NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 806, 22 January 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Ripa Island.— The accounts from the Quarantine Station continue favorable, and it is probable the immigrants will bs released io-morrow. Appointments. —Mr Tancred has been elected as chairman of the Drainage Board for the ensuing year; Mr F. Hobbs as chairman of the Board of Health ; and Dr LI. Powell as health officer of the city. Inquest. —An inquest was held on Saturday at Tai Tapu on the body of Mary vlehrtena, infant daughter of Johanna Mehrtens, who was drowned in a tub the previous day. The evidence taken confirmed the particulars which appeared in our last notice, and the jury returned a verdict of “ Accidentally drowned.” Ingenuity.— One of the pilot crew at Lyttelton, named T. Westlake, has, with labor, succeeded in making admirable models of a number of vessels well known in our principal port, tossing on a stormy sea. The ship Countess of Kiutore, barque Wanlock, brig Prospero, steamer Taranaki, and schooner Maud Graham are the vessels represented. They are to be seen at Messrs Radcliffe and Field’s, Lyttelton. Plucky Rescue.— Yesterday afternoon a daughter of Mr McQuilkin’s, licensee of the Railway Hotel, Lyttelton, aged five years, foil off the Gladstone Pier into the water, between the ship White Eagle and the wharf. The chief officer of the White Eagle, without stopping to divest himself of any of his clothing, at once jumped in after the child, which he succeeded in rescuing mnch terrified, but otherwise none the worse for the ducking. The Weather.— lnstead of a hoped-for continuance of weather favorable to the harvest in the Northern districts, the last week’s rain has resulted in the damage of much of the hay crop, and as having caused a noticeable discoloration of the grain which was already fit for reaping. Should a change not take place, the prospects of bar vest are anything but so cheering as they might have been. In a few days, however, we shall possibly be in a better position to judge of the probable yield in the various districts. Child Burnt to Death.— A little girl, two and a half years old, named Flora Weaver, daughter of Mr George Weaver, Opawa, was burnt to death yesterday morning in her bed. Mrs Weaver had been detained in town on Saturday night with her other children, and the deceased child slept for the night with her father. Yesterday morning Mr Weaver got up at six o’clock and left the child sleeping, there being no one else in the house at the time. Mrs Weaver returned home between seven and eight, and when she entered her bedroom found the bed on fire and the girl lying on her bands and knees face downwards and dead. Her night dress was burnt and also the greater portion of the bedclothes. With the assistance of neighbors she put the fire out. No fire had been lighted in the house that morning, but a full box of matches had been left in a candlestick near, and this was found in the bed, and must have been placed there by the child. The body was not burnt very much, and death seems to have resulted more from suffocation. United Methodist Free Churches.— Saturday’s session of the district meeting was opened in the usual way. The consideration of the finance committee’s report was resumed. After the separate items had been passed it was seen that £SOO would be required for missionary operations during the year. It was decided to ask the missionary committee at home for a grant of £350, on condition that this district raise £l5O. The third Tuesday in January was the date fixed for the opening of the next district meeting, to be held in Napier. Messrs Coupland, Hemus, Major, Caygill, and Tattersall, secretary, were elected a committee for forming and conducting Juvenile Missionary Associations in connection with the Sunday schools. A resolution deploring the wide spread evil of intemperance, and recommending the earnest and active employment of all proper means to check the evil, was unanimously carried. The third draft of stations, as amended, was then adopted. The stations are—Auckland, Revs B. Taylor and J. A. Caygill; Charleston, Rev 0. Penney ; Christchurch, Revs S. Macfarlane, H. R. Wilkinson, and T. Hodgson ; Napier, Rev J. Parkin ; Oxford and Malvern, Revs J. J. Pendray, M. Baxter (supernumerary) ; Rangiora, Rev W. Lockwood ; Reefton, Rev A. Peters; Waipawa, Rev J. White, one wanted ; Wellington, Rev H. B. Redstone ; Westport, Rev J. W. Worboys. A hearty vote of thanks to the Christchurch friends for their hospitality to the representatives was carried with acclamation. Equally hearty votes of thanks to the chairman and secretary, and to Mr G. Booth, for his able paper read the evening before, were passed in the same way. After the minutes had been read and confirmed, Hymn 634 was sung, and prayer offered by the Rev S. Macfarlane, bringing the third district meeting to a close at 1,30 p.m. The Public Works Department.—A short time since the officers and ex officers of the late provincial engineer’s department dined together at Warner’s Commercial Hotel prior to the doing away with that department, in accordance with the Abolition of Provinces Act. There were seventeen gentlemen present, though others were prevented from accepting the invitation from the shortness of the notice and distance from town. The chair was taken by Mr Thornton, late provincial engineer, The usual toasts were given and responded to, in a manner which showed that though they may be supposed to have been chanting their own funeral dirge, they did so in a very enjoyable manner, which showed that they did not take a very gloomy view of the existing state of things brought about by the political change, judging from the speeches of the chairman and others. The dinner was served in Mr Warner’s usual style, and the gentlemen dispersed at 11 p.m., after spending a most enjoyable even ■ :ng. In reviewing the career of t iis im portant branch of the public service, ii cannot be denied that it has left its mark for all time in Canterbury, in the various public works carried out under its direction and management, and much of the prosperity of ihe country is due to the labors of the gentlemen who have comprised its staff in de veloping the resources of the country, and more especially since the Immigration and Public -.Yorks Act passed in 1870. The works carried out by this department have been very numerous, and represent an enormous outlay,