NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1365, 1 July 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A O.F.—The quarterly summoned meeting of the Court Star of Canterbury will take place this evening, for the transaction of im portant business.

Poultey Show.— There wrs a light Brahma cock exhibited by Mrs Fcreduy which was taken away in error by Mrs Watson, who purchased the exhibit in the next pen Mrs Fereday holds Mrs Watson’s purchase, and will be glad to get her own back. Th following art union prizes were unclaimed on Saturday night, viz , 35, 36, 57, and 110. They can be obtained from Mr Walker up to Saturday next, on winning ticket being presented. A Dorking hen, purchased by Mr A. Shaw, is also in charge of the secretary, who request Mr Shaw to at once call for it. J Benefit Concbet. —Some amateurs gave a miscellaneous entertainment at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, on Friday night, for the benefit of Mr B. 0. Stewart. There was a fair attendance, and some of the items on the programme were creditably given, especially some clog dancing and nigger business. Asphalts Crossing. —The petition lo the City Council respecting the formation of an asphalte crossing from the White Hart corner to opposite Mr Colve:rt’s shop in the Triangle, will ho presented this evening. Those who have not yet signed if, and wish to do so, can sign during to-day at Mr Simpson’s shop. Colonial Analysts.— Professor A. W. Bickerton has been appointed Colonial Analyst for the Christchurch district under ,the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1877. For Auckland Mr J. M. Tunny, and for Dunedin Professor J. Black have been appointed to|similar offices. Begistbab’s Returns. —The return of births, marriages, and deaths for Christchurch and district, in the month of June was as follows : —Births—City, 4-1; district, 104; the numbers for the corresponding period of 1877 having bean 49 and 915. Marriages—City, 37 ; district, 8 ; contrasted with 32 and 11 in June, 1877. Deaths —City, 23 ; district, 25; against 16 and 25 in the same month of the previous year. Good Templaey. —At the session of the Seashell Lodge, Lyttelton, held on Thursday last, a number of visitors wore present from the Christchurch Lodges, and a highly successful tea and entertainment of the character usual on these occasions was held. Addresses were also delivered. This lodge has now a membership of 215, On Friday evening an entertainment of a similar kind, also very successful, was given by the lodge established at Waikuku.

Capture of A Seal.—On Friday morning a lad named Rambey, while searching for frost fish on the beach at Woodend, came across a large seal. With no other weapon than a stirrup iron the boy pluekily tackled it, and with some trouble succeeded in killing the creature. The carcase was conveyed to Woodend, where it is now being exhibited. It is over Bft long, and fought for nearly an hour with its small antagonist. Theatre Royal.—As will be seen by advertisement, Miss Tilly Andrews will take a benefit this evening at the theatre. The piece selected for the occasion is the New Magdalen, in which the bcneficiare wil sustain the character of Mercy Merrick. Since the commencement of the season Miss Andrews has sustained a great variety of characters, in all of which she has displayed a great deal of versatility and talent, and has fairly established herself as a public favorite. Her appeal to the patrons of the theatre will doubtless be liberally responded to. The performance will terminate with the grand panorama of the scenes from the RussoTurkish war, introduced from the burlesque of Laliah Rookh. The Survey Department.—A rumor was current in Wellington last week that the Surveyor-Q-eneral, Mr Thomson, who is at present absent from the colony on leave, had resigned his appointment, -nd that Mr Jackson, who is at present in charge of the Wellington district, was likely to get the appointment. It is high time that some change was made in the conduct of this department, as there is good reason to believe that in some districts, at all events, enquiry would show au almost incredible extent of disorganisation and inefficiency. Numbers of highly competent professional men have either been dismissed or compelled to resign rather than submit to the petty tyrannies of superiors, who were superior only in their ignorance, and the possession of influential friends. The consequence is that the surveys have not advanced as they should, and will not, until a Parliamentary enquiry is held and the Assembly has insisted that this highly technical department at least shall be graded according to proven competence, and not by favoritism. Sx. Luke’s Parish.—Yesterday, being the last day of the Rev. W. A. Pascoe’s temporary holding of the cure of: the above parish, very large congregations assembled, both in the morning and evening, to hear, for the last time, a clergyman who by his zeal and unremitting attention to duty has won the esteem of his parishioners. At the close of the sermon Mr Pascoe referred in feeling language to his connection with the parish, remarking that, although nine months might not appear long either in the world’s history or in a lifetime, yet, in the position held by him it might have been fraught with important results. Mr Pascoe will leave Christchurch for Prebbleuon during the present week to enter on the cure vacated by the Rev. Mr Hovell, who, it will be remembered, has accepted a nomination to an incumbency at Napier. It may be mentioned that the Rev. E. A. Lingard, incumbent of St, Luke’s, is expected from England in September next, when he will be accompanied by the Rev Mr Mortimer, who will act ns curate and have the oversight of St. Matthew’s, Caledonian road. The duty in the interval will be taken by the Rev, J. W. Stack and the Dean of Christchurch.

Ellesmere Jockey Club.— A meeting of this club was held at Loe’s Leeston Hotel, on Thursday, 28th June. The attendance was very numerous, and the surrounding neighborhood, especially Houthbridge, well represented. The president, Mr W. J. (3-. Bluett, stated that the object of the meeting was the consideration of a code of rules and regulations submitted by a committee appointed, the election of officers, find enrolment of fresh members. The rules and regulations, as recommended by the committee, were considered seriatim, and adopted with some small amendments. The election of officers resulted as follows—Judge, Mr W. Bishop ; stewards, Messrs T. L. Bradshaw, J. Bradshaw, D. Kellahan, 31. Lockhead, T. Lemon, W. Spring, and R. Todd ; clerk of the course, Mr J. Wallace; starter, Mr J, Campbell; clerk of the scales, Mr J. Emms; handicappcrs, Messrs McKellar, Toshack, and Wigmore, The secretary having stated that there were already more than sixty names upon the list of members, sev* ral fresh elections took place, and other nominations were recorded. The chairman congratulated those present upon the probable success of the club, and the customarv vote of thanks was passed.

N.Z, Grasses, —The following is from the Government’s Wellington paper : —During the session of 1876 Sir George Grey brought forward a resolution recommending that a sum ,of £4OO should be placed on the estimates for the purpose of defraying the cost of the preparation of a work on the indigenous grasses of New Zealand. The resolution having been acceded to. 'he work was entrusted to Mr Buchanan, F. T . S., and on Saturday last the proof copies of part I. and 11. was sent out irom the Government Printing Office. The volume is in qiu rto, and, when complete, will consist of five parts, containing in all fifty-five plates, twenty-one of which are issued with parts I. and 11. They are natureprinted, and the several plants depicted are therefore reproduced with the utmost exactness. The lithographing was performed throughout by the bauds of Mr Buchanan, and is excellent. The most cynical of critics will indeed find it difficult to find fault with the volume as a whole, and on all sides it must be conceded that the work n fleets the greatest credit on the authorities of the Museum, and may be regarded as a clear proof of the usefulness and importance of that: institution. It has been stated that an octavo edition of the work is to be published before long, with the plates reduced by photolithography. The improved handiness anti comparatively small price of this edition will, wo hope, have the result of placing the irori io the bauds the general public

Me S. T. Geohoe on Borrowing.— A report of a speech delivered by Mr George at Kumara shows that, in some remarks which recently appeared in this paper on his_ speech at ‘Hokitika, ho scarcely received a fair measure of justice. The following sentence from the Kumara speech, as reported for the “ Grey River Argus,” will show how entirely wo failed to realise his amazing ignorance- It is hoped that the reproduction of the extract now will be held sufficient apology for our lack of appreciation “ Instead of going in for the three and a half millions, h'e would have gone in for seven millions and more money? He was in favor of borrowing. The largest sum should have been taken when offered.”

City Council.— The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council will be held at seven o’clock this evening. I.O.O.F.—The quarterly meeting of the Loyal Avon lodge will be held at the Orange Hall this evening, when the officers will ho installed for the ensuing term. Good Templae Hall Company.— An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in the above company will be held this evening, at the Temperance Hall, to receive the report of the directors.

Union Insurance Company.— The first annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Union Fire Insurance and Marine Company of New Zealand will be held at the offices, Hereford street, at noon to-morrow, to receive the balance sheet and report of the directors, to elect three directors in place of Messrs Studholme, Montgomery, and W. D. Carruthers, who retire by rotation. The meeting will also have to elect auditors, and to fix the date of the future general meetings.