NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1984, 3 July 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Committal. —An addition was made today to the cases for trial at the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court on Monday, Two young men of respectable appearance, who came from the old country as saloon passengers in the Norfolk, and fraternised during .he voyage as well as at St. Yincent and the Cape, en route, appeared in the contrary positions of prosecutor and accused at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning; the latter being committed for trial on the charge of stealing a gold watch from his quondam friend. The Balaclava Commbmbbation Society. —Mr S. Wilson, one of the survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, has forwarded to u.s a neat little volume by the above society. It contains a roll of the surviving non-commissioned officers and privates of the charge, and a number of odes on the charge, commencing, of course, with the celebrated one by the Poet Laureate, and including several written for the annual commem.ion dinner which is still held on the 25th of October of each year. The rules of the society are also included in the volume. The Light Brigade, as will be remembered, consisted at the time of the charge of the Fourth Light Dragoons, the Bth, 11th, and 17th Hussars, and the 13th Light Dragoons. Habd Times. —An apparently deliberate instance of a man choosing dishonesty and the shelter of the prison rather than liberty, houseless |and hungry, came before the [Lyttelton magistrate this morning. The circumstances, as related by the man, were—That his name was Alexander Simpson, about twenty-six years of age, and he came to New Zealand from Adelaide about two years ago. Ho had lately been swagging, looking for work, sleeping out at nights, exposed to cold, wind and rain, and, being penniless and hungry and in this condition last night, ho went to GK B. Philp’s shop, on London street, and took an oilskin coat from a number there hanging outside the shop. With this he went over to the police station acd gave himself into custody. This was the story he told the constable, and so told it with apparent emotion to the magistrate this morning. In reply to the Bench, he saidjho was a|laborer and willing to work at anything for wages. The police said the man was unknown to them, and the magistrate, unwilling to enter up a conviction until further inquiries were made, remanded him for a week.

Canterbury Agricultural Association. —Donations have been freely given this year towards the special prize fund of the Agricultural Association, the promised contributions being announced by the chairman at a meeting of the committee yesterday. Donors have the privilege of suggesting the particular feature for which they give tho prize, and consequently the catalogue will contain a number of new items. A special prize is to be given for the best keg of preserved butter not containing less than 501b5., and to be subject to its landing in England in good marketable condition.

Good Templahy. —A very pleasant reunion took place on Thursday in the Templar Hall, Worcester street, when the officers of tho Seashell Lodge, Lyttelton, accompanied by about ninety members of tho order from Port, returned the visit of the Southern Cross lodge. The visitors were duly introduced, and the officers of the Seashell lodge took tho chairs and conducted the Southern Cross lodge for the remainder of the evening. An excellent programme of songs, recitations, speeches, &c,, had been prepared, and on a recess being called, refreshments, consisting of tea, coffee, sandwiches, &c., were handed round. Tho visitors expressed themselves much pleased with the cordial welcome they had received, and also at tho number of Christchurch members who had coino to welcome them, the attendance being one hundred and ninety-five. Volunteer Intelligence. —A Defence Office circular has recently been sent to officers commanding volunteer corps throughout the colony, intimating that in consequence of the end of the Government financial year having been changed to March 31st, the volunteer year will in future end on December 31st instead of March 31st as hitherto. All claims for capitation will be made up to 31st December next, and the number of inspection parades to bo attended will be the same as formerly, namely, six. The circular does not state whether capitation for the nine months will bo paid at the usual rate or not, but it will be seen that in any ease volunteer corps will receive the present year’s capitation three months sooner than usual—welcome news, no doubt, to most corps, but, as a set-off, the requisite number of parades will have to be attended in nine months, of which nearly throe are already gone, instead of the twelve. It will therefore be necessary for volunteers, says the “ New Zealand Times,” especially in small corps, to be careful to attend regularly at inspections if they do not wish to see their corps with a diminished capitation roll at tho end of the present period, or perhaps with tho number of efficients fallen below tho minimum which entitles a corps to capitation. Criminal Session. —The quarterly session of the Supreme Court opens on Monday next at II a.m., before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston. The calendar comprises seventeen cases, as follows—Jane Matthews, infanticide; Longden, stealing from the person ; Schmidt, false pretences; Homer, horse stealing; Wood, burglary; Higgins, larceny; Davis, perjury ; Rogers, forgery; Hayes, forgery ; Maddon, burglary ; Flowers, cattle stealing ; Ryan, stealing from tho person; White, larceny ; Mayor and Wilson, arson; Oorrie, sheep stealing. Unemployed Meeting. —A meeting of the unemployed, to receive the report of the deputation appointed to interview the Government, was hold last night, when there was a largo attendance. A resolution accepting the terms of tho Government was carried, as also one that the lands on deferred payment should be thrown open without deposit, and that where more than one applicant put in for tbe same section a ballot should bo taken. The chairman, Mr Gapes, was requested to forward tho resolutions to the Government,

Sunday School Cbntbnaby. —Tha celebration of the centenary of Sunday schools (by the united churches) was brought to a close last evening by a communion service in the Trinity Congregational Church, the Bev. Mr Williams presiding. Chain Traffic. —The grain season has practically ceased, any parcels that come through now being too small to bo worth mentioning, and consequently na official record has been kept since the 30th of last month. Libel Cash. —It is understood that Mr Napier Ball has served a writ on the proprietors of the Eangiora “ Standard ” for £IOOO in respect of an alleged libel anent commission on the purchase of drain pipes.

New Steam Service. —The Dunedin “ Herald ” hears that a new line of steamers will bo placed on the route shortly from Melbourne to Dunedin, and along the New Zealand coast to Sydney. Poultry Association. —A meeting of the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association was held in the Shades last evening, at which a dozen members were present, Mr E. Strange presiding. The business was of a purely routine nature, having reference principally to the prizes to be awarded at the forthcoming show. Miss Lilian Andeews. —The many friends of this lady in Christchurch will be glad to learn that her professional career in San Francisco still continues successful. At the date of the last mail leaving she was ploying at the Baldwin Theatre in Shakspere, supporting Herr Bandmann. Following this engagement Miss Andrews was to support Miss Neilson at the Baldwin, and at its conclusion she would probably go oast.

Theown fbom a Cart. —Tho driver of a light spring cart had a hair’s-breadth escape from being severely injured near Latimer square last evening. He was driving at a reckless pace in tho dark, and in turning a sharp corner the wheel collided with the pavement, and the shock threw the driver violently from his seat on to the road in front of the horse. The animal came to a dead stop, or otherwise the cart wheels must have passed over the man, who, as it was, escaped with his nerves unstrung. Chbistchuech Debating Society. —The fortnightly meeting of this society was held at St. John’s schoolroom last evening. Mr Townsend in the chair. The attendance on this occasion was rather small, as to which, it may be said, regret was very naturally expressed by those members who take an interest in the society, and who have evinced the same by regular attendance at its meetings. The subject of debate was —“ Is novel reading injurious to the morality of the age,” opened by Mr T. Griffiths, who at tha conclusion of his address moved—“ That novel reading in tho main is beneficial to morality,” which was seconded by Mr Webb. Mr Beaven moved as an amendment—‘‘That novel reading, as a habit, ia not conducive to the morality or society at large.” A discussion ensued, in which Messrs Earnshaw, Eokberg, Parker, and Edwards took part, and Mr Griffiths having replied, Mr Beaven’s amendment was put and carried by a majority of over two to one. The subject for discussion at next meeting was announced, namely—- “ Protection v Free Trade,” Lyttelton Choeal Society. —On Thursday night the Lyttelton Choral Society gave their first concert for this season, and attracted a very good audience to the Colonists’ Hall. The first part of the programme consisted of the cantata “ The Jackdaw of Bheima,” and the Society and the musical director, Mr J. T. Maeleod Smith, may be congratulated upon the success which attended its performance. In the second part Mrs Millar sang “ The Blue Alsatian Mountains, ” receiving a demand for an encore, which, however, was not responded to. Miss Kiasell’s song, “Star upon Star,” was also very beautifully rendered and much applauded, but the reception accorded to “ She wore a Wreath of Boses,” sang by Miss Smith, must have been very gratifying to that young lady, as indeed was the evidence of genuine appreciation on the part of the audience manifested in the repeated calls for an encore. The other songs were by Messrs Barnes, Crawford, Brownell, and Laing—all well received. Mr Terrill gave a cornet solo, and the concert was brought to an end with Mozart's well known operatic chorus “ To Borne’s Immortal Leader.” Tho Society purpose giving their second concert next month. It has been decided that Mr Herbert Beeves, son of Mr Sims Beeves, will make his first appearance in public at Mr Ganz’ orchestral concert, at St. James’s Hall, on May 20 th,