NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2259, 25 May 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lyttelton Magistrate's Court.—W. P»ge , for vagrancy, was sentenced to throe months’ imprisonment at this Court this morning. Mrs W. Payne was granted a protection order for her earnings, and John Oolline was released from custody, after treatment for lunacy from drink. Steamer Excursions Yesterday.—The steamer Titan was well patronised yesterday on her excursion trip to Little Akuloa, There were wore more patrons than the prescribed regulations allowed, and a boat twice her size would have had all she could do to meet the demand of the pleasure-going public. A most enjoyable day was spent by the excursionists at Little Akaloa, and they returned In good time for one of the early evening trains. The steam launch Lyttelton made several trips to Governor's Bay.

[Pigeon Feting.—The Birthday Stakes, ilown under the auspices of the East Christ- I church Pigeon Club, took place yesterday, ' distance about twenty miles ; 11 birds started! Mr Jackson’s Will-lf-Lcan and Demon were not delivered to the judge in time to be stamped, and had to be left behind. The following is the result: —Mr Ashby’s Don Pedro, liberated at 10 45, homed at 11.13, won let prize ; Mr Skinner's Cloth of Gold, liberated at 9.45, homed at 10.14, won 2nd prize; Mr W. Williams’s New Chum, liberated at 11.45, homed at 12.16, won 3rd prize; Mr Skinner's Brigade, liberated at 10 a.m,, homed at 10.32, 4th; Mr Groth’s Reflection, liberated at 10.15, homed at 10.47.15, sth. This was a"’very close race; all the birds arrived home under 35 minutes, Don Pedro winning in 28 minutes. Mousetrap was last, taking 34min 45seo. The birds were liberated by Mr O. Collier, president of the club, at quarter-hour intervals, and caused a good deal of excitement at Bangiora, sweeps being got up on the race, and wagers laid, one bird against another, by the spectators assembled at Mr Mont’s Hotel, where the birds were started from. Unitsd Methodist Fees Chhbch, Binosland.—The anniversary services of this church wore held last Sunday, the Rev. R. Taylor (who has recently arrived from Auckland) preaching both morning and evening. In the afternoon a juvenile service was held, select recitations and singing being given by the scholars. Thsre was a good attendance at all the services, collections being liberal, and in advance of previous years. On Tuesday, the 24th inst., the annual xgirec was held, tables being provided by Metdames Sheppard, Cooke, Pearce, Barnes, and Flesher, liberal subscriptions being given by other friends of the church. After tea (to which about two hundred eat down) Mr G. Booth took the chair. The financial Jreport of the treasurer showed the receipts for the year to be £67, leaving a debit balance of 17s 6i ; also, that £142 had been contributed by the congregation to the different church funds during the year, and that about £2O had been subscribed for speciol objects. The report also showed that the congregation and Sabbath school were increasing, plainly indicating that in a short time addition als«:ommodation will have to be provided. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. B. Taylor, Mr Smyth, Rev. A. Peters, and E. O. Perry. Musical selections wore efficiently rendered by the ohoir under the leadership of Messrs Simpson and Cooks. It was announced that arrangements were being made to hold a series of entertainments during the winter months. Kaiatoi Island, Noeth.—A successful entertainment was given here on Monday in aid of the Church of England Sunday School funds. The music was given by the Kaiapoi Glee Club ; some readings and recitations by local friends were also given. Complimentaet Dinnbe at Rangioea.— On Thursday it is intended to give a complimentary dinner to Mr O. Morton, on the occasion of his leaving this district, which ho has been identified with in a variety of ways, and during which he has given a large amount of his time and energies to the promotion of the interests of Bangiora music and manly sport.

Against thb Rules. —An interesting flutter has been created in Wesleyan-Metho-dist circles (says the “ Auckland Star") by a young minister at Parnell. Among the statutes of the church is one which virtually prohibits marriage till after four years’ probation. This enactment has been boldly set aside by the Rav. L. M. Isitt. Mr Isitt had only passed his second year, and entered hie third; yet during the past week the rev. gentleman sailed for New Plymouth, and by Monday’s steamer brought back a happy bride. Tbs lady is well connected at Taranaki, and is the only daughter of Mr Caverhill. It is expected that the matter will be brought before the District Meeting and conference, but it is whispered that if so the grave censors will be reminded that other laws are broken and brethren held guiltless. Thb Yoluntbbes. —Yesterday morning at seven o’clock detachments of the Artillery and the City Guards fell in at the Drill Shed and marched to Hagley Park, where the former fired a salute of twenty-one guns and the latter fired three volleys in honor of her Majesty’s sixty-second birthday. Afterwards a sham fight took place, the result of which was that the Artillery were supposed to be defeated and retired, after spiking their gun and removing a wheel. The City Guards then took the gun and tried to complete the dismounting, but after several ineffectual attempts, owing to their ignorance of artillery drill, they failed in their attempts, amidst the cheers of the vanquished enemy. UThe Rbwabd of Pbbsevbbanoh.—A good story in connection with one of the public departments is told by the “ Hawke's Bay Herald —A junior official in the department had a complaint to make to headquarters. Letter after letter was despatched without even an acknowledgment of their receipt being vouchsafed. The eleventh letter, however, brought an immediate answer. This called the official’s attention to the fact that he had forgotten to date bis last letter, and he was therefore fined five shillings, in accordance with the regulations of the service. Goal Deposit. —A sample of coal from Messrs J. and J. Bell’s property, situate in the water shed of the Waipara, near Mount Brown, was brought into Amborley yesterday, and is now on view at Mr L. O. Williams’ office. The seam, so far, is abont 2ft Sin in thickness, and the quality of the coal is improving as the lead is followed. There is a large extent of valuable limestone in the immediate vicinity, which it is considered could be advantageously made into lime on the spot by using the local coal in the burning, Various teeth of extinct reptiles have been discovered in splitting some of the limestone rocks. There are large deposits of valuable rock sand also in this neighbourhood.

Kowai Rifle Club.—The annual competition took place on the Amberley range yesterday, ■when there was a largo'.field of competitors, no leas than forty-three, in all, entering in the two classes. In the first class, Messrs W. Hunter (56), J. Oameron (55), and Gray (51), took the throe prizes given. Two others also competed. In the second doss (handicap) no less than nineteen prizes were awarded, and nineteen other competitors also entered. The first throe prizotakors were : Messrs J. Thompson (57), Q. Kemp (54), M. Lester (54). Mr Thompson took a cap presented by Mr J. H. Gilchrist as first prize. The weather was bad for shooting, a nor’wester and a glaring sun being against good scores, none of which, in fact, were up to the average.

Canary and Retrieves.—A friend of mine had a pet canary, writes a correspondent of the London “Spectator,” while her brother was the owner of a retriever that was much petted. One day the canary escaped from the house, and was seen flying about the grounds for a few days, and where it perched was generally on high elm trees. At last it vanished from view, and the dear little pet was mourned for as lost or dead. Rut after the interval of another day or so the retriever came in with the canary in his mouth, carrying it most delicately, and went to the owner of the bird, delivering it into her hands without even the feathers being injured. Surely nothing could iilustrato more beautifully faithful love and gentleness in a dog than this. Sport fob Ladies.——A new excitement, tome what different from that entailed by the exigencies of the London season, is beginning to find favor with the ladies of fashion in the English metropolis. The innovation consists in accompanying the hunting expeditions made by their husbands, brothers, Ac., to the Ear West of America. One of the hunt noblesse, Gerald, fourth son of Lord Alfred Paget, has recently taken his wife on one of these expeditions; and letters received from the travellers describe, among other adventures, how they slept in an open tent with the thermometer 29deg below zero, and were entertained by the wolves with a sort of "Dec Froichutz” chorus of a lullaby. The travellers carry their bed with them—one of a pattern as yet unknown to West-end upholsterers. It consists simply of a fur bag, 6ft in length, and when retiring to rest Mr Paget and his wife get into it and tie themselves up for the night. Lecture. The Rev. T. Flavoll will deliver a lecture this evening at the Merivale schoolroom on the pathos, wit and hnmor of < I cor*io Eliot K

Some editors bubble over with original fun which comes from the heart and goes to the right spot—the paste-pot of their neighbours. —'" Wit and Wisdom.”

A Camberwell young woman tried to bo aristocratic, and did not look at the money she gave to the tramcar conductor for her fare to the Elephant. But he meekly returned the lozenge on which was inscribed, “ I’ll never cease to love thee! ” and said he was an orphan, with five little brothers and a baby sister to support, and must be excused.

. Indie* at tiie EbbitS Home, Washington, wore discussing the numerous newspaper allusion* to Mrs Garfield's eweet temper and amiability, when one of them, who looked as if her life had been a battle with unfortunate circumstances, quietly added “ But I suppose Mr Garfield never came at two o’clock in the morning and tried to get into bed with hi* boots on.” “Brooklyn Eagle.” Queries for Agricultural Students.—A brilliant correspondent of the Putnam (Conn.) “ Patriot,” who evidently cares little for agricultural matters, suggests the following theme for discussion by the Farmers’ Club of Pomfret. —“ Why do not cows sit down to rest the same as dogs ? Why does a dog turn round a few times before he lies down? Why does a cow get up from the ground hind end first, and a horse fore end first ? Why does a squirrel come down a tree head first, and a cat tail first ? Why docs a mule kick with his hind foot, and a sheep with its fore foot ?” Theih Nicknames.—A “ minister ” at Ayr introduced the following petition into his prayer on Sunday week " O Lord, bless the Established Church, and the Free Church, and the United Presbyterian Church, and all the other churches; Thou knowest the various nicknames, Lord, by which they are called ; bless them oil,”—“ Truth.”

Invaded by Eats—A Heme paper says that, starved from their usual haunts by the severity of the weather, rats in enormous numbers and of unusual size, are now infesting Kincardineshire. A few days ago about 200 entered a cottager’s house and attacked a child, biting it so severely that medical aid had to be called. Live stock and produce have also suffered severelv.

Heavy Jewellery Bobbery.—A large portion of the jewels and precious stones recently exhibited nt Sheffield by Mr Bryce Wright, expert in precious stones, Great Bussell street, London, have been stolen. On the 24th nit. a cab broke down at Mr Bryce Wright’s door. The assistants rushed out to help, and when they returned they found a drawer had been rifled of £IO,OOO worth of jewellery. It is supposed that the robbery was planned at Sheffield in conjunction with London thieves, the cab accident being part the scheme.

Professor Blackie on Sunday Observance.— Professor Blackie writes in a contemporary:— The Sabbath, as a Christian Lord’s Day, is not infringed by any amount of rational recreation, so long as sufficient time is reserved for those religious services and exercises, both public and private, for the practice of which the day was specially set apart by the early Church. The supposed inconsistency between religious exercises in the morning and innocent recreation in the afternoon of Sunday is a purely Scottish fancy, altogether unsupported either by the tradition Of the Christian Churches or by the conditions of a well-constituted human nature, and has resulted practically in the artificial creation of an awful sort of piety, which, by erecting a sombre wall of partition between devout feeling and natural gaiety, !bas a tendency to make religion odious to the young and Christianity ridiculous to the wise. The first mention made in ancient history of the crab is by one ißaop, who was a Greek newspaper man, and who lived about the year 600 b.o. Like the man who stuffed the ballot-box, he is much involved in a great deal of obscurity. JEtop heard the paternal ancestor of a promising young crab, who was inclined to associate with fast horses and the like, give the latter some good advice. _ Said the old crab: “My son, you are bringing disgrace on the family. You run round too much, and have contracted bud habits. You must walk straight from now on." “ Perhaps I will, governor, if you will only manage to keep out of the saloons yourself." The elder crab grew pensive, and, having resolved on reformation, never again was seen to enter a saloon tbrongh the front door. ASsop says he actually overheard the foregoing conversation —which only goes to shew what kind of a newspaper man ASsop really was. Unfortunately there was no stenographer present; so A3sop can palm off as many fables as he pleases on the public. At Croydon on March sth and 6th 7th Grand International Hurdle Race of 500 sove and the United Kingdom Steeplechase of 200 sova wore both appropriated by Sir Geo. Ohetwvnd with the aid of Lord Clive and Abbot c£ ,St. Mary’s.

Mdlle. Ozy, an actress, received the following original declaration ; “ Mademoiselle, I am only a poor worker, but I love you like a millionaire. While waiting to become one I send you this simple bunch of violets. If my letter gives you a wish to know me, and to answer to the sentiments of my soul, when you are on the stage to-night lift your eye* to the cock-loft, my legs will hang over.” Many actors are like oysters. You can see all there is in them as soon as they open their mouths.