NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1534, 17 January 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Thr San Francisco Mail— The Union Company’s steamship Taiaroa left Manukau yesterday morning, with the southern portion of the San Francisco mail. She will arrive in Lyttelton on Sunday morning, whence the returns to Wellington on the same day. The s.s. Hawea will be detained at Lyttelton to tranship the Southern mails from the Taiaroa, leaving for Port Chalmers on the arrival of the 9 30 train. Board or Education.— The Board of Education of North Canterbury held their first meeting since the holidays at the Normal school yesterday afternoon, when a good deal of miaeoUaocQug business was transacted,

King Henet V. —Extensive preparations are on foot for the presentation of “Henry Y.” next Monday at the Theatre Royal. Apart from the high intellectual treat of the grand historical play efficiently acted, the stage effects and the general mounting of the piece are to be of the most gorgeous description. Messrs. E. Huntley, Herbert Winning and Palmer arrived yesterday from Wellington by the Arawata, bringing with them the grand special scenes painted in America and Australia for the illustration of the play. The army of stalwart supers, who are engaged for the royal army, arejbeing assiduously drilled, and Messrs Rignold and George Darrell, with the company, will arrive to-morrow. In addition to the brilliant scenes painted in New York, the public of Christchurch will for the first time have an opportunity of seeing some of the work of Mr John Hennings, the celebrated artist of the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, who has no equal in the Australian colonies.

Sttpeemk Couet. —The nisi prius sittings of the Supreme Court were resumed yesterday, when the case of Henderson v the Napier Harbor Board was taken. The plaintiff sues the defendants under a certain contract entered into with regard to constructing works in the harbor of Napier, and also alleges fraud and collusion between the engineer and the Board to prevent the plaintiff obtaining the final certificate as to the work being completed. Four witnesses were examined yesterday, and the evidence is likely to be exceedingly voluminous. As, however, the case possesses little interest here only a brief resume of it is given elsewhere. The At-torney-General and Mr Rees are for the plaintiff, and Mr Macassey and Mr George Harper for the defendants.

Wateb Supply. The committee met yesterday morning at half-past nine, and sat till one p.m. Mr Hubbard, hydraulic engineer, attended in response to the Council’s advertisement, to give details and afford general information on the scheme he had submitted’. He gave some valuable information derived from the experience of some of the most eminent living hydraulic engineers in England, which he fortified from the result of public works, some of which had been constructed under his own personal supervision. After a lengthened interview the committee determined not to proceed further at present with their experimental scheme. The city surveyor submitted plans and specifications for the proposed cylinder which was to have formed a part of the plant necessary to carry out the deferred scheme. Mr White was also present to afford what information might be required by the committee, but the latter resolved that in view of the knowledge they had gained from high authority in reference to the friction of water through mains, and to the necessary elevation of head for supplying a jet in the city, that it was advisable to defer any further action re experimenting until satisfactory evidence could be obtained bearing on the question at issue. The Stewabt Family. —This company played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in the Oddfellows’Hall, Lyttelton, to very good houses, and yesterday left by the steamer Bingarooma for Wellington. They return to Canterbury about the middle of March, after visiting Napier and Auckland. Competition Q-old Medal.— Mr M. M'Oallum, of Cashel street, has given a gold medal to be fired for in connection with the representative firing of the New Zealand Rifle Association. The terms of competition are that the medal shall be awarded to the highest aggregate scorer in the three competitions with the Christchurch Artillery, The Lyttelton Magibteaoy,— Persons who have business at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Lyttelton, such as the clerk cannot transact, are decidedly dissatisfied with the delays they are put to. Yesterday morning serves as an illustration. A case involving the attendance of the master of a vessel with his counsel, should have been tried at eleven o’clock. No Justices could however be found, and it was finally put off until this morning. Since Dr. Donald retired, Court business requiring the attention of a Magistrate has almost daily arisen, and in each instance the work has been done by the local Justices. The temporary appointment of Mr Mellish is clearly an ill-advised arrangement, as his time is so much absorbed by his other magisterial duties that he has been unable to visit the Lyttelton Court since he was gazetted. Lyttelton cannot do without a resident stipendiary magistrate. Intebpeovincial Regatta. —A meeting of boating men was convened to be held at Oookson’s Commercial Hotel, on Thursday evening, for the purpose of considering the question of arranging for the interprovincial regatta of 1879, but only one or two gentlemen attended, and, after waiting till 8.45, the meeting was given up. It may be stated that, in consequence of a resolution passed by a public meeting of boating men at Kaiapoi, Mr J. Lowthian Wilson called the meeting, having ascertained from Mr H. Thomson, who kindly acted as treasurer and secretary to last interprovincial regatta, that ho was afraid he should not be able to give the time to the matter this year. Mr Wilson, it appears, has issued about eighty circulars to gentlemen recognised hitherto as leading men in boating matters, and the inference is that, as he has called and they have not answered, the interest in boating is on the wane. Possibly the interprovincial regatta may be arranged for in some other way, as it will show very badly if Canterbury is not able to take its turn in carrying out the regattas, which have been so successful heretofore in other provinces.

Mahtha. —Complete ai were the previous performances of “ Martha” with the original cast, the effect last night, with Miss Amy Sherwin in the part of Lady Harriett, was one which will not be readily forgotten in the musical annals of Christchurch. The prima donna was in magniiient voice, and her superb singing and the arch naivete of her acting, excited the largo audience to an unusual pitch of enthusiasm. Her rendering of the “ Last Rose of Summer” was greeted with a shower of bouquets and an imperative encore, which was conceded by the gifted cantatrice. The same compliment was given to Signora Yenosta for her song at the commencement of the fourth act. The Huntresses chorus was given here with even greater precision and effect than on the two previous performances of the opera. Mr H. P. Towle sang the beautiful love song “ None so rare” in a style that surpassed his previous efforts, and brought down a storm of applause. Mr Ellisdou again asserted his supremacy as a buffo vocalist, and his merit was heartily acknowledged by the audience. Taken altogether, the opera was a credit to all who took part in it, every one working con amove to make it a success. It will be repeated on Saturday night for the last time. Mb Tablet, —The interest in Mr Varley’s meetings continues to increase. A large company assembled yesterday afternoon to hear an address upon “The Jews ” and “ Signs of the times indicating the approach of the crisis,” and in the evening the Oddfellows’ Hall was again crowded to its utmost capacity. This afternoon at three Mr Varley will speak upon “The Christian’s position and work in view of the Lord’s return,” and in the evening, at half-past seven, will give another Evangelistic address. A meeting for children is announced to bo held by Mr Varley in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Saturday at three. Meetings will be held in the Theatre Royal on Sunday at three and seven, and on Monday evening Mr Varley will give a lecture in the Oddfellows’ Hall upon “ Billy Bray, the Cornish Miner and Preacher.” The admission to the lecture will be two shillings and one shilling each, and (he proceeds will be devoted to the fund for Homes for the Blind at Nothing Hill, London, It was announced that a meeting for young women, in connection with the Young Women’s Christian Association of Christchurch will he held in the Congregational schoolroom, Manchester street, on Saturday afternoon at three, and a meeting for mothers in the same place on Monday afternoon at half-past two, at both of which meetings Mr Varhy and others are expected to take part. M r Varley will preach again in the Congregational Church on Sunday morning at eleven.

Thb Ppbtjc Libra by.—There is likely fro be tt change in the staff of the Public Library. Mr Jardine, who was a few months ago appointed to the post of guh ■ librarian, having sent in his resignation

Merchants Employes Picnic —A meeting will be held this evening at the Scotch Stores re the Merchants Employes picnic. Railway Benefit Society.— Applications are invited for the clerkship to the Railway Employes Benefit Society. Particulars of engagement may be obtained from the interim secretary. Cricket Fixtures. —The following will represent the Eastern C. C. in their match against the H.O.L.C.C. on Saturday : —Blakely, Crowe, Gee, Hales, Hook, Monntfort, E., Mountfort, A., Morris, E., Rogers, Rule, Shackleton. Emergencies : —Collins, Morris, C., Lawson. Play to commence at 2 p.m. A match will be played on Saturday between the Richmond and Sydenham Youths’ clubs in Hagley Park, near the Riccarton Hotel. Play to commence at 2 p.m. The following are the players of the former: —J. Hill, H. Wenlock, F. Grant, T. Harvey, A. Thomson. W. Cavanagh, A.Hardie, H. Jones, T. Marr, E. McCleary, C. Eldridge. The Richmond team to meet at the Post Office at 1.15 p.m. The Sydenham Youths’ team will be :—Messrs Wagstaff (captain), Fowke, Smith, Robson, Duncan, Jackson, Butler, Walsh, Rowe, Herman, and Hadiield. Emergencies Shierlaw and Mason.