NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1387, 26 July 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Ram Faib.—The committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday settled the regulations under which the Bam Fair of 1879 is to bo conducted. Q-beyhounds. From an advertisement which appears elsewhere, it will be seen that Mr J. G-. Hawkes will sell at his rooms to morrow two well-bred greyhound sluts. They are by Regent—Beatrice, and bred by Mr Roe, of Melbourne; are own sisters to Russian Emperor, the winner of the Birthday Stakes, and which has proved one of the best dogs in Canterbury. Children Astray.—Last evening about seven o'clock a Mrs Webb, living in Peterborough street, found a child in Barbadoes street North. On being questioned the girl said her name was Ellen Wright, that she had been living with a resident of Lyttelton, who had sent her away on Wednesday, with eleven pence in her pocket with which to pay her tare to Christchurch. She also said that she was an orphan, her father having died a fortnight ago and her mother a week later, and that she was known to John Pope a blacksmith, residing in Lyttelton, from whom her parents had rented a cottage. For the present Mrs Webb has taken charge of her. The police have made inquiries into the truth of the child's statements, and they have ascertained that they are not correct. She was sent on a message yesterday, and left of her own accord. She was to be taken back to Lyttelton to-day.—About half-past seven o'clock last night the railway constable found a little boy, about four years of age, on the railway platform without any protector. The little fellow was unable to give his name or any account of his parents. The constable brought him to the police depot. He was claimed this morning by a woman named Riley. Selwyn County Council. —A meeting of the Selwyn County Council was held at the Q-overnment Buildings this morning. Present—Hon. John Hall (in the chair), Dr. Turnbull, Messrs Enys, Lee, and Tancred. The report of the sub-committee as to the selection of site for a central cemetery was read, and it was resolved that the Council Durchase, for the purpose of a central cemetery, the 134 acres at the Sandhills offered to it by Mr E. Mitchell, at £6 per acre. Messrs Tancred and Lee and Dr. Turnbull were appointed a committee to recommend to the Q-overnment the names of persons to be appointed as trustees of the cemetery. Several applications were received from various Road Boards for reserves for recreation, planting cemetery, and other purposes. After consideration it was resolved to recommend to the Government, the granting of the reserves in some cases, and also the appointment of the trustees recommended by the Boards. Mr Gk L. Lee was appointed returning officer for the several ridings of the county. The report of the committee was brought up and read. It was resolved that the Council agree generally with the recomendations made, and that the report be forwarded to Wellington for the guidance of the representatives of the Council at the Conference. The committee was requested to extend their inquiries with the view of perfecting the returns furnished by them. It was decided that Mr Tancred should act aB chairman during Mr Hall's absence in Wellington,

Accident.—-Wm. Sadler, a man employed in driving one of the horses on the Lyttelton railway, had a very narrow escape yesterday. He slipped and was knocked down accidentally by the horse, his leg being trodden upon, and a severe wound inflicted. Canterbury Representatives. The Canterbury members of the Assembly are making their way to the Empire city for the opening of the session. Those who have already left are the Hon. E. Richardson, Messrs Montgomery, Teschemaker, Wakefield, Moorhouse, and Turnbull.

Scholarships.—Six exhibitions of the annual value of £2O each, tenable for one year, for matriculated students attending classes in the Canterbury College, have been established by the Governing Board. The examination will be held at the close of the session in October in each year. A New Land Scheme —ln the report of the proceedings at the meeting of the Board of Governors yesterday, will be found part of an interesting letter from Sir Julius Vogel to the Hon. J. Macandrew. The subject is the reservation of blocks of land in Canterbury for purchase by intending emigrants in England, in connection with the newly-established School of Agriculture. Football.—A match was played on Wednesday afternoon on Cranmer square, between the Normal School and East Christchurch Football Clubs. The former scored three touch-downs and two force-downs against their opponents' one touchdown and one force-down. For the Normal Club Crowe, McGregor, Tucker, Gapes, and Bowman, and for the West Christchurch Boag, Cuddon, Hepburn, Dallas, and Tait played well. An Everyday Occurrence. —An unfortunate man, against whom a charge of "lunacy from drink" had been entered on the police-sheet, but afterwards 'withdrawn, | has been sent to the Hospital, as he was found to be suffering from fever. He had been a shepherd in the neighborhood of Amberley. Dr. Morris has expressed an opinion, formed principally from statements made by the man, that the latter had been drugged. Sydenham Borough Council.—A special meeting of the Sydenham Council was to have been held yesterday, for the purpose of considering the advisability of forming the street on the north side of the railway, between Windmill road and Selwyn street. The meeting, however, lapsed for want of a quorum, the only councillors present being Messrs Charters, Hall, Buxton, and Scott. It was decided to hold a special meeting for the same purpose on Monday next.

N.Z. Shipping Company.—The annual general meeting of the shareholders of the above company will take place on Friday next. The report shows a halance to the credit of profit and loss on 30th June last of £27,633 143 6d, which it is proposed to appropriate as follows: —£13,750 to the reserve fund, which will stand at £40,C00; a dividend of 10 per cent for the year (of which an interim dividend of 4 per cent has been paid), amounting to £12,500 leaving a balance of £1383 14s 6d to the credit of profit and loss new account. Ladies' Doecas Society.—An entertainment, in aid of the Ladies' Dorcas Society, was given last night in St. Andrew's schoolroom, which was crowded. The programme consisted of instrumental music by the Misses Foster, songs by Miss Williams, Miss Cook, Miss Foster, and Messrs S. and H. Johnson and Woledge, and readings and recitations by Messrs Thornton, Yule, and Adams. Mr T. Searell presided at the piano. The readings bv Mr Yule, and Miss Cook's song, were specially successful, while the whole of the programme was evidently appreciated by the audience. National Ageicitltueal Association. — The question of the formation of a National Agricultural Association for the Middle Island, as proposed by the Oamaru Society, was under consideration yesterday at the monthly meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. It was decided to appoint three delegates to meet the delegates from the other associations to confer on the matter. Those appointed were Hon. John Hall, Messrs A. Duncan, and John Grigg. A letter wa* read from the North Otago Association, stating that August 28th had been filed for the meeting of delegates at Oamaru. It was decided that the North Otago Association be written to, stating that that date was unsuitable to the Canterbury delegates, and suggesting that the date of the Oamiiru show would be more convenient.

Young Men's Christian Association, Ashbt/bton.—A meeting in connection with the above Association, was held on Wednesday evening, at the office of Messrs Fooks and Son. The business was chiefly of a formal character. In the unavoidable absence of Mr Fooks, the Bev. W. B. Marten was voted to the chair. The chairman explained that the provisional Board of Management had communicated with the Christchurch Association, and it now remained for the Ashburton Association to elect permanent officers, and a Board of Management. Mr Twentyman of Christchurch was unanimously elected president. The Revs. 11. B. Burnett, W. B. Marten, B. J. Westbrooke, and Messrs C. E. Fooks and J. E. Buchanan, vice-presidents. Mr C. E. Fooks was elected treasurer, and Mr J. E. Buchanan hon. sec. Seven members were elected a board of management. It was resolved that the Association meet each Wednesday at 8 o'clock. The inaugural public meeting was fixed for Wednesday, 7th August. It was determined that the meeting should take place at the new Town Hall. A subcommittee was appointed to make arrangements for the Town Hall. The programme of the public meeting will consist of speeches and sacred song. Theatee Royal. G-eorge Column's famous comedy, " The Jealous Wife," was produced last night at the Theatre Royal. The weight of the piece rested on the shoulders of Mr Hoskins and Miss Florence Colville, and they fully sustained the reputation they have acquired as exponents of elegant comedy. The character of Mrs Oakley is one of Miss Colville's specialities, and the frequent and enthusiastic applause of the audience was a convincing proof of her unabated popularity. Mr Hoskins gave an admirable rendering of the character of Mr Oakley. Mr J. F. Q-raham, as Lord Trinket, was very successful, and Mr J. P. Hydes, as Major Oakley, contributed largely to tbe success of the comedy. The rest of the characters were fairly represented. The performance concluded with the musical comedetia entitled the " Two Gregories." The piece is not unknown to Christchurch playgoers, but it had a special attraction on this occasion, inasmuch as it served to furnish Miss Ruby D'Arcy with a part which displayed her ability as a vocalist and an actress of great promise. She was efficiently supported by Messrs J. P. Hydcs, Walter Hill, and D'Elmaine, the music incidental to the piece largely contributing to its success. This evening the favorite comedy " She Stoops to Conquer" will be produced. Zealandia Minsteels. —The benefit given by the Zealandia Minstrels at the Oddfellows' Hall last night, in aid of the Cadet Band Fund, drew a large house, the hall being crowded. The programme submitted was a very excellent one throughout the first part, containing many songs new here. Mr J. W. Marshall's fine bass voice was heard to advantage in the song "Sadly I sit," though the accompaniment was hardly what it should have been. Mr A lexander was very good in a new comic song, " She laughed behind her fan," and his comicalities in the corner were by no means bad. He waß ably seconded by Mr Rees, who sang the comic song allotted to him with much humour. Mr Houghton possesses a very excellent tenor voice, and his song, "Sunlight Dreams," was very nicely rendered. Mr Farrant, too, was very successful with his song, " Mother bear me to the window," but the accompaniment was far too loud for his voice, which one would have liked to hear more of. In the second part, Mr Marshall substituted a patriotic song for "Now my courage," and sang it very nicely. Mr Rees gave a song and dance with much spirit, as also did Mr Alexander, for which he recoived an encore. This was a new one, composed by Mr Fredk. Lyster, and i 3 a very pretty and taking air. The other items on the programme wera gono through very successfully, and taken aB a wholo the performance was an enjoyable one. It was announced during the evening that Mr J. W. Marshall, the able and energetic manager of the troupe, would take a benefit shortly, which should be a bumper,

Board of Governors.—A large quantity of business, principally referring to the various committee reports in connection with the Canterbury College, was got through yesterday by the Board, as the chairman and some of the members were summoned to Wellington to attend to their Parliamentary duties. Mr Edward Wakefield, of Timaru, was elected a member of the Bo:ird.

Cookery Classes.—At the meeting of the Board of Governors yesterday, it was resolved to take steps to secure the services cf Miss Fidler for the purpose of giving a course of lectures on cookery. Miss Fidler has been very successful in giving this class of instruction at Timaru, where her lectures were largely attended.

The Roslyn Election.—The Dunedin " Herald" says : —The election of a member of the General Assembly for Roslyn, vice Mr A. Burns resigned, is being contested by Messrs H. Driver and A. H. Ross, who addressed meetings of the electors at Mornington and Caver sham respectively laßt evening. Both candidates declared their intention to support the present Government. They each received a vote of confidence. New Zealand Chicory.—Mr Thomas Reid, of Eskbank Farm, Tokomairiro (says the " Bruce Herald "), last week delivered to Messrs Gregg and Co., coffee merchants, Dunedin, 4 tons 6cwt. of chicory grown upon half an acre of land on the river bank, for which he received £5 per ton. Messrs Gregg and Co. are well pleased with the sample grown from seed provided by them. Mr Reid purposes sowing ten acres in chicory this season; but for loss by flood the produce would have been still greater. The Government Advertising.—On this subject Mr Driver, one of the candidates for Roslyn, and an avowed supporter of the Government, expressed himselt as follows in a recent election speech : —His opinion was that in this matter the Government acted in a penny wi*e and pound foolish manner. Those who were in favor of giving it to one paper argued as if the money came out of their own pockets, but he did not believe that the community would object to the advertisements being given to the respectable papers in the locality. The Government, say, perhaps, gives the advertisements to the paper which has the lowest circulation, and then puts a penalty upon it to advertise at a loss. He thought the Government should be more liberal in these matters, and if he had a railway or bridge to construct he would give the advertisement to all the papers. Catholic Church.—The ceremony of blessing the new Catholic uhurch, on the occasion of its re-opening, will take place on Sunday next by Right Rev. Bishop Eedwood. Political Reform. —A public meeting, in connection with the New Zealand Political Reform Association, will be held in the Temperance Hall on Tuesday next, when an exposition of the principles of the association will be given.