NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2237, 29 April 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Native Prisoners, The s. s. Hinomca arrived at Lyttelton, from Wellington, this afternoon, for the purpose of convoying the Maori prisoners North, German Church.—The annual general meeting of the members of this Ohurob wa< held in the church yesterday afternoon at 1 o’clock. There was a fair attendance, doapito the ; uclemency of the weather and the inconvenience of the hour chosen. The Rev. P. G. Jacobsen presided. Mr A. Schwartz read a statement of receipts and expenditure for the past year, which was adopted. The question arose as to how the debt of £BOO should be paid, but a full consideration of the question was deferred. The following vestry was chosen, namely, Messrs A. Schwartz, J. Mehrtens, H. Bidder, J. Tobeck, A. Lindemann, H. Pehaenfeldt, P. Petzler, H. O. Meier, H. Rotohgen, Pieckon (son.), P. Avenst, and Oolckmann; from amongst whom two churchwardens will be elected at the next meeting. The usual voles of thanks were passed to retiring church officers.

New Zealand Cement.— Whilst encouraging experiments are being instituted, and already some tangible results have been arrived at, in the direction of supplying the Home markets with Australasian beef and mutton, it is satisfactory to note that colonial manufacture is not altogether lost sight of. In the race for prosperity each nation must do battle for herself, and if New Zealand can profitably lengthen the ladder of progress at both ends, by exporting produce and making the articles she requires, so much the better. So far from this assumption rankling in the bosom of either free-traders or protectionists, both will hail with pleasure the telegrams which announce acceptance by Government of tenders for the supply of cement of New Zealand manufacture. The number of harbor-works now in course of formation render it particularly desirable that colonial cement, if up to the standard, should be stamped with official approval, so as to inspire contractors with confidence in using the colonial article.

Pigeon Flying.—The all age stakes, flown on the 21st instant, under the auspices of the Hast Christchurch Pigeon Flying Club, resulted in Mr Ashby taking first prize with Flying Scud ; Mr Walker’s Governor second, and Stormbird third. The next race will be flown about the middle of next month, from Bangiora to Christchurch. The oaks stakes will not be contested until June.

Fire at Sttmneb.—A fire broke out last evening in a house owned by Mr Scrimshaw, situate in Nayland street. The absence of water, and the strong hold which the flames had obtained previous to the alarm being given, rendered it impossible to get the fire under before the building was destroyed. The bouse was uninhabited at the time.

Accident.—An accident occurred yesterday afternoon to a son of Mr Carl Blitz. It appears the little fellow, who is only six years of age, was playing the garden with a pupil of his father’s, when he accidentally fell and broke his leg. Dr. Townend was sent for and attended to the sufferer, who is now doing well.

Election op Stnodsmen.—Mr H. E. Webb and Dr. W. Donald were elected to represent the Lyttelton parish. Westport Coal.—ln reply to a question from Mr Harman yesterday at the Harbor Board meeting, the chairman stated that Westport coal was used exclusively on the steam fleet belonging to the Board. Opera Bouppb Season. The Lydia Howarde company will, it is probable, open next week in the Theatre Royal for a short season of opera bouffe and burlesque. The opening piece will be “Ohilperic.” “ The Pirates op Penzance.”—lt is understood that Mr W. Reynolds has made an offer for the purchase of the sole right to produce “ The Pirates of Penzance ” throughout New Zealand for six months, which is likely to be accepted by Mr Williamson. The Late Rice Fohlkks.—The wife and child of the unfortunate man who lately committed suicide have boon left totally unprovided for, and a subscription list has been opened to enable those sympathetically inclined to assist the widow and orphan in their sad bereavement. The list is lying at the shop of Mr H. B. Lane, his late employer, Cashel street West ; at the Eastern Hotel, and ether places of business in the city and suburbs.

Escaped Lunatic.—A patient of the Sunnyeide Lunatic Asylum, named Jackson Clarke, escaped yesterday forenoon, and the matter was reported to the police. Ho is still at large. The description of the man is as follows :—English, sft. Sin. in height, stout build, with dark brown hair and whiskers, thirty-three years of age ; drees—white cord suit, black billy-cook hat, and hlucher boots.

Resident Magistrate’* Court. Yet - terday, before Messrs J. Ollivier and R. Westerns, in civil cases, judgments went by default in Innes v Rosser, £3 6s ; Klingenstein v Port, £2 Is; and Godso v Hogan, £2 Is 9d. Judgments were given for plaintiffs in Knapp v Bones, £2 15s, and Johnson v Parker, 10a. In Button v Grigg, plaintiff was nonsuited ; Hutchinson v West was adjourned till May 4th.

Kaiapoi Sports Committee.—A meeting of the sports committee to settle up the affairs connected with the races and sports here on New Year's Day, was to have been held at the Borough Council Chamber on Wednesday evening. As only about five were V resent it was decided to call another meeting, of which notice will bo given. It was determined that all the subscription-lists should be obtained, with a view of ascertaining the amount of subscriptions paid or promised.

Volunteer Concert.—The concert given last night in the Oddfellows’ Hall for the purpose of supplementing the funds raised by the late bazaar was well attended, notwithstanding the unpleasant nature of the weather. The front seats especially were filled. An excellent programme of vocal and instrumental marie was gone through most successfully, the various ladies and gentlemen assisting rendering the songs, &0., in a manner which made the concert a most enjoyable one throughout. The amateur orchestral band, under the leadership of Mr O. Coombs, rendered good service. This brought to a close the varied efforts made to extinguish the debt resting on the committee of the late review, and every praise is due to the ladies and gentlemen—more especially tho former—who have worked so energetically and so zealously in the cause.

Papanci.— lt is rumored that, owing to the great neglect exhibited by the Avon Hoad Hoard to the requirements of this important suburb, a movement is on foot to erect a municipality, comprising the district lying between the North Town belt and the Papanui public school, having the railway line for its western boundary, and taking such a line for the eastern one as would include the populous village of St. Albans. The complaints against the Boad Board are, generally, that no attention whatever is paid to the cleansing of the side channels, which in many places are in a filthy condition; the trimming of fences (except between the Board office and Christchurch), the lopping of trees which overhang the roads, lo the great discomfort and annoyance of residents and pedestrians, and that the so-called roads and footpaths are neglected in a most disgraceful manner. It is a firm conviction in the minds of a large majority of the residents that the recent and present oases of serious illness are mainly attributable to the neglect of the Avon Boad Board in the directions already indicated; consequently a deep-rooted feeling of disgust is expressed with the Board, whose members are generally accused of incapacity. It is further a source of serious complaint that, whilst the absolute necessities of the most populous portions of

i ut ' r * o *' aro utterly neglected, the bulk of the Board’s funds are being spent on the con* struction of the Canal Reserve road, and the ?™tioa 0 f a i, r ijg o oTer t jj o g fc y X — wor tg > it is held, which might well have been delayed for some time without detriment to the public. It is also freely stated, as against the Board, that their Want of attention to this part of the district has resulted in a serious deterioration in the value of property, Theateical. —Messrs Thoo. Hamilton, J J. Wallace and Grattan Biggs, with a company of which Mrs Hill will form part, will probably open nt the Theatre Royal at the end of next week in a dramatic adaptation of Joaquin Miller’s American story “The Danites," which is spoken of as being a very powerful play. The company appear under the auspices of Mr De Lias. Theater Royal. again drew a largo house last night, despite the inclemency of the weather, and the counter attractions elsewhere. The piece went excellently throughout, the principal gems being encored. This evening the com- , pany will again appear, and on Saturday the first and only matinee performance will be given.

Fieb ik Manchester Street. —A fire broke out last evening in the unoccupied premises next the Congregational Church, Manchester street. The alarm was given at about six o’clock, but the fire had then obtained a firm hold of the building, which was of wood, and very old ; and a largo crowd was soon attracted to the scene of destruction by the bright light in the neighbourhood of the burning pile. The Fire Brigade was, as usual, prompt, but so quickly had the fire taken hold of the wooden structure, that nothing but the skeleton remained when the water was brought to bear upon it. It was, though short, one of the fiercest fires witnsssed in the city for a considerable time past, the second storey of the building being totally enveloped in flames, which leaped high into the air, and suffused the entire neighborhood with a bright clear light, by which the topmost stones of the Cathedral tower were plainly visible. It is unnecessary to say that the bouse was completely destroyed. It had been for some lime unoccupied. The latest tenant was aMr Davidson. It was the property of the Bank of New Zealand, and was insured in the United Insurance Office for £4OO. There seems to be good reason to believe that the fire was the work of an incendiary, and in all probabilily an inquo =t will be held.

Leithfield Parochial District. —The annual meeting of church members resident south of the Ko wai was held in the vestry of Leithfield Ohuroh on Wednesday, April 26th ; Rev. H. Q. Gould presided. Mr Moore read the balance-sheet for the past year, which showed a credit balance of. £l3. He also stated that the stipend guarantee had been fully met. Beports of the different Sunday Schools were read, which showed that the average attendance did not answer as it should witn the numbers on the rolls. Mr Moore was elected Bishop's warden for the ensuing twelve months. Mr Kendall was elected parishioners’ warden. The following were elected ohuroh officers : —Messrs "Vaughan, G. White, King, Ansar, Stewart, Thompson, Duffell, Hopkins, O. Kendall. A vote of thanks was passed to Mrs Gould and Mrs C. Kendall for their services at the harmonium during the past year ; also, to the Sunday School teachers. Death prom ah Otbedosb of Beandt.— The following particulars relative to the man who recently killed himself at Takaka \by drinking two bottles of brandy appear in the “ Colonist ” :—The deceased had suffered considerably from rheumatism, and being recommended brandy he applied in Takaka, but would not give the price asked ; his son-in-law heating of it sent him two bottles from Bichmond by someone coming over. • It seems he drank about thirty-two ounces, and next morning was found in a state of coma. Dr. Tilby was sent for, but the man was dead when he arrived. "Verdict—" Died in consequence of taking a large quantity of brandy as a remedy for rheumatism.” It appears he was working for Mr H. Byrne, of Wignaro, and lived by himself in a smsU house on the property. Ah Explanation Wanted, —The death of a man at Waitotara, through what appears to be official neglect, needs some explanation. A Fakeha-Maori had fallen ill in the Native village on the south side of the river, and the Maoris had turned him out to die, as they do in such cases. The man crossed to the town side to beg for shelter, and being in a pitiable condition one of the innkeepers put him to bed and had him attended to as an act of charity. But the sick pakeha had been so long used to Maori life that he begged for the freedom of a blanket and some straw in the stable. He was humoured by being shifted to the stable, and we are informed that application was made to the Wanganui County Council to have him removed to the Hospital, he having been living within that county while with the Maoris. The reply is said to have been a refusal, on the gound that the sick man was at that moment within the Patea County, the river being the boundary. His condition was now seen to be desperate ; and it was agreed among some residents to defray the cost of conveying the man to the Patea Hospital. Before this could be done he died.—“ Patea Mail.”