NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1088, 24 December 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Canoe Club Pegatta.—The regatta, under the auspices of the Pilgrims Canoe Club, which was to have taken place on Saturday last, had to be p 1 •stponed on account of the weather. The rain, though most welcome to the country in general, was hardly conducive to comfort in canoeing, so that nothing remained for it but to put the regatta off. The date of its being held will be duly announced. Sunday Dbinking.—The publicans in Lyttelton signed a mutual agreement to serve drink to neither traveller nor boarder on Sunday, under a penalty of £lO. " Strange to say," writes the correspondent of the "Press," "there was more drunkenness in Lyttelton yesterday than usual—it is supposed from larger stocks having been laid in on Saturday, through a knowledge that no liquor would be procurable on the Sunday." Entebtainment. —An entertainment of a varied character was given in the hall of the Knightstown Mutual Improvement Association on Eriday evening last, which was a most decided success, although the weather was far from favourable. Through the exertions of the teachers and scholars of St. Matthew's Sunday School, by whom the entertainment was principally conducted, all those persons who had been favoured with an invitation and had responded to the call were treated to a really enjoyable evening's amusement. Anthems, carols, piano solos, songs, readings, and recitations formed a pleasing programme. The anthems and Christmas carols were rendered by the teachers and scholars of St. Matthew's Sunday School; the piano solos by Mrs Toke and Miss Foster ; the songs by Miss Foster, Mr Crawford, and Mr C. Innes ; the readings by the Revs. Pascoe, Scott, and Mr Geo. Gordon ; and the recitation by Mr Thornton. Towards the end of the entertainment, the Rev. E. A. Scott stepped upon the platform and announced his intention of presenting to Mr Thomas Gordon, the superintendent of the school, Smith's larger Biblical Dictionary, from the teachers of the Sunday school, as a mark of their appreciation of his untiring zeal for the well-being of themselves and the school. The Rev. Pascoe also made some happy remarks on the same subject, and expressed a hope that the people of St. Matthew's would show their appreciation of Mr Gordon's services by sending their children to the sohool every Sunday. Mr Gordon returned thanks ii suitable terms. The proceedings concluded with singing the National Anthem. A vote of thanks was carried to those ladies and gentlemen who bad so kindly assisted in ! nuking the entertainment euob a euccege,

Festival [Seevices. —The usual annual Christmas carol service will take place at St. John's, Latimer square, this evening. It will commence at 11 p.m. At St. Michael's the service will commence at 8 p.m. Osman Pasha.—A special telegram to the Wellington " Argus " includes the following incredible items of news :It is asserted that Plevna could have held out, and that Osman Pasha was bought. The honors paid him by the Czar are only a blind. Russia will now make peace, Turkey being deprived of all territory north of the Balkans, and giving Russia the right to control the passage of the Dardanelles. Should England or other European Powers interfere, Turkey will declare that as she had to defend herself unaided so she has a right to make terms without outside dictation. Servia and Roumania are to receive accession of territories, they will in future be practically dependencies of Russia.

Tub Drought in New South Wales. — The Sydney correspondent of the Melbourne " Argus " writes : —We have had a few scattered showers of rain in different parts of the colony, but nothing like a general break up of the drought. The pastoral depression is beginning to tell severely in mercantile circles; country storekeepers cannot get their money in from settlers who have nothing to sell, and of course they cannot meet their town bills ; and as the market is glutted with goods, merchants and bankers are looking at one another. There is a prospect of a rather tight time. Still, if there is going to be a famine, we have at least the consolation of knowing that there is corn in Egypt. The deposits in the banks amount now to sixteen millions, and however individuals may be pinched, the colony as a whole cannot suffer from want of money. Speculation in Q-uano. —" iEgles" writes in the "Australasian": —"From New Caledonia I hear that two Melbourne men turned up at Noumea the other day by different steamers. Each seemed to fight shy of the other for some time, but at length they met, and then it transpired that they were on the same errand, viz., to acquire a lease of the guano islands to the north of New Caledonia. One of them had been already shipping guano therefrom, and had a working plant. The public biddings commenced modestly at 3000 francs between the two competitors, but a third from New Zealand struck in, and the lease was knocked down to him at 59,000 francs, or about £2360 per annum. Our Melbourne friends have acquired quite new ideas of the value of guano islands, and their successful rival is believed, even at the price he paid, to have struck a patch." Lake Ellesmeee—Fibe.—On Friday morning last a very destructive fire occurred on the Maori pah fishery, where there has been for some time at work a number of men associated for their common interest. At 4 a.m. the Maori chief, Poheu, saw smoke proceeding from the house of Tom Revelli, and at once called Antonio Medgallo, who lived with Tom Revelli, from his work at the Point, a distance of about a mile. Upon their return they found that the house and its contents had been utterly consumed. The losses by Tom Revelli and company are very heavy, comprising cash (in notes) £SO, fishing properties (nets, &c.) £250, and a working set of horse gear and harness, together with clothes, furniture, and other belongings. Sergeant Barlow is at present engaged in inquiry as to the origin of the fire. Much sympathy is expressed for the fishermen, who, mostly foreigners, have, by their civility and attention made many friends in the neighborhood of Southbridge. Woolston—l.O.O.F., M.U.—The usual half-yearly summoned meeting of the Loyal Perseverance Lodge was held on Wednesday last. There was a good attendance of members. Regarding the alteration of lodge night it was decided to inform the Loyal Star of Waltham Lodge that the members could not accede to their request. After the transaction of other business the election of officers for the ensuing term was proceeded with. The following Bros, were declared duly elected and were installed in their respective offices by G-.M. Bro. T. Hayward assisted by Pro. GhM. Bro. D. Cameron and P.O. Bro. Liddell, viz:—Bro. W. R. Turner, as N.Gr. ; Bro. J. Richardson, V.Q-: Bro. J". McDonald, E.S. ; Bro. W. G. Shepheird, P.S. Bro. G. W. D. Morris then took the G-.M.'s chair, and was appointed lecture master for the ensuing term. Bros. H. A. Bamford and W. G. Shepheard were elected as auditors. The receipts of the evening were about £52. The Champion Oaiesman. —It was lately reported that Young Hanlon, of Toronto, the champion of the Dominion of Canada, has put in a claim for the honor now held by Edward Trickett. Referring to the circumstance, the "Sydney Morning Herald" says : —The American oarsman bears a high reputation in his own country. He won the sculling race in the Centennial contest, and on the 15th of October last he met and defeated witli the greatest ease Wallace Ro3s, champion of New Brunswick, over a five-mile course. It was two and a-half miles to a ilagboat and return —not a rightaway race such as he will have to row here. The time was 3Gmin. Osec. Trickett will accept the challenge, but it is quite on the cards that ere Hanlon's friends send their man and money to the antipodes they will try if he can beat Courtney, champion of the United States, who has been pronounced by a distinguished English rower to be the best oarsman he has seen in America. A visit from Courtney is almost as probable as one from Hanlon, and one or both will find the present champion ready to meet them. Anglo- Jeavish Association.—The annual general meeting of the above association was held yesterday at the Synagogue Chambers, the Rev. I. Zachariah, president, in the chair. After expressing satisfaction at the last year's results, and exhorting members to increased efforts for next year, the president laid before the society an appeal from the Parent Society in aid of the "Turkish Sufferers' Fund." The business of the society being proceeded with, the report and balance sheet brought up by the sub-committee were read and adopted. The election of officers for the ensuing year thm took place, the previous office-bearers being again elected, as follows: —President and treasurer, Rev. I. Zachariah ; committee, Messrs L. Caro and I. Herman; hou. treasuier, Mr P. Selig. The question of the " Turkish Fund " was again brought up, and after a touching appeal by the president, very general assistance was promised by the meeting, and it was decided to write to the mem bers in out-districts to aid the efforts of the town members. The Rev. I. Zachariah, and Mr L. Caro as president of the Hebrew congregation, were elected a sub-committee to collect subscriptions towards the fund, Mr P. Selig being appointed hon. secretary to the sub-committee. A vote of thanks to the officers of the association for" their services during the previous year cloeed the proceedings, '

The Dolly Vabden. —The Wellington correspondent of the Wanganui " Herald" says:—"The Dolly Yarden crew are hard at it on the extreme quiet. The cause is the Lyttelton Regatta on the Ist January. They are going in for the four-oared whaleboat race, and a new boat is building for them. She is a perfect beauty—about the best thing I have seen of Berg's build. They have had some hard nuts to crack in Lyttelton, but I quite expect to see them pull it off."

The Colobado Beetle Beaten.—A rival of the Colorado beetle is reported as having made its appearance among the crops in the Bodega district, a famous tuber-growing locality in Sonoma county, California. Some thousands of tons of potatoes in this region are reported as tunnelled and more or less eaten out by the pest. While the worm is running drifts through the potato, a species of fungus attacks the leaves and lays low the crop in blight.

The Normal School Gymnasium.—This building J™a now been fully furnished and equipped with apparatus, and is in full working order. It is situate in rear,of the school, and has attached to it a spacious drill hall, in which the children and masters can be drilled in wet weather. Under the able superintendence of Mr J. Q,. Walker, the drill instructor, the gymnasium apparatus is most complete. It comprises horizontal and parallel bars, swinging ladders, spring boards, Roman rings, Indian clubs, &c, and there is also a large assortment of boxing gloves, single sticks, &c. The floor is thickly spread with tan, so that in case of a fall there is no fear of serious consequences. At the far end of the gymnasium is a raised platform, upon which the glove and single stick instruction is given, and here also is a lavatory fitted with every convenience. Mr Walker gives instruction to the masters of the various schools, and also has a club meeting on certain nights, the subscription fee to which is but small. In view of the great benefit to the health of our young people which gymnastic exercises carried on under practical supervision such as that of Mr Walker undoubtedly is, we hope to see the advantages of the gymnasium largely appreciated.

Tradesman's and Mechanic's Loan Society.—The seventeenth annual meeting of this society was held at the office, Cathedral square, on Friday evening. There was a good attendance of members ,- Mr 0. A. Cunningham in the chair. The chairman, in presenting the annual report, with the balance-sheet, congratulated the members on the success of the year's operations, although the amount of business done, viz., about £I9OO, was much less than in former years, yet it had been safely invested, and chiefly on freehold securities. The committee had the pleasure of being able to declare a dividend of 11 per cent., after setting aside one-fourth of the year's profits as reserve according to rule. On the motion of Mr Emerson, seconded by Mr Houlihan, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Messrs Parsons and Cartman were then re-elected to supply vacancies on the committee. The meeting then proceeded to consider the notice of motion, as advertised, to incorporate this society under the Building and Land Societies' Act. Mr Parsons, the mover, described the benefits of registration, and eaid that the kind of securities now held would facilitate the object in view, and that the incorporation would give greater advantages to members. This motion was seconded by Mr Cartman and carried, and the present committee, with power to add to their number, were appointed a provisional committee to carry the resolution into effect. A vote of thanks to the chairman and committee of the past year terminated the proceedings.