NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1685, 15 July 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Eiee. —About eleven o’clock last night a fire was discovered in Mr Henry Matson’s office, within his store, in Cashel street. It appears that a small gas stove was left burning in the counting-house. Mr Withers, clerk to Mr Matson, noticing a smell of burning wood, went down and discovered that the floor beneath tho stove had been ignited, and burnt a hole through, extending t® the supporting joists below, which were slightly charred. Mr Withers succeeded in putting the fire out by means of a bucket of water. Little or no damage was done, but this should be a warning against tho dangerous practice of leaving gas stoves burning during the night. Had it not been for the fortunate fact of Mr Withers discovering tho fire in time, another one would probably have been added to tho long list of disastrous fires in Christchurch and many thousand pounds worth of merchandise would, in all likelihood, have been destroyed. Watee Supply. —Operations in connection with the Waimakariri water supply, which have been delayed owing to tho late stormy weather, will be commenced to-morrow morning. All the machinery necessary for laying the cylinders is in readiness, and was placed on the ground to-day. Exhibition. —An exhibition of dissolving views, and a lecture upon the lontern, its uses and mode of illuminating, will h» given in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, to-morrow-night.

A Fishy Cash. —Eleven fish hawkers were this morning brought before the Resident Magistrate charged with obstructing tho roadway. These vendors of the finny treasures of the deep were apparently quite at home within tho precincts of the Court. Indeed, they had been remanded so often that they had ceased to feel like fiih out of water when performing before the magisterial footlights. On this occasion a question arose as to the validity of tho by-law under which they had been summoned, and the case was adjourned sine die, tho magistrate taking time to form a decision. Municipal Works. —It a meeting of tho Works Committee of the City Council, held this morning, several tenders for iron and timber work, &0., were accepted, and tho surveyor was instructed to have tho Town Hall plans conveyed to the rooms of Messrs Ford and Co., Hereford street, where they will bo grouped for exhibition. The Ministry. —Mr Thomson, tho member for Clulha, has joined tho Government as Minister of Lands. Wife Desertion. —A man named Andrew Horne was arrested yesterday, charged with deserting his wife and six children in Timaru. New Post Office. —The new post office in tho Government Buildings, Cathedral squai e, was opened yesterday. A description of tho offices appears in the present issue. Local Board of Health. —Tho Board of Health for tho Christchurch district met yesterday. The inspector submitted two reports of different dates, which wore considered and adopted, and some correspondence relative to nuisances in different parts of the district received attention. Drainage Board. —Tho fortnightly meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board was held yesterday, when the draft Bill, containing amendments to tho District Drainage Act, was brought up and approved. Mr Bell’s report rc tho drainage of storm water was postponed for further consideration. The Colombo Street Fire. —At last night’s meeting of tho City Council it was resolved to issue a permit to Mr Morten to restore the building in Colombo street, recently occupied by Mr F. Lewis. Gaiety Theatre. There was a fair attendance last evening at the Gaiety, when the programme of Saturday night was repeated successfully. This evening there will bo a change of bill, when “ Pink Dominoes ” and “ Who killed Cock Robin ” will be performed. Theatre Royal. —“ All for Her” was repeated last night to a good house. Mr Wybert Reeve was as successful as on Saturday night in enlisting the interest of the audience by his admirable representation of Hugh Trevor, and ho was well supported by Miss Beatrice, Mr D’Arcy Ogden, Mr Joyce, and tho company generally. To-morrow evening a new play, by W. S. Gilbert, the author of “iPygmalion and Galatea,” entitled “ Engaged,” will be produced, in which Mr Wybert Reeve will sustain the character of Cheviot Hill, one of his special impersonations. The Unemployed. —A meeting of the committee of the unemployed was held yesterday iu the Temperance Hall, Gloucester street, when the balance sheet was brought forward and referred to the auditor. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr W. Kent, who has given his services and the use of his room free of charge, A vote of thanks was also passed to-Mr Neil Black, who has promised to audit tho accounts free of charge. It was proposed, seconded, and carried—“ That the committee of the unemployed be dissolved from this date.” The committee on behalf of the unemployed beg to thank the inhabitants of Christchurch for the kind way in which they have contributed towards the distressed unemployed. Perished from: Exposure.— Our Akaroa correspondent telegraphs :—Tho body of Ernest Lewis, a IPortuguese, was found near his own home, Kaituna Valley, on Saturday morning last. He had perished in the storm during Saturday morning. An inquest will be held to-day.

Kaiapoi Baiwat Station. —Thanks to the attention of the station master at Kaiapoi the platform of this station is now lit up on dark evenings with four oil lamps, so that passengers may avoid the many perils which formerly awaited them.

Wesleyan Impbotement Society.—The usual weekly meeting was held last night, the attendance being over thirty. Readings and recitations were given by Messrs Cresswell, F. England, Allan, M. Hall, Ross, Tribe, and D. Wilkinson, free criticism being exercised. The meeting was closed as usual by the chairman, Rev. W. Baumber. The Municipal Buildings. The City Council chamber last evening presented quite an imposing appearance, cases containing the designs in competition for the municipal buildings being ranged round the room. _ tip to last evening, when the date for receiving designs closed, twenty had been received, but as some of the cases may contain more than one design, it is anticipated that the total number will'reaeh twenty-three. The works’ committee have, through the kindness of Messrs Ford and Newton, obtained a very suitable place to exhibit the designs, that firm having placed at the disposal of the City Council two rooms in their new buildings. The works’ committee will to-day commence the work of removing the designs from the City Council chamber to Messrs Ford and Newton’s building. The Council last evening passed a vote of thanks to the firm named for putting their rooms at the disposal of the committee. Football Timaeu t Teuuea. On Saturday last a football match was played between the South Canterbury and Temuka clubs on the ground of the latter, resulting slightly in favor of the local team. The afternoon was fine, and the wind scarcely strong enough to favor or injure either party, so that it was a matter of sheer hard work. There was very little difference in weight, in fact it is impossible to say on which side the advantage lay, but Timaru certainly carried off the palm for roughness. It was remarked by several onlookers that many of the players seemed not to know the rules of the game, which were very often violated, once or twice, too, without its being observed by the umpires, whese work was by no means a sinecure. Timaru had one try at a goal, but the ball went considerably wide of the mark, and Temuka could easily have succeeded in the try they would have had, if it had not been lost through the player, who touched the ball down, running out with it from touch. Craig, Chapman, and Brett did good service for Timaru, and Baguly, Gapes, Hayhurst, and Murray for Temuka.