NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1234, 16 February 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The New Locomotives. —The two locomotives brought by the August Friedrich were landed yesterday in good order, under Mr Bradley’s superintendence. Kaiapoi Regatta.—lt has been decided to hold this regatta on Monday, March 18bh, which will be the recognised holiday in honor of Ireland’s patron saint. This will bo convenient, and will no doubt enable numbers to be present who would be unable to attend if the regatta were held on an ordinary working day. Adulterated Milk.—The Board of Health’s medical officer recommends the inspection of dairies, as a want of cleanliness in them and the adulteration of milk with bod water involve much danger to the health of the community, especially to the younger members of it.

Ellesmere Licensing Court. —The following applications were handed in yesterday, and will be considered by the Commissioners at the next meeting of the Licensing Bench: — Country hotel license at Leeston, Albert Loe ; wine and beer license, Leeston, James Carston; wine and beer license, Doyleston, Joseph 11. Doyle. Cesspits.—Referring to the nuisance created by the use of cesspits, Dr. Powell, the medical officer of the Christchurch Board of Health, in his report presented yesterday quoted certain remarks made by Mr Clark, to the effect that in Adelaide there are no fewer than 7000 cesspits, and in almost every case of fever in that city the cause of the evil could bo traced to one or other of these. Religious.—Services will be held tomorrow in the Templar Hall on behalf of the Sunday school of the Bible Christians. Prayer meetings will bo held preparatory to Dr. Somerville’s visit, every Monday at the rooms of the Young Men’s Christian Association, and on Thursdays at the Congregational schoolroom.

Eclipse. — A reference to the “ Pbbss Shilling Almanac ” shows that a partial eclipse of the moon, risible in New Zealand, is expected to take place on Sunday night. The first contact with the penumbra is at 8.12 p.m.; contact with the shadow at 9.14 p.m.; middle of eclipse, 10.41 p.m.; last contact with shadow, 0.7 a.m. on Monday ; last contact with penumbra, 1.11 a.m.: magnitude of the eclipse (moon’s diameter, =1) 0832.

The Spaeeow Nuisance.— We were shown yesterday in Mr John Mann’s shop, Colombo street, a sheaf of oats with more than half of the grains literally eaten out of the husks. The sheaf had been taken from a paddock of nine acres at St. Albans, and was said to be a fair sample of the whole of the crop as it now stands after the ravages of the sparrows. Mr Mann estimates his loss at between 20 and 30 bushels on each acre.

Oveetime to Railway Men. —ln reply to a deputation which waited upon him at Oamaru on Thursday last, for which Mr Shrimski acted as spokesman and expressed the opinion that the Government should pay the railway employees for overtime, Mr Larnach said he would undertake that the men should receive overtime, and the deputation might fairly leave the matter in the hands of the Government to make satisfactory arrangements with the men.

Health op the City. —Whilst reporting the existence of thirty cases of infectious disease in Christchurch, Dr. Powell does not think that snch diseases are more numerous than they have been at this season in previous years. On the contrary he thinks the place is very healthy for the time of the year, and any apparent increase in the number of cases is due to the fact that they are now more carefully reported than they were formerly. I.O.G.T.—Volunteer Lodge, 67, held its Annual Weekly Session at the Lodgeroom, Montreal street south, when the following members were installed into the following offices: —W.C.T., Bro. Mills; W.V.T., Sis. Fulton, sen. ; W.S. Bro. Coggill, jun.j W.F.S, Bro. Scoat; W.T., Bro. Shadow; P.W.C.T., Bro. Hannan; W.C., Bro. Fulton; W.1.G., Bro, Hitchner; W.0.G., Bro. Clagshone; W.M, Bro. Parker; W.D.M , Sis. Fulton, jun. ; W.E.H.S., Sis. Skinner; W.L.H.S., Bro. Clark.

Mies Soldbne’s Benefit. — When a dramatic or operatic season is approaching its termination a very good test of tho popularify it has achieved is to bo found in the appearance of tho house when the principal artiste takes his or her benefit. Such a test could last night have been applied to tho company which has been delighting the public of Christchurch during tho last few weeks, and |the result proved incontestably how great the success of the Soldeno Opera Company has been. The compliment was, of course, specially intended for the prim a donna, to whose efforts the completeness of the past opera season is mainly due. The announcement that she was to take a benefit had the effect of bringing together a capital audience, and the performance of the piece selected for the occasion, "Q-irofle Girofla,” well deserved the compliment. From beginning to end the opera went without the slightest mistake. Miss Soldcne was in magnificent voice, and taxed its powers to the utmost. Her acting was excellent, and she was well supported by the company. The principal performers were called before the curtain at the end of the second act, and tho beneficiairo at the close of the opera was almost overwhelmed with the shower of bouquets thrown to her. It will bo long before Christchurch has an opportunity of applauding an artiste so capable of| doing full justice to opera bouffo as is Miss Fmily Soldene. To-night tho company appears for the last thp« but one, when it will give “ Trill by Jury" and “Gtepevicve de Brabant.”

Valueless Cheques. —Henry Richardson who was arrested at Timaru on the charge of passing valueless cheques in Christchurch, was brought to town last night, and will appear at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. A Singular Verdict. —The good people of Quirindi, says a writer in the Melbourne “ Leader,” have peculiar ideas, evidently, on the Creator’s dealings with His creatures. At a recent inquest on the body of a drunkard, the following curious finding was delivered; — “ Deceased by the visitation of God, accelerated by drink and exposure.”

Colonial Saieets. —A writer in one of the Australian papers thus calls the attention of philanthropists to a field of useful reform : Lady helps are rapidly becoming a Victorian institution. Cannot the movement be extended to include a class of lady nurses ? Every medical man admits the almost impossibility of obtaining a good trained nurse. Why then do we insist on perpetuating Sairey Gamp and her tribe ? If the usual monthly in a cool climate is almost unbearable, why torture our earliest hours of existence with the old horrors exaggerated by climatic influences ? Is there no social reformer to take up this question ? Ministerial Promises. —Says the “Spectator” in the “Dunedin Herald”: —If our present Premier was, as Mr Fox asserts, commonly known as “promising George” among the early South Australians, what name can we invent for our doughty Commissioner of Public Works ? I verily believe that not a single deputation has been sent empty away. He has been a very “Bank of Elegance,” issuing notes payable on demand of all sizes and descriptions in every direction. But I hope “promising Willie” will meet his engagements somewhat differently from the Bank above mentiened. Concert. —A vocal and instrumental concert in aid of the enlargement fund of the Lyttelton Wesleyan Church was held on Thursday night, at the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton. Mr J. T. M. Smith officiated as conductor, and Mr R, T. Searell as pianist. The programme was a good one ; Misses Smith, Kent, and Ness, and Messrs W. S. Smith and Rutland contributed songs; Messrs Corrick and Rutland (violins), Mr T. J. Smith (flute), Mr S. Seager (cornet), and Mr T. G. Smith (contre basso), being the instrumentalists. The various items on the programme, consisting of duets, part songs, and instrumental pieces, besides the vocal solos, were given with very great effect, and the audience, which was a numerous one, was thoroughly pleased, redemanding several of the items. Canterbury Gun Club. —The members of the Canterbury Gun Club held a shooting meeting at their grounds, Papanui, yesterday, when there was a large attendance. The first match was a sweepstakes of 10s, five birds each, twenty-five yards rise. For this event nine entered. Messrs Warner and Charles Coombes divided, shooting four birds out of five. The next was a similar sweepstakes. In this Mr Coombes took first prize, shooting four birds out of five; Messrs Kirkwood and Oookson tieing for second place with three birds each and dividing the stakes. In the third sweepstakes Messrs Warner and Kirkwood divided, with four birds each. The last was a sweepstakes of 10s each, one bird, twenty-five yards rise. At the close of the first firing those left in to fire off were Messrs Cookson, Trent, and Jackson, who had each killed their bird. In shooting off Messrs Trent and Cookson killed two birds each and divided. Altogether the meeting was a most successful one, and it is intended to have another one at an early date.

Railway Boabds fob New Zealand.— Tho following important statement is reported to have been made by Mr Larnach on Thursday to a deputation which waited upon him at Oamaru respecting railway and shipping matters :—Mr Larnach said that, without in any way divulging the secrets of the Ministry, he might mention that he had recommended the appointment of Railway Boards to his colleagues, who had received the proposal favorably. If the Government could see their way to carrying out the suggestion Boards would be appointed in the chief towns, having representatives from such places as Oamaru, comprised of shippers and merchants, and these Boards would be empowered to advise with railway managers on the management of railways. If the proposal were carried out, he felt sure it would have a beneficial result, as the Boards would he able to guard the interests of the public and the railways.

Death by Deowning.—A sad case o drowning occurred at Tai Tapu on Thursday last. A young girl named Sophia Schroder, ten years of age, in the employ of Mr Charles Baluke, living near the Tai Tapu Hotel, was sent about noon to a paddock across the river Halswell to carry their dinner to some men. The river, which is about 14ft. wide and 9ft. deep at this place, had to be crossed by means of two rather narrow planks. The girl reached the paddock all right, and returned immediately towards the house. As she had not reached home by 2 p.m., Mrs Baluke went to look for her. Learning the girl was missing, the men at once commenced to search the crossing place, and along the banks of the river, and about three o’clock the poor child was found in the centre of the river, several yards lower down than the planks. She was quite dead when taken out. A messenger was nevertheless sent to Prebbleton for Dr. Durham, who was quickly on the spot, but all his efforts were of no avail. An inquest will be held to-day at tho Tai Tapu Hotel.