NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1637, 20 May 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Public Notice. —As will bo seen by reference to our advertising columns, a requisition, very numerously signed, has been forwarded to his Worship the Mayor, suggesting that he should ask the co-operation of all classes in keeping Monday, the 26th instant, a holiday, in honour of the Queen’s birthday, instead of Saturday, the 24th instant, the latter day being an inconvenient one for many reasons.

An Old Hand. —One of the offenders who was fined 40s tins morning at the Eesidont Magistrate’s Court, has passed through a regular curriculum of crime, commencing by the puns asinorum of being illegally on premises, thence passing through terms of vagrancy, and finally taking his full-blown degree in larceny and forgery. Since his first offence ho has passed ton years of hia life in confinement, from periods ranging from forty* eight hours up to four years. Municipal Works. —At a meeting of the Works Committee of the City Council held this morning it was resolved that tho engineer bo instructed to proceed with tho work of fencing tho river bank at exposed places ; also, it was determined to give effect to the recommendation re tho ventilation of tho Council offices, which is very much needed. Cab Accident. —A serious accident happened to a hansom, driven by a man named John Tucker, last evening. When coming at a sharp pace over the Cashel street bridge, tho left wheel caught one of tho iron posts at the corner of the bridge. The shock broke the post and snapped the axle of tho cab close to tho wheel, and the driver was thrown from his seat. Looking at the scene of the accident, it seems almost a wonder that tho vehicle was not thrown over the side, but fortunately tho damage extended no further than above stated. The hansom, which belonged to Mr Thomas Hughes, remained on tho road all night, and was removed in a spring cart this morning. Damage to Hereford street Bridge. —ln removing tho Baptist Church building yesterday a portion of the stonework on tho Hereford street bridge was carried away, throe of the large pieces of which the end pillars are made being displaced. Paper Houses. — A manufactory of paper bricks has been opened somewhere in Wisconsin. Tho bricks arc said to be exceedingly durable and moisture proof. They are also larger than tho clay article. Paper is now also 4ised for making barrels. Straw pulp is run into a mould made it tho shape of a half barrel cut vertically. The ends are of paper, but are protected by wood. The barrels are lighter and two-thirds cheaper than those of wood, and flour will not sift out of them while in transit. Tho staves are throe-eights of an inch thick.

Woeking- the Obacle in 1817. —During the panic of 1847 a cashier at the head office of one of the banks which wore then run upon had a cheque presented to him for an amount which he actually had not funds in the till to meet at the moment. Ho therefore, with a daring humor, wrote on the corner, “No funds,” which was true enough in one sense —seeing there wore no funds in the bank to meet it—and dishonored the cheque. The transaction caused the withdrawal of a fine account, but it saved the bank.”

Life Made East. —Few people who see bananas hanging in fruit-dealers’ shops think of them as more than a tropical luxury. The fact is, however, that they are a staple article of food in some parts of the world, and according to Humboldt, an acre of bananas will produce as much food for a man as twenty-five acres of wheat. It is the ease with which bananas are grown that is the great obstacle to civilisation in some tropical countries. It is so easy to get a living without work (bat no effort will ever be made, and the men become lazy and shiftless. All that is needed is to stick a sucker into the ground. It will ripen its fruit in twelve or thirteen months without further care, each plant haying from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-five bananas, and when that dies down, after fruiting, new suckers spring up to take its place. In regions where no frost reaches bananas are found in all stages of growth, ripening their fruit every day and every month in the year. Sensational. — A horrible rumour was abroad the other day in one of the principal towns up North. Sounds of flogging were heard proceeding from the rear of the lockup, and it was thought that barbarities were being practised upon an unfortunate prisoner. Mens minds were much stirred until it was discovered that the police were diligently practising the process of top-whipping, having lately made a raid on several small boys who were obstructing the public footpath. Entertainment. —By reference to our advertising columns it will bo seen that an entertainment is to bo given in the schoolroom, Selwyn street, Addington. The committee have obtained the services of some really good performers, and the charges being moderate, a good gathering is anticipated.

J)i3Ti;xcr CouaT.-Tl.i3 ojurt was to-day occupied iu hearing several civil ca so?, none of which were of any public interest. Fojtbali. — V football club is to bo formed at Rangiura this winter. The meeting is fixed by the hon. sec. to bo held at Mr J. Roberts’ Club Hotel, on Tuesday, May 20th (this day), at 8 p.ra.

Board ol? Health.—Owing to the late hour at which the Drainage Board, adjoitrncc yesterday, .the Board of Health had to postpone its meeting. 'I hero was, however, nothing that claimed immediate attention to come before the Board. A Peal of Bulls fob Christchurch.— It was slated last night by Councillor Wilson that a gentleman in Christchurch was about to present the city with a peal of bells, which ho recommended should be placed in the proposed new ball tower in connection with the fire brigade. I’niLoaoriticAL Institute. Arrangements have been made for tho .delivery in connection with the Philosophical Institute of a series of short lectures on various subjects. The first of these will ho delivered on Thursday evening next, by Professor Bickerton, on " Artificial illumination.” The lectures will bo delivered in the science lecture theatre of the Canterbury College, and will be followed by scientific experiments. Kach member of the institute will bo entitled to introduce two friends to the course.

C.J.C.—Tho adjourned general meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club will bo held at the Commercial Hotel this afternoon sit four o’clock. Two important notices of motion respecting the maximum weight s in handicaps, tho weighing in of horses, and the fresh drawing for places in the case of a dead heat will bo considered.

Grain at Stations —The] following parcels of grain, in sacks, were lying at tho undermentioned stations on Saturday night last Waihoa, 25; Pleasant Point, 186; Lceston, 00 ; Chertsey, 123 ; Amberley, 100 ; Temuka, 120 ; Kaiapoi, 76 Coalgato, 13 ; Ashburton, 160 ; Tinwald, 46 ; Kirwee, 40 ; Styx, 60 ‘ Ashley, 33; Prebbleton, 100: Oiaio, 1170 ; Hornby, 150 j St. Albans, 2GO ; Winslow, 100; Orari, 50; Makikihi, 101; Waimate Junction, 70; Waitaki, 40 j Waimato, 75. Theatre Royal,—-“A Woman of tho People” was played last night for the second time, and went to the satisfaction of tho audience, which was numerous, especially in the lower parts of the house This evening a new dramatic version of Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” will be produced, under tho title of “Nancy Sykes.” The character of Bill Sykes will be undertaken by Mr Theo. Hamilton, Fagin by Mr D’Orsay Ogden, and Nancy Sykes by Miss Beatrice. Grand National Steeplechase.—ln reference to the Grand National Steeplechase, to be run at Oamaru on Saturday, tho Dunedin “Herald” says:—“The course was laid off last week, and is tho most perfect of tho kind in New Zealand, possessing almost every possible natural advantage, all of which have been thoroughly utilised. There is every variety of fence on the course —stone walls, posts and rails, ditches and banks, stiff double over a naked road a chain wide, gorse fences, sod walls, with a drop, and a natural waterjump similar to that ou tho Liverpool Grand National course, which is a yawner that will take a flyer to clear without staining the silk or satin of his pilot. Although wo are informed that the country is a big one, and most of the fences raspers, we feel confident that tho hon, secretary would not give chasers stiffer fences to race at than ho would like to ride over himself. As it is the present intention of tho club to have their next meeting near Dunedin, we trust that they will receive the support they so well merit on the occasion of their first visit to our province.” In reference to the above, Marksman and Native were omitted from the acceptances for tho Maidens. The Electric Light in San Fbancisco. — According to the “Democrat,” San Francisco is to be tho first city whoso streets are to bo lighted entirely by the electric light. It is proposed to divide tho city into districts varying in extent from one to three miles, each of which will be fed by a sufficiently powerful Gramme machine. The machines have already arrived at New York, and arrangements have been made for adopting two or three different patents. The‘‘Electrician ” says : —“ Tho experimental trial of the electric light at tho works being executed at the port ot Havre has given complete satisfaction. Without waiting for the report of the committee nominated by the French Board of Works, the Chamber of Commerce lias authorised the establishment of ton lights in tho outer port,” Charitable Aid Board. —A meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board will take place at the Hospital this evening at halfpast seven o’clock. Distribution of Prizes. —Tho distribution of prizes won at tho recent District Priz i firing will take place at tho drill shed at halfpast seven o’clock this evening. Licensed Victuallers’ Association.— A general meeting cf the Licensed Viclballers’ Association will take place at Morton’s Hotel, at half-past seven o’clock on Thursday evening next.