NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1613, 22 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Rbsidbnt| Magistrates’ Court. —Thomas Jones and Henry Tucker were to-day sentenced, the former to one month and the latter to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labor, for stealing tools to the value of £3 from Robert Vinson, Montague Dodd, clerk in the office of Messrs Joyce and Williams, solicitors, was committed for trial for stealing £4O, the property of his employers.

East Town Belt Bridge. —The works committee met this morning, and, among other matter, considered what should be done in reference to this foot-bridge, which crosses the Avon opposite Ward’s Brewery. It appeared that the surveyor had refused to take over the work, as it had not been completed according to specification, which directed that it should be seven feet in the clear above the river, whereas only six feet had been allowed. When the report of the engineer was submitted at the Council meeting, last evening, this matter was referred to the works committee to deal with. The committee this morning gave the subject their consideration, and resolved to visit the bridge and see for themselves.

District Court. —The District Court sat this morning at eleven o’clock. There were only three cases set down for hearing, which were adjourned. One was that of Hofmeister v. Hyman Marks, in which Mr Harper applied for a rehearing, on behalf of the defendant in the lower Court, and the case was ad journed for a month in order to enable certain aflidavitsto be'made.

Town Hall Contract. —In accordance with instructions from the Council the town clerk telegraphed this morning to the principal newspapers in the colony the resolution of the Council extending the term for a month within which tenders for the new Town Hall may bo received. He has also sent printed specifications of plans of the proposed building to the leading Municipalities of New Zealand, so that persons in those places who may desire to inspect them, with the object of tendering for the contract, can do so.

Nbw Branch Railway.— The now line of railway, called the Ashburton, which was broken up a few days ago, is one of the branch lines for which appropriations wore made by the Assembly, and as it happens the contract accepted is for a larger amount than the vote for the purpose will meet. Hence an arrangement had to bo made to bring the contract within the limit. The lino will start from Tinwald and goes by the survey, "eleven miles in the direction of Mount Summers, but to meet the peculiar circumstances of the case, it has been found necessary to cut half a mile off the end of the contract.

Tuk Lave Fire, —Additional particulars have come to light which point to the canfusion tha*. the fire in the premises of Messrs Edwards, Bennett and Co., originated in the act of an incendiary. At the time Detective Walker expressed the opinion that the iron at the north.east end of the building had been broken «p?n to admit, possibly, of combustible material being placed inside and ignited. Since a clearance was made of the goods in the store it has been discovered beyond doubt that the place must have been broken open at the point indicated, and some liquid material —oil probably—poured in between the iron casing and woodwork which ran down, and passing un dermmlb too II mr, sot fire to it, and then gradually spread till it attained a firm hold of that portion of the building. The appearance of things makes it pretty certain that the place was broken into after the manner stated.

Presentation. —On Friday afternoon the children attending the Southbrook school presented (heir retiring master, Mr James Thompson, v.ith a valuable cruet and handsome photographic album.

The Late Attempted Aeson.—-It will bo seen from our advertising columns that a reward of £350 will be paid by Mr Fuhrmann and the insurance offices for such information as will lead to the conviction of the person or persons who maliciously sot fire to the business premises of Mr M. H. Fuhrmann, on the night of April 16th. The Diobama, —There was a change in the programme at the Gaiety last evening, the panorama of the American War giving place to one of the Ruaso-Turkish struggle. The principal events wore depicted with much effect, and Mr Stanley sang appropriate songs in addition to delivering the illustrative lecture. The usual gift distribution followed. To-night the same programme will be repeated. Miss Andrews’ Benefit. The programme of the benefit to Miss Andrews on Wednesday evening, at the Oddfellows’ Hall promises to be of an attractive character. It will comprise the comedy of “ Checkmate,” the characters in which will be sustained by Miss Amy Johns, Miss Madge Herrick, Messrs J. P. Hydes, Wilkinson, and Jerrames, songs by Miss Andrews and other ladies, a reading by Miss Florence Colville, &c. Should the weather prove favorable, no doubt there will be a large attendance. Ko Rako Kaeetai. —The remains of the Maori chief, Ko Rako Karetai, were conveyed from the Kaiapoi pah early on Monday morning and transferred to the morning express train from Christchurch to Dunedin, for interment at Port Chalmers, where his relatives reside. The body was taken in a four-horse coach, starting about daybreak from the pah. It was accompanied by the Rev. G. P. Mutu and an escort to the Christchurch railway platform. Malvebn Railway Extension. The contractor for this branch railway, Mr Benham, has lost no time in commencing operations. The work was started from Sheffield, where the present line of completed railway in that direction terminates, and already one mile of formation is completed. This, of course, is the easiest part of the lino. At the other end, where the line will run into the coal mine, there is a big cutting to be faced. On Saturday last, Mr Benham sent an engine to the bush for the purpose of cutting sleepi-rs. This mode of providing them will be much more convenient, and preclude the possibility of delay. Native Land Court.—An application will be made, and a somewhat reasonable one too, with a view to having the sittings of the Court for the investigation of the Maori’s land claims held at Kaiapoi. The Natives are now all assembled in the pah near the town, and arc comfortably housed, and complain that it will be a hardship to be compelled, at this season of the year, to form a camp and live in tents near Christchurch. There was considerable objection taken to the camp which was located in the city during the sitting of the Court some eight or ten years ago. Tvphoid at Ashburton. Yesterday Sergeant Felton, during the sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Ashburton, called the attention of the Bench to the fact th *t Mr Rapley, dairyman, had recently died of typhoid fever, and hia brother was carrying on the business without having taken any precaution to disinfect the vessels used. The Mayor ordered new vessels to be purchased and the cows to be removed from the vicinity of the house where Rapley died, as medical men were of opinion the disease might bo spread through the milk if proper precautions were nob taken.

City Council. —The usual weekly meeting of the City Council was held last evening, when a good deal of business of a miscellaneous character was transacted. A deputation last night waited upon the City Council and handed over £147 towards the sum that is to be subscribed for the ejection of a bridge across the Avon at Barbadoes street, Mr Toovey, who acted as spokesman, said he was sure they would not be able to collect more than £2OO towards the £250 that had had been required by the Council. After a long discussion, it was resolved to extend the time by a month to allow the residents time to collect the sum of £250. Mr Toovey then demanded that the money should be returned, but after considerable discussion the Council declined to comply with the request. The Illusionists. —Unfortunately for the successful debut of the Illusionists at the Theatre Royal last night, so far as attendance was concerned, the weather was such as to deter all but the most determined amusement seeker from leaving home. Of the performance itself, it may bo said that it is exceedingly clever. In the first part of the programme Mr Thorn introduced a number of very clever tricks —some of them old, some new, but all performed with great deftness and skill. Among the former class may be mentioned the silver rings. This trick has been performed by nearly every professor of magic who has been here, but none have done it so cleverly as Mr Thorn. So also with others, in all which he showed himself an adept in the art of deceiving the eye by the dexterity of the hands. The gem of this part of the programme was undoubtedly the bird cage trick. In this Mr Thorn appears on the stage with a cage containing a live canary. In a second it has vanished as cleanly as if it never existed, where, when, and how is the mystery. Not only does Mr Thorn do this on the stage, but he performs it in the middle of the audience with such marvell ms rapidity as to defy detection. His production of a number of bowls of water was also very well managed. This was followed by the exhibition of an automaton figure, Psycho, in which an improvement might bo effected in the puns, most of which are hoary with antiquity. Then came a very clever expose by Mr Thorn of the so-called spiritual manifestations of Dr. Slade and others, and the performance concluded with what was really the cleverest part of the programme. Messrs Darviu and Burton were tied most securely—how securely may be guessed when the operators wore Iwo sailors of the Emerald—and placed in the cabinet, from whence proceeded the usual ringing of bells, playing of musical instruments, &c. One of the nautical gentlemen was then invited to take a seat in the cabinet, and in a few seconds ho was divested of his naval frock, and came out looking somwhat distressed in spirit. The seance concluded by Messrs Darvin and Burton first taking off their own coats, and then walking out unbound from the cabinet. Altogether the performance is exceedingly clever. To-night the Illusionists will again appear. Board of Health. —Owing to the late hour at which the Drainage Board adjourned yesterday, the Board of Heallh postponed its meeting till Monday next, after the meeting of the Drainage Board. Drainage Board Meeting. —The Board held its usual meeting yesterday, and sat for a considerable time, owing to the unusual pressure of business. As will bo seen from a record of the proceedings published in this issue, the report of the engineer is of great length, and refers to a longer period than usual, no report from him having been submitted at the previous meeting of the Board. The following notice of motion stands on the order paper for the next meeting : —That it is desirable steps should be taken for placing the balance of the £200,000 Christchurch District Drainage loan on the London market.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, NORTHERN Drstbtct,—Those having business to transact and cuises to be heard at the various Courts in this district vrill receive with satisfaction the intelligence of the return of Mr C. Whitefoord irom the Jackson’s Bay Coimnistion. It is said that a large number of ofllcial mutters and several intricate cases have been held over awaiting his return. Mr Whitefoord attended at his Court at Kaiapoi yesterday. To-day he will preside at Rangiora. The Assessment Courts, of which he is judge, will be held as soon as the arrangements are completed, and an intimation will be given. Cork Manufacture.— There is a manufactory in this city, says an Auckland contemporary, of which but little note has as yet been taken, and which, though of an unpretentious character, bids fair to become one of some considerable importance. It is a cork-cutting establishment recently opened in Upper Queen street by the Brothers Dutton. They import the rough bark from Spain through the port of London, where they have a brother who attends to their interests, and takes care to supply them with the best material. Besides the bark suitable for the purpose of stoppers, there is a large quantity specially adapted for ornamental purposes. The work principally carried on at present is the manufacture of bungs, life buoys, fenders, swimming bolts, boot soles, and bottle corks. The manufacturers, or rather “cutters,” state that they have already more orders on hand from all parts of the colony than they can execute with the present means at their disposal. As a branch of the subject, wo may remark that the cork tree (Quercus saber) grows luxuriantly here, and that there is no reason whatever why wo should continue to bo dependent on any foreign country for the supply for more than a few years to come.