NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 798, 12 January 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

San Francisco Mail. —The outward nuii went North yesterday in the s.s. Rotorua ; it consisted of twenty-three bags : twenty-two from Christchurch, and one from Lyttelton. 1.0.G.T. —Avery successful entertainment was given last evening in the Good Templar Hall, under the auspices of the Ever Faithful Lodge. The chair was occupied by the Rev S. Macfarlane, and a capital programme was gone through. Miss Ness, Miss Kent, Messrs Cliff, G. Ritchie, Gray, &c, contributed songs, and several readings were given by Mr Hull. The proceedings terminated with the National Anthem. Christchurch to Oamaru.— lt has been definitely settled to open the railway to Oamaru on the Ist of February next. The journey from Christchurch to Oamaru will occupy from eight to nine hours, allowing travellers twenty minutes at Ashburton and half an hour at Timaru, for refreshment. The time table has not yet been arranged, nor has the scale of fares been fixed, but it may be stated that the first-class fare to Oama-u will be about thirty shillings. Theatrical. —By the Arawata Mrs ScottSiddons has arrived in Dunedin under engagement to Mr Darrell for a short season. It is more than probable that at its conclusion Mr Hoskins will give Christchurch playgoers an oppoitunity of seeing this talented lady on the boards of our Theatre, Mr W. Evans (formerly agent for the Alice May Opera Troupe) has also arrived in advance of the celebrated Davenport Brothers and Professor Fay, who will give a series of spiritualistic seances through New Zealand. Mr and Mrs Lingard are e>i route for here. They have been playing a successful engagement in Auckland, and will come here after playing a short season at tho Wellington Theatre. It may interest some of our readers to learn that the Simonson Opera Company have re-organised, and are now playing in the western district of Victoria to good business. Signor Morley has seceded f rom the company, and with Mr M. L Evapbael has organised a company for an up-country tour, Miss Alice May and Mr Alien are still, in Melbourne.

? RICKET. — A match will be played on Saturday acxr on the U.C.C.C. ground be* tween an Eleven and a Fifteen. The fol* lowing are the names of the players : Eleven—Messrs Alpe, Ashby, Dickinson, J. Fowler, W. Frith, Leach, Neilson, Palmer, Secretan, Stevens, aud Wood, Fifteen Alington, Baker, D’Bmden, Dixon, Fuller, B. Fowler V. Hamilton, Izard, Moore. A. Dilivier, Sampson, Sweet, Tomer, Wilson,Willes. Emergency—Fairhurst and B. Hamilton. Play will commence at 2 p.m,, at which time all players are requested to be on the ground.

Intbbprovincial REGATTA. Canterbury will be represented at the Nelson Champion Begatta by three crews. These comprise one from the Cure Club, Kaiapoi, who will row in the “ Cam ; ” an Akaroa crew, who will pull in the C.B.C. outrigger, “ Illyasus,” and a Timaru crew. The Eaiapoi men have been doing good work for some time past, and the Akaroa crew will also be able to give a good account of themselves. The U.E.C. crew, which went into preliminary training some time back, will not now go.

Court of Appeal. —A special sitting of the Court of Appeal was held this morning at the Supreme Court House before their Honors the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Johnston. The first case taken was that of Regina v Woodgate. In this case the prisoner was tried at Blenheim before his Honor the Chief Justice on a charge of mudering his illegitimate child by one of his neices. At the trial two points were raised by the counsel for the defence, viz, that there was not corroborative evidence of the prisoner’s admission of guilt, and that the Crown had produced no evidence of the death of the child. His Honor, the Chief Justice, reserved these points, and they were now argued by Dr Foster. After argument their Honors affirmed the conviction. In the case Regina v T. H. Knibbs, a point reserved by His Honor Mr Justice Johnston at last session as to the property of a post letter being vested in the Postmaster-General after being placed in the private box, was before the Court. The Chief J ustice now delivered judgment, affirming the conviction. Canterbury Rowing Clue. —A general meeting of this club was held last evening at Warner’s Hotel, Mr J. O. Jones, captain, in the chair. There was a fair attendance ol members. Letters from Messrs Kilgour and Douglas, resigning their positions as secretary and treasurer respectively, were read, and a motion was carried expressing the great regret of the club at losing the services of those gentlemen. Mr M. 8. Smith was elected a member. The action of the committee in disposing of the Ilyssus was confirmed, and it was resolved that the committee be authorised to order four new boats, viz, one four-oared outrigged boat, one font inrigged, and two stump pairs. Mr T. Grierson agreed to perform the duties of treasurer for the remainder of the season, and it was resolved that Mr Mounier be requested to undertake those of secretary. The President’s Cup prizes were presented to Messrs Fooks, Lanauze, Martin, and Lean, and Mr Blakiston’s prizes for junior pairs to Messrs Fooks and Lanauze. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

Lyttelton Wesleyan Sunday school. The annual picnic was held on Wednesday last. About 220 children and 70 adults assembled at the schoolroom, and matched to the station, proceeding to Addington by the 9.10 am. train. On arrival all at once oroceeded to Mr Taylor’s garden on th« Lincoln road, where a little refreshment having been furnished to each, the children began to amnse themselves, some of the elders helping to start the fun and others preparing the dinner, which we need hardly say was, when ready, heartily enjoyed. In the afternoon all sorts of games were indulged in—the maze seeming to be the great object of attraction. During the heavy shower which fell in the afternoon the children were sheltered in the big schoolroom, where they managed to keep up the spirit of fun. Tea was partaken of at 4p m, an I after 6 a start was made for Addington, the train leaving that station with our pleasure seekers aboard at 6 50 and reaching Lyttelton at 7.10. All hands marched to the schoolroom, and after three hearty cheers for Mr J. S. Olliver, the superintendent of the Sunday-school, who, we need hardly say, was indefatigable during the day, the children went home delighted with the pleasant day they had spent. Besides Mr Olliver, the Rev W. Lee, Mrs Allan, and the teachers and committee generally did real good service on this occasion.

A curious occurrence is reported to have taken place in Brazil, at the town of Taubate. Under the admonitions of a missionary friar, all work had been abandoned for twenty days, and over 5000 men stripped to the waist, and each having a crown of thorns on the head, are stated to have flagellated themselves with ropes for an hour in the public square. A blast furnace belonging to the Ditton Brook Ironworks, near Widnes, exploded on October 6th, while in full operation. The contents of the furnace burst upon men who were sitting in front of it, and literally roasted some of them alive. Two were killed instantaneously ; and a little girl, who had brought her father’s breakfast to the works, shared the same fate. Five others were so fearfully burnt about the head and limbs, that it was at first difficult to say whether they were dead or alive. Four of them expired after lingering in great agony for an hour or two ; and the fifth lies in a very critical state The cause of the accident is not yet known.