NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2191, 4 March 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Late Shooting Case. —John Beaufield, the man arrested for shooting at a man in High street yesterday, was brought uo at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. The police not being ready to go on with the case, applied for a remand, which was granted till the 9th inst.

Cricket. — The following will represent the Marylebone 0.0. (Lyttelton) y Bohemian 0.0., on Saturday. The match to bo played on the ground of the latter club—Mitchell (captain), R. J. McWilliams, H. Gross, M. Brown, O. Willoox, W. Atkinson, J. Ryan, W. Burch, R, Arnold, G. Collins, 0. W. Wood. Emergencies —W. Willcox, aod O. Bradley. O. J.O. Handicap. —Atlantic, Leveller, and Nautilus were omitted from the nominatione for the 0.J.0. Handicap. These horses make the exceptionally largo entry of sixty-five for the big handicap of the year. Heaxhcote Regatta.—A meeting of tho Regatta Committee was held at tho Commercial Hotel last evening. The business was purely routine in character, and occupied very little time. Mr Monk occupied the chair. Tha next meeting will be held on Thursday next.

Papeb in Qbeymouth. —A joint stock company is being formed to establish a new morning paper at Greymoulh, under the title of the “ Westland Herald and Grey Valley Advertiser,’’ A strong provisional directorate, containing several influential gentlemen, gives evidence of the bona fides of tho affair. Over 500 shares were subscribed at a meeting held at Kilgour’s Hotel, and there i* every prospect of the company being successfully floated.

NfiW HORTICULTURAL Society, We understand it is the intention of several influential residents of Addington and its vicinity to form a new Horticultural Society, to be called the West Sydenham Amateur Horticultural Society, A meeting to bring the matter more prominently before the public will be held at Addington during the ensuing week, when it is expected the Mayor of Sydenham will preside. Fibb Bbigadk Picnic. —This morning, a little before eight o’clock, the members of the fire brigade, accompanied by their families and friends, left Christchurch for Lyttelton by rail. The s.s. Akaroa was in readiness to convey them to Pigeon Bay, where the beautiful grounds formerly in the occupation of the late Mr George Holmes, had been placed at their disposal. The party numbered about 130 in all, and, as, thanks to the care shown by the superintendent of the brigade (Mr Harris), the arrangements are very complete, a good day’s outing may be considered certain. Interesting Ceremony. —The ceremony of laying the first etone of the large additions to be made to tho promises of Messrs. Hobday and Co. took place to-day. Tho important duty was confided to a well-known citizen, who in a truly craftsmanliko style tested and proved the stone, and declared it to be well and truly laid, according to ancient custom. Tho workmen then adjourned from labor to refreshment, when prosperity to the new building was duly drunk in bumpers. Scholarship Examinations. —lt has been decided to include science in the subjects selected for scholarship examinations in connection with the Board of Education. A recommendation to that effect from Professor Bicketton was adopted by the Board at its meeting yesterday.

Failhkes op Infidelity. —A lecture on the above subject was delivered last evening, at the Oddfellows’ Hell, Montreal street North, by the Rev. J. G. Patterson, of Invercargill. In the course of his remarks, the lecturer combatted the various theories on which infidels and free-thinkers had built up their obstructions to Bible truth. He was attentively listened to by a good audience, aud after the usual votes of thauks had been passed and acknowledged, a collection was made in aid of the North Belt Presbyterian Sabbath Schools. Durham Stbebt Ohoib Fund Concert. —The concert in aid of tho choir fund of the Durham street Wesleyan Church took place last evening, in the schoolroom attached to the church. There was a very full attendance. The opening item, a piano duet, Beethoven’s Symphony, was very artistically rendered by Miss Wood and Mr R. T. Searrell. Indeed, the whole of the numbers, in all eighteen, were most creditably performed, and we are glad to chronicle that tho result of tho entertainment was in every way satisfactory. St. Paul’s Chubch Young Men’s Society.—An entertainment to celebrate tho opening of the now session of this society was held in St. Paul’s old Church, Lichfield street, last evening, at eight o’clock. The president (Rev. J. Elmslie) occupied the ohair, and delivered an Inaugural address, stating that the receipts for the past year had been £73, whilst the expenditure had amounted to £7O. A very enjoyable programme was afterwards submitted, oomprieiug readings, recitations, piano solos, duets, and songs, and daring the evening refreshments were handed round. Tho attendance was very large. Albion Shipping Company. The “Southland News ” gives it as a rumour that Messrs Shaw, Saville and Co. have bought the Albion Company’s interest in the line of sailing ships trading to New Zealand. Hydropathy. —Dr. Tivy gave a lecture on the above subject last evening in St. Michael's schoolroom. The chair was taken by Mr John Grigg, of Longbeaoh, who briefly introduced the lecturer. Dr. Tivy, in a speech of about au hour’s duration, gave bis Old World experiences of the benefits resulting from tho uses of hydropathy and tho Turkish bath. At its conclusion hearty votes of thanks were accorded to Dr. Tivy and the chairman, and were suitably acknowledged. The attendance numbered about fifty persons. Destruction of Fish.— A correspondent writes to the Oamaru “ Mail —A party of Maoris, at present encamped on the reserve near Maheno, put nets across the Kakanuj, River at night, and draw them in the morning with immense quantities of spawn, which are now making their way to the sea. The river being unusually low, and the nets quite close, nothing can escape. Some fine trout, which have been seen about for some time, are now missing. Surely this should be put a stop to. An Angler's Paradise. —ln a letter to the Secretary of the Tapanui Angling Club, Dr. Campbell, president of the Christchurch Angling Society, says :—“ You have, in my opinion, the moat lovely spot and most promising looking water I have seen in New Zealand or in Scotland, and what is more to the purpose, you have plenty of fish, and grand specimens of the ‘ finny tribe’ they are. I have made up my mind that my next holiday shall be spent in your district, when I hope to meet you all and enjoy a social chat over the deeds of the past and the prospects of the future.” Philosophical Institute of Canterbury.—The first meeting of session 1881 was held at the rooms of the Institute lost evening, when there was a small attendance of members. Mr R. W. Fereday (vice-presi-dent) occupied the chair, and announced that the address of the president, which should have been read, was postponed, in consequence of the absence of the president. Mr B. Ford was proposed for membership. Seven volumes of books were laid on the table, being donations from various sources. The following papers were read:—(l.) “Description of a now species of Native Violet,” (2.) “Description of a new Asperula,” (3.) “Description of a new Asplenium,” by Mr J, B. Armstrong; (4) “ On the anatomy of the bitentaculate slugs of New Zealand.” After the papers were read, Professor Hutton made some remarks on the distinction between Californian and European salmon, stating that the main point of difference by which the two might be distinguished was by the number of rays in the anal fin in the former species, there being 15-17 rays, and in the latter only 11. An interesting discussion then took place on the fertilisation of clover, which was taken part in by Professor Hutton, Messrs Kirk, Fereday and Armstrong, the remarks made clearly showing that the fertilisation of red clover is not solely dependent on the visits of the humble bee, as generally supposed. How Fires Sometimes Occur. —As an explanation of the mysterions manner in which fires frequently break out, tho “ Morning Herald ” mentions that on Wednesday afternoon Mr Dodds, manager for Mr Elder, chemist and druggist, Port Chalmers, saw smoke issuing from one of the shop windows, and on examination discovered a pair of fleshgloves to be smouldering. They hod evidently been fired through the sun’s rays reflected through one of the carboys. Valuable Disootbby. — A splendid specimen of copper ore has been left at the office of a Southland paper by a gentleman who recently visited Preservation Inlet. Ho states that the ore exists in quantity in that vicinity, and that a piece similar when tested by a professional assayer, yielded no less than 62i per cent, of pure copper. It is to be hoped the discovery will be turned to account at no very distant date. An Item fob Good Templars. —Sir F. Roberts, the conquering hero of Oandahar, and so styled “ Saviour of Afghanistan,” says tho “ Good Templar Gem,” is son of a clergyman of the Established Church, Waterford, Ireland. His brother, Samuel U. Roberts, is one of the Commissioners of the Board of Public Works in Ireland. Sir F. Roberts is a member of the Order of Good Templars and a staunch teetotaller. He has a Good Templar lodge attached to every regiment under his command. Sir Garnet Wolseley is also a total abstainer. A Disgraceful Occurrence. —The following paragraph appears in tho “ Morning Herald” of Thursday:—Yesterday’s proceedings of tho Resident Magistrate’s Court were interrupted by an incident which is doubtless unparalleled—at least in the annals of the Dunedin Courts. A solicitor in one of tho cases elected to give evidence, but whilst on his journey from tho bar to the box, either from bodily infirmity or more questionable causes, he exhibited a desire to quarrel with tho chairs. His Worship, evidently desiring to maintain etiquette in Court, indignantly exclaimed, “ Mr , you are not in a fit state to plead, and you are even in a less fit state to go into that box and give evidence. I will not take you or your oath—you are intoxicated. I warn you against ever again making your appearance in this Court in the state you are now in. I shall bring the matter before the Judge of tho Supreme Court in some way.” The case was then adjourned for a week. Bishop Colenso lives a very quiet, uneventful life at Bishopstowu, near Maritzburg. He is described as elephantine in appearance,

being almost 7ft high, and of massire frame. He wears a wide-brimmed hat of the oldfashioned cut, and a long coat of thin black material. He is regarded with awe and reverence by the Natives, who salute him os supremo or great chief. The Bishop is now sixty-six years old, but retains his vigor of mind. One of his daughters acts as his amanuensis, and Kaffirs, whom he has always befriended, are his printers.

Little Paul, clambering on hie father’s knee : “ Pa, what is ‘humbug p’ ” Father : “ Why, what on earth do you want to know that for ?” Paul : ‘‘l heard you say it toma a minute ago.” Father: “ Fes, my son. Humbug is when your ma pretends she loves me and there are no buttons on the neck of my shirt." A Murray Hill Now York girl has had one of her shapely feet modelled in marble, and has presented it as a birthday present to her affianced husband for a paper weight. A St. Louis girl did the same thing, but the unaesthetic creature to whom she is to be united heartlessly utilised the gift as a foundation for his now residence.

Egypt has overcome the religious prejudices entertained by most Oriental races as regards the numbering of the people. A census is decreed. By a report issued by the Finance Minister in 1873, the population was fixed at 5,200,000, and it is stated to have risen to 5,500,000. In the time of Mebemot Ali it was as low as 2,500,000. On the other hand, in the days of the Pharaohs it was stated to be about seven millions.

From a report recently furnished to the Prefect of the Seine by the Bureau de I’Assistanoe Publique, it appears that during the past year 1672 children, deserted or having no home, wore brought up by the police, of whom 1033 were charged with being beggars and vagobonde, and of this number 80 were girls. It is significant that only 124 were givea up to their parents and friends, the largo majority being presumably on the streets as professional gamine. A German life insurance company, called Dcr Lebensversioherungigescllsohaft, complains of the irregularity of the mails. Yet one would suppose it got all of its letters. There was a young rustic named Mallory, who drew but a very small salary. When he went to a show his purse made him go to a seat in the uppermost gallery.—“ Pittsburgh Telegraph." A society, whose object is to assist literary men and artists of small means in times of sickness or loss of strength through overwork, is being formed in Paris. Amonst the patrons named are M.M. Hugo, Charles Blanc, Meissonior, Gsromo, Dumas, and the Duo de Broglie. The society is termed Societas Artis et Amioitics, and the proposed aim is to establish a “ house of rest,’’ where the wearied artists and writers may occasionally obtain the quiet they so much need. If the numbers are arranged in the order of the great divisions of the globe—Asia, with its 834 millions of inhabitants, stands first on the list, followed by Europe, with less than half as many, namely, 315 millions. Africa has 205 millions, and America only 95 ; whilst Australia and Polynesia contain four millions, and the Polar regions only 82,000. These numbers, added together, with the fractions which we have omitted, give the grand total of 1456 millions. Mr Boehm, A.R A., ho* finished the memorial of the Princess Alice of Hesse, executed for the Queen. The statue, which is nearly life size, is made of the finest white marble. The Princess is represented as lying on a couch, with one arm round the fignre of her infant daughter who pre-deooaaed her a short time.