NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1559, 17 February 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Justices of the Peace. — A batch of seven new Justices of the Peace was gazetted on February 7th, None of those thus honored belong to the Canterbury district.

The Kelly Gang. —Details of the late exploit of the Kelly gang at Berildene will be found in the Australian news received by the Bluff yesterday, and published in this issue.

Expobtbd Sheep. —Seven Lincoln rams were shipped per Hawea on Saturday, to the order of Mr R. O. Jordan, of Tauranga. They are from the flock of Mr H. J. Hall, of Ellesmere, and are very superior animals, with splendid fleeces. Police Changes. The public of the Amberley district will learn with regret of the intended transfer of Sergeant Willis from that locality to Kaikoura. Constable Watt, from Hurunui, takes the Amberley station, and the officer now at Kaikoura will take charge at Hurunui.

Public Meeting at Kaiapoi. The requisition bearing only twenty names, asking for a meeting of householders to consider school matters, has been presented to the Mayor, who intends to convene a meeting, to be held on some evening this week.

Waimakabiri Hahbob Board. The meeting of this Board, which was fixed to be held on Friday evening, was postponed, as it was discovered that the first meeting of the new Board has to be fixed by the Governor. Prairie Chickens. —By the Hinemoa, yesterday, the Acclimatisation society received a coop of prairie chickens. Of the twenty birds put in the coop at Topeka, Kansas, U.S.A., eighteen have come to hand in excellent condition. Inwabd European Mail via San Francisco.—The Canterbury portion of this mail arrived at noon yesterday, the advertised date, by the Government steamer Hinemoa. There wore forty-three sacks landed for Christchurch, six for Lyttelton, six for Oamaru and eight for Timaru. The Otago portion was taken on by the steamer. Untruthful “Truth.”—Referring to the recent appointment to the New Zealand Governorship “ Truth ” asserts that;—“lt was supposed in the colony that Sir Julius Vogel would receive this appointment.” It is a pity the London journal did not give its authority for this astonishing statement. Wholesale Murder of Fowls.—One night last week the fowl-house of a man named Mole, residing in Peterborough street, was entered by a dog, which killed eighteen fowls and deposited the carcasses of the victims outside, whore the owner found them in the morning. Theatre Royal.—The lower part of the theatre was filled on Saturday night, to witness the representation of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which went as well as usual. The dress circle was but meagrely attended. The day performance was also well patronised, especially by children. The last five nights of the piece, which will be repeated this evening, are announced. Officiating Ministers. The list of officiating ministers in the colony for the year 1879 gives the following as the number of ministers belonging to the various denominations :—Church of England, 186; Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, 57; Roman Catholic, 62 ; Presbyterian Church of Otago, 48 ; Wesleyan, 74 ; Congregational, 13 ; Baptist, 14; Primitive Methodist, 16; United Methodist, 12; Lutheran, 8 ; Hebrew, 5 ; Church of Christ, 1. Total, 496. A Curiosity. Yesterday a resident observing something in the mouth of an artesian pipe near the A 1 Hotel, investigated the impediment, and found a small fish about three inches long fixed in the pipe. On removing it, it was found to be alive and perfectly blind. How the fish got there is a mystery, as it is almost inconceivable that it could have been forced up by the flow of the water from the subterranean spring, and jammed into the position where it was found. Fire.—A dilapidated three-roomed cottage in Peterborough street, between Durham and Colombo streets, was burnt down between twelve and one o’clock on Sunday morning. The house belonged to a man named Alfred Mole, and was uninsured, as it was about to be pulled down. At the time of the fire, the origin of which is unknown, the cottage was untonanted, the last occupier, a man known as “ Cheap Jack,” having recently gone to Wellington. The value of tho property, which was very old, and constructed of wood and clay, was about £ls. The late Chess Tournament. —The late telegraphic chess match between the Wellington and Christchurch Chess Clubs has resulted (says the “ New Zealand Times ”) in a draw. The umpires have eome to a united decision on the seven unfinished games, four of which they decide are drawn games, two are wins to Wellington, and one a win to Christchurch. The five finished games pave Christchurch one to the good. The total number of games played was twelve, of which Wellington won four, Christchurch four, and four were drawn.

Sydenham Borough Council.*—The usual fortnightly meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council will be hold this evening.

Presentation.—A. presentation was made on Saturday afternoon, at the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton, to Mr H. 0. Jacobson, of the Press, by a number of his friends. Mr H. It. Webb, on behalf of those present, road the following congratulatory letter : —“ Lyttelton, February 15th, 1879. H. C. Jacobson, Esq. Dear sir, —A few friends are desirous that you should not leave Lyttelton without some substantial mark of the esteem in which you were held by them during your residence in the town. They desire to testify to the ready astistance that was always rendered by yourself in promoting the welfare of many who were in necessitous circumstances, as well us to the energy shown by you in carrying out. the many duties that devolved upon you both in your official and private capacity. They beg your acceptance of the accompanying purse of sovereigns, and trust that you will meet with every success in your new sphere of labor. Wishing yourself, Mrs Jacobson and family every prosperity, we are, dear sir, yours very faithfully, J. C, Boddington, W. H. Lance, on behalf of the subscribers.” The recipient, after duly acknowledging the substantial compliment, was heartily shaken hands with by everyone present, and the meeting terminated. The Tadmor Goldfield.—-From the Tadmor we (Nelson “ Mail ”) learn that mining matters remain, as usual, very quiet, but that some little excitement has recently been created by a rumored find of good payable gold at Bush Eud, near Waugapaka. No reliable news has yet been received, and we can but hope that for once rumor is correct. North Island Railways.—The “ Wanganui Herald” says : —Mr A. Rawson, resident engineer in charge of the railway works north of Wanganui, has received instructions to peg out the Tine to bo taken north of the present Waitotara contract. The next section will be known as the Waverly section, and will be about eight miles in length, running from Waitotara to a short distance beyond Waverley. 'District Prize Firing —Notice is given that all members of the Christchurch City Guards who intend to compete in the district prize firing will be required to muster at the Bank of New Zealand to-morrow at 4 a.m. and 1 p.ra. Kaiapoi Regatta.—A meeting in reference to this regatta is convened by the Commodore, to be held at the Borough Council Chambers ou Friday.