NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1437, 24 September 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The San Francisco Mail Steamer, —The mail steamer, City of Sydney, arrived at Auckland from San Francisco this morning, one day in advance of her contract date. L.0.L., Maiden City lodge, No. 1. — The regular monthly meeting of this Lodge was held on Thursday evening, when there was a good attendance of members, including several visiting brethren. Three candidates were admitted, and after spending a pleasant evening the brethren separated. Colonial Minstebls. —This troupe, consisting of fourteen performers, will give their opening entertainment at Sunnysido on the 3rd of October instead of the 26th of September, as previously intended. The company subsequently will travel the country townships.

United Methodist Free Church. A sale of fancy goods for the benefit of the building fund of the United Methodist Free Church, St. Asaph street, is announced to take place on September 25th and 26th.

Lecture.— The last of the series of lectures in connection with the Young Men’s Christian Association was delivered last evening in the Congregational schoolroom by Mr T. S. Mannering. The subject of the lecture was “ What I saw in Rome,” and the lecturer made it both interesting and instructive. There was a very good attendance. Photographic. —Mr Clifford, of the firm of Clifford andJMorris, the well known Dunedin photographers is at present in Christchurch trying to make arrangements for the purchase or the lease of a piece of ground or a building in which to carry on a branch of their business.

Masonic. —The installation of officers of the Canterbury Kilwinning Royal Arch Chapter, No. 136, S.C., took place last evening at the Canterbury Masonic Hall, when there was a largo attendance of Companions. The installation was conducted by Companion J. W. Oram, P.Z., assisted by Companions T. Stapleton, P, Rentoul, and Jubal Fleming, Past Z.’b, and the ceremony was admirably conducted throughout. The following Companions were installed, viz. : —Companions A. R. Kirk, Z. ; S. P. Craig, H.; J. Smith, J.; GK M. Walton, S. E.; T. Lucas, S. N.; M. Sandetein, Treasurer j H. W. Ford, P. S.; W. S. King, 2nd S.; O. P. Hulbert, 3rd S.; J. Kerr, Janitor. Vaccination. —Several cases were heard yesterday in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, which were brought under the Public Health Act, as a warning to parents. Many parents appear not to be aware that when a child has been vaccinated, a period is fixed by the Act when they are required to bring them to the public vaccinator for inspection, and that in default of appearing, they are liable to a fine. The cases heard yesterday were dealt leniently with by the Court, on the assumption that possibly the parties summoned committed a breach of the Act in ignorance of its requirements, but in future cases the penalty will be imposed. Obsolete Volunteer Scrip.— The following telegram from Mr T. Kelly was read at a meeting of the Taranaki Waste Lands Board on September 16th : —“ On case submitted by public petitions committee, the AttorneyGeneral has given his opinion that volunteer scrip issued before October 2nd, 1873, and not exercised in purchase of land before October 2nd, 1874, is, in terms of the Volunteer Land Act, 1873, dead, and is not revived by subsequent Acts. As it is probable that such scrip may be offered for purchase of land, it is well you should know this, as a Crown grant for it could not legally issue.” How Maori Ladies Swell the Revenue. —ln enumerating the many claims that the Maoris had to special representation, Mr Taiaroa (according to the “ Chronicle ”) remarked that the native ladies were far bettor contributors to the revenue than European ladies. They smoked —that was one point in their favor; then they used a week’s allowance of sugar at one “go”—they would consume a pannikinful at one meal. The Maoris also consumed a large quantity of beer, and generally used more articles that' paid duty than white people. If they got £20,000 to-morrow they would not leave Wellington until they had spent it all. If he (Mr Taiaroa) had to travel over the whole of his district he would spend all his money in travelling expenses, which he ought to save for his children. For seven years he had asked for more Maori members, and he had not yet gained his cause. He looked upon the Native Minister as a Maori.

Street Perils.—Pedestrians passing along Manchester street would be wise to avoid the footpath by Wearing’s Hotel where the new wing is being erected. Yesterday it was noticed that a quantity of materials, including bricks, fell from the scaffolding on to the pavement beneath. There is no hoarding in front of the new structure as a protection to the public, Sketch Saleyabds.—These yards were opened for public sales on Monday. They are situate on a central site between the hotel and Messrs Yaughan and Cordner’s store. There was a good attendance of buyers. After luncheon, at which one or two complimentary speeches were made, a very good sale was held by Mr Buss, auctioneer, of Eangiora, Fatal Accident at Oxford.—lntelligence was received last night from Oxford that during the afternoon a man named Thomas Sharplin, junior, had been killed by a log, which he was engaged in cross-cutting, falling over. It was some time before the log could be removed from him. An inquest will be held in due course.

Clerical.—The manage!? of the New Zealand Shipping pqrqpapy received a telegram yesterday from Dunedin, stating that the Waimato was spoken by the s.s. Wakntipu some few miles north of Otago heads. It is possible, therefore, that by this time she will have cast anchor at Lyttelton. Among her passengers are several old settlers, including the Rev. E. A. Lingard, Mrs Lingard, and family, who, it is hoped, will return yrith his health thoroughly restored, Accompanying him is the Rev. Mr Mortimer, who comes out to aasvmm the duties of assistant curate of St. Luke’s parish, and to whom will be allotted the oversight and pastoral cava of St. Matthew’s, Caledonian roqd, which, since the acceptance of the Gurnard cure by the Rev. E. Spott, has had to depend on occasional ministrations by the Dean of Christchurch or the Rev. J. W. Stack. It will be remembered that on the occasion of Mr Lingard’s enforced absence from Canterbury (bis medical adviser having recommended cessation from ministerial duty and a trip home), the cure of St. Luke’s was temporarily assumed by the Rev. W. A. Pascoe, whose brief tenure expired on the >)o.fch of June last. Since that date the Rev. J, W. Stack has officiated, and to his untiring energy may be ascribed the great reduction that has been made in the parish debts.

A Posteriori Artiliert.-~ The Melbourne “Argus” states that letters patent were granted recently by the Attorney-General to Mr J. M'Guigan, of Collins street east, for an improvement in small firearms by which “ a man can fire with equal precision and greater ease at an object behind him than he can at one in front.” This invention is about to bo submitted to to the local military authorities for their consideration. The ■Whipping Post in America,.— That which Virginia has done these colonies may yet bo compelled to do, if larrikinism increases at its present rate. The “Atlanta Constitution ” writes : The new criminal code of Virginia becomes operative <m the first day of July. Under its provisions at least one must be established in each pity and county within the State. When that is done imprisonment for petty larceny will bo abolished, except for second offences, or when, in the judgment of the Court, the condition of the female ofjender may render stripes inadvisable. Tublic opinion is greatly divided in the State over the matter, and nothing but the poverty of the old Commonwealth led to the change, Her prisons are crowded with potty thieves, and their maintenance is a great drain on the limited income of the State. The right 0 f appeal from, a Judgment of a Justice to a jury vma given when the whipping-pos' u Waß selected us a means of punishment, reestablishment is expected to lead to a. reduction of both expenses and thievery. Upon the workings of the now Virginia statute will depend the spreading of the system to other Southern States,

Union Rowing Club. —At a committee of the above club, held on Monday afternoon, the following new members were elected : —Messrs R. Smith, J. Shackleton. H. H. Parsons, P. Makeig, P. Schourup. Licensed Victuallehs’ Association.—A meeting of the Licensed Victuallers ’ Association, convened by requisition to the president, was held last evening at Morton’s Hotel, to consider the question of the beer tax. Alter a considerable amount of discussion it was decided to postpone the further consideration of the question until the ultimate decision of Parliament on the Bill was known.

American Chops.— The crop report of the Department of Agriculture shows that on July Ist nearly 50,000,000 acres of corn were under cultivation, being a slight decline from last year’s figures. The winter wheat crop gathered is very largo in the middle States and in the Ohio valley unexampled in luxuriance. In the South the conditions of growth were unfavourable. The high condition of spring wheat reported in June is maintained in the east, north-west, and California. The condition of the whole spring wheat area taken together is 106, Since July Ist very serious damage has been done from various causes to the spring wheat in Minnesota, northern lowa, and Wisconsin.

the night until daylight. The constable at once went for Dr. Macintyre, who, after having examined the poor woman, ordered her to be at once taken to the hospital, and 1 pronounced her to be in a critical condiition. The woman was accordingly taken to the hospital, where she still remains, but so far as we could learn yesterday evening, was out of danger. Bray was afterwards arrested, and when his house was searched, some broken sticks were found in it, which Mrs Bray recognised as those with which she had been beaten by her husband.

Six Hours’ Caressing with a Stick.— The “ Timaru Herald ” of Monday has the following : —A man named Richard Bray was arrested last Saturday afternoon on a charge of violently assaulting his wife, Eliza Bray. It appears that on Saturday morning a woman named Mary Ellen Ayres came to the police station and reported that Mrs Bray was lying at her house in York street, suffering from the effects of a beating inflicted on her by her husband. Constable Sullivan proceeded to the house indicated, and found the poor woman suffering severely from the injuries she had received. Her face and head were much cut and bruised, and she complained of her whole body being injured by the brutal violence of her husbahd. She said ho continued kicking her, and beating her incessantly with a stick, from 12 o’clock in

The Geeahdine Reserves.— At the meeting of the City Council last evening Cr. Wilson referred to the city reserves at Geraldine, and said he had heard that the land selected there was worthless—that the gentlemen who had selected it were tyros in the matter of the value of land, and he added that no doubt the gentlemen in question had had a very nice picnic on the occasion. Crs. Gapes and Ick defended the action of the committee who had selected the reserves, and Or. Gapes was very hard upon Cr. Wilson, referring especially to the so-called picnic. As a matter of fact, the city had not been put to a shilling’s expense, except in the railway fares of the committee and the fee of the surveyor, Mr Cuff. Cr. Gapes referred to the time when picnics of councillors were the rule, about which one of the councillors present could say something if he liked. Ultimately the matter dropped without any motion being moved on the subject, and Or. Wilson was recommended by the Mayor not to give heed to all the gossip he heard at the corner of every street.