NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1368, 4 July 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Scandinavian Service.— -Divine service, in the Scandinavian language, will be held in the Durham street church on Sunday next, at 3.30 p.m. Police Force. —The vacancies at present existing in the local police force will shortly be filled up by a contingent from Wellington, which will bring the establishment up to its usual strength,

Theatre Royal. —The emotional play o£ “ East Lynne ” was produced last night at the Theatre Royal. The cast was the same as on its last representation. The attendance was moderate. Special Constables. — lt is stated that for the future the Government will not sanction the swearing-in of special constables for duty in the railway stations. The functions at present exercised by them will then devolve upon the regular members of the police force Mutual Improvement Association.— The usual weekly mee'ing of the Christchurch Mutual Improvement Association took place lash evening. The Rev. W. Morley, the president, occupied the chair. The evening was devoted to readings and criticism. The subject for next meeting will be “ Oliver Cromwell.” Gkosvenoe. Hotel. —Mr Mumford, the proprietor of the Grosvenor Hotel, Madras street, invited his friends to dine with him on Monday last, the day on which he was licensed to open his new establishment for the spirit trade. About sixty guests accepted the invitation, and spent a pleasant evening. Auctioneer foe Lyttelton. —Mr Joseph Fletcher, so long bailiff at the R.M. Court, Lyttelton, has resigned his appointment and taken out an auctioneer’s license. The want of a local auctioneer has often been regretted in Lyttelton, and, no doubt, from the universal respect in which Mr Fletcher is held, he will meet with success. A House on the Railway.— -On Tuesday morning a train was stopped at the Durham street crossing from a somewhat singular cause. A house was being moved across the lines when one of the wheels gave way, letting it down on to the line. Before it could be got out of the way the train came up, but was stopped in time to prevent any accident. Sydenham Borough—A special meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council was to have been held yesterday at 12.30 p.m., in the offices of Mr Draper, Hereford street, for the purpose of hearing objections to the burgess roll and signing the roll. The following members of the Council were present —His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Langdown and Charters. As there was not a quorum, the meeting was adjourned to Monday next. Oddfellows’ Lodge in Little Aea.loa. —Some three years ago an. application was forwarded by the inhabitants or this bay to the Lyttelton district for a dispensation to open an Oddfellows’ Hall here ; but in consequence of the Okaius people making application at the same time, it was deemed advisable only to establish a branch of the order in Okains for the time being. However, the inhabitants of the former bay not forgetting that the usual fee which accompanied their application had. not been returned to them, lived in hopes of their request being some day complied with. As a proof of this, they renewed their application in time for discussion at the district meeting held on 22nd June last, the result being in favor of the Lodge being opened. Imfeopee Practices at Hokitika Elec-tion.-Tlio “Westland Advertiser” lias received protests from the scrutineers on behalf of Mr Fitz Gerald, at various polling places, questioning the legality of many votes known to have been recorded against that gentleman, and the matter will probably be discussed by a general committee with a view to future action. The “Advertiser” says:—“There are rumors afloat that an attempt will be made to upset the election on the ground that many votes were recorded in favor of Mr George by persons who were wrongly permitted by tome of the deputy-returning officers to exercise the franchise. It is also said that there was double voting in some cases on the part of Mr Q-eorge’s supporters.” J. L. Fleming's Sawmills. —The great activity winch now exists in the building trade of Christchurch keeps the numerous sawmills of the city in full woik. Of these mills a fair specimen is that of Mr J. L. Fleming, situated in Tuam street west, which gives employment to between forty and fifty men. Here timber is sawn, planed, and moulded by machinery of the best description, including a circular saw, a band saw, and a planing machine. In addition to this, one department is devoted to making sashes and doors. The engine which drives the machinery is of 20horse power, made by Andrew Morton, of Dunfermline. The boiler was manufactured by Messrs Anderson, of Christchurch, and is fitted with Jordan’s patent safety valve, from Alley and McLellan, of Glasgow. This valve has been in use for the best part of a year, and is the first introduced into this city. Gbant to Auckland Counties— ln reply to the Chairman of Eden County, Mr Macandrew, who was then in Auckland, is reported to have made the following statement in reference to the grant of £40,000 : —“ The amount payable in respect of Eden County, along with those of other counties similarly situated, had been apportioned, and the difficulty which had appeared to exist affecting immediate payment, of the same had now been removed, and that before his leaving Wellington the amount of £2,222 to each county had been ordered to be paid forthwith.” If these sums have been paid to the Councils of Counties in which the Act is not in force, while the funds of the Counties in Canterbury which only recently brought the Act into force have been distribut ed amongst the Road Boards, it is clear that the Government must have broken the law in one case or the other. Me Pyke on Land Legislation.—ln a recent address to his constituents, Mr Pyke is reported to have expressed himself as follows :—“ The action of Sir George Grey requiring the Governor to veto the Land Bill was a grave blunder, done without the sanction or knowledge of his colleagues, yet at the same time with the purest motives. The Premier’s opposition to the Canterbury clauses in the' Land Bill he ascribed to want of knowledge, alleging that the Northern members knew nothing of the Southern, nor the South of the North. The main feature in the Canterbury land laws was free selection. He desired that such a system should be in force here, then the people would settle themselves. Of the leading subjects of the day Mr Pyke said the settlement of the land and the land laws were the most important we have to deal with.” The Cable Conte,act. —Mr Burns, the New South Wales Postmaster-General, and Colonel Glover, Managing Director of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, arrived in Wellington last Friday, to confer with the Ministry respecting the resolutions of the Cable Conference. It appears that the ground of the objection raised to the decision of the Conference by the New Zealand Ministry is, that the maintenance of the cable from Sydney to this colony is not made a general charge. The grounds on which the Government base their claim that it should be so charged have not been made public, and are not readily conjecturable. It would save possible misconception of motives if the Ministry, instead of making a mystery about the matter, would place the public in possession of their views. It is to be feared, however, that their rule of volubility in profession and secresy in action is too constant to admit of this course. The Repudiation Party. —The following special telegram was published by (ho Dunedin “Star” of Tuesday Napier, July Ist. —There has been a great split between the Hon. H. R. Russell and Mr Rees, M.H.R. The former, it is said, engaged Mr Rees at a fixed salary, and expected him to act as his servant in Native cases. Mr Rees objected, and has taken the bit in his mouth. He refuses to give up deeds, which are supposed to have been held by him in conjunction with Mr Russell, and has gone to Gisborne to work on his own account. In the meantime, Mr De Lautour and Mr Moss, both members of the House of Represent atives, who came here to serve under Mr Rees, are in a kind of quandary; they know rot winch is the greatest power. Mr Sees, having (he deeds of the office in his possession, holds the whip hand, but what the outcome will be it is impossible to say. 1 our correspondent imagines that the Hon. Mr Russell will be sot aside by the Grey party, and allowed to work out his own policy. In the meantime the Natives are growing every day more and more suspicious of both parties. Mr De Latovir yesterday purchased the lease of a house aud land for £525, showing that ho intends making Napier his home,”

Concert. —A concert will be given this evening fit the Old fellows’ Hall, in which Signora Verms'Mrs A. Toko, Miss A, S. Taylor, Miss Ruby D’Arcy, Herrßunz, Signor Borzoni, and Me R. Son roll will take part. The vocal numbers on the programme include selections from “ Lucrezia Borgia,” “Maritans,” and “Don Giovanni.” Miss Ruby D’Arcy, of whose abilities as a vocalist report speaks highly, will contribute “ Kathleen Mavonrneen,” and “ When sparrows build. ” The instrumental numbers include the overture to “Zampa,” “L’Etoile clu Nord,” Ascher’s Tarantella, and a concertina solo on airs from “ Orpheo mix Enfers.”