NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1562, 20 February 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Resident Magistrate's Court.—Tl • pickpocketing; case was resumed to-day, the witnesses having recovered. Samuel Dobbinson, the accused, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment hard labor. Ashburton Steeplechases. —A meeting to consider the advisability of holding a steeplechase meeting this year was held on Tuesday evening at the Somerset Hotel, Ashburton. There was but a small attendance, Mr M. Friedlander occupying the chair. It was proposed by Mr J. Hay, seconded by Mr Grant—“ That a steeplechase meeting be hold on the same course as last year, at a date to be fixed by a committee to bo appointed.” It was resolved that the meeting should be confined to horses the bona fide property of owners resident in Ashburton County in February 18th, 1879. Messrs Crisp, Calvert, J. Campbell, C. 0, Fooks, 0. W. Ireland, A. Harrison, A. Wilson, J. E. H. Harris, and J. Mcßae were appointed a committee to make the needful arrangements. The meeting then adjourned.

The Congregational Church. The anniversary of the Congregational Church was celebrated by a soiree and public meeting last evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall. Between three and four hundred sat down to tea, which was provided by the ladies of the congregation. After tea the pastor (the Rev. E. Walker) called on the sub-treasurer to read the financial report for the past year. From these reports it appeared that the sum of £682 9s Id was raised as follows :—General fund (Church), £523 18s 3d; missionary fund, £64 3s 7d; communion fund, £39 9s 9d ; Sunday-school, £2O 13s; Sunday-school treat account, £24 4s 6d ; building fund, £lO ; total, £682 9s Id. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Mr Robertson, of Auckland ; Revs. Messrs Dalleston, Roast, McFarlano, and Elmslie, of Christchurch; and Messrs Newton, Hodder, and Purdie. Tho Rev. G. Morice, of Hokitika, and a number of other gentlemen were also on the platform.

Picnics. —The Fire Brigade held their picnic yesterday, as also did the barmen. A meeting of the iron trade was held at Messrs P. and D. Duncan’s on Monday evening, when it was resolved that a general picnic should be held on Saturday, 28th. A meeting will take place on Saturday next, at the Prince of Wales Hotel, to arrange the details, when delegates from the various shops are expected to be present. Medical Students.— A good deal of discussion took place at yesterday’s meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board upon a letter received from Mr Neck in reference to his son becoming a student in the Hospital, and being allowed to render assistance to the house surgeon. Dr. Chilton was called in, and in answer to a question put direct, stated that he did not require any assistance. A report of the discussion appears elsewhere. Ellbsmbeb Domain Boaed.—A meeting of the Board was held at Mr Desborough’s office, Southbridge, on Tuesday, 18th February, 1879. Present —Messrs W. Graham (chairman), W. Bishop, Sam Lemon, and H. Desborough. The terms and conditions for leasing the recreation reserve were considered seriatim, and it was resolved to advertise for tenders for letting same for fourteen years, returnable on the Bth May. Plans and conditions to bo open for inspection at Mr Desborough’suffices, Southbridge. Several matters of routine were discussed, and the meeting adjourned to Monday, 10th March, 1879. The Geain Season.—The grain season is beginning to make a stir on the railway, and a number of special trains have been run to meet the demand. Up to the present time it has not been found necessary to run night trains, though no doubt this will be done in the course of a few weeks. Hospital Improvements.— The Government surveyor has been making an examination of the hospital during the last few days, and the works recommended by the Hospital Board have been commenced. Among other things to be done the morgue will be removed to the end of the drying grounds, which, it is stated by some of the officials, will be exceedingly inconvenient in the case of deaths occuring during the night. Action Against a Bank.— The “ Hokitika Star ” says:—“ We learn from good authority that the Union Bank of Australia has been served with a writ of summons in the Supremo Court, by Messrs F. A. Learmouth and Co., claiming £20,000 as damages for breach of the arrangement existing between the Bank and those gentlemen.” Inducements to Emigrate.— English emigration societies (says an American contemporary) hold out great inducements to those who desire to try their fortunes in the comparatively new country of the North-west territory, Canada, One of them makes this offer to every bona fide emigrant to Winnipeg :—“ There you may have 320 acres of freehold land, a yoke of oxen, a cow and calf, a sow and boar, two sheep, twelve ducks, twelve geese, twelve chickens, fifty fruit trees, one plough, a rake, a fork, a hoe, a wooden house, seed corn for ten acres, mangel and turnip seed for four acres, potato sets for ten acres, all for £200! ” And, additional to the foregoing, the company offer to throw in “ cabin passage and first-class ticket from England to Winnipeg.”

Mr H. T. Claekk’s Retieement. —Mr Henry T. Clarke, who, since 1873, has occupied the position of Under-Secretary for Native Affairs, has (says the “Chronicle ”) resigned that post, and, we believe, intends to retire to his property at the Bay of Islands. Mr Clarke has been in the service of the Native department since 1843. He was engaged as interpreter to Colonel'Despard, and in the fight with Heki, in 1845, received a severe wound, which necessitated his temporary retirement from the public service. He was afterwards appointed to a Civil Commissionership at the Bay of Plenty, and he held this until ho accepted the office he has resigned, Mr Clarke finally retires at the end of this mouth.

Tea Meeting. —A tea meeting in connection witli the Church of Christ will take place at the Oddfellows’ Hail this evening. Concert.— An operatic concert entertainment in aid of the funds of the Catholic Young Mens’ Literary .Society, will take place this ' evening at the St. Patrick's Hall, Barbadoes street. Temperance League.— A meeting of the Canterbury Temperance League will he held at St. Andrew’s Schoolroom this evening, at half-past seven. The “ Bridgeport Standard” expresses the opinion that, “ in the make-up of the modem small boy there is too much whistle for the amount of boy, that it is most too much like using a two quart funnel in a one-ounce vial.” A School-boy on Fish —Fish lives in the sea over and above the telegraphs. ; here is a prince named after them. When they are small fish they are cod (Lh, herring, and such ; when they grow up they are whales. Whales is useful; they sometimes swaUer a whole ship, and ali the crew. The fat of it I is then biled out. and made into gaslight Their bones is made inter wailbone for ivory and dominoes, I wish a wale would swaller my school, and all the teachers, and spit me out.

Professor Tidy, of the London Hospital, in a letter to the “ Times,” says : —“ I have made a point of remaining in the neighbourhood of the electric light for at least three hours, in order to observe its effects upon mo after being exposed to its action for some time. For a time nothing struck me except the intensity of the illumination and the darkness beyond. But before long my eyes became entirely blinded to all rays except the blue; and, as a result, everybody and everything appeared of a ghastly blue tint. Four hours after I returned homo the b.ue rays haunted me ; but what was worse still, I suffered from what I am rarely a sufferer from—an intense headache, especially seated upon the region of the eyes. As a medical man I am convinced that whatever may be the advantage of the electric light as an illuminant for larger outdoor spaces, it can never be used as a mom illuminant with advantage, save to the medical profession generally, and to opthalmic surgeons in particular.”