NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2255, 24 June 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The JEWBtLBBr Eobbhey.— The proceedings by the police against Charlea Henry Preston, who has been under arreßt for a fortnight, charged with being concerned in the burglary of Mr Hooper's shop, came this morning to an abrupt termination. The police applied that he might be discharged. Ab far as could be understood, the officer in charge of the prosecution merely aaid that, two men having been committed for trial at Dunedin, one of them had made a statement about the prisoner, of which there had been no corroboration. Prisoner was represented by counsel, but no remark whatever was made by him, and the accused being discharged, left the Court.

LyttbltON Maqistbatb's Cotjet.—Samuel Nbrthoy, who again failed to respond when called upon by the police for his arrears of contribution towards the support of his child in the Industrial Home, waa made the subject of a warrant of arrest by the B.M. (J. Boawick, Esq.) at this Court this morning. Concebt.—A vocal and instrumental conocrt, to be followed by a ball, will be given in tho large Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street, on Thursday next, for benevolont purposes in connection with the Athcletun Ledge D.A.O.D. '

TnE Fibbing Industry.—Twelve smacks and treble that number of men and boy* are engaged in the fishing industry at the Thames, and about £4O per week are received from the sale of the fish, the bulk of which is shipped fco Auckland by the Enterprise and Rotomahana.

Cost of Agbnts-General.—During hie official tour throughout the Australian colonics, Mr J. E. Fitz Gerald, in accordance with a request of the Government, ascertained the oast of the office of Agent-General in London of each of them. The cost of the Agent-General's Department for the current year was—For New Zealand, £4OOO, or with the salary of the Audit Officer added £4400. For Viotoria it was £1602; New South Wales, £3750; Queensland, £4125 ; South Australia, £3105 ; and Tasmania only £2lO. The salaries of the several Agents-General vary—save in the case of Tasmania at £2lo— case of Victoria and New South Wales. Thb Reason Why.—lt will be recollected that while in New Zealand the Duke of Manchester brought his tour through this colony to a sudden termination, giving as a reason that he had been advised of circumstances from England which necessitated his immediate return. An invitation was sent to hie Grace to visit the Claronce distriot on hie return from New Zealand to Sydney, and in replying thereto the Duke gives the reason of his sudden departure for Home. The letter is follows :—" Government House, Sydney, 10th May, 1881.—Dear Sir,—! have already been much longer than I intended and have received such unfavorable accounts of the non-payment of my rents for farms at home that I must hurry back. I leave on the 18th, and I shall therefore be unable to accept the hospitality you so kindly offer me. 1 thank you for the welcome you intended to give mo, and, while I regret I cannot avail myself of it, I remain, yours faithfully, Manchester," Scuxling Championship.—White, the Mercury Bay sculler, who is to compete with Hearn for the championship of New Zealand, arrived at Wellington by the Arawata on Monday. He was received by Mr Bitkin, secretary to the Star Boating Club, and Hearn. White brings with him two boats, which have been placed in the Star Boating Club's shed. The visitor is a wiry looking half-caste, about sft Sin high, and looks well, though be has apparently trained himself very fine. Hearn, it may be added, was never in better condition than he is at the present time, and he has every confidence of being able to win the race. The outrigger in which White intends to pull was built by himself, and is 32ft long, s|in deep, has 11 Jin beam, and only weighs 26£lbs.—" Post.'' Metal Railway Tickets.—Oh the suburban railways in New South Wales, a neat metal ticket, silver for the first class, bronze for the second, is used on the suburban lines for season tickets. They are something larger than a shilling, and suitable to be worn on a watoh-chain by persons using them daily. These medals are stamped at the mint. The milling indicates the period for which the ticket is available, being oomplete for a year's ticket, and half-round and a quarter-round for the half and quarter year. On the obverse is engraved the owner's name, and under it the month in which it expires. On the reverse is engraved the distinguishing letter of the Btation between which and Sydney it is in force. JotTENAirsTic.— The "Wellington Post" says :—The " Saturday Advertiser " has been purchased by the " Dunedin Morning Herald" Company, and from about a month hence will appear as the weekly of that paper. A large quantity of type is now being brought over from Melbourne, the intention of the new proprietary being to bring it out in a greatly enlarged form, giving" not only more reading manner in the shape of current news, but extending the present special features of the paper. The value of the " Saturday Advertiser's " advertisements now aggregates £2OOO per year, and as the "Herald " Company have secured the paper for a little under £IOOO their share of the transaction is more satisfactory than that of the proprietors of the " Advertiser." A Message feosi thb Sba —The Brisbane "Courier " has the following :—An envelope before us tells a story full of pathetic asseveration and very mournful interest. It is addressed to "The proprietors of the Courier," and contains an advertisement from New Zealand. Across the address is printed in dull red letters, "Preserved from wreck Tararua." The paper has been wet, the stamp having come off, and the enclosure showing a tendency to adhere where folded. But for the notice on the back, one might have fancied, had one's attention been drawn to these minutist, that the' postman had been caught in a shower while delivering it. And this is all the effect on this fragile piece of paper of the fury of that awful night and day when a great ship was smashed up like an egg-shell, and that crowd of human beings, each of whom was capable of destroying this between a finger and thumb, were swept into eternity. The reflection in "Maud" upon the tiny delicate shell which the resistless sea has cast up uninjured upon the beach seem very appropriate to this envelope, bringing its unimportant contents safely to hand from suoh a scene of anguish and terror. The Finanoiax Statement. —ln the House yesterday afternoon, the Colonial Treasurer stated that he proposed to deliver his Financial Statement on this day week, or at latest on the following Tuesday. He also montioned that on the first sitting day after the delivery of the Statement he would fully explain the views of the Government on the matter of local government. Magistrate's Ooubt, Kaiapoi.—At this Court on Thursday, before J. Hurse, Esq., W. Hart was charged with having created a disturbance in the Sneyd's Arms Hotel. P. Kearney, licensee, stated the accused came to the hotel at 6 p m., and stayed till 9 30, when he began to make a row with a stranger, i and he had to send for the police. Accused's defence was to the effect that the " total stranger " had led him into the fray. He was fined £2. W. Greenwood and J". Haieb, for being illegally on the stable premises of M. C. Moran, wore respectively fined 20s, or ic< default forty-eight hours' imprisonment. Sot/thbbooe.—Our correspondent writes" i that the horse killed on Wednesday evening on the railway line was the property of Mr George Watson, butcher. On Thursday morning it was found that the building used 1 by Moir and Co. for the storage of grain had given way in the understructure, as well as bursting out the side, from the weight of the grain contained in it. The store was much damaged, and part of the contents were exposed to the rain till removed to a place of. security. Rangioba Litbbaby Institute. _ The adjourned annual meeting for the reception of the secretary's report and election of officers was held on Tuesday evening. The chair was occupied by Mr J. Fulton. It was resolved to write to Mr C. Merton, the late president,, thanking him for his many services; also to Mr Peel for his kind servioes in painting new stage scenery. The financial statement showed the receipts to have been £ll6 3s Ba. and expenditure £154 3j lid. It was considered that money due would cover ::ll liabilities. The new committee was then formed, Messrs Cunningham, Buckham, Fulton, Ellis, Boyd, Good, Johnston, Shorland,. Hossack, Sansom, and Burt being elected. Mr Fulton was proposed as president, but that gentleman declining, it was decided tc elect officers at the next general meeting. Winteb Entbbtainhbnts, Bangioba.— The first of a series of entertainments in connection with the Church of England was held in the schoolroom on Wednesday evening. A spelling boe was held under the presidency of Mr J. G. L. Scott, and gave groat satisfaction. Three prizes were offered—the first was carried off by Mr F. Bernays, second by Mr Ivory, jun., and the third by Miss Boys. Owing to the inclement weather the attendance was somewhat limited. Cußiorrs Case.—A singular case of meats! disease is reported by the Auckland " Hera'd," that of a fomalo patient in the Lunatic Aeylnm. She was admitted Bhortly before Christmas from tho country, her reason having given way through domestic infelicity and under circumstances of a peculiarly trying character. During the whole of the above period she has never spokon a single word, and tho only movement of the body as she lies on her pallet is tho ceaseless tossing day and night of her head on the pillow. If le't to tier own devices she would die of voluntary inanition, and she is kept alive by small quantities of milk being forced through the clenchod teeth. As time rolls on the restless tossing of tho head is becoming more feeble in its manifestation*, and the poor woman must ultimately succumb to exhaustion. The case has completely bellied medical skill, and is one rarely met with in medical experience.

Tinwald. —A Mutual Improvement Association huu been formed in Tinwald. Mr J. T. Allsop wm eleoted president. Ohambbb op Commbbob. —At tho adjourned meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday it wos resolved to proceed with the new building for tho use of the Chamber. The site soleoted ia on Bedford row. Ambeblht. The Amberley Amateur Christy Troupe gavo their first performance in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening to a fair house. The entertainment oonsisted of songs, stump speeoh, and a farce entitled " Rum'ns from Rome." The various items were most creditably given, and encores wero numerous.

Tub Tababua Disabtbb. —The subscrip. tion list ontrusted to tho Rov. W. Keall, of Ashburton, for raising donations in aid of the widows and orphans of tho late Bevs. Messrs Richardson and Armitago closed with a total of £2O 4» Id, to whioh sum is to be added £4 63 6"d, collected at a special service of the Ashburton Wesleyan Church.

A Runaway-—A horse attached to a oab bolted from Madras street South yestorday, and traversed several of the streets at a f urioui pace, eventually coming to grief by running against a lamp post on Park Terrace. There were several exceedingly narrow escapes from collision with other vehioles, but no injury was done except to the cab, which was considerably damaged. Congest. Despite the very inolement weather last night, there was a very large audience at the Oddfellows' Hall, when Mr Hamilton's band gave a concert. The programme, whioh was an excellent one, comprising principally items for the members of the band, was gone through in a manner showing how thorough Mr Hamilton's teaching has boen and what he has been able to effect in a short time. The concert throughout was a most enjoyable one, and it is to be hoped that the band will aeo their way ere long to give another.

Ambbblby School Committee. —This committee mot in the main schoolroom on Wednesday evening. Present—Messrs Douglas, M'Naught, Wornall, Robertson, M'Adara, and Williams (chairman.) The chairman stated that an application for a pupil teachership had been received from J. May, a late Leithfiold pupil. A long discussion took place on the position of the committee, as if they appointed the applicant at the expiration of the present arrangement with the assistant mistress they would be a pupil teacher short of the number warranted by the attendance. Ultimately it was resolved to arrange for a continuance of the present staff for three months, and to decline the application. The chairman read the inspector's report on the side sohool, whioh was highly satisfactory, and reflected great oredit on the master (Mr A. Everys.) The chairmanfstoted he had learnt that the buildings of the late side sohool had been sold to Mr Douglas, so that it would be useless to bring up the question of leasing them, as he bad been desired to. Tho committee expressed themselves as opposed to the aotion of the Board in disposing of the building privately, having been partly erected by monies collected in the district; at least thoy should have been sold by auotion, presuming the Board had a right to Bell, whioh some members seemed to think was questionable. The chairman was directed to call the attention of the master at the side sohool to the condmt of some of the pupils in damaging the fenoes.&o. The committee then adjourned. Coubtbnay.—A meeting of ratepayers was held on Tuesday last to discuss the advisableness of the district being divided into wards before the next annual election of members of the Road Board. The Chairman (pro tern.) of the Road Board was in the chair. Very few ratepayers attended, and after slight discussion Mr J. Jones proposed, and Mr W. McLennan seoonded a resolution to the effect that the district be divided into wards. Mr T. H. Rainger proposed, and Mr W. Fairbairn seconded the following amendment—- " That whereas no sufßoient oause has been shown, or oomplaint made of the work of the Road Board, under the present system of representation, of a nature to justify tho extra expense attending the division of the district into wards, the distriot remain undivided, as at present." A show of hands being called for the amendment, and secondly for the relolution, the numbers were declared to be equal, upon whioh the ohairman gave his casting vote in favor of the amendment, and j the proceedings terminated.

COMHDIMBNTARY DINNBB AT LbBSTOIT.— ! A complimentary dinner was given to Mr Christopher Prankish on Wednesday ovoi ing ' at Springe' Hotel, on his leaving Leeston, ; having, conjointly with his brother J. Prankish, purchased his late father's estate, the Grange, at Irwell. About thirty of his friends 1 sat down to an excellent repast, catered by Mr Spring, Mr Bluett ocoupjing the cbair, ' and Mr T. Overton the vice chair. After i ample justice had been done to the good i things provided, and the usual loyal and patriotic t99»ts had been drunk, the chairman rose to propose the toast of the evening, in i which he wished Mr Prankish long life and happiness in his new undertaking. He spoke at some length, remarking that he had been in hia employ for the lost three and a half years, and had known him from his boyhood upwards, and, in fact, could say nothing but good of him. He then presented him with a ' very handsome pipe, as a small token of regard from a few of hit friends, and on his own behalf with a gold locket and chain. After the toasts had been drunk with musical honors, Mr Prankish replied in a few well ohosen words, thanking all present for the honor they had done him. Several other toasts were proposed and responded to in the usual manner, songs being sang between thorn, and altogether a very enjoyable evening was spent. MbbtinG at Papantti.—A publio meeting of ratepayers in that portion of the Avon road district bounded by the west side of the North road from the Harewood road to the Waimakariri (at Treleaven's), was held in the District Sohoolhouse, Papanui, last night, for the purpose of taking into consideration the desirability of petitioning the Biooarton Boad Board to annex the portion of the district above-mentioned. There were about thirty persons present, and Mr Low was voted to the ohair. He stated that the interests of a large number of ratepayers were affected by the question before them, and he quite approved of the course that had been followed in calling a publio meeting. Considering the state of the weather he thought the district was well represented at the meeting. Mr Goodland said that for some considerable time past the question of annexation had been talked of. They had been badly treated by the Boad Board, but he thought they stood a ohance of being worse treated by a borough with its headquarters at St. Albans. In his opinion it was impossible for St. Albans and Papanui to work together. The most promised thorn by those who favored the now borough was that they would be no worse off, but if they joined the Bicoarton road district they would be better off, and no time was so favorable as the present. He had no doubt but that the Bicoarton Boad Board would take them. He moved " That in the opinion of this meeting the interests of that portion of the Avon Boad Board distriot, lying between the North Boad and tho Kiccarton Boad Board boundary from the Harewood road to the Waimakariri (at Treleaven's) would bo best served by annexation to the Biccarton Boad Board, and the meeting pledges itself to use every legitimate means to effect such annexation." Mr Htrachan seconded the Messrs Kruno and Ellen opposed the motion, which wan put and carried unanimously. Mr Langdon movod—" That a committee consisting of Messrs Munro, Straohan, Johns, Wild, Low, Smith, Hudson and the mover be appointed to canvass the district for signatures to a petition to the Biccarton Boad Board, and in the event of their reply being favorable to his Excellency the Governor, asking him to givo effeot to the petition. Mr Stewart seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

Mbbtino of Daibymbn.—A meeting of dairymen with reference to the licensing of dairies was held last night at tho Rotherfield Hotel, Mr Vogel in the ohair. After some disoussion, in the course of whioh it was mentioned that the petition against the Bill had been largely signed, and was to be presented by one of the membora, it was resolved on account of the inclemency of the weather to adjourn till Monday next.

Nobth Kowai Sidb Sohooi,. —It is reported that tho school buildings have .been eold to Mr Douglas, whose property adioina tho sohooi site. Some time ago the buildings and site wore advertised for sale, but as Mr A. Gray, who gavo the site, objected to tho •ale, the matter dropped. Some of the residents who live in the neighborhood object to the action of the Board in selling the buildings, as they contend that, having considerably contributed towards tho original cost, they should have been consulted in tho matter.

10.0.F..M.U., Loyal Malvbbn —Efforts are being made by some of the old members to re-open this lodge, which was temporarily closed on account of the distance some of the members had to travel, and a preliminary meeting was held at the Waddmgton district schoolroom, on Tuosday evening last. Several of the old members attended, and, after discussion upon the terms whioh the North Canterbury District had offered to former members, the meeting adjourned for a week, Mr John Jebson kindly offering the use of his residence for the purpose. The fact that the entrance fees are now only one-half what they were formerly ought to be sufficient inducement to the young men of the district to form a strong lodge.