NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1461, 22 October 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Wesley an Home Mission. A public meeting will be held to-morrow (Wednesday) evening on behalf of the above mission. Addresses will be delivered by Rev. A. 11. Fitchett, the President of Conference, and J. S, Smalley. Sacred songs by the choir. The Fibe at Bakaia Febby.—The fire which recently burnt down the Kakaia Ferry Accommodation House, and which was supposed to have been the work of an incendiary, is stated by the proprietor to have been caused by the bursting of a kerosene lamp. Cab Regulations.—Cabmen and others desirous of obtaining copies of the new cab regulations, can procure them by application at the office of the Cab Inspector, City Council Chambers. Appointment.—Constable Scott is to be stationed at Akaroa, with the appointment of Inspector of Weights and Measures, in the place of Constable Ruffell, who has resigned. City Council. —The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening, when there was a full attendance. A good deal of business was transacted, and the Council did not adjourn until shortly before midnight. Middle Pake Stakes.—ln a cable message of Monday week a horse numed Le Pasture was wrongly given as the winner of the above stakes, which were run for on October 10th. The winner was Mr J. H. Houldsworth's ch c Ruporra, by Adventurer—Lady Morgan. The Avon Petitions.—Two petitions to the City Council were last evening read from the residents of a portion of the Avon district —one asking to be annexed to the city—the other a counter petition. The Council resolved to grant the application of the memorialists who desired to be annexed, leaving the counter petition to be dealt with by his Excellency the Governor in the ordinary way. A Defaulting Jueyman.—One of the special jurymen summoned on the case of Hewlingsvtheßangioraßoad Board yesterday, who fa.led to put in an appearance, came into Court at a later hour to show cause. The cause alleged was that his watch was slow. His Honor Mr Justice Johnston declined to accept this as an excuse, but fined the offending juryman in the mitigated penalty of five shilling!', which was paid. Floweb Seevice. —Oi Sunday last a flower service was held at the Church of England Sunday School, L-yttelton, It was confined to the Sunday School children, the superintendent, Mr H. R. Webb, conducting the service, which treated of the lessons in Christianity to be learnt by the study of (lowers. The children had brought a great number of nosegays, which were carefully collected and sent to the quarantine station to bo presented to the new arrivals by the Wait&ugi,

Railway Constable.—For the future the duties of Railway Constable are to be performed by a specially sworn-in employe of the railway department. Constable McGill, who has for some time past been stationed there, returning to the depot. The West Coast Sounds.—Mr D. Mills, agent for the Union S f ,eam Shipping Company, states that it has been determined to rua the annual excursion trip to tho Soundß on tho West Coast during the Christmas week. The Taranuki is the steamer chosen, and sho will probably leave Dunedin on Christmas Eve returning about New Year's Day. This will give an opportunity to many who are unable to be absent except during the holiday week, an opportunity of viewing at a moderate cost the scenery which has rendered these remote Sounds famous. The Cabmen's Champion.—ln the course of a discussion which took place at the City Council last evening on the question of cabmen, Cr. Wilson paid tho Christchurch cabmen a very high compliment. He said he had been in tho habit of being driven about in cabs in all parts of New Zealand and in Australia, and he had never come across a more civil or more worthy class of cabmen than those to be found in Christchurch. He added that here there were special reasons why the cabmen should be treated with sideration, as they had a good deal to put up with in consequence of so many intoxicated men using their cabs at all times. Supeeme Couet.—The nisi prius sittings of the Supreme Court opened yesterday, befere his Honor Mr Justice Johnston and a special jury. The case tried was Hewlings v tho Mandoville and Rangiora Road Board, and was an action for trespass, in which the plaintiff sought to recover £2OOO as damages for the cutting of a drain by the defendants through his property. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for £4B, including £2 paid into Court. To-day a second case, arising out of the same drain, Baesingthwaite v the Rangiora and Mandeville Road Board, will be tried. Indecency.—For some time past, some fellow has been in the habit or insulting young females just before dark in the less frequented portions of tho city and suburbs. On Friday evening last a very gross case of this kind occurred in Colombo road, when two young ladies were waylaid by some ruffian and insulted in the grossest possible way. When they called for assistance tht fellow made off. It is not thought that this was the same man who was yesterday sentenced td imprisonment for disgusting bhaviour. Compensation Claims Aoainst the Government—The Government have appointed Mr John Ollivier, the District Auditor, to hold an inquiry into the claims for compensation for land taken for Road Diversion purposes by the late Provincial Government in the Akaroa and surrounding districts. The claimants have received notice to attend at the Road Board office of the district in which their claim arises, producing at the same time any documentary evidence they may possess in support of their claims. In the Okain's Bay and Akaroa and Wainui districts, the claims amount to about £2OOO. . Temperance Hotel Company.—A special' meeting of the directors of the Temperance Hotel Company was held yesterday at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch (in the chair), the Mayor of Sydenham, the Revs. H. O. M. Watson and C. Fraser, Messrs C. R. Blakiston, J. P. Jameson, Pratt, and Packer. The chairman said he understood the object of the meeting being called was to mike some alteration in the prospectus to suit a certain class of the community. The Rev. H. C. M. Watson explained that he understood the Good Templars wanted some decided guarantee that the hotel would be conducted on strictly temperance principles. He assumed that somethng more definite than the mere names of the influential directory was required to secure the support of the body in question. The Rev. C. Fraser thought the objection could be met by passing a resolution that no wines, spirits or beer should be introduced into the establishment. After some little discussion it was resolved that the following words be added to the prospectus, " that no intoxicating liquors be allowed on the premises." The secretary stated that 2500 shares had been taken up and paid for exclusive of those i eld by directors, and that with promises the shares taken up might be estimated in round numbers at 3000. The discussion of the question of sites was considered to be premature until 5000 shares were taken up. The Rev. Mr Watson thought the most central position in the city was the most desirable, irrespective of any private interests. The Rev. O. Fraser, while agreeing with Mr Watson, was rather in favor of proximity to the railway station. Ho thought it should go forth as an expression of opinion from the directory that the site should be as central as possible, provided it was not too remote from the railway. Mr Packer was of the same opinion, not losing sight at the same time of the resources at tneir disposal. A number of tenders were submitted for sites, for the most part in very eligible situations, Borne of them being near the railway terminus, and others adjacent to the principal public buildings with frontages on the best streets. No decision was arrived at, and the meeting adjourned at 5 p.m.