NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1073, 5 December 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Remains Found. —We learn that Miss Gulliver, who was drowned in the Waimakariri some time ago, wore heel-less cashmere boots, similar to the one on the foot of the remains found at Sumner. United Methodist Free Church. —A supplementary bazaar in aid of the funds of the new church, St. Asaph street, was opened at noon to-day, in the Good Templar Hall, Worcester street. The stalls were well supplied with a variety of useful and ornamental articles, and a fair business was done during the day.

St. Andrew’s Church. —The annual social gathering of this congregation is to bo held on Thursday evening, at the Rink Hall, Gloucester street, as is announced in our advertising columns. One special feature of the meeting will be the holding of the Golden Wedding of a worthy couple, members of the congregation. They have completed the fiftieth year of their married life, and will no doubt receive the congratulations of many of their fellow colonists on the occasion.

Drainage Board. —A special meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held this morning, Mr Tancred in the chair. A telegram was read by the chairman, dated Sydney, November 30th, stating that Mr Clark would finish in Adelaide in about a fortnight, and that he had written by the mail as to his future movements. The chairman stated that the secretary, Mr E. H. Palmer, had resigned. It was decided to advertise for applications to fill the office of secretary and treasurer. It was resolved that the next meeting should be held on the 14th instant.

Anniversary Sports. —At the meeting of the Sports Committee yesterday the ground committee reported that even after some considerable trouble only a very inferior course could be obtained in Latimer square. The programme for the sports has been arranged, and the various officers, iko., for the day appointed.

Rifle Contest. —The contest between ten commissioned officers and ten civilians will be fired on the Hillsborough range on Friday next. The competitors will leave Radcliff’s Hotel at 10,30 a.m. by special omnibus. Mr Gee is to cater for the occasion, and a good day’s outing is looked for by all concerned. The expenses of the day will be borne by the losing side.

Cricket. —A match between the Press Standard and Hagley Oak Leaf Clubs takes place on Saturday next on the ground of the latter. The following players compose the former team: —Johnstone, Brunt, Scott, White, Washer, Fisher, Withers, Rowe, Elliot, Marr, and Costley. Emergency—Rice and Hyman. Wickets to be pitched at 2 p.m. sharp.

Sydenham Mayoralty. —The “ Q-azette” notifies that whereas the Council of the Borough of Sydenham has omitted accidentally to appoint a Returning Officer, and it is expedient to extend the time for holding an election for Mayor of the said borough, the time for the election of the said borough is extended to the third Wednesday in the month of December.

The Anniversary of Canterbury. —By command, the Under-Secretary, Mr Gr. S. Cooper, notifies that Monday, the 17th day of December next, is to be observed as a general holiday in all public departments of the Government throughout the provincial district of Canterbury.

The Volunteers. —The City Guards have received a challenge from the Wellington City Rifle Volunteers to tire a match on the following conditions : —Twelve men to lire in each team, only ten of the highest scores to count. Ranges, 200, dUO, 500, and 600 yards ; five sliots at each range; position any; match to take place on Bth December. The challenge lias been accepted by the City Guards, and will take place on the date mentioned. The Hours of Polling. —Mr Stevens, in the House of Representatives, asked the Premier “ Whether the Government will, next session, introduce a Bill making the polling at elections of members of the House of Representatives begin at nine o’clock in the morning and close at seven o’clock in the evening.” Sir George Grey’s reply was that a Bill affecting the electoral law would be prepared in the recess, and that the subject raided in the question would be fully considered.

Reward oe Merit. —At a mooting of the Australian and New Zealand Underwriters’ Association, held in London on 3rd October, the chairman, Mr Bowley, representing the New Zealand Insurance Company, presented Captain White, late of the Rutlandshire—who attended by request —with a gold watch and a purse containing eighty sovereigns, in recognition of his exemplary conduct and excellent seamanship during a voyage from London to Sydney early in the year 1876. A full account of the presentation appears in Lloyd’s List of 10th October, 1877. Chief Postmasters. — The following are gazetted as the recent changes made in the Postal Service of the colony : —Sydney Johnston Dick, Esq., to be Chief Postmaster for the postal district of Canterbury, vice J. J. Fitz Gibbon, Esq., deceased ; Robert Ivirton, Esq., to be Chief Postmaster for the postal district of Nelson, vi?v S. J. Dick, Esq. ; Edmund Cook, Esq., to be Chief Postmaster for the postal district of Hokitika, vice R. Kirton, Esq. ; and James Emilius Coney, Esq., to be Chief Postmaster for the postal district of Thames, vice Edmund Cook, Esq.

Horticultural Society. —A meeting of the committee of the Christchurch Horticultural Society was held at Eadclilfe’s Hotel la=t evening. Present—Mr G. A. Reade (in the chair), Mr F. Jones, Professor Bickerton, Messrs D. Nairn, E. Harvey, D. Craw, T. Allen, J. Gun trip, and the secretary. The minutes read and confirmed. Resolvid—“That the reports on show of November 9th and the Rose Show as presented by the secretary be recorded as minutes of the society.” Resolved - “ That the following exhibitors ho awarded first class certificates for the various productions supplied by (hem, and which so materially aided in making the show a success, viz. : —Duncan and Son, for a collection of pelargoniums ; Duncan and Son. for lilium giganteum ; Professor Bickerton, for hanging basket s; G. A. Reade, for cinerarias and calceolarias; R. Billens, for two cases of ferns; J. Greenaway, for heaths, fuchsias, and calceolarias.” A committee was appointed to inquire as to what steps are necessary to carry out an Art Union in con licet ion with the Autumn Exhibition, and to make a canvass for the same. A very fine new double petunia was exhibited by Mr D. Nairn, and gome seedling pansies by Professor BicJswtoo,

England and the Wae. — A telegram of November 6fcli in the San Francisco papers reports that the London correspondent writes on that date: —ln political circles there is great expectation that Earl Beaconsfield will shortly make a speech on the Eastern Question which will provoke a renewal of last year’s excitement and agitation. It is reported that he will put his foot down on the question of opening the Dardanelles to Russia and her vessels. Unclaimed Bank Deposits. —lt was lately stated that the Banks are to be asked by the Victorian Government to furnish a return of the unclaimed deposits in their hands. Mr Bowman has been informed by discharged Bank managers and others that these sums amount in the aggregate to half a million of money, and he contends that the sum ought to be transferred to the Government. Mr Berry said he would have no objection to a select committee being appointed to inquire into the matter.

Not Bad Work. —New Zealand, says “F.” in the “Nelson Mail,” certainly does produce some clever men. Of these an instance is ready to hand. Sir George Grey gets into office against the wish of a majority of the House, retains office under the same unfavorable circumstances, and then gradually converts his minority into a majority, brings all sorts of charges against the preceding Treasurer, and finishes by adopting his tables and estimates. That’s not a bad six weeks’ work. The Advantage of Ignorance. —An American paper by the mail states that General Grant’s apparent stolidity ia too much for the French reporter. He has won a decided victory over the reporter of “ Figaro,” which in some respects is more to his credit than even the Battle of the Wilderness. A Frenchman generally knows how to use a cork-screw, and consequently one might anticipate that a French reporter could draw an answer to any categorical question he he might ply. But he failed. Grant was on his guard. He could not be made to divulge his opinion of Marshal MacMahon. “We were not made to understand each other,” he said. “He does not understand English ; I cannot speak French.” Thus the “Figaro” figured, thus Grant granted—nothing. Unparliamentary. —Mr William Wilson, one of the members of the Eastern Province in the Legislative Council, Victoria, was named by the President for unruly conduct. The Council had disagreed with the Lower House on the Railways Bill, which it was proposed to refer to a committee, of which Sir Charles Sladen and Sir Samuel Wilson were to be members, whereupon Mr Wilson got up, and having protested against the House being governed by such secret conferences, remarked that had there been another “ Sir ” in the House, he would, no doubt, have been included in the committee, no matter how he got his knighthood, or how great a cad he might be. He was taken into custody by the Usher, and was only released upon making an ample apology.

A Parting Kiss without “Parting.”— The departure of the steamer Hero from; Auckland for Sydney and Melbourne usually draws a crowd, and the last occasion, says the “Herald,” was no exception to the rule. There were many there, however, who returned sorrowful, having failed in gaining the object for which they visited the steamer. It appears that among the passengers was one that intended leaving a few mementoes behind in the shape of sundry debts. His creditors mustered in force, and demanded their just dues, but all to no purpose, as the absconder would net pay. Threats proving of no avail, soft blandishments were tried to get the defaulter on shore, in order as one creditor admitted afterwards, to kick up a rumpus, so as (o call for the interference of the police, hut he was too wary ; and when last seen the absconder was politely throwing kisses to his ballled creditors on shore.

Colonel Brett on Drainage. The Wellington correspondent of the Auckland “Herald” has the following among his notes of Parliamentary proceedings : Colonel Brett is a gentleman who says what he means without waiting to pick language. In the Legislative Council yesterday, when addressing members on the question, “That with a view of remedying the inconvenient and unhealthy state of a portion of the Parliament building, it is desirable to make the additions and alterations therein as shown upon the plans accompanying the report laid upon the table on the 7th November instant,” lie made use of the following expressive but rather racy language : —“ There is a rag of a paper here which advocates the cause of the people continuing to revel in their filth. This rag—this greasy, unwashed beast, revels in its own filth. The Government ought to be requisitioned to bring some pressure to bear on the municipal body of this city, who seem to bribe and fatten on their sanitary system.” Captain Bailey pointed out that, as a matter of fact, the municipal body had nothing to do with the drainage of this particular block of buildings. In his opinion, the recent bad state of things arose from their being in such close proximity to all the ellluvia arising from the kitchen and back premises of the buildings, and for this they had the remedy in their own hands.