NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1617, 26 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Primitive Methodist Church. —The anniversary sermons in connection with this church will be held to-morrow, and on Tuesday the annual tea meeting will take place. Miss Tilly Andrews.—This lady left by the train to-day for Port, en route to Auckland, whence she purposes starting for San Francisco. Miss Andrews has been offered an engagement by Hiscocks and Hayman, but it is understood that she will carry out her original intention of visiting America. Tub Rath Roll.—The City Council will hold a special sitting on Monday evening, for the purpose of completing the burgess-list for the ensuing year. At the ordinary meeting thereafter the works committee’s report on the estimated expenditure for the ensuing year will be submitted. Notices for the striking of the annual rate will be issued on Monday. Malvern Water Race.—The engineer’s report in connection with this matter was brought up at the last meeting of the Selwyn County Council, and his recommendations for the payment of No. 3 contract adopted. It was also resolved to proceed with No. 4 contract, subject to the consent of private owners concerned in the route being obtained. Telegraphic Communication. The, overland line has broken down north of ( Powell’s Creek. Resident Magistrate’s Court.—With the exception of fining one inebriate, no business was done at the Court to-day. Sydenham Wesleyan Church.—The Rev. J. S. Smalley will conduct services tomorrow morning and evening. The subject in the evening will be “ Jonah preaching in the streets of Nineveh.” Bible Christians.—To-morrow night, in the Templar Hall, the Rev. W. H. Keast will take for his subject “ Moderation v Abstinence,” being a criticism of a speech recently delivered in the Provincial Council Chambers, and also articles in the “ Contemporary Review ” on the same subject. The service will commence at 6,30. Two services will be held in Waltham Library, at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Conundrum Extraordinary. These conundrums at the Gaiety Theatre are working up some of the dormant wit which some of our fellow-citizens possess. On coming out of the Gaiety last night the following passed between two of the “ gods ” —“ I thought of a good joke, but I could not give it in, as it was not about their Diorama: ‘ What is the difference between the Prince of Wales’ motto and the Mayor of Christchurch?’” “Don’t know,” was the slow reply. “ The one is * loh dien (dying) for his country,'the other ‘lok living for his town.’ ” The listener went home sad. Our late Governor.—The Marquis of Normanby has been rather astonishing the natives over the water by the severe simplicity of his style of living. Accustomed to the somewhat pompous manner of a certain worthy knight, they are hardly able to realise that a live marquis can be so homely. The following illustrative story comes from an Australian paper : —His Excellency, who drives in a buggy as an ordinary farmer, and not in appearance very unlike one, had occation to drive into town one day last week, and left his orderly who had not had time enough for his toilet, behind him. This might have escaped notice, had not his orderly been observed coming exasperated, and perspiring, on a high stepping horse, at a great speed, after his Excellency, as he came along asking, ‘ Did you see the Governor?” The question was put to one of the police on Prince’s bridge, and the answer was—“ No, by gorar, but I seed an old man dbrivin’ by, who had just come from Government House.” That’s him,” said the orderly, and increased his speed. The Russo-Tuhkibh War. made as to the losses sustained by the Russians at the European seat of war have resulted in the following particulars :—On the whole 129,471 men lie buried in the Balkan Peninsula, and of the 120,950 men sent back to Russia as sick or wonded 42,950 died ; the complete number of the dead is 172,400 men, not including those who succumbed in Asia Minor. Manawatu Eloquence,—At a small conventicle in this district the preacher took as text the difficulties of a rich man with respect to the future life. He wound up his fervid peroration by exclaiming—“ It is as easy for a needle to go through a camel’s eye as for a rich man to attain Paradise.” When this startling declaration was made an instant determination to get rich flashed across the countenances of the audience, as it was an easy thing to poke a needle through a camel’s eye, and by a parity of reasoning it was equally easy to roach Paradise. But the hopes of wealth on earth and riches in heaven were at once frustrated, for the quondam Spurgeon noticing the audience change color, recalled his words, and said, “ No, it is easier for a camel’s eye to go through a needle than for a rich man to attain Paradise.” This appeared to complicate matters, and the congregation departed with rather “mixed” idea*.

A Puir Turn-dot for Ktrkinti Moni.— A good story is told of a former sexton of Kirkintilloch, which proves the efficacy of a good sermon. One Sunday the minister preacl ed from the text, ‘ At the last day the trumpet shall sound and the righteous shall rise.” That afternoon it happened that the sexton (after hearing the sermon), in pursuance of his vocation, had a grave to dig, and, like many other good sextons, was rather fond of a “ woo drappie,” accordingly taking a small vial along with him, just to help him along. As the work progressed, the contents of the vial decreased. At length the sexton succumbed, and was soon in the arms of Morpheus. This was in the days of stagecoaches, when they carried the mails ; and, as was customary, the guard, on the arrival of the coach, sounded the bugle to announce the arrival of the mails, which partly aroused the sexton from his slumbers. Half unconscious, and peering over the edge of the new-made grave (and thinking it was the last trumpet that was sounding), he soliloquised thus to himself: —“ This is a puir turn-oot for Kirkintolloch !” as, seeing no one, he assumed that he was the onlj righteous person there. Grand National Steeplechase.— The nominations for this meeting, which takes place at Oamam on May 24th, close this evening at eight o’clock at the C.J.C. rooms, at Cookson’s Commercial Hotel. Oddfellows’ Art Union.— The drawing of the art union in connection with the lata fete of the Oddfellows will take place at the hall this evening. Selwyn County Council— At yesterday’s meeting of the Selwyn County Council, the sum of nearly £2OCO was apportioned among the various cemeteries and recreation grounds in the County of Selwyn. Particulars appear in the report of the proceedings. A committee was appointed to draw up an address for presentation to the Governor on his arrival in Christchurch. The Gaiety. —There was a good house at the Gaiety last evening, when a prize was given for the best conundrum. This was adjudged to be, “ Why is the American War Panorama an anomaly?” “Because in the midst of Gaiety we witness the horrors of war.” Bicycle Club, —An adjourned general meeting of the Pioneer Bicycle Club was held at the Commercial Hotel on Thursday, the 24th instant, at 7.30 p.m. Present —Mr H. 0. Clarke, captain (in the chair), Messrs Evans, Gough, Hobday, Dudley, James, Walnutt, A’Court, Dumaresq, Searell, and Farr (hon. sec.) The rules were decided upon and a list of club runs for the month of May was drawn up and agreed to. The meeting then terminated. Habbs in South Canterbury.— Hares are increasing rapidly in many parts of South Canterbury, noticeably at Mount Four Peaks, the Levels Station, and in Peel Forest. So largely have they multiplied in some parts as to have become a positive nuisance, and it is said that in some instances poison has been laid to decrease their numbers. A few hares have been seen at Milford and Winchester. Presbyterian Meeting.—A public meeting was held last night in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Montreal street north, for the purpose of discussing the advisability of establishing a Presbyterian charge at the northern end of the city. It was deemed, after discussing the matter, that the time was not yet ripe for incurring the responsibility the charge would involve. Parliament in Christchurch. —At the meeting of the Selwyn County Council yesterday, a communication was read from his Worship the Mayor in reference to the removal of Parliament to Christchurch. The Council resolved not to co-operate with the City Council in this matter, deeming it inexpedient and impracticable.