NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 997, 5 September 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

TJ.R.C.—TIic annual general meeting of the Union Rowing Club will be held this evening at Radcliffe’s Hotel. Foresters’ E ntertainment. — A general meeting of the committee is to be hold in the Foresters’ Hall on Thursday cvcring, at 7.30. Canterbury Rowing- Club. —The annual general meeting of members will be held at Radcllife’s Hotel on Friday evening next, at eight o’clock. City Council Election. —The nominations of candidates for the nine vacant seats in the City Council closed to-day at noon. There are sixteen gentlemen nominated, viz. : —Messi’s B. Cass, C. T. Ick, H. Thomson, C. E. Briggs, J. A. Bird, J. Gr. Ruddenldau, S. C. Farr, H. Toomer, sen., W. Pratt, Aaron Ayres, W. Treymayne, A. W. Bickerton, R. Binstead, H. B. Sorenson, W. Radcliffe, and E. H Banks. G-aol Returns. —During August there were 136 prisoners in Lyttelton gaol all men ; and 104 were discharged, four having been removed to the prison at Invercargill. At Addington there were 106 prisoners—76 men, 30 women—and 46 were discharged. At Timaru there were 30 prisoners, including one woman, and 14 were discharged. House-Rent in Timaru. —The “Herald” says :—“ Doubtless owing to the large number of new dwelling-houses recently erected in Timaru, rents are rapidly coming down, and good residences may now be had at at least 15 per cent, lower than they could three months since. Hitherto the rents have been out of all proportion to the accommodation provided, and to the size of the town, and were, in fact, higher in proportion than in Christchurch or Dunedin.” Female Pupil Teachers. — A practical argument was used by Mr Robins, at the last meeting of the Dunedin School Committee, in pointing out the desirability of giving encouragement to male pupil teachers in preference to the females. He argued that the latter generally get married, so that half the expense upon their education was thrown away, as far as the Q-overmnent was concerned. Professor Macgregor suggested that the salaries of the male pupil teachers should be raised. It was resolved to discuss the matter at a future meeting.

Sea Leopaed. —A very fine specimen of a bull sea leopard was killed yesterday morning on the Hew Brighton beach, opposite Mr Maples’s hotel. The animal was shot by Mr Hodge, and, though mortally wounded, fought ferociously, exhibiting its vicious looking tusks, for about a quarter of an hour, when it was finally despatched. The leopard measures 7ft. Sin. in length, and is beautifully marked. It drew a large number of visitors at Maples’s Southern Hotel last evening, whore it will remain open for exhibition during to-day. Licensed Victuallers’ Association. — A largely attended meeting of licensed victuallers was held this morning at Radcliffe’s Hotel. Mr George Beatty was voted to the chair. The Chairman said he had called the meeting in the absence of the president, at the request |of Ja number’ of members of the Association. It had been represented that as the Association held a large stake in the city, they as a body should take a more than ordinary interest in the coming elections of City Councillors, and nominate a candidate who would command their confidence as well as the respect of the citizens generally. If members held this opinion he would desire that some gentleman should be nominated as soon as possible as the nomination paper would have to be sent in before noon. In the remarks that followed opinions were generally expressed that it would be a most desirable proceeding to nominate a candidate. It was proposed that the chairman should stand, but he declined, saying he would prefer that Mr Radcliffc allowed himself to bo the nominated candidate of the Association. [Applause.] A resolution was unanimously carried that, he should be asked to permit himself to be nominated, and that gentleman having consented, ‘the nomination paper duly filled up was at once forwarded to the Council Chambers. “ Success to Mr Radcliffe, and may lie bead the poll,” was then drank in bumpers. In returning thanks Mr RadeliH'c said he felt honored at the request made him that morning. He and other members bad gone all round the city to endeavor to induce some gentleman to stand for the Council, but they had failed, and it was only under those circumstances that ho had consented. If elected ho trusted ho would be a credit to the trade, and also to the Council—[Hear, hoar] —and when he failed to do his duty he would resign, ■igain he begged to thank them. [Applause. ! After some conversation as to forming subcommittees, the meeting broke up.

Concert. —We see by advertisement that the Foresters’ concert in aid of Brother Brown takes place at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, to-morrow night. It will be remembered that this entertainment was postponed last Thursday owing to the wet weather. As the ohiect is a most worthy one, we hope to see a full he use. Horticultural Society. —A meeting of the committee was held at Radcliffe’s Hotel last evening. Present —Messrs F. Jones (in the chair), R. W. Fere day, F, Harvey, T. Allen, J. Guntrip, D. Craw, and the Secretary. It was resolved —“That the secretary be instructed to make application for permission to erect a tent as usual, on the grounds of the Agricrdtural and Pastoral Association for the show on November 9th ;” and also “ That a deputation be appointed to wait upon the committee of the Association with the view of making arrangements whereby exhibitors of the Horticidtural Society might be allowed to take in their productions free of the charge that was imposed last year for the first time, and which it was feared would prove detrimental t > the success of the show.” It was further resolved —“ That subscribers of 5s should be entitled to free admission to the shows of the society.” The meeting then adjourned. The Perfect Mute. — The report on oyster cultivation, by Mr W. H. Pearson, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill, presented to Parliament, is a remarkable document. As to the “ Habit of the Oyster,” Mr Pearson writes thus eloquently, if somewhat mystically:—“ Although the study of the oyster has for years received scientific investigation, no definite conclusion appears to have been obtained in regard to its habits, more particularly in the matter of its reproduction. Though most atoms will tell man something of their nature and habits, &c., the oyster is a perfect mule. Once only, in the earliest dawn of its existence, when leaving the parent shell, it launches its tiny boat on the ocean of time, and for a brief moment dances wildly on the stream of life, floating along which it realises the joy of movement. That wild saturnalia passed with safety, and a resting place obtained, it settles down, possibly to moralise with calm impassibility on its six weeks’ glimpse of the pomps and vanities of life, certainly to fatten for man’s use. Its fitful dream of life is over, it is silent evermore. Violence may burst open the iron lips, but they will not whisper the story of its birth.” Snipe A Pass. — ShipkaPass is the mountain road from Tirnova. It is one of the most practicable of the Balkan Passes, a road having been made through in 1836. Naturally the pass is not difficult or steep, and it was considered one which the Russians in their march southward might force most easily. Colonel Baker crossed the Balkans by the Shipka Pass, and describes it as accessible from the north by several routes leading up the spurs, so that an army occupying one spur could easily be turned by any enemy passing up another. “ Arrived at the watershed (about 4000 ft above the sea) the ascent begins to the south, and continues down a moderately steep incline on pasture and rock for about two miles, along a southern spur. It then comes to the brushwood, and commences a deep descent down a zigzag path for another two miles, until it arrives at Tckke, at the foot of the mountains, and on the verge of the plain. From the top ridge there are several paths, which make their way down other spurs to other parts of the plain. The nature of the soil is that of loose stones mixed with earthy gravel, and it could with ease be formed into a road passable for artillery.”