NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1439, 26 September 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lyttelton Harbor Bill —This measure, which increases the borrowing powers of the Harbor Board by another hundred thousand pounds, passed the Lower House last night. Police Changes.—Sergeant Gilchrist, in charge of the Malvern sub-district, has resigned, and will be succeeded by MountedConstable Wheatley, at present stationed at Coalgate, who will probably be promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Constable Weatherly will probably succeed Constable Wheatley in the charge of the Coalgate station. Child Missing.—A child about two and a half yearß old, belonging to Mr Beal, East Town Belt, left home to-day about one o'clook, and has not since been heard of. The mother left it on a sofa for about five minutes, preparatory to dressing it to take it out. She had occasion to go into the garden, and, on her return, the child was not to be found. Search was made all round the district without effect. The child had on a blue pinafore, dark socks, no shoes, red petticoat, but no hat. Information has been given to the police. Bank Wanted at Sheffield.—-The inhabitants of thiß place very much feel the want of a branch bank, and they say that the establishment of Buch an institution would pay remarkably well. Imported Blood Stock.—Mr G-eorge Stead's blood horses arrived from England per Waimate yesterday. The entire, Leolinus, is in magnificent condition, looking more as if he had just stepped out of a comfortable stable than come a sea voyage of over 100 days. He is certainly as handsome as he can well be. It will be remembered that he is by Caterer, out of Tasmania. The four mares, Miss Laura, L'Orient, Petroleuse, and Titania, have arrived in splendid health, and very fair order, but none of them are in the same condition as Leolinus. They were lodged amidships in very comfortable quarters, and Mr W. H. Brown, who has had the charge of them on the journey, deserves the very greatest praise for the really grand order in which they have arrived. Fire at Balcairn.—A fire occurred at Balcairn on Tuesday evening, when the house of Mr James Smith was burnt to the ground. His wife and family narrowly escaped. He was from home at the time. No cause haß been assigned as to the origin of the fire. Mr Smith's loss will be about £IBO, none of which was covered by insurance. Inquest at OxrOHD.—An inquest was held at Mr Sharplin's house, Oxford, on Wednesday, before 0. Dudley, Esq., coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr F. Oomyns was chosen foreman, touching the death of Thomas Sharplin, jun., who was killed on Monday by the falling of a log which he was engaged in sawing. After hearing evidence to the same effect as the report already published, the jury returned a verdict that death was caused by accident. Lxttblton Regatta Committee.—The first meeting of the Lyttelton regatta committee for 1879 was held at the Colonists' Hall on Wednesday evening. There was a very large attendance, and Mr H. N. Nalder occupied the chair. The chairman was unanimously elected commodore, and Mr H. AHwright vice-commodore. After a short discussion regarding the ilag ship, a programme was adopted, full particulars of which are advertised in this issue. The commodore, vice-commodore, hon treasurer, hon secretary, and Mr Cunningham were appointed a committee to revise rules, and the commodore, hon treasurer, and Mesflrs Cunningham and McLellan were elected collectors. After the transaction of some further routine business, the meeting adjourned. Theatrical.—Messrs Baker and Faron with their company have been playing to excellent houses in Auckland, " Struck Oil" —the proper version—being the trump cand. They will appear in Christehurah, under the management of Mr M. Hegarty, about Nov. 4th. Mrs Walter Hill, Miss Lily May, Mr J. B. Steele, Mr Musgrave, Mr O'Brien, and other late members of Mr De Lias' dramatic company have reached Wellington, where it is probable Mr Steele will play a short engagement, supported by those named above. Val Vose, whom Christchurch playgoers will be glad to welcome once more, is doing well in Duuedin. He is accompanied by Madame Cora, who performs the magical part of the show, and also by an entranced lady, who goes through the now well-known feat of aerial suspension. Tal Vose, after playing at Oamarq and TimarUj will appear in Chviqfcchuvch. A small but efficient burlesque oompany, under the guidance of Mr J. P. Hydes, will leave Christchurch shortly for a Southern tour. Amongst the members of the company will be the Misses Marie Wilton, Amy and Alice Johns, Mr Wilkinson, &e. In the present dearth of amusement in Dunedin the company Bhould have a very successful £<easou. In iha matter of New Zealand appears likely to be well supplied during the coming season. The Kolly and Leon Minstrels and Burton's Circus have alreudy sent forth their agents, and in addition to Mdlle. Charbonnet, who is already in New Zealand, Madam a Tasca, a pianist of high uterlt, and Mr Plumpton. who has achieved distinction as a composer, intend visiting the colony very shortly.

AmbebliEY.—Considerable progress has of late been made in this township. In addition to the erection of Mr Gaynor's large hotel, Messrs Benn and Co. have completed a large store 50ft. by 30ft. for the storage of grain and produce, and the erection of several new private buildings shows the advancement of the town. Mr H. M'Lean of the Crown Hotel is making extensive additions to that hotel which, when completed, will render it one of the best in the Northern district. It will contain thirty-five rooms and offer very extensive accommodation. The hotel commands a fine view of the sea, and will be an excellent family hotel. The recent additions also include bed and bathrooms and all necessary conveniences. Mr M'Lean intends to fit it out in first-class style. The Bank of New Zealand, which at present conducts business in the town hall, also proposes to erect suitable bank premises at Amborley shortly. Woodend. —The fourth of the series of winter entertainments took place in the church schoolroom on Tuesday. There was a fair attendance. The programme consisted of pianoforte solos and duets by Mrs Gould and Miss Gresson, songs by Misses Mathias and Horrel and Messrs Merton, McDonald, Foster, and Wade, readings by Messrs C. C. Howard and Goodeve, also two glees by the choir. The Hon. H. B. Gresson, on behalf of the parishioners, begged to bid farewell to the Rev. H. G. Q-ould, as that would be the last time he would be amongst them as their pastor. Mr Gresson, in a few well chosen remarks, reviewed the work done by Mr Gould, noting especially the great improvement in the singing of the Church. His remarks were received with loud applause. Mr Gould returned thanks, only hoping that he would receive as much kindness in his new home as he had done at Woodend. The National Anthem terminated the proceedings. Bridgung the OKTTKrj—A public meeting of the ratepayers of the Ashley district was held in the Loburn school, on Wednesday afternooD, for the purpose of taking into consideration the action or the Board in declining to erect the Okuku bridge, on the central line of road acroßß the river, in defiance of the expressed desire of 109 memorialists. Mr J. A. Cunningham, the chairman of the Road Board, presided, and read the advertisement convening the meeting, and the memorial received by the Board, which they had declined to act upon. He pointed out that the petition was partly prepared by him, but showed that he was not an interested party, as his land lay most in the direction of the lower site, but he was in favor of the Chapel road site, as being the most central, and more benefit to the district at large. Mr P. Duncan then explained the reason that the petition had been prepared, and proceeded to point out the difference between the two sites for the bridge. He censured the Board for accepting an incomplete report. He moved the following : —" That it is the opinion of this meeting that the Road Board be requested to give effect to the prayer of the memorialists that the Raithby road be selected as the site for the bridge, as being of greater advantage to the district as a whole, and further desires to impress upon the Board the fact that the engineer's report as to a site was not obtained in such a manner as to satisfy the district, in so much as the proper measurement or surveys did not cover the length of the river required by the Board itself." Mr C. A. Cunningham seconded the motion, and stated that there was a site just above the Chapel road, over which a bridge oould be well built, not to exceed seven chains in length. A lengthy discussion ensued, and the engineer's report, which treated on the river between the Chapel road and the mouth, was read. An amendment was moved by Mr Barker, to the effect " That the Board procure a fresh report from a competent engineer, and that they be requested to erect the bridge on the best sit* between the Ashley and the Grey, as soon as possible." Mr A. Hodgson seconded the amendment, but eventually the mover withdrew it in favor of one to the effect "That the action of the Road Board be sustained." The resolution and amendment being put, the amendment was declared carried by twenty against fifteen.

Scarcity of Labor.—Says the "Wellington Chronicle" :If the West Coast and Thames goldfields unemployed would transport themselves to the Patea and Manawatu districts, they would speedily find employment. In the Manawatu, the local journal says : The difficulty experienced.in obtaining domestic servants is how beginning to be rivalled by the want of farm, laborers. The Patea paper says contracts of various kinds cannot be taken up for want of laborers, whilst the " Rangitikei Advocate"'says the Feilding Corporation oan do with 100 good men now, and will guarantee them twelve months' work, and adds:—We should say that from Patea to Manawatu quite 500 laboring men could find steady and remunerative employment for the next two years to come.

A Floating BEE-HIVB.—Our American cousins have hit upon another novelty, whieh is thus referred to in a New York contemporary : —A floating hee-house has b»en constructed by Mr Perrine, a Chicago honey dealer, large enough to accommodate 2000 hives, which he is having towed up ths Mississippi river from Louisiana to Minnesota, keeping pace with the blossoming of the flowers, and thus stimulating the honeymaking ability of his bees. Returning he will stop about two months somewhere above St. Louis, and will reach Louisiana in October. He wants to take advantage of the autumnal flowers at each point. The plan of moving the bees to get the benefit of flowers has been tried in a small way in some parts of Europe.

Commodobb Wilson. —" Commodore J, C. Wilson, who has been appointed to swjceed Commodore Hoskins on the Australian station," writes the " Sydney Morning Herald," " is an officer of the Royal Navy who has seen some service; but he is more noted particularly for his having been connected with the naval training of boys. He has the reputation of being a good officer, and under Admiral Sir James Hope, was present at the taking of the Peiho Forts, China, about the year 1857. Before that time, however, he was commander on board H.M.S. Bombay, which was burnt off Monte Video in 1864. His latest ship has been H.M.S. Thunderer, on board of which, in July, 1877, he narrowly escaped losing his life when one of the ship's boilers exploded, and about forty mea were killed. Before being in the Thunderer he served in the Impregnable. Three yeuxs is the time for which a commodore on this station is appointed, and this period, it is understood, will elape between the date of' Commodore Hoskins' appointment, and that of Commodore; Wilson's arrival here. With regard to themovements of men-of-war now on thi> Australian station, it is expected that the Sappho and the return home first, but the Sappho will probably pay a visit to New Guinea."

Blood Stock fob New Zealand—" Augur" in the " Australasian " says :-The New Zealandera evidently have a partiality for Stockwell blood, so Mr Jackson, of Wanganui, has purchased the Painter for a sire. That country| is full of and these should nick well with Stoskwell horses Birdcatcher on Pantaloon being a fashionable and successful cvoae.. As the Painter is very well bred, b.eing by the Marquis (imported, son of Stockwell), out of Art Union by Ferryman out of Gildermire (imported), by the Flying Dutchman, and is a long, law, wellbuilt horse, with great muscular power and plenty of quality, he should succeed at th* stud ; besides, he is a very sound horse, who underwent long severe preparations, winning several times, though having the ill fortune to be beaten by a short head last season for the Sydney Metropolitan, in whu>h, race ho carried Bst., and gave 2st. 61b. ** Amendment, the winner.

A letter from St. Petersburg to. ti«e " Abend Post," of Vienna, says that the sanitary state of the Russian army \a far from satisfactory either in Europe or Asia, and causes great app I reh*n>}ion in the Empire, particularly in the 1 capital. The number of sick is estimated at 50,000, the disease in most cases being typhus, small-pox, and dysentery. The wtmt of doctors is severely felt. In Europe alone, sixty-two army Burgeons were taken ill in tho hospital;, and died. More than one hundwdl have returned to their families on account of their health. From St. Petersburg thirty, two medical men have been seat to Odessa where they will receive Sik.OOO patients wh have arrived t;m Burgas and Bulgaria.