NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1242, 28 February 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mb Clabkb, O.B.—This gentleman, whose arrival at Hokitika by the Albion was telegraphed on Monday, reached Christchurch yesterday afternoon. City Council Picnic. —The City Council will hold their annual picnic on Wednesday next, when the usual inspection of the Waimakariri protective works will bo made. A start will be made from the City Council Dhamberp at 9 a.m. ' * * Beepers Battlers’ Picnic.— Steps have b.een taken to hold a picnic of the brewers and employes in phristchurch at an early date, After the preliminary arrangements have been completed, a meeting of the trade will be (sailed to elect a committee. City Council. —The adjourned meeting of the Council, called for last evening to continue the examination of the objections to the assessment, lapsed for want of a quorum. A special meeting is called for to-morrow at four o’clock. ' Anglo-Jewish Association.— The subscription list in aid of the “Turkish Sufferers Fund ” is now closed, and the final instalment will be forwarded by Mr 1). Caro, hon. treasurer, per outgoing San Francisco mail. The third list ot (-unsoribera appears elsewhere, and the contributions to the fund have been very general. Babbadoes Street Contract.— This long desired work is progressing rapidly. The whole of the peat has been removed, and a solid bottom formed of clay. The formation of the roadway is completed and the footpaths have been commenced. The metalling will be proceeded with immediately, and it is believed that the street will bp opsu for Ira flic early next week. • , ! Conference ile ' Charitable Institutions.—We 'understand that a day has not yet been fixed for the conference on the local •charitable ingtitujions which was determined upon by the City Council at i-im meeting on Monday. As soon as the present pressure of business on the Mayor is a Ibtje relieved, no time will bo lost in'communicating with the various County chairmen and mayors on the subject. FlleskefvE Bi CQN Cubing Co.—A meeting of Directors was bcla at Loe’s Recston Hotel on Monday evening last. Upon full discussion of the state of tho fluids and opportunities of the coming season, it was resolved that the buildings be proceeded with forthwith, and a committee of supervision, consisting of Messrs J. J. Loe, J. Rennie, and John McDaoblau, was appointed,

Cab Stands. —Numerous complaints have lately been made of the inconvenience to street traffic caused by cabmen overcrowding the central stands —notably that at the Triangle. Acting under instructions, the City Inspector has requested the police to take action henceforth against all persons who are blocking the roadway by standing away from the allotted spaces. Sad Accident. —The Wellington “ Post” slates that a boy aged nine years, the son of Mr Norman Nash, of Foxton, met with his death on Tuesday under peculiar and painful circumstances. The lad was leading his father’s horse, when something frightened the animal, and it started off. The tether-rope caught round the poor boy’s legs, and he was dragged round the paddock, through a fence, and over logs and stumps for some distance. When picked up he was quite dead. Gaiety Theatre. —There was a full house again last evening at the Gaiety, when a new programme was presented. The encores were general in the first part,- which was wound up with the “ Phantom chorus,” given with excellent precision. The new sketches were very amusing, Messrs Hudson and Holly’s “ Blooming morning glories ” causing loud laughter. An exceptional programme will be provided to-morrow evening, on which occasion the Minstrels tender a complimentary benefit to Mr C. Wallace. Oddfellows’ Hall. —There was a fair attendance at the hall last night to witness Young New Zealander's feats on the tight rope. During the evening he carried a boy from amongst the audience over the rope on his back, standing in the centre on one foot. Another clever feat was transferring the balancing pole from shoulder to shoulder as he walked rapidly across. The entertainment this evening is advertised as being under the patronage of his Worship the Mayor and City Council. Resignation of Mr. Stafford.— Our Timaru correspondent informs us that Mr Stafford has now carried out his intention of resigning his seat in the House, and intends to go home shortly. Mr Stafford has, with one intermission, been a member of the Assembly since the earliest days. He has held the place of Premier in three Ministries, having first taken office on June 2nd, 1856, and retained it until July 12th, 1861. The second Stafford Ministry lasted from 16fch October, 1865 till 28th June, 1869. The thjrd was the short-lived administration of 1872, which lasted only for one month, and was known as the Ministry of Superintendents.

Slates and Pencils. —Mr H. Wood, of High street, has forwarded us a specimen of a slate fitted with an ingenious contrivance for carrying its pencil. A hole is sunk down one side of the frame from the top, deep and large enough to hold a slate pencil of the ordinary size, and closed by a spring slide which can be drawn back, so as to allow the pencil to be slipped in or extracted, by a small button working in a groove in the top of the frame. The contrivance is simple ; and it is undoubtedly an advantage to be able to make sure of having a pencil at hand whenever the slate is wanted for use. The Old Passenger Station. The building which has been so long in use as the passenger station for Christchurch, and at which a larger amount of well-merited abuse has been levelled than perhaps any other in the country, was disposed of to-day by public auction. Mr J. Q-. Hawkes put up this interesting relic at twelve o’clock. The bidding commenced at £2O, but owing, no doubt to the inducements held forth by the auctioneer, who dilated on the rare chance of buying a railway station, and further reminded his audience that the Government had devoted the price to be paid to the Railway Employees’ Library, the amount rose slowly until £52 10s had been reached, at which price it was knocked down to Mr Parker. A number of oil tins were also sold, realising 5d each. Cricket match will be commenced on Saturday next, at 2 p ra., at which time all players ore requested to be on the ground. The following are the sides : U.C.C o.—Messrs Ashby, Dickinson, C. Frith, Godby, Hartland, Lee, Mathias, Moore, Morrison, Stevens, and Wilson. Emergency —Peter. M.C.C.C.— Musi's Austen, W. Frith, E. Fowler, J. Fowler, Fuller, Morioe, Mac Donnell, Reeder, Beeves, Watson and Wood. EmergencyRow. A match between the Hagley Oak Leaf and Lincoln Clubs will be played on the ground of the former on Saturday next, play to commence at 1.30 p.tn. sharp. The following will represent the Hagley Oak Leaf — Messrs A, G Atack, Ashby, J. Booth, G. Booth, Beattie, Burley, Hopper, Lusk, Marshall, Smith, Simpson 5 emergencies, J. Nevin, Dougall, and Ashby. The Japanese Navy. —The three Japanese ironclads which have been built under the superintendence of Mr E. J. Reed, M.P., 0.8., are about to proceed to Japan, where they will form a very powerful squadron. The ships are not only beautifully fitted, but perfect in construction. Speed, economy of fuel, a very heavy armament, and the fact of their being safe ocean cruisers have been fully realised.' The tvo corvettes are about 231 ft. long, 41ft. beam, and 17(30 tons, with a displacement of 2216 "tons. The'y draw very little water, and require with their heayy but some 220 men. The quantity p£ coal supplied }s Buscient for mgny days* steaming, and they have great sail power. The larger vessel, now lying at Millwall, is well worthy a visit. She is fitted with twin screws, Is 220 ft. long, 48ft. beam, and is about 2340 tons. Her draught of water loaded is scarcely 18ft.—“ Army and Navy Gazette.”

SOUTJIBRIDGE DRAMATIC CLUB. —The first performance of this society was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening last. In the unavoidable absence of the president (Mr Charles Bourn) Mr J. J. Ell win explained the object and organization of the club, and introduced the performers to the audience, whom he relied upon for considerate attention. The nrst piece, “ The Sudden Arrival,” was as good as pohld be selected when there was not any hope that any feminine assistance oouid bo obtained. The parts were taken by Messrs Collins, Ennis, Ceo, Bfyripan, Little, and McClaskie, all of whom were thoroughly well up in their parts. Mr Richard Glee gave two improvised and very amusing local songs. The “ Brothers Murray,” youthful natives of Victoria, sang and played excellently, and two farces, “Quarrelsome Servants” and “Les Miserables,” in which the characters were represented by Messrs Clark, pollins, Harman, g,nd Little, concluded the performance, which had been conducted, without one hitch throughout. Sufficient fpnds, at to pay expenses, were realised, althpngh, owing prpbabiy to the many sirpilar attractions during the week, and notably to the school treat, the financial success was not such 89 was to bp expected.

Draught Horses for Export. —Mr Thomas Eitchie, of the Chatham Islands, who has recently been paying Canterbury a visit, iptends on his return to take per Island Lily two high-priced iiuixnah obtained from Mr J. Walls and Mr W. M. Ross, of Kaiepoi Island. The former has sold him a pure bred Clydesdale colt, named What’s Wanted, which, in breeding, bone, and quality gene wily, will prove a decided acquisition to the Chatbama district. The sire of this colt is Mr Walls’ noted horse Sir Walter Scott, bred by Mr Riddle, Kilbowie, Clydeside, Glasgow, who besides being a prize-taker at the agri ultural associations of Scotland as a two-year and three year old, has always been lire) in his classes at the horse shows in Canterbury. The dam of What’s Wanted is Lofty, whoso eire vao Ling Fergus, au iiyipovUd Glidesdale "hmso. Tile dam of Lofty win si Flora, and groat grand-dam Scotland's PTde' (imported), all of which are thororoughly will known amongst local breeders. What’s Wanted came out n first prize-taker in the i/orlheini ana ;) imcrnury agricpbuy-al spiff p.-nd of 11T associations! exhibit inns Of 16'/7 ill the glass'for yearling coifs, and Air llifchio may be congratulated on haying gfgureef A very valuable animal at the price of iJIgQ. The mare purchased from Air Eojs is named Gipsy, and is a Inn thome animal of a dark brown color, with plenty of bone and action. Her giro was Air L. Ayiuto’s horse Lord Glasgow, by Marquis (imported), dam Old jean. Ginay's clafn was a mare named Nina, by Farmer's' Favourite, a well-known horse, the property of Messrs Rickman Bros., from whose stock several staunch horses have been brought into active service iu the country.

Mysterious Disappearance—A telegram from Tokomairiro, dated February 25th, says : —A daughter of a settler residing near Milton has recently disappeared, and no clue at present can be found as to her where* abouts. The police are making diligent inquiries, but whether the girl has eloped, or been abducted, or met with foul play, is at present a mystery. Her age is between sixteen and seventeen. Her parents and friends are in a state of considerable anxiety. She has been missing some four or five days.

Maintenance of Auckland Roads.— The “ Herald,” a supporter of the Ministry, is disposed to blame them for - the state of some of the roads in Eden county. Our contemporary says : —Mr Macandrew knows, as well as any man in the whole colony, the absolute necessity of keeping in a condition so that they cun be travelled without danger by day and night the main roads of the colony. The peculiar circumstances of these roads and bridges, situated in a county which does not exercise the powers bestowed by the Act, and the fact that Government annexes the tolls while the bridges are allowed to remain in a dangerous condition, disclose a state of things which, for the sake of public safety and the convenience of the country districts, cannot too soon be remedied.

Land Jobbery in the North. —A few days ago the Agency sent us a dark telegram intimating that some dreadful disclosures were likely to be made on the subject of certain land transactions in a locality not specified. On the same matter the “Post” says:—The public will probably yet hear further about the transactions of the “ Auckland Land Ring.” Now that Ministers have obtained complete access to all documentary and other evidence, it is said that the results of a searching investigation with respect to certain land transactions, have disclosed a series of facts which may possibly result in proceedings being taken in the law courts against some of the northern land sharks, with a view of compelling them to disgorge their prey. Some strange and startling disclosures are anticipated.