NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 708, 26 September 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Court op Appeal.—The sitting of the Court of Appeal is fixed to take place on November 13th, at Wellington. Draught Horses.—Seventeen draught horses, the property of Messrs Brogden and Son, were sent to Wellington yesterday in the s.s. Wellington. The Late Mr Fuller.—At the meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College yesterday, an amount equal to two months' salary of her late husbabd was voted to Mrs Fuller, widow of the late taxidermist of the Museum. Northern Railway.—Large gangs of workmen were kept at work all day yesterday repairing the breaches made by the Waimakariri overflow. The railway engineer expects to be able to re-open the line for traffic about Thursday. The gaps made are more e&«;ou 8 than have occurred on any previous occasion. Lecture, —A lecture, in conuu««x*;nn of the series in course of delivery in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association, was given last evening, in the rooms, by the Rev W. McGregor. The chair was occupied by Mr Dawson. The subject chosen by the rev lecturer was " Integrity in business," and the lecture throughout was moat instructive and interesting. Resident Magistrate Districts.—The boundaries of the Resident Magistrate districts of Christchurch and Timaru have been altered, so as to constitute the district of Ashburton. The Christchurch district extends southward to the south bank of the Rakaia, the Ashburton|district from tbe above boundary to the north bank of the Rangitata, and the Timaru district from thence to theWaitangi. Opepatic.—By the Arawata, which aryesterday, we notice the return of Mr jvr. L. Raphael, the late indefatigable business manager and agent for Allen's Opera Troupe. Since his departure from Christchurch Mr Raphael has visited India, China, and many other parts of the world in connection with the company. He is now acting in a similar capacity with the Simonsen Opera Troupe, and is now making J arrangements to play the company in Christ | --x fnt« a short season* ' v I

Masonic.—The annual convocation of the L Canterbury Kilwinnineßoyal. Arch Chapter, was held last evening, in the Maaonic Hall. The following companions were installed as officers of the chapter for the ensuing year by Most Excellent Companion F. W. Thiel, P.G.H., viz.:—Companions P. Rentoul, Z. ; L. A. Elerig, H. : J. Fleming, J.; S. P. Craig, 8.8. ;J. Harker, 8.N.; M. Sandstein, treasurer ; A. R. Kirk, Ist S. ; A. Thiele, 2nd S. ; G. Hodge, 3rd S. ; T. Shatter, janitor. There was a goodly muster of the companions on the occasion. Drainage Board Rates. The subcommittee of the Drainage Board, at the request of the financial agents in London, drafted a new clause in the Draiaage Act Amendment Bill giving power to the Board to levy up to Is 3d in the £ rates. This, it was explained at the time, would not, from the natural increase year by year of the value of assessed property in the city, require to be taken advantage of. It was stated that the clause was put in to satisfy lenders at home, who had no means of becoming acquainted with the fact that the extra amount was not required. When the Bill came to the Upper House, however, this clause was struck out. It was yesterday resolved to ask his Honor the Superintendent to request the Government to bring down an alteration by message, either restoring the Is 3d, or reducing the borrowing power of the Board to £200,000. The Late Gale—The terrific gale which swept over the Ashhurton, Mount Somers, and Alford Forest districts on Friday last has done a great deal of damage to the crops. We hear of several instances where the wheat has been blown completely but of the ground and the land flooded. Hundreds of sheep were seen to go down the Rakaia river, and a considerable number down the Ashburtonj but the greatest severity of the gale seems to have been felt at Mount Somers. Cookson's coach arrived at Ashburton on Sunday, and the driver states that the roads are washed away in many places, the Mount Somers schoolhoase lifted off the piles and twisted into a semicircular shape. A house belonging to Mr McKenzie, at Alford Forest, was complely blown over, and his family, who were within at the time, fortunately escaped unhurt. Mr Cox has several outbuildings destroyed, and there is scarcely a chimney remaining in the Mount Somers district. Cookson's coach was capsized by the wind near Buccleuch; but through the kindness of Messrs J. Johnson and Isaac Taylor, who came to his assistance, the mails were taken on without much delay. An enormous body of water came down both branches of the Ashburton River, the banks of which are strewn with posts, rails, and delris, but the embankment at the railway bridge stood firm.