NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1036, 20 October 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Lyttelton Harbour Board Land Bill. —This Bill passed the Lower House yesterday, through all its stages, without amendment.

San Francisco Mail. —The outward San Francisco mail went north in the Hawea yesterday. Church Collections. —Collections will be made to-morrow in the various churches in aid of the Famine Relief Fund. Deferred Payments. —Some months ago Mr Wayne, of Akatorc, Otago, cut up a portion of his sheep run there into a number of farms, varying in size from 150 to 1300 acres, for the purpose of disposing of them on the deferred payment system. The result, says the “Times,” has been satisfactory, as up to the present time five settlers of the proper stamp have settled upon them. Important to Solicitors. —During the sittings of the Supreme Court in Chambers yesterday, his Honor Mr Justice Johnson said that in future any motions which had been set down, and in which the solicitor was not present, would be struck out and not allowed to be renewed on the same fees. Exception would be made, of course, where counsel applied to have the matter adjourned, but not otherwise.

Naebow Escape. —As a two-horse break was proceeding up Whately road yesterday afternoon, tlie animals took fright at a perambulator being wheeled from Durham street across the road, and attempted to bolt. The driver fortunately had them well in hand, and though they steered straight in the direction of Cohen’s shop front, he managed just in time to turn them round the corner, taking however one of the verandah posts in the vehicle, but fortunately keeping it on its wheels to the evident satisfaction of the occupants. This danger over, the horses were quickly pulled up. Tuesday’s Holiday. —The question of postponing the banco sittings of the Supreme Court on Tuesday next in consequence of the holiday was brought up yesterday by Mr Joynt. In reply to a question from that gentleman, his Honor said that he could not see how the Indian Famine Relief Fund would benefit one penny by the Court sitting not being held. Gentlemen of the profession who were engaged in the causes could send their cheques to the treasurer. Under these circumstances, notwithstanding the sotto voce remarks of Mr Joynt as to the profession attending on the occasion in costume, his Honor declined to postpone the sitting.

Sunnvside. —An entertainment was held at Sunnyside on Thursday evening last, consisting of vocal and instrumental music. The programme included solos and duets contributed by Miss Spensley, Miss B. Spensley, Mrs Kinsmann, Messrs Crawford, Rutland, and Kiusmann, two organ solos by Mr Harding, and two overtures and a galop played by Mr Spensley’s band with their usual success. For one duet, “ The Singing Lesson,” Mr and Miss B. Spensley received a triple encore. After the entertainment the usual dance took place, A number of the patients were present and seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. Another entertainment will, we understand, take place shortly.

Chaeminu Yaeibty. —The somewhat rare entertainment of a waxwork exhibition is now being presented to the people of Dunedin. The “Times” says that there is a good number of figures, comprising men of note and those ot notoriety. And so it seems. Amongst the representations are Sir Walter Scott, and the murderer Sullivan ; Q-eorge Peabody, the philanthropist, and Thunderbolt, the bushranger ; the massacre by the rebel Maoris at Poverty Bay, at the north end of the room, and the Queen and the Princes of the Royal Family, on the stage ; Solomon’s Judgment is placed in the centre of the room, and Bismarck, the “Sleeping Beauty,’’ and other less interesting characters, are distributed in the hall.

Indian Famine Belief Fend. — A mee - ing of the cricket and sports committee was held at Kadcliffe’s Hotel last evening, Mr W. B. Mitchell acting as chairman. It was resolved to ask the players in the Muff match, and the ladies and gentlemen who have promised to assist in other capacities, to meet at the Gaiety Theatre at 0.30 a.m. on Tuesday. All having donned their uniform a procession will he marshalled at a quarter-past ten by Messrs W. B. Mitchell and J. L. Hall, and, beaded by a band of instrumental music, will, after travelling through the main streets of the town, wend its way to the convincing ground on Haglcy Park. The procession will be of a very imposing character, many conveyances having been kindly lent for the occasion. Messrs E. R. Palmer and A. Louglirey will act as captains of the opposing teams of cricketers, and in addition to the names already published, Mr Hoskins has offered his services, and will appear as Aminadab Sleek. He will assist in receiving money at the gates. The catering department has been left in the able charge of the Maples Brothers, which is sufficient guarantee that the public will have no cause of complaint. The bankers, merchants, and all the principal tradesmen having agreed to close at noon, and the Mayor having issued an invitation to the burgesses to keep holiday, no doubt a large concourse wall assemble on the ground and patronise the various amusements with the characteristic liberality oI the people,

Municipal Disagreement.-—! disagreement; of decided character, which has arisen between the Town Clerk of Wellington, Mr Hester, and the Major, Mr Hutchison, came to a climax at the last Council meeting, when the latter emphatically denied that he ever tampered with the burgess roll, and further asserted that Mr Hester’s statement about his having done so was a pure fabrication, concocted by the Town Clerk and other city officials to damage the Mayor. The whole question, says the “Times,” now wears a very ugly aspect. Either the Mayor or the Town Clerk is, to say the least of it, very much to blame, and the matter cannot be allowed to rest where it is. Whether Mr Hutchison’s and Mr Mills’s names are properly on the burgess roll or not, is a question to be decided by the Law Courts, and on that point we have no desire to give an opinion. But it concerns the citizens of Wellington that such charges as have been bandied about between Mr Hutchison and Mr Hester for the past few weeks should be inquired into. Look at it in anyway, and it presents two naked sides —either that the Mayor has most unjustifiably tampered with the burgess roll, or that Mr. Hester and others not only falsified the burgess roll, but put their heads together with the intent of injuring the gentleman who occupies the honourable position of Mayor of this city. Dwelling - House Insueance. The Boston “ Commercial Bulletin” of a recent date contains the following concerning the views of underwriters as to dwelling-house insurance:—'“Of late there has been a gradual change in the views of underwriters as to the respective hazards of different classes of dwelling-houses. The old belief that one house is as good as another has been modified, but not in the direction that one who has not thought of the subject would suppose. Instead of the best houses being the best risks, it is found that the very opposite is the fact, and this is not because of mansard roofs or inflammable materials. We know of underwriters who would much rather have a given amount at risk on Irish shanties at the North End and South Cova than on the finest residence at the West End. This is for two reasons. In the first place there is some one in every room of the tenements the greater part of the time, sinks on every floor, and no servants. In them no curtains on the top floor can catch fire from gas jets, and burn half an hour without the family knowing of it. Indeed, a fire cannot continue in them five minutes without burning somebody’s toes. More than this, there is no great risk of water damage in the cheaper houses, and a very great risk in the wealthy residences, with elegant furniture, paintings, Ac. A single fire in the latter class of dwelling-houses causes more damage than fifty fires in tenements. This latter fact was strongly borne out by the experience of insurance companies with the Hunnewell fire on Dartmouth street.” The Synod. —The Synod met yesterday afternoon at four o’clock. After an explanation from Mr Malet with reference to a local paragraph in the “Lyttelton Times,” a Bill to amend Diocesan Statute No. 3 was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Monday. On the motion of Mr Q-rigg a return was ordered, showing the manner in which the Church property is insured. Messrs C. R. Blakiston and’T. M. Hassal were reelected Church Property Trustees. The seat for synodsman for the electoral district of Ellesmere was declared vacant. A Bill to amend the Regulations on Church Fees was read a first time. A Select Committee was appointed to consider and report {upon the application of certain parishioners of the Templeton portion of Templeton-cum-Prebble-ton, to have their district constituted a parish. A committee was appointed to consider and report upon the question of the establishment of a permanent clerical pension or emergency fund. The Bill to amend the Financial Regulations was re-committed, for the purpose of making certain verbal alterations, and, on the Synod resuming, the amendments were agreed to. The members of the Standing Committee were elected on ballot as follows: —Clergy : Very Rev the Dean, Revs, Gf. J. Cholmondeley, Canon Cotterill, E. G-. Penny, J. W. Stack. Laity: Messrs F. de c. Malet, J. G-rigg. C. R. Blakiston, T. M. Hassal, H. J. Taucred, W.C. Walker. The Dean moved the “ Second reading of Bill for amending Clause 12 of the Cemetery Regulations by the addition of the words ‘ the insertion of photographs in grave-stones is altogether prohibited.’ ” After some discussion the motion was lost. The name of Mr H. Selwyn Smith was added to the Pension Fund Committee. The Synod considered, in committee, certain amendments on the Bill to Amend the Financial Regulations, which were carried, and the third reading of the Bill fixed for Monday. The following were elected members of the Cathedral Commission in the room of those who retire by rotation : —The Dean, Rev. Mr Bowen, Mr H. Selwyn Smith, and Mr L. Harper. The Synod then proceeded to elect Diocesan Nominators, the Church Work Extension Committee, the Diocesan Education Committee, and the “ Church New r s” Committee. The Synod then adjourned till Monday.