NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1401, 12 August 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

CONGRATULATION TO EARL BeACONSfield. —A preliminary meeting was held this morning, at the City Council Chambers, for the purpose of drawing up a congratulatory resolution to Earl Beaconsfield, to be submitted at the public meeting to be held tonight in the Oddfellows' Hall. The following gentlemen were present:—Messrs T. H. Hanmer (in the chair), T. M. Hassal, 11. S. Smith, C. G. Hawdon, and the Revs. H. C. M. Watson, C. Fraser, and Penny. After a conversational discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of the Rev. Mr Watson, seconded by Mr BE. S. Smith, that the following should be the text of the resolution, to be moved by Mr H. Selwyn Smith :—" That this meeting, as representing the inhabitants of Canterbury, desires to congratulate Earl Beaconsfield on the eminent ability he has displayed in dealing with the Eastern Question, which has reeultod in averting war and asserting and maintaining England's rightful position." The motion was carried unanimously, and the meeting adjourned. The Fire AT Couetenay.—Detective Benjamin has arrested a man named John Reynolds, against whom strong suspicions are entertained of having set fire to Mrs White's Accommodation House at Courtenay. Supposed Fibe. —About four o'clock on Sunday morning a strong glare of light was was observable in the direction of the river Styx. One of the brigade men ascended the look out tower at the corner of Chester street and Colombo street, and was of opinion that the fire must be near the seven mile peg. No definite information on the subject has been received by the polioe. Gold Digging in HoKiTiKA.--Q.uite a diggings (says the " Westland Advertiser) has been started lately in Fitzherbert street. Eight or ten claims have been already marked out, and operations are going on. This shows how little the Coast has been prospected up to this time. If gold has been overlooked within the town, what may not have happened through the country. New Goveenment Townships.—By a telegram received on Saturday we learn that the Government is about to lay off a township at Horndon Junction Railway Station and at the Bealey road station, on the Rolleston and Malvern line. Instructions have been given to have the surveys proceeded with immediately, so that ths townships referred to may be thrown open for sale as speedily as possible. The Bent, Cheevkb, and Kennedy Minsteels.—This company, after a very successful season in Dunedin, left yesterday for Oamaru. They play two nights in Oamaru and three in Timaru, opening here at the Theatre Royal on Saturday next. From what the Southern papers say of the capabilities of the troupe a treat in the way of negro minstrelsy may be expected. The orchestra, which is very complete, is under the baton of Mr Martin Simonsen, and the various solo singers of the company are spoken of as possessing thoroughly good voices. Theatre Royal. A new serio-comic drama, entitled "Through Fire and Water," was produced at the theatre on Saturday night. The plot is interesting, though of slight construction, but the piece furnishes Mr J. P. Hydes with an opportunity of displaying his ability as a character actor in the pourtrayal of the part of a fireman named Joe Bright. The humorous and pathetic phases of the character were alternately represented with much skill and entirely to the satisfaction of the audience. The part of Ruth was pleasingly rendered by Miss Ruby D'Arcy, and Miss Daley sustained the character of Honor Bright. The remainder of the cast found fitting representatives in Messrs Wilkinson and Tom and Alf Burton. The performance terminated with the burlesque of "Turko the Terrible." The attendance was good. The same bill will be repeated tonight. The Circus. —There was a very good house on Saturday evening when the first performance of Hayes and Benhamo's circus took place. The arrangements made for the comfort of visitors were excellent, the boarding, in place of canvass, on the sides conducing greatly to the cosiness of the tent. The company,'speaking generally, is a very good one in the various lines which have become almost traditional in circus business. There is one noticeable point about the performers, and that is their versatility. They do not appear to confine themselves exclusively to one particular role, but are equally good in three or four. In the vaulting act, which opened the programme, some really excellent jumping was displayed by all. Mdlle. Annereau went through a very graceful performance on horseback successfully, and Mr L?wis in his Indian act, Mr Wallace in some extraordinary feats of balancing, and the Duvalli Brothers on the trapeze were all very good. As a clown, Mr Benhamo is the best we have had here, having a ready humor, which makes his performance highly comic. Ho is also a good and daring horseman. Senor Agilio, who is called in the bills the Spanish eerpont, justified the appellation hy performing some most extraordinary contortions, which have to be seen to be appreciated. Mr Hayes, in his leaping act in the second part, was excellent, and the Duvallis on tt e triple bars were also good. Mdlle. de Granville went through her extraordinary pcirorrur.ncc, showing the strength of her teeth and riervo by lifting chairs, Are., and beiug swung up to the roof of the tent by a rope, holding on only by her teeth. Altogether the troupe on their first appearance created a very Favorable impression. They perform agr.in this evening, when the same programme will bo repeated, The first midday performance wj]l 'take place on Saturday nokfc "

Accident at Woodknd. —On Friday last the Rev. H. G. Q-ould was thrown from his horse, which ehied and severely injured Mr Gould's anldo.

City Imi'eovkment.—An unusually handsome and unique specimen o f decorative art is to be seen in the new front of Mr J. M. Thompson's sewing machine emporium in Colombo street. Mr Thompson is the agent for Messrs Wheeler and Wilson, the wellknown Anglo-American manufacturers of sewing machines. The ornamentation consists of English and American emblematical shields, which witli the lettering is elaborately done in blue and gold by Messrs J. Grapes anrl Son.