NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 992, 30 August 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Eastern Question-. —The Rev. H. C. M. Watson will deliver his lecture on the Eastern Question at the Colombo road schoolroom to-morrow evening. The Education Bill. — A meeting of Catholics to consider the Education Bill, with a view of entering a protest against its provisions, will be held at the Gaiety Theatre this evening. Scandinavian Service— The Rev J. S. Smalley will' preach in the Scandinavian language,'at' 1 the Durham street Wesleyan Church, next Sunday, at 4 p.m. The -Black Cormorant.—The Acclimatisation Society offer a reward of one shilling, per head for these birds, delivered at the Gardens during the fish hatching season. . American Brook Trout.— A resolution was passed at Tuesday’s meeting of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society, to endeavour to obtain a quantity of the ova of this desirable fish, and the sum of £SO was voted for that purpose. Breaches of Publichousb Ordinance. —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Lyttelton, on Wednesday, Thomas Bailey” licensee of the Canterbury Hotel, was charged, on the information of constable Bullen, with supplying liquor and keeping his house open on Sunday last. After hearing evidence, the Bench dismissed the case. McQ.uilken, licensee of the Railway Hotel, also charged with selling liquor on Sunday, was fined £5. Robert Cole, of the Lyttelton Hotel, was fined 10s for extinguishing the lamp in front of his house on Sunday at 10.30 p.rrf. The Trout. —The work of stripping the trout this season at the Society’s grounds commenced on the 7th inst. From 28 fish 16,550 eggs were obtained, five of them yielding as many as 4800. Though the disease that appeared lately amongst these fish has prevented as successful a result as in previous seasons, it is anticipatedJtlvct a fair proportion of the eggs will be hatched out. It may be mentioned that full particulars of the nature of the disease are to be forwarded to Mr Francis Francis, of the Brighton Aquarium, and also to Messrs Buckland and Youl,

Narrow Escape. —A little girl, while crossing from Brice’s corner towards the Bank of New Zealand, yesterday afternoon, had a very narrow escape from being run over. She had arrived at the centre of the street when Mr J. Leek drove along in a light spring cart, and before he was aware of it the horse had struck and knocked down the child. Fortunately Mr Leek was driving at a very moderate pace, and was enabled to pull up on the instant. The girl was picked up at once, rather frightened but unhurt A Pneumatic Timer. —Mr Kohn, of Dunedin, has on view a “ pneumatic timer,” by means of which the time of racing events may bo registered with the greatest possible accuracy. The instrument, which is a recent American invention, is described by the “ Guardian ” as most ingenious, and likely to prove of great value in sporting matters, as by it the utmost accuracy is obtained without any trouble whatever. Blowing into a tube affixed to the “timer” starts it, and the act of drawing the air out of the tube stops it instantaneously, so that it is not necessary to look a moment from the race in order to register the time. By the use of the pneumatic timer, the duration of a race may be measured with much greater ease and certainty than is possible by mews of a stopwatch.

Teottino Sire. —The celebrated imported trotting stallion Flying Perfection has been sold by Messrs Krcrouse and Gidney to Mr J. E. Austin, of Yeo, near Colac, for £IOOO.

Bank Manager Killed.— Mr William Thorwe, for some years manager of the Bank of Victoria, Ruthergleu, Victoria, was being drawn up a shaft on the Pipe-clay Beef. When within a few feet of the surface he let go his hold of the rope, and fell to the bottom, a distance of 80ft. He was killed on the spot.

Municipal Election. —As the time draws near for the election of city councillors, numerous rumors are afloat as to candidates who intend coming forward. So far as can at present be learned Messrs B. Cass and Toomer will offer themselves. Several other gentlemen are also spoken of, but nothing definite can yet be stated. Salmon Ova. —The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society have joined the Auckland Society to procure a consignment of American salmon ova similar to the last received, and the necessary instructions were forwarded by the last San Francisco mail. Should the shipment prove as successful as the previous one, our rivers will be well stocked with this description of fish. Wesleyan Schoolroom, St. Albans. — A very successful concert was given in the above place on Monday evening last. The attendance was very large, many being unable to obtain seats. A long and varied programme of vocal and instrumental music was very well rendered, under the direction of Mr J. T. M. Smith, who had kindly given his services for the occasion. Automatic Hobseholder. —Letter patent have been granted to Mr W. Bracher, of St. James’s Park, Hawthorn, Victoria, for an automatic horseholder, to be used as a substitute for the chain on the wheel when horses are left standing in the street. It consists of a circular ratchet fixed to the nave of the hinder wheel, into which there gears a spring pawl supported by an outer ring. On this ring is a hook, to which the reins are attached, so that if the horse moves forward they wind round the nave, so that the horse pulls himself up. St. Paul’s Church. —The Eev. Geo. Barclay concluded his lecture on “ The Present Westminster Biblical Revisionists ” last night to a very fair audience, the Rev. R. Waddell occupying the chair. The rev. lecturer, in continuation of his subject, referred to the various readings of the Scriptures, explaining how mistakes had occurred in translation from the original languages, and concluded with a review of the particular passages likely to be affected by the new versions. The lecture throughout showed painstaking research, which, judging from the frequent applause, the audience did not fail to appreciate. A hearty vote of thanks terminated the proceedings. Christchurch Literary and Debating Society. —The fortnightly meeting of this society was held at their room on Tuesday evening, the subject for debate being “ That the unanimity required in juries is conducive to the attainment of “justice.” The Council in Power opened in the affirmative. There was more than the average attendance of members, and the debate was unusually interesting, some really excellent speeches being delivered on both sides. The result, after a keen discussion, ended in the defeat of the Council, who were accordingly declared to be ousted from office. The next subject chosen for discussion is the Local Option Bill, the new Council supporting it. The Union Insurance Company.—Reporting the result of the visit of Messrs Peacock and Stead to Dunedin, the “ Times ” says : —lt has, we understand, been definitely settled that 25,000 shares must be set aside for applications received in Dunedin. This, of course, does not include the numbers to be allotted to Oamaru and Invercargill, and is a quarter of the total number of shares in the Company. This is really a most liberal allocation, and the Company, after the manner in which the provisional directory have acted, deserves to do a good business in Otago, and has. certainly set about the best way to secure it.- The allotment to individual shareholders has not yet been commenced, and will be made in Christchurch. General Grant and the Colonies.— “ Anglo-Australian” writes in the “ European Mail” :—“ I saw it stated some time ago in one of the Australian papers that there was a probability of General Grant visiting Australia. Having, therefore, an opportunity of questioning the gallant General upon this point, I did not hesitate to do so. You have all heard that the General is a man of very few words, so that when I put the query, ‘Was there any truth in the report that he was likely to visit Australia ? ’ the reply was briefly, ‘ No.’ Now as I was not in his presence in the light of an ‘interviewer,’ and as, moreover, I have no taste for such an inquisitive office, I could only rejoin, ‘Ah! oh, indeed. But I know they would be very glad to see you there.’ ‘Possibly; I know colonists are good fellows.’ We are getting on, thought I. ‘ You remember the exhibits at Philadelphia ?’ ‘Yes. Ah intelligible and striking lot.’ ‘ General,’ said a military man holding an official position here, ‘ let me introduce to you ,’ and so the conversation ended.”

Benefit Entertainment, Lyttelton.— A benefit entertainment was given at the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton, on Tuesday night, in aid of Mr John Burrell, so well known as barman of the Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton, for more than twenty years. The entertainment was divided into three parts, and was almost solely given by Mr and Mrs Hooper (Miss Bessie Vivian) who had offered their services for the occasion. The first part consisted of a charming little comedietta, entitled “ In Possession.” Both Mr and Mrs Hooper acted capitally, having the house with them from the first, and concluding amidst vociferous applause. The second part consisted of songs and dances by Mr and Mrs Hooper, which were in every case redemanded, and an address by Mr C. M. Warde, who gave a brief account of the motive for the entertainment, and a short sketch of Mr Burrell’s Lyttelton career, calling on them all to assist an honest friend now past work. The evening’s amusement concluded with the sketch, “ A Pair of Pigeons,” in which Mr and Mrs Hooper were again thoroughly successful. Messrs Middleton and McDonald, who kindly gave their services, played the incidental music, the former presiding at the piano, and the latter accompanying on the violin. Mr and Sirs Hooper were successful in keeping up the fun without a break throughout the evening, and sending away a highly delighted audience thoroughly satisfied, and many thanks are due to them for their great kindness in coming forward for such a good object, and for the keen interest they they showed throughout in making it what it was, a complete success. There was a capital attendance, and the proceeds will be consider* able,

The Prince of Wales. —The Lahore “ Civil and Military Gazette ” makes the statement that the Prince of Wales’s Australian tour is definitely fixed for 1878. H.R.H. will leave England in the September of that year, accompanied by the Princess, and after visiting Australia and .Now Zealand, will return by way of the United States. It is probable that the Prince will find this tour a more agreeable and enjoyable one than his Indian tour, which is said to have bored him, so irksome was the restraint upon his movements, and the consciousness of being expected to pose perpetually as a model Christian ruler, an idealised impersonation of every English virtue. “ The Vagabond.” —A presentation was made at the Victoria Club, Melbourne, to Mr Julian Thomas, well known under his nom de plume of “The Vagabond,” by a number of admirers of the able and interesting sketches he has contributed to the “Argus ” during the past eighteen months upon the internal administration of many of the public institutions of Victoria. The present consisted of a purse containing 308 sovereigns. The popularity of the “ Vagabond Papers ” —15,000 of the three series having been sold in the colonies —is further shown by the fact that they are to be republished in German. The same popular and versatile contributor is bringing out a Christmas book in Sydney, comprising contributions from the best known authors and artists in Australia.