NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1200, 8 January 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Suez Mail. —Messrs Dalgety, Nichols and Co. have been advised by telegraph t hat the Arawata left Melbourne on Friday with the Suez mail. Postal. —The designation of the postoffice formerly known as White Cliffs Junction, in the Canterbury district, has been changed to Horndon Junction. Lyttelton School Train. —Mr Webb intimated yesterday at the meeting of the Board of Governors that he had seen Mr Conyers, who had promised to attach* a carriage to the 8.15 a.m. goods train leaving Lyttelton for Christchurch, to be used only by school children coming to Christchurch.

The New Building Society.— We learn that up to one o’clock over 1200 shares had been applied for in the Canterbury Building Society. This is sufficient evidence of its success. By advertisement, in another column, it will be seen that the first monthly meeting will be held this evening. A Jovial Jukyman. —During the criminal sitting yesterday a juryman of the name of Higgins, on answering to his name, exhibited unmistakeable signs of having been gazing upon the wine when it was red. In answer to a question from his Honor, he stated that he had had a glass of water, but admitted that it might have had a little qualifier in it. He was removed in custody, and at the rising of the Court was ordered to be locked up for the night.

Exteaoedinaey Egg. —A hen belonging to Mr Thomas Hay, of Lyttelton, has laid an egg which is worthv of special notice as being the largest yet known to have been laid in Canterbury. It weighs no less than 4ozs. ISidwts., and is considerably larger than any ordinary goose egg. The hen laying it was comparatively small, being a cross between the Brahma and red-breasted game. She has since laid several ordinary-sized eggs.

The Duty of Ceown Prosecutors.—At the sitting of the Supreme Court yesterday the foreman of the Grand Jury came into Court and complained that a great deal of time had been wasted by the witnesses in several of the cases sent up before them not being in attendance. His Honor remarked that it was the duty of those conducting the prosecution to see that the witnesses in the cases were in attendance, and not simply to appear in Court. Under the present system it seemed to be considered that appearance in Court to prosecute was all that was necessary. It was really time that some one was made responsible for the matter of the appearance of witnesses before the Grand Jury to support the indictments proffered to the Grand Jury. Billiaeds. —Mr Herbert Roberts, the champion hand-billiard player, gave the first of his exhibitions at Eadcliffe’s Hotel last evening. His first game was with a gentleman amateur, hand v. cue, in which the latter received 200 points in 000. Mr Roberts exhibited some very grand play, his manipulation of the balls being something wonderful to see. His best breaks were 105 and 99, and he won the match when his opponent was at 324. The amateur’s best break was 47. Subsequently Mr Roberfs gave an exhibition of fancy shots, in which he performed a number of feats which certainly are well worth seeing. He will play again this evening, when he will exhibit his skill with the cue, and as the price of admission is reduced we hope to see a larger number of spectators than attended last night. The games last night were carefully marked by J. Alexander. Canteebuev College. A protracted meeting of the Board of Governors was held yesterday. A long discussion took place on the Girls’ High School. Rev. Mr Habens moved, “That until the attainments of the lowest class for the time being in the Girls’ High School are such as the Board shall by resolution recognise as sufficient, no lower class shall be formed nor any pupil admitted to the school who is not, in the judgment of the Lady Principal, fit for admission to the lowest class.” Dr. Coward seconded the motion. The Primate moved, as an amendment, “ That for the present no lower class shall be formed in the Girls’ High School, nor any pupil be admitted who is not, in the judgment of the Lady Principal, fit for admission to the present lowest class.” The amendment was seconded by the Rev. C. Fraser. Mr Habens said the amendment contained all he desired, and obtained leave to withdraw his resolution, the Primate’s resolution be- _ coming the substantive motion. After remarks from Dr. Turnbull and Mr Harman, Mr Hamilton moved, as an amendment, “That no pupil shall remain in or bo received into the Girls’ High School until she shall have passed a satisfactory examination in such subjects as are required from pupils in the class of the East, and West Christchurch and the Normal schools.” Dr. Turnbull seconded the motion proforma. A long discussion followed. The chairman then put the question, “ That all the words after ‘ that’ in the Primate’s resolution stand part of the question,” with the following result: —Ayes, 6; noes, 6. The chairman gave his casting-vote with the ayes. The resolution was then put and carried. Misses Connon and Dunnage were appointed assistant teachers at that school. Nine plans of designs for a homestead at the model farm had been received, and the selection of the agricultural committee for first and second premiums was confirmed. On opening the sealed envelopes attached after the selection, it was found that the first premium had been awarded to Mr F. S (routs, architect, Christchurch, and the second to Mr J. Whitelaw, Sydenham. A site was selected for the Boys’ High School, and the Chairman intimated that steps would ihortty tie taken to form a School of Mines,

Political. —It is now generally expected that early announcement will be made of Mr Ballance having joined the Ministry as Minister of Lands—The fact of Mr Hutchison, late Mayor of Wellington, being in the Wairarapa on what is said to be a canvassing tour is accepted as pointing to the certainty of Mr Bunny’s appointment us Commissioner of Annuities. Another probable candidate for the prospectively vacant seat is a Mr Barton, a resident of the district. Elopement. —The correspondent of a Vic* torian provincial journal reports that the public of Melbourne have been surprised by the elopment of Mrs Derbin Willder, the wife of a well-known sharebroker, with a young gentleman, named Clutterbuck, to Tasmania, Much sympathy was felt for both parties, for Mr Willder was deservedly respected, while Mrs Willder was a vein talented and beautiful young lady, who will be missed from the block and social circ.cs The correspondent thus moralises on the matter:-“I am afraid city men—l speak generally, and make no reference to any particular case—do not stop at homo snllicientlT. In their eagerness to make money, they spend the most of their time in town, leaving their better halves to solitude or to dangerous com panionship. A wife should be courted after as well as before marriage.” Poverty Bay |Proqbessing. As a proof of the rapid strides of civilisation now taking place in Gisborne,the “Herald ” says“o» Sunday, taking a stroll down the Gladstone road, the observer would have seen, just as church was coming out, three objects in the distance, which at first resembled animated stove pipes, but on approaching it was soon apparent that they were nothing more nor less than three young bachelors in their go-to-meeting clothes, set off by three new black bell-toppers. The three young men looked so nice, so good, so respectable, and so awfully uncomfortable. They looked as if were all there, and at the same time as if they wished they were all somewhere else. But one may as well attempt to stay the mountain torrent in its course as to arrest the progress of civilisation in Gisborne, so we congratulate these young men on setting a good example.” Divorce,— London papers of November 11th thus report the case of Thomas v Thomas, tried before Sir R. J. Phillimore This was the petition of the wife for the dissolution of marriage on the ground of her husband’s bigamy and adultery. The respondent, a music hall singer, known as William Lingard, was married to the petitioner on April 3rd, 1861, at St. Ann’s Church, Limehouse, and they afterwards resided together at various places in and about London, there being issue of the marriage. A short time since the respondent went to Portsmouth to fulfill a professional engagement, and refused to take his wife with him, though she requested him to do so. While at Portsmouth he went through a ceremony of marriage with a woman of the name of Alice Dunning at the Registrar’s oilice, and lived with her, he going by the name of Needham at the time. These facts were shortly proved, and Sir Robert Phillimore pronounced a decree nisi, with costs, as prayed. Fire.— About six o’clock last evening the Lichfield street bell rang out an alarm of fire, and it was seen that a volume of smoke was issuing from a two-storey shed at the rear of Mr A. Osborne’s shop in Cashel street. The fire had originated in the lower portion of the shed which was used as a store-room for llax and other packing materials. A hole had been burnt through the floor into the upper portion, which was used as a carpenter’s shop. The brigade were quickly on the spot, and by the aid of a hand engine were enabled to stop the progress of the flames upward. In a few moments the body of the fire was reached, and a few buckets of water soon settled the possibility of any danger. It is not known how the fire originated. The lower part of the shed was locked, and the men had not been upstairs since mid-day. The building and contents were not insured; very little damage was however done. Mr .Superintendent Harris had the steamer placed at the Cashel street bridge, but fortunately its services were not required. Roland eor an Oliver.— A certain resident of Wellington, who appears to have been given to practical jt king, played a trick a few days ago, the result of which was rather serious, particularly to himself. As told by the “Argus,” his wife was lying asleep on a sofa when some friend suggested to her husband that it would be very funny if he gave her a galvanic shock. He proceeded to do so. Having taken down his battery he placed the positive and negative poles in her hands —one in each —and then turned the handle. The eifect was surprising. The woman had previously been in a calm and, no doubt, innocent sleep, but the instant she felt the “ shock ” she gave a shriek that might almost have awakened the dead. She did not comprehend exactly what had happened at first, but when she did find out she naturally lost her temper ; in fact, she became furious, and gave chase to her husband with a hatchet. As the man was endeavoring to get out of the room, he put his hand on the handle of the door to close it after him, and the woman made a blow at his hand with the hatchet. Unhappily the blow took effect, the result being that two of the man’s fingers were completely severed from the hand. Medical assistance was procured, and the unfortunate practical joker is now progressing favorably. The police will probably proceed against the woman. A Chinese Puzzle.—A Chinaman (soys the Wellington “Argus”) came to our office to-day for the purpose of making a complaint about something. He saw the publisher and said “Ning-po.” The publisher having a very imperfect acquaintance said he “didn’t know.” Then the Chinaman observed, “ Yang-1 se-Juang, welly good,” to which the publisher replied, “Oh, yes ! _ Hokianga.” Strange to say the Mongolian did not understand that. He remarked, “ no sabee.” Then < hc publisher thought be bad better cell up one of our reporters, who siys he lias been in China. But it turned out that the reporter could only court in Chinese, and that, he could not speak the language. The publisher asked the reporter to officiate as interpreter, and the reporter said, “ 1 don’t, know much about the language, but I’ll try him with a few figures.” Consequently he said to the Oriental, “ Yit ga sahm sit.” 'The Chinaman presently replied, “Why, that’s 1234. What’s that got to do with it? Why didn’t you say you spokee English ? ” Then he told the publisher that he came as a deputation from some of his countrymen, who had shipped at Melbourne for Hokitika, and who had been carried past that port by one of the Melbourne boats, which could not land them there on account of the bad weather. In consequence of this they were compelled to remain in Wellington; but it appeared that tho offence, if there was any offence at all, j was committed some eighteen months ago. The publisher referred Hue Chinaman to lawyer.

Behoving a Cobcse to New Zealand. —Wc read in the home papers that Mr roller applied to the Consistory Court for a faculty to remove the body of a young lady oairnd A inie -Tosepbene 1 . Smith, from Ivensal-grcen Cemetery to New Zealand. Recently she had come* (o England with her parents from Dunedin, Otago, on a visit, and died near Westbourne Bark, and been buried in one of the catacombs at Xensalgreen, and marked “ for removal.’ The father of the young lady laid given his consent to the removal of the remains to New Zealand, but had afterwards withdrawn it, and lie was now on his voyage to New Zealand. The family had contributed to the erection of St. Barnabas Church at Dunedin, and (he young lady had selected a spot for her burial, and, before she died in London, implored her mother to carry out her wishes and to have her removed for interment. The mother wished to return to New Zealand, and to convey (he remains of her child to Otago. The learned Chancellor said lie should grant (lie application, notwithstanding that the father had objected to tho removal, on an affidavit that the young lady was of age and had died intestate and without property.