THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1816, 16 December 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1879.

The Suez Mail.—The Ringarooma, with the Suez mail, has arrived at tho Bluff. Tblegbaphio.—We have received informstion that a telegraph office has been opened at Woodville, County o£ Waipawa. Dbainage Boabd. —The ordinary meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held yesterday afternoon, when a good deal of business was transacted. At its rising the Board adjourned for four weeks in consequence of the Christmas holidays. FiOWEB Show. —Tho Addington Parochial Eiower Show will take place next Friday in the Parish School-room. An interesting feature will be the children's classes for pot Elants, cut flowers, and vegetables. An exibition of plain and fancy work has been incorporated with this department. A certificate of merit in addition to the prizes will be awarded. The adults' show also includes a fruit class.

DAHaBROirs. —The North road, from the Carlton Hotel to Merivalo lane, ia just now in a condition very dangerous to persons tiding or driving in that locality after dark. A barricade is erected at the end of the drain now being made by the Drainage Board, and a number of deep holes are fenced in, but no lights are exhibited. Persons in charge of horses should be careful to keep well on the eastern side of the road during these dark nights, as one accident has already occurred. EXOUBSIONS TO tEHB Sounds.—Notwithstanding the other attractions, including that of the Sydney Exhibition, the excursion to the West Coast Sounds this year appears likely to be as fully patronised as up.)n any previous trip. Applications for berths at the offices of the Union Steamship Company are already numerous, and by the 24th inst., tho date appointed for the b.s. Penguin to leave Dunedin with the party, it is certain there will be very few cabins vacant. The excursion appears to be an unusually popular one at Melbourne, the demand for berths being so great that the company will probably arrange for another of their steamers in addition to the s.s. Claud Hamilton and Albion, to leave there for the Sounds. Infectious Diseases. Tho cases of infectious disease reported for the paßt fortnight were one of diphtheria and one of scarlatina. No case of typhoid occurred during that period. In connection with this subject, the health officer, in his last report to the local Board of Health, complained of the dilatorineas of certain householders in reporting caseß of infectious disease, and pointed out that to enable the health officer properly to carry out his duties, information of such caseß Bhould be at once given. The subjeot came under consideration at the Board meeting yesterday, and the chairman remarked that a large share of responsibility rested with the medical men, over whom the Board had no power in this respect as the law at present stood. The Weathee and the Crops.—Tho rain from Saturday till Monday evening has, in tho country districts, caused the farmers to look very gloomy over the prospects of the orops. The excess of moisture laid the grain very seriously, and only several days of hot weather would recover it again and dry it so as to prevent rust doing additional damage. The rain fell very heavily on Sunday, when most of the damage was done. A few of the surprisingly heavy crops of long straw will never recover the effects of Sunday's rain. G-rass crops are spoiled in all directions. Tho hay which was cut can have no swoetnets left in it, and that not mown was quite beaten on to the ground. Potatoes and green crops have profited to a considerable extent, while graziers are at their wit's end to keep enough stock on the grass, and cattle are rolling fat. Masonic. —The people of Sydenham should be gratified with the introduction into their midst of an institution which is likely to prove a great benefit to them. The Conyers Masonic Lodge was consecrated last night, the W.M. installed, and Bros. Bichard Walker and Thomas Henry Martin respectively appointed Senior and Junior Wardens. The whole of the ceremony was performed in a most impressive manner by Bro. Henry Thomson, acting District Grand Master, the musica'. part being efficiently rendered by Messrs Hobbs, McCardle, Mcintosh, Funston, and Ellisdon, IBro. Frederick Hobbs acting as leader and Bro. Searell presiding at the harmonium. The various Lodges of the English, Irish, and Scottish Constitutions were represented, upwards of seventy brethron being present. The promoters of the Conyers Lodge have acquired a freehold in Harper street, and the spacious building thereon will hereafter be known as the Freemasons' Hall. From the interest evinced by the brethren last night, it may be assumed that the Conyers Lodge will be successful in the several projects which its promoters desire to be inaugurated by their Lodge. Otticiatino Minibtebs. The attention of the various religious bodies registered within the colony is directed by the BegistrarGeneral to the 41th section of tho Marriage Act, 1854, which requires the several ecclesiastical authorities to furnish a correot list of the officiating ministers in the month of December in every year. A New Potato Pest. —The " Southland News" notices that in one or two gardens about Invercargill, a large grub has made its appearance among the potatoes. This unwelcome visitor is described as being of a dark green color, nearly two inches in length, and about the thickness of an ordinary lead pencil. It goes to work on the potato stalks, which it cuts through. In one garden from twenty to thirty were found within a very small area.

St. John's Entertainment.—The entertainment given in the St. John's schoolroom, last night, was a decided success. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the now spacious room was at least three-parts full, and the performance gave great satisfaction. The first part consisted, with the exception of one item, of instrumental and vocal music. The members of the Amateur Orchestral Sand, under the baton of Professor Hughes, played in the course of the evening the overture to " The Crown Diamonds " and operatic selections from " II Trovatore " and " Anna Bolena," all of which wore heartily applauded. A duo concert ante, for piano and violin, was very finely played by Messrs Landergan and Ooombes. The vocal numbers were given by Mrs Townend and the Misses "Wright and Eowley, and Mr Acland, each coming in for a large share of applause. Two unaccompanied part songs, very well sung, §ave variety to the concert. Mr Charles earle recited " The Water that has Passed," from the new play " The Man o' Airlie." After a few minutes' interval, Mr and Mrs Hoskins, in conjunction with Messrs Worthy, H. H. Loughnan, Mainwaring, and Searle, read scenes from " The Merchant of Venice," including the one between Bassanio, Antonio, and Shylock, when the money is burrowed, and the famous trial scene. In each of these Mr Hoskins' fine elocutionary powers were displayed to the greatest advantage, the honour being shared by Mrs Hoskins for her artistic reading of the character of Portia. The other gentlemen were severally very good in their respective roles, which were allotted as follows : —Antonio, Mr Worthy ; Bassanio, Mr Loughnan; G-ratiano, Mr Mainwaring ; and the Duke, Mr Searle. The entertainment terminated with a vote of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who had taken part in it.

E Batteey Abtilleby Volunteers.— At a meeting of the firing committee cf the above battery, held in the orderly-room last night, it was decided that the team of ten to fire against the B battery (Dunedin), be selected from the following:—Lieut. Strange, Sergt-Major Raven, Quarter-Master Sergt. Fox, Sergt. Hill, Sergt.-Armourer Mapp, Sergt. Duncan, Corporals Sinclair, Farrell, Mills, Bombardier Houston, Gunners Stokes, Gudler, and Archibald. The final selection will be made immediately after shot and shell practice to-day. Christmas Carnival.— An advertisement appears elsewhere to tho effect that a monster Christmas Carnival and Fancy Fair will be held at Ford and Newton's new buildings, Cashel street, opening on Friday next. A feature of the Carnival will be the " Gigantic Christmas Tree." No charge will be made for admission. United Cricket Club.—A special general meeting of the United Canterbury Cricket Club will be held in the Pavilion, on Thursday, the ISth inat., at 5 p.m., for the purpose of appointing a non-Association captain in place of Mr Nalder, resigned. Harmonic Society.—ln consequence of to-day being a public holiday the usual weekly practice of the Harmonic Society is postponed until to-morrow evening.

Blair Co., Pa., didn't pay for ita graveyard, and the sheriff offers it for sale. Nice chance for a young doctor to get the foundation for a start in life. A Chinaman thus describes a trial in our courts—" One man is Bilent, another talks all the time, and twelve wise men condemn the man who has not said a word." A man went home the other evening and found his house locked up. Getting in at the window with considerable difficulty, he found on the table a note from his wife : "I have gone out ; you will find the doorkey on one side of the doorstep.'' .4. paragraph is going the rounds of the press, explaining on scientific grounds why a girl cannot throw a stone. If some scientist would kindly point out what is the safest position the bystander can occupy—whether behind or before—when she attempts it, he would be, to some extent, a public benefactor. One thousand five hundred and fifty vessels passed through the Suez Canal in 1878. Of these 1227 were British, 89 French, 71 Dutch, 44 Italian, 38 Austrian, 22 German, 21 Spanish, 8 Egyptian, 8 Japanese, 6 Danish, 5 Swedish and Norwegian, 4 Portuguese, 3 Turkish, 2 Belgian, 1 American, and 1 Zanzibar. The total tonnage was 2.175.316 tons, of which 1,726,946 tons were British. The influence of nasal respiration on the ear is illustrated by Mr G-eorgo Catlin, in his "History of the North American Indians." Among two million Indians he found not one who was deaf or breathed through the mouth, except three or four deaf-mutos; and in the memory of the chiefs of 150 tribes, not one case of deafness could be remembered to have occurred. This is explained by the mother always closing the mouth of the child whenever it attempted to breatho through it.