NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2231, 31 May 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Waimaeakiei Rate. A special meeting of the City Council was held this morning at the Council Chambers, the object being to strike the Waimakariri rate for the financial year. The Town Clerk having stated that the terms of the Act had been complied with, and that no objections bad been received against the proposed rate, the same was accordingly struck at a scale of 2d in the £ on the rateable property within the four belts of the city. Novel Reprisal —This morning, at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, a person appeared to answer a summons for not paying to the City Council their charge for scavengering done on his premises. He said the work had been done right enough, but before going into the case he would, if their Worships pleased, ask the collector, who was in the witness box, a few questions. Ho then wanted to know why, being an elector of the city, ho had been struck off the roll before the last election, and thus deprived of the privileges he was entitled to. He wasn’t going to pay rates if the right of voting were denied him. He thought it would be unreasonable to expect it. The collector said be know nothing of the reason for striking the gentleman off the roll, nor of the offender in that respect. His Worship remarked that he understood the case exactly. Defendant had been deprived of bis rights as a citizen, and in revenge ho refused to pay them for keeping his premises clean. The defendant said that was just it. His Worship opined, however, that some other method of retaliation would have to be adopted, and gave judgment for plaintiffs for the amount claimed (6s 6d) and costs.

Lyttelton Magistrate's Ooubt. —Dr. Donald, 8.M., presided at this Court this morning, and disposed of the following business :—Eawcett Twentyman, one of the crew of the barque Formosa, was charged with being absent without leave. It appeared that the man had been told by the master to go up to the Custom House to be discharged, which he carefully did, but the master happening to miss him, subsequently gave him in charge for being absent without He was was discharged. For lunacy, William Payne was, on the testimony of Drs. Macdonald and Bouse, committed to the Lunatic Asylum.

Selwyn County Council. —A special meeting of this Council was held at the offices, Hereford street, at noon to-day, when a considerable amount of business was transacted. Congest. — A concert will he held this evening, to commence at eight o’clock, in St. Saviour’s schoolroom, Sydenham, in aid of the funds of the church choir. Kaiapoi Magistrate’s Ooubt. —At this Court on Monday, before O. Whitefoord, Esq., Q-. Milsom, for allowing a horse at large, was fined Ss. P. Lyle, disorderly, was fined 20a or forty-eight hours’imprisonment. The license of the Hneyd’s Arms Hotel was temporarily transferred from D. Cameron to P. Kearney. A slaughter-house license was granted to Weston and Humphries. Eyreton Boad Board vE. Bice, 17s 6d, amount agreed to be paid as a contribution towards making a drain ; judgment for plaintiff. Judgments wore given for plaintiffs in cases of—J. Simms v J. Wakefield, £3 6s Si j J. King v W. King, £ls Os Bd.

Alaem ov Fibe. —Shortly before one o’clock this morning the Lichfield street firebell gave the alarm, which was quickly taken up at the Chester street station. The Fire Brigade were promptly on the spot, but their services were not required, as it turned out to be an ash-pit at tho railway station, and the fire was put out with a couple of buckets of water.

Inquest.—An inquest was held at Sunnyside yesterday afternoon at four o’clock, before Dr. Frankish and a jury, of whom Mr P. B. Petrie was chosen foreman, touching the death of John Thomas Jones, an inmate of the Asylum, who died on Saturday last. Deceased was committed to the Asylum from the Hospital on the 13th April, ISSO, suffering from chronic disorganisation of the brain. Dr. Hacon, who made a post-mortem examination of deceased, testified to death having resulted from the above cause. Deceased was a native of England, but the county was not known. Tho jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony. Lyttelton Natal Beisadb. Captain Johnson of the Wellington Naval Brigade, has forwarded to the above brigade a copy of a resolution passed by the Wellington Naval Volunteers, urging the necessity for the whole of the brigades in the colony to be placed under one commanding officer, thus virtually bringing tho various brigades into one national corps. The proposal will be discussed at the next meeting of tho brigade at Lyttelton. It has been suggested by some of the members that it would be better for the brigades of Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, and Bluff to unite under one commanding officer, letting Nelson and the brigades in the North Island form the Northern Naval Brigade. This would, it is thought, be a more convenient arrangement, and at the same time would possess the other advantages of promotion, influence, Ac., claimed by Captain Johnson in his proposal.

Oanked Fibh. — The “Auckland "Star ” says :—Another case, showing the risks of canned fish, &0., has been brought before our notice. A lady residing in Sarangahape road, Newton, who is known to have had a penchant for tinned sardines, was taken suddenly ill a few days ago. It appears she had partaken rather freely of her favorite dish. A short time afterwards she was seized with violent pains, which became so acute that, after she had managed with the greatest difficulty to get to the house of a neighbor for relief, her life was almost despaired of. When asked by a friend what she thought was the cause of her illness she affirmed that on opening the tin she observed what appeared to be small streaks in the oil, which apparently came from the lumps of solder that were subsequently found in the tin after the fish had been taken out.

1.0.G.T. —The Pride of Sydenham Lodge, No. 200, held a very successful open meeting on Thursday evening last. The chair was occupied by the District Deputy Bro. O. M. Gray. Addresses were given by Bro. Harding, of Napier, and the Eev. H. B. Cocks,’ of Sydenham. Some excellent songs wore rendered by the Misses Davis, Hyman, Atkinson, and Mrs Hamilton and G, W. Clarke. Headings and recitations by Miss Harrison, Mrs Little, and Mr Sherlock. Mrs Wilson presided at the pianoforte. The principal items of the evening were the following resolutions brought forward by Bro. Webber, seconded by Bro. Sherlock : —Resolved—“ That this meeting, whilst thankfully approving of the action of the Licensing Bench during the past, if of opinion that it is very undesirable that any license should bo granted to enable anyone to sell intoxicating figures within the borough of Sydenham.” It was resolved fnrther—“ That the chairman be requested to attend the Licensing Court, and present the foregoing resolution,” The usual votes of thanks were passed, after which the singing of the closing ode brought a very en-'oyable evening to a close.

Wesleyan I uphove ment Association.— This highly popular association held its usual weekly meeting at their rooms last evening. Rev. W. Baumber presiding. Mr IT. Gabites suggested that in consequence of the greatly increased attendance, the meetings be hold in the schoolroom; consideration was deferred. Several now members were received, and then Mr C. M. Gray read an essay on “ Right Wines and Intemperance.” The essayist exhibited intimate theoretical acquaintance with his subject, and submitted a mass of information for thought and consideration. It was contended that the use of these so-called

“light” wines led to as much intemperance as stronger ones, the grape-producing countries being imtanced as proof of the position taken up. Extracts from several eminent travcllei b’ records wore road, and the only safe path was shown to be in total abstinence. The Eev. F. W. Isitt criticised the essay, objecting to a total condemnation of Continental countries, having travelled through most without seeing much intemperance. He stated that Swiss wines especially were non-intoxicating. Mr Ross pointed out that all wines must of necessity contain alcohol to ensure preservation. Mr A. Bell followed, showing that many wines which do not keep contain loss spirit than those which do. Mr E. Gabites complimented the essayist, and considered the use of 11 light* * wines or any, in an indiscriminate manner, ae likely to lead to intemperance. Mr F. E. Buckland supported the position taken up by Mr Gray. Several members having spoken contra, Mr Gray replied, and the meeting closed as usual. The attendance was about fifty members and a good many visitors. The Maobi Peibonbbs. —Yesterday the Maori prisoners in the Lyttelton gaol were taken out for an airing up to the summit of the Port hills.

Chess. —Steps are being taken to establish a chess club in Ashburton, Oxford Teeeacb Mutual Improvement Society. —The usual weekly meeting of this class was hold in the Baptist Church last evening, the president, Rev, O. Dallaston, in the chair. Readings and recitations were rendered from Shakespeare by Messrs Bensloy, McNally, Widdowson, Ingold, Osborn, and Glanvillo, each piece being well criticised. The subject for the next meeting was announced to be an essay—“ God revealed in His Son.”

The Nett Tat Bbidge. —Meagre Thoma* Meik and Son, civil engineers, York place, Edinburgh, have prepared plane for the reconstruction of the Tay bridge. The features of tho scheme are the employment of the present foundations, the height of the railway above high water to bo 40ft, the river traffic being accommodated by swing spans over a deep water channel, and the piers to be built of brick. The estimated cost of a single line of rails upon tho present foundations, with swinging spans for a double line, is £330,000, and for completing the bridge for a double lino an additional £280,000 is required, making the total estimated cost £610,000. The single line would be ready for opening within two years, and it is stated that traffic might be run across it with rafoty while the foundations for the other line wore being laid, five years being necessary for this work.