NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1405, 16 August 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Robbeby in the Feeey Road. —During the absence of Mr W. Fraser, the proprietor of the Ferry road store, from the shop this morning, someone walked in and helped themselves to the cash box, containing between £4 and £5, which was standing on a box of lollies. There is no clue to the robbers. Teeat fob the Chihdeen.— lt is notified elsewhere that the circus proprietors will give their first midday performance to-morrow for the special benefit of schools and families. The pavilion will be lighted up the same as at night time, and the performance will be in every way as good as that now gone through each evening. In addition to this, a number of new features, eminently calculated to please the young idea, will be introduced into the programme, which, for to-morrow afternoon, is a very full and complete one. The Gaoey ox? the Peess. —This is the title of a lecture which will shortly be delivered by Mr Thomas Bracken in aid of the Widow and Orphan Fund of the Loyal Avon Lodge, American Constitution. On the occasion of Mr Bracken’s visit to Christchurch, about a year ago, he promised Mr Lezard, N.GK, to devote one evening during his stay to a reading in aid of the above object; but pressure of business then prevented him from fulfilling his promise. His offer has now been renewed and accepted, and the lecture will come off between the 26th and the 31st inst, Mr Bracken is well known as a gentleman of high literary attainments, and as a lecturer on some subjects, he is simply unapproachable. For instance, his “ Night with Samuel Lover” is an entertainment so rich and racy, and so brimful of Irish wit and humor, as to keep an audience in convulsions of laughter for a couple of hours, except when here and there the lecturer grows pathetic; and he can be as affecting as mirth-provoking. For the purposes of a general entertainment we think his “ Night with Lover ” would be far more acceptable to the people of Christchurch than the lecture he proposes to give. Mr Bracken is well known as the writer of “The New Zealand National Anthem,” “The Tramp of the Fire Brigade,” and a volume of poems entitled, “Flowers of the Freelands,” which has been everywhere most favorably received. He is not unknown as “ Paddy Murphy,” but he is perhaps best known as the editor, and one of the proprietors, of the Dunedin “ Saturday Advertiser.” We have no doubt the lecture will be largely attended, and that the funds of the widows and orphans will be very considerably augmented. City Impeovements. —The lamp at the junction of High and Cashel streets has been removed, and steps will be taken very shortly to place the footpath from the White Hart corner to the Triangle. The cab stand now used in front of Cobb’s office will be removed to Cathedral Square. St, John’s, —Mr N. Q-. Barnett has resigned his position as organist and choirmaster of St. John’s. For some time past Mr Barnett has been suffering from ill-health, and the work entailed upon him has been found to be too great for him to stand.

St. Michael’s Entertainment.— One of the most successful of the series of entertuinments given in connection with the parish of St. Michael’s took place last evening in the schoolroom. The principal part fell to the lot of Mr Hoskins, who gave some of his well-known Shaksperian readings and lectures with great effect, eliciting loud applause. The Ciecus. —There was a very good house at the Circus last evening, when the programme of the preceding night was repeated. The various feats of the company received due appreciation at the hands of the audience, especially those gf Mdlle. DeGranville, which were loudly applauded! To-night the same bill will be given, and on Saturday the first mid-day performance will take place, when the pavilion will be lighted the same as in the evening. Driving Round Coenebs.— The validity of the iby-law against driving quickly round the corners of certain streets will again be tested in the Magistrate’s Court next Monday. An information has been laid by the police and Dr. Foster wifi prosecute on behalf of the City Council. No doubt the other side will bo represented by counsel, and it is to bo hoped tho'raalter will finally bo set at rest one way or the other.

Arrest of a Bank Clerk. —ln Wednesday’s telegrams appeared a statement that a young man named Manning had been arrested in Auckland on a charge of embezzling money the property of the Bank of New Zealand, and that he had been remanded to Christchurch. If the facts are accurately stated, it is strange that neither the Christchurch police nor the Court officers have been notified of Manning’s arrest or remand. St. Andrew’s Church. —On Tuesday evening a lecture was delivered in the schoolroom by the Rev. Wm. Q-illies of Timaru, the subject being, “Pluck, Probity, and Perseverance as exemplified in the Lives of William and Robert Chambers, of Edinburgh.” There war a considerable audience, presided ever by Dr. Turnbull. The lecture was listened to with great attention, and frequently elicited applause. At the close a vote of thanks was proposed by Mr D. Craig, seconded by Mr R. Clephane, and carried with applause.

Theatre Royal. —Mr Marshall’s benefit last evening attracted a numerous audience, the various parts of the Theatre being well filled. In the first part the various songs wore well rendered by the various members of the company, Mr Marshall sang “ The Voice of the Sea” very nicely indeed, and Mr tluugUton in (,ho now well known song, “Hark the Drum,” succeeded in eliciting an encore. Mr Tankard played the cornet obligato to this very nicely indeed. The cornpr ipon were successful with their jokes and comic songs, and all engaged endeavored and successfully to make the various items on the programme go well with the audience. In the second part Mr Marshall sang the descriptive song, “ Wrecked and Saved,” with great power and effect, and the other miscellaneous items were given very well by the gentlemen to whom they had been entrusted. Altogether, the performance was a very creditable one.

East Christchurch School Committer.—A meeting will bo held in the East Christchurch schoolroom on the 9th September, for the purpose of electing a school committee in place of the members who have recently resigned.

Demoralising the Police Force. —The energy which the Government are devoting to the disorganisation of the police force appears to occasion surprise even to the most unquestioning friends of the Ministry. Thus the “ West Coast Times” has the following on a recent order :—The latest edict out is, of all, we think the hardest. It is an order from the Chief Commissioner to the effect that in future constables on the sick list are to be mulcted of half their pay during their illness. When it is considered how very low the scale of remuneration is, and that a very large proportion of the steadiest and most valuable men of the New Zealand force are married men with families, how cruel the deprivation at a time of sickness of one half their money is must be recognised by the greatest stickler for economy. It 'must bo remembered that to all stations a medical man is attached, and that however some skulkers might attempt to evade duty on the pretence of being ill or ailing, they are only relieved on the certificate of the surgeon stating distinctly from what they are suffering, and that they arc unfit for duty. Such a harsh and unfeeling regulation has hardly ever been heard of, and, as a natural consequence it has materially increased the already very prevalent feelings of discontent that the police management has of late excited. Hereford Street Baptist Church.—A lecture was delivered by the Rev. Charles Dallaston last evening in the above church on behalf of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Class. The Rev. W. H. Keast occupied the chair, and in a few suitable words introduced the rev. lecturer. The title of the lecture was “Rowland Hill, the Eccentric Preacher,” and the lecturer gave some interesting particulars of the early life of Rowland Hill, of his being theson of a baronet, his school days at Eton, and subsequent college life at Cambridge, where lie obtained the degree of B.A. In the course of the lecture, a graphic description was given of his person, habits, and character; and Mr Dallaston defended him from the absurd stories in which ho had been misrepresented by his foes, and many of which had been believed by his friends. A great number of amusing anecdotes were given, but which, the lecturer showed, never caused Rowland Hill to swerve from his purpose of bringing home some valuable truth to his hearers. Reference was made to the erection of Surrey Chapel, London, where he preached for so long a time. It was stated that his usefulness as a preacher spread over a term of fifty years, and that even in old age he retained his earnestness as a preacher, as well as his constant flow of wit and humor and ready tact in turning any circumstance that occurred to advantage, especially in his open-air preaching, of which some very telling anecdotes were related. He died at the advanced age of eighty-nine, in perfect peace. A suitable selection of Sankey’s hymns were heartily joined in by the audience at intervals, the meeting concluding with the usual votes of thanks and the Benediction. The attendance was good, and a fair amount was collected towards the funds of the Mutual Improvement Class. The Wilkin Testimonial. —A meeting of the committee of the Wilkin testimonial fund was held yesterday at the Canterbury Foundry. Present—Messrs A. Duncan, J. Mcßoath, J. Mann, W. Henderson, J. Anderson, jun. (hon. sec.), and R. Sutherland. Mr Duncan was voted to the chair. The hon. sec. stated that the object of the meeting was to receive a statement of accounts, pass the same, and take steps to send the balance of subscriptions to Mr Wilkin. He also stated that he had received numerous letters apology from gentlemen sympathising with the object which the committee were carrying out, and forwarding their contributions. A letter was read from Mr H. H. Henuah, apologising for non-attendance owing to the outgoing English mail. Mr G. E. Way attended on behalf of Mr Hennah, the honorary treasurer, and submitted accounts, showing the total amount of subscriptions to be £391 15s. It was resolved that 300 guineas be remitted to Mr Wilkin; and that Messrs Hall, Aynsley, Duncan, Sutherland, and Anderson be a sub-committee to have an illuminated address framed in New Zealand woods forwarded to Mr Wilkin, and also any balance of subscriptions remaining in the hands of the treasurer. The hon. sec. also stated that by the Suez mail of June 29th the Hon. John Hall wrote to Mr Robert Wilkin in England, when he touched upon the many services the latter had rendered to Canterbury in the cause of agriculture for years past, and requested his acceptance of an accompanying draft for three hundred guineas, being part of a testimonial contributed by the inhabitants of Canterbury, as a slight expression of their sympathy with his past efforts. With a portion of this sum, they would suggest his having his portrait painted in England by a first-rate artist, the remainder to be laid out in a piece of plate, or any other way he might wish. In conclusion, wishing him a pleasant trip and a speedy return, Mr Hall added, that the amount contributed represented a very numerous list of subscribers, as the subscription had purposely been limited to a very small sum, in order that it might be within the means of all. Mr J. T. M. Smith’s Congest.— At the Oddfellows’ Hall last night, Mr J. T. M. Smith’s vocal and instrumental concert was very successful. The orchestra was sufficiently full, and the chorus both numerous and thoroughly efficient, whilst the solo singers evinced the training and taste of practised vocalists. The programme opened with an overture played with great spirit and excellent time. To this succeeded the chorus “ Hymen’s torch ” which showed that the choir was well under the control of the conductor. A duet, “ A voice from the waves ” was then nicely sung by Miso Smith and Mrs A. Corrick. The glee “ Haste ye soft gales,” and the part song “Stradella,” which followed next but one, showed some little indecision in the beginning, but were otherwise all that could be desired. Mr F. Barker, who sang the intermediate song, “Bird, lly from hence,” was somewhat tamo. The next song, “ The Fisherman’s Daughter,” was so well sung by Mrs A. Corrick that it was redemanded. The lady, however, only bowed to the compliment. “ The Nun’s Prayer,” a chorus, followed, and was remarkable for the uniform attention to expression shown by the vocalists. Miss Smith then sang, with much repose, “ Who can tell ?” The choral march for male voices, “Hark the merry drum,” succeeded, and was rendered witli groat precision. Miss Ness then gave “Pepita,” of which she was compelled to repeat one verso. In the next two numbers, “ Now by day’s retiring lamp ” and “Angels that around us hover ” the latter accompanied by the orchestra, the same attention to expression was shown as in “The Nun’s Prayer.” Miss Kent then sang with her usual success “ Ah, those bewitching charms.” The entertainment concluded with the comparatively little known cantata “The Jackdaw of Rheims.” This was done full justice to, all concerned evidently entering into the spirit of the composition con amore. The overture begino with some solemn strains gradually changing to more lively airs, and ending with regular country dance music. The chorus takes up the air to the words of “ The Jackdaw sat.” Miss Kent followed with an aria, the words of which it was difficult to catch. A recitative by Mr Johnson showed the same defective enunciation, but a succeeding chorus, “A Nice Little Boy,” in which part answered part, was admirably given, as was the air “The Great Lord Cardinal,” by Miss Ness. Mr Johnson in the next air, “There’s a Cry and a Shout,” was heard to much greater advantage. The two choruses, “ The Cardinal rose ” and “ The Day was gone,” were capitally rendered. Miss Ness declaimed with much effect the brief recitative “Ho longlived the Pride. A “Dead March ”of a rather quaint character preceded the finale. “When as words were too faint,” in which the trebles bud an unaccompanied passage is deserving of special mention. The piano accompaniments throughout were excellently played by a gentleman whoso name did not appear on the programme. The success of the cantata should encourage Mr Smith to repeat it at an early dale, as its music is euro to hit Iho popular taste.

Death in Lyttelton Q-aol.—A prisoner named John William Fleming died of heart disease in the Lyttelton Gaol, at 3.30 p.m. yesterday. The deceased had nearly completed his sentence, and would have been discharged on Saturday. C.Y.C., Rangiora Contingent. —The gular parade of this corps was interfered with on Thursday by the practice of the fire brigades and the fact that several of the members, being members of the brigade, were employed in testing the water supply. K.C.B. Minstrels. —These clever artistes, under the management of Mr Martin Simonson will arrive to-morrow from the South, and commence their season in the Theatre Royal tomorrow evening. A very attractive programme has been prepared for their dehut, and no doubt their season here will be a remunerative one.