NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 918, 4 June 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Blood Horses. —The Taupo took to Port Chalmers six two-year-old Traducers and the old blood-mare Lady Ellen. Holi day. - His Worship the Mayor has proclaimed a holiday to morrow, in honor of his Excellency's visit. A notice to Volunteers appears elsewhere. His Excellency's Visit.—We understand that His Excellency the Governor has accepted the invitation of his Worship the Mayor, to a luncheon at Mr J. Oram Sheppard's, White Hart Hotel, at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

U.C.C.—At the meeting of the U.C.C. on Saturday evening it was resolved to accept the proposal made by the Cricketing Association lately formed, to take over the Hagley Park Ground. Mr E. C. J. Stevens was appointed as delegate from the U.C.C. to the Association. The Outward Mails.—The s.s. Rotorua took the outward San Francisco mail, consisting of eleven bags, nine from Christchurch and two from Lyttelton. The Arawata took the Suez mail, which contained four bags, three from Christchurch and one from Lyttelton.

Service for Sailors. The Dean of Hobart Town gave a special service for sailors on board the ship Piako at the Gladstone Pier yesterday afternoon. The attendance must have numbered between 400 and 500, and the sermon was a most impressive one. The Gaiety.—There was a very small attendance at the Mirror of the World on Saturday afternoon. Despite this, however, Mr Clifford exhibited the whole of the views, and those present enjoyed them exceedingly, In the evening there was a fair house. The views exhibited for the most part were of various parts of the River Thames. The exhibition will be repeated this evening.

Alarm op Fire.—About ten minutes to five yesterday afternoon the Lichfield street bell rang out an alarm of fire. A boy named Osborne, seeing flames proceeding from a chimney in Sullivan's dining rooms, Cashcl street, had given the alarm, but the fire was quickly put out by some persons in the house. The Brigade, with the hose reel and hand engine were promptly on the spot, but fortunately their services were not required.

Complimentary Dinner at Rangiora.— On Friday a complimentary dinner was given at Roberts's Club Hotel to Mr A. Ivory, grain buyer, who has resided many years at Rangiora, on the occasion of his leaving for a visit to England extending over nine months. There was a large company. Mr W. Buss occupied the chair. The usual toasts and " lion Voyage to Our Gruest " were duly proposed and responded to. Several songs tended to the enlivenment of the proceedings. Football. —Partly owing to the unfavourable state of the weather and the departure of the English mails on Saturday, the attendance of members on the Christchurch football ground was extremely limited. About a dozen put in an appearance, who for some considerable time patiently waited the arrival of others, but up till a quarter to four o'clock there were no signs of the numbers being augmented. The zeal of those present, however, was not to be shaken, and, with the addition of half-a-dozen outsiders, it was agreed to pick sides and indulge in a quiet game for an hour, the rougher portion of the Rugby Union rules being slightly modified in oi'der to prevent the possibility of seriously damaging the few non-members who were invited to take part in the game, as they consisted principally of youths somewhat small in stature, and equally tender in age, but who, nevertheless, showed some very plucky play. After the different players had warmed up a little to their work, they seemed to enjoy the fun immensely, and kept at it with unabated zeal till it was too dark to see the ball, their only regret being that this unavoidable circumstance compelled them to discontinue their sport at so early an hour. The departure of the mails was, no doubt, the primary excuse of the absentees, but we are inclined to think the weather had an equal share in the matter, though we must confess it to be totally unlike Christchurch football players to be baffled by a few watery looking clouds hovering over their usual resort on Saturday afternoons, as we have often seen capital musters on the most unpropitiotis of days, football possessing many advantages over other outdoor games when the clerk of the weather has to be consulted, liis opinion being utterly disregarded on all occasions of an indulgence in this healthy recreation.

The Taita School.—The case of Mr Sinclair, teacher of the Taita school, Wellington, has been at last definitely settled by the Education Board. Reporting the decision, the New Zealand Times says : —"Mr Lee, the inspector of schools, has succeeded in substantiating all that he said in connection with the conduct of that school when he made his annual report, and Mr Sinclair is to receive notice to leave his situation under the Board. The Board were not long in arriving at their decision, haying as it were the "tail end " of the case before them, and possibly they woidd have been still more expeditious but for Mr Toomath finding cause of perplexity in something in the letter written by Mr Sinclair. The latter gentleman had stated, in fact, that Mr Lee had said to a pupil teacher (who had brought up some exercises stuck together with a pin) that he should be a handy boy and not bring tip exercises skewered together like cats-meat hawked round the streets of London, This " exercised" the mind of Mr Toomath. He could not get it out of his head. He wanted to know what cats-meat had to do with the Taita school, and what relation skewers bore to pinned exercises. He regarded this, apparently, with something of the same feeling expressed as Sergeant Buzfuz, in the celebrated Pickwick Trial, did the defendant's allusion to chops and tomato sauce, which conveyed some hidden meaning; and in the great cause of education and of justice, he felt bound to have this cats-meat and skewer business cleared up. Eventually, however, he was induced to believe that it meant nothing more than a figure of speech, and so discussion dropped."

Masterton. —A telegram from this wellknown rural township in the Wellington district states: —Carrick, editor of the News, was assaulted on Thursday in the Club Hotel, in the presence of a large number of settlers, by a local auctioneer, for calling him a liar. Coal Pit Heath Coal.—The following is Dr Hector's report on the coal from the Coal Pit Heath mine, Grreymouth: —" Bituminous coal of excellent quality, whether for domestic or steam purposes. Analysis—Fixed carbon, 59.38 ; hydro ditto, 3-188 ; water, 1.05 ; ash, 4.69; total 100.00. It cakes strongly and puffs somewhat. The ash is of a white color, the powder of the coal itself black brown. Evaporative power, 7.71b5. Items.—The Lydia Howard Burlesque Troupe are to make their appearance in the Volunteer Hall, Grreymouth, early this week. —The Totara and Jones's Creek Water Race broke away last week, and one or two of the claims are reported by the Guardian to have stopped in consequence.—The line of coaches carried on by Mr T. W. Barker, Head of the Bay, has been purchased by Mr S. Lee, of Christchurch, the proprietor of the Akaroa and Christchurch line.—The Lyell Argus thus summarises and typographically illustrates the latest war news:—" The Turks are giving the Russians Fitz."—The yacht Minnehaha has been sold by Messrs Beauchamp, Campbell, and Co, Wellington, by public auction, for the sum of £2l, to Mr Scott. Journalistic Amenities.—The Wellington Post writes : —" Those unhappy creatures the Wairarapa Editors, are at it again. The News Letter is now a year old, and, congratulating itself on the fact, it does a little of what Anthony Trollope calls • blowing.' 'There is not,' it proudly remarks, 1 a man in the district who can point to a course, and bid us follow it.' Commenting upon this, the Standard remarks ' that such a sentiment would be appropriate if it could emanate from the lips of a pig or a donkey.' The Standard cannot even let the Editor of the News Letter alone when he gets a presemt of a mutton ham from a local tradesman, and naturally enough says a good word about the excellence of the hams aforesaid which that tradesman has on sale. Then the Editors of the News and the News Letter are still blackguarding each other like a couple of fishfags. The only way to put a stop to this sort of thing is for the trio of Editors to meet at an appointed place, and adjust their differences by ' a triangular duel.' The precise manner in which this can be fought is described by Captain Marryat in his charming novel ' Midshipman Easy.' Should all three get 'potted,' peace would once more reign in the pleasant valley of the Wairarapa, while society at large would be rid for ever of a moral pestilence."

Suicide in Wellington.—A man named Bryan, a basket-maker, last week committed suicide in Wellington by shooting himself with a revolver. The Times gives the following particulars : —lt appears that Bryan, who is about 38 years of age, came from Sydney eighteen months ago. On the voyage from Sydney liis wife noticed that he was very low-spirited, and ever since that time he has been frequently subject to fits of mental depression. Recently he had been drinking rather heavily, and constantly kept a loaded pistol in liis possession, his conduct being generally eccentric. Yesterday morning his wife left him about half-past nine o'clock in his bedroom, and had scarcely been absent a minute when she heard the report of a pistol, and immediately rushing into her husband's room, found him lying in a chair, with a pistol-shot wound behind the right ear, from which blood was flowing freely, and a small revolver, with five barrels loaded, was found on the floor near him. Dr Harding having given Bryan all the attention he coidd, left, and a constable remained with the wounded man. Shortly afterwards Bryan called his wife, and he then said, " May God forgive me;'' those being the only words he uttered, for he immediately afterwards became insensible. It appears that Bryan had commenced to write a letter to Captain Williams, but had not proceeded very far with it, all he had written being as follows :—" Wellington, May 28th, 1877 Captain Williams, —Sir, —I am not able to work, and intend to go into the country for first it appeared evident that Bryan could not live, but he lingered on throughout the day. Part of the time he was suffering from convulsions ; towards night, however, he became very exhausted, and it was only just possible to discover that life still remained in the body Late last night he expired.

JJEG-Ali AMENITIES AT PALSIEESTOX. During a case of alleged horse stealing, investigated before J. M. Murdoch, Esq., the E.M. at Palmerston, on Tuesday last, the most lively scenes appear from the local paper's report to have occurred between the opposing counsel, Messrs Eraser and Catomore. The following extracts are a sample:— Mr Eraser —We are here to settle the question why the information was laid. It has been laid before a Justice of the Peace in due form, and it is not necessary to go into the question why the information was laid. It will be time enough when the accused goes before a jury of his countrymen. Mr Catomore—That will never be. Mr Eraser —Oh, indeed; well, it's not the first time you have attempted to usurp the position of judge in this Court. Mr Catomore to witness —Since this case was adjourned have you not told accused to stick to these horses as long as he can ? ~No reply. Mr Catomore —Has he not done so ? Mr Fraser —How dare my learned friend appeal to the accused! Mr Catomore—l wish you would not interrupt. Mr Eraser—l shall interrupt. If you think it worth your while to identify yourself to that extent with the accused you can do so. I have no objection if your ideas and feelings are the same ; b\ii it is monstrous that you should make sucH remarks to the accused. Mr Catomoie — % take no notice of your remarks ; they fall like water on a duck's back. Mr Fraser—Or a goose's back. Mr Catomore —Or an ass's back. Mr Fraser —Don't answer that ques* tion ;itis a question of title- Mr Catomore —Answer the question. Did you ever give up possession of the property to Calcutt ? Mr Fraser—l say I object. Mr Catomore — So you can. Mr Fraser—Well, really, this is. unbearable; the learned counsel is indifferent to every sense of decency, to etiquette, and everything else ! Mr Catomore—Precisely ; say what you like ; these questions are annoying to the learned counsel because he knows they are gradually cutting the ground from under his feet. Mr Eraser—The learned counsel is simply asking the same question six or seven times over. It's simply trifling. Mr Catomore—Please not to interfere. I must ask your Worship to commit him if ho does not keep quiet. Mr Fraser —Nonsense ; I always bow to his Worship's decision ; it is only you who outrage the dignity of the Court. Mr Catomore—l treat your remarks with the contempt they iperifc, .

The Tekemakau Both.—The West Coast Times reports thatftthe rush to the north of the Terematau has not heen extending much of late, and it is not looked upon with such hope as it was a few weeks ago. The populaion is reduced to a little ever 200, about a fourth of whom are said to be on gold, and the rest prospecting, which is much heavier work than at fcumara. The site of the new township on the north of the Teremakaii is about a mile and a half from the centre of the diggings, or where the bulk of the claims are at work. This is much complained of by the business people, though the rush may yet tend more towards the township. The Police.—The conversion of the police force into armed constabulary, and some alterations associated with the change, do not seem to be altogether satisfactory. One old member of the Wellington force, Sergeant Monaghan, has declined to sign the new regulations, and has resigned his position. And the Otago Daily Times reports :—" A great deal of dissatisfaction exists among members of the Otago Police Force, who are about to have their pay reduced by the General Government. Many of the oldest policemen state their positive intention to resign, and find more lucrative employment than that promised under the new regime."