NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2146, 11 January 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Police Cotjbt. —This morning Mr J. D. Macpherson occupied the bench. Robert Carrie was fined 5s ; Mary Bennet, for using obscene language in a public place, was fined 10s, or twenty-four hours* imprisonment. Abt Exhibition. —Exhibitors at the Art Exhibition to be held on the 18th, under the auspices of the Art Society, are reminded that to-morrow, the 12th inst., is the last day on which works can be received by the society. The exhibition will bo held in the New Boys’ High School, where the pictures are to be sent. It is anticipated that the show of pictures will be both large and interesting, more particularly as on this occasion, besides the bona fide works of New Zealand artists and amateurs, a loan collection of miscellaneous pictures will be shown. The Peimitivb Methodist Ohuech.—A lecture will be delivered at this place tomorrow (Wednesday) evening at 7.30, as advertised in another column. Subject, “John Wycliff and the dawn of the Protestant Beformation.” Through some mistake the “Press’* of this morning has announced the lecture as for this, instead of to-morrow, evening. Moonlight Excursion. —On Thursday night the steamer Titan will make an excursion trip round the harbor, the Bailway Band having chartered her for the occasion. The steamer Akaroa will also go out for a trip. Inquest —Edward Morris died in Addington G-aol yesterday. An inquest was held on the body to-day, before Mr A. Lean and a jury, of whom Mr J. A. Harrison was chosen foreman. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical testimony, to the effect that deceased died from “ Natural causes.” He had suffered from general debility. The Templeton Shooting Case. —On the application of Mr Holmes yesterday, the trial of Gibson for the murder of Korrison at Templeton on Christmas Day, was adjourned till next session in order to allow time for witnesses to be produced to prove his insanity. TTskfuii Machine. — Mr John Bilcot, of Ashburton, has invented a mechanical roadman, which he claims will fill ruts, spread Bhingle, and keep roads in repair. Pedssteianibm. —The final deposit for the running match for £25 aside between Hulston and Hutton has been made, and the match will take place in the cricket ground on Wednesday. Steam to England.— Speaking at a banquet on board the Orient at Liverpool lately one of the managers of the Orient Company said that ere long steamers of 10,000 tons would be running at a speed of twenty-one knots an hour between London and the Australian colonies. As a writer in the “European Mail” observes, a steamer of 10,000 tons would be a floating castle indeed, and a speed of twenty-one knots an hour a consideration, for at this rate New York would bo within six days of Liverpool and London, the Cape within fifteen days, and Australia and New Zealand about twenty-nine or thirty days. N.Z. Insubancb Company. —We (the “ Otago Daily Times”) understand that at the next half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company, to be held at Auckland on Wednesday, the directors will recommend a dividend of 15 per cent., besides a substantial addition to the reserve fund. Death in Addington Gaol. —Edward Morris, who, it will be remembered, was committed to Addington Gaol for contempt of Court, died there yesterday morning from apoplexy. An inquest will be held at 1 p.m. to-day. Inquest. —An inquest woe held yesterday afternoon, before Mr Alexander Lean, J.P., and a jury of twelve, touching the death of Mr John Woodward. A post mortem examination had been made by Dr. Irving, who gave evidence that the deceased died from epilepsy. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical testimony. Fiscatobial. —We received the following telegram yesterday from Mr H. R. Bae, county clerk, Hokitika : young greylings were sent by special coach from Earner! Lake this morning by the Westland County Council for the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. The fish are expected to reach Springfield to-morrow evening.” Little Rites Railway. —The following telegram, received from the Hon. J. Hall, yesterday, by a gentleman at Lincoln, has been placed at our disposal—“ The Minister of Public Works has given directions for laying rails up to eight miles, and for pitching the Lake embankment, which will absorb tbo rest of the vote set apart by Parliament for the Little Eiver lino.” Bible Ohbistian Chuech.—An entertainment, under the auspices of the Bible Christian Church, took place yesterday in the New Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street. At 3 p.m. the bazaar, with the indispensable Christmas tree, was opened, and till seven a good trade was done. The Bev. O. Dallaston then gave a lecture on Spurgeon, succeeded by the Rev, J. Orewes with readings from Mr Spurgeon’s new book, “John Ploughman’s Pictures.” The gathering was very successful.

Masonic.—Active steps are now being taken towards the formation of a Masonic Lodge under the English Constitution at Papanui. In addition to many residents who are desirous of joining the order, there are also several brethren who now belong to town lodges, to whom the formation of a local lodge would be convenient. The erection of the Town Hall has provided the necessary accommodation, the large room at the back of the stage being specially adapted for the purpose. It is understood that a dispensation from the D.G.M. for the constitution of the lodge will be applied for in tho course of a few days. Fbiends or Labor, Loan and Investment Society. —Tho half-yearly meeting of this society was hold last evening; Mr Qwatkin in the chair. The report stated that the number of members was 273, who hold 810 shares. The receipts for the half-year were £2,722 3s Id, the loans granted amounting to £2077. The balance-sheet showed the capital of the society to be £3,094 16i 4.3, the profits being £413 3s, which was proposed to bo dealt with as follows To declare a dividend of 7i per cent., which would amount to £2Ol Is 61, leaving the balance of £212 Is 6i to cover risks, &c. The report and balancesheet were unanimously adopted. The chairman congratulated the members on the success attendant on the society’s operations. In July, 1876, they started the society ; with eight members, at 2s 6d each, whilst members' stock now amounted to £2681 13s 4d. The amount on loan at present was £2660 18s 3d, whilst their credit balance at the bank was £46117s 4d. The following officers were elected President, Mr Qwatkin ; cashier, Mr T. Gain ; committee, Messrs Samuels, Whitfield and Lawrence, A vote of thanks to the officers concluded the business.

Municipal Election.—The eleclion for a candidate to fill the seat for N.W, Ward in the City Council is proceeding a* we go to press. A good deal of interest was taken in the contest during the early part of the day, cabs arriving frequently at the polling booth with voters for the different candidates. The poll will be declared to-morrow, but made known this evening. Thk Chops in thk Oamabu District.— The dry weather of the peat season in this district has (says the " North Otago Times ’•) had the effect of shortening the straw of the grain crops, although it is not anticipated that, on this account, the yield will be a small one. The bead is filling out well, and promises to give a good average yield. Between Palmerston and Waikouaiti the crops are decidedly poor, presenting a light and uneven appearance, while south of Dunedin they are hardly up to the average. Yet, altogether, the yield is expected to be as profitable as that of last year, notwithstanding the heavy yields that were reported. There will be no waste through crops being laid this season. The area of potatoes planted is not so large, and the crop in many places is next to a failure. The tubers are small, and much of the seed planted has never sprung. For those, therefore, who have a fair crop, there is a prospect of a good profit being realised.

A Bio Blast.—An Oamaru paper states that the drive for the monster blast in the cliff facing the Normanby Wharf has been completed, and it was the intention of the contractors to have fired it on Saturday, but owing to the powder not having arrived it has been put off until Saturday next. The tunnel extends 26 feet through hard rock in the facing, and at the end, running horizontally, is a T, one arm being 16 feet, and the other 14 feet long. About a ton of powder will be placed in it, and vessels will have to be hauled from the breakwater for safety. What the effect will be beyond the displacement of rock it is hard to surmise, but every precaution will be taken against any undue damage being done. In connection with this we may mention that in a blast at Logan's Point, Dunedin, a short time ago, a deal of serious injury wos done. The railway line was torn up for yards, a stonecrushing machine was broken into atoms, and large blocks of rock were thrown into the bay.

Narbow Escape from Poisoning. —The “ Wellington Poet” reports that a 'strange occurrence took place on Friday night, in Courtenay place. Shortly after nine o’clock that evening a man informed Constable Laurie, who was on duty in that neighborhood, that Mrs Lovell, the wife of a hairdresser, carrying on business in Courtenay place, had swallowed a dose of laudanum. On hastening to Mrs Lovell’s residence, the constable found her suffering acutely from the effects of poison. She was attended by Drs. Collins and Harding, nnder whose care she was soon placed out of danger. Mr Lovell states that lately his wife had been in the habit of taking laudanum to relieve tooth-ache, to which malady she was a long suffering victim. On Friday night she had been drinking spirits, and during the day several quarrels occurred regarding domestic matters, and be believed that in her excitement she accidentally took a modicum of laudanum, though, os has been already mentioned, not sufficient to kill her.

This Morality of the Turf.—The Auckland “ Star,” alluding to rumors of foul play at the late race meeting, says : —“ Bookmakers and their horses are obtaining the supremacy in the New Zealand racing world. Their rule is becoming quite absolute. The national pastime—once followed for the sake of sport —is fast degenerating into a low scramble for public money. Bookmaking assumes an undesirable phase when the ‘talent’ owe or have control of the best horses. How much more is the disgust felt at the disquieting reports which have floated so often on the public ear—that certain bookmakers, horse owners, and handicappors have identical interests, the end and aim of which has been to fleece tfae general public. If a rule were laid down that horses should start or no bet, there would be a little chance for confiding investors. The racing atmosphere is very tainted, and a moral thunderstorm is required to clear the air. At how many meetings has money been taken on horses that were cither crippled or were known to be non-starters by those who took the money ? And, if so, is not this downright robbery ? In order to discourage jobbery and corruption most stringent rules should be laid down for the protection of the outside public.”

Top of a Church Blown Off.—The “Waikato Mail" of January Ist says:—The tower, spire, or whatever else it might be termed, of an old mission church at Mau, in the Eotorua district, was blown off on Sunday last by the force of the gale then raging in that district. It was carried right into the air for some distance, when it toppled over, and on falling, buried itself 4ft deep, the larger portion uppermost. Fortunately no one was about where this relic of ecclesiastical architecture fell.

Madame Lotti Wilmot.—This lady -will deliver her lecture on “Courtship and Marriage” at the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening next. Industrial Association.—A general meeting of the members of the above association will be held at the rooms to-morrow evening, when Mr Gray will read his second paper on “The Manufacture of Cement.” The committee will meet at 7.30 p.m.