NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1358, 21 June 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Football. —The match on Cranmer square on Saturday next will be the following Fifteen v the Club, viz.—Anderson, Bolton, Evans, Hartland, E. Hawkes, Mathias, McCardell, A. Ollivier (captain), L, Ollivier, Lanauze, Parker, Pavitt, Ross, Smith, Stringer. Emergency —Bell, L. Hawkes, and Waschmann. The Fifteen will wear scarlet and black, and the Club, which will bo captained by Mr E. J. Cotterill, blue and white. A Prospective Native Difficulty.— The “Thames Advertiser” observes: —It is freely stated that Tukukino is the owner of the land (not through the Court) on which the leading Ohinemuri mines are situated, and it becomes a very serious matter whether, in the event of the land being passed through the Court and Tukukino succeeding in substantiating his claim, mine-holders can legally retain possession of the ground, inasmuch as Tukukino has never signed any document or accepted money on the lands specified.

Vexed School Questions. Whether children, who had failed to complete their home tasks, should be kept in school at noon, during a part of the dinner hour, or only punished by being kept behind at the close of the afternoon, formed the subject of a spirited debate with the Kaiapoi school committee on Wednesday evening. On the casting vote of the chairman it will still be competent for the teachers to act as their good judgment may direct in the matter. It is said, however, that at next meeting further complaint will be made, because the teachers refuse to excuse scholars who have been kept behind with their lessons during the afternoon, because some wish to attend a dancing class. The result of the careful deliberation of this committee, on a matter of such vital importance, will be anxiously looked for by the public of the colony.

Colombo Road Wesleyan Church. —A missionary entertainment was given on Wednesday evening in the above Church. The Church was crowded. The entertainment consisted of a lecture on Missions, illustrated by numerous diagrams by the Rev. J. S. Smalley. The Church presented a very pleasing appearance with the diagrams swung from waif to wall, the brilliant sunlights bringing out the colors of the pictures well. The lecturer stated in the course of bis remarks that the proceeds of this entertainment would be devoted to the Homo Missions. The Mission fund and its operations wore then reviewed. The Harper street and Waltham Sunday schools, which were connected with the church, trying to assist this fund by contributing a penny a week from each child. If this could bo secured, not less than £9O might be raised during the year. The present effort was to create additional interest in the work, and stimulate systematic weekly donations through the schools and collecting cards. A collection was made amounting to £5. The choir, under the leadership of George Daltry, jun., rendered several suitable songs at intervals during the evening.

Geants eoe Education.—As will be seen by reference to our report of the proceedings of the Board of Education yesterday, the educational department in Wellington intend to propose, at the forthcoming session of Parliament, the following special votes for educational purposes: —Firstly, in addition to the statutory grant of £3 15s per head, a vot e to enable them to make payment to Boards at the rate of 10s per annum for every child in average daily attendance, for subsequent distribution amongst the various school committees. A vote for the establishment of scholarships, based upon the average daily attendance of the children in the several schools. A vote of £4OOO, of which the Canterbury share would be £SOO, to provide for the efficient inspection of the Board’s schools. A vote of £7OOO, in aid of training institutions for teachers in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and last 1 y a vote for the erection and maintenance of school buildings generally,

Theatre Royal. — The “ Duke’s Motto ” was played last night for the second time, and drew a very fair house. This evening, “William Tell” and Tobin’s comedy of “ The Honeymoon ” will be produced for the benefit of Miss Pender.

Yal Yosk. —The following is from a Northern contemporary : —Yal Yose, the ventriloquist, and his family of Funny Folks, are about to re-visit Australia and New Zealand. We learn from a paragraph in the San Francisco “ Figaro ” of May 10th, that he had secured a passage by the City of Sydney to Honolulu, where he intended to remain about a month, coming on thence to Auckland. He had just completed a most successful four weeks’ engagement at the Grand Opera House, and his performances are highly praised by the American press. 1.0.0. F., M.U. Loyal Perseverance Lodge, Woolston. —The usual half-yearly meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday evening, when there was an excellent attendance of members, a few visiting brethren being also present. The officers having been elected, were then duly installed in their respective offices by the G.M., Bro. Morris, assisted by the P.G.M., Bro. D. Cameron, and G-.M. Bro. Kerr, viz,:—Bro. J. Richardson, as N.GK; Bro. W. Aylward, as Y.G.; Bro. J. T. Smith, E.S. Bro. W. R. Turner then took the Q-.M.’s chair in virtue of his office as the retiring N.G. The minor officers were then elected as follows : —Bro. J. Gough, R.S. to N.G.; Bro. J. Leslie, L.S. to N.G.j Bro. W, Woodham, R.S. to V.G.; Bro. C. Day, L.S. to Y.G ; Bro. G. Morris, 1.G.; and Bro. J. McDonald, warden. A vote of thanks was was then passed to the retiring officers, and also to P.G.M. Bro. D. Cameron for his attendance that evening. It was then reported that the amount of donations for procuring a Lodge banner was about £l7. A vote of thanks was then passed to the Bros, for their handsome donations. Bros. H. A. Bamford and W. R. Turner were appointed to audit the Lodge books and accounts for the past six months. After the transaction of other business, the Lodge was closed. Receipts of the evening about £67. Inquest. —An inquest was held yesterday at the Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton, on the body of Thomas Murphy, who was found drowned in the harbor on Wednesday morning. Detective Smith deposed to finding the body of the deceased on the breakwater, and it was identified by Captain Williams, of the Himalaya, from which ship the deceased has been missing, having been employed in the capacity of night watchman. R. J. Lawrence, a seaman belonging to the ship, last saw deceased alive early on the morning of the 17th ult. ; he was then drunk, in the forecastle of the ship. Captain Williams stated that the deceased had been shipped as a seaman on board the vessel in London. Immediately before his disappearance he had been employed as night watchman. At daybreak there were evidences that cargo had been broached, and the deceased was then missing, of which fact the witness informed the police. The next time witness saw him was when he was discovered floating in the harbor on Wednesday last. The evidence tended to show that deceased must have lost his life in attempting to cross from the ship to the wharf the night before he was missing. A verdict of “Found Drowned” w r as recorded.

Delays to Shipping. —The following letter has been received by the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce :—“ Christchurch, 17th June, 187 S. Sir, —I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, calling my attention to the serious delays to shipping at Lyttelton, owing to the want of a sufficient supply of railway trucks and engine power ; and urging upou me the necessity of prompt measures being taken to provide plant to overtake the very great increase of exports expected to be made next season from Lyttelton. I am to acquaint you in reply that, I am fully alive to the utter inadequacy of the supply of trucks on the Christchurch section, even when those now being erected under contract, and those already ordered from Home, are ready for running. I have, therefore, strongly urged upon the Government, the necessity for telegraphing to England at once for six hundred sets of waggon ironwork, and four 14in. cylinder locomotives ; and if this recommendation is carried out with dispatch, I am sanguine that there will be sufficient rolling stock forthcoming to meet the largo increase to the traffic anticipated next season. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, John Menzies, for Commissioner of Eailways.”

Meeting! at French Farm:. — A meeting of the residents of French Farm was held in the schoolhouse on Monday evening. The meeting was called for the purpose of pointing out the advantages of what is known as the Okute route over that of Barry’s Bay for the Akaroa railway. The Okute Valley runs from the east end of Lake Forsyth to the French Peak. It is contended that a line of railway could reach Akaroa harbour by this route at a less cost than by any other, as being shorter and requiring less tunnelling. Mr T. S. Baker was called to the chair, and explained the business of the meeting, and requested others interested in the matter to state their views. Messrs W. Wood, G. Black, and C. Bates severally addressed the meeting, urging the importance of at least getting a survey of the proposed line. Mr E. C. Latter, the chairman of the Lakes Trust, explained the position of the survey of the line up to that time. The engineer of the Trust had pronounced against the Okute line, and to make a survey of it at present would be to delay the whole work of the Trust, who had not a day to spare to get their plans and report ready previous to the sitting of Parliament. If they asked too much, the chances were they would get nothing. For himself he did not believe that for some years at least the railway would come beyond the flat at Little River, and it would be time enough to discuss the question of different routes to the harbour. In reply to a question, Mr Latter stated that the engineer had informed him that the tunnel at Barry’s Pass would require to be about 120 chains long. Mr C. W. Bridge then moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr T. Brooks, and unanimously agreed to— “ That this meeting endorses the action of the Trust in carrying out the objects of the Lakes Reclamation and Railway Bill, and has no desire to trammel their endeavors to promote the passing of the Bill, but at the same time hopes that the possibility of the route being taken by the Okute Valley will not be overlooked.”

Capital and Labour. —The following extract from Mr Lumsden’s speech to his constituents is worth the attention of the labouring classes :—With regard to taxation, he thought there was something in Sir George Grey’s proposals like an attempt to set capital and labour by the ears, or to make the working classes discontented. So far as his own experience had gone they were much better off here than in the old country, and he did not think they had much to complain of. It was a difficult and delicate thing to touch the springs of industry as set in motion by capital. Capital was a cute fellow, and counted the cost of an enterprise —calculated the expense of labour, read taxes and the probable returns, and if the former were too great the labourer cr tax-gatherer must give way. If labour found no employment where would the money come from for Jennie’s cotton frock or Johnnie’s little breeks P Ho questioned whether after all a diminution of the taxes would benefit the working man, believing that the difference would mainly go into the pockets of the dealers. The sixpence per pound on tea, fourpence on coffee, a farthing on sugar, was but a light impost, and was really not felt very much. Ho held that they should by all means encourage enterprising capitalists, for it was through them the working man got what ho required—it was the capitalist who kept the social machinery going. He could point to a number of deferred payment selectors, who, but tor the employment they got from the great landed proprietors who were spending largo sums on their estates would never have been able to hold by their sections. Ho would say “ let us take the world as we find it,” for although he did not altogether like large estates, ho liked revolutionary legislation less. They might depend upon it that truth would prevail, and that these largo estates would bo broken up under the regular operation of the laws that governed social life.

A Strange Funeral— The unfortunate night watchman of the Himalaya, over whose remains an inquest was held yesterday, was buried during the afternoon. It was a truly wretched sight. The coffin was carried to the cemetery in a muck cart, and not a single one of all his shipmates followed the funeral, the undertaker being the sole mourner.

Patea Breakwater. —The contract for the shore-end of this work has been let to a Mr Dickson. The “Taranaki Herald’’says —“ This work is to be 600 ft. long, containing about 3500 cubic yards, formed of large boulders of from one to five tons weight each, faced with cement concrete blocks of six tons. The contract price was £7400, and the work is to be completed in seven months.” An Expectant Councillor. - The Napier “Telegraph” states that is it reported that Mr John Buchanan will probably be nominated to a seat in the Legislative Council before the General Assembly is called together. It is thought that, having been rejected by the people on every occasion on which he has sought the suffrages of the electors, he is now trying to get into the Upper House by the loophole allowed by the constitution. Elaborate Verdict,-— A young woman recently died somewhat suddenly at Westport. The jury at the ensuing inquest returned the following verdict—" That the pain and vomiting resulting from gastro-intestinal irritation, so acted upon a feeble heart as to have produced a sudden cessation of its action, and consequent death, but as to how the irritation of the stomach occurred there is no evidence before the jury to show.” Sanitary Conference. The sanitary conference between the City Council and the representatives of the outlying districts was held yesterday afternoon, in the City Council Chambers. Resolutions in favor of the formation of a Christchurch District Board of Health were submitted and eventually withdrawn, the opinion of the majority of those present being in favor of no change being made in the present sanitary control of the district.

Subsidising Peospectoes. —The following will be pleasant intelligence for those parts of the colony which hare long-promised works still remaining promised, such, for instance, as the Ahuriri bridge and the Picton railway. It will be pleasing also for the Government's creditors in the colony, aa"the representatives of the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works, and also the Canterbury Eoad Boards: —“ Mr Adam Porter has received a letter from the Under-Secretary for Goldfields, stating that, if the Ohinemuri Mining Association will employ a given number of men at the rate of 5s per day upon bona fide prospecting, the Government will pay one-half of this amount from time to time to an extent not exceeding £2OO, on the production at the Colonial Treasury of vouchers duly certified by the Warden.” The amount is, it is true, very small, but would it not be well for the Ministry to be just before they are generous even to a small amount, and even to Auckland ?

The Geey Mania on the Coast —The Hokitika evening paper writes as follows on tins subject:—lt does seem most extraordinary that people should be so led away by the Grey mania, as to believe the Premier’s protege the incarnation of all that is desirable, a veritable Westland saviour in fact, on whose election blessings innumerable and untold in the shape of roads, tracks, bridges, railways, and other public works are to be scattered broadcast throughout the length and breadth of Westland. They seem to have cast all reason to the winds in believing the unlimited powers for good, and inclination to exert them, that in their imaginations invest the Grey Ministry. These blindly thick and thin devotees at the Grey altar clearly imagine that its high priests will be eternally in power, and that at their will countless cost can be incurred and expenditure gone to. Such delusions are really indulged in by a large proportion of the more rabid Greyites, and when their idols topple over, as topple they must, sooner or later, vast will be the astonishment of a credulous crowd. The Grey craze is one of the most extraordinary instances of political blindness and credulity that has broken out for years.

Ministerial Discourtesy.—The “ New Zealand Times ” of Monday, says : —“ The s.s. Hinemoa, with Messrs Sheehan and Bunny has arrived at Manukau. They go North tomorrow or Monday. His Excellency the Governor arrived on Saturday from Lyttelton in the s.s. Wakatipu.” These announcements have appeared in the public journals within the last few days. When Messrs Bunny and Sheehan want to travel they take the colonial steam yacht Hinemoa, and accommodate themselves luxuriously on board at the public expense. We do not think that the Hinemoa is maintained at great charge out of the taxes of the colony for the sole convenience of Ministers and of their friends, to the exclusion of 'that of the Queen’s representative in New Zealand. Since March, 1875, when Sir George Grey burst upon the human race in the Choral Hall, at Auckland, he has lost no public opportunity to insult the Governor of this colony. Over and over again, in the House of Representatives, the Speaker has been obliged to interpose, because of the unbecoming expression of personal enmity to the Queen’s representative. The preventing the Governor from having the use of the Hinemoa, whenever any excuse could be found or invented for so doing, is but one form of the small annoyances to which, with the womanly spitefulness which distinguishes all his enmities, Sir George Grey subjects a gentleman who has no mode of redress, and who is too proud or too discreet to make public complaint.

Addington Improvement Society. —An entertainment under the auspices of this society will be given to-night in the schoolroom, Addington.

The Poultry Show. —The entrirs for the forthcoming Poultry Show, under the auspices of the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association, close this evening at six o’clock. Woolston Cricket Club. —The annual dinner of this club will take place this evening at the Wharf Hotel.