NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2159, 26 January 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Property Tax Assessment. —The Court of Reviewers of Property Tax Assessment for the district of Christchurch sat this morning in the old Provincial Council Chamber. The reviewers were Messrs J. P, Jameson, George Hart, and John Anderson, It was decided, according to the Act, that the proceedings should be private.

Compensation Const. —The case of Eobt. Wilkin (claimant) v the Minister of Public Work# (respondent), came on this morning before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston, and Messrs Mcllraith and 0. N. Bell, assessors. The claim was for £2500, the value of fifty acres of land on the bank of the river, Ashburton, alleged to have been washed away by the river owing to the construction of the railway bridge and <. tier works. The evidence was very voluminous, and the case was proceeding when we went to press. Abbbbt. —About eleven o’clock this morning Detective O’Connor arrested a man named Joseph Busby, near the Golden Fleece Hotel, for stealing a silver watch and chain and about £ll in cash from Francis Gilbert, a station hand frsm St. Helen’s, Amnri. The prisoner will be brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court in the morning.

Hydropathy.— A meeting of those interested in the above will be held this evening at Mr Ayers’, High street. Harbor Board Elections.—The election of members for the Lyttelton Harbor Board takes place during the ensuing month. The Selwyn County Council meet on the 14th February, for the election of two men: hers to represent them. Messrs E. G. Wright and R. J. S. Harman are the only candidates yet spoken of. Fibb.— Shortly after three o'clock yesterday the bells rang out an alarm of fire, and the brigade vai quickly on the alert. It was found to be a four-roomed cottage at Bingsland, belonging to Mr A. W. Stifle, which was totally destroyed. The occupants of the house were out at the time, and the fire is supposed to have occurred through sparks from the fire falling on to the matting with which the kitchen was covered. The honse was insured for £l5O in the New Zealand, and the furniture for £75 in the South British. There was nothing saved.

The Anstbai.ian Match. —The Canterbury Fifteen will have a practice on the ground on Thursday, and on Friday the Eleven will pay a visit to the ground. There is now on view in the window of Mr Jubal Fleming, City Baths, three prizes offered respectively by Messrs Nashelski, B. Hale and Jubal Fleming, for various points of excellence in connection with the Canterbury Fifteen in the match. The prize offered by Mr Nashelski is a cap for the best bowling average, that by Mr Hale a bat for the best fielding, and that by Mr Fleming a smoker’s companion for the highest score. Owing to the second day of the match falling upon the date of the meeting of the Drainage Board, that body hat resolved to adjourn till February 7th. It is intended to give the members of the Australian team a complimentary banquet on Saturday evening, at the rooms of Messrs Ford and Newton, Cashel street. Mr E. C. J. Stevens, president of the Cricket Association, will occupy the chair. The furnishing and decorations have been entrusted to Mr A. J. White, and Mr Messenger has undertaken the more onerous task of catering for the occasion. Under such favorable auspices the affair will doubtless be a great success.

View Hill Distbiot.—The harvesting in this part of the Oxford district has commenced, and the crops as a rule are looking well, the wheat in particular. The general opinion is that it is the best wheat crop that has been grown in the district, and will yield about twenty seven bushels to the acre. The oats, although the straw is short, are estimated to yield over thirty bushels. These averages take in the whole district, which is estimated to yield about 40,000 bushels. Lyttelton Wbsleyan Ohttboh. The children belonging to the Lyttelton Wesleyan Church Sabbath school, under Superintendent Oliver, were taken through to Hillsborough yesterday, to spend their annual picnic. A special train was engaged for the occasion, and Mr Duncan had kindly lent his paddock to the teachers for the day. The weather was all that could be wished for, and the children had a pleasant outing. 1.0 O.F , M.o.—At a meeting of the Loyal Ohoka Lodge, held on Wednesday, 19th inst., subscriptions were handed in from the brothers of the Lodge to the amount of £65 for the purpose of buying a horse and vehicle for presentation to Brother J. Bradley. Brother J. Thompkins made the presentation, which was suitably and heartily acknowledged. Other business of a routine character having been disposed of, the meeting closed. Oxpobd Cement.—The adjourned meeting of those interested in the formation of a company for the utilisation of the cement deposits at Oxford and elsewhere took place yesterday, when the report of the committee appointed to proceed to the locality and ascertain the extent and nature of the deposits, was read. After considerable discussion, it was resolved to adjourn for a fortnight to further consider the matter, and to allow of the attendance of Mr J. P. Jameson, the chairman of the committee.

Warning to Jurymen.—One of the persons snmmoned as a juror at the Coroner’s inquest yesterday failed to put in an appearance, and the acting coroner said that to overlook snob contempt on tbe part of a person duly summoned would bo manifestly unfair to those who attended- Accordingly, at the conclusion of the enqniry, after the defaulter’s name had been formally called three times by the police, an order was made that he should show cause why he should not be fined, according to section 10 of the Coroner’s Act, 1877, which provides that any person failing to appear when summoned as a juryman shall forfeit a sum not exceeding £5 j Easter Sports at Southbbidgb.— An adjourned meeting was held at Sutherland's Southbridge Hotel on Monday evening for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of holding Easter sports for the benefit of tbe Southbridge Brass Band. There was a large attendance, and Mr William Brigenhaw, bandmaster, was unanimously elected chairman. Some discussion arose as to the desirability of holding the sports on Easter Monday, as arranged at the first meeting, on account of the Christchurch Autumn Race Meeting being held on that doy, but on the motion of Mr Henry Harman it was decided to adhere to that day. Mr Harman stated that Mr Graham had kindly offered the use of his large paddock for the occasion. The offer was accepted with thanks, and the meeting then adjourned. Lincoln. An unfortunate accident hape poned on Friday evening last to a valusblmare, the property of Mr Herrick, Tai Tapn. The mare had been tied up to tbe fence in the school gtound, while Mr Herrick was attending the annual meeting of householders in the schoolroom. From some cause, probably to reach her foal, the mare became restive, and attempted to jump over a small gate, upon which she became impaled, and which cansed several frightful wounds. Mr Rule, veterinary surgeon, was sent for, and was quickly in attendance, and every effort was made to relieve the animal, which, however, died in a few hours.

Thb Hebrides Mission.— The missionary I meeting in connection with the Hebrides Mission will take place this evening at 7.30 .p.tn., at St. Paul’s New Church, instead of Bt. P a^, *' : 9.ld'Ohurt3h,'.ue previously advertised. by lthe advertisiittetit in another column,' therS 1 Will be an :fn£6reetinp,!jexliibition of dissolving views of' several object* of interest, Which wiil be shown by a‘ powerful limelight. , 1 ;. inqS?y’'«ras’ held yesterday aftornooqatflhe Clarendon 1 Hotel, before the soUnft "coroner, - A; and ■j ury/lof Hvhonr Mt FTEyiiiit* Tfiuntaino vu ( oh/)ji^fS^emß^^pii i of Aqnip.Bay, who was found dead the previous day in a house at the corner of Madras and Tuam streets, Christchurch. William McOloekie gave evidence as to last seeing her, apparently in good health, on Saturday morning, before leaving for Timaru. Robert Davis deposed to finding deceased lying dead in her bouse at midday on Monday, when he called for pay* ment of an account, which was corroborated by Sergeant Pratt. A neighbor named Hoskyns deposed to last seeing deceased alive at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Dr. Russell gave evidence as to the past-mortem examination attributing death to the rupture of the small blood vessels on the brain, occasioned through a fall whilst in a fit. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

Union Rowing Club.—Last night the U. got off the first two heats of the club fours for the commodore’s prize, the course being the usual two-mile one, from Wright’s to the Willows. Five crews entered, but had very little training for a two-mile race. Appended is the result;—First heat—North bank, Thetis, J. T. Smith, stroke; H. T. Johnston, 3; G. O. King, 2; H. A. S. Blanchard, bow ; H. V. Slyohe, cox. South bank, Electric, S. O. Kesteven, stroke; V. B. Borland, 3; A. D. Fraser, 2; Robert J. Gilchrist, bow; W. H. Woledge, cox. Mr F. D. Kesteven acted as starter, and sent the boats well away together. The Electric soon began to forge ahead, and maintained half a length lead until nearing Pratt’s. Here Kesteven called on his men to go for the corner, which was gamely responded to. The race was never in doubt from this point, and the Electric won a good race by three lengths. Second heat—Thetis, North bank, F. G. Moule, stroke ; F. O. Bowley, 3 ; J. Qilmour, 2; G. A. Ataok, bow ; H. V. fityche, cox. Electric, South bank, P. Fuller, stroke ; Charles Allard, 3 ; O. F. Wright, 2 5 J. R. Johnston, bow ; W. H. Dunnage, cox. The Thetis went away to a good start, and soon had a length's lead. At the tannery Moule dropped off, and Fuller drew up, and from this to the finish was a mere walk over, Fuller winning as he liked.

Musgrove’s Opera Comiquo Company, at the Opera House, Melbourne, are a great euccees in Offenbach’s “ La Fills de Tambour Major,” Mr H. R. Harwood is business manager. Mr John L. Hall and Company are performing in “ Amphibia, the Rhine Queen,” at Adelaide.

Pearce’s Juvenile Troupe are at the Town Hall, Adelaide.

“ Dick ” Kohler is leasee of the Academy of Music, Adelaide, where he is giving variety entertainments.

At a theatrical performance in San Francisco, some time ago, a baby in the gallery began to screech so loudly that the actors were quite thrown out. The manager, to drown the Guild's cries, bado the orchestra strike np a loud tune, whereupon a miner, who had just come in, shouted out: " Here, 1 say, stop them cussed fiddles ; I haven’t heard a baby’s voice for seven years.” Messrs Sampson Low and 00. announce that a European edition of “ Harper’s Magazine is projected to be published. This periodical, whose name is a household word in America, where it circulates 140,000 copies, has been the means, in its sixty volumes, of introducing to the American public many of the leading novels of Bulwor, Dickens, Thackeray, and George Eliot, and other English writers. Miss M. E. Braddon has written thirtynine novels. She lives at Lichfield House, Richmond, England, and is married to Mr John Maxwell. M. Emile Zola is hard at work on a drama drawn from bis novel, “La Curee,” which is intended for performance at the Ambigu. Dr. Yon Nordenskjold’s account of his voyage of discovery will soon be published in German by Herr Brockhaus, of Leipsic. The total cost of the Vega expedition amounted to 419,177 crowns.

Mr J. W. Dodge is busily engaged in making arrangements for the theatrical season to begin on Boxing night. A quantity of new scenery will be brought from the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, and the mechanist here is working at his important part of the preparations. The opening piece will be “Struck Oil,” which has only been played here by the Juvenile Troubadours, and which in the other colonies has proved a marvellous success wherever Mr and Mrs Williamson have appeared in it. Mr Williamson’s impersonation of the old German who “ goes by de vars ” is wonderfully faithful, and he is admirably supported by his wife, who not only acts but sings well. They will be supported by the leading members of the Theatre Royal Company, Melbourne, including Mr W. G. Carey, the stage manager, Mrs Bryer, and Mr George P. Carey, always a favourite in this city. During the season Miss Flora Anstead will also bo here, and among the “ stars ” who have been engaged are Miss Pomeroy, the charming American actress; Mr Grattan Riggs, and Mr W. H. Leake. The management have adopted the motto that the best way to ensure success is to deserve it, and they have therefore engaged a first class company, so that whatever pieces are produced will be well represented, and well put on the stage. Tbe season, which will last about three months, will finish with a pantomime.