NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 986, 23 August 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Skating Eink. —The Q.ueen of the Einks and Australasian Champion appeared at the Eink last night to a good house. They give another performance this evening. L.O.L. No. 1, Lyttelton. —On Tuesday evening last the usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held. The attendance was good, and the routine business of the lodge having been accomplished, the election of officers for the ensuing year was proceeded with, with the following resultßro. Graham, W.M.; Bro, McCormick, D.M.; and Bro. Mcßeth, foreman of committee. The lodge was closed with the usual ceremonies. The Gloucester Street Baths. —The bath at the Gloucester street school promises to be even more troublesome than it was in the earlier stages of its construction. It is now complained by the residents in the neighbourhood that it leaks and floods their property, and they are about taking steps to bring the matter to an issue, so as to get the nuisance removed. The Eey. Charles Clark. —Mr E. S. Smythe, who left the colonies a year ago for America as agent for the Eev. Charles Clark, returned to Melbourne by the Lusitania, having travelled with Mr Clark through the United States and Canada. Mr Smythe states that the Eev. C. Clark, whom he left in England, intends returning to Australia in about three months’ time by way of America.

New Lamps. —ln accordance with the recommendations of the lighting committee of the City Council, several new lamps have been erected. It seems somewhat strange that the simple improvement of the reflector which has been found to answer so admirably has not been introduced more generally. The cost is but trifling, and not only is there a great saving in gas, but the illuminating power is vastly increased. The Melbourne Cup. —The acceptances for the’Melbourne Cup were made on the Bth instant, when the second payment was made for the large field of eighty-five horses. To the surprise of many, says the “Argus,” that veteran The Barb is still left in the race. Richmond and Spark have retired. Briseis, who was much fancied notwithstanding the weight she had to carry, has also withdrawn. A large proportion of the Sydney divisioi have not been paid up for. Tasmania’s only representative, Bella, who had only (Ist 91b — a light weight for a four-year-old to carry—is absent from the list. The largo number oi Victorian owners who have accepted for this great event proves that Mr Barnard’s handicap has given ranch satisfaction.

Mutual Improvement Society. — Tim usual weekly meeting of this Society, held last evening, was devoted to readings and recitations by members; criticisms as to the manner in which the pieces were read being freely offered. Mr Cass will, at the next meeting of the Society, read an essay on “ The probable future of Palestine.”

French Farm School. —Mr T. S. Baker’s school broke up on Tuesday. The examination showed that most satisfactory results had been attained by the pupils during the last term. The examiners were the Rev. W. H. Cooper and Mr Baker. In addition to the accommodation that French Farm House afforded, Mr Baker has lately built a schoolroom, 20 x 18, and a well-ventilated dormitory of the same dimensions.

Papanui. —A service of Sacred Song, illustrative of the Life of Daniel, was given in the Wesleyan Church, Papanui, last evening. Mr J. T. Smith presided, and gave the readings connected with the service. The choir, numbering about thirty voices, assisted by Messrs H. Co v ” : ck (organist), W. S. Smith, and CL T. Smitu, rendered the music most efficiently. The Church was crowded by an attentive and appreciative audience. The service throughout was a great success; Mr E Vague conducted with much ability, and is deserving of all praise for the way in which he has trained his young but excellent choir. Mrs Vague sang two songs, which elicited great applause. 1.0.G.T., Southern Cross Lodhe, Ho. 58 —A very enjoyable open meeting of this lodge was held last night in the Orange Hall. Bro. Trumhle, the W.C.T. of the lodge, occupied the chair, and read an apology from the Rev. H. C. M. Watson, who was unable to attend. Bros. Webber and Captain Davis, of Sydney, addressed the members, exhorting them to support the temperance cause, and recommended every one to join the Templar order to enable them to do so. Readings were givenjby Bros. Rowe, Brockbank, and Bennetts. Several pleasing songs were sung. Miss dates presided at the pianoforte. In the interval refreshments were handed round to the audience, who appeared to thoroughly enjoy the evening’s entertainment. Foot hall. —The third and deciding match —for this season at least—between the Mcrivalc and Christchurch Clubs will take place on Cranmcr square next Saturday. Play will commence at three o’clock sharp, the colors being —Merivale, blue and red ; Christchurch, red and black. The following have been chosen to represent the latter, viz.:—Messrs. A. H. Anderson, Atack, E. J. Cotterill, Cuff, Evans (captain), Field, Hartland, E. G. Hawkcs, G. S. Mathias, McCardell, A. M. Ollivier, L. M. Ollivier, E. J. Paul, W. Potts, and O. Thomson, Emergency —H. and W. Cotterill, Martin, and E. Lanauze. The Merivale Club have intimated that their ground, Papanui road, will be at the disposal of members of either club (not included in the above) for a scratch match, and it is to be hoped that a sufficient number will turn out to make a good game. The ground is in capital order just now, having improved much by the present fine weather.

Philadelphia Exhibition. —Mr L. E. Nathan, chairman of the local commission for

the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, has just received the awards and certificates which have been awarded to Canterbury exhibitors. The names of the recipients are as follows : —Messrs G. 11. Anstey, W. D. Wood, R. Wilkin, Chas. Chinnery, W. S. Peter, S. Bealey, F. M. Rickman, E. H. Banks, J. C. Wason, Hon. John Hall, and P. Cunningham and Cc. The certificates arc very unique specimens of the art of engraving, and tend to show to what a pitch this has been brought by our American cousins. Tho name of the recipient and the class in which the award is made appears on a scroll in the centre. Round the edges is an elaborately engraved border, consisting of the arms and national emblems of the various nations represented at the Centennial. These are of oval form, and the engraving is certainly exquisite. At the head is a large engraving of the American arms—an eagle and the stars and stripes. The foot is taken up with an allegorical picture, showing in the back ground the exhibition building, with the park, &c. In the foreground is America seated on a throne distributing laurel wreaths to the representatives of the different nations, who each bear some contribution to the exhibition. In this way telegraphy, naval architecture, agriculture, and manufactures of every kind are represented. This, with the varied costumes, makes up a very handsome finish. The certificates are now ready for issue to those entitled to receive them. New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase.—This meeting came off yesterday near Timaru, and was in every respect the most successful steeplechase gathering ever seen in New Zealand. For the Grand National Handicap of 100 sovs, which was the first item on tho card, thirteen paid up and went to the post. The majority were really very fit, and the race was a most open one. The public went for old Tommy and Ivauhoe, but Banjo was backed pretty freely, and though Fakir did not receive much support on the ground, he had been spotted before, and ho was not a good winner for the ring. The race was a very good one, the top weights having the best of it at first, but a mistake of Hedge’s in going •on the wrong side of a fiag, which was followed by most of the leading horses, let up Mr G. I*. Williams’s Fakir to take the command. He improved the occasion promptly, and though at one time Shillelagh and Tommy Dodd looked very dangerous, he stayed them out, and won a capital race by a length. Tommy was a good third, and Ivanhoc was close up. The finish must have been very satisfactory to Mr Lance, and he would have been equally pleased had he been able to see the result of his labors in the Consolation. Brunette ran a good mare, and Lonehand, judging from his subsequent performance, would have been very nearly winning but for his mistake. To Eooti and Will-if-I-Can came to grief, and the others were out-paced. The .Maiden Plate brought out a field of eight. Mr Smith’s Lonehand made all his own running, and won easily ; Shillelagh fell early in the race, and the rest, though they jumped fairly, for the most part were never in it after the first mile or so. For the Hunt Club Cup Lonehand was pulled out again to dispose of the field opposed to him. Banjo at one time looked formidable, but the condition of Loneband told its talc, and ho won from the veteran chesnut with something to spare at the finish. Mr Ravenhill, with Halifax, managed to run into a place, and the rest straggled in in single file. Eight went to the post for the Consolation, which was a capital race. Ivimhoe cut out the work at such a pace that he had everything but Shillelagh in trouble half a mile from home. The two fought it out for the rest, of the journey, and ilr Nutt’s Shillelagh, who was the fresher of the two, lasted longest, and won by about q, length.

The Kttmara Robbery.— Judging by a paragraph in the Kumara “ Times,” it would appear that the officers of the Bank of New outh Wales there hare been suspended since he late robbery. Exhibition op Wool. —Messrs Goldsborough and Co., of Melbourne, announce their intention of holding an exhibition of merino wool at their warehouses, Melbourne, in February next. They propose to give four gold cups of the value of 25 guineas each for washed and greasy wool grown in Victoria and the neighboring colonies, including Tasmania and New Zealand. Grey Coal-mines. —The Greymouth Coal Company have sunk through the main seam of coal, which is 17ft. in thickness, and of very superior quality. Five feet of fire clay underlie the coal, and experts pronounce it to be the best they have seen this side of the line. Active operations are now being carried on at the Coal Pit Heath Company’s mine. A contract for cutting coal has been let to Mr Batty, who is now shipping coal of splendid quality.