NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2014, 7 August 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A Novbitv. —Mr Jubal Fleming, of Colombo street, has just imported a novelty in the shape of what may be called literary sleeve studs. They are of silver, and on the face is pourtrayed, with singular fidelity and distinctness, the first pages of the London " Times," "Daily Telegraph," and "Punoh." The latter is especially well done, every detail of the engraving being reproduced in the dearest possible manner. As a curiosity the articles referred to are well worth seeing. Exoitino Ohasb.—An unusual excitement was caused at Govermr's Bay this morning, at 8.15. Mr Samuel Hall, whose garden overlooks the bay, happened to be in it and saw a very large seal making towards a boathouse used by Mr Bashford. He immediately took his gun and made towards the spot. When within range he fired two shots, each wounding the animal severely. Mr Bashford by this time had arrived on the scone of action, and, seeing the seal making away from shore, be immediately got out his canoe and gave chase. Having headed it, the beast seemed to be getting savage, and, with his enormous mouth wide open, made for the canoe with all its speed, but Mr Bashford, with great presence of mind, succeeded in beating it in the race for shore that followed. The seal being now again close in shore, Mr Milburn oommenced hurling large stones at it with tfie effect of driving it again into deep water. Mr Bashford in the meantime procured a gun, which he stowed in the canoe, and, again going in pursuit, succeeded in giving the animal three bullets in the head. Another boat now came to the rescue, manned by Messrs S. and T. Hall, Gray, and Milburn, but by the time they reached the seal, and got a rope round it, it was dead. When brought on shore, it was found to measure lift, long by Sift,, round, and to weigh 8 cwt. The fat was boiled down for oil, but the skeleton is kept on view for the benefit of visitors. Osf thb Track.—The tram train consisting of three carriages ran off the rails this morning, about 10 o'olook, near the Carlton Hotel, through a defect in the Jpoints. The heroio chairman of the company and others applied their strength and official influence to good purpose, and the cars were placed on the rails aghin, and pursued the remarkably even tenor of their way.

Wantbd an Ownbb.—Tho police require an owner for a dark tweed waterproof overcoat found under suspicious circumstances, and which they have good grounds to believe has been stolen. Early application is necessary. Public Woeks Btatbstknt.—The Hon R. Oliver delivered his Publio Works Statement in the House last evening. A telegraphic copy appears elsewhere. Sthbbt Ohossinqs.—The works committee have had some gravel laid down in various parts of the city at ciossiogs, but it is of such a loose nature that it is rapidly being scattered into the various side channels by the pedestrians.

Cantbbbuby Ct/p.—Lady Emma's nomination for the Canterbury Cup was unavoidably omitted in the published list. The telegram covering her nomination was despatched from "Wellington by 11.50 on Monday, and delivered to the chairman of committee's address, but owing to his absence in the country the telegram remained unopened until he returned. liATB ASHBUBTON IIIBEIi CASS. An action for damages will be heard at the next sittings of the Supreme Court, arising out of the libel case Crisp v Ivess, the latter being then proprietor of the " Ashburton Mail." It may be remembered that Ihe criminal prosecution instituted by Mr Cribp was abandoned, and the defendant has now issued a writ to recover £SOO damages for legal expenses and loss sustained in preparing for the defence of the said proseoution. Sttpbeme Cobbt.—Mr Justice Johnston held a sitting in Chambers yesterday, when a good deal of business was disposed of. The most important case disposed of was an application by one Matthew Henderson, asking the Court to declare the election of Messrs Browne and King, as trustees in the estate of A. Simpson, void. His Honor ruled that the applicant had no locus standi, as he was not a creditor but acting under proxy. The rest of the applications were for the most pirt matters of course. A. and P. Association.—The monthly meeting of the committee was held yesterday afternoon at the usual hour. Mr Hill, vicepresident, in the chair, who was, later on in the meeting, succeed ad by Mr Bruce, the former gentleman having to attend another meeting. The business principally consisted in making preparations for the forthcoming show, to be held in November next. The judges of the various exhibits were duly appointed, and arrangements were made for the erection of a permanent shed to contain articles of colonial manufacture. Other matters of a preliminary character in connection with the annual show were also attended to, and tho meeting then adjourned.

Thbatbe Royal.—" British Born"formed the bill at the Theatre Royal last night. It will be played again this evening for the last time.

A Caution to PoAcnßßS.—The police authorities have been requested to take steps to prevent illegal fishing in the river Avon and Heathoote Estuary, and a vigilant watch will bo kept to detect offenders in this respect. City Impbovejibnts.—The contractor for the erection of the large building at tho corner of Hereford and High streets, has commenced operations by taking out the earth for the foundations, an operation which throughout yesterday seemed to create the keenest interest from a crowd of bystanders, though it was somewhat difficult to explain the reason why. An Obstbitction.—Mr Thompson, of the firm of Milnor and Thompson, has recently placed a very large piece of looking-glass in the recess of his doorway, facing down High street, and yesterday it was wonderful to notice the large number of ladies who stopped in front of the shop to look at the music in the window, so much so as to seriously impede the traffic Excessive Assessment.—At a meeting of tho committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, held yesterday, attention was drawn to the valuation of the show grounds, the assessment (£420 per annum) being considered excessive, and it was pointed out that steps should be taken next year to secure tho taxation being based on a fairer estimate of the property's value. Academy or Mttsio.—The Academy of Music was reopened last night with a variety entertainment and exhibition of views. The first part, which comprised instrumental selections and songs and dances, went well. In the second, which was the scioptioon exhibition, the results were far from satisfactory, as the light by which the pictures were exhibited was so bad that the audience could not distinguish even tho outlines. The lecturer was a gentleman of an exceedingly reticent nature, added to which, he wa9 occasionally slightly astray in his facts, so that the audience had to form their own idea of the piotures presented. The bad light was owing to a defect in the apparatus, which it is proposed to remedy this evening. SotTTHBBN CBOSS F. AND A. MASONS. The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday evening, there being a large attendance of brethren. After the regular business, conducted under Bro. O. Smith, W.M., in! the Hall, Charles street, an adjournment was made to a banquet, held in the Orange Hall, Sewell street. About twenty-seven visiting brethren were present during the evening, a large proportion being from the Ashley Lodge. It is hoped that shortly the site lately purchased in K&iapoi will be prepared for the creotion of additions or a new Hall.

A Sanitab? Mbasubb.—Some time since a resolution was passed at a meeting of the Licensing Commissioners, to the effect that all public houses in the district should be provided with dry earth closets, and this reso* lutioa was forwarded to the head of the polios department at Ohristchurch. In pursuance thereof, the polioe have served notices on all the hotel keepers in town that they must provide their establishments with earth closets before the next quarterly lioensing meeting, to be held on the 7th proximo. Diboovbbz of Moa Bonus.—A further discovery of moa bones was made at St. Martin's Brick and Pipe Works on Thursday last. It appears that a fall of earth took place above where the men had been excavating for clay, and on the face of the hill wore discovered a number of bones, supposed to be those of the moa, some of them measuring over IS inches in length. So far as Mr Austin could see tbere appears to be nearly a whole skeleton of one of these extinct birds. Some time einco a similar discovery was made at the works of Messrs Austin and Kirk, when the bones were found at a depth of 30 feet beneath the surface. Those come upon on Thursday were found 15 feet deep. They will probably find their way to the Museum, as the others did. T.O.G.T.—The usual weekly session of the Pride of Sydenham Lodge, No. 200, was held on Thursday evening, m St. Saviour's school, Bro. Kenwood, W.0.T., presiding. After the transaction of some business (including the initiation of five candidates), the officers for the ensuing term were duly installed by Bro. T. B. Knight. L.D., viz.:—W.O.T., Bro. 0. Smith: W.T.T., Sister H. Hunt; W.S., Bro. G. Bogers -, W.F.8., Bro. F. Strelley; W.T., Bro. Eli Webber; W. 0., Bro. T. Heath ; W.M., Bro. A. Smith; W.1.G., Bro. H. Bogers ; W.0.G., Bro. H. Henwood, jun.; W.A.S., Bro. Somerville; W.D.M., Sister L. Sogers ; 8.H.5., Sister C. McOormick; L.H.8., Sister Brown. This Lodge was stated to be in a very promising condition just now, the attendance having been well sustained for some months back.—The Southern Cross Lodge, No. 58, held its usual weekly meeting last Wednesday evening, and after the business had been got through, Bro. J. King, L.D., installed the officers for the ensuing quarter. W.0.T.. Bro. J. Jebson ; W.V.T., Bro. Palmer ; W.S., Bro. H. Woledge ; W.F.S., Bro. A. Coles (re-elected) ; W. T, Bro. W. Clifford (reelected) ; W. 0., Bro. G. Fisher (re-elected) ; W. M., Bro. G. Dement; W.1.G., Bro. Thackwell (reelected); W.0.G., Bro. Parker ; W.A.8., Bro. A. Brooker; and P.W.0.T., Bro. Guise. After a vote of thanks to the retiring officers, the Lodge was closed in due form. Oddfellows' Hall, Woolston. —The Rev. C. Dallaston will preach to-morrow evening at 6.30. "Mother," said the seven-year-old son of an energetic mother not a thousand miles from Rochester, the other day, as he watched her vigorous manipulation of a kitchen utensil, "you ought not to go to Heaven." " Why not, my son t" in a surprised manner. " Because you would wear out your harp before eternity was half over," was the quiet reply of the young philosopher. There are no cats in Greenland. But they have a native dog that can howl a hole in the side of an iceberg, so the natives don't miss the cats. Another American girl is to marry a nobleman. Why is it that our girls refuse to support their own countrymen ? There is a lack of patriotism somewhere ? " Young man," says a quaint writer, "if you are to be married, your future wife is now living, therefore pray for her. And while you are about it, don't forget to pray for her future husband ; he needs praying for as much as she does." A Western paper wants to know " Where tie next world's fair will be held?" We don't profess to know much about the next world, but in these diggings Sunday night is the favorite night for holding the world's fair.