NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1772, 24 October 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The San Fbancisco Mail. —The Taiaroa, with the San Francisco mail, arrived at Wellington at four o’clock this morning. The mail was transhipped to the s.s. Hawea, which left Wellington to-day at 12 30, and will be due in Lyttelton to-morrow morning early. The Rangitikei. —As will be seen by reference to our shipping column, this fine vessel arrived this morning from Plymouth, after a passage of ninety-seven days. She brings fifteen saloon passengers and 333 Government immigrants. .All the immigrants are reported as well. Nothing was seen of the overdue ahip Knowsloy Hall. Matrimonial Squabbles. —At the Lytte - ton Magistrate’s Court, Mr Nioholls, who arrested last week for knocking his wife down in front of the Post-office, and in whoso case an adjournment had been granted to allow the parties time to arrange to separate, was brought up again to-day. Mrs Nicho ls said that all should be forgiven or forgotten, provided her husband would behave himself and keep from drink. The Bench, in consideration, postponed the case for a month, Resident Magistrate’s Court. —At tho Court, to-day, John Davis, accused of rape, was remanded to tho 27th instant. William Smith pleaded guilty to embezzling three sums of money from George Bull, and was sentenced to throe months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. Diocesan Sunday School Association. The annual meeting for the election of officers, etc, will be hold at S. Michael’s schoolroom, on Monday evening next, the 27th instant, at eight o’clock. Papers on Sunday school work will be read by tho Rev. H. B. Cocks and Mr T. M. Gee. Immediately preceding the meeting there will be a service at S. Michael's for teachers and others, at 7 30. Dioeamio Exhibition. —As will be seen by advertisement in ano'h-r column] t'iere will be opened to-morrow night, on the premises opposite Carl’s Empire Hotel, the “ Grand Cosmopolital Dioramic Exhibition of all the celebrated characters and views of the principal towns and cities of the world ; likewise, several great battle scenes of the RussoTurkish war.” A Delicate Compliment. Professor Augustus Wilhelmj, the first of living violinists, has recently made a starring tour through the United States, during which he appears to have achieved an extraordinary popularity with Uncle Sam’s more primitive and unsophisticated subjects in the Far West. A few days ago his family, resident in Wiesbaden, was agreeably surprised by the advent of a huge packing case, hailing from Omaha, in the State of Nebraska, and containing a handsomely framed copy of a picture representing the professor and tho renowned Sioux chief She-rar-wot-cowy (“ He-who-first-hita-out”), surrounded by the near relatives of the latter exalted personage. A letter accompanying this pictorial gift informed its recipients that ‘‘the great Indian warrior had implored Sha-his-ta-ka-ahush-ta-rook-tu-ra-he (the chief who stirs the heart with music) to have his portrait taken in a group with his dusky host and family, and that Sha-hia-ta, &e., &c., had benevolently consented to perpetuate the evidence of his friendship with She-rar-wot-cowy in tho manner desired.” Professor Wilhelmj may congratulate himself upon the possession of his new title. What more delicate flattery could be administered to an eminent executant artiste than to stylo him “ The chief who stirs the heart with music.”

A Good Work. —Miss Eye has just made her thirty-second voyage across the Atlantic with a cargo of street waifs—girls collected from the highways of London. Those girls are taken to Canada, and placed in respectable families. The work has been carried on for about ten years. Poor Man ! —A candid confession is made by a writer in the Manawatu “ Times.” In the course of an article on Sir William Eox and licensing, he says :—“ We do not know whether Sir William Pox has been ever unfortunate enough to be tho victim of the degrading vice he holds in such abhorrence. With shame and humiliation we confess me have. In fact we have not sufficient presumption to say that of ourselves alone we would never again succumb to the weakness.”

The Spread of Lunacy. —lt would appear that lunacy is spreading in the mother country as well as in the colonies. The causes of the increase are said to bo intemperance, vicissitudes and greater mental strain endured in the competition caused by modern civilization. It is estimated that on the Ist of January, 1879, there were 70,824 persons in England and Wales who needed the protection of the lunacy laws. It appears, therefore, that while the population has increased at the rate of 45 per cent., the number of lunatics in detention has risen at the rate of 250 per cent. Crownless and Napless.— An old hat belonging to Napoleon I. was recently advertised for sale in Paris. We shouldn’t think it would bring much, says a contemporary, as both the Nap. and crown aro gone. Severe. —“Truth” is responsible for the following :—“ At the French Bazaar in tho Albert Hall, a lady was dispensing tea. A solemn gentleman approached and asked the price of a cup. ‘ One shilling,’ replied the lady, and ho put down a shilling. Before handing him the cup the lady raised it to her lips, and observed that the price was now a sovereign. The solemn gentleman gravely replaced his shilling with a sovereign, andsaid, ‘Be good enough to give me a clean cup.’ ” A Row in the House. —Apassage-at-arms, says a Wellington contemporary, in which something more substantial than verbal abuse was exchanged, took place in the lobbies of the Rouse of Representatives the other night. A certain member taunted another with breaking his hustings pledges, on which memNo. 2 replied that he was astounded at the impudence of member No. I—a wretched little grocer like him, indeed ! —venturing to address him , one of the distinguished family of , and that if he dared to repeat his impertinence he would knock head off. Member No. 1 promptly made a defiant rejoiner, on which member No. 2 proceeded to fulfil his threat to the extent at least of punching his No. I’s head, knocking his hat down over his eyes, and then snatching it off and tossing it into a pail of water. At this stage some other legislators interposed, and bloodshed was providentially averted. Mb Tubnbrelli. Many people, says “Mayfair,” have puzzled themselves in these latter days about the origin of the name Turnerelli. It is very simdla. Tracy’s father was Mr George Turner, a gentleman who travelled much in Italy, and who gained thereby a good knowledge of Italian. In playful moment, the Italian diminutive was applied to Tracy, and so stuck to him that he kept it. Tracy Turnerelli is therefore none other than little Tracy Turner. Tracy is an indefatigible correspondent of newspauars. When he takes an outing at the seaside or elsewhere he begins to look about him, and if ho detects a weakness in tho Tillage pump, or a malodorous smell from a drain he very soon made the fact known through the columns of the local paper. There is a good story told of Tracy, which has not very remote bearing on the now historic wreath. Once, when travelling in Russia, he made some sketches, which found their way to the Czar, by what channel I am unable to say. His Majesty liked tho sketches, and Tracy received tho “ courteous recognition ” of a diamond ring. Tracey had the sketches engraved, and Imperial condescension again was manifest in a diamond ring. Last of all the indomitable Tracy published a boot, very clever, no doubt, and at any rate very flattering to Russia, and the ineviatablo diamond reappeared for the third time. Ashburton Volunteers. —Tho Ashburton volunteers were inspected on Wednesday night by Colonel Packe. Fifty-two men paraded, with tho full complement of officers. Colonel Packe expressed himself highly pleased with the men’s appearance, drill and discipline. Ho said the corps was under a deep debt of gratitude to tho Mayor of Ashburton for the use of his excellent grain shed for drilling purposes. He also complimented the corps on the possession of an excellent band. A. and P. Show.— lntending exhibitors at the annual November show of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association must make their entries not later than 4 p.m. on Friday, the 3lst inst. An additional prize of £6 6s is offered by Mr T. S. Tancred, fer best Engliah-Leicester ewes under eighteen months old.

The Ghost.—Professor Jonas’ spectroscopic exhibition was well attended last night, when the programme of the preceding evening was repeated. The season closes on Saturday.

Christchurch Business Directory.— A handy Christchurch Mercantile Directory and Calendar for the year 1880 has been compiled and published by the proprietor, Mr T. Burton. It will bo found very convenient for reference to business men, as it comprises the names and addresses of most of the mercantile firms in the city. The Directory is in the form of a handsome showcard, and forms an ornamental as well as a useful accessory to an office. Sailway Band. —This band gave the second of their very enjoyable open air performances last evening near the Godley statue. The evening being beautifully fine, there was a very large attendance of the public. The various items on the programme were rendered with groat success by the band, who certainly deserve the thanks of the citizens for providing so agreeable a manner of spending the summer evenings. Chess Club. The Christchurch Chess Club mot last evening, when the action taken at the last special meeting was fully commented on, and the resolutions passed thereat were rescinded. A motion was made to dissolve tho club, but this was negatived by a large majority. A report of the proceedings will be found in another column. Mrs Hill’s Benefit. —The benefit tendered to Mrs Walter Hill by tho Foresters’ Dramatic Society, which takes place at tho Theatre Royal, on Monday evening, promises to bo a groat success. A largo number of tickets have been sold, and the programme being so varied will, no doubt, attract a crowded house on the occasion, Rangiora Borough Council. The nominations for this Council on Thursday were —Messrs W. A. Burt and B. Ellis. The election is expected to be keenly contested at the poll. Volunteer Parade. —The City Guards assembled for their weekly parade at the Drill Shod yesterday evening. Tho men were put through a number of company movements by Lieutenant Wolfe, and subsequently went for a ten-mile march. It is proposed to make these long marches customary, tho next in contemplation being over the Port hills. Next week the first rifle match of the season, for 500 rounds of ammunition, will take place, teams to bo chosen by Lieutenant Wolfe and Sub-Lieutenant Francis.

Mkrivalk. —The inauguration service of St. Mary’s Communicants’ Society will be held in the church this evening at 7.30. Cricket Fixtures. —The St. Albans Club will play against the Richmond Club on Saturday next, on the ground of the former. On the same day the second eleven of the Ellesmere cricket association will play the second eleven of the Woolston Club on the ground of the former at Leeston. Oxford Dramatic Grub. —The Oxford Amateur Dramatic Club, having secured the valuable aid of Mrs Walter Hill and her daughters, will give a performance at the East Oxford Town Hall on Monday, November 3rd. " Milky White ” and “ A Silent Woman” will constitute the evening’s entertainment. Angling Society. —A general meeting of the members of the Canterbury Angling Society will be held at the Commercial Hotel this evening, for the consideration of rules, &c.