NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2102, 18 November 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Industbiai, Association.—A meeting of this Association was held yesterday afternoon. A letter was read from the Registrar of the Canterbury College, stating that a conference between that body and the Education Board re establishing a school of art was to be held ; also a circular from the Colonial Secretary's office respecting the London Iniernational Exhibition of Wool in 1881. The interview between tho representatives of the Association and Mr Maxwell was next reviewed, and the result declared to be very satisfactory. Mr Jameson stated that a fine specimen of pure plumbago had been discovered in the Malvern Hills and also another seam of anthracite. A letter from Mr Mitchell to the Association re the display made by Now Zealand at the Melbourne Exhibition waa read. (This letter appears in another column.) After discuusßing other matters of minor importance the meeting separated. Sudden Dbath. Thomas Pearson, an elderly man, dropped down dead near Mr Oram's stable at Kaiapoi this morning. An inquest was to have been held this afternoon Mb Gapes' Comskttbb. —A large and influential meeting of Mr Gapes' committee and supporters was held at Gee's rooms on Tuesday evening. The business was of the usual kind in connection with elections, and was very lengthy and satisfactory. Mr Binstead was in the chair. Thbatbb Kotal.—" Shin Fane " was repeated at the Theatre Royal last night, when there was a good house. Mr Biggs as Suil Gair fully sustained tho favorable impression conveyed on his first appearance, and he was ably supported by Mrs Walter Hill, Miss Bessie Vivian, and the other members of the company. The same piece will be played to-night. A.O.F.—Court Thistle of the Forest held their usual meeting on Tuesday evening, at St. Saviour's schoolroom, Sydenham. There was a fair attendance of members. Bro. Williamson gave a lengthened account of the work the fete committee bad done. One member was initiated and three candidates were proposed. After the usual routine business, the Court closed in due form. Entebtainmbnt.—A very successful tea and entertainment was held in the Town Hall, Ashburton, last Tuesday evening, in aid of the funds of St. Stephen's church. The tables were presided over by Mesdames Curtis, Fookes, Bell, Gates, Carter, Bullock, and Misses Oompton, Gates, and Firman. The Rev. Mr Hands presided at the entertainment, which was afterwards held; and the proceedings wound up with a gift auction, the whole realising about £2O.

ASHBUBTON Agbicuxtubai, AND Pastobai; Association.—The banquet held annually, under the auspices of the above society, took place last Tuesday evening, in the Somerset Hotel, Aehburton. About sixty sat down to an excellent repast provided by Mr R. W. Shearman. The President (Mr W. O. Walker) occupied the chair, and the vicechair was filled by Mr Carter. The usual loyal patriotic and festive toasts were drunk with much enthusiasm. The Aehburton volunteer band were in attendance, and enlivened the proceedings by playing several appropriate selections of music during the evening.

The Mbdioai. Staff.—About a fortnight sinoe the medical staff of the Hospital sent a letter to the Board, complaining that a slight had been cast upon one of their number, who was not invited to be present at a post mortem examination on the body of the young man Pearce, he (the member in question) having been the visiting surgeon in attendance on the case. Yesterday, when the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board met, the subject was again considered, having been previously postponed. The Coroners Act was consulted, from which it appears that the invitation to the visiting surgeon is a compulsory matter. The Board decided to forward the letter to the Government. Quids to Viotobia.—We have received from the publisher, Mr F. Bailliere, Melbourne, a copy of the Exhibition edition of the " Official Handbook and Guide to Victoria." Just at the present time, when so many New Zealanders are visiting Melbourne, the Guide will be found extremely useful, as the information it contains is of a most minute and varied character. Several plans and maps accompany the work. The editor is Mr B. P. Whitworth, a gentleman well known on the Southern Press of this colony, and to ensure the accuracy of i>a information he made a flying trip through Victoria. We commend the Guide to intending visitors to Melbourne as being thoroughly reliable, while from its handy size it can be oarried in the pocket without moonvenienoe.

Native Imfbovidbnoe.—The improvidence and wastefulness of the Natives has this year reduced many of their number to absolute want. Several hapus living between Waikato and Taupo hare been obliged to return to the cuator-s of their forefathers, and are subsisting mainly upon fern-root, with little prospect of bettering the character of their "diet except by the sale of their patrimonial estate, for so far no provision seems to have been made for the coming year by planting, and the big meetings held during the early part of this year demolished the bulk of their provender. It is hard (remarks the " Waikato Timeß ") to account for this exceptional disregard of the principles of thrift even among the Natives, and the only solution of tho matter which is at all feasible is that they contemplate migrating to the more immediate neighbourhood of the King Country, after the manner of the Natives in the vicinity of Maungatautari. EXTBAOBSINABY CoAOH COLLISION.—The particulars of an extraordinary coach accident are published in the "Patea Mail," and from tho uomowhat unintelligible account there given we extract the following:—"On the previous day the down coach from Hawera, containing an extra freight of passengers, while descending the cutting to the Mannwapoua bridge, dashed with such force against the north buttress of that structure that the king-bolt gave way, and the four horses carried off the pole and fore-wheels. On the box were seated by the driver F. H. Brett and another passenger. These two were thrown over the bridge into the river sCft. below, and the driver was pitched on to the roadway. Mr Chalmers, who was on the top of the coach, was also deposited in the river by the shock. Mr Brett, in falling, struck the rail of the bridge, and received some internal injuries. Mr Chalmers took refuge on a snag, but the others had no such protection, and struggled to got a footing on the face of the steep rocks. They wore eventually got out by the driver, Mr Owen (one of the inside passengers), and others. Mr Brett appears to be the only pprson seriously injured. Besides Mr Owen, there were four ladies and two ohildren in tho inside of the coach, but beyond getting a severe shaking and fright they were uninjured." Self-defence.—A. Trades' Protection Association has been formed at Blenheim, the object of the association being to procure and disseminate information relative to the commercial status and probity of persons under inquiry, to prevent fraudulent trading, to examine into bankruptcies, and to bring the present abuse of the credit system into a more systematic and limited form. At a meeting of the association recently held, it was decided—- " That the secretary send a copy of the rules of the association to any kindred society, also to some of the leading retail stores throughout the colony, with a letter requesting unity of purpose for the desired end of the association, also requesting an exchange of rules for the purpose of furthering that end."

Thb Excblbiob Band. Through the serious indisposition of two, and the unavoidable absence of three other members, the band will be unable, with credit to itself and satisfaction to the public, to perform in the square this evening, but will do so on the first opportunity, of which due notice will be given.

Thb Cultivation op Tba.—A project is on foot, and will soon be made public here, which, as far as I know (writes the London correspondent of the " Otago Daily Times "), is quite novel. It is to form a company in Scotland for the cultivation in North New Zsaland of the tea plant and the silkworm. One Mr William Cochran, of Perthshire, has it in hand. He has been, I believe, a teagrower in China, and is satisfied, from his study of the subject, that North New Zealand is well adapted for both of these industries, and that they oan be successfully carried on tngether. I have reason to know that Mr Cochran has been in communication with Dr. Hector upon the subject, and that the scheme will be before the public ere long. Masonic.—The usual monthly meeting of the St. Augustine Lodge, No. 609 8.C., took place last night, when there was a large attendance of brethren and visitors. The election of W.M. for the ensuing year resulted in the return of Bro. O. P. Hnlbert, S.W. Past-master F. J. Smith was re-elected Treasurer.

Patients ih thb Hospital—A considerable increase in the number of patients admitted to the Hospital during the last fortnight is noticed in the usual returns submitted by the Hospital committee to the Board yesterday. The fact may be accounted for by our haying now advanced into the summer season, during whioh the admittances are always heavier than during other seasons of the year ; in addition to which it may be stated that the accident ward has been largely patronised during the last fortnight. Chabitablb Aid.—At yesterday's meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board the secretary presented a return showing the number of women supported by charitable aid who have been deserted by their husbands, and also the number of children belonging to such women receiving benefit from the same source. This return had been asked for at a previous meetirg by Mr M»r.t»omery, and the state of things disclosed was such as would astonish many persons not acquainted with the inner sooial life of a section—fortunately a small section—of society. A number of women are in receipt of charitable aid whose husbands have deserted them and gone to the sister colonies, but those represented by the return above alluded to are a very small percentage of the class of deserted married women in Ghristohurch, a large number of whom have been assisted of late months by the Benevolent Aid authorities. The Hospital Board recognise that, if possible, some measures should be adopted by which the hand of tho law may be made to reach the scoundrels who thus betray women and cast their just responsibilities as a drain upon the publio purse. It is intended, therefore, to communicate with the Government and lay tho state of things before them. Iu the meantime, however, the matter has been postponed, in order that more complete information may be obtained, showing the number of deserted married women in the district in addition to such as are on the list of charitable aid. The subject will be brought, under consideration again at next meeting. The Auditor - Gbkbbal Abboad.—The " Queenslander" of 23rd October has the following : —" Mr James Edward Fit z Gerald, formerly Premier of New Zealand, but at present the Controller and Auditor-General of the Public Accounts of that colony, left for the South on Tuesday in the Elamang, for a fortnight's stay in Brisbane. Mr FitzGerald. it appears, has been commissioned by the New Zealand Government to visit the several colonies, in order to enquire into and report upon the different systems of receiving and accounting for public moneys and railway and other stores and material, in force in those colonies respectively; and, as he has the reputation of being an extremely able and intelligent man of business, and evidently applies himself diligently to the work entrusted to him, his report will doubtless prove a valuable State document. We gather that both our Auditor-General and Treasury authorities believe the Queensland system, especially with regard to payments, to be in almost all respects superior to that of New Zealand, whioh is, in fact, ' central audit before payment, and payment of all accounts from the Treasury direct.' It is contended that the New Zealand plan of making all payments from one central office, and of sending innumerable vouchers to another oentral office for examination, is dilatory and cumbrous, and must sooner or later break down ; whereas that of this colony—namely, local payments, and local audit after payment—is more busi-ness-like, more effective, and capable of expansion as the colony advances and transactions multiply." Thb Coax Wobxings at Pioton.—Mr Samuel Johnson, formerly proprietor of the " Marlborough Express," has recently visited the newly opened coal workings at Shakespear Bay, Picton, and notes of his excursion appear in a recent issue of the journal. In what is locally known as No. 2 sits, tho outer coal shale, about 14ft wide, is plainly visible in the bed of the creek, and from the shale an oily fluid oozes, said to be paraffin. In No. 4 shaft a drive has been put in 15ft or 16ft, striking a solid face of coal. Half an hour's further travel up the bed of the creek brings the visitor to a spot where the coal is again exposed, 13ft or 14ft wide, but very soft from the action of the water. Two miles further on tho outorop again appears, and there is every evidence of coal in abundance, but there is one drawback, the difficulty of getting it down to the water, and it will require a good deal of labor to make a portable road or tramway. Mr Renfrew, the prospector, suggests a tunnel through the Cemetery Hill, and a short tramway to the railway, which he believes could be made for a few hundred pounds. In the meantime he is going to got a few tons down by " humping" it, it. order to show what it is like. It has not been settled yet whether to form a company to work the mine or retain the property in the hands of the present copartnery. It is simply a question of working capital, and if all the contributors are agreed as to advancing further funds, the speculating publio will not have the gratification of sharing in the undertaking. Cricket.—The opening match on the Sunnyside ground will be played on Saturday next at 2 o'clock, between those members residing at, or connected with, the institution and the town members. A conveyance will leave the junction of Linco'n road andjTuam street at 1.30 sharp.— The following will play for the Midland Club on Saturday against the C.C.C.:—Messrs Atack, Cohen, Wood, Fairhurst, O'Callighan, Hill, Monck, Smith. Falairet, Hunt and Kitchen. This match will take place on the Midland ground. On the C.C.C. ground two other teams will play, the following being the Midland one : —Messrs Shand, Gretton, Digby, Cox, E. Bell, E. Bell, Buchanan (2), Williams, Connal, Shand, Edser, Hyman, Perceval and Edgar.— The following will play for the C.C.C. against the M.C.C.C. on Saturday next, on the ground of the latter: Messrs Anson, Caygill, Forsyth, Lawrence, J. Lnsk, D. Lnsk, Turner, Washer, Wagstaffe, Wheatley, and Teates. Captained by H. Fisher. —The following members will play for Woolston on Saturday against the Bohemians on Woolston ground at 2 p.m. : —Messrs Pavitt (captain), F. Bamford, J. Bamford, A. Cogan, B. Cogan, E. Buxton, E. Smith, J. McKinnon. D. Thomson, Easton, and J. W. Davis.—The following team will represent the U.C.C.C. in the match with the College first eleven, to be played on Saturday next on the Hagley Park ground, game to commence at two o'clock :—Messrs Perceval, Redmayne, Hanmer, Longdon, Loughnan, Baker, Fenwick, Cotterill W. G., Milton W.V., Parkerson 8., and Cox E. The following will he the team against tho College second eleven ; the match will be played on the Hagley Park ground, commencing at two o'clock :—Messrs Bloxam, Mainwaring, Harvey, Meares, McUowall, Paul, Macfarlane, Castelli, Pixley, Borton, and R. D. Harman. D'ocesan Sunday School Association. —The next general meeting of members will be held this evening, in St. Luke's schoolroom. The Rev. J. W. Stack will lectnre on "The History of the Church Mission in New Zealand."