NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 902, 16 May 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Catholic Schools. —To-morrow night a concert will be given in the Catholic schoolroom in aid of the schools. Inikctiovs DISEASES. —No less than seven notices of the existence of infectious diseases in various parts of the city were received at the meeting of the Local Board of Health yesterday. They comprised typhoid and scarlet fever, scarlatina, and diphtheria. The Steam Road Rollek. —The roller was again at work yesterday on Hereford street, and as “blinding ” has been used, the road is now in excellent condition. It has been said by some that the roller is not heavy enough, but it must be remembered that the trials have been made upon a hard metalled road, upon which new metal has been placed. It is, therefore, very difficult to bed the stones properly. In future where the roller is to be used, the road will be picked up by the apparatus attached, and a bed formed for the metal to sink into. By this means a perfectly even and solid roadway will be formed. The trials now made are only of a preliminary nature, and intended more to test the good working order of the roller than anything else.

Making Cloth Waterproof. —At this particular period of the year, the following by a writer in a contemporary may reasonably be read with interest: —“ Touching waterproofs, I think I can give travellers a valuable hint or two. For many years I have worn indiarubber waterproofs, but I will buy no more, for 1 have learned that good Scottishtweocl can ho made completely impervious to rain, and moreover, 1 have learned how fo make i( so ; and for the benefit of my readers 1 will here give (lie receipt. In a bucket of soft water put half a pound of sugar of lead and half a pound of powdered alum ; stir this at intervals until it becomes clear; then pour it into another bucket, and put the garment therein, and let it be in for twentyfour hours, and then hang it up to dry without wringing it. Two of my party—a lady and gentleman—have worn garments in the wildest storm of wind and rain without gelding wet. The rain hangs upon the cloth m globules. In short they arc really waterproof. The gentleman, a fortnight ago, walked nine miles in a storm of rain and wind such as you rarely see in the South ; and when he slipped off his overcoat his underclothes were as dry as when he put them on. This is, f think, a secret worth knowing ; for cloth, If it can be made to keep out wet, is in every way better than what we know as waterproofs.”

Mandeyille and Rangiora Drainage Hoard. —It is intended by this Board to levy a rate of Is in the £ on the rateable property of the district, to be applied to the prosecution of drainage works.

Candle Factories. —At yesterday’s sitting of the Local Board of Health a petition was presented against Mr King’s candle works at Addington. The Board has already on petition instituted proceedings against Mr Hancock, which case is now pending in the Resident Magistrate’s Court. In Mr King’s case the medical officer of health was directed to examine the premises, and report upon the same to next meeting of the Board. South Ashburton School Committee.— A meeting of householders was held in the schoolroom of this district on Monday, May 7th, to elect members to replace those retiring from the committee, viz., Messrs S. Chapman, Frisbey, and Pearson; Messrs Cairncross, Caldwell, and Ede retaining their scats. After the accounts were rendered, a letter from the Board of Education convening the meeting was read, and the following members were elected to complete the committee, viz., Messrs S. Chapman, Frisbey, Gray, Ladbrook, and W. If. Lowe. Mr Chapman was re-elected chairman.

Fire in Sydney. —A Sydney telegram to the Melbourne Argvs states that on the 24th April a destructive fire broke out at about 4 o’clock in the morning at Hanks’s grocery establishment in George street. The premises, together with the stock, were entirely destroyed. The premises of Hardie and Mitchell, adjoining, were much damaged, and Lee’s toy shop, contiguous to Hanks’s establishment, suffered considerably in the upper floor. Altogether, the insurance covers about £BOOO. Hanks’s stock was insured in the Norwich Union for £3OOO, in the London and Lancashire for £2500, and in the Batavia for £2500. The whole of the buildings were insured in the Liverpool and London and Globe office for £ISOO.

Preserving Timber. —The improvements in saturating wood and timber, invented by Mr 11. Sainsbury, of Paris, consists in employing a solution foamed in the relative approximate proportions of water, 1000 litres ; alum, 16 kilos; sulphate of copper, 16 kilos; bromide of sodium, 1 kil. ; and iodide of sodium, 1 kil. For the purpose of the invention, he prefers placing the timber or wood to be treated in a close vessel from which he draws off all the air, and in which he immediately injects the above mentioned liquid with a pressure varying from 251bs. to 150 lbs. to the inch. It is stated that wood thus injected not only acquires thereby a considerable degree of hardness, whereby it is better fitted to resist wear and tear, friction, exposure to the atmosphere, and deteriorating causes, but it is also rendered completely incombustible.

Drainage Meeting, Addington.—A public meeting was held last evening, pursuant to notice, at Feathers’ Hotel, to consider the drainage question, and notwithstanding the inclemency of the evening there was a good attendance, several influential ratepayers being among (hose present. Mr G. W. Hall was voted to the chair, and explained the object for which the meeting had been called. Mr J. Ollivier, who was called upon, addressed those present at considerable length, detailing the particulars of the scheme proposed by Mr Carruthers. The resolutions passed at the meeting held at Air C. Clark’s rooms were read, and Air Ollivier asked the meeting to affirm them. He also pointed out that the Board were not in a position to inform the ratepayers what would be the cost of the proposed scheme, nor had they decided what was to become of the sewage when collected, and according to Air Hobbs’s statement they had not even considered what sewage would have to be carried away. As regarded the expensive process of pumping stations, one member of the Board had recently stated t hat that body did not approve of pumping stations, yet at (he same time Mr A. Duncan had been authorised to make terms with owners of land for the purchase of sites on which to erect these, and the solicitors to the Board had been instructed to take the necessary legal steps to obtain those sites. The fact was—and it was a perfectly patent one—that the Board had no settled opinion as to what they were about to do. Air Ollivier concluded a long speech amid applause, by asking the meeting to unanimously pass the following resolution; —“ That this meeting strongly affirms the resolutions now read, and which were passed at the meeting held at Air Clark’s rooms.” Air Booth seconded the resolution with very great pleasure, and spoke at length in its favor. Air Wynn Williams, who next addressed the meeting, pointed out in the course of his remarks the origin of the Drainage Act, and said this Act did not give the Board power to construct a system of drainage for town purposes. It was never intended so by those who originated the Bill, and he was sure that when the Bill was passing through the Houses of Parliament, not one single member supposed for a moment that such was the intention. This was evident enough, otherwise Parliament would never have given the Board power to rate a large agricultural district for the purpose of carrying away house drainage from the town of Christchurch. A member of the House (Air Evans Brown) stated at the meeting Held at St. Alban’s the previous evening, that he was quite satisfied that no such power was intended to bo given. He (Air Wynn AVilliams) would impress upon the ratepayers in outlying districts to interest themselves in this matter; if they did not they would very soon find themselves called upon to pay heavy rates, to be principally devoted to creating a sewage system for the City of Christchurch. Dr Turnbull, in his remarks, said the ratepayers were largely indebted to Air Ollivier for the trouble he had taken in bringing this question before the people in various parts of fhe district. He (Dr Turnbull) asserted most emphatically that the Act gave no power to the Board to create a sewage system for the advantage of Christchurch at the expense of a large agricultural district. He desired to say t'ds although lie was himself a resident in Christchurch. Air D. Nairn also addressed the meeting, after which the resolution was put and carried unanimously. A special vote of thanks was passed to Air Ollivier, Dr Turnbull, and Air Wynn Williams, for the trouble they had taken in attending the meeting. A vote of thanks to the chairmap concluded the business. This evening a meeting of ratepayers will be held at the Woolston Hall at seven o’clock.

Dining at a house where the Bishop of was present, Foote was in high spirits, and talked immoderately; when the bishop, being angry at the entire usurpation of the talk by Foote, after waiting with considerable impatience, said : “When will that player leave off preaching? “Oh, my lord,” replied Foote, “ the moment I am made a bishop. ”

The Gaiety. —There was a very good house at the Gaiety Theatre last evening considering the weather. The bill or the preceding evening was repeated and vs cn f ; capitally throughout. In the iarce o “ Slasher and Crasher ” Mr Hal iua.de the fun fast and furious, and was well s -eoudea by Mr Kecley and the other characters, t :ac burlesque of “The Field of the Cloth of Gold ” followed, and it improves on acquamlance. The various songs with winch it is replete wore excellently sung, and with the reallv picturesque dresses and well painted scenery, it should have a long run. JV'lr liall was very funny as King Henry, and the Misses Wiseman, Vivian, Johns, and Wilton, ton-other with the gentlemen of the company, sustained their parts in a highly creditable maimer. The burlesque will be repeated this evening, and is well worth going to sec. Kaiapoi Borough School. —The monthly meeting of the committee for dispatch of ordinary business was held on Monday evening. Present —Messrs Kerr (chairman), Pnshbv, Parnham, Moore, Bean, and Johnston. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Whitcfoord. A letter was read from 15. Neville, resigning as pupil teacher, and it was resolved that Amy Taylor be recommended to the Board of Education to fill the vacancy. In reply to a circular from the Board, it was resolved to recommend Mr E. Rcvell’s offer to collect the scholars’ fees at 10 per cent. A letter from the Board stated one tender had been received for the improvements, which was beyond the estimate, and it had been decided to do the work under a clerk of the works, under the direction of Mr Cane, architect. The Chairman stated the scholars in the boys’ division had been granted a holiday during this week till the painting inside was finished, and the girls and infant scholars would have to receive holiday during the work in their rooms. Accounts amounting to £l2 3s 4d were passed. In reply to a letter from Mr Lynskey, and a complaint against the head master in teaching history, it was decided to say that the matter could not bo re-opened, as it had already been carefully considered by the committee. It was decided to ask the Board to have mantelshelves placed to all the fireplaces in the schools. After passing routine business the committee then adjourned.