NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1099, 7 January 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Addition to Shipping List.—Mr C. W. Turner has added the handsome barquentine George Noble to his fleet of vessels, having purchased her recently. She is coming to Tjyttelton shortly with a cargo of coals from Newcastle. Bank of Austbalasia.—The G-rey mouth branch of the Bank of Australasia closed its doors on the 31st December, and its business has been transferred to the local branch of the Union Bank of Australia. The agent, Mr Jesse King, proceeds to Victoria.

Coal at Wellington.—Mention was lately of a coal seam having been found in the neighborhood of Wellington. The situation seems to be the beach at Lowry Bay, and there is some talk of putting a drive in to test its extent and quality. Bbtjtality.—John Bird, a person of brutal instincts, was lately fined only £7 for having, at Marton, cruelly ill-used a horse by " hacking at its throat with a knife until it died," because it happened to stumble while he was riding it. ';'.,e alternative was two months' imprisonment, but the fine was paid. Ttie Champion Yacht.—The Spray, the winner of the Champion Yacht race at the Lyttelton Regatta, was taken to Dunedin in the s.s. Taranaki on Saturday. The Winona sailed on Friday night, but the heavy easterly breeze and sea made her put back. She made another start on Saturday morning when the weather moderated.

Rocket Accident.—During the display of fireworks at Wellington, on New Year's Eve, a rocket diverged, and struck a boy named Blake. He was not injured by the stick, but his clothes were set on fire, and he was dreadfully burnt about the thighs and abdomen, with some danger of inflammation setting in. Lyttelton Wharves.—lt is notified by the General Manager of the Canterbury railways, that henceforth " No labour will be permitted on the Lyttelton wharves unless such labour is employed by the Department, and that the system hitherto obtaining of consignees employing their own men must be entirely discontinued." Thbeshing Machines. —One of Messrs Ruston and Proctor's threshing machines is now at work in the Ellesmere district, the same having been imported by Messrs Jameson Brothers and Co., and introduced into the district by Messrs Ruddock and Co. It is claimed for this description of machine that it possesses appliances of peculiar advantage in threshing and in cleaning the seed. Obitttaby.—The "Akaroa Mail" records the death of Mr Thomas Kay, an old and much respected resident of Pigeon Bay, which occurred at his residence at that bay on the Ist instant, at about 1 p.m. Mr Kay had been seriously ill for some time, so that his death was not unexpected. The melancholy event, however, taking place at the hour and on the day which it did, cast a gloom over the locality. The deceased leaves a widow, and a family mostly grown up. Impoetation of Blood Stock.—A shipment of choice and valuable blood stock has been brought out in the s.s. City of Santiago, which lately arrived at Melbourne. The importation comprises the brood mare Zelpha, half-sister to Pero Gomez, which is in foal to the celebrated racehorse Lecturer, and has a bay colt foal at foot by the same Bire ; the brood mare Catspaw, by Bedesman, also in foal to Lecturer; and a bay entire colt, one year old, out of Catspaw, by Wild Moor. These thoroughbreds have been secured by Mr Richard Holland, of Turretfield, S.A., who has come with them, and they have arrived in admirable order and condition.

Ellesmere Spobts.—A meeting of the committee was held at Loe's Leeston Hotel on Saturday last. Present, all the members, Mr Bourn in the chair. The business was the consideration of protests and allocation of prizes. A protest against Strike-a-light was admitted, so that Miss Bristle gained the first prize, atad Lady Caledon divided the second with Auckland Boy. A protest against Phillips was admitted on two counts, so that Toshack took first prize with Queenie, and Kcllaghan second with Major. A protest against Lavery, as not being a district man, was not allowed. The prizes were then allocated, and, so far as possible, distributed. Hebefoed Street Baptist Church.— The Sunday scholars meeting in this church held their annual treat on New Year's Day at Mr Innis's paddock, Cash el street East. On arriving at the paddock the children dispersed to amuse themselves by playing cricket, ruuning races, &c. During the day various prizes were distributed. A marquee was erected on the ground for the convenience of having dinner and tea, which were also provided for the parents and friends of the children. The day was fine, and the teachers catered well for the scholars. After a hymn had been sung, the children dispersed, having spent a happy day. Russell's Plat.—Friday was a red-letter in the local calendar. The post-office was opened in the morning, Mr John Yates being the first postmaster, and Mr T. Henry carrier of the mail. In the afternoon the Sunday school was entertained by Mr Rutledge at his residence, and, the teachers and children of the day school being also invited, there was a large party. Cricket, racing, &c., were heartily enjoyed, after which the company sat down to an ample supply of good things in the marquee. Beading, singing, etc., followed, and at last a children's spelling bee, the words being given from the Pkess. Prizes for the three best were given by Mr J. Thompson, master of Ashley school, and Mr R. Pole, master of this district school. The winners were in this order:—Ellen Craighead, John Ward, Jane Ward : H. Robertson beiug very near them. Three cheers were given for Mr Rutledge, superintendent, Mr Thompson, and Mr Pole. Wakanui School Committee.—A meeting of this committee was held at the schoolroom on Tuesday, January Ist. Present— Messrs J. S. Bruce (chairman), D. Wilson, J. Bennett, 11. Kennedy, D. Leddy, P. Innes, W. Innes. A circular from the Board of Education was read, requesting that a report of the proceedings of the committee for the past year be furnished to the Board. It was resolved that the chairman be requested to prepare and forward a report accordingly. Prom the same, directing the attention of the committee to section 13 of the new Education Act, and requesting the committee, in pursuance of that section, to transmit to the Board the names of two persons qualified to be members of the Education Board of the district of North Canterbury. Resolved—- " That Messrs Bruce and Wilson act as a deputation to the Ashburton school committee to ascertain whom they desire to nominate as members of the new Board of Education, and to report at a special meeting, 'to be held oh the 11th instant, at 7 p.m." This resolution was pasted in order that the views of the two committees might coincide as to the most eligi* bjc to be yetyraf4 fof tbe dietrich

Mortality.—The " Post " notices, as a probable consequence of defective sanitary arrangements, that the deaths in Wellington in December numbered sixty-three, by far the largest number yet recorded, fn the same month last year the number was thirty-four.

Racing Sweepstakes.—Nebon H>ems to be particularly favored by fortune in the drawing of racing sweeps, Mr Alexander Mackay was the drawer of £IOOO on the Melbourne Cup, and Mr Alexander McGI-ee, on the Champion Stakes, drew £IOOO for himself and eight others.

Fire Escapes.—A new lire escape ordered by the Dunedin Fire Brigade from England, is expected to arrive about the end of February. Before shipment on the Piako it was tested by Captain Shaw, of the London Fire Brigade. Kakanfi Meat-worksi. The " North Ota"0 Times " states that the bookings ot sheep for deliverv at the Kakanui Meat Preserving Works have readied the number of 16,000. Only 1000 more are required to complete the minimum supply required by the company. Shooting at Oawakf.—James Scott, a lad of seventeen years, charged with shooting another lad named Michael Vail in the face on Christmas Day, has been committed for trial at the next sittings of the District Court, Oamaru.

Life Sentence Prisoners.—A telegram states that it has been resolved to remit the sentences of life sentence prisoners in Victoria, The statement would be alarming were it not for the explanation of the "Argus" that under the regulations only three men will be liberated between the present time and 1883. ARCADES.—Wellington, like Dunedin, now possesses its Arcade, which was crowded when it was opened the other evening, brilliantly lighted, and with a baud of music present. There is a second storey of booths, which have yet to be opened. An Adventurer.—Whin the Hawea was in Harrison's Cove, Milford Sound, a bottle was found containing a document dated 19th December, stating that the writer, D. Sutherland, with his dog, in a boat 13 feet keel, had put in there en route from the Sound to Jackson's Bay. He stated he was captain, cook, and steward ; the dog his crew. Marine Phenomenon.—Captain Home, of the barque Palace, which arrived at Port Chalmers on Thursday, states that when off Banks's Peninsula, oh the 31st ultimo, ho witnessed a very singular phenomenon, the sea being perfectly smooth at the time, and covered with thousands of jets of water about the thickness of pipe-stems', varying in height from two to three feet. No fish were observed, and Captain Home is at a loss to account for the peculiar appearance of the ■wattr. .