NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 669, 11 August 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

♦ —- A Valuable Export —Yesterday’s South Canterbury Timex says : Tairoa was shipped to-day for Dunedin the first consignment from this port of a new species of export, in the shape of bone dust, which had been manufactured at the New Zealand Meat Preserving Company’s esta- ( blishment, Washdyke.’.’ The Surveyor-General. —The Surveyor- i General has, we understand, completed his ' examination into the state of the surveys, 1 maps, &c, at the Christchurch and Timaru ’ Land Offices, and his report will, we pre- i sume, be shortly in the hands of the Govern- 3 ment. It has been stated that the mission of ’ the Surveyor-General was the result of recent 1 correspondence between the General Govern- c ment, the Superintendent, and his advisers, i but we are in a position to state t hat it was on ] Superintendent’s own special request that t the Surveyor-General came down, and that t the Superintendent had done his utmost to t get him down to Canterbury before the corres- * pondeuce above referred to took place, i

The Late Mr Fuller’s Family.— Dr Yon Haast requests us to state that the following additional subscriptions have been received by him :—G. Hart, 10s ; the Mayor of Christchurch, £2 2s ; George Holmes, £3 3s ; Robert Watson, £1 ; W. D. Carruthers, £1 ; Nemo, £5 ; Edward Jollie, £1 ; H. B. Qresson, £1 Is ; William Neeve, £l. Accident. — A man named Robert Young was received into the Hospital yesterday, suffering from a fracture of the right thigh. He was walking alongside a horse and cart near Bingsland, which he was driving, when the animal shied across the road at a perambulator, and threw him down, one wheel passing over his right leg, He is progressing satisfactorily. City Works. —The work of forming and shingling the footpaths in Barbadcea street south was commenced on Wednesday. A large number of men have been placed at it, advantage being taken of the present fine weather to complete the work as quickly as possible; A portion of Chester street from Oxford terrace, which during the late bad weather was in a sad state, has also been formed and shingled, and will no doubt be felt as a boon by the residents of that locality. Fire Police, — ln accordance with a resolution passed at a meeting of the Fire Police recently held, a deputation from that body met yesterday at the City Council Chambers. There were present hia Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Dr Foster (city solicitor), Mr Superintendent Harris, and Messrs Alport, Bishop, Fisher, and Beattie. The resolution alluded to had reference to the status and powers held by the corps, and the question was discussed whether these should not be more clearly defined than at present, and also whether it would not be desirable to have a clause to this effect inserted in the new Municipal Corporations Bill. After some discussion it was decided to let the matter stand over until fully considered by Dr Foster. Press Club.—A meeting of the provisional committee of the Press Club was held yesterday afternoon, at Warner’s Hotel. Mr F. H. Digby occupied the chair. The rules of the Dunedin Club were considered, and a draft copy prepared. It was agreed to recommend to the general meeting that the subscription be fixed at 10s per quarter. The secretary was instructed to advertise the adjourned general meeting to take place at Warner’s on Saturday evening next, at 7 o’clock. We are requested to remind intending members that, after the meeting on Saturday evening, those whose names are not enrolled will have to be proposed and balloted for. A goodly number of persons have already signified their intention of joining, and the club will, we believe, start with every prospect of success. St John’s Association.— A most successful meeting of this association was held last night, the subject being “ Is the giving of religious instruction in cur schools consistent with a national system of education,” The meeting was opened by singing “The Church’s one foundation,” and prayer. Mr H. Hill then read a paper on the subject, and was followed by Messrs Gee, Thomson, M. Henderson, Hirst, Ward, and the President. A debate of great interest was sustained till 10 o’clock, and it was generally felt that the subject would bear another evening’s discussion. The President announced that the subject next Thursday would be a lecture on the “ Life of Joshua Davidson.” There was a good attendance of members, several ladies being among the audience. The meeting was concluded by singing “Abide with me.” Several gentlemen remained to enroll themselves, and several new members were proposed—a very promising beginning to the new society. Drainage at Papanui.— lt will be remembered that during last season scarlet fever was rife in the township of Papanui, and the action taken by Dr Brittan, of Harewood road, at the time, to induce the Hoad Boards to have the open ditches filled in running northwards on both sides of the road, called by a misnomer drains (one as far as the public drain, and the other to the Sawyers’ Arms Hotel), and choked up with vegetable matter and stagnant water, and to which he in a great measure attributed the virulence of the fever then raging, will be remembered by many, as also the frnitleseness of that gentleman’s representations. When the Drainage Board was established, the ratepayers looked forward with hope to have this work done at once, and the drains replaced by side channels; but having cleared out those ditches, which are again overgrown with vegetable matter, the Board probably think they have done sufficient for the present, and the inhabitants, who have since last year increased in number, have the pleasing satisfaction of looking forward to a more serious state of things should scarlet fever break out amongst them next summer. It is really to be hoped that remedial measures will be taken in time to prevent a recurrence of last season’s experience. Hokitika Bar—The West Coast Times of the 7th, says : —“ The condition of the bar during the past few weeks is now beginning to be felt very severely in all branches of trade. Stocks are exceedingly low, and prices for staple commodities are steadily on the increase. Flour is reported to be in eager demand, and the price hag advanced within the past week 30s per ton, there being no large holders. Supplies of sugar, kerosene, and candles are also very limited, and the best brands of spirits have been reduced to a minimum. Oats are still in fair supply. Butter, cheese, coffee, oatmeal, and a number of the leading lines are in demand at increasing prices, \yith scant imports for Ihe past month or two, and fair demand from the Kumara rush for all the commodities of daily life, it is not to be wondered that many of tlje merchants are looking anxiously for some improvement in the channel. Besides goods which have been shipped in the Prosperity and Mary Bannatyne, are, in the ordinary way of business, about due and with a ready market waiting them, the condition of things is particularly aggravating. Three or four other vessels are advised as being laid on foj (he port, but present appearances of the bar render it very doubtful when stocks will be replenished to any extent. A fresh in the river might render communication easy within a few days, but on the other hand a heavy flood might possibly open up the north channel again, which would bring about a repetition of what the port has been subjected to for the past month. Meantime, all the municipal energies and commercial hopes towards improvement are concentrated on the wish that nature may bountifully and suddenly create free- access between the wharf and the ocean,”

Entertainment.— •An entertainment, consisting of a concert, drama, and a farce, took place last evening in aid of the Catholic Schools. There was, as is usual at these entertainments, a very large audience, and the various items on the programme of the concert, which were principally rendered by Madame and Miss Winter, Mr Winter, and Mr Sheath, went well. The second part of the programme was also very creditably given. Altogether the entertainment was a very successful one.

Meeting of Clergy.— A meeting of the clergy to the nnmbsr of about thirty was held yesterday at the College Library, under the presidency of the Bishop. The object of the meeting was to promote the holding of a mission in the diocese of Christchurch, Considerable interest was manifested in the subject, and after much discussion it was resolved to appoint a committee, consisting of the Bishop, the Dean, the Venerable Archdeacons Wilson and Dudley, Revs Cocks, Lingerd, Scott, and Watson, to make arrangements, and to report to another meeting of the clergy. Fire at St. John’s, Quebec, —The following are additional particulars to those already published of this fire :—“ St. John’s, Quebec, June 18th.—This place was to-day visited by a most destructive fire. The entire business portion of the town, embracing a stretch of territory six hundred feet wide and a mile in length, was destroyed. Seven hotels, nine churches, the Custom House, Court House, Post Office, United States Consulate, two banks, docks, vessels in the river, portion of a bridge over Richelieu river, the St. John’s woollen mills employing sixty hands, stone chinaware rooms, and 250 stores and houses were reduced to ashes. The fire broke out this morning at the head of Richelieu street, in Bosquest’s steam sawmill. A strong southwest wind caused the fire to spread rapidly. The aqueduct water had been shut off to repair the engine, making it necessary for the fire engines to draw their supply from the river, which added to the delay. A steamer arrived from Montreal at 11.30 in the morning, and engines and hose companies from St. Albans at 1 o’clock in the afternoon ; but the fire had already swept the entire length of Richelieu street to the dock, and through the cross streets—St. George, St. James, St. Charles, St. Paul, and Middle streets—to Champlain, burning all of the buildings on the east and some on the west side. The occupants of the burned houses had hardly time to escape with their lives. St John’s Bank saved its paper money, but everything else is in the vaults. The Merchants’ Bank left everything in its vaults. Miss Lay, a milliner, in endeavoring to save her goods, was burned to death. Mrs Lynch, a young man named Boulden, Joseph W. Thomas, and Charles Arpant are badly burned. Mayor Rossetter, whose house and tannery were destroyed, was severely burned. The Bank of St John’s was a beautiful cutstone building, with iron shutters, and supposed to have been fireproof, but it burned like tinder. The Woollen Company had 80.000 dollars worth of flannel burned. The houses were mostly of brick and stone. The total loss is variously estimated as high as 1.500.000 dollars. About two hundred families have been rendered houseless, most of them losing everything. The St John’s News building was burned, and Lefletence’s Canadian office was saved. The property was generally well insured, mostly in English offices. The iEtna Company of Hartford is the only American company known to have risks. The English companies are the Queen, Northern, Phoenix, Royal, Liverpool and London, and North British ; and ihe Canadian are the Royal Canadian, Hadacona, and Provincial, and Citizens’. A large number of special police have been appointed to preserve order to-night, an d arrangements are being made to provide for the destitute. Business men say the town will be rebuilt at once.' 1