NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2246, 10 May 1881, Page 1

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Death at Bangioea.— Mr Jas. Taaffe, surveyor to tho Mandeville and Rangiora iioad and Drainage Boards, died last night, after three days’ acute suffering from inflammation of tho lungs. The deceased was an efficient officer, and his death is lamented by a large circle of friends. He was a urominent member of the Oddfellows’ and Hibernian Societies. Thb Juvenile Pikafobb Troupe. —A suit was brought in tho Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning by the father of throe children who had been employed to sing in iho chorus at tho Theatre during tho late season of the above troupe. It appeared, from tho etatemont of plaintiff, that tho children were to have been paid at tho rate of Is each per night, but their employers had gone away without paying them anything. It turned out that the wrong person (Mr Beyuolda) had bsen sued, whereas the engagement had been made by Mr Pollard. Plaintiff was therefore nonsuited. He loft the Court promising to pursue tho right person. “ Happy Hours” at Lyttelton. —The performance last night was one of tho most enjoyable in a humorous way which has been given in Port for many months, Mr and Mrs Hart, and Mr Korby, sustaining their parts well. For a really jolly night's entertainment, and a pood laugh, there are few travelling snows equal to the “HappyHonrs” Troupe. They play at Lyttelton to-night and to-mor-row night, and may almost count with certainty on full houses at each entertainment. Wash fob Winter —At half-post one o’clock this afternoon the thermolnnter in Christchurch registered 681 degs. (Fahr) in the shade.

Board of Conservators —This Beard held their monthly meeting to-day at their offices, Hereford street, Mr F. Jones in the chair. The business was chiefly of a routine character. It was decided to inaugurate certain additional work in the direction of so no willow-planting along the banks of the Waimakairi, in pursuance of a suggestion made in his report by the foreman of works. Prince Gortschakoff. -Apropos of today’s telegram respecting Prince Alex. M. Gortoohakoff end his fifty years' official li/e, it may bo mentioned that, in 1824, ho was secretary to th» Russian Embassy in London, and in the following year was Charge i’ Affaires to the Court, of Tuscany. In 1832, when Gortsohakoff was attached to the Legation at Vienna, his influence was much augmented through tho demise of his then sunerior, the Russian Ambassador. Fatal Accident near Spbingbton.— Yesterday afternoon, at about 4 o’clock, as Mr Henry Crosby was passing a gravel pit worked by the Springs Road Board, near Sprinssfcon,‘he noticed a horse and a dray half filled with gravel, and, as there was no one to be seen in charge, he thought there was something wrong. On going into the pit, he noticed a men’s coat and a whip, and that a large quantity of gravel had fallen. Mr Crosby at onoe procured the assistance of Mr Jas. Gammack and Mr Townshend, and, digging into the gravel, they found the body of a man, named Hy. Foley, who had been in the Road Board’s employ. The body was removed to the Springston Hotel, and Dr. Guthrie sent for. He pronounced life to be extinct. An inquest will be held at 4 o'clock this afternoon. R.M. Court, Lyttelton.— John Collins, brought before this Court this morning suffering from the effects of drink, was remanded for eight days for medical treatment. A seaman, charged with deserting from tho French ship France Oherie, wag sentenced to seven days’ hard labor. Mr J. Boswick, R.M., and Mr F, Ronalds, J.P., were the presiding Justices. Clearing out the Tanks. —The City Council have sot a number of men to work at clearing out tho several tanks under their control in Christchurch. To-day tho work is in progress at the tank opposite Mr A. J. White’s furniture establishment. This tank has yielded up several oart-loads of filth, atones, oil cans, kerosene tins, iron hoops, &o, in such quantities as to suggest the idea that the receptacle has been regarded as a convenient place in which to stow rubbish for the whole city. It would be as well if means o-.-u'.d be devised to prevent a repetition of the nuisance.

Thbatbe RoTAii. —“ The Danites” waa repoateH last, night to a good house. For this evening “ Arrah na Pogue" will be pro duceii.

R M. Couet, Ashbubton. —At the above Court y<al.erday, Bernard O'Brien was fined £l, or the usual alternative, for having been drunk and disorderly, Andrew Rattray, charged with being illegally on promisee under -uspicious circumstances, was remanded till Friday. Lecture—Last night a largo and interested audience attended Dr. Simms' lecture on “Hair, Beard, Feet, Hands, and Handwriting.” The lecturer evinced considerable etudy of the subject. To-night his theme will be “ Physiognomy, and How to Study and Apply it in Everyday Life. ” Deceased Wipe’s Sistbb Marriage Bill.—We learn by telegram from Wellington that a despatch has been received by the Governor announcing that the Queen in Council has assented to the Deceased Wife’s Sister Marriage Bill, which was passed by the Assembly last session. Student Life.—We have to acknowledge the receipt of a pamphlet entitled, “ Student life, and the fallacies that oftenest beset it,” an inaugural address delivered by Professor Brown at Canterbury College to the Canterbury College Dialectic Society at the commencement ot its session. The society has done well to publish the address, os it is full of invigorating thought and well-timed advice.

A Slight Sensation. —A scene of a somewhat sensational character occurred last evening near tho Worcester street bridge. A young lady—respectably connected, it is believed, and well dressed—was observed to throw herself into the river, apparently determined on suicide. A Mr Day, of the telegraph department, was present, and at once rescued tho rash one from her watery “refuge.” She came out very damp indeed, and it is hoped very sorry also for having been so foolish, but none the worse otherwise for her experience.

OXFOBD TeBBACB MUTUAL IITPBOTEment Society.— The ordinary weekly meeting of the above society was held last evening in the Baptist Church. The president (Rev. O. Dallaston) occupied the chair. There was a good attendance of both members and visitors. Mr B. Rostra read a very able and interesting paper, entitled “ Peter’s Fall and Repentance,” which was afterwards warmly discussed by members. The chairman intimated that the next meeting would be devoted to readings and recitations. Ambeblby Pony Bace,—The pony Polly is to be measured to-day at Rangiora, to settle a dispute as to height. It may be remembered that the pony was disqualified by the stewards at the Amberley meeting held in December last as being too high, and that the owner sued tho hon. sec. and got judg ment last Court day at Amberley. The discovery has now been made that the R. M. Court has no jurisdiction, as no appeal is allowed to any Court under the rules of racing, unless with the consent ot the stewards who originally disqualified. This point was apparently not raised by the club, and probably not known by the Bench. Wesleyan Mutual Impbotement Association. —This society met as usual last evening ; Rev. W. Baumber, vice-president, in the chair. Mr F. Gabites read Tennyson’s “ Dora,” which met with hearty approval. Mr . Hodinot also gave “ Reflections upon the works of God,” byßturm, This also was appreciated. Mr H. Black, however, with a recitation, “ The Baron’s Last Banquet,” enlivened tho meeting, the rendering being considered by many very good. Mr A. Bell recited “ The Patriot’s Password.” Mr Hall read two extracts from a lecture by Dr. Punshon. The attendance was about tho average —forty or fifty,—with a large number of visitors. Pbbsentation.— Oh Saturday evening a number of the merchants, storekeepers, ard others, of Southbridge, met at tho Royal Hotel for the purpose of presenting Mr F. W. Battle (late postmaster), who hoi been removed to the West Coast, with a tangible mark of the esteem in which he has been held. Mr B. G. Stavely, who was deputed to make the presentation, stated that all present—more especially tho business men' — would fully endorse his words when he said that Mr Pattle fully deserved all he was about to get. He had great pleasure in presenting him wilh a purse containing twenty-two sovereigns, which no doubt he would find tho full value of, having to break up his present home, and make a new one in another part of the colony. He wished Mr Pattle, wife, and family, every happiness. Mr Pattle stated that he felt he had done- no more than his

duty. In a Government position like his, a man could either oblige the public in many little ways, or the contrary, without departing from the rules of his department. He had always endeavored to do the former, and to-night the inhabitants of Southbridge had certainly given him a tangible recognition of it. He thanked all for their kindness, and could assure one and all that, should they over visit the coast, a hearty welcome would await them at his door, Lyttelton Tblbqbaph Office. The Government in pursuance of its policy of retrenchment has arranged for the amalgamation of the Lyttelton Telegraph Office and Post Office. Both offices are in the same building, and can be managed very satisfactorily, it is believed, by one official. Mr W. B. Allwright, the postmaster at Lyttelton, will take charge of both offices. Mr A. Joyce’s services ere to be dispersed with, and that gentleman will be paid off npon the compensation scale, which according to the length of his services entitles him to close upon £3OO. Mr Joyce has been many years in the Civil Service, and loaves it with the regret of the Government that the necessity for rigid economy has compelled them to dispense with so faithful and careful an officer. Infernal Machines —Tie bomb with which the Czar of Russia was destroyed was probably one of those infernal machines, now so well known in Europe. By some they ore called “ Orsini bombs,” after the Italian who attempted the life of Napoleon 111 There are several patterns, but the simplest ard most effective is thus described. The bomb is a pretty little globe of brittle iron, about as large as an orange, or perhaps rather larger, which is filled for action with gunpowder or some other explosive. It is bored all over with small screw holes, and into each of these is inserted an ordinary gun-nipple. When used, each gunnipple is capped.and the[bomb being filled is fitfor nee. It is thrown from the hand, and, in whatever way it falls, it drops with considerable force npon at least one cap, which explodes the bomb. That uses by Orsini inflicted a hundred or more wounds, and destroyed several lives. Many such bombs have been seized at times, and it is believed that they are usually made at Birmingham, and secretly transported to the continent.

Concert. —The concert in aid of the Tetania relief fund to be given by the Sydenham Amateur Musical Society will take place in the Oddfel owe’ Hall to-morrow evening. Sickness and Accident Association. — A meeting of the membsrs of the above will be held in Alport’s buildings this evening to transact certain business.