NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1925, 26 April 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Total Abstinence —A meeting was held in the Methodist Free Ohuroh, Bingsland, on Friday, April 23rd, to take into consideration the formation of a Total Abstinence Society. It is proposed to hold the first public meeting on Wednesday evening, when several gentlemen are expeoted to attend and address the meeting. All interested in the above are cordially invited to attend. The Sunbeam.—This vessel, about which some anxiety was felt, arrived this morning after a passage of thirty-eight days from Newcastle. The length of the passage was due to silm weather. Inquest.—An inquest was held at Hansman's Hotel, Addington, on Saturday, before Dr. Coward, coroner, and a jury of whom Mr "William White, jun., was chosen foreman, touching the death .of Gregory Duffy, who was killed on Friday morning at the Addington Railway station. After hearing the evidence of the station master, Mr Piper, Wm. Pitcairn, shunter on the railway, Watson Braithwaite, engine driver, and J. J. Mathews, gate keeper, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental deaih." Sale ob Racehobse3.—On Saturday afternoon Messrs J. T. Ford and Co. offered, on behalf of Mr G-eorge Stevenson, of Blenheim, the racehorses Satellite, Bore, and Blazing Star. All three were however passed in, not reaching the reserve price. Mireille, who was offered a the same time, was sold to a gentleman on the Ferry road for £4O. Later in the afternoon Mr J. T. Matson offered those of the' Bundoora youngsters that remained unsold at the s tie held during the race week. Only one—The Peer —Crumbs filly—who brought 50 guineas, was quitted. The rest return to Victoria immediately. The House of Commons.—A telegram to the Melbourne " Argus," dated London, March 31st, gives the following interesting figures with reference to the respective strength of parties in the House of Commonß:—" At the period of the dissolution of the last Parliament there were in the House of Commons 291 Conservatives representing English constituencies, while 32 Irish members and 19 Scotch members belonged to the same party ; in all 342. On tho Liberal side 190 represented constituencies in England, and 71 in Ireland, the latter including 60 Home Bulers and 10 followers of Mr Parnell. There were 41 Liberal Scotch members, giving a total of 302 Liberals. For the new Parliament there were 120 seats uncontested, while for the remaining seats there were 476 Liberal candidates, 463 Conservatives, and 75 Home Bulers, including 20 direct followers of Mr Parnell."

Bbitish Emigration. —The British emigration returns for 1879 hare been published. 217,162 emigrants of all nationalities left the kingdom, as compared with some 148,000 in 1878, and 27,000 less in the preceding year. Of emigrants from the United Kingdom alone, there was an increase of 51,372 over 1878. The increase of emigration to the States was from 20,654 to 71,758. The emigration to Australia was a trifle more than half this, the numbers going out being 35,992. The returns indicate that the emigration to the United States, which had been almost wholly suspended in 1876 and 1877, but com menced again in 1878, has now assumed proportions greatly in excess of the comparatively steady outflow to Australia. The tables showing the occupations of persons emigrating have attracted some attention, as illustrative of the large number of men without a trade who quit the United Kingdom to seek their fortune beyond the seas. The Coldest Town in the Wobld. —In the province of Yakutsk, Eastern Siberia, according to the American EooyclopascHa, the ground is frozen for a depth of 600 ft, and frost is always to be found three or four feet below the surface in the warmest weather. The capital city of the province bears the same name, and is the northernmost town in the world. The condition of the ground, as already stated, would suggest that it is likewise the coldest town r in tno world. Yakutsk is situated, on the river Lena, which discharges into the Arctic Ocean. It has a population of about 5000, and enjoys a large trade in furs, ivory, and provisions. It has been brought to pnblic notioe very conspicuously of late through the recent voyage of discovery made by Professor Nordensjkold in the Swedish steamer Vega, along the Northern coast of Europe and Asia.. That bold voyager has recommended the establishment of a line of steamers between the Pacific and the river Lena for the development of the trade of Yakutsk. If his suggestion is carried out San Francisco may yet enjoy very intimate commercial relations with this isolated and coldest town in the world. Another Nativs Industry.— " AngloAustralian," writing in the " European Mail," says :— " Looking to the fact that New Zealand is overrun with rabbits, it has been suggested —now that it has been shown that fresh meat can be brought from Australia—that large consignments should be sent to this market to supplement our food supply. Perhaps this suggestion may be worth the attention of some enterprising people in New Zealand, who are looking out for a means of achieving fame and fortune. If rabbits could be exported to sell in this market at 6d each, there can be no doubt that a roaring trade might be carried on. If, however, it should be deemed unprofitable to export rabbits in the carcase, then rabbits' skins might be sent with every chance of finding a good market, for it appears that some Belgian skindressers have discovered a way of dressing rabbitskius that makes them undietinguisbablo from sealskins. Perhaps, therefore, as this process will render the skin of more value than the body it covers, it will be as well to export both body and skin, as it will be strange if fortune does not attend upon the double venture. Better than all, however, would be the knowledge of the secret by which rabbitskins cap. be made to represent sealskins. Enterprising men in New Zealand might then manufacture on their own account. Perhaps the Belgian skin-dreseers might be disposed to sell it for a consideration. It is asserted in proof of thiß discovery that 10,000 rabbits were sold the other day upon the London markets without their skins, and the skins were dispatched to Belgium." American Meat Sales.—The onv.ual report of the saleß of live stock in the Chicago market during 1879 shows the magnitude of American resources in the matter of meat production, the number of cattle sold in this one market being about one-third as many as the entire number in Great Britain, and the number of piga sold three times as many. In 1879 no fewer than 1,215,672 head of cattle, 6,448,933 pigs, 235,119 sheep, and 10,473 horses were sold. Of the numbers sold the following were for export in 1879 : Cattle, 715,125 ; pigs, 1,634,338; sheep, 157,159 ; horses, 9,128. AH cattle are sold by the 1001 b., and the average price for the year for good average quality steers was from 3.50d01. to 4.50 dol. Put into English this show* an average price of a fraction under 2d per lb.

District Coitbt.—ln the case of Joaeph v Belgrave, continued on Saturday before His Honor Judge Ward, Air Garriok, for the plaintiff, declined, after consideration, to accept a non-suit. The case was then proceeded with, and His Honor gave judgement for defendant.

Pleasant.—On Saturday afternoen as two men were standing near the bakehouse of S. B. Parker, Clare road, a gun was fired by someone in the nursery garden just opposite. One of the men felt and heard the shot whiz close paßt his face, and the other man saw it strike the ground a little beside. Siticidb.—A very sad suicide took place at Hororata yesterday morning. The wife of Mr John Manson, a most respected farmer of the district, was found hanging in the stable at about one o'clock. She had evidently been dead for some time. The deceased had been in a desponding state for a little time previous. An inquest will bo held as soon as possible. Pbotbction, and thb Vaxub op Monbt. —ln an article on Mr Walter Guthrie's defence of protection, the "Otago Daily Times" says:—Mr Guthrie specially mentions the high value of money as one drawback to Oolonial manufacturers; its scarcity is also a great drawback to traders and producers of all kinds. But where does a great deal of our floating capital come from ? Is it not supplied through the medium of our imports from Home ? "We believe there can never be less than £3,000,000 to £4,000,000 of floating balances due by merchants and traders in New Zealand to shippers at Home, which represents so much English capital lent to us ; and for these floating balances interest at the comparatively low average rate of about five per cent, is paid. Does Mr Guthrie, by shutting out a large part of our imports, want to deprive us of the use of this money, and then, besides, absorb into manufacturing channels two or three millions more of colonial capital, which we sorely need for other purposes, to carry on " protected " industries ? We think that such a course would plainly increase the pressure on the small trader, and the consequent bad debts, and absorb in this way much 'of the artificial profit obtained by the aid of ! protective duties.

Land on Dbfebbed Payments.—There is one difficulty in connection with the sale of land on deferred payments, which sayfl the " New Zealand Herald," appears to be common to all the colonies—namely, that a body of Grown tenants ultimately acquire a certain amount of political power which they are not slow to exerciaa in their special behalf, and that after owing the purchase money of the land for a certain period, there is no valid reason why they should be called upon to pay it. In Victoria the State tenants now owe the Crown £250,000, and hare just forwarded the Governor a document narrating six reasons why they should not be called upon to dub up. In New South Wales matters are going pretty much in the same fashion, and in Otago the deferred-payment settlers of Ohalton, Otama, Tapanui, and other districts, are preparing petitions to the Assembly against the forfeiture of their land for non-payment as prescribed by the Act. Mr Oliver has been appealed to, but he emphatically told them that he would not interfere with the law. City Council.—The usual weekly meeting of the City Council will be held at seven o'clock this evening. Sydenham Boeottgh Council.—The fortnightly meeting of this Council takes place this evening at the usual hour. Selwyn County Council. —The ordinary monthly meeting of the Selwyn County Council will be held at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Head Quartebs Band. —A meeting of those favorable to the establishment of a headquarters band for Christchurch will be held this evening at the Commercial Hotel. Licensed Victuallebs' Association. — The quarterly general meeting of the above association will be held to morrow evening at Morton's Hotel.

North Canteebuby Baces.—A general meeting of supporters of these races will be held at the club room on Tuesday, May 4th, at 8 p.m., to receive statement of accounts, discuss the propriety of holding the races in Bpring, and any other business that may be brought forward.