NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1016, 27 September 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Union Rowing Club. —A meeting of (he committee of this club was field at RadeliJfe’s Commercial Hotel List evening. The following gentlemen were elected members of the club W. Jones, H. Ainsworth, G. Mortimer, C. Allen, E. ITaskin, E. Adams, If. Morris, F. Bovvley, and R. Edwards (coxswain). Messrs Hharlaud, Petrie, and Harding were appointed to act as a match committee. ACCIDENT. —An elderly man named Eraser when crossing Colombo street, near the Post OJlice, last evening, was knocked down by a cab, driven by W. Brookcr, Fraser, who was under the influence of liquor at the time, was badly cut about the head, and blood was oozing from both ears. He was immediately picked up and removed to the Hospital, where he fics in a very precarious state, having been unconscious all day.

Trial of Native Coal,—A public trial to test the comparative values of Newcastle coal and Springfield (Canterbury) coal will be held at the Crown Stores, Christchurch, on the 2nd and 3rd of next month. The trial is one of considerable local importance, and all those interested in its results are invited to attend.

Inquest. —An inquest was held yesterday at the parent’s house, Pound road, Waltham, on the body of an infant daughter belonging to Mr Hugh Finlay. The child had been found dead in its bed by Mrs Finlay at eleven o’clock the previous morning, and when seen by her an hour previously was sleeping soundly. The medical evidence showed that death had resulted from suffocation, and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Total Abstinence Society. —The fortnightly meeting of this society was held on Monday evening in the Temperance Hall, Gloucester street. Mr J. T. Smith occupied the chair, and the Hall was well filled. Several addresses on temperance were delivered by the chairman and other members, interspersed with songs, recitations, and readings. Some temperance melodies were sung by the members, under the leadership of Mr J. Heath. At the close of the meeting several of those present took the total abstinence pledge and joined the society. These meetings are to be continued every alternate Monday. The Mayoralty. —As will be seen by advertisement elsewhere, a numerously signed requisition has been presented to His Worship the Mayor, asking him to come forward for re-election. His Worship has consented to do so, and is therefore the first candidate in the field. A very influential and largely signed requisition has been presented to Cr Thomson asking him to come forward also, and it is probable that he will signify his assent. Several gentlemen have waited upon Mr Charles Clark and requested him to allow himself to be nominated. Up to the present, however, that gentleman has not given an answer to the deputation. An Infuriated Cow. —A cow which had escaped from the Addington sale yards, proceeded through the city yesterday afternoon at a furious rate, followed by a troop of dogs. After dodging in and out of various places, it at last jumped a fence, and took refuge in an enclosure alongside the Public Library, showing by its manner and an occasional rush at the crowd of spectators who had assembled outside the fence that it had been worked into a dangerous state of excitement. A policeman in plain clothes was sent over from the depot to drive it out, but on his reaching the inside the animal made straight for him, and he as straight for the palings, only clearing them a few feet in front of a pair of long and uninviting horns. The cow then made up Hereford street, followed by two mounted troopers specially told off, who, by the aid of a few quiet milchers picked up on the road, succeeded after considerable trouble in driving her back without accident to the sale yards. Narrow Escape. —A singularly narrow escape from a horrible death occurred lately at Port Chalmers, after the arrival of the six o’clock train from Dunedin. The engine was shunting, and proceeding down the piei’, when a man was observed crossing the line not far ahead. The whistle was loudly sounded, and the party, evidently half drunk, made an effort to clear the rails, but stumbling fell right across the path of the engine. To put the breaks on and reverse steam was the work of a minute, but the momentum of the huge machine was not to be overcome so readily, and the end of it absolutely projected over the prostrate man before it stopped. It was indeed a close shave, that drove the blood from the cheeks of the onlookers. As for the man who so nearly came to grief, he gathered himself up, and quite unconcernedly walked away down the New Pier.

Lyttelton Permanent Land, Building, and Investment Society. —The sixth annual meeting of this society was held at the Colonists’ Hall committee-room on Tuesday evening, Mr 11. Allwright in the chair, Tha committee presented the annual balance-sheet duly audited, and in doing so congratulated the shareholders on the continued prosperity of the society. They stated that the reserve fund now stood at £563 11s 7d, as against £36119s last year, being rather more than 71per cent, of the society’s assets. The cost of the management was little more than 21 per cent, on their transactions, which had been more than covered by lines, entrance fees, &c. The committee had, in conclusion, again to congratulate the society on the fact that there had not been any loss whatever in the society since its foundation. The report was received and adopted, and ordered to be printed, and the meeting the adjourned.

The Iron Trade. —According to a correspondent of the “ Otago Times,” the state of the iron and coal industries in Scotland continues to be deplorable, and is getting worse’ The strike and lock-out of colliers in Fife and Clackmannan has now continued for more than two months, and there is no sign of. an approaching termination to the struggle. The lock-out in the Clyde shipbuilding trade also continues with unyielding obstinacy, and the lessening of consumption caused by it has led tho ironmasters of the west of Scotland to commence 'damping out some of their furnaces, one-third of which, producing 6000 tons of iron weekly, will be cold by the 12th inst. In the east of Scotland there are now only some half-dozen furnaces in blast, so that the iron industry of the country is very seriously crippled. In spite of the dull times in Glasgow, however —or, in some cases, because of them --the number of persons who left the city on pleasure during the late Fair holiday was enormous, amounting to 165.000 by rail and steamer alone. The weather was unfortunately wet, and must have had the double result of lessening the pleasure of the holiday makers and increasing the profits of the publicans. Metkorolooic.vl Observations. W T ith reference to the Meteorological Office superintended by Captain Edwin, the “ Post” says : —The Parliamentary Committee now sitting to investigate the results so far achieved, telegraphed to the harbor-master or pilot of every port in the colony lor his opinion as to the value of the observations. The queries were, (1) whether the forecasts were used to warn shipping, (2) had they proved useful, and what was the average correctness. The replies from Russell, Thames, Poverty Bay, Hew Plymouth, Wanganui, Napier, Westport., Greymouth, Hokitika, Lyttelton, Oamaru Port- Chalmers, and Bluff, all were to the general effect that the warnings had proved very useful in warning shipping, and, in several cases, had been the means of saving life and property ; that they had been verified to the extent of from 7U to 7<S per cent., and were greatly vahud by shipmasters. From the other places no definite information has been received, but the above is quite sufficient to show the benefits already derived and the desirability of placing Captain Edwin in a position to attain oven higher results in the future-

Choir Festival. — A choir festival service will bo held this evening in the Durham street Wesleyan Church. The united choirs will number over a hundred voices, and will include representatives from Durham street, St. Albans, Tai Tapu, Harper street, East belt, and Papanui. The Rev. J. Crump will deliver an address on “ The Service of Song,” and the Rev. W. Morley will conduct the devotional exercises.

Shipments op Stock.— Mr Watt’s two racehorses Ariel and Longlands, arrived from the North per Taupo, on Monday. The racehorses Ananias, Mangle, and Grecian Bend , belonging to Mr Buckridge, were to be forwarded to Auckland by the s.s. Hawea, by which vessel seventeen useful di’aught horses were received from Port Chalmers. By the: Taupo there arrived a pure Hereford bull, from Auckland. He was bred by McLean Brothers of Auckland, and comes here to the; order of Mr Percy Cox.

Lyttelton Regatta Committee.—A meeting of this committee was held at the Colonists’ Hall on Tuesday night, Mr H. N. Nalder in the chair. After the transaction of some business, during which a motion that the committee should arrange about the show sports was rejected, it was resolved to adjourn the appointment of a commodore and other officers till next meeting, and a programme was then adopted. It was resolved to advertise the whole programme once in the morning papers, and the three principal races in this Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Wanganui, Timaru, and Otago papers. Messrs. Cunningham, Nalder, and Boddington were appointed a sub-committee to revise rules, and report at a future meeting.

Diocesan Sunday School Council. —The council met on Tuesday last. Owing to the Primate’s absence (through illness), Sir T. Tancred was mowed to the chair. There were present —Revs. H. G-lasson, E. GK Penny, E. A. Scott, H. E. East, Gr. J. Cholmondeley, T. Elavell, Messrs W. Gr. Brittan, H. Packer, H. E. Webb, H. Slater, E. J. T. Ford, and C. C. Howard. The following two resolutions were passed;— Moved by Mr H. E. Webb, and seconded by Rev. GL J. Cholmondeley, “ That this council complies with the Rev. H. C. M. Watson’s application to have the next meeting of the Association in St. John’s schoolroom, on Thursday, the 11th proximo, and that the Rev. E. G-. Penny be requested to open a discussion on the best way of communicating Church teaching systematically in our schools.”—Carried. Moved by Rev. H. E. East, and seconded by Rev. E. Gk Penny, “ That the Bishop be requested to bring before the Synod the establishment of the Sunday School Association, and to submit to the Synod the claims of the Association on the funds of the Church Property Trustees.” —Carried. New Street Vehicle. —Mr William Mason, cab proprietor, Dunedin, conceived a plan for a cab which, in conjunction with Messrs Sinclair and Morton, coach-builders, was put into execution. Describing the vehicle, the “Times” says:—The body is somewhat similar to the present waggonettes, but in place of the dirty-looking leather hood and uncomfortable curtains between which the wind rushed in upon the passengers, there is a handsome glass-pannelled top, coming sufficiently forward to protect the driver and those on the outside seat. A partition of glass in the centre separates the driver from the inside passengers, for whose convenience there are roomy cushioned seats and sliding glass windows, which will be found very useful on a hot summer’s day. The body of the vehicle is painted blue and purple lake, picked out with red : and chrome; the under-carriage being chrome, picked out with blue and finelined with red. The general appearance is very fine, and when the cab commences running—we believe in a day or tw r o—it will be quite an ornament to the streets.