NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 904, 18 May 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sydenham Debating Club—The usual weekly meeting will be held this evening, when the Eastern Question will be discussed. M.C.C.—A special meeting of the Midland Canterbury Cricket Club will be held at Warner’s on Saturday evening, at eight o’clock.

The Gaiety. —There was a capital attendance at the Gaiety last evening, when “The Field of the Cloth of Gold” was repeated very successfully. The whole of the parts were well rendered, and the songs and choruses, especially “The Apple of My Eye,” were loudly applauded. Altogether the piece bids fair to have a successful run. To-night Miss Wiseman takes her benefit, the burlesque being preceded by “ Nan, the Good for Nothing,” in wliicli Miss Wiseman will play Nan and Mr Hall Tom Dibbles. A mid-day performance of the burlesque will be given to-moiTOW, in addition to the ugual evening one.

The Governor's Visit. —At the meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College yesterday, the chairman intimated that a telegram laid been received from the Hon. C. C. Bowen, stating that his Excellency had determined not to visit Canterbury until the end of May or beginning of June,'when he would have much pleasure in opening the College. His Excellency would have come down last Tuesday, had the College been in readiness for the opening ceremonial. Drainage Meeting, Colomuo road Schoolroom. —The fourth of these missionary services in connection with the drainage question took place last evening, in the Colombo road Schoolroom, at which there was a very considerable attendance of earnest ratepayers. The chair was taken by Mr Fisher, M.H.R., who entered at length into the object of the meeting, after having read the resolutions passed at Mr Clark’s rooms, and dwelt upon the principle contained in them. The chairman then called on Mr Ollivicr to explain the objects for which the meeting had been called. Mr Ollivier first desired to express his regret that his friend Mr Wynn Williams was still too unwell to attend, but ho sincerely hoped he would be sufficiently recovered lo address the meeting at the Oddfellows’ Hall the following evening. He then proceeded lo deal with the question of the sewerage system proposed by Mr Carruthers in his plan and report, and in very forcible terms explained to the ratepayers the objections he entertained to the scheme, and exposed the utter absence of any sincerity on the part of the Board in the working out of the scheme proposed. He showed how completely they had rejected part after part of Mr Carruthers’s plan, until little or nothing was left of it, and ended by proposing—“ That the resolutions passed at Mr Clark’s rooms be adopted by the meeting.” Ho sincerely trusted that the motion would be carried with the same unanimity which had distinguished every other meeting he and Iris colleagues had attended. Mr Allison seconded the motion, and contended that the burthen of rates would he infinitely more than could be submitted to. The scheme before them might be good for sewerage, but was not necessary for the present drainage requirements of the district. A ratepayer in the district asked whether the Ferry road drain was to be closed in that portion which passed over private property; if so, itVould be a serious thing for the Waltham district. Mr Andrew said it was absurd to suppose that Jackson’s creek was capable of flushing. It was well known to everyone within the district that it was dry nearly three parts of the year. The speaker proceeded, in a few very intelligent remarks, to support the resolution. Dr Turnbull commented on the remarks made as to the claims of portions of the district, while he objected to the scheme as whole. He desired to see one adopted which should not be as premature as this was, but would supply a thorough system of surface drainage. Mr Ford asked whether the Board had the power under the Act to carry out such a system of sewerage as that contemplated. The Act Jwas supposed to be for drainage purposes alone, and not for underground sewerage. Mr Ollivier replied that the question was a peculiar one, and fidl of difficulty. It was a matter for the consideration of their legal adviser. Mr Papprill asked whether the Act was not prepared by the ‘ members of the Drainage Conference. He would like to know if the intentions comprised in Mr Carruthcrs’s scheme were then talked of. Mr Fisher said they decidedly were not. The resolution was then put by the chairman and carried unanimously. Mr Allison moved a vote of thanks to Mr Ollivier and Dr. Turnbull, which was carried unanimously. After a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting separated.