NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1775, 28 October 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Cook Steaits Cable.—At present no definite intelligence is obtainable as* to the prospect of communication being restored on the old Cook Straits cable. The public are in the meanwhile dependent on the single wire cable for all Northern intelligence. All that is known so far of the operations .on the disabled cable is that the steamer Agnes is at work in the Straits and communicates occasionally with the shore, but the weather has lately been too rough for any great progress to bp made. The Lincoln Eoad,—The works committee of the Oily Council have decided to make an inspection of the Lincoln road, to see what steps are necessary to put it into a proper state of repair. They have also determined on filling up an open ditch on the South town belt—a very necessary work. Cbiminal Assault, John Davis was charged at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday with criminally assaulting an unmarried female. After hearing the evidence, which was unfit for publication, the Bench dismissed the case.

Christchurch Magistrate's Court.— At this Court this morning, James Schrader, was fined 20s for using obscene language ■within public hearing and 10s for being drunk. Edwin Pilcher was charged with failing to provide his wife and child with proper means of support. The evidence of the defendant’s wife, who seemed to be suffering from illness, was to the effect that her husband had not contributed anything for the maintenance of herself and child for months past. He would not work, but loafed on her and her earnings, which were small, owing to her ill-health. When he could not extort money from her he beat her and knocked her about. He had threatened to choke her and burn the house over her head. His Worship said hard labor and imprisonment would do the accused good, but for the sake of his wife and child he would give him a chance to provide for them. If he did not do so he would be imprisoned. He Jwould, however, bind him over to keep the peace for six months, or in default would give him a month’s imprisonment. Mr Mellish was on the Bench. The Metropolitan Meeting. The course is beginning to got quite lively of a morning now, visitors being daily more numerous. All the teams are doing steady work, and so far, wonderfully few animals have gone amiss. The forthcoming meeting promises to be unusually successful, as the number of horses in work is far in excess of former seasons. At present Betrayer and Hornby are the most fancied for the Derby, and Maritana and Fishhook for the Handicap. Sydenham Borough Council. The usual fortnightly meeting of this Council wns held last night. The proceedings are reported in another column.

Bahbadoes Street Bridge. —The City Council have determined to expend £35 in improving the footpath and roadway at the corner of Barbadoes street, near the Star and Garter Hotel, so as to prevent the possibility of accident, which now exists.

Private Streets. —The City Council, at their meeting last night, passed a resolution with regard to private streets, providing that in future the owner of the property shall, before any building is erected, have the streets formed, metalled, channelled, and asphalted. English Opera Company. —The English Opera Company will resume possession of the stage of the Theatre Royal this evening. In consequence of its success on Saturday night, “Maritana” will bo repeated to-night and tomorrow night, when it will be withdrawn for other operas. The Deed FobGehy. —The charge against Saunders, Manning, and James, implicated in the forgery of a deed of conveyance, is to he heard in Timaru. The two latter have been remanded by tho Timaru Bench to the 4th of November, and Saunders, when next brought up, will also be remanded to Timaru. Suburban Drainage. A deputation of members of tho Sydenham Borough Council and chairman of the Road Boards of the Heathcote, Avon, Spreydon, and Riccarton Districts will wait on the Drainage Board at their next meeting, to discuss matters in connection with suburban drainage. Accident at Oxford. —A painful accr dent happened ’to a man named Garrick, yesterday, while he was assisting to split a log in the above locality. He was holding the log with one hand, when the axe being used at the time slipped, and cut off two of his fingers. The poor fellow had to walk seven miles to obtain medical aid. He was then attended by Dr. Rees, who operated skilfully on the wounded hand.

Assaulting a Ship’s Offices. —At the Lyttelton Court yesterday, before Messrs Beswick and Potts, John Surrey and Daniel Collins, on remand, were charged with assaulting the third officer of the ship Rangitiki on October 21st. Mr Joyce appeared for the master of the ship, Mr O’Neil for the prisoners. The evidence of several witnesses having been taken, which showed that the assault was not a serious one, the Bench considered the third mate to blame in using the intemperate language he did. An assault had benn committed, but under the circumstances only a slight punishment would be inflicted, namely, forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. Sundat School Union. —A special meeting of the committee of the Sunday School Union was held last evening for the purpose of forming a Sunday School Teachers’ Institute. The following schools were represented :—Wesleyan, Durham street, Knightstown; Congregational, Manchester street, Phillipstown, Perry road ; U. Methodist, St. Asaph, Colombo road ; Primitive Methodist, Cambridge terrace ; Baptist, Oxford terrace; and St. Paul’s. It was resolved—“ That the meeting sanction the formation of a Teachers’ Institute, to bo called the New Zealand Sunday School Teachers’ Institute.” A committee was appointed to draw up rules and regulations, and to report at the next monthly meeting. Mbs Walter Hill’s Benefit. —There was a very good house at the Theatre Royal last night, the performance being for the benefit of Mrs Walter Hill, The programme comprised the good old farce of the “ Spectre Bridegroom ; ” scenes from Sheridan Knowles’ play “ The Hunchback ; ” a dancing act entitled “ Legmania ; ” and the melodrama, “ The Seven Clerks.” The characters in each piece were sustained by the members of the Foresters’ Dramatic Society, strengthened by the appearance of Mrs W. Hill and Miss Lily May in the female characters. Mrs Hill' gave an admirable representation of Julia, in tha “Hunchback,” playing with her well known ability. She was equally successful as Yictorine in “ The Seven Clerks,” her exertions mainly contributing to the success of this somewhat antediluvian play. Miss Lily May was arch and piquante as Helen. The male characters were sustained with more or leas success by the members of of the Amateur Dramatic Society.

Board or College Governors. —The ordinary meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College was fixed for yesterday at throe o’clock. There were present at the appointed hour the following members :—Mr 3?. de C. Malet (in the chair), the Most Bev. the Primate, Messrs H. J. Tanorod, W. Beeves, W. J. W. Hamilton, Dr. Coward, and the Bev. O. Fraser. There required to bo another present to form a quorum, and, after waiting the usual time, the chairman declared' the meeting to have lapsed. Municipal Designs.— At last night’s meeting of the City Council a letter was received from one of the competitors in Invercargill, stating that he had had his plans examined by a leading builder there, who gave it as his opinion that the |cost would not exceed £IB,OOO. He therefore claimed the premium or compensation for his labor, otherwise he should take legal proceedings. The Council have decided to exhibit the two designs, “ Avon ” and “Well Considered,” which they intend submitting to the ratepayers. Tub Domain Gardens. —The gardens are now beginning to exhibit all the beauties of advanced spring time, and attract numbers to their shady walks and pleasant lounges every day in the week ; visitors to Christchurch, of whom there have been a good many recently, being regular in their attendance. The condition of the gardens generally is very much improved since last year, the paths being in a capital state, and the garden beds, shrubs and hedges, bear evidence of much patient industry and skill on the part of Mr Armstrong, the curator. Accident at Leeston.—A very painful accident occurred to Mrs John McConkey, of Lakeside, on Friday. Mrs McConkey, who was driving a horse and trap to Leeston, had occasion to get down and open a gate, and whilst she was loading her horse through the wind caught the gate, and brought it with such force against her left arm as to dislocate her shoulder. With much trouble she got to Leeston, and after about two hours waiting got the limb set by an amateur (Dr, Chapman being away), but finally had to go to Christchurch to get it attended to. Ebview Committee. —A meeting of the review committee was held last night at Oookson’s Commercial Hole), Major Lean in the chair. The report of the committee appointed to ascertain what accommodation was available was brought up and considered. It was stated that 1000 officers and men could be billetted in the various hotels during the review. The following were appointed a committee to canvass the city for subscriptions towards defraying the cost of entertaining volunteer visitors :—Major Loan, Captains Hawkes, Craig, and Warner, Lieuts. Wolfe, Appleby, Strange, and Francis, Serjeants McGuinness, Fox, Hill, and Francis, to report in a month. The meeting then adjourned. Bewi’S Hoesb. —The Wellington correspondent of the Taranaki “Herald” telegraphed :— Among other interesting items of expenditure it appears that, during the visit of Eewi to Waitara, a horse was purchased for him by a Government agent for the sum of £6O.

Cricket Fixtures. —On Saturday next two matches between the United and Midland Clubs —non-association teams—will be commenced. The United teams are as follows :—On the Midland ground—Messrs Baker, Dawe, W. G. Cotterill, Horwood, Milton, Morgan, Nalder, Perceval, Sheath, A. E. Smith, and H. S. Smith. On the United ground—Messrs Brittan, Easton, Harvey, Herbert, Frost, Moares, Paul, Peter (captain), E. J. Boss, Whitcombe, and Wood. Both matches will be commenced at 2 p.m., and members are requested to be punctual, or their places will be filled up. The South Town Belt.—A conference will be held next Friday evening at the City Council Chamber between the Christchurch City Council and the Sydenham Borough Council to bring matters to an issue on the question of the South town belt.