NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2178, 17 February 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Moonlight Exocbsion. A moonlight excursion round the harbour will be made tonight by the steamer Akaroa. Sbe will have the Lyttelton band on board, and will leave on arrival of the 6.50 p.m. train and conneot with the late train from port. Biulk Ghbtstianb.—At a meeting of tbe Bible Christian congrogation and trustees, held last evening, it was decided for the memorial stones of their new church to be laid on Tuesday, March Ist, 1881, at 4 o'clook, p.m. There will bo a public tea, and a public meeting after, in connection with the ceremony. Particulars will be advertised in due course. To day's Picnics.—The oabmen of Christchurch, supplemented by the inseparable contingent of relatives and friends, when the annual picnic is the order of the day, mustered in full force this morning in Cathedral square, where the order of procession was formed, and after passing up Colombo street North, the North belt to Victoria street, and thence along Yiotoria street to the starting point. The whole body was en route for Cashmere, Sir Cracroft Wilson having, with his usual courtesy in these matters, placed his grounds at the disposal of the committee. The Railway Band was in the van of the procession, which numbered about seventy vehicles; and respecting which it is no libel to say that it could successfully compare with any previous gathering of a like kind. The horses showed evidence of careful attention. Some qf them were really fine animals, and the various predilections of their owners for four-in-hand, or tandem, or pairs, had full scope. The horsemen also formed a noticeable feature, as, too, did the jockey element, givin? an earnest that raoing was "on the cards" for part of the day's programme. The milkmen of Christchurch and its vicinity also mustered in Cathedral square at a later hour, and fell into procession, the vehicles numbering nearly fifty, and headed by the band, passed up High street, and along Cashel street East to Avonside, where Mr Palmer had placed a large paddock at the service of bis confreres of the "pails and yokes." The vehicles were gaily decorated with flags and flowers, and the happy faces of the little ones was not the least pleasant part of the procession. The weather is all that can be desired, and a pleasant day is inevitable.

A Shameful Cask.—Yesterday, at the Lytteiton Resident Magistrate's Court, a boy of twelve or thirteen years of age, named Byron, who was a witness in a charge then being heard, said, in answer to the magistrate, Mr Boßwiok, that he had never attended any church or school in bis life. The boy, upon being questioned by his Worship, said that he knew that he would be " burnt in a fire if he did not tell the truth," and, upon that acknowledgment, he was sworn. Be it said, to his credit, he gave his evidence so straightforwardly as to cause the magistrate to compliment him; but at the conclusion of the case his Worship commented in strong terms upon the circumstance of a boy of tLat age being reared without either education or religion, and administered to Thomas Bryant, his guardian, arid who was evidently regarded by the lad as his father, such a word of warning as should have a salutary effeot. Such instances of culpable neglect are happily rare in the colony with its present free publio school system. Maoistbatb's CotraT, Lyttbltoit.—John G-orae, for being drunk and disorderly in Oxford street east, Lyttelton, was fined 20s at this Court this morning, and for using bad language was fined 40a. New Jetty at Lyttblton.—The new jetty to the eaatward of the Screw Pile was all but completed yestorday by tho contractors, Messrs Hawkins and Martindale, who have, by the way, made commendable progress with the breastwork extension on that side of the harbor, taking into ooDaideralion unavoidable delays. The e.s. Akaroa claims the honor of being the first, vessel to occupy a berth alongside the new jetty, she having made fast there on her arrival yesterday from Pigeon Bay.

Delay to a Tbain.—On Wednesday tho mid-day train on the North line was delayed an hour and a-half at Kuiapoi, owing to en aocident to an injector of the engine. One of the engines from the Oxford line had to b« sent for to Rangiora to take the train on, and the trains on the Oxford line were consequently later than usual in their running. The evening train was run in its usual time.

_ A Woek op Aet.—A very beautiful spacimen of water-color painting from the brush of Mr Ohas. Hull, of the " Lyttelton Times' " staff has, for some time past, been on view in the shop window of Mr Simpson, High street. It represents a collection of gems from the flower-garden, prettily arranged for effect, and worked in by means of stippling with what are known as body oolore, a process about the utility of which there appears to have been some discussion, pro and oon, among artists reoontly. The fugitive effort under notice is at any rate 'of uncommon merit, and as an example of the kind of work referred to forms a very charming illustration of what may he- effected by talent, labor, and just discrimination.

Boabd op Education.—There will be a meeting of the North Canterbury Board of Education at 3 run. to-day. Mandkvillb and Rangioea Boabd of Oonsebyatoes.—Mr J. C. Boys has been nominated by the Governor as a member of this Board.

RbSIDBNT MAGISTBATEB* OOTTBT, ASHBU"BTON. —At the above Court, yesterday, before 0. Percy Cox, Esq, James Smith, an incorrigible drunkard, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. _ Chwboh Sbbyiobs.—The vestry of St. John's have agreed as to the advisability of commencing Sunday evening servioes at seven o'clock instead of half-past six, and have appointed a committee to confer with the officers of other churches on the subject. The Waimakabibi Boabd Resbbtbb.— It has been resolved to let the reserves of the South Waimakariri Board of Conservators by auction. A plan has been prepared of the various blocks into which the reserves have been divided, and the auction will be held at an early date. Thb Railway Band.—The open air performance by this band in Cathedral square last night attracted a large attendance, despite the somewhat unpleasant character of the weather. The programme, which was a very excellent one, was capitally rendered throughout.

A Geneboub Ofbeb. —The question of increasing the ventilation of St. John's church having arisen at a recent vestry meeting of St. John's, one gentleman, Mr S. Manning, very generously offered to defray the whole oost of making the necessary alterations. Rangioba Domain Boabd.—A " Gazette" notice recently issued notifies that Mr Aquilla Ivory has been appointed a member ot this Board, in plaoe of Mr H. Blaokelt, resigned. It is understood that an application will be made to have the Mayor of Bangiora ex officio included as a member of this Board.

Sydenham.—At the meeting of the Sydenham School Committee, held on Tuesday, it was resolved to vote for Mr George Booth, the Rev. Charles Fraser, and Mr John Inglis to fill the ordinary vacancies, and the Rev. H. C. M. Watson to fill the extraordinary vacancy in the Education Board of the district of North Canterbury. Ayaboa R.M. Coubt.—At this Court on Tuesday, before J. Aylmer, Esq., R.M., G. Sadler, G. Lardner, W. Wood, and E. Lepieu were charged with allowing horses and cattle to wander at large, and fined 5s and costs in each case. Judgment went by default in the oases of B. T. Missen v E. Malmanohe, jun., claim £2 14s ; and C. Brown v E. Malmanohe, jun. Theatbb Royal.—" Griff" was repeated last night at the Theatre Royal by the dramatic oompany, and went very well throughout. The various characters were loudly applauded, particularly Miss Arethusa ■'» the part of Griff, which is one of the best iMf srsonations in which this young lady has appeared. " Griff" will be repeated this evening and to-morrow. Conobbt.—A very on jo j able conoert was given last evening in the Colombo road school by the members of the Sydenham Mueioal Society, which was well attended. The conoert was a benefit one, tendered by the members of the society to Mr Edmonds, who has for some time past acted as conductor, and who, by his energy and seal, has contributed in no small degree to the sucoobs of the concerts already given. The various items in a very attractive programme were well rendered, and altogether the concert was a very successful one.

Bbnbfit.—A benefit will be given at the Theatre Boyal on the 25th inst. by the members of the " Lyttelton Times" Amateur Dramatio Society, assisted 'by Mrs Walter Hill, in aid of the benevolent fund of the C.M.1., a society ooncerning the objeots of which considerable misapprehension exists. This, however, will be removed by an address on the objects of it, spoken by Mr O. Hull, on the evening in question. The play selected is H. J. Byron'* oomedy of " Weak Woman," and from the way in which it has gone at rehearsal a very satisfactory performance may be looked for. Thb Latb Railway Oommisbionbb.— From the "Otago Daily Times" we learn that Mr Conyers has again gone into the foundry business with Mr Davidson, with ' whom he was associated prior to aocepting office- on the railways under the Provincial Government of Otago. Mr Armstrong, the late Locomotive Superintondant at Dunedin, has gone into a similar lino of business at Inveroargill. A Long-lived Family.—The "Manawatn Herald" records the decease last Friday morning, February 4th, of Mrs Gray, the grandmother of the Secretary to the Post and Telegraph Department. The deoeased lady was born at Port Gower, Sundorlandshire, in the year 1783, and was consequently ninetyeight years old at the time of her death. Longevity has been a distinguishing feature of the late Mrs Gray's family. Her father lived to be 110 years old ; her mother died at the age of 100 years; and one of her brothers reached the age of ninety; whilst she, the last of her family, has been gathered to her rest at the ripe age of ninety-eight. Sincbbb Flattbby.—Even in a cricketer, and that a Wellingtonian, there is (the "Times" says) to be found an amount of verdant and juvenile innocence, which, in these days is perfectly refreshing. " Spofforth eats jelly at lunch," said an aspiring Wellington bowler sotto voee, " and so will I." And he did eat it, but one has the stern duty of saying that, whether or not Spofforth's greased lightning shots are accelerated by jelly, it was perfectly certain that the local bowler did not gain a single wioket after devouring several plates of the savory compound. Pebpbttjal Motion. The " Dunedin Morning Herald" says that Mr Peter Oxfelo, of Filleul street, claims to have invented a contrivance by which water oan be kept in perpetual rotary motion. The maohine consists of a barrel about the size of an ordinary beer barrel, and a small tub, both filled with water. Near the bottom of the barrel is inserted a tap, and at the top an iron pipe which connects with the tub. Tho water is allowed to run through the tap into the tub, and the pressure of the atmosphere forces it up the iron pipe into the barrel, whioh must be kept airtight. By this means the same water is constantly flowing out of and into the barrel.

The Maech of Fbosbbss.—The present age is one of improvements and inventions of all descriptions. A French gentleman, who has been studying tho guillotine, has roaobed the conclusion that there is room for improvement in this instrument of death, which,-it may be mentioned, does its work in threequarters of a second, and he has just forwarded to the Minister of Justice the plan of his new invention. By his system, he says, the three-quarters of a second will be abridged, and the necessity of placing a criminal on the bascule entirely obviated. The new guillotine would be worked by pneumatics, like the clocks, and heads, says the inventor, would be carried off like hats in a gust of wind t

Air Itiic fob thb Next Railway Oom> mission.—Another engine, and a new one, has gone to smash on the Taranaki railway. It happened in this way. The fireman at the Taranaki end got up early the other day, and set _ a roaring Are under the boiler of his engine; but forgetting to put water in the boiler, the result was that he stoked and poked till he burnt the bottom out. And still the engine wouldn't go! Then (says the " Pate a Mail ") with true Taranaki energy it was perceived that something would have to be done equal to the greatness of the emergency; so it was resolved to send for another engine from Waitara, and after three hours' delay tho train for the south was started on its way. Cubiods Figures.—Baron Kolb, a German, who has been ransacking the figures of the universe, says that the English is the most widely-spread language, being spoken by about 80,000,000 people; German by 50,000,000 or 60,000,000; French and Spanish, 40,000,000 each ; Russian, 55,000,000. Every advance made by a people in morality and healthy employment and usefnl knowledge adds to its tenure of life. The average of life among the well-to-do is fifty years, among the poor thirty-two years. Clergymen average the longest lives sixty-six years. Idlers are shorter-lived than the industrious, and statistics prove that in countries where consanguinous marriages are permitted there are to be found a greater number of deaf mutes and idiots than elsewhere.

Kaiapoi Fikh Polios.—A meeting of persons interested in forming a fire polioe force was held at the Borough Council offices on Tuesday evening. The Mayor (Mr Blackwell) presided, Messrs Porter, B. Moore, Fraser, Parnham, T. Weston, Mathews, W. May, Burnip, Simpson, Dudley and Sharland were sworn in as members of the force ; Mr J. O. Porter was re-elected oaptain, and Messrs Parnham and Moore were elected officers.

Expobt OP Chebbb —The dairy farmers or tee Peninsula aro bestirring themselves in reference to obtaining a better price for tbeir dairy produce, and with that object in view it is intended to form an association to export ohorse to London. It was hoped that the e.s. Norfolk would be able to carry home a trial shipment, but it is doubted if that steamer will rolura direot. If not, it i§ thought advisable to try and procure suitable space in one of the grain ships that will shortly leave for home, and should the cheese thus sent reach London in good condition, it will be arranged to send nearly all the Peninsula cheese to the old country, with a view of obtaining higher prices thaa rule in the colony. Behoving a Mooeing.—Tho steam-tug Lyttelton was engaged during yesterday in connection with tbe operation for taking up ! one of the moorings immediately off the ! sorew-pile jetty. The process adoptod for clearing the head of tbe sorow, which is said to be some 25ft to 30ft down, was that of washing away the mud covering it by means of the tug's fire-engine and hose. Mr S. Derbidge went down in his diving costume and superintended the submarine working of the hose, with the satisfactory result that a hole of considerable diameter was made alongside the chain attached to the screw 18ft down. An additional hose will be ujed today, when even better headway than was yesterday made is looked for. The work of washing down a submarine pile of mud by means of a water hoso is a novel one, but it appears to be very effective. Waimakabibi Haeboe Boabd.—Owing to an omiesion on tho part of the chairman or the clerk to this Board, the eleotions of six members of this Board whose term of office expired on the second Monday of February have not been held, and the Governor will have to fill the vacancies by nomination.

English and Continental Opebatiths. —England has 2,930,000 operatives, whose average annual products are £224 each ; Germany, 2,781,000, who produoe annually, each, £lO3 in value; Franoe, 1,936,000, whose annual products average £220 each. The value of the textile products produced in the United Kingdom is £155,000,000; United States, £84,000.000; Franoe, £68,000,000, and Germany, £48,000,000.