NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1364, 28 June 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Oddfellows. —The fete committee are requested to meet to-morrow evening, at 7.30. Poultby Snow.—The eleventh annual show of the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society was held this afternoon in the Oddfellows' Hall. a large number of exhibits, although in some classes the quality was scarcely up to that of the last year's show. The hall will be open tonight from six o'clock to nine and to-morrow from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. St. Michael's Chobal Society.—The first public rehearsal of this society was given yesterday evening, and the conductor and members may fairly be congratulated on the marked success they achieved in the production of two such important works as " Athalie" and the "May Queen." The concert was given in the parish schoolroom, which is in every way satisfactory for musical purposes, and which was quite filled with an appreciative audience. The strong point of the society is chorus singing, which will compare favorably with any standard previously attained in Christchurch. In the important points of attention.'to the"|conductors baton and observance of light and shade the bulk of the of the choral music left absolutely nothing to be desired. The solo music, which was given entirely by members of the society, was unusually good for amateur singers, and it would have been difficult to improve upon the rendering of the beautiful trios, " Hearts feel that love thee," in "Athalie," and the "Hawthorn in the glade," in the "May Queen." The dramatic scena for the Queen, in the latter work, was also most effectively sung by a lady whose fine contralto voice has often been heard with similar success. The tenor and bass solos, if somewhat weak, were neverthe less sung with taste and refinement. The accompaniments for the pianoforte were in the hands of Mr G. Palairet, who discharged a difficult task with great care and judgment. Mr Morton at the harmonium also lent good assistance, and the Septett band, with Mr Bunz as firet violin, played well together in the "War March," and the accompaniments to the " May Queen." Mr Robert Parker, as conductor, prepared and carried through both works with experienced judgment. Pbesentation. —Last night the employes of the Crown Brewery presented the manager of that establishment, Mr Charles Louisson, with a silver tray, as a mark of their good will towards him on his approaching wedding. The presentation took place at the White Hart Hotel, in presence of the subscribers, and was made in their name by Mr Parsons. The recipient acknowledged the gift in a neat speeoh. The Shaft of the Albion. —The repairs to the broken shaft of the s.s. Albion are now in progress at the Canterbury Foundry. The shaft is 9£ inches in diameter, and the forging which is being executed is about three feet of the centre. The shaft itself is 21 feet long. It is anticipated that the repairs will be complete, and the ship ready for sea within about six days from the occurrence of the accident. Fibe.—Shortly before nine o'clock last evening the Lichfield street firebell rang out an alarm, and the brigade were very smartly on the alert. The hand-engine started for the scene of the fire, the steamer being ready harnessed up awaiting orders. The fire was at the shop of Mr H. Alexander, Manchester street south, and broke out under the front shop window. The hand-engine, which was quickly on the spot, put out the fire without any material damage being done. Mr Alexander is insured for £350.

Asphalts CsossiNe. —A petition is in course of signature by the residents in the Triangle and adjoining locality, asking the City Council to construct an asphalte crossing from the White Hart corner to the corner of the Triangle, near Mr Calvert's. The petitioners also ask that the cab stand be removed from the place it now occupies, and also the lamps, so that the proposed footpath may be perfectly clear and unimpeded. It is pointed out in the petition that by this being dose the traffic aloDg High street will be considerably relieved. At present all the foot passengers have to go along on the one side, whereas if the alteration was made, as suggested, the traffic would be divided. It is intended to present the petition, which has be«n signed by some twenty-five persons, at the next meeting of the City Council on Monday evening. Thbatbe Royal.—The pretty comedietta entitled " Nine Points of the Law " was substituted as a first last night at the Theatre, and served to introduce Mrs Arthur To ke in a new part. The character of the aßtute widow, Mrs Smylie, was very creditably rendered by Mrs Toke, although its due rendering would tax the ability of a more experienced actress. She was ladylike and winning, and spoke the author's language with a correct appreciation of its meaning; but a little more abandon emotional impulse, in place of elocutionary precision somewhat overdone, would render Mrs Toke's acting more natural, and consequently more attractive. Mr Hoskins appeared for the first time in the character of Joseph Ironsides, and gave an admirable portrait of the rough outspoken but warm-hearted countryman, who commences by opposing but ends by espousing the cause of Mrs Smylie. Hi& assumption of this character was a rare histrionic treat, which the audience were not slow to acknowledge. Mr J. Graham gave a graphic picture of the adventurer Rollingstone, and Mr Walter Hill made the character of[the lawyer Cunninghame equally prominent;. The remainder of the characters were well sustained, and the piece generally left nothing to be desired. Altogether it was one of the most successful pieces that has been produced during the present season. The same,bill will be repeated this evening. CHBBB. —The match between the Christchurch and Dunedin Chess Clubs has at last been decided in favor of Christchurch. It may be remembered that only two of the nine games were actually played out, each side winning one. The remaining seven were, by the conditions of the match, left to be adjudged by the umpires. In only one case was there any difficulty about the decision. In two games the Christchurch player was obviously the winner ; a third was as obviously won by Dunedin ; in a fourth it was equally plain that neither had any advantage and that the game must be pronounced drawn. Of the other three, the umpires agreed in assigning one to Dunedin, while in another case, they concurred in the opinion that the Christchurch player had rather the best of it, but that the superiority was not sufficiently decisive to justify them in declaring it a won game. So far then each side was credited with three games, and two were drawn. Over the ninth game the umpires disagreed. Mr Ollivier, who had acted at this end, declared Christchurch the winner, while the umpire in Dunedin, Mr M. Bury, maintained that it was a draw. The referee, Mr Benbow, of Wellington, on being appealed to for the final verdict, ur:hositatingly awarded the game to Christchurch. It is hard to see what doubt there could be in the matter, as a mere glance at the position must show that the Christchurch player, who has the move, can win a piece offhand. However Mr Benbow's decision settles everything. It had been agreed beforehand that his judgment should be final and conclusive, and the match is therefore won by Christchurch by the odd game. The score stands as follows :—Christchurch, four games ; Dunedin, three, and two drawn; or, counting the draws as half a game to each, Christchurch five games and Dunedin four,

The "Cobnebs" By-law.—Dr. Foster bas intimated to the Resident Magistrate his intention to apply for a rehearing of the cases of infringement of the City By-laws which were dismissed on Wednesday. Political.—Mr J. E. Brown intends to address his constituents at the following places on the dates named —Amberley on the 10th, Ashley Bank on the 11th, Oust on the 12th, and Oxford on the 13th of July. The Convict Casey.—James Patrick Casey, who attempted to escape from the gang working on the Governor's Bay road on Wednesday, 19lh inst., has been committed for trial by the visiting justices at Lyttelton gaol for prison breaking.

Sebvants' Home in Wellington.—The " Post" of a late date says : —A very desirable and praiseworthy movement has been set on foot by a lady in this city, to establish a Servants' Home to provide respectable lodgings for female domestic servants temporarily out of employment. It is not often that good servants find any difficulty in obtaining situations in Wellington, still it necessarily must often happen that female servants require lodgings, at any rate for a night or two, and at present there is great difficulty in finding the particular class of lodging suitable to young women, who, in the absence of Buch accommodation, are driven to questionable places, where they are exposed to various temptations. We hope the present movement for the establishment of a Servant's Home will meet with hearty and liberal support, and that it will prove successful in every way.

Dunsandel.—A public meeting was held on Tuesday evening in the Selwyn Hotel, Mr John Henry in the chair. The Chairman stated that the meeting had been called to consider which was the most suitable school site in the Dunsandel district. A resolution was proposed and carried:—" That the reserve at Dunsandel is the best site for a school, both for the Selwyn township and the whole district, and that the Board be requested to build thereon as soon as practicable." After the usual vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting terminated. A public meeting was also held in the Town Hall at Dunsandel, to consider the same subject, Mr John Henry occupying the chair, when the above resolution was confirmed unanimously. It is hoped after this that everything will be done necessary to placing the district in possession of a school, which is greatly needed. Pulling the Wibes.—The subjoined extract from a Northern paper—a thick and thin supporter of the present Government—should prove to Ministers how very low an opinion their best friends have of them. The last sentence of the extract is particularly noticeable. No opposition journal has uttered a more emphatic condemnation of the intrigues which are now going forward through the colony than is to be found in the following sentences : —The G-overnment are now in a position to consider the much-needed change in the site of the Auckland railway station. They have undertaken a half-mile extension, which will cost more than £IO,OOO, to improve a comparatively insignificant terminus at Helensville; under pressure from the citizens of Dunedin, they are also acquiring land to replace the extensive station buildings now existing there; and if the business men of Auckland were equally active, an irresistible pressure would be brought to bear on the G-overnment for the removal of the disgraceful terminus at Fort Britomart. Without agitation it is idle to expect that anything will be doue. A New Zealandeb in Teouble.—The Melbourne "Argus" gives the foliowirg narrative of the troubles of a New Zealand innocent abroad: —A farmer who recently arrived from New Zealand, named John Booth, was walking up Little Lonsdale street west about nine o'clock yesterday morning, when two young men accosted him, and begged a6d of him for drinks. In a moment of weakness he pulled out a puree containing fourteen sovereigns, for the purpose of complying with the request. The purse was ininstantly snatched from his hand by one of the suppliants, whilst the other robbed him of his watch and chain. He called for assistance, but the thieves decamped before .any one came. Booth reported the affair at the detective office, and gave a description of the offenders. The case was entrusted to detectives Ward and Hayes, and in the afternoon the officers found two men in Bourke street who answered the description given of the offenders, and arrested them. One gave his name as Arthur Lake, and described himself as a laborer, and the other was a sailor named Joseph Duffy, alias Liverpool. The stolen watch was found in Duffy's possession, and both prisoners were identified by Booth as the persons who had robbed him. They will be brought before the City Police Court this morning. New Zealand and thb Cable ConFEBENCE. —It appears, from the following extract from the Melbourne "Argus," that the Premier has been raising some questions in connection with the proposed agreement re cable communication : —The difficulty which has arisen in connection with the proposed cable contract with the Indian Government has not yet been settled. Pressure is put by the Colonial Governments on the Eastern Extension Company to secure a three-fourths reduction for Press messages right through from London to Port Darwin, but the Indian Government has so far declined to make any such concession, alleging that it is forbidden to do this by the terms of the Geneva Convention, and, moreover, that if it reduced its charges for the Australian Press, the Indian Press would claim the same advantage. The Eastern Extension Company, for their part, do not think that they should be called upon to pay the Indian rate, but suggest that the matter should be left in abeyance until the next of the triennial conventions, the reduction to be made meanwhile on the other portions of the line. The amount in dispute ia 7d per word. Colonel Glover proceeda tc New Zealand to-day, where he will meet "Mr Burns, the representative of New South Wales, and will with that gentleman endeavour to overcome the difficulties raised by Sir G. Grey with regard to New Zealand becoming a party to the proposed arrangement. City Auditors. —The nominations for city auditors close at the town clerk's office at noon to morrow. The election will take place on tL6 12th July. " " ' "' Timaru Steeplechases.—Owners of horses are reminded that the nominations for the Timaru Steeplechases close at Timaru to-morrow evening at eight o'clock. Football. The following players have been selected to represent the Christchurch Football Club in the match with the Northern team on Cranmer square on Saturday, viz.:— A. H. Anderson, W. H. Atack, A. S. C. Bolton, J. R. Evans. W. Hartland, W. Millton, A. M. Ollivier (captain), L. M. Ollivier, Parker, E. A. Pavitt, W. P. Beeves, T. Boss, T. W. Stringer, and M. Smith. Emergency— T. H. M'Cardell, and J. R. Lanauze. ColorsScarlet and black. The following is the Northern team —W. E. Leach, T. Chapman, R. Chapman, E. Chapman, A. Chapman, C. D. Fox, H. Brown, J. Boys, G. Rutherford, D. Rutherford, E. Rutherford, E. D'Auvergne, C. D'Auvergno, B. D'Auvergue, W Kaye. Emergency—G. H. Merton. The match will commence at 2 o'clock sharp, so that it may be finished in time for the Northerners to catch the last train.