NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 832, 22 February 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Cuke Boating Club, —The two sculling boats and pair-oar outrigger for this club, from Salter’s, Oxford, England, arrived per ship Hopeful, and are expected to be landed in time for practice prior to the Kaiapoi regatta. Accident.— A man named Rigg, employed by Messrs Hawkins ar.d Co at the Gladstone Pier extension works, cut his instep so badly with an axe yesterday that he had to be removed to the casual ward.

Weather on the West Coast. —Heavy rain fell yesterday ou the other side of the ranges, and prevented the cricket match from proceeding. Very little prize firing was go' off. The camp has been trenched and drained in anticipation of stormy weather.

Cricket —The selection committee for the All England Eleven match wish it to be understood that unless the emergency men attend practice the order in which they are placed will not be acted upon. As this is only fair to those who attend practice, wo think it only right that the selection committee should adopt this principle. A very good batting practice was indulged in by members of the Eighteen, and we have every reason to believe that nearly all will be in good form for the match. The Drainage Question —Hia vVorship the Mayor requests us to publish the following letter for general information : “ Christchurch District Drainage Board, Hereford street, 21st February, 1877. To his Worship the Mayor of the City of Christchurch —Sir,—l am directed by the chairman to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 19bh instant, enclosing resolutions passed at a public meeting held on the 15th instant rc 1 Drainage scheme,’ and in reply to state that the Board requests that you will be good enough to inform the public that it will take the resolutions into its earnest consideration at an early date. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, EDWARD H PALMER, Secretary.” Volunteer Cadet Company. ~ The Cadet Company paraded last evening at the drill shed, and marched to Hagley Park where they were put through company and extension drill by staff Sergeant-major Morgan. They were afterwards exercised in volley and file firing with blank cartridge. The very reprehensible practice often indulged in by some of the boys of snapping caps in the street after being dismissed should be put a stop to at once. Fire Brigade Practice —The various comoanieo of the fire brigade had a full practice last evening under Mr Superintendent Harris. The Deluge was placed at the swing bridge, and the Extinguisher at the river opposite the Supreme Court, _ These companies were exercised for some time in wet practice, with a fair head of steam on. The hook and ladder company were exercised on Mr Trent’s factory, Papanui road, All the men worked exceedingly well.

New Rush on the West Coast.—A telegram from Kumura, dated February 14th, fit,y« : —Mr Warden Kevell visited the new rush on the north side of the Teremakau this forenoon, and granted the prospectors a double area, 120 ft by 240 ft. The prospects were only fair, giving from one to two grains to the dish, but one piece of four grains weight was picked up off the bottom when taking out the prospect. There are only two claims taken up in the gully besides the prospec' ors’, one above and the other below their ground, the latter showing better prospects than those in the prospecting claim. The ground has been visited by some hundreds of miners during the last two days, but they have nearly all left again, only a few staying prospecting in the neighbourhood.” The Germans in the Pacific.— On reference to the Tonga Gazette, containing the treaty between the Emperor of Germany and the King of Tonga, we find (says the New Zealand Herald) that there is no cession of territory. The most important article is the fifth, which is as follows There shall also be reciprocal liberty for the ships of war of the two high contracting parties to enter into all places, ports, and waters within the dominions of either party to anchor there and to remain, take in stores, refit and repair, subject to the laws and regulations of the country. la order to facilitate the accomplishment of these objects in his dominions, and especially to aid in the establishment of a coaling station in his dominions, (he King of Tonga grants [leases] {no Jnnua) the German Government all rigcls of free use of the necessary ground at a suitable appropriate place in the Vavau Group, but always without prejudice of the rights of sovereignty to the £ipg of Tonga.”

Coal in Otago. —The Kaitangata Coa) On, we h-arn from the Tuahcpa Times, a’e now working in a face of splendid coal, practically inexhaustible. The possible out out at the Company’s pit is now 2000 tore per month, and during the coming winter it is expected that that quantity will be disposed of. The company now have railway trucks of their own, and therefore less delay is likely to be experienced in getting the coal away than baa hitherto been the case, Several small craft ply between Dunedin and the wharf adjoining the pits, and ihe demand for the coal, where cheap means of travel are provided, is steadily increasing.

Ratepayers’ Reform Association.—A meeting of the committee was held at Cashel House last night. The objects of the association were declared to be —I. To provide a b’.nwavk against the predominance of any prejudicial influences within and without th" colony. 2. To secure the wise and economical distribution of the New Zealand revenue and of the landed estate. 3. To re-adjust the incidence of taxation, as between the industrial and property classes, tending to (he lightening of taxation on the necessaries of life, 4. To secure a proper distribution of the franchise and representation. It was resolved that Thursdays, at 7.30 p,ra, be the time of the society’s meeting. The subjects for consideration on Thursday, Ist March, are—The utilisation of our canal reserve and the reclamation of the estuary, in connection with drainage. 2. The proposal concerning the purchase of the Morton block for £30.000 by the Council.

American Salmon. —The North Otago Times says—“ We had the pleasure yest rday of seeing two cans of healthy young fry of the Californian salmon, brought down by that enthusiastic pisciculturist, Mr W. A. Young, Pa’rcerston, by the 5.15 p.m. train from Christchurch. Htarting at 7.15 am. with 200, very few died en route, 190 reaching Oamaru apparently none the worse for their journey. Through the kindness of Mr Kidd and others’, who interested themselves in the matter, a trap was in waiting to convey Mr Young and hia precious charge as far as Hamnden, where his own buggy was to meet him to make the journey thence to the Shag River. Mr Young expected to reach the river at 10 p.m. last night, and would immediately liberate the fish in its waters, there, we hope, to thrive and multiply until salmon becomes no stranger either to the angler or the chef de cuisine We should very much like to see a goodly number turned into the Waitaki, and would suggest that the Waimate and Waitaki Councils should join in the purchase of—say 1000 fish for the purpose. We may add that the fish brought down yesterday were presented by the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, through the good offices of Dr Campbell, who was recently on a fishing tour in this part of Otago. They were kindly taken charge of, as far as the Waitaki, by Mr Davidsor: —we believe, of the Levels —and were met there by Mr Young. The Government, we understand, forwarded them free of all railway charges. Mr Young deserves great credit for the pains he has taken in this, as in the instances of the trout, towards securing the stocking of our rivers with fish.” Fire. —About half an hour after midnight an alarm of fire was given, and the ball at the Cambridge Terrace Station rang out a peal. The glare from the fire, owing to the darkness of the night and closeness of the atmosphere, made it at first sight appear to be more serious than it ultimately turned out to be. On reaching the spot in Armagh Jstreet west, near Cranmer square, it was lound that a large detached outhous; standing in the rear of Mr E B. Bishop’s house, which had been used for storage purposes and also for a stable, was on fire. Fortunately there was no wind, or the block of houses facing on Armagh street west must have inevitably been destroyed. Mr B. B, Bishop’s house had a narrow escape also, the flames being very close to it during moat of the first part of "the fire. By dint however of buckets of water thrown on by the neighbours, and the use of two garden engines, the spread of the fue to the dwelling-house was prevented. The Brigade under Mr Superintendent Harris, and the Fire Police under their officers, mustered speedily, and the Extinguisher being placed in position near the Armagh street bridge, soon put an end to any extension of the fire. No clue is obtaioable as to the origin ; there is no fireplace, nor had there been any fire in the building, It was insured in the Liverpool, London and Globe. By 1a m. the fire was extinguished, and all danger at an end. Some furniture was removed from the house nearest the fire, but owing to it standing well free from any other houses, and the efforts made by those early on the spot to cut off all means of communication, no damage was done to the adjoining bouses. The Cape. —The Argus says “We have news from the Cape to the 28th November. Matters in the Transvaal were quiet. The inquiry into the loss of the St Lawrence, wrecked off the Paternoster Rocks, with the Third Buffs on board, resulted in the suspension of the captain’s certificates for six months and the chief mate’s for a year. The Aborigines’ Protection Society, having demoralised Lord Carnarvon respecting the alleged murder of native women by British subjects serving under Van Schlickmann, hia Lordship has replied that he has instructed Sir Henry Barkly to bring the matter under the notice of the President of the Transvaal, who, he hopes, will cause searching investigation to be made; but Lord Carnarvon does not see bow the perpetrators could be made amenable to justice in an English Court of law. From the Gold Coast, we learn that the Dahomiaus are feeling the blockade severely, and have placed stakes round a great fetish tree, and swear to fix ou them the heads of the European prisoners on the first attack made upon them. A f-’ortu-guesa merchant had been stripped, flogged, and carried off to Abomey, for saying the King should pay the fine, and seven natives had been shot by the King’s orders for talking about a palaver with the commodore. The inhabitants of Whydah had petitioned the commodore for protection, but it is not likely that anything will be done for some weeks, as the new commodore (Captain Sullivan) had been ordered to proceed direct to the Cape to relieve Sir William Hewitt, the town of Stellenbosch, at the Cape, has ;eeu thrown into a state of panic through the stoppage of the local bank. The cashier had been arrested, and charged with defalcations amounting to £50,000, and the chairman has committed suicide. The latter gentleman (Mr Wege) was one of the oldest md most respected inhabitants. He swallowed strychnine. The loss will fall upon persons who cannot afford it, aad great distrcaa will be tbs result.”

„ — —■ — ■ — —i— The Babbit Nuisance in Southland. —Regarding the rabbit nuisance, the Winton correspondent of the Southland News writes : “ During the late flooded state of the New River the settlers made another crusade ou bunny. People in localities where they have not yet become a pest, may form some idea of whattheset,tiers alongtheriverfUthave got to cope with the from following facts, which are not in the least exaggerated. Mr John Cowie, assisted by his brother-iu law, killed during two afternoons, the enormous quantity of 1800, and by Saturday they had reached he round figure of 2000. Several hundreds vere likewise destroyed on almost every adjoining farm bounded by the river. During the flood they are described as being ‘ piled on top of one another in the bushes by twenties and thirties.’ Mr Arthur Gerrard is confident that ho has, during the past year, destroyed rabbits on his farm to the extent of nearly 20,000.”

Dr Janseeu is devising the construction of an automatic photographic revolver, which will take a photograph of the sun every hour each day of the year, from sunrise to sunset. The Great Western Railway Company have granted to Mrs Dunscombe, the wife of the driver who died from injuries sustained in the accident to the “ Flying Dutchman,” near Long Ashton, £IOO, and an allowance of 6s 6d per week whilst she lives. They have also granted to the father of Randall, the fireman, £6O.

Madame Adelina Patti (La Marquise de Cans) has left Paris to fulfil her engagement in Russia. It is stated by the Menestrel that the Czar has definitely come to the resolution to withdraw the subvention to the Italian Opera in St Petersburg and Moscow after the present season. The undertaking of the French Government, began in 1874, of making a complete inventory of ail the treasures of art in France, is still being carried out with great vigor. The new opera, based upon the old tale of “ Paul and Virginia,” is meeting with great success in Paris. The music is by Masse, and he introduces some exquisite little duets, more especially one between Paul and hia mother. M, Gapoul takes the tenor part, and Mdlle Bngalli, who takes the part of a Degrees, has a delicious contralto. The death is announced at Inverness, near Dundee, of Mr James Chapman, said to be the last survivor of those who fought on board Her Majesty’s ship Victory, under Lord Nelson, at the battle of Trafalgar, on the 21st October, 1805. Mr Chapman was in hia 92nd year.