NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1292, 10 May 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Mail. —The Taranaki, with the mail, left Wellington to-day at twelve o’clock. St. Q-eoeoe. —The racehorse St. Q-eorge, brother to Chester, arrived per Wakatipu this morning. Drainage Scheme. —At the meeting of the Drainage Board to-day, Mr Clark’s drainage scheme was adopted. Health of the City. - Since May 3rd two cases of typhoid fever have been reported, one in the north and the other in the south of the city. In both instances the disease is attributed to defective drainage. Burgess List, —The Burgess List for 1878-9, and the Defaulters List, will be open for inspection at the office of the Town Clerk up to the 23rd inst. All objections must be made in writing, and left on or before the same date. Sydenham Borough Council. The financial statement of the Sydenham Town Clerk shows the receipts of the borough for the year ending March 31st, 1878, to amount to £2462 Is sd, and the expenditure £1173 lls, leaving a credit balance in the bank of £I2BB 10s sd.

Me. Robeet Wilkin.— The complimentary dinner to Mr Robert Wilkin prior to his departure for England has been fixed to take place in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Tuesday, May 21st. The gathering will be of a thoroughly representative character, and will include all classes of the community.

The Last of the Begad Qafge.— About eighty men were employed all Wednesday night and the greater part of yesterday in taking up the broad gauge at Lyttelton, and, thanks to the care taken by Messrs Low (Resident Engineer) and Knight (Inspector of Permanent Way), there was no stoppage at any of the wharves yesterday. The rails are ail up except those of the main line, and these will bo very shortly removed. Railway Band. —A meeting of railway employes was held last evening for the purpose of organising a band, Mr Back in the chair. A number of candidates submitted their names with the names of the instruments on which they played. A committee was elected to obtain all necessary information respecting its proper organisation, their report to be considered at a general meeting to be held on Friday evening, the 17th iust. The committee (hen sat, and transacted a considerable amount of routine business. Telegraph Inteeeuption. —ln addition to the interruption of the Batavia-Singapore cable, the overland line to Port Darwin was yesterday interrupted at a point north of Powell’s Creek. As the next steamer for Batavia was not to leave Singapore until the Bth, and would not reach Batavia until the 12th, the trans-continental line will probably be repaired in time for the transmission of the intelligence brought by her. No further information has been received as to the prospect of the cable being repaired.

Canterbury Pastoral Rents. —The receipts at the Waste Lands Board cilice from this source on Wednesday, May Bth, were as follows : —Ashley, £486 8s lOd ; Selwyn, £B7 10s 8d; Akaroa, £79 8s; Ashburton, £941 Os 8d ; Geraldine, £SBO 8s 7d ; and Waimate, £3O 5s 7d, making a total for the day of £2205 3s, which, added to the sum of £30,620 3s 7d received prior to this date, represents a sum of £32,825 6s 7d, received to the evening of Wednesday last. That being the last authorised day for receiving pastoral rents, it may be mentioned for the information of all concerned that any unpaid rents will be receivable within the next three months, subject to a fine. Licensing Cabmen. —At the last meeting of the City Council it was found necessary to withhold one cab-driver’s license which had been granted in the previous week, and to refuse an application for another. With reference to the subject of licensing cabdrivers, the blame of licensing unfit men should not be laid upon the city authorities. They are guided in the matter by the requisitions they receive having appended to them the requisite number of respectable citizens’ signatures. In no case are licenses granted where the eligibility of the applicant is not thus vouched for. Consequently, if men of indifferent character have obtained licensee, the fault lies with the reputable citizens who signed the requisitions.

Masonic Scholarship. —lt has been announced by advertisement that a scholarship of the annual value of £25, tenable for three years, and open to the sous and daughters of Masons subscribing to any Lodge in the Canterbury district, will be competed for at the examination for the Government scholarships e irly in June. This is the four!h year since the institution of the scholarship which is maintained by subscriptions from the district lodges. The scholarship was first won by William Bowles, educated at the Gloucester street school. The second year it was gained by a son of Mr Green, of Tuam street, who at the same time competed for the Government scholarship. As he obtained the necessary number of marks to entitle him to the last mentioned, he waived the Masonic in favor of the more valuable Government scholarship. The third year the distinction fell to the lot of Miss Jane D’Authreau, a pupil of the Lyttelton Jligh School. There are nine competitors far the examination in Juno.

Shooting Gallery. —Mr Donaldson has made considerable additions to his shooting gallery, whereby the crowd on the footpath will be avoided in future. The Stabbing Case. —As was yesterday stated the injury sustained by Sergeant Hughes, at the hands of the man Badhara, is not of a serious nature. The sergeant is progressing favorably, and is expected to resume duty shortly. Electoral Roll fob Christchurch.— The revision of the Electoral Roll for Christchurch will take place before the end of this month. The present roll will, it is expected, show an increase over the past of some 600 or 700 electors. City Improvements. —Mr E. Reece contemplates erecting a large building comprising shop and warehouse, extending from his present premises to the corner of Lichfield street. The new building is to be one of three storeys, and will be a very imposing edifice when completed. New Zealand Grasses. —The “ New Zealander” hoars that Mr Buchanan, M.L.S., of the Museum, is proceeding rapidly with his work on the Grasses of New Zealand. It will be remembered that this work was ordered by the House of Representatives some time ago. Already several of the plates have been lithographed, and much of the letterpress is in typo. When issued the book promises to rank with Dr. Buffer's Birds of New Zealand. At the special request of Sir George Grey a complete set of the plates, printed on white instoadjof tinted paper, will bo issued to each of the Board schools, and will form a useful basis for the elementary scientific instruction of the children.

Defence of the Colony. —The following telegrams between Mr Harman and the Postmaster'General, on the subject of a volunteer force, have been placed at our disposal : —“ Christchurch, May 9. Hon. J. T. Fisher, Wellington. Will you kindly lay this before Defence Minister and obtain reply ? I am asked, as an old volunteer officer, to call a meeting of old volunteers and others desirous of offering their services to the Government. Before doing so I wish to ascertain whether Government desire such offer of service, (Signed) R. J. S. Harman.” To this the subjoined reply was received yesterday afternoon : —“ Much obliged for your telegram re defence. Until it is definitely knoisn that war is declared Government would not be justified in moving in volunteer and militia question, but will be glad to have on hand any expression of opinion from officers and men of experience re volunteer extension and enrolment, (Signed) J. T. Fisher.”

Volunteers, —At the ordinary weeklyparade of the City Q-uards, which took place last evening in the drill shed, the following memo, was read out to the men by Lieutanant Wolfe, who was in charge of the company : —■ “Memo, for Officers Commanding Christchurch Artillery, Canterbury Engineers, and Christchurch City Q-uards Volunteers.—The officer commanding the district directs it to be notified to the corps above-named that it is his intention to enforce clause 57 of the Volunteer Rules and Regulations. Officers commanding the above-named corps will communicate the substance of this memo, to their several commands, and explain to volunteers that leave of absence is to be obtained of the officer commanding the district, through the officers commanding corps. At the next monthly inspection, and in future, a list in writing of absentees is to be handed to the staff-sergeant on parade. (Signed) Alex. Lean, Major Commanding Canterbury District.”

Woek foe the Lawtees.- A somewhat peculiar case, and one which is likely lead to a great deal of litigation, came before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston at the banco sittings yesterday. From the facts laid before his Honor it appears that in 1850 a gentleman named T. H. Reeves came to the province and purchased 200 acres of land in the Oxford district. In 1852 he left Canterbury, presumably for Australia, but from that time to this nothing has been heard of him. In the meanwhile, for some at present unexplained reason, portions of the property became occupied, a moiety which remained unoccupied having been taken possession of by the public trustee. After some seventeen years had elapsed, during which the present occupants have remained undisturbed, Mr Harry Bell Johnstone, acting under power cf attorney from some members of the family of Mr Reeves, caused an application to be made constituting them heirs-at-law. This application came before his Honor yesterday, and was adjourned in order that all those interested might appear. This, as his Honor remarked, seems to promise an endless amount of litigation.

Qband Orange Lodge.— The half-yearly meeting of the Gtrand Orange Lodge of the Middle Island of New Zealand was held at the Orange Hall yesterday, at 2 p.m. Present—R.W. Dist. Q.M. Bro. Revell (presiding), Deputy Q-.M. Bro. D. H. Christie, Q. Chaplains Bros. Rev. J. W. Cree and McIntosh ; Q. Sec., J. C.McWilliam ; G-. Treas., Bro. Prudhoe. The following lodges were represented Nos. 2,3, 5, and 24 (Christchurch), Ashburton, Timaru, Rakaia, Courtenay, Kaiapoi, Cust, Lyttelton, Southbridge, Doyleston, Templeton, and Prebbleton. The lodge being duly opened, the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read with subordinate lodges, and the secretary’s report submitted. After transacting a large amount of business, the Q. Sec. handed in his resignation, which was accepted. The lodge then proceeded to the election of a successor, when Bro. C. Tribe was requested by two of the representatives of lodges again to take the office of secretary, which, how’ever, he declined. Some discussion ensued, and ultimately Bro. Beresford, No. 2, was elected to serve for the ensuing term. The R W.Q.M. Bro. Eevell also tendered his resignation, but after a resolution, which was unanimously curried, he agreed to retain his office. The lodge was then closed in due form.

Canterbury Rifle Association. A meeting of the council of the Canterbury Rifle Association was held last night. The tallowing were present Capt. Warner, Messrs Appleby, Bell, Fox, Strange, Ekberg. Capt. Warner occupied the chair. The secretary, Mr Appleby, read the minutes of the last meeting, which were confirmed. He announced that as arranged at the last meeting the tics had been shot off, with the result that Chapman was Ist and Buckley 2nd in the aggregates, Warner 2nd in the Mayor’s Cup, Appleby 3rd, and Abel 4th. The financial statement of the recent meeting was read, and showed receipts £SO Bs, and expenditure (including payment of all debts of the association) £43 Bs, leaving a credit balance of £7. The assets of the association are now—The amount in band, £7 ; 2000 rounds of ammunition, £10; and other material, target, Ac., £5 ; total, £22. The prize list was confirmed. A telegram from the hon. secretary of the Kowai R ile Club was read. It stated that the club’s annual prize firing would be on the 24th iust., and hoped that the association would not in any way try to prevent its success. It was resolved to inform the club that there was no intention of holding a meeting on the Queen’s birthday, and that (ho members of l!'e association would be happy to help the club, and to take part in the prize firing. It was resolved that the presentation of the prizes should take place at R-idcliffe’s Hotel on next Monday evening, at 9 p m , immediataly after the annual meeting, end that the president of the association, Mr Wynn Williams, be requested to present the same. A vote of thanks was carried in favour of those gentlemen who had favored the association with donations of prizes for the Easter meeting. A notice of motion was given by the secretary to (he effect that tho present council be invited to resign, and that the number of members to take their places be reduced from twelve to five, three to form a quorum. This motion will be submitted to the annual meeting. The secretary also gave notice of a motion tin appointment of a paid secretary, the payment taking the form of a commission on the receipts, Mr Bell gave notice that ho would pul it to the annual meeting whether Blake’s cup should be shot for monthly, quarterly, or annually. Sir Appleby also gave notice that he would move that the annual subscription should he one guinea. Tho meetiug then adjourned, after passing a vote of thanks to the chairman,

Taavhiao’s Doctors. —In his recent illness Tawhiao refused to allow European doctors to attend him, trusting to the incantations of the Tariaos, the prophets of the new religion.

Youtheud Conceit. — A Northern _ contemporary has a somewhat arrogant notion of tho relative intelligence of English and colonial politicians. Of Mr Lowe’s finance it is said : —His budgets were intolerable even to the House of Commons, and would simply have excited derision injtho colonies. Rifle Match. — A friendly match is to take place on Friday at Oamaru, between the Christchurch Engineers and the Oamaru No. 1 Company, ten on a side. Tho conditions are seven shots at each range, any position ; 8-inch bull’s eye at 200 yards; ranges, 200, 400, and 500 yards. It is probable that the Engineers will next year have a contest of the same kind at Dunedin. High-priced Land. —There is much excitement in the North in consequence of the high upset price which has been placed upon a block of land, the Patutahi, at Poverty Bay, by the Auckland Waste Lauds Board iinder the direction, it is alleged, of the Ministry. Local papers comment very strongly on the fact, and point out that, under the auspices of a Government which professes a special solicitude for the settlement of working men upon the land, prices are placed upon the land offered in Poverty Bay such as render it hopeless for any but capitalists to acquire a single acre.

Official Time of Races. —For some time past tho Dunedin Jockey Club has adopted a very excellent plan of hoisting at the same time that the number of the winner of any race is displayed, the official time of the event. Here not only is there no provision made for publicly announcing the time, but no official time-keeper has ever been appointed. The necessity for such an official is patent to all, and also the great convenience it would be to the general public if some such plan as that adopted in Dunedin were carried out. It is therefore satisfactory to learn that at the next Metropolitan Meeting it is probable the want will be supplied. Annual Meeting of the C.Y.C. at Ashburton. —Tho Christchurch, Southbridge, and northern contingents of the C.Y.C. to the number of fifty, together with the band, arrived at Ashburton by the 2.40 train on Thursday. The detachment was under the command of Captain Strouts and Lieut. Slater, accompanied by Dr. Chapman, Southbridge contingent. The Ashburton contingent, numbering fifteen, was in waiting to receive them at the station. After the horses had been got out of the train, the whole detachment started for parade in Mr Hay T. Smith’s paddock, which was kindly lent for the purpose. About twenty men from Christchurch are expected to-morrow. The officers and men are to be billeted in Mr Quill’s Hotel, and the horses will be put up in the stables of Messrs Cookson, Bosenberg, Compton, Smith and Bell.

The Longwood Reef. —Concerning the very favorable reports cireul ited about these reel's, the “Southland News” says There is every reason to believe that they are only circulated for the purpose of such another gambling mania as that which some years ago was locally excited over the quartz reefs at Stewart’s Island, when bogus companies sprang up like mushrooms, and usually cautious people Parted”—in some eases to a lively tune. The experience then gained should be sufficient protection to those who burnt their fingers, but, on the other hand, time enough has elapsed for the fledging of a fresh lot of pigeons. These, if they desire to enjoy the luxury of being plucked will evidently have no difficulty in finding skilled operators. If after this warning any choose to go in for “speculation,” they will not at any rate lay the blame at our doors. Rapid Railway Construction. The ‘Rangitikei Advocate” of a late date publishes the following We learn on good authority that the Hon. Mr Campbell, of the Douglas block, has already constructed thirtythree miles of railways in the Middle Island, under the District Railways Act of last session, and has expressed his determination to carry out the proposed Fuxton and Sandon line.” As the Act in question only came into force in December, the rapidity with which these miles of railway have been constructed is unparalleled. The most singular part of the circumstance is that they should have been constructed without the knowledge of the Middle Island people themselves, who have not heard of the constructive feat referred to. Is it possible that someone should have been hoaxing our contemporary ?

Winslow’s Soothing Syrup. The “Post” states that the result of a careful analysis made by Mr W. Skcy, Government analyst, of the drug known as “ Winslow’s soothing syrup,” is as follows : —Five samples of the "syrup were tested, taken indiscriminately, some being of English and some of American manufacture, and morphia was found to be present in each sample, but none contained it in greater quantity than at the rate of one twenty-third of a grain to the fluid ounce. The remaining substances were sugar, oil of aniseed, and water : the oil in quantity equal to about one-thirtieth in volume, and the sugar to about 42 per cent, by weight. Mr Skey states that the total quantity of morphia likely to be present in any of the bottles of this syrup as now sold is so very small that no serious accident need be apprehended in the use of it if ordinary precautions be taken, and the directions accompanying each bottle observed.

St. Stephen’s Orphan Home. The annual report of St. Stephen’s Orphan Home at Auckland, one of the best conducted institutions of its kind in the colony, shows that it has at present fifty-five inmates. _ The income for last year was £B9O, of which the Government contributed £207. The total expenditure was £760. This Home has now been established eighteen years, and the committee justly claim for it that it has provided for many “ not only a home in their youth and a sound useful education, but tion from a degraded and vicious life.” The great secret of the success attained at| the Horne has been the real interest which'clergymcn and others have taken in it. There has been no casual system of visiting here, with an occasional pointing out of abuses, and pious expressions of horror thereat. From first to last it has been managed by warmhearted energetic Christians. Railway Fire Brigade—A preliminary meeting of railway employes was held last evening in the accountant’s office, Christchurch, for the purpose of forming a Volunteer Railway Fire Brigade. The aH endunco was very numerous, Mr F. Back being in the chair. After a few introductory remarks from the chairman, the meeting proceeded to the election of officers, with the following result President, Mr Conyers ; vice-presi-dent, Mr Menzivs ; superintendent and hon. treasurer, Mr .Allison D. Smith; hon. secretary, Mr F. H. Valpy j lieutenant, Mr McGarva; branchman, Mr George Merson ; assistant branchman, Mr G. Turner, jun. An ad interim working committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs Nelson, Hancock, O’Callaghan, McSlrerry, Matson, Boaz, ami D : ekeneon, five to form a quorum. This committee was appointed to frame a set of rules to bo submitted to a general meeting to bo held on Friday, the 27th instant, when a permanent committee will he elected, members of the ad interim committee to be eligible for re-election. A large number of employes have joined the brigade, and the movement bids fair to bo a complete success. The Kino, the Premier, and the Waikato. — A well informed Northern paper ga y 8 ; —Ever since the escape of the Maori prisoners from the custody of Sir George Grey at the Hawaii, the King’s people believe that a promise was made to them that Waikato should be restored, and they have not erased to ask upon all occasions that the Europeans should bo sent back to the Muungatawhiri. It was boastfully asserted in an unreliable report of the proceedings at the late meeting with Tawhiao, that this demand was not repeated in Sir George ;Grey’s presence. The public proceedings on that occasion were generally ceremonial; the only significant speech of the day was that of Manuhiri; no Maori who heard that old chief, in his mystical sly 3e, say that “ for seventeen years my heart has been fluttering, could or did doubt thit it was the old cry in a now form, and its sense was—“ I have been waiting anxiously for seventeen years for you restore that which you took away."

Accident at Ashburton. —An accident, attended with serious results, occurred on Thursday morning at the railway station, Ashburton, to a man named John Leonard, who-"was engaged in shunting some trucks. Amongst these was one, the buffers of which had been broken off. Leonard went between this waggon and the next to couple, forgetting tho absence of the buffers, and was badly crushed betweed the two. His shoulder was dislocated, and his collar bone injured. Dr. Trevor promptly attended the sufferer.