NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 928, 15 June 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

ENTERTAINMENT.—An entertainment will take place this evening in the Wesleyan schoolroom, East town belt, at 7.30. Bishop Redwood. —His Lordship the Eight Rev. Dr. Redwood is announced to preach in the Church of the Most Holy Sacrament this evening, at 7 o'clock. Railway Servants' Society. The meeting of the Railway Servants' Mutual Benefit Society has been postponed till Thursday next,ln the Old Oddfellows' Hall. Political. The Hon. E. Richardson, M.H.R. for Christchurch, will address his constituents this evening at the Oddfellows' Hall.

Agricultural and Pastoral Association. —Owing to the inclemency of the weather last evening, the reading of Mr Murphy's paper before the members of the above association was postponed until a future date. Inquest.—An inquest, concerning the circumstances connected with the death of Hugh Ferguson, who died suddenly on Wednesday morning, at Frank's Boarding Hou-e, was held this afternoon, and a verdict returned that death was the Jesuit of congestion of the brain caused by excessive drinking Local Option Bill. —A meeting to consider the provisions of the Local Option Bill, and also to hear Mr R. Stout, M.H.R., took place last evening at the Oddfellows' Hall. Considering the inclemency of the weather, there was a very good attendance. The chair was occupied by his Worship the Mayor, and resolutions were proposed by the Primate, Rev H. C. M. Watson, and Mr Stout, which were carried unanimously. A report of the proceedings will be found in another column.

Tun G-eoegias.—The minstrels had a very good house last evening at the Theatre Royal. The programme submitted was new throughout, and all the items went well. As on former occasions, the tambourine playing of the two corner men, and the dancing of the quartette, who are styled in the bills the big four elicited loud and continued applause. Mr Crusoe's remarks on things in general were as amusing as ever, and generally the performance passed off very satisfactorily. Tonight the troupe will again appear in the same programme, and to-morrow there will be an afternoon performance in addition to the usual evening one.

Art Exhibition. —Despite the unfavorable state of the weather last evening, there was a very large attendance of visitors to the Art Exhibition in the Museum Building. During the day also it was well filled, and altogether the number of persons who braved the discomforts of the muddy streets and heavy rain in order to inspect the various exhibits, was much larger than could have been expected. As usual the art galleries were well patronised. The room with scientific instruments, and the Maori house, where Mr Seager exhibited a number of dissolving views, were crowded. A good band of music, under the able leadership of Mr Schwartz, enlivened the evening by the execution of various compositions. Altogether the evening was a delightful one, and it is only to be regretted that the very bad weather prevented a larger number of people from attending. We see, however, from advertisement, that instead of finally closing the Exhibition to-morrow afternoon at 4 o'clock, as previously announced, it will be done by another evening entertainment. Cork Legs.—Much amusement has been caused in town (says the Taranaki Herald) by a Maori of the name of Paramen—but better known as " Irish Whiskey " —who has lately furnished himself with a. "cork leg," made for him by Mr J. Henderson. Of this \e" he is mightily proud, and has thought it worth while to invest in a new pair of boots, one of which he wears over the cork leg, but the other Ik; was seen carrying in his hand, evident] v not deeming his old leg worthy of such distinction. The cork leg is his hobby, and lie is endeavouring his best to throw his whole weight in walking on that, probably with a view to saving the sound one. His new toy is likely to prove an expensive one.

Items. —Telegraphic communication with. Tasmania is again restored. Telegrams are now accepted as usual. —The name of the new keeper of the Mount View Asylum, Wellington, is Whitelaw. —Mr R. Greening, the wellknown Jehu, has quitted the box seat for the bar, having purchased the Railway Hotel, Mastorton, from Mr Braggins. —It is proposed to hold an Art and Industrial Exhibition at Wanganui. Mr Fox has promised his cooperation, and the undertaking seems likely to be a decided success.—Some memorial to the late Mr Joseph Masters, the founder of Masterton, is proposed in the Wairarapa.— The new clock at the Government Buildings, Wellington, promises to be a great public convenience. The bell has a very sweet tone, and can be distinctly heard over a large portion of the city when striking the hours. —The Wairarapa News of Saturday expresses its opinion that the real contest lies between Mr Geo. Beetham and Mr E. J. Duncan, of Wellington.

Conference of School Committees. — The adjourned conference of the East Christchurch, West Christchurch, and Colombo road school committees was held last evening at the Gloucester street school. There was not a large attendance, owing no doubt to the very inclement weather. Mr E. C. J. Stevens was voted to the chair. Resolutions were carried that education should be free and compulsory ; that school committees should be entrusted with larger powers of financial arrangement than they possess at present; and that in view of the assumption by the Government of the control and provision for primary education, it is expedient that the reserves of land made for that purpose should be diverted to establishing and maintaining secondary schools. It was also resolved to send copies of the whole of the resolutions passed to members of the Government, the Legislative Council and Assembly, and the Board of Education. An extended report appears elsewhere.

Civil Libel Suits. —"We learn from the Wellington Post that, in the libel suit, in .which Henry Anderson sues E. T. G-illon, John Waters, and Eobert Kent, the defendants have applied for a special jury. The plaintiff grounds his action on certain alleged libellous statements printed and published by the defendants, affecting his character as a member for the city of the late Wellington Provincial Council, and also for certain alleged aspersions cast upon his reputation as a journalist and as a commercial representative of a newspaper. The damages claimed are £SOO. Dr Buller, instructed by Mr Lewis, appears for the plaintiff, and Mr Travcrs for the defendants. The great Malta, Maori libel case, in which the Hon. H. R. Eussell sues the editor of that periodical for the printing and publishing of a libel against him, will come on for trial in August. The Post states that it is not yet certain whether the case will be heard in Napier or Wellington, but that point will be definitely settled, in a day or two. Dr Buller and Mr G-ordon Allan appear for the defence. The case will excite intense interest in certain quarters. Induction of tiie Bev. J. Hill.—After a long vacancy, the Bev. James Hill, late of the Thames, was last evening inducted to the pastoral charge of St John's Presbyterian Church, Lyttelton. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, there was a large ! congregation. The following members of { Presbytery were present, viz.—Bev. Mr Mc- • Callum, who preached an able sermon from 1 Tim., i., 15; Bev. Mr Eraser, who presided and inducted; Bev. Mr Mcintosh, who addressed the minister; and Bev. Mr Douglas, who addressed the congregation. The people, as they retired, welcomed Mr Hill in the usual way. The congregation of St John's is to be congratulated on a harmonious settlement and the possession of a minister of the proved abilities and efficiency of Mr Hill. Much regret was felt on account of the necessary absence of Bev. Mr Ehnslie, who is suffering from ill health, and who, as Moderator, has rendered great service to the Church during the vacancy. The proceedings were highly interesting, and much good is augured from the settlement.