NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1256, 16 March 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Premies.—Sir G-, Grey will address a public meeting at the Oddfellows' Hall tonight, at 7.30. The Premier at Kaiapoi.—A special meeting of the Kaiapoi Borough Council was convened for last evening, to consider the question of the reception of Sir GL Q-rey on Monday.

Akaroa Lighthouse.—The G-overnraent have within the last few days had an engineer at work at the Akaroa Harbor heads, fixing the exact site of the new light, and making arrangements for the necessary material being landed and conveyed to the site. Akaroa Quarterly Licensing Meeting. —The quarterly licensing meeting for the Akaroi district was on Tuesday last adjourned for the second time, owing to no quorum being present. It is now fixed for the 19bh March, when it is to be hoped the commissioners will find it convenient to make a bench, as public business in the meantime stands still. United Methodist Free Church.— The new chape), Si.. Asaph street, will be opened to-morrow. The Eev. S. Macfarlans will preach in tin; morning, the Rev. J. White (newly arrived circuit minister) in the after noon, and the Rev. M. Baxter in the evening. The usual soiree takes place on Tuesday evening. For full particulars of services see advertisement.

Large Ccstoms' Entry.—An entry was passed at the Customs House yesterday by Messrs P. Cunningham and Co., for cornsacks per Inehgreen, amounting to £2148 4s. We believe Lhis is the largest entry for one item of merchandise ever passed here. In addition to the foregoing it will bo found, on reference to ouv commercial columns, that the Customs duties for Thursday last show no signs of falling off in the revenue. Chamber of Commerce. —A special meeting of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce was held at the rooms, Cashel street, yesterday, to consider the subjects to be brought under the notice of the Premier during his visit here. After some consideration it was decided to interview Sir G-eorge with reference to the present railway tariff, and also as to the [extension of the Northern Railway to the West Coast. The President, Vice President, and Mr Cunningham were appointed as a deputation to lay the views of the Chamber before the Premier.

Inquest at Kaiapoi.—On Friday an inquest was held at GHover's, Kaikainui Hotel, before C. Dudley, Esq., coroner, and a jury of which Mr W. Weston was 'foreman, touching the death of a boy twelve years old, who was supposed to have died from heart disease. Deceased was a son of Mr C. Haycock, and expired suddenly at hia father's residence on Wednesday. A post mortem examination of the body had been made by Dr. Ovenden, on whose evidence, corroborated by the other witnesses, the jury found a verdict that deceased died from natural causes.

Lunacy.—On Thursday, about mid-day, a man fell down in an epileptic fit in front of the Lyttelton Hotel. Dr. Rouse was sent for and ordered the man to be conveyed to the casual ward, where he is still under that gentleman's care. From papers found upon him he has been recognised as Daniel Donelly, who has been resident in Chrietchurch for the past seven weeks. He is said to have lost some considerable sum of money (£200) through Tudball, who is now in custody, and this appears to have affected his mind. This is corroborated by a letter found on him addressed to his brother, which shows unmistakeable signs of aberration of intellect. He will probably be transferred to Sunnvs de. 1.0.G-.T.—The Ever Faithful Lodge received an official visit from the members of the Volunteer Lodge in the western district, on Thursday evening. They were received with honors and the singing of the ode "Friends of Temperance." Three candidates, one brother and two sisters, were initiated. After the routine business was disposed of the lodge went into harmony, and a very excellent programme of readings, recitations, songs, and musical piano selections, were given by the members and visitors. The evening passed off pleasantly for all, and a desire was expressed by the Volunteers that the visit should be returned at an early date.

City Council.—A special meeting of the City Council was held laßt night in the Council Chamber for the purpose of considering what matters relating to the interests of the city should be brought before the Premier during his stay inChristohuroh. The members of the Council present were his Worship the Mavor, and Crs. Ick, Bird, Briggs, and Ruddenklau. The Mayor reported that he had arranged with Mr Huddlestone to value the properties to the assessment of which the Council had objected. If Mr Huddlestone reported that the objections could notbesustained, he (the Mayor) would at onoe withdraw them. The members then proceeded to consider the business for which the special meeting had been called, and in order to allow of full discussion they went into committee, when it was resolved co bring [he following subjects before the Premier, and he will be aßked to receive a deputation for the purpose on Monday;—Endowment for the city; Cattle Market Reserve ; Provincial Government Buildings, and Public Aualyot. Kaiapoi Regatta Committee.—A meeting of this committee was held at th« Borough Council Chamber on Thursday evening. The commodore, Dr, Uudley, occupied the chair. Ten members were present. The secretary read a telegram from the railway manager, stating the minimum of the guarantee for a special train, Christchurch to Kaiapoi, was £lO 10s, and if more than that amount was earned by the train, it belonged to thp department. If the committee required a special train, leaving Christchurch at 11 a.m. and returning at midnight, they must guarantee £2l. A considerable amount of discußoion ensued, and, as the committee had hitherto not been called on to guarantee cost of special trains, and had usually received a Government vote of £25 towards the regatta, the telegram formed the subject of much unfavourable comment. It wns finally decided to give the guarantee for a late train. The receipt of handsome subscriptions from Messrs Matson and Co., R. Wilkin and Co., and Mr J. D. Macpherson, manager of the South British Insurance Company, were ordered to be acknowledged, with thanks. It was resolved that the rules relating to starting be strictly enforced, and Mr ,T. W. Ellon was appointed marshal, to see that crows went to the start in time to prevent their being disqualified. It was decided that the entries or names of the boats should not be published, as it interfered with the sale of cards. Mr Burnip's offer of 20s for the cards was accepted. Tho number of entries for the several events were junior pairs, senior double sculls, four-oared sweepstakes, junior double sculls, senior pairs, junior fours, and final sweepstakes races, three in each; champion four, and canoes, two entries in each. The committee was informed that his Worship the Mayor would request the observance of a general holiday on Monday. After pssfiug sosje routine bueiaees the meeting, adjourned.

Tubi' Club Union.—At a meeting of the North Otago Turf Club, held on Wednesday, Mr Percival, secretary of the Auckland Jockey Club, is reported to have proposed a union o£ the New Zealand Turf Clubs, for the purpose of holding a yearly convention, represented by one or more members of each Turf Club in the colony, and it was resolved that the thanks of the N. O. T. Club should be conveyed to him for his proposal, and that a special meeting of the committee be convened for the purpose of considering the matter. The Pbemieb's Reception at Invebcaboill. —The following is the account given by the " Southland Times " of this most important event, about which the historians appear to differ so widely:—" The Premier was received at the station by his Worship the Mayor, Sir John Richardson, and a few others. The Mayor tendered a few words of welcome, as also did Sir John, but beyond that the reception was of the tamest, not the slightest demonstration being made. The Premier then proceeded to the Club Hotel. In the evening the Invercargill brass band marched to the Club, and played a short piece, and then retreating to the corner opposite the Colonial Bank, played ' There's no place like Home,' 'The girl I left behind me,' and ' Auld Lang Syne,' with variations." Cust Distbict School—The monthly meeting of the committee was held on Monday evening. Present—Messrs Head (chairman), Ruddenklau, Hosegood, Croniie, Grant, and Early. A circular was received from the Rangiora school committee re Messrs Cunningham and Bowen as members of the new Board of Education. After some consideration the following gentlemen were nominated for the Board : —Messrs Inglis, Montgomery, Duncan, Webb, Veel, Fendal, Tancred, Cunningham, and Bowen. The master's report on the school was read and considered. There are at present 160 names on the school register, and 129 in average attendance. A supply of fuel was ordered, and the chairman was requested to write to the Board of Education asking for £5 to form the nucleus of a school library. Mystebious Case of Drownings.—lt was reported yesterday morning that the body of the young girl taken out of the river the previous evening was that of a girl who came out by the ship Rakaia on her last voyage. The matron of the vessel, master, and matron of the Addington depot, and also a shipmate identified the body as that of the girl referred to. During the afternoon, however, Mrs Owens, wife of James Owens, residing in Horatio street, visited the morgue, and identified deceased as being her daughter, Margaret Owens, aged nineteen years, who, up to the previous day, had been in the employ of Mr James McConnell, at Waltham. It seems that Mrs McConnell had occasion to leave home about 11 a.m. on Thursday, and shortly afterwards the girl left the house. She did not return during the day or night, and yesday Mr McConnell went to her mother, informed her of the circumstance, and mentioned the paragraph which had appeared in the papers. Mrs Owens then went to the morgue as stated. For some few days past, the girl was noticed to be somewhat desponding, and showed a disinclination to be observed. Mrs McConnell wished her to go to her father's house, but she refused to do so. Several nights lately she had been out later than usual, and during her absence on Sunday evening Mr McConnell heard a female scream, and a little while after this the girl came home. Her mother last saw her alive at 6 p.m. on Sunday, when she was preaent at a christening being held in her aunt's house. Deceased was not known to have been keeping company with anyone. New Guinea Expedition—A meeting of persons interested in joining in an expedition to New Guinea was held at the Borough Hotel, High street, last evening. Captain Meikleham was voted to the chair, and explained what was proposed to be done, viz., to form a company consisting! of fifty members at £55 each, for the purpose of providing the party with a vessel and provisions for six months, tools, arms, ammunition, &c, in fact a complete equipment, and to bring them back should the expedition prove a fnilure, when the sale of the vessel, &c, would recoup the shareholders at least half of the original outlay. The nature of the country was explained by Captain Meikleham, who has visited New Guinea, and who stated that there was a range of snowy mountains crossing the country, and any climate could be got inland. Some account was given from information obtained from Mr Goldie, and the description of the country where Mr Goldie made his gold discoveries was pointed out by the chairman from a very excellent chart. The secretary read a statement showing what was intended to be done with the capital when subscribed. Mr Young, one of the promoters, said that, supposing gold could not be got, the same chance of taking up land offered as had been the oase in New Zealand and other Southern islands. Mr Cuff read a number of letters which he had received in answer to previous advertisements, which showed that there were a great number of persons willing to go when the expedition was a reality. Several new members came forward in the room, making a total of thirtytwo subscribers, and it was notified that the secretary would be in attendance every day at the Borough Hotel to receive names of intending voyagers. A vote of thanks to the chairnutn terminated the meeting.