NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 946, 6 July 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Member eor Timaru. —The Hon. Mr Stafford, the Timaru correspondent of the “Press” says, has arranged to address his constituents at that place on Wednesday next. The Gaiety. —“ Our Nelly ” and “ The Invisible Prince ” were repeated last night af the Gaiety Theatre. Miss Morgan’s song “Whip poor Will” was encored, and the other songs and dances in the burlesque were also loudly applauded. The company will appear again this evening,

Education Bill. —The “ Press” correspondent at Dunedin telegraphed on Wednesday that Mr Hislop was to proceed to Wellington to aid the Government in the preparation of the Education Bill, and that Mr Pyke had been appointed acting secretary to the Otago Education Board during Mr Hislop’s absence. The telegram, as we received it, conveyed a wrong impression. It was Mr P. G. Pryde who was appointed to the temporary office.

Poultry Society. — A special meeting of the members of the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society, was held last night at Radcliffe’s Hotel. Mr R. W. Fereday, president, occupied the chair. It was decided to hold the next show during the second week in July, 1878. The question of the duration of the show was left for the consideration of the new committee. The secretary, Mr W. G. Walker, intimated his intention of resigning at the next annual general meeting.

Horticultural Society. —A meeting of the committee of the Christchurch Horticultural Society was held last evening. Mr E. C. J. Stevens was in the chair. The other members present were Messrs G. A. Reade (treasurer), T. Gordon, J. G untrip, P. Harvey, T. Allen, and the secretary. The tender of the “ Lyttelton Times” for printing the schedules was accepted. The secretary reported that he had waited on the donors of the extra prizes of last season, with the most satisfactory result. The extra prize list of the coming season promised to be quite equal to that of any previous year. The President promised to renew the prizes he gave last year at the Rose Show, but wished it to be understood that unless the public manifested greater interest in the shows of the coming season than they had hitherto done, he should not feel justified in renewing them afterwards. Mr F. Jones and Mr D. Craw were elected to fill vacancies on the committee. After the names of a number of new subscribers had been handed in, the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

Histrionic Club. —This club gave its second performance last evening at the Good Templar Hall. The pieces selected were “Nine Points of the Law” and a negro sketch. In the first of these, Mrs Vincent, as Mrs Smylie, deserves very great credit for the really admirable manner in which she played her part. The other parts were also fairly filled. If we might venture to offer a suggestion to the members of the club, it is that they should pay a little more attention to the scenic effects. Last evening it was somewhat bewildering, to say the least of it, to see an entire drawing-room suite in the middle of a bay, with mountains in the distance. The wonder was still more increased when the ladies and gentlemen calmly engaged in conversation while (apparently) floating over the placid waters of the bay above mentioned. This little matter should be looked to in future, as it is apt to create alarm in the minds of the audience for the safety of the actors.

Lyttelton Colonists’ Society. The monthly meeting of the committee was held on Wednesday last. The vice-president, Mr Joyce, chairman of the committee appointed, produced a plan of the proposed second entrance to the hall, which he had prepared. He estimated the cost at £4O. After considerable discussion, the consideration of this subject was deferred till next meeting. The receipts for the past month were stated by the treasurer to be £23 7s 6d, and the credit at the Bank £35 7s 10s. Accounts amounting to £9 8s 6d were passed for payment. Mr Griffin was granted leave of absence, and also Mr Rose. There was a long discussion regarding the books which Mr Stanford was sending from home. Very general dissatisfaction was expressed at the character of the works received, and it was moved, “ That a letter be written to Mr Stanford, informing him that the committee decline accepting the last parcel of books forwarded by him, as they are nearly all old works of which there are duplicates in the library; asking to be advised as to the disposal of the rejected parcel, and declining tb do further business with him.” The meeting then adjourned.

Cure Boating Club, Kaiapoi. — A general meeting of the members of this club was held at Schmidt’s Pier Hotel, on Wednesday evening. A majority of the club was present, in reply to a circular sent to each reminding them that the business of the meeting was to take into consideration the advisableness of disposing of sufficient of the club’s property to defray existing liabilities. Mr C. Oram, president, occupied the chair. After some discussion upon the statement of accounts as furnished by the late treasurer, Mr P. W. Eiby, and on the question of taking proceedings for the recovery of moneys not paid to the club, it was proposed by Mr J. Sims—- “ That sufficient of the club’s property be disposed of to defray the existing liabilities.” He regretted very much to have to make such a proposition, but it appeared to bo the only course open. Through no fault of the members, the club had been placed almost hopelessly in debt, and in common honesty the property must be sold to pay its bills. Mr Gr. H. Wearing stated he felt very sorry that matters had come to this. It was simply impossible for the annual subscribers to make up the deficiency within a reasonable period. There was no doubt whatever but every club in Canterbury was more or less dependent on its winnings at the regattas to help its finances out, but it seemed as if the clubjhad begun a system of cutting this source of revenue away entirely. He alluded to the fact that recently clubs had been lending their boats to persons outside the clubs to which the boats belonged, and thereby assisting some of the disaffected of a club to compete against the boats entered by their club. Taking this into consideration, as well as the fact that the interest in boating generally appeared to b,e on the wane, he was forced into supporting the motion. Other members having expressed similar opinions, the motion was put and carried unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.

A Curious Wager.— The Paris correspondent of the “ S. M. Herald ” writes : A curious wager has just been lost. One of the betters had asked the other at what moment the nineteenth century commenced ? “ Oh!” replied the latter, “ why, of course, it began on the Ist January, 1800.” “Not at all,” cried the querist. The two thereafter laid a wager on their respective opinions, and the second party has lost. In fact, the century in question only begins on the Ist January, 1801. To constitute a complete century a hundred years must have elapsed. The first century of the Christian era not having finished until the end of the 31st December of the hundredth year at midnight, the second century only commenced on the Ist January, 101, to end at midnight on the 31st December, 200; and so on. Consequently. the nineteenth century will terminate on the 31st December, 1900.

Coursing- Meeting.—Yesterday several members of the Coursing Club had a private meeting, -which was very successful. The commencement was made at Mr J. Taylor s, near Papanui, and some grand courses were shortly afterwards run. The party then proceeded to Mr Thos. Tubman’s, where in a large stubble field some fine runs were had. One in particular was a magnificent course, the dogs reaching puss several times, but such was her great speed and strength that, after a very long course, she got clear away. Three hares were this time legitimately killed. The first killed on Mr’Tubman’s ground was presented to that gentleman with due ceremony. The success of this meeting was so great that strong feelings of regret were- expressed at the shortness of the season. After a very successful day, the party separated, after thanking Messrs Taylor and Tubman for their kindness in affording such good sport. The latter gentleman was also specially thanked for the hospitable manner in which owners of dogs were entertained by him to a good luncheon. Pußiiic Buildings in Invercargill.— Advantage has been taken of the visit of the Colonial Architect, Mr Clayton, to the town of Invercargill, to point out to the sufferings and requirements of the public, in regard to the accommodation afforded them in buildings belonging to the Government. For example, says the “News,” he might be escorted to that portion of the Post-office where the receiving boxes are placed, and called on to admire, in brick and mortar, what he planned on paper. If the visit could be made after sunset, when a stiff south-easter is blowing, with a moderate downfall of rain, the pleasant effect may reasonably be expected to be more impressive ; and if, by any chance, the visitor had a letter to post, and stood there fumbling in the recesses of purse or pocket-book for the necessary stamp, so much the better. No knowledge like that practically gained. Then, should the gentleman remain in town long enough, he might, with some probable advantage, he escorted to the Resident Magistrate’s Court on a field-day, say almost any Tuesday or Friday. Here the cicerone could dilate on the total absence of any provision for accommodating ten or twenty witnesses (the latter number is not infrequent), who must perforce promenade a long, cold lobby, furtively dashing out occasionally to keep up the necessary animal heat by some raw stimulant. Within the room itself there will probably be ocular demonstration that it is much too‘small for the purpose, even when the audience is thinned by the order “ All witnesses in this ease will leave the Court,” and, as for comfort, let the visitor be induced to occupy the reporters’ seat for an hour or two and he will find a new meaning for the word. When the presiding magistrate is seen to sit wrapped up in a heavy top coat, and it is noticed that the window sill, against which the reporters’ backs are placed, carries a miniature lake, and that the fire-place is filled in by a gi’ate which might contain fuel sufficient to warm a bedroom, Mr Clayton will possibly have an idea of what it is to sit there from eleven o’clock a.m. to four, five, or six o’clock p.m.