NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1838, 13 January 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Railway Employees’ Picnic.—Last ni-ht a meeting of the railway employees was hold in the accountants’ office. A special train was provided for the attendance of those from Lyttelton. Mr F. Back occupied the chair. It was decided to hold the annual picnic on the 4th of February, prox., »t the racecourse. A committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements.

Resident Maqistuatk’s Count—ln this Court to day the charge brought against David and Julia Burns by Alice Oamfield for attempting to extort money was withdrawn.

City Council.—There wa; n> meeting of the City Council last evening, that body at its last weekly meeting having resolved to adjourn for a fortnight.

I O O.T.—The Grand Lodge Reception Committee held its final meeting at the Templar Hall on Saturday evening, 10th January, for the purpose of winding up all matters in connection with the Grand Lodge Session held last month. The work of the committee had been considerable—having arranged for the accommodation of representatives attending the Grand Lodge, for the preaching of sermons on the subject of temperance by the various clergymen in Christchurch and neighborhood, by the getting up of a tea and large public meeting at the Oddfellows’ Hall, and also providing matting and other fittings for the Templar Hall, which greatly contributes to the comfort of those who now use that place of popular resort The secretary reported that £3O 5s 6d have been received as proceeds of tea meeting, &0., out of this shout £l4 had been paid for expenses in connection with tea and public meeting, and the balance appropriated for decorations and conveniences at the Templar Hall. The tea had been provided gratuitously by Sisters Webber, Lang. Guise, Lodge, Pedlar, Reed, Bennetts, Phillips, Gray, Forrest, Symes ; Brothers Dallas, Olephane, Buxton, J. T. Smith ; the bachelors, the St. Andrew’s and the Pride of Sydenham Lodges. A vote of thanks was given to all those ladies and gentlemen and to all who assisted at the tables. A vote of thanks was accorded to Bro. J. Buxton, the honorary secretary, for his zeal and energy in the whole affair. Votes of thanks were also given to the chairman, Bro. R. Clephane; the vicechairman, Bro. H. Bennetts ; and Bro. Shuiler, assistant secretary. The whole of the work taken in hand had resulted satisfactorily. The Chairman declared the committee dissolved. St. Luke’s Parochial Day School. —As will be seen by advertisement in another column, a day school in connection with St Luke’s parish will be opened on Monday next, the 19th inst., under the mastership of Mr Gueritz. The main features of the instruction “given W >ll be Church doctrine — Bible truth reading, writing, history, geography, and arithmetic, together with elementary Latin if desired. The fees and hours to he devoted to instruction will be seen by reference to the advertisement. Boaed OB OONSBBVATOBB. —A meeting of the Board of River Conservators for the South Waimakariri was held to-day at noon, Mr Harman in the chair. A rough statement of accounts for the year was submitted, and it was resolved to fill up certain columns and add the list of debentures to it before being handed over to the auditors and printed, after which the statement will be submitted to the Board for approval, and handed to the press for publication. With regard to the annual rate, Mr Harman mentioned that some trouble and confusion had been caused in the past as to the time of striking the rate and the roll under which it should be struck, in view of which he suggested that it would be more convenient if the Board could decide to levy the rate always on a particular month, and it would be well if, when the secretary was sending out his notices, be could also ask the Board to furnish information as to the assessment and revision of the rolls. The other members of the Board present concurred in the usefulness of the suggestion above made, and determined to act upon it. Some accounts were then passed for payment, and the Board adjourned. Drainage Board. —The Drainage Board met yesterday for the first time since they adjourned for the holidays. A report of the proceedings appears in another part of the paper. Primitive Methodists. —At Saturday’s session of the Primitive Methodist District Meeting reports were submitted from the book depot and publishing committee. Legislation was adopted intended to secure direct church representation in official meetings. Under the present system each church is represented only through its officials. The new system provides that one member out of every twenty, or fraction of twenty, shall be elected as representatives to church meetings. A communion service was held in Cambridge Terrace Church at 7.30. At Phillipstown a temperance meeting was held, presided over by Mr E. W. U’Ren. Special religious services were held on Sunday. An Evangelistic service was hold in Cranmer square in the afternoon. Rev. O. E. Barley conducted devotional exercises and addressed the children. Earnest sermons were delivered by Revs L Ward and A. J. Smith. A large audience assembled on the ground. An open air service was also held at Phillipstown in the evening addressed by Revs. P. W. Jones, A. J. Smith, and Messrs Watkins and Parker. The pulpits of several churches in the city and suburbs were supplied by the ministers. Oddfeiiowship. —A special summoned meeting was held by the Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge last night to consider finally and select plans for the erection of a new lodge room in Lichfield street. There were nine competitive designs. After a long discussion a ballot was taken, and the plan signed '• Practical” was declared to be the one i elected. Rifle Association. — The distribution of prizes won at the recent meeting of the Canterbury Rifls Association will take place thi. evening, at the parade of the Volunteers. Cricket. —A match has been arranged for Thursday next, between a team selected from the Christchurch Muff Cricket Club and one from the local hotel keepers.