NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1280, 26 April 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mosgiel Woollent Faotoby— Extensiv® additions are nokv being made to thpj factory, which must, according to the “Herald,” be regarded as one of the most flourishing of Otfi°o’s permanent institutions. Db. SoMEKVriJU!. —Dr, Somerville’s last lecture in Christchurch will be delivered on Monday night, and not to-night, as erroneously staled yesterday. To-night's lecture will be addressed to ladies. Further particulars will be found in the advertisement. Footbaiu.— The opening match of the Christchurch Football Club will fce played on Saturday. The sides will bo A. to L. vM, to Z„ the former wearing scarlet and black, and tiro latter blue and white. As this is the jlrgt match of the season a good muster of members my bj> expected, gs all lovers of the game bars b ; ?c}i snsJously toy thj? JJ?$ ttofM mk* iw &§ i mw & wmw*

Instruction of Trees. —At the meeting of the Hoard of Governors, held yesterday, the Hon, John Hall called attention to the fact of the trees upon the newly purchased ground belonging to the High School being cut down. Several members expressed dissatisfaction at the destruction of the trees, and the chairman immediately sent orders to the workmen to cease operations. It may be mentioned that the ground lately acquired by the Board of Governors is now very nearly levelled. Commercial Morality in Westland.— The “ West Coast Times ” of a late date remarks that the number of insolvencies lately recorded in that district has been truly alarm ing. They have extended far beyond the limit which ordinary dull times bring about. At every sitting of the District Court some shady transactions are brought to light, and it is no wonder that his Honor Judge Weston made use of the expression yesterday that he cou'd readily realise the honest men were suffering.

Pigeon Match. —The return match between two members of the Canterbury Gun Club was shot off yesterday on the club grounds at Papanui, and was won by Mr E. 0. Maxwell, After the match a scries of sweeps were shot off. The first of these was nine members at £1 each, 25 yards rise, five birds each. The winner was a prominent member of the gun club, and he also succeeded in winning the second sweep on the same terms, killing four birds out of five in each sweep. The club Laving 200 birds on hand, a meeting will be held to-day, at noon, on the ground, when several sweepstakes will be fired off. Canterbury Eifle Association.— Last night a meeting of the Council of this Association was held at Eadc'iffe’s Hotel. Capt. Warner occupied the chair. The follow! g members were present Messrs Appleby, Hayman, Bell, Buckley, Suter, Beattie, Fox, and Ekberg. Mr Appleby reported that about £4O had been received from the sale of tickets, &0., and that, after deducting all liabilities, including expenses of the day, a balance of about £l2 would remain in hand. Several accounts were passed for payment. The prize lists were then adopted. The chairman remarked upon the good shooting shown by the fact of four tying for the challenge cup. Considerable time was occupied in the discussion of alleged errors in the scoring, and, after some other business the meeting adjourned. Kaiapoi Domain. —Under the management of the present Board, and mainly owing to the careful supervision of Mr Wearing, one of the members, this domain is being made a most attractive spot, and the trees planted begin to produce a good effect. On what was -a few years ago a sandy waste, there is now a miniature forest in rapid growth. In various directions walks have been formed, the earth having been carted for the purpose. One or two terraces have been made, and the shifting sand has been covered with soil as far as possible. When the grant from the Government is received the work will be extended. It is hoped that this will be in a great measure accomplished during the coming season. The work done with the small sums at command is really astonishing, but the planting, fencing, and covering to be placed on portions of the sand drifts is a work which will require a considerable expenditure, and will have to be undertaken immediately to secure the present improvements intact. Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. —The usual monthly meeting of the committee of this association was held yesterday afternoon. Present —Messrs W. Norman (president), Dunoan, Mann, Henderson, and Hon. J. Hall. The treasurer was requested to deposit £2OO as a fixed deposit for six months on the best terms procurable. The report of the sub-committee appointed to consider the erection of a cottage for the caretaker of the grounds was read. It was resolved that Mr Henderson be requested to prepare plans and call for tenders for erection of the building on the grounds, such tenders to be submitted to next meeting of the committee. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Duncan—“ That with a view of carrying out the resolution passed at the last annual general meeting of the association in reference to bringing the association under the Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s Act, and also for the purpose of considering the advisableness of making alterations in the ma’ agemont of the association, and of the publication of the ‘ New Zealand Country Journal,’ a sub committee consisting of the president and the vice-president, Hon. John Hall, B. Wilkin, Murray -Ay nsley,W. Henderson, and the mover, be appointed to report to the next meeting.” It was also resolved that the secretary write a letter to the Government printer asking for a few copies of the Agricultural Societies’ Act, 1877. A letter was read from the auditors, suggesting certain alterations in the mode of keeping the cash-book of the association, and also pointing out that the work of auditing the books of the association had now increased to such an extent as to warrant a payment being made for the auditing. It was resolved that the thanks of the committee be given to the auditors for their suggestions as to the alteration in keeping the accounts of the association, and that the secretary be instructed to comply with the same, A letter was read from Mr P. C. Threlkeld, asking that a portrait of the bull Commander-in-Chief be inserted in the “Herd Book.” It was resolved that Mr Threlkeld’a request be complied with on the usual terms, and that the editor of the “ Herd Book” be requested to communicate with Mr Threlkeld as to the cost of the same. The next business was the appoiniment of a sub committee to revise the prize schedule for the present year. After some discussion, the following gentlemen were appointed, viz.—President, vice-president, Messrs Walls, Sutherland, Fergusou, Boag, Threlkeld, Anderson, jun., A. Duncan, Mann, and Gilmour. The ground committee for the past year -were re-elected, with the addition of Mr Mann, viz.—Messrs Duncan, Henderson, Norman, Ford, and Mann. The finance committee elected were—Messrs Duncan, Anderson, jun., Alport, J. R. Hill, T. Bruce, and A. W. Money, A number of new members were elected, after which the committee adjourned.

Central Cemetery. —The adjourned meeting of the commit tee appointed to consider the question of a central cemetery was held this morning at the Government buildings, An invitation had been issued to representatives of the following bodi°s, v‘z. Christchurch City Council, Sydenham Borough Council, Avon, Heathcote, and Spreydon Road Boards, Church of England Cemetery Board, Presbyterian Cemetery Trustees, Wesleyan Methodist and United Free Methodist ditto, Baptist s, Congregationalists, Roman Catholics, and Hebrew Congregation. The following gentlemen were present —Hon. John Hall, Sir Cracroft Wilson, Revs. G. Benny, H. 0. M. Watson, 0. Fraser, Messrs J. T. Brown, L. Caro, W. Rolleston, R. A. Loughnan, J, R. Sheath; and J. P. Jameson. The Hon. John Kali occupied the chair. After some disbussion,. the Rev, C, Fraser moved —“ That it is desirable that q sub-com-mittee be appointed to inquire and report upon the site which could be obtained tor a central cemetery in the neighbourhood of Christchurch, aud the probable cost of the same; also, upon the manner in which the necessary funds for the purpose should be raised.” Mr L. Caro seconded the motion, which was agreed to unanimously. The Rev. C. Fraser then moved —“ That the conditions <0 be attached to the acquisition of a site bhould, m far as possible, embrace the follow-ing-points: (1) proximity to the principal cen ties of population, say within a radius of about eight miles from Christohuyeh; (2) proximity to a rail way sati-n, securing Vheqpness of transit; (.3)’ sufficiency of ground, say 200 acre's ; (4.) suitable quality of soil, capable of being readily dug. aud also fit for planting,, Tho clauses of the r solution were put qeryitim. On tho 3rd clause, Mr Jameson moved an amendment to tlie effect that the quantity should bp not kes than 100 and not more thin 200 acres, which was agreed to. The resolution as a whole wag seconded by Mr Harris, and agreed to. On the motion of Sir 0, Wilson, the following gentlemen were appointed the eub committee : —Hon. John Hall, Mayor of Christfhurch, Revs. H. C- M. Watson and 0. Fnuser. Messrs Rolk&fpp and Jarnetop, to raswfc jutfeui

Gymnasium.—Mr Walker announces the beginning of a new term on Monday evening next at 7 30. The particulars of a class for ladies and girls can he obtained on application at the gymnasium on Saturday morning at 9 o’clock.

A Singular Accident.— A little girl named Dowber died under rather singular circumstances at German Bay on the 19th inst. The evidence of Dr. Guthrie at the inquest showed that a bean had become tixed in the division of the windpipe which supplies the right lung, and that suffocation.had been the consequence.

Sale of Sherwood Estate. The “Timuru Herald ” hears that the Messrs Parker’s fine property, known ns the Sherwood Estate, is not to be sold by auction after all, an individual purchaser having obtained possession of the whole block of 6000 acres for £9 an acre, cash. On public grounds, the “Herald” thinks it will be generallyregretted that this largo and valuable tract of land has not been sub-divided.

Found Drowned. A young woman named Annie Day reported to the police yesterday that the description of the man found drowned a few days ago in a drain near the River Styx, answered that of her brother John Day, whom she last saw in Christchurch on 3rd January. He had come from shearing, and said he was going south harvesting. Her brother had money in one of the Christchurch Banks. Further inquiries are being instituted. Fatal Accident at Shand’s Track —A man named Thomas O’Toole was smothered on Wednesday night last in a well which he was sinking, near the Wheatsheaf Hotel, Shand’s track. Deceased was at the bottom of the shaft, which was 25ft. deep, and a man named James Connelly w r as working the windlass. About 3 p.m. Connelly observed O’Toole trying to get up the rope, and saw that the sides were closing in on him. Before he had succeeded in getting far up, the well fell in, and for a moment deceased could be heard speaking from the bottom. Com elly at once ran for assistance, and returned with the landlord of the hotel, who went down the shaft and worked for about an hour, during which time deceased was answering him from the bottom of the well. Other men having arrived the work was carried on as rapidly as possible until 5 p.m., when the man’s voice was observed to be gradually getting fainter, and ceased altogether about half-past seven. At nine o’clock a man named William Earley, who was working in the shaft, reached O’Toole’s head, and after carefully removing the earth from about him, found that he was dead. The body was brought to the surface and examined by Dr. Durham, who expressed an opinion that the man had been dead for nearly two hours. Deceased had no friends in Canterbury, his father being a farmer in the Wanganui district.

The Government and the Courts. — It is, of course, impossible here to appraise the value of the term “ well-informed circles,” as applied to Wellington. There are people incredulous enough to regard the use of such an expression, as ample reason for doubting information conveyed under cover thereof. The following, however, from the Wellington “ Post,” a journal which supports the Government, has an air of probability about some parts at least, and is worth quoting for the consideration of our readers: —“ Rumours are afloat in well-informed circles that, in order to prevent the recurrence of the practices of which Mr Barton complains, the Government are framing regulations which will cause some sweeping changes in the administration of the Resident Magistrate’s Courts throughout the colony, and it is further stated that these new regulations will be issued within a month. As to the Supreme Court, the Government, it is said, consider that any changes should be made by the sanction and authority of Parliament, but that a Bill will probably be introduced next session, having for its object the complete remodelling of the judicial system of the colony. The changes proposed will probably surprise many people, but it is added that the facts which will be brought forward in support of these alteralions will be still more surprising. Rumour is busy with the names of several Judges who are likely to be superseded, and in other ways severe and stringent measures are vaguely hinted at,”