NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1090, 27 December 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Bible Christians. —The teachers and children of the Bible Christian Sunday School, with a number of friends, spent yesterday at the Wilderness. An admirable lunch and tea were provided, and a variety of games were also successfully carried out, and thoroughly enjoyed by young and old. St. Paul's Sunday Schools. —The children attending St. Paul's Presbyterian Sunday Schools, along with their parents and friends, at the invitation of Mr Kruse, of Papanui, had their annual excursion yesterday, by railway, to that gentleman's paddock, where they we're met by the Bev. Mr Horner, with the teachers and children of the Presbyterian Sunday School, Papanui. Thpre they spent the day in amusements of various sorts. Before leaving all assembled in front of the house of Mr Kruse, when a most cordial vote of thanks was given to that gentleman and to Mrs Kruse for their genorous hospitality. In the evening they returned to town by special train, arriving there about 8 p.m., not the slightest hitch occurring during the day to mar the enjoyment of all, although during the afternoon the number on the grounds could not have been much under six hundred persons. Fatal Accident. —A very sad accident resulting in the death by drowning of a young man named Mathew Lee, occurred in the river Waimakariri, a short distance above Courtenay, yesterday shortly after mid-day. It appears that the deceased was in the river with a one-horse dray for the purpose of gathering firewood, when suddenly one of the wheels sank into a hole, upsetting the dray and precipitating the unfortunate man into the water. The accident was witnessed from the bank by a man called " Frenchy," but on account of the current he could do nothing in attempting to save the man. Sergeant Burtenshaw (who was on duty at the Kowai sports) on receiving information of the sad occurrence, immediately left for the scene of the accident, and commenced a search for the body, but up to the time of the last train leaving Malvern the body had not been recovered. The unfortunate young man was only nineteen years of age. Christmas Afloat.—The yule tide was kept well aboard the shipping in Lyttelton harbor this year. All the larger vessels lying at the Gladstone Pier were a mass of colors and greenery, both on Christmas J)ay and The Halcione fired guns on Christmas Day at 8 a.m., and at sunset for the colors to be hoisted and lowered, and the general effect was good. Nor were the coasters and smaller foreign-going ships behindhand,' nearly all 'of them having" some decoration, the .Canny .Scot being specially notfceaiw? fftf £he tasteful manner in which I site w&s $- reß ? e s- was observed as *-4«fc aflfllj owing pp phe £ne weather, The , --"day WW Bfl Little Y ***£_.£f ** . steamer Titan ran a m,.. - Akaloa, and the s.s. Akaroa also iuu-

sionists to Pigeon Bay. Both were very well patronised, and though there was a little roll, as a result of the fresh N.E. breeze, the general verdict at night seemed to be that the day had been delightfully spent. Of course many came thi'ough from Christehureh, and they looked all the better going back after a few hours of the bright sunshine and fresh eea air.

Census Enttmebatobs.—The following are the appointed enumerators in the Canterbury district:—Caleb Whitefoord, for part Amuri, south of Clarence River, Cheviot, and Ashley; Frederick de C. Malet, for Selwyn, Akaroa, and Ashburton; Charles E. Cooper, for Geraldine and Waimate.

High Pbice fob Wool.—The highest price ever realised for greasy wool in any Australian market, was obtained for a portion of the clip of Mr Thos. Shaw, of Wooriwyrite, at Messrs Hastings, Cunningham and Co.'s stores in Melbourne last week. It elicited the exceptional bid of per lb., and was disposed of at that figure. General quotations were—Creasy, 8d to 12d; scoured, 13d to 19|d; fleece, 15d to 20^d. The New Militaby Headdbess.—The headdress of the British army is to be totally changed at the commencement of the year, the old shako and busby giving way to a neat helmet, very similar to those used in the German army. A sample of the helmets has been received yesterday by Major Sleep, of Ballarat, and those who have seen it are loud in their praises of it. The sample received by Major Sleep is made of dark-blue cloth, and is somewhat of the same shape as the helmet worn by the police. It has a bronze spike on top, and a bronze chinstrap, and in the case of line regiments will have a badge and number in front. The helmets are very light, and are also cheap and durable. In summer they could easily have a white cover fitted.

The Legitimatb Dbama. —Mr Creswick, the actor, in making a farewell address to an audience in the Academy of Music, Melbourne, said : —My first engagement was for twelve nights ; it has been extended to ninetyone, and during that period, I have appeared in the plays of Shakspeare, Massinger, Sheridan-Knowles, Lytfcon, and others of a high dramatic order, with a success which has known no interruption. In a letter lately written to one of the daily journals of this city, the statement waß made that the manager of any theatre who should produce moral plays would be bankrupt in a few months. I desire therefore to call the attention of that writer to the fact that, during the last four months in this theatre, there have been produced no plays save those of a high class. I can only hope this simple fact may afford some comfort to that gentleman in the compunction he will, let us trust, feel for the gross slander he uttered.

The Fisheries Act. —A deputation from the fishmongers of Dunedin hare waited upon the Hon. James Macandrew with respect to the new Fisheries Act. The Hon. Mr Keynolds, the member for Port Chalmers, introduced the deputation, Messrs Melville and Innes. Mr Melville explained that the persons interested in the fish trade were anxious to prevent the destruction of small fish, especially of small flounders. In order to do this he thought the! it would be necessary to alter the law so that fish under a certain size should not be marketable. If the size of the meshes of the net were increased a great many useful fish would escape, and still it would catch small flounders, and therefore no good would result from it. For this reason they believed the new Act would be unworkable. Mr Macandrew at once telegraphed for two copies of the Fisheries Act, to be forwarded from Wellington, and requested the deputation to call again when he had copies of the Act before him, and to go over it with him, so as to point out where the Act was unworkable, and how it could be made effective.

Chinese Wool and Cotton Fabrics.— At the quarterly meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Captain Holt brought before the Chamber a sample of cloth, made by the Chinese from wool and cotton, and forwarded to him by Mr M. Synnot, of Melbourne. Some letters from the same gentleman explained that he was trying to induce the Chinese to use wool instead of cotton. He had sent over a quantity of wool at his own expense, but he could not afford to send any more, as it had to be sold at a very low price. He wished to get another £IOOO subscribed, and by the time that had been expended he calculated that the demand for wool would be so large that it would bear a fair price. This caused a discussion, during which very varying opinions were expressed as to the value to New Zealand of Mr Synnot's experiment. The matter ended by the Chamber voting £SO in aid of the enterprise, but it was understood that this contribution should be|in New Zealand wool to that value and not in cash.

Climatip Varieties. —While there has been a long drought in Canterbury, other parts of the colony have suffered from extremely rainy weather. The " Otago Times" learns from a correspondent that it has been an unusually wet season in the Lake district, and the floods have done considerable damage to the mining interests. The Wakatipu lake was so high that it encroaphed on several business premises abutting the Jakp, but the Water gradually receded. The waggon and poach traffic was stopped for some days. It has even been worse on the West Coast. The " Times" says : —The wretched weather experienced on the Coast for the last month or two is a continual source of unfavorable oomment from the residents, As yet we have had no summer weather at all, and, aB a oonsequence, the crops of vegetables and fruit are not nearly up to the mark. Business, too, is almost at a standstill, the drapers, especially, suffering severely. Yesterday morning heavy rain again set in, and' lasted all dav.

Mb Ovebend, Bailway Contractor. — Melbourne papers contain a notice of the death of the late Mr Best Overend, long known as a member of the firm of Overend and Eobb, railway contractors. Mr Overend was, at the time of his decease, engaged in superintending the construction of a line of railway from Kapunda to the north-west bend of the Murray, in South Australia, and intended to return to Yictoria about the 12th of December. The unusually fierce heat, however, seemed to have prostrated him, and on Thursday last he became so seriously ill that Mrs Overend, who was in Victoria, was telegraphed for, and started the same day for Adelaide, but arrived too late to see her husband alive. ' The' deceased : gentleman was an old colonist aind a successful contractor, the firm with which he was" connected having j carrjed put t)ie following large contract? I amongst pjcnepg:—Jjaunceston and Deloraine j Eaijway ;" the rcmpyjng frf the old landmark. ' ; fche fjrsfc section of the G-ce- "*" "-i-uj E&iiway,including the tupnel; ,' " long ana Sunbury Industrial rni p between Ararat and Hamilton arm

and Portland ; besides various contracts ai Oastlemaine, Tan Yean, and elsewhere m connexion withjthe waterworks department, and other contracts under the Government oi Victoria.

Sheffield.—The rain which continued to fall from Friday evening to Sunday morning has had a marked effect on the growing crops, and though late in the season it will tell favorably at harvest.

Lithofbacteue.—Six miners have been poisoned at Q-ympie through inhaling the fumes of burning lithofracteur. The accident was caused by a candle having been carelessly placed under a box of that material. One of the men has died, and two others are not expected to recover.

Anotheb Populab Lecttteee.—lt is said that the Rev. Arthur Mursell, a well-known English Baptist minister, and one of the most popular lecturers of the day, intends to pay a visit to New Zealand on a preaching and lecturing tour.

Supposed Incendiaeism.—The Minister of Justice notifies that the Q-overnor will grant a free pardon to any accomplice in the act of setting fire to the store of Boulston and Mcllroy, Kumara, whose evidence may faad to the and conviction of the principal offenders.

Reapeb and Binder Machine. The "Waitangi Tribune" states that a trial of one of Messrs Wood and Locke's reaping and binding machines was lately made in a paddock belonging to Mr M. Studholme, at Back Creek, at which about thirty settlers of that district were present. The trial was made on a self-sown crop of oats and wheat, and proved highly satisfactory; so that there is every probability that some of those machines will be in operation in the district during next harvest.

Eailway Rolling Stock.—The "Otago Times" mentions that the steam hammer at Port Chalmers is kept busily at work in preparing the necessary fittings for the construction of a number of railway waggons at Christchurch. A number of axles have been forwarded to Invercargill, and there are 100 in stock. The hands are now busily engaged in finishing buffers and break ends for fifty waggons, and preparations are in progress for the manufacture of a number of carriage wheels.

Quartz Beefs at Boss.—The "Ross Q-uardian" mentions that the Quartz-Mining Committee at Donnelly's Creek have opened up several leao ers, all of which are gold bearing. While congratulating the Ross Company on their prospects and the energy they have displayed in proving their ground, it is to be regretted nothing can be said in favor of the parties who hold the adjoining leases. There is not a man employed on any of them. They seem to be waiters upon Providence, and are perfectly content to let the prospectors do all the work for them.

Scandinavian Cynicism.—Among other morsels of town talk the London correspondent of the Melbourne "Argus" contributes the following : —That this poor old country of ours has been long ago effete and played out, everybody is well aware ; our trade is gone, and not worth pursuing; but Ido think "the Foreigner" who has stepped in and enriched himself at our expense might have a little more delicacy of feeling than Norway, for example, has exhibited. She is beginning to send over cargoes of coffins of Norwegian pine for our interment. It may, of course, .be only a delicate attention; but taken in connexion with the touching farewell of the Lord of Merthyr Tydvil to his workman, and with the withering satire of the American press, it looks cynical. Railway Coal Supply.—Forty-one tenders for the supply and delivery of coal to the colonial railways were rejected. The following is a list of those accepted, the order being the name of the railway tendered for, the name of contractors, the name of the coalmine, and the rake per ton:—Auckland, Taupiri Co., Taupiri, L.S., 6s; U.S., 4s. Auckland, W. G. Winstone, Newcastle, £2. Napier, J. H. Vautier, Newcastle, £2. Wellington, Brunner Coal Co., Qreymouth, £1 14s 6d. Foxton, W. R. Williams, Qreymouth, £2 7s. Wanganui, Cross and Brown, Qreymouth, £1 15s. New Plymouth, Webster Bros., Qreymouth, £1 16s lid. Picton, W. R. Williams, Qreymouth, £1 19s 9d. Nelson, James Stropp, Qreymouth, £1 14s 6d. Westport. Wellington Coal Co., Waimangaroa, 19s 6d, Christchurch, James Mills, Newcastle, £1 8s 9d. Timaru, C. W. Turner, Newcastle, £1 19s lOd. Oamaru, C. W. Turner, Newcastle, £1 15s lOd. Dunedin, James Mills, Newcastle, £1 8s 9d. Invercargill, James Milh, Newcastle, £1 9s 9d. A Home-bred Engineer..—lt was lately reported th»t the prize offered by the Hokitika Harbor Board for the best plan for harbor improvements had been awarded to an amateur engineer, Mr James Park. Commenting on this, the (1 West Coast Times " remarks: —To think that a young man, whose only acquaintance with the subjeot on which he ventured to compete with the first engineers of the colonies, should have gathered his knowledge by the hard experience gained in rafting timber from the Maori Reserve saw-mills, is almost incredible, but such is the case. That there could be no collusion, no unfairness, that everything was fair and aboveboard, that the best plan was adjudged the palm, and that the best engineer gained it, is shown by the fact that the whole of the plans—twenty-four in number —were transmitted by the Harbor Board for the suggestions of the Government engineers, that they were given the best attention to, and that Mr Park's plan was pronounced the best.

Presentation. —At the Christmas treat to the children attending the Broadfield school on Monday last, Mr Camfield, their teacher, was presented with a testimonial consisting of a handsome cabinet writing desk and a beautifully bound album. Mr Earley, on making the presentation, said—" Sir, I have much pleasure, on behalf of the parents of the children attending this school, in presenting you with this desk and album as a mark of our esteem and regard for you. We are satisfied that our children have ma le good progress under your management. We wish also to | testify our approval of the interest you take in our children and their amusements. We trust you will be spared to labor among us many years." Mr Camfield, in reply, said—- " Ladies and Gentlemen —To say that I thank you for your handsome present will but poorly 1 express my feelings. I do thank you most sincerely ; but what gives me most pleasure is the knowledge that I have given satisfaction. This is the second time during my career "ab a teacher that'l liavi been 'thuo honored.' % always try to do'my duty towards' the children under my cave, and fc Q instruct them to the best of my abijity. This has been a very arduous quarter on account of the number of children now attending the school. We have fifty-six qn the hooka, and a daily average of nearly forty-two, and you are all aware that • • -> —„ difficult to teach so many children i t ls > ,, ' - 4 ««ds without assistance ; working in iive stanu- . -«me fcfilp frr but I hope you will obtain me- . the next year, so that we rnay show gooa results when the inspector visits us.

Rifle Fibino.—There was some splendid shooting in the contest for the range prize in the third match at the Ota go Rifle Association's meeting. At 400 yards Private Nutsford, of the Bruce Rides, scored seven consecutive bull's eyes, while Private Crengh, of the City Guards, scored seven consecutive bull's eyes at 500 yards. The Guano Islands neab New Caledonia. —The New Caledonia correspondent of the Sydney "Herald" writes as follows: Our mercantile community was lately taken completely by storm by the manner in which the lease of four small guano islands to the north of New Caledonia, named respectively Surprise, Leleizour, Fabre, and Huon, were purchased from the Government. The iirst island was offered at an upset price of 100 francs (£4O) per annum ; when Mr Henoch sberg jumped from the first modest offer to 25,000 francs, attendant bidders were stunned, and little less so when he secured the whole lot, paying 55,400 francs per annum for a two years' lease, the collective upset price being 4500 francs. It is estimated that these islands contain about a quarter of a million tons of guano, of which 150,000 tons are of fine quality. A sample sent to an analytical chemist at Auckland is reported to be similar to the Maldon Island guano, and to contain 54-66 phosphate of lime and 24-13 carbonate of lime. The Maldon Island guano containß a little more phosphate and less carbonate of lime. We are informed that Mr Henochßberg has given to the settlers a quantity of guano, and that some of it is being tried on sugar plantations. Samples of it have been received in Sydney by Messrs Gibson and Hales, of George street. It seems probable that a good trade will be opened in this fertiliser, and that Sydney will reap some of its benefits. Me Curtis's Speech at Nelson. —The Nelson papers review rather unfavourably the speech recently delivered by one of the city members, Mr Curtis. The "Times " says : "Mr Curtis's speech, the worst we have yet heard him deliver, was a mere recapitulation of the events of the past session, of which too much has already been said, reported, wired, written, and paid for. Ere the proceedings were over one-third of the assembly had beaten a retreat. Those who remained were too weary to conform with the custom that rules a gentleman in the position that Mr Curtis occupied at least entitled to a vote of thanks at the conclusion of a post-ses-sional oration." The "Mail," reviewing the speech at greater length, says : —"Mr Curtis was not in good form last night. Those who went to hear him expected at least an interesting speech, and possibly some further information than they had already possessed with regard to the proceedings of the late eventful session, but in both instances were they disappointed. The manner of the address was by no means up to the speaker's usual style, while the matter was but a.dreary rechauffe of ' Hansard ' and press telegrams, with scarcely one original idea or suggestion. For the sake of the great Middle Party, of whom so much was at one time expected, it would have been better had the story of their rise and collapse by one of themselves been left untold. 'We were completely fooled' was the burden of Mr Curtis's narrative of > mts."

South Eakaia. —For some time | past travellers by the southern line of railway cannot fail to have noticed in course of erection, the large and commodious hotel which is situated opposite to the South Eakaia railway station platform, and which, thanks to the enterprise of the proprietor, Mr Sharp, has provided the travelling public and the South Eakaia residents also, with convenient accommodation. The building, which has been erected by Mr James G-oss, of Whately road, Christchurch, the well known contractor, from designs furnished by Mr T. S. Lambert, architect, is two Btoreys in height. Timber is the material used in its construction on a concrete foundation. The cellarage is ample for the requirements of a large trade, the walls, which are of concrete, being Bft. in height. The hotel is entered by a hall, Bft. in width by 35ft. in length, and the visitor's attention is at once attracted by the commercial room and dining room, which are separated from each other by folding doors, making, if required, one room 22ft. x 16ft. There is also a second dining room and two parlours, a bar parlour, and the bar, which has a separate entrance from the side of the hotel. The bedrooms on the first floor are ten in number, all fitted with improved ventilators invented by the architect. The downstairs rooms are provided with Arnot's patent ventilators, and fitted with register stoves. In addition to the hotel, Mr Sharp has a detached building in close contiguity, in which should occasion require he can readily make up eighteen beds. The painting and decorating work was entrusted to Mr "Williams, of Christchurch, who haß completed his part of the contract in an expeditious and thoroughly workmanlike manner. The neighborhood is to be congratulated on the possession of such a really commodious hotel. "What's in a Name. —The Corporation of Port Chalmers, in years gone bye, when a knowledge of the classics or the element of poetry was not widely diffused among the inhabitants, had great difficulty in selecting a motto for their seal, and it took some persuasion to prevent the Council adopting the words "Pro Bono Publico," which a Councillor had once seen in front of a tobacconist's shop, and considered to be somewhat appropriate. A similar difficulty has apparently arisen in connection with a new local steam launch. As reported in the " Daily Times" Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen wrote to the Harbor Board stating that it was their intention to launch the steam launch which they had built for the Board, and asked that the necessary arrangements should be made for naming the launch and otherwise. Mr Fish moved that it be called "The Eeynold's Launch." The chairman said that he did not approve of calling it after individuals, and thought'that they should give it a "useful name." The "Logan's Point Launch" and the "Chalmers' Launch" were then suggested. After some further remarks the chairman said that it would savour too much of toadyism if it were named after himself, but was ultimately prevailed upon by Messrs Fish and James Mills to accept the proffered complement. The launch was accordingly named "The Eeynolds," and was so'christened by Miss Eeynolds. On the p'ecasion of the 'christening Mr Eeynolda paid":—He wag sure that the work done in Messrs Kim-aid, M'Queen and Co.'o yard would do credit to any part of the world, for that firm had shown already what they could do in turning out such a piece of workman ship as the dredge that was now at work in the harbor. He had seen the dredge that had been brought out from Home at Lyttelton, and although he was not an expert in suoh matters, he considered the dredge made here superior to the imported one, although the atter had. coet more.