NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1549, 5 February 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Suez Mail. —This mail arrived from Melbourne at noon to-day by the Union Company’s steamer Arawata. Lyttelton Harbour Board.—A special meeting of tho Board was held to-day at (he Brovin dal Council Chambers. After passing some accounts, tho meeting adjourned until Saturday, when tho question of new offices will be considered. Sporting.— Owners of horses are reminded that nominations for the Great Autumn Handicap close this evening at eight o’clock. Magistrate’s Court. —David Thow was this day brought up charged with being drunk and disorderly in Cathedral Square yesterday. Prisoner had attempted to chaff Professor Scot!, and, on being answered, had used very bad language. He bad then been severely bandied by a large crowd, who objected to their evening’s amusement being spoilt, William Loverton was charged with endeavouring to obtain money by false pretences, by representing himself to bo a night watchman, employed by the Government. He was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour. Theatre Eoyal. —To-night has been fixed for the farewell benefit of Mdlle. Charbonnet, whose high talent as a pianiste has secured for her a host of admirers here. On this occasion the programme will be of a varied and attractive character, comprising as it does instrumental and vocal music and drama. In the first part Mdlle. Charbonnet will play several of her best pieces, notably Sehuloff’s arrangement of “The Carnival of Venice,” and the Grand Duchess fantasia. The vocal part of the entertainment will be given by Signora Yenostu, Signor Luisetti and Mr J. W. Marshall. Last but by no means least, Mrs Walter Hill will make her re-appearance before a Christchurch audience, after a long absence, in a piece new hero, entitled “lake as Two Peas," in which she will be supported by Misses Arclhnsa and Lily May, Mr Walter Hill and Air J. Starke. Such a programme, apart from the fact of the occasion being the benefit of so talented an artiste as Mdlle. Charbonnet, should draw a crowded homo. Glasgow Belief Fund. —The meeting convened by his Worship the Mayor to consider what steps should be taken to raise contributions towards tho fund for the sufferers by the failure of the City of Glasgotv Bank takes place this evening. The following resolutiors will bo proposed: —1. “That this meeting sympathises with the shareholders of the Glasgo w'Bank in consequence of (he cad calamity which lias befallen them through the failure of that institution, and as many families are left without the means of subsistence, this meeting resolves that a fund shall bo raised to assist in the relief of those who may be left in destitute circumstances or in need of procuring help for their support.” 2. “ That a general committee, with power to add to their number, for the purpose of collecting subscriptions and to carry out the objects of this meeting be appointed.” 3. “That tho ministers and officebearers of tho various churches be a-kod to give a surplus offering on Sunday, 15th February, for the purposes of this fund.” 4. “That the Mayor of Christchurch be requested to communicate with the Mayors of Lyttelton, Timaru, Kaiapoi, Akuroa, Sydenham, Rangiora, and Ashburton, together with the chairmen of the several counties in the Canterbury provincial district, soliciting their co-operation in the collection of subscriptions to the general fund.” 5. “That Mr John Anderson and Mr Andrew Duncan bo requested to act us treasurer and secretary respectively.” Railavay Picnic. —The annual picnic of the employes on the Amberley-Ashburton sections takes place to-morrow at Southbrook. Tho programme of events is a most liberal one, there being fifteen items on the section devoted to tho men, eight for the boys, two for the ladies, and three for the girls. There will also bo a baby show and sports of various kinds, such as cricket, quoits, skittles, ninepins, tossing the caber, putting the stone, &e. On the ground there will be Aunt Sally, a telegraph, galvanism, Christy Minstrels, round-abouts, and swings. Tho trophies intended as prizes, which are valued at over £l2O, will be on view in a special tent. The railway band will be in attendance, and should the weather prove fine, no doubt the aff .ir will be most- cuj yablo. Sunntsidk Asylum, —A very pleasing ins'unco of the s'rong feeling which animates colonists in England towards this part of the world, has occurred in connection with the selection of the wardrobe for the Sunnyside Asylum. As will bo recollected the Zealaudia Minstrels gave a performance in aid of (lie fund, and some £2O was the net result. This Mr Seuger remitted to a friend of the institution in England, asking him to select a wardrobe to the amount mentioned. This gentleman enlisted tho sympathies of Messrs Charles Wilmot and Clarence Holt, (wo old New Zealand favorites, and the result of their efforts was the selection of a very handsome and varied wardrobe, which arrived by the Mennock a few days back. To the kindness of these two gentlemen the institution is indebted in no small degree, ns having a thoroughly practical knowledge of what was required, and the best place to get it, they have procured for The Asylum a wardrobe which, under other circumstances, twice or three times the amount remitted would have been insufficient to purchase. Their disinterested kindness on behalf of tho Asylum will no doubt be duly recognised. Arrest d on Suspicion.— On Tuesday two lads named George and Edmunds were tu v sled by Constable Johnston, of the Kaiapoi police, on suspicion of stealing articles from J some workmen’s tents at the Girder bridge. I

iVosTHEHN Railway Extension. —Mr Alfred Saundera, the member for Cheviot, r ceived a telegram yesterday afternoon from the Minister of Public Works, informing him that tenders would be advertised for immediately for the extension of the present railway line from Amberley northwards.

Address to Constituents. —Mr William Mmitgoipeiy, member for Allan , a, proposes to address bis constituents in about three weeks from the present date. , I Charitable Aid Hoard. —At last night's j meeting of the Hospital unci Charitable Atu l Board, Mr Mo ntgoniery gave notice of motion tor the appointment of several committees, which v ill probably result in the Board meeting mont’dy in future instead of weekly. Inquest. —The inquest on the bo; y Robert Scott, whose suicide was reported on Tuesday, was livid yesterday, when a verdict of “ Temporary insimity ” *v.is recorded by the jury. A report o< the evidence appears elsewhere. -.v ores Committee. — The works ci-ffi-nut-c.ee met yesterday, but the business was I a routine character. In the absence of the city surveyor throu.gn illness, the committee gave the necessary instructions to the fiscs’ - uni. surveyor and foreman of works to carry out the works requiring attention. Trade of Sydney. —The value of the imports to Sydney in the year 1878 was £12,152 4-24. For the previous year the declared value whs £12,293,878. The exports during 1878 were valued at £8,687,885, showing a decrease of no less than £844,598 upon vahie of exports lor the preceding year. Lyttelton Magistracy. —At the meeting of the Lvttelton Municipal Council on Monday, the Mayor stated that he had received an intimation from t ie Minister of Justice that a satisfactory appointment to the vacant Magistracy at Lyttelton will be made in a few days. A promise of very much the same character was made immediately after Dr. Donald’s retirement some weeks ago. The Late Accident. —Bugler Goodwin, who lately met with a severe accident at the Cashmere range by a portion of one of the targets falling upon him, is recovering. The injury sustained was internal, but not of so serious a nature as was anticipated, and ho is approaching convalescence. The Drapers’ and Clothiers’ Picnic On the committee meeting the other evening to square up matters in connection with the late drapers’ and clothiers’ picnic, it was found there was a deficit of something like £ll. It has since been ascertained that one of the persons who had sold tickets to this amount has left the province, and steps have been taken to prevent his departure from the colony. Civic Matters. —Notwithstanding that the Mayor lias notified his intention of being at the City Council chambers one morning in the week for two hours to deal with municipal matters, the arrangement has only sparingly been taken advantage of, whilst his time is taken up unnecessarily on other occasions. In order to avoid this it may be well for those having business with the Mayor to remember that he is in attendance at the City Council chambers on Wednesday mornings, from 9 to 1.0 o’clock. Death by Poison at Ashburton. —A man named Oliver Goldsmith Colville Armstrong was found dead at the Ashburton Hotel on Tuesday morning. Deceased was a surveyor, and has been drinking hard for some time. It is supposed that he went and lay down on the bed on Monday afternoon, and then swallowed a heavy dose of chloral and chlorodyne. Two empty vials, one labelled chloral and the other chlorodyne, were found by his side when he was discovered dead yesterday morning by the housemaid. A tumbler with a small quantity of chlorodyne at the bottom was on a chair by the bedside. Deceased was well known in Christchurch and Ashburton. An inquest will be held to-day. Upper Hbathcote School. —At the usual monthly mooting of the Upper Heathcote school committee, held February 3rd, there were present —Missis Henderson (chairman), Whiting, Garforth, Raxworthy, Smith Morland, and Comer. A letter was read from the Board of Education, confirming the appointment of Mrs Colclough as mistress. The sum of £8 Is 3d was received, being the special grant for repairs to the master’s house, A letter was read from the schoolmaster, asking the advice of the committee in cases where parents neglected to supply children with books. It was resolved that the schoolmaster should obtain printed circulars, to be sent to parents who do not provide books for their children. A bill from Whitcombe and Co. was p - -scd for payment. Horticultural Society. —A meeting of the committee of the Christchurch Horticultural Society was held at the Commercial Hot.el last evening, Mr S. Manning in the chair. Ihe other members present wore— Messrs J. Gun!rip, F. Jones, T. Allen, D. Nairn, F. Harvey, W. Gimblett, and the secretary. The secretary reported (hat the Oddfellows’ Hall was engaged for holding the coming show, and the following gentlemen wi re appointed to act as judges a- d stewards on that occasion : —Judges—Messrs H. R Webb, J. Dutton, H. Bunting, E. Sisson, J. Ivory, and J. W. Trounce, Stewards: — Messrs J. Guntrip, W. Kerr, T. Allen, T. Gordon, and A. Burnet. Promises of contribm ions for a large number of prizes for the Art Union were reported, and several matters in connection therewith were discussed and arranged, and after a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting closed.

Hospital and Chabislable Aid Board, — The usual weekly meeting of this body was held last evening, when a considerable amount of business in reference to the Hospital and Charitable Aid was disposed of. The motion of Mr John Evans Brown in reference to the medical staff was postponed until the next meeting of the Board.