NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1597, 2 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Resident Maoistbatb’s Court. A curious case was heard at the Court to-day. Patrick Foley was brought up for deserting his wife and family. Mrs Foley stated that she merely wanted to get her husband back again. In swearing to the information she had, in her agitation, given the impression that her husband had left her destitute. Such, however, was not the case, she merely wanted to get him back, and desired to withdraw the information. This His Worship allowed, after cautioning the complainant to be more careful in the future. G-uw Explosion.—A man named Robert Harrison met with a very serious accident yesterday when out shooting at .Lake Ellesmere. He had been firing all day, and at about three o’clock in the afternoon, just as he was about to fire at a flock of ducks, his gun exploded, and shattered bis left hand severely ; the hammer of the gun also hit his companion on the eye, fortunately without doing him any injury. Harrison was brought to town and conveyed to the hospital, where his wounds were dressed. It was found necessary to amputate the second finger of his hand, which was very much cut about. It is a somewhat remarkable circumstance that for years past in Christchurch there has been one or more accidents of this kind at the very commencement of the game season. Caught in the Act. The police are making it lively for hen-roost robbers who have been playing a wholesale game at “ grab” lately to the loss and annoyance of those who keep fowls. It is customary with those petty thieves to continue their pursuit and cheer the inner man by extracting the embyro juice of all the eggs by suction ; no sort of egg comes amiss to them, as witness the melancholy remains discovered at early morn when the housemaid searches the henroost to supply the morning meal. This morning a man was discovered in the fowlhouse of a gentleman in this city; he had gone for a turkey, but his foul-play was just discovered in time to check his proceedings. Drainage Board. —A special meeting of this body was to have been held at half-past ten o’clock this morning, but in consequence of legal opinion not having been yet received on a certain subject the meeting did not take place. Those present at the hour mentioned were Messrs R. J. S. Harman, John Evans Brown, A. Duncan, and Ross. Not Clever Enough.—Two young gentlemen were detected committing a breach of the Domain regulations, by carrying a gun within the boundaries of the Domain. The weapon they had in their possession was an air gun, and had they simply been carrying it, there is every probability that they might have defeated this vigilance by the most watchful of curators, as the gun in question when put together presents the appearance of a large size ebony walking stick; but they were discovered pointing it at some ducks, and then the “murder fell out.” The gun was placed in the police depot, and the young sportsmen will be prosecuted.

Hospital inquiry.—A committee was appointed by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board some time ago to inquire into certain charges made against the matron of the Hospital, The committee met again last evening and sat for two hours taking evidence in the case. It is understood they will report the result of their investigations to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board at its next meeting. Thb Abtillbby Stobes. —With the exception of the shot and shell, all the ordnance stores ex City of Quebec have been safely landed and stowed in the Gladstone shed. New Engines.—The two new locomotives for the Railway Department, which were yesterday landed from the Piako, were found not to be so seriously damaged as had been anticipated. They will be thoroughly overhauled by the department. The Avon Road Board.—A meeting of the residents of Knightstown was hold last evening to consider the question of the shilling rate lately resolved on by the Avon Road Board. A motion was carried that the rate should bo sixpence, and a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Board at its next meeting and lay the matter before it.

Acknowledgment, Mr Superintendent JTa;j'i« yesterday received the following letter :—“ High street, April Ist. —To W. Han is, Esq ~ Superintendent Fire Brigade. Deer Sir, —Please accept the enclosed cheque tor £5 as a small token in recognition of the valuable sendees rendered by the Brigade ,at the late fire adjoining our premises, on, the morning of the 28th March, 1879, Yours, Ac., J. & T, Goodman.” Piiotage Dubs at Lyttelton.—The sum received at the Harbor office, Lyttelton, during the month of March, for pilotage dues exceeds that of any previous month. The amount was something over 68CD. Lyttelton Bosouoh Council —An election took place yesterday, to supply an extraordinary vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr P. Cunningham. There were but two candidates, namely, Mr William Holmes and Mr William Reed. The poll was declared at 6 p.m,, the result being as follows :—Mr William Beed, 114; Mr W. Holmes, 8(3. Mr Reed was declared duly elected.

A Juvenile Thief.—A report wag sent to tho police about a fortnight ago to tho effect that a gold brooch of the value of £7 had been stolen from the dwelling of Mrs Adams. There was, from the rneagroness of the information to hand, a good deal of difficulty in discovering the delinquent, but Detective Benjamin managed to trace the act to a boy named Kcyleson, in whoso father’s house ho found the stolen property. It appears that there was no attempt to hide anything in the case (on tho part of tho parents), the brooch being given up at once. Accident. —A carter named Denis Murphy, m the employ of Mr Wm, Hall, contractor on the Lincoln road, was returning about half-past 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon. He was walking alongside his team, when a runaway horse and cart, coming from tho direction of Addington, knocked him down, rendering him unconscious. He was picked up by a man named James Hayes, who was pnssi g, and who conveyed him to the Hospital. On examination, he was found to bo severely shaken and bruised, but, fortunately, no limbs were broken. New Zealand Photographs.—Messrs E. Wheeler and Son are about to issue sets and albums of New Zealand photographs, which will be a good method of bringing before people at a distance tho natural beauties of these islands. The negatives which have been taken for tho purpose, include views in Auckland, Poverty Bay, Coromandel, the Thames goldfields, Kawau, Bay of Islands, Hokianga, and Napier. There is also a complete set of views of the whole of the Hot Springs district, including Lake Taupo, Lake Rotomahana, and the Pink and White Terraces. Tho collection includes a number of views on the Peninsula and Governor’s Bay, and a complete panorama so to speak, of the road from Christchurch to the West Coast, Altogether the collection is one of the most complete yet made of New Zealand views.

Horticultural Society.—A meeting of the committee of the Christchurch Horticultural Society was held at the Commercial Hotel last evening, Mr F. Jones in the chair. The other members present were Messrs D. Hairn, GK A. Reade, T. Allen, W. GHmblett, J. Guntrip, and the Secretary. A letter from Mr Ashton was considered and the following resolution passed : —“ That Mr Ashton be informed that the committee are unable to entertain his claim, owing to the time that has elapsed making it impossible to enter into its merits.” With respect to Mr Crooks’ protest, it was resolved“ That the entries of Mr Jackman for peaches being irregular the piizes bo withheld.” Resolved:—“ That the prize moneys bo paid at the Commercial Hotel on Tuesday, April Bth, and that the same be advertised.” The following gentlemen were appointed to act as judges of the chrysanthemums to be exhibited at the next monthly meeting, viz., Messrs E. C. J. Stevens, G. A. Reade, and F. Jones. A number of accounts were passed for payment and a vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close. Some very fine specimens of the “ General Grant” tomato were exhibited by Messrs John Allen and Sons, Anderson’s Foundry. Considerable changes are projected in those premises. The present offices of the foundry, which are in one of the oldest buildings in Cashel street, are to be done away with, and others erected fronting Lichfield street. The foundations are already laid of this building, which will bo completed in about three months. This will enable the valuable frontage in Cashel street to be utilised in a more profitable manner. Work is rather more slack than usual at the foundry, but there are several extensive orders in course of fulfilment. Two large boilers are being made, one for a sawmill and another for a boiling-down establishment at the Kaikoras. There are also being constructed some immense iron girders of great strength, to be used in connection with the erection of the new building for the Colonial Bank, in Hereford street. It is not so very long ago that it would have been difficult to procure the iron with which to turn out half the work done in one of these foundries per month, to say nothing of the absence of the necessary appliances and skilled labor. A very useful addition is being put together at Anderson’s foundry in the shape of a hydraulic rivetter, for boilermaking. This machine will possess the double advantage of expediting work which, when done by hand, is of a very laborious character, and reducing the amount of labor, which is another name for expense.

Baptist Church Sunday School. —The eighth anniversary of the above Sunday School was held last evening in the Hereford street Church, when over 300 sat down to tea. As soon as the tables had been removed the public meeting was held, which was presided over by the pastor, the Rev. Charles Dallaston. The chairman, in his opening speech congratulated the teachers on the measure of success that had attended their services, as well as the work during the past year, and urged upon them the great importance of looking after the lambs of the flock. The report stated that ten of the scholars had been added to the church during the year, it also stated that the average attendance was 125, in seventeen classes, and that there were 300 volumes in the library. The officers for the ensuing year are—Mr Chid gey, superintendent ;Mr Peto, secretary; Mr Ohivers, treasurer; Mr Mandors, librarian ; and Messrs Chivers and A. P. Pillow delegates to the Sunday School union. The treasurer’s report stated the receipts during the year had been £29 12s, and the expenditure £27 11s 9d. The Rev. Thos. Harrington, who has just arrived from Wellington, where he has been working for the last eighteen months, since coming to New Zealand from Mr Spurgeon’s College, and who has come as an evangelist in connection with the Canterbury Baptist Association, addressed the meeting, and urged upon those present the vast importance of the work in which they they were engaged. The Rev. J. White followed, and amongst other remarks said whatever difference of opinion might exist on the subject of education, he thought it a great mistake to exclude the reading of the Bible. The children sang several pieces during the evening, assisted by the teachers and friends, under the leadership of Mr Ohivers. Mr Hamilton presiding at the harmonium. The meeting was closed with prayer by the chairman.

American Tbbb Seed.—The Acclimatisation Society lately received from Philadelphia a quantity of seeds of various trees, among them being the hickory, the oak, the black walnut, and other ornamental trees, the great proportion of which arrived in capital order. The consignment was divided among the subscribers of the society.

Gambling in a Railway Carriage.— At the Ashburton Court, yesterday, a man was fine! 40s, or in default one month’s imprisonment, for playing cards for money in a railway carriage. The winner was the only one proceeded against, although, as counsel remarked, it took more than one to make a gamble. Mr Bullock was the presiding justice. Transfer of License at Rangioba.— An application will be made to transfer the license of the Junction Hotel, Rargiora, from Mr James Lewton to Mr Hadticld. The latter has purchased the freehold of the premises for £IIOOO, and intends to carry out extensive improvements. A largo number of Mr Lewton’s friends met him on Tuesday for a leavetaking on his retirement Irom the business.

Registration. —The total number of new claims to vote sent in for the current year is 454, divided as follows City of Christchurch, 179; Coleridge, 157 ; Selwyn, 29; Heathcote, 60 ; Avon, 29. A few,additional claims may yet come in from Ashburton, but practically the number above stated may be regarded as the total.