NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1413, 26 August 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Thb City Council Elections. — We understand that among the candidates _ who intend to contest civic honors this year is Mr William Tremayne. St, Michael’s. —The next entertainment, on Wednesday evening, will present the novel and interesting feature of a lecture on English Music and Musicians, by Mr R. Parker. From the programme we observe that copious illustrations will be drawn from the secular works of some of the most famous composers —from the Elizabethan madrigal writers down to Sir Henry Bishop and Sir Sterndale Bennett, Several of the charming old national ballads, of unknown authorship, will also be given. The illustrations will be sung by a number of ladies and gentlemen of the choir and Choral Society connected with St. Michael’s. It is to be hoped that this attempt to provide something better than the ordinary fare at these entertainments will meet with the success it deserves. Winter Evening Readings. —Another of these entertainments was given in the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton, on Fridiy night. There was a capital attendance, and the various items, many of which w r ere by nau ical friends, were warmly applauded. Lyttelton Fike Brigade. A special meeting of the Brigade was held on Friday last, at which it was decided to have a torchlight processim on October 24th, to commemorate the anniversary of the opening of the waterworks. It was decided to ask the Insurance Association to subscribe towards the expenses, and also to ask for contributions from the townspeople. It was also unanimously resolved to request the Lyttelton fire police and the Christchurch and Northern Brigades to take part in the procession. The Minstrels. There was a very large attendance at the Theatre on Saturday, when the C.K.B. Minstrels repeated the programme of the preceding evening. All the items went excellently, the fun of Messrs Bent, Kennedy, andOheevers, and the singing of the various other members of the company drawing forth loud and continued plaudits from the audience. To-night a now programme will be presented, and as this is the last week of the stay of the Minstrels in Christchurch, no doubt they will be largely patronised. The Circus. —The attendance at the matinee given by the circus, on Saturday, was very large, every part of the tent being well filled. The various items given by the different artistes engaged seeined to please the audience—especially the juvenile portion ft—very much. In the evening a capital bill was presented. Mdlle, Annereau wont through a very graceful act of equestrianism, and Mdlle. do Q-ranville, in her performance with the chair, was loudly applauded. Mr Hayes deserves mention for his clever acts of horsemanship, and Mr Benharao was as funny as ever. To night a good bill will be given, and on Wednesday another matinee, by request. Serious Accident.— On Saturday afternoon, shortly alter four o’clock, a horse attached to a milk cart, the property of a man named rhilpotts, living in Emightstown, bolted from the north end of Durham street. The animal galloped furiously along St. Asaph street, and turned up Montreal street near the Royal Hotel. Near this spot a horse and cart were standing, a little girl named Margaret Curran, eleven years of age, being seated in the latter. The runaway horse dashed into this vehicle with sqch force as completely to knock the body off the wheels, and toss the child seven or eight feet into the air. She fell heavily onJJ to the road, and was picked up insensible. Being removed to the Hospital one arm was found to be broken, and the girl complained of severe internal pains. She was eventually removed to her parento’ house in the Lincoln road. The cart m which the girl was seated was broken to pieces, but neither of the horses was seriously hurt. The driver of the runaway cart is the same lad who recently had a collision in Hereford street, by which one of the horses was killed,

Remission of Qeain Duty.—A meeting of members of the Corn Exchange was held on Saturday afternoon to consider the intention of Government to remove the duty from imported grain. A resolution condemning the Government proposal was carried by a large majority of those present, and the chairman was requested to forward the result of the meeting to Wellington. Thanksgiving- Seevices.—ln accordance with the recommendation of the commissaries of the Bishop, thanksgiving services for the restoration of peace in Europe, were held at the various Episcopalian churches yesterday. Special psalms were used, and the sermons preached by (he respective preachers had reference to the termination of the struggle which had been so long raging in Europe, and to the success of the late European Conference. Hospital Boaed,—As will be seen by the report elsewhere of the proceedings of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on Saturday night some valuable statistical information has been forwarded by the Dunedin Hospital. It is the intention of the Christchurch Board to take steps for having all prescriptions for outside institutions, such as the gaol, orphanage, &c., made up, if possible, independent of the Hospital. This will be a great relief to the dispensary of that institution. The Postal Union.—lt is said (observes the “Athenamm”) that the United States Government, after consideration, have resolved to disregard the provisions of the Postal Unien Treaty with regard to the delivery of book packets. Orders have been given to stamp all such packets “ Undeliverablo, ” and to return them. The authorities base their determination on a clause in the fourth article of the Treaty, which, however, relates to the case of a country desiring to exercise jurisdiction over the Post Office, and to hinder the circulation of what may be called seditious matter. Railway Management.—The “ Timaru Herald” of Friday says: —The inadequate accommodation provided on our railways for the travelling public is the subject of daily comment, and much dissatisfaction. We believe that this is not without some cause. There was only one first class carriage in the early train to Oamaru yesterday, and only one in the return evening train also. The result was that the carriage was crowded [to excess. Gentlemen who desired to have a smoking carriage to themselves looked in vain for one, and much to their inconvenience felt necessitated to crush into the same compartment with the ladies, while several others were obliged to travel in second class carriages. We are informed that this state of affairs is of frequent occurrence, and great dissatisfaction is the result. Trains are also delayed very often at the Waimate Junction, but for what reason remains a dark and inscrutable mystery. The train last night was delayed there about three-quarters of an hour, and it was consequently late in arriving at Timaru. Could not such vexatious matters as these be avoided P We see no reason why they should not, and the sooner some improvements are effected in the direction we have pointed out, the sooner will the public feel that the railway authorities have some regard for their comfort and convenience. Me Bent’s Benefit.—Mr W. H. Bent, who is well known to all Christchurch playgoers, takes a benefit on Wednesday next, when a most attractive programme will he presented. Mr Bent, during his professional conuection with Christchurch, has made himself very popular, and no doubt on Wednesday evening this will be testified b y an overflowing house.