NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1382, 20 July 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A.O.F. —A special summoned meeting of the Court Star of Canterbury will be held on Monday evening, to receive the report of the new by-law committee, and other business.

Colombo Road Wesleyan Chubch.— There will bo a special service to-morrow afternoon, at. three, for children and friends, and evalgelisfic service in the evening by Rev. J, S. Smalley. The Land Fund. —The Hon. John Hall is still ree dving Irom the various Road Boards assurances of support in the contemplated procedings against Government in the matter of the confiscated land fund. Among the latest to send in their adhesion are the Raukapuka and the South Rakaia Road Boards.

Football. —A match was played on Thursday between the West Christchurch and Colombo road schools, which resulted in an easy victory for the former by one goal and 30 points to nil. For the West Christchurch, Cudda'i, Dunnage, Barker, and Hebburns played well For the Colombo road, Steele, Page, and Robson. Theater Royal. —The “ Wags of Wapping ” and “ But However,” were repeated at the Theatre last pight. This evening “ Die Daughter of the Raiment” will be repeated, the performance including a short concert and terminating with the panoramic scenes from the burlesque of Ldla Rookh. On Monday Miss Florence Colville will commence a short engagement of twelve nights, her opening part, being Lady Teazle. Nelson Copper —The “Nelson Mail” says:—We are glad to learn from Mr Newport that the copper ore which he is taking out of his mine in the Maitai Yalley is steadily improving in quality, and the men who are working there, some of whom are experienced in copper mining, say that they never saw richer stuff. Mr Newport is, of course, anxiously waiting to learn the result of the assay of that which ho sent to Newcastle the other day, although, if appearances may be (.rusted, there is no doubt whatever that the report will bo highly favorable.

The Agent G eneral. —At the Waitahuna banquet, Mr J. C. Brown is reported to have said that the late Government laid determined to appoint Mr Stafford Agent-General; but the present Government finding Sir Julius Vogi-1 doing good service to the colony, determined to request him to remain so, conditionally that he reduced the expense of his department by at least £BOOO. Mr Reader Wood, on going home, had been commissioned to replace Sir Julius Vogel if he did not do so ; but Sir Julius Vogel took the proper course of effecting the reductions suggested to him.

Mb W. L. Rees. —The “ Ovens and Murray Advertiser” has the following nows concerning that many-sided genius, the author of “Sir Gilbert Leigh,” the lecturer on the “ Lost Tribes,” and the refreshed in the Jones libel case :—“ We learn that Mr W. L Rees, who for some time was a minister of the Congregational Church, Beechworth, and who was known as perhaps the best all-round cricketer ever in the Ovens district, being a cousin to the celebrated Grace family, and who afterwards went to New Zealand, and was admitted as a barrister, has been elevated to the position of a district Judge.”

A Bargain for South Australia. —Of the railway plant which was purchased from the New r Zealand Government, and shipped by the Hydrabad, the “South Australian Register ” says : —The engines and carriages are specially adapted for the Adelaide and Semaphore line, and most of the carriages and some of the engines will be utilised for that railway as soon as possible after their arrival. The Government have certainly effected a great bargain, in addition to saving a great deal of time in obtaining railway plant that was absolutely necessary, inasmuch as they have obtained for £14,50 what cost the New Zealand Government £75,C00. Progress of the St. G-othabd Tunnel. — A recent report of the inspector of the great St. Gothard tunnel through the Alps states that the irregular character of the formations pierced by the tunnel has entirely ceased, and that the work is now progressing through uniformly regular strata. On the south side the boring progresses at the rate of ten feet daily through gneiss. The rate is somewhat less on the north side, where the tunnel is not yet out of the serpentine. The thickness of this stratum of serpentine now being pierced is already double that estimated by geologists from the surface indica'ions.

Buggv Accident.- Yesterday afternoon about four o’clock a horse and buggy belonging to Mr W. J. Disber, bolted from the front of Royse, Stead and Co.’s premises, High street, Mr Disher having gone into the office, leaving the vehicle unattended. The horse made his way up High street, and when opposite the shop of Messrs Strange and Co. came into collision with a cab driven by John McLennan, of Bingsland. The buggy was upset, and both shafts being broken off the horse got free. It continued its course, and when at the junction of High and Manchester streets ran against a dray, fell down, and being unable to rise again was secured without doing further mischief.

Rifle Shooting. —The Council of the Rifle Association are determined to make the coming season interesting to all its members. Instead of one annual meeting, it is decided to hold four. There will also be the annual matches of Civilians v Volunteers, and, in all probability, an interprovincial match with Otago. The gauntlet has been thrown down by our association, and as Otago is very strong in good shots, it will undoubtedly be accepted. If it is, git will tend to give an impetus to volunteering, and to create an interest with the general public similar to that felt in the annual cricket and football matches. The Council commence the season with a small credit balance, and intend to make a special appeal to the public for support in fostering one of those means of defence upon which the colony has to depend. Much can be said in support of the association, and it is to be hoped that the Council will receive that pecuniary help from the public which it undoubtedly deserves.

The Costello Horse-stealing- Case. — Wo (Timaru “ Herald ”) are glad to hear that a petition is in course of signature, praying the Governor to exercise the royal prerogative of pardon in the case of Costello, recently convicted of horse-stealing at Timaru. It will bo remembered that in this case, an intelligent jury, unable to distinguish between stealing a horse, and mistaking another man’s horse for one’s own, brought in a verdict of “Guilty, with a recommendation to mercy,” and stuck to it in spite of the Judge’s severe reprimand. We pointed out at the time the culpable absurdity of their conduct; and expressed a confident belief that Costello was as innocent as we are of the crime imputed to him. We have since heard more about the affair, and are now more than ever of opinion that to keep the unfortunate man in gaol after such a verdict arrived at upon such evidence, is a gross injustice.

The Pan Anglican Synod. —The “Church of England Messenger” recently stated that the following would be the programme of proceedings at the Lambeth Synod : —“ The first week, of four sessions, will be devoted to discussions, in conference, of the subjects submitted for deliberation ; the second and third weeks to the consideration of these subjects in committees ; and the fourth week to final discussions in conference and to the close of the meeting. The subjects selected for discussion are—l. The best mode of maintaining union among the various churches of the Anglican communion. 2. Voluntary hoards of arbitration for churches to which such an arrangement may be applicable. 3. The relations to each other of missionary bishops and of missionaries in va ious branches of the Anglican communion, acting in the same country. 4. The position of Anglican chaplains and chaplaincies on the Continent of Europe and elsewhere. 5. Modern forms of infidelity, and the best means of dealing with them. 6. The condition, progress, and needs of the various churches of the Anglican communion.” Touting foe his Friends. —The Hon. John Sheehan is not above using his Ministerial position to tout for his friends. This appears in the following extract from a speech delivered by him as Minister to the Natives at Putiki, Wanganui: —“The formation of a Komiti Maori would do a lot of good if organised for investigating Maori troubles. Ho had no doubt the Government would provide a Native ollke, but it would not supply them with lawyers. If the Natives wanted lawyers t hey would have to pay them. They had received a circular from Mr Rees, who was conducting his (MrS.’s) business at Napier. Mr Rees wished to establish Native offices in Napier, Wanganui, and Wairarapa, and lie was a straightforward man, therefore he would advise them if they wanted a lawyer to select a good man, but they would have to pay him. Claims for reserves must bo put down in writing, and he would take them to Wellington, where lie had access to all records. The medicine he had given them was most efficacious, though it might not be pleasant to their taste. All that ho had said was for their good, and if they took his advice he would pull them through,"

Another Proposed County.—The Dunedin “ Herald ” states that the Hon. Mr Mac* ard.ew informed a deputation from the Glut,ha that lie was in favour of constituting Inch Clutha a county, and that he would do so, if, aft; r consulting the Attorney-General, it should be found that the Government had the necessary power under the present statute.

Projected Railway. A provisional directory has been formed (says the “ Heraid ”) for the purpose of constructing a railway along the beach from Anderson’s Bay to Portobello. The settlers in the centre of the Peninsula intend holding a meeting shortly to consider the desirability of constructing a line through the centre of the Peninsula for their own sp cial convenience. Victorian Land Tax. —The land tax classifications (says the Melbourne “Argus”) are now almost all in the hands of the commissioners, and so soon as the last list has been gazetted, notice will be given when the appeals are to bo heard. The commissioners, so far, have not decided whether they will hear the cases in Melbourne, or whether they will go on circuit and sit at towns adjacent to the estates of the appellants. The latter would bo the most convenient course, as it would save time and expense in taking witnesses to Melbourne, but it would incur an out lay on the part of the commissioners, who are not provided with funds for the purpose. It lies with the Cabinet to say whether or not the outlay shall he incurred. The tax is now estimated to yield £140,000 per annum. Eternal Punishment.— The second lecture on this subject will be delivered to-morrow evening, in St. Andrew’s Church, by the Rev. C. Fraser. Total Abstinence Society.—The members of this society are to meet this evening iu the Templar Hall, Worcester street.

Orchestral Society. —The next concert of the < rchestral Society will be given in the Oddfellows' Hall, on the Bth August.