NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2151, 17 January 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lyttelton Harbor Board. — A meeting of this Board was held at noon to-day, to receive tbe annual statement of accounts, reports of officers, &e. Hon. B. Richardson, chairman of the Board, occupied the chair, and all the members were present except Mr B. J. S. Harman. The annual accounts, treasurer’s report, report of harbor master, &c., were submitted and adopted. The chairman was requested to communicate with the Commissioner of Customs, and ask him to see in future that Customs returns of imports and exports supplied to the Board should include the value coastwise as well as foreign. Some discussion took place as to the power of the Board to use the burgess rolls of Lyttelton and Christchurch for the ensuing election by the ratepayers of these places of the members of the Board, and ultimately it was decided to take tbe opinion of the solicitor on the subject. The Board then went into committee to consider the question of the suspension of the harbor master, which suspension, after considerable discussion, was withdrawn with a severe caution.

Lyttelton Fire Brigade. —The annual meeting of this brigade was held on Friday night, the superintendent, Mr J. Bowden, in the chair. The officers whose term had juot expired were re-elected for the ensuing year. On passing the accounts arising out of the last No w Year’s eve demonstration, a discussion took place upon the question whether such periodical displays should not be abolished for the future. The feeling of the members present was unanimous that, unless the public subscribed a sufficient sum to enable the celebration to be held without, as in the last instance, entailing upon tbe brigade between £4 and £5 of a deficiency to make up, tbe demonstration would be abandoned in future. The further consideration of the subject was left until the meeting to be held on the 28th proximo. It was resolved to advertise for the annual supply of boots, and after some minor business had been disposed of the meeting adjourned.

Sydenham Borough Council. —The usual fortnightly meeting of the above will be held this evening. Jam Manufacture.— The Mastertonpaper says Mr A. L. White, of Carterton, has commenced the manufacture and tinning of jam, and intends carrying on this industry to a largo extent, while fruit is plentiful and sufficiently cheap to leave a fair margin of profit. In Safe Keeping.— lt having been considered expedient to ensure safer custody of Butler, the Dunedin murderer, and another long-sentenced man named Garrett, than is afforded in Dunedin gaol, the two prisoners were brought from that place under escort by last night’s express train to Christchurch, and they were at once forwarded on to Lyttelton gaol.

Cokomandbl. —The “New Zealand Herald" says that the announcement that rich gold had been found in the Tiki portion of the Coromandel district, during the last month or two, has been fully corroborated, and very good stone has boon procured from some of the new mines, but the want of roads is much felt, and is a serious drawback to the progress of the district. Abtebiak Well. —The residents in the Mas tort on district are about to try the experiment of obtaining artesian water. The services of a practical man from Christchurch are available, and it is proposed to sink to a depth of 3(X)ft. If water be obtained, one enterprising gentleman will pay the cost, about £SO, but till the experiment proves a success the other residents are to be invited to share the risk.

Disooveet of Gebbnsand.—The "Herald" Bays that a discovery of a large deposit of greensand in the Taranaki Province, and handy for shipment, has been made. Greensand belongs to the cretaceous formation, it contains iron and potash, _ and is a very valuable fertiliser. By this mineral the agricultural prosperity of the State of New Jersey has been considerably enhanced during the last thirty years. I Fl Attbbin o.—According to a Wanganui paper, the blind pauper, Hudson, who was recently sent to Wellington Hospital, from Patea, to be operated on for ophthalmia, is to be sent to Christchurch if the doctors there, on receiving a report of his case, think it curable. The doctors at the Wellington Hospital have been unsuccessful with the case, hut a similar one from Patea was cured at Christchurch some time ago. The Beer Tax.—The country brewers in the Wellington district complain that there is great difficulty thrown in their way of obtaining stamps. They cannot issue their beer without the stamps, nor can they afford to take a very large supply at once; and every time they require them they have to send a requisition in duplicate to the Customs authorities here, which entails a good deal of unnecessary delay. One brewer says he had an order for a large supply of beer, and, being out of stamps, sent to Wellington for them. It was ten days before he received the stamps, and, in the meantime, four hogsheads of beer went sour, so that he lost considerably by the transaction. He wrote to the Customs authorities, and received, in reply, an official communication, in which ho was politely informed that the Government did not intend to consult his convenience. Under the Act the police are appointed inspectors to see that the casks of beer are stamped, and a correspondent argues that surely they might be entrusted with a stock of these revenue “ tickets ” for the convenience of inland brewers.—“ Post.” A Swabm or Bees.— The " South Canterbury Times ” is responsible for the following :—“ A son of Mr W. G. Allen, of this town, was engaged the other day in the juvenile pastime of kite-flying, when he was rather astonished at a sudden change in the appearance of the tail of bis kite, the appendage becoming visibly enlarged and of a densely black color. The youthful genius bad read of Benjamin Franklin drawing lightning from the clouds, and, elated at the prospect of some wonderful scientific discovery, ho proceeded to explore the phenomenon by drawing in his flyer. His amazement, if not disappointment, may be imagined when, on reaching the ground, he found that a young hive of fugitive bees were clustered to the apparatus. Bees, when swarming, select curious sites at times, but this is the first instance, so far as we are aware, of a hive swarming on the tail of a kite in midair.” Piaa on the Plains. —Wiremu Katene Tuwhakaruru writes to the “ Normanby Star ” as follows :—" Sir, —This is my word, which I wish made public, with reference to Waimate. We have no wish to have trouble with those persons who have bought land. It is the wish of Te Wbiti to maintain peace between your race and our race, and I see no cause for trouble on Waimate. There may be trouble if . the cattle of the pakehas are not looked after and break into our cultivations, or if people of your race, when our people are away at Paribaka, steal food from our cultivations, or take our tame pigs from the vicinity of our dwellings. It is for you to see that these things are not done to lead to trouble. If pigs are doing damage to your lands, it is right that you destroy thenl, or you can buy the pigs and take them away. A great many have been sold for one shilling each to those who want to cart them away. On the 7th of January a great many of our people will be leaving to go to Paribaka ; only the very old will be loft behind. It is for you to prevent your people giving us cause for annoyance and trouble, by cautioning Europeans to respect the property we leave behind us in our absence.”

Enteetainment. —The Addington temperance supporters gave an entertainment in'the Free Methodist Schoolroom, Selwyn street, on the 12th inst., consisting of vocal and instrumental music, interspersed with dialogues, recitations, and readings, by the members of the society, to an appreciative and crowded audience. The affair was quite a success, and the society have determined upon giving a series of entertainments during the season, the proceeds of which will be devoted to the temperance cause. Ageichltheal and Pastobal Asbociavion.—A special meeting of the committee of the above was bold on Saturday, Mr Henderson presiding. The business before the meeting was the fixing of the data of the Earn and Ewe Fair. After some discussion, it was resolved to hold the fair on the 24th and 25th March next.