NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1600, 5 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

♦ KesidentMagistrate's Court— J . Johnson, a bootmaker, was to-day committed for trial on a charge of concealing from his creuitors goods to the value of £3O. A full report appears elsewhere. Parliament in Christchurch The project for the removal of the next sitting of Parliament from Wellington to Christchurch will in a few days be submitted to the verdict of public opinion, as his Worship the Mayor has taken the preliminary steps for convening a public meeting for the di-cussion of the subject at the Oddfellows’ Hull next Thursday evening.

Biiile lubistians i'i mplab Hall - Too Bov. W. 11. Keast will preach tv/ice tomorrow. The subject in the morning will bo “ A Trumpet Call to tho Church ” ; at night, “ Calvary.” All tho Bible Christians in the city are imllod. Municipal Buildings. —The first meeting of the newly constituted Town Hall com* mittee, with the Mayor in tho chair, took place at the City Council Chamber last night. A considerable amount of discussion of a conversational character took place relative to the dot via of the projected Town Hall. Tho main point was relative to the basis of competition in tho matter of tho plans, and the result of the committee’s deliberations will bo submitted i i the Council at an early moot in.<7,

Lights in Railway Carriages. The railway authorities began from list night to put the lamps iii tho carriages at Rangtora.

Oamaru Wateeworks. —The tender for tho supply of five pipes for this work was, as may ho remembered, obtained by the Canterbury Foundry, and the barque Dunk eld is now 1 mding them in tho Clyde, and may be expected to sail shortly. Her cargo of pipes is consigned to Mr John Anderson. Tint Autumn Meeting. Owners of horses are reminded that acceptances for champagne stakes and nominations for the Epsom and flying stakes, selling race, steeplechase and Easter handicap must bo made on or before eight o’clock this evening with tho secret a; y of tho C.J.C., at tho rooms, Cathedral square. File at South Rakaia. —Mr Blythe Dickon, of Tiverton Farm, i.ear Methvon, had liis stable totally destroyed by fire about five o’clock on Tuesday morning. The stable contained at tho time some 8000 bushels of wheat, which was insured in the South British for TOSO. Tho stable was insured in the New Zealand. Mr Dicken was away at tho time, and it is not known ho w tho fire originated.

Railway Benefit Society. —A committee meeting of the Railway Employes’ Benefit Society was held on Thursday evening last, at Bp. m. Several members were present, Mr C. Heaton, chairman of the committee, occupying tho chair. After several communications had been road, it was resolved that the action taken at lust committee meeting re the rules of the society, bo rescinded, and that the matter be left for the next general meeting of tho members to deal with. After some discussion and a number of accounts having been passed for payment, the meeting adjourned.

Commission of Inquiry.—Mr T. E. Young, Judge of the Native Lands Court, who arrived by the Wanaka on her last trip, is at present making the necessary preliminary arrangements for the sitting of a commission promised by the Native Minister, to enquire into various matters connected with Native land claims in the Middle Island. Mr Young is located in the new Government Buildings, and has secured the Oddfellows’ Hall for the purpose of holding the inquiry, which will be conducted with open doors and in the same manner as the Native Lands Court. The Commissioners art' Messrs. Nairn (of Nelson) and Smith, formerly Judge of the Native Lands Court. This Commission has been a long time promised, and some time has been spent in bringing matters to the present issue. Mr Young, the secretary, had been selected by Government to fill that office prior to his appointment as a Judge of the Native Lands Court. Theatre Royal, There was another change in the bill last night, Sheridan Knowles’ fine play of “ The Hunchback ” being produced for the first time under the present management. Mr Oroswick appeared as Master Walter, a character in which he was specially complimented by the author of the play. Mr Creswick’s performance lust night was one of the most finished that has been witnessed in Christchurch, and the play has been so familiarised by its frequent production by artists of prominence, that the public would have but little difficulty in guaging the comparative merit of the popular English actor. Full of dignity and impressiveness in the earlier stages of the play, Mr Creswick soared to grandeur in the last act, and fairly carried the audience with him, who were loud in their plaudits at the finish. Miss Helen Ashton was excellent as Julia, and can compare favorably with the exponents of the part who have preceded her, though she cannot be said to bear away the palm from Mies Florence Colville, who, up to this time has established herself in the part beyond rivalry. Still there was something very winwiug and engaging in Miss Ashton’s rendering of the character, and she presented many p ints of excellence which entitle her to praise. She shared the honours of the evening with Mr Creswick. The Helen and Modus scenes were done ample justice to by Miss Solange Novaro and Mr Elliott. All the charming grace, vivacity, and sprightliness of the warmhearted hoyden, were charmingly pourtrayed by Miss Novaro, and the only wonder was how her country cousin, under her tutelage in the difficult art of love, could have remained insensible to her attractions. Mr Elliott conceived the character of Modus in the happiest vein, and played up to Miss Novaro with excellent taste and effect. Mr H. 1L Vincent was thoroughly at homo as Sir Thomas Clifford, and, by his artistic performance of a character requiring both experience and judgment, aided the success of the piny materially. Mr H. Power was quaint and humorous as Fathom, and the remainder of the characters were fairly represented. “Othello” will be performed this evening, with Mr Creswick as the Moor.

Scotch and leisti Banks.— An Irish paper called the “ Tyrone Constitution ” thus compares Scotch and Irish banking, decidedly in favor of the latter: —“ The Scotch are a thrifty, saving people. They trade largely abroad. Ireland, whilst engaged in but limited foreign trade, employs her resources largely in pastoral and agricultural pursuits. The Scotch soil is ungrateful, and repays husbandry but scantily. The Emerald Isle ranks second to none in the fertility and fecundity of her soil. Thus, whilst both Irish and Scotch are industrious and saving people, their savings are invested in totally different ways. The Scotch banker, to employ the funds at his disposal, has to embark in foreign enterprise ; the Irish banker lends his funds mostly to the farming and productive classes, thus seeing his money fructify under his own eye and return to his coffers, having mutually enriched the lender and the borrower. Looking back over the period of years since joint stock enterprise first took firm root in Ireland, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find any time when her banks suffered loss at the hands of the farming classes. Even during the famine few or no bad debts were made, all momentary loss being ultimately made good. Of Scotland it is impossible to say the same. Unable to invest her funds in the soil, she is well nigh forced into foreign speculation, which has in this instance proved so disastrous.” Gaol Rktdhns.— The chief gaoler’s returns for the month of March show that on the 31st of that month there were 107 prisoners in the Lyttelton Gaol, 58 in that at Addington, and 32 at Timaru. Thirteen were awaiting trial at Lyttelton, and six at Timaru.

Mu and Mes Daebell. Playgoers are reminded that Mr and Mrs George Darrell will make their re-appoaranco at the Theatre Royal this evening, after an absence from the boards of three years. There is no necessity to comment on the claims to patronage of these talented artistes, and the bare announcement that Mrs Darrell will sustain the character of Emilia and Mr Darrell (hat of lago should, in combination with Mr Creswick us Oih"ilo and Miss Ashton as Desdemona, go fur to crowd the house to its fullest, extent;.

The Late Mr C, E. Pratt. —The many friends of tin's gentleman, who was Use son of Mr W. Pratt, one of the oldest colonists, will hear with regret of his untimely death. Mr Pratt, who trorn a cadet in the Public Works Department, had worked himself up to the position of Assistant Engineer, was highly respected by all with whom he came in contact. Ho had earned for himself the confidence of hia superior officers in the depart-

ment by the excellence of his work and the assiduity with which he discharged the duties of his position.

SPARROWS, —On the stubbles this year (he sparrows appear to he more numerous than ever, and no doubt steps will he f alien as early as possible to lessen their numbers by poisoning and other means,

Tens Autumn Meeting. — : hose ini rested ■ are reminded tint tne sale of publicans’ booths, i Ac., will take place at Cookson’s Commercial Hotel, on ! ucstlay next, at 3 o’clock. Temperance League. -A lecture on Tom- j Iterance w.il bn douv.-red in St. An 1 row’s ! Church, by the Hoa. Mr Fox, on Wednesday evening.