NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1431, 17 September 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Division of the City into • At a meeting held last night at the Oddfellows' Hall, a resolution was passed nominating a committee for the purpose of obtaining signatures to a petition to the Governor, for the division of the city into four wards. O-KtTKtr Brtdge—The Ashley Road Board having declined to sanction a large expenditure for this bridgo, a requisition has been forwarded to the chairman of the Board to call a public meeting. This has been convened for Tuesday next. Cooking Lessons at Lxttklton.—Miss Tidier gave the first of a series of cooking lessons at the church schoolroom, Lyttelton, yesterday afternoon. Great interest in the matter appears to be felt in Port, more than seventy ladies attending this preliminary lecture. Fatal Accident.—At Invercargill on .Friday, a child named Sydney Palmer, aged fourteen months, was drowned in a well, which was near to its father's house. It appears that one of the palings was out of the fence enclosing the garden in which the well was situated, and it is surmised that the child had gono through the gap, and fallen down an opening in the top of the well,

Lyttelton School.—Mr Dawe, the new head master, took formal charge of the Lyttelton Borough School yesterday morning.

Theatre Royal.— "Fraud and its Victims" was repeated last night to a moderate house. This evening " Eaßt Lynne " will be Produced.

Native Statement. —The Native Minister did not deliver his statement last night, as expected. He will, however, do so this evening. Lyttelton Harbor Bill. —An amendment of the Lytlelton Harbor Board Act, 1876, has been introduced by Mr Richardson. The object of the Bill is to empower the Board to borrow a further sum of £IOO,OOO. Municipal Elections.—The elections for the five vacancies in the City Council, caused by the resignation of Crs. Radcliffe, Pratt, Ruddenklau, Jameson, and Bickerton, will be held on Monday, October 7th. Nominations will be received at the City Council office up to noon of September 24th. Colonists' Society.—The people of Lyttelton will be glad to hear that Mr and the Miss Spensleys, Messrs Knox and Crawford, and other ladies and gentlemen have promised to give a grand concert in aid of the above society, at the Colonists' Hall, on Thursday evening next. Collision.—Last night, about a quarter past seven o'clock, as a cabman named John Brown was proceeding with his hansom cab down Manchester street in the direction of the railway station, he was run into by a man driving a spring cart. The collision was a severe one, the cab horse being so seriously injured that it died three-quarters of an hour afterwards.

Canterbury Rifle Association. A grand concert in aid of tho Canterbury Rifle Association will be given in the Oddfellows' Hall, on Thursday, September 26th. Some of the moßt prominent amateur and professional musicians in Christchurch will take part in the entertainmont, which will be under the patronage of Sir Cracroft and Lady Wilson, his Worship the Mayor, Major Lean, and the officers of the Volunteers. An excellent programme has been drawn up. Colonial Manufacture. Mr T. J. Watters, stove manufacturer, has just completed several very excellent cooking ranges, which will very likely be put in competition for the prize offered by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association at the November Show. They are excellently finished throughout, all the appurtenances being.of the best quality, and they have the further merit of being very reasonable in price. Thk Electoral Bill.—ln committee on this Bill yesterday an amendment necessitating the advertising of electoral notices was carried, on the motion of Mr Wakefield, although opposed by the Attorney-General. Clause 6 was struck out, for what reason is not apparent. That clause provided that when any day appointed under the Act for any purpose fell on a Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas D*y, New Year's Day, or public holiday, then such provision and appointment should take effect for the day following. Billiard Tournament. The opening matches of a billiard tournament at Radcliffe's Hotel, in which most of the local amateur billiard players are engaged, were played last evening, and attracted a large audience. The prizes are—First £lO, and second and third £5 each respectively. The tournament is a handicap one, and the closeness of the games played last evening showed that the handicapper had been successful in bringing the players together. The games were watched with great interest, and some very good play was shown throughout the evening. The tournament will he continued this evening. A Carter Killed. A man named Thomas Quinn was killed at Cameron's Station, Ashburton, yesterday morning. It appears that deceased was carting grass seed, and it is supposed tho horses shied at some hags he had put off the dray, and bolted, knocking the deceased down, and that the wheel of the dray passed over his head. As one of the men saw the horses running away, he went back and found Quinn on the ground quite dead. The accident happened shortly after ten in the morning. Deceased only came from Christchurch last week, and appeared about 24 or 25 years of age. Presentation. —A presentation was mado yesterday to Mr William Taylor, the late head master of the Heathcote School. At the conclusion of the day's duties, Mr A. Webber, on behalf of the senior scholars, made the presentation, which consisted of a very handsome dressing case, bearing the following inscription :—" Presented to Mr William Taylor, by some of his scholars, on leaving the Lower Heathcote School, 1878." Mr Taylor made a suitable reply, after which Mr Wilkes, the present head-master, made a few remarks on the state of the school, and finished by calling for three cheers for Mr Taylor, which were heartily responded to, and the scholars then dispersed. 1.0.0. F., M.U.—The Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge of this Order was duly opened at Little Akaloa on Tuesday, the 10th instant, by Prov. G.M. Exely and Prov. OS. Clark, assisted by members of the order from neighbouring lodges. After the usual preliminaries, fourteen new members wero initiated into the order, and the following duly installed in their respective offices :—Grand Master, Bro. H. Bennett; Noble Grand, Bro. Samuel Paget, of the Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge ; Vice Grand, Bro. W. Ashton; R.S. to N.G., Bro. R. Rix ; L.S. to N.G., Bro. T. Mcintosh; R.S. to V.G., Bro. A. Mcintosh ; L.S. to V.G., Bro. T. Cohen ; Elective Secretary, Bro. R. Willis; Warden, Bro. E. Turner; Tyler, Bro. C. Marshall, The proceedings terminated at a late hour. City Council. —The firstj meeting of the City Council since the recent elections took place last night, and was of a more than usually protracted character, notwithstanding the fact that only five members were present, viz.:—His Worship the Mayor and Crs. Ick, Gapes, Ayers, and Wilson. The three lastnamed made the usual declaration, and took their seats. The Mayor having read the letters of the five councillors who had Bent in their resignations, Cr. Wilson asked if Cr. Radcliffe had not withdrawn his resignation. What then took place will be found reported elsewhere ; but Cr. Wilson expressed great surprise that the resignations of any of the councillors had been attributed to his election. A considerable amount of business was afterwards transacted, a report of which is published. School Entertainments.—An entertainment was given on Thursday evening, in the schoolroom at Saltwater Creek. The room had been tastefully decorated by the children attending the school, and was densely crowded. A lengthy programme was gone through, consisting of instrumental pieces by Mrs Gould and Miss Adams, songs by Mesdames Gould, Vaughan, and Barclay, Misses Adams and Mcintosh, and Messrs Cunningham, Barclay, Franks, and Cork; recitations by Messrs Robertson, Watson, and W. Thompson, jun.; and readings by Messrs Thompson (Ashley), and Brock. After votes of thanks to the performers and the chairman (Rev. Gould), the entertainment was brought to a close by singing the National Anthem. The room was then cleared, and dancing kept up for some time. The proceeds are to be devoted towards defraying the expenses of the annual treat and buying prizes, and the success of the entertainment must have been very gratifying to the school committee, who have been at great trouble in the matter. An entertainment, consisting of vocal and instrumental music, with recitations, was given in the Eyreton school, on evening, September 13th, before a large audience, and was a great buccoss. The chair was taken by Mr Moffat. The programme consisted of recitation*, interspersed with glees, songs, and choruses by the school children; Mrs Knowles presiding at tho piano. _ The intelligent manner in which the recitations were given, and tho singing of the scholars, reflect groat credit on Mr and Mrs Knowles for the pains they must have taken in training them, and rendering the programme so attractive. An instrumenWl duet by Mrs Knowles and Miss E. Robs received a well merited encore, as did also tho Bong, " Let me kiss him for his mother," by two of the scholars. Some musical items were also given by Miss M. Moffat, which were well rendered. At tho conclusion of the programme hearty cheers were given for the chairman, the master and mißtreßß, and the school ohildren j after which the National Anthem brought a pleasant eyening to ft close,

Abson.—The man Smith charged with wilfully setting fire to two cottages, the property of Dr Symes, was yesterday committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court.

The Hydbabad. Arrangements have been made at laßt (says the " Post") with the insurance agents as to the recovery of the cargo horn, the ship Hydrabad, which still lies stranded on the west coast of this Island, and a party of men left yesterday to begin operations. It is believed that there -will be little difficulty in saving all the cargo in good condition, and that when lightened, the ship herself will be got off comparatively uninjured. The Unemployed in Hokitika.—The " West Coast Times" of September 11th says : —A number of the unemployed paid a visit to the County Council office yesterday, asking that a memorial should be drawn up for them to forward to the Government, praying that they may obtain free passages away to other parts of the colony where they could get work. The memorial, we believe, was duly prepared, and we may shortly expect to lose a large draft of our most industrious and valuable population. Ambebley Races.—At a meeting of the committee held on the 14th instant, it was resolved to hold the race meeting on the 16th of December. The hon. secretary submitted copy of rules received from Mr Digby, secretary to the C. J.C. The chairman (Mr Benn) said the funds, together with the added money, would amount to nearly £200; he also Btated that none of the gentlemen proposed as stewards had declined to act, and their next business was to arrange the programme which was then carefully considered and agreed to, and will no doubt be advertised in due course.

New Zealand's Naval Offioebs.—The officers of the Government steamers Hinomoa and Stella have been decked in a new uniform at the expense of the people of New Zealand. They donned their new garments for the first time on Friday, and a Wellington paper pronounces them " neat and effective." The officers of her Majesty's army and navy are expected to provide their own uniforms, and no reason is apparent why New Zealand's naval officers should not be allowed the same privilege. It is true that livery servants generally obtain their brilliant clothing from their employers. But Captain Fairchild and his mates would be little flattered by any argument based on that circumstance. Wanted Bobough Counoillobs. Every person who feels the slightest interest in the welfare of the township (says the local "Times") would witness with regret the somewhat humiliating and decidedly unenviable position which Palmerston occupied on Thursday last —the day fixed for the nomination of borough councillors. Notices were given in the usual way as to the number of councillors required, namely three for each ward, making nine in all; but when the time for announcing the names of candidates arrived, instead of there being nine or more nominations, the names of only three gentlemen had been handed to the Returning Officer!