NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 807, 23 January 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Drainage Board Offices.—We understand that the Drainage Bcmrd have decided to remove their offices to the premises now occupied by Mr Johnston, Hereford street.

ChbistohUßCH to Dunedin.—We have good authority for stating that in about eight months' time through railway communication will be established between Oaristchurch and Dunedin.

Lecture,—Mr B. Cass gave a lecture on •'The second coming of Christ," at the Baptist Chapel last evening. The chair was occupied by Mr Saul, and there was s moderate attendance. Immigrants per Cardigan Castle The married couples, families, and single women by the above vessel may ba engaged at the Addingtoa deoot from to-morrow at 10.30 a.m.

Exported Stock.—By the s.s Wellington went North yesterday some of the fiuest stock that ever left Canterbury. They were purchased by Mr T. H. Murray, of Te Ori Ori, near Masterton, on the Wairarapa plains, who goes with them, and no doubt they will be much admired when they reach their destination, Xhey consist of the bull Royal Gwynne, whose pedigree is too well known to be repeated, and whose cost was 300 guineas, and t!-.e cows Lady Barnyard, Motherless (own sister to Queen Mab), and Golden Countess, and were purchased by Mr Murray from Mr A. A. Fantham, at the latter gentleman's annual sale. Go where they will such splendid cattle will help to spread fhe fame of our Canterbury stock. The Dayspring.—Respecting the visit of the missionary echoonpr Dayspring to Dunedin, the Otago Guardian says—" The missionary schooner Dayspring has been very largely visited by friends in Dunedin and neighborhood. The object of her visit was mainly to show gratitude to the Sabbath school children of the Presbyterian congregations throughout Otago, who contributed to the maintenance fund and the purchase of the new vessel Of Presbyterian Sabbath school children we have ascertained that 2230 at least have visited her ; of Episcopalians, 490 ; of Baptists, 650 ; of Congregational, 120 ; of Wesleyans, 330—making in all 4000 ; and of others, not connected apparently with any Sabbath school, or the connection of which we could not easily ascertain, about 2000. In addition to these 6000 children, there must have been at least 2000 -idults. Most of these bore away a cocoanut apiece, and about 3000 having been sent up country to Sabbath schools there, the total of nuts given away cannot be less than 10 0 )0, I'he vessel proceeds to Lyttelton and Northern ports on her return trip to the islands."

Christchukch Chess Club.—An adjourned meeting of this club was held last evening at Warner's Hotel. There was a large attendance of members. The rules drawn up were submitted and adopted, after which the fpllowing gentlemen were el cted jflicers for the first term :—President, Mr J. Oolborne-Veel; vice-president, Dr Mark ; secretary, Mr P. F. Jacobsen ; treasurer, Mr HcWilliams ; committee, Messrs Hookham, Paul, and H. Day. The first Thursday in February was appointed the opening night jf the club. The President reported that he had obtained permission for members to practice in the Reference Library. After transacting some routine business the meettug adjourned. The club has started under most favorable auspices, and from the large attendance at both meetings, very great interest seems to be taken in it. It is proposed to hold a tournament at an early date, and from the well-known strength of some jf the members very interesting play may be anticipated.

The Southern Railway.—The Timaru Herald, of yesterday, says :—" Owing to .mother heavy fall of rain the large creek ibout two miles north of the Orari was Hooded to such an extent on Friday morning ohat a quantity of the ballast of the railway vas washed away. When the early train from Uhristchurch arrived at the damaged place, it was considered unsafe to proceed my further, and the engine was taken back to the ftangitata to feU;h the Inspector of Permanent Ways. The inspector found that ihe line at the damagpd portion was sufficiently strong to bear tt e carriages, and they were therefore pushed over without the engine, and coupled to the afternoon train from Timaru. This train reached Timaru at ibout quarter to five, having therefore been delayed through the damage for about three bours and a quarter. The late train from Uhristchurch aud the late train from Timaru for the north were got over the creek in the same manner as the one to which we have been referring. A gang of men were set to work on Saturday afternoon to repair the damage, and it was expected that the line would be restored by Monday morning." THE OTAGO,—The Otago Daily Tvrej of Saturday has the following relative to the wreck of the Otago:—"The purchasers of the wreck of the steamer Otago have accomplished all that is practicable in the way of recovering material and cargo from the unfortunate vessel. One of them, Mr Grinley, to whom was entrusted the practical part of the work, returned with his party from Ohasland's Mistake yesterday evening, in the ketch Huon Belle, which had been charten d to bring up the wreckage. She left Chasland's on Thursday evening, and has on board cargo valued at about £4OO, including 225 fathoms of chain cable, two bower anchors, a steam winch, two boats, all the spars, excepting the lower masts, binnacle and other lamps, and a large quantity of the (lax, which constituted part of the Otago's cargo. Mr Grinley states that the forward half of the steamer remains hard and fast on the rocks, but has a very heavy list to port, He thinks it is likely to remain intact for years, being out of the reach of all but exceptionally heavy seas. The cargo brought by the Huon Belle is the second sent from the wreck. The estimated value of the total quantity recovered is about £700."

Inquest —An inquest was held yesterday at Opawa before J. W. S. Ooward, Etq, coioner, on the body of Flora Weaver, the little girl who was burnt to death on Sunday muming last. From the evidence it appeared that the father left thedeceasad child in bed at 6 45 a.m. that morniug, r.nd came up to tows, there being no one else in tb« house at the time. The mother, who with other members hi the family had been de tained in Ohri.ttchurch through the wet weather, returned home at 7.30 a.m, and on her arrival found the bedroom full of smoke, and the child dead on the bed, lying on its hands and knees with its face buried in the bedclothes. A portion of her night drens was burnt/and the bedclothes were smouldering, and a box of matches which bad been

left in a candlestick near the bedstead was found among the bedding. Dr Powell, who made the post mortem examination, stated that the body was that of a healthy child, ihe back, cheat, and left arm were charred, uid the lower portion of the body mucb burnt, the windpipe and other vessels were filled with mucus and blood, and he considered that death had resulted from t w e shock caused by the burning, and the smoke had doubtless hastened death by suffocation. The jury returned a verdict in accovdance with the evidence.