NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 870, 9 April 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Lyttelton Borough Kate. —At the last meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council, held on Tuesday night last, a rate of Is in the L was struck, payable on April 30th. Gaiety Theatre.— ln spite of the stormy weather of Saturday evening, there was a fair attendance at this place of amusement, when the favourite extravaganza of “ Ixion” was very successfully produced. The scenery was good, and the music excellent. Mr Hull, as Minerva, was most amusing, and elicited the heartiest applause. As Ixion, Miss Laura Wiseman was fairly successful, her singing of the songs allotted to her ,especially being worthy of praise. For this evening the same bill wdl be submitted.

The Christchurch Drainage Loan. — The. London correspondent of the New Z euUind Herald writes:—“ General satisfaction is expressed at the intimation made by the Agent-General, on behalf of the Government of JS'ew Zealand, that no further loans are likely to be required for the colony this year, i'he Christchurch fcsix per Cent. Loan oi jUIOO,(JOU was subscribed for fourfold, and nine-tenths of tho amount was allotted at above par,”

The Australian Mozart. Ernest Hutcheson, aged live years and eight months, is the latest musical prodigy. This child is described as a wonder, and as being well styled the Australian Mozart. He was severely tried by a number of well-known musicians, and passed the ordeal splendidly. Fishhook. —A Christchurch correspondent of the New Zealand Times writes to say that its information regarding the winner of the Dunedin Cup is incorrect, and states that the racehorse Fishhook, late Lough Neagh, was bred by Mr John Ballance, of Wanganui, and after winning the Maiden Plate in Wellington some two years ago, was sold to Mr O’Brien for £3OO. Lower Heathcote School. —The annual treat and distribution of prizes took place at this school on Thursday, the 29th March, at the schoolroom, Ferry road. The tea, which was supplied by contributions from parents and friends, was served at 3 p.m., to ovci'3oo children. In the evening the large room was densely packed. The children sang, and recitations were given by several of the scholars in a manner which showed that great pains had been bestowed on them by their teachers. Mr Win, Montgomery, after a few kind words of encouragement to the children, and a little salutary advice to the parents, then distributed the prizes. The maps, which had been drawn by the scholars and arranged in the large room, and the needlework, were much admired by the visitors. Canterbury Yisitoes to Taranaki. — The Herald regrets that persons proceeding to the provincial district of Taranaki with the intention of settling, should be compelled to go away because they cannot obtain land, and, as an instance, reports the following incident:—“Mr Hulke brought to our office on Monday, the representative of a party of four Canterbury men, who had come here with the intention of buying land. The parties referred to say that they wished to take up 500 acres of land, for which they would pay cash, but the price here is too high. Mr Burrows and his party are evidently disappointed with their visit, having been led to believe that land was to be obtained very cheap here. He stated to us that he considered it would be cheaper to give £lO for the land in Canterbury, than £1 for the bush land in this district. The party left again for the South by the steamer yesterday, and it is very much to be regretted that such good settlers, as from their appearance they evidently would make, should be lost to the place.”