NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1365, 29 June 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sub-Librarian to Public Library.—Mr A. Jardine has been appointed caretaker and sub librarian at the Public Library.

City Auditors. —The following gentlemen were nominated to-day for the two city auditorships:—Messrs H. E. Alport, T. B. Craig, M. Henderson, W. J. Lovell, and E. Burnell. The polling will take place on July 12th.

Peice of City Pbopebty.—As evidencing the wonderful rise in price of city property which has taken place during the past few years, it may be mentioned that Mr D. Craig, who purchased the corner section in Hereford street lately for the New Zealand Insurance Company at £B2 per foot has been offered £2O per foot advance. The same section was under offer not very long ago to another company for £3OOO. Concert. —With reference to the grand vocal and instrumental concert advertised for next Thursday, July 4th, at the Oddfellows' Hall, we perceive that Miss Ruby D'Arcy, a lady said to possess a contralto voice of extraordinary richness, will there make her first public appearance in New Zealand. A Monstbe Cake.—A leviathan bride cake has been manufactured by Mr A. Q-ee for a forthcoming wedding. It is a " four decker," and its height, including pedestal and ornament at the top, is nearly five feet. The decorations are in sugar paste, and include a remarkably pretty statuette of " Rebecca at the Well," swrmounted by a bouquet of bridal flowers.

Theatbe Royal.—" Nine Points of the Law," and the burlesque of " Lalla Rookh," were repeated at the Theatre last evening. The same pieces will be played to-night for the last time, and on Mondav Miss Tilly Andrews will take her benefit, when "The New Magdalen" will be played. Austealiak Fues.—There is now on view at Mr Charles Clark's auction rooms a very large and handsome consignment of Australian furs, comprising opossum, wallaby, kangaroo, wild cat, and bear skin rugs (travelling, carriage, and hearth), Ulster coats of wallaby skin, ladieß' kangaroo mantles, slippers, &c. The furs have evidently been most carefully prepared, the gloss and softness being fully preserved. Considerable taste has also been evinced in the getting up of the rugs, those intended for the hearth and carriage being very beautifully blended as regards color, &c. The furs will be sold by auction by Mr Charles Clark on Tuesday next.

Accident. —A somewhat singular accident happened on Thursday afternoon to Mr Crosse, surgeon dentist, Cashel street. It appears that he was engaged with a yulcaniser, the heat in which was at 315 degrees, when an explosion occurred. Mr Crosse, being close by, felt the full force of the explosion, his eyes in particular being much injured, so that it is doubtful if he will fully recover his sight. Under the circumstances he is obliged to discontinue business for the present. Sunday Woek in Lxttklton. The Harbour Board hare received a letter from the Government in reply to their resolution respecting the recent case of Sunday labour in Lyttelton connected with the discharge of (he Wakatipu. The letter states that instructions hare been given to Collectors of Customs throughout the colony not to clear any vessels on Sunday except in cases where the EDgiish mail is carried.

The Spabbow Pest. —A public meeting was called a few nights ago by the members of the Mandeville Plains school committee after one of their meetings, to consider whether some means could be used to destroy the sparrows. In response to this call a meeting ■wao held on the 27th inst. in the schoolroom. There was a good attendance of the neighbouring farmers, and Mr R. Dailey was voted to the chair. It was resolved that the farmers present should form a committee to carry out the above object, as it was tated that the c parrows were very destructive to the wheat lately sown. After a good deal of discussion lots were cost for a sub-committee to provide the material and dipose of it at co*t price to those who needed it. The names were given in, and the quantity required by each. It wit? decided that tin poison should be distributed on July Ist, and that it should be scattered during the week ending July Bth After a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting terminated. Impbovkmjsnt of Lyttelton Haeboe. — Some short time back it will be recollected a committee was appointed by the Harbor Board to consider the important question of the improt ement of Lyttelton harbor. That committer brought up its report at the meeting of fcha Board yesterday. The first recommendation is to the effect that the borrowing powers of the Board shall be extended to £IOO.OOO. This it is proponed to expend, after clearing off the overdraft now due to the bank, in new works for the improvement of the port, which, if carried out, will render it one of the best in New Zealand. The works are—A new intermediate jetty, for which the contract has been let; a second intermediate jetty and breastwork, plans for which are now under consideration by the General Government; two additional berths to the Gladstone Pier, and the extension of the three jeU-ieo already existing, viz,, the Screw Pile, No. 1 Intermediate, and the Tunnel Mouth Jetties, by 100 ft. each. It is proposed to have a new harbor light, ai a cost of £s'io, and also to purchase land for future operations. The reclamation works proposed are eastward of the Screw Pile Jetty, and westward of Peacock's Wharf, towards Naval Point. These, with the erection of another shed on the Gladstone Breakwater, and the formation of a graving dock, complete the list.

Pbkshntatioit. —On Friday evening those employed at Messrs Vincent and Co.'s brewery presented a handsome clock to H. W. Biien, who for a long time has filled the poat of traveller to the brewery, but who has now relinquished the road, having become the landlord of the Mitre Hotel, Ljttelton. Afised to the gift was a silver plate, on which was inscribed —"Presented to H. W. Brio by th a employes of and Co. on his leaving, as a token of thoir estesm. July Ist, 1878." Mr Scarlett, who acted as spoke3™.&n, expressed the givers' good feeling and wishes for Mr Brien'B prosperity, md Mr Brien

The Criminal Sessions.—The July criminal session of the Supreme Court will op»*n on Monday next before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston. The calendar which appears elsewhere comprises thirteen cases. Jurors, witnesses, and all having business at the Court, are reminded that they must be in attendance punctually at 10 o'clock.

A Point of Electoral Law.—Objection was taken by more than one ratepayer to the ratepayers' roll used for the election of a member for the Mandeville and Rangiora Road Board on Wednesday. Several of the burgesses asserted a right (whichwas however not allowed) to vote at the election on the ground that under the Roads Ordinance, 1872, all persons whose names are on the roll of the district in respect to any property, are entitled to take part in any election. Since the formation of Rangiora into a municipality, (as the Municipal Corporations Act, section 31, provides that any district constituted within a borough under sections 17 and 25, shall thereafter cease to be a part of the road district within which it was theretofore included), it was not competent for any one to vote in respect of property within the municipality. But the technical claim made appears to have been pretty well sustained, from the fact that the ratepayers' roll used for the election (which had been duly made and signed by three members as required by law), contained the names of all the burgesses. Had a new roll on the division of the district been made, the confusion would have been avoided. The Roads Ordinance under which the election wasjconducted, clearly justifies any one whose name is on the ratepayers' roll in force in a road district to claim his right to vote, and the public will no doubt be curious as to the issue.