NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1403, 14 August 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Beer Tax. —The Collector of Customs has set apart every Wednesday from 10 am. to 1 p.m f ir issuing beer duty stamps. City Council. The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council, postponed from Monday last on account of the two public meetings taking place on (hat evening will be held to night at seven o’clock. The Lyttelton Dock. —The first trial shatt for the new dry dock for Lyttelton was completed on Monday at midnight, and the second is being proceeded with. The rock seems very sound and suitable for a foundation for the proposed works. The Circus. —The bill of the preceding evening was repeated last night at the circus, and the various items were gone through most successfully. To-night there will be a change of programme, and on Saturday the first midday performance will be given. Mb W. 0. Dillon. —This distinguished actor’s season in Auckl ind is not likely to be a great hit. He opened in “Hamlet,” and Ins performance throughout was received by the audience in solemn silence. The son of the great “ Belphagor” was not honoured with a recall after any of the acts, or even after the final fall of the curtain. This is very sad.

Land Salk.— The sale of the sections on the Deans estate at Upper Riccarton jesterday, was one of the most successful ever held in Canterbury. The tolal area of land submitted was twenty-seven acres, and they realised upwards of £26,000. The attendance was numerous, and the bidding spirited, great competition taking place to obtain the lots. The Thkatbk Royal Company. —This company will leave for Wellington on Friday, where they play a season of about throe weeks. They are to re-open in Christchurch about the 9th of September in the well-known play of “Flying Scud”—one of the chrt d’ocuvres of Boucicault. Li all probability Mr and Mrs Hoskins will then proceed on a starring tour throughout Now Zealand. It is understood (hat (hey will afterwards settle down in Christchurch,

The K. O. B. Minstrels.— The performances of the Kennedy, Cheever and Bent Minstrels in O imam have drawn large houses, and they are very highly spoken of us being entertaining and clever in their business. Mr Lingard is busy making the necessary arrangements for their advent bore, which will take place at the Theatre Koyal on Saturday evening next. A capital programme has been prepared for the occasion, and no doubt the Minstrels will be as successful here in obtaining public appreciation as they have been elsewhere.

St. Luke’s —An entertainment was given last night at St. Luke’s, for the benefit of the Sunday school library. The two schoolrooms had been thrown into one for the occasion, but the audience did not require so much accommodation as was thus afforded them. The Rev. Mr Stack presided, and introduced the programme by a few appropriate remarks. The songs, in the selection of which good taste was shown, were nicely rendered, and the readings, of which there were three, were given by evidently practised elocutionists The evening concluded with a vote of thanks to those ladies and gentlemen who had kindly given their services and with the singing of the National Anthem. A Puzzled Solicitos.—lt is not often that Mr Joynt gets puzzled, but in Chambers yesterday, in making an application in a case concerning some Maori lands in the North Island, he was fairly beaten by the number of Native names with which his brief fairly bristled. His Honor Mr Justice Johnston who is a good Maori scholar, gave Mr Joynt very efficient aid, but whenever he came to a name in his brief he made a jump over it, giving something near the name, greatly to the amusement of their Honors and the bar. 1.0.0 F., Ameeioan Constitution.—At a largely attended summoned ordinary meeting, to consider the committee’s report re medical officer, the matter, after a long discussion, was postponed till next Lodgo night. The business of the Lodge having increased to such an extent as to necessitate the meeting of members oftener, it was resolved that the Lodge meet weekly instead of as at present fortnightly. In conclusion it may be added, to show the prosperous state of the Lodge, that seven new members were initiated during the evening, and there still remain several for next meeting. Our Impeovements.—The work of lowering Armagh street near the Government Buildings is now all but completed, and the street has been very much improved thereby. The only drawback is that the side-walk on the side of the Government Buildings is exceedingly high above the road. Unless this is lowered, or something protecting it, in the same way as that by the Supreme Court, it is more than likely that some accident will happen. A lamp has been placed at the junction of the river road and the street, which supplies a want much felt.

The New Government Building.— This very fine block of red brick, with stone facings, is now all but completed, and the contractor is sure to have it thoroughly finished by contract time—the beginning of September next, when we presume it will be duly “ consecrated” —at Government expense —by the usual consumption of sparkling champagne. The new building will be in every respect a public boon; nor will the town clock, to be placed in the tower, bo the least useful feature about it. It is stated—perhaps not on the best authority—that as soon as the Post-office officials have removed into it, the present post office will be shifted bodily, and placed in the Museum, in order that the people of a future age may be able lo appreciate one of the apparent antediluvian structures which for so many years graced Christchurch, and which, to the last, stood the abuse so freely showered upon it, with the grim indifference of a Stoic.

Benefit of Mb John Maesuall.— The benefit of this gentleman is likely to be a success, notwithstanding the fact of there having been such a “benefit” drain on the community during the last few weeks. We hear that the tickets have been going off very rapidly, and that the theatre is likely to be quite as crowded as it was last evening. It is unnecessary for us to urge upon theatre goers the claims which Mr Marshall has upon them, but we might, perhaps, be allowed to remark that, notwithstanding the fact of his having on all occasions given his services in any good cause when called upon to do so, ho has during his long last stay in Christchurch not had Dame Fortune too brightly smiling upon him, and that a substantial benefit will bo to him a benefit indeed. The programme to be given on the occasion appears in another part of this issue, and it must be confessed that it is one which offers many attractions. It will bo seen that quite a number of well-known amateurs have given their services, while Mr Marshall’s professional brethren have mustered up in great strength. Such a galaxy of talent ought to be able, in every way to give a first-class entertainment ; and a first-class entertainment, coupled with the object, ought to draw a first-class house—in the sense of its being crowded from floor to ceiling; and we hope it will be.