NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1616, 25 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Foegeby. —lt appears that Roderick Hugh MoOlennan, the man who was arrested in Napier recently on several charges of issuing valueless cheques, has for some time past been “wanted” by the police here. There is a charge standing against this person of having forged a cheque on Strange and Co. for £25. He disappeared suddenly at the time, and has now turned up as a rather desperate character in the Hawke’s Bay district. Zeadandia. —The diorama called “Zealandia,” embracing views of all parts of New Zealand, and which it is proposed to take home to England and exhibit throughout every part of the United Kingdom, is expected to arrive in Christchurch in a few days. Mr J. M. Perrier, the well-known journalist, accompanies the exhibition as lecturer. Resident Magistrate's Cotjbt.—To-day William Lancaster, who had been remanded from Wellington, was, for failing to provide for his wife, sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, and ordered to pay £1 per week for her maintenance when he came out of gaol. Municipal Expenditure,—The finance committee of the City Council held a special meeting this morning for the purpose of taking into consideration the estimate of expenditure for the year, as contained in the report of the public committee. It was found that the estimate was too high, and had, therefore, to be reduced to meet the estimated revenue for the ensuing year. Last year’s estimates, as passed by the Council, amounted to £21,266 17s 4d ; the ensuing year, it is understood, will show a considerable increase on the expenditure of 1878. The action taken by the finance committee will be reported to the works committee, who will finally report to the City Council at its meeting next Monday evening.

Resident Maqisteate’s Coubt, Lyttelton. —Judicial matters at this court are in a deplorable state for tho want of a resident magistrate to attend to them. This morning fully twenty persons, inclusive of solicitors, their clients, and witnesses, were present at eleven o’clock to have their business attended to, and depending upon Mr Hellish to be on the bench at that hour, as per appointment. That gentleman, however, as on a previous occasion, failed to connect, his official time being, no doubt, taken up at Christchurch at one or other of the courts. The clerk of the court at once sent a telegram to Mr Hellish, from whom he received the reply that he would bo down by the 12.10 train. The public are very indignant at tho state of affairs, and it is suggested that a meeting be called, denouncing the Government for the shameful manner it has treated the port in reference to the matter of a resident magistrate. A Ruffian. —Last night, shortly after halfpast nine, a respectable married woman was passing along Salisbnry street, when at the corner of Colombo street she was grossly assault ed by a well-dressed man. Fortunately, in this case, tho scoundrel met some portion of his deserts, as in an instant he was on his hack in the road from a blow in tho face. Un- £ Ttunaloly no policeman was at hand, and the woman was glad to run for shelter to a neighbor’s house. It is to bo hoped that the police, into whose hands the case has been put, will very shortly have tho man in custody. Kaitangata Relief Fund.— The Mayor has received the sum of £2O 5s by the hands of Mr Robinson, being the proceeds of an entertainment held at Dunsandel on the Bth instant, in aid of the above fund. St. Luke’s Pabish. —The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Luke’s, Christ--1 church, was held last night at the parsonage, when a considerable amount of business was transacted. Christchurch Football Club. Tho match on Saturday will be North v South, Hereford street being the dividing line. North will wear red and black, and South blue and white. Grand National _ — Owners of horses are reminded tuat the nominations for the Grand National Steeplechases close with the secretary on Saturday evening at 8 p.m. at CooksoU’s Commercial Hotel. Oddfellows’ Ball, —The annual ball of the Oddfellows took place at the Hall last night, and was well attended. To-morrow the Art Union will be drawn. The Gaiety. —There was a very good house at the Gaiety last evening, when the diorama of the Russo-Turkish War was exhibited. The Yolunteebs. —The usual weekly parade of tho City Guards took place last evening in the drill-shed. There was a satisfactory muster, and the men under the command of Lieutenant Wolfe went through tho usual evolutions. The iLLUSIONiaiS. —Messrs Thorne, Darvin and Burton again appeared last evening ot the Theatre Royal. To-night there will be a change of programme, and on Saturday a matinee, to which the children of the Burnham Reformatory and the Lyttelton Orphanage have been invited by Mr Bachelder. The Goybenoe’3 Teip.— The Ashburton County Council will hold a special meeting on Saturday to consider the best steps to be taken for giving a suitable reception to the Governor on his passage through to Christchurch. The Oedeely Rooms.— The want of the Orderly Rooms attached to the drill-shed, and which were recently destroyed by fire is much felt, and as yet no steps have been taken to replace them. All meetings for calling the roll, the nomination of new members, or any other routine business have to take place in the drill shed, which is scarcely a suitable place now that winter has commenced to set in. Acclimatisation Society, A special meeting of this society was held yesterday afternoon, when it was resolved not to grant the prayer of a petition asking that an open season might he proclaimed for shooting hares. A report appears elsewhere. Kaiapoi Pabish Meeting. —This meeting on Wednesday ended in an outbreak of the old disagreements between the two parties in the parish. Considerable difficulty was experienced in forming a vestry. The Sydney Exhibition. —At the meeting of the Board of Governors yesterday, the application of the secretary of the local comxnitttee in connection with the Sydney Exhibition for the loan of articles from the Museum was referred to the committee. The Boys’ High School. —The work of erecting the Boys’ High School at the city end of the section belonging to the Canterbury College is being proceeded with. The foundations are now being put in, and, should there be a fair average of fine weather, the contractor hopes to get it done to time. Disturbance in a Boaeding-house.— On Wednesday evening a disturbance occurred at the boarding-house of Mrs Urwin, in Montreal street, and one of the parties in the affair got severely handled. The circumstances of the case are as follows:—John Urwin is a man of questionable character, and his wife, a respectable hard working woman, obtained from the R.M. Court a protection order against him. He was admitted to the Old Men’s Refuge at Ashburton, but afterwards rendered himself amenable to the Vagrant Act for misconduct. On two or three occasions he broke through the order of the Court, and on Wednesday evening again visited his wife’s house, where he had an altercation with one of the lodgers, named Black, and it is said ran at him with a broom handle, when Black struck him with a loaded whip, inflicting a frightful wound on the right eye. Urwin was taken to the hospital, where he now lies. The case will probably come before the Police Court.

Pboposed Financial Association. A meeting of the Ashburton merchants, which had been called by circular, was held in the Somerset Hotel yesterday afternoon, to consider what steps ought to be taken to relieve the present financial depression, Mr Joseph Clark occupied the chair. The following resolutions were adopted, after discussion ; “ That an Association be formed to he called the ‘ Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Loan Association, Limited,’ for the purpose of lending money on security to the farmers of the Ashburton County.” Also, “ That a committee, consisting of Messrs T. Bullock, E. Saunders, Hugo Friedlander, Joseph Clark, George Jameson, and W. H. Gundry be appointed to interview the County Council and the various Road Boards for the purpose of bringing before them the advisability of distributing their present credits lying in the Banks, by depositing the same with the Bank or Banks which will advance a similar amount to the Association for the purpose of relieving the depressed state of the district.” Before adjourning it was resolved to meet at a future date, notice of which would bo ad - vertiaed, to receive the committee’s reports of interviews with the various bodies. Ngabhawahia.—A correspondent of the Auckland “Herald” writes: —As great a change has come over the Native mind as has come over the scene at Ngaruawahia within the last twenty years. At that time Ngaruawahia was regarded as the Maori head quarters, and a large Native population resided on the spot. The old chief, Te Wherowhero, or Potatau, held his court here, and hither came deputations from all quarters to present their gifts, and acknowledge the sway of the old chief’s influence. Here it was that the bright intellects of the Maoris met to discuss politics, and from which issued the movement that has since led to the establishment of a land league and the recognition of a Maori king. The kingship was offered to old Potatau, but he was content to rest upon his laurels already achieved, and finished his course by dying peaceably at Ngaruawahia, and with his latest breath desiring his people to live at peace with the Europeans. Potatau was buried at Ngaruawahia, thus adding to the many associations that endear the locality to the native population. This is all changed now, the only vestige of Maoridom at Ngaruawahia being the tomb of Potatau, which the Government erected. This, however, does not contain the smallest particle of the renowned chief, as, after war was declared with the Waikatos, Tawhiao, the son of Potatau, who had been made king of the Maoris, departed from Ngaruawahia with his people, taking the bones of his father with him, and they now lie in some sacred place known only to a few of his relatives.

Native Lands Couut. —The special sitting of the Native Lands Court with reference to some alleged promises to the Middle Island Natives will commence in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Monday next. Accountants in Bankeuptcy. —ln Ashburton, his Honor Judge Ward, at his sittings on Tuesday, appointed Mr W. R. Boyle and Mr George Allen, certificated accountants in Bankruptcy. The Linqaeds. —The many friends in Christchurch of these clever artistes will be glad to learn that they will shortly pay New Zealand a visit. They opened in Melbourne on the 16th instant in “ Our Boys.” Petition. —The petition of the Boaid of Governors of the Canterbury College to the Queen against the granting of a Royal Charter to the University of Otago was signed by the Chairman yesterday, and will be transmitted at an early date. Evening Schools at"Ashbubton. —The Ashburton borough school is to be opened on Monday evening, under the supervision of the head-master and a staff of certificated teachers, and MrD. Davidson’s private school will be opened on the same date, both for evening instruction. Supposed Inoendiabism. Early on Sunday morning a stack of rye grass and clover hay on the farm of Mr Charles Miller, Rangitata, was discovered on fire. About 200 bags of Seed were consumed, together with the haystack. The owner estimates his loss at £IOO over the insurance. The fire is supposed to have been caused by an incendiary. Oanteebuey College,— The usual meeting of the Board of Governors of the College was held yesterday, when there was a very full attendance. The greater part of the time of the Board was spent in committee considering the estimates of revenue and expenditure, which were finally adopted. Some routine business was transacted. The Board determined upon altering the day and hour of their regular meetings from the last Thursday in the month, at 11 a.m., to the last Monday, at 3 p.m.