NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1814, 13 December 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Deuids. —The usual fortnightly meeting of the Mistletoe Lodge was held at their lodge-room, Star and Garter Hotel, last evening. One member was initiated and several proposed for initiation. Three delegates were appointed to confer with the other lodges on the subject of the procession to take place on Boxing day. DP. Bro. Oppenheim imbed tho officers and members to be present at the Wellington Hotel on Thursday, Dtcsmbfr 18tb, at tho opening of the now lodge, the Oak of Sydenham, as he had received a telegram to the effect that the dispensation and regalia were on board the Ringarooma, which XofO MolUuumo 011 X>euember lOLti. As the next usual meeting falls on Christmas Day, it was resolved to meet on Tuesday, December 23rd, After some routine business tho lodge closed in duo form. Acknowledgment. —Mr Walker, clerk of tho Magistrate’sCoutt,desires to acknowledge a donation of ono pound contributed by a few working men towards the Christmas treat for the children of tho Burnham Industrial School. Resident Magistrate's Court. The only business done in the Court this morning e as the fining of one inebriate, a first offender, the usual penalty of ss. Trinity Congregational Church. —As will be seen by advertisement in another column, the services at this church to-morrow will bo conducted by the Rev. H. Williams, late of Borton, Lincolnshire, Boy Missing.—A boy named Benjamin Gilkes has been missing from his homo since Wednesday morning. Ho is thirteen years of age, and dark haired. When last seen he had on a dark tweed suit and black felt hat. West Christchurch School. Tho breaking np of this school took place yesterday evening, when, through tho kindness of Mr Seager, of Sunnyside, tho children were treated to a magic lantern exhibition, and the scholars, under’ the direction of Mr T. S. Foster, gave a concert, which proved very succeseful. Gaiety Theatre. —The contractor for the alteration and renovation of the Gaiety Theatre, henceforth to bo known as the Academy of Music, is making rapid progress. Tho circle is all bub complete, and tho panelling for tho ceiling is being placed in position. The now building will have what is not possessed by any theatre in Now Zealand, viz., a ladies’ retiring room. The Lyttelton Regatta. —The committee appointed to arrange for a flagship for tho regatta, to be hold on tho Ist of January, waited upon Captain Jenkins, of tho ship Lady Jocelyn, and he very cordially placed his ship at their disposal. In accepting the offer of tho Lady Jocelyn tho committee have cause for congratulation, the vessel being both on account of her size and build admirably adapted for accommodating a largo number of visitors. The Lyttelton Orphanage. —Tho Government haying given permission to tho surgeon at tho Lyttelton Orphanage to use one of tho quarantine stations, if thought advisable, the whole of tho children, numbering 102, together with the staff, will go over today to Quail Island, where they will probably remain for a fortnight. Tho twenty-nine children who have been affected with diphtheria, but are now convalescent, will bo embarked near the Orphanage over in Dampior’s Bay, and tho remainder at the steamer jetty. East Chp.istchuech School. Tho schools of the East Christchurch district closed on Thurcday for the Christmas holidays, and will re-opon on Monday, January 2Gth. During tho past year tho attendance at those schools hns been much larger than at any previous period of their history. There are now belonging to tho Gloucester street main school 123 G pupils, omitting, up to date, those who have left, and on several occasions tho number present exceeded 1000. Ranoioea Horticultural Society. A meeting of the council of this society was held at the Road Board office on Thursday evening, Mr J. Ivory, ono of tho vico-presi-dontp, in tho chair. It was decided to pay over tho special prizes. After some discussion, it was resolved to adopt tho claEsiflcation of tho exhibits in tho catalogue as followed last year. On tho motion of Mr Shorland it was agreed that special prizes may only bo competed for by exhibitors resident within tho district. Harror Works. —Tho members of tho Harbor Improvement committee visited port yesterday, and made an inspection of the works now in progress between tho Gladstone pier end tho boat jsltics. Tho Harbor Board’s steam hopper barges commenced depositing their cargoes of mud at the reclamation there yesterday, and tho committee took tho opportunity of witnessing the experiment. They next proceeded to Pcrcival’s point, near Governor’s Bay, the proposed eito for the new landing jetty. After returning, they visited the steam tug Lyttelton, on the bridge of which it is intended to have a pilot-house erected, an improvement very desirable, particularly during inclement weather. The Five Million Loan. —lt will bo seen from this morning’s telegrams that tho five million loan recently offered on the London market has been subscribed twice over. Mammoth Minstrels. There was a capital house at the Theatre Royal last night, when the Mammoth Minstrels repeated their programme very successfully. To-night an entire change is announced.

Weslbyan CnuHCir, Colombo Road To morrow morning tho Rsv. J. S. Smalley will preach on “ Infant Baptism.” Tho Key. T. Q-. Turner, from Sydney, will preach in the evening. On Wednesday next Mr Richards will lecture on “ American Sunday Schools.” Onuncrt Anniveesaey, Uppee Riccaeton. —A highly successful soiree was hold in the Wesleyan Church on Thursday evening. Tho following ladies provided tea, viz. : Mcedamcs Topham, O. Boon, Thompson, Carpenter, and E. Boon for the bachelors. Tho meeting was crowded, and the music and addresses were evidently appreciated by tho audience. Cheering reports were presented by tho officers. The financial results of the evening were that a debt of some £22 was wiped off, and a small balance loft over. Tbo anniversary sermons are to be presohedby the Rev. J. B. Richardson, the pastor. Anniveesaey Spouts, —Tho final meeting of tho sports committee was held yeoierday, when a number of details in connection with the sports on tho 16th were gone through. Tho most important business was voting tho sum of £25 to bo divided in equal proportions between tho Hospital, Old Men’s Homo, Or phi n ago, Burnham Industrial School, and Lunatic Asylum, with a proviso that, should tho sports prove a pecuniary success, tho committee would favorably consider the desirableness of further augmenting tho grant so mado. The following are post entri.s for tho handicap races for Anniversary Day : Ono niilo running handicap : J. Luckie, 15 yords; Tiros. Organ, 15 yards. Two-mile running handicap: J. Luckie, 25 ya'ds ; Tiros Organ, 25 yards. Two-rnilo walking handicap : Tr-os. Organ, 75 yards. Ranoiosa Wesleyan Eazaae. - A bazaar was held in (ho hall of the Literary Institute on Thursday, in aid of the Rargiora Wesleyan church building fund. Tho hall was very gaily decorated, and tho display of fancy goods for sale was largo and varied. The stallkeepers were—Mesdumes Canno', Best, Ayres, Ell s, and Gulliver. Miss Kitchenman took charge of a Christmas tree ; Misses Blackett and Josling the confection stall; Mr Gulliver and Mrs Payr.o tho refreshment stall. During tho day a bri<k trade was carried on considering tho dullness of the limes. Messrs Hammond and Ilunnibell contributed selections of music iu tho evening, Mr Buss, auctioneer, gave his services in disposing of sundry entries of live stock. The bazaar was estimated to realise about £63, and tho goods remaining unsold will bo brought forward on another occasion. The editor of “Leo Mondes,” the Abbe Moigno, is highly incensed at the criticisms of various scientists who seem sceptical about certain events narrated in the Scriptures, and especially so at Professor Richard Owen, who, at a meeting of the Society of Orientalists in London, 1874, had the audacity to sweep away the Red Sea just where it is said to have been crossed by tho Hebrews, in the following words: “The Isthmus of Suez is geologically a bridge of recent date between Asia and Africa ; it was completed only daring the last Miocene period. However recent this epoch be, from a geological standpoint, it is nevertheless remote enough to have allowed the forces which have given birth to species to establish degrees and distinctions between the great classes of animals living in the two respective seas which the isthmus separates. A zoological mind alone can appreciate the duration of the prehistoric time in question.” The Abbe Moigno now proposes to show men of Owen’s way of thinking that they are in error. He believes tho time has come to invite the whole Christian world to unite with him in a grand and noble enterprise—that of fitting out an expedition to go in search of tho “eloquent remains of the Egyptian cavalry buried in the Red Sea, with their chariots, horsemen, treasures, &c.” He states it as his belief that these monumental remains will certainly be discovered by digging for them, and that they will be found in an excellent state of preservation owing to tho action of the salt in which they are buried. It is proposed to form a sort of 'joint-stock company, the bonds to bear no interest, but the stockholders to be reimbursed by a division of the money proceeding from the sale of the discovered treasures. Subscriptions to the enterprise are to be sent to the office of “ Les Mondes,” at Paris. The more light admitted to apartments the better for those who occupy them. Light is as necessary to sound health as it is to vegetable life. Exclude it from plants, and the consequences are disastrous. They cannot be perfected without its vivifying influence. It is a fearful mistake to curtain and blind windows so closely, for fear of injury the furniture by exposure to the sun’s rays, that rooms positively gather elements in darkness which engender disease. Let in the light often, and fresh air, too, or suffer the penalty of aches, and pains, and long doctors’ bills, which might have been avoided.