NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1460, 21 October 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Harmonic Society.—A rehearsal of "Walpurgis night" will take place at the Baptist Chapel, Hereford street, to-morrow (Tuesday) evening. Madame Tasca.—lt is intimated by advertisement that this celebrated pianiste, accompanied by Mdlle. Rosalie Merz and Mr A. Plumpton, will make her firßt appearance in Christchurch on Monday next, and will perform during that week. Full particulars are given elsewhere. Additional Post Offices.—Offices have been opened in Canterbury at Fairlie Creek, Kyle, New Brighton, Seafield, and Wakanui. Waste Lands Commissioner.—The appointment of Mr Andrew Duncan as " Commissioner of the Land Board of the Land District of Canterbury " is gazetted. The Domain. —The motion of Cr. Ayers for vesting the public domain in the City Council will come on at to-night's meeting of the City Council. A Nuisance.—The bathing nuisance still continues in the Avon, and that too at a time on Sunday when numerous pleasure parties are passing up and down the river. At about noon vesterday quite a crowd of youths were disporting themselves on the banks in a state nudity near to the willows at the " corner." Bakaia and Ashburton Porks Railway—Li the " Gazette" of October 17th is a proclamation signifying the Governor's assent to the construction of the above railway under the District Railways Act, and defining the area and boundaries of the railway district. Royal Marionettes. Notwithstanding the bad weather on Saturday afternoon, there was a capital attendance at the Oddfellows' Hall, when the Marionette company gave their last matinee performance. In the evening also there was a fair house. The company appear at Lyttelton for three nights, and afterwards perform in the up-couutry townships. Ashley and Okuku Bridges.—At the last meeting of the Ashley Road Board it was resolved in reference to the first of the above works that the Board should meet the survevor on the selected site to make definite decision. With respect to the Okuku bridge it was stated that plans were being prepared with a view to calling for tenders. The North Road.—This road during Saturday presented qui e a lively appearance with the number of vehicles upon it. Those between Kaiapoi and Chainey's alone it is oomputed carried 150 passengers. There was great excitement over the possession of seats, as well as a general scramble to reach the coaches. No doubt several of tho vehicles were very much overloaded, both for their own safety and for the teams attached to them. In consequence of the rain the road was exceedingly heavy, as the sticky mud was worked into a paste resembling birdlime. As soon as the floods are over, the Eyreton and Avon Road Boards will begin with the work of repairing this road, but at present they cannot do so with any certainty that a flood nest day will not undo their work,

A Diffident Speaker.—The proceedings of the Legislative Council (says|jthe Melbourne " Argus ") are always opened with the Lord's Pruyer, which for the convenience of the president is printed on a two-leaved boot. Yeterday when the president took his place and kid down his gloves, the book was not in its usual place. Apparently, it would not have been consistent with prudence or with the dignity of the House for the president to have trusted to his memory alone, so the chief messenger was rung for. Meanwhile the members stood silent spectators of the scene. Fortunately the book was found by tho messenger in the private drawer of the President's table, and the House was kept but a short time in suspense.

Scarcity of Libor in Waikato. —The Cambridge District Board were, recently, according to the " Waikato Times," unable to accept any of the tenders for re-forming roads and other works on account of the high charges. There is so much work to be done, now the fine weather has set in, both by country Boards and settlers, this year in Waikato, that laboring hands are not equal to the demand; and yet at this very time (says our contemporary) it has been proposed to deport labor from the Thames to Canterbury, or, to find work there for starving men, to appropriate money for special public works in the district, while all the time the two districts of Thames and Waikato are within sixty miles of one another.

A Novel Window Bbeakee. Yesterday morning about seven o'clock, the constable on duty in Colombo street north heard the sound of glass breaking in the immediate vicinity of Messrs Dallas and Co.'s, the auctioneers. Immediately afterwards the head of a fine black retriever dog was protruded into the street through one of the panes of glass. The exercise of a little more exertion on the part of the animal cleared a gap sufficiently large to enable him to leap into the street.

Accident to Tasso.—On Thursday Mr Q-eo. Cone's blood horse Tasso met with a bad accident during the thunderstorm. His groom was leading the horse through a gateway at Mr J. T. Brown's, Mount Thomas, when a peal of thunder frightened the animal, which jumped aside against one of the gate posts, and ripped his near side very severely. Tasso will have to be kept in the stable for at least a fortnight.

Collision. —A collision occurred about 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, between a cab and a spring cart. The former driven by a cabman named Williamson, was going along Cashel street towards the Railway Station, when it was run into by the spring cart, driven by a man named John Todd, residing at Lincoln. Todd's horse stepped on to the foot-board of the cab, breaking in the splashboard, and had to be unharnessed and led off on the opposite side. Both vehicles were going at an ordinary pace, but those who saw the accident lay the blame on Todd.

Muff Cricket Match.-The first of the series of muff matches [for the present season will be played on the U. 0.0. ground on Tuesday (to-morrow). The hon. secretary (Mr W. H. Smith) has already received a large number of acceptances of invitations,; which have been issued to prominent muffs to take part in the match, and no doubt if the weather proves fine there will be a large attendance of spectators. Mr Dann, of the Oxford Hotel, will undertake the catering for the luncheon on the occasion.

Synod Service.—A notice appears in the advertising columns respecting the final practice to be held this evening at 8 p.m. at St. Michael's Church. All who are willing to assist in the choral service to be held on Tuesday evening, on the occasion of the opening of the Synod, are particularly requested to be present, and take part in the practice. This is the more necessary, in order that all arrangements respecting seats, &c, may be agreed upon beforehand for the sake of avoiding contusion on the night of the service. Punctuality of attendance is specially desired, as there is much to be done in a short space of time. Agricultural and Pastoral Association. —At a meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association on Saturday it was determined that the sale of booths, &c. on the ground of the Association be conducted by an auctioneer, who is a member of the Association. The name of each gentleman or firm was written on a slip of paper aud the first drawn was to be appointed. The lot fell to Mr J. Or. Hawkes, who will accordingly transact that branch of the Association's business this season. In consequence of the monthly meeting of the Association falling on the 31st instant, which will be the last day for taking entries for the forthcoming show, it was resolved to hold that meeting on the 4th of November instead. Cuess. —The match between the Christchurch and Wellington Chess Clubs began on Saturday evening as previously arranged. The scene of play was the old Provincial Council Bellamy's, into which a wire had been carried from the telegraph office, and which proved in every respect admirably adapted for the purpose. Mr R. Mainwaring acted as umpire, and discharged his onerous duties with most commendable firmness and efficiency. The twelve representatives of the respective clubs were paired off as follows : Mr R. Bray to play with Mr Benbow; Mr Hookham with Herr Ott; Mr Hunter with Mr Willis ; Mr Jacobsen with Mr Hullett. Mr Veel with Mr Brown ; Mr Newman with Mr Barraud; Mr J. Wood with Mr Horwood; Mr Day with Mr Reeves; Mr Paul with Mr White; Mr Peez with Mr Didsbury; Mr Lane with Mr Kirk, and Dr. Ellis with Mr Davies. As all the Christchurch twelve were present, the services of the two emergency men were not needed. This was not the case with Wellington. On their side Mr White was prevented from attending, and his place was supplied by Mr Ballance —a great piece of luck for Wellington, as Mr Ballance is a very strong player, and is tolerably sure to score a win,which otherwise would have by no means been certain. The play, as is always the case in matches by telegraph, proceeded very slowly, the most expeditious pair of combatants only accomplishing thirteen moves, while the majority managed to get through no more than nine or ten. At this rate few of the games will be finished within the time allowed for the match. As to the probable issue it is too early as yet to form any opinion. In several cases one or the other player has got somewhat the better of the opening, but no game has reached a stage at which either can claim any marked advantage. The match will be resumed next Saturday at the same time and place, and perhaps by the end of another evening some more decisive results will have been attained. Bay of Islands Coal Company.—The coal mining industry of the colony (says the Auckland " Herald ") is now assuming very large proportions, and as the mines generally become more developed, the native product is rapidly curtailing the shipments from Australia to New Zealand. The Bay of Islands, or Kawakawa, coal mines are at present the most productive in the North Island. The average output at present is 3500 tons per month, but the demand is constantly increasing, and the supply will have to be kept up to meet requirements, so that an increased staff and increased facilities will soon make the product of the mine assume still larger proportions. A few facts with regard to the mine and company cannot fail to be of interest. The mine, which had been partly opened by Mr M'Leod, the then lessee, was purchased by the present company in April, 1868, the company being formed under the Joint Stock Act. It was at first uphill work to overcome tho prejudice which prevailed against this coal, which as a matter of fact was no* at that time equal to what it is at present, as the workings were, of course, close to the surface; but the opening of the Thames goldfields, where an immense amount of steam machinery, crushing mills, pumping engines, etc., was erected, gave the company its first fair start, opening as it did a large market for the coal, and although this market has decreased at present, other customers have come into the market, including tho Union Steam Shipping Company, 1 lie Auckland Steam Packet Company, and other largo consumers. Tho <vompany is now in a good financial position, paying dividends at tho rate of 10 per cent. per. umium on the invested capital,