NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1602, 8 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sale ok Alpbed Town Sections. —A number of sections in Alfred Town were offered at Messrs Matson and Oo.’s mart yesterday, at noon. Most of the sections wore told at very reasonable prices, ranging from £2 10s to £lO per acre. Chabge A«ainst a Siiuntee. — A person named John Bell, who had been in the Employ of the Railway department as an assistant shunter, was brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning on the serious charge of haling neglected on a certain occasion to adjust the points on the main lino at Ashburton. On the application of tho Inspector of Police the prisoner was remanded to Ashburton. It may bo remembered that a collision occurred on the main line at the point indicated a short time ago, and that accident, it is supposed will have a bearing on the present case. A Bull. —lmmediately before tho rising of the City Council last night, His Worship the Mayor addressing the Councillors, said—- 1 * As next Wednesday will be Easter Monday, there will of course be no meeting on that day.” The whole thing was, of course a mere lap»v ,v lingvie, but afti r all it was useful, for what, is more wholesome than a hearty laugh.

Opening op the New Odddellows’ Hall, Akaboa. —The Oddfellows’ of Akaroa have long felt that tho lodge-room they have hitherto occupied was neither a convenient or creditable one. So, about eighteen months ago, they determined to erect a now one, and the result of their exertions, the present building, was opened on Thursday. It stands in Jollie street, near tho Public Library. It is built of substantial material, is a handsome building, and is very conveniently lilted up inside, Tho main hall will hold about 403 people, and the gallery about 101 There is a movable stage at one end, with dressingrooms, &c,, behind. Tho total cost when finished will bo about £I2OO.

Thb Golden Calf.—One of yesterday’s telegrams states that a gold-bearing reef of considerable dimensions has been struck in the Golden Calf mine on the Thames goldfield. This mine has for a long time occupied a very low position among the northern mines, never having been at all remarkable as a gold producer, and the intelligence conveyed by wire that it has at last come to the front, is, in the present state of things on the Thames Peninsula, •very encouraging. It also calls to mind an incident of the early days of the Thames goldfield, which has an amusing side, especially for those who know what life on the diggings is like. Just after the proclamation of the Thames, or Hauraki goldfield a gentleman (say Brown) sent his family home to England whilst ho went to try his luck on the Thames. The Brown family had been home about eight months when a gentleman they had known in Auckland called on them one day, and conveyed the welcome intelligence that Mr Brown had “ struck it heavy,” in other words, that he had a half share in the “Golden Crown,” which was worth at the time about JS6COO, to say nothing of dividends. The Browns immediately (as Joe Small would say) “packed up their traps and started again” for Now Zealand. Arrived in the Auckland Harbor they were met by Brown, whose appearance was sufficiently blooming to Justify the belief that he might possibly own not only half the Golden Crown but all the Thames. Imagine the feelings of Mrs Brown and the young Browns (who had dwelt for three long months on the sea, of the wealth they were coming to) on learning that their informant in London had only made a mistake in the name, and that instead of possessing a “ Golden Crown,” Brown had only a “ Golden Calf,” which, so far from being of the value of the one in the fairy tale, was at that time worth nothing.

Gold jn Wellington. —A considerable sensation was created in Wellington the other day, says the “ Post,” by the appearance, posted up in various places, of a printed placard bearing the following words : —“Gold! Gold ! ! Had the Glasgow people asked for gold in payment instead of taking Bank paper thousands would have been saved from ruin. This should prove a warning!” The placard bore neither signature nor imprint, aud was sot down at once by all sensible people as a dastardly attempt on the part of somebody, in revenge for some real or fancied grievance, to cause a general panic. The motive, however, was too transparent for the device to mislead any reasonable person, and although everyone was talking about it it was alluded to only in terms of severe reprobation or utter contempt. The printer who was made a tool of to produce this precious poster has of course rendered himself liable to heavy penalties, and we understand that a reward ill be offered for his detection or conviction.

The City Council —The usual weekly meeting of the City Council was held last evening. In consequence of the next ordinary day of meeting being Easter Monday, the Council will not sit until Wednesday, the 16th inet.

Exemptions from the Juby List.— Yesterday, on Mr Saunders, M.H R., claiming exemption from the grand jury, his Honor pointed out that there was no means by which the Sheriff could become acquainted with the exemptions to be made unless special applications were made by the gentlemen claiming them. Higher Education.-The Commissioners on higher education arrived y esterday from the North, per Arawata, and will commence their sittings here shortly. They will sit in the Canterbury College, that building having been placed at their disposal by the Board of Governors. On the completion of their work here they will proceed to Dunedin. Oddfellows’ Fete.—The preparations for the Oddfellows’ fete, which takes place on Easter Monday, are being pushed forward rapidly. In addition to the usual sports, for which some very handsome private prizes have boon presented, there will be the additional attraction of a baby show,

Tn k Arson Cask. —The indictment in the case of Schwarlz, for arson, wdl be framed under the Malicious Injury to Property Act, and not ns in an ordinary erse or arson. Ilia probable that if a true bill is found by the Grand Jury the trial will do taken on Wednesday, so as to al'ow of two days being given to it. Tub Court-house. —Mention bos been made from time to lime of the ba i acoustic propcuics of the Supremo Court-house, but yesterday f rom some reason or other it was worse than on any previous occasion. It was with the utmost difficult >’ that his Honor’s charge t j the Grand y was hoard by the reporters, indeed parts of it were totally inaudible. The same remarks apply to the evidence given in many of the cates.

Canißitinuiv ,Sunday School Union.— The monthly inciting of delegates was held lasi evening in the Congregational schoolroom, Manchester street, delegates from the following schools being present Hereford street diap'i,si, Durham street Wesleyan, St, Paul’s Presbyterian, Bingsland United Methodist Free Ct urei), Manchester street, Phillipstown and Ferry road Congregational, and Cambridge terrace Primitive Methodist. Gentlemen were nominated for the office of visitors and the usual business transacted.

Kaitangata Relief Fund.—A very long, is not interesting, discussion took place last evening at the City Council on tho subject of the Kaitangata Relief Fund, a resolution being moved that no more money collected a behalf of this fund should be forwarded to the Central Committee in Otago until the Mayor of Christchurch had received more definite information as to tho ultimate use of tho money, and some fuller perticuHrs as to the manner in which it is to be vested. Ultimately, on the easting vote of tho Mayor, tho resolution was carried.

Foeustey. The usual quarterly summoned meeting of Court Star of Canterbury, A.0.F., was hold last evening at the Foresters’ Hall. There was a good attendance, and a large amount of business was gone through. During the evening P.C.R. J. S. Williams was presented with a trustee’s neck ribbon, and Dr. Campbell was presented with a medical officer's neck libbon, both of which were acknowledged in suitable terms. The quarterly balance sheet was read, Tho receipts of the evening were Plot Us (id. Tho Court unanimously decided to carry out tho wishes of tho Oddfellows’ fete committee, and the members wore strongty recommended to muster in full strength. Tub Proposed Town Hall. —The town hall committee last evening, brought up their report, which recommended that steps should be at. once taken t o call for designs for tho new town hall. Cr. Gapes proposed a resolution that there should he a row of shops in connection with tho building, which he estimated would bring in a revenue of something like £I2OO a-year. This would be sufficient to pay the interest on £20,C10, which it was proposed to borrow for the nurpose of erecting the new edifice. Althouga tho motion was seconded pro forma, it found no support, tho only Councillor who voted for it being tho mover. The report of the committee was adopted, with one dissentient voice, and the works committee wifi at once proceed to advertise for designs.