NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1661, 17 June 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

City Wobks. —A meeting of the works committee was held this mormng, when a number of small matters relegated to it by the Council were dealt with, among them (though perhaps it can not bo strictly called a small matter) being the levelling of Victoria street. As at present formed, the channel on the left hand side of this street, running north, is so much lower than the other as to form a gradient dangerous to traffic. It is therefore proposed to cut away the crown of the road, and so level it. A.O.F. —The ordinary meeting of the Court Star of Canterbury, No. 2309, was held in the Foresters’ Hall last night. About seventy members were present, also a number of visiting brethren. Three new members were initiated into the Order. The fi( ancial committee’s report was adopted. Bro. Ness reported the death of Bro. Hill, secretary of Court Southern Cross, Timaru. Dr. Patrick was nominated as an honorary member. After transacting a considerable amount of business, the Court adjourned. Covet 1 .- —-The only case brought before the notice of this Court to-day was that of a solitary drunkard, who being a first offender, was mulct in the usual penalty of five shillings. Love’s Young Dbfam. —The price of a wife among the Sioux Indians is twenty ponies. And when the young bravo has won the girl and got the father’s consent at ruling rates, and the only thing that remains is to plank down the ponies, ho sits down and sometimes occupies a whole night thinking whether had better sled the ponies from his own he father or the girl’s. He generally steals them from both.

St. Baenabas at Mastehton.— Says the “Wairarapa Daily”:—Yesterday at half-an-hour before noon a bell was heard to ring loudly at Masterton, and people in the hazy distance said, “it’s the fire bell,” and rushed into town to see the fun. However, it was only St. Barnabas’ Day at St. Matthews’ Church, and the peal was attributable t) him. We have no prejudice against this particular Saint, on the contrary, we believe ho has been quiet and well conducted for some two thousand years, but still all the same it is our duty to warn him that if on his anniversary he gets on the spree and plays practical jokes, such as spreading false alarms of fire, he will have to be run in. Nothing Exteaobdinaby. —Colonel W, K. Stuart tolls the following story of a Scotch subaltern at Gibraltar. The latter was one day on guard with another officer, who, unfortunately fell down a precipice of four hundred feet, and was killed. Non-military readers should understand that in the guards’ report there is a small addendum—“ N.B. — Nothing extraordinary since guard mounting.” The meaning of this is that, in case anything particular should occur, the officer commanding the guard is bound to mention it. Oar friend, however, said nothing about the accident that had occurred to his brother officer ; and, some hours after, the BrigadeMajor came to his quarters on behalf of the officer commanding, with the report in his hand, to demand an explanation. The Brigade-Major, addressing him, said, “ You say, sir, in your report, 1 N.B.— Nothing extraordinary since guard mounting,’ when your brother officer, on duty with you has fallen down a precipice of four hundred feet, and been killed.” “ Weel, sir,” replied B—, “ I dinna think there’s onything in it extraordinary ava’; if he’d faun doon a precipice four hundred feet and na been killed, I should hae thought it vary extraordinary indeed, and would hae put it doon in my report.” Hospital Committee. —A meeting of the Hospital Committee was held yesterday in relation to a number of matters affecting the management of the Hospital, and which were referred to the committee at the last meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Before the Board meets another meeting of the committee will be held, when the report will be formally drawn up on the subject of vaccination and other matters with which it deals. It may be stated here that it is proposod to make certain changes in the Hospital

The Fibb Brigade.— it a mooting of the Fire Brigade Committee held this morning at tho City Council Chambers it was decided not to accept the tender sent in for tho supply of uniforms for the Fire Brigade, but to obtain them from England, where they can be obtained at about half the cost. Mr Superintendent Harris was consulted in the matter, and stated that the Brigade would not be greatly inconvenienced by having to wait for the uniforms if tho order waa sent home by the first outgoing mail and they were forwarded out at once. Tub East Belt Bbidgb. —The contractor for this footbridge refuses to make the alterations in it, as suggested by the city surveyor, considering that ho has carried out his contract. The consequence is that tho councillors themselves intend to make an examination of tho bridge at nine o’clock to-morrow morning. Accident to a Hobsb.— On Sunday a horse, whilst feeding on the dangerous bank of the river near the North road at Smith’s Hotel, Waimakariri bridge, fell in with a slip of earth. One of its forelegs was broke and the animal was drowned before it could be got out of tho water. Town Hall Company, Lbeston,— -A meeting of this company was held on Friday evening, to consider the financial state of the company. Present —Messrs Sandry (in the chair), Jameson, Palmer, Wills, Ennis, Lockhead, and Lewis. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that an art union should be held at an early date, at which every ticket holder should receive a prize. Each director consented to do his utmost to collect prizes and hand in list of same by the next meeting, which was fixed for Friday evening, the 20th of June. Accident with Dynamite. One day last week one of the men employed by Mr Kenny, the contractor for tho Mount Bossu road, at Wainui, had his face and eyes fearfully burned by an explosion of dynamite. It appears that the unfortunate man was drying a dynamite cartridge before using it on a shovel over a wood fire, when it exploded. A notion exists amongst many workmen that dynamite, unlike blasting powder, will only explode by tho action of the fuse, and it was under this belief that the unfortunate man was drying the charge. He was conveyed to the Akaroa Hospital, where he was seen by Dr. Guthrie, who expresses great doubts as to his being able to save the eyesight. The Kiccabton School. —A meeting was held last night in the schoolroom, Eiccarton, respecting the dismissal of Mr Wilson, the head teacher. The reason assigned for his dismissal was that he refused to comply with tho direction of the Board that he should instruct the children in military drill. Tho whole correspondence relating to the matter was laid before the meeting, but Mr Wilson denied that the drill question was at the bottom of the affair, and made certain charges against the Key. C. Bowen of having endeavored to induce him to over ride the Act by introducing religious instruction into the school. Full particulars will bo found in the detailed report. City Council. —The City Council met last evening, when a considerable amount of business was transacted, the Council not adjourning until eleven o’clock. Or. Cass brought up his resolution for dispensing with the services of Mr Tribe, the city collector. The resolution was considered in committee, and it was ultimately resolved to relegate the whole matter to the works and finance committee to bring up a report in a fortnight. A considerable amount of discussion took place on tho subject of the South Town Belt, the unemployed, and the resolutions passed by the Sydenham Borough Council on the subject. It was resolved to decline the offer of the latter body, and to give employment at once to a number of men on works connected with the city. Only one tender was brought forward for supplying the members of the Fire Brigade with uniforms. A number of prices were mentioned for different classes of article. It was resolved to leave the matter to the fire brigade committee to decide upon. Amalgamated Society of Engineers.— The Christchurch branch of the above society celebrated their fifth anniversary on Friday last by a banquet at the Prince of Wales * Hotel, which was served in good style by Mr J. Fox. The chair was filled by Bro. W. B. Boiz, president of the branch, Bro. J. A. Biltcliff, referee of the branch, occupying the vice-chair. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been honored, the Chairman proposed the toast of the evening, “ The Amalgamated Society of Engineers,” coupled with the name of Bro. J. A. Biltcliff, who responded in a very good speech, congratulating the Christchurch branch upon the succefß attending it since its establishment. Bro. J. Fraser, secretary to the branch, then gave some statistics as to the society, which he stated now numbered a total membership of 46,000, with a fund of £280,000 at their disposal. The amount expended on tho various benefits connected with the society, viz., donation, sick, superannuation, accident, benevolent, and contingent £IIO,OOO per annum. With respect to the Christchurch branch, it was in a very flourishing condition having started with only eleven members, whereas it now numbered about sixty members, with the sum of £6OO at their disposal. Several other toasts were proposed and duly honored, amongst them being the Christchurch Fire Brigade, responded to by Bro. J. Fraser, and the Bail way Fire Brigade, responded to ly Bro. J. McFarlino. Several capital songs were sung by Bros. Derry, Lilly, Beattie, Houston, Biltcliff, and Boaz, and the company separated after spending a very pleasant evening.