NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 667, 9 August 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Seal.—A fine seal, measuring Bft 6in in length, was captured by Mr Thos. Whakeliu, at Harris Bay, Port Levy, on Thursday la^t. P.M. Court. —The only criminal case brought before the Resident Magistrate today was that of Reuben Cook, who was brought up on a charge of lunacy from drink, and remanded to Lyttelton for eight days. The San Francisco Mail.—A. cable telegram was received by the Government yesterday, reporting that the City of San Francisco arrived at San Francisco, with the mails, on July 27th. She therefore performed the voyage in contract time. The Lingards. —We understand that arrangements are in course of being made by which the Christchurch public will be enabled to see these celebrated artistes very shortly. Both in " Saratoga" and " Our Boys" they have achieved a most decided success in Dunedin, and we hope that the arrangements in progress for their appearance here may result in something practical. The Late Mr. Fuller's Family.—Dr Von Haast requests us to state that the following additional subscriptions have been received by him: —Professor Bickerton, £1; Dr Powell, £1; C. F. Todhunter, £1; A. Carrick, J. M. Hoy wood and Co, £1 Is; F. J. Garrick, £1 Is ; W. P. Cowlishaw, £1 Is; VV. Jonep, 10s; James Tait, £1; John Icglis, £1 Is. Property Sale,—Messrs J. T. Ford and Co sold, at Mr Chas Clark's rooms, yesterday, the equity of redemption of Court Barton Farm, comprising 47 acres 33 poles, for £()25. At the same time the same firm sold the equity of redemption of B.S. No 10768, consisting of 51 acres, for £SO. There was a fair attendance, and the biiding was brisk. A Needed Improvement.—The Government are about to erect a dwarf stone wall alongside the Supreme Court in Chester street. For some time past the footpath has been in a most dangerous condition, owing to the road being cut away from under it, leaving a precipitous descent, which in the dark winter nights it is astonishing has not been the scene of a serious accident.

The North Road.—Very great danger has lately been experienced by equestrians and drivers of vehicles on the North road, between Christchurch and St Albans, as the tressels placed during the day—and only a short distance apart, leaving very narrow driving way—for the purpose of keeping travellers on the road, are allowed to remain in the same position at night time, without any warning light being affixed to them. A slight accident occurred to the driver of a trap on last Saturday night, which might have resulted very seriously. The two lamps on the road are also very insufficient on a dark night, and it would be felt a great boon to those persons compelled to travel at night time if a third lamp were placed on the east side of the road, midway between Merivale lane and the Carlton corner. The Dunlop Concert.—A meeting of the general committee was held last evening, at Warner's Hotel, to receive the report and balance-sheet in connection with the concert. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chaii, and briefly congratulated the meeting on the success that had attended their efforts. The hon secretary, Mr Tombp. handed in a statement of tickets so'd, and Mr R. Davin, hon treasurer, read the balancesheet, which showed the total receipts (including sale of tickets and donations) to be JBI2G 19s Gd. The expenses altogether had only amounted to £1 lis 6d, leaving a nett balance of £125 ss. On the motion of Mr W. J. Fisher, the balance sheet was received and adopted. His Worsh'p the Mayor, with Messrs Davis and Tombs, were elected a committee to anaugo for clearing off the liabilities on the property of the deceased, and also of arranging with thewidow as to the residue of the money. A cordial vote of thanks was recorded to those ladies and gentlemen who so kindly came forward and rendered their valuable assistance at the concert —more especially tin professional ladies and gentlemen. A vote of thanks was passed to those who had kindly assisted in various ways, and the usual complimentary vote to the chairman terminated the meeting.

The Trout Ova.—Three members of the garden committee of the Acclimatisation Society have with assistants been for some nights past assiduously engaged in netting the river ns far as Ham, for the purpose of procuring fish for the purpose of stripping. About thirty male fish were captured in the river, ranging from 61bs to 151 b each in weight, bat only a few female fish were sufficiently ripe. In ihe small burns running into the river, however, the netters were more successful in procuring the latter ; and with these, and the number stripped in the society's ponds, it is estimated that about 20,000 healthy eggs have been taken altogether. With average luck about two-thirds of this number should be hatched out.

No 2 L.O.L.—The usual monthly meeting of the above lodge was held at the Orange Hall last night. There wa3 a good attendance of the brethren, as well as a number of visitors from the sister lodges, and recent arrivals from the old country. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year, viz:—W.M., Bro J. Hogg; D.M., Bro R. Hussel ; treasurer, Bro T. Anderson ; secretary, Bro T. J. Beresford, together with five of a committee. The lodge being closed with the usual ceremonies, the brethren retired for refreshments, when the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were duly proposed and responded to, interspersed with some good s®ngs. The brethren then dispersed. North Town BELT.—During the late bad. weather constant complaints have been made by the residents of the north side of the North town belt, between Colombo and Durham streets, of the state of the road and footpath there. Unfortunately for them they are the sufferers by the very anomalous position which the Oity Council and Avon Road Board hold with respect to this portion of the belt, for while the former body has control over it, they cannot collect the rates, which are collected by the Board, who do not however possess the authority to execute any work on that portion of the belt. The result of this pleasant state of things has been that the letters of the suffering ratepayers have been bandied from Road Board to City Council and vice versa, without anything been dote to remedy the evil com plained of. A petition, signed by nearly all the residents in that neighbourhood, was yesterday submitted to the works committee by the Avon Road Board, and it was resolved that the work should be proceeded with immediately, provided the Board will contribute its share, in accordance with a standing resolution of the Council. It is to be hoped there will be no necessity for delaying this very much required work any longer. Fire Police —A general meeting of the members of the fire police was held last evening in the Lichfield street hall, Officer R. C. Bishop occupying the chair. Captain Alport read the minutes of the last general meeting, and also of the fires occurring since. A letter was read from the City Council, thanking the fire police for their services during the past year, and notifying the appointment of Mr H. B. Alport as fire inspector. The treasurer produced his balance-sheet, showing a credit of 2s 2d after discharging all liabilities. Captain Alport reminded those present that the time of service of the force expired on the 20th inst, when it would be necessary for them to be re-sworn. The subject of the inefficiency of the present bells for giving an alarm in case of a serious fire was considered. Mr Superintendent Harris explained that arrangements had been made by which in future the Normal School and other school bells would be rung in caee of a serious fire, but only when deemed absolutely necessary. A discussion also arose as to the insufficient supply of water at the east an.i south portions of the city, and it was stated that the Drainage Board had under consideration a scheme for supplying this deficiency. The officers of the force were appointed as a committee to confer with his Worship the Mayor as regarded certain matters. After eome further routine business, the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

Wreck of the Dagmar.—The Otago Guardian of the 7th instant reports :—" The cutter Jane, from Oatlin's River, with cargo for Timaru, put in to Port Chalmers on Saturday afternoon in order to land Captain Counor aud the crow of the schooner Dagmar, which vessel foundered under the Nuggets on Thursday afternoon. Captain Tunbridge, the master of the Jane, states the Dagmar struck on the bar in leaving Oatlin's River on Thursday last, and that he sighted her about a mile to the southward of the Nuggets at 2 pm. on the same day, lying on her starboard broadside. The crew were holding on to the vessel's side, without the slightest hope of saving themselves, when the Jane hove in sight. Immediately the master of the cutter saw the position of the Dagmar's crew he hove his craft to, and proceeded alone in his dingy to their assistance. On reaching the unfortunate men, he took the whole of them (four in number) into his boat, and after some time succeeded in regaining his vessel, where, as far as possible, every assistance was rendered to them. Nothing could be done for the Dagmar, which was in a sinking condition, and the Jane shaped her course for Port Chalmers, arriving off Taiaroa Heads at 11 o'clock on the same evening, where she rode out the gale in safety. The weather moderated slightly on Saturday, and the Jane beat up to the anchorage, and landed the shipwrecked crew. We are informed that although the Dagmar was close to the Nugget Lighthouse, and could of course have been seen by the keepers, yet they were unable to render any assistance from the fact of their not possessing a boat. This want should certainly be supplied. The conduct of Captain Tunbridge is deserving of the highest commendation, and he is deserving of some mark of recognition for the very gallant manner in which alone and unaided, he put out in a small dingy and rescued four of his fellow creatures from inevitable death. He is the more entitled to praise from the modest and unassuming manner in which he speaks of the occurrence, treating it in true sailor-like fashion as a mere matter of course, quite regardless of the perils he encountered himself. It appears that shortly after the Dagmar struck, on leaving Oatlin's river, a -rely heavy sea broke over her, and Captain Connor was keeping his course for Dunedin, when a report was carried to him by one of the crew that the vessel was in a sinking condition. He then shaped a course for the Nuggets, and when about a mile to the southward of the light, the Dagmar heeled over to port, the seas meanwhile washing heavily over her. Captain Connor took the precaution to cut away the lashings of the schooner's boat on seeing her dangerous position, but a heavy sea filled and swamped her, rendering her perfectly useless."

■■ ■ ' »i Fire Brigade Station.—The new building in Cambridge terrace for the fire brigade is rapidly approaching completion. We do not know whether it is intended to com* memorate the opening in any way, but if so, we hope it will take the shape of the pleasant social reunions given by Mr Superintendent Harris yearly, at which not only the members but their wives and lady friends can be present. We commend this hint to the consideration of the committee. City Posters—The works committee of the City Council have given Messrs Hobba and Goodwin permission to erect boards for displaying posters in the following places, subject to removal if required :—Both tank reserves in Cathedral square; Victoria bridge, opposite new Fire Brigade Station ; Colombo street, near the Oxford Hotel; and at Montreal street bridge, opposite Mr Walker's store. Cricket.—The Ballarat Star states : " Mr Bennett, the agent for Mr Lillywhite's All England team, has concluded arrangements for a three days' match, to be played on the Eastern Oval, Ballarat, between the Englishmen and twenty-two cricketers of the Ballarat district. The match will commence on Monday, Ist January, 1877. The All England Eleven will leave Southampton by the September mail, and will be selected from the following : Jupp, Greenwood, Southerton, Pooley, Charlwood, A. Shaw, Wild, Emmett, Allan Hill, Ullyet, Lockwood, Morley, Barlow, and Selby. Mr Bennett informs us it is unlikely that Lockwood and Morley will come out. Lilly white will captain the team, and, we learn, comes out entirely on his own responsibility. The team will play in Adelaide about the 15th November, and in Melbourne a week after. Then Tasmania will be visited, and matches played in Hobart Town and Launceston. From Tasmania back to Victoria, on Boxing Day the eleven will play on the East Melbourne ground. A two days' match will come off at Geelong on the Friday and Saturday following, and, as stated, Ballarat will be visited on New Year's Day. Then Ararat, Stawell, Beechworth, Wangaratta, Albury, and Wagga Wagga, will be visited in turn. The team will then proceed to Sydney and New Zealand, spending seven weeks in the fatter country."