NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1803, 1 December 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

G-AIBTY Thbatbb. —"The Doctor of Alcantara" was repeated to a good house on Saturday night. Miss Beatrice acted with her accustomed verve, and received an encore for her song of " Love thee, Dearest," as did Mr Florence for *' Love's cruel dart." Mr Alexander was an usual intensely comic as old Balthazar. Bouquets were quite the order of the evening. The opera was followed by the burletta of " Signora B Link at Last," a frtßh and production, into which some excellent Binging and dancing were introduced. To-night the same bill will be played. On Friday there will be a complimentary benefit tendered to Miss Beatrice by a number of leading citizens.

B.M. Coubt.—ln the case of the indecent assaults with which Albert Pinkstone was charged on Saturday, and for which Mr Mellish sentenced him to eighteen months' imprisonment with hard labor, Mr Inspector Hickeon wished it to be understood that he had thought it better to change the charge of indecent assault to one of aggravated as sault against female children under fourteen years of age. His rearoi for this was to spare, as much as possible, the feelings of fc 10 female witnesses, who would have had to have given evidence both in the B.M. Court and the Supreme Court, and at the same time he very much doubted if any good object would be gained by the extra publicity which would be given by the cases being sent to the upper Court. As the prisoner pleaded guilty, Mr Mellish dealt summarily with the case, but, when passing sentence, he told the prisoner that, while agreeing with Mr Inspector Hickson, he doubted whether he was doing right in not sending the case for trial, as then, in the event of conviction, the prisoner would probably have received the only punisbmont that he thought adequate to the offence, namely, a severe flogging. Aquatic.—Owing to the bad weather of Saturday there was no boating on that day in conreotion with either of the local clubs.

ObibntaXj Exhibition.—There was a good attendance at the Oriental Exhibition on Saturday. The exhibition will be closed after tomorrow evening. Biack Swans. —A flock of black swans passed over Ohristchurch last night at 7 30. They flew in perfectly regular single file, steering N.E , and were thirty-two in number. Licensing Cottbt.—The quarterly Licensing Court for Ohristchurch district sits tomorrow in the It M. Court at noon. There are two applications for new hotel licenses, namely, by John Somers and Stephen Lawrence, both of Sydenham. OANTBEBtTBT Jockbx &.ÜB.—The halfyearly meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club was held on Saturday. The most important business was the adoption of a rule recently carried in England with reference to the engagement of jockeys, &c.

The Cbops in the South.—The "Timaru Herald " states that if the weather during the next two or three months proves favorable the crops will be exceptionally heavy. Reference is made to a sample of barley grown on Mr Lee's land, on the Sherwood estate, which is described as the finest ever seen grown in that district. The seed was procured in Ohristchurch, by Mr Lee, of Ward and Co.'s brewery. It was sown in April, and gives every promise of yielding from sixty to seventy bushels to the acre It will be ready for cutting early in January, provided the weather rules warm and dry. The Spabbow Pest.—A general meeting of persons interested in the destruction of sparrows was held at the Lecston Hotel on Friday, the 28th inst., when about twenty persons were present; Mr O. Bourn, president of the Southbridge Sparrow Association, in the chair. Mr Steyerly, the treasurer, said that since they had formed the club they had paid for the destruction of a large quantity of eggs and birds, and he would propose, "That committees be formed at Leeston, Lakeside, Killinohy, and Doyleeton, to collect subscriptions, with a treasurer to pay the boys who collected eggs and birds." After some discussion the resolution was carried unanimously. The following were elected the committee at Leeston :—Messrs A. McLachlan, T. Hogg, D. Kellahan, and S. Leman, with E. Barranger as treasurer. Thbatbioaii.—The very clever English comedian and burlesque actor, Mr Bland Holt, who, a few months back, made such a favourable impression in this city as a member of Mr Do Lias's company at the Gaiety Theatre, is now filling a " starring " engagement at the Theatre Boyal. His performance of Jack Bunnage, in a new play entitled "The Old Toll House," is spoken of in the Melbourne papers in the highest terms as being the life and soul of the piece. It is not impossible that Mr Holt may re-visit New Zealand.

Addington.—A very successful tea and entertainment took place in St. Mary's schoolroom, Addington, on Friday evening. Tables were provided by Mesdames Pratt and Ruddenklau, Hobden and Beaton, Munnings, East, and Craig, and a bachelors' table presid ,d over by Messrs Nairn and Lancaster. About 250 people were present. After tea a musical entertainment was given, in which the following ladies and gentlemen toot part: MisEea Macket, Thurrall, Evans, Simpson; Mrs Kinsman, Messrs Simpson, Kinsman, Ward, Daltry, Sieson, Lane. The two little girls named Simpson were encored in both their duets, which were really sung very well indeed. A vote of thanks was passed to the ladies who had provided tea, and aleo to the performers. The room was very tastefully decorated with flags and evergreens for the occasion.

New Magistrate's Oouet.—This building, which is intended to supply accommodation of which the city has long stood sorely in need, is fast approaching completion; indeed, the finishing touches alone remain to be given. A good idea can now be formed of the sizs of the new Court buildings, and they will be a very considerable improvement on the 'old ofiices in connection with the municipal buildings. When the building was commenced a description of the design appeared in these columns ; since then, however, some slight alterations from the original plans have been made, to meet the requirements of the staff of officials who will occupy the offices. It may also be stated that the Court-house is provided with a gallery for the public in the same way as the Supreme Court, and is well ventilated. Judging from the advanced state of the building now, it should be ready for occupation early in the new year. Backhouses. —Le Loup and Trump Card, the two well-known racehorses, arrived at Lyttelton yesterday by the s.s. Claude Hamilton, from Melbourne. Coloniai. Titles.—The following despatch was received by his Excellency the Governor by the last mail from Sir Michael Hicks - Beach, Secretary of State for the Colonies : " Downing street, 11th September, 1879.—T0 Governor Sir Hercules Robinson.—Sir, —l have the hon >r to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 38 of the 15th July last, enclosing letters from Sir George Grey respecting the grant by the Queen of the reten<ion of the title of Honorable by retired Judges of the Supremo Court, and the bestowal of honors by her Majesty on residents tin New Zealand. In reply, I have to state that I do not desire to prolong a correspondence resulting from a misapprehension on the part of Sir George Grey, which unfortunately appears to continue to exist, as to the functions and prerogatives of the Sovereign in regard to the grant of hororary distinctions in a colony, whether under responsible government, or having any other form of constitution. Tho instances to which Sir George Grey especially refers appears to me rather to illustrate the advantages of continuing the practices under which the Secretary of State takes the responsibility of advising the Crown with regard to the respective merits of rival political leaders.—l have, &c, M. E. HIOKSBeach."

Sbtbbb on thb Incobbuptible.—Writing of Sir G. Grey's Bill to prevent the corruption of members of Parliament, the " Australasian" says : —Virtue is never so severe and awful in its majesty as in a " soiled dove" who has grown older and reformed, and so it mty be quite consistent with analogy to find this fierce prudery of political virtue exhibited by Sir George Grey immediately after his expulsion from office.