NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1349, 11 June 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Boaed of Education. —The Lower Heathcote school committee have nominated the Rev. H. C. M. Watson to fill the vacant seat in the Board of Education.

The Melbouene Cup.— lt is probable that Trump Card and Le Loup will leave per Ringarooma, for Melbourne, to take part in the forthcoming Melbourne Cup race. Durham Steeet Wesleyan Church.—A magic lantern entertainment in connection with the Sabbath School of the above church took place last evening, at the schoolroom. There was a large attendance, and the children present were highly delighted with the entertainment throughout. Value of Metropolitan Stakes. —At the meeting of the C. J.O. yesterday, it was stated that the added money given by the club at the forthcoming Metropolitan Meeting, to be run in November, would amount to about £2200.

German Address. —A loyal address to H.I.M, the Emperor of Germany, congratulating him on his escape from the recent attempt on his life, lies for signature at the German Consulate, Messrs Miles, Hassal and Co.’s, Christchurch. Tatteesall’s Club.— A meeting of Tattersall’s Club committee was held yesterday ; Mr Lance in the chair. The business before the meeting was the election of a member of committee in place of Dr. Prankish. Mr J. B. Greeson was elected to fill the vacancy. The Hon. Win. Robinson was elected a member of the club.

St. John’s Church --Mr N. G. Barnett, organist of St. John’s Church, who has been ill for some weeks, is now well enough to resume his musical engagements. He will preside, as usual, at St. John’s organ, on Sunday next. During his absence his place has been supplied by Mr J. M. Berkly in the morning, and Mr T. H. Bruce in the evening.

Telegraph Interruption.—lnformation was received yesterday that the Trans-Austra-lian telegraph line was interrupted at a point north of Powell's Creek. Legal.—His Honor Mr Justice Johnston will leave for Timaru to-day, on circuit. The criminal sessions open there on Wednesday. There are twenty-three cases on the criminal side, and twelve on the civil. Inspection Pakade. —It is understood that his Excellency the Governor has notified his intention of being present at the monthly inspection parade of the Head Quarter Corps of Volunteers, which takes place to-morrow evening. Funerals. —The funeral of the late Mr H. Davis took place on Sunday last, and was very largely attended. Yesterday that of the late Mr E. Maples took place, and nearly 200 followed. A large number of his old cricketing friends took the opportunity of paying the last respect to one who had so often joined them in the field.

Submerged Streets. —During a discussion held last night at the Sydenham Borough Council, on the steps necessary to be taken in order to secure the formal ion of certain streets in the borough, one Councillor said he had not seen the streets in question. Another Councillor interjected, “ They are under water now.”

A Plague of Darkness. —Last night, about eleven o’clock, some temporary inconvenience was caused throughout the city by the sudden extinguishing of all the gas’in the houses and streets. The darkness lasted, however, only about a quarter of an hour, when the gas was once more turned on. Proposed New Club.—A meeting of persons interested in the establishment of a workmen’s club was held at Mr G. Gould’s office yesterday morning. After considerable discussion, during which many opposite ideas were expressed as to the exact shape the proposed club should take, a sub-committee was appointed to endeavor to bring the somewhat conflicting views into as much harmony as possible, in the shape of a report to be presented to another meeting prior to the calling of a public meeting, the sub-committee consisting of the Revs. Messrs Smalley, Watson, and Professor Bickerton.

Christchurch Columbarian Society.— The following are the entries for the seventh race, to be flown on Tuesday, June 25th, from Timaru to Christchurch:—E. E. Deacon’s Sunbeam, Kingfisher, and Blueboy; C. Harris’ Rataplan ; J. Hick’s Faugh-a-Ballagh and Chester; A. Walker’s Ulysses, Elvira, Traitor, and Bismarck; W. Merson’s Savanaka, Richmond, Panic, and Hector; E. D. Rees’ Mata, Satanella, Chimborazo, and Bluebeard ; H. Harrison’s Spark, Fleur de Lys, and E.D. Mr W. Dale, of Timaru, has been appointed starter. It has been arranged that each man’s bird shall be started separately, a quarter of an hour being allowed between each flight. A race has been arranged to come off from Oamaru to Christchurch on the 9th of November.

The Spaeeow Nuisance. —It is stated that at the next meeting of the Kaiapoi Farmers’ Club a discussion will take place as to the best means of dealing with the sparrow pcat'in a wholesale way. A practical farmer, who’saw his seed wheat being picked up by the birds after a second sowing last season, purchased 5s worth of strychnine and Is worth of phosphorus, which he dissolved in hot water and caused to be soaked up by a bushel of wheat. This corn, when quite dry, he sowed on the top of his land, and in a few days after the dead sparrows lay about the farm in such numbers that they could be picked up by the bushel. The poisoned grain he also discovered relieved him of a pest of rats which had infested the farm for some years. His harvest corn this year consequently suffered a very small loss from vermin. DbAPEES* AND CIOTIIIEES’ ASSOCIATION. — A special general meeting of the above association was held last evening at Radcliffe’s Hotel, Mr Davis, vice-chairman of the association, occupying the chair. There was a very large attendance. Members of committee who had canvassed the various houses of business for members handed in their lists. The total number of intending members was notified as being sixty. The next business was the election of a committee for the ensuing half-year, when the following were elected Messrs Wilkinson, Davis, Stubbs, Triggs, Rutledge, Symonds, Howell, Lough, 0. M. Gray, Tribe, Munday, Kinglec, Adams, Hutton, Smith, Jacobs, Parker. The Treasurer stated that a credit balance remained of £3 after all the accounts against the association had been paid. The following auditors were elected for the ensuing twelve months:— Messrs 0. M. Gray and Stubbs. Mr Davis gave notice of motion for next meeting—- “ That the name of the association be altered to that of the Early Closing Association.” After the transaction of some further business the meeting adjourned. New Zealand Univeesity.— The ceremony of presentation of the diploma of B.A. to the successful Canterbury competitors at the recent University examination took place at the Provincial Council Chambers at noon to-day. There was a good attendance, including several ladies. The Chancellor of the University, Mr H. J. Tancred, in an eloquent speech on the objects and aim of Univerity education, presented Mr A. 0. Newton with his B.A. diploma, and congratulated him upon the distinction to which he had attained. Mr Hill, the other successful competitor, could not be present, as he had to take his departure for Napier some days ago, to take up his duties as Inspector of Schools there. Congratulatory speeches were also made by the Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch, Revs. T. Flavell, and C. Fraser, Messrs W. Rolleston, and H. R. Webb. Mr Newton briefly responded, and expressed a hope that his brother masters would follow his example, and endeavor to so improve themselves by study as to qualify them for a similar honor. By doing this they would not only be earning distinction for themselves, but also be entitled to discharge their important and responsible duties as instructors of youth with more efficiency. Three cheers were then given for Mr Newton and the Chancellor, and the proceedings terminated.

Mutual Impeoyement Society. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a society of this description was held in the Ashley Bank school-room on Friday evening last. There was a fair attendance, considering the late inclement weather. On the motion of Mr D. Carr, seconded by Mr James Thompson, Mr M. Whatmann took the chair. The objects of such societies having been explained, Mr Truman moved—- “ That it is desirable that a Mutual Improvement Society be established,” which was seconded by Mr Wm. Brock, and carried unanimously. The election of a secretary and treasurer was next proceeded with, and on the motion of Mr W. Dixon, seconded by Mr 0. Fawcett, Mr Wm. Brock was elected to fill the combined offices, It was agreed, upon the proposition of Mr F. Houghton, that the subscription be Is per annum. Having discussed some minor business, and accorded the usual vote of thanks to the chair, the meeting adjourned until Friday next at seven o’clock, when the rules will be drawn up and the evening occupied with readings, recitations, and criticisms thereon.

Attstealian and Tasmanian Ceicket Club. —A meeting of those favorable to the formation of an Australian and Tasmanian Cricket Club was held at Radcliffe’s Commercial Hotel last evening, Mr R. R. Pitt in the chair. After some desultory conversation relating to the matter a resolution was proposed by Mr E. Fowler, and seconded by Mr E. H. Peters—" That a committee be formed, consisting of Messrs E. T. A. Fuller, A. Loughrey, W. R. Mitchell, R. R. Pitt, E. Fowler, E. C. Cook, O. Q-. C. Armstrong, and ]). Thomas, to call upon all the gentlemen on the list submitted by Mr Cooke and others eligible, it being understood that the said committee only ask gentlemen to attend the meeting and join the club who are native born of Australasia or such as have resided five years in the aforesaid colonies, and to request them to attend a meeting to be held at the Commercial Hotel ou the 21st instant, also to make enquiries as to the possibility of obtaining suitable ground for the club proposed to bo formed.” A resolution w r as passed congratulating the team now in England upon their victories, and their health and future success in forthcoming matches was drunk amidst enthusiastic cheers. After a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting adjourned.

Good Templar Hall.—This property consisting of a section of land in Worcester street, with the building known as the Templar Hall, was sold to-day at auction, by Messrs H. Matson and Co. After some competition the hammer fell on a bid of £I2OO, which was made by Mr Hugh Bennetts, as trustee of the Christchurch Total Abstinence Society, so that this fine hall still remains as a valuable adjunct to the temperance cause in Christchurch. Wreck of the Locn Aed.—The “ Auckland Herald ” has the following in reference to this unfortunate ship : —We understand that she was one of the finest merchantmen trading between London and Melbourne, but she has had a somewhat chequered history. About two and half years ago she was dismasted off the coast of Australia, and entered Melbourne with not a stick standing. She remained in Port Philip for upwards of six months, until she received a new rig from home, every vessel of the line to which she belongs being provided with duplicate masts, &c. These were sent out from home and fixed in Melbourne, it is said, for one half the cost for what they could have been procured in the colonies. We stated yesterday that the colonial insurance offices would be heavily hit by the loss of the vessel. At that time it was understood that the New Zealand Company had a heavy line on her, but we are glad to record that their loss was not so great as anticipated, it being £5600, and the South British £IBOO, We telegraphed to Dunedin, to ascertain what the National and Standard had upon the vessel, and our correspondent replies that neither of the companies have a risk on her, so far as those in the head offices know.

The Residential Qualification. —The Wellington “Post” corrects us as follows : “ Our contemporary, the’Canterbury Press, says that Mr Ballance, in his speech at Marton, proposed, with reference to th' franchise, ‘ to admit all existing qualifications, but would add a residence qualification of two years in the colony, and three or six months in the electoral district.’ This is not accurate in one' point. The report of this part of Mr Ballance’s speech was a little confused. What he really did say was that the ratepayers’, householders’, and freeholders' franchise would be retained, and a new ‘ residential qualification’ created, entitling any person who had resided six months in an electoral district to have his name placed on the roll. He added that immigrants brought out at the expense of the colony would not be entitled to the franchise under the ‘ residential’ clause until they had been two years in the colony. These immigrants, however, could obtain the franchise earlier under the other qualifications. Practically, therefore, the two years’ residence condition only applies to a certain class of immigrants,” The words of Mr Ballance, as reported in the Wanganui “ Herald,” were—- “ Now, what was the residential qualification, and what did it mean P It meant that every man who had been resident in the colony for two years should be entitled to vote, provided that after having been, say three or six months in any one district, he applied to have his name registered as a voter, and that he must be able to sign his name.” From this it will be seen (says the “Press”) that if the “Post” correctly interprets Mr Ballance, the report, which we followed implicitly, must have been not “a little confused,” but entirely wrong in this particular.