NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1455, 15 October 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonists’ Hall. —Mr J. P. Hydes’ troupe gave a performance at the Lyttelton Colonists’ Hall last night. It consisted of “Checkmate” and the burlesque of “Sonnambula,” which were excellently rendered to a fair house. They appear to-night in “Caste” and “The Field of the Cloth of Gold,” when it is to be hoped they will have a bumper house. v Thk Waiearapa Railway. —His Worship the Mayor went to Wellington last evening per Wanaka to take part in the festivities consequent upon the opening of the railway to the Wairarapa, Educational District, East Christchurch. —The schools of this district will be closed during the present week for the usual term holidays. They will re-open on Monday, the 21st inst. The Metropolitan - Meeting. —lt is understood that the railway authorities intend putting on a special tram.from Invercargill and Dunedin on the occasion of the Metropolitan Race Meeting and Cattle Show. > < ' ; Naming Streets. —It was last evening resolved that all the streets in Sydenham not at present named should receive names as soon as possible. A committee wm appointed to carry out the wishes of the Council and decide upon the names to be given. Police. —The usual number of cases under the By-laws occupied the attention of the Resident Magistrate yesterday morning, but there was one of rather more interest than usual, involving the question of river preservation. The case was adjourned for a week to enable a legal opinion to be obtained on the point in question. Protection prom the Avon.— Some little time ago a good wire fence was placed from tree to tree along the southern bank of the Avon, between Ward’s brewery and the Stanmore bridge. This at the time, was considered a very necessary precaution, as at this spot there is no protection whatever from the river. In many places these wires have now been altogether broken down, or have become so loosened as to be quite useless. A Rising Suburb. Property at the Sandhills is increasing in value, as a number of sections have been taken up for building purposes. Mr Cuff has bought a considerable block and intends to ereot a largo house upon it almost Enormous quantities of trees are being planted in the district, and before long it is probable that the lately despised Sandhills will be a very popular part of the suburbs. The Inspector of Nuisances. This officer has commenced a most vigilant house to house inspection with the intention of at once checking any nuisances he may come across. It is stated that the various hack premises are in a much better condition than formerly, and this, with improved sewerage, justifies the hope that during the approaching summer Christchurch will not have so much sickness as last year. Children at the Museum. — We have been requested to state by the Museum authorities that unless the parents of children when taking them to the building look after them a little more carefully, the entrance of young children will be interdicted altogether. There have been frequent complaints lately of the misconduct of children, and great annoyance has been thus caused. Sandhills Plantation. The several thousands of trees and cuttings planted by the City Council on the Sandhills about two months ago are thriving remarkably well, and promise before very long to make a marked change in the character of these hills. The trees were from the Acclimatisation Gardens, and the cuttings were taken from the side of the river.

The New Government Buildings.— These buildings, from the outside, have all the appearance of being finished, but a view of the interior shows a very different state of things. In many parts of the building, the cementing has not been commenced, while in very few is the wood work anything like finished. In fact, downstairs, everything is in apparent chaos. The main staircase is not erected. A good many men, however, are hard at work, and, doubtless, the building will bo finished as soon as possible. “The Blacksmith’s Dream. ’’ This ingenious arrangement of mechanical figures, on view in a tent in Armagh street east, continues to attract large and interested audiences both during the day and evening. On Saturday 800 persons were inside the tent, and yesterday there was also a large attendance. The proprietor is so satisfied with the support accorded to the “ Dream” so far, that ho has resolved to remain a fortnight longer in Christchurch. The Late Flood. —The trains will run as yesterday to Rangitata, passengers being permitted to cross the bridge on foot. A connecting train will meet the passengers on the South side to convey them to their destination. All rivers are falling. The North line connection between Chaney’s Corner and Kaiapoi will still be maintained by Millett’s coaches. It is expected that several days must elapse before through traffic can be resumed on the North line. Escape fbom Deowning.— Yesterday evening, a little boy, three years of age, named Alexander Macdonald, while playing on the trunk of a willow tree on the bank of the river opposite the Forester’s Arms Hotel, lost his balance and fell into the water. Mr Brown, of the Bank of New Zealand, who was passing at the time, jumped into the river and rescued the boy, who was insensible when taken out. He was taken into the Foresters’ Arms and Dr, Doyle was sent for. The remedies applied were successful in restoring him to consciousness, and late in the evening the boy was pronounced out of danger. The child’s mother was at once sent for. The Late Wilful Destruction of Prophet?. —Mrs Fitzgerald, the wife of Wm. Maurice Fitzgerald, convicted on Thursday of malicious injury to property, and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, last night waited upon the Sydenham Borough Council with a request that they would sign a petition for her husband’s release, on the ground that he was perfectly innocent of the crime of which he had been convicted. She said she was herself going to take the petition to Wellington by the first steamer. She produced a pair of men’s boots, and was about to describe how her husband could not possibly be the guilty party, when the Mayor stopped her, and told her that the Council could not possibly sign the petition as a Council, but that if she left it some of them might possibly do so individually. Mrs Fitzgerald then left the petition a»d retired. 1

The Royal Marionettes.— This clever company gave another of their entertainments at the Oddfellows’ Hall last evening, when there was a very good house. The programme included the Christy minstrel performance, the “Babes in the Wood,” and the pantomime of “Red Riding Hood.” The whole performance was gone through admirably, and was loudly applauded. To-night the same programme will be repeated. On Friday Mr Gardner will take a benefit, which no doubt will result in a crowded house. The Floods. —A meeting convened by the Mayor was to have been held yesterday, to consider the means of collecting funds in aid of the sufferers in Otago by the late floods. At the appointed hour, however, only the Mayor and Mr J. Ollivier were present. The meeting consequently lapsed. The following telegrams were received by the Mayor from Dunedin:—“October 11th. Steps being taken to assist sufferers by recent floods. May we rely on aid from Christchurch. R. H. Leahy, Mayor.” “October 14th, The floods committee decided not to ask aid outside of Otago at present. R. H. Leaky, Mayor.” Probably the knowledge through the telegrams published in the papers that outside aid was not required, tended to produce the result of yesterday’s meeting. New Streets. —Considerable discussion took place at the Sydenham Borough Council last evening on the subject of taking over new streets of a less width than a chain. The discussion was elicited by an application from Mr Ruddenklau that a street which was Iqid off on his property at Addington, and which was only 40ft. wide, should be so taken over. After a good deal of discussion the application was refused. It was also resolved not to take over the thoroughfare known as Scott’s road, which has been in existence some years, unless the inhabitants would first form it. The Council affirmed by motion its determination not to take over any new streets of a less width than 66ft. A resident of Scott’s road, who was present as one of a deputation, complained that he had paid rates for three years and that nothing whatever had been done >to that thoroughfare. His Worship told him to be comforted, as he know an individual who had paid rates for twelve years, and in similar circumstances.

' Accidents. —About sunset on Saturday, Mr Q-eorge Bissett, of Woodend, who was riditg through, the flood on the North road, met with an accident in which he had a narrow escape and a long swim for his life..: The horse on which he was riding slipped over one of the culverts, and the animal and its rider were precipitated into the water. The horse made away in one direction, and when Mr Bissett could decide his whereabouts, he was swimming down the current into the river. He struck out, and by dint of severe exertion was enabled to bring up about a mile down stream at Mr Monk’s farm, in a much exhausted state. The horse has not since been found. Yesterday afternoon, at about halfpast 4 o’clock, a little girl named Hutchins ran off the footpath in High street, opposite the drapery establishment of Messrs Northey and McKenzie, in whose shop Mrs Hutchins, the child’s mother, was at the time, and a passing cab, driven by Thomas Kerr, knocked her down and passed over one of her legs. The cabman at once pulled up and taking the child and her mother into the cab, drove them to the hospital. On examination no bones were found £o be broken, 1 * but the child’s leg wias badly grazed. After receiving the necessary aid and advice required for the treatment of the injured limb, Mrs Hutchins returned with the child to her residence in Sydenham. No blame is attributable to the driver of the cab, who did all in his power to avoid the child. On Saturday, one of the men employed in pile driving at the Ran git at a bridge, met with a painful, accident. By some means one of his hands got jammed in a winch and was severely crushed. He came to town as speedily as possible and had his hurt attended to at the hospital, and is progressing favorably.