NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 645, 13 July 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Supreme Court. —The sittings of tho Supreme Court at Nisi Drins (special jury case') will commence on Monday next before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston. There are only three cases on the record for trial.

Good Templar Anniversary. —A tea meeting succeeded by an entertainment in commemoration of the above will be given at the Oddiellows’ Hall on Thursday, 20th July. During the evening addresses will be delivered by several gentlemen.

Australian Mails. —The mails received per Otago, at the Bluff, on Monday last, the 10th instant, arrived in Christchurch by the evening train from Timaru yesterday. The private box-holders at the Post Office were placed in possession of their correspondence at 8,90 p.m, and the country portion of the mails prepared ready for despatch by the first trains North and South this morning.

Dinner. —The usual annual dinner of the Orange institution was held last evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall. The tables had been very tastefully arranged and decorated by Mr J. Buggey, his efforts being aided by a number of pot plants kindly lent for the occasion by Mr W, Wilson, About 200 sal. down to dinner, provided by Mr J. Oram Sheppard. The rfiair was occupied by Bro Clifford, P.G.M, the vice-chairs being filled by Bros McWilliams, P.M, and Prudoe, D.P.M, After the cloth had been chare ). a long list of toasts was disposed of, interspersed with harmony, and the company broke up at an early hour. Musical Festival,— The final rehearsal of the Oratorio of “Judas Maccabeus," the performance of which takes place this evening at the Durham street Wesleyan Church, was held on Tuesday evening. A platform for the vocalists has been erected, and generally no pains have been spared to render both those assisting and the public generally, comfortable. The principal solos will be taken by Miss Rowley, Miss Kent, Miss Perkins, Miss Calvert,'Miss Smith, Mrs Allen, and Mrs Thomson; and Messrs Knox, Booth, and Rowley. Between rhefirstand second part the Rev W Morley will deliver an address—“A page from Maccabean History s” and between the second and third parts the organist of the churph, Mr R, T. Searell, will play an organ solo, Wely’s 11 Offertoire, No 4.” Ticket-holders will be admitted only front doors of the church, and jio tickets be sold at the doors,

'" ■ m*i Cricket. —As will be seen by advertisement elsewhere, the Interprovincial Cricket Match Committee have called a meeting for to-morrow evening, to consider fresh proposals from the agent of the All England Eleven, which are far more favorable than those previously submitted, viz., that Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Nelson, and Auckland give a bonus of £3OO between them, and give the grounds free. Of course, in the Hagley Park Ground they cannot make a fixed charge, but may as in former years, solicit voluntary contributions from visitors to the ground. We hope the terms may be considered satisfactory, and that during the coming season we may have the pleasure of witnessing the play of one of the best elevens that ever left England. Kaiapoi Borough Council —The fortnightly meeting for the despatch of ordinary business, was held on Tuesday evening. Present —The Mayor, Crs Blackwell, Ellen, Porter, and Funston. Leave of absence was granted to Crs Parnham and Smethurst. A letter from the Secretary for Public Works was read, stating that £250 had been allocated to the borough, The statement of accounts showed receipts to be—Rates, £32 lls 6d ; court fines £5 ; balance in bank, £lO9 10s 2d. Accounts amounting to £39 6s Id were passed for payment. On the motion of Cr Blackwell, Ora Porter, Ellen, and Funston were appointed a planting committee, Cr Ellen to be chairman. The Mayor laid a draft copy of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, received from Hon C. O. Bowen, on the table. A motion in the name of Cr Parnham, for erection of a lamp on the suspension bridge, lapsed. Fire at Oamaru.— The following telegram from a correspondent, appears in the Otago Daily Times of the 11th instant;— “ Oamaru, July 10th. A fire broke out in Riordan’s, stationer and tobacconist, Thames street, last night. It was first discovered by Constable Carrol, and with his assistance was extinguished before much damage was done. It originated in a cupboard under the stairs, Riordan and his partner, Ryan, escaped through the front bedroom window. He was insured for £420, being £3OO on stock, £l2O on furniture and a safe—all in New Zealand. The origin of the fire is unknown. The police are in possession of the premises, and an inquiry will be held. A short time since a very mysterious robbery took place at Riordan’s; but it was never cleared up, though Riordan stated he had lost a good deal of money.” Massacre in the South Seas.— The following telegram from Sydney appears in the Argvs : —“The schooner Dancing Wave has arrived here from the Solomon Group, under the charge of the mate of tho barque Sydney. Captain Harrison and all hands excepting one on board the Dancing Wave having been murdered. The following are the particulars of the massacre —‘ On the 22nd of April last the Dancing Wave called at Florida Island to obtain native labor fer Somerset, A number of natives were engaged and brought on board, and there were also a number of others who had received tomahawks and other articles from the captain in barter. Without warning, the natives rose upon the crew, attacking them with tomahawks. Captain Harrison was almost instantly killed, together with some of his crew, while the chief officer and after being wounded, reached the cabin, where they shot themselves. A seaman named Broad J(or Board) jumped overboard and got to Savau, forty miles off, in a boat, when the vessel was recovered by the crew of the barque Sydney, and it was then found that the natives had plundered her, It is stated that the natives took two heads and one body ashore. Broad be f ore escaping shot several of his assailants, and several natives from another island engaged on board were also killed.’ ” Shipbuilding in Auckland,— The New Zealand Herald says:—“ Messrs Fraser and Tinne are making rapid progress with the bull and engine of the iron screw steamer they are now building. V e noticed at some length this new enterprise when it was commenced. The keel, stem, and stern posts, are set in position. A good many of the frames are made, and ready for setting up; the remainder will be finished, and the whole set up in a week or two from this date. The engine and boilers are in a very forward state, all the necessary forgings being completed, The crank and screw shafts are turned, and the pattens all made. The large sole plate will be cast on Monday, and in the course of a week or two the whole of the castings will be in the erecting shop. We are glad to hear that Mr J. S, Macfarlane, Oapt McGregor, and other gentlemen have joined Messrs Fraser and Tinne in the undertaking. It is their intention, in the event of the shares not being taken up sufficiently to warrant going on with the paddle-boat for the proposed Auckland, Thames, and Coromandel Steam Packet Company, to put this boat on the Thames trade. She will be a very commodious boat, and will be fitted up in first class style. Her engine power will be equal to that of the s s lona, and will therefore give a high rate of speed. She will be about the size of the favorite boat Royal Alfred, but will have more speed. We hope the public will not allow the proposed company to lapse for want of support, and that the paddle steamer will yet be bqilt by cpr own artisans. At all events, the building of this steamer will show what can be done in Auckland. With the Argyle running direct to Coromandel, and the new boat direct to the Thames, with (if required) occasional round trips by Coromandel, the people of those districts have a fair prospect of comfortable, quick communication with Auckland. The boat will be ready about the beginning of December.” Miss Colville and the Dunedin Press Dramatic Club.— The Dally Times of Monday, says During the first interval at. the Princess Theatre on Saturday evening, Miss Florence Colville (Mrs Hoskins) came before the curtain and said Ladies and Gentlemen —I am very sorry to inform you that my husband is unable to appear this evening, but Mr Collier will play the part for him. My husband has for sometime been laid up with the gout. However, he will be able to appear on Monday night, as Dr Hockeu informs me that be is progressing favourably, and will soon recover. While I am here this evening, I want to say a few words concerning the articles in to-day’s papers. I was accused of bad taste in keeping the stage waiting, I have appeared before you for four or five years, and I do not think I have ever kept' the stage waiting ; but the gentlemen of the Press have thought fit to lay the blame upon ray shoulders, and I suppose J must bear it. [Great applause.] They accuse me of bad taste. So far from intending or doing anything of the kind, I did all in my power ip assist them, but I had been kept up

three nights with my husband. 1 was not well'last night, and indeed I have not been very’well since we camo from Christchurch. I asked my maid to stay up with Mr Hoskins, as I was so worn out. I had two rehearsals yesterday—in the morning for to-night’s performance, and in the afternoon for the amateurs.’ I also came the day before yesterday and rehearsed with them. I was very tired and worn out with the relearsals. The day before the stage manager, or Mr Geddes, fixed one o’clock for the rehearsal on Friday. I said, “ Very well; we will come.” The ladies and myself were kept waiting on this stage for two hours —I am sure, quite an hour and a half. Some of the gentlemen were here punctually, Some of them that kept us waiting an hour and a half never said, “Ladies, I apologise,” I thought I should come forward and tell the truth about this affair. I think the gentlemen who were present will tell you so. I was prompting and doing all I could for them at the entertainment last night, and yet they throw all the blame upon my shoulders. I do not know whether any of you were present, but if you refer to the afterpiece you will see who kept the stage waiting. L Hisses -J 1 hear soms g entleraen hiss. 1 suppose that it is some friend of the Press. Though 1 appeared in the inferior part of Mrs Montague, which is generally given to a second-rate artiste, I tried and did all I could to make the play successful. And I did so to oblige the Press. I know that in coming before the stage to-night I leave myself open to criticism. I know that during my season here I shall be very much cut up by the Press. [A stentorian voice from the pit—No !J Well, I think I shall. I cannot say any more. (Applause and hisses.] The Kapanga Mine, Coromandel. — The New Zealand Herald says ; —“ The intersection of the reef in the ground of the English Kapanga Company, Coromandel, is a matter of great importance, net only to the English shareholders, who have expended nearly £40,000 in the undertaking, but as tending to raise and extend the reputation of the district as a gold producer outside the province. We vjell recollect when the late Mr Reeves had the control of the old Kapanga mine in the Driving Creek, which adjoins the present company’s property, that visible gold was left in the leader fn the drive from the shaft when the machinery got broken and the mine was flooded, and as the course of the present crosscut is in the direction of this rich shot of gold then left standing, we have little doubt but it will be quickly picked up. The find, in other respects, will prove of immense advantage to Coromandel, as confirming the general belief that first class reefs really exist from the Green Harp ground through the <» Golconda, and on to the property where the present important find has been met with. The cutting of the Kapanga reef will increase the demand for labor, it will encourage additional prospecting and systematic sinking on the flats, and, as a consequence, increase briskness in many other classes of industries and trade. The manager, Captain Thomas, under whose personal directions and instructions the present state of things has been brought about, deserves a word of commendation for his mining experience and constructive ability ; and we fully expect that the English shareholders, who have cheerfully paid such heavy calls, will shortly get Borne return. Crushing machinery, to the extent of fifty head of stampers, will shortly be erected on a portion of the company’s ground, and although very many persons have pronounced against the wisdom of expending such a large sum as has been required, they will new acknowledge that the expenditure has been justified. The faith which old miners have in Coromandel as a goldfield, seems in a fair way of being fully realised, and that very quickly.” Dr Frankland reports of some of the London companies’ water that it contains “ matted fungoid growths full of moving organisms,” and “ blue cotton fibres and numerous moving organi ms.”