The Globe. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1878. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1416, 29 August 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1878. NEWS OF THE DAY.

o The Ward System. —Ratepayers who are in favor of the division of tho city into wards are invited by Councillor Briggs to attend a meeting, to be held in tho sideroom of the Oddfellows’ Hall to-morrow evening at 8 o’clock. Mayoral Banquet. —The banquet to bo given by the Mayor to tho Governor and suite and the members of both Houses on their visit to Christchurch will take place in tho Provincial Council Chamber. It is not quite settled as to the date, but most probably it will be on Thursday evening. Improved Filter. —Mr Temperley, the representative of Temperley Bros., of Yicloria. is now on a visit to Christchurch, and brings with him a number of filters manufactured by the firm. It is claimed for them that they are an improvement on the well known Lipscombo, inasmuch as they contain four beds, and purify tho water more completely. The Minstrels. —There was a crowded house in all part# of the theatre last night, on the occasion of Mr Bent’s benefit. The programme submitted went excellently from first to last, every item being loudly applauded. In the specialty act of Messrs Cheovers and Kennedy the encores were numerous, and in response to a unanimous request they sang “Take me home,” which was heartily received The farces, in which Mr Bent s comicalities evoked loud laughter, went capitally, To-night there will be a change of nroerarnme, and a really attractive bill will be nreserhed. On Friday Mr Martin Simonsen will play his violin solo, and on Saturday Messrs (Iheevers and Kennedy take their farewell benefit.

Engine off tub Line. —On Wednesday the engine of the Oxford train ran off the line at the points at Rangiora, in consequence of their being locked in compliance with an order recently issued. The train was delayed twenty minutes in starting, but no damage was done to the engine. Visit of the Governor.— A meeting of the City Council was held yesterday to consider the steps to bo taken to welcome the Governor on his visit to open the Dunedin and Christchurch lino. It was resolved to meet his Excellency at the railway station, and present him with an address. The party are expected to arrive here on next Thursday morning. Ashley Bridge. —A meeting was held at Loburn yesterday, to urge the necessity for erecting a cart bridge over the Ashley. The meeting came to the unanimous conclusion that the Road Board ought to pay the cost of a bridge, to the extent of £7OOO, over a part of the river known as Cone’s ford. It is high time a dray bridge was erected and the longsuffering of the settlers on the north of the river in doing without a bridge for so long is a matter for surprise. A report of the meeting is hold over. Short-term Tenants and Local Elections.—On 24th August, Mr Stevens asked the Government whether they are prepared to introduce into their Rating Bill a provision which will remove the disabilities under which tenants for terms of less than six months now are, in respect of voting at local elections, through the operation of section 9 of the Rating Act, 1876. The Hon. Mr Stout advised the bon. member to wait until the Rating Bill came down, and if he found it did not contain the provision ho desired, he could move in the matter. Temperance Hotel Cokrany. —A meet-, ing of the provisional directors of the Temperance Hotel Company was held yesterday afternoon at the City Council Chambers. The following were present:—Mr Blakiston (in the chair), the Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch, the Rev. H. C. M. Watson, and Mr Packer, The object of the meeting was to revise the prospectus of the company and appoint a secretary. A letter from Mr Booth, Mayor of Sydenham, expressing regret that he was unable to attend, was read. The committee then went carefully through the prospectus, and made several alterations, after which they adopted it for publication. A gentleman was nominated as secretary pro tern., Mr Blakiston being requested to ascertain his willingness to act. The meeting then adjourned. Lyttelton Temperance Hotel, Ac.—A meeting for the purpose of hearing the report of the committee appointed at the last general meeting, and for considering a draft prospectus, was held at the Borough Council Chambers on Tuesday night, the Mayor in the chair Mr Reed, on behalf of the committee, stated that a most successful canvass for shares had been made in the town, and that already the committee had promises that 600 would be taken up. Intending shareholders wanted to see a prospectus, and for that reason the meeting had been called. He might state that a piece of land had been purchased in London street by Mr S. C. Phillips as a site for the proposed buildings, at a very moderate rate. A draft prospectus was then laid before the meeting, adopted, and ordered to be printed, and Messrs Geo. Tayler, W. Reed, 8. C. Phillips, E. Brown, and Wm. Graham were appointed provisional directors, and Mr Thos. Smith, secretary pro tcm. Eire. —About 1.30 this morning the Lichfield street fire bell rang out a peal, and a very large glare to the southward seemed to betoken a large fire. The locality of the fire was soon ascertained to bo in Manchester street south, adjoining the range of shops recently erected by Mr Widdowson, and opposite drapery establishment of Messrs G. B. Nelson and Co. The burning buildings were two shops under one roof, owned by Mr Ponsford, occupied respectively by Mr Reid, fishmonger, and Mr T. Priston, fruiterer. The fire first started in the upstairs portion of the building occupied by Mr Reid, and before the alarm was given to the inmates of the adjoining house the fire was making its way through the front of the house. It was therefore impossible to do more than to save a few articles of furniture and stock belonging to Mr Priston, but the greater part of the stock, household furniture, &c., were destroyed. The brigade were quickly on the spot, as were also the fire police, and the regular police. The steam engines were placed one at the railway tank and one at the tank opposite Messrs Wilson and Sawtell’s, and a good stream of water was ultimately obtained. The houses on fire fortunately were isolated on the one side, and on the other was the brick wall of Mr Widdowson’s building, so that all chance of the extension of the fire was prevented. The buildings were insured for £3OO in all, as far as could be learnt, but no insurances were on the stock in either case. As soon as the water was at hand the fire was extinguished without any further damage than the destruction of the two buildings in which it started. English Music and Musicians. —The entertainment at St. Michael’s schoolroom last night consisted of a lecture by Mr Parker on “English Music and Musicians,” with illustrations, vocal and instrumental. Mr Parker gave evidence, in bis necessarily brief sketch, that the subject was one to which he had devoted much attention, and the selections which he had made from tho_ works of the English composers were worthy of his well-known taste. He classed his illustrations under three heads—anthems, madrigals, glees and part songs, and ballads, giving a brief definition of each. These were performed in excellent style by the members of his choir. The dates of the compositions ranged from the time of Henry VIII. to that of her Gracious Majesty, as may bo seen from the following programme —“Since first I saw your face,” “The throe ravens,” “The bailiff’s daughter of Islington,” “In going to my lonesome bed,” “ What saith my dainty darling ?” “Drink to me only,” “My lodging is on the cold ground,” “Rejoice in the Lord ” (Purcell), “Yicar of Bray,” “ Rule Britannia,” “Where the bee sucks,” “Tom Bowline,” “Glorious Apollo,” “Queen of the Valley,” “Red Cross Knight,” “Bid me discourse,” “ Forget me not,” “ God is a Spirit ” (Sterndale Bennett), The instrumental illustrations consisted of a “nocturne” by John Field, and a “sonata” by Bennett. Mr Parker concluded his lecture by a warm recoramendatjou to lovers of music to take for their course of stu'G the works of tho composers he had referred to. This would load to the cultivation of a style C ( music which would put an end to the “ llashy ” ballads now so popular. Tho usual votes of thanks concluded the entertainment. -