NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1543, 29 January 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Me Conyeeb.—With regard to this gentleman's state, it will bo seen by reference to our telegrams that a slight fevrish reaction has set in, and that the doctor in attendance cannot, as, yet give any definite opinion as to his real condition. Death of a Watebloo Veteban. —The following obituary paragraph, clipped from a 2T o kt;« 6 Viatn paper, refers to the uncle of Mr Thomas Stapleton, of Christchurch, well known as an enthusiastic bird fancier. Sneinton, the place referred to, is a suburb of the city of Nottingham.—" On Sunday, the funeral of William Stapleton, an artillery soldier, who served through the Peninsula War, and was present at Waterloo, and at the marching of the allied armies into Paris, took place in the parish churchyard, Sneinton. The deceased was 8G years of age, and lived in Hermit street." Bangioba MagiSTEATe's Coubt.—An improvement has been made in this Court by the introduction of a new bench tablo for the Magistrate, and suitable furniture for the convenience of counsel and Press. A substantial and somewhat artistic chair has been provided for the Resident Magistrate, being about the most imposing article of the kind to be met with in any part of the South Island. Tempebance Hotel Company. —At a meeting of the shareholders of this company held last evening at the old Temperance Hall, Gloucester street, the company was fully formed and the directory appointed. The question of site, the name of the proposed hotel, and some other matters were left for the directors to decide. A report of the proceedings appears elsewhere.

King- of Pain. —Professor Scott's free entertainment in Cathedral square last evening attracted a very large audience, and tho sales of the medicine were brisk. The professor will give his peculiar entertainment again this evening. Ganterbuby Rifle Association.—Those intending to for the prizes offerad by the Rifle Association at the competition tomorrow, at the Cashmere range, are reminded that the entries will close at Cookson's Commercial Hotel, at 8 o'clock this evening. The prizes to be competed for are Blake's, the Mayor's and Messrs Petersen's cups, and the firing commences to-morrow, at S o'clock a.m.

Theatre RoYAii. —The successful run of King Henry V. came to a conclusion last night. There was an excellent house, and the piece went as well as ever, the only regret appearing to be that it was its final representation. This evening a new sensational play of romantic interest entitled "Amos Clarke" will be performed, Mr G-eorge Rignold personating the title role. The action of the pluy takes place in 1685, shortly after the Duke of Monmouth's fatal defeat at Sedgmoor, and the bloody retribution exacted by the infamous Colonel Kirke and the no less fiendishly notorious Judge Jeffries. The plot involves a family history,in the working out of which Mr Rignold, in the assumed character of secretary to his uncle Sir Robert Clavering, aids his half brother John Clavering to escape the perils which surround him as an adherent of the Duke of Monmouth, his most deadly foe being his uncle Sir Robert, in whose house he is concealed through the agency of Amos Clark. Matters are rendered still more interesting, and at the same time more complicated, by John Clavering being in love with Mildred Yaughan, Sir Robert's niece, who, in spite of her uncle's deadly hatred of her lover, returns his affection. Sir Robert meets his death at the hands of Amos Clarke, while the latter is effecting hiß half-brother's escape, and the interest of the play culminates in the concluding acts by Amos Clarke's confession of his agency in Sir Robert's death and the sacrifice of his own life to save his halfbrother, who has been captured and wrongfully condemned to be shot for the homicide. These materials are handled by the dramatist in a masterly manner, and Mr Rignold is credited with wonderful ability in pourtraying the various emotional phases of character which are evolved by the working out of the incidents of the drama. Every attention has been paid to the realistic production of the piece in the matter of appropriate scenery, dresses, and appointments, which will no doubt be appreciated by the play-going public of Christchurch. "Amos Clarke "is announced for two nights only, being withdrawn on Friday night for Mr G-eorge Rignold's benefit, when an entirely new bill will be produced. Saturday night will be the last of Mr Rignold's engagement. Haeboh Works. —The several works of the Lyttelton Harbor Board for increasing tho wharfage accommodation are being executed with commendable despatch. There were but two spans more of piles to drive at the G-ladetone extension yesterday, and tho decking and lower work is being pushed ahead. At the now No. 4 Wharf the last of the wharf piles were driven yosterday afternoon. Here also a considerable portion of the decking is laid, and work on the stringers and girders is well advanced. A number of "tender " piles have yet to be put in. Tho full length of this wharf is -103 feel;.

Absence of Mind. —During the hearing of a case at Kaiapoi Court on Monday, the copy of tho Scriptures used in administering the oath was discovered to bo suddenly missing. Tho police officer whoso duty it was to repeat the oath viewed tho disappearance with some consternation, but suspicion Calling on the last witness in the box, an application was made to him, when tho missing article was produced, with the rernurk that ho, thinking it was his pocket, book, had placed it where ho usually kept the latter article without any foloniouß intention. The discovery was of course the occasion for an interval of merriment in tho dull details of a disputed <jlai

Thk Harvester King.—A public exhi bition of the capabilities of Gammon and Deering's " Harvester King" will be held to-morrow, in Mr C. Bourn's paddock, Southbridge. At a trial of thin machine on Tuesday, at Rangiora, an improvement was made ia th" introduction of a novel separator, which materially assisted in the ease with which the sheaves wore delivered. A Good Day's Wobk.—The number of railway waggons loaded at Lyttelton and despatched to Christchurch yesterday was 202, being the largest number ever dispatched in a single day, their load being equal to 1124 tons. They were brought through in four trips by the engine Corsair. Juvenile Runaways.—Yes!erday morning, a German woman named Nelson, wife of a laborer residing at W'dtham, reported at the police depot that her son, ten years of age, had been enticed away from his house by two other lads, named Jack, aged respectively twelve and seven years, and for some time no traco could be found of their whereabouts. Later in the day she met the three lads together, and her son, on her calling him, caiuo to her, hut the other two ran away in the direction of the railway, where Mrs Nelson slated they were in the habit of loitering for the amusement of seeing the trains come in. These two were later on found by their father and taken homo, and it is to bo hoped properly chastised, as a cure for their vagrant propensities. Picnics.—The rage for picnics in Christchurch appears to be increasing. There are now two to take place shortly, that of the merchants' employes, and of those of the brewers and bottlers. Last night yet another was added to this list, viz., that of the milkmen. A crowded meeting of milkmen was held at the Golden Age Hotel, when it was agreed to hold a picnic at the farm of Mr B. Palmer, Avonside, on February 13th. The grooms of Cbristchurch also intend holding a picnic at an early date; Mdlle. Ciiaebonnkd's Concert—The final concert of this series will take place to-morr'ow evening at the Oddfellows' Hall. Mdlle. Charbonnet will, by request, repeat the grand 8)lo from " Moe 6 in Egitto," the " Second Concerto," allegro, by Hummel, Weber's " Invitation to the Waltz," and a solo, '•Baa! Baa! Black Sheep," by Mozart. The vocal portion of the programme has been very tastefully selected, and will embrace the talents of the favorite cantatrice, Miss Florence Neville, Signor Luisetti, and Mr j Melchor Winter. Attractions like these, I added to the fact that it is the last time

Mdlle. Charbonnet will play in Chrißtchurch, ought to ensure a large attendance