NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1700, 1 August 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Thb Unemployed. — A large deputation of the unemployed waited upon Mr March, Im-migration-Agent, at his office to-day, and their representations were received by that officer. There are now the full complement of men at work on the railway at Waipara, and no more can be taken on, and Mr March has written to Mr Blair, of the Public Works Department, representing this, and asking whether work for the unemployed can be found in any other direction. Yesterday Mr March interviewed the Mayors of Christchurch and Sydenham, with the object of ascertaining whether the bodies represented by those gentlemen could not do something. With regard to Christchurch, it is feared th*,t no hope of any amount of employment likely to bo of service under the circumstances can be offered, the hands of the Council being full. O wing to the late heavy weather, the roads between Christchurch and the stone quarry have been in such a rough state that the contractor has not been abls to supply metal to keep regularly at work the hands now engaged in stone breaking. There are something like 3000 yards of metal to come from the quarry by the terms of the contract, and if that were on the ground there would be on opportunity of giving work to a number of men for a time, but the weather hithertr has offered a barrier to its removal. A Birthday Present. —There is an old adage that “It ir unwise to look a gift horse in the mouth.” The proverb would certainly have applied in a case brought before the Resident Magistrate to-day. The prisoner Buchanan had stolen a watch from a watchmaker’s shop list year, and had given it as a birthday present to one of the children of a Mr Whitley. The benevolent abstractor was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor.

An Incorrigible Lad. —William Eiston, who, to-day, was sent for two years to Burnham Reformatory, was described by his mother as perfectly incorrigible. Ho was but twelve years of age, but she could do nothing with him. His father was dangerously ill at the hospital.

A Recoil. —Some jokes (says a Sydney journal) have a most unpleasant recoil upon those who perpetrate them. About two years ago Jones, who is engaged in Carlin’s printing establishment, wanted a holiday. He had several, which had followed each other in pretty rapid succession, and th : s time he was rather pushed for an excuse. His fertility of resource, however, came to his aid, and ho backed his application on the ground that country air was necessary for what he considered was an affection of the heart. The fact was that he wanted to visit his affianced, who lived in the country. His heart was in as good a working order as a town-hall clock. He obtained hia ho l id ay, however, and naturally enjoyed it. Eighteen months afterwards he was married and with a wise discretion ho resolved to insure his life, and he applied to Carlin to supply particulars of his health and habits. Carlin responded to his application, and this is how he replied to the question which insr-anco societies put as to whether you know anything of an applicant’s past health : —“He complained to me on one occasion of an affection of the heart.” The result was three years wore added to Jones’s “life,” and he had to pay an increased premium. Carlin has found out what the true state of affairs was. Hejis enjoying the joke now.

The Afghan Campaign.—There has been a terrible loss of camels in the Afghan campaign. Already, it is said, the trade between India and Central Asia will be crippled simply for want of moans of carriage during the next few years. Thousands of camels have perished from overwork and bad forage; and, as these had been got together at high prices and with great diffion’ty, it is easy to understand the grave inconvenience that will be occasioned on the frontier. It is unfortunate (says the “ Fall Mall Gazette”) that the Indian finances are not in a condition to bear an exceptional 'outlay at present; for there can be no doubt that the best means of strengthening the frontier would be to extend the railways from the present termini to the border posts. It will be well now to organise a special expeditionary corps, with its transport in order, and independent of railways. The expense of buying camels and cattle in a hurry (to say nothing of the delay in getting them together when they are wanted for an emergency) is far more serious in the long-run than the maintenance of a corps ready to march at twenty-four hours’ notice. The railways have been of great service to the Indian army in many ways but they have certainly rendered it less prepared for immediate action away from the main lines than it was in old days. Sunnyside Asylum.—The performance last night by the Mississippi Minstrels in aid of the recreation fund of the Asylum was largely attended, and passed off well throughout. The programme included songs by Messrs Kirk, Yowels, H. Webb, Lightband, Far ran, and Cant. A clog dance and stump speech created much merriment. Messrs Kent and H, Webb acted as corner men, and were exceedingly funny. Mr Webb gave a bone solo excellently, and was vociferously encored. Owing to Mr Edmonds suffering from a severe cold he was unable to take any part in the programme. The performance concluded with the farce of the “ Mischievous Monkey,” in which Messrs H. Webb, Kent, & kept the audience in a roar of laughter. Uniteesity of New Zealand.—The presentation of diplomas in connection with the University of New Zealand, w :i l take place at the Provincial Council Chamber on Tuesday next, at noon.

Battalion Paeade. - A parade of the head-quarters corps of Volunteers, viz,, the Artillery, City Guards, and Engineers took place le it night at the drill shed. After the parade there was a march out ofthe different corps, headed by the Battalion Band. The Opahi’s Immiobants.—The iirioigration officer, Mr March, yesterday sent on by the s. s. Albion the following immigrants to their respective destinations—for Wellington 72, for Nelson 9, for New Plymouth 20, for Hokitika 9 : to-morrow 18 for Napier will be sent on in the s.s. Ladybird. Addington Gaol.—Mr Stevens recently asked the Minister of Justice, Why the promised completion of the Addington gaol extension had not been made ? Mr Sheehan stated that the delay had occurred through reasons over which the Government had no control, but the work would be pushed forward, It was intended that the gaol should be a prison for females. A Missing Woman.—The police received information yesterday that Mrs Lowe, wife of Edward Lowe, a farmer at Weedon, had been missing since Wednesday. On that morning Mr Lowe left his home, accompanied by his children, and on his return found his wife had gone. She had taken no money or clothes with her. Eor some time past Mrs Lowe had been complaining about her head, but was in good spirits on Wednesday. The missing woman was found, quite dead, about eleven last night, in a well close to her own house.

The Lingaeds. —Mr and Mrs W. Horace Liagard, of whom Christchurch playgoers will retain very pleasant memories, will shortly revisit New Zealand with a new repertoire of operettas, comedies, &c. They leave Melbourne on August 22nd for Dunedin with a company of twenty-six for a tour through New Zealand. Their opening in Christchurch will be early in September. Registbae’s Rbttjens. —These returns for Christchurch and district during the month of July give the following results Births— City, 59 ; district, 129. Marriages—City, 23; district, 8. Deaths—City, 28; district, 46. In July of last year the deaths were—City, 21 ; district, 29, I.O.O.F.—The annual session of the grand lodge of the 1.0.0. F., under the American constitution, will be held in Christchurch during the ensuing month. Two lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand are now working hero—viz,, the Loyal Avon and the Loyal Addington Lodges. Both are rapidly increasing in membership, and it is probable that ere long the former will be enabled to build a hall tor themselves. Colombo Bexdge. —The alterations to this bridge are now complete, and will prove of great convenience to the public. A footway, kerbod off from the carriage road, has been added on both sides, thus obviatiogtho danger which formerly existed to pedestrians. Now that the bridge is complete, and the road opened round the river to the Victoria bridg;, in continuation of Oxford terrace, it might be es well to have the side walks asphalted. At present they are somewhat difficult to get along upon owing to having been so recently formed.

Lighting thb City. — A meeting of the committee appointed by the City Council to take tb : s important question into consideiation wrs held on Wednesday evening, in the Cornell Chamber. The town clerk produced the information obtained from various sources as to the method adopted in other large centres of population for supplying the street lamps with gas. The committee after duly considering the matter before them, resolved that the Gas Company be requested to submit alternative tenders for lighting the city on certain terms determined upon by the committee

Another Attempt at Incendiarism. — Unmistakcable evidence of an attempt to fire the premises of Mr Johnson, wheelwright, of Tuam street, was on Wednesday morning. The shop was closed on the evening previous at five o’clock, and on the morning following it was discovered that the bars to one of the windows had been wrenched away, and lighted matches thrown amidst some combustible material, which was burnt, but no further damage was done, tho floor being an earthen one. The premises are situated at the rear of the White Horae Hotel, and had tho attempt to burn the building been successful the results might have been most disastrous in such a neighborhood. It has been suggested that these attempts at incendiarism are committed by ono person (after the fashion of Cyrus Haley, the Auckland fire-raiser), and the police are keeping a strong look-out, although the difficulties they have to contend against are considerable. Football. —The following will play for Avonville in their match with the Eastern Club on Saturday next: —Messrs J.E Brunt, Smith, Haddrell, Alexander Haddrell, W. Jones, Ellis, Fuller (captain), Bowley, Ford, Moule, Costley, Wright, Kay, Elmely. Emergencies—Anderson, Newman, and Mann. The match will be played on Latimer square, commencing at 2.30 p.m.