NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1463, 24 October 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Dbapees’ and Olothees’ Association. — An extraordinary general meeting of this Association will be held at the Commercial Hotel this evening, at eight o’clock. Chbistchukch City Quabds.— An inspection of this company by the Commanding Officer of the District, will take place this evening, when every member is expected to be present. A.O.F.—A meeting of the Foresters’ fete committee will bo held at half-past seven this evening, at the Foresters’ Hall, Madame Tasca. —Those who intend to take season tickets for the series of concerts to bo given next week by the above eminent pianiste and company, should make early application. The programme for Monday evening is published in this issue. Madame Tasca is at present playing to excellent houses in Timaru. Christchurch people have on more than one occasion shewed themselves sadly lacking in appreciation of high class music. An opportunity is now offered them of removing this blemish from their fair fame. Immigbants ex Waitangi.— These immigrants, with the exception ofj a few families remaining at Ripa Island, were landed yesterday, and sent up to Christchurch. The Maeionettes. —These clever performers appeared again at Lyttelton last night to a crowded house. They proceed next to Ashburton, returning to Christchurch during the race week. The San Feancisco Mail.— The steamer Taiaroa, with the southern portion of the San Francisco mail, was to leave the Manukau at five o’clock yesterday afternoon. The mail should therefore be delivered here by Saturday. Quick Woek at Poet.— The time taken by the Waimate in discharging her cargo at the Gladstone Wharf and reloading for her homeward voyage, was exactly a fortnight, the quickest time on record, and a fact which bears creditable testimony to the facilities afforded the ship by the railway department, and to the industry of those employed in the work.

The Gem Company. —The G-em Comedy 1 and Burlesque Company, consisting of Mr J. P, Hydes and Messrs Wilkinson, Simmonds, and D’Elmaine, and the Misses Johns and Marie Wilton, perform at Leeston tomorrow and the following night. The large concourse of people drawn to the town by the agricultural show will doubtless secure them good houses. Gaiety Thbatbb. —Madame Cora and Yal Vote appeared again last evening at the Gaiety Theatre, when there was a crowded house. The various items on the programme were capitally performed, and the ventriloquial performance of Yal Yose drew loud plaudits from the audience. To-night, a change of programme is announced, when Mr Trotter will give his description of courtship amongst the Shakers. Miss Julia Sweet will sing a new ballad, and the other characters will also relate various phrases of their experiences, Canteebuey Amateue Cheistys.— This troupe will give a performance to-morrow evening at the Sunnyside Asylum. Immigbants foe the Southeen Towns. The Ashburton and Timaru contingent of the immigrants per Waitangi arrived from the Port at an early hour yesterday, and were forwarded on to their destination by the ten minutes to 12 train. They appeared to be delighted at their release from quarantine, and as they left the platform on their Southern journey they cheered lustily. Aeeival op Steamebs. — The general manager of the Canterbury railways has determined upon posting the arrival of steamers, as telegraphed by (he railway telegraph, outside the telegraph office on the platform at the Christchurch station. This will prove a great convenience to the public who may desire to meet friends, &c., arriving in Lyttelton by steamer. The Rev. E. Peeeman.—A number of the friends of the Eev. E. Freeman, residing north of the Kowai, wishing to send him a token of their regard, have subscribed a purse of sovereigns, which they have handed to Mr 11. 8. Major, of Amberley, with a request that he will forward the same to Mr Freeman, in Hobart Town, with their best wishes. The Bishop’s Retuen. —lt was stated yesterday at the Synod that His Lordship the Bishop might be expected back from England about the 12th of December. It appears that the Suez mail is not, strictly speaking, due until the 19th, but it has for many months past arrived a week in advance of its contract time. If it does so on this occasion, the Bishop will probably be in Christchurch by the 12lh. The Cabs at Cobb’s Coenee.— The cabs, to the number of five, standing at this spot yesterday, were placed with the horses’ heads close to and towards the footpath, and it was remarked by many of those who observed that the position was one of considerable danger to pedestrians passing on the footpath as the cabs dashed across to pick up fares on the other side of the street. The Inspector of Nuisances or the police must have noticed the position of the cabs too, for in the afternoon they were standing as usual one behind the other parallel to the footpath. Diocesan Synod.— The Diocesan Synod held its second meeting yesterday, when business of considerable importance was transacted. A good deal of discussion took place on a motion moved pro forma by the Rev. E. A. Liugard, that the §ynod should adjourn at the close of its sitting that evening until the 17th of December, in order that his Lordship the Bishop might be present. It was generally felt that such an adjournment would bo exceedingly inconvenient to members, and that it was very questionable whether a quorum coqld be obtajned so shortly before Christmas. The motion was rejected on the voices. Assaulting a Clergyman,— On Sunday evening last, as the Rev. Mr Douglas, Presbyterian clergyman, Akaroa, was going home after evenjng service, he was attacked and violently assaulted in the principal street of Akaroa by three young men belonging to the town. It appears that the reverend gentleman had occasion during the course of the service to reprove some young men for unbecoming conduct. After leaving church they wore seen to have concealed themselves in a dark corner, and as Mr Douglas passed struck him with a heavy stick and afterwards made off. It could hardly be believed that in a quiet village like Akaroa the larrikin element could have developed to such an extent. The police are making active exertions to get at the offenders, but so far so arrest has been made.

The Tobchijght Pbocession. — A meeting of the torchlight committee of the brigade took place on Tuesday evening, when further details in reference to the forthcoming procession on the 16th December, were arranged. Railway Rolling Stock.— The six new American locomotive engines recently imported are being unpacked at the fitting shop, and will be put together as speedily as possible. The railway department are also about to commence building 800 waggons in the Christchurch works.

The Blacksmith’s Dbeam.— This instructive and amusing exhibition, which is really a marvel of mechanical ingenuity, continues to attract numbers of people, who express much admiration of the patient industry and skill which must have been employed in its construction. It is well worthy of a visit from those who have not yet seen it.

The Abtesian Watbb Supply. —The truth of the remarks of the Mayor, in reference to the failing of the present artesian water supply is every day becoming more apparent. On Sunday the supply of water which has for years served the purposes of the Hospital gave out, and the water could not be raised into the tanks above by the means which have been in use so long. A snpply by hand had to be obtained for the day, and the following day a considerable piece had to he cut from the artesian pipe in order that a fresh supply might bo obtained.

Lyttelton Habbob Board —The tenders for the extension of the Gladstone Wharf and the Screw-pile and Intermediate Jetty, No. 1, were received on Tuesday and opened by the sub-committee appointed by the Board for that purpose. The following were the tenders received :—Gladstone Wharf—Hawkins and Co. (Lyttelton), £BBOI 15s lid (accepted) ; Langdown and Co. (Christchurch), £9333 ; Brown Bros. (Christchurch), £9908 10s lOd ; Moore and Butt (Kaiapoi), £14,155 3s sd. Intermediate and Screw-pile extensions—Langdown and Co., £6238 (accepted) ; Hawkins and Co., £6439 4s 7d; Moore and Butt, £12,570 14a 3d. The contracts which are now let, and which are to be completed before March next, are Intermediate Jetty, No. 2,400 ft., £8287 ; Intermediate Jetty, No. 3,400 ft., and breastwork, £10,879. Extension of Screw-pile Jetty 247 ft., extension No. 1 Intermediate Jetty 91R., £6238; Gladstone Wharf extension' 800 ft., £BBOI ; total, £34,295. This will give 2600 ft. additional wharfage accommodation. Thbateb Royal.— Last night, “ The Angel of Midnight ” was withdrawn in favor of “ Caste,” and the change was decidedly for the better. Robertson’s pleasant and life-like comedy always succeeds in pleasing when moderately well cast and reasonably well played. The characters of Eccles and his daughter Polly are well fitted to display the abilities of Mr and Mrs F. M. Bates, and the remainder found fitting representatives in Miss Tilly Andrews, and Messrs Burford, Graham, and Hill. Mr Bates was especially well-fitted in the character of the drunken old representative of the working man who never works, his make-up being characteristic and his acting being graphic and humorous. He was complimented with a call at his exit in the third act after joining the hands of Polly and Sam Gerridge. Mrs Bates made a lively, captivating representative of the impulsive, warm-hearted ballet girl, and Miss Andrews played Esther in a pleasing and natural manner, The performance terminated with the good old-fashioned comedietta “ The Married Rake.” Mrs Bates as Mrs Trictrac and Cornet Fitzhenry, and Mr Bates as Mr Frederick Flighty, by their vivacious acting, sustained the piece with interest to the end. This evening, the sensation play entitled “ Lucretia Borgia,” will be produced, and on Friday night Mrs Bates announces her benefit,, on which occasion “Elizabeth, Queen of England,” will be revived, by request. Annual Chuech Meeting.— The annual general church meeting was held last evening in the College Library. There was a very good attendance, and the chair was occupied by the Yery Rev. the Dean, who stated that the business of the evening would consist of the reading of three papers, viz., the first by Mr Horace S. Smith, on “ The advantages of a Church Society; ” the second by the Rev. H. Stocker, entitled “ Recreations,” and the last by Mr J. Grigg, entitled “ The personal experiences of Christians.” Each of these would, no doubt, be of considerable interest, and discussion would be invited upon them from those present, the only stipulation being that those taking part should not speak for more than ten minutes. Mr Smith then proceeded to read his paper, in which he spoke of the very great advantages that were likely to accrue to the church from the formation of such a society as that to which the title of his paper referred. He adverted to the great benefits that had been derived from such an association in Australia, particularly in Sydney, and bore witness to the unostentatious liberality of one gentleman, who for sixteen years anonymously contributed the sum of £IOOO yearly. He referred to the system that had for so long prevailed, of the laity having little direct interest in the management of church affairs, a state of things which was now happily passing away. The matter of the proposed society would be brought before the Synod at its present session, and he had no doubt that something tangible would be the result. The Rev. Mr Paige, in the course of some remarks which he made, said that Mr Smith’s paper came before them as an old friend with a new face, for at one time they had had a Church Extension Association, which, however, from want of proper interest, had failed to effect the great good that was anticipated from it. Some three or four years ago Mr Blakiston had road a paper with objects similar to those advocated by Mr Smith, but nothing had resulted therefrom, and much that had been done by the Church Extension Association had been equal to so much waste paper. The Rev. Mr Pascoe said if the Church Society was to be a success there must be a general sustentation fund, out of which the various clergymen should receive their stipends. At present there were two interests—one parochial, the other general diocesan. Such a state of things would not help forward such a society as proposed. The Hon. H. B. Gresson quite agreed with the remarks of Mr Pascoe, and was of opinion that they were fast drifting into a state of Congregationalism. The Yen, Archdeacon Dudley, the Very Rev. the Dean, Mr Grigg, and others also addressed the meeting, after which Mr Smith replied, and said he hoped that during the present session of Synod the matter would come before them in a more detailed and practicable form. The Rev. |Mr H. Stocker then read his paper on “Recreations,” in which he contended that recreations of all healthy and moral character were necessary in every walk of life, and that it ‘was almost impossible for the everyday duties of man to be performed month after month and year after year without them. The paper by Mr Grigg on “ The Personal Responsibilities of Christians ” brought the readings to a close. After votes of thanks had been passed to the various readers, the benediction was pronounced, and proceedings terminated.

Presbyterian Churcu, Sydenham.—A meeting of Presbyterians residing in Colombo road and its vicinity will take place this evening in tha schoolroom, for the purpose of conferring with the committee appointed by the Presbytery respecting the formation of a new church and Presbytery.