NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1051, 9 November 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

To-Day’s Holiday.-— To-day is being observed here as a general holiday, all classes of the community going in for enjoyment. A large concourse of countiy visitors are in town, while many citizens are taking advantage of the fine weather for a day’s trip into the country. The centre of attraction here is the Agricultural Show, where there is of course an immense gathering of visitors, both from town and country. Violent Assault.— A man named W, Petley was arrested last evening charged with violently assaulting his wife. The accused lives near the Railway station, and it appears that last evening he and his wife had some altercation, whereupon he struck her on the head with a shingle hammer hatchet, causing several serious scalp wounds. Petley was brought up this morning at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, and remanded to the 17th inst,, as his wife, who had been removed to the Hospital, was unable to appear. The Late Stoem. —The storm of last week, which was felt on the Canterbury plains in the shape of high winds and floods, has left traces of its severity in a heavy snowfall on the hill-country, and, as we learn by a communication from a correspondent at the Cass, has been attended with considerable loss of lambs on some of the higher sheep stations. The damage done to the overland road has also been extensive and serious, but coach tniHic is not likely to be long interrupted At present Mr Cassidy is pushing through the mails with every possible expedition. In the Grey and Duller rivers the floods have exceeded in dimensions any on record, and, though the towns at the mouths of those rivers have escaped, there will doubtless be received very soon some sad accounts of damage done to the property of miners and farmers iu those two valleys, while the repair of the roads will involve a very large expense. Seteeme Court, Dunedin. —The work of transforming the old Provincial Council Chamber into a Supremo-Court-house is now proceeding apace, and in a few weeks the place will be ready for the reception of the gentlemen of the long robe. The “Times” says that the chamber appears to be admirably suited to the purpose for which it is to be used*

Inquest at Ashburton Forks. —An inquest was held on Wednesday, at MrTisch’s Spread Eagle Hotel, before Dr Trevor, coroner, and a jury, on view of the body of Robert Ferguson, who was drowned in the Ashburton on Monday last. From the evidence it seemed that Ferguson was warned not to cross where he tried to do so, but being accustomed to the rivers on the West Coasi he said ho was not and made the attempt. It is supposed he was thrown from his horse. A verdict of “ Accidental Death” was returned. Turning the Tables.— A late American paper has the following:—“ They have a dramatic novelty in the East that is coining money, being nothing more nor less than a band of negroes who whiten their faces and imitate their pale brethren in drama, tragedy, comedy, and a variety of other performances. They will shortly show in San Francisco, and then it is their intention to explore the golden shores of Australia."

Colonial Magazine. —The Wellington correspondent of the “ Hawke’s Bay Herald” states that, now that the “ New Zealand Magazine” is defunct, another magazine or review will be started to supply its place. It will bo published monthly in Wellington, will possess a large staff of contributors, and be edited by a man well known and honoured for his talents throughout the colony. It will be made far more interesting and readable than its predecessor, and will be more catholic in its views on every subject. The “Herald” states that Mr J. E. Fitz Gerald is the gentleman referred to as the prospective editor of the new issue.

The Dunedin Mayoralty. —Mr Leiry, who resigned the Mayor’s chair some days ago because he was not supported by the Council in his desire to demand obedience to him on the part of the officers of the corporation, has scored a success by going to his constituents, the ratepayers, and being again returned by a sweeping majority. The contest between him and the otner candidate, Mr Woodlands, seems to have been a keen one, though conducted in a friendly spirit, and there was considerable division of opinion as to the stand taken by Mr Leary, but, as proved at the poll, the public have sympathised with his|views as to the position of a Mayor, and his suggested reforms in the mode of keeping the corporation accounts.

Review op Otago Volunteers. —lt is stated by the “ Times” that great preparations are being made in Dunedin for the forthcoming sham fight and review, to take place on the Prince of Wales’s Birthday on the Forbury Park. At present it is pretty certain that quite 1000 volunteers will take part in the proceedings, but it is by no means improbable that a still larger number will be in attendance. The two Dunedin battalions, with cadets, will turn out something like 800 men. It is expected that the two Invercargill corps—the Artillery and Rifles, under Captains Hannah and Macrorie, will represent a strength of 150 men. Queenstown will send down her mite, while Portobello, Port Chalmers, and other outlying districts will add to the number.

Telegraphic Brevities, —The telegraph authorities at homo seem to be ahead of those in the colonies. The following are some of the advices which have recently been issued from the Q-eneral Post-Office:—The address of the sender of a telegram is not required for any purpose of signalling, and should be omitted in all cases where the addressee will be able to identify the sender without it. For reference the address should be added at the bottom or on the back of the message form. In sending telegrams firms and public companies should adopt their briefest “style,” and should avoid the use of stamps containing full name, title, and address. The prefixes “Mr” and “Messrs,” and the affixes “Esq.,” “Limited,” Ac., should be omitted, as far as possible, in the addresses of both senders and addressees. Brevity in these respects ensures swifter transmission without any attendant risk. Development in Hats. —The new spring hat worn by ladies (says an American feminine fashion writer) is just too big for any; and happily we shall be rid of the monotony of hearing this feminine decoration called sweet. Hats that started some years ago no larger than an acorn have grown to such size as to cast a shadow half across the street, and a couple of them would save the promenaders on two blocks from sunstroke. No husband or father need fear that he will not get the worth of his money when invested in hats for wife or daughter. They—we are talking about hats—are so large that a mortgage even will not cover them, and it is probable the really fashionable hat will have to be worn in the country for want of room elsewhere. There will be a death-blow to the trade in parasols and umbrellas ; two or three of them in a theatre will make the place look crowded, and clergymen who has to stand in the pulpit above a few of the newest hats will feel as if they were preaching to gaily decorated but greatly overgrown circus tents. If the amusement season were not virtually over there might be a sensation in hats, but that will uow be left to the camp-meeting, where the real utility of the new style will be developed.

The Ciakk Lecttoes. Last evening there was a large audience at the Oddfellows’ Hall, when Mr Clark gave his lecture on Thackeray. The great satirist is one who to the greater part of his readers is but partially known—that is he lived a life outside his books, which Mr Clark’s admirable lecture most vividly placed before his hearers. Commencing with a brief sketch of his life, the lecturer sketched with a masterly hand the career of the author in his early literary struggles. Passing onward passages from the best-known works of Thackeray were given. One of the best of these was, perhaps, that from “ Vanity Fair.” This was given with much power, and a subtle analysis of the character of its author, which showed that, as in the case of Dickens, Mr Clark had been an earnest and loving student of the works of the master he was illustrating. The sketch of Mrs Ponto’s musical party exhibited a vein of comic humor which was most enjoyable, and contrasted finely with the touching pathos of the death of that grand old character Col. Newcome, and the manner in which it was told excited the sympathies of the audience fully as much as their risibk faculties had been in the previous uue. The “Four Georges’ ’ wero briefly touched upon, the part selected being that in which Thackeray de scribes the insanity of George 11. Altogethe the lecture was a great treat, and we are gla> that Mr Clark intends repeating it on Mon lay next, which will be his last appearanc 10-night, the Hall being engaged, there wi be no lecture, but to-morrow, “ WestminstAbbey,” a companion word picture to tl celebrated “'Jffl'ser I/oudoo,” ’will be (pen