NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2184, 24 February 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Cabmen’s Picnic. — A meeting for settlement on account of the recent cabmen’s picnic was held on Tuesday evening at the City Hotel, when Mr S. Thomas, the secretary, paid away no less a sum than £B2 in prizes won at the races and other sports on the occasion. The fact that committee were enabled to offer such good prizes speaks well for the way in which the Jehus of Christchurch worked to make the picnic a thorough succors.

East Christchurch Pigeon Flying Club. —The trial stakes, flown under the auspices of the above club, took place yesterday, when twenty birds competed. A strong N.B. wind was blowing at Bakais, where the birds were liberated. The following is the time taken by the first six birds home, most of the others arriving home shortly after:—Mr W. Ashby’s Progress, Slmin; Mr A. Walker’s Strop, 81min 30seo ; Mr B. Foulkes’ Chippendale, Slmin 30seo ; Mr J. J. Parker’s Hamlet, 82min ; Mr P. Williams’ Trumpeter, 84min ; Mr W. E. Barnshaw’s S'lvio, SSmin. Benefit. —The benefit performance in aid of the benevolent fund of the 0.M.1. takes place at the Theatre Boyal to-morrow evening. A moat attractive programme, including comedy, music, and readings will be given on the occasion. The dramatic part of the performances will comprise Byron’s comedy of “ Weak Woman,” tho characters in which will bo sustained by members of the " Lyttelton Times ” Amateur Dramatic Club, who have very kindly placed their services at the disposal of the fraternity. An address, detailing the objects and aims of tho fraternity, written by Mr Ludford, will bo delivered by Mr O, Hull.

Picnic. —Through the liberality of Messrs P. and D. Duncan, their employes and families, to the number of about 200, held their annual pionio at Little Akaloa ou Tuesday last. The_ party left Christchurch by the 7.25 a.m. train, arriving at their destination by Messrs Cameron’s p.s. Titan about half-past ten. A very enjoyable day was spent in raoing, dancing (to the strains of the Eailway band), fern hunting, &0., &o. Very unwillingly, a start was made for home in time to catch the 7.20 train. Before leaving the steamer, Mr D. Duncan, in a few appropriate remarks, asked for three cheers for Mr Cameron, which were heartily given with musical honors. Christchurch was reached without a single mishap, every one highly delighted with their day’s outing. Theatrical, —Mr Walter Beynolds, with a strong company, opens a season at the Theatre Boyal here on Wednesday next. The company includes, amongst others, Miss Louise Beaudet, Herr Bandmann, and Mr J. F. Cathcart, the latter being a brother of the late Mrs Q-eorge Darrell. The repertoire of the company is a large and varied one, Shaksperian plays forming a large portion thereof. In these Herr Bandmann has made a high reputation, and no doubt the many lovers of Shakspeare will during the season have opportunities of enjoying his impersonations. Miss Beaudet too has earned very high encomiums in Dunedin by her performances of the parts in which ohe has appeared there, and generally the company seem to have been successful during their lengthy season in that oity. Bbsidbnt Magistrate's Const, Southbridge.—On Tuesday, before J. Beswick, Esq., 8.M., Stoddart, B. B. Willis, J, B. Campbell, Esqs., J.P.’s, Mr Boswiok remarked that although several of the district magistrates were on the Bench they wore taking no part in the business before them. The following cases were then proceeded with. North Bakaia Board of Conservators v A. Alexander, £1 8s 3d ; A. Anderson, £2 8s 4d ; S. Ballagh, £3 8s 9d ; J. Barnett, £4 12s 4i ; W. Bishop, £1 9s Id, and W. J. G. Bluett, £8 2s 6d. The above being the amounts of their rates. Mr George Harper appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Izard for the defendants. Mr Harper opened the caso and called the Board’s secretary to give evidence to prove that the proper notices had been served on Mr Bluett to pay the rate. Mr Harper, to save time, allowed that the present members had been improperly elected under the Act of 1877. Evidence having been taken as to the date on which the rate was struck, the authority which Mr Dosborough had for collecting the rates, &0., counsel on both sides addressed the Bench at considerable length. His Worship decided to reserve judgment for a week, to be given in Christ•hurch.

The Land Ester. —* The Wairarapa “ Standard,” in an article on the bankruptcy returns, attributes most of these to speculation in land sections. It gays:—“Auckland was barely touched by the section fever, and we find that the liabilities of insolvents in Auckland during the year 1879 amounted to only £91,000, whilst Wellington—a oity no larger than Auckland—had insolvency liabilities to the prodigious amount of £572,000, or about six times the amount of Auckland. Again, the section fever barely took hold in Dunedin, and Dunedin’s bankruptcy liabilities in 1879 reached only £161,000, though its population is considerably more than doable that of Wellington. Canterbury was smitten by the fever very sorely, though not so sorely as Wellington, and henoe we find that the insolvency liabilities of Christchurch amounted to £564,000. Christchurch has a population about 10,000 greater than Wellington, hence the liabilities of its insolvents, though numerically only 8000 less than those of Wellington, are proportionally much less. The explanation of the discrepancy is to be found in the fact that Wellington had the fever in a more violent form than Christchurch.” Volunteers fob the Cape, — A rumor has lately been current (says the “ Wellington Post”) of the probability of a volunteer contingent being organised in Wellington for service at tho Cape, but tho matter is not now only talked of, but actually in progress. The idea hag emanated from the Naval Brigade, from which corpa gome ninety-five men have sent in their names. It is proposed to raise about 250 men to go as a blue-jacket contingent from New Zealand, and the promoters are waiting the return of Captain Johnston from the South to enter into immediate communication with the proper authorities. It is asserted that within a fortnight of the undertaking being accepted by the Cape Government, the men to the proposed strength would be ready to embark. We hear also that a detachment of fifty picked men from the Thames Navals are prepared to join under one of our blue jacket lieutenants, who served in the Thames corps for several years, and who, we believe has, at the request of the men, taken the matter in hand. It is believed that the proposed contingent can be made up of first class shots, and hardy fellows, who would be a credit to the colony ; and as the Government compel the volunteers here to buy their own uniforms, and now give no capitation money, it is supposed that the scheme can hardly be opposed by the Defence Minister.

Theatre Boyal.— “Our Own Correspondent ” was repeated last evening at the Theatre Royal. To night “ Griff ” will no played, Banqioea Domain Board.— Tho first meeting of the newly-formed Board was to have been held on Monday evening for the election of a chairman, but as all the members were not in attendance the meeting was adjourned till March 7th. The Clematis.—The wreck of the brig Clematis was offered for sale by public auction at the Canterbury Hotel, Lyttelton, yesterday, Mr J. B. Willcox was the auctioneer, and the highest bid being £l6, she was knocked down to Mr Harvey Hawkins for that figure.

Lifting a Mooring.— Yesterday one of the screw moorings off the end of tho No. 3 wharf was taken up. The fire engine on board tho tug was brought into use again, and after thirteen hours actual working the mooring was cleared and taken up from a depth of 13ft. below the surface of the mud. Fire. —On Saturday evening a fire occurred on the Healerton run, the property of the Bank of New South Wales. The fire Wft» first seen in a straw stack in a grass paddock, from whence it quickly spread to an adjoining wheat paddock of twenty acres, which it consumed, together with about two miles of fencing.

Tiib Pheasant Season. —Owing to the scarcity of cook pheasants this season the Council of _ the Acclimatisation Society i? V n ,^ e^erm ' ne d that the ensuing season shall be a close one. A proposal to open the Peninsula, where birds are reported to be fairly numerous, was made, but after some discussion, withdrawn in favor of the close season.

Grain Ohabt.—Mr Do Veaux’s ingenious chart of the fluctuations in the price of grain during the years from 1873 to 1880, is being largely taken advantage of by our mercantile houses. As an exemplification of the extraordinary changes in the grain market during the period, apart from the ingenuity and care bestowed on its preparation, it is well worth preservation.

The High Ookmissionbb.—The following are the resolutions agreed to by the Donferenoe with reference to the Western Pacific Islands :—l. That it is not desirable that the office of High Commissioner of the Western Pacific Islands shonld be rested in the Governor of any of the Australasian colonies. 2. That more effectual moans should be devised for the punishment of the Natives of the said islands for any crimes or offences committed by them against British subjects. 3. That in the case of capital convictions by the High Oommissioner’e Court, appeal should bo allowed to the Supreme Court of some one of the Australasian colonies, to be selected by the High Commissioner. 4. That the more frequent visits of Her Majesty’s ships among the islands would tend to lessen in a great degree the crimes now so prevalent. Mr Dick, Colonial Secretary for New Zealand, dissented from the first resolution. I Railways in Nbw South Walks.—The Sydney correspondent of the “ New Zealand Times ” writes :—The whole railway system of this colony is now in a most satisfactory condition. The total length of lines open for traffic is 953 miles, while those authorised and partly under construction will add an additional length of 728 miles. The net earnings, after the deduction of all working expenses, are equal to 4| per cent, on the capital invested, and as the colony can now readily borrow money in England at 4 per cent., it is evident that a very substantial direct pecuniary profit must attend the further extension of the system. The introduction of the sleeping oars, to bo probably followed by hotel cars, has made railway travelling much more attractive than it was of yore, and it now only requires the system of baggage checking to make the management complete. Ebcipkocity ih Licenses.—The Council of theAcclimatisstion Society yesterday abolished an anomaly with regard to fishing and shooting licenses, which has long been felt to be a hardship by sportsmen generally. Up to the present time anyone taking out a license either to shoot or fish has been compelled, should he cross the Bangitata, to pay a second license fee. Now, however, one license, whether issued by the Christchurch or Timaru Society, will enable the holder to shoot or fish anywhere within the Canterbury district. Not Cobbbct —Deacon Richard Smith’s Cincinnati “ Gazette ” say* that women dross too hastily, and that “ the modistes declare that women should take more time to put on their garments.” Deacon Smith, you just want to have to wait for a woman to get ready to go to that train, in order to get over sneh notions—“ Boston Post,” Got no Show.—He doesn’t live in Galveston now, but he used to. He went into the interior and applied to the school board to teach school. They examined him and were surprised to learn that Cuba was a South American Bepublican republic. He also startled them somewhat in geography and history, and as for arithmetic he bankrupted the whole numeral system. His proposition to teaoh was laid on the table. He subsequsntly however made a motion for a now trial, which was granted. After the second examination a friend met him and said—“ 1 hear you failed on the second trial.” “No wonder I failed. They asked me the very same questions they did before.” Among the wedding presents received by a Philadelphia bride was a note from her father’s counsel agreeing to conduct her divorce suit free of charge. This may not look exactly appropriate, but it proves that there is at least one good-hearted lawyer.— “ Philadelphia Chronicle Herald.”