NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1822, 23 December 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Disteict Couet. —A sitting of this Court was held this morning, for the purpose of hearing the case of Bluett v. Craig, adjourned from tho previous day. At tho appointed hour there was no appearance of either party. His Honor then adjourned tho Court for ton minutes, to allow time for their appearing. The parties being unrepresented then, tho case was struck out, and the Court then adjourned. Tourists from: Scotland,—Among the passengers by the s.°. Arawala, from Wellington, this morning, were, Mr Alex. Hannah, president of tho Glasgow Chamber of Commerce ; Mr Stephen Mason, of Glasgow ; and Mr G. M. Black, a well-known cotton and sowing thread manufacturer, of the Anchcr Mills, Paisley. These gentlemen are on a tour through the colony, BtJBNHAir School.—The following sums have been received by Mr Mellish as further donation to the Burnham 'chool fund :—Mias Mary Leslie, Lyttelton, £2 12s ; some residents in Southbridge, £1 14s Id; and £3 Xls collected by Mr E. George, Christchurch. Abbival of a Peisonee. —McLennan, recently on trial at Napier for wife murder, arrived from there under escort this morning by the s.s. Arawata on a charge of forgery. ParvATE Stbebtb.—The City Council last night decided to authorise tho works committee to procure the necessary materials for the channelling of private streets.

E)b. CmiiTON. — We understand that Dr. Maurice Chilton, late Hospital Surgeon, and at present engaged in practice in this city, having been suddenly summoned to England by family matters, is going Home as doctor of tho Crusader. Dr Chilton has made satisfactory arrangements with one of his brother practitioners with regard to his practice and appointments in Christchurch, and his patients will bo glad to hear that there is every certainty of his being back again in August next. Resident Maoistbaxe’s Cocbt. —At the Court to-day Roderick McLennan, on remand from Napier, was charged with forging and uttering a cheque for £25 on the Bank of New Zealand, Q-eraldine. lie was remanded to the 24;,h. Dar.iel O’Brien, alias John Foley, charged with forging and uttering a cheque for £lO on tho Union Bank of Australasia at Temuka, was committed for tr.'al

Social Ntjsiancs3. Lirrikinism and other forms of ruffianism have become rather prominent in this colony of late, even to the extent of rivaling tho sister colonics, from whica complaints are frequently heard of the enormities committed by a certain unworthy and detestable class of tho community, included in tho generic term “larrikins.” In Christchu-cb, recently, this social nu’s n?o has \OO ms painfully apparent, and tho ruffians do no not coniine their insolence and offence to the streets, but wait upon private houses and whore they can do so with safety to themselves, frighten the women and children. It is a disagreeable fact that in well known public thoroughfares the inmates of private houses must stand in dread of open intrusion and possibly insult and violence from men of the stamp referred to. Yet such is a fact, and several instances that have occurred within the past week could be named. No later £thau last evening, two households in Durham street were disturbed in this way, causing great alarm to the lady members thereof, who were, however, luckily, not without protection. It is to be hopid that some of these ruffians may get into tho hands of the police and be made examples of. Oantebbuby College. —A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College was held yesterday. The business, which was mainly discussed in committee, consisted of matters of routine.

Wateb Supply, —Tho water supply committee and finance committee have been appointed by the Oity Conned to draw up the statements with reference to the loans for water supply, municipal buildings, and surface drainage for presentation to a public meeting of the ratepayers to be called.

Sydenham Boeouuh Council.—At the meeting of this Council last night it was resolved to close the Council offices next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and also on New Year’s Day. Notice of motion was given to consider the advisability of tho division of the borough into four wards. Kaiapoi Island Nobth School.—Tho treat to the scholars attending this school, in the shape of a train excursion to town and a visit to the domain, took place on Monday. The management of tho affair was successfully carried out by Mr Nioholh, tho master of tho school, and a few friends

Oddpbllowship. The following wore elected at last night’s meeting of the Oity of Christchurch Lodge —Bro Oowper, N.Gh, B;o. Webster, Y.GK; Bro. H. GK Scott, E S.; medical officers, Bros. W. Deader, M.D., and D. Campbell. It was resolved to summon members by advertisement on Wednesday, to meet the country brethren attending the fete on Boxing Day. The installation of officers, and other important mailers, were postponed to next mooting. £219 were received during the evening. Bechaihtes.—Tho Pride of Christchurch Tent held its quarterly meeting last night in the Templar Hall. After transacting the ordinary business the following officers were elected and installed into office : —P.O.R., Bro. W. Shaw; 0.8., Bro. Tressler; D.8.8r0.H. Pentioost; Secretary, Bro. J. Farland ; Treasurer, Bro. J. Coombs ; 8.3., Bro. Kerr ; 0.5., Bro. Smith; L , Bro. Noonan; GK,Bro. J. Miller. Brothers Smith, Shaw, and Henwood were elected auditors.

“ What’s in a Name.”—Recently in Wellington an imp.xunious debtor, a disciple of Darwin, being brought to bay by an importunate dun, and having exhausted all tho ready terms of remonstrance from a fertile vocabulary of adjectives, at last fell his favorite science, and called his persecutor an ornithorhyncJuis paradoxus. The astonished creditor demanding the moaning of the alarming expletive was referred to a dictionary of natural history, when, on turning up the compound word, he found it described as a “ beast with a bill.” The Nob’-WESTEB.—The recent nor’wester is likely to bring the rivers up On Sunday there was a fresh in the Waitnakariri. At 10 5 am. on Monday the telegram from Bealey to Kaiapoi ran—“ No change in weather. Still raining heavily. Rivers rising fast again.” Incident at Poet.—A boy, while fishing off No. 2 Jetty yesterday, overbalanced himself and fell into the water. The accident was observed by one of the crow on board the steam tug Lyttelton, who immediately sprang into tho water and rescued him. Inteepbovincial Cbicket Match.—The match committee have selected the following players to practise for tho ensuing contest with Otago—Messrs Ashby, Beard, T. S. Baker, Corfo, E. J. Ootterill, Puller, B. Fowler, J. Fowler, O. Frith, Q-odby, J. F. Hartiand, Hanmer, W. E. Leach, GK H. Lee, H. W. Moore, Noilson, Ollivier, Becretan, Sheath, Stevens, Smith, Turner, and Watson. Practice will take place every evening at 4.30 p.m.

Lyttelton Obpeasaok.—The prospects of providing a Christmas treat for the orphans in this institution are not bright. The subscriptions, both of money and kind, up to date have been most meagre, amounting only to a small fraction of those of last year, and the proceeds from the entertainment given at Lyttelton on Friday night in aid of this same object will unfortunately fall short of the sum required to meet the deficiency. Those who foci in a position to assist would confer a favor on the manager by sending in their donations at once. Cost of Cab Licenses.—Some little time back the cab owners presented a petition to the Council asking that the license fee should be reduced. The matter was referred to the finance committee to bring up a report as to the revenue derivable from and expenditure incurred on account of these licenses. This report was read last night, and showed that even with the present license fee the expenditure greatly exceeded the receipts. Under these circumstances the committee declined to recommend the reduction ns asked for. Fbibndly Societies’ Fete. —The following acceptances for the undermentioned handicap events were received last evening:— No. 2 event, Grand Open Handicap—W. Pentecost, J. Moreland, O. Hulston, A. Anderson, J, G. Anderson, P. Purchase, B. Woollorton, G. Whiting, O. Brown, A. Smith, J. Martin, B. J. Pierce, J. Limb. Walking Bices—No. 3 event, 3 miles : O. Bowley, B. Page, J. Fraser, O. H. Pierce, G. Eoberts, J. Wilson, C. Lawrence. No. 10 event, 1 mile : O. Bowley, B. Page, F. Gibson, J. Fraser, C. H. Pierce, A. McNae, B. Sandall, G. Roberts, O. Lawrence. No. 15 event, 1 Mile Handicap Plat Race :—E. Woollorton, 8. Hewett, O. Brown, G. Whiting, J. Lamb, A. Hill, Q. Montgomery. The committee have arranged with .ho railway authorities to run a special late train to Eangiora and intermediate stations on the night of the ftte. Time of starting will be advertised. “That Ale and Tobacco. ” —The had quality of beer and tobacco is (says the “New Zealand Times”) seldom the cause of complaint and debate in the Upper House of a Legislative Assembly. During the Property Assessment Bill discussion in the Council several speakers urged a tax as high as sixpence per gallon on colonial bec-r, and one hoc. member stated as a reason for this course that colonial breweries had hitherto been most carefully protected and exempted from taxation—favors which they requited by brewing most abominable beer. The emphatic “ Hear, hears,” which followed the remark betrayed a considerable amount of feeling on the subject. Later on Captain Fraser, speaking on the Tobacco Bill, opposed it on the ground that to pass it would be injurious to health. Tobacco grown in New Zealand would bo of such detestably bad aroma that its being smoked in large quantities would vitiate She air of the colony and the lungs of its inhabitants. Ho hod authority for speaking so. An hon. gentleman in that building was so lost to all sense of tho fitness of things and the respect due to other people’s noses as to smoke Swiss cigars —(“ Name, name”) —and their smell was execrable. That convinced him that if villainous cigars were made in the colony they would find smokers, and the result he had predicted would inevitably follow. In the interest of tho public health he should therefore oppose the Bill most strenuously. (Applause).

Acknowledgment-— The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board acknowledge with thanke the receipt through Mr G. Elliott of £2 12s from a few of the railway employes, being their second annual donation to the Lyttelton Orphanage recreation fund. City Council.—The City Council had a somewhat lengthy meeting last night, though scarcely anything bat routine business was disposed of. It was resolved to adjourn for a fortnight in order to give the officers the usual holidays. Theatre Royal. —The Theatre Royal will re-open this evening for a new dramatic season. The management have engaged Mr J. J. Wallace, who will appear during the holidays, in a round of his favorite characters, commencing to-night with the “ Colleen Bawn.” To-morrow evening “The Shaughraun ” will be revived, Mr Wallace taking the part of Con, in which he has made his greatest hit. Habye3Tkk Kino — A field trial of the Harvester King reaper on Mr Robert. I) filey’s farm, Swannanoa, was held on Monday afternoon. In spite of a terrific nor’-wester, the machine worked to the satisfaction of all present. The crop operated on was the field of barley to which reference has been previously made. The straw was pretty long and twisted ; in spite of this, however, the harvester went through its work without missing a single sheaf or the wire breaking in one instance. All present were fully convinced too that the machine is easy on the man in charge, who can give full attention to his horses, and the draught seemed to be lighter than some of the other reapers.

Academy op Music. —The alterations and decorations of this place of amusement are n .w complete, and it will open its doors to the public on Friday evening next with a burlesque and pantomime. All who have visited the house since its alteration speak very highly in praise of the arrangements A liberal tariff of prices has been fixed, and no doubt many will take advantage of them. The letting of seats for tho season commenced yesterday.

Harmonic Society’s Concert.— The third concert of tho Harmonic Society will be held this evening in the Oddfellows’ Hull, Lichfield street, commencing at eight o’clock. The soloists are the Misses Taylor, Rowley, and E. Row’ey, Mesdames Barry and Townend, the Hon. Spencer Lyttelton, Messrs App'eby, Hobbs, Rowley, and Jones. The band and chorus number about 120, and the final rehearsal at St. John’s schoolroom last night was highly successful.

S. Mary's, Meuivale.— On Christmas Eve there will be a special service in this church at 9 p.m., at which a selection of carols will be sung by the choir. The offertory at this service will be devoted to the church organ fund A fhort address will be given by the incambent (Hev. T. Flavell). On Christmas Day the services will bo as follows :—Celebration of Holy Communion at 83J a.m.; choral mating, with second celebration, at 11 a.m. ; choral evensong at G3O p.m. Tho anthem will be Dr. Stainer’s “O Zion, that bringeit good tidings.”