NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1309, 30 May 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Engineers.—The company is requested to parade in full dress to-morrow morning at the Drill-shed, to form a guard of houor to his Excellency. The Artillery.—A detachment of the Artillery company will proceed to-morrow morning to Lyttelton, to fire a salute on the arrival of his Excellency the Governor. Eace Horses. —The race horses Merry Monarch and Mountain Maid arrived from Port Chalmers yesterday, per Arawata. FIBE.—A fire occurred yesterday morning about half-past three at the farm of Messrs Philpott and Sheehan, Spreydon, resulting in the destruction of an elevator, and in considerable damage to a combine, which was thoroughly gutted. About fifty bushels of oats were also burned. The fire was discovered by the neighbours, who rendered assistance, and succeeded in saving the engine. Inquest at Sunnyside.—An inquest was held yesterday at the Lunatic Asylum on the body of Charles Edward St. John, an inmate who died there the day previous. Mr Geo. W. HalJ, J.P., acted as coroner, and after the evidence of the keepers and Dr. J. W. S. Coward, who made the po.st mortem examination, had been taken, a verdict was returned of "Died from natural causes." Dunkdtn Legee.—The following nominations were omitted from the list forwarded by the Press Agency yesterday:—Mr Allan McLean's b f by Kingfisher—Songstress ; Mr Allan McLean's br f by Kingfisher—Flying Scud; Mr W. Reeves's b f Casta Diva, by Traducer, from Opera ; Mr "W. Reeves's c by Castaway, from Patrician. In the published entry Mr Hodgkinson's name seems to appear by mistake for that of Mr Todhunter.

Musical Festival. —The usual festival in connection with the Durham street Wesloyan Church takca place therein this evening. The programme includes selections from "The Dettingen Te Deum, "Samson," "LaudaSion," "Israel in Egypt," Mozart's " Twelfth," "The Messiah," and "The Creation," together with Mendelssohn's cantata, "Festgesang." The principal solos and parte will he sung hy Misses Ness, Kent, Rowley, and Mrs Corrick, and Messrs Knox, Merfcon, Anthony, Elliot, and Johnson.

Ghabd of Honob.—-A parade of the companies of the City Guards, Engineers, and Cavalry band, who have been selected to form tbe guard of honor to e3cort his Excellency the Governor into Christ church, will be held in the drill-shed on Friday morning, at half • past ten. Volunteebs. —A marked improvement both in drill and attendance has resulted from tbe resumption of weekly recruit drill under Sergeant-Major Morgan. This was shown clearly by the precision in marching of the squad under tuition in the drill-shed last evening.

The Native Ministeb.—lt will be seen by to-day's telegrams that Mr Sheehan will accompany the G-overnor on his visit to Canterbury. The expectations of the Kaiapoi natives, who have for some days past been looking for the arrival of the Native Minister, will therefore not be disappointed.

AMERICAN AND AtTSTBALIAN DIBECTOBY. —Mr G. Wright, agent for Mr Gaylord Watson, a large publishing firm in New York, is at present on a visit to Christchurch, with the view of obtaining the information necessary for compiling a complete directory of the States and Australia. The directory is on a large scale, and the project seems well calculated to facilitate, what all admit is desirable, increased commercial intercourse between these colonies and the States. Ingenious Invention, —There is now on view at the shop of Mr E. George, High street, a very ingenious invention in the shape of a machine for lasting and stretching boots. It comprises several sizes, all of which are worked by the one handle, and includes amongst other things a machine for raising the instep of a boot, for spreading the toes, and last but not least, by affixing some pieces of brass, any one suffering from corns can have the foot so made as not to press upon them. The Diocesan Sunday School Association. —At a meeting of this association, held on Tuesday in the College Library, it was resolved to hold a general teachers' meeting alternately at the College Library and in some parochial schoolroom. The first general meeting is held in the library on the Thursday nearest to the full moon, when Eev. W. G. Brittan will read a paper on " Kewards and Punishments in a Sunday School." A letter was read from Messrs Whitcombe and Temperton, in reply to a paragraph in the annual report published in these columns, stating that they had executed every order entrusted to them, and that the books" ordered by the association in October were now in stock. The explanation was deemed satisfactory.

A Class Distinction.—The " Timaru Herald " finds fault with the railway management in tliis wise : —One of the most crying causes of complaint at present is the practice which prevails of running trains in the dark, without lights in the carriages. Sometimes there are no lamps at all, and all the passengers have to make a great part of their journey in total darkness. At other times tbe firstclass carriages are most unjustly favoured, and the second-class are left without lamps. This is a distinction against which we must strongly protest. Why should second-class passengers be treated like dogs or baggage, simply because they pay the lower fare ? Goodness knows the accommodation which they get for their money is wretched enough under the most favorable circumstances ; but to compel them to travel in cold, dirty, hardseated vans on winter nights in the dark, is simply inhuman. G-uizot and Constantinople.—G-uizot the eminent French Statesman, in conversation with an English diplomatist some twenty years ago, gave his idea of a permanent settlement of the Eastern question. Speaking of Constantinople, he said : —" It cannot remain Turkish. The attempt to preserve the integiityMof the rotten Turkish Empire is an attempt to resist nature. Such an attempt made by two such nations as France and England may be persevered in for years. The longer it lasts, the greater will be the waste of men and money and diplomacy, but it must eventually fall. The Turks must be driven across the Bosphorus. We cannot occupy Constantinople, nor can you. We are both resolved not to let Russia have it. All Europe would refuse to put it nnder Austria, if Austria were mad enough to wish for it. It cannot be independent; it must therefore be Greek —the capital of a Q-reek Empire, to which you will be wise enough to cede your troublesome and useless protectorate of the lonian Islands." A G-OVEBNMENT Scheme. —The announcement made at the meeting of the Waitemata County Council yesterday, as reported in the telegrams, to the effect that the G-overnment are about to employ a large body of natives in the construction of the railway from Waikato to Taranaki, must be accepted with considerable reservation. The Government might no doubt like to enter upon an enterprise of this nature, but there are two serious obstacles to it at present, namely, first that Rewi has not consented to have a railway taken across his country ; secondly, that the Government has no money for public works. It is possible also that the European laborers of the colony might take umbrage at the expenditure in the manner suggested of money raised on their credit. There is a further objection to the immediate prosecution of the work, which may be mentioned, although the Premier would probably treat it with profound contempt if it so suited him; that is, that no work of the khid has been authorised by the Legislature. Banks' Peninsula Pastoeal Association. —We learn from the "Akaroa Mail" that a meeting of this association was held at the Somerset Hotel, Head of the Bay, on Friday evening, Mr Shadbolt in the chair. Mr Piper said the object of the meeting was to consider whether it would be advisable to carry on the association or wind it up. Ho was in favor of the latter course. During the past year their total income from all sources had been, in round numbers, £167 ; they had disbursed in expenses £96, in special prizes £54, leaving £l7 to pay all their ordinary prizes. Under these circumstances he thought it was time to wind up. He would therefore propose —" That the Pastoral Association be wound up, and that all the property belonging to the association be sold by auction, and the proceeds be added to the estimated amount, £l7, and the whole be awarded for prizes taken at the last show." The resolution was seconded by Mr Lee. Mr Kennedy would be sorry to see the association broken up. He thought the show had a great effect in improving stock. They could produce stock in Akaroa to compete with any part of Canterbury. After a few more remarks of a slightly irrelevant character, Mr Piper's resolution was put and carried, and the meeting terminated. Australian Mutual Provident Society. —The twenty-ninth annual report of the Australian Mutual Provident Society shows that during the last twelve months 5150 new insurances for a sum of £1,880,070 were completed, the new premiums amounting to £78,205. Claims on life policies arose during the same period to the amount of £117,434, and £2,598 was claimed under matured endowment assurances. The accumulated fund now stands at £2,269,892, showing an increase of £308,120, the balance of receipts over disbursements during the year. The number of policies issued since the establishment of the society to December 31st, 1877, was 40,105, assuring £15,394,121. Of these 9630 have been discontinued, leaving 30,475 existing policies, assuring the sum of £11,741,954. The annual income from premiums amounts to £405,043, and from interest to £129,009, giving a revenue of £534,053. In the report just presented the directors say:—The final year of this the sixth quinquennium having now been entered upon, the directors take the opportunity of inviting special attention to the unusual advantages which the society offers to assurants. The rate of interest which is now being realised on the invested funds, and the favorable mortality whicli has been experienced, combined with the continuously increasing amount of new business transacted, and the steadily decreeing ratio of expenditure, afford ample reason for ihe belief that the profit of the now closing quinquennial period will be very satisfactory. Under the society's new regulations every policy effected on or before 31st December next, and then in force, will be entitled to participate in the surplus to be then ascertained*

A New and Powebfex Explosive.— We ("Scientific American") learn that M Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, has recently discovered a new explosive substance still more powerful than that. He has given it the name of "explosive gelatine," on account of its aspect, which closely resembles gelatine. The substance is composed of 94 to 95 per cent of nitro-glycerine, and 6 or 5 per cent of collodion, mixed together. It is viscous, but can be easily cut with a knife or with scissors, and placed in cartridges or shells. Dynamite, it is known, has the disadvantage of being alterable by water—when it is moist the nitro-glycerine separates from the absorbent. The new substance, on the contrary, does not give the least symptom of exudation; it is impermeable to water, which does not at all affect its explosive properties. It is inflamed in the same way as dynamite, and its power is at least 50 per cent greater. Italy and Eussia have, it is said, adopted this substance for charging bombs, torpedoes, &c.

Self-acting Railway Gates. —We (" Pleasant Creek News ") were lately shown an extremely ingenious and effective model of self-acting railway gates. The model, which is about 4ft. long, shows a line of miniature railway of that length, and a truck. Underneath the latter are two bars, running the full length of the truck, and raised at one end on one side of the car, and at the reverse end on the other side. These raised portions catch on wheels which work inside the rails, and the moment the front of the engine or truck touches the wheel, the gates (which are kept constantly open for public convenience, unless otherwise arranged) close across the road, and leave the railway track clear. As soon as, and not until, the last van of the train has released the pressure from the forward wheel, the gates again close across the line, and leave the road open for traffic. Should it be desired, however, the guard, by touching a spring, is enabled to throw the apparatus out of gear, so that the gates may thus be left open for the passage of an express or an ordinary train. The interior workings, of the design are as yet a secret only to the inventors; but, judging from practical experiments which we witnessed the invention is likely to prove a thorough success. The expenses attending the laying down of the apparatus is trivial, the cost of each gate, with fittings complete, being reckoned at £2O.

Modeen Mabine Engine Economy.— One of the most euggeßtive illustrations that can be adduced a 9 showing the advances made within the last forty years in marine engine economy is derivable from an examination of data calculated by Mr Arthur J. Maginnis from recorded averages of Atlantic steamships —and more especially of those of the Cunard paddle-wheel steamer Britannia in 1840, and the White Star screw steamer Britannic in 1877. Of the first vessel the average duration of passage was 14 days and 8 hours, and the consumption of fuel 544 tons, the daily consumption thus being 38 tons. Assuming the average cargo at 2250 tons, this gives 4S 35 cwt. of coal per ton of cargo ; and the average speed in knots per hour being 8"3, the consumption per knot was 3-Bcwt. The indicated horse-power was 740, and consumption per horse power, 4"7 cwt. The Britannia displaced but 2050 tons, and this must be taken into account in comparing her with the Britannic, whose displacement is more than four times as great, or 8503 tons. That vessel, in 1877, showed an average passage of 7 days 10 hours and 53 minutes, an average daily consumption of fuel of 100 tons, or total consumption of 745 tons. Her cargo is 3350 tons; consumption of fuel per ton of cargo, 4.45 cwt.; average speed, 15.6 knots ; consumption per knot, 5.3 cwt.; indicated horse power, 4920; consumption per horse power, 1.9 cwt. In other words, we are now enabled to transport 15 times as much freight across the ocean in one half the time at an expenditure of less than one' and a half times as much coal as in 1840.

A woman has recently died at Griniisnat, near Sion (Switzerland) at the alleged age of 114, leaving two daughters aged 86 and 82. The State subsidy to the Opera Cnmique, Paris, has been this year raised from 240,000 f. to 460,000 f., in consideration of the severe competition of cafe concerts. Ex-Queen Isabella of Spain is about to honour England with her presence, and is in treaty for a secluded mansion lying not far from the right bank of the Thames, between Kingston and Richmond. His Excellency Sameshima Naonobu, the Japanese Minister to the French Government, is specially charged to carry out a revision of the treaties and tariffs existing with European powers. A rumour has come from the Hague that the King of Holland is thinking of abdicating in favour of his son, the Prince of Orange. The " Mirror of Literature" says that the champion bullfighter in sunny Spain is an Irishman, with brogue complete, and the majority of the best matadores are not Spaniards, but Englishmen. Madame Trebelli has made a great success at Stockholm as Fides, in Le " Prophete," and was not only complimented personally by His Majesty the King of Sweden, but was recalled eleven times, a tribute entirely without precedent in Stockholm. The London correspondent of the " Manchester Guardian" says : —" I hear that the attention of the House of Lords is to be called to another work upon the confessional. In this instance the book is not the work of the Society of the Holy Cross, but of the Rev. Dr. Pusey." The Rev. Mr Spurgeon is said to be completely broken down in health, and has been forced to abandon the Ministry. It is anticipated that the largest congregation in London will thus be broken up. It is said that the ex-Prince Imperial of France is to proceed shortly to Algeria, where he is to enter the French army in the capacity of a private, for his one year's service, the retention of his quality of a French citizen imposing this obligation upon him. It has been determined to substitute the telephone for the telegraph between the various forts and military camps in Malta. The Government also intend putting up a telephone to connect the new barracks to be established in the Island of Gozo with the palace and fortifications in Yaletta—a distance of some twenty-two miles. The revenue of the British Post-offie Telegraphs for the year ended the 31st day of March, 1847, amounted to £1 : 328,315, from which £1,120,211 had to be taken for salaries, wages, maintenance, &c, and £13,290 as a contribution to a depreciation fund to replace submerged cables. This left a balance of profit of £194,814, equal to 1*97 per cent, on a capital of £9,845,278. The "Farmer" says, in the course of last year 650,000 litres of grubs, may-bugs, and other injurious small fry were collected in Bohemia, and paid for by the rural authorities at the rate of five kreutzers per litre. In Moravia, under a similar system, more than 250,000 litres were collected and destroyed within the same period. The"Vossiche Zeitung" remarks that if Austria-Himgary were to declare war, Austria could mobilise in a few weeks 400,000 infantry, 35,000 cavalry, and 2000 cannon, and Hungary 100,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry; in all 500,000 infantry and 45,000 cavalry to oppose the Russian army in Europe, 415,000 strong, of whom 275,000 are south of the Danube.

Two new Arctic expeditions are spoken of. Mr Jumes Gordon Benuett, of the " Xew York Herald," has, it is said, purchased the screw steam-yacht Pandora from Mr Allan Young, and it is stated that he intends to fit her out for another Arctic expedition. Professor Nordenskjold and Mr Oscar Dickson have left Gothenburg for Hull, to make the final preparations for the exploration of the Arctic Seas and the journey round the north of Siberia, which, as mentioned some time ago, Professor intends to attempt. The purchaso of Mr Whitehead's secret by the Government appears to have proved well worth the money, as the insight thus gained into the construction of his wonderful torpedo has resulted in something more wonderful still. The laboratorv torpedo is as far ahead of the Whitehead as the latter was in advance of its rivals. The new torpedo can travel at a speed of thirty miles an hour, and can be adjusted with more certainty than its rival. It is worthy of notice that the authorities at Woolwich now decline to show distinguished foreigners all that they are doing.