NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1657, 12 June 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Entertainment at Lyttelton. —An entertainment in connection with the Lyttelton Colonists’ Society will take place to-mor-row night in the Colonists’ Hall. An attractive programme is promised, and, as tho institution is one well deserving the patronage and support of tho people, a good attendance to-morrow night may bo counted upon. Water Supply.— The Water Supply Committee of the City Council held a meeting this morning. The City Surveyor submitted a report of the progress made in preparing to receive the cylinders, which are now on the ground, and it was resolved that, when all tho plant was in readiness, Mr White should take charge of the sinking operations. Mr. Clark’s letter was laid on the table, and the Town Clerk was instructed to suitably acknowledge its receipt by the Council. Subsequently the committee visited Anderson’s Foundry to see what progress was being made with tho air-lock to be used in sinking the cylinders. Heathcote Electoral Roll.— As showing the general accuracy with which the electoral rolls are made up, not a single elector appeared to-day before Mr Melbsh when objections against the Heathcote Electoral Roll were invited. Maoridom in the National Gallery. —The well-known colonial artist, Mr N, Chevalier, has a charming picture this year for the Royal Academy. Like a true colonist (says the “European Mail”) he has chosen a colonial subject, and for tho first time in tha history of the Royal Academy there will appear upon its walls tho form and semblance of a Maori girl, as she lies basking in the sun in the bottom of her canoe. The girl, who is named Hinemoa, is of tho higher type of the Maori race. The scene is laid in the bend of a river, and to the right is seen a Maori village, whore probably Hinemoa’s kindred dwell. Along tho banks of the river are to be seen the black birch and the supple- jack, with hero and there a fern-tree and festoons of creeping plants. A more lovely scene could hardly be imagined. Statecraft and Journalism, Count Andrassy, who is known to be very close about politics, was lately asked by a witty Viennese journalist, who had interviewed him for twenty minutes without getting anything worth putting in his paper out of the Chancellor, “ What is the difference between your Excellency and myself?” Answer :—“Whilst your Excellency who knows so much will tell nothing, I who know nothing must tell so much!” Curious Phenomenon.— ln a private letter, recently published, the Rev. W. B. Clarke, the famous geologist of New South Wales, wrote :—“ln the winter of 1874 my left eye showed symptoms of an affection, which still remains, produced by the violent straining of the cough. It became out of focus, protruding visibly, and producing double vision, so that I saw, first, ghosts behind people at table, then increasing to palpable form, when I saw them with two heads—one behind and slightly aside tho other, with four eyes, &c. It was tho same with landscapes —one horizontally seen, another above it in the air, very distinct and much magnified, hut at about an angle of twelve from tho horizon. This has now much diminished. Tho cause was that each eye saw independently, and, owing to the indirect twist of the eye, one vision was oblique. You may imagine what it was to seo communicants during the administration of the Lord’s Supper, each with two heads, Ac., us occurred to mo in Juno, 1874 ; and to see every line in a book refracted over on that really above it, or to write two lines at once.” The Condition of Russia.— A famine next year in Russia is predicted by Russian journals. Last year about one third of the crop was destroyed by beetles and marmots, so that tho seed has been deficient; and tho cattle plague took off nearly ninety per cent, of the cattle in many places. To those things must be added the extraordinary drought of the past half-year. Then in Russia there are too many holidays (about 100 in the year). Drunkenness, also, is a widespread vice, whoso wastefulness is greatly felt. Most of tne land in Russia is under mortgage to bankers, the proprietors are hardly able to pay their interest, and tho arrears are everywhere about twenty per cent. Tho grain, which is the chief article of export, and which furnishes taxes and all supplies, is devoured by parasites while growing, after being sown, and on railroads. The First King of Strathbogie.—A large gum tree was pointed out to us (says the “Mansfield Guardian ”), on tho track to the Wombat Ranges, bearing tho following strange proclamation, carved, evidently, with a penknife: —“ N.K.R. Proclamation. —£500 reward will be paid to anyone who brings Captain Standish alive to tho Strathbogie Ranges.—(Signed) Ned Kelly 1,, King of Strathbogie.” Making the Most of it. —The“Wairarapa Daily” says : —A man in Masterton was summoned tho other day for £3, and great was his wrath. When his anger subsided, and re/loction resumed its way, he took the summons round to everyone that owed him money, and said “ Look hero, you must pay me, or I shall bo sent up for twenty-eight days.” The debtors handed up their money, and before night our friend had collected over £3O on the strength of the £3 summons ; and his last prayer before retiring to rest was for another summons to be served upon him. Scholarship Examination. -The scholarship examinations in Class D were commenced at the Normal School yesterday. Two girl# and eight boys came up for examination. Tho subjects taken were geography and arithmetic. The examination will be continued to-day and to-morrow.

The South Town Belt. —A special meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council was held to-day, at the Mayor's office, to consider the resolution arrived at by tho City Council at the conference yesterday. After some discussion it was resolved that the Sydenham Borough Council offer to complete the whole work in connection with the South town belt, including the formation, metalling, &c., of the south side and footpaths, also, to put in concrete channelling, provided the sum of £SCO be handed over to the Borough Council. The channelling not to be undertaken at once, but a promise given that, as tho Borough wag about to introduce a system of concrete channelling into its streets, that of the belt should bo tho first undertaken, the Council in the meantime guaranteeing to keep the existing channel clean, the whole work to be executed under the supervision of tho city surveyor. In tho cource of the discussion it was contended that this was a fair proposition, inasmuch as the channelling would employ but little unskilled labor, while being costly. Tims practically, if the work were put in hand at once, the number of tho unemployed to which it would afford work, would bo very small. On tho ether hand, if the City Council agreed to the terms of tho Sydenham Council £LCIO would at once bo expended—a work which would provide employment for unskilled labor. The channelling would be proceeded with as speedily as possible, care being taken in the meantime to prevent tho existing channelling becoming a nuisance. The Mayor was requested to communicate the result of the meeting to tho City Council. I O G.T.—Tho Dauntless Lodge of tho Independent Order of Q-ood Templars will have an open meeting in the Templar Hall on Friday evening next, Andresses will be given on the subject of tempoiance by tho Bovs. W. H. Keast and J. Clover. Songs and solos,JAc, will bo rendered during the evening. Tho public are ‘invited ; no charge for »1 mission. Fire.—A fire took place last evening at Mr Foster’s furniture warehouse in Sydenham, which fortunately was extinguished without any material damage being done. It appears that tho front of the shop by some means caught fire. It was however speedily discovered and put out by the efforts of the bystanders. Theatre Royal. —There was no change in the bill at tho Theatre Royal last night. “Transported for Life” and Mr Barry O’Neil’s songs proved as attractive as ever. On Saturday night tho performance will bo for the benefit of Mr George Darrell, when ho will produce for the first and only night in Christchurch tho patriotic play entitled “The Struggle for Freedom.” The plot is of absorbing interest, the incidents being laid at the time of the great Jacobite rebellion. Judging from the favorable reception this play has met with in the Australian colonies, it may bo pronounced one of the most successful of Mr Darrell’s special dramas.j Accidents. —A young man named William Green was admitted into tho Hospital yesterday, suffering from a dislocated shoulder. On Monday last Green (who was in the employ of Mr Stanford) was thrown from a horse, and sustained the injury referred to. He went homo, and yesterday obtained admission to the Hospital. A boy named Ernest Brearly met with a serious accident yesterday, at the residence of his father on the North Town belt. His brother was cutting some wood, and as Ernest attempted to take a piece of the wood from tho heap near, the axe descended and inflicted an ugly wound on his right arm. Ho was at once taken to the Hospital for treatment. Eliza Franks, a child three years of age, was admitted to the Hospital last evening, suffering from a bruised leg, the result of a fall. The Late Mb Lazar. Tho telegraph brought us news yesterday (says the “ Post ” of Juno 10th), of the death of Mr John Lazar, of Hokitika, The deceased gentleman was seventy-five years of ago, and had held several important public offices. He wes three times elected Mayor of Adelaide, and ho was instrumental in forming the first City Corporation in Otago. For some years he held the post of town clerk of Dunedin, and subsequently ho removed to Hokitika, where he was appointed to a similar position. For some time, also, he was Provincial Treasurer of Westland, but he had not done much public work for the last few years. Tho late Mr Lazar was perhaps best known through his connection with the Freemasons. It will be remembered that he presided at the grand ceremonial in the Provincial Hall, Wellington, on the occasion of the late Sir Donald M’Lean’s installation as District Grand Master some years ago. Football.-—The following teams will play for tho 0.F.0. next Saturday, Any members unable to turn up are requested to communicate with the secretary. C.F.C. v Eastern’F.C. —Anderson, J. T., Bolton, Cotteril, E., Field, Evan* (Captain), Lewin, McCardell, Milton, W., Pavitt, Pickering, Potts, W., Ollivier, L., Stringer, W. S., Ternpier, A.; Emergencies—Easlea, Cotteril), W., Goodwyn. C.F.C. v College—Peter, Smith, E. A., Morgan, Robinson, F. N., Goodwyn, Alabaster, Harman, Paul, Hawk*s, L., Atack, W. H. (Captain), Baker, A. T., Bray, Cotterill, W., Brown, H., Easlea ; Emergencies —Lawson, Lees, Pratt, Atack, E, G., Rogers. The Eastern match will commence at 2.30, on Cranmer square, and the College match at 2.45, on the College ground. All players are requested to turn out in club colors (red and black. Tho E F.O. have invited all disengaged members to join in their club practice on Latimer square. All club matches will commence at 230 p.m. for the future. The following fifteen will play for the E istern Football Club in the match against the Christchurch Club, on Saturday next, on Cranmer square Messrs Martin, Robinson, Whitcombe, Kenvig, Parker (Captain), Shirreff, Foots, Stringer, Hawkes, Keith, Dobson, Bell, Searell, Seager, and Campbell; Emergencies—A Wachaman, Boulton, and Smith, T. Colors, amber and black. Play will commence at 2.30. Political.—The Hon. Edward Richardson, M.H.R. for Christchurch, will address his constituents at the Oddfellows’ Hall to morrow evening. K.iitanoata Relief Fund—A special meeting of the Kaitangata Feta Committee will be held this evening, to consider tho proposed appropriation of the funds. Canterbury Rowing Club.— A special general me ling of the C.R C. will bo held at the Commercial Hotel to-morrow evening at 8 o’clock.