The Globe. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1878. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1424, 7 September 1878, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1878. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Suspected Aeson. —This morning, about half-past twelve, Sergeant Wilson noticed a glare of fire apparently in Dr. Symes’s yard in Worcester street. Me immediately raised the alarm, and made his way to the yard in question, having, in order to do so, to climb over two fences. Ho found that the fire consisted of a quantity of burning rubbish piled up against the angle where a fence meets the side wall of a cottage at the rear of Dr. Symes’s house. ago is occupied by two families, that, against which the fire was burning heiKjPn the occupation of Mrs Abbott, who has a family of five children. There was a strong smell of kerosene perceptible, and the Sergeant noticed that several phials of kerosene had just burst as he arrived. These bottles had been placed upon a piece of board, under which was the rubbish. Upon further examination it was found that there must have been a quantity of kerosene thrown or placed there, for the ground was quite saturated. The Sergeant with assistance speedily extinguished the fire. The damage done can be repaired for £5 or £6. Several suspicious circumstances pointing to the groom of Dr. Symes as being the perpetrator of what clearly is the work of an incendiary, the man, whose name is James Smith, was arrested and brought up at the R.M. Court this morning on a charge of arson. The charge was not proceeded with, prisoner being, on the application of the police, remanded for eight days. Deainase Boahd. —There was no meeting of the Drainage Board and Board of Health yesterday, most of the members haying gone to Dunedin. Midland Canteebuey Cricket Club.— The annual meeting of the M.C.O.C. is called for to-night, at Radcliffe’s Hotel. Business of importance is to be transacted, and a full attendance of members is requested. Haeboe Eoabd—Owing to the absence of some of the members of the Harbor Board, who were duly celebrating the official opening of the railway to Dunedin, the usual meeting, which should have taken place yesterday, lapsed. Reapee Teial. —At the meeting or the Northern Agricultural Association yesterday, the President threw out a suggestion that the Kaiapoi Farmer’s Club and the Society ought to join this year in offering a good prize for a trial of harvesters, St. Luke’s Bazaab—The total amount realised at the Bazaar and (rift Auction, towards liquidating the debt on St, Luke’s parish, was over £3OO. A largo quantity of valuable articles still remain unsold, which, when disposed of, will further owoll the sum already realised. Amateub Opeea Company. —lt has already been intimated that an amateur operatic company is in course of formation similar to that which recently gave such successful performances in Dunedin. The objects of the company are similar to those of Signor Oarmini Morley’s troupe, and, judging from fche talent of the members already enrolled, an .equal measure of success will be achieved. The Fiest Teain to Dunedin. —The railway station yesterday morning presented an unusually animated appearance before the departure of the first train to Dunedin. Hundreds of people were assembled outside the railway station, but no one was allowed on the platform without a pass. The Dunedin railway band performed some stirring music, interspersed with glees, outside tire station, to the delight of the bystanders. The Pullman car was devoted to the Governor and suite. Mr Alison Smith, of the locomotive department, piloted the engine.^ A Case op Destitution.— A young girl, who said her name was Kate Morris, and that she had been in the service of White and Co., applied for admission to the Sunnyside Asylum. Mr Seager not deeming her insane, and in the absence of proper authority, was unable to take her in. A constable, who was there at the time, brought her to the Police Depot, and she was examined by Dr, Coward, who endeavored to gain admission for her to the Hospital, but was _ unsuccessful, as the ease did not come within the regulations. She had previously been an inmate, and had been treated lor typhoid fever, but hud been discharged. As the girl was very weak, and apparently had no home or friends, she was taken to the Armagh street Immigration Depot. The girl appeared to be nineteen or twenty vears ot age, of slight build, and had brown hair and blue eyes. She had on a black cloth jacket, and underneath a brown striped cotton dress, and on her head a black straw hat, with blue ribbon round it. This description may possibly lead to her identification, as up to the present time the police have no duo to any friends or acquaintances she wvy have in Christchurch,

Canthebuey Rowing Obits. —The annual meeting of tho Canterbury Rowing Club, which was to have been held yesterday, was adjourned, as many members of tho club were away South, celebrating tho railway festival. The meeting will bo held at Radcliffo's Hotel, on Wednesday next.

The Ciecits. —There was an improvement in tho attendance last night at the circus, the various acts, equestrian and acrobatic, being performed with great spirit. To-night’s performance, the last of tho season, will bo for the benefit of Agilio, and an excellent programme will bo provided. On Monday evening the circus company will perform in Oxford, en route for other up-country towns.

Presentation. Tho employes of tho Row Zealand Railways at Christchurch yesterday invited Mr j. H. Stringer to meet them at tho Terminus Hotel, at noon, when a very handsome tea and coffee service and salver were presented to him, on the occasion of his removal to Rangiora. Mr Stringer, who has been connected with the railways from their institution in Canterbury, has earned the goodwill and esteem of those with whom he has been connected. White Swans. —We are informed that Mr Charles Clark, of Colombo street south, who had reared two beautiful specimens, and by feeding them himself night and morning for about ten months, had quite tamed them, lost them a few days ago, and advertised them as having strayed. He has now, lie says, positive proof that one was wantonly shot by a man living in the Windmill road immediately it took its first flight, and the presumption is that the other one has shared the same fate from some one else. Mr Clark has been pressed by many friends to prosecute,the delinquent, but has not done so, although, he has proof of his identity. Theatre Royal. —The theatre was very moderately attended last night, although a very good programme was presented. The first part consisted of singing and dancing, in which Mr and Mrs Leslie were very successful, especially in a comic duologue entitled “Jones tho Rifleman.” Mr T. Allen danced a sailor’s hornpipe, introducing cutlass exercise, and fairly brought the house down by bis capital pantomime and active movements. Ho subsequently danced an American prize jig, which was also loudly applauded. Tho performance terminated with a laughable farce. To-night is the last of the troupe’s performances, as they next appear in Lyttelton. Me Dcgaid Macfaelane.— lt will bo remembered that on the last anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, occasion was taken to present Mr Dugald Macfarlane, one of the few remaining survivors of the Battle of Waterloo, with a birthday testimonial of considerable value. It may not bo generally known, however, that Mr Macfarlane has since received a letter from the president of the mess of the Rifle Brigade, with which regiment he was so honorably connected, containing a request that tho mess might be furnished with a portrait of the veteran. Mr Macfarlane at once consented, and an admirable photograph of him was taken by Messrs Dosseter and Co., and forwarded by the last Californian mail to Gibraltar, where the Brigade is stationed.

The Teleoeaph Deuaetment. —A correspondent of a northern contempoary writes : —Things are not going on right in the telegraph department, and I see by the Wellingt on papers there are many complaints of unfair treatment of officers. There ought to bo a Eoyal Commission appointed to enquire into the grievances of the officers under Dr. Lemon, who, report says, grinds his men down and loots after No. 1. How unpopular the telegraph department is with its officers may be seen in the groat wish of our telegraphist and postmaster to bo allowed his choice of departments on it being decided to disconnect them once more. I needn’t say it would have been the postal he would have elected to remain in had he had the option. The great complaint is that the best operators instead of getting rapid promotion are kept in the large stations at small screws, whilst ignorant and favor currying incapables are promoted to the charge of country stations on good pay. This is rewarding talent with a vengeance. As a matter of fact, an old telegraphist tells me all who can leave have left and are leaving, as the department holds out no inducement to good men to remain in it.

The Excise in New Zealand.—Commenting on the difference of the Excise in the old country and this colony a writer in the Wanganui “ Herald ” says : Other things being equal the N.Z. law is, without doubt, the severer of the two ; but as things are not equal, it is the most lenient I take it. For instance, in the old country the excise officers are so numerous and so well trained that illicit distillation has all but been stamped out except in the wild and uninhabited hills of Ireland and Scotland ; here, on the contrary, wo have but a handfnl of excise officers, most of whom would not know a still from a tea kettle, and a country affording almost inexhaustablo facilities for concealment owing to the sparse population and dense forests, and all but inaccessible gullies and creeks. It is all but impossible to catch the bush distiller at work. Jessop defied the combined acuteness of the police on this coast for years, never making it a secret that he was in the habit of running off “a drop of the crater ” now and then ; they were often close to him, but ho was always too quick for them. No wonder he feels angry at being caught at last through letting his utensils go into incompetent hands.

A Mysterious Aeeair. —About a month ago (says the “Timaru Herald”) a certain married woman, living near Timaru, who acts as a nurse, received a letter from a person in Lyttelton asking her if she could take in Mrs to be confined. The very same night Mrs drove up to the door, and much to the inconvenience of the nurse, was taken in. The child was born, and the mother remained at the house for some days. One afternoon, however, she went into town, and was never afterwards seen or heard of. The baby still remains on the nurse’s hands, who does not know what to do with it. The mother left without making any provision for it, although from all appearances she was well provided with money, and belonged to something above the ordinary class of people. We understand that the nurse, after waiting over a fortnight expecting to hear from her, or from the man who ■vwcfce in the first instance from Lyttelton, saced the matter in the hands of the police, who will probably have little difficulty in tracing the mother of the child, and causing her to resume charge of her helpless infant.

Municipal Reserves, The following question and reply are reported in “ Hansard ” : —Mr Woolcock asked the Minister for Lands if the Q-overnment are acting on any fixed principle in granting reserves to municipalities under section 351 of the Municipal Corporations Act, XB7C; and, if so, if lie will explain that principle to the House F From a return laid on the table he found that there were thirty-one applications for 31.000 acres of land, and ho wished to know whether the Government were acting on any uniform principle. Mr Stout replied that the Government had been guided by four principles—first, the size, locality, and nature of the municipality ; second, the locality and quality of the laud applied for ; third, the owning of other reserves by the municipality; and, fourth, the extent of land in the land district where the municipality existed, and whether the granting of the laud would effect settlement. He might add that the Government had to carry out the provisions of the statute; but if the Government had the introducing of such a Eiil as the Municipal Corporations Act, 187 G, it was very doubtful if they would have inserted such a provision as that of section 351.

Rifle Association’s Concert. The council of the Canterbury Rifle Association have decided to give a concert in the Oddfellows’ Hull on the evening of Thursday, September 20th, and for that purpose have secured the assistance of the best local amateurs and profe«eibnals. The programme contains some excellent pieces, orchestral selections, instrumental solos, vocal solos, and gleos. One special feature will be the part songs for male voices only, double quarteits, and us the gentlemen taking part therein are well-known as vocalists ot merit, an excellent entertainment may bo looked fgr, The programme will he published shortly.

H.A.C.B. Society. —The quarterly meeting of the Hibernian and Australian Catholic Benefit Society will be hold at St. Patrick’s Hall, Barbadoes street, on Thursday next, at half-past seven p.m. Sermons to the Working Classes The Kev. T. Hodgson will preach the third special sermon to the working classes to-morrow, at St. Asaph’s United Methodist Free Church, his subject being “The Present Outlook.” Charitable Aid.— The usual weekly meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board will take place this evening at the hospital. Bible Christians. This denomination will open a now church at Addington (Selwyn street south) to-morrow. Three sermons will bo preached: in the morning, at 11, by the Rev, W. H. Keast; at 2.30 by Rev. C. Dallas ton; and at 0.30 by Rev. J. White. On the following Tuesday' there will be a public tea at 6 o’clock, to be followed by a public meeting, when several gentlemen will deliver addresses. Wesleyan Sunday School.— The twentyfifth anniversary of the Durham street Wesleyan Sunday School will be celebrated to-morrow, when services will be conducted by the Revs. J. Crump, J. A. Luxford, and W. Morloy. _ The anniversary tea meeting will take place in the schoolroom on Thursday, September 12th, to be followed by a public meeting in the church, at wdiich addresses will bo delivered by ministers of the Wesleyan denomination.