NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1517, 27 December 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Meeting. The annual meeting of the Railway Employees Benefit Society is announced to take place at the Terminus Hotel on Monday evening next at 7 30.

The Drainage Board Auditors. —Prior to the commencement of the proceedings ut the Drainage Board this morning the question of the appointment of auditors came up, the accounts of the Board having to be audited up to the 301 hof the present month. In reference to the records of the Board it wan found that the auditors were originally and permanently appointed by the superintendent. The matter then dropped. St. Mark’s, Opawa. The Bishop of Christchurch, Primate of New Zealand, will hold a confirmation service at this church, on Sunday evening next. The service will commence at a quarter-past six. Rangitata Bridge. The flood in the Ringitata has once again had a damaging effect on the bridge, the second pier at the south end having been carried away. Steps have been taken to prevent further damage, but it is feared that if the river continues to rise, traffic south of the Rangitata will be stopped for some time to come. Floods. —As a natural effect of the nor’wester that has been blowing during the past twenty-four hours, the rivers south are reported to be rising rapidly, and the Waimakariri is flooded already sufficiently to warrant serious apprehensions for the safety of lowlying property upon its banks. Selwyn County Council. —A meeting of the County Council of Selwyn was held today, at which a large amount of business was transacted. The principal item was the recommendation that the proposals of the Q-overnment as to hospitals and charitably aid be considered by a conference of sentatives of Counties and number of slaughter-house licenses weW

granted. Dr. Turnbull’s motion, respecting a harbor at Sumner, was postponed until next meeting. Durham Street Wesleyan Sunday School. —The children attending the above school bad their annual treat yesterday, when they proceeded by train to Hillsborough. On arriving at the paddock games and sports were entered into with great spirit, and the children were also supplied with refreshments of various kinds. They returned to town shortly after six o’clock, having spent a very pleasant day. Narrow Escape from Fire.— On Christmas Day a lot of timber and other valuable property at Mr R. Dailey’s, Swannanoa, had a narrow escape from being destroyed. One of the men had fired a gun, and some time after the burning wad set fire to a heap of dry rubbish, which immediately began to blaze up, and required all the efforts of the persons about to extinguish the fire before it came into contact with a large quantity of timber and building materials. Torchlight Procession, L.Y.F.8.-Tho Lyttelton Fire Brigade held a meeting on Tuesday night, whereat final arrangements were perfected for holding a torchlight procession on New Year’s Eve. A special train from Christchurch has been engaged, to return from Lyttelton at a quarter to one o’clock on the morning of the Ist January. This will enable those who desire to witness the display of fireworks on board the ships in port, and the torchlight parade, to do so and return home in good time. St. Andrew’s Sunday School. —The annual treat in connection with the above Sunday school was held yesterday in a paddock kindly lent for the occasion by Dr. Frankish, and which proved to be admirably suited for such a gathering. The children were conveyed to the ground in vehicles of various descriptions, and in a short time cricket, foot races, and various other amusements were in full swing. These were kept up till tea time, when, after having partaken of the good things provided by the teachers, all returned to town thoroughly pleased with their day’s outing. Annual Picnic. —The annual picnic given by Mr C. P. Hulbert to bis employes took place yesterday. The scene of the gathering was the grounds attached to the hydropathic establishment of Mr Booth, situated on the Lincoln road. About 130, including visitors, were present. During the day a number of amusements were got up, including cricket, croquet, and dancing, a pianoforte, through the kindness of the proprietor of the grounds, being brought out and placed under the trees. An excellent dejeuner was provided, the caterer being Mr Morton. A day of great enjoyment was concluded by votes of thanks being passed to Mr and Mrs Hulbert, and to Mr Booth for his hospitality and kindness, which contributed largely to the success of the picnic. The party then returned to Christchurch. Christmas at the Orphanage.—Christmastide has not been suffered to go by at the Lyttelton Orphanage without some relaxation of the ordinary restraints, and extra indulgences to mark the season. On Christmas Eve the children had a holiday, and at one o’clock a Christmas dinner of roast beef and plum pudding was provided for them, and was followed by a liberal dessert. In the evening, shortly after tea, the children assembled in the schoolroom, in the centre of which was placed a gigantic Christmas tree, brilliantly sot off with lighted tapers and laden with a variety of presents. On either side of the tree tables were laid containing further contributions of fancy goods, toys, Ac., including among the latter many useful presents, such as work boxes and writing desks, for the larger inmates. The distribution was made cj Mr. Sopp, the master, who previously addressed a few remarks to the children, telling them how he had been enabled to give them the treat, and mentioning among the contributors to it a girl who had sent a sovereign she had saved from her earnings, with a nolo saying that she felt deeply grateful for the education she had received at the orphanage, and desired to show her thankfulness by contributing to the happiness of her former playmates. The festivities closed with cheers for the donors, a jollification in tbe schoolroom, and an illumination with colored fires in the parade ground. Yesterday the orphans were present at the Foresters’ fete, and on New Year’s Day Mr Sopp hopes to give them another holiday. The Stewarts. The capacity of the Oddfellows’ Hall was tested to the utmost lost evening, on the occasion of the repetition of “ Rainbow Revels” by the Stewart Family, the Hall being crowded in every part. The songs aud dances were loudly applauded, and encores were frequent. Miss Dooy sang the selection from “Ernani” excellently, and the Misses Nellie and Maggie were also successful in their respective contributions to the programme. The singing of Miss Nellie in “ See how it sparkles,” and “Maid of Athens,” produced an enthusiastic re-demand in each case. Mr Stewart was also very good in his imitations, and the whole performance evidently gave very general satisfaction to the largo audience. The same piece will be repeated this evening. The Prisoner M‘Kay.—On Monday we published the following from the “ Tiu|iru Herald”:—“Donald M‘Kay was arson ut Temuka ut the Supreme Courl^M

sions in Juno last, and. be also was wards transferred to the asylum on account of certain lunatic symptoms, which showed themselves shortly after his incarceration iu the Lyttelton Q-aol. On Thursday morning M'Kay escaped from the Lunatic Asylum, and has not since been recaptured.” The Chief Gaoler at Lyttelton states that the above individual is in safe keeping in prison, and up to this date bus not manifested the symptoms indicated.

Bible Chuistiaks. —The members of this church held a very successful soiree Let night in the Templar Hail, Worcester street. The Hall was prettily decorated for the occasion with lligs and evergne; s, and the tables were adorned with bouquets ot flowers. About 200 of the members and their friends assembled, and did ample justice to the good tilings provided. A very pretty Christmas tree, loaded with valuable and useful artichs, was display ed at the end of the hall, and tin y w ere supplemented by (wo stalls, also covered witb laucy work and pretty things generally. Much amusement was caused by the branpi. s, in which the disburse!' ol a small com might try his luck. Selections of music were p ayed at intervals on the piano bj Miss Hall, ami on the harmonium by Mr Sm.th. Great credit is due to the committee for the manner in which the soiree was conducted.

Rearer and Binder Trial. —The travelling agent of the Marsh ling reaper and binder, Mr Homing, has made arrangements for a trial of his machine on Tuesday next in a paddock of oats at Rangiora. Yesterday at Port. —The weather was very unfavourable for water excursions in the harbor yesterday. The wind blew half a gale from the North-East. Excursionists by boat, as a consequence, wore not numerous. The trains, however, were fairly patronised, and Lyttelton had a moderate share of visitors. The day was observed as a close holiday, only those connected with the steamer Albion, which sailed in the afternoon, giving any attention to business. In the morning the local Wesleyan choir held their picnic at Rhodes’ Bay, The steamer Akaroa took the party over, in all about eighty. The Titan was patronised by about the same number for Pigeon Bay, and the smart little launch Lyttelton carried people to and from Governor’s Bay as long as encouragement offered. At night the Canterbury Kilwinning Lodge, No. 585, S.C., gave a bail at the Oddfellows’ Hall, and Lodge Unanimity, No. 604, E C., held a banquet in the Masonic Hall, There was a very large attendance at each.