NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 912, 28 May 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Drainage Board.—The length of the report of the proceedings of the Drainage Board compels us to hold over some of our leading matter. The Board, as will be seen, have arranged to hold a conference tomorrow morning with the committee of the ratepayers appointed at the recent meeting at Mr Clark's rooms

Medical. —Dr. Henry Pearde, who lias for the last two years resided in Akaroa, has been appointed Resident Surgeon and Physician to the Coromandel Hospital. Dr. Pearde left Akaroa on Sunday by the Wanaka to enter on the duties of his new appointment, and he takes with him the good wishes of the whole community. Revision Court, Christchurch. A Revision Court was held on Friday last at the City Council Chambers, before Mr E. J. Lee, Revising Officer, and Mr G. L. Lee, Registration Officer. The list of all persons who have been assessed to, or have paid i*atcs for the city of Christchurch before 31st March last, was revised. About thirty objections of nil kinds had been lodged, and the majority of these were allowed. This year's list numbers about 1000 more names in the aggregate than that of last Year.

Political. —A number of electors of the G-eraldine district have presented a petition to Mr E. Wakefield, M.H.R., reminding him of his promise, when elected as their representative, that he would meet them at the close of the last session of the General Assembly, and Mr Wakefield has asked them to meet him at the Crown Hotel Assembly Rooms, Tcmuka, on Wednesday evening next, and at the Crown Hotel, G-eraldine, on the Saturday following.—A telegram in the Masterton News states that the Governors of Nelson College will require the Rev. J. C. Andrew, M.H.R., to cboose between resigning his seat in the House and his mastership.

Accidents. A man named John E Brownie was received into the Christchurch Hospital on Saturday afternoon last, with his arms, hands, and one knee severely burnt. Brownie had been living at Ya Id hurst in a tent ""which caught tire that morning, and in his efforts to save a few articles from the inside, and a dog that was fastened to the door, he received the injuries mentioned. He was brought into town and promptly attended to by Dr. Collins, house surgeon at the hospital. —A Mr Alexander Stewart, while driving with a friend in a trap last evening on the Addington road, met with an accident. When near the railway gates the horse took fright and bolted, one of the wheels coming into contact with a telegraph post. Both occupants were thrown out, Mr Stewart dislocating his shoulder, the other person escaping unhurt. On arriving at the hospital Dr. Collins attended to the sufferer, who was enabled to leave the institution for home a little while afterwards.

Tabanaki Pheasants.—During the last fortnight (says the Auckland btar), though pheasant shooting is strictly forbidden till the 21st instant, birds very much resembling that species of game have been mysteriously numerous in larders, and on private tables. What could they be ? The question on being put, generally elicited a reply of a more or less equivocal character. The fact of the birds being veritable pheasants lias at last become so fully known that no more prevarication is attempted, and now the answer is that they are "Taranaki pheasants." Why "Taranaki" it may be asked? Because at tliat happy place they started their shooting on the Ist instant, and consequently it is no breach of the law to have or eat birds killed at New Plymouth ; but it is wonderful the number of pheasants Taranaki is exporting into Auckland just now. More than ever were shot there before, we should say. A man was seen to rush from the side of the Wellington when she arrived yesterday, and immediately afterwards it became known that he had fifty dozen of pheasants from Taranaki. It is to be supposed they were from Taranaki if he said so, but the singular fact remains, that these pheasants were landed more quickly than any merchandise the Wellington ever brought up before. The Gaiety.—-There was a capital house at the Gaiety Theatre on Saturday evening, when the bill comprised "My Turn Next," an interlude, and the burlesque of " The Field of the Cloth of Gold." . In the first piece MiHall was immensely funny as Mr Taraxicum Twitters, and he was ably supported by Mr Kecley and the other characters. In the interlude Miss Wiseman sang a ballad well, and Miss Alice Johns and Mr Love a comic medley duet. The sketch of "A Slippery Day" which followed evoked roars of laughter. The burlesque was well played throughout, all the characters being capitally filled, and it was received with hearty applause. The season, which has been a very successful one, has closed for the present, Mr Hall and the company proceeding southward for a tour, lasting about a fortnight. On their return some new burlesques will be produced, when Miss Lizzie Morgan will make her debut before a Christchurch audience. As showing the estimation in which Miss Morgan is held in Wellington, we may quote the following from the Wellington Argus of a. recent date : " Miss Morgan has appeared on the boards of the Koyal in a multiplicity of characters, and in many classes of plays, and that she has performed in all satisfactorily may be judged from the fact that she has never once been subject to adverse criticism from the press, or from her audience, if we may judge from the spirit in which she lias invariably been received. She apparently fakes the greatest pains in the study of her parts, is never at a loss in her "business," and no matter what class of character she appears in her conception of it is, if not perfect, at least very good. In addition to her pleasing acting, Miss Morgan has done much to render herself' a favorite by her vocal powers. Possessing a sweet voice and considerable knowledge of music, she has ever chosen only thpse airs whiph ? while plain and simple, have possessed a melody which could not fail to be attractive.'•

Stolen Property Recovered.—On the 24th of February last, Mr H. Mace, of the firm of Mace aud Arkell, Wellington, was playing cricket on the Basin Reserve. As is usual with players, a portion of their dress is left in one of the dressing-rooms. Mr Mace left in his vest pocket a valuable gold watch. The watch was stolen, and information was given to the police, who immediately sent out the description of the [stolen |article. Since then nothing was heard of it till last week, when Mr Jordan, late steward of the ill-fated ship Ocean Mail, went with another person named Joseph Sturgess, late assistant steward of the same ship, to Mr Broadbent, the jeweller, in Manners street, and asked that gentleman to tell him the value of the watch. Mr Broadbent recognised the watch as being that lost by Mr Mace, and very promptly sent for a constable, to whom Sturgess was given in charge. Jordan, it appears, was about to buy the watch from Sturgess, but before doing so was anxious to ascertain its value.

Novel Industry, " Squeeze 'eh, Tiny." —The introduction of any new industry which may result in public benefit is to be commended, but one which came under notice this morning was of somewhat too novel a nature to hope that the experiment might at any time result in its becoming an institution. The "industry" consisted of a bag of live rats, the result of much patient watching and waiting, which a "horny handed" was carrying about on his shoulders, offering the owner of any good looking terrier about ten minutes' rare sport at a small charge. When accepted for the "novelty of the thing," in would go the "horny," causing considerable stir amongst the inmates and out would come " a perfect ornament to his sex, sir " in the shape of a monstrous water rat. A few remonstrances from the professor to the impatient terrier, such as " now fair play, Tiny" " patience is a virtoo," &c, the rat would be started, closely aide-camped by Tiny, amid encouraging expressions of " squeeze him love," &c, and of course followed by the spectators who by this time had mustered in force. As the chances were pretty even, the varmint in many instances escaped, and besides such an undesirable accession of an improved size to the numbers we are already pestered with, the congregation of idlers on the footpaths at such " hunts " is a nuisance sufficient in itself, to those pedestrians who have their business to attend to.