NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 887, 28 April 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Heath cote Road Board. —The adjourned annual mooting of the ratepayers oil the Heathcotc Road Board district will beheld at the Phillipstown schoolroom on Tuesday evening, May Ist, at seven o'clock.

Evangelistic Service. The Young Men's Christian Association will hold a service in the Gaiety Theatre to-morrow night, at eight o'clock.

United Methodist Free Church, St. Asapji Street.—On account of the removal of the present building, the service, in connection with this church to-morrow, will be conducted in the old Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street.

Presentation at Leeston.—On the 17th instant Mr Baldwin was presented by the congregation of St John's Church with a purse of sovereigns as an acknowledgement of his voluntary services as organist during the past seventeen months. The Rev. Walter Harper made the presentation.

The Gaiety.—There was a good house last night at this Theatre, when "Toodles" and the burlcscpic of " Paris " were repeated. To-night "The Wandering Minstrel," a musical olio, in which several of the gems of the burlesques which have been given during the season will be performed, and " Paris " will form the bill. On Monday the pantomime, of which we have already spoken, will be produced. |

Hospital House Surgkon.—We are informed that Dr. Collins has been appointed House Surgeon of the Christchurch Hospital. Dr. Collins is member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England, and Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of London.

Intercolonial Football Match.—A proposal to arrange an Intercolonial Football Match, to be played in Melbourne during the present season, is attracting the attention of players in that city and in Adelaide. INQUEST.—An inquest was hold yesterday before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., coroner, at the residence of deceased, Sandhills, on the body of the late Mr Peter Kerr, who was found lying dead in the Sandhills road on Wednesday evening. The evidence of the witnesses examined confirmed the particulars as already reported, and the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."

Presentation at Kaiapoi.—On Friday a deputation waited on the Rev W. McG-regor, Presbyterian Minister, at the manse, Kaiapoi, to present a purse of sovereigns from the members and adherents of his congregation, as a mark of their sympathy towards him during his illness, from which he has just recovered. The rev. gentleman expressed his surprise and his thanks in a suitable manner. Football. —A match was played yesterday on Cranmer square between Fifteen of the Normal and a like number of the East Christchurch Football Club. Although the day was not very suitable, some good play was exhibited, that of J. M. Beechcy, who played half-back, and of Row, who played back, being celebrated for long kicks, as was also Crowe, Roskruge. and Brock, who was always on the ball. For East Christchurch, F. Haddrill and Johnson distinguished themselves. The East won the toss, and preferred choice of goals. Play was commenced at 3.15 p.m., by Brock kicking off for the Normal. When time was called the Normal School proved victors by one goal, kicked by Crowe, and 13 points, to 1. Leeston.—The following representatives of the Presbytery of Christchurch held a special meeting in this church on the 25th of April. Present —Revs. H. W. Burnett (moderator), J. W. Cree and Macgregor (clerk), and Mr William Nixon (elder). The minute of the Presbytery calling this meeting was read, and the diic citation of Mr David Marshall, and of Messrs A. Webster, A. Anderson, J. 11. Doyle, Gr. Johnston, and W. Grilmour as witnesses was declared by the clerk. Upon call all these gentleman answered to their names as requested to appear before the bar of the Presbytery, and took their places. Mr Cree stated that/Messrs John McVinnio and Mr John Lambie, jun., then present, could give evidence in the matter if required. L T pon request of the moderator, these gentlemen took their places at the bar. The agreement laid upon the Presbytery table on the Bth of March by Mr Cree was then read, and Mr Marshall was asked if he were willing to sign it. Mr Marshall replied that he would do so, and thereupon gave his signature. The Moderator informed those gentlemen who had been cited that the action of Mr Marshall had rendeivd any further evidence unnecessary, trusting that so amicable an arrangement would be most satisfactory to all those interested and concerned in the affairs of the Leeston Presbyterian church. The clerk then proposed to lay before the meeting the letter from Mr Marshall, bearing date July 27th. Mr Marshall, upon request, was permitted by the meeting to withdraw the letter in question from consideration.

War Pkophecies.—Dr. dimming has a competitor in the line of prophecy. A Bombay paper publishes a telegram announcing that the Akhoond of Swat was taking the initiative in appealing to the religious fanaticism of the Mahomedans, and had preached a jehad, whatever that may be. The telegram is to this effect : " The Akhoond of Swat has preached a_ jehad to a large assemblage at the musjid after prayers on Friday. He said that the end of the world and the day of judgment were drawing near ; that the only large kingdom of Islam was in imminent danger by Feringees ; that if Eonm fall into their hands, Islamism will be at an end. Therefore, all true believers should prepare for a holy Avar, offering their lives in the name of God and religion. Meantime they should assist the Sultan with subscriptions and money like as the believers in India and Arabia are doing." Lytteiton Weslkyan StrxDAY School. —The aniversary sermons were preached on Sunday, and on Thursday night the annual tea, meeting was held in the schoolroom. Those who provided the tables were Mesdames Kenner, Cathro, J. H. Wilson, F. Hildyard, G. Jenkins, Austin, Molyneaux, Hester, Wyman, Anderson, and S. E. Webb and the bachelors. An adjournment was made to the Chapel, where a meeting was held. Mr 11. R. Webb occupied the chair and made a short address, in which he urged that if .all parents conld be persuaded to attend to their children's spiritual welfare at their own homes, the necessity for Sunday Schools would cease to exist. At present, however, these duties were sadly neglected by many, and Sunday Schools therefore became a necessity. Such being the ease, ho had given much thought as to the buildings and appliances required, as these were valuable adjuncts for performing the work satisfactorily. He advocated the erection of buildings for this purpose, consisting of a central hall surrounded by class-rooms entering into it, and urged the use of maps, blackboards, &c, in order that the interest of the children might be kept up. Mr J. Pitcaithly, the lion, sec, read the report, from which it appeared that the number of scholars at present on the roll was 122 boys and 15-i girls; total, 276. The meeting was then addressed by the Revs. Worker, Morley, and Smalley, The treasure] 1 afterwards read the following statement of the financial position of the school:—Assets ; for sale of hymn-books, £1 10s; donations, £1 10s; collections, £ls 2s ; tea meeting, £l7 10s : cash from Mr J. S. Oliver, £2 5s 6d ; total, £37 17s Gd. The expenditure had been £3B lGs Bd, so there was a balance due to tho treasurer of 19s 2d. He thought the statement most satisfactory. A collection having been made, Captain" Wood said he had a most pleasing duty to perform, which was to make a presentation to their harmonist and musical conductor. They all knew with what energy and success Miss Ellen Kenner and Mr Bradley had carried out their duties, and how well they both deserved some slight token of their esteem. He had great pleasure in presenting the watch he held to Miss Kenner. The clock before him lie had to present to Mr Bradley. Mr Bradley thanked the congregation for their kindness on the present occasion, and also for the picnic they had given to the choir. The Rev Mr Morley briefly returned thanks for Miss Kenner. The reading of the treasurer's statement of the proceeds of the meeting, and the passing of votes of thank), closed the proceedings.

MAIL ARRANGEMENTS. —Arrangements have been concluded by the postal department in Victoria for expediting the despatch of the Californian mails from Sydney to Melbourne. In future the mail will always be forwarded overland, and special arrangements will be made for their speedy despatch. The ordinary overland mail reaches Albury after the morning train lias started, and can be sent on only by the second train, but it is intended that on occasions when the Californian mail is sent, increased speed shall bo used from G-un-dagai to Albury, in order to secure the despatch of the mail by the first train to Melbourne. The Victorian Government have agreed to bear the extra expense that will bo entailed.

Auckland Coalfields. The Public Works Department lately sent Mr Demiiston, who lias for the last four years superintended the Buller coal mines, to Auckland for the purpose of prospecting, and reporting upon the coal measures of the different districts. Mr Denniston, having completed his task, returned to Auckland by the Argyle this morning from Whangarci. The coal mcasiu'es of Waikato are inferior to those of the north of Auckland. Lignite only was found in Waikato, while north of Whangarei and Kawakawa a superior class of coal abounds, and at Hikurangi a still stronger and hotter coal was found, but has not up the present been developed. The Whangarei and Kawakawa coal are from the same seam of coal according to Mr Dcnniston's exploration, and he considers the Kaino coal equal to Kawakawa article.