NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 596, 17 May 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Grand Orange Lodge. The halfyearly meeting of this lodge will take place at two o’clock to morrow afternoon, at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton. Nomination. —Messrs J. King, W. Holmes, W. McKeever, and J. Hunter was nominated to-day as candidates for the vacancy caused in the Lyttelton Borough Council by the resignation of Or Buist, Rabbit Killing at Wantwood— The Southland Times of May sth says : —“ Mr P. K. McCaughan, of Wantwood station, Hokonui, is sparing neither labor nor expense in his efforts to eradicate the rabbit pest. Quite recently he imported three dozen dogs from Victoria, and now he has rabbit-killing on Wantwood, five men aud eighty dogs, the result being an average daily slaughter of 250 bunnies.” Oamaru Gas Supply.— The North Otago Times of Monday says:—“The gas, being turned on for testing purposes on Saturday night, was brought into practical use at a large number of establishments, nearly all the business places in Thames street and most of the hotels being lighted up therewith.”

The Rangitata Road Bridge— We regret says the Tiviaru Herald, to learn that during the very heavy fresh in the Rangitata on Saturday, the whole of the north approach was completely swept away, including the masonry abutment, and the short wooden span connecting the roadway to the iron bridge. Ripa Island. —Several improvements have been made in the landing place at this island. Formerly there used to be some difficulty in getting vessels alongside the wharf at low water, but an addition has recently been made, and now the Government Steam Launch can lay alongside at any state of the tide. Steps have also been made, giving easier access to those landing.

Child Lost in the Bush at Waimate.— At about 10 o’clock on Sunday morning (says the Herald or Monday), a little boy named Hinks, whose parents reside in the bush, was missed by his mother. Search was at once made, and although Constables Davidson and Gilchrist, and several neighbours, made active efforts to discover the little one, no trace of him could be found up to nine o’clock on Monday morning, Ic is feared the little fellow must have fallen into a water hole, or old saw pit, several of which are in that part of the bush, JSearch is being still made.

Oxford. —An accident occurred yesterday in East Oxford to a Frenchman named Franz Morean, of Bangiora, It seems that the unfortunate man had been out walking, when his foot slipped into a hole unseen by him. He broke his leg just above the ancle. Fortunately he was seen by another person shortly afterwards, and carried to the residence ot Mr John Clolus. Dr Weld was sent for and set the broken limb. Free Thought —We learn that a number of gentlemen having formed themselves into a committee, yesterday waited upon Mr Charles Bright, and asked him to deliver a free thought lecture in Christchurch prior to his departure, similar to those which he had delivered in Dunedin, the lecture to take place in the Theatre on next Sunday evening, or any Sunday evening that may suit Mr Bright’s convenience, admission of course to be free to the public at large. Mr Bright promised to comply with the request if the committee would undertake to carry out all the necessary arrangements. This we understand they have agreed to do. Acclimatisation. —The secretary of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society informs us, says the Herald , that Mr Ball was to leave Nelson with the 300 Californian quail and the rest of the larks which were not delivered the last time he brought down the shipment. The following is the list of the places fixed by the committee for liberating them :—Mount Pee). Forest, 25 ; Arowhenua statioa, 25 ; Burke’s Pass neighborhood, to be distributed in two lots, 50 ; Waimate station, 25 ; Hunter’s Hills, 25 ; Holme station, 25 ;Otipua station, 25 ; Glengummell, 25 ; Levels station, 25 ; Island run. 25 ; Seadown, 25, We trust that every care will be taken by those who are about to receive them, to take delivery of them on their arrival in Timaru, and liberate them as soon at possible.

The New Theatre.— We understand that Messrs Baylee, Beatty, and Hoskins concluded the purchase yesterday of the piece of land near the theatre, between that building and the Music Hall, and fronting on Cathedral Square. This will enable them to give what has been looked as a sine qua non in the erection of a new theatre, viz, an entrance to the dress circle totally distinct from those to the other parts of the house. The erection of the new building will, we may say, be at once proceeded with, as during the projected season of Mr Hoskins the building of the walls, &c, can be pushed on, so that no delay need occur in the finishing of the new theatre.

Accident at Lyttelton.— The second mate of the brig Mayflower, Mr William Johns, met with a bad accident yesterday afternoon. He was aloft doing something on the fore-yard, when the crane line on which he was standing, gave way and he fell. His head struck some wire rigging on the deck-house and three wounds were inflicted, two of which laid the scull bare. He fell on the deck on his side and broke one of his ribs. The sufferer was at once taken to the casual ward, and Dr McDonald was quickly in attendance and dressed the wounds. It was of course impossible to ascertain if there were any internal injuries, but we hear there is every prospect of the patient doing Well. Brooksidb. —The children attending the Sabbath School connected with the Presbyterian Church were entertained by Mr and Mrs MoOleary at their residence on Friday last. A considerable portion of time was oocupied in running races, and various articles were given away as prizes to the successful competitors. An adjournment was afterwards made to the homestead, where a capital spread awaited the children and a few friends, who numbered about seventy in all. Gathering again in front of the verandah, the Rev J. W. Cree delivered a suitable address, and the annual prize books were distributed among the scholars. The Rev J. W. Cree then presented to Miss Donald, on behalf of her scuolars, a hand some work-box, in token of their appreciation of her services, and the proceedings were brought to a close with three cheers for Mr and Mrs McCleary, Messrs Cunningham a;.d Boag, to whose kindness the school was indebted for the books.

The Floods. —We learn that the whole of the West Coast mails while en route to Christchurch were lost in the River Taipo on Wednesday, at mid-day. It appears that Mr Maher, the driver of the mail coach, was dining at the stopping place about noon, leaving the coach by the bank of the river, together with mails, passengers’ luggage, &o. On coming out of the hotel in about a quarter of an hour, what was Mr Maher’s astonishment to find that the river had risen fifteen feet, and that his coach had been swept away and was out of sight, and apparently past all hope of recovery. Fortunately the horses had been taken out and were safe in the stable, or the animals would in all probability have been drowned. It also appears that another coach was standing on the bank of the river, and that it shared the same fate as the mail coach. The loss on the two, including passengers’ luggage, is estimated at about £SOO. Mr Cassidy was at once telegraphed to, and he sent to town, and Mr Wagner of the Clarendon yesterday despatched an express with the outward mails.

Cathedral Guild. — A general meeting of this society was held last evening, in the College Library. In consequence of the unpleasant character of the weather, there was not so large an attendance as there might otheiwise have been. The Yen the Dean occupied the chair, and apologised for the absence of what had promised to be a feature of the entertainment—viz, some selections of music. In consequence of the absence of Mr Parker, who had to be at the Harmonic rehearsal, that portion of the pro gramme would have to be dispensed with. Mr Parker had, it seemed, secured the services of a locum tenens , but that gentleman was unfortunately laid up. The chairman then went on to refer to the progress being made in the erection ot the cathedial, and remarked that though it did not outwardly appear to be going up very rapidly, still a great deal of work was being done inside, in the way of shaping material. In a fortnight or three weeks this material would commence to be placed in position, ami building of the walls would be resurm d He then called upon the Rev H. Glasson to give the first reading of the evening. Mr Glasson read a paper entitled “ Persona Recollections of the Church Afloat,” tin material being gathered from a sixteenyears’ experience as chaplain in the Royal Navy. The paper was liighly interesting throughout, giving as it did an excellent idee of how matters appertaining to the spiritual welfare of those afloat were conducted. The description of Divine Service on board the

troop ship Serapis, was a piece of graphic word painting, and called foxth loud applause. Some of the reader’s experiences in the Baltic fleet during the Crimean war were exceedingly telling, as indeed was the entire paper. The Dean, in thanking Mr Qlasson for having brought it forward, took no little credit to himself for having suggested the subject. The Rev A. E. Liogard then read some selections from a lecture delivered some time ago by a friend of his in England the Rev Mr Huntington —on Recreation for the People. The extracts had been very judiciously selected, and were listened to most attentively. The proceedings closed with prayer.

River Kakaia, —In addition to the damage caused by the recent heavy flood in this river at the railway bridge, the farmers living in the neighborhood of Stoney Gully, near Southbridge, were seriously alarmed at the rapidity with which the creek was rising on Saturday afternoon. The river having overflowed it& banks in several places, forced its way through divers channels into Stoney Gully, which on Sunday morning had assumed alarming proportions, flooding paddocks and doing considerable damage to the roads and bridges in its vicinity, on some holdings egress from the houses being completely obstructed. We fear people in this neighborhood are not thoroughly alive to the great danger impending over their properties by any very heavy or continuous freshet occurring in this river, but we believe the Board of Conservators have been making strenuous efforts to check its overflow, and it is under consideration to carry out large and important works near the railway bridge to effect this end, for which a rate of 6d in the £ has been struck on all the rateable property within their jurisdiction. Plans have been submitted f«r their approval for diverting, by means of groins, &c, a considerable portion of the main stream to the south side of the Big Island. Meeting at Oxford — A crowded meeting was held at the Road Board office on Monday night, for the purpose of adopting means to relieve the distress caused by the late fire. On the motion of Mr Gorton, Mr J. B. Pearson was elected chairman. Mr Pearson explained that on the previous day he had been requested by several gentlemen to call a meeting, for the purpose of raising funds for alleviating the distress of those who had unfortunately lost r heir all in the late fire, and as the occasion was pressing, the notice had been necessarily short ; and he requested some gentleman to propose some resolution. Mr J. R. Gorton said he considered that the object of the present meeting was the relief of cases of immediate distress, and that afterwards other means could be taken for further relief. The fire had been a great public calamity, and there appeared to be no real data before the meeting of the actual extent of the loss, but he was of opinion that it was only right and proper that outside aid should be sought to assist in relieving the unfortunates. Mr Paul stated that four families had been temporarily housed in the Road Board cottages, and some cases relieved from the Charitable Aid Fund, and proposed the following resolution «That a general committee be appointed, who shall select from amongst its members a collecting sub-committee, whose duty shall be to canvass all available districts for subscriptions ; also, an executive sub-committee, whose duties shall be the general management and distribution of the funds collected, and the immediate relief of the destitute when necessary, the said sub-committees to report to the general committee at such times as may be agreed upon.” Mr Sedeole seconded the motion. After some discussion the motion was carried. MrSladden proposed—- “ That a general committee be appointed, to consist of the members of the Road Board, the clergy of all denominations, Messrs Wilkie, Ingram, Woodfield, Leurs, D. Fisher, Mullen, Weed, Marsh, Joseph Pearson, Plaskett, Parish, and the mover.” Carried. A number of names were afterwards added. The subscription list was then opened, and £9l 19s 6d was collected in the room within half an hour. The committee then appointed Mr Pearson chairman, Mr Wilkie secretary, and Mr Jackson treasurer, the Revs Opie and Pendray and Mr F. Jackson as a relief committee. with power to relieve the most pressing cases; and Messrs J. R. Pearson, Gorton, Sladden, and the Rev Opie were appointed as a deputation to wait upon his Honor the Superintendent on Wednesday, to represent the state of affairs, and to report on Wednesday evening. Mr David Fisher wished to have an investigation into the causes of the fire, but the chairman ruled that the meeting could take no action in the matter, and recommended Mr Fisher to the police as the proper quarter to obtain the information he wanted. The meeting then terminated.

“ Bet half a dollar I shall fall down! Bet half a dollar I shall fallmurmured an old chap as, loaded to the muzzle with forty-rod whisky, he was feeling his way down street, “ Bet half a dol—” Just then the old boy’s heels flew so high into the air that his head and shoulders beat them back to the ground. Rising to a sitting posture, he took up his hat, rubbed the back of his head and then said—“ Won my money? And it is the first bet I’ve won this winter.”

Old Lord Elphinstone was asleep at church while the minister, a very prosy preacher, was holding forth. At length the parson stopped and cried, 1 Waukin, my Lord Alphinstone.’ A grunt, and then, ‘ I’m no sleepin, minister.’ ‘ But ye are sleepin. I wager ye dinna ken what I said last.’—‘Ye said “ Waukin, my Lord Alphinstone.” ‘ Ay, ay ; but I wager ye dinna ken what I said last afore that.’ —‘I wager ye dinna ken yoursel.’