NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1231, 13 February 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Shipping.— The Arawata spoke the ship Wauganui yesterday north of Port Chalmers. This afternoon a large ship was signalled which will doubtless prove to be her.

Cable Communication with Tasmania. ■—Cable communication with Tasmania, which has been interrupted for several days, was restored yesterday.

Otago University.—The foundation stone of the new Otago University building was laid on Saturday by the Hon. H. S. Chapman, Chancellor of the University. A large number of citizens were present, and interesting addresses were delivered by Mr Chapman, Dr. Stuart, and others. Sir G. Bowen.—The " Melbourne Punch" has a cartoon which represents the Victorian Governor disregarding the pleadings of a young maiden, representing the " Constitution," and yielding to the solicitations of an ugly old female called "Revolution." Wifebeaters, larrikins, and other evil doers are pictured as rejoicing at the dismissal of the Magistrates.

Canterbury Saleyards Company.—At the half-yearly general meeting of the shareholders of this company, held yesterday evening, a dividend of 10 per cent, was declared. An extraordinary general meeting was afterwards held, at which it was determined to increase the capital of the company by the issue of 200 shares of £5 each, making an addition of £IOOO to the capital of the company. This it is intended to expend in the purchase of land adjoining the company's yards at Addington. A report of the proceedings appears elsewhere.

Cricket. —The following matches will be played by the M.O.C.C on Saturday next: — Second Eleven v Hagley Oak Leaf, with the following team—Messrs W. Atack (captain), Ashbolt, Fairhurst, A. W. Hartland, Hill, J. Horner, Hunt, Palairet, Parker, Ritso, and

Warner. An Eleven v Normal College, the side being composed of Messrs Barringer (captain), E. F. Mooro, W. Horner, Rowe, Thompson, Beeves, Appleby, Bull, Allard, Williams, Haddrill. Emergency—H. P. Gray, Cuthbert, and Wright.

SchoiiAstio Affectations. Professor Blackie has written a letter lately to protest against " the course of corruption of the English language by a minute and carious imitation of the Greek, lately commenced by Mr Gladstone, Mr Browning, and a whole host of minor men." He points out that the English is English, Latin Latin, and Greek Greek; and that we have as little right to say Keltic for Celtic, Eikero for Cicero, Platon, for Plato, as we should hare to call Munich, Munschen, or Florence, Firenze. The Professor stigmatises the innovation as a silly affectation.

Inquest at Ranguoba.—An inquest was held at Robert's Club Hotel, Rangiora, on Tuesday afternoon, before C. Dudley, Esq., Coroner, touching the death of James Sprott Stoddart. The particulars of the accident to deceased have already been published. After hearing the evidence of Mr Waiting, farmer, of Ohoka, Mr Hetton, contractor at Kaiapoi, Mr Roberts, of the Club Hotel, Drs. Ovenden and Burrows, the jury returred the following verdict: —" That deceased came to his death by compression of tho brain, owing to internal hemorrhage from fracture of the skull, the result of an accidental fall from his horse." SOLDENE COMIC OPEEA COMPANY.—The second performance of the " Grand Duchess " was even more successful than the first. Miss Soldene had apparently quite recovered her voice and sang splendidly throughout. She was encored in her songs "Lo! here the sabre," " Say to him," and "One day, somehow, it came to pass." The last she was all but compelled to repeat a second time. Mr Campbell was encored for his eong in which he described his victory. The rest of the company supported the principals perfectly. To-night the opera is to be "Madamo L' Archiduc," which it will be remembered was received with so much favour when first produced here. THE DtrNEDIN-INVEBCABGILL RAILWAY.-*• The "Southland Times" is nervous as to the effects on Invercargill of through railway communication with Dunedin. "Very soon," says the " Times," " the district will be linked to Dunedin by the close bonds of direct unbroken railway communication, an immense advantage, which our astute neighbors know how to make the most of. It means ruthless competition to sepure every pound of Southland produce and every shilling of wholesale trade. Let Invercargill look to herself and heed the signs of the times, or the morning of her life that now is so bright may become seriously overcast."

Me. Inspectob Feast.—A few friends of this gentleman, desirous of testifying their appreciation of his efficiency as an officer and his many good qualities as a citizen, determined to present Mr Feast with a testimonial. Permission having been obtained, it was decided that the testimonial should take the form of a presentation of a sum of money. Mr Ick, who undertook to act as treasurer, forwarded the following letter to G-reymouth yesterday : —" Mr Inspector Feast.—Dear Sir, —I have the pleasure to inform you that I have this day paid into the Bank of New Zealand to your credit the sum of £7l 8s 6d, with instructions to forward by first mail a bank draft for that amount. This sum has been subscribed by a few friends and old residents in this city, as a token of goodwill and in appreciation of your many years' gervice in the police force of this district."

Stbbet Railboads.—Remarking on the advantages of street railroads the Auckland " Herald" says:—The street railroads in San Francisco are paying concerns, but as yet. none of these conveniences have been supplied to the people of Auckland. From papers recently to hand we learn that the Clay street Hill Railroad cost for the building and full equipment of the road only £12,000, they received as a gift or subsidy from the propertyowners along the line some £7,600, and the whole cost of the line was not quite £20,000. The road earned before its late extension to Van Ness avenue, £45 to £46 per day, and its expenses were £24 a day, leaving a net daily profit of £2o—£6oo a month, which pays 5 per cent, interest a month on the net cost of £12,000. These earnings were obtained from 5 cent fares. Such a means of conveyance in Auckland and the suburbs would no doubt pay well. Abmy Peomotion.—The London correspondent of the " Aberdeen Free Press" has the following : —Among the brevet promotions consequent on the retirement of general officers on the Ist inst., I observe that of Major James Duncan, Fort Major at Edinburgh, to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. This officer won his first commission for distinguished conduct while serving as a troop sergeant-major in the 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers in the Crimean campaign. Ha was present at the Alma, had a horse killed under him at Balaklava, another killed under him at Inkerman, and was present before Sebastopol, recoiving, in addition to the usual Crimean and Turkish medals—the former with four clasp?—the Sardinian medal, and that of the oth class of the Turkish Order of Medjidie. He served also in the Indian Mutiny, and exchanged into the 19th Hussars, from which he was promoted o a half-pay majority in April, 1870. PFuethek VSE of Electbicity.—The London correspondent of a contemporary says : —Another strictly practical application of electricity is much thought of by engineers. Mr Forbes, of Nova Scotia, has patented an idea by which overstrain or weakness in bridges may be at once detected, and even localised. A wiro is attached to each important member of the structure, and these wires are so arranged that should any abnormal condition arise, the particular wire at the particular spot at once conveys the impression to an annunciator, and by revealing a number or other distinctive mark, at once enables the engineer to proceed to the exact spot. It is exactly the same principle as, say, in the House at Wellington, where the housekeeper's annunciator at once shows what bell has been rung. Can anything bo more simple yet more pregnant with importance. For an engineer to be able to detect the exact spot where a huge girder bridge may be weak or overstrained, is an incalcujiil?lc action, to scientific cowtwetioa.

The Premise's Visit to Westland.—The local paper, regarding the coming Ministerial visit to Grey mouth from a strictly business point of view, observes: —When it is remembered what substantial benefits to the district accrued from the visit of the Hon. W. Fox when he was Prime Minister, the inhabitants should endeavor to utilise the opportunity afforded by Sir G-eorge Grey's presence amongst them, to receive "him in a fitting manner.

r The Government Measures.—The Wel'ington " Post" says:—lt is understood that the measures for the readjustment of representation and the extension of the franchise promised by the Ministry are in course of preparation. We have reason to believe that the intended system of manhood suffrage will be something of this kind .-—Before a person can be placed upon the general roll of electors he will require to have been resident six months in the electoral district for which he applies to be registered. This system of registration, while practically conferring manhood suffrage on the settled population of every district throughout the colony, will at the same time prevent a floating or migratory class from exercising the same privilege. Another feature of the new system will be that all the names on the rolls of ratepayers will also periodically be placed on the general roll. With respect to the redistribution of representation, we believe it is not contemplated to increase the present number of members of the House of Representatives, but to re-cast the electoral districts and allot them representatives in proportion to population.