NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 621, 15 June 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Entertainment f.O.G.T,—An entertainment by members of the order will be given in the Good Templar Hall at eight o’clock this evening. An excellent programme has been prepared.

Canterbury Music Hall Company.— A meeting of shareholders, for the purpose of winding up this company, was to have been held yesterday at 3 p.m, but lapsed for want of a quorum. Young Men’s Christian Association. —The Rev H. C. M. Watson will deliver the fourth lecture of the winter series, in the rooms of the Association, at Mitchell’s buildings, Hereford street, on Monday evening, at half- past seven, Subject—“ Some ancient writings, which illustrate and confirm the sacred narrative.” Christchurch Mutual Improvement Association. — A well-attended meeting of the association was held last evening, presided over by Mr J. L. Wilson, in the absence of the president. The evening was devoted to readings and recitations by various members. The subject for discussion on next Wednesday night will be “ Merchant Enterprise,” to be introduced by Mr Brock.

Friendly Societies Act.—A meeting of the committee of Oddfellows was held last evening, at the District Chambers, N.G-. Bradwell in the chair. Considerable discussion took place on some of the sections of the new Friendly Societies Act, and several amendments were suggested. A sub-com-mittee was appointed to meet the various Friendly Societies. The general committee will meet again on next Wednesday. Football. —The match next Saturday will be between an Old College Boys’ Fifteen and the rest of the club, the former wearing blue and white, and the latter red and black. The following are the names of the Fifteen:— J. Barker, B. J. Cctterill, W. Ootterill, W. C. Cuff, T. Chapman, W. Chapman, B. R. Deacon, E. G. Hawkes, W. Hartland, Q-. Mathias, H. McOardell, L. Ollivier, A. Potts, O, Thompson, and J. Wachsmann. Play to commence at three o’clock, Child Found Drowned.— Tha body of a neatly dressed little girl was taken out of the river opposite the Superintendent’s gate between seven and eight o’clock this morning, by Mr W. Cowlishaw. The child was first seen in the river by a man named James Campbell, who was proceeding to his work. There are no marks of violence on the body, and it has all the appearance of only being in the water for a few hours. Strict inquiries were made during the morning by Constable Bashford in the neighbourhood, but no trace of the parents could be discovered. The body was removed to the morgue. 1.0.G.T. A special meeting of the Woolston Excelsior Lodge, was held on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of presenting a Bible to Bro Malcolm, on the occasion of his leaving for the Old Country. A great number of members and friends were present, and after refreshments had been partaken of, Bro Turner, in a few appropriate remarks wishing him God speed, then handed the Bible to Bro Malcolm. Daring the evening songs were given and speeches made by several members present, and the meeting broke up by about 11 o’clock by singing “ Auld Lang Syne,” The Bible, which was a very handsome one, contained the following inscriptio”—“Presented to Mr Jthn Malcolm on his leaving New Zealand for Scotland, by the members of the Excelsior Lodge, 1.0.G.T., No 23, as a mark of friendship and esteem. Woolston, June 13th,-1876.”

Masonic. —The Southland News of the Bth instant says :—“ At the monthly meeting of the Southern Cross Masonic Lodge yesterday evening, it was resolved to form a fund for the purpose of establishing two Masonic scholarships—a senior and junior—in connection with the Invercargill Grammar School. The annual value will of course depend upon the amount collected ; so far a handsome sum has been received, A Board of management has been appointed by the lodge to arrange all details and report at a future meeting. Like the District Grand Lodge of Canterbury, which every year offers for competition a scholarship, the Invercargill Lodge is following, as far as its means will allow, the example set them by the Grand Lodge of England, which, at enormous outlay, maintains one of the finest among the educational institutions of the mother country.” Para Para Iron Company— We (Wellington. Argus) regret to learn the Para Para Iron Company, from which so much was expected in the way of developing and utilising the enormous deposits of hematite ore in Golden Bay, Nelson, has suspended operations. All the men employed at the Para Para Ironworks, who were at work building the foundations of the blast furnace, were discharged on Saturday. A meeting of the directors of the company was held at Nelson last Friday evening, but the result has not yet transpired. It is understood that the chief obstacles encountered by the company have been—first, the inadequacy of the amount of capital subscribed to the outlay required ; and secondly, the difficulty of obtaining coal for the furnace at a price which would enable the operations to be carried oi at a profit. The coal lands arc in the hands of private speculators, who originally baught the land at 5s per acre, and now infuse to sell it for less than £2O or £3O per acre. Thus the development of the new industry is checked by that selfish " dog in a manger” spirit of private monopoly which ever has been the curse of Nelson. Fire at Invercargill.— The Dunedin papers give the following particulars of this fire, which took place on June 11th :—“A fire was discovered by the constable on duty at 2.30 this morning, in a shop in Tay street occupied by Mr Meehan, bootmaker. Mr Meehan was not on the premises at the time, although bis family lived behind the shop. It was with some difficulty that Mrs Meehan and children were got out. About £2O worth of boots were saved. The entire building, which comprised two shops—one being unoccupied— was burnt to the ground,

Mitson’s Family Hotel, which was separated by a narrow right of way, ran a great risk, but being built of corrugated iron, it was kept cool by a constant stream of water from the hose. It sustained comparatively little damage from the fire, although, in removing stock and furniture, windows were broken, and other damage done to the premises. The building destroyed was a wooden one, and belonged to Mitson, who was not insured, Mr Mitson estimates bis loss at £SOO Meehan’s stock was insured for £3Ol in the New Zealand Company, and for £2OO in the Staadard. An inquiry will be held. Mitson’s Hotel was at one time in imminent danger, the wall having taken fire, but was extinguished by great exertions on the part of the Brigade. A good deal of damage was done. The stock and furniture of the hotel only were insured in the Transatlantic for £IOOO. The shops were uninsured. The weather was calm at the time, or the consequences would hare been more serious. West Coast Trade,— Wellington seems to be up and doing to secure a share of the West Coast trade. Through the enterprise of Messrs Seager and Co (says a late issue of the Wellington Argus, ) a large new field for the extension of trade is about to be opened to the merchants of this city. Hitherto the West Coast trade of the Middle Island has practically been, monopolised by Melbourne and Nelson, Messrs Edwards and Co, by their own steamers, supplying from Nelson all requirements not met by direct supplies from Melbourne. Wellington is quite as favorably situated as Nelson to the West Coast markets, but hitherto there has been no means of direct communication, Messrs Seager and Co having now purchased the fine new steamer Matau for the Kaikoura, Foxton, and West Coast trade of this Province, have determined to put the smart little steamer Tui in the Middle Island West Coast trade. The Matau will take up the Tui’s present trade,' and the Tui will be laid on for Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika. It is intended that she shall make three trips a month to and from these ports, bringing back a cargo of coal from either the Grey or Westport each trip. The new field of enterprise thus opened to our commerce is a large and profitable one, and will, we hope, be carefully cultivated by our merchants. The West Coast ports of our own province will also benefit by having a larger and better vessel like the Matau running to them. Messrs Seager and Co were only just in time in securing this fine steamer, as wc believe her former owners have since received from a South Australian firm an offer of £IOOO more than the price at which she has been purchased for this port. Leather Factory, Rangiora. For some time past Mr F. Thorne, fellmonger and leather merchant here, has been engaged in completing his plans for extending the tanning and currying branch of his business carried on at the Northbrook. The raw hides are now on hia premises converted into leather of the beat quality. To the present this department has been carried on by him on a limited scale, in consequence of the drawback in procuring suitable ground bark for the tan. Recently, however, Mr Thorne has imported by the Euterpe, from England, one of Hexham and Brown’s bark mills, which can be worked by either horse or steam power, and from its efficiency is found capable of grinding an almost unlimited quantity of bark. The premises are, as a whole, very complete ; the vats are made of cement and wood, and placed in such positions as to be convenient to the supply of pure spring water that has its rise on the section. The appliances now in use allow of a large quantity of leather being put through the course of manufacture in each week. In the curriers’ shop leather is exhibited of various kinds in the stage of preparation, as well as highly finished specimens of calf, kip, pigskin, sole, harness, and basil leathers. It may be stated the bark used in tanning is Oxford black birch, for which purpose it is found to be quite as suitable as other descriptions of bark, and contains no ingredient which would tend to injure tht leather. A day or two ago,Mr Thorne had a pile of 100 tons of this bark on his premises. Oamaru Harbor Loan. —The following report of what took place at a meeting between a deputation from Oamaru and the Superintendent of Otago is taken from the Guardian: —"A deputation from the Oamaru Harbor Board, consisting of Mr Steward, M.P.0., Mr Thos. Meek, and Mr Forrester, clerk of the Board, waited on his Honor the Superintendent the other morning with the view of representing that the Board intended at the ensuing session of Parliament to ask for increased borrowing powers, and also to obtain an endowment of land, so that money sufficient to construct the necessary works could be raised on the best possible terms. Mr Steward introduced the deputation, and briefly explained the position of the Board in regard to future borrowing, stating likewise that it was intended by the proposed new loan that the Board should not for many years to come have to apply for any further assistance. His Honor stated that he fully sympathised with the Board in the object it had in view, and the proposed scheme, he might say, would in every respect have bis support. Mr Meek observed that it was not proposed to use the present borrowing powers of £IOO,OOO to the full extent, and since £35,000 had been already obtained it was desired to allow the remaining £65,000 to lapse, and obtain powers to borrow to the extent of £l5O, Mr Steward mentioned that at the time the Provincial Council sanctioned the borrowing of £IOO,OOO, the imports and exports at the port of Oamaru were only about one hall what they were at present, and had they even asked for more at that tune, be bad no doubt but they would have obtained it. His Honor remarked that he questioned the expediency of borrowing too much at the present time, and especially as be thought that the Assembly was likely, as far as he could see, to set its face as much as possible against borrowing. Mr Forrester stated that a vessel of some 400 tons lay during the last gale under the shelter of Macandrew Wharf with perfect security, whereas vessels in the open bay were driven to sea. His Honor remarked that he had no doubt it was perfectly ea*y to provide for proper and secure shelter at the place referred to. Mr Steward mentioned, with the view of showing the stability of the work already constructed and now projected, that the travelling steam crane now working at Oamaru was, with the exception of one at Calcutta, the largest in the world ; and it would not travel if there was a deflection of even a quarter of an inch in the rails. Iu answer to his Honor, Mr Steward further that their representatives iu Parliament would have all the necessary in- | struotions to tying in a Bill for the proposed 1

loan. His Honor mentioned that the grant could not be of agricultural, but pastoral land, as he did not think they were in a position to make endowments of the former sort of land at present. Mr Steward mentioned that pastoral lands were only expected. Hia Honor then again assured the deputation of his support in getting the proposed Loan Bill passed, and with this intimation the deputation then withdrew.” The Milton Potteries. —The Otago Guardian writes as follows of the renewal of works at these potteries :—On Saturday last several of the directors visited and inspected the works, and had reason to be gratified with the changes that have recently been made. The two kilns burned during last week turned out excellently, and were a very decided improvement upon the first trials. Now that the workmen have proper appliances, lathes, &c, superior articles to those previously manufactured at these potteries will be produced. The ware turned out of the kilns consists of butter-crooks, teapots, cups and saucers, water-jugs, &c. The cups and saucers are strong, and well suited for common use, and the other articles should also command a ready sale, as they can be supplied fw below the cost at which a corresponding article can be imported. Thenew company are finishing the factory buildings in a substantial manner, so that they evidently mean business. Sidings from the railway line to the clay-pits and the works have been promised by the Government, and when made will assist the company a great deal. A saving of some £ls weekly will be effected by this convenience, which it is expected will be supplied during the course of a few days. The residents of the district are giving the industry every encouragement by purchasing the goods, and no doubt those of other districts will follow their example It is an easy matter to show how this industry affects the public. First of all there is the employment of labor at the works; that, means, at least, that the wages of twenty hands are put in circulation weekly. Then there is the increase in the business of the railway —a matter which directly, though perhaps only slightly at present, affects the public purse; and it also stimulates other industries. During the past two weeks thirty tons of coal, supplied from the district mines, have been used in the potteries, besides a large quantity of firewood. The establishment and increase of steady money making industries will do much for the general prosperity of the country, and the day of small things should not be either despised or unheeded, but local industry should be fostered by public attention and patronage.”