NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1656, 11 June 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Revision of Electoral Roll. — A Court for the revision of the electoral roll for the Avon district was held by Mr Mollish in the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. The proceedings onlyjoccupied a few minutes, as there were no objections to deal with. Improvements to the Oddfellows’ Hall. —The proprietors of this hall, in view of the increasing requirements for stage accommodation for small dramatic and operatic companies, are taking steps to firnish the stage of the hall with a set of useful stock scenery, adapted for general theatrical purposes. It is understood that a well known local artist whose efforts in tho past have met with a good deal of appreciation, has been engaged to paint the scenery, which will be finished in time for the Foresters’ annual performance in aid of the Widows and Oiphans Fund. The advice of ’a well-known professional gentleman hasjbeen taken as to the cha:»?ter of the scenes and general arrangement of stage furnishing, and bis experience will doubtless bo of value to tho committee. Resident Magistrate’s Couet,— Two little boys were brought up before tho Court to-day charged with entering a house and stealing some fruit. The Resident Magistrate dismissed tho case in consideration of their parents, who were most respectable people, but ho warned the boys that if they were brought up again they would bo severely egged. Malveen Coal.—A splendid sample of coal, both anthracite and bituminous, has just been brought down from Mr William Wilson’s Wairiri Valley mine, Malvern. Tho supply is apparently inexhaustible, and the seams of each description from sft. lOia. to 6ft. thick. The anthracite, which is smokeless and gives an intense heat, is excellently adapted for purposes of driving machinery, while tho bitunv'nous gives a clear bright flame, great heat, and being very cleanly is just the article suitable for domestic use, Tho mine is nine miles from tho nearest railway station, to which it will bo carried by contract, and brought from thence to town by rail. The mine will bo in active operation shortly, and it is confidently expected that both manufacturers and householders can bo supplied on lower terms than what is at present paid for New South Wales coal, to which it is said to be superior in quality. As tho sample is taken from the surface, of course tho quality will still further improve the further the drives and shafts are penetrated. The coal can bo seen at Mr Banks’s, Tuam street, to whom a quantity has been sent for trial purposes.

Lecture at Philipstown.—A lecture will bo delivered to-night in the Congregations! Church, Philipstown, on the subject of tho “ Arctic Expedition.” Tho lecture will be illustrated by dissolving views. In our yesterday’s advertisement of this lecture the word Prebbleton was, by error, used instead of Philipstown. A Slight Difference.—A Southland contemporary announced tho other day that "* during tho coming summer 30C0 stallions would leave for New Guinea.” It was explained in the next issue that 3030 Italians was meant. Unsympathetic, very ! —“ I will pour out my blood on tho land,’ said a Native at Gisborne, to Captain Gudgeon, on a recent occasion during a dispute as to the ownership of part of a run. “ I don’t care a straw whether you do or not,” coolly replied the captain, and tho Native went elsewhere to seek sympathy. A Novelty.—Charles Reade, the novelist, in a letter to an English exchsage, suggests the use of balloons by the British as a means of circumventing Zulu ambuscades. Sporting Extraordinary.—A novel way of catching rabbits is described by a correspondent of tho “Otago Daily Times,” who says that it was communicated to him in his youthful days by an aged Highland poacher. This venerable man, ho [says, drew his entire sustenance from a certain warren, not far from the sea shore, which did not belong to him, but which ho ransacked periodically with such extreme celerity as to suggest to the demoralised gamekeeper satau'c intervention pi the sole solution of his success. Just before sundown ho would scud a coolie, trained for the purpose, to range over the warren, thereby inducing tho rabbits to keep close. At nightfa 1 ! ho would ertlve, and net some twenty or thirty holes according to the quantity of game required. Then he would extract from a bag a huge live crab and an inch of wax candle, and, lighting tho latter, fix it on the crab’s back with a little melted wax, and turn the shellfish loose dowa the most central hole in the warren. That crab always scuttled hastily down, imagining that he was returning to tho bosom of his family ; but every bunny bolted, and cveiy net held a rabbit within two minutes after his descent. Doubtless, by tho curlcd-up conies, thinking over their supper and them s : ns, the illuminated shellfish was considered a special emissary of Satan ; but ho generally reappeared arm-in-arm, so to speak, with a “party” he had hooked on to during tho rush, crabs being of a social nature, and not easily shaken off. And that old poacher had bagged his rabbit, and was off home within a quarter of an hour after his arrival at the warren. A Cause Celebhe.—A forthcoming trial for mousy lent, amounting to between seven and eight thousand pounds, in which a lady well known in various circles of society is defendant, promises (o be (says “ Atlas,” in the “ World”) a most sensational affair. Subpoenas have been served upon Mr Gladstone, tho Duke of Sutherland, Chief Baron Pollock, Mr Cunliffe Brookes, Lord Campbell, and Mr Burcham. An Expensive Premier. —Lord Beaconsfield’s diet is described by the Albany “ Sunday Press,” which tells us that tho Premier’s chief sustenance is champagne jelly, which he uses throe times a day, and eacu repast of which costs something like three guineas. Tho restorative quolities of this nutriment are very great, and to a man of the Premier’s sad and meditative temperament and feeble physique must bo invaluable. If this is true, and tho price of this invaluable jelly is as groat as alleged, it costs the Premier £3449 5s per annum to diet himself. Loss ov A Tent.—Tho day before yes'erday !a person who had been living at Ashburton, and digging potatoes for a living, came to town with a view or pelting work on the Waipara railway, as his then occupation was not very remunerative. He pitched his tent outside the (own, and then visited tho city in tho evening, during which he got sl'ghfcly rA 'xicated, and he could not on returning find bis tent and traps. He hes not yet been able to discover them. Magistrate’s Court, Lyttelton,—Today George Simeson, a colored man, was charged with the larceny of a coat, the property of Frederick Hill, one of the proprietors of tho Mitre Hotel. The case was remanded to Friday, bail being allowed, two sureties of £25 each, Thomas Brady, charged with stealing 16s from a person under the influence of liquor, in the Canterbuiy Hotel, was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, with hard labor, David Stanley Wright was brought up on remand, charged with the forgery of a cheque for £3 10s 6d, The accused was a young man who had been convicted in July, 1878, at Christchurch, on two charges of obtaining money on false pretences, and sentenced to one year, with hard labor. Ho was discharged from prison May 14th last, and the cheque was uttered Juno 4th. Tho cheque was uttered to Mr Duff, bootmaker, Lyttelton. [Left sitting.] Meeting of Bakers. —The meeting of master bakers, advertised to take place last night, did not come off. A few of tho leading representatives of the trade were present, but owing to tho paucity of members, the business for which the meeting was called was not transacted.