NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2111, 29 November 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Accident at Poet. —Dennis Maher, a son of Mr Mahar, London street, Lyttelton, yesterday fell off the staircase at his father’s house, and broke his left thigh. Dr. J. T. Rouse was called and set the injured limb.

The Maori Prisoners.— Some little dissatisfaction is reported to exist amongst the Maori prisoners at present on Ripa Island. Committal —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, Robert Grant confessed to having stolen from the box of his roommate, William Say, £lB in gold, and was fully committed for trial at the next session of the Supremo Court to be held at Christehuroh.

Cole’s Circus. —The Union Company’s s.s. Wakatipu will bring on from Wellington Cole’s great circus by special arrangement. The circus will embark on Saturday night, and the steamer will leave for here on Sunday, arriving next Monday. Arrangements have been made with the Union Steamship Company to carry the big show to Adelaide direct from the Bluff.

Madamb Wilmot. —This lady gave the second o£ her lectures last night at the Theatre Eoyal, when despite the rain, there was a good attendance. The burden of the lecture, as on last Sunday evening, was the inequality of the relative positions of man and woman. Though soma of the remarks on this subject made by Madame Wilmot were undoubtedly true, the remedy proposed by her hardly seems to he one likely to effect the object she has in view. This was a tax of £lO per annum on all bachelors over twentyfive years of age till they produced a marriage certificate. Whether this would tend to carry out Madame Wilmot’s ideas of the amelioration of the present condition of the ladies, seems very problematical. SEOETIKa. —A match for £2O aside, between Mr George Gordon’s Miss Biddy and Mr R. Bryan’s Lady Ellen, has been arranged to come off on the Ellesmere course on December 24th; the distance to be one mile ; 10st up. A deposit of £lO was made on Saturday evening. A Steange Deck. —During last week in a brood of ducklings Mr Bourk, station master at Kaiapoi, noticed one of the birds somewhat peculiar in its movements. An examination showed that ducky had three properly formed legs and feet, the third where the tail ought to be, and it used the whole of them to assist its locomotion. Every care was taken to keep the little stranger alive, but it only lived for about three Rays.

The Wood Twine Bindbb. —Quite a gathering of bucolics and others interested in farming took place on Saturday, at the stores of Messrs Wood, Shand and Co., where, the now twine binder of W. A, Wood was on view. In the main, the binder is similar in principle to that here last harvest, except that many of the parts have been dispensed with and several improvements introduced which, while strengthening the machine, have also simplified its working to a large extent. In one portion alone, twelve parts have been dispensed with, whilst many of the working parts have been shortened and strengthened. The full machine has not yet come to hand, only the binding parts having been set up on Saturday, but in a day or two the machine complete will be on view, and it is well worth a visit of inspection. No doubt, so soon as it is possible, the agents here will arrange for a field trial, which, after all, is the only practical test of the worth of a machine. Tbmpbeanoe Sbbmons.—The Grand Lodge Executive of the Good Templar organisation in New Zealand has issued a circular to each of the ministers of the Gospel in the colony, respectfully requesting their co-operation in an endeavor to bring the subject of temperance more prominently under the notice of their congregations. In England and America it is a common practice, and is becoming increasingly an accepted thing to make one Sunday in the year the occasion either of a special enforcement of the claims of the temperance enterprise, or, at least, of a setting forth of the mischief and remedies of intemperance. The circular referred to is as follows:—“Presuming on your general sympathy with the objects of our organisation, the Good Templar Executive would esteem it a favor, and are confident that it would be promotive of the moral and religious interests of the community if you would join other ministers of religion, of all denominations, in employing one of the services of Sunday, December 12th, in the manner thus indicated.”

Caswell Sound Mabblb.—ln noticing the proposed formation of a company to work the marble deposits in Caswell Sound on the west coast of this island, a Melbourne contemporary has the following:—The sound is a commodious, thoroughly safe and landlocked harbor, with great depth of water throughout, and the largest ocean vessels can ride with perfect safety in all weathers, taking in cargo close up to the quarries, the marble cliff outcrop being about 600 ft perpendicular, with thirty fathoms of water immediately alongside. The passage out is also quite free, the shallowest portion of the channel being not less than thirty fathoms; it is also situated in the direct route of coasting and intercolonial vessels and steamers. The prospectus sets forth that the marble area is practically illimitable, and a shaft has been explored about 300 ft into the white marble formation, and the further it is gone into tho more it seems to improve in quality; after the first 50£t the marble appears to become purely white, close grained, and of the very best quality. The lowest quotation in the European markets for this marble is 12s per cubic foot, and ordinary kinds for building, monumental and furnishing purposes, up to 100 a for the finer specimens. Large blocks are, however, much more valuable, some of pure white statuary without flaws realised as much as £20,000 sterling in Europe, an ordinary block of the same variety, its Carrara prototype, suitable for a life-size human statue, being worth about £IOOO sterling. These solid marble formations exist on both sides of the sound, and are of the most valued varieties, viz, white grained, pure white statuary, dove colour, black and white grained, and tho exceedingly valuable variety known as Oipoline or variegated, from the fact of copper croppings being discovered in the vicinity. These statements are borne out by the report of tho Eoyal Commission for the purpose of inquiring into and reporting upon the best means of encouraging and developing the industries and resources of the colony of New Zealand, dated Ist September, 1880, which adds—“ The larger blocks of this marble are worth from £2 to £3 per cubic foot, and the material can be shipped with tho greatest facility from Caswell Sound.” Specimens of Caswell Sound marble, rough, polished, and sculptured, can bo seen at any of the museums in New Zealand, also in tho New Zealand court of the Melbourne Exhibition.

Theater Royal. —A fairly numerous audience assembled at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening to witness the performance of “ Rory O’More,” an Irish drama, in which Mr G. Riggs appeared in thb’ title role ; Mrs Walter Hill playing the jiart of Kathlebn. The piece was very creditably put’oil,' the dramatis personae being well represented all round, and the leading characters found able exponents in the lady and gentleman hamed. For to-night, the Hibernian play Entitled “ Oushla Macree,” with Mr Riggs as Larry Doolan, is announced. , .

“ Stolen Kisses.” —The following sketch of “ Stolen Kisses,” the piece in which the Lingards will open at the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Thursday, is given by the “ Sydney Evening News :”—“ Mr Merritt’s play is a good specimen of the domestic drama, abounding with situations which are the result of no undue straining. The action of the play turns on the estrangement of two brothers, the result of a love affair in early years. While employed in a circus they both fall in love with a pretty equestrienne named Cherry, who becomes engaged to Walter Spirit, but in a pique runs off with the other brother, Tom Spirit, and marries him. At the opening of the piece fortune is found to have dealt hardly with Tom, while Walter has discarded his patronymic for that of Temple, is rolling in wealth, but has been soured by his disappointment in love. Both have daughters, and it is their love affairs which cause all the complications. Walter Temple wishes his daughter Jenny to marry Felix Fremantle, the son of Viscount Trangmar, who is deep in debt, and wholly in the hands of Temple, but Jenny, gushing and romantic, lavishes her affections on Fred day, a medical student, much given to expressing his sentiments by means of a cornet. Felix, too, falls in love with the gentle Cherry Spirit, the daughter of the poor brother Tom. In these cross purposes there is abundant room for dramatic action, which is fully taken advantage of, and the interest of the piece is well sustained throughout. The principle character is that of Tom Spirit, a simple hearted and tender old man, who at once wins the sympathy of the audience by his child-like truthfulness.” Saturday Concerts. —The second of the series of concerts given on Saturday afternoons by Mr H. M. Lund, was attended by about twice as numerous an audience as the first one. The first item—a quartette by Beethoven for violin, viola, ’cello, and piano—had, greatly to the regret of all present, to be omitted, owing to one of the gentlemen who was to have taken part in it being unable to attend. Mr Lund apologised, and played a fantasia on a Russian air with much skill. A variation on a theme in B flat by Sohuman for four hands ably interpreted by Messrs Lund and Landergan, came next, and this was followed by four short pieces by the same master, the quaint rhythm of which was skilfully brought out by Mr Lund. Miss A. S. Taylor’s two songs "By Dimpled Brook” and “ Orpheus with his Lute,” were very enjoyable, especially the former, which is one of Dr. Arne’s sweetest melodies. Mies Taylor sang both very artistically indeed. Chopin’s intricate and florid variations on “La oi daiem ” and three of Mendelssohn’s “Songs without words,” admirably played by Mr Lund, were two musical treats of a very high order. So also were the Schubert marches, arranged for four hands, by Mr Lund and Mr Landergen. The next number gave an illustration of the different styles of no less than four different composers, being selections from the works of Bheinbergor, Rubenstein, Von Bulow, and Chopin, in all of which thejpeouliar characteristics of the particular master were distinctively rendered by Mr Lund. Altogether the concert was a very enjoyable one.

Aquatic. —Some two or three weeks since the members of the Canterbury Bowing Club held a meeting, and decided to further increase their already large and excellent fleet by purchasing a ne'w double sculling boat, to be kept exclusively for use in representing the club at regattas, &c. A discussion arose as to whether the boat required could not bo built in Christchurch, instead of going to the trouble and incurring the delay attending the importation of one from England. An offer had been received from Mr Bees (theO.B.C.’s custodian) to build a boat on approval, without binding the club to accept the craft if not equal to the boats imported from the celebrated Oxford builder. Finally it was decided to accept the offer, and thus give Mr Bees an opportunity of showing what kind of boat he was capable of turning out. He has had bis venture under weigh just over a fortnight, and has now on the stocks in his workshop, opposite the club’s shed, what promises to be a boat equal in every respect! to those supplied by Mr Salter of Oxford, England. Tbe boat in question is being built of cedar, and besides doing his work in a most excellent manner, Mr Bees has succeeded in constructing his craft to a splendid model, with several important improvements on the English boats. In about a fortnight hence she will be ready for launching, and though Mr Bees incurs some little risk in his now venture, judging by the present appearance of the boat, there is no doubt that when finished and seen either ashore or afloat this new local industry will give every satisfaction to the most fastidious lover of aquatic sports, and with a good crow she should give a favorable account of herself at the forthcoming regatta at Lyttelton, when it is intended to enter her in the race for double sculls, and thus take an opportunity of testing her powers of speed to the fullest extent.

Wood’s Ekapeb and Binbbr.— The Aberdeen “ Daily Free Press” of September 17th, 1880, reports that Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice and attendants, graciously attended an exhibition of Walter A. Wood’s new reaping and binding machine, under the auspices of Ben Eeid and Co., Aberdeen, at work on a field adjoining Lochnagar Distillery on the previous afternoon. “ Her Majesty closely examined the binding of the sheaves and graciously expressed her admiration of the work performed.” We are informed that as a result of the exhibition a binder has been ordered for Her Majesty’s Home Farm at Abergoldie, for 1881. A Feouliab Case.—A very striking instance of the danger of conveying nourishment to the mouth with the blade of a knife has just occurred on the continent. When the last mail left, a decision was about to be pronounced by the Imperial Eoyal Tribunal at Marburg upon an action brought by an Italian commercial traveller egainst the SudBahn Company, to obtain compensation for injuries sustained by him through a railway accident which recently happened upon the line. The plaintiff, we are informed by an English paper, at the very moment in which the collision took place, was introducing a junk of Bologna sausage into his mouth on the point of a penknife, and the shock imparted to him by the accident caused him to widen that feature by an involuntary slit, some two inches in length. For the pain and disfigurement thus incurred he claims a large pecuniary indemnity. The railway company, however, refuse to admit any obligation to compensate a person for injuries incurred by bis own indecorousness of conduct and evil manners, pleading that “no decent person eats with his or her knife, and that the plaintiff, having hurt himself in the very act of committing a social delict, must bear the consequence of his offence.” City Council.—The usual weekly meeting of the City Council will be held this evening. After to-night a change will be made, the Council meeting fortnightly in future. Harmonic Society.—The final rehearsal for the concert on Ist December will be held at St. John’s schoolroom this evening. gnceet.—A complimentary concert and ball to Mr A. Vowles will be given this evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall. East Cheistchukoh Scool. —A very attractive programme has been prepared for the concert on Tuesday evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall in aid of the prize fund of the East Christchurch schoolNew Tea Wabehouse. —Perhaps ro more conclusive evidence of onr progress can be furnished than by noticing the various branches of trade that spring up in our midst from time to time. One of the latest developments of trade is the wholesale and retail tea establishment of Messrs Nelson, Moate and Co. in High street, which is the first establishment in Christchurch where tea alone is sold. Hitherto it has been supplied wholesale by firms who have made it a part only of their business transactions, or retailed by traders in common with other commodities. The advent of the new firm, however, places this on a different footing, and their qualifications for the business are such as to justify them in naturally expecting a large share of public confidence and support. Mr Nelson is a professional tea taster and blender, his father, Mr T. B. Nelson, being head of the well-known firm of Nelson and Co., Manchester and London, in both of which cities, it is needless to say, the tea trade stands alone as a distinct business, equally important as the wine trade or any other of the higher grades of mercantile life. There, of course, the trade is wholesale only, but here the wholesale and retail elements will be combined. As regards the venture in Christchurch it is a spirited one, and j deserving of success.