NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1257, 18 March 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Telegraph Interruption, The Port Darwin line was interrupted north of Port Augusta on yesterday and Saturday. Sydenham Borough Council.—The usual fortnightly meeting of this Council will be held this evening at seven o’clock. Sir George Grey at Woolston. —Sir George Grey has been requested to address a public meeting in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Woolston, and has consented to do so. The meeting will take place at half-past seven o’clock this evening. H.A.0.8. Society. —A festival dinner in commemoration of Ireland’s patron Saint will be held by the above Society in St. Patrick’s Hall, Barbadoes street, tliis evening, at half-past seven. Masonic. —At the regular monthly meeting of the Canterbury lodge, 1048, E.C., Bro. H. F. Towle, organist of St, Paul’s Presbyterian Church, performed a selection of music composed by him for the ceremony of raising in connection with that lodge. In addition, the degree was chorally rendered by a choir led by Bro. John Marshall, late of the Chicago Minstrels, and altogether the ceremony throughout was one which was highly appreciated by the brethren, of whom there was a very large number present, including several visitors.

United Methodist Free Church. —The pretty new church in St. Asaph street, which has been completed within the last few days, and a description of which has already appeared in these columns, was opened yesterday. Three services were held during the day. The Rev. S. Macfarlane preached in the morning ; the Rev. J. White in the afternoon ; and the Rev. M. Baxter in the evening. There were crowded congregations at each service. A public tea meeting will be held in the schoolroom to-morrow at 5.30 p.m., to commemorate the opening of the church. After tea, a public meeting will be held in the church, arid addresses will be given by the Revs J.Elmslie, M.A., W. Morley, C. Dallaston, S. Macfarlane, M. Baxter, J. White, T. Hodgson, and Mr Q-. Booth. The services will be continued on Sunday next —the Rev. J. Elmslie preaching in the morning, and the Rev. W. Morley in the evening. A children’s service, to be conducted by the Revs. W. Tinsley and T. Hodgson, will be held at halfpast two in the afternoon. Fatal Accident.— A fatal accident occurred yesterday afternoon, by which a young man named Francis Cassidy lost his life while bathing in the Waimakariri river. It seems that deceased went, with a man named Chappel and two lads, to bathe in the river near the corner of Mr James Robbie’s land. He could not swim, and when walking into the stream was seen suddenly to stumble and throw up his arms, and he then disappeared in the current. One of the lads called out to the other man, who finished undressing quickly and ran to the bank, but owing to a large flax bush being in the way could not reach the river at that point. Cassidy came to the surface three times in quick succession, and finally disappeared. The river is about seven feet deep where tho unfortunate man went down, and as there are a number of beds of quicksands at this part it is supposed he got into one of them. Cassidy was twentyone years of age. He came to Canterbury about twelve months ago, since which time he had been in the service of Mr Charles Aymes, farmer, Harewood road. He was single, and a steady and industrious young man. Sergeant Hughes and a constable went up last evening with the drags to search for the body. The officers returned at a late hour, having been dragging for some hours without success. It was found that the water was so deep a short distance from where the man went down that a boat or raft will be required to drag effectually. Terminal Charges.— -The following petition has been signed for presentation to the Premier during his stay here: —“To Sir George Grey, K. 0.8., Premier of New Zealand : Sir, —We, the undersigned merchants, storekeepers, and others, of Christchurch, hereby respectfully draw the attention of the Government to the system recently adopted at the railway station, Christchurch, with regard to charges for cartage of goods from the railway station. By the recent change a fixed terminal charge lias been imposed which includes tho carriage of goods within a radius of half a mile from the station by a contractor. No other persons are allowed to carry any goods except on payment of the full terminal charge. Nor can the owner himself take away his goods in his own cart without paying the full terminal charge. Sucfi a system is, we most respectfully submit, a great injustice to us, as well as to the large number of carriers licensed by H. M. Customs for the cartage of goods, and who have been for years employed in this branch of the business. We trust, therefore, that in common justice to the licensed carriers, and also for the greater convenience and advantage of ourselves and the public, that your Government will kindly consider this important subject, and issue orders that all persons may be allowed to cart their own goods, or employ whom they will to do so. Signed by Messrs John Anderson, Twentyman and Cousin, and seventy-five others.”