NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2167, 4 February 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Fottnd Dsownkd.—A seaman named Neil UcLeod, belonging to the orew of the schooner Sauoy Lass, lying at one of the Ly ttelton wharvee.waß f ound drowned this morning alongside the vessel. Deceased was ashore last tight, and returned before midnight to the schooner. He went below, and had some conversation with another of the crew. Subsequently he said he felt sick, and came on deck. His shipmate looked up out of the forecastle, and saw him apparently leaning over the rail sick. Upon calling to him to come below and " turn in " deceased said he would direotly. Nothing farther is known, of how the drowning occurred. Flax. —lt is reported that a flax mill will shorMy be established on the north bank of the Kowai, near Amberley, where the supply of the raw material is almost unlimited.

Eailway Band.—The performance in the Square last night by the Eailway Band drew a large attendance. The programme of music, which was a good one, was rendered excel • lently throughout. LooAii Inbustby.—Messrs W. Moor and Son are the successful tenderers for the con. struotion of two new tram cars for the. Tramway Company, and as it is stated their tender was not the lowest, it may be fairly atsumed that the trial tram car made by this firm a short time since has given every satisfaction to the directors of the Tramway Company.

Babmbn's Picnic.—A large number of hotel employes met at the City Hotel last evening, for the purpose of making arrangements for the forthcoming barmen's picnic. The proceedings were of an encouraging oharacter. Mr J. Watson was appointed seoretary, and Mr Andrews treasurer. A committee being also eleoted to canvass for subucrip-ions. The pionio will probably be held at Governor's Bay. Baxoaibn.—A fire, caused by sparks from the engine of the midday up-train on Wednesday, did very considerable damage to tho fenoes on Mr W. O. FendaU's property. It would appear that this locality is peculiarly unfortunate in being visited by fires originating from the train, Mr Dillon, on the east side of the line, being almost a chronic sufferer.

Board ov Bbviewebs.—On Wednesday afternoon the Obristchuroh Board of Beviewers gat to consider objectioria-made to the assessment of the properties of the late Messrs Bhodes. Mr Maude appeared on behalf of the representatives of the estates, and Mr Izard for the Government. After lengthened argument the Board decided that they saw no reason to bring these properties within any exemption mentioned in the Act, and their decision would be in favor of the Government in each oase. On Thursday the Board sat to consider objections to the assessment irom the Lincoln and Halswell districts, the result being that the assessments were sustained in all but three oases. To-day the Board will sit to oonsider objections from the Templeton and Springs districts,

Thb Cbiokhtbbs.—-Our Australian cricketing guests left yesterday afternoon for Wei* liugton by the Union s :C&nip i tthyVrgteanier' Arawata. > ,'*'--' '<<

Assault Case at Ambbblbt.—On Thursday, a man named Tobin, a who had been doing ploughing work* for ■Mr Sorimgeour, with whom ho had some difference of opinion, rushed through the house and commenced a violent assault. Mr Scrimgeour put up his riding whip in defence and then struck Tobin a blow on the cheek cutting the flesh, and it ig thought breaking part of the jawbone. Tobin was brought in to the Hospital last evening. Otago Railway Employes' Benefit Socibtt.—The annual meeting of the above society was held on Wednesday evening. The balance sheet showed that the receipts for the year were £Bl3 13s 4i, and the expenditure £579 12s Id. The amount to the credit of the society was £l2ollos Bd. The total number of members on the books at the end of the year was 310. Mr Oonyers was re-eleoted president, and Mr A. Grant vice-president. Female Beit/oh.—The donations and subscriptions to the above institution during the past year amounted respectively to £28016s 6d and £lsl 10s 6d. The net earnings of the inmates forthe same period were £29713s lOd. All these amounts are in excess of receipts from the same sources in 1879. Added to these figures, the subsidy from Government, £389 17« Bd, and the balance in hand, £69 9s lid, on January Ist, 1880, made a total of £llß9 8s Sd. ; i

Kimbbblbv. The annual meeting of householders took plaie on the 24th ult., and was fairly attended. The Chairman of the old committee presided. The report of the committee showed that the number of children on the bouku at end of last quarter was fifty, the average attendance for the whole year thirty-two. The receipts of the committee for the past year were £221 4i 53, the expenditure £205 9s 53, leaving a balance in hand of £ls 15s. A vote of thanks was then passed to the outgoing committee, and the meeting then elected the following householders for the ensuing year, viz., Messrs Wm. Pitt, B. Boveley, G. Hay, H. Roberts, H. Cowan, O. M'Oausland, and Wm. Stott. The new committee then met, when Mr Wm. Pitt was elected chairman. The following gentlemen were nominated for seats on the Board of Education, Messrs Inglis, Brett, and Peryman. ,- . '- '.' ■ ■. , ';■ Kimbbblbt School Tbeat.—The annual treat to the children attending this school was held in the Zimborloy Recreation Beserve grounds on Friday, 14th ultimo. A variety of sports were well contested, and a large number of prizas were awarded. A bountiful tea was provided in the schoolroom and was thoroughly appreciated. After tea the prizes were distributed by the chairman of the committee, awarded as follows :—Standard 111. —William Scott, 1; Elizabeth Cowan, 2. standard lI.—A. Hay, 1; John McCausland, 2. Standard I.—H. McOlelland, 1 ; Thomas Manson, 2. Prises were also given by the master, Mr Mahood, for best attendance and neatest kept exeroise books, and the prizes for the former feil to James Meikle, James Manson, and Jane McClelland, whilst the latter were awarded to W. Manson and H. Dysart. Sowing prizes were given by the committee, and one presented by Mrs Camp* bell supplemented the first prize awarded to E. Brown. An entertainment, consisting of songs and recitations by the school ohildren, which was well reoeived by the numerous audience, brought a very pleasant day to a close, and the meeting separated after singing the National Anthem.

Absiz Ombn.—A lady recently had a premonition that as soon as ehe printed her first volume of poems she would die. The premonition was fulfilled. Wo would earnestly oall the attention of a large number of political young Indies and gentlemen to the faot," —" American iPaper." Jor/BK-ixisrio EHTBBPBI9B. There is nothing so encouraging to the proprietor of a great modern journal as to be.able to make improvements on his organ. Artemus Ward tells a good story about a visit he made to the sanctum of the " Bucgtown Bugle," and the interesting interview he had with the editor. The editor was preparing his leading editorial whioh he read over to Artemus. It was to the effeofc that " we have just had some extensive repairs made to our sink. A now bottom has been placed in it at an immense expense, in which two holes have been bored, through which the water passes into the entirely new bucket below. What has the hell-hound of the " G-saette" to say to this ? We shall continue to make improvements as great and exhaustive as our rapidly-increasing circulation will justify. We have also about closed a contract for the purchase of anew pasts pot."