NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 657, 28 July 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Mails. —The City of New York got over Port Chalmers Bar at nine o’clock. The has the inward Suez mail on board. Girls’ High School.— At the meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College held yesterday, it was resolved to postpone any further steps in connection with the Girls’ High School for two months, Tuesday’s Concert.—A meeting of the general committee, to arrange for the concert to be held on Tuesday next, for the benefit of the widow and family of the late MrD. N. Dunlop, will be held this evening at Warner’s Hotel, at half-past seven. Prize Essay. —The prize of twenty guineas offered by the committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, for the best essay “ On Ergot in rye and other grasses,” has been awarded to Mr Thomas Mann, of St Albans. The essay is to be published under the auspices cf the committee. New Periodical. —A notice of motion was given yesterday on behalf of Mr B. Wilkin, at the meeting of the committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, to be discussed at the next meeting, having for its object the establishing of a periodical published quarterly, and in connection with the association, to be called the “New Zealand Country Journal.”

Railway Works in South Canterbury.—The Waitangi Tribune says “ The plate laying on Mr Proudfoot’s contract was finished yesterday, that portion of the line is ballasted to the Makikihihi, and it is anticipated that the whole of the work on this contract will be finished in about six weeks. We understand that plate-laying and ballasting the line between Proudfoot’s contract and the Waitaki will be put in hand without delay.” The Cheap Johns. — A case against one of the fraternity, of obstructing the thoroughfare in Cathedral square, was heard yesterday at the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Mr Cowlishaw, who appeared for the defendant, expressed his intention of contesting if necessary the validity of the bye-law under which the information was laid. At the request of Inspector Buckley the case was adjourned for a week, to allow of the city solicitor being heard, if desired by the City Council.

Football. The match on Saturday afternoon will be Town v Country, the following playing for Town: —Messrs A. Anderson, J. Barker, O. H.Croxton, B. J. Cotterill, E. R. Deacon, J. R. Evans (caftain), W. Hartland, H. McCardell, H. W. Moore, B. G. Hawkes, L. Ollivier, F, Pilling, J. Booth, M. Smith, and W. Stringer ; emergency—W. Atack, W. Cotterill, and J. H. Hawkes ; colors—red and black. The Country have got together a very strong team, and therefore a well contested match may be expected. A.0.F., Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund —A meeting of those members connected with the above was held last evening, at the Foresters’ Hall; P.O.E, Bro Bowbyes, president, in the chair. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been confirmed, several new members joined the fund. P.D.O.K. Bro Crooks was elected lion secretary, in place of P.D.O.R. Bro Ness, resigned. The treasurer reported the fund to be in a flourishing condition, and that the receipts for the last quarter had amounted to £2O 4s. Some routine business was transacted, and the meeting adjourned until the last Thursday in August, to give the trustees an opportunity of reporting on the state of the accounts of the fund. Acclimatisation on the West Coast. —The Grey River Argvs informs us that trout is being acclimatised on the West Coast, Already a quantity of the fish have been placed in the Arnold river, and the upper waters of the Omotumotu and Coal Creeks —all suitable streams, and on Tuesday Mr W. Wilson conveyed some seventy or eighty fine young fish to the Ikamutua Creek, near Mr Johnson’s farm. Every precaution had been taken to prevent accident, and we have no doubt that by this time the fish have been deposited in their new homo Some of the fish were Sin to 9in long, so that it may not be long before anglers in Westland may be able to land their 101 b trout. ACCIDENTAL POISONING.— A case of accidental poisoning, which might have had a senous result, occurred on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Fuller, who until lately had been employed for years at the Museum as taxidermist, alarmed the members of his family by being taken suddenly ill. Dr Guthrie was immediately sent for, and promptly attended, when he learnt that a quantity of solution used in preserving skins, and containing arsenic and corrosive sublimate, had been taken accidentally by Mr Fuller, He at once emptied the stomach by means of the stomach pump, and administered an antidote. Laler in the evening Dr Campbell arrived, and a consultation was held as to the mode of treatment. Mr Fuller now lies under Dr Guthrie’s care, and though progressing favorably last night, was still not out of danger. Brqokside Library. —A general meeting of the subscribers to this library was held in the schoolroom on the 24th inst. About twenty gentlemen were present; Mr John Cunningham in the chair. The secretary, having read the notice convening the meeting, informed the subscribers present that now books to the value of £3O had just been received from England, and would be ready for distribution in a day or two ; also, that a further sura of £ls had been allocated to the Brookside Library, so that with the balance in hand a further sum of £2O could be expended in books. It was resolved to hold a committee meeting on the first Monday in September, to consider what books it was advisable to order ; that the subscription be 5s per annum, or Is (Id per quarter ; and that the latter resolution be forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent for his sanction. The chairman then commented upon the smallness of the Government grant made to this library, compared to that received .by kindred institutions, and said that he had written to the Provincial Secretary inquiring into the matter, but had received from that gentleman the curt reply. “That the Go vernment were not in the habit of giving reasons for their actions in these matters.” Considering the number of their subscribers, and the population of the place, compared with that of other districts, he could not see the justice of their receiving such a small grant ; but he supposed they were powerless in the matter, and would have to take what was thrown to them and be thankful. Votes of thanks were then unanimously accorded to the chairman and secretary (Mr J. Baldwin), and the meeting adjourned,

Scene in the New South Wales Parliament.—A telegram in the Argus of July 16 th gives the following account of a scene in the New South Wales Parliament; —“ The Assembly continued sitting all night, principally talking against time, and frequent motions for adjournment were negatived. At eight o’clock there was an adjournment for refreshment, and afterwards the sitting was resumed and continued throughout the afternoon. At three o’clock Mr Fitzpatrick commenced his reply, and as the usual hour for Friday’s sitting approached the excitement became intense, the Government supporters calling for a division, and the Opposition ironically cheering At four o’clock the Speaker rose and declared the day’s sitting commenced, and the former proceedings consequently ended. Upon this the scene became indescribable, both sides contributing to the general uproar, and many members shouting vehemently at each other across the table. Upon order being restored, to-day’s business was called on, but nothing was done, and the House adjourned early. After midnight the discussion was characterised by considerable disorder and personal recrimination. The Government claim to have had a majority of 13 if Mr Fitzpatrick’s motion of want of confidence had gone to the vote.”

Consecration of the New Hall of the Lodge op Unanimity at Lyttelton. —This ceremony took place yesterday. For many years the members of this lodge (which is the oldest in Canterbury, having been established on the 20th May, 1853, Mr Augustus James Alport having been the first master), had met in a building of very small architectural pretensions, situated on the Sumner road, but a few months ago it was resolved to erect a building more suitable, and the present structure is the result. The building was designed by Mr Mountfort, the contractors being Messrs Sutton and Weastall, who have accomplished their work under the superintendence of Mr Willcox, in a manner which has given the highest satisfaction to all concerned. The first stone was laid some months ago by the R.W.D.G M. Brother Donald, and the building has now been completed nearly a month. The hall is of brick with s'one facings, the stone being from the quarry of Mr Wilson, at Rangiora. The roof is a handsome open timbered one, and the building is divided into the lodge room, two ante-rooms and a porch ; there is a gallery at one end which can be used as an organ loft. The whole of the timber work inside the building is of polished kauri and remarkably handsome. The size of the whole building is 56 feet in length, and 23 feet in width, the hall being 46 x 23. The hall is erected on the same site as that formerly occupied by the old lodge, and in consequence of this it was of course necessary to demolish the old building, so that meetings have had to be held at the new Oddfellows’ Hall, in Winchester street, for some time past, and it was from that the procession started to perform the ceremony of consecration at the new lodge. The members of the Lodge of Unanimity met at 2.31 p.m.atthe Oddfellows’ Hall, and most of the visitors came down by the 2.30 train from Christchurch, and joined the others at the hall. These visitors were very numerous, the Grand Lodge and nearly all the lodges in Canterbury being well represented. The procession was formed at 3.45 p.m. It consisted of nearly ninety brethren, and we need hardly say formed quite an imposing spectacle as it marched through Winchester, Canterbury, London street, and the Sumner road to the new building. First came the Tyler’.with drawn sword, followed by visiting brethren of the various lodges, next came the Lodge of Unanimity, then the Grand Lodge, and finally the District Grand Master, Bro W. Donald, attended by the Senior and Junior Wardens of the Grand Lodge, and other officers. The banner was borne by Bro Chilman. The ceremony of consecration was concluded at 540 p.m, and at 7 p.m there was a banquet. It was numerously attended, and when we say that Bro Burnip acted as providore we have said enough to prove the dinner was really good and w. 11 served. Most of the Christchurch visitors returned to town by the lI.SO pm train. We must congratulate the Lodge of Unanimity ou the possession of one of the finest lodges in Canterbury, an ornament alike to the order and to Lyttelton. Protection of Australasia. —The Pall Mall Gazette says;—“The increase incur unarmoured fleet, which Mr Ward Hunt considers as entitled to the first consideration in the present condition of our navy, is rendered the more necessary by the steady development of our commerce with our Australasian colonies. Their unchecked pros perity is doing much to compensate for the loss of those dangerous foreign customerwho bought English goods with English borrowed money, aud, now that the princip:J has disappeared, can neither buy more nor pay interest on the money lent. Australia and New Zealand stand in a very different position. They have spent and are spending large amounts on public works, the manufactured materials for which are chiefly imported from this country ; but there is good reason to believe that even in New Zealand, the most extravagant colony in this respeer, the expenditure will be eventually justified by the results. There is a growing feeling, however, that at the present time ahipp ng under the English flag is very inauffleient y protected in those waters. There is even some talk of petitioning the Home Government to placs one or two ironblads on the Australian station. The demand, if made, would probably be based on the fact that whereas ironclad vessels belonging to other Powers have visited English ports throughout the South Pacific, no English ironclad has yet been told off for colonial services—the Victorian Cerberus is only for harbor defence—and the unarmored vessels now on the station are by no means powerful engines of war. Though it may not be found convenient to comply literally with this request, it would certainly be desirable that in the event of a war with a European Power we should have the means of dealing at once with any hostile cruisers that might attempt to prey upon our commerce there as well as elsewhere. The cheap coal of New South Wales and New Zealand, aud the admirable harbors in which our ships could refit, and which would not be open to the enemy, ought to secure for our flag a supremacy as undisputed from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Horn as it ever held in the Channel. In order to gain the full benefit of these advantages, however, it is necessary to bear in mind that ships that may do very fairly for peace duty are useless in war, and that jiut now, according to Mr Ward Hunt, we have not the means of replacing these inferior vessels by heavy -armed unarmored cruisers of a superior class,’'