NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2110, 27 November 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Eabthquakb Shook.—A very distinct shook occurred at a quarter to nine o'clock last night, most perceptibly felt at Lyttelton. The direction was reported to be from north to south. St. Aibans Mtttdaii Impbovembnt Association'.—The annual meeting for the election of officers and committee was held on Monday evening in the Library, High street. The report for the past year showed an average of twent-eight members; books circulated, 400; income, including balance, £l9 16s lOd; expenditure, £ll 15s 7d ; leaving a balance of £8 Is 3d. The officers elected were:—J. A. Efford, President; B. Butterfield, Secretary; E, Restell, Treasurer ; S. Cusac, Librarian; and a committee consisting of Messrs Green, Dunmill, Baker, Moir, Ballastie, Williams, and Pbilpot. Good Concrete Wobk.—The concrete foundations of the old Kaiapoi railway station, whioh were made by Messrs Smith and Wright, the contractors for the work, and now in course of being broken up for piles, is pronounced to be some of the best concrete work ever seen in the district. The greatest difficulty is experienced in breaking up the blocks into pieces of a fair size for removal. Thbatbh Boyax.—" The Ootoroon" formed the bill at the Theatre Boyal last night, the novelty in which was the appearance of Mr Biggs as Pete. In the part he gave another instance of his versatility, playing it as he did with muoh originality and success. Mrs Walter Hill and Messrs Burford, Clinton, and the other members, of the company filled their respective parts in a highly creditable manner. To-night there will be a change of bill.

Presentation.—Two very pleasing gatherings took place in the " Press " office this afternoon, on the occasion ef the presentation to Mr Samuel P. Oraig on his departure from Canterbury for Gisborne, in the North Island, where he is about to assume- part proprietorship of the "Poverty. Bay Standard/' The first presentation was from the staff of the establishment, and consisted of a very, handsome time-piece, with a suitable inscriDtion engraved on the pedestal. The seoond was made on behalf of the news companionship, and consisted of a silver liqueur stand, also with a suitable inscription. During the whole time that Mr Craig has been connected with the " Press " paper he has gained the confidence and esteem of all with whom his official duties have brought him in contact. He carries with him to the North. Island the best wishes of a large circle of friends. Accident.—An accident, which luckily resulted in no fractured bones, ocourred to a lad namod Donovan yesterday at the Lyttelton graving dock works. Ho was leaning on the plate of one of the steam cranes, when the fly-wheel revolved, and a rivet catching his arm, stripped it bare of flesh for several inohes. Dr. J. T. Souse dressed the wound, and remarked, while doing so, that the lad had borno the pain with more nerve than most men would have done. Kaiafoi Choral Society.—The usual practice of this society was held in the hall of the Institute on Thursday evening. There was an attendance of forty-one members. By next meeting of the society Mr Maofarlane expects to be able to act as oonductor to a chorus of at least fifty performers. Very fair progress has been made, and the members of the society intend to give their first publio rehearsal, in aid of the funds of the Kaiapoi braßS band, at an early date. Cricket.—Yesterday a match was played on the Midland ground between that club and a fifteen chosen from the State schools of Ohristchuroh. The latter included several good bowlers, but were not very strong in batting, and their play showed that they cannot have muoh opportunity or accommodation for practising on the school grounds. Two or three of the youngsters, however, evinced latent powers that only need time to bring them out, and with the ball Osier and Turner specially distinguished themselves, as well as with the bat. The scores were— M. 0.0.0., 63 and 64 for one wicket ; Fifteen, 44 and 81. For the Midland, Atack bowled with much success, and also played a rattling innings of 35 not out (including a 7, two s's, and two 4's). Grossman batted nicely for 18, and Dunbar and Gretton made 13 each. Por the Pif teen the principal scores were—Tait,2o; Brown, 19 ; Osier, 17; Turner, 11. Tait was a small boy, hardly taller than his bat, but he played with much pluck, and received quite an ovation from his comrades. As an experiment the match was very successful, and the example is one that might well be followed by other clubs.

BOAEB OF CONSBBVATOBS.—Mr Lee informs us (hat the election of members of the Board of Conservators for the South Waimakariri Rivor district, which was advertised to take place on Tuesday next, November 30th, has been postponed. The proclamation stating the dates of nomination and election is hourly expected, and will be duly advertised immediately it comes to hand. The present nominations will lapse, and it will be competent for any two ratepayers to nominate any properly qualified person for any one of the nine sub-districts.

Oxfobd Races.—At a meeting of those interested, which took place in Mr Mardon's Salerooms last Saturday, a numerous and hard-working committee was elected, and the following gentlemen were appointed to the respective offices—Mr Joseph Pearson, judge; Mr George Plaskett, clerk of the scales; Mr W. H. Pearson, clerk of the course; Mr Edward Murfitt, starter; and Mr William Mardon, secretary and treasurer. The first oommittee meeting will be held on Saturday, December 18th, at 8 p.m., at Mr W. Mardon's Auotion Booms. A vote of thanks to the past officers was carried nem. con., and another to the chairman, Mr W. E. Pearson, terminated the proceedings. Oobk Exchange.—At a meeting of the committee of the Corn Exchange, held on Thursday evening, it was resolved, "That the members of the Corn Exchange invite the co-operation of kindred associations and the farming community generally, to bring before the G-overnment, through their representatives, the extreme dissatisfaction with which they regard the rates at present in existence on the Canterbury lines of railway. They consider it is unfair to the public that the Canterbury railways should be made to pay for other lines that are unprofitable, and it is the opinion of the committee if the present rates continue to be levied the revenue from this source will be sensibly diminished." Petitions are now being forwarded for signature to the principal grain-growing districts in Canterbury.

Kangioba IsiPßOVßMßiras. Visitor* to this fast increasing and rising borough must be pleased to note the many improvements that are now rapidly being pushed forward. The contractors for the Colonial Bank of New Zealand and Messrs Chapman's Colonial Buildings have nearly completed the work, which has been done in a thoroughly substantial and good manner. Messrs Luxton Bros, are ereoting a dwelling-house and shopß of a superior kind adjacent to the intended site of the Union Bank of Australia, the architects being Messrs Chapman, and the contractor Mr K. Bossiter. Messrs Boyd and Keir, the contractors for the Colonial Buildings, have fortunately been the successful tenderers for the new premises for the Bank of New Zealand, which we understand will be commenced in January next. The size and style of this building will be a wonderful set off to the corner of Ashley and High streets. The new premises for the Bank of New Zealand will be of a very pleasing and ornamental appearance. The Bank entrance will be in High street, and will be approached by steps. The building will stand back in the section a little, and will have a concrete parapet wall with iron palisading running round the south and east sides. The frontage on High street will be 42ft 6in and on Ashley street 52ft 6in. The dimensions of the Bank are 20ft by 27ft Gft, with agent's room and strong room adjoining. The private entrance will be on the north, approached from Ashley street, there being a verandah and balcony finished with light iron trellis work. The private part of the premises consists of drawing, dining and six bedrooms, all of fair proportions and lofty, with bath-room, linen closet and every convenience. The servants' room, kitchen, scullery, &0., will be a lean-to attachment on the north-west oorner of the premises. No doubt the contractors will have every inducement to push the work forward and add another great improvement to the aspect of this township.

Primitive Methodist Chubch. The lady who officiated i fortnight ago in the Primitive Methodist Church, Cambridge terrace, is advertised to preach again to-morrow evening.

A curious description is that given of the staff of the Bussian Nihilist paper," The Will of the People," and the manner in which that journal is published. The paper is probably the smallest in the world, being only 6in by Sin. The editors and reporters have not only the ordinary work of editors to do, bnt carry around the type, presses, and stock of this remarkable journal in their pockets. One carries the type, another the ink, and another the paper on which " The Will of the People " is published. The editors meet in soma retired and secluded spot, strike off a dozen copies, which are secretly carried to some town and there distributed. And yet such is the power of the press that this insignificant little journal, 3in by 6in, with a circulation of only twelve, is able to terrify the autocratic ruler of eighty millions of people. America is to be visited by the most beautiful woman in all England, Mrs Langtry. It is said that she is so sweet that when you look at her you feel caterpillars crawling up the small of your back, your heart begins to jump like a box car, a streak of lightning goes down one trousers leg and up the other, and escapes up the back of your neck, causing the hair to rise and be filled with electricity enough to light a circus tent, and that when looking at her, your hands dutch nervously as though you wanted to grasp something to hold you up, and a sense of faintnecs comes over you, your eyes roll heavenward, your head falls helpless on your breast, your left side becomes numb, your liver quits working, your breath ooaa.es hot and heavy, your lips turn livid and tremble, your teeth chew on imaginary taffy, and you look around imploringly for somebody to take her away. If all this occurs to a person from looking at her, it would be sudden death, or six months' illness to shake hands with her. If she cornea here, there is one bald-headed man going into the country where they are not bo bad. You bet!

American print sellers are doing an enor] mons trade in portraits of Dr.JTanner. They are being bought wholesale by boarding-houee keepers, to be framed, glazed, and hung up. in the dining-room, pour encouragerlet boarders.

She Looked Pxbased.—A sculptor's wife had her husband arrested for assault and battery, because, aa she testified, on the occasion of her going to his studio to inform him that a woman across the street had eloped, he struck her in the face with a huge mass of mud. The sculptor explained that the occasion referred to was the first time for years that he had seen a pleasant look on his wife's face, and therefore he hastened to take a cast of her features, in order to catch the expression for use on a bust he intended to mould. The ease was dismissed.

The world is always interested to know tho laßt words of a man. It doesn't care so much about those of a woman. She has her last word all through life. "I should like to see somebody abduot me," said Mrs Smith at the breakfast table the other morning. "H'ro! so should I, my dear, so should I," said Mr Smith, with exceeding earnestness. The Baddest caeo of attempted poetry that has come our notice lately is that of a young lady who signs herself " Inez." After devoting three stanzas to a brief sketch of her early life, Inez remarks: Tou see the twining vry leaves Just near that graceful fern ? Well, I sat there that summer night, When he came round the turn. There is more like this, but the great pressure on the waste-basket compels us to throw it out of the window, especially as Inez does not say how he was going when he came around tho turn, how fast the first quarter was, or whether he trotted the entire mile without a break. When you get in these points, Inez, and work up the surroundings a little, the poem will stand fire better. Speaking of the Moderation Society, the "Burlington Hawkeye " says its guiding principle prohibits more than one drink at a time.

Memory is a great thing, as exemplified in lowa the other day when a servant girl suddenly recolleoted, just as twenty people were sitting down to ice-cream, that she aocidently spilled arsenic in the freezer. " Father," said a lad, " I have often read of people being f poor, but honest,' why don't they sometimes say ' rich, but honest ?'"