NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 896, 9 May 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Steam Boad Poller. —The steam road roller ordered by the City Council has arrived, and will be tried in a few days. Meeting- of Parliament. —The Wellington Post does not give its authority, but states that it is now tolerably certain that Parliament will meet for the dispatch of business on the 20th July. Legal.—His Honor Mr Justice Johnston, being about to proceed to the Court of Appeal, fixed yesterday for a special sitting in banco. There were, however, no cases on the list, and the Court was simply opened and formally adjourned. Inward Suez Mail.—This mail, consisting of eighteen bags—four for Lyttelton and fourteen for Cbristchureh —arrived per the s.s. Wellington at 3 p.m. yesterday. The Christchurch portion was forwarded by the 4 p.m. goods train. Cattle from Southland.—The Bingarooma brought three yearling bulls yesterday, for Messrs Studholme and Co, of Baglan. They are shorthorns, of the Butterfly and April Flower blood, and show great quality, having been bred by Mr Gr. M. Bell, Waimea Plains, Southland. 'They are destined for the North, and will be forwarded to Baglan when the Southern Cross makes her next trip. The Bitualist Practices. —In a letter, addressed to the Kaiapoi churchwardens, the Bishop intimates his intention to give his decision in respect to the articles in use and practices complained of at a late vestry meeting, so soon as he receives the determination of the Bench of Bishops on the notorious "Kaiapoi case," which is still under their consideration.

Items. —A coursing club, called the Waihemo Coursing Club, has been established at Palmcrston. The first meet takes place on the 16th inst. —On a farm near Timaru a crop of potatoes just gathered in has averaged 24 tons to the acre.—The body of a man has been found at Redcliff, Waitaki. Constables have proceeded to the spot. —Mr Harry Bennett, so well-known as the providore of our coasting fleet, has bought out Mrs Power from the Commercial Hotel, Willis street, Wellington.

The G-aiety.—The pantomime drew a good house at this Theatre last eTeiiing, and went capitally throughout. The comic tricks evoked'roars of laughter, and the dancing of columbine and harlequin was loudly applauded. To-night has been set apart for a juvenile night, when toys will be presented to all the little folks attending. To-morrow, Mr J. L. Hall will take a benefit, for which a capital programme has been prepared. We feel sure that the many claims from old associations and other causes which Mr Hall has on Christchurch playgoers will be recognised by a bumper house on the occasion. Accident m Tort.—A youth named Paul Schultze, an ordinary seaman aboard the North German barque Herman, met with a serious accident this morning. It appears he was working on the main topsail yard when he missed his fooling, and falling, struck his thigh against the rail and fell on board. He was at once taken to the casual ward, and Or Rouse speedily at tended to the sufferer. The thigh bone and pelvis were both fractured. The bones were set, and the sufferer, who is a healthy youth, se ;, med to have suffered less from the shock than could have been naturally expected. The Rotorua Springs.—All prospective visitors to the Rotorua Hotsprings should read the New Zealand Government Gazette of May 3rd. It contains a report of an analysis of fifteen samples of water from these springs, nominally made by Dr Hector, but no doubt made by'officers attached to the Government Laboratory. The analysis was made at the suggestion of his Excellency the Governor, ancTa further report is in progress. The present report is too lengthy and technical to quote, but should apparently be in the possession of every one visiting the Springs in search of health. The Condemned Prisoner Te Pati. — The sheriff of Aiickland has received a communication from Wellington relating to the condemned prisoner Te Pati. It does not Hx the date of execution, nor even indicate whether the sentence of the law will be carried into effect. It simply states that no decision can be come to during the stay of his Excellency in the southern provinces. At the date of the last communication, Saturday, 28th ult. it was that nearly a fortnight would probably elapse before the fate of the man could be determined. Meanwhile, says the Herald, Te Pati himself appears exceedingly indifferent. His conduct is good, but he appears as impervious as ever to exhortation or instruction. The natives appear indifferent to his fate. Although the delay will amount to something like a respite there is little doubt but that'the capital sentence will be carried into effect.

The Insurance " Conference."— The Wellington Post says :—"lt lias grown to be quite the fashion in New Zealand to call any meeting of two or three persons on any mortal subject under the sun—a ' Conference '—with a capital C. An immense fuss has been made lately in certain quarters, because two or three of the Government Insurance Agents have met together to consult about the business of the department in preparation for the coming session of Parliament, when naturally some information will be desired as to the past and present working of the department, and possibly some suggestion as to its future management. It lias been insinuated that tin! purport of this 'Conference' is a desperate attack on the gentleman at present in charge of I lie department as acting head. We believe we are justified in asserting that this insinuation is without the slightest foundation in fact, and that the so-called 'Conference' is a mere consultation among the officers of the department for the purpose already indicated."

Money Orders and Savings.—ln the Gazette a statement is publisbed showing the number, amount, &c., of money orders arid savings banks transactions in the several postal districts of the colony during the quarter ended 31st March. There were issued 20.812 orders, value £80,795; and paid 16,262, value £73,305. In the savings banks 2857 accounts were opened, and 2263 closed, the withdrawals numbering 0654, value £178,106, and the deposits 14,824, value £170,211. The excess of withdrawals over deposits was £7895. Bangiora Mission. —The eight days' mission at St. John's Church was completed on Monday evening. During the whole of the services, conducted by Dean Bromby, as missioner, the attendances have been very large, the church on many occasions having been quite crowded. On Sunday, it was computed that over 600 persons of all denominations were present at the evening service, and a sum of £22 was received in the offertory on that day towards the expenses of the mission. Dean Bromby will take with him the hearty good wishes of the residents of Bangiora of all classes and creeds. It is understood that he will conduct mission services at St. Michael's in the city, at Merivale, and Lyttelton before leaving the Canterbury district. Heathcote Valley.—A soiree in connection with the fourth anniversary of the Wcsleyan Church was held on Thursday last, in the Public Schoolroom, the use of which had been kindly granted for the occasion. The tahles, which were bountifully supplied, were presided over by Mesdames Newton, Dandon, Farland, and Smith, and Misses Newton and Jewiss, who were assisted by the Misses Martindale, Hollis, Duncan, Disher, Kayc, and Donell. The room had been suitably decorated by the Misses Marsden, and at the time appointed, considerably over 100 personssat down to tea. At-,the after meeting, the room was crowded to excess. The Bev. W. Morley presided, and excellent addresses were delivered by the Bevs. Lee, Smaller, Worker, and Messrs Mitchell and Newton. The Lyttelton Wesleyan choir, under the leadership of Mr Bradley, Miss E. Kenner presiding at the piano, contributed much to the enjoyment of the evening by an excellent selection of hymns and anthems. Owing to the late hour of the trains the meeting did not close till half-past ten, when votes of thanks to the ladies, decorators, school committee, and choir, were carried by acclamation. The proceeds of the tea and collection amounted to nearly £l2. The Bailwa-Y Accident near Oamaru. — An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of John Stirling Arthur, who was killed on the railway line on Saturday night, took place on Monday afternoon at the Northern Hotel, Oamaru. Among the witnesses examined was William Jones Smith, station-manager at Oamaru, who said: -From the clothes on the body, and those produced, I recollect having seen them worn by a man whom I saw on the platform of the Oamaru railway station at about a quarter to 2 p.m. on Saturday last. He was then lying down and asleep. I told one of the porters to wake him up. When the porter sbook him by the coat, he opened his eyes, and appeared very stupid. He woidd not get up, indeed he appeared in a sort of stupor. At a quarter to three o'clock one of the porters reported that the man would insist on going into the ladies' waiting-room. I told him lie must leave the platform or ho would get into trouble. I then saw that deceased was very drunk, indeed he did not seem to know what he was doing. The last train for Kakanui leaves at 2 p.m. every day. In the evening, from information received, I went up the main north line, and found the body of deceased about a mile and a half from the station. The evidence of the other witnesses related to the circumstances under which the deceased was struck by the engine. The jmy, after a few minutes' consideration, returned the following verdict:— " That the deceased met with his death through drunkenness, and that there is no blame attributable to the engine driver."