NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1493, 28 November 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Bank Hoiiday.—Under the amendment to Bank Holidays Aot, 1873, St. Andrew's Day (Saturday next, 30th inst), being a legal holiday the banks will be closed.

Map op the Seat of Wab.—The " Star" of last evening does not understand our geography of Afghanistan. We did not expect he would. If, however, he will purchase the " Press" of the 27th instant ho will receive gratis a map of the country, the first, we believe, that has been published in these colonies. With it in his possession there will be no further excuse for his ignorance. It is got up in first-rate style, and will no doubt prove very valuable for reference during the campaign of our Indian troops.

Accident to thb West Coast Coach. — We hare been favored by Inspector Hickson with the copy of a telegram received at his office yesterday, 3.15 p.m., giving the following intelligence:—"The Hokitika coach has been wrecked in the Bealey this morning. The driver and a son of Captain Q-ibson, of Lyttelton, got out safe. The mails were all saved, with the exception of the Greymouth bag. Signed, W. Haddebli, Constable." Concert.—The concert in aid of the Orphanage treat will be this evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street. A good programme has been drawn up, and the entertainment promises to be as successful as the object is praseworthy. The Sydenham Municipality.—The reelection ot Mr George Booth, as Mayor of Sydenham, has been officially announced by the returning-offieer. The Accident at Wainui. —Information was received yesterday that Mrs Hay, who was injured last week in a buggy accident at Wainui, is progressing satisfactorily, and that hopes are entertained of her recovery. Mew Zealand Railways.—On and after Monday next all trains, except those from Lyttelton, will arrive at the new platform. Only those cabmen to whom licenses have been issued by the General Manager of the Kail ways will be allowed to ply for hire within the station yard. Arrest. —Last night, about twenty minutes past seven o'clock, Constable Sutherland arrested a man for indecent behaviour to somo ladies. The fellow was first seen by the constable running round from Worcester street into Hereford street. The man, who is in custody, is suspected of repeated acts of the same nature committed in the neighborhood of Latimer square. Rangiora Mayoralty Election. Mr Henry Blackett was duly re-elected Mayor of this Borough for the forthcoming year. Tho election took place at the Literary Institute Hall at 12 o'clock noon, Mr C. Gh Chapman acting as Returning Officer. The proceedings passed off in a very quiet manner, showing that the burgesses were thoroughly satisfied with their choice. Selwyn Council Office. —In view of tho Provincial Council Chamber being taken possession of by the General Government at the beginning of the year, for the purposes of a District Court, the Selwyn County Council has appointed a committee to take into consideration the whole matter of office accommodation, and submit it to a future meeting. Malvern. —Farmers are anxiously looking for rain, as the dry weather and the continued north-west winds are unfavourable to the crops. On Saturday quite a number turned out to witness a cricket match between an eleven of the local club and twenty-two outsiders. An easy victory was gained by the M.C.C. I.O.G.T.—An open lodge meeting, in connection with the Southern Cross lodge, was held last evening at the Good Templar Hall, when Bro. H. Bennetts gave a lecture descriptive of his trip to Australia, and what he had seen there, particularly in connection with the Good Templar movement. There was not a largo attendance. At the close of the lecture a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Mr Bennetts.

New Cbmetery Board.—This Board,

being now duly constituted, have made an application to the Selwyn County Council to have the funds retained in the hands of that body handed over to the Board. The amount is something like £6OO, and this sum will be paid over to the Board on the condition that, within the next two years, they establish a suburban cemetery on the western side of the city. Lost Child.—A {little girl four years of age, named Nelly Pateman, the daughter o£ James Pateman, a navvie on the railway, left her home on the Windmill road yesterday evening about half-past five o'clock, and has not since been seen or heard of. She wore a red hood, a white pinafore, and had on elastic side boots.

Cricket.—A match was played yesterday on Hagiey Park, between the West Christchurch and Normal Schools, resulting in an easy victory for the former by seven wickets and 2 runs. For West Christchurdh the batting of Dunnage (33 not out) and bowling of Turner, for the Normal, the batting and bowling of Crowe (40), were good. The scores were West Christchurch, 83 and 26 for three wickets ; Normal, 23 and 79. Coach Accident. —Between eleven and twelve o'clock yesterday morning, a passenger fell from the top of the coach travelling from Akaroa to Pigeon Bay. The coach was driven by Mr Macfarlane, and was going at a reasonable speed. The man was very severely cut about the face, but otherwise not seriously injured. On arrival at Pigeon Bay, he was taken on board the Akaroa steamer and came on to Lyttelton. Petition for Separation.—The inhabitants of a portion of the Waimakariri district, embracing an area of nearly 100,000 acres, are dissatisfied with their position as a portion of the Ashley county on tho grounds that, no funds have been expended in the district, by the Council. They have accordingly petitioned the Selwyn County Council to take steps to have the district, incorporated in the Selwyn county. A select committee has been appointed to consider the whole matter and lo bring up a report at the December meeting of the Council.

The Portuguese Seamen.—ln the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, Mr Inspector Hickson informed the Bench that the seamen were in no need of any further assistance, as their wants had been well supplied, and Captain Mihnan bad shipped them for his return voyage. In tho meantime the castaway mariners are reaping a little harvest by the exhibition of their boat and portions of their enemies tho sharks, which have been placed in a tent, next the Theatre Royal, by an enterprising speculator. Kaiapoi Swing Biudgk.—The repairs to this bridge were completed on Wednesday, and it is now open for traffic at all hours. The Borough Council having had considerable experience in bridge-repairs, decided not to let tho work by contract, in it could be done more satisfactorily by day labor. The structure has been thoroughly overhauled, new bearers and supports put in where necessary, and the whole of the floor newly planked. The repairs have been executed at a cost of about £270, and the result is a great improvement on the former state of the bridge,

Projected Journal.—A tri-weekly paper is to be sh< rtly started in Lyttelton by Mr Riley lately of Hokitika and formerly on the staff of the "Otago Daily Times." The plant arrived per Eliza Firth on Tuesday night. The Malvern Water-race.—At yesterday's meeting of the Selwyn County Council a further tender was accepted for prosecuting the work of the Malvern Water-race. A motion was lso passed, asking the Government to convey it over to the Board, in accordance with the terms of the Act.

The Chhistcuuroh Agricultchal and Pastoral Show appkkciatbd.—Writing of New Zealand's Agricultural Shows in general and that at Christchurch in particular, the Wanganui "Herald" remarks :—'There is scarcely a centre of population throughout the colony but possesses one or more such societies, and at the present season our exchanges are filled with reports of the various shows held under their auspices Of course, the Paßtoral and Agricultural Show recently held at Christchurch takes the lead; it is par excellence the show of New Zealand, and has come to be regarded more as a colonial than a local exhibition. Though not to be compared with that ot the great kindred societies at homo, we very much question whether any of them attained such a high standard of excellence in its exhibits in the same length of time. Suicide.- Shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday, a man, named Andrew Boyce, employed as a slaughterman at Henderson and M'Beth s on the Lincoln road, was found hanging to one of the hooks in the slaughter-house by a necktie. He was immediately cut down, but life was extinct. The deceased man has no connections in the province of Canterbury, but is said to have both friends and relatives in Auckland. He has been in the employ of Messrs Henderson and M'Beth for the last two years. An inquest will be held at the Black Horse Hotel today, at 3 p.m. The supposed cause of his suicide is the loss of money by a land speculation at Addington, which turned out unsuccessful, and since then he has been in a despondent frame of mind. Canterbury Land Fund.—A meeting of the sub-committee appointed by the late conference of county chairmen and chairmen of Road Boards in reference to the Canterbury land fund, was 'held on Saturday last at the office of Mr J. L. Wilson, Lichfield street, to consider the question of the cost of the proceedings initiated by the conference. The chair was occupied by Mr Wilson. It was decided to issue circulars to all Road Boards and County Councils, stating what had been done, and asking one or two, who had not sent in any letters, whether they were willing to share in the general expense. It was found that the expenses pro rata would not come to more than 2s 6 i per cent, on the whole sum allowed by the Government. Sydenham Boeough Council —At the meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council on Monday evening last. Councillor Charters brought forward the following resolution re Mr Ruddenklau's application for a private road, of which he had given notice of motion at the previous meetiug of the Council:— " That the resolution of this Council passed at their last meeting on the lltli November, granting Mr Ruddenklau a road 40ft. wide, be rescinded, on the ground that it is in opposition and contrary to a previous resolu tion, which still appears on the minutes, and has not yet been rescinded." The notice of motion was rend by the Mayor, who did n >t think that the moving of such a motion was in order, but not being quite sure on the point he put it to the sense of the Council, who ruled it not receivable, by a majority ol 5 to 2.

Acclimatisation.—lt will be remembered that the donation made by the Acclimatisation Society to the South Canterbury Institution, of trout, was rendered abortive through the fish perishing while going to their destination. The society in Christchurch, however, to make up the loss, presented the Timaru Association with 1000 more, which Mr Farr took to Timaru by the early express train on Monday. Mr Back, the General Manager at the railway, seconded Mr Farr's excellent arrangements. The fish were, consequently, conveyed to their destination without any diminution of their number. A very great drawback to the safe conveyance of the fish was the excessive heat, which between Christchurch and Rangitata ranged bo ween 63 and 74 degrees. The oscillation of tho train, to which the loss of the first donation was attributable, was considerably lessened by the can containing the trout being swung from the ceiling of the van. Kelly and Leon's Minstbels. - - This admirable troupe of Minstrels made their second appearance last night, the Theatre being largely and fashionably attended. The programme was the same as the first night, and the reception of the various performers equally enthusiastic. Mr Beaumont Read's exquisite rendering of the " Sweet Bye-and-Bye" was rapturously received, the air and chorus being beautifully modulated by the vocalist and company. Mr Read's voice reminds one of the beautiful organs rarely to be met with except in the trained boy choirs in England, but in his instance it has the sustained power of a man, and is cultivated to a rare pitch of expression. Leon's feminine impersonation again excited the wonder of the audience as to how " he does it," and the comicalities of Messrs Courtright and Lester, and the admirable singing and burlesque acting of Edwin Keliy, with the vocalisation of Mr Fredericks, made an ensemble of excellence rarely equalled. Japanese Tommy also came in for a large share ot applause for his excellent comic acting, which was of course enhanced by his Lilliputian elephantine proportions. The first change in the programme will take place on Saturday, though the present one is good enough to attract for some nights yet.