NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1071, 3 December 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A.0.F., Court Star. —A summoned meeting of the Court Star of Canterbury will be held this evening, for the nomination of officers, district officers, and delegates. The roll will be called at half-past eight.

Catholic Mission.-- The Christchurch services in connection with the mission terminated yesterday, and the efforts of the Rev. Father Hennebery in the cause of Temperance during his stay here have been successful beyond all anticipations, as over 2001) people have taken the pledge. After yesterday’s afternoon service a procession was formed in front of the church of those who had promised to abstain, and, preceded by the school children and members of the Hibernian Society, they marched up Barbadoes street, along Armagh street, and down Colombo and High streets to the starting place. It was estimated that upwards of 2000 persons took part in the procession, each abstainer being decorated with a rosette and medal. Two carriages in the centre of the line contained the Very Rev. Bishop Redwood and clergy. Father Hennebery will preach next Sunday at Rangiora.

Sea Shell Lodge, T.O.G.T.—The annivemiry entertainment of the above lodge was given at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, on Thursday evening last, and was a great success. The attendance was very good, and every item in the first part of the programme, which consisted of vocal and instrumental music, readings, &c., given by friends from Christchurch and Lyttelton as well as members of the order, was warmly applauded. The farce of “A Dead Shot,” given by members of the lodge, concluded the entertainment. It was admirably rendered, and was thoroughly appreciated by the audience, who went away thoroughly satisfied with their evening’s enjoyment. Masonic. —The brethren of the Canterbury Kilwinning Masonic Lodge, S.C., held their annual gathering in the lodge-room at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, on St. Andrew’s Jt)ay, which was ornamented for the occasion. The K.W.D.Q-.M. Bro. W. Donald installed Rro. Fletcher as W.M-; Bro. P.M. Taylor performing jthe like office to the following membersgrp. A. Milne, deputy master ; Bro. James Duff, substitute master; Bro. Cullen, S.W.; Bro. Carrol, J.W.; Bro. H. Graham, S.D.; Bro. W. Smith, J. D.; Bro. John Grubb, treasurer ; Bro. Makeig, secretary ; Bros. Zellan and Moutray, stewards j Bro. Jory, J.G. ; Bro. F- Arnold, tyler. Two candidates were duly installed into Freemasonry, and the brethren then adjourned till 7 p m., when a most substantial repast was provided by Bro. McDonald. Brethren were present from the Grand Lodge, Unanimity, Canterbury, Robert Burns, Southern Cross, and Somerset Lodges. After the usual toaiats figd been responded to, the brethren separated. Mb Back, Traffic Manages. —lt was lately stated that Mr Frederick Back, who fpr some time past has held the appointment of chief accountant p£ constructed railways, had been promoted to the post of traffic manager on the Christchurch railway, and that ills ftioiids pf the Civil Service in Wellington determined that he should carry with him some tangible proof of their sstcpm for him by presenting him with a handsome gold hunting watch. The presentation was made by Col. Gorton, who said —“ Frederick Back : I am not going to address you jj-j Mr Back, as this is a meeting of your personal friends, assembled for the purpose of bidding you farewell on the eve of your departure for CilfWit'hurch, by whom I hpvc been deputed -"C this watch, npponipanied by a few “p‘ TS r f „ - - wtoj of a„Vm farewell, a, , Licy bear towards you. 1 have no

in spying that I am pleased to bo the spokes* man on "this occncmn, as since I have had the pleasure of knowing you—now a considerable time —I have beep very much struck with your kindly disposition towards your brother officials; and ,1 may truly say, during thej many conversations we have had together, I; have never heard you speak in a bitter way ; about anyone, but, on the Contrary, always in ■ the most kind manner; in addition to which ' I have heard cf numerous acts of generosity' on your part which redound to your credit,”

Akakoa. Election of Mayor. —The polling for the election of Mayor here passed )ff very quietly, Mr H. Q-. Watkins beating ■he other candidate, Mr C. J. Waeckerle, >y nine votes. Both candidates addressed the doctors, and the proceedings terminated with i vote of thanks to the returning officer. Bank Officials. —The “ Inangahua Heald ” states that owing to the resignation of Vlr Hickson, who retires from the employ of he National Bank of New Zealand, Mr Meneith, at present at Kumara, will take charge of the Recfton branch, and Mr A. Broad becomes agent of the Bank at Kumara,

Yachting-.— lnformation has been received in Auckland by the mail from Sydney that there is a prospect of another trial between the three yachts—Mistral, Magic, and Secret, which competed at the Balmain Regatta, Sydney, on the Prince of Wales’s Birthday. The race, however, is to be what is called an ocean race, the course being from Sydney to Newcastle and back. The owners of the Magic and Secret have announced their intention to enter for the race, and it only remains for the Mistral to complete the programme. The Law’s Delay. —The immigrants by the Waitara who arrived at G-reymouth the other day in the Charles Edward are rapidly meeting with engagements. One, says the “ Argus,” has already taken the preliminary steps towards a life bondage, having met her '• affinity ” in the shape of a stalwart miner, who expressed the most supreme contempt for the calibre of New Zealand legislators when informed that the lady of his choice must be resident in the district for four days before the Registrar could assist him to a consummation of his fondest wishes.

Maohi Aid to the Indian. —In the correspondence column of the last number of the “Wananga” there appear two characteristic letters relative to the Indian Famine Fund. The first, as translated, reads thus : —“ Friend, salutations to you. Insert these, our words, in our ‘ Wananga.’ Our words are in respect to the numerous people who are being killed for want of food—we mean the people of India. Hence, our thoughts rose in us, that we should collect money to buy food for these people. We have collected cash, and we herewith give our names, so that our European and Maori friends may see. The sub-tribe of which we are members is called Ngaitahu, at Te Takapau, and of the Ngatiraukawa at Otaki and Manawatu. Wo were shearing sheep when we heard of the famine. The above-mentioned cash we gave to a European called Andrew Logan, who will forward the same. Let this letter be printed in English and Maori.” The other is as follows : —“ Friend, this is a notice to all the world. To the Europeans and Maoris who live in the world. Friends, we have given expression to our love to the people of India. We have collected some money to buy food for that people, so that it may be seen that we are one people in the protection of God, so that the word of the Scriptures may be fulfilled, which says ‘ Love one another.’ Friends, let us show our sympathy to the people of India, who are dying for want of food.” The amounts subscribed were, respectively, £7 12s and £9.

.Ashburton County Council. —The Ashburton County Council met at the Read Board office, Ashburton, on Saturday, Ist December, Present —W. 0. Walker, Esq. (chairman), Messrs E. G. Wright, A. Saunders, Charles Reed, and T. Bullock. The chairman, in opening the meeting, explained that the only business they could legally transact that day was contained in the notice calling the meeting, viz., the consideration of the advisability of adopting the Counties Act. Mr Charles Reed moved the following resolution —“ That in the opinion of this Council it is advisable that the whole of the Counties Act should be brought into force in this county.” Mr E. Gr. Wright, in seconding the resolution, said that there was no doubt that the welfare of the county would be very considerably enhanced by the step now about to be taken, especially in the matter of railways, drainage, Ac. Mr Bullock said his whole reason for opposing the motion before was to avoid increased taxation, but as he presumed such would not now be the case, he hafl great pleasure in agreeing with the resolution. The Chairman stated that at the termination of the Government financial year in June, there were large sums of money due to the county, but there were no means of distributing it. Since then he had accepted the office of distributor, and now there was a sum of about £50,000 to the credit of the Council. Mr Saunders followed with a few remarks, after which the chairman put the resolution, which was carried unanimously.