NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2256, 25 June 1881, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

McDonald's Consultation. —Mr Thomas McDonal advertises a consultation (No. 9) on the O.J.C. Hundicap and Canterbury Cup. Bible Christian Church.—As the Rev. J. Etnslio will be out of the city to-morrow and on Monday, the lecture he had promised to deliver in this church will of necessity be postponed to July 25th. The Rev. J. Crewes has, however, consented to deliver the second of his popular lectures entitled " Light from unlikely sources." The subject for Monday evening will be "Lessons from the Lifo of Mahomet." As the lecturer's lessons were very freely discussed in tho old [country, he invites discussion at the close of his lecture. No chargo for admission, but collection at the clcse of lecture. Late Night Train to Dunedin.—A special night train will leave Christchurch for Dunedin at 855 p.m. on Thursday, June 30th, loaving Dunedin at 10.30 p.m. on Saturday, July 2nd, thus affording visitors to Dunedin the opportunity of sponding two days at the Exhibition. Thb Avon Recreation Reserves.—lt is understood that application will shortly be made to the Government to obtain a refund of the money voted by the Selwyn County Council for recreation reserves, or a part of it, and to expend it on the formation of roads in the district. Coursing. Tho Waterloo meeting at Tapanui was brought to a conclusion yesterday. The Cup was carried off by Mr Bannaty no's Briton Still, quite an outsider,"and tho Purse was secured by Mr H. Howard with Harmony.' The Plate was divided by Mr Smith and Mr B. Thomson. A detailed report will be found elsewhere. A Ducking.—A person who was in the act of riding a horse through the liver at the Armagh street crossing yesterday performed a rather startling feat. The animal stopping ouddenly in mid-stream, the rider as suddenly left the saddle and took a splendid "header," coming to the surface of the water again like a cork, and apparently not much the worse for his dip. Thb Mayoralty.—lt is stated on good authority that Mr John William Oram, late of the City Hotel, will shortly return to the colony, intending to make Christchurch his home. Should no accident happen, Mr Oram will be here in ample time to contest the Mayoralty of Ohristchuroh (which it is understood he intends to do) at the next election, and no doubt his well known capacity and energy will ensure his return. Larceny at Mbthven.—On Friday at Ashburton, before Mr J. N. Wood, R.M., John Bell was chargod with stealing a bridle and a breastplate, worth 30s. On the previous Sunday a gontleman left his horse outside the Mothvim Hotel. On his return the artioles iu question had disappeared. They were subsequently found in the possession of the prisoner, who pleaded guilty, urging drunkenness in extenuation. He was sentenced to a month's imprisonment in Addington gaol. Local Board of Health.—The following telegram from Wellington was received yesterday morning by his Worship the Mayor:— " Central Board of Health propose appointing local Boards for all ports trading with Australia. LyHelton Board to consist of yourself the Mayor of Lyttelton, the chairman of the Ohristchuroh Drainage Board, the chairman of the Harbor Board, and the harbor master. The Colonial Ssoretary trusts j on will accept. —G. S. Oooper." The Mayor telegraphed a reply to the Colonial Seoretary that he would accept a position on the proposed Local Board. Thb Druids. —The Mistletoe Lodge, No. 06, held a summoned meeting on Thursday evening, at tho lodge rooms, Star and Garter Hotel. Bro. T. J. Ryan, A.D., presided, and there was a large attendance of members. Bro. Samuels, district president, and several offioors and members of various lodges were also present. Two candidates were initiated, and one proposed for membership. Three members were delegated to represent the lodge at the centenary meeting. The nomination of officers for the ensuing half-year took place. Tho receipts for the evening amounted to upwards of £36. After a considerable amount of business had been transacted, the lodge was closed in due form. Kaiapoi Farmers' Club.—A meeting of the ploughing match committee was held on Thursday evening at the Chamber, Oookson street. Prasent —Messrs Pashby (chairman), Parnham, Walls, Wilson, Kidd, and Ross. The question of arranging the date of the mutch in connection with the Papanui match was fully considered, and after some discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Parnham, seconded by Mr Wilson—" That the match be held on Friday, July 15th." Mr Parnham made an offer of a paddock for the competition, situate on tho Middle Island road. Messrs Ross, Pashby, and Walls were appointed a ground committee. The secretary reported he was making the arrangements for the booth on the ground and the annual dinner. The committee then adjourned. Ashburton Licensing Court.—On Friday, before Mr J. N. Wood (chairman) and Commissioners O. P. Cox, Joseph Ward, and H. T. Winter, the adjourned case was heard on its merits of Mr Robert Little, Hindhope Hotel, Hinds, for a renewal of license, to whioh the police objected, alleging unfitness i on the part of the applicant, who had been twice convicted of broaohes of tho Licensing Act and once of using abusive language. Mr Purnell appeared on Little's behalf, Sergeant Felton supported the objection. The Bench stated that they would not be justified in granting Little a renewal, with a view to his personal retention of the license for a year, especially as tho hotel is in a remote district, and is debarred from constant police supervision, but consented to an adjournment until to-day to allow time for a temporary transfer to Mr Joseph Baldwin, formerly of the Centra! Hotel,' Ashburton, and to this Sergeant Felton said the police would offer no objection. Sydenham Presbyterian Sunday School. —On Thursday evening the teachers of the Sydenham Presbyterian Sunday School met in the vestry behind the church, where after justice had been done to the good things kindly provided by the superintendent, Mr D. Duncan, a very pleasant evening was spent. The Rev. Mr Cairns presided. Mr Duncan explained that they were met there that evening to enjoy one another's company, but more particularly to bid farewell to Miss McHutcheson, one of their number, who was leaving them. He then, on behalf of the teaohers, presented Miss McHutcheson with a handsomely bound book, containing a large and varied collection of New Zealand ferns, and in the course of his remarks referred to Miss McHutoheson's long connection with the school, dating almost from its establishment. Sinoe then she had been a most regular and useful teacher, as the successful management of her large class, quite a school in itself, would teatify. By hor unassuming modesty Bhe had endeared herself to them all, wholly and individually. Mr Cairns replied on behalf of Miss McHutcheson, and also spoke as the pastor of the congregation, regretting very much the loss of so valuable a teacher. During the evening several songs, &0., were nicely rendered, which added much to the evening's enjoyment. Tibbd of Life. —A policeman named M'Ghie attempted to commit suicide by taking " electric rat poison" in a glass of liquor in a publiohouie bar in Melbourne. He was taken to the hospital, and had the poison extracted before any harm was done. The "Age" adds: —"The alleged cause for the commission of tho deed is monetary difficulties. M'Ghie was a young and promising constable, having on several occasions shown great bravery in the arrest of criminals, when he was attacked by a mob of larrikins who attempted to rescue his prisoners. He has saved three or four lives, and once at (treat personal risk ran in front of a train at Newmarket to piok up a child whioh was lying on the rails, and succeeded in snatching up the youngster in time to save him from being run >J over. He will be ablo to leave the hospital in a few days."

Masonic.—The brethren of the St. Angustine Lodge, 609 E.G., celebrated the festival of St. John last night according to ancient custom. There was a goodly attendance of brethren and visitors, the W.M., officers, and members of the Canterbury Lodge, 1048 E. 0., taking the opportunity of paying the St. Augustine Lodge a visit. After some business had been disposed of, an adjournment was made to the refreshment table, the W.M. Bro. O. P. Hulbert presiding, when the various loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to. A most enjoyable evening was spent by the brethren. A Father Hanged by his Son.—The Assize Court at Heilbronn, in Wurtemburg, had lately before it a case which is probably unique in criminal annals. A day labourer, who was laid up with a broken leg, was charged with embezzlemont, and was summoned to appear before the juge d'instruction. Overwhelmed with disgrace, perhaps unable to exculpate himself, he ordered his son to hang him. The son, who was also a day laborer, acting up to the injunction, " Obey your parents," carried him to the house loft, where he hung him effectively from one of the beams. The Court sentenced the son to imprisonment for three years and nine months.

An Elevating Subject.—At a time when the handling of grain is becoming an important part of the business of some of our ports, such as Melbourne, Port Adelaide, and Lyttelton, it is worth whilo calling attention to what has been done in Amerisa by scientific appliances to cheapen the cost of unloading and shipping and storing. This is done in a great measure by the aid of elevators, which have sprung into use at New York during the last twenty or twenty-five years, and now_ do almost all of the grain work. The grain is " elevated for shipment, and then discharged by shoots into the vessels. Tho rates of charge are for elevating i cent per bushel, for weighing another -J cent, and if the grain is blown and screened for preservation, there is another oharge of J cent per bushel. The charge for "stowing" tho grain is from 7dol to Bdol per 1000 bushels. The grain storage capacity of Brooklyn is 16,500,000 bushels, and in New York, at the Central Elevator, 2,500,000, and tho great elevators at Jersey City add several millions to the storage capacity of the port. The chargo for elevating includes ten days' free storage The stationary elevators of New York and Brooklyn in 1880 elevated about 48,000,000 bushels, besides the work done by the floating elevators. It is estimated that in New York port from eight to twelve million dollars are invested in storage elovators, and about five millions in floating elevators. Tbis is exclusive of the railway elevators, which themselves handle about half of the : grain brought to the port. A Wabm Place. The extraordinary degree of heat found in the depths of the great Corns took mine, Nevada, has drawn a good deal of attention to tho causes of internal heat in mines and springs. The particular case is one whioh it is not possible to explain on any general theory of increase of temperature in proportion to depth, as it is obviously local, and, therefore, due to local conditions. The explanation offered is, that the heat is produced by the decomposition of the deposits of iron pyrites found in the mine. A writer in the "Virginia Enterprise," published in the capital of Nevada, affirms that over the whole area of country which is underlain by the iron pyrites deposits a process of slow combustion is in operation, and can be traced by the appearance of the hot springs which make their way to the surface. He also asserts that there are indications that in parts of the country the combustion has burned out. As it spreads, according to this writer, its advance is shown by the breaking out of new springs of hot water and steam, and the burning out is proved by the cessation of this aotivity, and the disappearance of the springs. The following on this subject is worth quoting : —"At Steamboat Springs wo probably see a big mineral vein (like the Comstock) in process of formation. Ages ago there was probably a line of hot springs along the course of the Comstock. The mines of Europe and Mexloo, whioh are comparatively cold at great depths, are undoubtedly ages and ages older than the Comstock. The Comstock is probably the youngest mine in any part of the world that is now known or being worked. Here, down in our lower levels, we are following close upon the heels of nature—getting well down into her workshop. As to the heat-generating power of snlphur and iron, those who desire to do so may satisfy themselves. Take a few pounds of iron filings, borings and drillings from a machine shop, wet them, and mix in a pound or two of sulphur, then tamp the mixture firmly into a hole in the ground—like a post hole—covering it with two or three inches of dirt, and in a short time there will be seen a miniature volcano, the batch of iron and sulphur taking fire spontaneously."

History Repeated.—Horrible incidents (says a Home paper) have a grim knaok of repeating themselves in Russia. The painful details of Jeliaboff's exeoution at St. Petersburg can hardly fail to call to mind the ghastly tragedy which was enacted in that city shortly after the accession of Czar Nicholas to the Russian throne. Four leaders of the abortive insurrection which broke out upon that occasion, and was mainly quelled by the Emperor's heroic conduot, were eu •"e----quenlly hanged. One of them, Strang o to say, was the grandfather of Procureur Muravieff, who oonducted the State prosecution against the Nihilists implicated in the assassination of Alexander 11. As in the case uf Jeliab'ff the other day, tho rope to which MuraviefF was suspended broke when the executioner cast him from the ladder, and the unfortunate man fell heavily to tho ground, breaking his leg. As he was being lifted towards the gallows, to which a fresh rope had been hastily fitted and noosed for his second suspension, Relejeff, another of tho doomed insurrectionists, there awaiting his turn to be strangled, exclaimed in aloud voice, heard by many of the horrified spectators, " What can be expeoted of a State in which even the hangman does not know his business ?" These bitter and ominous words were his last. A few seconds later his lifeless corpse was swinging by that of the wretched Muravieff, whose dreadful death scene has so recently been reproduced, with Joliaboff for its tortured hero, by merciless and bungling functionaries of Russian justice. The Tararua. —An incident in the history of the ill-fated steamship Tararua (says tho | " Daily Times ") may not be without interest to our readers, although it connects her with the doleful tale of a former steamship disaster. When the Tararua began first to ply in the New Zealand trade she was under the flag of the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company, and was the connecting steamer between Sydney and the different ports in this colony, and was under the command of Captain John Gardyne. On the 28th May, 1865, she arrived at Port Chalmers, and her captain reported that the steamer City of Dunedin had left Wellington on the 20th of the month on her voyage via Nelson, westward to Hokitika, and that on the Tararua leaving Nelson on the 23rd the City had not put in an appearance. This circumstance, coupled with the fact that some wreckage had como ashore on the Wellington coast, led to the belief that the City of Dunedin had como to grief— a conclusion which, nnhappily, turned out too correct. In this way the Tararua was the herald of the most lamentable maritime disaster which had occurred in connection with Dunedin, Bnd whioh has since been so terribly eolipsed by her own sad fate. Long immunity from accident had caused the passage between Wellington and Nelson to be considered perfectly free from risk, and the tragedy of the Tararua been enacted on a voyage and in circumstances of apparently absolute freedom from danger.

Reform: Wanted. —Charles Dickens has told us something about the horrors of Chancery, but the case of Anne Richardson, a domestic servant, seems to outdo fiction itself. She had saved £240, and her master, Sir George Balfour, added £6O. The money was lodged with trustees, who paid her the interest. In due course, Anno Richardson, wanting to take her little capital to New Zealand, it was found necessary to institute a " friondly suit" to obtain leave, and the costs of obtaining permission amounted to £216 ! A Plucky Act.—The Sydney " Bulletin" has the following :—Mr F. R. Spofforth, the " demon bowler," did a plucky thing the other day. A horse attached to a waggonette, with a young lady in it, bolted furiously. "Spoff" caught the trap, got in at the baok, and pulled the horse up just in time to save the oocupant from a smash. The fair one is a Sydney lady, and that she is beautiful va tans dire. We trust soon to be supplied with further information, so that we may be enabled to wind up the story in the orthodox manner.

Chicory Works.—Mr Pearce has started chioory works in Mooro street, AshburtOD, The kiln floor is capable of drying a ton of roots at a time, and the plant erected is commensurate with the large local and colonial demand whioh may be reasonably expected. A Runaway.—A pair of horses attached to a vehicle driven by Mr Cowan got beyond tho driver's control in Colombo street yesterday, and despite all the efforts made to stop them, galloped at]a furious paoe as far as Woolston, on the Ferry road. There were several "close shaves," but fortunately no damage was done.

Thoublr in Stohb por thb Mormons.— The United States Government are considering measures to stay the flow of Mormon immigration to its shores —particularly of women for polygamous purposes. It has under consideration a suggestion that a provision of the existing law might be strained so as to apply. This provision is contained under an Act of March 3rd, 1875, which makes it unlawful for aliens of the following classes to immigrate into'the United States, namely :—Persons who ore undergoing sentence for conviction in their own country for felonious crimes other than political, or growing out of or the result of such political offences, or whose sentence has been remitted on condition of their immigration, and women imported for the purposes of prostitution. Whether this can be construed so as to include these obnoxious immigrants, and so cut off the Mormon supply of recruits is now tho question under discussion. Should it bo decided in tho negative Congress will, it is understood, be asked at the next session to enact a law which will strictly prohibit the admission of Mormon immigrants. A Heavy Bill.—The doctors' bill for attending Superintendent Haro, who was shot in the wrist at Glenrowan, in the attack on the Kellys, amounted to no less than £620. The Victorian Government, who have to pay the bill, naturally want to know how the account is made up.