NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1097, 4 January 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Durham Steeet Wesleyan Ohttech.— The Rev J. S. Smalley will hold divine service in tire Scandinavian language in the Durham street Wesleyan Church on Sunday next at 4 p.m. Eybeton Railway. —On Thursday morning the engine on this line broke down so that the train due at Kaiapoi at 8.45 was delayed in its arrival till 10.10 a.m. It is said an accident occurred to the regulator of the engine, which on reaching Kaiapoi shed was promptly repaired. Gaol Rettjens. —According to the returns of the chief gaoler, there were 130 prisoners in Lyttelton gaol during the month of September, all being males; in Addington 93, 66 males and 27 females; and in Timaru gaol 50, 45 males and 5 females. Salmon. —On Thursday morning 4000 young American salmon were turned out in the north branch of the Waimakariri river at Hassall’s ford. These, with the number turned out a week or two ago, make 6000 put out this season in this river, and a further lot of 4000 will be placed in the same stream at Perrin’s ford. Lyttelton Colonists’ Society.—A meeting of the committee of this society was held on Wednesday evening. The usual routine business was transacted, and a resolution was passed requesting the hon. treasurer to bring up a report of the financial position of the society, to be considered at the February meeting. City Guards. —A meeting of the company was held after parade last evening, in the orderly-room ; Lieut. Woolfe in the chair. The Volunteer regulations were read and discussed at length. After which it was decided, in the absence of the captain, to adjourn the meeting until Thursday evening next, when the annual balance-sheet will be brought up. Robbeey neae White’s Beidge. —On Wednesday during the absence of the owner and his family, Mr Clark’s house on Coutt’s Bridge road was broken into. The burglar entered by one of the back windows, and carried off a purse from a coat which was suspended from the wall containing a £5 note and half-sovereign. Immediately on Mr Clark’s return he reported his loss to the police, who are making every effort to bring the offender to justice. Loyal Benevolent Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M'.U. —The usual half-yearly meeting of this lodge was held on Monday, December 31 st, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing term : —N.G., Bro. F. Mulholland; Y.G., Bro. W. Haywood; E.S., Bro. J„ Greay ; trustees, P.G.’s Bros. L. Bergh and J. W. Morton; treasurer, P.G. Bro. Biulbert. G.M., Bro. McCormick was appointed lecture master. Upwards of £4O subscriptions were received.

Accident at Doyleston.- On Wednesday last, whilst Mr John Rennie was superintending the handling of a young horse in one of McCormack’s reapers and binders, the animal took fright and played up very violently. Mr Rennie stuck to him until thrown to the ground, and was much injured, having two ribs broken and being greatty bruised and shaken. The machine also was considerably damaged. Wesleyan Conference. —The fifth New Zealand Conference will meet in the Manners street Church, Wellington, on Thursday, January 17th. As the one prior to the General Conference, considerable importance (says the "Wesleyan”) will attach to the discussions, and to the recommendations made upon matters on which legislation is desired.' Exported Stock. —By the s.s. Taupo Mr Marcrcft shipped for Napier twenty £incbjp rams. They were all young sheep, and very line specimens of the shipper’s Hock. They are consigned to Mr Matthew R. Miller, of Napier. By the same steamer Mr C. P. Threlkeld shipped twenty two-tooth Lincolns for Napier, and six Leicesters and six Lincolns for Auckland. All were bred by Mr Threlkeld, and certainly are quite equal to anything ever exported from that gentleman’s well known flock. The Island Lily takes four Romney Marsh rams to the Chathams for Mr T. O. Hay. From their known adaptability to marsh lands these sheep should prove of immense advantage to the Chatham Islanders.

Ms. Chivies. —We (“Press”) are sorry to hear that the rumours which have been floating about during the last week that Mr Ollivier was about to lose his appointment, have been too well founded. We now hear that the Government notified to Mr Ollivier by letter, which he received op the 20th December, while in the discharge of his public duties in the south, that his services were dispensed with on the 10th of that month, and that they did not contemplate availing themselves of those services in the future, but that the Commissioners of Audit would henceforth 'discharge all those duties heretofore devolving upon him. Wo understand that no allusion was made to any compensation for the loss of bis office. Wo regret to hear that all previous communications bearing on the sub ject nave been treated with neglect. The public of Canterbury will surely see that justice' is lone to one who we consider deserves better usage than this for long and devoted service in the general welfare of those whose interest A wuij his duty to protect.

The Auckland Shake Market. —The Auckland sharebrokers are complaining bitterly of the dulness in business. It usually happens at the close of a year (says the “Herald”) that stock dealing is slack, but the improved business throughout this year, as compared with several of its predecessors, led the brokers to anticipate that the extreme inertness which usually picvails at this time would not be so great on the present occasion. Unfortunately it is so, as a glance at the daily price list only too plainly indicates. Extraordinary Eel Story.— The following wonderful eel story is told by the '• Bruce Herald”:—“ The boldness of an eel in the Tokomairiro river, as displayed in an attempt it made to have a fowl for Boxing Day’s dinner, was something remarkable. A farmer’s wife was washing a fowl in the north blanch, and the eel seeing it attempted to rescue it, A contest ensued for possession of the fowl, the woman pulling one way, and the eel the other. Finally the cel secured the j fowl, which was afterwards taken from it some distance away with part of the breast eaten off.”

Picnic.— On New Year’s Day the Disciples of Christ meeting in the Oddfellows’ Hull, Lichtield-street, held their annual Church and Sunday school picnic at Ladbrook’s station. It was a most successful affair. The party, numbering 120, left Christchurch by the early morning train, and on arriving at the scene selected for their festivities partook of breakfast generously provided by their friend, Mr W. 0. Ladbrook, after which the various games of the day were begun. Dinner and tea were also provided by their liberal host. Just before leaving, Mr Bates, evangelist, proposed a vote of thanks to their kind friend and brother Mr Ladbrook, who had not only permitted them the use of his paddock, but had fitted up a canvas pavilion and furnished it with tables, seats, and eatables for their special convenience. The vote was universally responded to, and, with three cheers more for Mrs Ladbrook, the party left for the station just in time to return by the last train from Southbridge. Board of Education.— An important meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday afternoon, at which there was a full attendance of members. By an order of the Governor-in-Council the election of the new Board has been postponed for a month. The meetings of householders to elect school committees will be held on the last Monday in January. The nominations of the two members of the Board of Education to be elected by the school committees will take place at the end of February, and the whole of the elections will be completed on April 15th. It is anticipated that the new Board will take office on April 30th. The Education Department intimated that the January examination of teachers could be held, provided the results affected classification only. A report of the meeting appears elsewhere Gambling in Hotels.— Mr Revell, E.M. at Grey mouth, fined a hotelkeeper named Seebeck the sum of £lO, with 24s costs, and 15s costs of witnesses, for allowing gambling in his licensed house. The game that was played was lotto, and though a strong defence was set up by Mr Guinness, the magistrate, upon the conclusion of the case, strongly hinted to the police that if they intended proceeding against publicans for permitting gambling to be carried on in their houses, there was higher game and plenty of it in Greymouth. He remarked that he had upon many occasions received private letters calling attention to the prevalence of gambling in hotels and publichouses, and complaining (hat young men who were not in a position to lose were out playing night after night. If any persons holding licenses for such places were brought before him he would know how to deal with them. Mr Guinness gave notice of appeal, and the usual bonds were entered into. Wholesale Larceny. —On Thursday evening last, at Kumara, a man named William Speers was arrested, charged with larcenies innumerable. From information received during the last month the police were aware that a number of petty thefts had been committed in Kumara, and they have been on the alert to discover the delinquent. On Boxing Day a robbery of a more than usual magnitude took place at M’Donald’s Hotel in Dillman’s Town, where the thief took £5 or £t> in money, a silver watch, and a quantity of wearing apparel belonging to a lodger. From this last he took even the hat and boots. Circumstances caused Speers to be suspected, and he was arrested on Thursday, when he was found to bo wearing the missing watch and boots. Ho appears (says the Kumara paper) to have been carrying; on a regular system of promiscuous thieving, as in his lodging place has been found a quantity of clothing of every description, from, miners’ trousers and vests to women’s underclothing. Many of the articles have been identified by their owners. Speers was brought before the Resident Magistrate and remanded.

Crowded Out. —The “ West Coast Times” reports that a visitor who arrived in Hokitika from some distance along the Christchurch road, on Wednesday evening last, with the greatest difficulty managed to secure a bed for the night, so crowded were all the hotels. He called at no less than seven —the Empire, Cafe, Swan, Rost Office, Red Dion, Diggers’ Anns, and the Cleveland. All these and many more were full that evening, even to every available space on the floors. At last he appeared to stumble across a wakeful Samaritan, who was likewise a visitor, but who volunteered to spare him a hed, after this fashion :—“ I say mate, shout, and you can have my bunk. It’s paid for, but I mean to have a ’hop.” Stranger No. I was contemplating the occupation of the sea beach for the night, but now he only hopes his friend enjoyed the “hop” as much as his weary limbs did the proffered bunk.

Desperate Suicide. —The death of Mr Zachariahlßoult, a farmer of Arahun, and an old resident on the West Coast, were recently reported to have happened under very painful circumstances. It appears, says the “ West Coast Times,” that on Friday evening Dr. Jpermott Was Sent' for to visit Mr Boult, whose behaviour hud been very strange lor a little time past. Dr. Dermott recommended that ho should be taken to the asylum, and promised to bring a constable out the next morning to bring the unfortunate man to town. However, Mr Cunningham, Mr Boult’s partner, agreed to watch him during the night, ami drive him to the policestation on Saturday morning, Bio was accordingly placed in a spring-cart between Mi* Cunningham, who was driving, and another man. Crossing the Arahura bridge about U o’ clock on ‘Saturday evening, Boult made a sudden spring from the cart, jumped through the side rail into the river, and was drowned. Mr Cunningham reported the matter to the police, who have since been searching for tile body, but up to this time without success.

Serious Shooting Case. —The ‘‘Mail” reports that on Christmas Day a somewhat serious case of shooting and wounding occurred in Oamaru. It appears that several hoys, amongst whom wore two named Janies Scott and Michael Vail, both about seventeen years of age, wore amusing themselves on the neaeb, having a carbine with them. One of t he party seems to have thrown a stone at the lad Scott, whether with any deliberate intent lo injure him or not does not appear to be known. Scott, it is stated, picked up the carbine, loaded it with blank cartridge, and. turning to Vail, asked him if he had thrown the stone. Vail replied that he had not done so. Scott then r.iised the carbine and deliberately discharged its contents into \ ail’s face, the distance between them at the time being less than two yards. The effects of the discharge was greatly lessened through Vail having a cap on with a hard “peak,” but his face was completely marked with powder spots, while his left eye was severely injured. Scott was shortly afterwards arrested by the police, and was brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning on a charge of shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm, but the lad Vail being unable to attend to give evidence, the case was remanded until the following day. Startling Explosion. — A most laughable incident occurred on the Auckland wharf a few days ago, which caused great amusement to those who witnessed the affair. It appears, according to the “N.Z. Herald,” that among the cargo intended for shipment to Gisborne by the s.s. Go-Ahead was a couple of kegs of yeast which hail lain in the A.S.P. Co.’s store overnight. During this period the “yeast” must have “ risen,” and created a great pressure on the end of one of the kegs, foi’, on attempting to remove it, a loud explosion was heard, and four men were instantly afterwards seen on the stampede from the company’s store on the main wharf, splashed with a semi-liquid, indescribable for the time being. Several bystanders rushed to the scene of the explosion, laboring under the delusion that it was a case of “ dynamite,” but were sorely vexed to discover that the explosive material was of a much “ softer ” nature. The second keg not seeming as if it would stand handling was ordered to be tapped, and a large augur being procured, a hole was bored ; but before the operator could get out of the way, a volume of yeast issued and struck him on the stomach, much to the disfigurement of Ins general appearance, but to the groat delight of the onlookers. The effects of the first explosion are now visible on the roof of the A.S.P. Co.’s shed, and were the means of drawing a number of persons to see them.

Photography under Dtfi-iculties.—A representative of Messrs Burton Bros., photographers, Dunedin, has been camped in various directions among the West Coast ranges for over two months. With the fearful weather experienced of late, it may (says the “Times”) be imagined that in seeking the most picturesque spol s of our delightful scenery, no small amount of discomfort has had to be endured by him. When camped at the head of the Waimakariri during the recent floods, he had to undergo a short term of semi-starvation. Ho allowed himself to get reduced to one day’s provisions, and he had entrusted his horse to a friend to procure fresh supplies. The rivers rose in the meantime, and at the end of seven days there was no sign of the friend, the horse, or the tucker. Finding it impossible to reach any dwelling, he betook himself to the mountains, where he had espied one or two sheep a few weeks previous. After a day’s hunt his famished maw was appeased at the expense of a neighboring squatter, who was subsequently informed by the hungry artist that he would be minus one of his flock at shearing time. The said photographer has taken an immense number of views between Christchurch and Hokitika, particularly around the Otira Gorge. He intends to complete a collection of six to seven hundred views, after which he proceeds to Okarito to take the Waiho Gorge and Glacier. The negatives have been forwarded by him to Dunedin.