NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1202, 10 January 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sklwyn County Council.—A special meeting of this Council, convened by the chairman, was to have been held to-day. On the Council assembling, however, it was found that by the amended Counties Act, 1877, a special meeting could only be called by a requisition from three members in counties where ( he Act had not been wholly brought into force. The opinion of a solicitor was taken on the subject, and ultimately the Council separated without transacting any business. Mr Rolleston intimated that when the Council again met he should tender his resignation as chairman.

Eailway Employees.—A meeting of railway employees will be held at the Oddfellows' Hall this evening, to consider "redress of grievances." Fire.—At three o'clock yesterday afternoon a fire occurred at Mr Hopper's bakery, Addington, which might have caused a large amount of damage had there not been a large supply of water and willing hands available. As it was the greater part of the roof of the bakehouse waß burnt off. How the fire occurred was not ascertained, but it is supposed some wood about the ovens must have been smouldering for some time before bursting into a blaze.

Bakees' Picnic—A meeting of bakers to arrange for the annual picnic was held last evening at the Golden Fleece Hotel, Mr Hawker in the chair. The programme as submitted by the committee was adopted, and it was agreed to start at 8.30 a.m. on the 16th instant to the farm of Mr Miller, HarewDod road. Messrs Taylor and Whitfield were appointed to act as marshals, and it was also decided to accept the tender of Mr Button for a band to perform during the day. Mr P. Taylor was appointed as treasurer, after which the meeting adjourned.

Ceicket Matches for Saturday.— Eleven v. Fifteen—The former will be represented by Messrs J. Allen, D. Ashby, C. Corfe, M. Godby, E. Fowler, J. Fowler, J. Hartland, H. W. Moore, W. F. Neilson, A. M. Ollivier, E. 0. J. Stevens, and G. Watson. The Fifteen will be Messrs Austen, Alington, Beaumont, Dickinson, W. Frith, E. Fuller, L. Mathias, W. G. Morrison, R. Macdonnell, W. Millton, C. Peter, E. Palmer, T. S. Sweet, T. Skelton, A. C. Wilson, and J. Wood — M.C.C.C. Second Eleven v. St. Crispin's CO., on the ground of the former ; play to commence at 2 p.m. punctually. The following players have been elected to represent the M.C.C.C.:—Messrs Austen, Barringer, Fairhurst, J. Horner, Morice, Parker, Reeder, Reeves, Row, Q-. A. Turner, and Warner. Emergencies—Stewart and W. Horner.

The Loan and Investment Company.— A meeting of the Loan and Investment Company of New Zealand, Limited, was held at the registered office, Joynt's Building, Hereford street, yesterday, Mr John Inglis in the chair. The chairman stated that the business of the day was to confirm the special resolution passed at the last meeting. It was fchen proposed by Mr T. P. Baber and seconded by Mr George Hart —" That the following special resolution, passed on the sth December, 1877, be now confirmed, viz.:—'That the company be wound up voluntarily, and that the following persons be appointed liquidators, viz. : Messrs Peter Cunningham, John Inglis, Edward Cephas John Stevens, George Gatonby Stead, Charles Wesley Turner, Robert Wilkin, and Edward George Wright.'" This was carried unanimously. The chairman then stated that it was expected that the settlement with the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Limited, would be completed within a few days, and that the liquidators had calculated for the full distribution of the assets upon the basis of a bonus of Hi per cent., in addition to the paid-up capital. Notice would be sent to shareholders as soon as possible.

Death from Feight.—A little girl, named Julia Davis, died in Melbourne lately through sheer fright. On the way home from school she saw another girl knocked down by a dray and run over. A post mortem examination revealed the fact that death resulted from congestion of the brain from the undue excitement.

The "Old Hakds."—For some years past the "old hands" have been fast disappearing from the ranks of the prisoners at the Pentridge Stockade, and in a few years more, says the "Argus," there will be but few left to represent the early convicts from Norfolk Island and the adjacent colonies. It is stated that in the year 1862 there were at Pentridge between 400 and 500 prisoners who had been transported from home. At the present time the number is reduced to a mere fraction.

Wylde v. Bank of New Zealand. —At the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Saturday, before their Honors the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Richmond, the case of Wylde v. the Bank of New Zealand, which was partly heard the previous day, was resumed, and the Court ordered the rule to be made absolute, with costs against the plaintiff. The matter arose out of an appeal against a decision of the Resident Magistrate at Reefton on the ground of want of jurisdiction. Mr Izard appeared in support of the application, and Mr Gordon Allan, for Mr Hart, on the other side.

The Fatal Yacht Accident at Newcastle. —The following particulars of the fatal yacht accident at Newcastle, in which four lives were lost, are supplied by the correspondent of the Sydney "Evening News ": " It appears that a man named Williams, keeper of an oyster saloon and restaurant, Hunter street, started for Port Stephens on Sunday, December 23rd, in his yacht. He was accompanied by Charles Holger, his employe, and two young men, supposed to be sailors, but whose names are unknown. They sailed out to sea right enough, the yacht going well, and was apparently ably managed. When three miles off Nobby 'e, however, a southerly gale sprang up, and a squall unexpectedly striking the frail little craft, she capsized. The accident was observed from the lighthouse, and Captain Allan, the harbormaster, at once chartered the steamtug Bungaree, and proceeded quickly to the spot. A considerable time was spent in looking for traces of the party, but, unfortunately, not one of them was to be found. They had evidently all gone down. There are some very curious incidents connected with the affair. Mrs Williams intended accompanying the party, but went back to change her bonnet, but she changed her mind at the same time, and so stopped at home. Two ycung men also changed their minds at the last minute, and refused to go in consequence of the threatening appearance of the weather. The police have been searching the beach, bufcmotrwoof the missing bodies we i'cuuti."

leon Buggies.—An attempt has been made by an inventor, resident at Berlin, in the Maryborough district, Victoria, to introduce iron buggies into use. All ccachbuilders have hitherto intermixed iron with wood, but Mr Alexander Jamieson has constructed a vehicle which consists exclusively of iron and steel. For instance, in place of hickory spokes and oak felloes, he has employed wrought iron tubes and T iron. The tubes fit into the axle-box at one end, and are rivitted to the T iron at the other. The first noticeable effect of the employment of iron for all parts has been to add to the weight of the vehicle. This has accrued in spite of the thinness of the parts. The cost also has been enhanced, but strength and durability are regarded as a full equivalent for the increase of cost. The vehicle has a neat look, and an appearance (if not a reality) of lightness which renders it attractive. Stephen Massett.—An Auckland telegram reports the appearance in that city of Stephen Massett, elocutionist, reader, humorist. "Taliite," of the "Australasian," has the following reference to the gentleman alluded to : —I have received a letter informing me that Mr Stephen Massett, whose 110 m deplume and nom de theatre —for he is both actor and author —is " Jeems Pipes, of Pipesville," has renewed his intention of coming again to Australia. With the letter has come also a photograph which tells me that this pleasant entertainer is not now the dapper young man he was when he was here twenty years ago, but that he has grown grey and furrowed. But if the picturo tells the truth, he has lost none of the cheery brightness he had at that time. He was truly a merry companion, and I remember most agreeably how well able he was to amuse an audience during a couple of hours without any aid to his own efforts. If he has not lost his cunning he will be welcome, and if he has he will be welcome still, for old acquaintance sake, to those who knew him when he was here before.