NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 623, 17 June 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Concrete Channelling,— The concrete channelling of the streets running east and west is now completed, and the work of channelling those running north and south has been commenced in Barbadoes and Madras streets. It is to be hoped that this very necessary work will be continued until all the streets are finished, Drainage of Lake Ellesmere.— At a meeting of the railway committee at the Town Hall, Akaroa, on the 10th instant, Mr George R. Joblin, of Little River, was requested to visit the Ellesmere district with copies of the petition to the House of Representatives in favor of the above project, and to receive the signatures of such of the settlers as concurred therein. Presentation. The teachers of the Kaiapoi Wesleyan Sunday school held their usual quarterly tea meeting on Thursday evening* at the parsonage. After tea a presentation was made to Mr B. A. Lock, who has been connected with the school for some years, passing from scholarto teacher, and ultimately to the office of secretary. The gift consisted of some well-bound books, and were a memento of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow teachers, and an expression of their regret at his departure from the town. In conversations and readings bearing on Sunday school work, together with music and singing, a very profitable and enjoyable evening was spent, Improvements in Kilmore Street.— That part of Kilmore street between Whately road and Colombo street which has for some time been closed against the public,, is again available for traffic, the necessary improvements having been completed. The concrete channel and footpath on the south side of the street, and which were very low, have been raised to the same level as the other side, the lower channel being no longer necessary for drainage purposes,, as the flowingb from the various streets which meet at the Whately road are now taken underground by the brick sewer and conducted direct to the river. By this arrangement also all the water that used formerly to collect on the north side of Colombo bridge, is cut off by the brick sewer, so that the danger which last year threatened the bridge is not likely to be repeated. These permanent improvements will no doubt be appreciated by the residents ot that locality,

Masonic, —The installation of Bro Sir Donald M‘Lean as Grand Master for the North Island under the English constitution, which takes place on the 24th instant, at Wellington, has naturally caused great interest amongst the craft here. It is expected that in addition to the R W.D.G.M. of Canterbury, Bro W. Donald, and other Grand Lodge officers, a number of brethren will go from here to take part in so solemn and imposing a ceremonial. The Union Steamship Company in view of this, and in order to make the detention of those leaving here as short as possible, have arranged for the s.s, Taupo to leave here for Wellington on the 21st. The Hawea leaving Wellington on her return trip on the 25th, will thus enable the Otago and Canterbury brethren to reach home after only a few days’ absence. Immigration. —The following is a list of the trades and occupations of the immigrants to arrive per ship City of Dunedin, now nearly due :—Farm laborers, 63 ; general, 10 ; navvie, 1 ; carpenters, 5 ; cabinetmaker, 1 ; forester, I ; cooper, 1 ; blacksmiths, 3 ; tinsmith, 1 ; brass-moulder, 1; tailor, 1; masons’ laborer, 2 ; shepherds, 2 ; shoemaker, 1 ; brickmaker, 1; porter, 1 ; mechanic, 1 ; millwrights, 2. Single women—Domestic servants, 37 ; housekeepers, 3 ; dairymaids, 5 ; dressmaker, I : housemaids, 4 ; cook, 1 ; nurses, 2 ; machinist, 1. Summary—Male adults, 110 ; female, 97 ; male children, 32 ; female do, 28 ; male infants, 5 ; female, 4. Total, 276 souls; 237 statute adults. The nationality is as follows :—English, 35 ; Irish, 148; Scotch, 92; Welsh, 1. Total, 276 souls. The list can be seen on application at the Immigration office.

Found Dead in the Avon.-—At the the inquest held yesterday on the body of the little girl found dead in the Avon on Thursday morning, the medical evidence taken went to show that the usual symptoms from drowning were not exhibited at the post mortem examination, and that death had resulted from fright or syncope. The child was identified by its father, Mr W. J. Hurst, who lives at Hillsborough, but had given it into the charge of his mother-in-law, Mrs Mary Sullivan, living in Lichfield street, who was also its grandmother. Mrs Sullivan called at a house in Madras street with the child at seven o’clock on Wednesday evening, and was then under the influence of liquor. She did not return home that night, and has not been seen since. The woman’s hat, found during Thursday floating in the river opposite Ward’s brewery, has been identified as the one she had on when last seen. The police were engaged in dragging the river y esterday, but without success. Piako Swamp Sale —The following are the regulations with reference to the sale of the Piako Swamp referred to in the debate in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon: —“l.The Secretary for Crown Lands may and shall sell by private contract the land described in the schedule to these regulations. 2, The consideration and purchase money for the said land shall be the sum of twenty-two thousand five hundred and twenty-nine rounds six shillings and faurpence (£22 529 6s 4d), as follows, that is to say, the sum of thirteen thousand one hundred and thirtytwo pounds three shillings and ninepence £13,132 3s 9d) to be paid to the receiver of land revenue of the province of Auckland, and the remainder of the said sum of twtntytwo thousand five hundred and twenty-nine pounds six shillings and fourpence (622,529 Gs 4d), to the amount of nine thousand three hundred and seventy-seven pounds two shillings and sevenpence (£9377 2s 7d), being allowed as a contribution towards the construction of roads through and over the said land and works connected therewith, in conformity with instructions and specifications prescribed and approved of by or on behalf of the Colonial Government. 3. The sale hereby authorised to be made shall be made within one calendar month from the publication of these regulations in the New Zealand Gazette, and the purchase money shall be paid within the like period. 4. On payment of the said purchase money a Crown grant of the naid land described in the said schedule shall be made and issued to the purchaser thereof.” Then follows a schedule describing the boundaries of the block, which contains by admeasurement 83,325 acres 2 roads 20 perches. 1.0.G.T. Entertainment. A highly successful entertainment, in connection with the Ever Faithful lodge, was held on Thursday in the Good Templar Hall. The chair was occupied by the Rev Bro S. Macfarlane, who opened the meeting by delivering a humorous address on “ Good Templaiism fifty years hence,” The Ever Faithful choir, under the able leadership of Bro George Richie, rendered five operatic choruses, ‘•Onward to battle," from Trovatore; ‘‘See how lightly,” Lucretia Borgia; “ Away, away," Massaniello ; “ See the moonlight beam,” Lucretia Borgia ; and “ Friendship,” Lucia de Lammermoor. Miss Kent sang Linley’s “ Ida,” and the old favorite ballad “ Won’t you tell me why, Robin," and in response to a hearty encore sang the ‘‘Skipper and his boy." Miss Ness was successful in procuring an encore for the “ Gipsey’s warning,” and gave “ Dermot asthore.” Bro Ritchie’s comic song entitled, “ Awfully will,” was loudly applauded ; and was followed by another equally amusing. Bro 0, M. Gray sang the “ Outlaw;” Miss Nellie Kent “ The Brook,” and Messrs W . P. Smith and S. C. Johnson each contributed capital songs. Recitations were delivered by Bros 0. Hull, W. H. Roe, and F. Wayraouth. Mrs Geo Ritchie and Mr T. Searrell presided at the piano, and a very enjoyable entertainment was brought to a conclusion by all present joining in the National Anthem.

Pacific Mail Affairs —The European Mail says :—“The Pacific Mail Steamship Company is on its rapid way to ruin. At a recent meeting of directors, it executed to Messrs S. V. White and B. F. Ham, trustees, a bill of sale (that was duly recorded on March 20th, at the Custom House in New York) of the following ten steamers, to wit— City of Pekin, City of Tokio, City of San Francisco, City of Sydney, City of New York, City of Panama, Colon, Acapulco, Grenada, and Colima, to secure the company’s bond given to said trustees for 4,000,000 dollars. The indenture provides that the bond shall be surrendered when the company shall have duly signed, executed, and delivered 10,000 registered or coupon bonds for 1000 dollars each, or 2,000,000 dollars, such bonds having ten years to run, with interest at 7 per cent per annum, payable on March 23rd and September 13th in each year. It further provides for the ap. plication of a sinking fund, by requiring the company to pay to the trustees on March 13th each year, 200,000 dollars in cash, which the trustees are to invest by buying in the open market the bonds pf the company} if at lees

than par, or, if not, to draw 200 (200,000 dollars) bonds by lot. It also provides that the company shall keep the steamers in perfect order at all times, and in default of which, or of the payment of interest or the providing for the sinking fund for the space of ninety days, the whole debt shall be deemed due, and then it becomes the duty of the trustees to immediately proceed to sell the property for the benefit of the bondholders.” Waimakabibi Navigation Improvement. —In reply to the resolution passed by the committee, the Hon C. O, Bowen, as member for the Kaiapoi district, has telegraphed that he is willing to introduce a Bill into the Assembly creating a harbor trust and endowing the trust with the reserves. A meeting of the sub-committee to prepare the information needed, will be held on Monday evening. Masonic.— We extract the following from the Otago Chiardian :— 11 In pursuance of a charter from the Grand Orient of Egypt, bearing date about the 25th day of October, 1875, and a subsequent decree, bearing date the 20th March, 1876, the Supreme Grand Council of the Valley of New Zealand of the 33 of the ancient and accepted Scottish Rite, was, on the 9th day of June, 1876, opened at Dunedin with the grand honours of Masonry, by William Caldwell, John Hyde Harris, and Louis Court, Sovereign Grand Inspectors-General, the whole number of Inspectors-General being, with one exception, complete. The following is a list of the members of the Grand Council -.—William Caldwell, 33 .-. M.P.S.G.C.; John Hyde Harris, 33.*. V.P.L.G.O. ; Wm Hunter Reynolds, 33 111, G.G.S.H.B. ; Henry Kitchener, 33 .-. 111. G.T.H.E.; F. W. Thiel, 33 .'. 111. G.0.H.8.; Louis Court, 33 .-. 111, G.M.H.E.; Thomas Sherlock Graham, 33 .*. 111. G.C.G.H.E. ; Wm Byers Sealy, 33.-. 111. G.5.8.H.E.; Malcolm Niccol, 33 111. G.5.8.H.E.”