NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2186, 26 February 1881, Page 1

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Kaiapoi Rbgatta.—A meeting of the committee waa held at the Oounoil Chambers on Friday, Dr. Dudley in the ohair. The programme of events as last year wan adopted, except the canoe race, to be carried out. St a ck Fiee.—On Thursday evening about ten o'clock tome stacks of grain on Hon. H. B. Gresson's farm, Watora, near Wooden, were destroyed by fire. It was first fiiicovered by a man named Johnson, who was passing and saw the stacks burning near a shed close to the farm buildings. Two stacks, containing about 600 bushels, were burnt and a shed partially destroyed before the fire was got under. The fire is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary, and it is said a saddled horse was seen by the party, wbo gave the alarm near to, but on going to it again it was gone. Sydenham: Bouough Council.—At a meeting held at noon to-day for the nomination of candidates to fill the vaoancy caused by Mr Charters' resignation as member of this Council, that gentleman, being the only person nominated, was declared duly reelected.

New Zealand Rifle Association Meeting*.—The Canterbury representatives loft for Nelson yesterday in the s.s. Tararua. Licensing Cottbt.—The next sitting of this Court, whioh was to have taken place on March Ist, has been postponed till March Bth. The Dbuids.—The Lyttelton Hearts of Oak met on Thursday evening at the Forester's Hall, and transacted a large amount of business. The officers and brethren of the Oak of Sydenham Lodge paid their Lyttelton brethren an offioial visit.

Saddlbbb' Picnic. —A meeting of saddlers was held in the Royal Hotel last evening, when it was decided to hold a picnic early in the ensuing month. There was a very good attendance. Mr Haskett was elected chairman, and Mr W. G. B. Nightingale secretary. The meeting then adjourned until Tuesday, when a committee to carry out the details will be elected. Hbathootb Regatta Phizes.—ln addition to the programme already published, it is proposed to add a single soulhng race for fishermen, to be competed for by the estuary fishermen in their own boats, the first and second prizes for. whioh will be £2 and £1 respectively. No entrance fees will be demanded. Mr Gh Hooper, watchmaker, Cashel street, has also presented the committee with a handsome silver cup, whioh will be competed for on the same conditions as pertain to the other single sculling events. Oddfbllowship.—On Thursday evening the members of the juvenile lodge of Oddfellows, Lyttelton, oelebrated their first anniversary. They formed a procession, and with their new banner at their head, together with the drum and fife band, marched round the town and back to the Oddfellows' Hall, where an entertainment was given. There was a very good attendance, and everything went off most satisfactorily, an enjoyable evening being spent by those present. A Threshing Machine on Fibb.— About midnight on Thursday the men who had a short time before finished the threshing in one of Mr Buss's paddocks on the Woodend and Rangiora road, were awakened in their tents by the glare of fire. The oombine of the machine was found to be on fire in the centre, and apparently a quantity of straw had been piled against the oombine and wilfully lighted. By dint ef hard work the flames were got under before more than a portion of the inside machinery had been damaged. The combine and elevator were insured in the South British Company's office for £2OO. A man named Harry Jackson, who was the feeder of the maohine, and had been discharged by Mr Judsen the day before, has been arrested on suspicion of having used threats to damage the engine. Accidents. —An acoident ooourred on Friday morning to a lad named Howie, in the employ of Messrs Boyd and Keir, Rangiora. He was interesting himself in the working of the circular saw, when his hand slipping, he had a finger at onoe taken off. Howie was not employed in working the saw, so was somewhat unprepared for the danger attending it. He was at onoe taken to Dr. Downes, by whom the hand was dressed.—Mr Monkhouse, of Oulverden, in driving home along the North road, near the Waipara, on Thursday evening, took an old cutting into the river that used to be fenoed, and capsized the buggy and horses over the bank. Strange to say, beyond a broken pole, no damage was done, though the drop was about 10ft.

Stubble Fibe.—A fire ooourred on Thurs« day on the farm of Mr John HcKellar, Doyleoton. Xhe fire, whioh was started by a man burning rubbish, caught the stubble, and before it could be stopped was half across the paddock. Fortunately for Mr MoKellar, he had carted his grain into an adjoining paddock, and the stacks were saved, although a strong wind was blowing right on to them. Mr A, Fay, who has seven large staoks of wheat in a paddock adjoining, felt very anxious for some time, and did not feel quite safe until he had succeeded in filling the intervening ditch with water. The staoks were uninsured.

St. Mabt's, MBBrvALK.—Harvest festival will be oelebrated at the above church tomorrow, when there will be a full choral service.

Akaboa B.M. CorjEr.—At this Court en Tuesday, before his Worship the Mayor and J. G. H. Saxton, Esq., J.P., O. W. Bridge and J. G. Black, for oattle trespass, were fined 5s and costs; Happy (a Maori), for furious riding, was fined 20s, and costs 7s ; 0. Haylook, for being drunk, was fined 10s and coats.

SECOND EDITION