NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1253, 13 March 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Abeival of the San Feancisco Mail' —The Australia, with the mail, via San Francisco, arrived at Auckland yesterday. Lobs of the Glencoe. —The evidence taken at the enquiry, which was held yesterday, us to the loss of the barque Glencoe will be found in oar shipping columns. Railway Seev.;nt3’ Society.—A special summoned meeting of the Railway Servants’ Mutual Benefit Society will be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall to-morrow evening, at eight o’clock.

Objections TO Cm- Assessment. The Judge of the Assessment Court has decided to hear the ordinary objections first before taking those made by the City Council. The Court will sit on Friday, 22nd instant, at 10 a.m. Muff Ceicket Match.— lt is proposed to have this year a Muff Cricket Match—Wine Merchants and Brewers v Licensed Yicf nailers —a similar match having afforded so much fun last year. Mr Maples will be asked to captain the Licensed Victuallers. Accident with a Knue. — Yesterday afternoon a boy attending the Gloucester street school accidentally ran against an open knife held by another boy. The injury ho received caused him to faint, and ho had to be taken home, but there is no reason to apprehend any dangerous consequences, nor is blame attributed to any one. Supeeme Couet. —His Honor Mr Justice Johnston held a short sitting in Chambers yesterday, prior to bis departure lor Dunedin. Orders i'or costs wore made in the estates of G. Hefford, C. Frank, H. F. Farmer, and R. S. Palmer, .Orders of discharge were granted to H. P. Brake, J. Driscoll, U. Y. Richards, J. Knowles, and A. N, Fanner, and John Mersou. In the will of J. Loughton, an order was made for probate to J. A. Hansmann and T. Wilson, the executors named. AcoipfSNTS.— On Tuesday morning a young man named J. Carter, in the employ of Mr Buss, while driving cattle near Eangiora, was thrown from a restive horse and received some severe injuries. He was attended by Dr. Burrows. On the Oxford race course T, Sheenan, rider of Lemon Juice, was thrown heavily after clearing the hurdle. He was attended by Dr. WtW, grid, although insen. pihle for « tirpe, recovered sufficiently to be taken fropa the couyse.

Assessment Courts. —In addition to the Court for hearing appeals against the assessment to be held at Leithfield, another Court will be held at Balcairn, on April 4th.

Akaroa Indian Famine Fund. —The Christchurch treasurer of the Indian Famine Fund, Mr J. Ollivier, having handed the local treasurer, Mr Q-. Scarborough, a cheque for £ls, being the re-fund to which the Akaroa district was entitled, the latter gentleman called a meeting of subscribers in the Town Hall for the purpose of deciding what was to be done with the surplus. It was unanimously agreed to hand the whole sum over to the Akaroa public library. H.A.C.B. Society. —A quarterly meeting of the above society will be held in St. Patrick’s Hall to-morrow evening at halfpast seven o’clock. On Monday at 7.30 p.m. a festival dinner in honor of the anniversary of Ireland’s patron Saint will take place. Members will meet at the hall on Sunday morning next at 8.15 a.m.

Rifle Match. —The return match—Civilians v. Volunteers—will be fired at Hillsborough on Friday next. The conditions are the same as before. The civilians are represented by Messrs Pavitt, Hesketh, Appleby, Cameron, Manning, Allison, Innes, Woodhouse, Hunter, Jackson, Hunter, Dixon, Paton, Urquhart, and Roberts. The competitors will leave Radcliffe’s Hotel at 9 a.m.

City Council. —A meeting of a sub-com-mittee of the Council was held yesterday afternoon, at 3 p.m., to decide what questions should be brought before the Premier on his approaching visit to Christchurch. After some discussion, it was resolved that a special meeting of the Council should be held on Friday next to consider the whole matter. New Building! By-law. —Under instructions from the by-law committee, the town clerk has forwarded copies of the new building by-law to the architects, builders, and insurance agents, requesting that suggestions and any alterations deemed desirable may be given on the blank interleaves. These are to be returned to the Council Chambers before April Bth, on which date the next sitting will be held to adopt the by law [finally. This precaution has been taken to prevent, if possible, any complaints being made after the by-law comes into force.

Passenger Bridge at the Station. — The arrival platform, which is now nearly completed at the Christchurch Railway station, will be connected with the departure platform by a footbridge. Access to the bridge will be obtained also from Manchester street. The structure will be of wood, supported on concrete piers. It will have two spans, each 44ft. 6in., under each of which will run two lines of railway. Its height will be just sufficient to allow the passing beneath of the ordinary trains. The width of the footway will be 6ft. The whole will be covered in, and will be lighted at night. A Capsize. —Mr Thomas Shand, of Riccarton, had a very narrow escape yesterday afternoon. When driving a dog-cart from Montreal street to Armagh street he came into contact with the kerbing, throwing the horse on its back, and completely capsizing the cart. Mr Shand was thrown under the cart and, when extricated by some persons passing by, was found to be unconscious. Dr. Symes, who saw him a few moments afterwards, found he had fortunately escaped with a severe shaking. One shaft of the trap was broken, and the horse was slightly scratched on the off shoulder. The Taranaki Mountain Road. —An Agency telegram from Hawera, dated March Bth, and published in the “New Zealand Times,” states that a good deal of public indignation is expressed at the fact that the Government have practically determined to close the mountain road for years by the adoption of a new route, in face of a recommendation made by the Patea and Taranaki councils, and the report of Messrs Humphries, Skinner, Robinson, and Wright, the engineers, who all favoured the old road. The Althousb Windmill. Messrs Friedlander Bros., Ashburton, have erected one of these most useful mills on the reserve opposite their store, for the purpose of affording an opportunity of inspecting it. The simplicity and completeness with which its motions are regulated are its chief merits. No increase of wind will increase the speed of the mill. In a strong wind the fans fold up, and only present a small surface to the wind. The quickness with which the fans adapt themselves to any change in either the strength or direction of the wind, is remarkable. These mills will raise water from a depth of 200 ft., and must prove of inestimable benefit to the farmers on our plains. The Baeton Case. —A meeting of the legal profession, says the “ Otago Daily Times,” was held on Saturday afternoon in the Supreme Court Library, “ for the purpose of considering whether the interests of the Bar require that any action should be taken in the matter of the recent committal of Mr G. E. Barton for alleged contempt of Court.” Twenty-five members of the profession were present, and several others sent apologies for their absence. Mr George Cook having been voted to the chair, Mr G. E. Barton addressed the meeting, stating the facts connected with his committal by the Judges at Wellington. After considerable discussion, the following resolution was carried by a majority of 16 to three i— f( That this meeting, without expressing any decision regarding the circumstances and duration of Mr Barton’s recent imprisonment, is of opinion from his statement that a fair case exists for enquiry by Parliament in the interests of all parties concerned.” Dog Show'.— For the following report we are indebted to the hon. secretary of the Dog Show Committee A meeting of the Provisional Committee, appointed to carry out the forthcoming Canterbury Dog Show, was held at Morton’s Hotel on Monday evening. Present —Messrs W. H. Porter, F. Egan, E. C. Maxwell, W. G. Walker, W. J. Judge, E. W. Millet, 0. W. Dumergue (hon. sec.), and Captain Dundas. Mr Walker was voted to the chair. It was decided to have a one day show, but the place and time for holding it will not be decided till the next meeting. The prize schedule was decided upon, and will contain prizes in the following classes, viz. : Pointers (English, Irish, and G-ordon), setters, retrievers, water spaniels, Clumber spaniels, cockers, any other variety spaniels, fox terrier (dogs and bitches), sheep dogs (dogs and bitches') , bull dogs, bull terriers, black and tans, broken-haired, Scotch and Skye terriers, greyhounds ’ (dogs and bitches), haniers, beagles, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, smoothhaired and rough-haired toys, and Italian greyhounds. Prizes to be —first £l, and second 10s; third hon. certificate, with entrance fee for each dog 8s Od. The entries are to close with Mr Jlumcrgue a week before the exhibition. Special prices for best fox terrier and best sheep dog in the show have already been offered, and the committee hope that gentlemen will add to the list of special prizes at an early date in order that they may be printed with the prize schedule.

Licensed Victuallers. — A spepial meeting of the members of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association was held last night at Radcliffe’s Hotel, to consider chielly (ho advisability of a deputation of the trade waiting upon Sir George Grey. Mr J. Baylec, president of the association, occupied the chair. There Avas a fair attendance. The secretary, Sir F. 0. Tribe, read communications received from Dunedin and Timaru relative to interviewing Sir George Grey. The first recommended the Christchurch society to solicit Sir George Grey to favor the adoption throughout the whole colony of licensi”g laws similar to those existing in Otago. The second was a telegram stating that the association at Timaru intended to interview (he Premier, and asking to bo informed what were the views of Christchurch, so that they might work in unison. After some discussion (lie following, moA-ed by Mr Beattie, and seconded by Mr Hiorns, was agreed to—“ That a deputation consisting of members of the trade be formed to wait upon Sir George Grey.” On the motion of Mr Davis, seconded by Mr McGuinness, it was resolved—“ That the deputation consist of the President of the Association, and Messrs Barfett, Morton. Beattie, and Hiorns.” Mr Beattie moved—‘'That the members,for Christchurch, Messrs Richardson and Stevens, be requested to introduce the deputation to the Premier.” Mr Barrett seconded the motion, and it was unanimously agreed to. Jhe meeting then concluded-

Accident in a Gymnasium. — A young man named William Armstrong mot with a serious accident in the city gymnasium, Dunedin, last week. He was practising on the horizontal bar, when he slipped and fell to the ground, striking the back of his head and neck. Though the distance he fell was only three feet, Armstrong received concussion of the spine. The doctors in attendance had scarcely any hope of his recovery. Amateur Bookmakers.— Settling day on the recent Otago Race Meeting at Dunedin does not seem to hare passed over quite satisfactorily for all parlies. The “Herald” understands that the bookmakers met their engagements with punctuality, but, according to their statements, the public have not done the same, and many who were quite ready to make bets do not think, now that they have lost, that they should be called upon to pay them.

The Peemiee’s Veracity.— Even our dusky brethren (says the “ Wairarapa Register ”) seem to measure Sir George Grey accurately, and place a correct estimate on his veracity and memory. From our telegrams it will be seen that at the King meeting he requested Manuhiri to meet him privately, but that astute chieftain declined the honor, and intimated that Sir George Grey might make any communication he desired before witnesses.

Hard Times foe Civil Servants.— The Melbourne “Daily Telegraph” relates the following:—Reports of the distress into which the families of some of the discharged civil servants have been plunged continue to reach us. Yesterday we heard of a most deplorable case, that of a family of nine, the father, mother, and seven children, who are literally without the necessaries of life. According to our information, the unfortunate gentleman had only been in receipt of a salary barely sufficient to maintain his family, and when he was discharged he had not a pound in the world, but was slightly in debt. As there appears no probability of his re-instatement, tradesmen have stopped his credit, and but for the kindness of a few friends the family would be in a state of absolute starvation. Foegeey and Uttering!.— For some days past a warrant has been issued for A. J. Tudball, late storekeeper at Kumara, and who recently kept a butcher’s shop in Colombo street north. The charge is for forging the name of Michael Burns, of Papanui, to a bill of exchange for £2OO, drawn in favor of Messrs J. T. Ford and Co., and with uttering the same. Tudball was found to be dangerously ill when it was attempted to put the warrant into execution, and it was thought he had taken poison. He was first seen by Dr. Townend, and subsequently by Drs. Turnbull, Nedwill, and Coward, who considered him too weak for removal. Since then the police have been in attendance, and as he is now much better, the warrant will probably be executed to-day or to-morrow.

Fiee in a New Zealand Gaol. —A fire recently occurred in Auckland gaol, about which much reticence appears to have been observed. Information, however, from a reliable quarter reached the “ Star ” that during one evening last week a lire broke out in that part of the Auckland gaol wherein are confined the prisoners awaiting trial. The fire originated in a cook-house. At the time it was discovered it had burnt through the boarding dividing the cook-house from the adjoining apartment of Senior Warder Dunn. An alarm was raised by Warder Bell, and a plentiful supply of water being obtained, the fire was extinguished in a few minutes. We have frequently referred to the very great danger attending an outbreak of fire in the Auckland gaol, and the necessity for measures being adopted by the Government to improve the internal arrangements of the gaol by the erection of stone buildings. In the present case, had the fire not been discovered before it had obtained a hold of the buildings, it is impossible to say where the damage would have stopped. Civil Service Reform. —The Government have discharged Major Lockett from the militia and volunteer office, without compensation. The case seems an exceptional one, and we therefore quote some remarks from our Wellington morning contemporary on the subject, which tend to show what treatment uninfluential people will meet with from a Ministry Jwhose head never wearies of proclaiming himself the immaculate champion of right, and the protector of the unprotected : —“ We have no desire to cavil at any reductions which Ministers may think desirable to make in the Civil Service of the colony. All that is asked for is that fair play should he shown to the officers whose services are dispensed with, and that all should be treated alike. Some officers who have got their discharge have been treated in an exceptionally harsh manner, and there is little doubt that their exceptional treatment is attributable to their being unable to bring any political infiuence to bear upon the Government. The discharge of Major Lockett without compensation is a case in point. He has made application to the Government for compensation, but has met with a refusal on the ground that he could not produce a medical certificate that he was unfit for other work. Other officers who have occupied a similar position have received compensation without the production of such a certificate. Colonel Gorton and Colonel Mo ale’s services have been dispensed with, and they both have received retiring allowances, whilst Lieutenant Rowan, who we are informed resigned, has been treated in a similar manner. Now, these three gentlemen had joined the colonial forces since Major Lockett, who has faithfully discharged his duties during the seventeen years he was connected with the forces. Not the slightest charge of neglect of duty or inefficiency has ever been alleged against him. But it is not only in the mutter of compensation that the Ministry has shown favouritism. Amongst those officers whose services have been retained is Major Lusk, who is in command of the Auckland militia and volunteers. Now, Major Lusk is simply a civilian who has donned the uniform, and has not had onetenth of the experience of Major Lockett. The latter, besides seventeen years’ service in the colony, has been in our Indian army for eighteen years, and in both services it is not denied that he acquitted himself creditably. But then Major Lusk has a relative a member of Parliament, whilst Major Lockett is not possessed of such influence at Court. Such a gross piece of favouritism has seldom come under our notice. ”

The King of Sweden and Norway has completed a draiqatic poem, entitled “ Minne from Upsala,” the scene of which is successively laid in the Cathedral, in Odin’s Grove, and in Old Upsala. This drama, to which Ivar HallstrOn has written the music, is now under rehearsal, and will be shortly performed.—“ Academy.”

The Bishon of Lincoln, having been inter, rogated by a layman as to the reason of“his turning to the East at the conclusion of a sermon in Ordsali Church, Ayrites:—“ I beg to acknowledge your letter, with thanks for your kind words. In ruply to the question in it, I was not aware of having done what you say was the case ; and may I bo allowed to add that it would not have been worth while noticing if I had done it. HoweA-er, life is not long enough for debates on such trivialities.”