NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1216, 26 January 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Magistebial.—The only case brought before the Resident Magistrate this morning was that of James Dooley, who was fined five shillings for drunkenness. Christchubch Chess Cittb.—The annual meeting of this club was held last evening at Radcliffe's Hotel. A very favorable report was submitted by the secretary, and the treasurer's statement showed a credit balance. After the election of officers for the ensuing year, a committee was appointed to select players for the approaching contest with the Dunedin Club. It was decided that the general practice night should be altered from Thursday to Tuesday. The New Bye-Law.—lt may bfl notiepi that the bye law of the City Council with regard to the pace of driving round corners, ie broken persistently by drivers of vehicles We believe that steps are in course of being taken which will result in the appearance c»i several offeuding drivers before the Beeident Magistrate. A few fines inflicted will, »o doubt, Ji&ve a salutary effect,

Mobth Otago Tubp Club. —Several of the most influential of the stewards who last year disqualified Fishhook have consented to :ict as stewards this year, including the Hon. Mr Campbell, Messrs Studholme, Steward, and others. G-bavino Dock foe Lyttelton.—At the meeting of the Harbor Board in Lyttelton, yesterday, a report recommending the construction of a graving dock was read, and a resolution was passed recommending the appointment of au engineer to prepare the necessary plans, specifications, and estimates. Doubtless all interested in the harbor will warmly approve of the action of the Board in this matter.

St. John's Pbesbytebian Cntrßcn. — The Presbyterian Sunday school children of Lyttelton hold their annual picnic on Thursday last. About 170 children and adults left Port by the 9.20 a.m. train, and proceeded to Addington, whence they walked to Taylor's G-ardens, where a very happy day was spent. A number of beautiful toys were presented to the children, who seemed much delighted. The party returned from Addington by the 7.10 p.m. train.

Depabtube of the Austbalian CbtckETEB3. —The Australian Eleven arrived in Lyttelton by the 7.45 p.m. train, and at once proceeded on board the s.s. Taranaki, which was waiting for them at the screw pile jetty. When the steamer's lines were cast off the crowd on the wharf gave three cheers, which were replied to by the Australians. The only other demonstration was made by the licensee of the British Hotel, who ran a flag up and down, tried to fire a gun which did not go off, and rang the dinner bell in a most enthusiastic manner.

Hansen's Sweep.—ln accordance with the notice given relative to the late drawing of Evans and Hansen's sweep on the Champion Bace, the committee met to consider the complaints made in connection with it. The whole question was thoroughly opened up, and several letters addressed by ticket-holders were read. One of them represented some eighty subscribers, and all requested a third and final drawing. After great consideration the committee resolved on drawing accordingly, and the drawing is appointed to take place this evening in Hokitika. Masonic.—The installation of the E.W.M. and officers of the Eobert Burns Lodge was celebrated last evening by a banquet at Wearing's Terminus Hotel. The chair was occupied by Bro. J. L. Fleming, the E.W.M. elect, and there was a goodly muster of brethren, alike of the Lodge celebrating its anniversary and those of sister Lodgos. Host Wearing's providing was of the very best description, the spread being excellent in all its details. The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and duly responded to, and the brethren separated after spending a very pleasaat evening. Count de Zaba. —This gentleman gave a lecture on the best method of imparting a knowledge of Universal History and Literature, at the Church of England schoolroom, Lyttelton, on Thursday evening last. One would have thought that the good object for which the lecture was given—the enlargement of the Sunday school—would have sufficed to fill the room, apart from any interest in the subject chosen, but such was not the case, only about forty being present. The Count not only explained his method of tuition, whicli has already been referred to in these columns, but illustrated the subject by means of two of his Christchurch scholars, who acquitted themselves admirably. The Eev. Mr Townsend occupied the chair and introduced the lecturer, and at the conclusion of the address Mr H. R. Webb moved, and Mr J. Yule seconded, a hearty vote of thanks to the Count for his kindness, which was carried with acclamation.

SOLDENE OPEBA COMPANY. —At the Theatre Royal last evening the comic opera " G-enevieve de Brabant" was repeated, and elicited shouts of laughter and enthusiastic applause. Especially amusing were the answers given by Drogan in the competitive examination which he had to submit to in order to prove his fitness for the post of page, and the numerous puna which were introduced into the dialogue. Miss Soldene was in excellent voice, and acted with that plan which characterises her. The "Sleep Song" was sung by her most charmingly, the audience preserving a profound silence —the highest compliment that can be paid to an artist. So, too, with the air "United," so familiar wedded to the words " Silver threads amongst the gold." In this Miss Soldene displayed great power of expression. The gens d'armes —Messrs Wallace and Marshall —were again received most heartily by the audience, and seemed to have a never-failing supply of verses with which to respond to the many demands made upon them for encores. The whole performance was most enjoyable, and gave the greatest satisfaction. To-night Herve's latest comic opera " La Belle Poule" will be produced.

This Evening's Opeba.—This evening an extremely amusing opera will be presented for the first time in Christchurch—" La Belle Poule " (Poulet and Poulette.) This opera is from the pen of Herve, and it is said to be among the best of the company's performances. When produced in Melbourne by the same companv, the local press spoke in the highest terms of the performance, pronouncing the music " lively, and in some instances pathetically melodious." Miss Soldene's rendering of the incidental music is referred to with maris of the highest approval, while the whole company are complimented. The following is the argument:— The plot turns upon the early indiscretions of an elderly marchioness, whose supposed daughter Poulette, has been brought up as a village maiden. She is in Jove with Poulet, the only hindrance to their marriage being the want of one hundred crowns. This sum Poulette obtains as a prize for her singing, but at the same time she loses her lover, who is canned off to Paris by a fashionable lorette called Fedora. Poulette and a villager named Marcou, who aspires to her. hand, foljow Jum to Paris, and are introduced to the friends of a certain Baron Champignole as a Polish countess and a Highland chieftain. Fedora at the same time introduces Poulet as a Spanish grandee. The two lovers recognise each other, and the general embarrassment reaches its cljmax when Poulette is declared to be the daughter of the marchioness. Like another daughter of the regiment she is separated from her former companions, and is provided with a master to fit her for t]|e sphere she is to fill. Her education is completed in forty-eight hours, and she is promised in marriage to the Chevalier d'Aigre r feuville. She refuses to espouse him, and is threatened with a convenf. It is then discovered that instead of Poulette being thp daughter of the marchioness it is Poulet who is her son, and the curtain falls upon the consternation and wrath of the marchioness, ap4 the joy of the yowj{J couple,

Health Offices. —The appointment of Mr Daniel M'Callum as health officer at Port Chalmers has been gazetted. Classical. —There is a story told of a Cockney traveller looking over the shoulder of a fellow passenger on a Thames steamboat ■who was reading Shakesptre's plays, and exclaiming, "Hekeeps a writin' of 'em, don't he ?" A contributor to the Dunedin " Morning Herald "gives the following description of a somewhat similar incident : At a sale of the effects of "a gentleman lately deceased," a small volume, labelled " Opera Horatii," was handed round. Some of the audience looked rather askance at it, as if a contagious or infectious disorder lay lurking in its pages. Others turned it upside down. But a legislator of ours, more erudite than the rest, after carefully handling the book for some moments, returned it to the attendant, adding, "It's not in my line now. I have given up going to the ' Opera ' for some years past."

Imported Stock.—Last week, in Sydney, a deputation of members of the Agricultural Society waited upon the Premier to represent the advisableness of removing the present prohibition on stock importation. In the course of the discussion it was stated that there was no doubt a majority of stockowners were in favor of open ports with strict quarantine. Queensland favored the removal of the prohibition, and probably the Victorian breeders, with few exceptions, were of opinion that open ports would be better than the present state of affairs. Mr Farnell said that he was one of those who first put on the prohibition, which, however, had been used for a purpose different from that intended. If he considered that disease could be kept out by certain precautionary measures he would remove the prohibition. New Patents. —Four unopposed applications for letters patent were lately heard and granted in Victoria. The first was that of Mr J. Cosmo Newbery, of Melbourne, analytical chemist, for treating certain descriptions of oreß so a» to facilitate the extraction of the metals they contain. The second was that of Mr W. Q-eddes, of Melbourne, engineer, for an invention for compressing grain, chaff, bark, and other fibrous material, to be known as " The Compressor." The third was that of Mr Eichard Gray, of Emerald hill, cabinet-maker, for an improved clothes washing machine, in which the clothes are subjected to an elastic pressure between two corrugated surfaces. The last was that of Mr Thomas Quinlivan, of Coghill's Creek, farmer, for certain improvements in and connected with threshing machines, by which the sheaves are carried from the stack and threshed without any manual labor whatever.

Mb Vabiet, the Revivaxist.—ln reference to Mr Varley, the revivalist preacher, who is still in Melbourne, a correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times," who is on a visit there writes, "We have been to hoar Mr Varley, at the Town Hall, where he is preaching to thousands every Sunday evening, and we think a great deal of him. Notwithstanding all that has been said against him (for there are always some ready to run down religion), he continues to attract very large audiences. On each occasion we heard him, the Hall was crowded, there being no less than 6000 people present, who appeared to pay great attention to what he said. On Monday evening, January 14th, we went down to St. Kilda to see Mr Varley baptise about 130 people in the St. Kilda baths. It was a grand sight. After his stay in Tasmania, where he goes for a short rest, he intimated his intention of paying Dunedin a visit."

Masonic Mabbiages.—Something rare, if not altogether new, in connubial alliances has taken place in Port Chalmers. The " Otago Daily Times" describes it as a "very interesting marriage." It took place at Holy Trinity Church, in the presence of a very large number of spectators, when Mr Henry ¥. Dench, J.W. of the Port Chalmers Marine Lodge, No. 942, E.C., was united to Miss Gibson, a daughter of a well-known member of the Lodge. A dispensation from the R.W.D.G.M., permitting the brethren to appear in masonic clothing, had been obtained, and the W.M., with the officers and brethren of the Lodge, were present. On the arrival of the bridal party a Wedding March was played by Bro. Bott, organist of the church, and the bride, attended by ten bridesmaids (daughters of the W.M. and several P.M.'a of the Lodge, including three of the bridegroom's sisters), moved up the aisle to the front of the altar, where the ceremony was very impressively performed by the Rev. Lorenzo Moore, incumbent of the church. After the marriage, the W.M., Bro. C. de L. Graham, presented the bride, in the name of the Lodge, with a very elegant bouquet of white and blue flowers, the centre forming a square and compass, together with a silver holder appropriately engraved.

The Honest Courße.—The "Außtralasian" comments as follows on the correspondence between the G-overrior and Sir Q-eorge Grey on the subject o£ Sir William Jervois's proposed visit to the colony :—"When Sir George Grey was requested by the Governor of New Zealand to make arrangements for placing the Government steamer Hinemoa at the disposal of Sir W. Jervois, for the work of inspection of the coast defences, he replied this could not be done, the steamer being required for other special purposes. The accounts we have since received from New Zealand agree in asserting that Bince the prorogation the steamer has only been employed in taking Sir George Grey and his friends on excursion trips. These circumstances raise some rather important questions affecting the personal honor of Sir George Grey. When Sir George Grey returned this answer to the Marquis of Normanby were the C special purposes" he had in his mind the excursion trips that have Bince taken place ? If so, and he wished Lord Normanby to fairly understand the position, would it not have been the manly and honest course to state so definitely ? If Sir George Grey meant that the work of surveying the defences could not be carried out bepause the steamer was wanted for picnic purpose?, ought he not to have openly said so, and placed that statement as his defence policy boldly before the country ? On the other hand, if some other work for the steamer was contemplated at the time, but the intention lias since been abandoned, would it not be interesting to know what this work was ? These suppositions do not exhaust the possibilities of the casp. There is one left, that when Sir George Grey was mentioning tjome special service for the Steamer, he was relying on a ground that he knew hud no real existence, and was only adduced for the purpose of evasion and deception. We must leave readers weighing the case in the light of all the circumstances to balance these probabilities, and estimate the degree to which Sir George Grey's character ie aiiakd by tb©ua»

Waimakariri Eoad Bridge— The newly erected dray bridge on the north side is expected to be completed and fit for traffic early next week. It is placed alongside the bridge erected by Mr W. White in 1863-4, who carried out the undertaking on a guarantee of seven years' tolls. The then Provincial Engineer refused to pass the work, but it has successfully withstood the hard wear and floods of fourteen years. The new structure is on the truss plan, approved of by the Engineer-in-Chief. It is in fifteen spans of 35ft. each span. The timber used for the piles and truss portion has been imported from Australia, while the decking and hand rails are of black birch. The bridge is 12in. higher than the old one, and seems to be built in a substantial manner. Messrs Evans and Butts, the contractors, are said to have discharged their duty faithfully, and all that remains to be done is to finish the approaches. The old bridge will be taken away in order to remove superfluous obstacles to the river.