NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1565, 24 February 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Corn Exchange and Farmers’ Club.— A meeting of the committee was held on Saturday. A motion was passed that members be requested to canvass the districts in which they live for subscription to the Corn Exchange, and it was also resolved that parties who wish their grain sold by auction shall be at liberty to choose their own auctioneers, or, in other words, that they are not bound to accept Mr Matson as auctioneer. Kaiapoi Rkgatta Committee,—A meeting of the committee is called for Wednesday next.

Addington Pabish Flower Show.—This show is announced to be held in St. Mary’s schoolroom, to-morrow, Tuesday, from four till nine o’clock. There will be on one side of the room an exhibition for the children belonging to the Sunday school, and on the other a cottager’s exhibition. The show is looked forward to with much interest, and doubtless it will prove attractive. This being the first occasion of the kind in the parish, it is hoped that it will be a success. The price of admission has been fixed ns low as possible—namely, threepence. Exhibitors will be admitted free. Entries for exhibition must be made before 2.30 to-morrow. Cottager’s exhibits will be charged sixpence each, and children's exhibits one penny each. Driving On Sumnkb Road.—Our attention has been drawn to the several complaints that have been made lately regarding the reckless driving which repeatedly occurs on the road between Christchurch and Sumner. Our reporter was an eye witness soma few weeks ago to a little scene, which happily did not, bub might have, terminated with a very severe accident. He was talking with a resident close to the Cave Rock, when they observed a two-wheeled vehicle approaching from the Shag Rock, the hrose being urged by repeated thrashing to a full gallop. But as the old saying is, ■* Too fast to last, and at last too fast,” the wheel coming in contact with a stone, was broken, and the occupants of the dog cart deposit d in a sitting position on the road. On remarking that it was rather a dangerous way of driving as there were so many traps on the road, the answer was, “ Oh, that is nothing to what it is on most Sundays.” We beg to suggest that it would not be a bad plan if a mounted constable would take a quiet ride down that wav one of these Sunday afternoons. Nobthebn Railway.—The t rains on Saturday passed over the new bridge at Stewart s Gully, a reference to the completion of which wm Blade in those column# a few day# ago,

Resident Magistbatk’s Cohht. A mimber of minor cases wero disposed of. George Trusk, a cabman, was charged with driving his cab across the line as a train was approsching, and wn» fined 40s. W. Wi.shire was also charged with a similar offence, and pleaded in extenuation that he mistook the signal. The evidence proved that the defendant had got between two trains, and had jeopardised not only his own life and that of the gatekeeper, but the safety of the train. He was fined 40s and costs. Thanksgiving Service?. —- Special harvest thanksgiving services were held yesterday at St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s, M( riva’e. The churches were appropriately decorated with flowers, fruit, and gr'in, end the sermons preached boro special reference to the object of the services. Fkaieik Chickens.— The question of the disposal of these birds will not be decided until the next meeting of the Acclimatisation Society. An offer bus been made by a gentleliving in the Ashley Gorge to allow the birds to he turned out on his property, which is well suited for their breeding. The offer will be considered by the Council at its meeting on Tuesday. Lyttelton Borough School, —At a meeting of the committee of the Lyttelton borough school held on Friday evening, Mr H R. Webb in the chair, a report from the inspector of schools was read. After referring to the satisfactory progress made by f>.»‘ v.'-ious classes since the preceding inspection, the report recommended that the stuff of teachers in the infant school bo increased. 4he secretary was instructed to write to the Board of Education on the subject. The committee voted for Messrs W. Montgomery, 0. C. Bowen, and Andrew Duncan to fill the vacmcies in the Board of Education, after which the meeting adjourned. Exhibition op Machinery.— An exhibition of agricultural machinery took place on Saturday on a section belonging to Mr 0. F. Barker in Cranmer square. The machines shown were Nichols, Shepherd and Co.’s vibrator threshing machine, a broadcast sower with coulters, a drill and a self-discharging rake. The threshing machine was of course the principal portion of the exhibition. This was driven by a five-horse engine, something similar to the one recently shown by Messrs Morrow, Bassett, and 00. It is most compact, and did its work capitally. The machinery of the vibrators is very good and the blast is strong, cleaning the samples thoroughly. Altogether tlie trial was very successful. The other implements were good of their class, but there is nothing special to call for mention. There were a good many visitors during the day.

The Kaitangata Mining Disaster.— Additional particulars of this terrible accident at Kaitangata on Friday is published in this evening’s issue. The i'i flowing description of the mine in which the explosion occmred is from the report of Mr S, Herbert Cox, Inspector of Coal Mines, dated 27th May, 1878, and which, was presented to the Assembly in the course of last session : “ This mine has been opened on a somewhat broken or irregular system of post-and-stall, the posts being cut at short distances, with a view of winning as large a proportion of coal as possible as the workings advance. These are generally sound and in good order, the conglomerate forming a sate, strong roof. The timber employed is of sufficient strength, and is well set up, in no instance giving to the pressure. The ventilation hero is perfectly satisfactory, the downcast air being led along the level until reaching the working-faces, along which it is allowed to spread, the return air being taken from the end of the main level through the waste, and being eventually discharged through a small air-shaft. Numerous faults are being mot with in these workings, which are now noted on the plans made by Mr Denniston, the company not being in possession of any plan previously. Lately a change has been made in the system of working this mine, viz., in place of leaving from Bft, to 10ft. of the lower part of the coal, the whole thickness is now taken out in the headings, the roof being found to stand equally well under this system as under that formerly adopted.” Iron Tbadb Picnic. — A meeting of delegates from the various establishments in the iron trade was held at the Prince of Wales hotel, on Saturday evening, to consider the advisability of bolding a picnic. The idea is to combine all branches of the iron trade, such as coach-builders, wheelwrights, &c. Mr Lilley was voted to the chair, and, after some discussion, it was resolved to hold the picnic on Saturday next, at Rhodes’ Bay. Mr H. Hebden was requested to act as secretary, and Mr Watt as treasurer. A ccommittee, representing the various branches, was also appointed, and the secretary was requested to obtain information as to probable cost, &c. The meeting then adjourned. Gaiety Theatre. —Dr. Ananias Ferrari opens his season this evening at the Gaiety Theatre. The pr gramme will inc ude several new illusions. The vocal portion of the entertainment will be sustained by Madame and Mias Moller and Madame Venosta. Herr Bunz and a strong orchestra will also take part in the per formance.

Sale of Romney Marsh Sheep.— Messrs Robert Wilkin and Co. will submit for sale tomorrow at t e Burnham estate, the whole of Mr Palmer’s well known flock of Romney Mar h sheep which comprise some of the best blood throughout the colony Dunedin Races.— The Union Steamship Company give notice that excur ionists to these races will "be taken by the steamer Hawea tr >m Lyttelton on WcCnes my next on tickets available until the 7th prox. at special return farei, £3 for saloon. school Committee Elections.— The elec tion of school committees for the districts of apanui and Riccarton will take place this evening. Addresses to Constituents. —We understand that Mr Rolle ton proposes to ask the Avon electors to meet him early in March. Ram Fair.— The time for ent ies for the ram fair, to take place under the an spices of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral issm-ia-tion has been extended to noon on Thursday, 27th inst.

School Teachers —A meeting of the North Canterbury teachers is adverti-ed for Saturday next, to take place in the Durham street school room, at one o’clock. i ngineer Volunteers. —A general meeting of r he members of this company is advertised to take place to-morrow evening.