NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1789, 14 November 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Resident Magistrate’s Court.—At the Court to-day Thomas Vaughan wag charged with playing an unlawful game called “ roulette ” oc the racecourse on the 13th inst. Detective O’Neil explained to the Bench the nature of the game. He saw the accused take three pools in succession, and when arrested he had more than £l9 in his possession. The Bench had no doubt of the illegality of the act, that it was a deliberately planned swindle, and that the machine was so constituted as to enable the accused to manipulate it in any manner he thought proper to his own advantage. The case being brought forward under the Vagrant Act, the Bench had no option of indicting a fine. The accused was, therefore, sentenced to fourteen days imprisonment with hard labor.

Pigeon Flying.—Two races, under the auspices of the East Christchurch Pigeon Flying Club, took place on Wednesday, the 12th instant, as follows :—Birthday Stakes, flown from Timaru: Resulted in Mr Rees’ Checkmate taking first place ; time, 2h. 9min.; Mr Hicks’ First King, second; time, 2h. 18min.; and Mr Foulkes’ Blue Gown, third ; time, 2h. 22min. Junior Race, for birds hatched since August Ist., flown from Rolleston : Resulted in Mr Harrison’s Fleur-de-lys taking first prize ; time, 21Jmin - ; Mr Hicks’ Lady Bird, second; time, and Don, third ; time, 25J min. The club take this opportunity of thanking Mr Dale, of Timaru, for the efficient and able manner in which he acted as starter; also, Mr W. Earnshaw, tho hon. sec., for the time and trouble ho has taken to get the members to start their birds, so as to make the events a success. The Druids.—The fortnightly meeting of the Mistletoe Lodge was held last evening at their Lodge-room, Star and Garter Hotel. There was a fair attendance of visitors from the sister lodges. Bight members were initiated, which brings the strength of this lodge up to between seventy and eighty. Several candidates wore proposed for membership. It was announced fay the secretary that no more members would be received on the reduced rate of entrance fees. Some routine business having been disposed of, tho lodge closed in due form. Theatrical, —Mr D’Orsay Ogden having taken a lease of the Gaiety Theatre for a term, intends making considerable improvements in tho building and accessaries, so as to enable the audience to spend an evening there comfortably. It is probable that the present gallery will he '•onvertod into a dress circle, and other much needed alterations will also be carried out. Mr Ogdon intends putting on during his term a series of light comedies and burlesques, and with that view will add to the strength of the company now performing at the Gaiety. Grand National Steeple chase Club.— At a special general meeting of the club held last night, at the Commercial Hotel, it was decided to hold the next annual meeting on the Christchurch course, subject [to the permission of the 0.J.0. Woollen Goods.—Wo have received the following memorandum from the agent of the Mosgiel Factory :—“ln the exhibits of manufactured New Zealand goods, it is stated in your paper that the Eaiapoi Factory got a prize of a silver medal. This is not tho case, as the Mosgiel Woollen Factory took all the prizes.—Neil Black, Agent Mosgiel Factory.’’

Oddfellows’ Hall.—Tho Juvonile Troubadours gave their concluding performance last night in the Oddfellows’ Hall, the programme remaining unchanged. Thera was a very good attendance, and “ Milky White ” and “ Patchwork ” gave great satisfaction. The company proceed to Dunedin, where they will appear on Saturday night. They will pay a final visit to Christchurch before leaving New Zealand.

Harmonic Society. Last night the Christchurch Harmonic Society gave a rehearsal of the programme of their next concert, consisting of Rombey’s “ Lay of tho Bell,” and part songs and overtures. It was intended to have had the concert this evening in St. Michael’s schoolroom, under the patronage of his Excellency the Governor, who had promised to attend, hut owing to the inclemency of tho weather and the absence of several instrumentalists, with the other attractions incidental to the race week, it was deemed advisable to postpone tho entertainment until this night week. Entertainment. —A literary and musical entertainment was given last night in the schoolroom adjoining the Durham street Wesleyan Church. The Rev. J. Baumber occupied the chair, and delivered a short address explanatory of the object for which the entertainment was given, namely, to augment the fund in aid of defraying the cost of the East town belt harmonium. There was a full attendance, and the proceedings were under the auspices of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. The vocal portion of the programme was sustained by Messrs Jones, Williams, Gray, and Atkinson, Mesdames Carriok, Schmidt, Gray, and Miss Ellis. Readings and recitations were given by Messrs Gibson, Gabites, Atkinson, and Grossman. Mr R. Searell presided at the pianoforte. The Land Tax Bill. —The following is Major Atkinson's Land Tax Bill:—“Notwithstanding anything in The Land Tax Act, 1878, the Land Tax in and for the year commencing on the first day of January, 1879, shall he deemed to have been payable in one payment on October Ist, 1879, and payment thereof may bo enforced accordingly. All proceedings taken and acta done under the said Act, for tho purpose of collecting or otherwise obtaining payment of the said Tax on the day aforesaid, and all other acts, matters, and things done in connection therewith, or in relation thereto, shall be deemed to have been and to be good and valid in law to all intents and purposes whatsoever, and to have been taken and done in strict accordance with the provisions of the said Act,”

Excursion to West Coast Sounds.— The preliminary circular, announcing the fourth annual excursion to the West Coast Sounds, has been issued by the Union Steamship Company, details of which will shortly be advertised. This year the company’s steamer Penguin has been selected to make the excursion, that vessel having superior deck room. The whole of her cabin accommodation is to be used, the fore cabin to be specially furnished and alloted to gentlemen travelling singly. From the memo, published it appears that the final start for the Sounds will bo made from Port Chalmers on December 24th, and on the 29th the Penguin will meet the steamer Claud Hamilton, from Melbourne. The Penguin is to return to Dunedin on January Ist, and the Claud Hamilton will continue her voyage to Hokitika, Qreymouth, and Nelson. Local Art,—A water-color painting of the steamship Rotomahana, by Mr Geo. W. White, a Lyttelton artist, has been on view for a few days, first at Mr Geo. Lewis’s shop in London street, and afterwards at the shop of Mr George Ayers, Norwich Quay, Lyttelton. Mr White makes a speciality of ship pictures, and the one referred to does him credit. Of those painted by him, and which have been generally commended, the principal ones are the ship Crusader, in the gale in which the Eurydice was lost in the English Channel. Captain Davies, of the Crusader, placed this picture on view in Wright’s gallery, East India road, London, where it attracted some attention ; the ship Hydaspes, the Merope, the Rangitiki, Wanganui, Piako, and Waimate, tho s.s. Wellington, and the Lyttelton tug steamer. The Caledonian Mine.—Respecting this once famous mine the Auckland “ Star ” of November 3rd says : —The Caledonian mine was closed down this morning, and all hands wore discharged, in accordance with instructions received from directors.

Thb Australian Squadron. —With regard to the movements of her Majesty’s ships on the Australian station, the “ Sydney Morning Herald ” says that the Wolverine, Commodore Wilson, which left Sydney October 21st, will visit Melbourne only for the present. She will return on the 10th November, after which she will refit. She will be recommissioned with a new crew about the end of the year. The ship, it is understood, will then visit Hobart Town, and remain there for some little time, accompanied by the schooners Sandily and Eenard, both of which are to be recommissioned with new crows from England. The departure of the Emerald for the South Sea Islands has been fixed for October 25th. She is to bo at the disposal of the High Commissioner of Polynesia, and will probably make a cruise through the islands. The Danue remains at Sydney senior ship for the present. Cricket Fixtures. —The following will represent the M.O.C. Club in the match ou their ground against the Woolston Cricket Club on Saturday, 15th instant ; play to commence at 2 o'clock sharp Atack, Palairct, Cohen, Row, Pairhnrst, ’turner, Thompson, Hill, Jones, Fawcett, Jones, sen. ; emergencies, Nkeet, Gee. On Saturday next the ‘following U.C.C. team will play the Papanui C.C., ou the ground of the former, at 2 p.m. :—Messrs Baker (captain), Fereday, Harvey, Herbert, Munster, Meares, Morgan, McDowsll, McFarlano, Tarloton, and Wood; emergencies, Paul, and E. C. Browne. A match will he played on Saturday next, between the Sunnyside C.O. and the St. Albans C. 0., on the grounds of the former. A match will bo played between the Christchurch Cricket Club and the Kiccarton C.O. on Saturday. Mischievous Boys. —Complaints have become very frequent of late in Lyttelton of garden robbery and wilful destruction of gardens committed by young larrikins. The last reported occurred on Wednesday afternoon, when several boys were seen to enter a private garden and deliberately set to trampling down the vegetable plots. A number of residents have decided to take legal proceedings, should another case of the kind happen.