NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 882, 23 April 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Assyrian Discoveries. —It is announced that the Rev. J.S. Smalley’s lecture on “Assyrian Discoveries” .will be delivered on Wednesday, May 2nd, instead of on Wednesday next. The Mail. —The Taranaki, with the mail, sailed from Wellington for South at one o’clock to-day. Fire. —An unoccupied two-roomed house, situated in Church road, St. Albans, was destroyed by tire this morning, about two o’clock. The building lias not been occupied for some months, and the origin of the fire, as far as we can learn, is unknown. The Gaiety. —Notwithstanding the large house at the Royal, there was a capital attendance at the Gaiety on Saturday evening, the jiiecede resistance being Burnand’s burlesque of “ Paris.” It was preceded by a pretty little piece “ Why Don’t She Marry,” in which Miss Bessy Vivian, Mr Hooper, and Mr Love appeared to advantage. This was followed by a musical interlude. In this Miss Laura Wiseman sang “ Thou art so near ” so well that it is a matter for regret that wc do not hear more of her in ballads of this kind. She was encored and responded witli a repetition. Miss Vivian and Mr Hooper danced a jig with much spirit, and also a hornpipe, and Mr Love sang a motto song fairly. The burlesque was excellently put on the stage, the scenery and dresses being thoroughly good. As Paris, Miss Laura Wiseman played with much spirit and success, singing and dancing throughout capitally. Miss Alice Johns made a good Jupiter, and the various parts of Juno, Venus, Minerva, and Psycho were well filled by the Misses Marion Lyster, Bessy Vivian, Amy Johns, and Marie Wilton. But the bright particular star was Mr Hall, as Castor, whom the author has represented as one of the modern “talent.” His make up and acting was funny in the highest degree, evoking roars of laughter, and the acrobatic performance which is introduced is in the highest degree absurd and laughable. His dancing was comical in the extreme, and he entered most thoroughly into the fun and humour with which the part abounds. As his twin brother Pollux, Mr Wilkinson ably seconded Mr Hall’s efforts to make the burlesque go and succeeded. Mr Herberte’s make-up for Cupid was irresistibly comic, and Mr Keeley as the Hibernian representative of Orion was very good. The burlesqe abounds in songs and dances, all of which were rendered with great spirit, and generally it went from first to last thoroughly well. Mr Holmes gave us some excellent scenery, especially one set of the pic-nic on Mount Ida, wicli was very artistically painted. The burlesque will be repeated this evening, and should draw a good house, as it is well worth seeing by all who desire a fccarty laugh.

Spouting. —The following entry was accidcntally omitted from those entered in the Champagne of 1878—Mr J. Eoxborough’s blk e, by Traducer--Myrtle.

Oamaru Steeplechase.— lt lias been decided to reduce the stakes of the Waitaki County Cup from £6O to £SO, and of the Steeplechase Club Handicap from £BO to £7O.

Acclimatisation. — A number of goldfinches and linnets from Hew Zealand have been liberated in the vicinity of Hand wick, New South Wales, for acclimatisation purposes.

Lyttelton Choir Picnic. —The members of the choir of Holy Trinity Church, Lyttelton, held their annual picnic on Saturday last, proceeding to Governor’s Bay in the steam launch Lyttelton. All sorts of sports were indulged in, and a delightful day was spent, the weather being all that could be desired.

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. —Mr C. J. Hodge has been appointed organist and choir master of the St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. It may be mentioned that a new organ for this church, said to be a very superior instrument, is to be shipped in London about the end of the present month.

The Margaret G-albraith. —Messrs Shaw, Seville, and Co.’s ship Margaret Galbraith, which arrived at Lyttelton on Friday, is stated to have made the voyage in exactly the same time as the Opawa. She sailed five days after the Opawa, and there was the same difference of time on her arrival here.

Settling Day. —The following stakes were paid over at Eadcliffe’s Hotel on Saturday last to the various winners at the recent Autumn Meeting :Mr Redwood, £735 (being Legcr, £142; Great Autumn Handicap, £437; and Flying Stakes, £156); Mr Webb, Champagne Stakes, £2BB ; Mr Delamain, Easter Handicap, £168; Mr R. Ray, Steeplechase, £137; Mr Mallock, Selling Race, £SS; Mr A. W. Money, Consolation, £4O; Mr Yallance, Hack Race, £lO.

Cricket— Lyttelton v Head of the Bay. —The return match between those clubs was played on the ground at the Head of the Bay on Saturday last. The main feature of the match was the bowling on both sides, which was altogether too good for the batsmen. Both sides may also be congratulated on the fielding, very few chances being missed. The wicket was by no means a good one, the grass being so long that, though admirably suited for bullocks, it wasdecidedlyunfavorable to cricket. We hear, however, that steps arc going to be taken to have a better wicket next year, and as the ground is level and there is a good sward this can be accomplished with little difficulty. Lyttelton won the match by 27 runs, making 30 in the first and 37 in the second innings, ana the Head of the Bay made 17 and 23 respectively. Watts and Makeig were the Lyttelton bowlers, the brothers Reeves trundling for the Head of the Bay. W. H. Eyes was captain of the Lyttelton and E. Barnard of the Head of the Bay team, and both may be congratulated on the skill they showed in placing their fields. Mr John Grebbie worked hard all day, not only playing for Lyttelton, but also spending the whole of Ids spare time in acting as umpire. A very pleasant day was spent.

Payment of Members. —The Melbourne Leader states that various signs in the political horizon of Victoria portend an early termination of the system of payment of members. It commenced on the 25th of April, 1871, and after a six years’ experience, politicians on both sides of the House are testifying to its utter failure. Even Sir C. G-. Duffy, who was in reality the Parliamentary sponsor of the Reimbursement of Members Act, freely admits that the measure which he took so much trouble to initiate has by no means answered his expectations.

Colombo Road District School. —The annual distribution of prizes was made to the scholars of this school on Friday afternoon last. The presentations in the boys’ school were made by Mr Allison. The chairman of the committee. The girls’ prizes were presented by Mrs Allison; the Revs. 11. B. Cocks and J. S. Smalley, with Messrs F. C. Hall, J. Whitelaw, and E. Jones, members of committee, assisted. In making the presentations it was explained that the prize list did not' in all eases shew the usual position of the children in each class, the committee having taken age into consideration in making the awards. They had accordingly added a per-centagc of marks to those gained by the younger children, the committee being of opinion that children who were considerably younger than the best scholars in each class, and who nevertheless succeeded in getting near the head of it, were the most deserving. The prizes therefore became prizes for progress as well as prizes for place. During the afternoon several pieces were very nicely sung by the children, and several members of the committee made addresses to the children, who mustered in great strength for the occasion. At the conclusion the female pupil teachers presented Mrs Bowmaker, the head mistress, with a testimonial in token of their appreciation of her efforts to advance their studies.

Certificated Teachers’ Association.— A very large number of teachers assembled on Saturday last in the Durham street schoolroom, to consider what course teachers should take previous to the introduction of a general system of education for New Zealand. Mr C. Howard, principal of the Normal School, was also in attendance. The Rev. J. Gumming, President of the Association, opened the meeting by stating the objects the Association had in view in calling them together, and requested any gentleman to speak on the subject. After a long discussion, it was agreed, on the motion of Mr J. Cumberworth—“That a general conference of teachers be held on May 12th, when the question of education shall he fully discussed in all its bearings.” A committee of thirteen members, consisting of the officers of the Association, together , with Messrs Howard, Bishop, Baldwin, Edge, Mayo, Ford, Cumberworth, Meredith, and Mcsdamos Bowmaker, Hill, and Miss Perry was appointed to make all preliminary arrangements for holding the conference ; and it was also decided that the members of the House of Representatives and the heads of denominations be requested to attend and take part in a general meeting to be Held in the afternoon of the conference. At the close of the meeting the members of the committee met, when Mr Howard was chosen chairman and Mr Hill secretary. It was arranged that teachers from the other educational centres and counties of New Zealand be invited either to attend the conference or send any resolutions which they would like to be brought before the conference. Another committee meeting will take place next Saturday at noon, when all the members are requested to bo ia attendance.

Toils on the West Coast Road. At recent meeting of the Westland County Council Mr Beale moved, “ That the report of the select committee re the scale of tolls to be levied at the various toll-gates of the county be adopted.” The only alteration made by the committee was to reduce the scale for vehicles drawn by one horse passing through the Christchurch road (oil-gale, from 4s to 2s. Mr Hirter se-onded pro forma. He did not agree with the motion, and considered that the charge for every sheep should bo 6d, instead of 3d per head. He would move an amendment to that effect. It was only fair to make the Christchurch squatters pay a little extra. Mr M'G-affin seconded ■pro forma. After a slight discussion the resolution was agreed to. Hungeeford’s Bridge.— What is known as Hungerford’s bridge over the Arahura on the Christchurch and Hokitika road, has broken down. The settlers in the neighbourhood are anxious for the County Council either to remove what remains of the useless structure or build a new bridge. Unless something be done speedily, much of the material will have to be fished out of the river. The bridge was a handsome and costly structure, but built of very perishable timber, and when it decayed the work could not well be repaired in piecemeal. It was considered one of the finest suspension bridges on the West Coast; but its weakness was its want of durability. The Christchurch coaches will now have to ford the river as of old, or proceed by the loop-line towards Hokitika.