NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1513, 21 December 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Picnic at Rhode's Bay.—The Lvtfcolton Wesleyan choir hold (heir picnic this year at Rhodes' Bay. The steamer Akaroa is engaged for the occasion, the picnic to be held on Boxing Day. By referring to the advertisement it will be found from whom tickets may be obtained.

Colombo Road Wesleyan Church.— Services will be conducted to-morrow, by the Rev. J. S. Smalley in the morning, and the Rev. J. A. Luxford in the evening. There will be addresses in the open air, opposite the church, on " temperance," at 3 p.m. FORESTEBS' Fei-e- The privileges, in connection with the Foresters' fete, wiiich takes place on Boxing Day, were sold to-day by Mr J. G-. Hawkes, when the following prices were realised :-No. 1, publicans', £2l, Mr Collier ; No. 2 do, £22 ; Mr Collier, No. 1 confectioners' booth, £5, Mr Bashford ; No. 2, £3.

Water on Railway Cabs—lt would be a v?J great convenience to the travelling public were there placed in each of the passenger cars on the railway a filter containing a supply of " honest" wafer. During the Bummer months passengers Buffer constantly, more or less, from thirst whilst travelling. It could be done at a metely nominal cost to the Government, just a small filter with a metal drinking cup attached being placed in the corner of each car. Accident in Port.-Oii Thursday night, as Mr Reid, the pilot at Lyttelton, was about to descend from the poop of the Waitangi, and take his leave of the ship, ho made a false step, and fell directly to the main deck, fracturing one of his ribs. The Commissioner of Railways.—Mr Wm. Conyers, the Commissioner of Railways for t lie South Island, left yesterday in the s.B. Wakafipu for the purpose of inspecting some of the railways in the northern p..>W,ion of this island, including those at Picton ana Nelpon, He will be absent about three weekr*

Presentation. —At the distribution of prizes at the Colombo road school yesterday the girls presented the head mistress, Mrs Bowinaker, with a vevy handsome crystal flower stand and ornamental cusket. Mysterious Affair.—About eight o'clock last night a woman, whoso name has not been ascertained, was admitted into the hospital suffering from some serious wounds in her htad. She was placed in the medical ward, but being completely paralysed was unable to give any account of how she came by her hurts. She is lying in a very critical state. Provincial Council Chamber. The interior of the Council Chamber lias undergone a transformation which wits necessitated by its being chosen for the sittings of the new District Court, but certainly does not add to its appearance. A dais has been erected with a desk for the Clerk of the Court, and over the latter a platform has been temporarily laid for the accommodation of the orchestra and chorus on the occasion of the performance of the" Messiah " on Monday evening by the Harmonic Society. Asphalting Footpaths.—lt was stated at the last meeting of the City Council that the contractor for asphalting the footpaths had no discretionary power in choosing the localities he should attend to first. Under the circumstances the attention of the City Surveyor, who directs the contractor's labors, might advantageously bo drawn to certain localities over which much pedestrian traffic passes, and which seem to be doomed to be the very last to bo attended to. Amongst these may be cited both sides of Montreal street North, commencing at the corner of Hereford street and the approach from the Victoria Bridge, along Oxford Terrace, to the City Council Chambers, as well as the open ground in front of the Supreme Court. While both sides of many more highly favored streets, over which less traffic passes, are being asphalted, it is somewhat unaccountable that the localities pointed out should be neglected. TnE Engineers.—A meeting of the Christchurch Engineers was held last evening in the orderly room. In the absence of Captain Warner, Sergeant-Major Manning presided. There was a very good attendance of the members of the corps. A discussion took place as to the advisability of sending a representative team to Nelson at the forthcoming competition. It was ultimately resolved to send seven representatives chosen from the highest aggregate scorers in three competitions to take place at the Cashmere Range, the expense of going to Nelson to be borne by the company. The first competition will take place on Saturday, December 28th. For the encouragement of rifle shooting it was resolved to challenge any ten civilians of Canterbury to fire a friendly match, a similar challenge to bo offered to any ten volunteers of the Canterbury companies. An animated discussion arose on the suggestion that it waß time the company had new uniforms, a general feeling prevailing in favor of a change, but the question was relegated to a future meeting of the company.