NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 959, 23 July 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sumner. —The next entertainment at Sumner takes place on Thursday evening next, when a capital programe will be provided. A coach leaves Morton’s Hotel at 6.30 p.m. L.0.L., Lyttelton. —The monthly meeting of the Maiden City Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 1 Lyttelton, was held on Tuesday evening, 17th inst. It was resolved to call a special meeting for the purpose of giving two brethren the Eoyal Arch purple, and that the same should be advertised, inviting brethren to be present.

Compulsory Education. —At Echuca, in Victoria, a truant officer has been appointed o enforce the compulsory clauses of the Education Act, and he lately summoned three parents to the local police court for failing to send their children to school. Various excuses were made, but were deemed unsatisfactory by the Bench, and each of the defendants was fined ss.

Valuable Exports. —The Melbourne “ Argus ’ ’ mentions that by the Suez mail steamer Bangalore, there was exported from the colonies Mr J. M. Peebles, the spiritist medium lecturer. The Bangalore also took away a large quantity of treasure. In addition to the gold and specie from Sydney, valued at £220,000 —the largest consignment which has been forwarded thence via Suez for some time —she took from Melbourne gold and specie to the value of £230,743.

Roman Catholic Church, Eangiora.— After service on Sunday last, which was conducted by the Rev. Father Bensfield, a meeting of members was held, at which a committee was formed to carry out improvements in the church, as well as the erection of a parsonage, so as to secure the services of a priest resident in the district. On Thursday evening a meeting of this committee was held, the Rev. Father Bensfield presiding. The resolutions passed were that the ladies be called upon to provide for the urgent requisites for the altar; that a general fund be formed for the purpose of building the presbytery and other works ; that Messrs. Bourke, Duncan, Pratt, Lynskey, and Conway form the works committee : that Mr Jacobsen be requested to prepare plans and specifications of the presbytery, arid submit the same for public tender; also, that Mr Taafe be appointed as overseer of the work, and that the building account be kept at the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, at the Rangiora agency. A sum of £BO was subscribed by those present. Barlow’s Circus. —The midday performance at the circus on Saturday was well attended, and the various items on the programme appeared to afford infinite amusement to the juveniles. In the evening there was also a good attendance. The feats of the Raphael family and the performances of the trained ponies were deservedly applauded. To-night a benefit will be given to the Raphael family, for which a monster programme has been prepared. These artists are exceedingly clever in all they do, more especially in their gymnastic feats, which are astonishing. It is to be hoped therefore that they will have, as they thoroughly deserve, a crowded house. Being in a covered building the discomfort of a tent in winter weather is avoided, and the comfort of visitors is secured.

The Gold Discovery rear Pictor.— Some particulars on the recent discovery of rich auriferous quartz near Picton, are furnished by the Marlborough “Express,” on the authority of Mr Williams, brewer, who is a shareholder in the claim. This gentleman states that he and his partners are : making great progress with the tunnel at their i claim at Golden Point. It is now 40ft in. I They are working alongside a considerable I leader and contiguous to a number of small i ones. They have traced the leader to the \ water’s edge and can see it below in calm ' weather, running in the direction of White’s ! Bay. The specimens recently shown to us by | Mr Monk were taken out of the floor of the drive by accident and unexpectedly. There are only four persons in the co'partnery, and they have no intention of forming a company. Mr'Williams vouches for the specimens shown as genuine, and as the produce of the place whence they are said to be taken. The same iournal reports that a party of natives brought a quantity, of gold to Blenheim for sale last week, which it was alleged had been got either in or near White’s Bay. Street Stump Orators. —In the City Police Court, Dunedin, John M‘Laren was charged with having used language calculated to provoke a breach of the peace on Saturday night. According to the report in the “ Times,” constable Lyons said that the accused was delivering a speech at the Cargill Monument on Saturday night. The subject of his discourse was Mrs Reid’s trial, and he had a large number of people about him. He said the jury was packed, that they were all Masons, and* that their conduct was villainous, and a disgrace to the community at large. He also called Mr Stout, counsel for Mrs Reid, by various abusive terms. The constable’s object in arresting accused was to prevent a breach of the peace, as he thought that if any partizans of Mrs Reid and Mr Stout had been present they might have assaulted the accused. Constable Hannan gave corroborative evidence. The accused admitted using rather strong language, he haying been requested to speak on the subject, concerning which there had been a great deal of indignation expressed by the public. He was in the habit of speaking at the Monument, but, if the Bench ruled that he was not to do so in future, he would, of course, submit to their decision. He did not allude to Mr Stout in the manner indicated by the arresting constable, whom he thought had misunderstood the meaning of his words. Ho had "one no further than an article which appeared in one of the morning papers. He denied, in answer to the Bench, having been before the Court on ten previous charges. VRLaren hero asked for an adjournment, to enable him to get witnesses, but on the Bench requiring substantial bail, he elected to bo dealt with at once. The Bench considered the case proved, and inflicted a fine of 40s, or in default, forty-eight hours’ imprisonment, The flue was Paul.

“Helen’s Babies.” —The little and good book about “ Helen’s Babies” has already in Canterbury been quoted from as a part of popular readers, and Mrs Scott-Siddons has followed a wise example. In a notice of her recent successful readings in Melbourne, the “ Argus” says : —The few pages from “ Helen’s Babies,” being entirely new as a reading, and being also doubtless addressed to a great many “ parents of the best children in the world,” were greatly relished by the audience. Mrs Scott-Siddons brought before the mind’s eye of her listeners a vivid portraiture of the imps, Budge and Toddie, rendering their petulance and whimpering persistence, as represented in the constantly repeated phrase expressive of a determination to inspect the inside of their latest victim’s watch: “ Ah —h—h —h— h—h—want —to—slice —the wheels—go won — ound,” and in other similar instances, in a way which was thoroughly true to child nature. This reading was a great success with the audience, and will no doubt have a lasting popularity. An Extraordinary Point. Supreme Court, Dunedin, in the case of Pritchard v the Corporation, an extraordinary point was raised by the foreman of the jury, Mr John Davie. He inquired [whether the jury were competent to serve. It being a claim against the Corporation, any damages given against it would fall upon the ratepayers, and the jurors, being ratepayers, were really parties to the suit. His Honor confessed that this was certainly the first time that he had been asked by a juror, upon his entering the [box, to give an opinion on a point of law. Did Mr Davie object to serve ? —The Foreman : No, your Honor. We wish your judgment whether it is competent for us to sit to try the case under the circumstances. We are all ratepayers. —Mr Haggitt: I am afraid we are not competent to advise your Honor. —His Honor : The same thing must have occurred hundreds and hundreds of times. There can be no doubt about this, that it is not alfecting public justice, and if the two litigant parties are content to take the jury’s verdict, there is no reason why you should not serve. That is the best answer I can give you. Counsel on both sides having stated that they were quite content to accept the jury, the case was proceeded with.