NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1265, 8 April 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

City Council. —The usual fortnightly meetii g of the City Council will be held this evening. Q.UAN Yam. —The Chinese prisoner, Quan Yam, received his first hogging at the Lyttelton Q-oal at 930 a.m. to day. By special order of the Judge the Hogging was strictly private. The unfortunate man bore his punishment with considerable fortitude. Defence of Lyttelton. — The following telegram which has been received by the Chairman of the Harbor Board, explains itself : —“ sth April, 1878. Hon. E. Richardson, Chairman Lyttelton Harbor Board, Christchurch. 324. Thanks for telegram offering co-operation in case of warning from home to protect colonial harbors. As yet no such warning received by N.Z. Government, nor any intimation of there having been giv r en to His Excellency. —J. Ballance ” Census Returns. —The returns for the Ashley and Cheviot counties show atotal population of 12,288, and the borough of Kaiapoi 1084. The proportion of the sexes is—-Males, 7354 j females, 6018. The total number of dwellings between the South branch of the Wairaakariri and the Waiau rivers is 2380 inhabited, 140 uninhabited, ten in course of erection, making a full total of 2530. The population in the several ridings is returned— Eyreton, 1499; Mandeville and Rangiora, 3691; Oust, 788; West Eyreton, 335 j Oxford, 1925 ; Mount Thomas, 711; Kowai, 2375 ; Waipara, 426; Tekoa, 238; Tennyson and Hawkeswood, 300. A Rare Fish.—On Friday as Mr Alexander Barnes and his mate were drawing in a seine net at Saltwater Creek, they were considerably surprised with the sight of a larger flounder than usual. On landing it the uncommon fish was found to measure about oft, across, and including its spiked tail in the measurement of length, about 7ft- The fish was a large stinging ?ay, which although common enough m the North, are rarely caught in these waters. The Maoris identified it by the name of whai, and explained that the tail of similar ones was by them dried and used for barbs or arrow points when killing pigeons. CKrkot ns Case.—A mm r namei MJchaiJ O’Leary, staying at the Eagle hu achng house,' reported to the constable on the beat at halfpast twelve on Sunday morning that lie had been garrotted by two men and robbed. From his statement it appears that ho met these men in a hotel near the theatre, and was ov them to go to a part of the town which ho does not When they had arrived at a dark place one of the men placed his arm rouhd ' O’Leary’s throat, and nearly phpbcd him, while the other rifled his. pockets, taking a purse containing eight sovereigns, some silver, and a cheque for £1 ius, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand. When giving the information O’Leary appeared as jf he had bfigy Wdflf $ 3 W W si lipw

Bueqlaey.—On Saturday night an attempt Wits made to break into Hulbert’s hat manufactory in High street. A sheet of iron was wrenched off the gate, and entry thereby effected. The burglars were, however, overheard, and faking alarm, decamped without obtaining any booty. Attempted Eobbeey, North Road.— About half-past two o’clock onSunoay morning Henry Weaver, cabman, when driving on the North road near the River S'yx, had bis horse stopped by a man who caught hold of the reins, while another jumped on the step and attempted to pull him out of the cab. Weaver gave his horse a sharp cut with the whip, and the sudden jerk shook them off, when he was enabled to get away. The matter was reported to the police an hour afterwards. A New Shipping Company. —The merchants of Southland have resolved upon establishing a shipping company of their own. The prospectus states : —“The object of this company is the establishment of a line of sailing vessels to carry on a direct trade between the ports of Bluff Harbor and London. The trade of the district has now reached dimensions of such importance, and its prospective development gives promise of such expan.-ion (particularly in the shape of grain productions) that the promoters consider themselves fully warranted in taking advantage of the present exceptionally favorable positions of their and shipbuilding trades for projecting this company. It is the intention of the company to commence operations by the purchase or building of a vessel of about 600 tons register, and to make additions as the trade of the port warrants,” Hoeohata Church. —Our correspondent writes that a meeting was held in the i schoolroom on last Saturday to consider the subject of enlarging the present church, and raising subscriptions for that purpose. Mr Cordy was voted to the chair, when it was decided that, as there were two plans for additions to the church, and the attendance at the meeting was thin, the decision as to which plan should be deferred to 9th April, and another meeting called for that date. A subscription list was passed round, headed by Mr Cordy and Hon. J. Hall, each £SO, and £27 more was added to it. The addition to the church is estimated to cost about £3CO It was further determined that the district should guarantee £6O per annum towards a clergyman’s stipend, and £2O towards paying his passage from England, Lebston School Committee. — A meeting of the school committee was held on Wednesday, 3 d April. Mr G. Sandrey in the chair. The following correspondence was read. From the Board of Education, regarding side school, accepting the resignation of Miss Gordon as mistress JFrom the same remain school, approving of the appointment of H. Woodward. Also, slating that estimates were in course of preparation by Mr Cane of the cost of completion of school building and improvements recommended, and that £4O 18s 7d had been placed to the credit of the committee at the Union Bank for salaries, and £2O for incidental expenses. From Mr Barnett, stating that in accordance with the wish of the committee he had withdrawn his resignation. From Mr Ford, showing that the average attendance for the quarter at the main school (1280) having raised the general average to 156, necessitated an increase in teaching power; also, that the master’s house requires repair before the winter. These subjects were postponed for the consideration of (he next meeting. Subject to the approval of the Board, Mrs Smith was appointed mistress of the side school, which the chairman stated was closed until such an appointment was authorised. The chairman reported that by the proceeds of the school treat the fund was placed entirely out of debt, and an amount realised (£l4) available for prizes or other rewards for the children. Mr Ford requested the attention of the committee to several specimens of work by the children. Cooper and Bailee’s Ciecus. —There was a very large attendance on Saturday, both at the matinee and evening performance of the great circus. The programme was different, in the majority of the items, to that offered during the week, and was carried out most successfully. Mr Charles Warner introduced the performing elephant, Prince. Mr Wambold next appeared in a contortion performance, which was certainly one of the most extraordinary which has been seen here. Master Willie Aymar, in his somersault and equestrianism, was also very successful, and Messrs Cassim and Fritz gave a very excellent performance of gymnastics. All their feats, some of them exceedingly difficult, were performed with an ease which made them appear to be the simplest possible thing to do. The next performance was that of Masters George Austin and Wambold, the former doing some remarkable feats of balancing a pyramid of nine glasses on his forehead whilst going through a gymnastic performance, and the latter balancing himself on a pyramid of bottles. Some really excellent tumbling was done by the whole company. Messrs Lazelle and Maffit introduced a number of new and daring feats on the trapeze, the concluding one, that o" flying from the trapeze to a rope, being especially good. Mr Richards gave young gymnasts a grand lesson in the art of club swinging. Mr Aymar created much amusement by his impersonation of a countryman coming from among the audience, who appears to have been overwhelmed by the proportions of the big show, and essays a series of peculiar feats in equestrianism. Madame Cordelia’s bare back riding, Mr Martin Lowande’s wonderful performances with his two sons, and the Japanese balancing by Awati Catuoslain, all received due appreciation. In the side show the performances were loudly applauded, Mr Chalet’s clever 1 ventriloquism receiving marked approbation. This veiling the same programme will be presented, and as this is the last p< rformanro but one no doubt there will be a large attendance. Chess —The match between the Christchurch and Dunedin Chess Clubs began on Saturday evening. The Christchurch players met in Mr Meddings’ room at the Telegraph Office, which had been very obligingly j placed at their disposal, and proved in every respect admirably adapted to the purpose. The nine representatives of the respective clubs were paired against each other as follows -. —Mr Hookham with Mr Mouatt, Mr Hunter with Mr Hay, Mr Jacobsen with Mr Wild, Mr Yeel witli Dr. Thomas, Mr W. D. Wood with Mr Grimstead. Mr Bray with Mr Park, Mr Day with Mr Throp, Mr Newman with Mr Jones, and Mr J. Wood with Mr Mander, The first move was taken by a Dunedin and Christchurch player alterDunedin. Play began at about ten minutes past eight, and was continued until a quarter to twelve, when it was adjourned till 8 p.m. on next Saturday, The games proceeded much more slowly than had been anticipated, the most expeditious player only accomplishing eighteen moves ; but a good deal of the time was taken up by communications relative to some mistakes that had occurred in noting or transmitting the moves—a defect to which play by telegraph is peculiarly liable. The ' following is a short account of the state of the games at present:—My Mouatt opened with the Evans’ gambit, to which Mr Hookham haa so fay been able to make a satisfactory defence. Mr Hay adopted the two Mights defence against Mr Hunter, and when time was called had succeeded in establishing a good attack. Mr Jacobsen, who preferred the French game, has gained a decided advantage over his opponent, and v barring oversights, will win. A Mistake wag made by Mr Wild in forwarding one of his moves, but not such ’as to affect the result. Mr Yeel, who played the Scotch gambit, has the best of the game with Dr. Thomas. He is a piece ahead, and with care ought to win. Mr W. D. Wood adopted the French defence. He has found Mr Or’matead a stronger opponent than expected, and so far (heir game i-; very even. Mr Newman (who opened with king's bishop) lias a strong attack and a fair chance of a win. At the other three boards irregular openings were preferred, Mr Timm, has got the better of Mr Day ; . but Mr Bray and Mr J. Wood are ou even terms with their respective opponents. On the wl;ol<'. the result of the first evening’s pViy (hut the advantage lies with Cbyiqtebureh in three games, and with Dunedin ip two, while the remaining four have not yet reached a BtftgS at wiiiCU lift UpUC C^Tbfi i

The Member fob Mount Ida. —lt ia now stated that Mr De Lat jur has no intention of resigning his seat in the Assembly for Mount Ida. _ The Adams Flat Mtsteby.— The mysterious disappearance of a child from Adams Flat, on which we lately quoted a paragraph from the Bruce “Herald,” remains still unexplained. The moat minute search of the district has been made, but no trace whatever has been found of the child. The Chbistchuoh-Dunedin Railway. —The Otago “ Times ” understands that the last of the rails between D urn din and Waikouaiti are expected to be laid on Saturday, April 6th, and that then the railway line will be complete to the latter place, with the exception of ballast on a small portion of it. The Taipo Reefs. —The correspondent of the “West Coast Times” wrote to that journal at the end of last week, es follows: “ There are two more leases taken up on this line of reef, and splendid gold has been got on one of them. The Taipo will be a great district, in a short time.” Education in Dunedin.—It has been decided, says the Otago “ Da Times,” in the event of the Education Bo A x& providing sufficient school accommodat that the Dunedin School Committee bring the compulsory clause of the Educa,, 'oil Act into operation. The secretary to the committee has been instructed to "write to the Board to that effect. Mb A. Saundebs on the Franchise.— In a letter published in the Ashburton evening paper, and written in reply to Mr Kesteven, Mr Saunders says:—l do not shut my eyes to the danger of removing all property qualifieations. I only think it a danger that the cause of justice and liberty call on us to encounter ; and a danger that will compel us to educate and elevate those whom we have decided to trust. Registration of Wellington Electors. — The Wellington corresp udent of the “ Hawke’s Bay Herald ” writes ;—“ In the Manawatu district several hundred Maoris have been placed on the electoral roll by one or two political wire-pullers, who hope by this means to swamp the European vole. In Wellington itself a crowd of lodgers have this time been placed on the roll. Indeed, their numbers are so great that Wellington will assuredly have a third member, and probably a fourth.” Journalistic. —The “ Wellington Evening Chronicle,” with which the “ Argus ” has been incorporated, was issued for the first time last week. A new paper, called the “ Morning Advertiser,” has been started in Nelson. It is small but will no doubt supply the place left vacant by the recent decease of the “Daily Times.” The new Wellington morning paper, “ The New Zealander,” is to be started on April 29th. It is also understood that considerable improvements are to be made immediately in the “ New Zealand Times.

The Tifpling Act. —A telegram to the L “ North Otago Times” states that at Dunedin, : on April 4th, a long argument took place at the Supreme Court, sitting in banco, before > Justice Johnston. The point involved is whether or not the Tippling Act of Greorge 11. is in force in this colony, and, therefore, ■ whether retailors of spirituous liquors can recover the price thereof when sold in quan- * tities of less value than 20s. It was agreed to 1 refer the question for the decision of the Court of Appeal. ! A Scripture Reason. A Wesleyan * minister recently addressed a meeting of \ scholars on mission in Fiji, and described one of the chiefs who lad seventy or eighty wives. The chairman catechised the children, and asked how many wives a man ought to hive. “ One, sir,” was the ready answer. “ I always teach you to give a Scripture ' reason for all your answers. Can you give me any text to show a man ought only to have 1 one wife ?” There was a long pause, and a little boy stretched out his hand. “ Well, my boy, I thought some one could give a passage of Scripture. What is it ?” “Please, sir, ‘No man can serve two masters.’ ” Another Disturbance in a Court.Mr Warden Stratford recently ordered the ; arrest of one A. J. Finn for contempt of Court alleged to have occurred during the sitting at Macetown. The scene on the occasion, as recorded in the Arrow “ Observer,’ * was immensely amusing, the Warden having, according to that account, behaved himself most foolishly. The extent of the arrest np- . pears to have only been a touch by the bailiff, and the period or durance simply until that rising of the Court. Nevertheless the- “ Observer” now learns that Mr Finn has instructed his solicitors, Messrs Macassey,. 1 Kettle, and Bridges, to take out three writs, for £2OOO damages each, against Warden Stratford. The actions arise out of the scene that occurred in the Warden’s Court at Macetown last week. The Latest Big Thing.— Big gooseberries have long been out of fashion in New Zealand; big potatoes, too, have had their day, and even gigantic peas fail to arouse any public interest. The resources of newspaper men are, however, not yet exhausted. Although they have to turn' to the water in their search for things Q-oggian or Magoggian. Down South they are giving the brown trout a turn, and we l.earn that, the largest fish of that species ct on record was caught in the Shag River last week by Mr McDonald, who presented it to Mr D. Stewart, of Dunedin.” Strange to say the paragrapher does not pursue its history any further In the north of this province, if the dozen colonists of Lake Coleridge have any luck, the journals will soon be able to write abo'it an _ altogether new variety of freshwater leviathan. Sib John Coode in Southland. The * Southland Times says that on Bis arrival Sir John Coode visited the Ghreeohill quarries to examine the stone proposed io be used in the construction of the seawall. Sir John highly approved of that in the quarry nearest Invercargill. Returning, they walked across the Isthmus to the New Rivei Harbor, and a conversation ensued about the project of connecting the two harbors by means of a canal, and the remarks of the engineer led to the inference that he regarded the scheme as somewhat wild. The party next visited several places on the Bluff hills where stone 1 had been laid bare, and, having examined it. Sir John passed, high encomiums upon its adaptability fov harbor works. The wharf was next visited, and the totara piles examined ; Sir John displayed much interest in obtaining information about the durability of totara timber. He said that so far as his Experience taught him jarrah was the most suitable timber for wharf purposes, as it did more than any other the attacks c ff the sea worm. His remarks, however, only applied to the jarrah that grew on high land, the swamp timber of the kind being comparatively worthless. Ho expressed a high opinion of the natural capabilities of Bluf Harbor, and requested that a marine survey' might be engaged to survey that part to" 1 enclosed between the proposed seu well ■ the foreshore. A Native Ball.— -A ball was recently given to the Governor and suite by the Thames natives, on the occasion of his visit to their district. The “Herald” has the following remarks on the ball, and the preparatory training which its givers had gone through:— “ There was little characteristic about the ball except the excellent taste in which the Maori ladie& and gentlemen were dressed. They were good dancers, thoroughly up in barroom etiquette, and were exceedingly proud of the position which they occupied. All the visitors, including his Excellency and suite, the Ministers, and the officers of the Nymphe, heartily enjoyed themselves up to a late hour in the morning. We are informed ths\t the Thames natives have been looking forward to the display fox a long time, and they have been most industrious in preparing themselves for ths-dancing and other etiquette of the ballroom. Ope Maori lady who occupied u prominent part in the affair, deserves Credit for the trouble she took in the tuition of her friends. For five months, some time was devoted everyday to practising the figures of the quadrille, arid in consequence on Thursday evening, all the Maori ladies were thoroughly For the most part, however, their partners were puzzled in their endeavors to pour “soft nothings ” into the cars of their dusky companions, but all seemed to enjov themselves nevertheless. It is tin first ball hold under Maori auspices in Nev Zealand, and noae mere enjoyable lifts eve

Drunkards in the Lock-up— ln reference to the treatment of persons taken in charge for drunkenness, a contemporary has the following : —“ An inquest was held in January last in London, on the body of a man found lying on the pavement in .Old Cavendish street, London, and who had been conveyed to the police station. The divisional surgeon ordered him to bo placed in front of the lire with blankets around him ; but he expired shortly afterwards. The surgeon said the cause of death was the rupture of a bloodvessel on the brain, or apoplexy. The coroner {Dr Hardwicks) made some strong observations as to the police arrangements th»t ought to be in force for the reception of persons who were found in an unconscious state in the streets. At each police station there ought to be two rooms, constructed, one for men and another for women, to be furnished with beds, &c., in order that each case might be treated humanely, and a chance given of recovery. The police authorities of New Zealand would do well to profit by this recommendation. The treatment of anyone to found, especially in the winter, is anything but humane at the New Zealand lock ups. It is taken for granted that he is drunk ; no medical man is called in ; and a threadbare blanket, without pillow, is all he has besides the bare boards.” The Westminster Review.- Under the heading “ India and our Colonial Empire,” a new department has been added to the “Westminster Review,” in which it is intended to publish a continuous series of articles on Anglo-Indian and Colonial affairs. The first article, published in January, deals exclusively with India, but in the next the affairs of same of the colonies will he discussed. Everything of course depends upon the method of treatment, but, with the proviso that this is kindly, and that the grand work which colonists as a whole have accomplished within the last half century is fairly recognised, we believe that there are few indirect methods of binding the Empire together so effectual as frequent and friendly criticisms of the colonies in the Press of the old country. It may be a weakness, and jome colonists may repudiate it, but it is none the less true, that they do highly value Home ♦pinion, and do dearly love to be mentioned, ind to feel that they are held of some account ly those at home. To the great majority of colonials, however securely their feet may be planted in the colonies, G r eat Britain is Tome, and will be so for another generation. The project of the “ Westminster Review ” will therefore be regarded with favor in Australasia, subject always to the proviso wo hve made. Of course if the criticism is undertaken in a carping spirit of disparagement, it can only give provocation without j >g any good "But it is incredible that the °V- ’’ew ” will thus falsify its reputation, and thtcon ' ideration °f such a contingency may theefore