NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2034, 31 August 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Native Prisoners.—ln the event of another batch of Native prisoners being Bent to Lyttelfcon, it is probable they will be quartered upon Ripa Island. Opposed Retkbnchmknt.—Last night, at the mooting of the Lyttelton Borough Counoil Cr. Reed gave notioe of motion that the permanent workmen's wages of the Council be raised to 83 por day. This is in oppposition to a recent reduction made to 7a. Of Couese.—At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning a man named Kennedy was summoned by the City Council for his scavenging rate. Kennedy pleaded bankruptcy, but was not prepared with the necessary proof. The representative of the Cour.cil okcted to take payment for the amount, w-iich waß duly given. Defendant then asked for his expenses, as he had lost a day's work in attending the Court. The request seemed to tickle his Worship, who told him that though his modesty and ability to look after himself in a new country were worthy of much more than he asked, his present speculation was a failure. The well-known impecuniosity of the Government, or other reasons, prevented the application being granted.

Lustra NATUK.a3 —Mr Stevens, of Christchurch, has shown m a most extraordinary phenomenon in the way of eggs. Its eiza is immense, the measurement round the egg lengthways being 10£ irehes, and rousd ii orossways, 8 inches. Inside the outer shell is another complete egg, of the natural size, quite perfect in formation, and not attached in any way. The outside egg has a complete yolk and white, and presumably tho inner one has also. Tho hen that distinguished itself by layiag this extraordinary production is a small one, half-bred Spanish.

Resident Magisteate's Cottht. —At this Court to-day, before Mr Mellish, R.M., one inebriate was fined ss, and ordered to pay for damages done by him to a window, Robert William Pop?, who was remanded yesterday, now appeared again, producing a certificate of his having taken an 1.0.G-.T. pledge, and a oonviction being entered up against him, he was dismissed without fine. Thb VicroEiA. Stbbbt Wbil. —The works committee of the City Council have resolved to make yet another attempt to sink a well in Victoria street to the sac.'.nl stratum, Thb Phopbbty Tax.—Mr Latter received a, telegram yesterday from the head of the depirtment at Wellington, statirg that the time for sending in the property tax returns will be extended by Order in Council to September 30fch. Boabd op Health. —The Local Board of Health met yesterday. Present—Mr Harman (chairman), Messrs Ross, Hall, Hobbs. The Chairman said that he had forwarded a letter, as requested, asking the Government to appoint a Commission to inquire into the circumstances connected with the doath of Mary Keatley, in the Ohriatchurch Hospital. The letter was read and approved of by the Board. Accounts amounting to £46 odd were passed for payment. There was no general business on the order paper, and the Board then adjourned.

SoAViiNoma Bath.—A large batch of defaulters in the matter of this rate wore ordered this morning by the Resident Magistrate to pay up with costs. "Very few of the liabilities were disputed, but among the few was one which causod his Worship to make some remarks from which the Oity Council might possibly benefit. A respectable lady, who showed that eho had been exceptionally punotuul in her payments, was summoned for the rate due for the quarter ending December, 1879. She produced the receipts for the two subaf quent quarters, and firmly believed that she bud paid for the one in dispute. lb was shown clearly that this was not the case, and judgment of course went against her. His Worship said he could not seo why accounts for this rate, or indeed for any other rate, could nob be furnished in the same way as those of any tradesman. That is to soy, if a first quarter's account had not been paid on the rendering of a second quarter's account, the total amount owing shou'd be shown in the second account. The items being to account rendered so much, and so on. In this way people who by the present syßtem lost sight of what they owed would bo reminded at each application of the rate collector, and much trouble to all concerned Would be saved. An TJKtrsr/Aii Episode.—G-enuineemotion is always respectable wherever met with. _ An example of this occurred at the Resident Magistrate's Oouvt yesterday morning, when a person accused of a common assault had called as a wii ness in his defence his own son, a ohild of nine years of age, and not overgrown at that. Essaying to question his witness the father broke down and fairly oried. At this sundry boobies of different stations in various parts of the courthouse laughed, and otherwise displayed their appreciation of this touch of nature. The man—a very rough ciitnond —recovered himself shortly afterwards, and apologising for his presumption, oxplaiued that he gave way in the ridiculous manner he did, because of having to placo the child in the witness-box before suoh a critical and sympathetic audience. The Magistrate, with great delicacy and kindness, covered the distress of the speaker by taking the examination of the boy into his own hands. And a very good witness he proved to be, (jiving his evidence in a clear straightforward manner, the more apparent because what he had to say did not help his father much beyond collaterally supporting the defence. The case brought something else into notice, upon which a few words may be said. When questioned as to hiß understanding of the nature of an oath, after some hesitation the boy eoid ho knew what the obligation meant. When asked what would happen to him here and hereifter if under oath he spoke untruly, the boy said he would be "sent to prison," and the oath was not administered, presumably becauso it was considered that he did not understand what an oath was. His evidence was taken nevertheless, and as before stated he acquitted himself so as to be oomplimented by the Bench. The course pursued was probably sensible enough, as it is doubtful whether all the oaths in the world would have influenced the boy more than the strange presence he found himself in, but it would be unfair to suppose if the boy had been taken quietly in ha id that after due explanation and deliberation his conception of the obligations of an oath would not have satisfied the m»st exacting scrutiny. Children are children, and should not be expected to exhibit the readiness of grown-up people even in a magistrate's court.

Typhoid Fbteb.—A case of death from malignant typhoid fever was reported to the chairman of the Kaiapoi Board of Health on Monday. Steps were taken by the medical officer of the Board to prevent the spread of the disease by contagion. Theatbb Koyai,—Mr Walter Bovaolds' dram* " Tried and True" wa9 repeated last night at the Theatre Royal to a very good house. The piece went capitally throughout, the various characters being called before the curtain at the end of the acts, and also at the termination of the play. " Tried and True" will be given again this evening. In connection with the theatre it may be montioned that the lessees have opened a very handsomely furnished refreshment and smoking room just off the dress circle, thus supplying a want long felt by the habitues of the theatre.

Cabmen's Society.—A deputation from the Cabmen's Society waited on the City Council last evening, and brought under their notice a number ot subjects in which they are interested. Amongst others spoken of were the reduction of license fees, the standing of the cars of the Tramway Company at the kerb near the railway station, and also in Cathedral square, &o. The matters brought before the Council by the deputation were referred to the by law committee to report upon. Thb Gbbat Pstsamid. Mr Brunton attended at the Congregational Church schoolroom last night, to answer questions relative to the Pyramid. A great deal of interesting information was elicited in this manner, especially as regards the ohambera, and the measures used in building this remarkable edifice, viz. the Pyramid cubit and the Pyramid; inch. It has been calculated that the cubit or standard measurement is a twentyfive millionth part of the axis of the earth. A vote of thanks to Mr Brunton terminated the proceedings.

Philosophical Institute.—An ordinary meeting of the Institute will be hcJd on Thursday next, September 2nd, when papers will be read by Mr J. B. Armstrong and Professor Biokerton.

Young Men's Chbistian Association. —A scientific lectnre will be delivered this evening in the Manchester street schoolroom, by Mr N. K. Cherrill, on " A drop of wator."_ Okgan Recital. —An organ recital in aid of the organ fund will be given on Thursday next at St. John's church. There are sixteen numbers on the programme, selected from the works of Baydu, Mendelssohn, Handel, Mozart, Batiste, Tallis, Bauiby, and Costa. Mr A. Landergan, the organist of the church, will prebide at the organ. Masonic Ball.—The Masonic ball in aid of the fund of benevolence, which is fixed for the 7th October, promises to be a great success. As will be seen by reference to the list of the committee, alt the metropolitan craft ladges and some of the country ones are represented. The ball will not ba, as supposed, strictly confined to the craft, but those wishing to obtain tickets can do bo through members of the committee, or from any Mason, the brother applying for the ticket being held responsible for the person to whom it is issued, whose name will be inserted therein. The prnliminary details are well advanced, and judging from the way in. which they are being carried out, the Masonic ball of 183'J ought "to be a most enjoyable gathering. . , : ,