NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1584, 18 March 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Resident Magistrate’s Court.— To-day Izidor and Sigismund Schwartz were brought up, charged with having set fire to some goods in their shop in High street last night. On application of Inspector Hickson Sigismund was discharged, and Izidor was remanded to the 25th inst. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £l5O each and the accused in £3OO. John Mandere was committed for trial on the charge of criminally assaulting a married woman. An Interesting Valetudinarian. —The “West Coast Times” asks:—“ls it at nil within the limits of probability that Mr Seymour George, M.H.R, now recuperating at Kawau, will visit his Hokitika constituents after he has leisurely recovered from the fatigues of his maiden session in Parliament ? ” British and Foreign Bible Society.— The Rev. J. T. Evans, agent for this society, addressed a public meeting at the Rangiora Literary Institute on Friday evening. The Revs. A. C. Wright, S. Hodgson, W. Oanneli, and W. Munro were also present on the platform. Kaiapoi Presbyterian Church Bazaar. —This bazaar, for the sale of fancy and useful articles, dairy produce, and live stock, was held in Messrs. Oram and Hansen’s store on Monday. The store had been extemporised into a fairy bower, with evergreens, flowers, and pretty decorations in wool, silk, and cotton. The stalls were attended to by members of the congregation and the Rev. W. McGregor, and the sales during the day were very satisfactory, as a sum of abont £9O was netted, and a number of articles still remain for sale.

Accident at Eangioea. —On Friday Mr S. Hossack, of Fernside, tripped over a stone, and in falling one of the bones of his leg was broken near the ankle. He was subsequently attended by Dr. Downes. Confibmation Shbtice. —On Sunday last his Lordship the Primate held a confirmation serv ce at St. Stephen’s Church. A number of candidates presented themselves and received the rite. At the conclusion of the service his Lordship gave an impressive charge to those who had just been confirmed. His Lordship preached again in the evening. There were crowded congregations at both services.

Last Night’s Theatbioal Peepobmanck —At the rising of the curtain the theatre was crowded in all parts, conspicuous in the dress circle being the gay dresses of the Mayor and City Council. The performance commenced with the pretty comedietta entitled “ The Happy Pair,” in which Mr Hoskins and Miss Florence Colville sustained their original characters of Mr and Mrs Honeyton. They were both in admirable form, and from first to last the pretty little piece went trippingly, to the intense enjoyment of the audience. After the comedy the programme was arranged on the variety principle, every item being of an enjoyable description. The Brothers Schott contributed a double clog dance, which was the very poetry of the Terpsiohorean art. They were enthusiastically encored. After the comedy his Worship the Mayor presented two bats of leviathan proportions to Councillors Wilson and Gapes, as representing the highest and lowest scorers in the muff cricket match. Each Councillor acknowledged the compliment in suitable terms, especially Or. Wilson, who waxed eloquent in the manifestation of his gratitude at the compliment paid him. Professor Scott gave a quarter of an hour of excellent fooling, and sang a couple of patter songs, with infinite grotesque humor, for which he was heartily applauded. This was succeeded by a petite comedy, bearing the title “An Exact Resemblance,” and which was supported by Professor Scott, Miss Nellie Daley, and Mr J. Stark. The popular favorite, Miss Tilly Andrews, whose appearance on the stage was the signal for prolonged cheering, next sang “ See How It Sparkles,” from the opera of “ Girofla Girofla, ” and being encored, substituted “ Oh, how delightful.” A banjo solo by Mr Brannan was the next item, which was succeeded by a clever topical song by Mr J. Stark, and the lengthy but entertaining programme terminated with Professor Scott’s speciality, “ The Shadow Pantomime,” the startlingly realistic effects being loudly applauded by the audience, who wore nearly surfeited with enjoyment. Me Creswick:. —This well-known tragedian will make his first appearance in Christchurch on Monday next, at the Theatre Royal, in “Yirginius.” As ho will be very strongly supported, and brings with him a reputation second to none, Mr Creswick will no doubt be largely patronised during his stay. The Octoeoon. The Colored Jubilee Troupe will re-appear this evening at the Theatre Royal in Boucicault’s famous drama, “ The Octoroon.” The piece is very strongly oast, and from the popularity gained by the company during their lost visit crowded houses may bo predicted.

Ashburton County Hospital —The Hospital committee of the Ashburton County Council, by arrangement of the chairman, intend meeting the Ashburton Borough Council on Thursday, 27th inst., at 330 p'm., to confer regarding matters connected with the proposed hospital for the borough and county.

Theatre Royal— To-night Mr Liddy’s Uncle Tom Company will rc-appear at the Theatre Royal after their Wellington season. During the five nights they will play here they will introduce “The Octoroon” and “ Under the Gaslight,” in addition to “ Undo Tom’s Cabin.” Easter Monday Oddfellows’ Fete.— There is now on view in the window of Mr Urqnhart, jeweller, &c., Colombo street, a very handsome silver cup, to be run for by members of the friendly societies on the above occasion. Dr, Tov»md of this city is the donor.

Fire. —Shortly after ten o’cloeklast evening the Lichfield street fire bell rang out a peal, and the alarm was given that the fire was close to the White Hart Hotel. It appears that a fisherman named Antonio and a police constable were near the White Hart when they observed smoke issuing from the premises occupied by Mr Schwartz, tobacconist, in the block known as the White Hart block. Prompt measures prior to the arrival of the Brigade were taken, and the door being hurst open buckets of water which wore readily at hand from those kept by the White Hart were thrown upon the burning mass behind the counter. The fire was then in about three places behind the counter, and seemed at first likely to be a very serious matter. But the Dreadnought came to the front, and having been put on to the tank opposite the White Hart soon extinguished the fire, and all danger of anything serious was at an end. The fire it may be said was of a somewhat suspicious character. The fire brigade were on the spot with their usual promptness —that is the Dreadnought. The steamers followed quickly, but their services were not required. The fire police mustered strongly under officer W. S. King, and the regular police under Mr Inspector Hickson were also present. The building is insured in the Sun Fire office and the stock in the Standard. Mr Schwartz, the pro> prietor, was the last to leave the shop about ton p.m., or half an hour before the fire broke out. The police, acting upon the circumstances of the case, arrested Messrs Schwartz Bros., who were lodged in the depot. The insurances were on stock, £SOO in the Standard ; £SOO in the Union, and £7OO in the Transatlantic, or £I7OO in all.

Delays of the Public Trustee—Attention isdireotod by the “ Grey River Argus” to a case of inexcusable delay in the Public Trustee’s office, the particulars of which are given as follows John Jones, a widower, took the necessary steps to provide for his three children by insuring his life for £2OO, and, dying suddenly without a will, the insurance companies promptly paid the amount of the policy to the Public Trustee, and there the money remains, telegrams, letters, and personal interviews with his agent being of no avail to induce that gentleman to part. He even has not the excuse of doubts as to the legitimacy of the children, as that was proved to his satisfaction immediately upon Jones’s death last Jnno. It is nearly eight months since this money was handed over to the trustee, and now it appears something is to bo done through a solicitor before the Supreme Court i;: March next —the outcome of which will be a bill of costs of £3O or £4O. Now contrast this state of affairs with the prompt manner in which the Foresters’ Society, of which Jones was a member, paid over £35 to the family, and which has been spent, and about £2O more voluntarily raised by that order, to actually keep this family during the time their just rights—viz., £2OO is wrongfully held from them.

The Carnival. —The committee of 'the Kaitangata Relief Fund Fete may well congratulate themselves upon the grand success attendant upon their efforts. So far as it was able fo be ascertained yesterday, the amount realised will not bo far short of £BOO, The actual takings on the ground amounted to £4OO 15s. Of this the Richardson’s Show contributed £6B 10s, the Mystic Lady £l3 10s 6d, the King of Pain £ls. To this must be added the sum realised for the booths, &c., amounting to about £7O in ail. The performance at the Theatre realised over £IOO, and that at the Drill Shed about another £2OO. The people of Canterbury may be congratulatedjupon having done their duty to the widows and orphans left destitute by the sad calamity which is so universally deplored. To this may be added Messrs Bird and Paul’s list, amounting to £3BO 5s Bd, which will make a total of over £llOO.

Automatic Coupling on Rail-ways.— On Wednesday evening, says the “ Times” of January 12tli, in the rooms of the Society of Arts, John street, Adelphi, a paper was read by Mr T. A, Brockelbank on “ Economy and Safety by the Use of Automatic Couplings on Railways.” Lord Alfred Churchill was in the chair. The lecturer prefaced his remarks by saying that, enormous as had been the improvements which had occurred within the last few years in the various details of railway traffic management, the system of coupling the carriages and waggons remained as clumsy and dangerous in practice as it had half a century ago. Various obstacles had hitherto stood in the way of its reform, and unless it could be shown that the companies would derive pecuniary benefit from the adoption of automatic or mechanical means for coupling vehicles, it was hardly to be expected that the matter would be seriously taken up. He proceeded to give numerous statistics to show that an immense saving might bo effected both in time and money by the general adoption of some such process, while numerous collisions which are at present occasioned by delays in shnnting might thereby bo avoided. Allowing only ten seconds of time as the difference in favor of the automatic process of coupling, he calculated that in twelve months’ working a period of no less than 100 years (night and day) would, by its adoption, be left clear to the traffic superintendents of the ten chief railways in England and Scotland alone for the despatch of other traffic; while, at the rate of Is a journey, the money saving would amount on an average to £25,000 per annum to each of the ten companies. At the close of the lecture Mr Thomas Ashbury, of Manchester, remarked that automatic couplings had been largely used abroad, and had proved entirely successful. New South Wales and Victobia. — There is no better guide as to the commercial prosperity of a country (remarks the “ Melbourne Argus”) than the shipping statistics of its principal port. Expansion of trade means progress, while contraction indicates retrogression. Applying this rule to the two chief colonies of the Australian group, we find, according to the returns for the past year, that New South Wales is steadily marching forward, and that Victoria is going back. The Sydney returns, as prepared by the shipping master, Captain Shorter, show that during the year 1878 the gross tonnage of the vessels arriving in port was 730,051 as against 600,147 in 1877, or an increase of 39,904 tons. In the departures there was a corresponding increase of tonnage. Our own official returns have not yet been issued, but taking the last shipping and freight report of Messrs S. de Beer and Co., which we believe to be trustworthy, we find that there has been a decrease as between 1877 and 1878 of 25,474 tons. As regards trade with the United Kingdom, there was a falling off of 32,851 tons, but an increase in the arrivals from Mauritius and other ports reduced the net loss to the amount stated. These are signifi cant figures. If general influences only were at work wc should expect to discover a simultaneous improvement or declension in the returns of both ports, but when there is growth in one case and decline in the other, the operation of some special cause or causes is obviously suggested. Affairs in the two colonies have been managed in a widely different manner. In New South Wales a free trade policy has been consistently pursued, and the country has been quietly and constitutionally governed. Here wo have had protection and violent measures. To a mistaken fiscal policy has been added Black Wednesday, with the consequent discouragement of enterprise and withdrawal of capital.

Spouting.— Owner- arc reminded that the nominations for (lie Filesmero Cup dote on Friday, the 2lat inst. Happy Hours.— Mr and Mrs Hart will appear at the Oddfellows’ Hall to-night. They having generously given up their performance last evening in order that nothing should interfere with the Kaitangata Fete, it is to bo hoped that playgoers will give them a bumper house to-night.

Kaitangata Relief Fund Concert.— The concert at the drill-shed last night was a great pecuniary success, the sired itself and adjacent grounds being crowded to excess. Mr Noble exhibited the electric light for a somewhat brief period, and at the close of the first part a display of fireworks took place. The concert itself comprised instrumental music, excellently rendered by a strong band, choruses from “ Martha,” Ac., by Mr Towle’s opera class. The other items on the programme were excellently given, and altogether the concert was a great success. The fireworks were very good, and generally those who were instrumental in getting up the concert have cause to congratulate themselves upon the success which has attended their efforts.