NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 673, 16 August 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Mail. —The Zelandia arrived at Wellington this morning at 12.30, and is announced to leave] for the South at five o’clock this afternoon. She is therefore due in Lyttelton early to-morrow morning. The Supposed Poisoning Case. —At the inquest held at Kaoipoi yesterday, touching the death of Mr Hudson, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from congestion of the brain, but there was no evidence to show how produced.

Runaway, —A horse belonging to Mr Nisbett, bolted from opposite his butchering establishment in Harper street, Newtown, and soon afterwards the cart came into contact with the kerbing and capsized completely over. The horse was quickly extricated, but considerable damage was done to the cart. Water Distribution in Lyttelton.— At a meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council held on Monday evening last, it was resolved to expend the additional municipal grant, amounting to £2368, in the distribution of water in Lyttelton, the money to be invested in the meantime at seven per cent till required. Presentation. —This morning Mesdames Raphael and H. Davis waited upon the Rev I. Zachariah, at his residence, and on behalf of the ladies of the Jewish congregation here presented him with a purse of sovereigns and an address expressive of their appreciation of his services to the community. The rev gentleman suitably acknowledged the gift. Inquiry. —An inquiry regarding the collision between the barque Australian Sovereign and a baique supposed to be the Ann of Melbourne, rook place yesterday before the Collector of Customs and Captain Gibson. The accident occurred near Newcastle on July 21st. The Footpaths —We are glad to notice that the work of gravelling the footpaths, which has been so long delayed; is now being pushed forward with commendable vigour. It has been found possible to carry out the work in several parts of the city at once, though this was questioned by some economical members of the City Council. Had the work which is now being done been put in hand a month sooner, we should have heard far less grumbling from justly discontented ratepayers. However, better late than never.

Intercolonial Communication. —We are glad to learn that Messrs McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co’s steamers are opening up a new line of communication with the other colonies. Tasmania is now to be included in their line of connection. The Otago, on her next trip from Melbourne, calls at Hobart Town, sailing from thence to the Bluff, Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, Wei lington, Nelson, Hokitika, and on to Sydney. The Albion will sail from Sydney for Hokitika, thence round the coast, via Wellington, Lyttelton, &c, to the Bluff and Hobart Town. A four-weekly service both ways will thus be secured. The advantage of regular and direct communication with those ports will no doubt be appreciated by the mercantile community of New Zealand.

Presbytery of Christchurch.— At a meeting of the Presbytery held on August 10th, the question of the Lyttelton preaching station was again under consideration. It was unanimously resolved—“ That the Rev Mr Mclntosh be cited a second time to appear at the bar of the Presbytery at a meeting to be held on September 14th and a committee was appointed to confer with him and endeavour to get him to recognise the unconstitutional character of his present position.

Leeston. —ln this township great changes have taken place in the way of improvements. Besides public aud private schools, there are also four churches, belonging to the Church of England, Roman Catholics, Wesleyans, and Presbyterians. Cottages are being erected almost weekly. A public library will shortly be erected. The erection of a town halt will forthwith be commenced. The scheme was mooted about ten days ago, and now there are 370 shares taken up at £1 each. This building will be somewhat of a spacious structure—7oft x 30ft, 12ft studs, with other contiguous accommodation ; plans having been prepared, public opinion, at least hereabouts, affirms that when finished it will be second to no building of this class in the various outlying districts. A pnblic meeting will be called about the beginning of September for the election of a management and. building committee, after which the work will be immediately carried out.

The Darrells,— The many friends of Mr and Mrs Darrell in Christchurch will be glad to hear that they have made a most successful re appearance in Dunedin. At date of last advices they were playing “ Man and Wife,” a dramatic adaption of Wilkie Collins’s celebrated novel of that name, in which Mr Darrell’s Geoffrey Delamayne is highly spoken of. The new piece “ Transported for Life,” is in course of preparation. A Runaway Debtor. —We extract the. following from the Wellington Evening Argus of August 9th:—“This afternoon a civil case was heard at the Kesident Magistrate’s Court, before W. M. Ballantyne and J. H. Wallace, Bsqs, J.P’s. The case was one in which a person named Pratt sued another, named Nathan, for £lO 10s, rent due. Both parties belonged to Christchurch. From the evidence of Pratt it appeared that Nathan had agreed to rent premises from the plaintiff at 30s a week for three years, but it was agreed between them that the defendant might leave on giving one month’s notice. A short time ago the plaintiff had occasion to leave Christchurch, and when he returned he found his tenant had sold everything and quitted his landlord, as well as numerous friends, without settling “ his little bill.” The plaintiff happened to come to Wellington by the steamer to-day, “spotted” his man, and took out a summons forthwith. The defendant denied that he owed more than three weeks’ rent, was insolent to the presiding justices, and pointed out to them how they should deal with the case. The justices gave a verdict for plaintiff for the full amount claimed and costs. At this, the defendant said in an impudent manner—‘Your Worships will have to give me time to pay it, or send me to gaol.’ While this was going on, a distress warrant was being issued, after which, but before it was put into execution, the Justices left the bench. The defendant then asked if their Worships intended giving him time to pay, upon which the chairman informed him that a certain document was just prepared which would compel him to pay if he was obstinate. The defendant was fearfully irate at this, abused everybody he saw, and said he would only pay a portion of the amount. The clerk said he might do that, and a distress warrant would be issued for the remainder, whereupon the defendant reluctantly paid ‘ to the uttermost farthing,’ taking out a roll of notes to do so Then he began to ba inso lent to the sergeant of police, who was standing near at hand, and was eventually shown the door. He now thinks Wellington people too smart for him.” East Christchurch School Com mittee. —The usual fortnigbly meeting of the committee was held last evening, at the Gloucester street school. Present—Mr G. L, Lee (chairman), Rev W. J. Habeas, and Messrs Farr, Kirk, Rose, and Jameson. Leave of absence from that meeting was granted to Mr Colborne-Veel. The tender of Mr Kimbell, for the bath at the main school, was accepted, and also Mr Smart’s tender for gravelling. A letter was from the Minister of Education, declining to accede to the committee’s request for map stands. The sub-committee reported they had secured a suitable site at Phillipstown for a school, containing la 8r 27p, and having two frontages, for the sum of £4BO. A letter was read from the Minister sanctioning the purchase of the land, and also the employment of Mr Cuff to survey it. The plans of the master’s house at Bingsland were considered, and a resolution carried that the committee considered the house was much required, and would desire to have it built of wood, the two sitting-rooms to have an area of at least not less than 240 superficial feet each. The reports of the inspector of the examinations held at the Gloucester street, Bingsland, and South Town belt schools were forwarded from the Education-office. The reports were exceedingly satisfactory as to the organisation and conduct of the schools, and proficiency of the scholars in the standards given. A discussion took place on the necessity of having two class rooms added to the Bingsland s.chool, as the lobby of the school had now to be used for the purposes of a class room, when it was decided to write to the Minister, asking that the Provincial Architect may be instructed to prepare the necessary plans. The action taken by the chairman relative to a house at the South belt school for a ca retaker, was approved. It was resolved to write to the Minister for authority to expend £SO for gravelling the school site at the belt, and also £2O for levelling it. A letter was read from Miss Bolton in connection with the report on the girls’ department at Gloucester street school, and as an assistant teacher had also been recommended by the inspector, it was decided to ask the Minister for authority to procure an efficient certificated teacher to assist the head mistress. The secretary was instructed to write Miss Bolton that the committee have no intention of altering the terms of her engagement. Farther consideration of this letter was deferred until next meeting. A request from Miss Bolton that the apportionment of the bonus received on account of pupil tc. might be altered, was acceded to, but n\.a to act as a precedent. The recommendation of the inspector that an assistant teacher should be added to the staff in the boys’ department at the Main school, was approved. It was decided to recommend an application received for a remission of the rate. The secretary was instructed to write for permission to have a clock provided for one of the rooms at the Main school. After passing several accounts the committee adjourned.