NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2232, 23 April 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Stthday Sbbvigbb.—Owing to a misnndorntanditig having arisen through which the New Bible Christian Church, in Lower High street, remains in an unfinished state, it is announced by advertisement that the Rev, J. Wilson will preach in the Templar Hall, Worcester street, on Sunday morning, and the Rev. J. Crewes in the same building on Sunday evening. It is hoped, however, that a satisfactory arrangement may be arrived at shortly, so that the expected services in celebration of the opening of the new church may be held at no distant date. Maoei Pbibonbbb.—This morning the Hon. Mr Rolleston arrived from Wellington by the steamer Hawea. He was accompanied by Honi Pihama and Mr Parris, and is upon business connected with the proposed liberation of another batch of Parihaka obstructionists now in Lyttelton G-aol.

Lyttblton Magibtbatb's Cottbt.—Dr. Rause and Mr J. Beswiok presided at the Court this morning. Henry Barnett and John Eilis, belonging to the crew of the Centurion, were charged with refusing duty on board their vestel. Mr J. Joyce appeared for the master. The seoond officer, Algernon Book, gave evidence to the effect that the men on Friday refused to work, unless they were supplied with tobacco. The master testified that they had had the quantum of tobacco allowed them by the articles and by the Customs. The tobacco was under seal on board. The Bench considered the men had committed a flagrant aot of neglect of duty for the purpose of forcing their discharge. They were sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, and to pay the costs and counsel's fee, one guinea each. 1.0.G-.T.—The first weekly meeting of the New Victory Lodge of the order took place in Gee's schoolroom on Thursday evening. The Lsdge was opened in due form by Bro. McGregor, W.O.T. Two members were initiated. After a recess, the G.W.S., Bro. Cameron, and Bro. Gray, D.D., took seats R. and L. of the W.O.T. Addre'-es were delivered by Bros. Cameron and Gray, of much interest to the hearers and of great benefit to Good Templary. Bro. Seatree also gave an address relative to giving a public entertainment on Saturday evenings, in the Templar Hall, by members selected from the whole of the Lodges in Ohristohureb. It was resolved to co-operate with the other Lodges in the said question. Bro. Laing also spoke a few words. Bro. Clarke and Sister Stirling gave songs, and 'Bro. Wood a reading. The Lodge was then closed in due form by the W.C.T., a pleasant evening having been passed. Kaiapoi Faembes'Clttb —A special meeting of members was held at the Club Chambers on Thursday evening. Present— Messrs Pashby (chairman), Walls, Parnham, Ross, Young, E. Wilson, Kidd, R. Coup, Scott and J. Wilson. A statement of receipts and amounts due in reference to the Foal, Grain and Root Show was submitted, showing the total receipts to be about £SO. The accounts and prize schedules were passed for payment. On the motion of Mr Parnham, seconded by Mr Oonp, it was resolved—" That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the members of the Choral Sooiety and brass band." Votes of thanks were pasßed to the judges and donors of private prizes. It was decided to send special thanks to the exhibitors of extra exhibits. A hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr Walls, seoonded by Mr Parnham, was passed to Mr J. Lowthian Wilson, whom, the mover said, had greatly assisted in rendering the show so successful. A like compliment was paid to Mr J. G. Jlidd, hon. secretary. On the motion of Mr Wilson, seconded by Mr Parnham, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr A. Clark, who had kindly assisted in taking the cash at the door, and to Mr R. W. Smith. In referenee to several applications for instructions how to poison sparrows, it was resolved—- " That Mr Wilson, draw up and print a circular whioh might be sent in roply. A vote of thanks to the chairman, who congratulated the olub on its success, concluded the business.

The West Coast Difficulty.—Writing upon affairs on the West Coast of the North Island, the ■•Argus" says:—The Maori prophet Te Whiti has practically given up the game, and now advises his followers to do the same. He recognises the overwhelming strength of the Government, and now tells his people that they must leave the land question to be settled by the Governor. There are some things which a Victorian politician may learn from a mad Muori, and we may commend these words to the consideration of Mr Longmore. 'ln olden days the land was taken and held by strength, but in these days love alone shall guide all dealings with the land. I am aware,' says Te Whiti, who had evidently been reading some bursting •up speeches delivered in the Viotorian Assembly, ' that this is a very novel thing which I am saying.' Te Whiti is not wanting in the craft to know when a game is played right out, and to try to make the best of the case. He says : ' Let all the great men of the island behold your peaceful, quiet, and patient behaviour in gathering here before us. The things I am speaking are disbelieved and despised because of their novelty, but no good thing has been accomplished by strength, from Babel even unto the present time. Were it so, there would be reason for laughter against us for our present patient and unresisting attitude.* It really does not matter by what devices Te Whiti tries to satisfy his people that they are winning a victory or doing aomothing very great and admirable. The praotical point is that all danger is past, and the Native race has come to acquiesce in the decision of the Government. This is highly satisfactory, as it may reasonably be expected that this state of affairs will enable the Government to reduce the large police expenditure at the West Coast, which has for some time formed a heavy drag on its resources. This relief and the feeling of confidence in the preservation of peace will assist in the process of financial reoovery, which is so rapidly going on, and a brighter time in the immediate future may now, with reasonable assurance, be prcdictod for New Zealand.

Thk Volunteeb Fanct Fate.—The projectors of the late fancy fair at the Drill Shed, and more especially the ladies, are to be congratulated on the success attending their efforts. So far as can be ascertained, the gross amount received is over £SOO, and there is yet the concert to take place. This is fixed for Thursday next, and as a really most attractive programme of music, both vocal and instrumental, has been arranged, no d 'ubt the attendance will be large.

St. Masx'b, Mbbivale.—The Primate will hold a confirmation at this church on Sunday (to-morrow). On Monday the annual pariah meeting will be held.

Miasnsro Man.—A search party has been organised to look for the missing man Bice FoulkoH, to eare the Eastern Hotel to-morrow at 9 a.m.

St. Babhabas Oaxraan,] Woodbkd.—The annual meeting of parishioners was held in the church schoolroom on Thursday evening ; the Bov. O. H. Gosset presiding. Mr P. Horrell, the outgoing churchwarden, read the annual report and balance-sheet, which showed a debit balance of £1 Os 6d. [On the motion of the Hon. H. B. Gresson, the report and balance sheet were received and adopted. The following were elected offioors for the ensuing year : —Mr P. Horrell, clergyman's churchwarden ; Mr John Pope, parishioner's churchwarden ; Hon. H. B. G-resson, Messrs Bowley, Witte, W. Stokes, O. Blackler, M. Brown, and J. Hicks, vestrymen. Votes of thanks were recorded to the outgoing officers, ohoir, organist, Sunday School teachers, ladies, auditor and chairman, The meeting then closed. Thlegbapii Newspaper Compact, Limited.—At a meeting of shareholders held at Morton's Hotel last night, it was unanimously resolved to wind up the company. Mr J. O. Beycraft was appointed liquidator, assisted by a committee of three shareholders.

Athlbtio Oiub. The annual genera meeting of this club was held last night at the Commercial Hotel; Mr Oorfe in the chair. There were seventeen members present. The secretary presented the balance-sheet, which showed that the receipts had amounted to £l6O 14s, and the expenditure to £l2B 17s 2d, leaving a balance in hand of £3l 16s lOd. The report stated that the club was formed in October, 1880, at which time it was composed of 117 members. The number since then had increased to 149. At the sports held on March sth last the sum of £7l 10s was given away in prizes, and in addition a cup was presented by Messrs Petersen and Go. for the Steeplechase, and a pedometer by Mr Pritchard for the Walking race. On the motion of Mr Hales, seconded by Mr Hawkes, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers then took place, when Mr Corfs was elected president; Messrs E J. Parker and J. Campbell, vice- | presidents ; Mr H. Y. Anson, treasurer ; Mr P. W. Hunt, secretary ; and Messrs Fergusson, Neville, P. N. Bobinson, A. H. Anderson, Lewin, P. Pavitt, J. G. Hawkes, and Wilding, members of committee. A ballot for new members was taken, when twenty-three were elected. A vote of thanks to the secretary for the energetio and successful manner in which he carried out his duties was oarr ied, and the meeting separated. Mb Redwood's Sale.—On Friday Messrs Ford and Newton offered at the Bepository a lot of horses, formerly the property of Mr Stafford, the remainder of Mr Bedwood's stock, and a miscellaneous lot of race horses of various kinds, the majority of whom failed to find purchasers. Mr Stafford's lot, which were sold entirely without reserve, went very cheap, several good looking hacks going for a mere song—notably, a son of Towton and Cassandra purchased by Mr S. Powell for ten pounds. Of Mr Bedwood's lot, Mataku, the grand-looking son of Maroro and Baupo, went to Mr Ohaffe at 400 guineas. The same purchaser took the filiy, by Traduoer from Toi Toi, at 350 guineas. A bay gelding, by Puriri out of Puriki, at 100. The handsome filly, by Traduoer out of Wai-'-ti, found a purchaser in Mr H. P. Lance at 250 guineas, while the Dauphin went to Mr Westmacott at 400 guineas. The rest of the Spring Creek lot were passed. The two-year-old Tasmanian, St. Alban's colt, recently sold here by Mr Eady, went for 60 guineas; the rest of Mr Mitchell's were passed, as were also Mr Bates' Poet and Hilda. Eversley was purchased a bargain by Mr Egan for 31 guineas, and Mr Or. Osborne took old Longlands at 34 guineas. The Gaßsivelaunus Envy filly, went by without a bid, as did also Morpheus and a four-year-old by the big Southern stallion out of Little Nell. Frailty was considered worth 20 guineas by Mr W. Weston, who sold Amulet to Messrs Mason and Vallance for 250 guineas. No offer was made for any of Mr Webb's two-year-oldß, nor for Holderness ; and we had almost forgotten to say that the same remark applies to Mr Bedwood's Norseman and Falcon. Court News.—A levee was held at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, at which Mr Ollivier received, in his moot genial manner, a large and varied assemblage of friends, who had been invited by her Majesty at the instance of the Lord Mayor of Sydenham to express their several opinions as to the feasibility of the dog tax. Thirty-three owners of forty unregistered dogs had each more or less satisfactory reasons to offer why their faithful companions had not been accounted for at the receipt of Customs. Amongst the proprietors were a considerable number ef the fair sex. Taken all round it appeared that as far as dog tax is concerned many people have a pernicious forgetfulness, though there are others who strive with all their might to pay their proper share of the Corporation's revenue. This was the case with one man, who stated that he offered the registration fee for his dog to three different registrars, and they one and all refused it. He was the only one who was not made to pay a fine. A widow lady, who, because sho wss a widow lady, was recommended very strongly for exemption on account of three sweet little pete, wheedled the too yielding magistrates, into passing over one of them because it " was such a little one." His Worship, however, on reflection, no doubt felt ashamed of his leniency, for he exacted from the rest of them their several ten shillings in the most dogged manner. It is reported, though the truth of tho report cannot be vouched for, that the day's receipts will be devoted by the Corporation to forming and channelling the South Town belt, for whioh funds have long been wanted.

Thbatbb Royai. "H.M.S. Pinafore," manned by the juvenile crew, appears likely to have a most prosperous cruise here. Last night the circle and other parts of the house were well filled. The performance throughout went capitally, and besides the performers a word of praise is due to the scenic artist, Mr Willis, for the admirable manner in which the piece is put on the stage, the cabin, deck, &c. being exceedingly real. Mr J. G-. Pollard is also to be complimented on the efficient orchestra under his baton. Last night a selection from " Lucrezia Borgia" was played admirably. Playgoers have been accustomed to hear selections performed by the Theatre orchestra which were hoary .with antiquity, and a charge is most welcome, especially when it takes the form of such excellent music The company appear again this evening. Snake Stobies.—There are a good many snake stories in tbe Victorian country papers just now. The following is from the " Border Watoh : " —" One night after retiring to reßt one of Mr C. Holloway's sons was awoko by a commotion on the floor of his room. On striking a light to his surprise he found a fine old tomcat engaged in deadly combat with a tiger snake between 4ft and sft in length. Seeing the cat wbb having the host of it he allowed them to finish the battle, and the end soon oame. The cat had the snake just behind the head, and soon strangled his foe. Seeing all safe the lad blew out his light and went to sleep again. In the morning, on looking for the snake, he could find nothing but the head and several dead mice. The cat had eaten the snake but rejected the head and the mice, which had just bean caught by tho Bnake. Mr Holloway inferms us that he himself was chased by a big tiger snake the other day. He tried to kill it with a stone, but, failing, the snake came at him in great rage. He had to run so aio distance till he got another stone, with which he despatched his pursuer." A. Lucky Man.—Mr James Mackay, of Bonanza mine fame, was a miner at the Dunetan rush, and left New Zealand for San Francisco in 1864. Now he lives in Paris, and rejoices in an income of several thousands a week.