NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1237, 21 February 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Champion Regatta. —The Canterbury crews and boats, which lately competed at "the Colonial Regatta at "Wanganui, returned per Hawea yesterday. No. 3 Building and Land Society.—A special general meeting of the above society will be hold at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street, on Thursday, 28th instant, at 7 p.m. The “Sun” Newspaper. —Mr J. G-. Ilawkes sold by auction to-day the goodwill, plant, and assets of the “Sun” newspaper. After some spirited bidding, it was knocked down to the representatives of the directors for £3llO.

The Salmon. —It. is estimated that 27,500 healthy fry have now been safely placed in the Canterbury rivers. In the Society’s gardens there still remain some 250, which are evidently well able to take care of themselves whenever they are turned out. Swimming Contest. —The second contest for the champion belt (open to amateurs only), presented by Mr A. Jardine, will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Corporation Baths. The belt has been won once by Mr M. Smith, and, it is stated, he will have to contend with a few fresh aspirants at Saturday’s contest. Licensing Districts.— ln response to the request of the Government for recommendations as to the sub-division of the licensing districts, a recommendation has been forwarded by the Resident Magistrate to the effect that the districts should be made coterminous with the school districts.

U.s. Minstrels. —This company made their second appearance atthe Gaiety Theatre last evening, when there was a very good attendance. The programme was the same as on the former evening. They will appear again to-night, and to-morrow there will be an entire change of bill. Wild Cats. —The curator of the Acclimatisation gardens reports that the number of leverpts ]o be seen }n the neighbourhood is much smaller than it used to he, and that of 32 pheasants hatched (his season iu the aviaries 10 have been killed. He attributes this to the wild oats, several of which he has lately destroyed. A I'ERiLOrs Escapade.— On Wednesday morning a man named Clifford had a narrow escape at the ICaiapoi railway station, lie was behind time, and attempted to get on to the train as it was moving from the platform. Brushing against Mr Whitefoord, R.M., who was standing on the platform, he fell forwards between the train" and the edge of the platform. Fortunately he rolled under the latter, hut had lie been brought into contact with the supports or thp end, he must have lost his life through his foolishness. The train was instantly stopped by the guard, T. Fowkes, dnd Clifford was taken aboard very much frightened with his mishap. The guard deterred great credit for his promptitude iu stopping the train,

Inquest—An inquest was held at the Hospital to-day, before the Coroner, Dr. Coward, on the bedy of a woman named Lucy Short, who died suddenly in the above institution. After heading the evidence, the jury expressed an opinion that an inquest was not nec 'ssary, and returned a verdict of “ Death fivm natural causes.*’

The Pakoquet Pest. That imported birds are not the only destroyers of fruit, Ac., is abundantly shown at the Acclimatisation Society’s gardens, where the paroquets have committed great havoc on everything in the shape of growing fruit they could discover. Amongst other depredations they have bestowed much attention upon the seeds of the ash trees, quantities of which they have torn from the stalks.

The Spabeows.— According to Mr Firth even the robber sparrow is not wholly bad. At the last meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society he stated that he had been informed by several farmers that owing to the increase of the sparrows in the country districts, they were now able to grow wheat in large quantities, where in previous years the ground had been useless in consequence of the large number of caterpillars always to be found. The sparrows were now carrying on a war of extermination against the caterpillars. Sudden Deaths.— Miss Rebecca McWilliam, residing with a married sister in Springfield road, died rather suddenly yesterday. The deceased had been bedridden for the last six years, suffering from paralysis, but had received professional attendance during the whole of the time. A woman named Lucy Short, who had been in the service of Dr. Britton, Papanui, died while in a fit in the hospital late on Monday evening.

Canteebuby Gun Club. —An extraordinary general meeting of this club was called for last evening at the Garrick Hotel, at halfpast eight, to consider the desirability of altering the rules. As not more than thirteen members attended, and as a rule of the club required the presence of not less that fifteen for the purpose, it was decided to adjourn the meeting until the 25th instant. The club now numbers forty-one members, and a full attendance is particularly requested at the adjourned meeting.

Reported Derelict off the Coast.— The “ Akaroa Mail” of Tuesday states that on the previous Tuesday, when on his way from his station at Flea Bay to Akaroa, Mr Holdsworth Rhodes observed what appeared to be the hull of a capsized vessel floating some distance away from the shore, and, he states, from the fact of his seeing white water' between the supposed hull and something apparently dragging astern, that it looked as if a dingy was in tow. It is suggested that the hull may be that of the missing schooner Excelsior.

The Monster Water-Races. —At length one of the leviathan water-races which the colony has been constructing at such an enormous, and in most cases unremunerative expenditure, is likely to pay. The Grey River “ Argus” states on the best authority that already the demands for water from the Hochstetter race are in excess of the supply, and that great hopes are entertained by the manager that the results even at this early stage will be very satisfactory.

Heavy Chop. —On the farm of Mr Thos. Pashby, Kaiapoi Island, there may be seen one of the finest crops off Tartarian oats which will be raised in the Canterbury district this year. Not only is the crop well eared and heavy—expected to return 100 bushels per acre—but it is an even one throughout. The straw is strong, as tall as a man of average height, and not injured or laid in any way. In one paddock the crop is still green, and in another it is ripe for harvesting. On one of the«heads of the former field no less than 516 corns were counted, and the average number of grains on each straw appears to be about 130, and none of them under 100. Two small samples of this magnificent crop were plucked by our reporter, and may be seen at Our publishing office. With them has been forwarded a sample of Hopton oats, from a crop which ought to yield about fifty to sixty bushels per acre. The crops of wheat on adjoining land are also some of the heaviest in the district, and the “ thresher man” reckons on bringing out fifty bushels an acre.

Kaiapoi Borough Council. —The fortnightly meeting of this Council for the dispatch of ordinary business was held on Tuesday evening. Present —The Mayor (Mr Ellen), Crs. Blackwell, Moore, Mathews, McMillan, and L. Wilson. Leave of absence was granted to Cr. J. Wilson. Cr. Moore, chairman of works committee, reported that the side channels were being cleared by the foreman, and other works were in progress. The back part of the Council Chamber had been newly shingled. The report was adopted. Accounts amounting to £5 17s 8d were passed. The Mayor reported the result of his conference with the railway engineer in reference to the protection of the railway from floods. It was decided to give the river overflow an open way at Stuart’s, to remove the present groin, and strengthen the south approach of the railway bridge. A discussion took place in reference to the deductions for charitable aid from the subsidy paid to the Council, but no definite motion was made. The chairman of the fire prevention committee reported that the reservoir near Mr Weaving’s store Charles street, had been completed, and that he intended to make a proposal to provide a water supply for the fire engines in Peraki street. The Council then adjourned. North Canterbury Races.— A meeting of the committee of the North Canterbury Race Club was held at the Club Hotel, Rangiora, on Tuesday evening. Sixteen members were present, Captain Parsons in the chair. The secretary (Mr Aherne) reported that he had seen Mr Marshman on the subject of the transfer of the racecourse to a local committee for racing purposes, and that Mr Marshman would forward a report to the Government on the subject. It was resolved that the next races be run as usual on the old course, and that an acknowlegment of the thanks of the committee be sent to Mr Buss for Ins offer of a paddock for two years’ races free of cost, and he be informed that the expense of forming a course would be too groat for the committee to bear at the present time. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Cone, Roberts, Yalience, Lilly, and S. Wilson, was appointed to superintend all matters in connection with the ground, with power to expend what they deem necessary to make the course fit for Easter Monday. It was agreed that all trainers of horses should pay an extra fee of one guinea if they use the course to train upon, and that any one refusing to comply with this will be disqualified from entering his horses. A programme, consisting of the following events, was then prepared and ordered to be published, viz.;— Hurdle Race Handicap, £2O ; Maiden Plate, £ls: District Two-year-old Stakes, £25; North Canterbury Cup, £SO; Publicans’ Purse, £2O; Ladies’ Purse, a sweepstake of £2, with £ls added ; District Hack Race, for horses that have never won any public money, £lO ; Consolation Stakes, £lO. The committee then adjourned.

The White fish Ova. —The Acclimatisation Society received yesterday by the Hawea a consignment of the white-fish ova, to the number, it is supposed, of 20,000, which had been packed in moss, laid between pieces of scrim; Mr Farr, the honorary secretary of the society, and his son, were at the port on the arrival of the steamer, and brought the two boxes of ova to Christchurch without delay. At the Christchurch station, Sir Cracrofr Wilson met them, and they drove to the Society’s gardens, where the boxes were immediately opened. It was then discovered th it almost the whole shipment was useless, the number unspoiled scarcely exceeding a dozen. These were placed in the hatching house, whore every possible preparation had been made for the full number expected, and four were almost immediately hatched. They did not appear, however, to be very healthy and arc not likely to live—one, indeed, wn dead before 11 o’clock, From the fact of th few ova which were alive being found ir* corner of one of the boxes, it is surmised H*t the weight of the moss and scrim had too great, and the ova had been crushed 4 -. l ® is the second attempt to introduce this fish, which has failed. The experinuv WIJ1 > no doubt, be repeated, and with prr^ r P re * caution there is no reason why a euc' 8 , 6^ 1 to that attained with the salmon £ Mould not at last be achieved with the

Crime on the Coast —There will be a heavier calendar, says the “Argus,” at the March sittings of the Supreme Court, at Hokitika than there has been for some time past. The list includes up to the present time, one charge of murder, one of forgery and uttering, and one of embezzlement. We understand no additional evidence is likely to bo forthcoming in the Ryan murder case beyond that of fully identifying the watch as having been that of Daniels. Licensing Districts—The Wellington “Post” informs us that the Government have commenced to deal practically with the question of sub-dividing the licensing districts, In compliance with instructions, Mr Ward, the Resident Magistrate for Rangi-tikei-Manawatu, has suggested that the ridings in each of these counties should be constituted licensing districts, the courts being hold at Marton (as before) for Rangitikei, and at Palmerston for Manawatu. That portion of the former district between the Wangaehu and Turakina it is deemed desirable to add to the Wanganui district. If by any means the number of adult residents in each of these small districts can be ascertained, it will be practicable to place in the hands of the people the power of deciding whether or not any new licences fbV public houses should be granted in the respective districts. Oxford Racks. —A committee meeting was held An 'Tuesday evening, to prepare a programme for the'above race meeting. Present—Messrs Mullin, Mardon, Reynolds, Willcox, Pfs’hei’, arid Dobson. Mr Dobson was voted to the chair. The subscription lists were gone through; arid it was found that £59 7s 6d had' already;' been subscribed, although a large portion of the district had not been canvassed. Th'airesult was considered very satisfactory, and it was thought there was a better financial prospect than last year ; the balance in the Bank, being £9 9s 2d, making the total funds £6B 16s Bd. Mr Mardon proposed, and Mr Mullins seconded —“That the race day be altered from the 15th. to the 12th March, in consequence of the Ram Fair being held on the 14th and 16th, when the principal supporters of the races would be unable to attend.” Carried. Mr Mullin proposed, and Mr Willcox seconded —“ That the Hack Race be one mile instead of half-a-mile.” Carried. Mr Reynolds proposed, and Mr Mardon seconded —“ That the programme, rules and regulations of last race meeting, with the alterations made to night be adhered to.” Carried. Mr Mardon proposed, and Mr Mullin seconded —“That the programme of the races be advertised once in each weekly and daily paper, and that short advertisements be inserted in each paper, as required, at the discretion of the non. secretary.” A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting.