NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 900, 14 May 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Tin: Drainage Question. —The first of the series of meetings in connection with that held on Friday last at Mr C. Clark’s rooms will take place this evening at Knightstown. Oysters.—We hear that the earthquake wave conferred a benefit on the people of Pigeon Bay, by causing the discovery of a huge oyster-bed, containing an immense number of the delicious bivalves. Horses.- The Hawea took to Picton on Saturday Mr Redwood’s Ladybird, and also a handsome carriage entire named Cossack. Cossack is an upstanding chesnut, rising 6 yrs., the offspring of Shales and Cosset. He shows plenty of substance, but seems also very active, with a good temper. His owner is Mr Mayne. Winter Evening Readings at Lyttelton. —The first entertainment of the season was given on Friday evening last, the president of the Colonists’ Society (Mr H. N. Nalder) presiding. A very attractive programme was successfully presented to an appreciative audience. The large attendance showed that the great popularity of these meetings has not waned since last season. Eyreton.—On Thursday night, about 11 o’clock, the stables of Mr G. Bailey were burned down, the damage done being estimated at £l2O, which was not covered by insurance, A quantity of harness, a chaff cutter, and field seeds were also destroyed. The cause of the fire is at present unknown. As the burning building was some distance from the house and other of the farm buildings, and the wind in an opposite direction, there was no danger to them. St. Michael’s Mission.—The mission service in connection with St. Michael’s was opened on Friday evening last. The missioncr is the Very Rev. the Dean of Hobart Town, who is holding a course of mission services throughout the various parishes. The Dean delivered a most impressive and eloquent address, and last evening, also, at evening service, he again addressed the congregation. Services in connection with the mission will bo hold during the week in various parts of the parish. The Shark Fishery.—The Melbourne Art/vs states that the rewards paid by the Victorian Government for the capture of sharks in the waters of the bay now amount in the aggregate to the sum of £62 11s 6d. The number of sharks brought to the various police stations since the oiler of a reward was published amounts to 846. Of these, 735 were caught, at Sandridgc, 5 at Footscray, 16 at Williamstown, 20 at Mornington, and 70 at Brighton. The latter place may also bo credited with six more which have not been officially returned. One of the sharks was a monster, measuring about 16ft in length, and weighing about a ton ; but the majority were over 2ft, and under sft in length. The Road Roller.—A very practical trial of the merits of the newly-imported steam roller took place this morning in Hereford street. The street, as our readers are probably aware, has been heavily coated with broken metal, so that a very ’fair estimate of the power of the roller was arrived at. It also afforded an opportunity to test the working of the machinery. In both of these respects the trial was a success. The metal was well bound together, and when “blinding” is used the roads will become as solid as concrete pavement. Altogether a the City Council may be congratulated upon having secured so efficient an auxiliary in the formation of our streets. The Rangitoto Silver Mine. —Mr J. Sevan, who is one of those most largely interested in the Mount Rangitoto Silver Mine, writes as follows regarding the mine to Mr Slimmer, of Wellington : —“ The mine is opened up at present by main tunnel, T drives, sloping drives, &c., a distance of over 1000 ft., each one of which is on excellent ore, which averages on assay from 200 to 600ozs of silver to the ton, with a valuable addition of gold in all the resulting buttons, the lowest assay of which lias yielded 2oz. ISdvvt. 17gr., and some as high as lOoz. The ore has also recently been operated upon in London with the most gratifying results by one of the most eminent firms there. All the work undertaken is of a most permanent character. AVe only await the completion of the Government road, which is now constructed within about three miles of the mine, and which portion will, it is expected, be complete to the company’s boundary in about three months, when a t rial shipment of five to ten tons each will be sent to London and to Melbourne.” Tramway Accidents. —An unfortunate accident occurred on the Greymouth and Kumara tramway on Saturday week. By some means or other the driver of the carriage, Robert Cummins, lost his footing and fell off, hut whether he was kicked by the shaft-horse or struck by the carriage is not certain, but ho was picked up in a disabled condition, suffering apparently from a blow on the spine. He was subsequently taken to the Grey River Hospital, where he now remains in a condition of possible recovery. —There was a narrow escape from an accident ou the Kanieri tramway about the name time. The driver of the tramway carriage while passing over the bridge known as the Shenandoah, felt the structure give way. He whipped his horse up quickly and got over safely, but there is no doubt that but, for his promptness, an accident would have occurred. The recent rain appears to have loosened the supports of the bridge. The Lath Fire in North Dunedin.— The fire which lately happened at the brewery owned by Joseph Kubtze, at the North-cast Valley, was discovered about three in the morning. The fire had not got a very strong hold when first discovered, but. owing to the strong wind and want of water the flames coidd not be extinguished till the greater part of the building and property was destroyed. The lire was discovered by William Smith, who stated that, he was awoke by a glare in his bedroom, his house being close to the brewery. Finding the brewery on fire ho awoke Mr Kubtze. Both Kuhtzc and Smith arc of opinion that the lire originated from a spark from the furnace falling on the roof of the brewery. The building was insured in the National Office for £l5O, and the stock for £IOO in the same office in Smith’s name, he having been at one lime a partner with Kubtze. The stock was also insured in the National Office, in Kuhtze’s name, for £IOO,

Tub Ship Piako.— The N.Z.S. Company’s new ship Piako, Captain Pox, was signalled on Saturday off Port Chalmers—all well. Body Pound.— The body of a man was last week found on one of the islands of the Waitaki river, and brought lo Waimatc, where it was interred on Wednesday last, in the cemetery. No inquest was held, and it is more than' probable that the mystery connected with the fate of someone will never bo cleared.

Another Blondin. —Mr Campbell, the discoverer of the Cobar copper mines, has walked across the Darling River on an inch-and-quarter rope, the distance being 160 yards. This feat was accomplished in the presence of several hundred spectators. He also carried a man a considerable distance on his back along the rope. Accident at Ashburton. —An accident attended with serious results occurred on Saturday afternoon to a driver of a"wnggon, named Quin, from Geraldine County. When crossing the Ashburton Bridge the horses took fright and crushed him between the waggon and the side of the bridge. One leg was broken, and the other was badly bruised. He was removed to the barracks. The Gaiety. —Despite the unfavorable weather on Saturday, there was a very good attendance at the afternoon performance of “ Cinderella.” The piece went well throughout. In the evening the first piece was “The Irish Emigrant,” in which Mr Hall as Pat O’Brien was most amusing. He sang an Irish song and danced a jig with great spirit and effect. The other parts in the piece were well filled. The burlesque and harlequinade concluded the performance, and it went with much success throughout. To-night a new burlesque, “The Field of the Cloth of Gold,” will be produced. Great preparations in the way of scenery, &c., have been made to put this piece on the stage, and we anticipate that it will be as successful as the pantomime has been.

Rifle Association. —The firing for the prizes left over at the Easter meeting took place on Saturday at the Hillsborough butts. The weather was exceedingly unfavorable for shooting, the wind coming in gusts, the afternoon being also exceedingly cold, with heavy showers at intervals. The ranges were -100, 500, and 600 yards, seven shots at each range. The following were the scores: —Quartermaster Sergeant Beattie, C.E.Y., 66 points, Ist prize ;Mr Dixon, 60,2nd prize ; Sergeantmajor Raven, C.A.V., 58, 3rd prize; Sergeant Hill, C.A.Y., 57, 4th prize ; Mr Sherwood, 57, sth prize ; Volunteer Perrin, No. 5 Company, 56, 6th prize ; Sapper Buckley, C.E.V., 55, 7th prize: Mr Pate, 55 ; Gunner Houston, C.A.V., 54; Sergeant Chapman, C.E.Y., 53; Sapper Marshall, C.E.Y., 52: Corporal Parker, C.C.G., 47 ; Mr Hcsketh, 30 ; Sapper Fryer, C.E.Y. (retired), 16. The range prize at *SOO and 600 yards was taken by Quartermaster Sergeant Beattie, and at 400 yards by Sapper Buckley. Lyttelton Borough School. — A meeting of the committee of this school was held on Saturday night last. The chairman (Mr H. R. Webb) presided. Correspondence was read from the head master, Mr W. L. Edge, as follows : —“ I have the honor to inform you that Miss Sinclair has resigned, and it will be necessary to make some provision for filling her place. I would respectfully suggest that pending the completion of the infant school, and the consequent reorganisation of the staff, a pupil teacher of the first or second year bo appointed. I have again to bring before you the necessity of making some attempt to obtain a slight increase of salary for those ex pupil teachers at present teaching in the school. They are now doing very fair work, and if some increase is not granted, they will certainly leave on the first opportunity. I have brought this matter before the committee on a former occasion, and my only excuse for reproducing it now is the fact that if they leave T do not sec any reasonable prospect of obtaining suitable pupil teachers to supply their places. The average attendance for this week has been 47f>; number on books, 630. This gives an average of 32 pupils to each teacher ; in my opinion quite enough for an adult—not to mention a pupil teacher. The absentee notes provided some time ago are nearly all gone. I shall require a fresh supply. I think that their introduction has had a most beneficial effect on the attendances.” From the Board of Education, sanctioning repairs to caretaker’s cottage. From same, re. collection of fees for 1877 and payment of municipal rates. From Miss Sinclair, resigning her appointment as pupil teacher. Miss Sinclair’s resignation was accepted. Miss Fielder was appointed a pupil teacher, subject to the approval of the Board of Education. TSie committee determined to recommend to the. Board that the salaries of the ex pupil teachers be increased. It was resolved that 1000 absentee notes should be procured. It was determined to apply to the Board of Education for £IOOO for the purchase of land and erecting a house for the head-master. The Governor in the .Sounds.- —From the account of the Hinemoa’s visit to the Sounds, as published in the Nelson papers, we learn that she left Bluff harbor on the 30th ult., and arrived at Preservation Inlet the following morning, when some good fishing was obtained, after which a start was made for Chalky Inlet, and from thence to Dusky Sound. In going up the fairway, the vessel suddenly struck on a rock hitherto unknown (fifty fathoms being marked on the chart where this impediment to navigation exists). Many vessels have passed over the same ground, but have been lucky enough to miss the rock. The only damage sustained was the loss of one blade of the propeller. Captain Fairchild took his passengers to visit a relic of bygone days, and in the N.E. corner of the Sound, in a fine cove named Fossil harbor, the remains of a ship of upwards of 1000 tons burthen were found in good preservation. This wreck has been known for the last thirty years, but no clue has ever been obtained as to her identity or what became of the crew. She is planked with teak on English elm timbers, coppered with pure copper, and fastened with copper bolts. One of her rudder gudgeons was got off, and is now to be seen on board the Ilinemoa ; it is pure copper, with the words “Savill, London,” distinctly visible on it. Several pieces of the planking with the copper still on were obtained. On examining near the wreck, the cause was found in a reef with only nine feet of water on it; this was on the outside of the wreck, and it may be assumed tlie ship had run for shelter, and having struck the reef, was beached, though nothing certain is known or ever likely to be. The Ilinemoa called in at most of the inlets, and the vice-regal party were delighted with the scenery. At Jackson’s Bay the Governor landed. An address was presented to him by the settlers, and his Excellency spent the afternoon in examining the settlement. During the trip several excellent photographs were obtained.