NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1482, 15 November 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

I.O.G.T.—Messrs John Webber and John King have been elected to represent the East Christchurch District at the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, to be held at Nelson in December next. Mr John Allison has been elected the district deputy for the ensuing year. Hospital and Charitable Aid.—The members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board interviewed the Hon. Colonel Whitmore this morning on the subject of that body, and it was agreed to take the Cheviot and Amuri districts within the boundaries. The Board and Colonel Whitmore afterwards visited the Hospital. Defence of Lyttelton.—A very influential deputation, representing the people of Christchurch, Lyttelton, and the surrounding districts, waited upon the Hon. Colonial Secretary (Colonel Whitmore) at the City Council Chambers, at eleven o'clock this morning, to make certain enquiries of him in reference to the defence of Lyttelton harbor, and the mounting and working of the guns. Colonel Whitmore stated that the guns had left home, and would probably arrive in New Zealand before the end of the year. That it was the intention of the Government to organise the whole of the artillery throughout New Zealand on one common footing; and that the protection of the various harbors and seaport towns would be entrusted to them, they being paid while on active service. At the same time the gallant Colonel scouted the idea of any of our ports being bombarded, adding that, even if this did take place, the people would, in a day or two, " get used to it," as probably some hundreds of shots would be fired without doing much harm. The deputation thanked Colonel Whitmore for his courtesy and witbdrew. A full report of the proceedings will appear in to-morrow's issue. The Mayoralty.—lt will be seen from advertisement, appearing elsewhere, that Mr Henry Thomson, the present Mayor, has consented to stand for the Mayoralty for the ensuing year. The Colonial Secretary.—The Hon. Colonel Whitmore was a passenger by the express train from Timaru last evening. He will receive several deputations to-day on various matters. Mr Redwood's Sale.—The sale of the Chokebore stud took place yesterday, when fairly satisfactory prices were realised for the lots sold. The Late Fatal Boat Accident.—The police were yesterday engaged in dragging for the body of the unfortunate young man Luff, who was drowned at Sumner under the circumstances detailed in yesterday's issue. "Up to a late hour last evening their search was unsuccessful. It will be resumed to-day. Ashburton Races. The second day's sport in connection with the Ashburton race meeting passed of excellently. Though the number of close finishes was not overwhelmingly largo, yet all present appeared to enjoy themselves. A detailed report of the various events will be found elsewhere. East Christchurch Evening Classes.— It has been decided to open evening classes at the main school of the East Christchurch Educational district, Gloucester street, for classics and mathematics up to the standard required for Matriculation, Civil Service, and Preliminary Law Examinations. Lyttelton Fire Brigade.—An entertainment on behalf of the library fund of the above body waß held at the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton, on Wednesday evening. The attendance' was only moderate, a fact no doubt to be attributed to the late holidays. The performance concluded with a farce performed by the members of the Eire Brigade, which was capitally played, and caused much laughter. St. Michael's Schoolroom. —Last evening the clos""* uvMWig of the Choir Guild ioP cne present session took place in St. Michael's schoolroom, when a very pleasant evening was passed, the members of the choir rendering solos, duets, and part songs with great taste. An interesting paper on vocal music was read, and votes of thanks to those who had taken part in the evening's amusement closed the proceedings.

The Hon. J. T. Fisher.—Prior to the departure of the Postmaster-General he will be waited upon by a deputation of residents of Avonville and Phillipstown on the subject of mail delivery. It appears that in each of these districts there is a post-office, but no outside delivery, people having to fetch their own letters. The deputation will point out the advantages to be derived from the employment of a mounted letter carrier, who could with ease deliver the letters in both districts.

Waikebakikaei. —By the p.s. Tongariro, Mr John Smith, of Lo Bon's Bay, shipped to Waikerakikari a steam engine of 30 horsepower and a boiler. Mr Smith intends erecting the largest saw mill on the Peninsula on a suitable site in the Bay. The bush, which contains some magnificent timber, was formerly owned by Mr Wm. White, and may be said to be the only virgin forest in the Peninsula. The saw mill buildings are already in course of erection, and Mr Smith has purchased the p.s. Tongariro to run between Waikerakikari and Lyttelton. Ciieevers, Kennedy, and Bent's Minstbels. —There was another very good attendance at the Gaiety Theatre last evening, when tfip programme of the previous evening was repeated with the approval of those present. In the first part the jokes of the corner men were greatly relished, and the various solos of Messrs Campbell, Reid, and Drayton, loudly applauded. In the afterpart the acting of Messrs Bent, Kennedy, and Cheevers, in their nigger farces, was full of minstrel comicalities, and caused much laughter, while the violin solos of Mr Simonsen were of course highly appreciated. Some alterations will be introduced into the programme this evening. Cathedral Guild.—A general meeting of the Cathedral Guild was held last evening in the College Library. There was not a large attendance. The chair was occupied by the Very Rev. the Dean, who stated that upon this occasion there would be no preliminary observations to make with reference to the Cathedral, except to congratulate them upon the appearauco which the circular window at the western end was assuming, and to add that at tho close of that meeting there would be a meeting of the Guild Committee. Ho wus very happy to sec tho Ven. Archdeacon Harper at that meeting, and that he would read a paper on the " Life and Mission work of the late Bishop Selwyn." Archdeacon Harper then proceeded to read an interesting paper on the subject referred to, giving an amount of the Bishop's life from the time he entered college, and dwelling upon the evidences of muscular Christianity which ho shortly afterwards displayed, following him in his passage out to this country on his assuming the Bishopric of ]\ T ew Zealand, and his subsequent establishment of the Melanesian Mission. In their early college days Bishops Harper and Selwyn were a good deal together and were most intimate friends, so that the lecturer was enabled to give some xcry interesting reminiscences of their early youth. The Archdeacon spoke at length of tho immense amount of Christian labour the Bishop had performed in New Zealand, particularly among the Maoris, and of the heroism he displayed on the ft lei of battle in tho discharge of his Christian duties. Finally he referred to liia work in the old country after ho had accepted the Bishopric of Lichfield, and to his last illness and death. The paper was listened to with the greatest interest, and at its close a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Archdeacon Harper. Tho chairman then made a few observations on the same subject, giving some recollections that came to" his mind of his own connection with the Jato Bishop, and the Rev. E. G. Penny and 0. Bow en also added a few words. Dr. Dunkley then road a poem from the works of Bloomfield, after which the Guild choir gave some vocal selections, and votes of thanks having been passed to all who had assisted in tho evening's work, the proceedings terminated,

Tiie Taupo Enquiry.—lt will be seen that the enquiry into the accident to the Taupo off Tolago Bay, has terminated in the suspension of Captain Andrews' and the chief officer's certificates for six months.

Expobt of Rabbit Skins.—During the September quarter of the current financial year, there were 1,008,380 rabbit skins exported, their estimated value shipped being £8963. Burton's Oiecus. Another excellent programme was gone through |at the circus last evening, to the delight of a good audience, the whole concluding with a repetition of the equestrian drama of " Turpin's Ride to York."

Marionettes at Ashburton.—The Royal Marionettes opened in the Town Hall on Tuesday night to a fairly filled house. The programme was well carried out and much enjoyed by the audience. On Wednesday, the first day of the races, the hall was filled. The performance will be repeated this evening and to-morrow. Ashley County Council.—The polling for a councillor for the Mount Thomas Riding took place at Loburn on Wednesday. The numbers polled were: —For Mr J. A. Cunningham, 48; for Mr S. Barwell, 41. The former was declared by Mr Lynekey, the returning officer, to be duly elected. The nominations for Oxford riding have to be sent in on or before Saturday at noon. Ashburton County Election. The 1 election of two councillors for the riding of Mount Somers was held on Wednesday. Three candidates came forward, Messrs W. 0. Walker, D. Cameron, and J. E. Taylor. The returning officer declared Messrs Walker and Cameron duly elected. A large number of electors registered their votes in the course of the day, and more interest appeared to be taken in this than in the previous election. Mr Inspector Broham.—lt has been stated in a number of journals that in consequence of Inspector Atcheson leaving Wellington, Mr Inspector Broham, at present in charge of the Canterbury district, will be removed to the Wellington district. At present Mr Broham himself has received no notice of the removal, and knows nothing of of it beyond the newspaper paragraphs in question. Theatre Royal.—The drama of "Flying Scud " appears to have lost none of its attractions as yet, judging from the full attendance in the lower part of the theatre last evening. It w 11 be repeated this evening for the last time, and to-morrow the dramatic season will be brought to a close, on which occasion the programme will include the ever popular "Shaughraun" and the racing scene from the " Flying Scud." Ownerless Horse.—About 5 o'clock on Wednesday morning a man named James Goodbrand observed a dark chestnut mare with a new saddle and bridle wandering on the road between the Hospital and the Riccarton Hotel. He caught the animal and took it to Carew's livery stables, in Oxford Terrace, where it remains for identification. The mare is about 14J -hands high, white star on forehead, short tail and mane, and shod all round. The name of " John Fallor and Co., Dumfries" is engraved on a brass plate on the saddle. On inquiry at Riccarton it transpired that a young man who stated he had been thrown from a horse was making inquiries on Tuesday evening, but up to last night the mare had not been owned. The Speaker and the House Committee. —The " New Zealand Times " has the following:—lt is said that Sir William Fitzherbert is so disgusted with the manner in which the recess House Committee's management of the Parliamentary buildings was canvassed by a section of the members during the recent session, that he will have nothing further to do with the thing. By the way, the Hon. the Minister for Public Works did not appear to advantage in this matter. He gave his written consent to every item of expenditure, and then when the expenditure was criticised declined to accept any responsibility in connection therewith. A Seal on Exhibition.—A curiosity is now to be seen in one of the shops in the Triangle, in the shape of a live seal or, as it is termed in the placards, "a sea monster." The animal was captured in the Macquarie Islands when only a few days old, by Captain Cooper, of the schooner Jessie Niccol, while on a sealing expedition. It is now some six weeks old, is six feet long and weighs three or four hundred weight. It is perfectly tame, and plays with its owner, Mr Willis. It appears to suffer no inconvenience through want of its native element, and has free access to a pail of water. It is stated that Air Willis has tamed it by the use of music —in other words by a hand organ. Its principal food is milk sop, and though growing so rapidly, it eats very little. It was on exhibition in Dunedin, and arrived overland on Wednesday evening. A Wellington Plague Spot.—lt seems hardly credible (says ;the "Chronicle") that there should be permitted to exist in any civilised Christian community such a harbor of refuge for the shipwrecked outcasts of degraded humanity as the Maori Pa in Te Aro. The scenes of riot and infamy witnessed there by the police from time to time are too shocking to every instinct of delicacy to be hinted at in these columns in even the most guarded language. All the vices practised by that class of human beings who have sunk far below the condition of " the beasts that perish," hold devilish carnival there. It would be a burning shame to allow Buch a haunt of infamy to continue even if none but men and women who hav9 long been steeped to the lips in vice frequented it. But there is something worse than even that. It was sworn by a constable in the Magistrate's Court yesterday that on Saturday night he saw about fifty boys in this Maori Pa whilst scenes which decency forbids us to mention were being enacted. Things of this atrocious kind are of nightly occurrence. How parents with any spark of love in their breasts for the children they have brought into the world can be so scandalously careless of their duty, as many Wellington parents are, is past comprehension. If children are permitted to to frequent such places as the Maori Pa, to behold and to revel in such infamies as are there _ perpetrated, it is little wonder that larrikinism spreads with alarming rapidity. In a city which contains numerous churches and schools, which boasts of its literary institutions and its learned societies, which is proud of its refined civilisation, —is it not a disgrace that the existence of such a sink of iniquity should be tolerated year after year ?

There is but one piano oil the island o Cyprus. 2s o wonder England was anxious to gobble up such a paradise.—" Norwich Bulletin."

The list of those who love the watch dog's honest bark will never be complete until the closdy-clinging Ilea is included.—" New Haven llegister." An lowa City girl says that she finds nothing so good for the complexion as rubbing her face on a young man's vest. The young man must be inside of it, though.