NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2279, 22 July 1881, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY

To our Readers.— Owing to an accident jast aa we were going to press, we have to apologise to our readers for delay in the publication of this evening’s edition, and are unavoidably compelled to omit the report of yesterday’s proceedings in the General Assembly together with various other items of interesting news.

EM. Court —This morning, before O. Whitofoord, 8.M., and J. E. Parker, J.P., the only case on the charge-sheet was that of a man who, for drunkenness, his first offence, was fined ss.

Christchurch Engineer Volunteers.— A meeting of members and ex-members of the Christchurch Engineer Volunteers took place at the Eoyal Hotel last evening, the object being to take into consideration the present position of tho company. Mr A. Buckley, the convener., presided. A form of petition to the House of Representatives, praying for an enquiry into the action of the captain in striking thirty-one members off tho roll in the month of January last, was read and adopted. It was also resolved to have tho petition signed by members of the company, and forwarded to Wellington for presentation at an early date. After some desultory conversation the meeting adjourned till Monday next at the same lima and place. Compensation Court. —Before his Honor ’Mr Justice Johnston yesterday, the_ legal points raised on tho hearing of the claim of Eobt. Wilkin v the Minister of Public Works were argued. The points wore substantially, whether under the Act the time had not exEired prior to the claim being made. After earing counsel on both sides, bis Honor took time to consider, and tho Court adjourned until August 23rd. Canterbury Female Refuge and Reformatory.—The usual monthly meeting of the committee was held on Wednesday, tho 13tb inst. Present—The Most Rev. the Primate (president), tho Tory Rev. the Dean, the Rev. O. Fraser, Messrs G. Buwroe, G. Booth, and J. Aldred, secretary. Expenditure for the past month, £6l 17s 8d; earnings, £25 12s. Number of inmates (Class A), 11; infants, 9 ; reformatory, inmates 3. Some alterations in the reformatory department, recommended by the ladies’ committee, were ordered to be cirriod out under tho supervision of the visitors for the month. The thanks of the committee are to bo conveyed to Mr Hopper, of Addington, who for several months has supplied the institution with broad free of charge. The following resolution, moved by the Very Rev. tho Dean, was passed—“ That in the opinion of this meeting it is undesirable that women belonging to the class known as “ old offenders” should be admitted as inmates of the Refuge in class

Theatre Royal. —'• Tho Pirates of Penzance ” was again played last night, when there wag a very good house. Miss Leaf ’o Ruth was, if possible, a more finished and successful performance than on the previous evening. She has evidently carefully studied the character, so as to bring out the points. While it is one which 'does not afford a great deal of opportunity for brilliant vocalisation, it zivea scope for the display of histrionic ability, and this Miss Leaf takes advantage of. In her hands the character is presented to us in an entirely different aspect, and instead of being, as formerly, entirely overshadowed by the soprano part, the tables are now turned. Miss Leaf showed what a really fine voice she possesses, an 3, us a whole, the character was most artistically pourtrayod. The waltz song in the first act received, as it deserved, an enthusiastic encore, and the same compliment was paid to the tenor song. Signor Morley was in excellent voice, and sang his music vary well throughout. The other parts wore wall filled, the choruses especially going capitally, Mr Benham, as Corporal Bloater, created roars of laughter. A word of praise is also due to Mr Wentworth for his admirable impersonation of tho Major-General. To-night, a change of characters is announced. Mr Wentworth playing the Pirate King and Mr Barry O’Neil tho Major General. Tho local allusions of Mr Hydes in the policeman’s song have not, up to the present, been characterised by either point of humor, but last night he descended to vulgar personalities which would scarcely bo tolerated in a fifthrate music hall. If the management—as they appear to do—think that Mr Hydra, as a composer, is entitled to rank with Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan, it does not follow that all playgoers do so, and it might be as well t o let us have the works of these reapeo ive authors on alternate nights, so that the admirers of each could enjoy the compositions of their favorite unadulterated. At present the mixture far fr«m a success.

The Pocltky Show. —Despite the exceedingly unpleasant weather yesterday there was a good attendance of visitors at the Poultry Show, particularly in the evening. Tho Pigeon Race from Timarn terminated in a victory for Mr. Macquarie’s Pilot in excellent time, considering the thickness of the weather. The birds were sent off from Timarn at 10.1 a.m., and they homed as follows: —Mr Macquarie’s Pilot, 12h. 53m. 57sec.; Mr Macquarie’s Bake, 12h. 54m.; Mr Novice’s Pirate, 12h. 55m. 53sec. ; Blue Boy, lb. 4m. 30secs. Mr Mac-quax-ie thus scores first and second.

Meteorological.— Mr. Stansell, tho meteorological observer at Christchurch, furnishes the following information as to the rainfall during the past five days:—July 17th, 0.04; 18th, 0.10; 19th, 0.15; 20th, 1.50; 21st, 0.74. As will be seen, the greatest amount of rain fell on the 20th and 21st iast.

Masonic.— The quarterly communication of the District Grand Lodge of Canterbury, E. C., was held last night in the St. Augustine Masonic Hall, when there was a good attendance of members and representatives of lodges. Some important business in connection with the craft was discussed.

1.0. G. —The Now Victory Lodge held a very successful open meeting at the Templar Hall yesterday (Thur.daj) treeing. Notwithstanding the inclemency o£ the weather, there was e. good attendance, the chair being taken by Bro. Buxton, LD. The songs by Misses Parker and Le Masurier, and Mrs Pollock and Bros. Birobfield and Clarke were very succeisfully given. Readings by Bros. Grant and Olarke and the dialogue from “ The Two Bnnnycasitles ” earned mush amusement. Bros. Buxton and Bennett addressed the mooting at some length on the cause of temperance, and after the usual vote of thanks tha meeting was closed with the National Anthem. Lytxbeton Pehsevxeeian Creech ConOEBT. —A concert in aid of the manse fund of the Lyttelton Presbyterian congregation was given on Thursday night in the Oddfellows’ Hull at port. An excellent programme had baon arranged by Mr Oorrick, and but for the inclemency of the weather the concert would have been an unqualified success. As it was, there was a very good house, and the programme was performed without alteration, excepting in one or two items which failed through tho absence of one or two gentlemen who had doubtless been prevented from attending by the bed weather. Masters Skelton, Parsonc. Duggan, Savage, and Stanley, pupils of Mr Oorrick, took part in the concert, and their performances on the violin and cornet were exceedingly good. The concert was indebted very much to Mrs Grey end Miss Kent for its measure of success. The Misses Malcolmson performed a pianoforte duet, which was much admired, and Mrs Millar and Mias Grubb ore or two songs and ducts. Several well-known musicians from Christchurch and one or two local vocalists also contributed their services. Pai-amui Coursinc Cliii. —A meeting svas held at the Sawyer’s Arms Hotel Papanui, on Wednesday evening, to receive nominations For the fixture of the ensuing week, which will he run off on Wednesday next in the vicinity of Yaldhurst. Owing to the inclemency of the weather hut few attended. For the Papanui Cup sixteen nominated, whilst for the Sapling Stakes only twelve put in an appearance. It has been decided to extend tlie time for receiving nominations till Monday evening next at O.HO, which will enable tlie South Canterbury men to make entries for this, the last meeting of tlie club during the present season.

“ Let me out! let mo out ! I’ve got salvation !" sobbed a thin man, in a many pocketed ulster, up at the Moody and Sankey meeting the other night, as ho wedged towards the door. ** Let mo go homo and bear the blessed tidings to my unbelieving wife.” But all the same a suspicious detective jammed him up against the wail and unloaded from his pocket throe watches and five pocket-books, after which the services wont on.

“Drunk again, eh?” said the magistrate contracting his brows and looking severely at the prisoner. “ Yis, yor honor,” candidly

returned Put. “ I was afther slittin wood a( [ yer honor's house, and the leddy asked wud I take sut.hin, ‘ I will, says I, and I took two glasses, but if I had known yet honor kept such bad liquor, ’pon my Bowl, I wuldn thave luk but wan.”—“ Brooklyn Eagle.” A lady now residing in this city was once travelling by stage in the Oatskill mountains, and stopped for the night at an the way country inn. She was tired with her journey, and slept late in the morning, not responding to the first call for breakfast. Presently there came another tap at the door, and a girlish voioo said, “ Please mum, won t you get up ? Wc want to use one of your sheets for a tablecloth.”—“Eoekuk Conati* tution.”

An Arkansas girl refused to marry her lover unless he would perform some heroic action. After due reflection ho eloped with the girl’s mother as the roost heroic thing he could do. At Kalk Bay, Cape of Good Hope, is the Gentlo Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, Farmer Peeks, au inn with a sign, in the centre of which is a shepherd with dog, crook and sheep. On the loft side is the following : Tub Journalist's Wooing. —Hithridates Oppenheimer was the editor of a fashion weekly. He loved, but he could not wed. Fashionable journalism is a great, a noble thing ; but it does not pay. Oppenheimer realised that his income, oven including his commission on the sale of paper patterns, would not enable him to support a wife, as wives wish to be supported nowadays. What was he to do ? He could not increase his income. He must reduce the expectations of his wife. For that purpose ho would use the mighty engine referred to. The next day he wrote in the “Fashion Notes —“ It is no longer bon ton for young gentlemen of fashion to present engagement-rings to their fiancees.” Then ha went to the house of Mias Anastasia Pettingill, and offered himself. She accepted him. She looked as if aho would have liked a diamond ring ; but she said nothing. Next week ahe read in her betrothed’s paper : “ Presents between fiancees are now considered in very bad gout.” She sighed ; but said nothing. Tho next week he “ Fashion Weekly ” said : “ When engaged persons enter an ice-cream saloon, it is now the fashion for the lady to pay for her own refreshments.” A week after, this item appeared : “ Brides this year will dress very simply. Calico is the fashionable material.” And when the ensuing issue of the paper was laid before her, Anastasia Pettingill read with a breaking heart this double-barrelled shot: “Fiats are no longer mode for young married couple. It is considered vulgarly ostentatious to have more than one room. For light employment for married ladies, art-embroidery is now quite out of date, although in the way of towelling work fine effects may bo obtained en a smooth wood ground—s floor, for instance. Fancy sowing, especially in connection with buttons, is much affected.” This was too much. When Mithridatcs Oppenheimer wont to seek his bride he learned that she had gone into a convent and taken the double-extra black veil, remarking that nothing was loft her now.to live for. Oppenheimer has retired from tie.- “Fashion Weekly,” and has now a gloomy but lucrative position on “The Shroud,” the organ of the undertaking proeseion,—“ Puck.”