NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1580, 13 March 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Resident Magistbates Coubt. The only case before the Court to-day was that of Q-. Tibbs, who was fined 10a for being drunk and disorderly. Marriage.—Mr John Anderson's foundry yard was gaily decorated this morning on the event of the marriage of Mr J. Anderson, jun,, to Miss Pratt. The ceremony took place at Addington Church. Wesleyan Chtjbch, Durham Street The soiree to commemorate the fourteenth anniversary of this church will be held this evening. Tea will be on the table at six o'clock, and there will be a public meeting in in the church at 730. Addresses will be given by the Eevs. W. Morley, J S. Smalley, J. A. Luxford, and others. Mr R. T. Searell will conduct the choir. Kaitangata Fete.—ln order to meet the convenience of the members of the Friendly Societies who intend taking part in the procession on Monday next, the feto committee have altered the hour of starting until noon, when they will be marshalled at the Theatre Royal, and proceed to the Park. Fire at Bingsland.—About one o'clock this morning a fire broke out in the store of Mr Woodford. Stanmore road. Mr Woodford was awoke by the smell of fire, and so sudden was the whole affair that he found difficulty in arousing his wife and child in time to escape. The fire having obtained so ■fcrong a hold on the istore and its contents Mr Woodford wiselyjkept all the doors leading from it into the hone closed with the view of enabling him to save his household furniture and effects. In this, however, he was only partially successful, as the flames soon burst through the partition walls. Nothing was saved from the etore, the contents of which, together with his furniture, were only insured for £250. Mr Woodford estimates his loss at £6OO as a fresh stock of goods had only lately arrived. Only above twenty pounds' worth of furniture was saved from the house. Much sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Woodford, who are much respected in the district. It is to be hoped that those who are indebted to him will assist in re-adjusting their accounts as all his books have been destroyed. Boat-bace. —The final arrangements for the boat-race between crews from the " Lyttelton Times" and " Press" companionships, to take place at Lyttelton on Saturday next, were made yesterday. The crews, so far as is known at present, are as follow :—" Times," Hodge (stroke), Robinson, 3; Aiken, 2; Lansley (bow). " Press," Whitford (stroke), G-ibson, 3 ; Wood, 2 ; Maurice (bow). The race is to be pulled in watermen's boats, and the Rangitoto and Hero have been selected. Accident. —The carpenter of the name of Shields, who, as mentioned in last night's telegrams, was knocked lown by the train near Pleasant Point, and was afterwards brought into Timaru, died at 8 30 this morning, as he was being carried from the Burgery to his own home. Sheep Worrying.—On Tuesday night a quantity of sheep, supposed to belong to Mr Elder, the lessee of the North Park, wero driven by stray dogs from the South Park over the river into the Domain. Many ot the animals had been severely bilten abaut the throat and legs. The curator, Mr Armetroi g, with the assistance of some men, carried them into the Park, but many were so badly hurt that ifc is doubtful whether they will recorer.

Caledonian Society.—Steps are being taken in Ashburton for the formation of a Caledonian Society. It is understood that a meeting of those interested will shortly be held. Accident at Malvebn Hills.—On Monday afternoon as Mr A. L. Josephs was hunting wild pigs he fired at one, and while reloading his gun a pig suddenly rushed at him, giving him a very ugly bit.o on his left hand. The services of Dr. Meadows were speedily secured. Lvttislton DiUiNAciE.—The offensiveness of the atmosphere in tho neighborhood of any of the sewer gratings in the streets of Lyttelton yesterday was quaintly romarked by a resident to be " strong evidence of the necessity that exists for the sewers to bo flushed at least every now and then with fresh water." The Kaitangata Fund.—Services were held for the benefit of this fund at the Wesloyan Church, Lyttelton, last Sunday, the Rev. W. H. Beck officiating. The sum raised was £2l 7s 7d, afterwards paid to the Mayor, to be forwarded by him to the committee. Resident Magistrate's Couet.—ln consequence of the frequent absence from Christchurch of Mr Mellish, and the impossibility of his arriving in time by the morning train to take his 3eat on the Bench at 10 a.m., tho hour for the commencement of business has been altered for the future to half-past ten o'clock. Locomotives on Boabd the Piako. —The ship Piako is not yet alongside tho wharf, and has consequently not commenced to dischargo cargo. Two engines for the Christchurch section are on board, and it is fearod by the railway authorities that they will be found to be very much injured by fire. This will be the more to bo regretted because they are now very badly wanted, and the department have been looking forward to their arrival. Theatbk Royal.—Next Wednesday evening tho Dramatic Company, under the management of Mr Liddy, who recently performed in Christchurchj] will make their re-appearance in the Theatre Royal. Tho opening piece will be " Under the Gaslight." The company have been very successful in Wellington, the performance recently given by them for the benefit of the colliery Bufferers having realized a considerable sum. Late Teains —By the courtesy of Mr F. Back, the General Manager of tho Canterbury Railways, the committee of the Kaitangata Fete have been enabled to announce that la f e trains will leave Christchurch on Monday next for Lyttelton, at 11.15 p.m., and Rangiora at 11 p.m. This will enable the country and Lyttelton visitors to be present at the concert and other entertainments, and to return to their homes on the samo evening. Unexpected Invasion at Poet.— A rather novel incident occurred on the Gladstone Pier yesterday. While the men were at work loading grain from a railway truck into the Mennock, a hive of bees hovered close above them, much to their embarrassment, and finally swarmed on the edge of the truck. The workmen discreetly resigned in favor of the new tenants, while the men in charge of the horses at work close at hand placed their animals out of harm's way inside the shed. The truck was afterwards taken in tow by a shunter, tho bee 3 still in possession as it left the pier.

Mb and Mbh Haet's Entertainment.— To-night Mr and Mrs Hart (Miss Kate Russell) will make thoir re-appearance before a Christchurch audience, at the Oddfellows' Hall, in their clever entertainment entitled " Happy Hours." This is really a dual entertainment, as it comprises two operettas. All the journals in other parts of the colony speak in the highest terms of Mr and Mrs Hart and their clever daughter, and no doubt Christchurch playgoers will be enabled to endorse this verdict to-night. The entertainment is characterised as being full of good music, and with a comprehensible and wellworked out plot. ■ These certainly should prove strong r< eommendations in its favour. A Seamen's Union.--A preliminary meeting, attended by about sixty seafaring men, was held at the Railway Hotel, Lyttelton, on Tuesday night, at which the propriety of establishing a Seamen's Union in the port was considered. Mr T. Oholsey, at whose call the meeting had assembled, occupied the chair. He said that the wages —£4 or £5 per month—at present offered by masters of deep-water ships are insufficient, and that sailors should unite so as to hold out for £lO per month. Sevoral speakers followed in the same strain, and other (recommendations were introduced, among them that of a change in the style of articles in use on this coast. It was urged that the articles in question placed sailors at a disadvantage in respect to being discharged. An eight-hour system for men employed on coasting vessels was discussed, and resulted in a resolution being passed that a union be organised, by the help of which these and similar matters pertaining to the seaman's calling may be regulated. A number of the signatures of those desirous to become members of the union were obtained, and the sum of £4 12s contributed towards defraying the expense of hiring a hall and advertising another meeting. Mr McQ.uilkin was appointed treasurer pro tern. The G-bain Season.—The grain season of Canterbury is now well forward, and the railway department havo plenty to do to keep up with the requirements. At the present time the carrying capability of the railway is about 15,000 bags daily from all parts of Canterbury. Notwithstanding the lightness of the crops it is estimated that the aggregate yield will be fully a fourth more than last season. The railway authorities will this year have their powers taxed far more than on any previous occasion, in consequence of the large quantity of grain now ripening in Otago. There is a very considerable extent of country between the Molyneux and the Mataura—a distance of some forty miles —bearing very heavy oat and wheat crops. Previous to this year there were no facilities for the removal of giain from parts of Otago where the railway is now available, and the heavy crops of the South this season will cause an amount of traffic such as has before been altogether unknown in Otago. The greator part of this produce will no doubt go te Port Chalmers, though a good proportion will probably be shipped from Invercargill. The railway department however is in hopes of being able to get through all the work, as the grain season is much earlier in Canterbury than in Otago, so that the two seasons will not altogether clash with each other. The busiest months in this province are March and April, the traffic beginning to decline in May ; while in Otago the season does not well commence until about the beginning of April. Butevcn under these circumstances the railway authorities are likely to have their energies taxed to the utmost during the next ten weeks. School Tbeat at Hoboeata.—On last Tuesday the Hon. John Hall gave his annual school treat to the children of this district on the Rakaia Terrace station. It was splendid weather for the occasion. The plantations wore taitefully laid off in temporary alleys, &c, with swings, &c, for the children's amusement. Tables were improvised in an ODen space, under the shade of the trees. In an adjoining paddock a course was laid off, and marked with flags, seats being provided for the spectators on a rising ground above the course. Mr Hall sent drays out to the cross roads of the neighbourhood for the carriage of the young folk, and at about noon there were mustered about 100 children on the ground, with the members and families of the school committee, and a good few of Mr Hall's immediate neighbours. After a hearty lunch in the plantation, the sports commenced. These were of the usual character, and were in all respects highly successful. The sound of the gong summoned all the juveniles to tea at 4 p.m To this they did ample justice, after which they were left to enjoy impromptu games, &c, whilst the elders adjourned to the lawn in front of Mr Hall's houso to thoir tea, or rather their dinner. Handsome prizes, provided by Mr Hall, were then distributed. The winners having received thoir prizes, there was one given to every child present. Mr and Mrs Hall devoted themselves during the day to amusing the children, in which they were ably seconded by Mr J. E. Fountain (Mr Hall's manager). After the distribution of the prizes, three cheers were given by all present for their kind hosts, and a movement was made, by drays, traps, &c, for home. Tn the promotion of the girls' games, and otherwise aiding the success of the dny's festivities, the services of Misses A. Miles, C. Bakor, A., 8., and J. Digby should be mentioned.

Lakkikinism in tub Domain.—Notwith. standing the example made of an offender charged the other day in the Resident Magistrate's Court with wilfully damaging the seats in the North Park, the mischievous practice has" not been discontinued. Not only have many of the benches been cut and wantonly defaced, hut some of them have been literally smashed to atoms. The Kaitangata Fete.—The preparations for this fete are progressing apace, indeed overy day they grow upon the committee until now they have assumed exceedingly large proportions. Mr and Mrs Hoskins have tendered their valuable services to the committee, and will appoar at the Theatre Royal in the evening in one of the little duologuj pieces which they have made so popular here. They will appear in conjunction with Professor Scott's company. Messrs J. T. M. Smith and Co. have offered to print a description of the township of Kaitangata, with a lithographed map, which will be sold for one shilling, the proceeds being devoted to the fund. Mr Walter Hill's tragedy has been very strongly cast, several histrionics of eminence having volunteered their services, and the new wardrobe of the Asylum has been laid under contribution for dresses, &c. His Worship tho Mayor yesterday telegraphed to the General Government, asking them to proclaim Monday a public holiday, but has not yet received a reply. The rehearsal for the concert last evening went excellently throughout, and the programme will be of a very attractive character. An adjourned meeting of the M.C. of Court Star of Canterbury, No. 2309, was held in the Foresters' Hall last night, to take into consideration a letter from the Relief Fund Committee, re taking part in the procession on Monday. A number of members expressed surprise that the committee had sent no information whether there there was to be a half-holiday or not. It was unanimously resolved that the Court take part in the procession, and that the secretary advertise the same. Also, that he write to the secretary of the Relief Committee, expressing their wish that the procession should not start till 12 o'clock, in order to enable more members to take part in the same. Plain Speech peom Auckland. The Auckland Free Lance says—" Grey is so plausible to the Auckland people, and promises things so nicely, that they aro quite satisfied ; and Macandrew Mephistophilea is is allowed to spend the money on his own particular and favored province, where thera are already the greatest wealth and population. We have known ' Meph.' for a long time, and know that it is a weakness of his to be always greasing the fat sow's tail. All Auckland gets is a railway one mile seventy chains —since increased to two miles seventy chains —from a coal mine to the pretty waters of Whangarei Bay. An acceptance of tenders for carrying the railway to the foot of Queen Btreet; a sod turned at the Thames, and the promise of another sod and another barrow and shovel at Hamilton. This is all, while the outlying districts are crying aloud for means of communication to the land they are struggling to cultivate and live on."

The TkaohhbS OF Westland.—Tho salaries of the teachers of the State schools in Westland still (says the " G-rey River Argus") remain unpaid, greatly to the personal inconvenience of many of them. The Board has no money, and all it can say to the unfortunate teachers is that urgent representations have been made to the Q-ovemment for aid, and that a favorable answer may be expected shortly. This is a very unsatisfactory state of things, and shows conclusively that the scale of payment under the Act is quite insufficient for such districts as Westland. We were far better off under the rating system than at the present, seeing that in order to carry out the ordinary administration of the Act we have to depend upon uncertain doles of extra aid given reluctantly by the Q-overnment. It is quite impossible that the various schools can be maintained in efficiency without the necessary expenditure, and it is not at all calculated to imbue the teachers with zealous energy in the performance of their duties if they are to be kept out of their salaries month after month. This is one of those subjects which ought to engage the serious attention of our representatives in Parliament during next session. A fixed extra allowance should be allowed to educational districts, such as Westland, sufficient to place them on a greater footing of equality with more favored parts of the colony.

Paying Hospital Patients.—The London " Daily Telegraph " reports that recently a general Court of the Governors of St. Thomas's Hospital was held in the Board room, Mr Alderman Stone, the treasurer, in the chair. Alter the transaction of some routine business, the Treasurer proposed—- " That the governors of St, Thomas's Hospil al do adopt the principle of admitting paying patients into wards to bo appropriated for that purpose, and that it bo referred to the grand committee to prepare a scheme for the sanction of the Charity Commissioners in order to carry it into effect." He believed that the governors, by concurring in the motion, would confer a great boon on the large middle-class population of the metropolis, while at the same time the usefulness of the hospital, by the fact of its acquiring an increased revenue, would be greatly extended. He concluded from a letter which they had received some time ago from the Charity Commissioners that there would be no difficulty raised by that body. He believed that two guineas a week might be charged to each ordinary patient, while a limited number of difficult "cases" might be charged three guineas and four guineas each. Ho calculated an annual buoi of £7043 would be realised, for the moment the institution was commenced he believed there would be a rush of patients. The expenses would reach £4219, which would leave a balance of £3ffi3. The surplus would be devoted to the poor in the hospital. Ho had had a consultation with the medical staff, and in the main they concurred in the scheme. Mr Wainwright seconded the proposition, which, after a discussion, in which Mr T. Hankey, MP., joined, was agreed to laianimously. Canterbury A. and P. Association.— The annual meeting of the members of this Association wiil take place at half-past 2 o'clock this afternoon, at the offices, Hereford street. A considerable amount of important business is to be transacted. Soiree. —The annual soiree in connection with the We-leyan Church, Durham street, will take place this evening. Diocesan Sunday School Association. —A meeting of this Association will be held at St Michael's schoolroom this evening. Kaiapoi .Regatta.—The entries for this regatta close this evening, when a meeting of the committee will be held. Bridge over the Heathcote.—The adjourned meeting to consider the question of erecting a bri ige over the River Heathcote will take place this day week at the Woolston Hall, instead of on Monday next, as originally advertised. Cricket Fixtures.—A match between elevens of the Cust and Eangiora clubs will be played on the ground of the latter clab on Saturday. The following teim will play for Woolston against tho M.C.C. on Saturday : Messrs P. Pavitt (captain), Monck, Watson. Beaumont, Thompson, Bailey, P. Bamford J. Bamford, J. Davis, E. Buxton, and Wilkes.