NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1737, 13 September 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colombo Road Wesleyan Church,— The Rev. J. S. Smalley will conduct services to-morrow, A special sermon to the young will be preached in tho morning, and a temperance sermon in the evening.

Bible Christians. —To-morrow evening, in the Templar Hall, Worcester street, the Rev. W. H. Keast will conduct an evangelistic service. Subject “Jesus.” The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will follow, and mem bers’ ticket* we be renewed. The member* of the Church are specially invited.

The Rising Generation. —There must be some matter-of-fact youths in a certain discussion class in Auckland. A paper was lately read before the members on “The Poetry of Peasant Life,” in which the works of Bloomfield and Clare were considered. In criticising the essay, one of tho members, says the “ Star,” could not for the life of him see any comparison between a blooming country girl and "a rose-bud ; and another could not understand how daisies oould be designated the ‘children of the sun.’ ”

Cutting ! —Wo, says the Napier “ Telegraph,” do not know from which scholastic establishment the children came to the theatre on Saturday night, but that they went there for the purpose of making a disturbance ; that they had been well instructed how to be an annoyance, there can be no doubt. We recognised some of the children, and wo compliment their instructors. It is all over now, so we need not mention names. But it had better not happen again. City Council. —Arrangements are being made at the City Council Chamber to accommodate the increased number of members returned, owing to the city being divided into wards. More comfortable and convenient arrangements are also being made for the reporters.

Street Tramway. —The station erected by the Street Tramway Company at the east of the Cathedral is now quite completed, office fittings and everything included. The work of laying the tram will in all probability be commenced during the spring, the delay hitherto having been occasioned by the nonarrival of part of the plant.

Babbadoes street Bridge. —This bridge is now almost completed. It is a substantial structure, and one which will bear favorable comparison with others iu the town, although costing less than some. All that remains to bo done is the flooring and a portion of the masonry above the banks, which, together with the approaches, will soon be accomplished. Tho work has been carried out under the superintendence of the city surveyor.

The Hospital. —The question of appointing a resident surgeon for the Christchurch Hospital will corns on for consideration at tho next meeting of the Charitable Aid Board, to be held on Wednesday, the Mayor of Christchurch having given notice of a motion that snoh an appointment be made. Mr Ick has, in the meantime, taken the trouble to acquire information as to the working of similar institutions in this respect at places in the Australian colonies and in New Zealand.

Oddfellowship. —There will be a Grand Lodge meeting in connection with the American order of Oddfellows next week, this being the first time that the moveable session, as it is called, has been hold in Christchurch. Mr R. T. Wheeler, Grand Master for New* Zealand, will arrive on Monday, when tho lodge will open, tho first meeting being occupied in granting tho degree to those representatives who have not attended previously, and generally disposing of preliminary business, preparatory to commencing the important work of the session on Tuesday. A banquet in connection with tho inotitution will be held on Wednesday next.

Thu Elections. —The elections for ColHngwood and Wakatipu took place yesterday. The only two districts in which the poll has yet to be taken are Gladstone and Coleridge, and in these the decision of the electors will be ascertained on Monday. A further election will subsequently have to be held for whichever of the two seats at present occupied by him the Premier may determine to vacate. With respect to the Eastern and Northern Maori districts, for which our latest telegrams stated that Henare Tamoana and Mohi Tawhai were respectively leading by such a large majority as to render their election certain, there seems to be considerable conflict in the telegraphic intelligence furnished to the different journals. The stated result must not therefore be taken as absolutely certain until the official declaration of the poll. The Druids. —A meeting of the Hope of St. Albans Lodge was held in the Caledonian Hotel, for the purpose of electing a medical officer, but owing to the small attendance of members the election was deferred until Wednesday next, when a general meeting will be, held. An adjourned general meeting of the Mistletoe Lodge was held at the Star and Garter last night; Bro. Oppenheim, D.P., occupied the chair. Several members of the Pioneer Lodge were present. Bro. Oppenheim gave a full explanation of the objects and working of the order. Bro. Willstoad, secretary of the Pioneer Lodge, gave some statistics on the position of the order in Australia. The appointment of doctor was left until next meeting. It was stated there were already forty-six members on the roll. The opening of the new lodge was expected to take place on Thursday, October 2nd. After some questions had been disposed of, and a vote of thanks passed to the chairman, the meeting adjourned. Ashburton B.M. Court. —At this Court yesterday, Michael John O’Connor was sentenced to three months for vagrancy, and several civil cases wore disposed of. Theatre Royal. —“ Diplomacy” was repeated last night, being its final performance. This evening “ The Woman in White” will be produced, in which Mr Wybert Reeve will appear as Count Fosco, Miss Beatrice as Marian Haloombe, and Miss Ada Lester in the dual character of Laura Fairlie and Anne Catherick,

Diphtheria at Pbbbblhton.— Diphtheria of a malignant character is prevalent in this township. Three cases (children of Mr Phillips), have proved fatal, and several fresh cases are reported to tho Local Board of Health, It may be well to draw attention to the 28th clause of the Public Health Act, 1876, which makes it compulsory on any householder, knowing that any infectious disease exists in his house, to immediately give notice thereof to the Local Board of Health of tho district in which he dwells. The penalty for not complying with this clause is a sum not exoeeding £lO. Leg At. —His Honor Mr Justice Johnston sat in the Court Ohambere yesterday, when a very curious case was beard. It arose out of a rule nisi granted by his Honor, calling upon the Resident Magistrate at Ashburton to show cause why he should not be prohibited from proceeding further in an interpleader summons, issued in the case of Friedlander Bros., execution creditore, and George Coulter, claimant. The execution creditors had distrained upon the property of the claimant, as he alleged, wrongfully, he not being mentioned in the plaint summons or affidavit of service upon which the warrant was issued. Mr O’Reilly, who appeared for tho claimant and the Resident Magistrate, submitted that on the affidavits before tho Court there was no proof that the George Coulter mentioned in the warrant of distress, was the claimant. After argument, Mr Joynt appearing contra. His Honor, while admitting that it was a case of greit hardship, and the proper remedy lay in suing tho execution creditors for damages, made the rule nisi absolute, but without costs.

Bicycle Omni.—On Thursday, the 10th instant, the first annual meeting of tho Pioneer Bicycle Club was held at the headquarters, a fair number of members being present. The business of the evening was chiefly to elect officers for the ensuing year. For the office of captain Messrs Dudley and Clarke were proposed, but the former was elected by a majority of five. Mr Clarke was then appointed sub-captain. The other officers wore re-elected, with the exception of Mr Soarell, who succeeded Mr Dudley on the committee. The officers for the present year are as follows -.—B. O. J. Stevens, Esq., M.H.R., president; Mr Dudley, captain ; Mr Clarke, sub-captain ; Mr E. O. Farr, secretary and treasurer; Messrs Hobday, Searell, Dumarcsq, Applegate, and Gough, on the committee. Mr Isaac Wilson was proposed and elected a member of the club. The bylaws and regulations proposed by the late committee were unanimously agreed to. Mr Evans proposed, and Mr A’Court seconded the following motion :—“ That a club handicap race of five miles be run on the 11th Got. next. The secretary to handicap the members according to the diameters of the driving wheels of their machines.” Mr Applegate proposed, and Mr Searell seconded—“ That it bo compulsory for every active member to attend the club runs at least once a month.” The motion was agreed to. It was then agreed that the place of meeting for the runs of the ensuing month shall be at the new Post Office instead of the Commercial Hotel as heretofore. A vote of thanks to the late officers brought the meeting to a close. Results of the Elections. —We (“ Ximaru Herald”) are perfectly convinced that, throwing out all doubtful men, tho Opposition are at this moment in an actual majority, which will be increased before the general election is over. Even if they were to he slightly in a minority, however, they would still be tho superior party for two reason*. Firstly, they are united, while the Government party are divided into Greyitee and Independent “Liberals.” Secondly,they include nearly all tho debating power and most of the political character and experience of the House. A really strong Ministry might well dread an Opposition comprising the Hon. John Hall, Mr Ormond, Mr Stevens, Major Atkinson, Mr Moorhouse, Mr Bryce, Mr Rolleston, Mr Bowen, Mr Saunders, Mr Wakefield, Mr Dick, Mr Oliver, Mr Johnston, Mr McLean, and—by no means the least formidable pair —Mr Whitaker, junior, and Mr Vincent Pyke. We may have omitted many others who may prove to be as powerful, in one way or another, a* any of these ; but these are quite sufficient by themselves to form the nucleus of a party capable of holding almost any Government in check. A Government which cannot possibly—accepting their own most sanguine calculations—have a majority of more than three or four, and who have not half a dozen really able men among them, could no more face them with any hope of success, than a party of Zulus could stand against an equal number of Grenadier Guards. Mb Hast at Kowai Pabs. —Mr Hart addressed the electors of the Eowsi Pass and Russell’s Flat district at Davies’ Hotel on Thursday evening. The room was well filled, about eighty persons being present. Mr J, D. Enys was elected chairman. Tho substance of Mr Hart’s speech was similar to that be delivered at Waddington. In answer to a question regarding the immigration of Chinese, Mr Hart said that he should be sorry to see this country in the same state as British Columbia, where the Chinese amounted to one-fifth of the whole papulation. Ho considered that a poll tax should be levied on them, so that they should contribute to the revenue of the country equally with Europeans. Being aliens, they sent all their money away, and contributed very little to the revenue, owing to their manner of living. A poll tax would get at them in a manner they could not evade, A Stranger—Will you support a Bill to repress immigration ? Mr Hart—l should be very sorry to say that I would, but I may say this, that I consider immigrants arrive here at very inopportune times, I mean in the winter, when labor is scarce ; but we have only four or five hundred thousand inhabitants in this country, whereas the resources of the country, if developed, would support some millions. An Elector—Are you in favor of giving every man a vote ? Mr Hart—l think nearly every man in the country is entitled to vote, and those who are not are mostly of the thriftless class ; but I think that if a man were allowed to register at all times during tho year this question would not arise. Would you give Chinamen a vote? Mr Hart— Certainly not. Are you in favor of free trade ? I am in favor »f free trade as far as possible in this country, but think that native industries should have a certain amount of protection. Mr Colthart—Do you consider the present Trespass of Cattle Ordinance satisfactory P Mr Hart—l cannot say that lam well versed in that Ordinance. Mr Colthart—By that Act, a runholder can from unfenced land impound cattle and receive mileage fees and recover for damages, whereas a farmer cannot impound the runholder’s sheep without he has a legal fence, nor recover for damages. Is that just ? Mr Hart—There are various anomalies and inconsistencies in many of the Ordinances. Those will be readjusted by fresh legislation, but I think it a pity these cannot be put right by the local governments, such as County Councils, &o. Mr Colthart— I can scarcely see an answer in that. Do you consider that a fair clause ? I’m not particular whether you answer my question or not, but I don’t wish the meeting to go away with the idea that I am answered. Mr Hart—l don’t think it is a fair clause. Questions regarding the West Coast railway, the water race and the education question and several others were answered by Mr Hart to the satisfaction of the meeting, Mr Colthart moved a vote of thanks to Mr Hart for his address. This being seconded by Mr Shanks, was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to tho chairman terminated the meeting.

Thb Maoris at Gebaldinb. The “Timaru Herald” of Thursday says:—The inhabitants of this part of the colony had a fine opportunity on Tuesday of observing the operation of the dual Maori vote, for no fewer than nine “colored brudders” came to the poll to vote against Mr Wakefield, by right of their tribal interest in the Native reserves on the Temuka Island. They did not even know the name of the Government candidate, and found some difficulty in acquiring any glimmering of intelligence as to who was who or what the whole thing meant. But they were fully alive to the fact that the Native Minister had sent a telegram telling them to vote for Henare something, and that was quite enough for them. Their vote was just as good as anybody else’s, though they pay no rates or land tax, and though they had exorcised one vote already in the election of Ihaia Tainui, in which no European could take part. It is a nice state of affairs certainly, when an election in a Middle Island district, where no question affecting Natives ceuld possibly bs agitated, is influenced, nevertheless, by the vote of Maoris under the direct instruction of the Native Office. Eiccarton Cricket Club.— The annual meeting of the Eiccarton Cricket Club will be held on Tuesday evening aext, at 7.30 p.m., in the old achoolromn. Canterbury Cricket Club. —The United Canterbury Cricket Club will hold its annual general meeting at the Commercial Hotel at 8 p.m,, on Tuesday next.

Thb West Coast Native Difficulty.— In a leading article on tlio preaent aspect of the Satire difficulty, the “ Taranaki Herald” •ays ; —We do not think Mr Sheehan is the right man to deal with a difficulty like this, where cool judgment and steady nerve is required, combined with rapid organising power. It is evident, however, that decisive action is now necessary. To bo effective it should be quick, and so strong as to place it beyond the ordinary chances of failure. That it should happen in the midst of a dissolution is very unfortunate, but that responsibility rests on Sir Qeprge Grey, who advised an appeal to the country. The Native difficulty, we are sorry to say, is not over j peace has not at last been established ; and we fear that before utterance can honestly be given to such words again, much money will be expended on defence purposes, to overawe the spirit of disaffection which seems to be spreading over the North Island.

Thb Railway Hbad quaetees. —ls it worth while (asks the Dunedin “ Herald ”) for Dunedin further to agitate the railway head-quarters question. We think not, if the present Ministry remain in power; but then they will not. It will be seen from our telegrams that the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce yesterday waited upon Sir George Grey and Messrs Macandrew and Fisher, to learn their intentions with respect to this important question. They were assured that the matter would be fully considered by the Cabinet in due course, and would bo determined solely with reference to the most efficient working of the railways. This is fair enough ; but, unfortunately, it does not quite tally with Mr Macandrew’s reply to the deputation from our own Chamber of Commerce, which recently interviewed him. He, it will be remembered, promised to decide the matter in accordance with the recommendations of Mr Conyers' report, and gave, as the principal reason for not at once expressing his intentions, the fact that he had not had time to fully peruse that lengthy document. But, as we have said, the play is hardly worth the candle, if Sir George Grey is to continue chief actor. Even if our present claim is considered greater than that ot Christchurch —and undoubtedly it is so — and Mr Conyers returns to his first love, Dunedin, all the bitterness of a second parting must shortly be endured again. Christchurch’s new member, Sir George Grey, was good enough to inform the deputation that, whatever the present result of their consideration of the question may be, yet when the West Coast railway is completed, Christchurch must of necessity be the centre of the railway system of the Middle Island. Would it not then be cruel to bring Mr Conyers back, only to make him undergo another painful separation ? Had we not better give him up once and for ever ? A happy thought here strikes us. What and if the railway to the West Coast should after all go, not by the Canterbury route, but by the Otago one P W hat about the head-quarters then ? And stranger things than this have come to pass, Sir George. But we shall see. Victoria toms Troupe. —Owing to the success of this company in Wellington, their advent at the Gaiety Theatre has _ been postponed for a week longer. They will probably open here about the 21th inst.