NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1300, 20 May 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Telegraphic. —Commur’cation with Port Darwin is restored. 1.0.G.T. As will be seen by a notice incur advertising columns, the Olive Branch Degree Temple will hold a second degree meeting tonight, in the Templar Hall, at which all degree members of the order in the district are requested to attend. Selwxn Electors’ Roll. —Copies of the Electors’ Roll for the several ridings in the County of Selwyn are open for inspection at the office of the County Council. Copies of the several rolls for each riding are also open lor inspection at the Road Board offices for the respective localities. Tattersall’s. —Messrs Matson and Co. announce elsewhere that they intend to hold a special sale of thoroughbred horses on the day follow’ng the Grand Autumn Steeplechase—Saturday, May 25th. Those of entering horses must make early application to the manager at Tattersall’s. Cathedral Square. —The work of levelling and repairing the proposed footpaths in the square is being rapidly proceeded with, and already a great improvement has been effected. When aJ I the works intended to be carried out are completed, the result will be a wonderfr 1 change in the appearance of the square, as contrasted with w T hat it was a mouth or two back. Imported Greyhounds —Mr jGeimder Duncan has just imported from Victoria some thoroughbred greyhounds, which are deserving of notice. These are a red dog, Rob Ruach, a red slut, Bluebell, and a black and white slut, Elsie. Rob Ruqch and Bluebell are by Red Rover —out of Moonbeam; Moonbeam by Prefct—out of Patti. It may be mentioned that Red Rover was sold for 200 guineas ; n Melbourne about a month ago. Elsie is by Dictator —out of Elsie. Dictator was by Oomloden —out of Mies Heller, winner jn Yictwa of the second Waterloo cup.

The Queen’s Birthday.— As will be seen by advertisement, there will be two marine excursions on Friday next from Lyttelton, one to Little Akaloa, and the other to Pigeon Bay.

Newspaper Stall— The stall for the sale of newspapers in Cathedral square, for the establishment of which permission was lately obtained, was opened on Saturday.

Man Missing at Lyttelton. —lt will be seen from the report of the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court that a night watchman, who was last seen in an intoxicated state on board the ship Himalaya, on Friday morning, is supposed to be drowned.

The Cable Conference. —From Australian papers to hand on Saturday, it appears that at the cable conference just held in Melbourne all the colonies, with the exception of Western Australia, were represented, as although New Zealand did not send delegates, the views of the Government of this colony on the question were submitted in writing. The Australian messages published this morning state that the conference has concluded its labors. The result is apparently as little satisfactory to Now Zealand as it well could bo, and both Queensland and Tasmania are also dissatisfied. Rakata Town Hall. —The new Town Hall, which will soon be opened at Rakaia, will supply a want long felt in the district. Since the formation of the Town Hall Company the work has been rapidly pushed on, and the hall is nearly completed. The hall, which is built of wood, plastered throughout, will contain sitting room for 300 persons; There are also two convenient ante-rooms. The contract for building has been can led out in a most satisfactory manner by Mr Bennett, of Leeston. The proprietors are going to have an entertainment to open with, and intend inviting Mr W. Hoskins and pari of his company from Christchurch for the occasion. •> - j

1.0.0. F Grand Sire Bro. J. B. Harmon, whose mission to these colonies has been already mentioned in these columns, arrived in Lyttelton per s.s. Rotorua on Saturday evening, and was met by the deputation appointed to receive him, consisting of of P.G.M. Bro. S. Braithwaite and D.G.M. Bro. R. T. Wheeler of the Grand Lodge of Now Zealand ; N.G. Bro. H. D. Manning, of the Avon Lodge, Christchurch ; and Bro. G. Hargreaves, of the Niagara FaUs Lodge, U.S.A. The visitor was conducted by them to the White Halt Hotel, where he will stay while he remains in Ohristchu”ch. He will make his first official visit to the Avon Lodge this evening at 6 o’clock, at the Orange Hall, Worcester street, for the purpose of meeting the brethren and imparting instructions in the general and unwritten work of the order. After closing the lodge a banquet will be held at the White Hart Hotel at 9 p.m. in honor of the visitor.

The Steeplechases.— The first meeting of the Grand National Steeplechase Club in Christchurch, which has been fixed for the Queen’s Biuhday, appears likely to be a success, judging from the number of acceptors for the various events. The day’s proceedings will open with the Maiden Plate, over two miles of country, for which there are eight acceptors. The big event of the day will follow, viz., the Grand National Handicap, four miles, and for this eleven have cried content. Then will come the Hunt Club Cup, a three mile, and in this there are eight acceptors. The Consolation will close the day’s sport. The fields for ; the various events are, it will be seen, fairly numerous; and some good sport may be looked for. The railway arrangements for the day wdl bo similar to those at the Autumn Meetmg j trains leaving at short intervals during the forenoon. Eversley is still made the favourite for the big event, with the Maori horse Te Whetu second. For the Maiden S’” Tatton is fancied.

The American Cable Scheme— lt will be remembered (writes the “Argus”) that at the last Intercolonial Cable Conference the Government of New Zealand was authoiised to ascertain whether the American Government would be prepared to aid in laying a telegraph cable between the United States and New Zealand, and to contribute liberally towards the cost. The Marquis of Normanby brought the matter under the notice of the Secretary for the Colomes, who submitted it to the United States Government. Lord Carnarvon subsequently, in a despatch addressed to the Governor of New Zealand on the 23rd August last, intimated that Mr Seward, the Acting Secretary of State, had replied that the question would receive consideration, but that the matter was one which would require the action of Congress. In reply to an inquiry whether there was really any prospect of the" United States Government contributing materially to the carrying out of the scheme, or whether they only proposed to give it moral support, Mr Seward said that that would depend entirely on the cost, and on the manner in which the scheme was to be carried out: but he was understood to be of opinion that, great as would be the benefit of such a cable to general commerce, there could not be much hope that Congress would vote any considerable sum of money towards the completion of such an undertaking. Procession at the Catholic Church.— Yesterday afternoon at three o’clock the children attending the Catholic Sunday School assembled in the Church, where they were joined by the “Children of Mary,” the purpose of the gathering being a demonstration in honour of the Virgin Mary. The boys, who were arranged on one side of the Church, each wore a blue rosette, and many bore small pink flags. The girls wore red scarves, and many carried blue bannerets with the monogram “Maria” upon them. The young girls, who are enrolled as “ Children of Mary,” wore blue mantles and bridal wreaths and veils. When all were assembled, to the number of about SCD, exclusive of spectators, the Eev. Father McNamara, having offered a brief prayer, entered the pulpit and delivered a discourse in which he explained to the children the nature of the ceremony they were about to take part in. The procession was then formed, and, leaving the Church, marched round the grounds in the following order : The cross-bearer and two acolytes, girls of the Sunday School, those belonging to the Christian Doctrine Society, “ Children of Mary,” preceded by the banner of the Blessed Virgin, boys of the Sunday School, young men of the Christian Doctrine Society, four of the members bearing upon their shoulders a statue of the Virgin, the altar boys, and lastly the priest. During the procession a number of hymns were sung, and at its close, when the congregation had resumed their places in the Church, benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given. This concluded the very impressive ceremony, which was the first of the kind in Christchurch. New Zealand Cattle at Sydney. —The Sydney correspondent of a Melbourne paper, writing on the success of New Zealand at the recent show, and on the prohibition of stock importation to Now South Wales, says : The exhibition has been moderately well attended, not so well as in some past years, but better than in others. Tho honors of the cattle ring have been carried off by a New Zealander, and no one disputes the justice of the award; but tho two choice animals that have been sent up from the sister colony have both been bred from beasts that have been imported by New Zealand since our own law prohibited the arrival of English stock. The consequence is, that the opposition to this prohibitory law has received a great accession of strength, and it is loudly asserted that, for the present at least, we cannot get along satisfactorily without fresh blood. So far as sheep are concerned, wo have ceased to wish to import; a distinct Australian type has been established, which is not only sufficient for our purpose, but better adapted to it than importations would be. But with regard to cattle, we had not yet established the requisite |type of excellence, nor have we proved that we can even keep up our standard without fresh blood. On the contrary, the general impression is that the yearling stock shown on tho present occasion is decidedly inferior to whut it was some years back, and this is looked upon as a proof that dependence on the stock we at present possess will rot suffice for our wants, and that we shall not even hold our own unless wo tqrq once more to England for fresh sires,

COMPLIMENTARY DINNEE. — Tie CompU« mentary dinner to Mr Wilkin takes place at the Oddfellows’ Hall to-morrow evening, and promises to bo very largely attended. Advantage will be taken of the gathering to present Mr Wilkin with a testimonial expressive of the esteem in which he is held by all classes of the community. Stabbing- at Lyttelton. —Two seamen of the ship Waikato were sentenced on Saturday to seven weeks’ imprisonment for stabbing a fellow-shipmate named Ostensen. It will be seen from the medical evidence that prosecutor had a very narrow escape. Considering the cowardly nature of the assault, the sentences appeared to have been exceptionally lenient.