NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1352, 14 June 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

R.M. Court.—This morning the Court was perfectly empty at the usual business hour, ten o'clock, there not being a single case to be dealt with by the Resident Magistrate.

Colonial Insurance Company;. The Colonial Insurance Company has announced that applications for shares must be made this day to the Bank of New Zealand or will be received by the agent for Canterbury, Mr Fred E. A. Graham, if posted. We also note that the company will be prepared to commence business on Monday.

Registration of Dogs.—At the conclusion of the special meeting of the Selwyn County Council to-day, the Chairman read the letter forwarded by him to the Government, asking for & re-consideration of the decision as to the collection of dog tax after July Ist. A reply from Colonel Whitrnore was read, stating that the Government did not see their way to alter the conclusion arrived at by them. It may bo stated that the Council are in communication with the clerks of the various Road Boards in the County with a view to their undertaking the duties, and that it is probable that such an arrangement will be entered into. Drowned in the Avon.—About halfpast eight this morning the body of a man named John Gordon was found in the Avon a short distance below Ward's Brewery. He was formerly employed on Mr Moore's station, Glenmark, and more recently by Messrs Ford and Newton. He ha 3 been missing since the latter end of May, and was discovered as above mentioned by a milkman going his rounds. The decomposed condition of the body shows that it must have been in the river for some considerable time. Information was given to the police, and the body was removed to the morgue. An inquest on the remains will be held to-morrow. St. Mary's, Merivale.—A parish entertainment in connection with St. Mary'a, Merivale, will be held this evening in the schoolroom.

Theatre Royal.—The drama of "Forsaken " and " A Kiss in the Dark " constituted the performance last night. To-night "Rob Roy " will be repeated.

The Departure of the Governor.— Ilia Excellency the Governor will go North in the s.s. Wakatipu to-day. She leaves port on the arrival of the 2.40 p.m. train from Christchurch.

Sunnyside.—A concert took place at Sunuyside asylum last night in aid of the funds of the band of the asylum. A wellselected programme of vocal and instrumental music was gone through yerj creditably. Kaiapoi Borough Council. —Messrs J. H. Schmidt and W. Fraser were yesterday nominated as candidates for the extraordinary vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr J. Lowthian Wilson. The polling will take place on Wednesday, 26th. Mandeyille and Rangiora Road Board. —A requisition has been presented to Mr W. Sausom of Southbrook, asking him to come forward to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr H. Dudding. Messrs E. Mulcock and J. Josling are spoken of as probable candidates.

Model Lesson.—A model lesson in connection with the Sunday School Union was given last evening by Mr E. Connal, president of the Union. There was a large attendance, the Durham street schoolroom being well filled. The Eev. Wm. Morley occupied the chair, and after the lesson an interesting discussion took place. The Maoeis.—On the breaking up of the Kaiapoi meeting a telegram was received of the death of the eldest daughter, aged twenty-two, of Eli Tihau, of Little Kiver, and immediately about thirty of the natives undertook to engage the steamer Akaroa to convey them to Akaroa, where the " tangi" and funeral were to take place. The deceased was one of the most promising scholars in the school established by the Eev. J. W. Stack, at Kaiapoi, and has, since leaving it, given many evidences of the advantages of her early training. Canteesitey Cricket Association.—A meeting of the general "committee of the association was held at Eadcliffe's Hotel yesterday evening, Mr E. C. J. Stevens occupying the chair. The report of the sub-committee appointed to revise the rules of the association was considered, and it was resolved to present the report of the committee to the general meeting of the association, to be held in July. A short discussion then ensued about sending a telegram to the Australian Eleven in London, and it was ultimately decided to take no action in the matter. Noethebn Eailway.—The other day the men engaged in work en this railway knocked off work in a body, to represent a grievance in reference to hours to the engineer. About one hundred of them took the matter up, but were peremptorily informed that unless they returned to work at once they would be discharged. A promise was nevertheless made that the question in dispute should be considered in the ordinary way. One of the principal gangers wes discharged last week for alleged misapplication of moneys, amounting to about 30s, for wages. On Tuesday, however, as the charge did not appear to be substantiated, he was reinstated. In consequence of some unpleasantness among the permanent way hands on the Oxford line, several have been discharged. Concert. —Last night a new era in matters musical in Christ church was inaugurated at the Oddfellows' Hall, in the shape of a pianoforte recital entirely by one performer, the selections being all from the works of the most renowned masters. The performer was Mr 11. M. Lund, who it will be recollected made a highly creditable debut as a pianist here at a concert given by him some little time back. Though reasonable doubt may be entertained whether musical cultivation has yet reached so high a standard here as to render such a concert as that given by Mr Lund last evening very popular, it is yet satisfactory to ho able to record that the attendance was a very good one indeed, and that Mr Lund is to be congratulated on liis undoubted success as a pianist. The programme included twenty numbers, and was divided into two parts. The first part included interpretations of the works of the eailier masters, commencing with Bach and ending with Beethoven. In this Mr Lund not only exhibited great mechanical skill as a pianist but was also very happy in interpreting the style of each particular master. This, it must be remembered, was a task of no ordinary magnitude, as each style was quite different, alike in the composition as in the character of the piece played. The second part comprised nine numbers, being selected from the works of later masters. These ranged from Schubert to Rubinstein, and, as in the first part, comprised all liinds of style of composition. Taken throughout, the concert was a very successful one, and, aB before staled, marks an era in the musical history oi the city.

Tattebsall's Clfb. —A meeting of Tattersall's Club was held at Radcliffe's yesterday afternoon. Mr H. P. Lance in the chair. After transacting touie business with reference to disputed wagers the meeting adjourned. Musical. —We have received from Mr John J. Woods, the composer, a copy of the New Zealand National Anthem, which was awarded the prize offered by the Dunedin " S tturday Advertiser," the words being written by Mr T. Bracken,cf the staff of that journal. The ode is spiritedly written, and no doubt will become as popular here as it has in Dunedin. Football.—The match on Cranmer square on Saturday next will be eights:; Old College Boys v the rest of the Club. The following are the eighteen : —W. H. Atack, J. Chapman, E. Chapman. E. Cotterill, J. S. Field, W. Hartland, E. JHawkes, G. S. Mathias, H. McCardell, W. Millton, A. Ollivier (captain), L. Ollivier, D. Potts, A. PottsJG. Potts, E. Pavitt, W. Reeves, J. Waschinann. Lyttelton Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society.—This society held their usual meeting on Wednesday evening last. The subject of discussion was whether " Chinese Immigration should be permitted." Both sides of the question found supporters, the arguments used being exceedingly interesting. At the end of the discussion the Rev. W. H. Beck, the president, summed up. It was determined that the society should give an entertainment at an early date. Under One Law.—The following spec r al telegram from Auckland appears in tho Government's Wellington paper of Juno 12th : —A correspondent of the " Waikato Times," at Whatawhata, writes that on Friday last, Tawhiao's son, with several Hauhaus, came down to a place on the west side of the Waipa, for the purpose of stopping the construction of the road connecting Waipa and Raglan. It is said that the natives allege that Sir George Grey having given to Tawhiao all the west side of the Waipa, this road comes within his jurisdiction, and must not be completed without his leave.

Dangerous Coal Cargoes.—A Home paper states that in the course of a Board of Trade inquiry at Liverpool, into the loss of the barque Annie Richmond, owing to the spontaneous combustion of her cargo of coal, evidence was given by Mr J. L. Hedley, Government inspector of mines for West Lancashire and North Wales. Mr Hedley said that the coal produced in the West Lancashire district, known as "main delf " coal, was of a quality liable to spontaneous ignition, and at the present time two mines in the district were on fire. It was not a safe coal for shipment, and was rendered more dangerous by being tipped into a vessel's hold from any height. It then broke into pieces, became consolidated and became more liable to spontaneous combustion. The Arley and Wigan four-foot was safe so far as spontaneous combustion was concerned. Good Templar Concert.—An entertainment, in aid of the funds of the Southern Cross lodge, was given last night in the Templar Hall, Worcester street. The performance was a little delayed owing to the fire in Hereford street, numbers of the audience, and some of the performers, h,»vin;r let their curiosity get the better of them, and rushed off to the scene. The chair was taken at about a quarter past eight by Bro. J. T. Smith, District Deputy of East Christchurch, who delivered a short earnest address on the subject of Temperance. An interesting feature in the programme was a recitation contest, for which four members of the order were entered. The judges awarded the prizes to be divided between two of the competitors, who, in their judgment, were equal in merit. The winners gave the prizes to be divided between the funds of the Temperance Society and the Juvenile Temple. The programme also comprised several songs, readings, and glees, the latter being sung by a recently formed class, who acquitted themselves very well. The attendance was very large, the hall being quite full. Wesleyan Parsonage, Leeston. A bazaar in aid of the fund to provide for the purchase of the present Wesleyan parsonage, Lseston, was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday, June 11th. The hall was tastefully decorated, and the stalls amply supplied with the usual articles for sale. The refreshment booth was presided over by several ladies, and several more effected sales and conducted a considerable postal business. Music and practical illustrations of galvanism were contributed by other wellwishers. A novel feature was introduced by an adjournment to Mr Loe's saleyards, the use of whicli was gratuitously given for sale of stock, produce, poultry, &c, in aid of the fund. Mr Bluett gave his services as auctioneer, and at the close of the day disposed of the few articles remaining upon the stalls. The bazaar was a decided monetary and social success, the proceeds being not less than £IBO free of all expenses. The Capital City.—Writing of Wellington's aspirations and Wellington's present mal-odours, the "New Zealand Times" urges energy in carrying out drainage works on the following grounds : —Wellington aspires to be the Empire city, the permanent seat of Government, the place of meeting of the Colonial Legislature, and the entrepot of commerce for both islands. Its enjoyment of all these advantages is not, and will not be uncontested. If, when the question of separation of the islands comes up for discussion, as, —if any reliance is to be placed upon the public speeches and professions of public men, in office and out, —it must come [up, we should not leave it in the power of those who are jealous of our special advantages or of the enemies of the unity of the colony, to urgo the danger to which members of the General Assembly are exposed by being forced to spend some months of every year in ill-ventilated houses, in an undrained and consequently "unhealthy city. We have heard this latter argument used before, and we may hear it again, urged effectively, unless we bestir ourselves actively to abate an admitted evil. Parliamentary Elections. —A Parliamentary paper has been issued showing the total number of electors on the register with respect to each Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. The total number of electors in the English counties is 797,491, and in the counties of Wales 66,272, in all 863,766. In the cities and boroughs England has 1,172,164 electors, and Wales 67,441, making a total of 1,539,605. The three English Universities give a total of 12,851 electors, the numbers being distributed as follows :—Oxford, 5026; Cambridge, 603 S ; and London, 1787. The total number of Parliamentary electors furnished by the counties and boroughs in England and Wales and the Universities in England, as shown by the register now in force, is therefore 2,416,222. The return in relation to Ireland shows a total of 231,515 electors, who aro thus distributed—counties, 173.668; boroughs, 54,218 ; and University (Dublin Trinity College), 3429. Scotland shows a total electoral force of 304.265, of whom 89,750 are county voters, 203,364 figure on the burgh roils, and 11,154 are electors for the Universities. Of those last, Edinburgh and St. Andrew's contribute 4025 and 1558 rcspectivelv, and Glasgow and Aberdeen 3048 and 2523. Attempted Incendiarism in Wellington. —One of the Wellington papers has tho following : —Mr Brady, the proprietor of an unoccupied store adjoining the Queen's Hotel went on Saturday afternoon, in company with a Mr Robertson, to see the premises, and upon opening the front door a tiro was seen under tne stairs. Some buckets of water were at once obtained, and the fire extinguished. It had evidently been lit about half-an-hour previously. It wes most providential that Mr Bridy came in when ho did, as the smouldering embers were just kindling into a bkze. It was discovered that there were heaped together under the stairs part of a dross, a lot of gmall bits of timber, a quantity of paper, and underneath these a piece of charred wood, apparently taken from a fireplace. The police were communicated with, and traced footsteps from where the rubbich was into the yard, and in the direction of tho aojoinirg premises belonging to Mr Wilton, greengrocer. The bootprmts were those of a small boy. There is of course little dpubt that an attempt had been made to deliberately set fire to the building, and but, for the timely appearance of Mr Brady a serious conflagration might have been the result. If is probable wo shall hear more of this affair before loug,

Scholabships.—The examination in Class D of the scholarships offered for competition by the Board of Education commenced on Wednesday last. There were three competitors, one being from the College, one from Riccarton school, and one from Mr Cook's school. The ISANSAHtTA Eeef3.—During the year ended March 31sb there were crushed in the Inangahua district 41,947 tons of quartz for a yield of 36,691 ounces of gold, the produce of fifteen mines. Dividends to the amount of £63,508 were declared in eight mines. During the twelve months capital wa3 called up to the amount of £28,703 in thirty-live companies. Regina v. Jones. —Concerning tho hill of costs in this case a correspondent of the Dunedin " Herald" asks : What i 3 tho meaning of " attendance on Messrs Si out and G. M. Reed, conferring over jury list," " attendance upon Messrs Reed and Fenwick" for the same purpose ? What had Messrs Eeed and Fenwick to do with the matter? How came the Attorney- General to be conferring upon the sido of the defence in criminal proceedings, and upon such a suspicious subject as the jury list ? Fancy the Attorney- General of England advising the attorneys of a prisoner as to a safe scrutiny of the possible jury ! A Kaeamea MANXTFACxrBE.—The Westport "Times" states that Mr Alexander Stitt brought back from the Karamea for transmission to Nelson, two beautiful specimens of Shetland wool work, in the shapo of shawls, hand spun and hand knitted by some of the settlers' wives there. The work is worthy a place in any industrial exhibit, and we hope they may yet find a place in the forthcoming "exhibition in Wellington. We trust the handiwork of the good wives of the Karamea will reach Wellington. The shawls will be appropriate exhibits for the Industrial Exhibition, and cannot fail to attract a largo amount of attention. The Dunedin High School Rector. — Mr William Macdonald (says the Dunedin "Herald "), who has been appointed Rector of the Dunedin High School, was one of the most eminent students of the Edinburgh University. He is probably about thirty five years of age, and took his degree of M.A. nine or ten years ago. The subjects in which he most particularly distinguished himself during his University career were the classical languages (especially Greek), logic, and moral philosophy, in all of which he was facile princeps. Mr Macdonald was also Professor Blackie's assistant in Greek for two years in the Edinburgh University, and was on that gentleman's recommendation, eight or nine years ago, unanimously appointed one of the classical masters in the Edinburgh High School, direct from the University. He is said to possess great mental and physical energy, and was always foremost in ail popular intellectual movements in those institutions with which he has been connected.