigorously and unceremoniously repressed. There can be little doubt, we should hope, that unless the Spanish Government take effectual measures to put a stop to these aggressive acts, which seem to be increasing in frequency, the British Government will itself devise means for their suppression, and for:the due protection of British trade and British ships."