NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1299, 18 May 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Grand National Steeplechase.— The acceptances for the Grand National Handicap close ’ilia evening at the C.J.C. rooms, RadcLffe’s Hotel. Correction. —The Telegraph Department have this morning requested that tlie following correction bo made in the telegram from Reefton on the 16th instant: —“Ho (Mr Reeves) strongly supports t’ae policy of the present Government,” not “opposed.” as sent. Waltham Wesleyan Church.—Sermons in connection with the anniversary of the above church will be preached to-morrow —in the morning by the Rev. Robert Dawson, and in the evening by the Eov John Lux lord. Die soiree will be bold on the Queen's Birthday, when addresses will be delivered by the Revs. Dalloston, Keast, Smalley, Lux ford, and others. Tea will be served at 5 p.m. Court oe Appeal.—As will be seen by a telegram elsewhere in the case of Regina v Simmons, which was a case reserved by his Honor Mr Justice Williams at the April sittings here, judgment was reserved by the full Court. Tiie prisoner was indicted for forgery, and for having altered a cheque for £;> to £39. Mr Joint, who defended the prisoner, raised the point that as the body of of the cheque had not been alter ed, and it did not purport to be a cheque for £39 the charge must fail. Pedeetrianism. —The long-talked of match between Bowlcy and Pentecost commenced to-day. The conditions of the match are that Pentecost receives hulf-an-hour start in fifty miles. Before the start the betting was 3 t o 2 on Bow ley, but t here were no takers. The match came off in the Oddfellow’s’ Hall, which had been prepared for the purpose. Pentecost made a good start at 12 o’clock punctually, accomplishing is first, mile in llinin., and completing the first five miles in o3min. At half punt 12 Bo*ley si red, Pentecost having by this Umo accomplished two miles and twenty-two laps. The former did bis first, mile in lOmin,, and his fist five miles in 40twin. At three o’clock Pei tccost had walked 1G miles, and Bowley 11 miles and 11 lans The llsathcote Swing Bridge— Tn the course of the meeting of the SeJwyn Council jc terd ay a letter was read from the resident *;>y engine- r calling the attention of the Council to the fact that the combined road and r.ilway bridge crossing the Selwyn on the Southbridge In c, required repairs. Mr I'ancred exposed his opinion that as the Government had paid, or promised to p'.y, all the revenue accruing to the County to the Road Boards, the Council should delegate its p w-i-rs of control over the bridge to the Road Board of the district. Turnbull, in support of this view, referred to the fact that the repair and maintenance of the Hemhcote swing bridge had been, and still was, a pharge on the' Heath cote Road Board. Subsequently ho gave notice of motion that the maintenance ot this bridge by the Hva'hepic Road Boat'd should he taken into consideruiiori by the Council,

Railway Band. —A meeting of the committee appointed to promote the organisation of a Railway band was held last night. Correspondence was read, but was so voluminous that its consider a'ion had to be postponed to a future meeting. The movement is cordially supported along the whole length of the line, and there is no loii-er any doubt that it will result in success.

An Unsatisfied Judgment. —An execution upon a judgment for £;i7'*o, which was entered about two months a.o by default agaii s- Arihi te Nairn, at the suitof the lion H. R Russell, was put into force on Wednesday (says the “ Hawke’s Bay Herald ”), but as the moveables in Arihi’s poss s-i n consisted of Maori mats, valued at live shillings for the lot, the officer bearing the warrant of execution returned to town.

New Publication. — A representative of the American publishing firm of C. A. Nichols and Co., Springfield, Mass, is now on a visit to Canterbury with a specimen volume of a new work to be shortly issued by them. It is styled “ Our First C mtury,” and though of course dealing to a great extent with the matters relating to American history, it gives also in a succinct form relations of matters of interest to the whole world, such as the experiments by Full on with the first steamboat, the discovery of ether, the Centennial Exhibition, The volume is profusely illustrated with well executed plates, and is exceedingly good in the matter of typography. The compilation of the work occupied about el- ven years. It is intended that copies for Canterbury subscribers shall be delivered in September next.

A Pbesagh. —The first faint shadow of what will not improbable be the coming event, in regard to the effect produced on the native mind by a long continuance of the oresent treatment of the Auckland natives, is thus referred to bv the Ohinemuri correspondent of the “ Thames Advertiser ” :—The natives here are getting (thanks to Sir George Grey’s mistaken policy) so bounceable that if something is not done to teach them a salutary lesson it will be hardly safe for a white man to live amongst them. They stop road works, gun in hand, and if reasoned with will say, “ Never mind, Sir George Grey is the boy ; he says Maoris are to work if white men starve for want of it; kapai Sir George Grey ? ” I cannot endorse their good opinion of him ; he has worked a lot of mischief amongst the natives since he has been in office.

The Pan-Anglican Synod.— Some thirty Bishops (says the “ Times ”) of the American Episcopal Church are expected to visit this country for the Pan-Anglican Synod, and the Bishop of Montreal suggests that a Hospitality Committee should be formed to provide them either with a hotel in which they could reside or to secure their reception in houses of individual Churchmen. A meeting has been held at the house of Mr J. G. Talbot, M.P., when a committee was formed for the purpose of ascertaining what Churchmen would be willing to entertain American Bishops and how many of them would desire to avail themselves of such hospitality. The Warden of St. Augustine’s College, Canterbury, had invited all the American Episcopate to be present at the Missionary College on the annual festival on St. Peter’s Day.

Works North of Auckland, Our friends in the North of Auckland appear to be getting anxious at the non-expenditure of the £-10,000 voted last session for works in that district. The “ New Zealand Herald ” gives the Government a gentle reminderas follows: —During the lust session of Parliament a sum of £40,000 was voted for works in the North,as some measure of compensation for the smaller expense incurred in Auckland by the abolition of the provincial form of Government than in the South. The vote was supported by Southern members, as well as by (hose representing Auckland electorates, and gave satisfaction to the trustees of mar y Highway Boards. The trustees of our district Beards naturally expected that the money would be distributed soon after the prorogation of Parliament, so that the works to be executed by means of this money could be performed at a season of the year when earth cuttings could be done at the c' eapi at rate, and the most satisfactory results produced. These Boards have waited in vain, and a good deal of anxiety is now being evinced respecting this money. Some fear that the Govt rnment do not intend to pay it, but to use it for railway purposes. This would evidently not be carrying out the intention of Parliament, and we cannot believe that the Government, seriously intend to thus appropriate this sum of money. COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO Mb WILKTN. —A meeting of the committee appointed to arrange for the proposed farewell dinner to Mr R. Wilkin was 1 eld yesterday afternoon, at the offices of Messrs Miles, H; ssal anri 00., Hereford street. The Hon. John Hall was called to the chair, and opened the proceedii gs by referring to the appointment at the former meeting of two committees, one for obtaii ing subscriptions to the testimonial and the other for taking the necessary steps for the dinner. The present meeting was called to make some definite arrangements with regard to the dinner. Mr Murray Aynslcy said (he dinner committee had waited upon Mr Wilkin, and ascertained from him that Tuesday next, the 21st instant, would be the most convenient day for him. They had then secured the Oddfellows’ Hall, and made arrangements with Mr Sheppard and Mr Cookson to provide a dinner at seven o’clock p.m. on that day. They had guaranteed an attendance of 120, and the charge would bo a guinea a ticket. The hon, secretary (Mr John Anderson, jun.) said that 210 tickets had been sent out, but as yet he did not know how many had been disposed of. Several gentlemen in the room mentioned that they had disposed of all that had been sent to them. The general opinion was that at least 120 or 130 could be relied upon to attend the dinner. It was resolved to invite by advertisement all those gentlemen who had received tickets to inform the hon. secretary on Monday what number they had disposed of, as in the event of there being more than 120 the caterers would require notice of (he additional number. The bill of fare was submitted and approved of, and the list of toasts was discussed. On the motion of Mr Murray-Aynslcy, the Hon. John Hall was unanimously requested to take the chair at the dinner. Mr Hall expressed himself as happy to shew his respect for Mr Wilkin in any way, and sa’d ho would accept the responsible position, should the committee be unable to secure some one better able to do justice to it. The hon. secretary reported (hat subscriptions to the testimonial were coming in very satisfactorily. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting. Civil Service Retrenchment. Will such things ever happen in the New Zealand civil service as are thus suggested by -Kgles in connection with the Victorian service ? One can, without, much stress of imagination, conceive such au interview as this in a Ministerial sanctum. Bell rings. Enter Mr Tremulous Pliable —a decent fellow with a large family, who although not himself dismissed, has been a couple of months in mortal fear. “ All, Mr P.,” save the Minister, with a judicious mixture of wheedling and sternness, “ I want to ask you—How do yon consider the work of the d-partment has gone o» since 1 disc issed those fiftetu useless fellows in January ?” “Will, sir—we’ve dime our best; but—” Minister (fiercely)—“Mr P.. you don’t, appear to comprehend me. Is the depirtuiental work kept, up to date or not Now, Mr Pliable knows ns well as the Minister tint there arc mountains of arrears ; but, bo sees vi-ior 3 of a lost, appointment, and a dependent family, so with a mental re-elu-tion’to work night and day himself, Mr P. accepts the bowl to escape the dagger, and weakly sit s, “Oh yes, sir, the work is quit* up.” ’ Mii isti r—“ Then really, Mr P., thus officers relieved were quite unnecessary ” Mr P (with alum)) in his thrp.r)—''O'n’fe a-, sir.” Minis er—“ ?Jr P., 'ou wdl be go >d enough io embody in a formal report, designed,’ the valuable information you have today volunteered. Have it ready for me by to-morrow. That will do, Mr P who re tires with a sense of the deepest degradation. He has saved h'« place, but at what a price ! But the blackest and most cowardly part, ot the transaction is not that of poor Mr Pliable, *