NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1704, 6 August 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Fatal Accident. —Another of the quarry, men at work at Diamond Harbor, opposite Lyttelton, met hia death this morning about eleven o’clock. A heavy block of atone, while in process of quarrying, broke loose auddenly, and, before the unfortunate man could get clear, foil upon him, crushing his body in a moat horrible manner. His mates ran to hia assistance and carried him down to the boat, bringing him across to Port about noon. The only words ho uttered after the fall were, “Oh dear, lift mo up.” Hia name is Charles Plaster, and ;he leaves a wife and five children. He was in Messrs Cameron Brothers’ employ. Obitdaey. —ln the last mail news is recorded the death of Rear-Admiral Henry Feldwick McKillop, R.N., C.B. The deceased officer also held tho rank of Pasha (Feroek) of the Ottoman Empire. At tho commencement of tho first Maori war, this gentleman was senior midshipman on board H.M.S. Calliope, then lying at Wellington. He served with distinction during the war, earning for himself tho soubriquet of “ tho wild midshipman.” Being placed in command of a gunboat, he visited the different bays on tho east coast of the North Island, and wherever his boat could go he took it, shelling tho Maori pahs. No doubt, his name will be remembered by many old settlers.

Messes Tweniyman and Cousin's New PeemiskS. —A very extensive addition is being made to tho business premises of Messrs Twentyman and Cousin, in Cashel street. The extension will occupy the vacant space of ground between the present warehouse of tho firm and Mr N. K. Cherrill’s photographic establishment. Tho style of architecture will assimilate with the present building, and when finished will form one of tho handsomest blocks in the city. The new warehouse, which will be used for tho hardware department, will have three floors, each with an area of 7Cft. by 33ft. Tho building is expected to be completed in from IWOt) three months time.

Local Industry. —Messrs McOlatchio ani Co., the upholsterers, of Cashel street, have recently added to their undertaking plant a very handsome now hearea on the American principle, tho first of tho kind to be introduced in Christchurch. The hearse is from the carriage factory of Messrs Moor and Son, of Victoria street, and in point of material, workmanship, and handsomeness, is thoroughly creditable to the firm. Tho materials of which it is built are English ’ash and birch and American hickory, for the purpose of combining lightness with strength. All the iron work, patent springe, &e., have been manufactured on the premises, the raw material only being imported. The body of the hearse is highly polished, relieved with dead black mouldings of a highly ornate character, The sides are of oval plate glass, framed in massive mouldings, and the roof mountings at the four corners consist of urns, surmounted with drooping plumes. Around the top runs a ridge of ornamental iron scroll work, and the back panels are enriched with shields. Tho seat is furnished ;with a hammer cloth of fine black cloth,'pleated plated mounting. The fore carriage is mouutcu on elliptic springe, and the bind carriage on grasshopper and cross springs. Inside the hearse is a convenient sliding platform, with an elevation roller for the convenience of putting in and removing the coffins. A handsome plated guard runs on either side of the platform, with chaste finishing at the extremity of the rods and pillars. When it is

considered desirable to conceal tho coffin the plate glass sides can bo covered with shutters made for the purpose. Messrs Moor and Son have also several remarkably handsome and highly finished carriages, which are well worthy of inspection as specimens of colonial workmanship. One specially —a circular fronted brougham—is aa extremely handsome turn out, both as regards the build, material, and upholstery. The latter is of fine blue cloth, enriched with blue silk laco with ivory and silver plated mountings, and is in every respect equal to any carriages hitherto imported from Engl nd or America Police. —The usual monthly inspection of the Christchurch police force took place today, the result being very satisfactory. Including officers there are present forty mou on the roll, which, taken on the basis of population, is a fair protective force for tho city and suburbs. Resident Maqistbate’s Court. —At the Court to-day, a few cases of no particular interest were disposed of, among them tho fining of two men 10a each for cruelty to animals, by inciting two dogs to fight on tho 3rd instant. Db Gubtibus.— The “Sydney Courier’ says :—lt was thought that the prodigious appetite of the aboriginal would have boeu a powerful agent in rabbit destruction, hut the Australian blackfellow has peculiar tastes, and declares that “new fellow no good he prefers ’possum with a strong flavor of pepper-

mint. Politics in tub Pulpit. -At a recent Primitive Methodist prayer meeting held at Runcorn, Cheshire, a local preacher, in the course of his address to the Deity, made use of the following extraordinary words : —“ O Lord, th*se are bad times, and there’s a good many people got naught to eat, because they’ve got no bread. There a good many people out of work, because they’ve got no work to do, and O Lord, they tell me that it’s *ll through an old Jew what lives in London. Slay him, O Lord! If I slay him they’ll hang me; but do Thou slay him, O Lord, for they can’t hang Thee !’ A Novel Idea. —A novelty, which is well worth of a trial, has been introduced by the French Post-office in the authorisation by the department of the receipt of subscriptions for any French journal by the postmasters throughout the country. From the beginning of this month subscriptions may be paid at any post-office for any journal, and the postmaster will give an official receipt to the subscriber, passing on the name and the amount to the office ef the journal, A commission of three per cent, is fixed as the payment for the office, and most of the Parisian journals charge themselves with the trifling loss. This is probably in France a clever scheme to ensure a self-registering thermometer of political variations in public opinion; but the convenience is so obvious that we hope the British Postmaster-General will seon follow the example. A Disputed Will. —A case was tried a( Clonmel Assizes the other day involvimr th» queath to my ste ward, Pat Doran, the sum of £59,” and also certain lands, “ until the time when I shall live and enjoy them myself.” The “ time,” it was contended, was the milennium, and evidence having been given that the testator believed in the millennium, his lordship directed a verdict for Doran. The question was raised on an action for ejectment. Sydenham Youths’ Cricket Club.—A special general meeting of the above club was

i Sydenham Youths’ Cricket Cede.—A special general meeting of the above club was held on Monday evening, in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Montreal street, and was very largely attended. Some considerable discussion ensued with reference to the leasing of a piece of land from Mr Thomas, but finally it was decided to accept his terms. The enrolment of members then took place, the result being that upwards of forty names were placed on the list. The officers elected for the ensuing season were as follows : —Captain, O. Wagstaff (re-elected); hon. sec. and treasurer, W. W. H. Smith (re-elected); ground committee— Messrs 0. Wagstaff, J, Powke, and W. W. H. Smith ; match comm'ttee—Messrs J. Powke, H. Herman, H. Mann, T. Plowors, and G. Simpson. Parish Entertainment, The last but one of the series of winter evening entertainments in connection with St. John’s parish took place last evening. The attendance was very good. The • following programme was gone through:—Overture, pianoforte, "La Muetto de Portioi,” Madame Winter and Mr Landergan; reading, “ John Ploughman’s Talk,” Mr Bennetts ; song, “The Lime Trees near the River,” Mrs Craig ; vocal duet, “I’ll Love thee Still,” Mr and Mrs Anthony; solo, pianoforte, Irish melodies, Miss Robinson. This being encored she substituted, “ Lea Cloches de Monastere.” Reading, “ Mrs Caudle’s Curtain Lectnre” (localised), Mr Baird; song, “Shy Robin,” Miss Mackett; solo, pianoforte, “The Cascade of Roses,” Miss Robinson; reading, “ Natural Bridge of Virginiasong, “The Mountebank,” Mr Holmes; song, “The Lover and the Bird,” Miss Mackett; song, “ When the silver Moon is Beaming,” Mrs Craig; the National Anthem. Rev. H. O. M. Watson, who occupied the chair, announced that at the next entertainment, which would be the last of the season, Mr Hoskins, who had recovered from his recent illness, would contribute an elocutionary item to the programme. Telegraph Office at Leesion.— The want of an office has been felt by the resi dents in and around the above township for the last five or six years, and now, after repeatedly petitioning the Government to grant them one, their wishes have been attended to. The building has been finished about a month and a sign painted denoting that it is a telegraph office, but that is all, for the person who desires to send a message finds on enquiry that neither instrument nor operator have arrived. It is hoped that the Government are not going to bo as long in fixing the necessary instruments as they wore in erecting the building. Football —The following fifteen will represent the Eastern Club on Saturday next, in their match against Southbridge on'Latimer square:— Messrs Parker, captain. Stringer H., Hawkes 8., Campbell, Dobson, Robinson, Kcnvig, Smith T., Wachsman 1., Lambert, Hales, Johnston A., Searrel T., Martin, Bell. Emergencies—Keith, Mayne, Seager ; colors, amber and black. A luncheon will bo provided at 1 o’clock at Collins’ Hotel; play to commence at 2 o’clock, as tho visitors have to leave early. Any of the above members unable to play will please to communicate with the secretary.