NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 598, 19 May 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Carrier Pigeons.—Some grand birds arrived in the Natal Queen yesterday from Hobart Town. They are for Mr G. A. Macquarrie, of the Union Bank. They took the first prize at the show of birds at Hobart Town on May 4th.

Accident at Hurunui.—On Tuesday Mr McWilliams, manager ot the Teviotdale station, had a very narrow escape from drowning in this river. He was crossing it on horseback, when he was washed from his horse, When rescued he wac quite exhausted, but under careful treatment soon recovered.

Sudden Death.—A young man named J. C. Lea fell dead in Tuam street about half-past nine yesterday morning. We understand he had been suffering from heart disease for some time, and that Dr Campbell was attending him for that complaint.

Mormonism.—Wm. McLachlan and C. C. Hurst, elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will lecture in the Temperance Hall, Gloucester street, Sunday evening next, May 31st, at half-past six o'clock. Subject—" Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon." See Isaiah, 29 c, 12 v. Seats free.

Fire. —Laet evening the constable on duty in Hereford street observed the reflection of fire coming from the cellar of Messrs Maling ana Co's store, and raised the alarm. It appears tbat the gas had been left burning for the purpose of drying the cellar, which has been whitewashed, and the heat from the burner had caught the woodwork, which had burst into a flame. It was soon extinguished.

Mdlle. De Murska. —Mr Medcalfe, agent in advance for Mdlle. lima de Murska, arrived yesterday from Dunedin to make arrangements for her appearance here. As already announced, Mdlle. de Murska will make her first appearance here at the Odd fellows' Hall on the 26th instant. She will give concerts at Oamaru and Timaru en route to Christchurcb.

Accident at Kaiapoi—On Thursday afternoon, as Mr W. Sansom, Southbrook wa? driving a buggy containing Mrs Sansom. one or two children, and servant, past the Peraki street railwaj gates, the horse began kicking at the breechin Btrap, and also kicked Mr Sansom on both legs, but not more seriously than to cause bruises. The driver turned the horse's head towards the borough school fence, when the animal fell, breaking both shafts. Beyond what is already stated, no damage was done to the occupants of the buggy. Horticultural Society.—The adjourned annual general meeting of this society was held at the Congregational Chapel last night, the president, Mr W. H. Wynn Williamp, occupying the chair. The report of the subcommittee, comprising Messrs Stevens, Reade. and Greenaway, appointed to revise the rules of the society, was brought up by Mr Reade That gentleman stated that the committee had found that it would be necessary to make out a fresh set of rules altogether. The rules were then put seriatim and agreed to. with some slight alterations. It was resolved that the rules be printed, and that the monthly shows be continued, certificates of merit to be given instead of prize money. Fire AT Springston.—On Wednesday, at 2 p.m, the workshop and stables of Mr Joe) Reid, Springston, caught fire, and were totally destroyed. The stable alongside the Ellesmere Junction road was first observed to be on fire, and fanned by the strong north-west wind, that was blowing, th< whole was quickly enveloped in flames. M< Reid's dwelling-house, which was aboui twenty yards from the stable, had a narrow escape from being burned. The sparks set on fire a heap of straw in Mr Kime's yard, about three chains distant. The buildings were uninsured, and the loss is estimated at about £SO, Lyttelton Colonists' Society. A special committee meeting was held on Wednesday night to bear the report of the sub comu.ittee appointed to report re bringing the society under the Public Libraries Act. The following report was submitted :—" The subcommittee appointed to report upon bringing the Colonists' Society under th Public Libraries Act, 1875, recommend a? follows: —That the society be registered under clause 6of tho Act. The name tc be the Lyttelton Colonists' Society. That a rule be added to those already existing t< the effect that all present members and all who may join hereafter shall e called upoi to subscribe to the rules of the institution, such signature, witnessed by the librarian oi one of the officers of the society, to be th< test of membership. That it shall be stated re the declaration that the bye-laws shall be made, altered, or expunged in the manner provided in the rules of the society, a copy of which to be annexed. The value of the

society's property to be thus estimated : Leasehold property, £I2OO ; library, £IOOO furniture, piano, and scenery, £350 ; total £2500. That the officers and committee ol

the Bociety for the timebeiDg be the trustees ex officio. That a rule be added imposing fines upon members destroying or injuring any of property of the institution, or being guilty of disorderly conduct, or of infraction of any of the rules of the society Signed, John T. Rouse, chairman." The reception and adoption of the report was moved by Dr Rouse, seconded by Mr H. R. Webb and carried. It was resolved—" That a general meeting should be called to alter the rules, to be held at 7.30 p.m. on June 17Lh." The meeting then adjourned.

State of Affairs at Cooktown.—The Sydney Echo of the Bth inst, says :—" We learn from the Brisbane Courier that a

telegram has been received by the Colonial Secretary of Queensland, from Mr Howard St. George, dated Cooktown, 29ih April, and forwarded by special messenger overland to the end of the telegraph line, to the effect that matters in Cooktown were assuming a serious aspect, in consequence of the assemblage there of a large number of disappointed diggers ; 200 men were at present employed on the roads in consideration of receiving their rations, and it is recommended that further employment should be given. Although no disturbance has arisen in Cooktown. Inspector Clonesy has deemed it advisable to delay the departure of the escort with the money destined for the three banks about to be opened at May town." A telegram was received by the Minister for Mines on the 2nd inst, via Junction Creek, from Mr Selheim, Warden, at Edwards Town. It is dated 30th April, and runs as follows : "Disturbances in Cooktown by returned diggers. All is well here. Many men are returning, and find employment so far; but should many more come difficulties may arise."

Miking in Westland—We learn from the Hokitika Evening Star that the rush at the Teremakau is assuming large proportions. The population ia steadily increasing, and the ground now being worked extends for about half a mile in length. A large number of the claims are on gold, and although there are no signs of " piles" being made, there is every prosp;ct of good wages being made by a fair proportion of the miners who have set in to work. It is believed that the run of gold will be followed much farther than the ground now occupied. Dunedin Harboe Board.—The Daily Times, of May 17th, says :—" The Harbor Board seems to be in danger of disappearing from the view of the outside world under an immense heap of paper proposals for improving the harbor. At yesterday's meeting, a large number of fresh schemes and suggestions were laid before the Board, and the members were naturally perplexed as to how they should deal with them. A Heathen Chinee, rejoicing in the name of Ta Ket, ' care of Goon, Cum, Sin and Co,' who is actuated purely by a strong desire •to help his non Celestial fellow citizens out of a dilemma, announced his willingness to provide a deep water channel for the sum of £250,000. For this purpose, he guarantees to import his countrjmen in sufficient numbers to compete the. work in three years. Some minutes elapsed before all the members made up their minds as to the nature of this kind ofEer ; but one of the number spelled out the suggestive signature 'Ta Ket,' ana made some allusion to his friend Ah Sin, whose name has been immortalised by Bret Harte. It was thereupon proncunced to be a ' skit,' and worthy of being consigned to the wnste-paper basket. A definite proposal submitted by Mr H. Houghton met with a better fate; and it appears probable that the Board will give that gentleman an opportunity of carrying into effect the scheme which he has submitted." The fAllowing is Mr H. Houghton's letter:—" Dunedin, May 6th, 1876, —Sir, —Referring to my communication to the Harbor Board of the 2nd insr, and with a view to giving effect to the suggestions therein made, I now beg lo make a definite proposition as a preliminary step to further operations in the way of deepening the present South Channel. I offer to dredge the South Channel from a point about half a mile below Grant's Braes to the deep water at Sawyer's Bay, by means of a powerful steam harrow—to be dragged over the ground for the whole distance indicated, commencing with the first of the ebb-tide, and so continuing during the outflow of the ebb for a period of about five hours each tide, unless prevented by -darkness, every day for three months, Sundays excepted. The harrow to be ft a size and weight to be hereafter agreed upon. The Board, by means of their own dredges, to deepen the cbannel from Rattray street wharf to. the place indicated off Grant's Braes to a depth of 15ft at high water. I require this to be done by dredging, for the reason that over this expanse of flat ground there is no defined channel to operate on, and the tide is too far spent to cause sufficient scour for harrowing to be of any service. The Board further to dredge the lump at the end of bank opposite Macandrew Bay to an extent to be hereafter defined, and to fix and maintain sufficient leading piles to mark the line of channel to be harrowed. The remuneration for my portion of the work to be £4OOO, payable in monthly instalments, and a further sum of £2OOO on the berthing of tne steamer Hawea orTaupo, or other steamer drawing 15ft of water, alongside the Rattray street wharf within a month of the Board executing their portion of the above indicated works. By this means, an experiment that has be<n found to be of great value elsewhere will be tried for the expenditure of a very trifling sum compared with that contemplated by the Board in making a straight channel. It will have the advantage that the benefit to be derived is immediate, and that it does not interfere in any way with the other schemes under the Board's consideration, should it finally be resolved to adopt one of them. And should it prove successful to the extent that I anticipate, it may very likely solve the whole question of harbor improvements in the simplest manner by some continuation or extension of the same plan to a greater depth, accompanied by dredging, and thus prevent the great delay that must ensue if the large works proposed are carried out, at well as the outlay of the best part of a million of money. The smallness of the proposed expenditure, and the simplicity of the plan submitted, will, I trust, commend themselves to the consideration of the Board, and I would most respectfully suggest the further consideration that, by deepening the harbor at a small cost, the tendency of the result will be in the direction of this port being some day declared a free i o:t, whereas, should a heavy burden of debt be incurred in carrying out the proposed wcrks, it will inevitably put an end to the possibility of this being accomplished for very many years to come, and would probably make Otago one of the most expensive norts in the Southern Hemisphere.—l have, &c."