NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1573, 5 March 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Kaitangata Relief Fund.—The total amount received by Mr J. A. Bird, up to this afternoon, exceeds £225. Resident Magistrate’s Court.— At today’s sitting Charles Anderson, charged with embezzling 14s, was remanded, as also was J McArdell, for a similar offence. The case against Horatio Palmer, for obtaining money under false pretences was dismissed, as the date of the alleged offence was oulside the limitation of the Act. Eiccarton Railway Crossing. The man who was stationed at this crossing has received a week’s notice. There is a large amount of traffic along the Riccarton road. Mobs of cattle, vehicles, and foot-passeners are always passing and repassing. As a train coming along the curve from town is quite hidden by the trees, this spot is specially dangerous, and it is difficult to see how a man can be dispensed with. It is to be hoped that the authorities will think over the matter again. Economy is all very well in its way, but when it involves a great risk to the lives and limbs of a numerous travelling public it may be too dearly bought. Rev. J. W. Inglis. —This gentleman delivered a lecture at St. Paul’s Church last evening on “Dr. Guthrie.” A report appears elsewhere. To-night Mr Inglis will give his farewell lecture on “Scott,” at the Oddfellows’ Hall. Panorama. —The Arctic World Panorama was fairly attended last evening. To-night it will be exhibited again, and on Friday the performance will be for the benefit of the Kaitangata relief fund. A Runaway.— Yesterday about ten o’clock, as Mr Shirley, of Shand’s Track, was driving in a spring cart down Colombo street, the horse bolted into Hargreaves’ yard, throwing Mr Shirley out on the road. He was not much hurt, however, and no damage was done to the horse or cart.

Hampton Testimonial —A subscription is being raised in the neighborhood of Little Akaloa, for the purpose of presenting the Rev. D, 0. Hampton with some token of regard in recognition of his efficient services on the Peninsula.

The Katangata Fund —The secretary of the City of Christchurch Lodge, Mr B. J. Leahy, has received instructions from the members of the lodge to write to Miss Robinson and inform her that she can have the use of the hall on Thursday night, on the occasion of the benefit to be given in aid of the Kaitangata Relief Fund. Yesterday the proprietor of the Arctic Panorama waited on the Mayor, and offered to give half the proceeds of a performance on Friday evening for the benefit of the Kaitangata relief fund. The offer was accepted, and it is hoped that there will be a large attendance on the occasion.

Entertainment at Sunnyside. The annual entertainment to the patients in the Asylum and their friends was given last night. A pantomime entitled “ Little Red Riding Hood” was most creditably put upon the stage, the principal parts being sustained by those connected with the institution. As a prelude a Maypole dance of the old English sort was represented, and deserves particular mention. The children taking part in this were capitally dressed, and fully realised the picture of a similar sport in a Home village. The piece wound up with a transformation scene of the well known kind, which was gorgeously got up. Mr Seagor at the conclusion took the opportunity of thanking those who had taken part in procuring for the Asylum the first rate theatrical wardrobe which was used on this occasion for the first time. The proceedings terminated with a dance, which was greatly enjoyed by all present. The success attending last night’s performance was so great, (hat a wish was expressed by many to have it. repeated, and it was resolved that this should be dona in the course of next week.

Templahy. —The Hon. William Fox, who holds a high office in the Templar order, is expected here by the steoner Wakatipu, on March sth, from Wellington. It is anticipated that during his st y he will leclure at the Oddfellows’ Hall—An attempt to establish a Good Templur lodge has been made within the lastwefkat Li'fle Akaloa, The promoter is a member of long standing, although a favourable result to his labour is very doubtful.

Export of Rabbit Skins. —During the quarter ended December 31st. there were exported from the colony 1,369,720 rabbit skins, valued at £11,629. Immigrants pee Warwick. — Tho immigrants for Canterbury, per ship Warwick, which arrived in Nelson a few days since, wall proceed to Wellington in tho ship, and thence be transhipped by steamer to Lyttelton. Inquest at Sefton. • An inquest was held yesterday at Mitcbinson’o Hotel before Dr. Morris, coror.c*. and a jury, touching the death of A. MeLinn, who was run over by a dray and killed on Monday. The verdict returned was to the effect that deceased came to bis death by accident.

Valuable Stock. —The young bull Duke of Waterloo, which aV Mr P. 0. Threlkeld’fl pale, on Monday, realised 1-lOgs., and which took first prize at. last metropolitan show, was by Charming Duke, the latter the property of the Hon. H. B. Gresson, Waiora. LiC'NSInG Couets. Th* quarterly licensing mooting was held at Kangiora, on Tuesday. The Commissioners present were Messrs A. H. Cunningham, J. C. Boys, and S. Heywood. The report of the chief officer of police was very satisfactory. There were no applications for renewals or new licenses. The Licensing Court will sit at Oxford to-day, and at Amberley on the 13th. Kaitangata Relief Fund.— On Tuesday Mr F. Thorne, woolscourer, Eangiora, and his employes, forwarded to the Mayor a cheque for £5 towards the Xaitangata relief fund. On Thursday week, Mr C. Merton proposes to give a benefit concert towards the same object, in the hall of the Literary Institution.

Gaol Returns. —Tho returns of the Canterbury gaols for tho month of February show that at the end of that month there wore 102 prisoners in Lyttelton Gaol, 58 in Addington, and 21 in Timaru. Six debtors were in confinement at Addington during the month, and two at Timaru. Four of tho former and one of the latter were discharged. There were seven prisoners at Lyttelton awaiting trial in the Supreme Court. Gang Plough. —This plough, imported by Messrs Geo, King and Co., was exhibited in a paddock belonging to Mr H. Blackett, at Ringiora, on Tuesday. Mr J. H. Stringer was present to explain its working. The team was lent by Mr W. Buss. There was a largo number of farmers present to witness the trial, who expressed themselves satisfied with the lightness of draught, utility and general performance of tho plough. The land in which it was tested was a sfcubbled field, and the soil from the dryness of the season somewhat difficult to work. The ss. Taupo.—lt has been ascertained by the diver that the injuries to this steamer will have to bo repaired from the inside. The pumps are not working well, in consequence of having been damaged by coal getting into them and choking them. But for this, the vessel would probably have been afloat now, A Child Poisoned. —We (“ North Otago Times ”) are informed by the police that on Wednesday, 26th ult., a child, three years of age, son of Mr James Menzies, of Hakateramea, was accidentally poisoned by drinking carbolic acid out of a bottle that had been left in a bush near his father’s house. The acid was used as a sheep wash, and the child becoming possessed of it, drank some of the contents of the bottle. There was no doctor in attendance, the nearest being forty-five miles from the place. The child lingered till the 28th, and died. The occurrence was purely accidental, we are informed, but there will doubtless be an inquest, Marlborough Lands. —It will ho as well (says the Blenheim “ Express ”) to put on record the actual figures taken from official sources showing what quantity and the rate at which the land at Marlborough was actually sold by Nelson before separation. The area sold was 300,415 acres 1 rood 11 perches, and the price £87,824 13s 2d cash received, or an average of 5s 10:14 per acre ! Inclusive of these figures—B4o,794 acres have been sold in Marlborough from the foundation of the colony, for which cash to the amount of £264,282 or 6s 3|d per acre was paid, leaving an area of 2,195,206 acres still unalienated.

The Minister and the Big Pump.— The Thames people are much disappointed at the refusal of the Minister for Public Works to lend a hand in keeping the big pump going. The position is thus explained by the Auckland “ Herald”: —Recently efforts were made to start those pumps on the basis of the local governing bodies at the Thames, and the mining companies interested contributing a certain amount, and the Government to subsidise the sum thus raised by £1 for £l. As the result of a meeting hold at the Thames, as reported in the “Herald” of yesterday, a telegram was forwarded by the Mayor of Thames, the County Chairman, and Mr W. Rowe, M.H.R., to the Eon, Minister for Public Works, asking his consent to the arrangement. The reply by the Hon. Mr Macandrew is to the effect that, as there is no vote for such purpose as that proposed, the Government could not grant the subsidy. This, we presume, decides the fate of pumping at the Thames, for the present at least. The continued stoppage of pumping operations cannot fail to seriously affect mining operations at the Thames, and we greatly regret that the Government do not see their way (o carry out the suggest ion which was made by the Hon. Mr Macandrew himself during his recent visit to Auckland. The Ministerial Differences. —On this subject the “ Post” of Friday has the following : —At a meeting of the Cabinet yesterday afternoon the appointment of Mr D. M, Luckie, as Commissioner of Insurance, was confirmed and ordered to be gazetted to day. The statement that the salary is to be only £6OO per annum is not correct. No definite decision has been arrived at in regard to the question of salary, but we have authority for stating that in all probability it will bo as originally resolved, £BOO per annum. A rumor was afloat to-day that another Ministerial difficulty is imminent. The story goes that the Premier, some time ago, promised the Speakership of the Legislative Council, which is in the gift of the Government, to Sir William Filzherbert; that on his revealing the fact to his colleagues they unanimously protested against his action, and refused to endorse it, and that the matter now remains in this agreeable but somewhat embarrassing position. Wo simply record the fact that such is the current rumor without expressing any opinion on the probability or improbability of the story.

Couriers Lanbbd in Australia. —Mr H'lyli-r, the Government Statist of Victoria, in his “ Victorian Yearbook, 1 ’ recently issued, furnishes a statement, handed to him by an old colonist living in Melbourne, showing the total number of convicts from the United Kingdom who were landed in Australia until transportation was finally abandoned in 1868. The statement referred to, which Mr Hay ter says “is now published for the first time,” is as follows New South Wales (from the year 1789 to 1839), 51,082 males, and 8,706 females ; total, 59 788. Van Diemen’s Land (from 1803 to 1853), 56,042 mules, 11,613 females ; total, 67,655. Western Australia (from 1853 to 1868), 9718 males; females, nil; total, 9718. Cricket.— The return match between the Bakers’ and Sunnyside Clubs took place yesterday on the Sunnyside ground, and resulted in a victory for the home team. The following are the scores:—Bakers’ —First innings, 56 ; and second inning's, 114. Sunnyside—First innings, 91 ; second innings, 37 for eight wickets. The return match between the HugleyOak Leaf and East ernClubs resulted in an easy victory for the former. The scores were—Hagley Oak Leaf, 61 and 79 ; Eastern, 80 and 44; the H.0.L.0.0. thus winning the match by 66 runs. Accidents. —Two eases were admitted into the Hospital on Monday night. The first was that of a man named John Coutts, a labourer at the Rakaia, who was suffering from a fractured thigh, the result of an accident. The second case was that of a tailor named Patrick Cusack, residing in the Stanmore road. Between 5 and 6 o’clock in the evening he was nassing the Eastern hotel, when ho was violently jostled by a man, which caused him to fall heavily, thereby dislocating his right shoulder. He was taken to the Hospital in a cab. Both patients are going on as favourably as can bo expected.

Eyreton Road Board Office.—A meeting of ratepayers is convened to be held at the Flaxton School on 12th inst.. to discuss the advisabi ity of removing the Board’s office to some part of the district.