NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1736, 12 September 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mb Cass and His Tobmentoes.—-Throe of the football players, who, tho other evening, with so much demonstrative enthmiam took the means of informing Mr Cass that they objected to his remarks in the Council on athletic games, were this day summoned for riotous behaviour. Two were fined £1 each, and the other, in consideration of the mildly paternal attitude he had assumed on the occasion, was let off without an appeal to his purse. "Who 18 to Pay ?—Sir George Grey is singular in his mode of travelling, and does not believe in regulation speed when his important person is being conveyed from place to place. The man in the street had it this morning that, by his orders, a large amount of extra coal was put on board the Rotorua yosterday, so that she _ migLt be pustod on her passage to Wellington. It would be satisfactory to know whether this bill for coals will be in the form of a Government voucher or otherwise. A Cossistbnt Politician. —The most original address published during the elections has been that of Mr William Swanson. He reprinted his last address. He says he is the same, and the same address will do. MiNiSTBKiAii Movements. Among the passengers by the Rotorua for Wellington yesterday were Sir George Grey and the Hon. J. T. Fisher. Watebino thb Stbbets. — A special meeting of the new City Council will be held at 6.45 on Monday evening, for the purpose of adopting a resolution to make a separate rate for watering the streets. Municipal Elections. —The election of the new Christchurch City Council, and eleotion of members to fill vacancies in the Sydenham, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, and Ashburton Councils, took place yesterday. The results of the polling will be found in another part of this issue. The Strsz Mail. —Before the deputation which waited upon Ministers yesterday withdrew the Postmaster-General stated that ar- | rangements had been perfected by which the Su-z mail, on its arrival at the Bluff, would in future be conveyed by express mail train to Christchurch. Female VotebS.—At the municipal elections yesterday a number of female ratepayers exerci.eaihojr privilege of voting, for fho first «-i mo in Christchurch. Wateb Suptly.—The report submitted to the City Council by the water supply committee has been printed in pamphlet form for distribution among the citizens. The question of adopting the scheme reported on will be considered by the new Council. Colebidgb Election.—Mr Hart addressed the electors at Waterton on Wednesday evening, and received a vote of confidence. Mr John Grigg, who was present, made a telling speech against the Ministerial party, which was much applauded by the electors present. A meeting of the Coleridge electors was addressed by Mr E. G. Wright, at the Schoolroom, Greendale, on Tuesday evening, Mr McCrostie in the chair. At the conclusion of Mr Wright's address a vote of thanks and confidence was moved by Mr Budd, seconded by Mr Adams, and oarried unanimously. A New Theatbioaii Company. An American paper informs us that the Patti Concert Combination Company, comprising Carlotta Patti, Henri Kotton, pianist; Ernest de Munck, violoncellist ; Mr Phelps, tenor; Signor Ciampi Cellai, baritone, and Signor Fortuna, accompanyist, has been engaged by Mr Ohizzola for a concert tour around the world, commencing in New York the latter part of September. The company will give fifty concerts in the United States, and then go to Australia and New Zealand. Thb Late Jambs Paynb.—The widow of the late James Payne, the quarryman killed a "short time ago at Cameron Bros, quarry, Diamond Harbor, roceived yesterday the proceeds of the concert lately held for her and her children's benefit at port. The amount was £3B, and it was supplemented by a cheque for £ls from Mr H. P. Murray-Aynsley, paid through Mr George Agar. It had happened that Mr Murray-Aynsley held one of his election meetings in liyttelton a few days prior to the benefit entertainment taking place, and Mr Agar at the meeting, which was crowded, took the opportunity to dispose of some of the tickets. The case was thus made known to Mr Murray-Aynsley.

Acclimatisation Society.—A speoial meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday afternoon, in Cookson'e Commercial Hotel. The members present were Messrs J. B. Hill, Oarrick, Marshman, Acland, Farr (hon. sec), and Dr. Prankish. Mr J. R. Hill, in the absence of the president, occupied the chair. The object for which the meeting was called was the consideration of the distribution of trout, and the following localities and proportions were agreed upon : —The upper waters of the Waipara 500, the Cam 600, Ashley 1000, Heathcote above dam 500, Heathcote below dam 500, Little Biver 500, South Canterbury Acclimatisation society 2000, public streams in the Leeston district 1000, Kowai (Porter's Pass) 1000, Avon 1000, Oamaru Bociety, Jason's Creek 500, Mount Sunday creek 500, and Bangitata 500. Lincoln.—St. Stephen's Church was duly consecrated by the Most Beverend the Primate on Tuesday last. The service was held at 11 o'clock, and besides the Bishop there were present—Bevs. Stock or, Dunkley, Pascoe, and O'Callaghan, who, together with several members of the congregation, met the Bishop at the church door, when the request for the consecration was read by Bev. Dunkley. The service was full choral, and the local choir was augmented by a large number of the Prebbleton choir, under the leadership of Mr W. H. Comerford. His Lordship preaohed an impressive sermon, and afterwards administered the Holy Communion. In the evening the same choirs assisted, and the Bev. Stocker preached to a crowded congregation. Mr Ihos. A. Gates presided on both occasions at the American organ, and the anthems rendered were, in the morning, " Thine, O Lord, is the Greatness," and in the evening, "O, taste and see." Offertories wore made after each service towards the general expenses of the church. Comic Opeba Company.—This company, comprising twenty-seven members, left for Wellington yesterday in the s.s. Botorua, after a very successful run here with " H.M.S. Pinafore." The City Election.—The official declaration of the poll for the city took place at the Oddfellows' Hall yesterday. The figures as given were the same as those given the evening before. Successful and unsuccessful candidates addressed the assemblage, which was a very large one. A vote of thanks to the returning officer closed the proceedings. City Council Election.—The polling for the various wards of the city took placo yesterday, when there was but little excitement. The return of the successful candiditos appears elsewher*. Ewtebtainment. 2he usual quarterly entertainment in connection with St. Paul's Church Young Men's Society took place yesterday evening. There was a large attendance, the Rev. Mr Elmslie occupying the chair. An excellent programme, consisting of instrumental and vocal music, interspersed with readings and recitations, were gone through, the majority of the items being encored.

Theatbb Royal.—There was no change in Ihe bill last night. "Diplomacy" will bo repeated this evening for the last time, and to-morrow night "Tho Woman in White" will bo revived, with Mr Wybert Eeeve in his great character of Count Fosco. On Monday night Tom Taylor and Augustus Dubourg's great modern comedy, "New Men and Old Acres," will be produced with a cast including tho whole strength of the company. A Doubtful Compliment.—Tho Wellington journals (says the Masterton paper) class Mr Bunny ob " doubtful." It is only fair to admit that Mr Bunny fought his election as a Ministerialist, and we think when the House meets, and tho sheep and the goats go into their respective lobbies, Mr Bunny will bo found amongst the latter. The Mbmbeb tor Mabsbeh. —In his address to the electors Captain Colbeck, who was yesterday elected for Marsden, says ; " On the subject of party I cannot consent to be returned pledged the blind follower of either of the two at present forming the Ministry and tho Opposition, but I accept in its main features the policy shadowed forth in the Governor's speech at the opening of Parliament. Nevertheless, I do pledge myself to co-operate and work with the Auckland party, and do vaj beet to keep that a united body."

Changes of Pbrmiebs.— It is (says the " Australian ") rather odd that wo should see in Tasmania and in Now Zealand similar and almost simultaneous movements among the supporters of the Government to effect a change of Premiers without a change of Ministry. In New Zealand some of the staunchest supporters of the Government in Parliament and the press are quite willing to go on supporting it could they only expel Sir George Grey from office, and thus prevent him from dragging the Government to the ruin to which he is himself hastening. And in Tasmania a similar disgust exists with the the principles and management of the real Premier, Mr Roibey, and the ostensible Premier, Dr. Crowther. It seems difficult for tho failure of a Premier to be more complete and humiliating than it has become when his own colleagues and followers are anxious to set him aside, even on the terms of taking a leader from the opposite side of the House.

Football —The Eastern Club match on Saturday will bo the following Fifteen against an equal number of tho Christchurch Club_: — Messrs. Robinson, W. Joynt, Parker (captain), J. Wachsmann, Hnwke.s, H. Stringer, (J. Stringer, H. Keith, Johnstone, Kinvig, Martin, Dobson, Hales, Mayno, Kestevcn. Emergencies —A. Searell, Paul, Gilchrist. Play will commence at 2.30 p.m. on Cranmer square. Colors —Amber and black.

Two projects for inland seas just now attract attention in two widely-separated regions. One is the project advanced and advocated by General Fremont, Governor of Arizona, in the United States. He affirms that by tho removal of a barren ridge the waters of the Gulf of California could be removed into an ancient basin and create a navigable inland sea 200 miles long, 50 miles broad, and 300 feet deep. He claims that this piece of engineering would convert a region which is now perfectly desert into a commercial highway, and would greatly improve the climate of Southern Arizona and California. The other proposition is of older date, but seems now likely to bo seriously taken in hand. It appears from the sounding operations pursued under the guidance of Captain Roudaire, there is good reason for believing that an interior Algerian Sea may be created, with advantages resembling those claimed by Governor Fremont for his Californian scheme. I believe the fears entertained by some geographers, that the climate of Europe would suffer if any large inland sea were formed in Northern Africa, are entirely ill-founded. Indeed, it seems to me far more probable that the southern parts of Europe would profit very much by the ohange. It has not yet been shown that any benefit is derived from the existence of large arid tracts such as Sahara, Gobi, and so forth. Wherever such regionß can be covered with water to any considerable depth certain manifest advantages result, as the improvement in-the means of communication, the removal of the most noxious characteristics of winds blowing across such regions, and the like. I believe that no disadvantages likely to counterbalance these advantages likely to counterbalance these advantages are in the least likely to result, though, of course, the consideration that when the change has onco been effected, a hundred times the labor expended in producing it would not suffice to restore matters to their former condition, renders it necessary that very careful inquiry should be made before the barriers at present intervening between the sea and low-lying deserts are broken away or thrown down. There is one circumstance which has not yet, so far as I know, received much attention —the possibility, namely, that the introduction of water into widely extending regions which have long been dry, may to intense subterranean disturbances in certain parts of the submerged districts.—" Newcastle Chronicle." About the middle of June last a turtle was taken in the St. John's River, Florida, with the Spanish coat of arms and the date 1700 engraved upon his back. There was also inscribed in Spanish the sentence: "Caught in 1700, by Hernando Gomez, in the St. Sebastian, and was carried to Matanzas by Indiana ; from there to the Great Wekiva." The "Great Wekiva" is the name by which the St. John's River was formerly known. The turtle was put back into the river with the added inscription : "Eastern Herald," Palatka, Florida, 1879."