NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1494, 29 November 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Portuguese Castaways. —We arc glad to learn that these unfortunate boys are receiving solid evidence of the sympathy which is never withheld by the Christchurch public from deserving objects, A sum of £2O has been already received, and will bo lodged in the Bank of New Zealand to the credit of Captain Milman for their use. The levee held by these sailors last night was attended by crowds of the public, and passengers of the Rangiliki. There is an interpreter, Mr Watson, who will we arc sure in Ids gentlemanly manner secure all the patronage and subs'antial assistance required to put the men on their feet again. Conckkt. —A concert was given last night in the Oddfellows’ Hull, Lichfield street, in aid of a fund for providing a Christmas treat for the children at the Orphan Asylum. A choice programme was gone through, consisting of operatic choruses and selections by the pupils and friends of Mr J. T. M. Smith, who officiated as conductor, and songs and ballads contributed by the Misses Ness, Rowley, E. B. Rowley, Smith, and Kent, and Mrs Amos. Messra S. C. Johnson, and W. Sidney Smith also sang some starring songe. Mr R. T. Sear re! I accompanied the vocalists. The concert concluded with Locke’s music to Macbeth. With (lie tickets sold prior to tl • concert and the amount taken at the door, after deducting expenses, the fund would be augmeated by about £10»

Independent Butchbbs op Abhbubton. The butchers of Ashburton have announced that, owing to the heavy losses which they have lately sustained from the credit system prevailing in that district, and having to pay cash for their live stock, they have resolved to curtail their expenses by discontinuing to run their carts and culling upon customers for orders. Therefore no orders will be called for by them after Saturday next, November 30bh, neither will they give any credit whatever, but will be happy to supply their customers at the shop for cash only. Scabcity OF Railway Tbucks.— At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Mr Connell brought forward the question of the very great scarcity of railway trucks which existed at the present time between Lyttelton and Christchurch, notwithstanding the fact that the Government had promised to remedy the evil. It was stated by the chairman and other members that the number of trucks had been greatly, and would be still further, increased, and that the apparent scarcity was due to the very great increase in the local trade. Ultimately the matter was left in the hands of the committee to deal with, an expression of opinion being given that the Chamber would weaken its influence by making too many applications to the Government on this subject, when it was known that they were making every effort to meet the demand.

Deowned at Lyttelton. Yesterday afternoon the body of a man named Charles Henry Allan, more commonly known in Lyttelton as Rope-yarn or Dutch Charlie, was found at the Gladstone Pier, lying on the stones of the breakwater just at the Hydaspes’ stern. The body was considerably decomposed and much of the face gone, hut the clothes were at once recognised as those of the man named above. Deceased was about twenty-five years of age, and has been long employed by Messrs Cameron Bros,, but latterly left their service to take charge of the Streamlet, a ballast lighter belonging to Messrs Haydon and Co. It appears that last Tuesday week, November 19th, deceased asked the captain of the Jannette ketch for his boat to go off to the Streamlet, which was lying in Dampier’s Bay. The captain refused, but next morning the boat deceased asked for was found adrift under the Screw Pile Jetty, and it was surmised Allan had taken it. As since that date he was never seen, fears were entertained for his safety, but it was thought he might have gone away somewhere. An inquest will probably bo held to-day. Cokee’s New Hotel. — A new and handsome hotel is in course of erection for Mr John Coker, at the corner of Manchester and George streets. It is a two-storied building, and is to be specially adapted to supplying the want of a really comfortable family hotel, while at the same time the needs of business people are not to be overlooked. The handsome frontage to George street is 87ft. 6in., and to Manchester street 54ft. 6in. There are thirteen rooms on the lower floor, the portion of the building looking on to Munches'er street being divided into suites for families, while the George street side is more exclusively intended for commercial and single visitors. The dining-room on the ground floor measures 24ft. by 18ft. 6m., and the commercial room 24ft. by 14ft. The bedrooms are all 13ft. high and well ventilated. The second floor contains six silting-rooms, 17ft. by 15ft., and eleven bedrooms equally lofty find commodious. A high pressure boib-r is to be fixed in the kitchen, in order to supply the bath or any other room that may require it with an unlimited supply of hot water. The risk of fire will be lessened by the proprietor having a long length of hose on the premises, which can bo used at a minute’s notice, should occasion require it. The contractors are Messrs Prudhoo and Cooper, and the house is expected to be finished within six months.

Suicide at Addington. An inquest weß held yesterday at the Black Horse Hotel, Lincoln road, on the body of Andrew Boyce, who was found hanging the previous ■day from a beam in Messrs Henderson and Mcßeth’s slaughter-yard. A jury was sworn in, and Mr William White, of Addington, chosen foreman. The first witness called was Mr Henderson, who stated that the deceased had been in his employ for the last two years. He was of sober, steady habits, but for Borne short time past he had appeared to he in a despondent frame of mind. He last flaw him alive at about 7.30 on Wednesday, •when he gave him his orders for the day about killing some stock. The next time he saw deceased was after he was cut down, when he had been dead some time. The next witness was IHiss Jessie Henderson, who saw the deceased about ten o’clock the day of his death at her own house. At about a quarter to 1 p.m. she went out to call him to dinner, but he did not answer. She then went down to the slaughter-house and saw him hanging by his neck. She ran to Mr Day’s and told him there was something wrong at the slaughter-house. Mr Day at once went there. The witness said she could give no reason for the occurrence. Mr Daniel Day gave evidence to the effect that he had known the deceased for the last two years, and had observed for the last five weeks that ho had been particularly quiet and reserved in his manner, very different from his usual mood* The cause of his low spirits the witness attributed to a loss deceased had sustained through the purchase of a house at Addington. Ho corroborated the evidence of Jessie Henderson as to his being called by her to go to the slaughterhouse, where he found the deceased ■suspended by his neck to the hook of a block ■where they were accustomed to hang up aheap, and ho was quite dead. One foot was on the ground and the other in the drain, but mot touching. Witness cut him down and ilaid him on his back. The circumstance was reported to the police. Constable Crockatt gave evidence as to the condition in which he found deceased at the slaughter yard, and had bis body conveyed to the Black Horse Hotel, where tho inquest took place. The jury, after a few minutes’ deliberation, returned a verdict “ That deceased destroyed himself while laboring under temporary insanity,”