NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 905, 19 May 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Skrious Accident. —A very se ious accident occurred this afternoon near Papanui, to Mr Abbot, of the North road. His horse took fright and threw him heavily. His injuries are very serious.

Shirping.—The New Zealand Shipping Company have received a cable telegram, advising them of the arrival of their ships Wairoa and White Eagle, from Port Chalmers and Lyttclton respectively, prior to the 17th instant.

United Mkthodist Free Church, BingsjjANd.—The anniversary services of the above church will be held to-morrow (Sunday) when the Rev. J. S. Smalley will preach in the afternoon, and Rev. S. Macfarlane in the evening. The annual tea meeting will be held on the Q/ueen's Birthday. GOVERNMENT LIFE ASSURANCE. We understand that Mr Clapcott, agent for the New Zealand G-overnment in the Life Assurance Department, and who has lately been employed in the execution of the duties of his office in different parts of the Middle Island, is now to have his head-quarters at Christchnrch, and is about to establish his home here. Though his central residence will be in this city, his work in connection with Life Assurance will extend over a considerable area, and the department will, no doubt, benefit by the supervision of such an active officer. G-rand Orange Lodge.—The half-yearly meeting of the Grand Lodge of tyiio Middle Island of New Zealand was held in the Orange Hall on Thursday last, ; the Right Worthy Grand Master, Bro. Anderson, presiding. There was a good attendance of members, including representatives from Timaru and other distant lodges. The Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer read their reports, which were unanimously adopted. The application for a warrant to open a lodge at the Rakaia was granted. Bro. C. Tribe having resigned the office of Grand Secretary, the lodge voted him a honorarium for the valuable services he has rendered to the Order. Bro. J. C. McWilliam was elected Grand Secretary, and, after the transaction of other business, the lodge adjourned till the second Thursday in December. The Primate.—Bishop Harper returned from Westland on Thursday morning by the Hokitika coach. His visit to the West Coast seems to have been personally pleasant, and satisfactory with regard to its special object, but the return journey was made under some difficulties. The late severe weather has been particularly felt along the higher parts of the Hokitika and Christchurch road, and the coach by which the Primate was a passenger was unable, on the first day of its journey, to pi'oceeed further than the Bealey, but on the second day it was met by the Christchurch coach some distance beyond the Cass, when the passengers were transferred. Snow lies thickly along the road from Porter's Pass to the Otira Gorge, but the roadmen were active in clearing away the accumulations at the more difficult places of passage, and the mail contractors are, under the circumstances, keeping good time. RUNAWAY. —Yesterday afternoon the horses in the Avonside 'bus while standing at the Post Office, became frightened by some dogs fighting and started off. The driver, H. Fearson, who who was standing at the head of the off-horse at the time held on by the bridle manfully, and though the horses were going at a furious pace succeeded in guiding them twice round the lamp-post erected at the corner of the stand. At last it became impossible for him to hold on any longer, and though very much exhausted he managed to throw himself clear of the wheel, when the animals dashed up Colombo street, along High street, and down Madras street to the Belt, where they slackened their pace and were stopped. Though the streets were crowded with vehicles the runaways cleared everything in their course, and were driven quietly back without the least damage having been done.

Education and Eoad Boakd Kates. — Complaints have repeatedly been made by defendants at the Resident Magistrate's Court during the hearing of eases for the recovery of the education rate, that from the wording of the notice they did not know whether they were being asked to pay the poll tax or a special building rate, and that the year was merely given without any reference to the date at which the year commenced or terminated. In a case heard yesterday the defendant said he had pm-chased his present premises in October last, but did not take possession until [November, and understood that the 1876 year for the education rate terminated in September. His Worship said that for the future he would instruct that no summonses should be issued unless the applications contained the date on which the rate had been struck, and also when the year terminated. On several occasions Road Boards when suing for rates due on sections have neglected to place the numbers of the sections on the application, and in a case yesterday a ratepayer was suinfor back rates on certain sections owned by him in a Road Board district. The defendant admitted he was the holder of two or three sections, but had sold several others before the beginning of the year, for which he had been summoned, but as the numbers of the sections were not stated in the application for the rate he could not eay which sections were referred to. His Worship said that in future he should not grant a summons unless the numbers of the sections had been gircn on the notice for payment.

Heathcote Road Board.—The polling for the vacant seat at the Heathcote Road Board, caused by the dcatii of Mr P. Kerr, took place yesterday, -Kith the following result :—Mr Hawker, 814 ;Mr Ford, 198 ;Mr Pepperell (who retired early in the afternoon), 57. Mr G-. L. Lee, the returning officer, declared Mr Hawker duly elected as a member of (he Heathcote Road Board in place of the late Mr Kerr. The successful and unsuccessful candidates addressed the electors, and the proceedings terminated.

CuEISTCHtTRCH POULTRY SoCIETy.—A meeting of the managing committee of the Christ church Poultry, Pigeon, anil Canary Society was held at EadclihVs Hotel on Wednesday last. Present—Messrs. R. W. Fen-day (in the chair), Porter, Stapjeton, Deacon, Hill, lues, Goodman, Musohauip Mills, Adkin, Macquarrie, and W. G. Walker (lion. sec.). Offers of a number of special prizes were reported, particulars of which will be found elsewhere. The following judges were appointed:—Mr E. Rees, game and game bantams; Mr Stapleton, Dorkings, Hamburghs, Malays, and bantams other than game ; Mr J. Wood (Akaroa), Cochins and Brahma*; Messrs. A. Saunders and E. H, Banks, Polish, French, and Spanish fowls, turkeys, geese, and ducks; My J. Short, pigeons ; Mr T. Batchelor, canaries ; judge of pigeon race, Mr T. Williams. After trans, acting some business, of a routine nature, the cominittee adjourned.

The Gaiety.—Miss 'Laura Wisemans benefit last evening at the Gaiety was deservedly a good one, the house being filled. The first piece was the well-known farcei ot " Nan, the Good for Nothing," in winch Miss Wiseman as the heroine played capitally. Mr Hall made an excellent Tom Dibbles, and the remainder of the chnraoters were well played. The burlesque, which followed, went with great spirit, laughter and applause being hearty and frequent. There is only one mprovement which we should like to suggest to Miss Wiseman in the character of Darnley, that is, the substitution of one of the sweet ballads she sings so charmingly, for " Strolling on the Thames Embankment." The latter is not suited to her voice, while ballad music is. "We feel sure if this were done her success would be greater. To-night the usual performance willtake place. _