NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2123, 13 December 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Oub Novbl. —“ The Mystery of Lord Braokenbury ” will bo continued on Wednesday.

Abeival ov San Feancisco Mail.— This mail arrived to-day in Auckland in the s.s. Australia.

Legal. —Mr Robert Stone Florence, of the Caledonian road, Christchurch, has successfully passed the general knowledge examination prescribed for the legal profession.

Hkmhcoib Baobs. —Mr Hawke sold the privileges for the Heathoote races to-day as follows: -No. 1, publican’s booth, Mr E. Revenhill, £2O ; No. 1, confectioner’s booth, Mr Basbford, £3 ; No. 2, ditto, Mrßashfprd, £3 ; right of spurts, Mr Butcher, £4, 10s; race cards, Hobbs and Goodwin, £5 • horse yards, £1 10s, Mr Butcher. Mb Whitisi.—We have received a telegram from Mr Q. Whitley to the effect that he is rapidly recovering. Lyttelton Machstbatb’s Ooubt. Messrs J. Ollivior and H. Allwright, J.P.’s, disposed of the business at the Court this morning. One first offender, for drunkenness, was fined ten shillings, it appearing that he had not kept himself as straight as he should have done subsequently to his arrest. A stowaway from Wellington on board the steamer Wanaka was fined twenty shillings and ordered to pay the fare, or undergo seven days’ imprisonment.

Suicide. —A sad case of self-destruction occurred yesterday afternoon at Papanui, an elderly man named John Wilson, who was formerly a resident at the Styx, being found in the water closet attached to his house with his throat cut. An inquest was held this afternoon at three o’clock, full particulars of which will appear in our to-morrow’s issue. Wilson’s Boad. —For the convenience of residents in the neighborhood, a platform has been erected at Wilson’s road on the Lyttelton line, and trains will soon stop there to pick up or set down passengers when required. Thb Unemployed. —lt is understood that the single men working at the Weka Pass are being discharged, and, judging from the number lately passing through Amberley, very few can now be left on the works. The married men are to be kept on a short time longer.

Habvbbt. Operations in reaping and binding will soon commence. Mr Robert Dailey, Swannanoa, in the Ashley County, has arranged to begin harvesting in a field of fifty acres of barley on Wednesday next, as the crop, which is a very good one, is fast ripening.

Madams Lotti Wilmot. —This lady gave another lecture, announced as the concluding one of the series, at the Theatre Royal last night, when there was a good attendance. City Council. —ln consequence of the fnnersl of the late Mr Duncan taking place this afternoon, the City Council have resolved to adjourn their meeting, which should take place to-night, till Monday next out of respect to the deceased gentleman.

Bansioba Discussion Class. —At the usual meeting of this class, in the Literary Institute on Thursday evening, there was a good attendance, Mr Edw. Clark in the chair. Mr O. Hage opened the subject for debate, viz., “ Mesmerism and Hypnotism.” At the close of an animated discussion a hearty vote of thanks was moved to the opener, when the class adjourned. Kaiafoi Spouts and Backs. — A meeting of the committee of these sports and races, which are proposed to be held as usual on New Year’s Day, was hold at the Borough Council Chamber, on Friday. There was a fair attendance, Mr E. Farnbam in the chair. It was reported that a considerable sum had been collected towards the races. An offer of a paddock on Fuller street, belonging to the chairman, was accepted. In the list of sports it was resolved to excise the fire brigade and old men’s races. The same events were decided upon in the horse races as last year. The secretary was instructed to obtain a supply of cake for children as well as toys to be given away in prizes. Bailwat Accountant’s Statp. — The railway accountant, Mr Fife, and staff, seven in number, left for Wellington yesterday in the steamer Wanaka, conformably to the new arrangement of this department in the public service. Locab Industet. —An industry of a somewhat novel character, but which promises to expand into one of no inconsiderable magnitude, has been started in Christchurch. This is the manufacture of Masonic aprons and cases. Several of the different constitutions have already been manufactured, and alike in finish and workmanship are equal if not superior to those imported. The spread of masonry here is very great, and thus a large sum of money has been hitherto annually sent out of the district to England and elsewhere which will now be retained. Besides this the new industry will afford employmen to a number of workmen. t&rs

Masonic. —The present week will be a busy and interesting one with the brethren of the mystic tie. On Wednesday the W.M. and officers elect of the Conyers Lodge, E.C., will be installed according to ancient custom, and on Thursday the brethren of that lodge, with a gallantry which speaks well for them, afford the wives, sisters, cousins and aunts of members an opportunity of spending a pleasant hour or two in the lodge by holding a conversazione and dance. On Friday the ceremony of installing the W.M, and officers elect of the Canterbury Lodge, 1048, E.C., will take place, when it is expected that the beautiful hall belonging to the lodge will be crowded with brethren. On Thursday, also, the companions of the Canterbury Kilwinning Boyal Arch Chapter, 136, 8.0., will consecrate a new chapter at Ashburton, to be called the Ashburton Kilwinning Boyal Arch Chapter, 8.0. Fionebb Bane Notes.—Two Union Bank notes, one for £1 and the other for £5, whose dates entitle them to the rank of pioneers among their species, are at present in the possession of Mr G. W. Fierce, landlord of the Saxon Hotel in Lyttelton. From their well preserved appearance it may fairly be assumed that their career in the economy of finance has been comparatively an easy one. At one time or other they probably have undergone a protracted repose, laid by in the proverbial “ stocking” against a “ rainy day,” which though many years delayed anived at last, or perchance they were the “ nest egg” in what afterwards became a “ well feathered” habitation. The £5 note is No. 10, dated August Ist, 1857, issued at Lyttelton, and signed Joseph Falmer, manager; C. W. Turner, accountant. The £1 note is No. 1, issued at Christchurch, and dated March Ist, 1859, with the signatures of F. E. Stewart, manager, and D. O. McDoull, accountant, attached to it.

Thb Oeops.—Everywhere the oats are out in ear, and in many districts the wheat is fully shot. Towards the close of last week, in spite of the very dry weather previously, the rain has wonderfully freshened the grain, as well as caused the heads to fill. As yet we have heard of but few complaints of failure or damage to crops, and to all appearances a good harvest may be anticipated. In a week or two several crops of barley and oats will be ready for the reaping machine. Upon the open plains the recent dewy nights, coupled with ram on Friday, has wonderfully improved the pasture lands, which had begun to sicken, so that there is now a fair crop of grass coming forward. The hay harvest, to the present, hes been a satisfactory one. Farmers who have any breadth of land in turnips still say that they require more rain. Railway Tabipp.—At a meeting held last Thursday in the school-house, Wakanui, at which Mr Earl presided, the following resolutions were carried : “That this meeting is of opinion that the present railway charger for the conveyance of agricultural produce are very much too high, and should be immediately reduced to what they were last grainseason." “ That this meeting thoroughly approves of the memorial drawn up by the committee, appointed at the meeting held in Ashburton, to the Minister for Public Works, giving cogent reasons why the railway charges should be reduced, and pointing oat the great injustice arising from the many inconsistencies of the present railway tariff.” “That this meeting pledges itself to use every means to have the railway tariff purged from its many Jinconsistenciea, and to place the public works under the management of a Minister who has some knowledge of his business and some sense of justice as between onejpart of the country and another.” Christmas at the Orphanage.—lt has been customary for years past at the Orphanage to provide a Christmas treat for the children. This year, whether it is that the usual amount of attention has not been aroused by the press to the subject, or that the country has become so much alive to the necessity of greater economy, the usual subscriptions have not come in to the master of the Orphanage. Ho has consequently advertised for contributions, due receipt whereof will be gratefully acknowledged by him. Equalising the Wages,—On Saturday afternoon the casual hands employed by the Railway Department at Fort were notified that the rate of wages paid in future would be tenpence halfpenny per hour instead of one shilling. This will In the majority of instances place the casual employes on a more equal footing with the regular workmen of the same class, and whose rate of pay was reduced some time since, when the new schedule came into operation.

West Cheistchubch School. —An entertainment, for which a very attractive programme has been prepared, will be given this evening at the West Christchurch School, in aid of the prize fond.

The Druids. — The intending members of the Hope of Amberley Lodge are requested to obtain tbeir medical certificate before the 20tb inst.