NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1658, 13 June 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Canterbury Rowing Club— A special general meeting of the above club will be held this evening, at eight o’clock, at Cookson’a Commercial Hotel, for tho consideration of tho report of tho site committee, and the transaction of other important business. Manchester Street Bridge. A few days since tbo “ wings ” of this bridge gave way, and tho city surveyor put on workmen to repair the damage this morning. Comparative Dooms. —The “ Grey River Argus” has pronounced the doom of Hokitika. When the Hokitika-Grey railway is finished Hokitika will be finished too. The “Argus” says : —“ The railway now in course of construction between hero and Hokitika must benefit Grevmouth the same as the railway between Geelong and Melbourne benefit* ed Melbourne.” This is delicately put. “ Tho comparison between Melbourne and Greymouth is,” says the “ Hokitika Times,” “a* the play bills say, ‘immense.’ ” Natural Deaths. The “ Manawatu Times” in recording the death of a lady at Woodville gays that it is the first “ natural death” that has occurred since the settlement of tho township. The “Morning Herald” says :—This reminds us of a story told by Mr J, L. Hall, the comedian. Ho was travelling along tho Great Cc-nlral Trunk lino in America, when on one side of a hill he observed a neatly enclosed cemetery, with a couple of mounds and crosses outside the fence, “ What is the meaning of the two outsiders?” asked Hall, addressing an American fellow-passenger. “ Wall, friend,” retorted Jonathan, “ I guess these youngsters died a natural death, and they couldn’t be allowed into tho consecrated ground. Pakabapus. —Tho present indeed are days of “ pakarapus”—which is the Maori for bankrupt—as a yarn told years ago fully explains. A Waikato chief went to Auckland, and on his return, when asked what took him there, said ho had to go to see a man who had become “ pakarapu.” This word rather staggered tho aboriginals, who immediately demanded an explanation. It was given as follows: —“A pakeha who wants to become pakarapu goes into business and gets lots of goods and does not pay fer them. He then gets all the money he can together, £2OOO, and puts it. away where no one can get it, all except £5, With this ho goes to tho Judge of the Supremo Court and tells him he wishes to become pakarapu. Tho Judge says he is very sorry, but of course it cannot bo helped, and he then calls all tht lawyers together, likewise all the men to whom tho pakarapu owes money, and he says : ‘ This man is pakarapu, but he wish»s to give you all he has got, and so ho has asked mo t o divide this (tho £5) among you all.’ The Judge thereupon gives £t to the lawyers, as.d £1 to tho other men, end the pakarapu gses home.”

A Sad Cask. —One of those pitiable cares which occasionally come before tho criminal courts, of young people turning aside from tho paths of rectitude perhaps to thoir permanent damage in society, was hoard at the Resident Magistrate Court this morning, when a young woman, well dressed, and very prepossessing in appearance, made her appearance in the dock, charged with petty larceny, tho articles stolen consisting of some really worthless feminine gimcracks, prized by girls who are fond of finery. In a weak moment this girl appropriated the article, which belonged to a female acquaintance. She was found guilty and sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment, which she will have to spend in Addington, among otlscr unfortunates, most of whom are of tho long-eince degraded order. This young woman is well-educated, haying seen a good deal of travel in the occupation of lady’s maid, and is possessed of more than average good looks and intelligence. It seems a pity that ono so young and so circumstanced could not have boon differently dealt with, for a first offence. Such cases as these point to the necessity for an institution, such as those established in England, to meet cises of this kind. The Unemployed at Rangiioea.—A meeting of tho unemployed will be held at Rangiora this evening. The town clerk received a telegram this morning from the cltrk of the Council there, asking what wages wore being offered here, and a reply was sent back to the effect that the Government wero offer ing Gi per day. An Awkwaed Customer.— Tho landlord of a certain hotel down South entered in an angry mood the sleeping apartment of a boarder, and said, “Now, sir, I want you to pay your bill, and you must. I have asked you for it often enough, and I tell you now, you don’t leave my house till you pay it!” “Good,” said tho lodger, “ just put that in writing ; make a regular agreement of it; I’ll stay with you as long as I live.” A Spiritualistic Anecdote. —“ Who’s there ? ” There was no answer, and the queer noise stopped. “Anybody there?” No answer. “It must have been a spirit,” he said to himself. “I must be a medium. I will try.” Aloud “If there is a spirit in the room it will signify tho same by saying ‘ aye’ —no that’s not what I mean. If there is a spirit in the room it will please rap three times.” Three very distinct raps wore given in tho direction of the bureau. “Is it the spirit of my sister F ” No answer. “Is it tho spirit of my mother ? ” Three raps. “ Are you happy ? ” Nice raps. “Do you want anything ?” A succession of very loud raps. “ Will you give ms any communication if I get up ? " No answer. “Shall I hear from you to-morrow F ” Raps very loud in the direction of tho door, “ Shall I ever see you ? ” He waited long for an answer to his last question, but none came. The spirit had gone ; and after thinking over tho extraordinary visit, ho turned over and fell asleep. On getting up in tho morning ho found that tho spirit of his mother had carried off his watch and purse, bis trousers, and his greatcoat downstairs in the hull. —American paper. Royal Blaoe Peecbptobt, 438, I.C.— The ceremony of consecration and installation of the above preceptory took place last evening, in the Orange Hall. The R.W.G.M., Bro. Sir Knight Ballantyno, and other members of tho Grand Chapter were in attendance, and performed the ceremony. The following officers wero duly installed: Bros. Sir Knights T. Anderson, W.M.; R. Russell, D.W.; W. S. Williams, Reg.; W. Prudhoe, Chap. ; and J. Hogg, first committee man. After the usual business, the preceptory was closed, and the members adjourned to the Terminus Hotel. Bro. Sir J. Anderson occupied the chair, and proposed “The Queen,” which was duly responded to. “ The Grand Black Chapter ” was responded to by Bro. Sir W. S. Williams. “Success to 403 ” was then given by the Chairman, and responded to by the W.M. of tho preceptory, who also proposed ‘‘Success to 438, the newly consecrated Preceptory.” “ All Royal Arch Purple men,” by Bro. Toneycliffe; “All Black Knights round the Globe,” by Bros. Sir Knights Carnahan and Williams; “ Our Visiting Brethren,” by Bros. Sir Knights Mitchell and Hays, of Southbridge ; “ The Press,” by Bro. Sir Knight E. Revell, responded to by Bro. Sir Knight Carnahan ; and “ Our next Merry Meeting.” Several songs were sung, and tho National Anthem brought the meeting to a close. Address to Constituents.— The Hon. E. Richardson, MH.tt. for Christchurch, will address his constituents at tho Oddfellows’ Hall ills evening, at half-past seven o’clock.