NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1363, 27 June 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Theatre Royal.—There was no change last evening in the programme at the theatre. “ Cool as a Cucumber” and the burlesque of “ Lalla Rookh,” which now runs smoothly, were again repeated to a moderate house.

Theatrical. —Mr W. C. Dillon and Miss Edith Pender having terxnmated their engagement in Christchurch have gone to Dunedin, where they will shortly appear at the Princess Theatre. The American stars, Mr John J ack and Miss Annie Finuin, lately performing in Auckland under the management of Mr DeLias, have sailed for Sydney to fulfil an engagement with Mr Lazar at the Theatre Royal. High School Oalets. —The annual general meeting of the above corps was held at the orderly room last night, when there was a very good attendance. Captain Johnson occupied the chair. The balance-sheet, which showed a credit of £6O, was submitted and adopted. Sergeant Butler was elected sub-lieutenant, Corporals Blakely and Taylor sergeants, and Cadets Kemmtz and Fulton corporals. East Christchurch School. —The Gloucester street school is about to sustain a loss in the person of Mr Loughroy, who has been for some time the head master. Mr Loughrey has accepted the appointment of District Inspector of Schools under the Government of Victoria, and will leave for that colony at an early date. During Mr Loughrey’s connection with the Gloucester street school he has been indefatigable in his endeavors to raise the standard of the education given there to a high pitch, and has been very successful. The many friends Mr Loughrey has made in Christchurch will be glad that his talents have been so far recognised as to procure bin* the responsible office he is about to assume.

Hokitika Election. — At the election for the Hokitika constituency yesterday, Mr Seymour Thorne George, the Premier’s nephew, was returned at the head of the poll. The returns already in give him a large majority, which will not be cancelled by the returns not yet received. Christchurch Mutual Improvement Association. —The usual weekly meeting of this association took place last evening, when the president occupied the chair. Alter the routine business had been disposed of, Mr Hall read an essay defending the doctrine of eternal punishment. A discussion ensued, in which most of the members agreed with the essa' ist. The chairman briefly summed up, and the meeting terminated. The next meeting will be devoted to readings and recitations. (Anti-Vaccination. —Mr Charles Washington Nyo, a watchmaker, of Chatham, who has undergone six or seven terms of imprisonment in Maidstone Gaol for refusing to have his children vaccinated, and whose case was brought before the House of Commons a short time ago, was, on April 16th, taken to Maidstone Gaol again to undergo another month’s imprisonment for a similar offence, and for refusing to pay the fine imposed. Mr Nye is secret ary to the local Anti-Vaccination Society, g Accident. —A man named George Ray, lately employed at Bruce’s Cora Lynn station, four miles beyond the Bea'.ey, was admPted into the hospital late on Tuesday night suffering severely from the effects of an accident which had occurred three weeks’ previously. The man had been engaged wood chopping, and the effect of a heavy blow from the axe caused a piece of wood to fly up, inflicting an injury of a most serious nature. The injury was aggravated by the difficulty ( encountered in bringing the man down, the | party having been detained by the snow three days on the road. He is now lying in a critical condition. The West Coast Members. —The “ Grey River Argus,” in immediate reference to the Hokitika election, says:—As far as we can see the election will resolve itself into a contest between Mr George and Mr Fitz Gerald, and if the former be elected only one actual residential member will be left for the constituencies of Westland, Totara, and Grey Valley. For the last-named district one member, Mr Woolcock, has ceased to reside or hold any interest in the district, and the recently elected member does not conceal his intention to seek fresh fields and pastures new. Mr Barff will then be the sole residential member —a somewhat curious condition of things we must admit. New Zealand’s Isolation. —Of the policy of the present Ministry in attempting to add political isolation to the natural separation of New Zealand from the neighboring colonies, the “ Australasian” says : —By its remote position New Zealand is necessarily made but a distant relation of the Australian colonies. If to remoteness she adds the additional barriers of narrow-minded, selfish isolation from all cares or responsibilities not comprised within her coasts, the consequence will be that she will virtually recede from the sympathies and associations of the other colonies. Already New Zealand seems many times further from us than it did in the days when Sir Julius Vogel was Premier, and when the lies of relationship were strengthened by the bonds of mutual association in many different ways. Poultry Association. —A meeting of the committee of the poultry association was held last night at the Shades. Present—Mr E. Strange (in the chair), and Messrs W. C. Hill, W. H. Porter, T. Stapleton, C. Adkin, J. J. Parker, G. A. Reade, E. Rees, T. Williams, J. Goodman, and W. G. Walker. The subcommittee (Messrs Reade and Rees) appointed to arrange for the purchase of new poultry pens, reported that they had contracted with Mr Goss for 102 pens for £42 10s. Their action was approved. The regulations for the pigeon race were then discussed, and the following agreed to : —That the birds should be stamped on the morning of the 28th, in time to be sent by the 11.-40 train to Timaru, and that they should be released at 10 a.m. by a person to be appointed by the committee ; that each competitor should provide a timekeeper in Christchurch ; that the committee should station a timekeeper at each loft to take the exact time when each bird is trapped. That the time should be noted, and an envelope containing it should be handed to the judge, to be opened by him at three o’clock on the 29th; that all birds homed should be placed in their positions without delay; that any bird not home by three o’clock shall be out of the race. The accounts for canary cages and pigeon pens were passed for payment. The secretary reported that the pigeons purchased from Mr Macquarrie, of Auckland, had arrived in good order, and that that gentleman had also sent down a model feeding hopper as a present to the association, with the hope that Jit would be rallied for by the members. It was decided that the show should open at 2 o’clock p.m. on Friday, and continue till 9 o’clock p.m. on Saturday, and that all exhibits must be in the Oddfellows’ Hall by nine o’clock on Friday morning, but could be received this evening between six and nine o’clock. A vote of thanks to Mr Macquarrie was unanimously passed. It was stated that the canary cages to be used are on an improved plan, and will form a feature in the show. The art union tickets can be obtained up to six o’clock on Friday evening, and the drawing will take place on Friday night. Prebbleton. A large and influential meeting of the inhabitants of Prebbleton took place in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening last, for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to the Rev. de Berdt Hovell, the incumbent of the parish, prior to his leaving the district for Napier. The chair was occupied by Mr John Tosswill, and the presentations consisted of a beautifully illuminated address in a gilt frame, and a purse containing eightyfive sovereigns, the gift of his parishioners ; an elegant silver salver from his Masonic friends ; a silver-mounted walking stick from a few friends ; and a very neat elegant geld brooch to Mrs De Berdt Hovell. The presentation of the address and purse on behalf of the parishioners, was made by Mr Tosswill, who read over the list of names, about eighty in all, attached to the address, and in a short speech begged Mr Hovell to accept the gifts as an expression of the deep respect of those whom he was about to leave. The other presentations were made by Mr Anderson, who in a few words expressed the esteem felt by himself and his Masonic friends in Canterbury, as well as by his more immediate friends |in the district, Mr and Mrs Hovell, and their regret that they were so soon to be separated, from them. Mr Hovell, in reply, said he was most grateful for the expressions of kindness and esteem, which he felt he was unworthy of, and acknowledged the presents from his friends, Masonic brethren, and parishioners in an earnest speech, chiefly upon the work of the parish during the two years he had laboured among them, and the success that had attended their united endeavours. He had spent the two years happily, and not until the day of his death would he cease to remember them or feel a deep interest in their welfare. Three hearty cheers for Mr and Mrs Hovell were given before the meeting dispersed. The address, which contained names of persons living at Lincoln and Sprjngston, a; well as Prebbleton, was an excellent specimen of penmanship, the work of Mr McCardell, and was cs follows:—.“To the Rev.de Berdt Hovell, M.A., Incumbent of Prebbleton -cumTempleton, with Halswell. —Reverend and Dear Sir, —Before you depart from amongst us, we, the undersigned church officers and parishioners, desire to testily to you our hearty appreciation of your worth and ability displayed during the two years you have had the care of the united parishes. Wishing you and your family God speed wherever you may be placed, aud begging your acceptance of the accompanying testimonial, we subscribe ourvdves with much respect and affection, rev. and dear sir, yours faithfully.” The address, very elegantly engraved, upon the salver, was the work of Mr N. Wolfe, and was as follows: —“Presented to the Rev. de Dc-rdt Hovell, by his Masonic friends, in token of affection and esteem upon his leavii g Pr Acton, Canterbury, New Zealand. June 25th, 1878.” A suitable inscription was also engraved upon the back of the brooch presented to Mrs Hovell, and a monogram upon the eilver ferrule of the walking stick.

A Maori Steamer. —It is stated by northern papers that a small steamer is now being built at Auckland, for a company, in which a number of Mokau natives are shareholders. She is intended for the Mokau trade, the natives having opened the river for vessels. The steamer is anxiously expected at the Mokau, and immediately she arrives she will be taken to Kawhia for a cargo, and with a number of her native owners, who want to show their steamer to the King natives. _ She is to be under the command of Captain Te Wetere. Scarcity of Trucks in the North. —The “ Manawatu Times says : “ The absurd ‘standstill’ policy of the Government in leaving the Foxton section of the line virtually without trucks, entails not only a considerable loss to the revenue but is absolutely ruinous to the prospects of, and a monstrous injustice to the district. As an instance, Mr James McColl, amongst other Wellington contractors, paid a visit to Palmerston during the week, and became the purchaser of a large quantity of timber, comprising some 800 house piles, several thousand palings, and some tons of thousands feet of timber. To his dismay, however, he found that he became possessed of a white elephant, for although he had bought the timber at a most satisfactory price, there was no mode of conveyance to Wellington, and as a consequence, the anticipated profit turned out to be a loss.” The Nobth Island Trunk Line.— The extension of the railway southward (writes the “Taranaki Herald”) becomes every day more and move desirable. Every mile that is completed opens up so much more new country, which, with an easy communication with New Plymouth, is sure to be speedily settled. When the connection between Hawera and Carlyle is attained the revenue to be derived from the railway will be large ; it is therefore expedient that the work shall be pushed on with greater speed than has hitherto been the case. We hear that the rails on the five miles the other side of Inglewood are to be laid, and the formation of the line proceeded with on to Stratford; but the work is not being pushed on as fast as we should like to see it. The loan having been raised, there should be now no tightness of the purse strings, and therefore pressure should be brought to bear on the Government to obtain the necessary funds for the work. The new township jof Stratford will shortly be placed in the market for sale, and without means of communication from this end is provided the trade will naturally drift the other way. The people here are very apathetic or they would ere this have taken action, and, by petitions or other ways, have brought before the notice of the Government the advantages to bo derived from the speedy completion of such a work. The Southern Trunk Line.— Despite the many promises and assertions to the contrary, we (Oamaru “ Mail”) have every reason to believe that that the Southern railway line will not be opened through to Dunedin before next spring. At the earliest the line cannot be opened before the middle of August, and this, too, provided the weather is favorable to the prosecution of the work, of which there is very little probability. The contractors are, it is true, using every effort to have the line completed as early as possible, but they have had to contend with many difficulties. In the first place they were greatly disappointed by not receiving a supply of sleepers in time, the contractors for their supply, having, wo believe, broken faith. Then, a very large amount of damage occurred on that portion of the line which has already been opened—the Kartigi-Palmerston section—and for the maintenance of which Messrs McKenzie and Paisley were roqomsible. The work of placing this section in a state fit for the resumption of traffic has necessarily interfered to some extent with the carrying out of the work of making the section beyond Palmerston, the completion of which is' necessary to establish through traffic to Dunedin. The season of year is also greatly against the contractors, and the continuous bad weather which we have experienced lately has also militated against the proper prosecution of the work. Taking everything into consideration, we feel pretty fully convinced that the line will not be opened through to Dunedin during the winner. The Government’s Scheme of Taxation. —The “Wellington Post” of Friday has the following “We are assured that an income tax does not form, and will not form, any part of the Ministerial programme. We understand, indeed, that it will be proposed to tax the revenues of joint-stock companies, hut that is regarded simply as a convenient and unobjectionable mode of levying what is in fact a property tax, such companies justly being deemed to represent in a great measure so many reservoirs of the accumulated wealth of the community. That a land tax will be proposed and adopted by Parliament may be looked upon as practically certain. We believe that the precise form which the land tax will take is not yet finally decided, but that in all probability ifc will be imposed upon the actual market value of the land itself, whether urban, suburban or rural, irrespective of its improvement by fencing, cultivation or building. The reason for the adoption of this course is obvious. If landed property were taxed according to the extent to which it has been improved, such an impost might be regarded, not unreasonably, as a tax upon industry, and as a discouragement of improvment. By basing the land tax on the natural or acquired value of the land itself, that is to say, on the price which it might be estimated to realise if sold, without improvement, this drawback is escaped, while at the same time it would pay its fair share according to the yalue it might have gained by surrrounding improvements. Hence a laud tax so regulated, would press much less heavily on the man who by improving his land adds to the general wealth, than on the wealthy absentee who allows his acres to be idle, and by their increase in value, from the improvement of the adjacent properties, reaps the benefit of his neighbours’ industry. Deeds of Arrangement.— The sayings and doings of District Judge Weston are more quoted than those of any Judge in the colony, on account of their strong common sense. Each Judge has his speciality. Thus of the Supreme Court Judges Mr Justice Gillies is looked to for precise legal definitions, Mr Justice Richmond for social observations, and Mr Justice Johnston for strict legal applications and enforcement of form. Mr Weston’s latest mot reported has reference to deeds of arrangement, and is as follows: — His Honor Judge Weston, during the bankruptcy sittings of the District Court yesterday, expressed himself strongly against deeds of arrangements between debtors and erditors. He said that in his experience both as a professional man and a Judge, there was a great deal of smothered wickedness in these deeds. Generally speaking one or two rich friends of the debtor arranged matters so that a debtor who ought to be punished escaped scatheless, and was at liberty to begin his o|d tricks. Thus dishonest men got free. Tjiis was unfair to the poor bankrupt who had no rich friends or influence. A man often got a deed signed through the influence of those who were able to shut the mouths of others. The Court was practically powerless, when the creditors agreed to these arrangements. Creditors were waited on by persons with smiling countenances, and pressure was brought to tear on them, which induced them to sign what they otherwise would not and ought not to affix their names to. His Honor spoke generally, and without reference to any particular estate. He thought, however, that creditors, if they found they bad been cheated, could often obtain redress by upsetting those deeds.

St. Michael’s Choral Society.— This society will give their r rst public rehearsal in the schoolroom this evening, when Mendelssohn’s “ Athalio” and Sterndale Benue.t’s “May Queen” will be performed. Proposed Beunion. —It was suggested last right at the committee moetirg that the members of the Poultry Association should hold an annual reunion, the first to take place at an early date. The suggestion appeared to moot with general approval. LO.G.T. —The anniversary of the introduction of the above order into Canterbury will be commemorated by a tea meeting, to be followed by a conceit, and other entertainments, in the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Thursday, July 18th. An appropriate sermon will also be preached in the Theatre Royal by the P G. Chaplain, Rev. S. Macfarlane, on the previous Sunday.