NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1013, 24 September 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Timaeu Lighthouse. The “ Herald” learns that the tender of Mr J. Waters, of Timaru, for this work, has been accepted by the Government. The amounts are —Lighthouse and tower, £258 15s 4d; keeper’s dwelling, £314 7s Id ; total, £573 2s sd,

Outwaed San Francisco Mail. —This mail went north in the Rotorua on Saturday. It consisted of twenty-two bags, of which sixteen were from Christchurch, two from Lyttelton, two from Hokitika, and two from Greymouth. Body Found. —The body of a man has been found on the beach to the south of the river Teremakau, and has been identified as that of Israel Gott, a miner well known in the district, and who leaves a widow in Hokitika. The circumstances of his death are not yet known.

Drainage Board. —According to the resolution passed at last meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board it has been arranged that thejforl nightly meetings shall in future be held on Friday mornings. The next meeting therefore will take place on Friday next, and following on it the Board of Healtli will sit.

Thompson’s War Diorama.— To-night the Diorama of the American War from the southern point of view will be exhibited for the first time at the Theatre Royal. The various pictures of which it is composed are well spoken of by the northern journals. At the close of the exhibition a distribution of gifts of a varied character will take place.

A.0.P., Templeton.— An entertainment on behalf of the court of Foresters recently opened took place last Friday evening at Templeton school, and was a great success. The brethren, both of Christchurch and Templeton, have every reason to congratulate themselves. Although a young court, it bid.fair to make rapid progress in the district. Bro. Bailey, jun., of Templeton, is the chief ranger, and Bro. Joyce sub-chief ranger. Several brethren from Christchurch availed themselves of the line night (o take a moonlight trip, which was thoroughly enjoyed. The programme consisted of songs and recitations, all of which items were well receiyed.

Press Club. — A meeting of the committee of the Press Club was held in the Club-room, Radeliffe’s Hotel, on Saturday afternoon, when it was resolved that the affairs of the Club should be wound up. A ccident. —Mr E. B. Garven, a well known contractor of public works on the West Coast, was seriously hurt a few days ago by falling from’some fiuming on the Hochstetter waterrace, in the Grey Valley. He is now said to be in a fair way of recovery. Death of Captain Wilson. —lt is with very great regret that we have to record the sudden death of Captain G. H. Wilson, who was found dead this morning in his room. A post mortem examination which was held disclosed the fact that death had resulted from apoplexy. Captain Wilson had been settled amongst us for many years, and was very highly respected, The Mayoralty. — A requisition is in course of signature requesting Mr H. Thomson to offer himself as a candidate for the Mayoralty. One will also, we understand, be presented to his Worship the present Mayor, asking him to come forward for re-election. The election takes place during the first week of November next. Mr C. T. Ick was also asked to come forward, but declined when Mr Thomson was spoken of as likely to be a candidate. Several other gentlemen are reported as likely to be nominated, so that the citizens will have plenty of choice on this occasion.

Reported Gold Discovery. —Wellington is periodically excited by the reported discovery of gold in its neighborhood. The latest report receives currency in the “ Post,” which states that there is a rumor of a discovery of gold having been made on the east side of the harbor. Some diggers are said to be getting gold by surface work, and to have exposed a quartz reef, a piece of which has yielded 4oz. to the ton. Unfortunately, a usual, the locality is kept a profound secret.

The Eabbit Nuisance. —The farmers of Colac, Victoria, hare found a new recipe for the rabbit nuisance. They use a mixture of phosphorus, rhodium, and wheat, and it is said to have succeeded admirably. The poison being laid at the entrance of the warren, the bunnies eat with avidity, and die soon after. Had it not been for this discovery very few farmers or graziers could have remained on Colac, so destructive and numerous had the rabbits become.

Death. —Greymouth papers report the death of the wife of Mr Francis Hamilton, Mayor of Greymouth, after a lingering illness. For many days the deceased lady had been in a critical state, yet some hopes were entertained that she might recover, but she gradually sank and expired. The deceased lady was much respected among a very large circle of local friends.

Mikonui Watek-eace. —Mr Gisborne, member for Totara, informs the chairman of the local Road Board, that the Government have placed £15,650 on the Estimates for the construction of the Mikonui water-race, on the condition that they are first satisfied that the remainder of the work will be finished by some company. He explains that the money is in fact a bonus to a company for the construction of the work which, when completed, would belong to that company.

The Wellington Foundry. —lt was lately mentioned that a company was being formed for the purpose of purchasing and carrying on Mr Mills’s foundry and engineering business in Wellington. The “ New Zealand Times ” states that the reasons which have inducedMr Mills to part with this lucrative concern —the net profit of which was over £SOOO during the twelve months ending on the 30th July last —are that the great and rapid increase of both branches of his business renders personal superintendence on his part impossible, and also that he intends to be absent from the colony for some time on a visit to Europe. The prospectus states that it is proposed to raise a capital of £50,000 in 5000 shares of £lO each. At present ‘IOOO shares only will be allotted, the balance of 1000 being kept in reserve, and it is intended to call up £4 per share on those allotted in the following manner:—los per share on allotment, and then calls of £1 per share, to be paid at intervals of not less than two months, and the remainder, if required, after an interval of three or four years, in callsjnot exceeding £1 per share, and not at less intervals than three months.

Sydenham: Municipality. —A meeting of the provisional committee for promoting the formation of this municipality was held in the Colombo road schoolroom on Friday evening last. Present —Messrs W. Langdown (in the chair), J. Whitelaw, J. R. Andrew, E. Jones, E. Ferguson, J. Triggs. T. G. Vennall, T. Russell, W. K. Allison, D. Nairn, and 0. Allison, junr. (hon. secretary). The minutes of the last meeting, and the correspondence having been read, the secretary read a telegram received that day from Mr J. T. Fisher, M.H.E., asking the committee to suggest to the Government the names of gentlemen willing to act as returning o dicer, town clerk, &c., in accordance with the Municipal Corporations Act. The committee resolved to suggest that Mr Frederic Jones, acting chairman of the Heathcote Road Board, be returning officer to hold the first election of councillors, and that the Colombo road school room be the place of election ; Mr Christopher Ladds, of Waltham, to be town clerk pro. tevi. Messrs Langdown, Whitelaw, and Allison to be a sub-committee to make any further arrangements that may become necessary. Mr Allison said that though it was gratifying to the committee to have attained their object, it should be remembered that owing to the delay which had occurred, the district had been precluded from participating in the vote to the municipalities passed during the last session of the General Assembly. A large proportion of the rates due had also been collected, and it was doubtful whether the Road Boards would make any refund. As the delay had not been caused through any fault of the committee he thought they were fairly entitled to such a grant as would place the district in as good a position as it would have been in if its first petition had been granted. He would therefore suggest that the political representatives of the district be requested to use their influence to attain that object. Mr Andrew said lie thought Mr Allison had mis-inter-preted f;he position of the district with regard to the rates. He thought that the Road Boards would have to account to the Borough for their proportion of the funds, &c. in hand at the time of the severance, and read extracts from the Municipal Corporations Act, supporting this view. He would, however, support the suggestion made by Mr Allison. After a general discussion it was resolved—- “ That the sub-committee draft a circular to the political representatives of the district, pointing out the position of the district, (financial and otherwise), and requesting them to use their influence to obtain a grant in aid thereof.’’ The meeting then adjourned,

New Rush. —The neighborhood of the Greenstone river, which was one of the first cenes of goldfields rushes on the West Coast, has again had an influx of population. Reporting the circumstances, the “ Kumara Times” says: “The rush which has taken place on the right-hand bank of the Greenstone river is behind Tansy’s, in a terrace, into which a tunnel has been driven for 60ft. _ In a dish that was washed on Saturday, besides about a quarter of a pennyweight of fine gold, there was found a nugget, stated to weigh according to some six, and according to others nine, pennyweights. It is a specimen consisting of part gold and part quartz. Boat Accident at Port Chalmers. —A few days ago, during a heavy gale, a boat bottom up was seen from Port Chalmers, with a man on the keel. A steamer started to his rescue, but boat and man had disappeared. It now appears to be beyond doubt that the boat was that of Mr James North, an old and respected settler of Porto - hello, who left there for the purpose of attending a Court case at Port Chalmers, and who has come to an untimely end through venturing to cross the bay in a small boat, in the face of a strong gale from the S.W.

Demonstration at Waimate. The “ Waitangi Tribune” of Saturday contains an account of what is described as having been one of the largest gatherings held in Waimate for some time past, the object of the meeting being to obtain an expression of public opinion respecting the remarks of Mr Wakefield, M.H.R., in reference to the people of this township. The following resolutions were carried unanimously :—“ That this meeting strongly supports the object of the petition sent to the Minister of Justice through Mr Rees —viz., that a court-house should be erected in Waimate affording decent accommodation ; that the Resident Magistrate’s Court should be held at more frequent intervals ; that a Magistrate should be appointed to the district who has had legal training; and that this meeting strongly urges upon the Government that the above resolutions be carried into effect at an early date.” “ That this meeting regards with indignation the gratuitous interference of Mr Wakefield, M.H.R., with the petition sent from Waimate re the Resident Magistrate’s Court, which exclusively concerned this district; and this meeting considers Mr AYakefield’s telegram published in the ‘ Timaru Herald ’ of the 20th inst. conveys a wilful public insult to the Waimate people.” “That copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to Mr Rees, and to the Minister of Justice by the chairman.” At the conclusion of the addresses, three groans were given for Mr Wakefield, and the hall was speedily cleared, when a “ Guy Fawkes” made its appearance in front of the building. The Waimate brass band was in attendance, and marched through the town to lively strains —which some persons proclaimed to be the “Rogue’s March” —followed by the time-honored “ Guy” fastened to a high pole, and as the figure was carried along the arms and legs kept moving in a most fantastic manner. A great crowd followed the procession, and much groaning and laughter echoed through the streets, almost drowning the strains of the band at times. The “ Tribune” then describes the hanging and burning the lay figure, and significantly says: —‘‘There was not a drunken person noticeable in the crowd.” Three cheers were given for the Waimate, three cheers for the band, and three groans for Mr Wakefield, “ God save the Queen” by the band terminating the proceedings.