NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1592, 27 March 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Next Session of Pabliament, — The following telegram has been forwarded by the Mayor of Christchurch to the Mayor of Dunedin, in connection with the motion passed at the last sitting of the City Council re the holding of the next session of Parliament in Christchurch:—“His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin —Will be glad of your cooperation with Christchurch City Council in urging the Government to have next sitting of Parliament at Christchurch, in obedience to a resolution of the House of Representatives lust session. The extra expense will bo small, anti every facility will be given by the people of Christchurch.—o. T. Ick, Mayor.” Oantebbuey College. The monthly meeting of the Board of G overnors took place this afternoon. Messrs W. Reeves and J, Grigg wore elected Governors. Football, —The Eastern Football Club open their season on Saturday. The secretary of the Christchurch Football Club has received an intimation that the opening match of the Eastern Club is strictly a club affair, but that the Eastern Club will bo happy if any of the C.P.O. members join in their club matches until the opening of the C.F.C. Biason. The Late Fibs. —The case of Isidore Schwartz, who stands charged with setting fire to his own premises, came before the Resident Magistrate to-day, but was again adjourned till Thursday next, in consideration of the circumstance that counsel engaged on the case were retained in reference to the Supremo Court business. A Waif. —A child of twelve years of age stood in the Police Court dock this morning, a sad witness to the influences of neglect and depraved associations. Prom the evidence adduced, it appeared that Annie Smith, the child in question, had lost her father some years ago, since when she had really been worse off than an orphan, inasmuch as her mother had abandoned all claims to respectability, and had been dragged with some grown up in the downward course. Having obtained a situation in the house of a Mrs Bell, the little girl pilfered a few articles therefrom, and soon afterwards made her appearance in the Police Court charged with the theft. His Worship sent the child to the Industrial School for three years, which, in want of some other institution suitable for such cases, was was the best thing that could have happened to her, as she will thus be “saved from her friends.” Telegeaph Station Removed. —The telegraph station, hitherto known as Pukarukaru, is in future to be called Miranda. The Vintage in Italy —The vintage has been very abundant in Italy. The Neapolitan proprietors complain that having filled all the casks obtainable, they do not know what to do with the surplus wine this year. They are equally well off for olive oil, which is in good years worth four millions sterling to the country. The Pbbmikb and the Goveenob.— The Wellington “ Post,” commenting upon a report that the Premier will not be in Wellington in time to be present on the arrival of Sir Hercules Robinson, makes the following forcible remarks :—“ It is the imperative duty of the Premier, Sir G. Grey, to be in Wellington to meet and welcome the representative of her Majesty on his arrival on these shores. It is a duty which Sir G. Grey owes to the Crown ho has himself so worthily represented, to the people who have placed him in his present position, and to the colleagues by whom he has surrounded himself.” Cheistmab in England. —The following fact is a criterion of the distress among the middle classes at Home : —A large quantity of poultry arrived from Canada, in London, for the Christmas markets, including over 50,000 turkeys, geese, and ducks, but, owing to the prevailing distress, the demand for Christmas luxuries was lessened to such a degree that tens of thousands of turkeys and game were left on the hands of the large dealers, much of which was offered at less than sixpence per pound. Oddfellowship. —At the quarterly summoned meeting of the Loyal Perseverance lodge, Wools;on, held last evening, occasion was taken to invite visitors from all the lodges in the district. After the usual routine business was disposed of, Bro. Aylward, as N.G., requested P.G. Morris to unfurl their new banner, and on it being done three hearty cheers were given by upwards of 150 members, representing City of Christchurch, Benevolent, Volunteer, and Star of Waltham lodges, of the North Canterbury district, and the Loyal Charleston lodge, Hokitika. A vole of thanks was passed unanimously to the district officers and visiting brethren for their visit, Bro. A. Liddle, as D.D.G.M., returned thanks on behalf of the district, and the representatives of the above lodges did the same on behalf of their lodges, and Dr. Campbell, as medical officer of the lodge, in a short and pithy speech (in which he said he was connected with the lodge from its infancy), hoped that the name of the lodge might be their watchword in future as it has Iven up to the present. £69 15s 6d were received as contributions during the evening. Several good songs were given by Bros. Beaumont, Gaunter, Simpkins, and others, and a duet given by Bros W.lkin and Miller was rendered capitally. On the closing of the lodge, all the town members were invited to an alfresco supper befo.e riding home. Cbicket Fixtures. — * match between th> Hagley Oak Leaf and Ashburton Cricket Clubs will be played on Saturday next, on the ground of the former. Play to commence at 1.30 pm. sharp. The following will play for the Hagley Oak Leaf—Messrs H. V. Anson (captain), J. Caygill, J. Gibb, J. Hopper, A. Johnstone, D. Lusk, H. Page, A. White J. Wheatley, W. H. Smith, H. Fisher. Emergency—J. Lusk, F. Rowe. Kaitangata Belief Fund.— The Mayor’s list for this fund will close on Monday next.

Tim Volunteers. —The head quarters companies of Volunteers will be inspected tomorrow evening by Major Lean, the Commandant of the district. Sr, John’s Organist.— -Mr Landergan, who lias been engaged as organist for St. John’s Church, telegraphs that ho will reacli Christchurch about Easter. Accident. —A married woman named Taylor, who lives with her husband at Sumner, was admitted to the hospital yesterday. It' appears that while walking near her home she fell on the rocks, and fractured her left shoulder near the joint. Templary. — At. the close of the weekly meeting of the Southern Cross Lodge, 1.0.Q.T., last evening, held at the Oddfellows’ Hall, there was a miscellaneous entertainment, consisting of vocal and instrumental music, in which members of the lodge took part. There were also a number of brief addresses delivered by gentlemen interested in the Good Templar cause. Train Delayed. —On Tuesday evening the in-train on the main Oxford line to Kaiapoi was delayed about half an-hour by the breaking of a spring on the engine. This locomotive has been in constant work for some time. The main North train was also delayed a short time in consequence of the accident. Accident at Amberley.— On Tuesday night about eleven a man who had gone into the hay-loft of McLean’s stable to sleep, was disturbed, and, in taking a jump from the loft door, fell, breaking one of his legs. Ho was taken next day to the hospital. School Standards. —Mr J. Curnow, 8.A., LL 8., of Melbourne University, head master of the East Christchurch School, and Mr Morrison, 8.A., of Oxford, are about to publish a work on elementary science, adapted to the use of New Zealand schools. Messrs. Geo. Robertson, of Melbourne, are to bo the publishers of the proposed work. Canterbury Grain.— The busiest time of the grain season has now arrived, so far as the Railway Department is concerned, and will probably last until about the middle of April. Immense quantities of wheat are coming to town from all stations. As may bo supposed there is a considerable scarcity of trucks, but up to the present time the department has been able to cope successfully with the traffic, and in no ease since the beginning of the season has there been a block at any of the stations, or more grain than could be removed in a couple of days. There are now too far more ordinary trains running than there were then, so that the trucks can be much more expeditiously distributed than formerly. Last year there was only one train to Ashburton and one to Southbridgo, but there are now two regular goods trains and an additional goods train between Ashburton and Timaru and between Timaru and Oamaru. These are so arranged that the trains leaving Christchurch can take forty empty trucks, leaving them at various stations along the line where they are rapidly filled and picked up by the next return train. It is stated by the department that for the last fortnight the supply of trucks between hero and the port has boon fully kept up. The late Bishop of Newcastle, N.S.W. —This prelate, whose death was announced in the telegraphic news yesterday, has left the whole of Ids large property, consisting of no less than sixteen valuable stations in Nsw South Wales and Queensland, to his diocese, for Church purposes. It is estimated that the value of the bequest is not less than £250,000, the amounts for the various diocesan funds being as follows: —Bishop’s income, £30,000 (£I2OO a year) ; stipends of dignitaries, £11,000; stipends of clergy, £100,000; superannuated clergy, £IO,OOO ; fund for sick clergy, £5000; new clergy, £25,000; the training of future clergy, £25,000; the religious education of the young, £44,000. At the Synod held in May last the late Bishop’s intention to devote his property to the good of the Church was made public by his commissary in the opening address, the Bishop being absent through illness. The “Tasmanian Church News” thus comments on the gift:— “ The Ecclesiastical world has been almost startled, and certainly moved into admiration, to hear that Dr. Tyrrell, the apostolic and single minded Bishop of Newcastle, has provided in his will for the endowment of bis diocese to the extent of £250,000. It has long been understood that the Bishop, who has never been home to England since his arrival in the diocese, more than thirty years ago, and who has lived a most frugal and self-denying life, devoted much time and thought to putting the finances of the Church into a state of firm and lasting security, but the magnitude of the bequest has taken people by surprise.” The Land Tax. —Although it is semiofficially announced that the land tax will realise the sum which the Treasurer estimated it would yield, it must, nevertheless, bo admitted (says the “Post”) that the new experiment in taxation is a failure. The expense of collection is out of all proportion to the amount collected. If £90,000 goes into the Treasury as the result of the tax, the amount taken out of the pockets of the taxpayers is enormously greater. The difference between the two amounts represents an actual loss to the public. The £90,000 of revenue has been acquired at a terribly expensive cost. The charges of collection amount to a ruinous rate of interest on the amount of money obtained. We have raised this comparatively small addition to the revenue much after the stylo of the young spendthrift, who melts a £IOO acceptance and gets £lO cash out of it, the rest being represented by interest, sham pictures, and bad sherry. The Colonial Treasurer, however, like the spendthrift, has got something else for the experiment, something else which may prove really worth the cost —wo mean experience. No doubt a large mass of valuable information has been collected under the Land Tax Act which may be utilised for purposes of taxation and legislation outside the four corners of the present Act altogether. If the Colonial Treasurer be wise, he will utilise this information at once, and be prepared to admit frankly that the land tax itself has not answered expectations. If he does this, and at the same time comes down with a well conceived and carefully digested scheme for a thorough and general land and property tax he will give evidence of the possession of the highest quality of generalship and statesmanship—the ability to turn a defeat to advantage, and ultimately to convert it into a victory. Oxford Licensing Court.—On Wednesday this Court was further adjourned to April 9th, for want of a quorum. The Commissioners present were Messrs R. L. Higgins and W. Fisher. The Napier Harbor Board Case— ln the Supreme Court yesterday Mr George Harper mentioned that he had received a telegram from Mr Macassey, intimating that the parties had agreed to have the hearing of the argument on the rule nisi for a new trial in this case heard at Dunedin. It is probable that an order will be made to that effect today. Gaiety Theatre. —The Georgias last evening gave a change of programme, in which they introduced a number of new items. In the first part Mr Jackson sang a very pretty ballad, “ Little Robin,” and Messrs Matlock and Bowman also contributed some songs, which were well sung. The two jubilees, especially “Gabriel, blow the horn,” elicited loud laughter and applause, and the latter was rederaanded. In the olio, Messrs Keenan and Morton gave a clog dance excellently, and Mr Frank Hewitt fully sustained the favorable opinion formed of his talent as a cornet player by- bis admirable rendering of the selection allotted to him. Judge Crusoe expatiated at some length and with considerable eloquence on the important subject of “ What shall we do with our girls.” This knotty point was solved by the Judge to his apparent satisfaction and also that of the audience. Mr Wilson gave a new exposition of his cleverness as a song and dance artist, which was redemanded. The sketches and other items on the programme, including Mr Easton’s banjo solo, were gone through excellently. The company appear again this evening, and on Friday they will play for the last time. The Kaitangata Carnival.— Messrs E. Wheeler and Son have published some excellent pictures of the group of muff cricketers in costume taking part in the match on the occasion of the fete in aid of the Kaitangata Relief Fund.

Masonic. —The regular monthly meeting of the Lodge of ITiiiitii.aity, fl()i E.C., will take place at half-past seven o’clock this evening. The Crescent Hoad —A meeting of the inhabitants of Crescent road, Knigbtstown, will be held in the reading room to-morrow evening, to consider the advisableness of widening that thoroughfare.