NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 817, 3 February 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

• —-—-——♦ Drainage of Christchurch. —We understand it is proposed to hold a public meeting in Christchurch at an early date to consider tie drainage question. Boy Missing at Woodbnd.—Up to last evening the son of Mr Gee reported to be missing had not been heard of. He is supposed to have gone in the direction of Leithfield. Lyttelton Harbor Board. —The Board met at the Provincial Council Chamber yesterday afternoon, and passed bye-laws for the regulation of the Board’s proceedings, It was resolved that the Board should meet alternately in Christchurch and Lyttelton. The next meeting of the Board will be help in tho Provincial Council Chamber next Friday week. Drainage Board.— An adjourned meeting of the sub committee, appointed to consider the question of drainage pipes and prices, was held at ten o’clock this morning. Present —Messrs Wright (chairman), Duncan, and Ross, The object of the meeting was to consider the scale of prices, and report generally upon the best method of obtaining pipes required for the drainage of the district. Resolutions on the subject were unani mously agreed to, and these will be submitted at the regular fortnightly meeting of the Board to be held on Monday next. Masonry in the Colonies. —The Home News says—“ At the regular quarterly communication of Grand Lodge, held at Great Queen street on December 6th, the Deputy Grand Master, Lord Skelmersdale, in the chair, after some legal information from Bros Mclntyre, Q.O, and Philbrick, Q.O, a decision was arrived at as to certain questions about the relations between lodges in the colonies and their respective Grand Lodges. The problems in Masonic law now settled had been raised among the Freemasons in Jamaica and Capetown, where the lodges ‘work’ under English jurisdiction ” Public Buildings in Wellington.— “ We hear," says the Post , “ that it is now the proposal of the Government to sell the sites and buildings of the present Post office, Provincial Buildings, and Supreme Court House, and to concentrate the different departments which are now accommodated in these, In buildings to be erected on the reclaimed land. To give effect to the propossed arrangements, it will be necessary to introduce a Bill dealing with the reserves and properties, and this is intended to be done during the next session of Parliament.” Alleged Case op Poisoning in Tasmania.—A singular case of poisoning is related by the Huon correspondent of the Hobart Town Mercury:— 1 ' I have to record a very tragical affair which occurred on Tuesday, the 9th instant, and which has caused much sensation in this district, viz, death by poison of a small farmer residing at Castle Forbes Bay, named Thomas Lynch. It seems the unfortunate man started with his horse and cart on the morning in question to convey some small fruit to Franklin, On reaching Fleury’s Point, he was asked by a settler there, named Riley, to be allowed to put a tub of raspberries into the cart, which Lynch at once acceded to, Riley then produced from a hollow log on the roadside a bottle which he said contained ruaa, and which he professed to hare found in a bed of raspberry canes on his land more than a week ago. Poor Lynch took a good pull at the bottle, and the two men then got into the cart and proceeded onwards towards Franklin, They had had not proceeded far, however, before Lynch started up, exclaiming that he was poisoned. He appeared to be suffexing acutely, and the efforts of his companion Riley, who,'strange to say, took none of the rum himself, were insufficient to keep the unfortunate man in the cart. He rolled out, and continuing in great agony, was carried to the house of Mr Carr, which they had just passed. Here powerful emetics were given him, and the doctor, passing soon after, was called in, and used every possible means to give relief without avail, as within half an hour of the poisonous draught being swallowed the man was dead. The coroner’s jury found a verdict of “ Death by poison," and the police are making inquiries with a view to determine further proceedings Although the man Riley does not enjoy a very envjable reputation, there does' not seem to be a suspicion that ho wilfully poisoned poor Lynch, as they were, and always had been, on friendly terms. The theory is that this poisoned rum bad been placed where found for Riley’s own use, and the wonder is that he did not use it—that he should hare kept it. hidden away seven or eight days, and then not partaken of it himself when offering i,t to Lynch."

Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club. —A committee meeting of this club was held 'ast night at Warner’s Hotel, for the pnroose of making arrangements for the annual ■jports, to bo held in the Agricultural Show Grounds, on Saturday, the loth instant, Messrs Brewster, H. Black, W. Hartland (treasurer), W, Tosswill (hon sec)*, M. Smith (boa sec), H. 2tlcOarde.il, and J. Waohsman. Mr Brewster was voted to the chair. The committee settled on the prizes tor the various events, and appointed Messrs M. Smith, W. Tosswill, and J. Brewster, as i selection committee. The following were appointed as a ground committee, to provide seats and accommodation for ladies, and put the ground in running order Messrs Smith, Tosswill, and McCardell, We are requested to remind intending competitors that their entries, with the entrance fees and colors, must be sent into one of the hon secs, addressed to Warner’s Hotel, on or before Tuesday next, the 6th inst, The Church Missionary Society’s Committee have agreed to a series of ten resolutions, to be followed by a memorandum to be drawn up for the information of members, with regard to the disputes between the Bishop of Colombo and its missionaries in Ceylon, While exceedingly regretting the “ unhappy differences,” they practically support their agents on every point, declining in courteous but firm language to accede to the Bishop’s demands, and, thankfully appreciating the conduct of the Jaffna Christians and of the Tamil Coolie Mission Association, they declare that they will do all in their power to preserve among them the purity of the Gospel and the simplicity of public worship, while they earnestly direct the Bishop of Colombo’s attention to the distress and anxiety caused to the native Christians by the practices recently introduced into his diocese. The committee respectfully and solemnly protest against the Bishop withdrawing the licenses of clergymen, “ not for punishment, but for coercion*" The society have forwarded the resolutions, with accompanying letters, to the Bishops of Colombo and Bombay.