NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2182, 22 February 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lvttbltojt Habbob Boabd.—At a special meeting of the above held to-day, the Hon. E. Bichardson was re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. Thk Latb Sbobbtaby of thb Wobking Mbn's Club.—Theophilue Vitruvius Whitmore, the secretary sinoe its commencement to the Christchurch Working Men's Olub, was brought up this morning at the B.M. Court on the oharge of having embezzled various sums of money, amounting in all to £4 Ss, the property of the club. Ho pleaded guilty, and reoeived a sentence of six months' imprisonment with hard labor. It is understood that Whitmore's defalcations amount to a considerable sum, although only five cases appeared against him on the charge sheet.

East Chbiatchubch Pigeon Flying Club.—The following acceptances for the trial stakes were lodged with the hon. secretary yesterday :—B. Foulke's Chippendale and Queenfisher, Gr. Collins' Fashion, W. E. Earnshaw's Silver Amulet and Preserving, W. Ashby's Blueskin, Progress, Foul Play and Grip, F. Williams' Trumpeter, Might, Fawn and" Firefly, J. J. Parker's Stonewall Jackson, Joan of Arc, Borneo and Hamlet, A. Walker's Hobart and Strop. The race will be flown from Bakaia to Ohriitchuroh to-morrow morning. The birds will be liberated singly at ten minute intervals; the first bird will be started at seven o'olook a.m.

Watbbspout.—A very large waterspout was noticed on Monday morning oft Leithfleld. Shortly after it rained heavily.

Kaiapoi and Mandbvielb Licensing Courts.—Messrs A. B. Parsons and Isaao Wilson have been gazetted members of the above Licensing Courts, in place of Messrs Bevell and Higgins, resigned. Wifb Dbsbbtion. A person named Samuel Bitohard was brought to Christchurch yesterday in oustody of a constable from Timaru, where he was arrested, and remanded to this city on a oharge of wife desertion.

A New Entebpeise. The " Morning Herald " learns, from a private source that a large Sootch paper manufacturing firm have now en route for Otago, complete plant and machinery for a large paper mill for the manufacture of printing papers.

Thambs Vailby Railway.—The "Waikato Times " states that the owner of a large estate in the Piako district has indirectly offered to the Government to form, fence on both sides, and erect culverts and bridges for that portion of the Thames railway which will go through his property, all ready for the bottom ballast and rails, for the sum of £2lO per mile. This offer has been made with a view to encourage the pushing on of the line, and to set an example which might be followed by others whose property the line will go through. Thb Waibait Diggings.—Some news from tho Wairau diggings appears in the '■ Marlborough Times " ol the 15th inst. A fine sample of gold has been obtained from Tipperary Gully, very light and shotty. At the Brick Hill Greek sluicing operations are progressing. During the last three months a race has been out 3000 yards, but water just now is scarce, owing to the continued dryness of the season. One of the diggers at Brick Hill Creek avows that Sir B. O. Tichborne was a mate with him while digging in New South Wales, and the tale he tells is said to bear the resemblance of reality. A Pbbfbcx Fabob.—A correspondent sends the following to a Dunedin paper :It behoves purchasers at execution sales to allow a wide margin for unforeseen risks. At St. Bathans the other day, the execution debtor, after the sale of his agricultural leasehold, beat an honorable retreat by demolishing the sod hut in which he lived, and which had been sold over his head. The wrathful purchaser prosecuted him, and the unfortunate debtor was committed to take his trial at Lawrence. Prosecutor, accused, and witnesses wended their way to Lawrence via Dunedin, and on the day of trial were in attendance at the District Court at the formor place. So far things had gone hard with the evicted one, but a change oatne over the scene when his counsel pointed out to the Court thut the stamp on the original distrees warrant not being properly cancelled, the sale was invalid, and the mioguided debtor had simply torn down his own property, for which act he was not amenable to any Court. The district Judge coincided with him, and tho prosecution collapsed. We are aware that the ways of up-country magistrates are inscrutable, otherwise we should like to know why the oolony should be saddled with the cost of this faroo, which cannot be much less than £2OO, and represents the result of taxing £48,000 with the property tax. Pbesbytbbian Chitbch, Ar(ikoa. —ln consequence of the Bev. W. Douglas having had a call from an Hokitika oircuit, the rev. gentleman has tendered his resignation to the committee of the Akaroa ohurob, after having had charge of the Peninsula for seven years. The resignation hat been accepted.

Tonic Sol-fa.—Mr A. A. North, informs the public, through our columns, that ho will commence another of those popular elementary classes for teaohing musio by the use of the tonio sol fa system, in the Temperance Hall, on Wednesday evening next. An opportunity will thus be afforded to all who are anxious to learn to sing from this notation. The Intermediate Certificates granted under this nystem are accepted by the Board of Education as sufficient evidence that the holder thereof has passed the requirements under the head " Music."

Thbatbb Kotai. — " Neck or Nothing " was repeated last evening at the Theatra Royal, followed by " His Last Legs." Tonight a new piece entitled "Our Own Correspondent " will be produced. Removing Moorings.—The work of extracting the screw mooring of another of the large buoys was proceeded with yesterday, off the end of No. 3 Jetty. The fire-engine hose and the engine on board the steam tug Lyttelton were the means used as before, and a hole Bft. in depth was made alongside the chain. To-day the work will be resumed. Mid-day Tbain to Southbbidgb. —The residents of Southbridge yesterday receive:) the welcome intelligence that the railway authorities had decided to oantinue the midday train, whioh will leave Southbridge as bofore at 11 a.m.

Holy Trinity Chuboh, Lyttelton.'— The annual prize distribution took place at the Sabbath school connected with this church on Sunday last, in the afternoon. The Rev. J. Townsend, the incumbent, delivered an address upon the occasion, and handed over the prizes, after which the superintendent, Mr A. Joyce, addressed the school. There was a moderate attendance of the parents and friends of the scholars present.

Nuw Gas Bnginb at Poet. A gas engine, known as the Otto silent engine, and manufactured' by Crossly Bros., a Manchester firm, has just been introduced into the large grain store belonging to Messrs P. Cunningham and Co., at Lyttelton. It iB the first of its kind which has found its way to the Fort, and is, perhaps, the most powerful of any in use in the colony, being of eight-horse power, capable of working up to twelve. It has a 16-inch stroke, and can attain a speed of 160 revolutions per minute. Mr W. G. Rogers, of this city, has superintended its erection, and yesterday made a trial of it, the result being in every respect equal to his expectations, and quite satisfactory. It is oonnected with the street mains by a pipe 2 inches in diameter, a fact which has, not surprisingly, caused some persons who have seen it to oonolude that it would be a most expensive engine to work. From a comparison made, however, with steam, and its contingent expenditure in the way of labor, the engine in question, it is said, will be a source of economy. G-bain Returns.—The grain traffic on the Cbristohurch-Amberley seotion of railway for the week ending Saturday, the 19th instant, was as follows:—Monday—f., 4939 bags; h., 1992 bags. Tuesdav—f., 4840; h., 2691. Wednesday—f., 5414 ; h., 2828. Thursday—f., 7265 ; h., 3006. Friday—f., 10,164 ; h., 3922. Saturday—f., 11,468 ; h., 4241. Total, 23,721. K.B.—f. stands for "forwarded," h, for "on hand."

Masokio Fpnbbal.—Yesterday afternoon the members of the Robert Burns' Lodge, 604, S.C., assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to a departed member, viz., Bro. J. 8. Ashley. The lodge was opened in the St. Augustine Hall, and the brothren in procession marched to the residence of the deceased brother, in Addington. On reaohing the house the brethren formed up behind the Railway Band, the visiting brethren of other lodges being in front, and then came the officers and members of the Bobert Burns' Lodge, according to seniority. These were followed by the members of the Bailway Fire Brigade, to which the deoeased belonged, and railway employes. The band played the " Deid March in Saul" to St. Mary's Church. The coffin was carried into the church by Bro. KHngane! tin, Johnston, G-len and Smith, of the Bobert Burns Lodge, Bro. Rev. H. K. East, Incumbent of St. Mary's, reading the service in an impressive manner. On arriving at the grave, Bro. Bev. Bast read the concluding portion of the Church of England service. P.M. Bro. Ferguseon and the B.W.M. of the Bobert Burns Lodge, Bro. J. C. Watson, then gave the Masonic ritual, and the brethren circling round the grave each dropped in a sprig of aoacia, and the ceremony ended. In addition to the bodies mentioned above, a large number of Oddfellows, to which the dececs d belong], also took part in the proceedings.