NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1386, 25 July 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Reform Association.—A public meeting in connection with the New Zealand Political Reform Association will be held in the Temperance Hall, Gloucester street, on the 30th inat. at 7.30 p.m. Christchuhch Drainage Loan. —On Juno 7th, the Christchurch Drainage Loan Debentures were quoted in the London market at 109 to 111, shewing an advance of fully nine per cent on the price at which they were issued last year. Alteration of Signal at Sumner.—On and after Ist August next the signal balk at the pilot station, Sumner, will be white instead of black as heretofore, as tho sheep run at the back has been lately burnt, and the black balls would not show from seaward. Poultry Society.—A meeting of the managing committee of this society was held last night at the Shades, when several tenders for the erection of a shod in which to keep the show pens, were opened. No tender was considered eligible, but a committee, consisting of Messrs S'apleton and Roes, was appointed to make arrangements with one of the tenderers.

Land in the Ellesmeke District. — The value of properties in this locality compares favorably with that of other country districts in Canterbury. Several sales by public auction and private treaty have lately been made at a conpiderable advance on former sales. Notably, a 100 acre section, about three miles from Southbridge, the property of Mr P. McTlraith, which changed hands yesterday at £35 IDs per acre, the purchaser being Mr H. Jenkins. A Suspected Jon.—Some of the Auckland settlers appear to scent a job in the recent alteration of tho route proposed for the Kaipara Railway extension. The "Herald" Bays :—The route of the line, as it is proposed to" be altered, is supposed to pass through a largo block of land belonging to the Hon. H. Chamberlain, and many of the settlers are of opinion that the change of route has been decided upon through his influence.

Railway Tickets.— The committee of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce has agreed to the following resolutions : —" That the committee is of opinion that upon all railways the right to break the journey at any station and to proceed by the following trains ou the same should be given to through passengers." Also, " Tiiat railway tickets should be procurable at any time instead of only during ii few minutes before the departure of the trains, and that tradesmen should be encouraged to undertake the sale of railway tieke! s in the same manner as they now sell postage and other stamps."

City Impbovemknt.—A decided improvement is just now being made in Armagh street west, by cutting down the roadway between the bridge and Montrcil street, reducing it to a uniform and easy grade. The earth removed, amounting to severed hundred yards, is being utilised for reclaiming the, reserves at the back of the R.M. Court and between the Colombo street and the Victoria bridges. As the road will be in some places as much as three feet lower than the footpath, which is asphalted in front of the Provincial Government buildings, the city surveyor intends to substitute a concrete wall for the ordinary kerb..

Tawitiao's Doings.—The following telegram from Alexandra appears in the " Auckland Herald " of July 17th :—" Tawhiao has returned from Raglan, and will visit that part again in the spring. He now leaves for Te Kuiti, to visit Wahanui and other chiefs of the Ngatimaniapoto. Tauwhitu, from the North, is at Hikurangi. Tauwhitu was well received, and made high prießt for the whole of the Northern district. Tawhiao has given an order that no one, Maori or half-caste, within his dominions, shall give their votes to anyone, and that they shall not implicate themselves in any way whatever witnthe elections of members outside his dominions. Te Ngakau has just returned to Hikurangi."

.Readjustment of the Customs Taeifp —We have been informed (says the " Wellington Post") that Mr Ballance, in his speech at Marton, did state that the Government meant to readjust the Customs duties in the direction of reducing those imposed on necessaries, but that his remarks were accidentally not reported. Tins circumstance and the fact that the "New Zealander" recently said, in effect, that there was no probability of any reduction in the Customß duties being carried out for an indefinite period, ought to have made Mr Stout speak in the most decided manner on the subj.'ct. As a matter of fact, we are assured, ou the best authority, that Ministers intend to adhere loyally to this part of their original programme, and that the proposed change in the incidence of taxation will not merely mean the imposition of a land tax, but also a readjustment of the Customs duties in the direction indicated by Sir George Grey when promulgating his policy. We trust that tins assurance may be justified by events during the session.

Lyttelton School Committee. —A. meeting of this committee was held on Tuesday evening last, Mr H. R. Webb, chairman, presiding. A letter was read from the Board of Education, stating that Mr W. L. Edge, the head-master of Lyttelton school, had been appointed one of the inspectors for North Canterbury. A letter was also read from Mr Edge, resigning his appointment, and at the same time thanking the committee for their kindness to him during his stay in Lyttelton. It was resolved that in accepting the resignation of Mr Edge the committee record their sense of the zealous and effective manner in which he has conducted the school and carried on the duties of head-master. They congratulate him on his appointment as inspector, and wish him every success in his future career. It was resolved to advertise for a head-master in the Canterbury, Auckland, Nelson, Otago, and Wellington papers. Applications to be sent in on or before 15th August. After the transaction of some routine business the committee adjourned. The Changes in the House. The " ManawatU Times '' does not think much of the changes which have been made in the personnel of the House of Representatives during the recess. The comparisons it institutes speak for themselves. It says:— "Leaving the political opinions of the past, present, or coming members on one side, we fear it must be admitted that those who are gone are immeasurably superior in ability, experience, and weight to their successors. Can Mr Tumbull be put in the scale with Mr Stafford; Mr Barton compare with Mr Travers ; Mr Cntten be placed on a par with Donald Reid ; Mr Green with Thomas Hunter Reynolds; or even Mr Olliver take the place of the late Treasurer ? We think not; and it is not cheering to see names like Stafford and Travers and Reynolds, which have shone in the pages of our colonial " Hansard " for a quarter of a century, disappear to make room for the Hobbs and Mosses of yesterday. 'Tis true Mr Reynolds hai joined the Lords ; but in doing so his wings are clipped and his vigor "and value impaired."

The Bay op I?lands Electoral Roll.— The efforts of the subsidised papers being at present directed to making the worse appear the better part in regard to the disgraceful Btops taken by the Government for stuffing the Bay of Islands electoral roll, the opinion of an independent critic on the subject is worth consideration. The "Australasian" says:— Constant discoveries are being made in New Zealand of the nefarious course of highhanded violence and corruption with which the Grey Ministry seeks to demoralise the public feeling of the country. Truth compels us to add that by the New Zealand democracy, as by the Victorian democracy, violence and corruption appear not to be regarded as objectionable features in a Government. In one electoral district, that of the Bay of Islands, the registration and returning officer has been removed for objecting to an attempt of a Greyite caudidale to stuff the roll with the names of 400 Maoris. By his abrupt dismissal he was prevented from preferring his objections in Court, and the names were, in consequence, foisted on the roll.

Good Templary—A meeting, for the purpose of instituting a new lodge, was held in the Wesleyan schoolroom on Tuesday evening last. There was a fair attendance, including some visitors from Christchurch. Addresses on the " Temperance Question " were delivered by Messrs Clephane, J. T. Smith, and J. A. Efford; after which the necessary steps for inaugurating the lodge were Twelve candidates were initiated and eight members deposited their clearance cards, so that the lodge starts with a membership of twenty members. The following officers were elected and installed, as follows; W.C.T., Bro. J. Fulton; W.V.T.. Sister Fulton ; Sen. W.S., Bro. F. Burgess ; W.F.S., Bro. T. Wake; W.T., Bro. G. Spooner; W.C., Bro. T. Cooper; W.M., Bro. R.. Billens ; W.1.G., Bro. A. Moore ; W.0.G., Bro. G. Biker; W.A.S., Bro. H. Peat■ ; W.D.M., Bro. Heurv; W.R.H.S., Bro. W. S. Smith; W.L.H.S., Bro. Smith; Bro. F. G. Smith was recommended for appointment as D.G.W.C.T. The meeting then terminated, with a hearty vote of thanks to the officers and members of the different lodges.

1.0.0. F., M.U., Loyal Asiusurton Lodge. —The anniversary of this lodge was celebrated by a dinner at the Somerset Hotel on Tuesday evening. Tho chair was occupied by Bro. Wilkie, the vice-chair by Pro. J. C. Dolman. The tisual toasts were given and responded to, and several songs were sung. In responding to the toast of the G-rand Master aiid Board of Directors, Bro. Parkin referred to the benefits to be derived from joining the society. Tho Oidfollows' Society was extending fast in Canterbury, but lie regretted that the Ashbutton Lodge had not kept pace with the times. In the surrounding districts the lodges had greatly prospered, and lie trusted thai; the Ashburton Lodge would do so also. Tho chairman proposed " The Loval AeLbuvton Lodge." In responding, Bro. Baker said that a few months ogo the lodge numbered but few, but lately there had been a steady rceise. He hoped that the young men of the town might be led to see the great benefits to be derived from joining the order. The toast of " Kindred S icieties " was responded to on behalf of the Foresters by OK. Bro. lE-11, and by Bro. St. Hill for the Good Templars. "The AehDistrict " was responded to by Dr. Trevor. Several other toasts were given and songs sung.

The Australian Cricketers' Tour.— It would appear from the following that the Australian cricketers have determined upon extending their tour to Canada and the United States. A Melbourno contemporary says : The Chief Secretary has received a letter by the mail from the secretary to the Australian Eleven, asking him if he will extend the leave of absence granted to Mr Koran, of the audit department; Mr Boyle, of the mining department ; and Mr Allan, of the lands department; as they have been invited by several cricketing clubs in Canada and the United States to visit the Western world and play there. The reply of the Chief Secretary will determine the acceptance or rejection of the invitation sent by our American friends to the representatives of Australian cricketer*, as the other members of the team are clearly of opinion that Australia would not be represented without the presence of Messrs Horan, Boyle, and Allan. The Chief Secretary will grant the request. Teachers' Mutual Insurance.—The following appears in the Government Wellington paper s—lt will be pleasing, not only to those directly interested, but, to the public ganerally, to learn that the Government propose taking the necessary steps for "encouraging and assisting the teachers employed in the public schools of the colony to make provision for themselves on their retirement from active duty, and for their widows and orphan children." To this end the Government have instructed the Actuary of the Government Insurance Department to submit for consideration a scheme calculated to secure these desirable objects. For the purpose of working out the proposed scheme, forms, to be filled up, are to be forwarded to all teachers in the colony. The information furnished is to bo regarded by the Actuary and his staff as strictly confidential. No class of public servants more than school teachers deserve the encouragement to lay by something for the future, which the Government purpose offering, and we trust, even if it be an annual cost to the colony, that, under the scheme proposed the most liberal inducements will be afforded them. . Sydenham Borough Council.—A special meeting of the above will be held at Mr Draper s office at lp.m to-day. Canterbury College.—A meeting of the Board of Governors of the College will be held at 11 a.m. to-day. Temperance Hotel.—An adjourned meeting of representatives from vario.s societies and of the Working Men's Club committee will be held this evening at seven o'clock, in the City Council Chamber. Popular Entertainment at Lyttelton. —A popular entertainment in aid of the Ladies' Dorcas Society will take place to-night at-t. Andrew's schoolroom. A full programme v,ill be found in our advertising columns. Zealandia Minstrels. This favorite troupe will appear this evening at th* Oddfellows' Hall, the performance being for the benefit of of the ' 'adeb Band Fund. The programme is an excellent one, containing specialities for all the principal members of the company; and the fact that the management is confided to the experienced hands of the favorite basso, Mr John Marshall, is a guarantee for an excellent night's entertainment, and should draw a bumper house. _____^____——