NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1257, 29 March 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Cable Communication. — The Penang and Rangoon cable is interrupted. The route for Europe, &c., is still open via Penang and Madras.

Civilians v. Volunteers. —The deciding rifle contest between the above teams took place yesterday at Hillsborough, resulting in a victory for the Civilians by twenty-one points. The Great Promisee. — A contemporary calculates that the redemption of the various promises made by the Premier during his recent stumping tour would cost the colony seven millions of money over and above the cost of the works already contemplated by Parliament.

Canterbury Rowing- Club.— The members of this club will be unable to enter the Tamesis for the supplementary regatta at Kaiapoi, as the crew have gone out of practice, and some members would be unable to spare the time from their offices on Saturday. Curb Boating Club.— A special meeting of this club was held at Schmidt’s Pier Hotel, Kaiapoi, on Wednesday evening. The treasurer reported a balance in hand, and the receipt of prizes won at the regatta. It was resolved to enter for some of the races in the regatta on Saturday. Christchurch Rabbit Club. —The annual meeting of the above club was held yesterday at Messrs J. T. Ford and Co.’s office. The statement of accounts submitted showed that the financial position of the club -was very satisfactory. After making arrangement for the ensuing year’s shooting, the meeting adjourned. Sefton. —A trotting match for £5 a side has been made between Mr B. Flynne’s Kitty, Ashley, and Mr D. Brown’s Vulcan, Amberley 5 distance, 5 miles, the course being from the Ashley hotel to Death’s Corner, on the Sefton road. As the competitors are known to be both fast trotters, considerable interest is taken in the match. Cricket —The following matches will be played by the M.C.O.C. to-morrow (—Christ’s College—Messrs Hill, Reeder, Fairhurst, W. Horner, Ataok, Palairet, Bull, Outhbert, Pavitt, McCardell, and R. Thompson. Railway Club—Messrs Row, Parker, J. Horner, Stewart, Hislop, .Ashbolt, Vh Hartlaud, Haddrell, Allard, Ross, and E. F. Moore. The first named game will be continued on the association ground j the match with the Railway will be played on the ground of the latter, near the south side of the Gasworks. A match between the Woolston and Sumner Clubs will be played on Saturday, the 30bh inst., on the ground of the former. Play to commence at 2.30 p.m, sharp.

Kaitangata Coal. —The “ Clutha Leader ” stales that the shaft at Shore’s coal-pit, Kaitangata, is now down about 210 ft., and has passed through no fewer than fourteen coal seams, varying in thickness from about six feet to as many inches. The last seam passed through was li ft, thick, and the best quality that has yet been come across. This and one or two others will be worked in conjunction with the main seam, which it is expected will be reached 70 or 80ft. lower. Brooksidb. —A meeting of the school committee was held on the 25th instant. Present—Messrs C. Withell, in the chair, J. Cunningham, and R. Withell. The chairman was authorised to erect a coal-house and provide firing, also to invite tenders for cleaning, lighting fires, &e., and to request an early inspection by Mr Cane, the Government Architect, as to necessary repairs. The following were nominated as members of the Board —Messrs C. C. Bowen, A. Duncan, J. Inglis, E. J. Lee, W. Montgomery, W. Rolleston, A. Saunders, H. J. Tancred, and H. R. Webb. The statement of salaries and incidental expenses for the month was passed for payment. Nelson Hematite Paint Works. —When Mr Louisson (says the “ Colonist ’’) commenced the manufacture of metallic paint from the Para Para hematite ore, its value was scarcely known, and its manufacture was attended with disadvantages. Mr Louisson has held on, and is now reaping his reward in meeting with a demand almost greater than he can supply. The time having come for enlarging the business, a wealthy Dunedin firm have arranged to purchase it, with a view to working it by a company on a large scale. They have acquired from the liquidators of the Para Para Company seven hundred acres of freehold and leasehold land, from which to draw an unlimited supply of ore, and will take up the work in three months’ time. The capital of the company is ten thousand pounds. The Late F. W. Thiel. —Our Ashburton correspondent writes that the death of Mr P. W. Thiel has created a profound feeling of sorrow amongst the members of the Masonic order in Ashburton and district, particularly amongst the members of the Somerset lodge, in which deceased had always taken especial interest. On Wednesday Bro. R. W. Shearman, W.M., Somerset lodge, had an interview with Mr Conyers, Commissioner of Railways, which resulted in that gentleman kindly placing a special train at the disposal of the brethren in Ashburton and the southern districts, so that they may be enabled conveniently to attend the funeral in Christchurch on Sunday. The kindness of Mr Conyers was supplemented by the guards, engine drivers, and stokers, who voluntarily offered their services for the occasion. Bro. the Rev. W. E. Paige has been asked to perform the services (Masonic and Church of England) at the grave.

Fiji Items. —The following items are from Fiji papers to March Ist. The principal information contained in them is that which relates to Sir Arthur Gordon’s visit to Samoa. The season in Fiji has been an unusually favorable one for fruit, such quantities of pine apples, grenadillas, dawas (Fijian plums), kavikas (Malay apples), oranges, and melons, not having been seen for a long time past. The barque Neptune, having filled up with copra, has sailed for Hamburg. She took 200 tons from Fiji, the balance having been made up at Tonga. A plague of boils seems to be giving much annoyance to the good people of Levuka, everyone being more or less favored. Another nuisance is experienced from swarms of caterpillars, which are making matters unpleasant to cattle owners and others by eating up everything green. Yegetable gardens especially come in for a full share of the ir patronage. Railway Pabpees —Under this heading the “Sydney Herald” writes:—“ln the Legislative Assembly yesterday, Mr Lynch asked, ‘ What is the total number of railway passes issued to persons upon the recommendation of Mr John Macintosh, M.P., between January Ist, 1877, and the present date ? ’ Mr Sutherland answered ‘ Two thousand two hundred and forty.’ Mr Lynch asked (2), ‘ How many of these persons have since paid their fares, as promised when receiving the pass ? ’ Mr Sutherland replied 1 None.’ Honorable members appeared to be staggered by the stupendous character of the free-pass operations of the senior member for East Sydney ; but astonishment rapidly gave place to mirthfulness, and a shout of laughter came from both sides of the House as the announcement was made by the Minister that not one of this army of railway creditors had honored their promissory notes. The House seemed at a loss whether to admire most, the hardihood with which the hon. and sympathetic member had braved public opinion, or the credulity with which he had lent a willing ear to the two thousand and odd railway cadgers.”

Discovery of Coal near Hokitika. — A discovery, which promises to be ultimately of great importance to the Hokitika district, has (says the “Times”) been made about twenty miles up the Hokitika river, between Bald Hill and the south side of the river, at the foot of a range. Messrs G-rimmond, Zala, and party, of Ross, who have been lately prospecting for minerals near the locality referred to, discovered, on Wednesday last, a seam of coal cropping up from the surface of the [ground. Samples ;of very good quality were brought to town yesterday, and some excitement was caused by the news of the find. The seam is about eighteen inches thick, and there is no doubt that the quality is excellent. The spot where the coal was discovered is nearer Ross than Hokitika, as the Hokitika river takes a considerable bend to the south. The distance from Ross is about fourteen miles. Application has been entered at the Waste Lands Office for a prospecting licence, and steps will be taken to test the value of the discovery without delay.

Mr Rabbits has been chosen by the Southwark Liberal “ Two Hundred” as one of their candidates for that borough. The Two Hundred seem to have a notion of the “ fitness of things,” for who can understand more about burrows than rabbits ?

The statue to Thomas Campbell, the poet, was unveiled in George-square, Glasgow, on December 28th. The ceremony was performed by Dr. James Campbell, who said that Campbell was a native of (Gasgow, and that his “Pleasures of Hope” would last while the English language was spoken. The artist is Mossman.

The London “Spectator” says;—Miss Emily FaithfulTs weekly paper, “ The West London Express,” has proved such a success that she has been obliged to introduce steam machinery into her office, and to increase her staff of women compositors. Miss Failhfull promises some new features in the “ Victoria Magazine ” during the ensuing year. In the January number a series of portraits of eminent women will be commenced, accompanied by biographical sketches,