NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2003, 26 July 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lyttelton Magibteate's Cottbt.—Two men, for being drunk and disorderly, were fined respectively 5s and 203 at this Court this morning, and Frank Thor, for lunacy, wa3 remanded until to-morrow.

'■ Council Committees. The Public Works and Financs Committees of the City Council met this morning, but the business transacted was solely of a routine nature Vocal Music.—The attention of Tonic-Sol-faista is directed to an advertisement which appears in another column of this paper announcing the formation of a class for the practise of glees, part songs, and choruses. Gentlemen will be charged a email fee to cover expenses. The Tonic Sol-fa method of teaching music is acknowledged by the Board of E:iu';.ition, and several teachers use this system of teaching tho children to sing. This class will fui-nish an opportunity to teachers and others for acquiring skill in reading and singing at sigh f , so as to enable them to take tho certificates offered by the Tonic Sol-fa College.

Cuinesk Litigation.—The B.M. Court Chamber was redolent of Confucius* sons|this morning, one Chinaman having charged another with stealing a swag. There were twenty or thirty Mongolians concerned in the case, and a deal of time was occupied in consuming matches for swearing witnesses and interpreting tho evidence which was very conflicting. The charge was ultimately dismissed.

Spmnofield. A Money Order and Savings Bark OlHce will be opsned at Springfield from and after the first of August,

A Distinction and a Diffbbbnob. — There is a resident of a Canterbury township 'just at presents good deal annoyed at a discovery ho has recently made. A lady friend of his died lately and he expected, from what she had told his wife, that her property would fall into the possession of his family. So sure was he that such was the sick lady's intention that he kept out ot the aick-room while his supposed benefactress wai making her last will and testarhent to her lawyer, not oaring to thrust himself forward at so delicate a time, though asked to do so (as he says) specially. Bit»j then—the lady having gone to her rest—he has waited patiently to bo sont for by the officiating knight of Blackstone, but so far in vaio. Nor, indeed, is it likely he will be sent for, seeing that he has made the discovery that the will was made out to another party, not of the same name bb himself but olosoly resembling it. He is naturally considerably chagrined at the new development affairs have taken, and is now contemplating an interview with a legal adviser as to what he had better do. As may be supposed, his view of the situation is precisely the opposite to that taken by the gentleman whose name has really got into the will. It may be said also that neither of the gentlemen were related to tho deceased lady. Accident at Pobt.—The watchman on board the ship Hudson had a narrow escape from drowning on Saturday night. When endeavoring to climb on bo<rd forward, having preferred to get on the vessel by a short cut in place of prooeeding by the gangway, he overbalanced and dropped into the water. It was some time before his mates succeeded in rescuing him, but having done so, and finding him almost lifeless, they procured the services of Dr. Macdonald, who, after applying the proper restoratives, brought the imprudent seaman to consciousness.

An Impostob.—During the past fortnight a young man of the genus " loafer " has been employing himself by making a house to house canvass for alms, to obtain which he relates a doleful tale of distress, and is always in need of '' just so much as will take him somewhere else," his prospects always being distant, in a practical as well as theoretical light. This class of loafer is always recognised as moat objectionable, because like " begging letter writers," they make a trade of it. But this young man is, so to speak, an especially bad egg, since he invariably tries to work on the sympathies of the gentler sex instead of trying his luck with the men. He is known to have visited a number of houses, to the inmates of which he told the same story. The above facts are therefore stated by way of a caution.

Fbihndly Societies' Association.—There appears to be every probability of the projected amalgamated Friendly Societies' Association becoming an accomplished fact. The report of the sub-committee appointed to draw up the constitution has been forwarded to the different lodges and oourts, and upon their consent to allow their chief officers to become ex ofliiio members of the association, the election of officers, &c, will take place. Amongst other matters likely to be taken in hand by the proposed association are the establishment of a dispensary for friendly societies and the institution of a scheme for mutual life insurance amongst members. AtTSTBAIiIAN POTATOBB IK IKDIA.—The " Madras Times" of May 2nd has an advertisement respecting the anticipated arrival of ft trial shipment by the mail steamer of Australian potatoes for table and seed purposes. The potatoes were packed in 4 owt boxes, and would no doubt arrive in excellent order. Should the shipment prove a success, there will doubtless be a considerable demand for potatoes of Australian production, and there is no reason why those grown in New Zealand should not find as good a market.

Thh Hon. Mb Taiaboa.—A Wellington paper explains how Mr Taiaroa is disqualified from holding a seat in the Legislative Council : —Aocording to the Disqualification Act of 1878, six months should elapse before any person in receipt of Government pay of any kind can be legally qualified to take a seat in the Council. Three months before Mr Taiaroa was called to the Council he received three months pay as Native Assessor, but none after he became a member ; but the fact of having received the three months pay constituted a breach of the Aot and therefore disqualified the hon. gentleman from any longer holding his seat. A Gubb fob Lock-jaw.—Our contemporary, the " Hawke's Bay Herald," is responsible for the following:—" A rather curious incident occurred in Hastings street the other day. A gentleman was walking somewhat briskly, and in turning a corner he bumped up against a well-known draper. He was about to apologise for his clumsiness, when the draper interrupted him with the exclamation, ' You have saved my life!' and in explanation stated that he had suddenly become look-jawed, and was on his way to the doctor, in great pain, when the collision effected a speedy and unexpected cure."

KbiiLY Phbbnoloo-ibbd.—The delineation of the character of Ned Kelly, given by Professor Nimshi at Wangaratta six years since, and published in the " Wangaratta Press," is as follows;—"The head of this mania nonintellentual. The base of the skull, with tho whole basilar section of the brain, is a massive development of the lower animal proclivities, and which, being vastly in excess of the moral sectional measurement, inclines him to the perpetration of sensual animal vices, and which, with an adverse facial angle, prompts him to the commission of vicious, brutal acts of outrage and aggressiveness. He has large organs of self-esteem and love of approbation, which gives self-conceit and vanity. If the one be wounded or the other mortified, his animal nature would know no bounds. He would be likely under sudden surprise to commit the grossest outrages, and, being anoontrolled by any moral sentiment, stamps his character as wolfish and ravenous, his notions of moral right giving him a dangerous range of action." A Wabning to Thieves.—A tragic (•.-mination to an amusing incident waa witnessed a few weeks ago at Massegros, in Franco. A man with a dancing bear arrived in the evening, and begged a lodging of a farmer for himself and charge. The bear was accordingly turned into the pigsty after the pig had been removed to another shelter. In the middle of the night three malefactors appeared on the scene, with the intention of stealing the farmer's pig. The result can easily be imagined. The bear gave the men a warm reception, promptly flooring the two who ventured into the stye before they discovered the substitution of the animals. The third robber was petrified with fright at the fate of his companions, but managed to shout for help, and the farmer and bear-keeper were soon on the spot. They found the first man quite dead ; the second is still dangerously ill, and it is feared that the pigstealing adventure has destroyed the reason of the other. Stbeet Cbossings.—The attention of the works committee might very advantageously be directed towards tho sweeping of tho various street crossings, which at present are in anything but a creditable Btate. The Tramway.—Oars were run on the High street line on Saturday, and also on the Papanui section, the chairman of directors having arranged matters satisfactorily with the Government. Papanui Ohtjbch. There will be a pleasing ceremony at the Papanui Church tomorrow in connection with the peal of bells so generously given by Mr Matson. A special train will leave Cathedral square at 10.15 a.m., and cars will continne to run between the city and Papanui up to 10.30 p.m. Theatbicai. Mrs Walter Hill, Miss Arethusa May, Messrs Burford, Clinton, Stark, &0., arrived yesterday from the North, where they have had a very successful tour. They will re-appear at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday next in the comedy of " Leap Tear."

Leap Ybab Ball —This event, which takes place on the 29th inst. at the Oddfellows' Hall, promises to be a success so far as attendance goes, as a large number of tickets have been disposed of. If the promoters adhere strictly to tho rules observed in America with regard to those balls some amusement may be anticipated. Exhibition Commission. —The final meoting of the Christchurch Industrial Exhibition Commission, for the purpose of bringing up the report to be submitted to the Government, was held in the City Council Chamber on Saturday afternoon, there being present Mr E. Wakefield (chairman), his Worship the Mayor, tho Hon. Mr Gresson, Mr P. Cunningham, Mr J. Inglis, and Mr J. S. Noding (secretary). A number of papers were oont in by reoent exhibitors setting forth information with regard to their productions, and these, it was resolved, should be appended to the general report. The report was drawn up by the chairman and secretary, the extent of local products, amount of labor they gave employment to, and other details being embodied, and the whole agreed to. Mr Wakefield loft for Wellington on evening

xjOAsrae Homb Ships. lities for loading Home ships are about to be provided at Port Lyttelton. Tenders have been called for, and will close on the 12th prox., for a large extent of timber breastwork between the Screw File Jetty and Gladstone Pier. It is an extensive contract of work 1160 ft. long, with a jetty of 120 ft, being part of si 400 ft. jetty which it is proposed ultimate]/ to oomplete. TbOot Cuxttjbb.—There has just been ssued from the Pbbsb office a neatly printed and interesting pamphlet entitled " A Brief History of Trout Culture and Distribution by the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society." The work has been compiled by the secretary of the sooiety, Mr S. 0. Fan, and its name is a sufficient indication of its contents. Some idea of the success of the society's operations may be gained from the faot that the total number of trout sent from the fish house since the year 1867 amounts to 79,911, of which the last two seasons have yielded no less than 57,975. Fobbstbbs* Ehtbbtaikmbnt. —The annual performance by the members of the Anoient Order of Foresters in aid of their Benevolent Fund, which has always been looked forward to with interest, takes place on the 29th inst. in the Theatre Royal. The piece selected is the historical drama of " Whitefriars." In addition to the members themselves, the committee have secured the services of several ladies and gentlemen, notably Miss Lilly Kay, S 3 as to render the piece with completeness. The rehearsals have gone exoellently throughout. KAIAPOI MAGISTBATBS' , COTJBTHOTTSB.— The redecoration of this Courthouse is to be gone on with. The internal walls are to be painted a French grey color, and the roof and fittings are to be varnished. A set of handsome chairs for the Bench has been introduced, that for the presiding magistrate being a somewhat elaborate affair. The former Resident Magistrate's chair, a roomy, oldfashionsd structure, made in 1856 for the Hon. John Hall, the first Resident Magistrate for the Kaiapoi district, is now placed in the witnesses' waiting-room. Within two ordinary witnesses can be accommodated with sitting room. When the exterior of the Courthouse is painted no doubt the police station will also receive a coat of paint. Expensive Dissipation.—A. young colonial—whioh means something quite different from a young colonist—(says "JEgles" in the " Australasian ") noted for kis prudence and meanness in money matters, was coversing with a young lady. The topic of race meetings came up, Mr M'Angus having lately attended one. He expressed such disapproval of that kind of amusement that the lady asked him why he disliked races. " Oh," he replied, " because they are so expensive—just fancy, my trip cost me two and sixpence!" "Indeed," said his fair interlocutor, " how did you manage to spend such a large sum ? " " Well, you see," said the unsuspecting M'A., "it cost me a shilling for cab going, and another for returning." "Yes," said Miss Velvet, " but how did you dispose of the remaining sixpence?" "Oh," responded he in quite a gay and young-bloodish manner, " mostly boozing."

Acknowledgment.—The master of the Ashburton Home begs to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of a number of books as an addition to the library for the inmates, from Mr W. L. Browne, manager for Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen, Chrißtchnrch.

Lectuee.—Mr B. Cass will deliver his lecture on " The Doctrine of Eternal Suffering" on Friday evening in the Oddfellows' Hall. Citt Council.—The usual weekly meeting of the City Council will be held at seven o'clock tkia evening.