NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1430, 14 September 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colombo Road Wesleyan- Chuech. —In another column will be found an advertisement of services to be conducted by the Rev. J. S. Smalley. The Wabd System. The adjourned meeting of ratepayers favorable to the division of the city into wards, will be held in the side room of the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street west, at eight o’clock on Monday evening. Eabthquake.—An earthquake appears to have been felt at an early hour this morning in various parts of the province of Canterbury. We have received the following telegram from Waiau : —“ A smart shock of earthquake was felt at this place at 4 35 this morning.” We also hear that the shock was felt at Tai Tapu, in the Ferry road, and at other places. Civic Resignations. —We hear that in addition to the Councillors mentioned in our yesterday’s issue as having resigned, his Worship the Mayor has to-day received the resignation of Professor Bickerton, making up to the present time five resignations in all. As the case now stands the Council barely exists as a quorum, and if, as is stated, Councillor Capes vacates his seat, the Council will practically be defunct until a new election has taken place. The Boating Season. —The opening of the boating season for 1878 has been fixed for Saturday, October stb. The usual inaugural procession will take place starting from the boat sheds, in which about forty boats will join. The boating interests will be represented by the Canterbury and Union Rowing Clubs, those of Heathcote and Kaiapoi having also been invited to take part in the proceedings. There will be four-oar and pair-oar races, as well as canoe land and water races ; a band will also be engaged to enliven the proceedings. The season is being started under the most favorable auspices, a considerable number of new members having joined the two Christchurch clubs, which are also re-inforced by the addition of mmyoldand valued members, who have contributed not a little in their day to place the clubs in their present sound and satisfactory condition. Colonial Ploughs. —Two single-furrow ploughs, lately imported from Melbourne by Mr Thomas, of Messrs Matson and Co., were placed first and second in their class at the Chertsey ploughing match on Thursday last. These ploughs were made by Tynan, of Ballarat, and were much admired for their general appearance, strength, and excellent construction. The men who worked these ploughs at the match had never seen them before the day of the match, notwithstanding which the work they did was undeniably good. The speciality of these ploughs is strength combined with light draught. A double furrow plough by the same maker will be exhibited at the next Christchurch show. The single-furrows may bo seen at Messrs Matson and Co.’s wool stores, by those intoested in such matters. Sons of Tempebance.— The first anniversary of the Try Again division of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance at Woodend, was celebrated on Friday last by a tea and entertainment. The tables were liberally supplied by friends of the order. The entertainment was under the management of M i C. S. Howard. Aq excellent programme was gone through by Mr J. T. Smith and choir from St. Albans, assisted by Mr Good, Messrs J. Thompson and B. Bartrum contributed a recitation and a dialogue, Mr Efford and I he Rev. W. Ellice delivered addresses. Bro. Salkeld proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies and committee, making special allusion to the efforts of Bro. B. Bailey. Bro. T. Wilson proposed votes of thanks to Messrs Smith, Good, and the others who had assisted in the entertainment. The division is doing good work, as there are forty-five members on the books, and a balance of £>oß lodged at interest in the Bank of New Zealand, Eaiapoi. Chanse in the Coast Line.—A remarkable change appears to have taken place on the coast lino between Ruapuka Island and Toitois River since the earthquake of the 30th ult. Mr Campbell, Crown Lands Ranger, who was at Fortrose during the past°week, informs the “ Southland Times ” that a new reef has formed at a point about five or six miles from the shore, and about half way between Fortrose and Ruapuka Island, At high water there is not much to be seen, but, us the tide commences to ebb, rollers form over the spot in question, and and then break with increasing heaviness until the tide is out, clearly indicating a j shoal patch, apparently rocky. Old residents | of Fortrose, whalers who have resided in ■ the locality for the past twenty-five years, ( aver that they never noticed the break before, i atiu m positive it hod bo existence* '

1 A Novel Extra. Prize.— A special prize | of 20s, for the lad who will produce the longest string of dead sparrows at the Northern Agricultural Show, at Rangiora, is said to have been offered to the committee appointed to draw up the special prize list. Drainage Board. —As arranged yesterday week, there was no meeting of the Drainage Board or Board of Health, yesterday. The next ordinary meeting will be held on Friday, the 201 h inst. City Council. —Councillors Jameson and Pratt forwarded their resignations to his Worship the Mayor yesterday. Four members of the Council have consequently now resigned, viz., Crs. Radcliffe, Ruddenklau, Jameson and Pratt, The Telephone. —A practical application of the telephone has been made, by direction of the acting chairman of the Harbor Board, who has arranged for telephonic communication between the Pilot station and the Lookout house on the hill at Lyttelton. The brief trial already made proves the arrangement to work most satisfactorily. Theatre Royal. Byron’s amusing comedy-drama, £IOO,OOO, was played last night tor the last time, the concluding piece being the well worn burlesque “ 111 Treated Trovatore.” To-night those pieces will be withdrawn in favor of Sterling Coyne’s celebrated drama entitled “Fraud and Its Victims.”

1.0.G.T, —On Tuesday evening last an entertainment was given by the members of the Advance Lodge, in the Institute Hall, Cust. Though the weather was unfavorable, there was a large attendance. Bro. Meredith, Lodge Deputy, presided, and an excellent programme was gone through. Bros. Wallis and Cork from Rangiora rendering valuable help. On the motion of Mr Howson, a vote of thanks was accorded to those who took part in the entertainment. Upwards of sixty adults have joined the Lodge. Mkeivalb Entertainment. — A parish entertainment was given last night in the schoolroom of St. Mary’s, Merivale. The items, which were principally musical, consisted of choruses, quartettes, duets, and ballads, which were excellently rendered by the church choir and a number of ladies and gentlemen resident in the neighbourhood. One gentleman also contributed a highly effective reading. There was a full attendance, and the entertainment, which was of a very enjoyable character, passed off in a highly satisfactory manner. Improving on “Hansard.” —Says the Dunedin “ Herald ” : —Up to yesterday we were under the impression that “Hansard” reports were faithful records of what took place in our Houses of Parliament, and that although members were permitted to revise them they were not allowed to alter the sense, except to correct a reportorial mistake. The discussion which took place at the Harbor Board yesterday has, however, presented the matter in another light, for the Hon. Mr Reynolds told the Board that if he had corrected the speech of which the Board complained, ho would have inserted certain words which he had not used, and the omission of which led to the acrimonious discussion of yesterday and its predecessor a few days ago. Is it customary for members to make one speech in the House, and then make it “ read well ” in the pages of “Hansard” for the benefit of their constituents ? Railway Exploration in Australia.— A Barcoo correspondent writes to the “ Queenlander ” under date the Bfch August:—The Trans-Continental Railway Expedition made a fair start. I saw their turn-out of horses and saddlery, which appeared to me to be well suited for such an undertaking; and further, the men selected for this arduous task could not have been better chosen. They are men not affected with any outward show or “blowing,” but men who seem fully determined to assist each other, in order that they may accomplish the work allotted to them to the full satisfaction of the worthy proprietors of the “Queenslander” and of the inhabitants of the Far West, who are doubtless the most interested. I wish them all a pleasant and successful journey, and sincerely hope for their safe return, I regret to hear that the country within the South Australian border is rather dry. It appears from reports current that the last season’s rain was very partial in that quarter. Ruepianism and Gambling in San Francisco. —Says the San Francisco “ Chronicle ” : —Since the increase of the police force in this city it has been noted that flagrant acts of ruffianism have become rare ; garrottings are almost unknown. On the other hand there is a class of crimes whose perpetrators seem to have a greater immunity now than when the force of peace officers was very much smaller. Bunko thieves may be seen on every Kearny street corner and the location of their dens is well known to every reader of the daily papers. That mode of robbing which the criminal class oddly call “Ringing the Boodle,” is again coming in vogue. This involves a series of somewhat complicated manoeuvres; the choice of a victim in a man who is not only credulous but who has a bank account; his conversion to their financial platform, which includes withdrawal of his funds from the bank ; a mysterious exchange of carpet sacks, and the, to the victim,' extraordinary disappearance of the money and the confidence men. And gambling hells are becoming more numerous and the robbers of our youth becoming bolder. The explanation of the repression of violent crime and the increase of those wherein no violence is necessary is simple. In the one case the now policemen have their attention called to the breach of the peace, in the other they cannot act without such information as is above given. Charitable Aid. —The usual meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board will be held this evening at the Hospital. Sydenham Election.— The burgesses of Sydenham are reminded that the day fixed for receiving nominations for the election of two councillors, in the room of Councillors Scott and Whitelaw who have resigned, is Monday, 16th, at noon. School oe Cookery. —Miss Fidler has arranged to give a course of lectures in Lyttelton. The first (to which admission will be (free) will take place on Mouday afternoon at three o’clock, in the English Church schoolroom, in Winchester street.