NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1515, 24 December 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Plbasuee Teip.—Residents at Pigeon Bay are informed by advertisement elsewhere that they will have an opportunity to visit Port and the regatta on New Year’s day, and return the following morning, the steamer Akaroa having arranged to call in at the bay on her return from Little Akaloa next Thursday. Boaed of Education Offices.-Tlic Board of Education offices, at the Normal school, will be closed from to-morrow until the 2nd of January, both days inclusive. Lamps in Sydenham.—The people of Sydenham are to be congratulated at the prospect of speedily having gas lamps erected in the borough. At the meeting of the Council last evening the lighting committee was empowered to call for tenders for a supply of twenty-live lamp-posts and lamps. The Peoposed Foot Beidgk in Madeas Steeet. —The Government have determined not to comply for the present with the application of the Sydenham Borough Council for the construction of a footbridge across the railway in Madras street. I.A.O.D.—The quarterly meeting of the Ancient Order of Druids, Pioneer lodge, was hold at the lodge room, Wellington Hotel, Tuam street, last evening. There was a numerous attendance, and a largo amount of business was gone through, chiefly the nomination of officers and election of lodge surgeon. Railway Locomotives.—The ship Mallowdale, which arrived from London last week, has on board three railway engines. Hardly a vessel arrives from home without rollingstock of some kind on board. These three make a total of eight engines now on the water, there being five on board the Hurunui, Piako, and Thames. Teip to the Sounds. —The contemplated excursion to the Sounds of the Union Company’s steamer Rotorua bids fair to be a great success. On Saturday last berths were allotted to all excursionists booked to that date, leaving accommodation available for but a few more. The steamer is to leave Port Chalmers on Tuesday, December 31st. Anothee Royal Commissioneb— From Gisborne wo learn that Mr (F. J. Moss, the member for Parnell, has been appointed Commissioner to inquire into the Ormond Military Settlers Grants. The “Herald,” in announcing the appointment, st ates: —“ For some unaccountable reason it is said that Mr Moss will sit at Napier, thus involving a great amount of trouble and expense to the applicants.”

Found Deowned.— The body of an unfortunate woman, named Ann Henderson, who, for many years, has been living in a sadly neglected condition in the Elksmcro district, was found on Monday morning, in Hart’s creek, by Mr W. McVinnio, about ten chains below the hut occupied by hc-r husband, on the land reserved by the Government for a landing-place. No further information is aa yet to hand. A coroner’s inquest will, howeyer, be held to morrow.

Q-xmnastic Competition. —Yesterday the annual gymnastic competition of boys belonging to the various public shools, took place at the gymnasium in connection with the Normal school for the prizes given by the North Canterbury Board of Education. The exercises were cone through under the supervision of Mr Walker, the drill instructor, to whom great credit is due for the proficiency of his pupils. Cue of the boys succeeded iu obtaining 89, and another SO out of a possible 90 marks. The competition lasted during the morning and afternoon. The attendance was not so large as usual, owing to a good many of the students and pupil teachers being away for the holidays. The competition, so far as the absentees are concerned, was postponed until February next.

Fever at Tamutu. —Tho Maoris at the Tamutu Pah have lately had several of their children prostrated by a malignant form of typhoid fever. In ono family alone, that of Korura, tho head of tho house, two children, and a daughter-in-law were all under the charge of Dr. Chapman, who complains that no provision is made by the Government for assisting the natives in tho time of sickness with medical comforts, &c., and no supervision exorcised over their burial grounds. Reaper and Binder _ Contest. The entries for the competition for tho prize offered by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, under the head of reapers and binders, close on January 4th. Those likely to bo entered comprise tho Wood, M'Cormick, Osborne, and Marsh King. The latter is'a new machine hero, tho agent, Mr Hemming, only having arrived within the past few days to run tho machine at the trial. It may be necessary, therefore, to give a short description of the salient features of the machine. Tho grain after being cut, in falling travels on an endless band in the same manner as with the M'Oormick and Osborne. In travelling upwards on the elevators it is carried on bv sprocket wheels by chains running on them. Spikes centered into wood bands fastened to the sprocket chains convoy it upwards and deliver it on to the binder platform working with binder on the same principle of swan neck and delivery of sheave as with the Osborne Binder, twisting and compressing is similar in tho main to that of the Wood. Accidental Poisoning.— An inquest was held yesterday afternoon, before Dr. Coward, coroner, at tho hospital, upon the body of girl named Margaret Jack, who had into that institution suffering HPK the effects of having taken aquafortis. witnesses examined were the mother of W the child and Drs. Bell Hay and Chilton. The evidence of tho former went to show that the child was the daughter of Mr George Jack, who resides near Wilson’s bridge. It seemed that one of Mr Jack’s son’s children had been using aquafortis for the purpose of burning corns, and that the bottle containing the liquid had been placed upon the table. The deceased took it up, and drank some of the contents, when she immediately called out that she had burnt her mouth. Dr. Bell Hay was called in on Sunday morning, and ordered the child’s removal to the hospital, where she died yesterday morning. A verdict of “Accidental death ” was returned. Supposed Suicide at Waikuku, —A very sad affair happened here last week, which, in consequence of the victim being well known as a resident for many years at Woodend, has cast quite a gloom over the residents in the Waikuku-Woodend district. The report of Sergeant Scott, of the Kaiapoi police, states that on Wednesday, the 18th, Mr George Ivens left home on horseback with his two dogs. Not returning on Thursday search and inquiries were made, but without success, up to Sunday evening. Late that evening his horse was found by Mr B. Bailey, the lessee of Mr Ivens’ farm at Waikuku, running loose without saddle or bridle. Tho saddle and bridle, and one of tho dogs with its throat cut, were found near tho gate. On Monday morning Mr A. Bramley found the second dog with its throat cut. Soon after the body of Mr Ivens was found by Messrs Beharrell and Barnes lying in the Taranaki lagoon leading into the Ashley, on the same property, in a hole where the water was about 6ft. 6in. deep. Life was quite extinct, the body appearing to have been in the water soma days. It has been ascertained that on the day of his leaving home deceased went to Leithfield and called last at the Rev. H. G. Gould’s, but did not find that gentleman at home. The deceased, it is supposed, had been low spirited from gome cause, and had committed suicide, after previously killing his dogs, which he had often stated ho would never part with. Ho leaves a wife and two children, besides a largo circle of friends. An inquest will be held to-day.