NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1861, 10 February 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

3 » e A Powerful Engine. —Last evening an r exhibition of locomotive power was given on V the Lyttelton line which eclipsed anything of f -ha kind yet recorded upon any of the New Zealand railways. The engine used was No. • 101, one of the recently imported American 8 ;oods engines, and was driven by James Orr. f 3oventy-six loaded waggons were brought :hrough the tunnel from Port, the steam ' ;auge registering from 1301ba. at the start and f railing to but 1151bs. on the up grade between ■ Lyttelton and Hoatbcote. Springfield colliery coal was used. Thirty-one more loaded

trucks wore then added, making a tram or 108 waggons, and the whole were drawn to the Christchurch depot at a speed of ten miles per hour. Taking an average of 31Eons for the weight of each waggon, and 5 tons for the contents, the aggregate weight of £he train would be 900 tons—a moderatesized shipload. B. M. Coubt, Lyttelton.— John Goss, a boarding house keeper on Norwich Quay, was brought up at this Court this morning, charged with lunacy from drink. Evidence was given by the police of the horrible state of the premises kept by the defendant. The Bench remanded Goss for medical treatment, and •uggested ;that the police take steps to abate the nuisance in connection with the premises. The Kindbbgaeten.—Considerable dissatisfaction is caused amongst the parents of children attending the Kindergarten at the Normal School, owing to the change of hours if opening, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. In the majority of instances the children attending he Kindergarten are sent to school in charge if their elder sisters and brothers who are in he elder classes. But the change now made jvill prevent this being done, and if persisted ,n will result in a large number of children oeing perforce withdrawn from the school. Under these circumstances it will, perhaps, jeeur to the head of the Kindergarten iortion of the school, that it may be advisible to reconsider the decision arrived at. Drainage Board.—The usual meeting of his Board was held yesterday afternoon. The customary official reports were received md a quantity of correspondence disposed of.

The Proposed Municipal Loans.—At .ast night’s meeting of the City Council his Worship the Mayor intimated his intention of bringing the question of a loan for municipal buildings and water supply before the ratepayers as early as possible. Bailway Department.—Mr Conyers, the Commissioner of Bail ways for this island, will leave for Dunedin on Thursday, where he will TTo will be accpmnanied by Mr Badham, Secretary or Haliwaya, uua 6iuor officers of the department. Pionbbb Bicxcle Club. —The first race meeting of this club hae been arranged to take place on February 28th in Hagley Park. The programme includes one mile club handicap, four miles open handicap, 150 yards club slow race, and ten mile club handicap. Entries will close with the secretary on the 25th inst. The Lunatic Asylum.—The Government have accepted the tender of Mr D. Beese for the erection of the male ward at the Sunnyside Asylum, in continuation of the contract already in hand. The total cost of the two contracts now held by Mr Beese will be £29,900. The New Fiek Bell —The question of the efficiency or otherwise of the new fire bell presented to the city by the Union Fire Insurance Company was before the Council last night on a question put by Cr. Hulbert. The surveyor was unable to give any opinion on the subject, not having heard the bell. The Council decided to allow the matter to stand over until after the further trial had been made, as proposed by Mr Superintendent Harris. Infectious Diseases. —The health officer reports the occurrence of infectious diseases within the district during the past fortnight as follow :—Typhoid, 19 ; diphtheria, 1 ; and scarlatina, I. The cases of typhoid were distributed as follows ;—Biccarton, 1 ; Christchurch, 8 ; Heathcoto, 3 ; Sydenham, 5 ; Avon, 2. The one instance of diphtheria arose in the Heathcote district, and the solitary case of scarlatina occurred at Biocarton. Deowning at Waimakaribi Qobqe.— On Sunday a man named John Arthur Evans was drowned at the Waimukariri Gorge. He and two mates went from Oxford to Malvern, and on returning the deceased and T. McKey went into the river for a swim. The latter was out and drying himself, Evans remaining in the water washing himself, when suddenly McKey missed him. Search was made injvain for upwards of an hour,when the matter was reported to the police at Oxford. Engineer Volunteers. —After parade on last Friday evening a presentation was made by Lieutenant Appleby on behalf of the members of the corps to Sergeant-Major Manning, as an acknowledgment of the interest taken by him in forwarding the discipline of the corps during the past six years. The present comprised a very handsome tea and coffee service, beautifully engraved, and inscribed with the Sergeant-Major’s name and the date of presentation. The recipient, in acknowledging the present, thanked his comrades for their kindness, and begged of. them to attend drill regularly, as he was confident of their ability to outrun any corps in general efficiency, but that needed constant practice. The corps is endeavoring to send a company team of five members to the Nelson prize meeting in March, but owing to want of funds cannot pay the full expenses, and are making an appeal to friends for the extra assistance, which will no doubt be readily accorded, as the company’s chance would be a very good one. Amalgamated Trades’ Picnic.—A general meeting of the amalgamated trades was held at the Prince of V ales Hotel last evening, when representatives from the various shops in town wishing to take part in the picnic attended. It was the wish of all present that the picnic should be held at Southbrook on Saturday, 21st February. After various committees had been appointed, the meeting adjourned until Friday evening. Eteeton School.—Mr T. May has resigned the mastership of this school. Accident near Ambebley.—On Saturday a man named Donohue, working on Mr McGrath’s contract on the extension of the Northern line, while shunting trucks, was jerked off the brake and received severe bruises on his thigh. On Monday evening ho was brought in to the Hospital. Property Sales.—ln addition to the properties sold by Mr Charles Clark on Wednesday last, he succeeded on Saturday last in disposing of the property at Sumner, known as the Sumner Hotel, for £9OO. There is no license to the premises at the present time, but now and large additions to the buildings are contemplated. leish Distress Benefit.—The promoters of the entertainment to *be given on Thursday night for the benefit of the Irish Famine Fund, have been most active in their efforts to secure a successful performance. A long and varied programme has been prepared, and considering the cause in which the entertainment is to be given, there is every reason to expect there will bo a largo attendance.

The Maryland Ship Canal.— The route i chosen for the proposed ship canal between | Chesapeake and Delaware Bays begins at : Queenstown, Maryland, and runs across the Peninsula to Lewes, Delaware, discharging into Delaware Bay, five miles above the Delaware Breakwater ; distance, 51 miles. It is proposed that the canal shall be 200 feet wide and 25 feet deep, with tide looks only. The entire line will have to be dug; estimated coat, $31,000,000. The saving in distance between Baltimore and any Northern port will be 225 miles. leish Belief Fund. —His Worship the Mayor has received a cable message from the Lord Mayor of Dublin, acknowledging the receipt of £6OO on account of the Irish Belief Fund from Christchurch. Me Ohiniquy at Prkbblbton. —Last evening Mr Chmiquy gave one of his lectures at Prebblaton, in a shed lent by Mr Tosawill. There were about 600 present. On the platform was the Bev. Mr Wright, and the Bev. Mr Blake presided, and an efficient choir was present. The chairman briefly introduced the lecturer, who was well received, his subject being “ Borne and Education.” Ho strongly deprecated the present system of education in our state schools. The lecturer was listened to with great earnestness and attention, and ho was frequently applauded. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Tosswill for the use of the shed, and the meeting closed with the Benediction. Mr Chiniquy will lecture this evening at Leeston on “Borne and Liberty.” Harmonic Society. —The weekly practice of the Harmonic Society takes place this evening at St John’s schoolroom. Saleyaeds Company. —The annual meeting of the Canterbury Saleyards Company will be held this evening at half-past seven o’clock. Butchers’ Picnic.— A committee meeting will be held at the Golden Fleece Hotel at 8 30 o’clock this evening. All successsful competitors are requested to be present. Meeting of Milkmen. —A meeting of 1 milkmen is called for Thursday evening, at the 1 Golden Age, ro holding of tho annual picnic. Sunday School Union. The annual ’ general meeting of the Canterbury Sunday , School Union will be held at the Durham street i Wesleyan schoolroom on Thursday evening. Pioneer Bicycle Club. —The inaugural 1 race meeting will be held in Hagley Park on ' the 28th inat. The programme of events is i advertised. Entries will close on the 25th.