NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1615, 24 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Resident Magisteates’ Court. —In the Court to-day, James Whitehead was charged with forging and uttering a cheque for ±45 16s 9d on the Tiraaru branch of the Union Bank of Australia. He was remanded to Timaru. Charles Greenwood was charged with embezzling three sums amounting to £ls 19s 9d, the property of his employer, Mr 0. F. Barker, the auctioneer. Scaecity of Trucks. —There is a great scarcity of railway trucks just now, owing to the largely increasing tralllc opened up by the extension of the railway system. The latest instance of this occurred during the present week, when a gentleman applied to the Railway Commissioner for trucks to carry 10,000 she(p to Invercargill, and a reply was received that owing to the rush of grain at present at t.ho various stations along the line, it would be impossible to get the trucks for some time. The inconvenience of this to a runholdor must bo obvious, as such a delay might in certain circumstances cause a considerable loss. Royal Precedence. —The “ Toronto National” enriches the world with the following gem:—“You look sad and thoughtful, Lornie, dear,’ said the Princess, after they got home from Ripeau Hall. “ What is it ? Do you pine for the heath-clad hills of ? “No, Louise, dear,’ said the Marquis. “Not that, but my mind misgives mo as to the ultimate effect of this precedence business. If by virtue of your royal rank you are to precede me “Why Lornie I declare I never though I’d heard of Highland pride —I never thought you’d presume to ask me to give up the right which my birth confers upon me.’ “ No, no,” said the Marquis, it’s not that—think of the rigour of a Canadian winter, and think of your feelings on a bitter, biting morning, with the thermometer down among the thirties, and think —oh, it makes my marrow freeze—of my dear, darling Louise being compelled by that precedence rule to got up first and build the kitchen fire.”

Boat Accident. — A youth who was paddling in a canoe below the mill bridge yesterday had a very narrow escape from drowning, and was only saved by the aid of three men who pimped into the water and pulled him out. It appeared that the boy could not properly navigate the canoe, and whilst endeavoring to turn round or alter its course the canoe capsisod. Peter Pasche and two other men who happened to be in the vicinity at the time and saw the accident, immediately rushed in to the rescue. One went for the boy and the other for the canoe and the boys’ clothes, which were floating down the stream. Had it not been for this timely assistance the accident might have resulted fatally.

The Hahu Times. —This is how a Timaru paper describes the arrival and departure of a certain bank manager :—Departure of the “ Colorado Beetle.”—A living creature, whioh by its destructive qualities has been very aptly styled the ‘‘Colorado Beetle,” took its flight from Timaru for the South by express train on Thursday last. Its stay here has not been very long, but it has made wonderful use of its time. A number of people have, commercially speaking, been eaten up by it, while not a few others have been so severely bitten that their ultimate recovery is a matter for considerable doubt. The “ Beetle” is now in Oamaru, and if the ravages it commits there are anything like equal to those it did hero, our neighbors may be assured that they possess our heartfelt sympathy in their trouble. Like the terrible creature of the Order Coleoptera this member of the Order IMammalia (genus homo) neyer gives any warning of its approach, and all attempts to keep it at a distance have hitherto proved unavailing. We hope it will be many a long day before this two-legged beetle alights in Timaru again. Estimate of Expbnditb-hk,— The finance committee of the City Council were to have met this morning for the purpose of considering the estimate of expenditure for the ensuing financial year, but the meeting lapsed for want of a quorum. The works committee have performed their part of the business, and it now only remains for the finance committee to bring up their report. Formerly the estimates for the year were brought up at an earlier period, but this year the matter has been delayed. Pbesentation to Mb Contebs. —The presentation to Mr Conyers will take place at Mr Charles Clark’s offices, to-morrow, at 4 p.m. Mr J. Ollivier will make the presentation, which consists of a clock.

Pabish of St. Luke’s. —The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Luke’s will be held at the parsonage at half-past seven o’clock this evening. Chbistchuhch to the West Coast, —Mr Blair has recently been travelling over the country between Christchurch and the West Coast, accompanied by Mr Blackett, resident engineer of the Nelson district, and C. Y. O’Connor, district engineer of Westland, for the purpose of inspecting the country through which it is proposed to extend the railway system of the South Island to connect Christchurch with Nelson and the West Coast. Mr Blair has been over the Hope Saddle, the Amuri Pass and Cannibal Gorge. He has also examined the country between the Buller and the Grey, and down to Foxhill in the Nelson district, returning by way of Picton, and keeping the coast line through Kaikoura to the Conway. It will thus be seen that Mr Blair has made a thorough examination of a country which will in time to come be traversed by the iron horse, and thus complete the chain of communication between the two extremities of the Middle Island. We believe Mr Blair is now inspecting the country in the direction of the Hurunui, and that on returning he will examine the line along the Waimakariri.

Sale of Damaged Goods. —The goods saved from the late fire in the premises of Messrs Edwards, Bennett and Co., were offered for sale by Mr Matson, at his Mart, yesterday, the goods having been stored there immediately after the fire. A large quantity of merchandise had sustained no injury, and was therefore practically as good as it would have been had there been no fire at all, but having been recognised as salvage, it necessarily affected the sale. There was a good attendance of buyers, and a large amount of the stock was disposed of, some of the goods going at very low prices, whilst others may be said to have sold well, considering the circumstances under which they wore disposed of.

Pionkee Bicycle Clue.—The members of this club meet this evening at the Commercial Hotel at 7.30 o’clock.

Telbgeaphic Enteepeise.— We are glad to note in last night’s “Star” a valuable telegram re the retirement of Sir J. Yogel from the New Zealand Agency, and the appointment of Mr G. M. Reed in his place. The enterprise of the “ Star” in obtaining such valuable information straight from London, doubtless at great expense, is worthy of all praise. The enterprising proprietors evidently hold to the principle of sparing no expense as long as the news received is really trustworthy and sent straight from head-quarters. We must congratulate our contemporary on its eminent success. In commercial circles, a judiciously lavish expenditure of money, combined with strict honesty, has always been found to bo most profitable. The “Star” is so very honest, and so very enterprising, that, if it continues in the judicious course it has planned out for itself, it will certainly succeed in astonishing the natives sometime or other before the end of the chapter. Oddfellows’ Ball. The annual ball given by the Oddfellows will take place this evening in the hall, Lichfield street. A goodly number of tickets have been disposed of, and the ball promises to be a success. The musical department will be under the superintendence of Mr Schwartz, and all the other arrangements will be under the supervision of a committee. The art union drawing in connection with the late fete will take place on Saturday evening in the hall, and the winning numbers will bo published on Monday. The Moas. —At yesterday’s mooting of ti e local committee of the Sydney Exhibit ion the proposal was mooted to send over one of the moa specimens now in the Museum, os part of the exhibits in the proposed New Zealand Court at the Sydney Exhibition. This was warmly supported by several of the members, and an application will probably bo made to the Board of Governors at their meeting today.

Theatre Royat,. — The Jllusionisls repeated their performance at the Theatre Royal last evening. Mr Thorn’s illusions, as usual, were very cleverly executed. The company appear again to-night. Harbor Improvement. —The Lyttelton Board has made such progress in deepening the inner bay that a vessel of almost any draught of water can be accommodated with a berth at one or other of the wharves. A day or two ago the dredge completed its work alongside No. 4 wharf, and there is now along the west side of that wharf twenty-three feet, of water at low tide. This is the wharf at which the Stad Haarlem was berthed the other day, and upon her return from Wellington she will probably be put at the sime wharf to load. Were there another dredge at work of the capacity of that now in use, in a short time vessels of the Stad Haarlem’s size might run alongside or leave any of the wharves at any time of the tide. Stoppage of an Engine. —The last train north on Wednesday had to pull up before reaching the Elaxton platform on account of the heating of a journal on the driving crank of the engine. Q-aiety Theatre. —The diorama of the Rusao-Turkish war drew a very good house at the Gaiety last night. The usual gift distribution closed the performance. The diorama will bo again exhibited this evening. Accident at Ashburton. —At Ashburton, yesterday, the three horses in a dray, laden with timber, belonging to Mr Joyce, Seafield, and driven by one William Bourke, took fright and bolted down East street to the corner of Moore street, where the dray knocked down the linger post. Here the runaways made a dead stop, the shaft horse falling down. It was released from the shafts in a few moments, without any serious damage being done. Sydney Exhibition. —The usual weekly meeting of the local committee was held yesterday. In a letter from the Central Commission, it is requested that all applications for space should be transmitted as early as possible, as the Commission intended having a New Zealand Court. One very important item as regards exhibitions was mentioned by the chairman, that had reference to exhibits which require to be shown in glass cases. The Commission have made arrangements in Sydney whereby glass cases will be provided free of cost for exhibitors who may send jewellery, plate, or articles of such a nature as to require the protection of glass cases.

Contributions to the Fire Brigade.— A cheque for £25 was yesterday forwarded to Mr Superintendent Harris from Mes j rs Edwards, Bennett and Co., together with a complimentary letter in reference to the zeal of the Brigade at the late fire. The various sums of money which the Brigade have lately received have been placed to a reserve fund, and it is expected that at the annual demonstration next year it will not be necessary to appeal to the public for subscriptions. This demonstration will be of an unusually brilliant character, and it is anticipated that nearly svery fire brigade in the colony will take part in it.

Railway Accident. —A man named John Beaton, a passenger by the 2.40 train from Christchurch to Lyttelton yesterday afternoon, having lost his hat between Hillsboro’ and the Valley, jumped from the platform after it while the train was going at full speed. The effect of the jump, as described by some of the passengers present, was that his head came first in contact with the rails. The train was stopped, and the unfortunate man picked up and taken to Port. He was handed over to the police, charged with a breach of the railway by-laws. The man’s face and head were severely cut. There is little doubt that he was drunk.

The Fire Brigade Library.— By the outgoing California mail the Christchurch Fire Brigade will forward £SO to London for the purchase of new books for the already excellent library at the Lichfield street station. The books have been chosen with great care by the selection committee, and their arrival will make this the best library of the kind in the colony.