NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1963, 9 June 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

City Coraon Resebtes Committee.— The rosorves committee paid a visit of inspection to the Sandhills reserves this morning, with a view to seeing whether they could not be better utilisation than afcpressnt. The Bbllbingbbs.—Our old friends the Lynch family of bellringers are at present in Gisborne, doing a very good business.

LABCBNY I'BOM THE RAILWAY STATION. —At the R.M. Court, this morning, George Saunders was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labour, for the larceny of a clock on the evening of Monday last. Prisoner is an occasional employeo at the railway, and it was his duty, having found the clock lying on a seat on the platform, to at once take it to the lost parcels office, instead of whioh he took it home.

The Bbbb Dwty.—This morning early tho Customs officers visited the different breweries in town for the purpose of taking Btock. There has been a good deal of talk among tho " fraternity" anent this matter. It will make a large difference to the manufacturers ; it is stated, indeed, that the duty imposed, namely, 6i per gallon, will coat tho brewers in Ob.ristcb.urch between £3500 and £6OBO per year. Good Tbmflaby.—Tho weekly session of the Hope of Christchuroh Lodge was held last night, when the officers and members of the St. Andrew's Lodgo returned the fraternal visit paid them by the Hope Lodge a few weeks since. Upwards of ninety members were present. The chief feature of tho evening was a paper read by the District Dspmly, Bro. C. M. Gray, on " The Three Cardinal Points of our Order," which were defined to be "The obligation," The social statua," and "The Brotherhood." 'The paper, which was interesting and instructive, was well delivered, and was commented on at some length by various members. Oaebiagb of Gbain. —The grain traffic on the Ohristchuroh section" of railway on Saturday amounted to 5711 bags, and Monday 4963 bags were forwarded, and there were 6549 on hand on Monday evening. The South Town Belt. —The little diffi. culty of the insertion of some words in the Draft Bill re the Town Belt, by the Sydenham Council, having'been got over, it is probable that tho bill will at once bo forwarded to Wellington, so that it can be brought forward in the House as speedily as possible. The DkuidS. The adjourned general meeting of the above order was held at tho Wellington Hotel last evening, D.P. Bro. Swinnerlon in the chair. Thero was a fair attendance of members. It was proposed and carried —" That provision be made for conveying the members of. the Order to Southbrook by rail on Thursday evening, returning at 11.45." A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. Mtjnicipaii Woeks. —The works committee of the City Council, at a meeting held yesterday morning, accepted the tender of Messrs O'Donoghue and Miller for formation and shingling of North and Fyfe streets. They also decided to form two footpaths in Molletts lane, each 3 feet wide ; and permission wess givea the Tramway Company to sink a dry tank in Cathedral square.

Lbgax.—Mr Frederick "Wilding was yesterday admitted by bis Honor Mr Justice Johnston as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

Supebmb Court.—His Honor Mr Justice Johnston held a Bitting in Chambers yesterday, when there was a fairly lengthy oause list gone throHgh. This is the last sitting previous to his Honor's departure for Timaru to open the circuit sittings there. These, with the civil cases set down for trial, will probably extend over a fortnight. His Honor, with the Eegistrar, leaves for Timaru to-day. Licensing Goubt, Eangioba.—This Court sat on Tuesday. The Commissioners present were C. Whitefoord, Eiq., 8.M., A. H. Gunningham, and S. Hoy wood, Kaqa. The police report was read, and considered satisfactory. The temporary licenses in the cases of- W. L. Wilson, Club Hotel; and Geo. Haxell, Junction Hotel, were confirmed, and the other licenses applied for renewed. Eenewals of hotel licenses were granted to H. Moody, Bed Lion Hotel; D. Walsh, Plough Inn, Bangiora ; and to S. Green, Masonic Hotel, Southbrook ; all of which were reported to be well conducted.

Coopbbative Land Company.—The final meeting of shareholders took place at the Golden Age Hotel on Monday night last, Mr G. G. Davidson in the chair. The following resolution was put, and lost by 30 to 4, viz., " That an agent be sent to Taranaki to bid for the several sections of land, there being more than one applicant for the same land (with the exception of three applications)." The auction sale takes place on 23rd June. It was decided that each applicant must either go himself or send instructional the authorities at Taranaki. It was resolved that each and every one work independently from this date. The surplus money was divided, and the company wound up. Theatbb Eoyaii.—This place of amusement is olosed until Saturday evening, when Mr Bacheld°r will introduce his Pantaßcope. In connection with this M. Chalet, who will be remembered as being here with Cooper and Bailey's circus, will give his ventriloquiai entertainment. M. Chalet as a ventriloquist is one of the best we have had here, and Mr Bachelder's reputation as a caterer for the public amusement by means of panoramas, dioramas, and pantascopes, is so well known that this part of the entertainment ought not to lack novelty. Opening Institutes on Sundays.—At the meeting of members of the Institute at Baiapoi on Monday, the question of closing the reading-room on Sundays, upon a motion of which previous netioe had been given, came on for consideration. The only members who spoke on the proposition were singularly enough those who at the meeting some years ago supported the motion to open the room on Sundays, and who now deplored the fact that it had not been used, except by a few larrikins, who upon one occasion had to be foroibly ejected. The motion for now dosing the reading-room on Sundays was carried unanimously. The Unemployed.—A second meeting of the unemployed was held yesterday morning in the square, when the proposed petition to the United States Government, asking it to afford aid to the unemployed here to reaoh America, was brought up, read, and adopted. It was resolved to request the United States Consul here to forward it to the Government at Washington, and also that copies for signature should be placed in various parts of the city. The meeting then adjourned until Saturday, it being mooted that a monster public meeting should be got up at an earlydate. Lijb Saving Appabatus.—Mr Kiddey, of the Golden Fleece Hotel, has introduced aßystom of life ropes in the upper part of his house, as a means of escape in case of fire. The csnlrivance is exceedingly simple, and would be found of the Igreatest service on emergencies. Over each window on the second floor he has constructed a narrow box extending over the entire width of the window, and inside this box, which is covered by a chintz curtain, is coiled a three-inoh manilla rope, one end of which is attaohed to the stud above the window-frame, and the other end hangs down an icoh below the curtain. Thus, in case of fire, the occupier of one of these rooms or anyone else upstairs, has only to open the window, throw out the "slack" of the rope and descend. As a means of escape this would be found of the greatest convenience in every house, and the cost of providing each window with a rope and fittings is exceedingly small. Mr Kiddey may be congratulated on the idea, which though not entirely new, he has carried out with the ingenuity of a sailor. It would be well if every hotel in the oountry were similarly equipped. Papanui Saieyabds Company. The annual meeting of the above company was held at. the Sawyers' Arms last night. Mr Robert Duncan, chairman, presided. The statement of accounts and balance-sheet, as aubmitted, were adopted by the meeting. Messrs Duncan, Munro and Jackson, directors, retired by rotation, and Messrs Dowdle, Jackson, and Munro were elected. Mr H. Godfrey was re-elected auditor. The meeting olosed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

Ohbistohtjboh Shaksfbabh Society.— Tho inaugural meeting of this society was held at the College Library on Monday evening last, the Very Eev. the Dean occupying the chair. About twelve members wore present. It was resolved to hold weekly meetings in the College Library for the purpose of reading and criticising Bhakspeare, and for debating on Shakspearian subjects. A small number of rules were drawn up, binding the members, the Very Rev. the Chairman kindly consenting to act as president. It was further resolved that anyone wishing to become a member should communicate with the president or with tho seoretary, Mr T. F. Dodd. Concbrt. —The ooncert given by the Misses A. S. and L. Taylor, takes pi the Oddfellows' Hall to morrow evening. rogramme, in addition to glees by several gentlemen under the direotion of Mr N. Barnett, will comprise a concerto in D major for concertina by Miss L. Taylor, recitative and aria' from " La Nozzo di Figaro " by Misß A. 8. Taylor, two instrumental duets for piano and violin and concertina and piano by Messrs J. Coombs and Landergan and Miss Taylor and Mr Landergan, also solos by Mrs Townend and Mr Appleby. During the evening Herr Lund will play a free fantasia on a theme to be given by Mr A. Lean, and the programme will olose with Roeokel's cantata "The Sea Maidens," in which a number of ladies will take part. Such a bill of fare should induce a orowded house.

; Acoideht. —An accident happened to Mr G. W. Westropp, the schoolmaster, at Little I River, on Saturday last, which caused jhim to lose two fingers off his left hand. It appears that on the morning of Saturday last Mr Westropp went in his canoe down the river to get a shot at some wild fowl. When near the mouth of the river he fired at a duck, when the gun burst, shattering his left hand badly. He managed to paddle his canoe to the bank of the river, aud to walk home. Mr Olphert at once despatched a messenger to Duvauchelle's Bay, who telegraphed from there to Dr. Guthrie at Akaroa, who at once proceeded to the Little River. Qn his arrival, and after examining Mr Westropp's hand, he found it would be necessary to cut off the little and third fingers at the knuckle joint. This, after putting his patient under chloroform, ho did, and then extracted a piece of wood, being part of the gun stock, from the palm of the hand. On Sunday Mr Olphert went to fetch up the canoe, and in it found the remains of the gun. These consisted of three pieces only, being portions of the stock, both barrels, lock, &0., having been blown completely away. We are glad to learn that Mr Westropp is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. Benbvomnt Association. The committee appointed at the general meeting met yesterday morning at 10.30, and transacted a very considerable amount of business, and then adjourned until Thursday next at 10 30, when the programme of the future work of the association ia to be settled. In the meantime the receipt and distribution is to proceed as heretofore. Between 9 and 11, cases will be heard and decided on ; between 11 and 1, distribution of soup, goods, &o.; from and after 1, distribution of clothing; and delivery of Boup between 9 and 10 p.m. when occasion requires. Yesterday, 221 were supplied with soup and b bread consumed on the premises, while twenty people took their soup or provisions away in their own vessels. Many persons having expressed a wish to pay a triflo ia exchange for the goods, and no one having power to receive money in this manner, Mr Nathan, of Colombo street, sent a cash box. In this was, on Monday 4s 6d, and yesterday, 7s 10£d, chiefly contributed by cabmen. Mr "W. J. Fisher Bent a bag of sago, and Messrs Hopkins and Co. called personally at the depot to say that they would willingly send any quantity of food required this day, and then take their regular turn to do so gratuitously.

Bbbach of Habbob Begulatioms.—At the Lyttelton R.M. Court this morning the owners of the lighter that tender: d the Ariel were charged with allowing the ballast to be deposited in the harbor. The} were fined £lO. A full report will be found in another oolumn.

' Financial Statement. —The Financial Statement was delivered in the House of Representatives last evening by the Hon. Colonial Treißurer, Major JAtkinson. It is proposed to exempt personal effects, &c , from assessment under the property tax, to impose a duty 0 f 6d pEr gallon on colonial beer, and increase the duty on imported beer by 61. It is also proposed to increase the stamp duties. PoruiiAß Concket.—A popular concert, in aid of the Music Library Fund of St. Andrew's Church, ia announced to be held on Thursday evening, 17th inst. Immigrants. About thirty immigrants (nominated) ex ship Geraldine Paget, arrived from Wellington by the Arawata yesterday. Amongst them are a few single women, who are anxious to accept service. They are at present at the Immigration Depot, Addington. OoDFKiiLowsHlP. —The anniversary ball of Loyal City of Norwich Lodge, Lyttelton, is announced to be held on the 22nd in the Society's Hall at Port. A; summoned meeting of the Loyal Avon Lodge, No. 23, A.C., will ba held this evening at half-past seven, for the nomination of officers for ensuing term.