NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1261, 3 April 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Canterbury Gun Club.—On Friday next a match tor £2O a side will be shot between two members of the club. On the same day another member will back himßelf to kill seven birds successively for £lO. Railway Tariff.—lt is notified in the " Gazette" that from the Bfch April the minimum charge on all goods of Class F (minerals), except coals and ships' ballast, will be 2s per ton. The minimum charge upon coals and ships' ballast will remain as at present. Inspector-General of Schools.—The "New Zealand Times " of Monday, April let, states that the Rev. W. J. Habens, 8.A., at present secretary to the Canterbury Board of Education, has been appointed by the Government Inspector-General of Schools under the Act of last year.

.Accident on the Railway.—An accident of a serious nature occurred as the 3.15 train was leaving Ashburton for the south yesterday. A child was by some means dropped from the arms of the person carrying it, and fell on the line, the wheels passing over one of its legs. Dr. Kesteven was quickly on the spot and attended to the sufferer. Weather at Ashbuhton.—The correspondent of the " Press" writes :—The weather has for some days been unusually warm. On Sunday the heat waß almost insupportable, and on Monday a strong nor'-wester commenced, lasting all night, and on Tuesday attaining the force of a hnrricane. The town was covered with dense clouds of dust, which rendered all outside work extremely unpleasant. Messrs Friedlander Bros. Althouse windmill seems to be the only thing entirely unaffected by the wind. It remains motionless, with its fans securely folded up, waiting for a more moderate breeze to resume its labors. Mr Wason at Sheffield. —Mr Wason addressed his constituents at Sheffield last evening. The speaker gave a history of the proceedings of last session. With reference to Sir G. Grey's policy, he said he was opposed to manhood suffrage in the light he understood Sir G. Grey meant it, and if Sir G. Grey would equalise the taxation of the country he would get the support of the majority of the House, but if what was taken off the Customs was put on land, financial ruin would result. He objected to a land tax, as unjust and expensive to collect. He strongly condemned Sir G. Grey's conduct in connection with the Land Bill, and characterised his statements regarding the extension of the pasturage leases as incorrect. After replying to a number of questions, he received a vote of thanks for his address.

Cooper and Bailey's Circus.—A large number of persons assembled yesterday at the Circus, but owing to the nor'-wester which was blowing Mr Bailey determined to close the show, as the wind had broken the canvas in several parts. In the evening the side show was in full operation. In the variety theatre a capital programme was presented, including the Christy Minstrels, Messrs Davenport and Gibbons, Miss Daisy, Miss Belmont, Miss Fritz, the Fire King, and Mr Chalet. Mr Allen and the educated pig Bismarck also created great amusement, the euchre playing of the pig and his wonderful feats of memory causing great applause. To-day the new tent of the company was fixed, and they will be enabled to give their evening performance aB usual. The afternoon exhibition did not tnke place. Bismarck, the educated pig, will to-day give his tips for the Autumn Handicap, the Champagne, and Steeplechase, so that those who intend to make a book on the Autumn meeting will do well to go tonight. The special train from Lyttelton, which was to have been run last night, will run to-night instead.

Telegraphic Chess Match.—Respecting the coming match between Christchurch and Dunedin, the "Daily Times" says:—"The principal reason which actuated the Dunedin Club in sending a friendly challenge was in some way to recognise the efforts of the Christchurch Club to bring about a tournament among all the best players in the colony. Unfortunately, for the present at least, this was found to be impracticable. So it was more for the sake of encouraging the lovers of the game in the City of the Plains, than in the hope of being successful, that the Dunedin Club took the necessary steps to carry out the match. The Christchurch players have reciprocated in the fullest manner the friendly spirit which has characterised all the preliminary arrangements. And it is gratifying to find that it bas been the means of oausing the members of both clubs to go in strong for practice, as well as adding considerably to the membership roll. At a meeting of the match committee, which was held on Saturday night, the following players were selected to represent the Dunedin Club, Messrs Mouat, Hay, Wild, Dr. Thomas,' Q-rinsted, Dr. Stenhouse, Throp, Jones, and Mander. Emergency men—Messrs Pirie and Angus." The following' are the names of the nine players who have been finally selected as. representatives of the Christchurch Club — Messrs Hookham, Hunter, Jacohsen, Veel, W. D. Wood, E. Bray, D*y, Newman, J. Wood. The match will begin at 3 p m. on Saturday nest, oloeing for the evening at twelve, and will be continued, if necessary, for three more Saturdays; any games then unfinished are to be decided by the umpires, with reference, in case of disagreement, to Mr Bonbow, of Wellington, Mf A. Ojllivier has consented to be umpire a> th}s end, and Mr Bury will act in the same capacity at Dunedin. The Christchurch team will play in a large room at the telegraph office, which has beon kindly placed at their disposal by Mr Meddings, 'and are requested to be there by about half-past seven on Saturday evening, in order to ensure a punctual commencement. A great deal of interest is felt in the match among chessplayer*, and there is likely to be

Fire.—A six-roomed house, occupied by Mr Frank Houghton, at Merivale, Papanui road, was burnt down about 2 p.m. yesterday. The fire was caused by sparks blown from a gorse fence near the house, which is supposed to have been lighted by some boys. The flames spread so rapidly that only a little of the furniture was saved. The house, which was believed to have been insured, belonged to Mr Pye, residing at Winslow, near Longbeach Station. The furniture was not insured. A Leper at Lawrence.—The Lawrence correspondent of a southern contemporary writes: —We have a very bad case of leprosy —a Chinaman. He is at present in our hospital where he was sent a few days ago from Waitahuna. There is some talk of turning him out, and throwing the onus on the police. I do not think the hospital is a proper place for such a frightful disease. We have what is termed a lazaretto, built some time ago by the late Provincial Q-overnment, where the other lepers were sent. That is the only place for such unferLunate creatures, as their own countrymen will not go near them.

Meeting at Amberley.—A meeting of members of the Church of England in the Northern district, embracing the Leithfield and Amberley portion, was held at the schoolroom, Amberley, on the evening of the Ist of April, the Primate presiding. The meeting was convened by the Churchmen of the Amberley district for the purpose of considering the best means to secure the residence of a minister in the township, as it was considered by them that Amberley subscribed by far the largest portion of the stipend. On the other hand, the Leithfield people, who attended in large numbers, considered tbat it would be an injustice to their end of the district were the parsonage to be shifted to Amberley, as, though they admitted that their district was the poorer, still it embraced a large area of land, which at some future time might be better populated than at present. Several speakers on both sides, including Messrs Courage, Fendall, R. Foster, T. Douglas, Ensor, &c, having explained their views, the meeting was divided, when it was found that there were equal numbers. Several suggestions of compromise were offered but none agreed to, and the meeting, which was rather a stormy one, separated, after a vote of thanks to his lordship, without any settlement of the question being arrived at. The Wandering Ministry. —On tbe subject of ministerial wanderings, the fluency of Ministers in promising, and the dstas'e of Ministers for their proper work, the Nelson " Colonist" recently had the following pertinent observations :—For the semi-regal progress on the West Coast, less defence can be made. Crowds assemble to see the men who have something to bestow. Without thinking it necessary to enquire whether alleged grievances are real, every clamorous deputation is promised all that is asked for, and its members depart mourning their own moderation. If a bridge is wanted, plans are forthwith ordered ; if an expensive road to some obscure gully is sought, it is at once approved ; and still more is eagerness shown to seize every pretext for upset ling existing arrangements, regardless of all the lessons of experience. Neither the amount of revenue nor loan is taken into account when expenditure is begged, and the one consolation for the colony, whatever may be the case with the petitioners, is that those most ready to promise are most fertile in excuses to evade carrying them into effect. Sir G-eorge Grey's friends are bound, for (heir own credit's sake, to remind him of the great duties he has undertaken, and to point out that till they are fully disohargad he has no time to spend in pleasure. When he can refer to his success in persuading Parliament to sanction his policy, and to an improved condition of the people arising therefrom, it will be quite soon enough to partake of banquets and drink in the nattering words of the entertainers. There is serious work to be done. Q,ue6tion it who may, the finance of the country is in a perilous state, and English capitalists, once alarmed, will require to see some better security for their interest than the produce of future loans. Neither will the people of New Zealand patiently submit to the extra taxation that is fast drawing nigh, unless they are satisfied that economy is rigidly practised, and that their Ministerial servants devote themselves so completely to their departments as to ensure every officer giving his full time and energy to the service of his employers. The Premier has a great opportunity afforded him, and he may rest assured, that all who desire to see him make a reputation deplore his lengthy absence from the seat of Government where his duties lie.

The Governor on Colonial Politics. —The following is an extract frem the speech of the Marquis of Normanby delivered at the banquet recently given in his honor by the settlers of Hamilton :—The Constitution which has been given to the British colonies, and to you as one of them, is as near an approach as can be secured to the Constitution of Great Britain. You have entire freedom and self-government. You have the entire management of your local resources. If your laws do not suit you, you have the power of changing them. If the Constitution does not suit, you have also the power of modifying it, and changing it; but at the same time it cannot be denied that this Constitution, which acts so well in England, does not on all occasions succeed so well in the colonies. Now, I have had considerable colonial experience, and have served a long apprenticeship in the British Parliament, having been for eighteen years an active member of one branch or the other of the British Legislature, and having had an experience of some fifteen or sixteen years in the British colonies, therefore I speak, I think, with some authority on these matters. I will tell you why I think a difficulty sometimes arises in the colonies. You are so accustomed to see things grow apace, to see cities spring up almost in a day, to knock down forests, and substitute fine parks, that you expect political matters to make as rapid a progress as your every day duties. Now, in England we find, and, although not a young man, my memory is short compared with the history of a country, though I pan remember the first Reform Bill, and we have had many important measures since—we find that in England the people are not in such a hurry. Jn England there is more patience, ai>d more cogitation. We do not expect them to do these thiDgs in a hurry. Nobody expects to pass any great measure the first year it is brought forward but if a measure is brought forward which the inhabitants of the country take a deep interest in, depend upo>} it, it ia passed before long. In tho Colonies there is a great need of patience, and people should remember that everybody has as much right to his opinion as another. We should always give credit to one another for being actuated by conscientious motives. For an example of what I referred to, we have not far to look. In the colony of Viotoria I regret to see that they are now in a political diinculty. The question of payment of members is a question which ia fairly arguable on cither side. There ia no reason why any political dilliculty should arise on that account, if thers were only a little patience conciliation. The British Constitution is an engine which has a power of self-adjustment. If a whee} rubs a little tight on one place, it fa. easy to unscrew it and give jt freedom, and give it a little oil, so that it shall work smoothly without the whole affair being broken into pieces or blown up as we have seen *n other countries. That is really the difficulty of working the Constitution which we find sometimes exists in the colonies. With patience and mutual concilia-, tion, I feel confident that the Constitution which the mother country haa given you will work as well with y<xu aa in the mother country. Do net he in too great a hurry. Do not gay something must be aboliahod, as some are saying in Victoria the Vpper Houeo must be abolished because they do not agree at the moment. My belief and sinoere hope is that better counsels will prevail, that mediation will take place, and it' the country says that the payment of members is to be law, no doubt they will get it. It is difficult on an occasion like this to know exactly to, say. Of course lam debarred, «rom any approach to local politics, but having seen a good deal of the working of colonial Oon|&» tutions, I thought I paight m a the puMf tf, T » *