NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1085, 20 December 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

English Shipping.—The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited) has received advice by cable telegram of the arrival of the Waikato at London, all well.] Tradesman’s and Mechanic’s Society. —The seventeeth annual meeting of this society is advertised to be held on Friday evening, at eight o’clock. Armed Constabulary. Sub-Inspector William Airy Richardson has been appointed First-Class Inspector, and Sub-Inspector Forster Yelverton Q-oring Second-Class Inspector ,- their commissions date from August 17th, 1874. The Bribery Case.—At the meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club yesterday, it was announced that the stewards of the Metropolitan Meeting had decided to remove the disqualification from Matthews, the rider of Bribery in the Railway Plate. Prospective Picnic.—At a meeting held at the Scotch Stores last night it was resolved that a picnic should be held at Sumner on Boxing Day by the employees of city merchants. A committee was appointed to wait upon the employers, and it was resolved that another meeting should be held on Friday evening, at the Scotch Stores, to make final arrangements. Ohoea and Eyreton Sports.—Every preparation for these sports on Boxing Day is now being made to render them very successful. There will, no doubt, be a large attendance. On Tuesday, Mr Buss, at auction, sold the privileges, viz., booth to Mr W. Burnip, Kaiapoi, £36; confectioner’s stall to Mr J. Lewton, Rangiora, £5. It is expected that the committee will engage the services of a good band for the occasion. Property Sale. —Mr Charles Clark held a sale of town and rural land at his office in Hereford street yesterday, at which there was a good attendance, and the following sales effected;—A six-roomed house and land in Gloucester street for £675 ; a twenty acre section at the Sandhills at £4 7s 6d per acre ; two allotments in the township of Lincoln for £33 each, and a small cottage and parcel of land in Harper street for £165. The remaining properties not sold at auction are under offer by private treaty. Swahnanoa. —The Wesleyan Church and Sunday school services were preached here on Sunday by the Rev. W. Lee. On each occasion, there was a full congregation. On Tuesday, a tea meeting was held, at which there was a large concourse of persons present. The tea was provided by lady members of the congregation. The public meeting afterwards was presided over by Mr James Thompson. Mr Joseph Thompson read the report of the progress in connection with the church and school, which was considered to be highly satisfactory. The Revs. W. Cannell and J. A. Luxford, and Messrs Thompson and Graham delivered addresses. A choir of church members from Rangiora and Southbrook contributed the music, ably assisted by Mrs Cannell, who presided at the harmonium. Hearty votes of thanks to all who had assisted to render the meeting a success were passed. The meeting then terminated. Northern Railway.—The preparations for changing the gauge on this line were fairly begun on Wednesday morning by a large party of workmen. The change in the gauge is effected by reducing the width of the present gauge sft. 3in. to 3ft. 6in., by bringing in one of the rails. All along the line the spikes have been drawn in every other chair, and at the crossings the new gauge has been put in, therefore the work of last night and to-day will be to bring one rail nearer to the other for a total distance of thirty-four miles from Christchurch to Amberley. The work of altering the sidings will be done afterwards. Special trains with men and material will be kept going till the work is finished. The workmen mil be boarded at Papanui, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Ashley, Sefton, and Amberley, at whichjplaces properjarrangements have been made with hotel-keepers for a plentiful supply of food and beds.