NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1284, 1 May 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Communication with Europe. The Darwin line has been interrupted since yesterday north of Port Augusta. Acclimatisation Society. The usual monthly meeting of this society was held yesterday, when a good deal of business was transacted. A report of the proceedings appears elsewhere. Cheistchubch Licensing: Couet The next quarterly sitting of the Licensing Court for the Christchurch district will be held at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 4th June, at noon. Defence of Lyttelton.—An important telegram has been received from Wellington by the Mayor of Lyttelton, in which it is Bt»fc«<J «.v.«j= «-i-« «.»"<iriiment intend to take measures for the defence or JLytteiton and the other principal harbors of the colony. The Cheviot Election. —Mr Ingles has announced his intention of becoming a candidate for the vacant seat in the House of Representatives for Cheviot, and Sir Cracroft Wilson has withdrawn in his favor. The present candidates therefore are Messrs Saunders and Ingles. Waimakaeiei Rivee.—The Wainiakariri Harbor Board have invited tenders for erecting the dredging plant, from designs and plans suggested by Mr Wearing and prepared by Mr Dudley. As tenders have to bo sent in by the 15th inst., it may be expected the work of dredging will soon be begun and carried out at the season when labour is usually cheapest. Incendiaeism, Rangitata Island. —On Sunday, the 28th ultimo, at about 6.30 p.m., just as the inhabitants were going to church, a fire was observed in the vicinity of Mr Thomas Patton's farm. The alarm was raised by Mr H. Wright, who quietly called some of the neighbors out of church without disturbing the congregation. They proceeded to the scene of the fire and found that a heap of barley straw, together with the produce of same stacked, to the number of 600 bushels, was in flames. By great exertion about fifty sacks, more or less damaged by fire, were saved. The remainder was totally consumed. Mr Patton estimates his loss at £IOO. There is no doubt that the fire was the work of an incendiary,'as the threshing machine had left the place nearly a fortnight. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Patton, as it is his first year's cropping. Kaiapoi Regatta.—On Monday evening a final meeting of the regatta committee was held at Schmidt's Pier Hotel. Present— Messrs Burnip, C. Smith, Ellen, Balch, Schmidt, Ovenden, and Wilson, hon. Bee. A letter was read from the Commissioner of Railways, intimating that the G-overnment would not refund £5 15s 6d paid as guarantee for running a special train. General surprise was expressed at the Government's action, seeing that the regatta brought a large amount of traffic to the lines, and that in former years the committee had received an annual grant of £25. The treasurer's balancesheet showed the total receipts, including sub - scriptions amounting to £79 Is, to be £123 13s lOd; the expenditure, including prizes, £B2 ss, was £lls 3s 41, leaving a balance in hand of £8 10s 6d, and as assets subscriptions uncollected £l2. On the motion of Mr Ellen, seconded by Mr Smith, the statement of accounts was unanimously adopted. On the motion of the Commodore, seconded by Mr Ellen, a vote of thanks was passed to the secretary and treasurer, who was highly complimented on the way in which the business of the regatta had been conducted, and the promptness with which the account had been made up and settled. In reply Mr Wilson tendered his acknowledgements to the chairman, the starter, and other gentlemen on the committee for the help given to make the regatta such a success. Votes of thanks were passed to the Commodore, judge, and starter. The treasurer was requested to take charge of the balanco in hand, with £6 paid in the room, and use his discretion in calling the next public meeting for holding the following regatta. The proceedings then terminated.

Babbatey in Australia.—Some strange facts, says the "Argus" of April 15th, transspired at an investigation held by the Steam Navigation Board last -week. The brig Alexandra, bound from Newcastle to Melbourne, got aground near Rabbit Island, and the steamer Pharos was despatched from Melbourne to afford relief. The vessel was found to be in no great danger, and she was towed into deep water, and anchored. In the night-time, according to (he boatswain, auger holes were bored by the captain, the mate, and himself, in the vessel's side, and the hold flooded with water. Signals of distress were then made to the Pharos. The master of the steamer discovered the place of the leak, and plugged it. The brig was not in seaworthy condition at the time she grounded. At the inquiry the boatswain made an unreserved confession of the facts, after a little hesitation, and on the report of the Board, the police arrested the captain, J. R. Ring, the mate, John Butters, and the second mate or boatswain, Charles Hansen, on warrants, charging them with having " by a certain overt act attempted to cast the ship away." Tho matter is now under investigation at the City Police Court.

Grand National Steeplechases.—The entry of Mr S. Osborne's gr g Silverstream in the Hunt Club Cup was omitted from the list already published. The weights for the various races will be declared to-night. Gold in the King Countby.—A Normanby correspondent writes to the Wanganui "Chronicle " that he hens on good authority that the Natives have discovered large quailtil ies of gold in reefs in the vicinity of the King country in the Moakoi. The Municipal League.—Concerning the proposed municipal league, the " Wanganui Herald " expresses the opinion that the absurdity of holding a kind of parochial pariament concurrently with the General Assembly is apparent. Registrar's Returns.—The Registrar's returns for the city of Christchurch and district during the month of April are as follows :—Births—City, 49 ; district, 34; as contrasted with 35 and 81 in the same month of last year. Marriages—City, 3-1; district, 9 ; contrasted with 25 and 11 in April, 1877. Deaths—City, 25 ; district, 41; contrasted with 12 and 28 in April, 1877. Parbicide by Misadventure. —At Ruatangata, near Whangarei, in the north of Auckland district, a young man named ITodge has had the misfortune to kill his father. It appears that the two were at work together splitting some logs, and by some means the father got his head into the way, and was struck with the maul just above the ear. Ho expired on tht following night. Sydenham Bobough Council.—Mr Peayce requests us to correct a trifling error which occurred in the report of the proceedings of the above Council, published yesterday. It was stated that the Chief Inspector of Nuisances had forwarded copy of a certain resolution passed by the Board of Health. It should have been that the Inspector had mentioned that such a resolution had been passed. Sale op Javelin. —Mr Allan M'Lean of Napier, who is at present on a visit to Christchurch, yesterday disposed of his well-known horse Javelin to Mr James Gilligan for 1000 guineas. Javelin is by Yattendon, out of Lilla, the dam of Lord of the Woods, Commodore,"Alpaca Llama, and is also the granddam of Woodlands, the winner of the last Sydney Derby, in which he beat the famous Chester. There is every probability that Canterbury breeders will be enabled to avail themselves of Javelin's services during the forthcoming season. Disinterested Politicians. —The Wairoa " Free Press" lays down the following as the Wairoa attitude towards all and sundry Governments :—"This, we believe, is certain, that the Government which accomplishes one of three things, will earn the gratitude of this county—namely, construct a dray road to Gisborne or Napier (preferably the latter), or vote a sum of money for the improvement of the river mouth." 'Wairoa is not singular in its political principles, but its journal is more candid than most organs of public opinion. Fatal Accident. —While returning from Rangiora on Monday evening, Christopher Boyce, a resident of Saltwater Creek, met with an accident, which proved fatal. It appears that the unfortunate man when nearing his home took the side of the road, where there is a sudden fall of about three feet, and while crossing it was precipitated from his dray, which was laden with bricks, the wheel going over his leg and injuring his spiue. Dr. Downes was soon in attendance, hut his services were of no avail, as the poor man died from the injuries a few hours after the accident. He leaves a wife and family. The inquest was to be held yesterday. The Sugar Maple.—Mr Mellish. yesterday made a very valuable suggestion at the meeting of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society which may lead to beneficial results. He proposes to introduce the sugar maple of America either by means of plants or seeds. The former way is, it appears, the safer, as the seeds lose their vitality after a short time. So far as can be ascertained, the plants can bo introduced safely in a Wardian case. The sugar produced from the maple in America is a valuable addition to the household resources of the farmer, and can be tapped for Hie puijjw>ov» of atrlvavtiug tko oop after the tree has attained the age of twelve years. In New Zealand, however, where many imported trees grow so luxuriantly, the return may be looked for much sooner. The society voted a sum not exceeding £SO to try the experiment of introducing the trees, which, if successful, will be of infinite value to the colony.

Game Out of Season.—A somewhat amusing case is likely soon to occupy the attention of Mr Mellish, in the shape of a prosecution against the Canterbury Club for haying game out of season. For some little time past it has been rumoured in the city that any one with a penchant for game, though it might be the close season, couli hare it gratilied by lunching or dining with the members of the Canterbury Club. Indeed, so far as they were concerned no secret was made of it, as roast pheasant and hare appeared on the daily bills of fare with great regularity. The strangest part of the affair is, that it is said some of the leading members of the Acclimatisation Society, who hare most vehement in their denunciations of poachers, have eaten game well knowing that it was not in season, and therefore could only be obtained unlawfully. This state of things came to the knowledge of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society, and at their meeting yesterday it was resolved to instruct the solicitor of the society to make inquiries into the matter, and to proceed as he may deem advisable.