NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 709, 27 September 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

0 J.C.—A general meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club will be held at 4 p.m, on Friday next. Supreme Court.— The quarterly criminal session of the Supreme Court opens on Monday next, at 10 a.m, before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston, Stud Horse Parade. We remind owners of horses intending to enter them for the annual horse parade on Saturday next that the time for entries to be made expires to-morrow. Artillery Inspection. The usual monthly inspection of the Christchurcu Battery of Artillery took place last evening at the Drill Shed. There was a good attendance of members, under Captain Craig and Lieutenant Stansell, and the Battery went through a series of evolutions very creditably. Union Steamship Company.—This company’s s.s Wakatipu, the latest addition to their fleet, and the largest steamer in the intercolonial trade, is intended to sail from Lyttelton on her way South on Friday next. She is intended to run from Dunedin, via Lyttelton and Wellington, to Sydney. The Wakatipu is very highly spoken of by the Melbourne papers. Petty Thefts. Numerous complaints have lately been made from residents in the Springfield road of persons jumping their garden fences at night time, and purloining plants and flowers, but last night the thief or thieves emboldened by previous success, entered a larder at the rear of one house, helped himself among other items to a sub-' stantial leg of mutton which had been hung in the cool “ to keep.” Perhaps if a policeman were stationed in that direction for a few nights, his efforts might bring to light some of these gentry. East Christchurch School Committee. —The usual meeting of this committee was held last evening at the Gloucester street school. After the transaction of some routine business, the subject of the striking by the Government of a rate of lid in the £ on the district was discussed at great length. Ultimately a resolution to the following effect, proposed by the Rev W. J. Habens, was carried—“ That whereas the committee is informed that a rate of lid in the £ has been struck upon the value of the property in the district; and whereas the sum to be collected under this rate is largely in excess of the amount officially required of the district by the Minister’s letter of August 12th, and is in part to be expended upon works for which the committee has not yet made formal application ; and whereas the rate was struck after the chairman had asked for time to be allowed for the committee to consider what works the district could afford to pay for during the current year, the committee respectfully but firmly protest against the action of the Superintendent in levying the rate without affording the committee the opportunity for due consideration, and direct that this protest be submitted to the notice of the Minister for

Lyttelton Regatta Committee.—A meeting of this committee waa held at the Colonists’ Hall on Monday last. There was a good attendance, Mr P. Cunningham occupying the chair. Correspondence was read from Mr W. Rolleston, declining to act as patron; from Mr H. P. Murray-Aynsley, consenting to act as commodore; from Mr H. R. Webb, declining to act as vice-commo-dore, but promising to assist on the committee ; from Messrs W. Packard and J. Little, declining to act as comm ttee men. It was resolved that the Hon S. Richardson be requested to act as patron, and Mr J. L. Coster as vice-commodore. Messrs Cunningham, Nalder, and Boddington were appointed a sub-committee to revise rules and courses if necessary, and report at next meeting. Messrs Cunningham, Hawkins, Nalder, Agar, and Boddington were appointed collectors. The secretary was instructed to advertise the three principal races in the leading papers in Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, and Dunedin, and the whole programme once in the Press, and once in Lyttelton Times. The meeting then adjournedj The Kumara Rush.— Mr Thomson, the Surveyor-General of the Colony, has just re turned from Hokitika overland. Having passed through the Kumara diggings he has kindlj placed the following information at our disposal:—Houses are being rapidly erected along the main street of Kumara, which is now fully a mile in length. Two sawmills are at work on the ground, and timber is. also being supplied from two sawmills in the district. The extent and richness of the goldfields are variously estimated, the largest area spoken of being seven by four miles, and the depth of auriferous strata being from four to fifteen feet, but no thoroughly authoritative information is to be had. Old miners trace the lead to the Taipo valley, in which there are quartz reefs. The field, however, is estimated to last as alluvial diggings for fifteen years. Whether the various estimates are wide of the mark or not, there can be no doubt that the labouring and mining population are on the move to the ground, parties of from ten up to fifty being met with at intervals of from five to eight miles ; only one man was seen to be returning. Speculation in town sections was also vigorous in Hokitika. Mr Thomson started from Hokitika on the morning of the 23rd, but was detained by the heavy floods at the Taipo for two days and a half. The coach was unable to proceed further owing to the slips, and fallen trees, so the passengers packed and walked till the Bealey was reached, Theroad cannot be opened for vehicles for at least a fortnight or three weeks, and as the various keepers of accommodation bouses complained of being out of provisions, they cannot be supplied till waggons can get up, Duvauchelle’s Bay— The occasion of Messrs Bridge and Bushell’s monthly sale at the Head of the Bay ou Friday last, was taken advantage of by the owners of entire horses in the district to parade their stock. The day being fine and the sale a very attractive one, a large number of persons were present. The centre of attraction was Mr Shadbolt’s thoroughbred entire Eclat. This horse has been recently imported from Tasmania by Mr Shadbolt. He is a perfect picture, deep chested, clean limbed with plenty of bone, fine and handsome head. His owner deserves to be well supported for his spirited endeavor to improve the breed of horses on the Peninsula, by introducing a horse of such high breeding. Mr E. C. Denny had on the ground a very useful roadster, Priam, This horse is well-known in the Timaru district, and although he had come through from Christchurch the day before, he appeared in splendid condition. He seems peculiarly adapted for breeding stock fit for work on the Peninsula, and from the attention he attracted, will no doubt have a most successful season. Mr J. Fry showed Sir Roger, a bright chesnut, by Shales. He is a very promising looking horse, but was not in very good form ; as a yearling he took first prize at the Christchurch show. He is, from his strength and character, likely to be in requisition as a sire of roadsters. Lord Wallace, shown by Mr James Wright, is a very fair horse for breeding heavy stock. He was submitted to Mr Bridge’s hammer, but the bidding not reaching the owner’s expectation he was bought in for £BO. Banks’ Peninsula Pastoral Association,—This association has been for the last few years struggling against difficulties, and unless some very energetic measures are taken, and much more interest is manifested in its prosperity, there is very little doubt the annual show will fall to the ground. This is much to be regretted, as a pastoral association well supported would be of the greatest benefit to such a district as the Peninsula. A public meeting was held on Friday at the Somerset Hotel, Head of the Bay, for the purpose of electing a committee for the ensuing year, and determining if the annual show should be held ; not more than a dozen persons were present, and the proceedings for such a small meeting were unusually noisy and disorderly. On a motion being made that Mr Williams, the chairman of the association, should take the chair, Mr McKay, in a very vehement manner, objected to Mr Williams acting as chairman, as he (Mr Williams) was not a subscriber. After a rather boisterous altercation, Mr McKay was at length induced to allow the business to proceed. Mr John Barwick, secretary pro tern, explained that the books and papers of the association were found to be in such a state of disorder that it was impossible to say who were members and who were not. At a meeting of the committee held that day week, it was resolved to wipe out all former proceedings of the association, and to begin again with a clean sheet. The present meeting was not one of subscribers only, but a general meeting of those who were interested in giving the association a fresh start. Mr Williams then took the chair, and said he wished first to explain that he was a member of the association—that several members had paid their subscriptions, and that no notice of the payments appeared in the books of the association. [Mr McKay—l know you are not a member ; you confessed it yourself : I don’t care three buttons for anyone.] It was evident, Mr Williams continued, that Mr McKay had come to try and stop the meeting. He well knew he waa a member. He paid his subscription to Mr Hay. [Here Mr McKay’s interruptions were so frequent, and bis conduct so disorderly, that it was impossible to proceed with the meeting.] Mr Frank Haughton moved, and Mr W. Mase field seconded—“ That the meeting be ad juurned until Saturday, 30th instant, at 2 p.m, and that Mr Barwick be instructed to call a public meeting by advertisement.’ This resolution being carried, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman,

Royal association for the Promotion of the Fine Arts in Scotland.— At the annual meeting and distribution of works of art in connection with this Association, the following prizes were announced as having been won by residents in New Zealand : No 6551, “On the Falloch,” by Alexander Fraser, R.S.A, £IOO, Mr Walls, Dunedin; No 6420, “ Gathering bait,” £5 sa, Mr J. Hislop, Milton ; No 6318, “ The officer of the watch,” by J. A. Houston, R.S.A, £B4, Mr J. Anderson, junr, Christchurch ; No 6842, “ Loch Vennacher,” by J. Yelland, £l2 12s, Mr Nicholson, Wellington ; “Sunset on the Solway sands, &c,” by 8. Bough, R.S.A, £63, Mr T. Spencer, Timaru; No 6309, “ Grass of Parnassus,” by Miss Fraser, £5 Es, Mr J. Anderson, Christchurch ; No 6464, “ Great Expectations,” by B. Boss, £52 10s, J. Stoddart, Napier.