NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1545, 31 January 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Seiav in County Council. —A meeting of the Sclwyn County Counc’l was held this morning. It wn resolved to concur in the resolution passed at the Conference of Counties and Boroughs, respecting chaiitable aid. A number of licences for slaughterhouses were granted. The tender of D, Gibson for the construction c£ a road to the Rakaia gorge, was accepted, subject to the approval of the engineer. The report of the committee appointed to inspect and take over the Malvern water race, was apporved, and the engineer instructed to take steps for the repair of the tunnel. A meeting for the 10th February was appointed to elect two members for the Harbor Board. Telegraphic. —A number of men were this morning employed in altering the direction taken by the north line of telegraph wires through the town. The old line used to run from the old telegraph office along Gloucester street east, and through Cranmev square to the North road. The new lino is from the new office, along Colombo street and Whatoley road, to the old point of junction with the North road. Royal Agbicultubal Society. The committee of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand will meet iu Christchurch during the Ram and Ewe Fair, in March next. SpobTlNG. —The well known horse Dundee, by Traducer—Ronga, was sold yesterday by Messrs J. T. Ford and Co. for 350 guineas. Mr W. 0. Webb was the purchaser. Hospital and Charitable Aid Boabd. — The usual weekly meeting of this Board took place last evening, when a good deal of business was transacted. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. —The monthly meeting of the committee of this association was held yesterday, at which a good deal of business was transacted. The annual general meeting was fixed for March 13th, The Hospital Staff. —Mr John Evans Brown last night gave notice of motion for the next meeting of the Hospital Board — “ That application be made to the Government to cancel the appointment of the present medical staff, with a view to the Board making their own arrangements with the resident medical men of Christchurch.” Canterbury College. —The usual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Col’ege was held yesterday. The resignations of the Hon, John Hall and the Rev. W. J. Habens were received. Inefficient Accommodation at the Hospital. —lt was stated last night at the meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid B >ard, by Mr Chilton, the House Surgeon, that the institution was wholly unfit at the present time to accommodate the vei/ large number of patients who occupy it. Ho was requested in future to make a formal written report on the subject. Yesterday's Gale. —The strong southwest gale that raged all day yesterday left marks of its violence in various parts of the city, especially on the belts, which were strewn with branches torn from the trees by the fury of the wind. One tree was blown bodily down into the river between Cashel street bridge and the Resident Magistrate’s Court, and the Windmill road and Colombo road also bore traces of the effect of the gale on the trees that skirt them. Lyttelton Roman Catholic School Picnic. —Nearly a hundred children attended this picnic yesterday. The steam launch Lyttelton carried them across from Lyttelton to Governor’s Bay, where the day was most enjoyably spent. Owing to the boisterous south-easter and rough sea in the afternoon, Messrs Agar and Roberts, proprietors of the steamer, considered it imprudent to bring the picnickers back by the boat, substituting therefor a sufficient number of vehicles, in which the children rode back to town comfortably. Hospital Patients. —At the meeting of the Hospital Board last evening a letter was read from one of the inmates asking that she might be sent to Auckland on the ground that sho was more likely to get well there than in the Christchurch Hospital. The Board declined to grant the application, as the Auckland Hospital authorities had refused te receive Christchurch patients, and as it would not be wise to send her to the northern city where she had no friends while sho was utterly destitute. Theatre Royal. —“ Amos Clarke ” was repeated last night to a good house. This evening Mr Rignold will take his benefit, the pieces being “Alone” and “Black-Eyed Susan.” No doubt the numerous admirers of the popular actor will muster in great force, the more especially that to-morrow night is the last of his engagement. In the character of William, in the nautical drama, Mr Rignold will play a violin solo and dance the sailor’s hornpipe, A great double bill is announced for to-morrow night. On Monday night the company will appear in Dunedin in “ Henry Y.” Rev. J. W. Inglis. —This gentleman will give his lecture entertainment on “ The Songs and Music of Scotland,” at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton. This entertainment has proved thoroughly enjoyable, not alone to Scotchmen, but to persons of all ual ionalities. The lecture is interspersed with comic anecdotes and several of the illustrative recitals have kept audiences in roars of laughter. In other parts the selections have, from their pathos, had quite a contrary effect. The peroration refers to the future of the colonies, and is spoken of as a very eloquent piece of declamation.

Accident at the Rifle Range. —A nasty accident occurred yesterday at the Cashmere Rifle Range to a lad named Goodwin, who was employed as one of the markers. As the firing was about to commence at the 600 yards range the left leaf of No. 3 Target fell down, broken away by the force of the wind. The markers, three in number, StaffSergeant Kerr being in charge, preferred to rig up No. 4 t'> re-fixing No. 3 as 6 by (i target. This required an additional plate to be fixed. During the painting of the target, Bugler Goodwin, of the Engineers, being in front, a sudden gust of wind blew it down upon him. By a quick movement he managed to keep his body nearly clear, but the falling mass of iron caught him just above the hips, and knocked him partly under it. Assistance was promptly rendered, and he was taken at once to the Hospital by Quartermaster-Ser-geant Fox. On inquiry at the Hospital at a late hour in the evening, the house surgeon reported that the injuries sustained were internal, and of a rather serious character. Watbb Supply. —A meeting of the Water Supply Committee was held yesterday. Present —Ors. Cass, Tremayne, and Gapes. Two let ters were read and considered in explana tion of certain schemes which had been submitted to Mr Clarke with the rest. After reading over some of the other proposed schemes, and discussing at length all the known sources of a water supply, the committee resolved to proceed at once with their experiment at a point higher up on the Waimakariri, between well defined banks, the committee being unanimous that the best source of supply was to be obtained from that river, from a point where the banks were well d< fined. It was decided that a report to this effect should be presented to the Council at its next meeting, at the same time intimating that an experiment was being proceeded with to teat the capability of the river as a means of supplying the city and surrounding country. Mr Hubbard waited on the committee and submitted plans for softening and filleting water, which he explained at some length. The chairman and town clerk were authorised to see Mr White to make any arrangements necessary for proceeding with his experiments.

Union Rowing Cluij.—The following ar. the junior crew that, will represent t ho Union Rowing Club on Saturday next, against the C.R.O. : -W. M Joynt (bow), lOit 61b ; A E. Hawkins (2), lOst 91b ; F. ])• K|W(oven (3), list; J. F. Smith (stroke), 10at 31b ; E. M, Manning (cox), Sat 91b,

Ram Fate.—The ram fair for the present year will be held on the grounds of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, on the (3th March next.

Leon and Kellt Minstbels.— This excel- j lent troupe of minstrels and expone - ts of opera bouffe will giro performances litis and to morrow evening, in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, being their last appearance in Xew Zealand. They leave by the Tararua on Monday for Melbourne, where they will open on February loth. The Glasgow Bank Failure.— ln accordance with a motion passed bv the City Council at its last meeting, the Mayor will call a public meeting, probably for next Wednesday evening, to take into consideration the question of the nresent distress in Glasgow through the recent failure, and with a view to the appointment of a committee to collect subscriptions to help to relieve the same. Rifle Match. —A match will be fired or. Saturday, February Bth, between the Christchurch Engineers and the Artillery. The distances are to be 200, 3C3, 400, and 5' 1 yards, the Engineers using their rifles and the Artillery carbines through the four ranges, when a change of arms will be made, the Engineers taking the carbines, and the Artillery the rifles. School of Agriculture. —Atthe meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College, held yesterday, it was resolved to establish six scholarships in connection with the School of Agriculture. The successful competitors for the scholarships will receive a certain sum, to be fixed hereafter, for the three years’ tenure, and also free board and lodging at the farm. The Otago Univebsitf. —At the meeting of the Canterbury College Governors yesterday, the action reported to be taken by the Otago University to obtain a royal charier, evoked considerable discussion. The opinion of the members seemed to be that the step was unadvisable. Ultimately the matter was adjourned to a special meeting, to be held on the 17th February. Municipal Assessments. —The “ Wanganui Herald” has compiled the following statistics from the recently published figures of the municipal assessments : —Dunedm, assessmentforyear,£27s,oC ), increase £25,305; Wellington, £240,743, increase £34 431; Christchurch, £210,702, increase £48,022; Auckland, £155,017, increase £14,874; Wanganui, £ 17,874, increase £8902 ; Invercargill, £47,578, increase £8956 ; Timaru, £45,800, increase £10,300.

Fibe in Sydenham. —About one o’clock this morning a fire broke out in Harper street, Sydenham, in a house known as Fitzgerald’s boarding house, which win totally destroyed, together with a small house adjoining, owned by Mr Black, but which was empty. The brigade were promptly on the ground, but owing to the want of water wore unable to be of much service. Fortunately the two buildings wore detached, otherwise the destruction of property must have been very great, m it was blowing half a gale at the time. Had there been water to be had Black’s house? could have been readily saved. Templabv. The Star of St. Albans Lodge, No. 187, met on Wednesday in their Lodge room, St. Alban’s lane. The District Deputy and the Degree Templar and officers of the Olivo Branch Temple No. 1, vis'ied the lodge. The chair was taken by the Degree Templar, who, assisted by the various officers, opened the lodge in due form. After eddresses had been delivered, the election of officers for the ensuing term was proceeded with, resulting as follows: Bro. Bdlens, W.0.T., Bro. Spooner, W.V.T.; Bro. Bennett, W. Sec.; W. Tress., Bro. S. W. Smith ; W. Chaplain, Bro. Reader; W.F.S., Bro. Baker; W. Marshal, Bro. Cooper. Several members were raised to the second, and some to the third degree by the Degree Templar. This lodge has done some good work since its establishment a few months since, and the visit of the Temple officers seemed to infuse new energy into the members. Mdlle. Chahbonnbt.— Mdlle. Alice Charbonnet’s grand concert last night at the Oddfellow’s Hall, was well attended and gave thorough satisfaction to an apparently critical audience. In the course of the evening she played the solo from “ Mos<s in Egitto,” by Thalborg ; “Baa! Baal Black Sheep,” Mozart; Hummel’s second concerto (allegro) ; and Weber’s famous “ Invitation to the Waltz.” In each of these she sustained her high reputation as a brilliant and masterly performer, the staccatto passages, runs and complex variations in the quaint air of Mozart exhibiting her wonderful manual execution. She was encored each time, and substituted a waltz and n mazurka by Chopin and two similar compositions by Pfeiffer and Schul tff. As on the occasion of the last concert the vocal numbers were efficiently rendered by Miss Florence Neville, Mr Winter and Signor Luisetti, Miss Neville specially contributing in exquisite stylo a beautiful ballad of Madame Sainton Dolby, entitled “Is it forever?” Mdlle. Charbonnet, by request and under distinguished patronage, will give n final concert for her benefit next Tuesday evening.

Reapers and Binders —A private trial of reapers and binders was held in Mr Bourn’s paddock, near Southbridge. on Thursday. The trial was initiated for the purpose of giving a public exhibition of the working capabilities of the Marsh Harvester, and in order that the public might bo able to compare its work with some of the older established machines, arrangements were made fur trying the McCormick’s and Wood’s. The weather was hardly suitable for clean work, a boisterous wind from the south-west blowing till the afternoon. The Marsh Harvester was horsed by Mr Bourn, and accompanied by a re presentativo from Messrs Mason and Strut hers, and Mr R. J. Webb, of Bluet t and Co., local agents. The McCormick wa« horsed and driven by Mr Chas. Petrie. The Wood was horsed by Mr Bourn, but made very poor headway The choice of ground fell to the lot of the McCormick, and the lightest portion was naturally chosen, leaving the Harvester a very heavy, somewhat green, but straight standing crop. About three acres were apportioned to each machine, the McCormick cutting its quantum in two hours and twenty minutes, the Harvester in two hours and thirty minutes. There was a large attendance of local farmers, who took a great interest in the work shown, and, as far as could be judged, the majority were in favor of the old favorite. Every allowance must be made for the disadvantage under which the Marsh worked, and probably when better acquainted with the machine, the difference might not appear so great. Every endeavour had been made to provide an Osborne machine, hut the notice given was so short that Messrs Wilkin and Co. were unable to get one on the ground in time. Dr. Donald’s Testimonial— The subscription list to this testimonial closes on the iOth ' iviximo. acclimatisation SOCIETY —The annual general meeting of the memoers of the Canter bury sec imatisation Society will be held at the < ommercial iaotei at half-past seven o’clock this evening. Cricket Fixtures. —The following will comprise the Sydenham Youths’ team in their tr atch against the Normal School on Saturday nest: —Mes rs C. Wagstaff (captain), J. Fowkc, W. H. Smith. J. Walsh, H Jones, T. Flowers, T. hobson, J. Bntler, S. Had field, H. Herman and J. Rowe Emergencies—Sbicrhw and G Robson The match will be played on the Walth.m ground at 1.30 pm. sharp. The following will represent the Crown C.C. in their mat< li against the Richmond to-morrowE. White, T. McGioity, K. Kmpson, P. Simpson, R. Beckett, W. Beckett. H. Parker, F. Hopkins, J. Noon, J Walsh, W. Rowan. Emergencies— J. King, F. Coward Sam. Hourda. The mutch between the Eastern C.C. and the Sunnyside C.C., which was arranged for Saturday, is postponed.