NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1696, 28 July 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Gas Supply. —lt was arranged this morning that a meeting of the gas committee should be hold on Wednesday next to consider the question of the gas supply for the oily. Woeks Committee. —A meeting of the Works Committee of the City Council was held this morning, when a considerable amount of business received attention. Among other matters considered was a letter from tho Chief Postmaster relative to the removal and erection of pillar boxes, and asking the surveyor to arrange for doing the work. The surveyor was instructed to say that he would do the work within the city on the cost thereof being paid. Statistical. —The number of persons to tho square mile in New Zealand when the last census was taken, was 3.95 ; the number of persons to the inhabited dwellings, 502 S tho number of inhabited~dwellings to the square mile, ’7B7 —the area of New Zealand being estimated at 104,9 C D square miles.

Supposed Deo wising at Poet. —The police, under Sergeant-Major O’Grady, were engaged in the harbor on Saturday for several hours dragging for tho body of Captain Preston, late of tho brigantine Nightingale. They returned unsuccessful. Obituaey. —Amongst tho obituary announcements this morning will be found one of tho death of Mrs Wm. Montgomery, wife of the member for Akaroa, who had been seriously ill for some time. The funeral will take place on Wednesday at 3 p.m., at the Church of England Cemetery. Hudson’s Suepeise Paety. —The agent in advance of the Hudson Surprise Party, Mr H. Santly, arrived at the end of last week from Dunedin, to make arrangements for the appearance of the company hero. They open on Saturday next at the Theatre Eoyal. Lunacy.—At the Bangiora Court on Saturday, John Bose Brandon was brought up as being of unsound mir.d. On the application of Sergeant Pratt he was remanded to Lyttelton Gaol to be examined by two medical men, and to be brought up before the Christchurch Bench cn 29th.

Me W. Hoskins. —Tho many friends of Mr Hoskins will regret to learn that on Friday night last ho broke a blood vessel while coughing. This rendered a change in tho cast of the “ Octoroon ” on Saturday night necessary, Mr Hoskins being announced to play Salem Scudder. His part was undertaken by Mr D. Orsay Ogdon. No serious consequences to Mr Hoskins are anticipated from the accident.

The Judge’s Seoeetaey. —lt is understood that Mr Fletcher Johnston, who for some time past has acted as secretary to his Honor Judge Johnston, is about to retire from that position and enter that of the law. Mr Moorhouso, a son of Mr W. S. Moorhouse, will probably succeed Mr Johnston as Judge’s secretary.

Model op Lyttelton Habbob.— This model which, under instructions from the Lyttelton Harbor Board, has been mede by Mr Neville, is now completed. Both as a work of art and as a record of what has been and what wi’l shortly be, done in tho harbor, the model is all that can be desired. To take the last point of view first. Tho piers are shev.n as they wi ll , be when the present extensions fj the screw-pile jetty and the other jetties are completed, and when the new jetty is thrown out in the place of Peacock’s jetty. Then the graving dock, tenders for wb’ch have been ca n ed, is shewn, feet in length, with a man-of-war 350 feet long, undergoing repairs in it. Between the graving dock and Peacock’s wharf is to bo seen tho recls : -ned ground, to be formed from material cut from h'll. The various sheds and other accommodation for storage, &0., are most accurately given, and the great facilih’ties afforded by the harbor v.-ll be evident to the visitors at the Exhibition. As a work of art the merits of the models are great, and the amount of work expended on it must have been Urge. Ther a-a ships of all descriptions and sizes, from the man-of-war in the graving dock to the pleasure boat, all of them given with great accuracy, and with a thorough knowledge of nautical detail. The floor of the model, representing the water, is judiciously colored, bigb'y glazed and varnished, reflecting tho'jjbipß in a very natural manner. The minute work bestowed on the engines and trains mustbavebeen decidedly tedious, but the result has been most satisfactory. The model will bo shewn for a few days at Mr McOlatchie’s shop, in Cashel street, previous to it departure to Sydney, and its inspection will well repay a visit.

Coursing. The runn-’ng for the Tyro Stakes took place to-day, notwithstanding the unfavorable nature of the weather. The result did not come to hand in time for publication. A Successful Sell. Some pi vtical jokers encased the carcass of a horse in red flannel, set it afloat in the Ohio, just above Madison, Ind, and passed the word by v. 're down both banks of the river that Boy ton was coming. Skiffs shot out for miles alonv the river as the dead steed drifted down, ana at Madison the entire uopulace crowded to the wharves. The “ sell ” was a success.

Tub Missing Farmer at Ashburton.— As yet (Saturday) no further tidings of the missing farmer Gordon have been obtain i. The Wakanui Creek has been dragged, but without result, and two gentlemen who passed Gordon while on his way home say that when they overtook him he was three miles beyond the creek, and not far from a large tract of unfenced tussock land. They infer that when Saturday’s snowstorm came on and whitened the ground he lost the track, and, being under the influence of liquor, failed to find it. It is supposed he had left his horses to search for the track, and in the darkness wanderc i away from both track and horses. The animals had turned their heads away from the storm, and thus made Prendcrgast’s farm on the back road.

Thbathicad. —P. H. Kirby, who is wellknown in Christchurch as a theatrical agent, has arrived in Auckland with a company from San Francisco, as to the ability of tho members of which very high encomiums appeardn the American papers. After a short season in Auckland, under the management of Mr R. J. Da Lias, it is probable Mr Kirby will come South with his company. Mr Martin Simonsen, who, it will be recollected, left some short lime since for America in search of talent, has succeeded in engaging a company of female minstrels, and is expected in Auckland early in the ensuing month. City Council.— The usual weekly meeting of the City Council will be held this evening. Banco Sittings. —A sitting in banco will be held by His Honor Mr Justice Johnston on sth August. Kaiapoi Aid Fund —lt is proposed to give a performance in the Oddfellows’ Hall in aid of this fund, when the comedy of “ She Stoops to Conquer ” will be produced by the students of the Normal School.

Lecture .—A lecture will be delivered this evening at the schoolroom of St. Paul’s by the Rev. J. Elmslio, in connection with the Touug Women’s Christian Association. The subject will be “ Kings of Society.”