NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 805, 20 January 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Durham street Wesleyan Church.— Special sermons on behalf of the Home Mission will be preached to-morrow at the above church —morning by Rev T, Buddie, and evening by Rev A, Reid. A children’s special service, conducted by the Reya Reid and Isitt, will be held in the church at 2.45 p.m. St Andrew’s Sabbath School.—The annual treat in connection with the above school took place yesterday, A start was made in special conveyances from the schoolroom, and proceeded to Mr Leslie’s paddock, Upper Biccanon, kindly placed for the occasion at the disposal of the committee, where about 350 children, teachers, &c, enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Post Office Savings Bank.— The ictnrns of this department for the postal district of Canterbury show the deposit for the year ended 31st December last to have amounted to £157,896 7s sd, and the withdrawals to £156,429. The figures for the year ended 31st December, 1875, were, deposits £142,905 16s 6d and withdrawals £151,005 12s 3d. The amount at credit of depositors on IstjJanuary, 1876, was £167,147 Is 7d, and on Ist January, 1877, £175,610 Iss lOd. Child Drowned.— About one o’clock yesterday a little girl fifteen months old, daughter of Mr Johann Mehrtens, farmer, living at Tai Tapu, was drowned in a tub. The child had been playing with some of her brothers and sisters near this tub, which was placed under an artesian well in the garden, and was left by herself for a few moments. On one of the older girls returning a little while afterwards, she saw the child had fallen in head first, and took her out at once, calling at the same time for her mother, who was in the house. Mrs Mehrtens immediately ran out, bat too late, as life was extinct. Garrick Amateur Dramatic Club,— The half-yearly meeting of this club was held in the library, Barbadocs street, on Wednesday evening last, Mr D. O’Connell occupied the chair. The secretary brought up the half-yearly report, which showed that the club, though only organised six mouths, is in very satisfactory position, having scenery and other property to the value of £BO. The number of acting members on the roll is sixteen, Mr Joseph Barrett was elected a member of the club, The election of officers for the ensuing six months took place, with the following result :—Chairman, Mr J. Pope; stage manager, Mr J. Barrett ; treasurer, Mr W. Ridley; secretary, Mr R. P. Houlihan ; property men, Messrs M. Barrett and F. Pope. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring officers. It was decided to put the three-act drama, “ Christmas Eve ; or the Duel in the Snow,” in rehearsal at once. It is intended to devote the whole of the proceeds in aid of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, to be distributed amongst the poor. The performance will take place at the Barbadocs street s'choolroom early next month, and the object alone should draw a crowded house s

Orphan Asylum Picnic.— The children of the Lyttelton Orphan Asylum had a very successful picnic on Thursday last, The morning looked so miserable that it was at first doubtful whether it had not better be deferred but when the weather cleared it was determined to proceed, so a start wao effected at 1 p,m. when the holiday party consisting of over 100 children with teacherr and attendants embarked on board the steam launch Lyttelton and proceeded to a sandy bay inside Rhodes’ Bay, where they landed, the fife and drum band playing merrily. All sorts of sports were indulged in when the party landed and the children were then treated to an excellent repast, after which some more games were indulged in. Presents of all sorts were competed for by the children who were kept in a continual state of jollity, thanks to the efforts of Mr Giraud, Dr McDonald, Messrs March, Ness, and last but not least George Agar, who superintended the « scrambles.” All returned to Port at 6 p.m thoroughly fatigued but delighted with the pleasant day they had spent. The success of the picnic is in a great measure due to Messrs G. Agar and Mcßeth, the former, not content with giving the free use of the steam lauch Lyttelton, took the trouble to assist Mr Mcßeth in canvassing for money for the purchase of toys, &c., their efforts were responded to freely and a handsome sum was collected besides contributions iu the shape of buns, lollies, &c, Lyttelton Cricket Club.— This club played a match with Sunnyside on Thursday at the Asylum ground. The Lytteltonians went up by the 11 train, and were met at the Christchurch station by a conveyanc , which took them to their destination. They were most heartily welcomed by their opponents, and after a short stroll about play was commenced, Mr Hawkins, the captain of the Lyttelton team, lost the toss, and Mr Page, who was in command for Sunnyside, elected to put the Lytteltonians at the wickets. The ground was rather wet, but otherwise was in splendid order. The Lyttelton men were all out for 63 runs, 27 of which were contributed by T. Smith, whose defence was really good, and who was eventually run out. None of the other players reached double figures. At 2 p.m. the Lytteltonians were invited to partake of a capital luncheon, provided by their opponents, which we need hardly state was heartily enjoyed. On Sunnyside going to the wickets, they soon made their superiority to the Lyttelton men iu handling the willow apparent, and they had secured no less than 142 runs before the tenth wicket fell, 50 of these being placed by Reeder to his credit, J. Hill, Petrie, and S. H. Seager also reached double figures. The bowling of Whitley, Reeder, and Page for Sunnyside was very good, especially that of the former, whilst Smith and Makeig for Lyttelton did good work, though shewing great want of practice. After the wickets were drawn a jolly tea was indulged in, after which Mr Harding, who is connected with the Asylum, played some beautiful music on the organ. After a capital dance and some selections given by the Asylum brass band, which were much applauded, the Lyttelton team left for the Christchurch station, returning to Port by the 11 p.m. train. United . Methodist Free Churches. — The district meeting opened with devotional exercises, The third draft of stations was read and discussed ; but the debate was eventually adjourned. An invitation from the Napier circuit to hold the next sittings of the district meeting in that town was cordially accepted. The secretary next moved that the Rev M. Baxter be requested to furnish for insertion in the magazine the substance of the address on “ The Distinctive Features of Free Methodism.” delivered by him at the public meeting on Thursday night. A most interesting and gratifying feature in the day’s proceedings was the introduction of the Revs T. Buddie and A. R. Fitchett as deputation from the Wesleyan Conference, * n '-'ear their fraternal greetings to the "’sed the meeting, after which briefly addru g ( Macfariane, M. Baxter, nl 8 replied, heartily reand Mr G. Booth expressions of ciprocatmg the kindi, station had rebrotherly love. When thedep s Baxter tired, the Revs G. Macfariane anu upon were appointed a deputation to w». <q e( j the Wesleyan Conference. It was deciv that the middle of February should be the time for removals to new circuits. A discussion followed upon the best scheme for the training of candidates for the ministry, the result of which was the appointment of the Revs Macfariane, Baxter, Fisher, and Mr G. Booth as a committee to consider the question, and report to next district meeting. The finance committee’s report was then laid before the brethren, i After passing the first item, Oxford and Malvern, £SO, the time for adjournment arrived. At 7,80 p.m., as instructed by the last district meeting, Mr Booth read a paper on “ The Temperance Question and its Relation to our Sunday Schools, It is needless to say that it was an admirable and interesting one, and that the discussion that followed was intelligent and edifying. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Booth was passed by the meeting, and a request made that he allow it to appear in the “ New Zealand Free Methodist* Magazine.” An extraordinary flight of birds recently noticed at Brisbane is thus described by the I Courier : ‘ They (the birds) consisted of greenleeks, blue mountain parrots, and leather-heads. They can only be described as in myriads, and so dense that they completely darkened the sky, and they flew so low that numbers were caught hi the branches of the trees about the residences in their line of flight, which the cats, in some instances, caught and properly disposed of, and the noise they made was something to remember. They came from the north-east, and were travelling in a south-westerly direction, and must have taken about fifteen minutes at least in passing over. In former years, in the case of long-continued droughts, we have known the same thing to occur, but from all we know, there has been no such brought to account for this flight of birds. About twenty years ago, we remember, Brisbane was visited by such a flight, and thousands alighted at the waterholes, and even at the river, and drank, but the saltwater sickened them, and the small boys might be seen going about the streets in all directions with strings of them on sticks. What has given rise to this may be known hereafter, whether it be they are driven before any severe hurricane, or whether they have arrived from the far interior, where there may have been severe drought, and come in search of water. Be it what it may, it was certainly a sight that is not often seen in a lifetime.