NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2035, 1 September 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Teb Tboeooation. —The prorogation was to have taken place to-day, but up to the time of going to press, no telegram on the subject had been received. Avontillb Cricket Club. —The annual meeting of this club will take place this evening, at the Forester’s Hotel, at eight o’clock sharp. Intending members are invited to attend.

Vital Statistics. —The following is a return of the births, marriages and deaths for Christchurch and district for the month ending August 31st:—Births, 193 ; marriages, 33; deaths, 47. For the corresponding month last year the numbers were :—Births, 197 ; marriages, 37 ; deaths, 55.

A Nbw Zealand Ocean Bace. —Considerable speculation amongst our maritime population is excited owing to the fact that two clipper ships of different companies left England on the same day, bound for this port—the N.Z.S. Company’s ship Waitangi, and Messrs Shaw Saville’s Crusader; both passed Deal on July 3rd.

Canterbury Jewish Congregation.— At the annual meeting of the above, held on the 39th inst., the following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year, viz., President, Mr M, Harris; treasurer, Mr Herbert Davis; committee, Messrs. M. Sandstein, 8. Cohen, and D. Davis ; hon. secretary, Mr B. S. Eaphael. Hoeeelisvillb. The Wesleyan body, which has made some progress of late in this district, has decided to go on with the erection of a church. At a meeting held on Friday evening, plans were considered and accepted. It was also determined that a bazaar and gift auction be held in October, to raise funds towards the cost of the building, M. Chalet. —This gentleman, who will be recollected for his clever ventriloquism in connection with Baehelder’s Panorama, has developed a new field of labor. He delivered a lecture in Dunedin on Sunday evening lost, on Col. B. Ingersoll, the author of “ Moses’ Mistakes ” and other works, and it is very well spoken of by the Southern papers. There was a large attendance.

Supreme Couet. —His Honor Mr Justice Johnston held a lengthy sitting yesterday in Chambers and in Banco. His Honor leaves for Wellington on Friday, to take the criminal business there, the Chief Justice assuming tho acting Governorship until the arrival of Sir Arthur Gordon. It was intimated in Chambers yesterday that the Judge would sit by special appointment on Thursday if required. Industrial Association. —A meeting of the committee was held at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, the president, Mr Allan, in the chair. About forty letters were opened and considered in connection with the use of offices for the association, and the appointment of secretary. One of the applications for the office of secretary was selected, subject to certain arrangements to be made with the applicant in person. One or two other matters of a character simply executive were dealt with, and the committee then adjourned. Masonic. —A now lodge, hailing under the Scotch Constitution, to be called the St. Clair Ledge, will be (consecrated on the 10th September next. The new lodge is situate at the Head of Governor’s Bay. There is expected to bo a goodly gathering of the brethren of all constitutions, tho masters and officers of all the metropolitan and country lodges having received invitations to be present on tho occasion, A banquet will follow the installation of the officers elect. Magistrate’s Court, Bangioba. —At this Court on Tuesday, before 0. Whitefoord, Esq., 8.M., A H. Cunningham, and H. Blackett, Esqo., four cases against farmers in the Ashley district for,allowing gorge to grow on the main road opposite their farms, were called, and Mr Gresson appeared for defendants, but as tho prosecutor did not appear the cases were struck out ; costs, one guinea, allowed in each instance. In the case of B. Evans v J. Jones, £7 7s, judgment was recorded for plaintiff. Lecture. —A lecture was delivered by Mr N. K. Oherrill yesterday evening, in the Congregational schoolroom, Manchester street, in connection with the Young Men’s Christian Association. The subject was “ A Drop of Water.” Mr Oherrill explained tho elements of which water is composed and treated each separately, accompanying his remarks with experiments, all of which were very ouceessful. The audience, a numerous one, gave the lecture close attention throughout, and accorded Mr Oherrill a vote of thanks at its conclusion. The chair was occupied by the Mayor of Sydenham.

Thiiatub Royal. — “Tried and True” was repeated to a good house last night. Mrs Walter Hill as Helen Burton played with much spirit and dramatic effect, and Mias Aro thus a May made quite a hit in the part of Alice Rugg. Mr Reynolds and Messrs Burford and Musgrave were also effective in their reapsetivo roles. Calls before the curtain and applause were frequent. The same piece will be played to-night. Novel Theft. —A novel theft was perpetrated in Auckland at tho expense of Mr Crocker, bootmaker. A man and awi man entered his shop, the former requiring to be fitted with a pair of boots. No sooner did she get a fit to her feet and her fancy than she walked out of the shop, leaving the man ostensibly to settle the little account. But after tho woman got a fair start, and was beyond recall, tho man discovered that he had no money, and possibly at tho same time that he was not liable for the debt, and he also walked of, leaving Mr Crocker sorely puzzled. To solvo the difficulty he consulted tho police, and the result was that the woman was arrested and brought before the Court, but the case was remanded until tho man could be found. Subsequently the man, named George Duncan, was also arrested, and both will be charged with larceny.

Lyttblxon Boeofgh Council. —Three roemlerg of this Council, Messrs Wood, McOlatchie and Eeed, retire by rotation, their, terms haying expired. It is uncertain whether all three will consent to be nominated for re-election ; bnt it is said that there is no donbt but the full number of nominations necessary will be forthcoming by to-morrow, the day set apart for receiving them.

The Stevedores at Tort. Farther strikes have taken place among the stevedores’ workmen. Messrs Cameron Bros.’ hands declined to submit to a reduction of their wages to Is 3d an hour, and that firm, like Messrs Talbot and McOlatchie, have had to make other provision for tho working of the ships’ cargoes. So far no very great inconvenience is said to have been experienced by the master stevedores, and no serious delay is anticipated as likely to result to the shipping in getting despatch. Inquest at Oxford. —An inquest was held at Paget’s Commercial Hotel on Tuesday, before O. Dudley, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr W. Mardon was foreman, touching the death of a man known as George Willoox, whose body was found on the previous day near the Waimakariri, above Oxford. Evidence was given of finding the body and tho identification. Dr. Weld, who had held a post mortem examination, gave his opinion that death was caused by internal inflammation and enlargement of the heart. The jury returned a verdict that deceased came to his death from natural causes.

The Unemployed.—Eecently tho contractors for the Tapanui railway (says the “ Otago Daily Times ”) advertised for a number of men to fill gravel ballast into railway waggons at 7s per day. They wanted thirty to fifty men ia all, but only fifteen accepted employment. One man who applied at tho office in Dunedin refused to work under 8s 6i. Municipal Elections.—The nominations ftr the four vacancies in the City Council — being one in each ward—caused by tho retirement by rotation of Ors. Cherrill, H. Thomson, W. Vincent, and A. Cuff, close to-morow at noon. Tho election will take place on the 9th September, at the various polling-places appointed. It is understood that the whole of the retiring councillors will offer themselves for re-election.

Inteenational Tempbbance Conieeehcb. —lt is proposed to hold an international temperance conference in Melbourne in November next, and the Melbourne committee have issued a circular setting forth the matters which it is intended to discuss. These are classed under four heads—political, economical (including friendly societies), physiological and medical, and social, moral, and religious. It is also intended to read and discuss a number of papers on various subjects, and if funds permit, to print the whole proceedings of the conference, together with the most important papers. A large and influential committee has been appointed in Melbourne, and in each of the other colonies gentlemen have been nominated as representatives of the committee, those for New Zealand being Sir W. Fox, Messrs J. W. Jago, D. O. Cameron, F. Frazer, and the Key. S. Edgar.

Extbaobdinaby Coincidence.—The diameter of the earth multiplied by 108 gives the diameter of the eon ; the diameter of the sun multiplied by 108 gives the mean distance of the sun, and the diameter of the moon multiplied by 108 gives the mean distance of the moon from the earth.

A Good Stoby —lt is not difficult to gues who is referred to in the following :—My ftiend the portrait painter (writes “ iEgles” in the “ Australasian”) has been engaged upon a memorial picture of one of the ablest administrators upon the roll of Colonial Governors. Now, Sir Samson’s friends were desirous that the portrait should represent his Excellency in all the splendour of his official uniform, and that was a settled preliminary. But prior to the first sitting, said his Excellency—" Now, Mr F., you know I am attached to sport, Oonld not this be made something of a picture—horses running—the grand stand—a crowd of onlookers, &e. ?” “Just so, your Excellency—capital idea. Of course I shall paint you from behind—looking out of a window.” There was no one more amused subsequently at his own proposal than Sir Samson. New Zealand Potatoes. —Great complaints are made by the Sydney agents for Ballarat dealers in potatoes of the quantity of dirt shovelled into the bags by the growers. They say (writes the “ Star ”) that 201 b of dirt to the bag is about the average, and it is not uncommon to find 301 b, or even more in some. If this is wilfully done by the growers they are very foolish, as it is one of the most out-tbroat policies they could adopt. What they say in Sydney is this; —“We prefer buying New Zealand to Victorian grown potatoes, even though we have to pay from 10s to £1 a ton more, because we always get the potatoes well packed and clean, with no dirt in the bags.” Extent to Death.—A fatal case of burning is reported by the " Chronicle ” at St. Bathans last week, the victim being a daughter of Mr Michael Fahey, aged seven years. It appears that on the 15th instant the little girl was out playing with other children, about 2 p.m., near an abandoned hut, in which was some grass. The hut was only some fifty yards away from her father’s house. , One of the children set fire to the grass, and the flames caught the clothes of the little girl. She immediately ran towards homo, and her screams attracted her mother, who hastened to meet her. In extinguishing the flames Mrs Fahey was severely injured. The child was considerably burnt about the shoulders and legs, and at midnight she died. Football. —A team of non-representative players has been picked to play against the team which played in the recent interprovincial match at Dunedin on Saturday, September 11th. Lyttelton Haebob Boaed. —An ordinary meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board will be held at the offices, Hereford street, to-morrow at 2 p.m. Noethers Ageicultubal and Pastobal Association. —A meeting of the Council of this association, to receive the reports of the ground selection committee and the committee appointed to revise the prize schedule, takes place at Eangiora on Thursday afternoon. The Pantograph. —Messrs Nelson and Simm are now in Christchurch with the above-named mechanical invention, and from the exceedingly easy manner in which it can be used there is little doubt but it will come largely into use. As a means of copying pictures of every description, maps, engravings, letters, patterns, &c., it is of great value, as when once set to a guage or size, either larger or smaller than the original, the desired copy is produced with the most faithful exactitude. Not the least advantage in its favor is that no previous knowledge of drawing is required for its use. A visit to the business premises in Colombo street will be well repaid by an inspection of this practical novelty.