NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1546, 1 February 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Shipwreck. —lnformation was, this morning, received at the Police Depot that a vessel had been washed ashore hist night at Tsinutn, on the Ninety-Mile beach, near Lake Elies mere. No bodies were reported as havi g been found, nor was the size of the y- ssel mentioned. Sergeant Barlow was at once despatched to the scene of the accident. Mdllh. Ohabbonnet.— lt, will bo seen by an advertisement in to day’s issue that Mddle. Charbonnet’s farewell benefit, on Wednesday next, will bo held in the Theatre. Wo understand that the entertainment will be of a mixed character, and that arrangements have been made with several of our leading prefessiouals to take part in the proceedings. Meeting op Barmen. —lost night a large meeting of barmen and hotel employes was held at tho Royal hotel, to make preliminary arrangements for a barmen’s picnic. It was decided (o hold a second meeting next Thursday evening, in a more central place, (o give those a chance to be present that were not able to attend the first gathering. A Magisterial Warning. —The Resident Magistrate at Ashburton stated yester day in Court that persons summoned for having horses and cattle astray, and not appearing to answer to the charge would, unless they had a very sufficient excuse, not only have to pay 8s costs, but run the risk of having a warrant issued for their apprehension. R.M. Court, Ashburton. —The business at this Court yesterday was frequently inter rupted by squabbles which in no way tended to maintain that decorum with which justice should bo administered. Registrars’ Returns.— Tho returns of tho births, marriages and deaths in the city of Christchurch and district for tho month of January are as follows: —Births, city, GO; district, 128, as contrasted with 55 and 91 in January, 1878. Marriages, city, 42; district, 13, compared with 38 and 6 in the same month of last year. Deaths, city, 3G ; district, 68, the numbers for January, 1878 having been 25 and 28. On the subject of the unusually large number of deaths, Mr Field, the Deputy registrar says : —“ The number of deaths (104) is the largest ever registered in this office. Tho average monthly number for several years past has been about 49. The number during February, 1876 reached 90. With that exception 75 is tho greatest number registered in any monl.h, and that season was notoriously sickly. The population of the district is about the same, tho boundary having been altered.” Entertainment at Ashburton. The Kelly and Leon troupe gave a performance on Thursday night at the Town Hall, Ashburton. There was a very largo attendance, and tho audience seemed much delighted at the entertainment. It is n'-cdlesa to give a detuil d report, as full accounts have already appeared in these columns. Mr Kelly was as humorous, the “Only” Leon as fascinating, and Japanese Tommy as grotesque us ever, aud Mr Beaumont Reed, by his rendering of the “Sweet bye and bye,” caused that breathless silence in the hall t hat is the sincere*! of all applause. The operatic vagaries, quartettes, jokes, farces, comedy, and fine playing of the orchestra, all met with warm appreciation, and the audience went home delighted with the treat.

Sudden Death at Oxford,—On Wednesday Mr Joseph Weeber, paint er, of Oxford, whilst at work at the immigration cottages, was suddenly taken ill and carried home in a stale of insensibility. He lingered until yesterday morning at nine o’clock, when ho died, having never regained consciousness. Mr Weeber has lived in the district for about nineteen years and was much respected. Deep svmpathy is felt for his widow and family. The cause of death is supposed to be apoplexy. Muff Cricket Match. —A return match between t'*ams selected from Lytic ton and Christchurch Muffs will, in all probability, he platcd upon the U.C.C. ground at an early date. Licensing Meeting —The quarterly meetini' of the Licensing Commissioners for the t llesmerc district, will bo held at noon, in the Ko ident Magistrate’s t’ourt, Leeaton. Glasgow Belief Fund—A public mooting will be held next Wednesday evening, at the Music Hall, Cathedral square, to consider what s»eps shall be taken to raise subscriptions in aid of the Glasgow Relief Fund. Scandinavian Service.— The Rev. J. S. Smalley will hold the usual monthly service in the Durham street Wesleyan Church to-morrow afternoon.

Local Board of Health.—Tue usual fortnightly meeting of this body was held yesterday, but beyond the reading of the inspector s report, and a few remarks on (he mortality of the past month, very little was uone. Oruelt z to Cattle.— lnstructions have been received by Sergeant-Major o ’Grady, at Lyttelton, to commence proceedings against the persons bkmablo for the recent ill-treat-ment of cattle in transit for shipment by the Wallabi, reference to which was made in these columns several days ago. Malvern Water RACE.—The Selwyn County Council have determined to put the clauses of (ho Act ?u force with regard to taking the land required for the water race, as they have been unable to obtain it from the proprietors on such conditions as the Council felt they were justified in accepting. The Charitable Aid Question —The Selwyn County Council, at their meeting yesterday, resolved that they would inform the Government that they were in favor of the resolution passed at the recent conference of chairmen of County Councils and Mayois of boroughs respecting charitable aid, Lyttelton Harbor Board. —The annual election of members of the Lyttelton Harbor Board will take place on the 10th February. At the meeting of the Selwyn County Council yesterday, it was announced that the Hon John Hall and Mr Harman would offer themselves for re-election as representatives of the Council on the Board. An Unlucky Mistake. A Mr Gibsri had a very narrow escape from death on Thursday at Ashburton. He had rceived a hurt in the stomach, and went to Dr, Stewau for some medicine. That gentleman gave him two bottles, one containing a liniment in which there were largo quantities of aconite and belladonna, of course for outward application, and the other a draught. When Mr Gibson reaebt d home with the medicine, he retired, and by mistake swallowed the poisonous liniment instead of the draught. The effects were at once felt, and he ho i great difficulty in calling the other inmates of the house by rapping on the wall with a brush. On receiving the alarm they at once sent for ])r. Stewaifc, who speedily arrived, and with a stomach pump relieved the sufferer, who has now recovered. Had there been no medical man within a short distance, Gibson must have paid for his mistake with his life. An Improved Plough.— A new addition to the labor saving machinery for agricultural use is to bo seen at Messrs George King and Co.’s business premises, Cashel street, and as the implement completely upsets all preconceived ideas regarding breaking up the soil, a brief notice of it may not be out of place. In this plough the handles are entirely dispensed with, the two mould-boards are firmly attached to a moveable or side-swinging gang of two beams, it has a powerful lever, by means of which the mould-boards are lifted from a working to a travelling position, or by the same moans lowered again for work. When about to turn corners a slight upward jerk on the lever unlocks the joint, whilst a forward motion brings the ploughshares to the surface, and at the commencement of new furrows the lever is again thrown down, and the ploughshares enter the soil. This plough is drawn by two horses, driven from an elevated perch. The depth of the work is regulated by a simple device at the forward end of the beams, and as the draught is direct from the work the carriage receives no strain. It has a single straight axle, the off wheel running on the top of the first furrow, and is always in a level position either in work or transit. It is claimed for this plough that if the first two furrows are broken or crooked, either through the driver’s inattention or inexperience, those following will straighten themselves. Hitherto the tendency with other double-furrow ploughs has been for each succeeding furrow to increase the irregularity of its predecessor. As usual, with labor saving machines, this plough is an American invention, the makers being Messrs Carr and Hobson, of New York, whose extensive ugi'icult ural machine factory at Clintonville, midway between New York and Boston, is well known. The Fraudulent Bankruptcy Case.An application was made yesterday to the Bench of Magistrates, by Mr Gres-on, to admit Bassinglhwaite, charged with fraudulent bankruptcy to bail. Messrs Craig and Edwards offered themselves as sureties Mr Izard, instructed by Mr Gresson, supported the application, which was opposed by Mr Wynn Williams on behalf of sho trustee of the estate. The grounds of Mr Williams’ opposition were, that if the proposed sureties wore accepted there was no security for ti e appearance of (ho accused to lake his trial at the Supreme Court. He stated that provisi u had been mode for indemnifying the sureties in the event of the bankrupt absconding from his bail, and consequently they would be quite indifferent ns to whether bo left, the colony or t ot. Mr Izard replied that as long as the necessary bail was found it was perfectly within the law, even if the sureties wore secured from personal loss, Mr White* foord bad fixed the bail at £ICC3 for the accused, and two sureties in the sums of £SC3 each, the only condition being that they should justify. As to security, he know of many cases where the sureties had been virtually secured against loss. He himself bad placed a cheque of his own drawing in the ha ds ot the Court us bail for a man whom he had defended, and it had been allowed, lb resulted in point of fact to this—that as long as the necessary bail was found it did not matter who provided the money or who sustained the loss of it in the event of an accused person absconding. Tne question arose as to the amount and nature of the surveillance to bo k-pt over a person admitted to bail by his sureties, and whether their interest in bringing him to (rial would not bo weakened by the fact of their being in any event secured against loss. Mr Inspector Hickson said the question had been put to him whether he would tell a man off to watch Bassingth waite if he were bailed, and ho replied “ Certainly not.” If he knew he intended to abscond he could not interfere to stop him, unless at the request of his sureties As a matter of fact he had heard it said that Mrs Bassingthwaite was raising money r to indemnify her husband’s sureties, and Bassingth waite was willing to lose £ 1000 so that lie could leave the colony. The sureties were directed to be sworn, and each declared they were worth £SC3, but admitted that to a certain extent they were to be secured against loss. Under these circumstances the Bench declined to accept their bail. Later in the day the matter was re-opened, and Mr Gresson cited Mr Justice Johnston’s “ New Zealand Justice of the Peace,” by which it appeared (hat it was immaterial whether persons offering themselves as ball were secured or not. The Bench then reversed their decision, and Messrs Craig and Edwards were accepted as security for B-issingthwaite’s uppeara ice at (he Supreme Court. Sunday-bchool Treat. The children attending St. Stephen’s Church of England Sunday-school, Ashburton, were entertained at their first annual school treat on Thursday last in Mr Hay T. Smith’s paddock, just outside the belt, which was kindly lent for the occasion. About 100 children, accompanied by a number of their friends and teachers, formed the party. Games of all sorts were indulged in, under the able management of Messrs Fooks and Gates, and a capital luncheon was much enjoyed. A number of prizes were distributed amongst the children, In the event of rain they would have found shelter in a large grain loft of the Messrs Saunders, who kindly placed the building at the disposal of the party. A very happy day was spent. Fire at Ellesmere — A fire took place at Ellesmere early on Thursday morning, by which the Grange, the property of_ Messrs Frankish, was destroyed. The house is a tenroomed one, and at too time of its destruction was occupied by (ho owners and several visitors and servants. When first discovered the fire had gained such a strong hold that there was no chance whatever of saving the house —indeed, it was as much as the inmates could do to escape with their lives, and most of them in (heir night-clothes. The building was in-uired in the Union Insurance Company for £SOO, and trie furniture in the same oiiice for £3OO. The loss over and above the insurance is estimated at about £4OO Nothing whatever was saved but the piano and a few chairs. The stable standing at the roar of the Quango was not injured.

Address to Constituents —Mr Sauuders invites the electors of Cheviot to meet him at rite VVaikari sch olrcom, on Thur. day, February Cth; and the follow!u < evening at the Waiau Hotel. Rakaia and Ashburton Forks Railway —The annual general meeting of this company will he ’ ehi on Friday, Febi nary 28th, at the office of the company in Hereford street. St. Andrew’s Church —The Rev. J. W. Inglis will ureach in this Church to-morrow morning «nd evening on the occasion of the twenty-second anniversary of the opening of the church. In the rftei.ioon, at half-past two, an address to the children of the congregation will be given by the Rev. Charles Fraser. The collections will bo devoted to the expenses iuemred owing to the tilling up of the drain in Antigua street, which runs alongside the church property.