NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1369, 5 July 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Evangelistic Service.—A children's service will take place to-morrow at 3 o'clock p.m. in the Oddfellows' Hall. Jueoes. —The jurors summoned for Monday next are informed that they are not [required to attend the Supreme Court on that day. The Attobney (Jen-heal. —lt is announced that Mr Stout will address his cons'ituents on Tuesday evening, when some further revelations as to the Government policy may be anticipated. Piio-NOGBArnic Class.—A phonographic class (says the " Herald ") is being conducted in connection with the Dunedin Young Men's Christian Association by Mr Joseph Smith. The class at pi*esent has five members. Labbikiktsm. —A number of ladies have lately been much annoyed in going round the Dampier'e ioad, Lyttelton, by a horde of larrikins who are in the habit of using the most disgusting language to the passers by. It is hoped the police will take some steps to abate this intolerable nuisance. leeland and the leisk,—The Eev. E. 1 Hazleton, M.A., delivered a lecture last 'evening, at the Durham street Wesleyan Church, taking for his subject " Ireland and the Irish." The church was crowded, and the lecturer was listened to with great attention, and frequently applauded. A collection in aid of Protestant education in Ireland was made at the close of the lecture. Theatee Koyal. A new sensational drama, entitled " Time and Tide," was produced last night. The chief feature was the special scenery painted for it by Mr Williams, for which he was twice culled before the curtain. Wattrl6o Bridge by moonlight, a view of the London Docks, and the Houses of Parliament with the illuminated clock tower, were admirable specimens of artistic skill. The piece will be repeated to-night. Philosophical Institute. The usual monthly meeting of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury was held last night at the Public Library. Mr Maskell read the second of a series, of papers on scale insects in New Zealand, with microscopic illustrations, and also a pa,per on a fly parasitic on scale insects. Professor Bickerton also read a very interesting paper on temporary and variable stars. The Canteebuby Land Fund.—The conference of Road Board chairmen of the Selwyn County, finding remonstrance useless, have now taken the preliminary steps for vindicating in the Law Courts their right to the surplus land fund detained by the Government. Some of the Road Boards in other countios are about to take proceedings on their own account, and one has instructed its chairman to take the necessary steps at once. Lamps foe the Railway.—Lamps are much needed at the railway crossing from the harbor-master's office to the Steamer's wharf, at Lyttelton. There are brilliant lights both on the wbarf and in Oxford street, which render the crossing even more difficult by their dazzling effect. Any one leaving the bright light to cross line after line of rails and railway sleepers in Cimmerian darkness, is lucky indeed if he escapes without abrasion. Some of these days there will be a severe accident, and then the thing will be remedied. Payment fob School Books. — Some persons, who hold the opinion that the Education Act provided for the gratuitous supply of school books as well as for free education, having acted upon their opinion, and refused to pay for the books supplied to their children, the Board of Education yesterday sued a father for the amount duo by him on aocount of the school requisites supplied at the Lincoln school. Mr Garrick appeared for the Board and obtained judgment for the amount sued for. This decision will probably save the Board from having to appeal to law in other similar cases. The Foueth of July.—Yesterday being the anniversary of the independence of America, those citizens hailing from the land of stars and stripes made high festival. Mr A. G. Howland, of the American coach factory, Cashel street, entertained about forty of his employes in honor of the day, a very excellent spread being provided. In addition there were several of Mr Howland's friends present, and a very pleasant time was spent. Toasts appropriate to the day were given and responded to. Generally Independence Day in Christchureh was duly honored. Fatal Accident.—Shortly after seven o'clock last night the police received notice that a man was lying dead on the railway near the Lyttelton tunnel. A constable was at once dispatched to the spot, when he found that John O'Connell, master of the schooner Josephine, was the unfortunate man,. Deceased had his skull broken on the left side, and his left arm very much crushed. He had been seen attempting to get into the 5.45 train while it was in motion, at the Heathcote Yalley station, at, a distance of about 150 yards from where his body was found on the arrival of the 620 train. The body was brought into town by the 8.30 train, and conveyed to the Morgue at the hospital, where an inquest will probably be held upon it this afternoon. Deceased, who was apparently between fifty and sixty years of age, is believed to have a wife and family at the Thames. Lyttelton Colonists' Society—The monthly meeting cf the committee was held on Wednesday evening, Mr A. Joyce, the president, occupying the chair. It was stated that several improvements, including the fitting and completing of the stage, procuring new tables for the reading room, &c., had been effected during the month. The question of an alteration in the hours during which the hall and reading room are open was discussed, and finally referred to "the library committee to report. The entertainment committee arranged a programme for the next winter evening readings, which will be held on Friday, 12th inst. The president stated that every endeavour would be used to hold these entertainments every alternate Friday, without a break, during the rest of the season. The librarian reported that three magazines had been stolen from the reading room during the month, and. it was determined to have large placards hung in the room offering a reward of £5 for tho conviction of any person removing the property of the institution.

Congest.—Tho concert given last evening at the Oddfellows' Hall was of a very enjoyable character, ard was well attended. It served to introduce two debutantes, viz., Mrs Toke, as a pianiste, and Miss Ruby D'Arcy, a new contralto. Mrs Toke showed, alike by her solo playing and accompanying, that she is a thorough musician, and has a brilliant (ouch, besides having tho rare gift of most truthfully interpreting the particular style of the music she may be playing. This being so, it was matter for regret that the item of playing a solo with a table-cloth over tho piano was not omitted, being simply what may be termed musical trickery. Miss Ruby D'Arcy possesses a very powerful and rich contralto voice, with some degree of cultivation, but which has not yet reached that perfection which it is capable of. Her contributions comprised " Kathleen Mavourneen" and a difficult song, " When sparrows build." both of which were very artistically sung. Altogether, Miss D'Arcy may be congratulated upon having made a very debut. Sigi.ora Venos!a, who was in very good voice, sang the solos allotted to her in excellent style. She was more particularly good in "Alas tho?o Chin.'.*," from "Maritana." Miss Lavinia Tav'ni plsved two concertina solos in a wuy wine); left nothing to be desired, and Miss A. 8 Taylor took part in a duet with Bignora Vwwgttt, Mere Hunz played a violin solo, a fantasia oil airs from " Trovatore," excellently, and Mr Searrell's rendering of Ascher's "Taiantelle" was a capital piece of instrumentation,

Correction.—ln the report of the proceedings of the nominated Board of Charitable .Aid published yesterday, Mr Montgomery was made to say that " as a member of the House, he could not allow himself to consider for one moment, the matter of where this money came from, or whether it was stopped from local subsidies or not." The context, shows that the word " Board " which •was that used by Mr Montgomery, should have appeared instead of "House" in the sentence quoted. Mayors as Jurors.—A question has been raised in Yictoria whether Mayors should be summoned as jurors at criminal sessions, and Sir Redmoud Barry appears to have decided that they cannot. The question hug not, so far us we are aware, been raised in New Zealand, but Mayors are not exempted by the Juries Act, 1868, or by any of the subsequent amendments. Considering the large family of Mayors this'colony possesses, and the probability of constant additions, it may be questioned if it would be politic to excuse them. Their election must be accepted as prima facie evidence that they are men of intelligence, whether they afterwards robnt the presumption or not, and intelligence on juries can ill bo spared. The " Waka Maori."—We (" New Zealand Times") are glad to note that the "Waka Maori" is about to be launched again. The want of a journal printed in Maori, for the information arid improvement of the Natives, has been greatly felt of late, and both Maoris and pakehas have contributed to the new enterprise by becoming shareholders in the company formed for the purpose of starting it. The necessary plant has, we are informed, come to hand, and the publication will be commenced at G-iaborne without delay. The politics of the new journal will be liberal and independent, we believe. For the present, the publication will be fortnightly ; there will be twenty-four pages of reading matter, English and Maori, besides advertisements, and as the circulation promises to be large, the paper will afford a good medium for advertisements. We wish the adventure all success. The Strath-Taieri Kailway Survey.— The Dunedin evening paper has the following:— The preliminary survey of the rougher portion of the Strath Taieri railway hag been completed ; and wo are informed that the engineers engaged on the work are highly satisfied with the results. It is now ascertained that the line may be carried up the Taieri Gorge up to the Deep Stream, at a short, distance from the river bank, which gets rid of a good deal of very heavy work. The Burveys up to the commencement of the Strath Taieri plain are now in such a progressive state that the engineers are able to pronounce with considerable decision as to the route the line should take. The preliminary surveys will be quite ready for presentation to Parliament early in the session ; and so forward is one part of them that we believe the Public Works Department here is in a position to call for tenders for that portion of the work within two months from the date of the vote for the line being passed. Prompting or Prophecy?—The Government's Wellington journal deprecates the assumption by contemporaries that its utterances are inspired. The list of its shareholders, which we published yesterday, will enable the public to judge of the probabilities of the case. Explaining a previous utterance on the tariff, which was said to have been prompted by the G-overnment, the journal referred to says : —With regard to the revision of the tariff, we simply said that the moat prudent course would bo " not to interfere with the Customs duties, at least to the disturbance of existing revenue." This has been construed to indicate that the Government has abandoned all its professions about placing the incidence of taxation on a more equitable footing. We fail to see how the words can be made to bear any such moaning. The incidence of taxation can be equitably adjusted as well by increases in one direction, as by reductions in another. The question is one, not of amount, but of proportion. The meaning of our words is simply this, that the colony, we believe, cannot afford to part with any of its present sources of revenue until it has new one:* to make up the deficiency. Wo do not really know what the Government intend to propose in the shape of a revision of the tariff. They may attempt it, but wc doubt whether, in the coming session, they will be able at best to do much more than reform a few of the most glaring anomalies of the present system. The Dunedin Justices.—The Government having arranged that the Justices of the Peace shall take the Police Court work on certain days in Dunedin, it appears that a difficulty is already experienced in getting Justices to do the work, although the arrangement has only been made a few weeks. Lyttelton Chukch Choir.—An entertainment in aid of the funds of the choir of Holy Trinity Church, lyttelton, will be given to-night at the Colonists' Hall. An excellent programme has been prepared, particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns.