NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 984, 21 August 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Killing Cattle on Northern Railway. —The first up train on Monday killed a heifer at Flaxton, tlie property of Mr King, whilst it was crossing the line. SKATING- Rink.—The two artistes who are now at the Skating Rink appeared again last evening to a fair house. They will give another performance this evening. Slaughter-House Licenses. —A meeting of Justices will be fheld at the Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, on Monday, 3rd September, for the purpose of considering applications for licenses to slaughter. Heatiicote Valley.—An entertainment took place on Thursday evening, at the schoolroom, Heathcote Valley, in aid of the funds of the Sunday school. The Rev. C. J. Merton, incumbent, occupied the chair, and a very good programme was gone through successfully. Timaru Lighthouse.— The site for the lighthouse and the keeper's dwelling at Timaru has been fixed on Le Creu's Terrace near the present signal station, that being considered the best position by the authorities. The lighthouse, says the " Herald," is to be aplain substantial structure of wood, each side being completely trussed fivnied, and the four sides bolted together. It is to be thirty feet _ high, will stand on tofara blocks, and will be divided into three floors —the ground floor, store room, and light room. Rapid Travelling.—The "New Zealand Times" gives the following instances of the rapidity with which people can be conveyed from the old country in these days. There landed on Friday from the Albion some passengers whose passage from England to New Zealand occupied only 45 days. These arrivals came by the Lusitania, via the Suez Canal, to Melbourne, the time to that port from Plymouth being 40 days 4 hours ; or, deducting the period occupied in coaling at St. Vincent, 38£ days of actual steaming. LECTURE. —The second of the series of lectures in aid of St. Paul's Church was delivered last night by the Rev. W. Gillies, of Timaru. There was only :i moderate attendance. Mr A. Duncan occupied the chair. The reverend lecturer opened with a brief reference to the efforts of the reformer who preceded Savonarola, and then proceeded to sketch graphically the life and labors of the •rreat Florentine reformer. He referred to the most prominent of Savonarola's contemporaries, and gave a startling picture of the morals then prevalent. A review of the benefits accruing from the reformer's labors, both in politics and religion, concluded a very interesting lecture. During the evening the choir gaw several selection;! of aiueic iu a very wwjer,

Leithfield.—A meeting of the inhabitants of Leithfield took place at the Leithfield Library, on Friday last, on the subdivision of the cure of Leithfield, Rev. Edwd. Freeman in the chair, when the following resolution was carried unanimously, with the exception of three votes : —" That if the present cure of Leithfield be divided, that the Waipara river shall form the boundary of such division." Sumner. —The next entertainment will be given in the schoolroom, on Wednesday evening. The programme will be as good as its predecessors, several ladies and gentlemen from Ch: istchurch having promised their assistance. As the moon will be at the full, the trip alone will repay the trouble of going down. Special coaches are advertised to leave Morton's Hotel, Christchurch, at 6.30 p.m., returning from Sumner at 11.30 p.m. punctually. I.O.G.T.—An entertainment was given on Friday evening, in the Halswell Public School, under the auspices of the Happy Home Lodge. Amongst those present were several members of the order from Tai Tapu. Mr Jacques, District Deputy, occupied the chair. Addresses bearing on the temperance question were given by Messrs Smith and Heath. During the evening songs, pianoforte selections, and readings were given by various volunteers. Votes of thanks to the visitors and to the chairman brought the evening to a close. Waikuku. —An entertainment, under the auspices of the Onward Lodge of Good Templars, was given at the schoolroom on Friday evening last. The programme was very varied, consisting of an introductory ode by the choir, followed by songs and duets by Mesdames Bowie, Mathias, Adams, Peat, Barclay, and Crawford; readings by Mr Peat; and two recitations by the Rev. J. A. Luxford. Messrs. McDonald, J. W. and E. Thompson also gave several songs, the firstnamed gentleman affording considerable amusement to a very large audience. Between the parts Mr W. Trumble, of Christchurch, gave an able and most interesting lecture on Good Templary, which was highly appreciated. Narrow Escape.—A workman employed on a building in Dunedin had a narrow escape the other day from being killed. While working on a scaffolding between 30 and 35ft. above the ground, he slipped or tripped, and fell off the boards on which he was standing. He went off head downwards, but during his fall-struck three of the four rows of scaffolding under the one from which he had taken flight. The force with which he struck the various projections caused him to alter his position several times during his descent, and, fortunately for him, landed him on his feet. One stout board which he struck was smashed into two pieces, and, luckily for him, so broke the force of his fall that he was able to walk home, and afterwards, we hear, to resume work. He certainly has good reason to congratulate himself upon his extraordinary escape.