NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2289, 3 August 1881, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Papanui. The postal facilities in this rising suburb being of the most unsatisfactory character, it is proposed to memorialise the Postmaster-General to remove the post-office to a more central position and, if possible to provide for a daily letter delivery. A meeting to further this object will be held in a few days.

Lyons' Tourists. —This company, having lafely got over the dangers of Port Chalmers harbour, arrived this morning by the Taiaroa, and will make their first appearance at the Theatre Royal this evening. As already stated, the company is a very complete one, and the entertainment to-night sparkling and varied. Lyttelton Magistrate's Ootjbt. The following civil cases were heard at this Court this morning before Mr Joseph Beswick, E.M.: -W. J. H. Simmons v. O. Boyd, £l9 11a ; judgment for amount claimed and costs. Moyniban v Philp, claim £2 ; Mr Nalder for plaintiff, Mr Nalder for defendant j judgment for defendant. ,

U.A.O.D,—The opening meeting of the Campbell Lodge will take place at the Wellington Hotel, Tuam street, on Friday evening next, at seven o’clock. The secretary will be in attendance at the Grosvenor Hotel on Thursday evening to take final nominations.

The Kaiapoi Tramway.—At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council the project lor laying a line of tramway from the railway station to the maltkilns and woollen factory was brought forward, an-1 the. necessary permission wn given to construct a line from the railway along North road, across the river, and along Charles street, with branches on Biwen street east and west, and Charles street east, or northwards along the North road. It is contemplated that the proposed lino'to be first laid will not cost very much more than a siding already promised to be made by the Government to the river side alone. It will be necessary to erect a new bridge capable of carrying a loaded train of waggons. As the swing bridge is about to be rebuilt, the opportunity occurs of making it a substantial structure, and one which will serve the combined purposes for a road and light railway bridge. The Council requested Mr Isaac Wilson to take the matter in hand and visit- Wellington forthwith, in order that no time might be lost in carrying out the proposal. Evidence has been given that the receipts for carriage on coal and goods sent to and from the factory and the kilns would alone pay working expenses. The tramway would also be largely made use of for the carriage of timber and other goods by the merchants in town.

An Immense Telegram.—A correspondent says ;—We all regard the Americans as a go-a-head people.; and indeed, not without good reason. I have before me a copy of the “Chicago Times” of May 22nd, 1881, and if I had never beard anything of America before, and was never to hear anything of America again, I think I should be able from this paper alone to get a tolerably good idea of America and American character. The copy of the “ Times” before me consists of 176 Id'ng columns of closely printed matter, on almost every subject under the sun. Special telegrams are there by the score,and amongst them is one which is nothing less than a marvel. It consists of the entire New Testament (the revised version of course) word for word, from the beginning of Matthew to the end of tho Revelation, This immense telegram occupies nearly eighty-nine columns, and is a feat in the art of telegraphy that has never been equalled. The time occupied in its transmission from New York to Chicago was from 5 to 11 30 o’clock p.m., nineteen wires boing used up to nine o’clock, and twenty-one after that hour. The number of words was 83,715 ; nearly 84,000. After this I shall be surprised at nothing I hear respecting America, When a paper of 176 long columns of closely packed matter, including amongst many other things of great interest a special telegram of 83,715 words, can be had in America for 2)d, it really does seem as if nothing was beyond the enterprise of tho cute Yankee. Transplantation or Bone.—At a recent meeting of tho Royal Society, an account was given by Dr Macßwen of a very remarkable case of inter-human osseous transplantation, no previous successful case being recorded. In 1878 a child of three years was admitted in the Glasgow Infirmary for necrosis of the right humerus, the shaft of which was already separated from its head at the epiphyseal junction. Fifteen months after tho necrosed portion had been removed there had been no bone formation of any account, and over twothirds of the shaft was wanting. A first transplant of bone was then performed. In making tho sulcus for the reception of the graft reliance had to be placed on anatomical relations as to correct position, as there was no trace of periosteum or fibrous structure to indicate the former location of the bona. Portions of human bone were transplanted on three different occasions, the grafts being obtained from patients affected with anterior tibial curves from whom wedges of bone had to be removed for the purpose of straightening their limbs. These osseous wedges were each divided into many small pieces, which were immediately placed in tho ■ulous in the boy’s arm. The fragments united together as well as adhered to the head of the hnmorns above and to the condyles below, ultimately forming a solid rod only halt an inch shorter than the humerus on the opposite or left side. This transplantation of bone converted a useless arm into a thoroughly useful one. Great stress was laid by the operator upon the sub-division of the transplanted bone into fragments, as thereby greater nourishment is able to be conveyed from the surrounding flesh to the osseous formation. The conclusions arrived at are, that transplanted bone is capable of living and growing, and that such transplants are capable of being put to practical uses beneficial to mankind; but that to ensure success the transplantation must be conducted antiseptioally.

Dixon’S Patent Gas. —Mr John Dixon’s application for letters patent for the manufacture of an improved gas, and the apparatus and method therein employed, was, says the Argus ” of July 26ch, granted by the Solicitor-General yesterday. It was partly heard on the previous Monday, but adjourned to yesterday in order that the Solicitor-General might obtain independent testimony concerning it. In the meantime the Dixon Company employed Mr John Kruse to manufacture gas according to the directions contained in the applicant’s specification. This he succeeded in doing, and then the company invited the clerk of patents, Mr Hicks, together with Mr Kirkland, professor of chemistry at the University (who had been chosen by the Solicitor-General) to examine their plant and see the gas produced by their process. This they did on Friday last, and Mr Kirkland thereupon sent in a report to the Solicitor--General. At the adjourned hearing yesterday Mr Kruse gave evidence as to what he had done, and stated that there was no danger to public life or health in the manufacture or use of the gas in question. Mr Waters conducted the application. The Sydney patent ha* also been granted, after having been referred to a board appointed by the Government.

Banco Sittings.— Next Friday week is appointed as a bamo sitting, when the applications on the list will be dealt with.

Mbbcantilb. —" Anglo Australian ” hear t iat a largo German house is going to establish branches at Victoria and Sydney, as well aa in gome of the leading towns in New Zealand.

0.J.0. Handicap. —The name of the Wanganui horse Dan was omitted from the list of acceptances published on Tuesday morning on account of the telegraphic entry not being accompanied by the necessary money. During the day, however, a registered letter containing the money turned up, with the correct post mark, and Dan therefore will be allowed to run, St. Joiin's Ohubch, Eanqioba. — A very successful entertainment—the fourth of the series in aid of the parochial funds—was held on Monday evening in the schoolroom. Songs were given by Miss D. Shrimpton, Messrs Hammond, Newman, and G. E. Mannering. Readings were given by Rev. C. H. Gossett, Messrs Chapman, Bernaya, Cottle, and violin solos by Mr Bambridge, which latter were very much appreciated. Kaiapox Institute. —The monthly meeting was held on Monday evening, eix members present; Mr Caleb Smith, president, in the chair. Several matters of routine business were transacted, and the matter of entertainments was again discussed and decided upon, Mandkvillb Domain Boabd. —A meeting of this Board was held at the Road Board office on Tuesday. Present—Messrs Mulcock (chairman), Boys, and Duncan. Mr Pearson’s resignation was received and accepted. Accounts, £54, were passed. It was arranged that the chairman show Mr Robinson, the new surveyor, over the district, and give him an insight into bis duties. The Board then adjourned. Spabhow Nuisance. Eveeton Distbict. — At the meeting of the Eyreton Road Board on Monday, a sum of £25 was voted for the purchase of eighty bushels of poisoned wheat, to bo distributed throughout that district this season. Seeing the dire devastation committed by the small birds upon the growing crops, and its general effect upon the district, the Board has concluded that this would be a fair expenditure to charge upon the rates. If other districts followed this plan there would be no necessity for applying to the Assembly special powers of legislation to deal with the sparrow nuisance.

Banqioea Domain Board—A meeting of this Board was held on Tuesday. Present— Captain Parsons (chairman), Messrs Mulcook, Luxton, Lilly, and Ivory. The chairman reported that Mr McLean, Inspector of Audit, had inspected the accounts and given a certificate of their correctness. Eleven tenders were received for fencing, and that of F. Stevens, at 13a per chain, accepted, the work to be done to the satisfaction of Messrs LHly, Luxton and Ivory. Accounts, £3B, were passed, and the Board adjourned. Under Age.—At the Bangiora Court on Tuesday, a defendant, who pleaded infancy as a bar to an action, proceeded to prove his age by saying that he had been in the colony eleven years, and was nine years old when he came to it. Mr G-resson, who appeared for the opposite side, contended that age could only be proved by some one present at a birth, by a declaration made by a relative, by registration, or certificate of baptism. The Bench held with this view, and did not consider that the defendant gave sufficient and satisfactory evidence of his age.

Magistrate's Court, Ranoioea.—At this Court on Tuesday, before 0. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M., H. Blackett, and A. H. Cunningham, Esq.’s, no police cases were set down for hearing, J. Guthrie vW. Carroll, £l2, value of a horse sold. Mr Gresson for plaintiff. Mr Clark for defendant. Defendant put in a plea of infancy, and further defended the action on the ground that a trial of the horse was to be given. The Court decided upon the evidence in favor of defendant. O. D. MaoOarthy v J. Hart, £lO 13s 6d. After hearing the evidence of the defendant and his wife, who put in accounts previously rendered, which did not appear to correspond, the Bench gave ju-lgment for £6 19s.

Canterbury Cathodic Literary Society.—The usual weekly meeting of the above society took place last Monday evening, in the rooms of the society, Barbadoes street, Christchurch. About forty members were present. The president, owing to private business arrangements interfering with his performing his duties as an officer of the society, tendered his resignation, which was accepted. Mr W. M. Maskell was unanimously elected to fill the vacant office of president, and Mr W. B. Perceval was elected a member of the Council, During the evening papers were read by Messrs R. H. Vincent and G. J. Sellara. The secretary informed the meeting that the society now numbered about seventy members, which augurs well, considering that the society has only been in existence one month. Abhley School Committee.—The ordinary monthly meeting was held on Monday evening; Mr F. Wright in the chair. The schoolmaster brought before the committee the unsatisfactory attendance of some of the scholars, and wished the committee to bring the compulsory clauses of the Act into operation. It was decided to postpone action in the matter for a month, in consequence of the recent bad weather and sickness in the district; but to enforce the same at the end of that time, unless the attendance improved. A long discussion took place regarding tho sale of school books by the master, tho committee thinking that he ought not to make any profit out of them, and it was resolved to place £5 in his hands for the purchase of books, to be sold to the scholars at cost price; The master declined to take the trouble of supplying books without some remuneration, and the committee consequently left the matter in abeyance. Parents may therefore procure the books whore they choose.

Ashley Farmers’ Club —A meeting of this club was bald at the Road Board office, Loburn, on Monday evening. Mr J. A. Cunningham presided. There was a good attendance. Ten new members were elected. An interesting discussion was opened by Mr D. Corr on the inferences to bo drawn from the analysis of similar soils in a neighboring district compared with that of Ashley. A valuable report from a professor of chemistry was submitted, in which it was stated that the soils analysed by him required a supply of lime or phosphates. One member here drew attention to the great importance of promoting tho lime burning indv stry. It was shown that the majority of the Ashley lands had been successfully producing wheat crops for a series of twenty years, and all which was necessary to keep it up was a supply of chlorine matter. One member stated he knew of an instance in which four tons of salt were to be distributed over a farm. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Carr, when the meeting closed. It is intended at the next meeting to consider and discuss the question of co-operation.

Kaiapoi Ploughing Match Committee. —A final meeting of the committee was held at the Farmers’ Club Chamber on Monday evening. Present—Messrs Pashby (chairman), Young, Parnham, Walls, Wilson, Stevenson and Kidd. It was decided that the prizes be awarded—Champion Class, Ist prize, £5, E. King ; 2nd £4, E. Storer ; 3rd £2, J. Dixon. Wheel Class, Ist prize £4, W. Higham ; 2nd £2, M. Hanna; 3rd do £l, G. Greig. Double-furrow Class, Ist prize £4 H. Storer ; 2nd £2, A. White ; 3rd C. E. Skevineton. Boy’s, Ist prize £3, F. Herrin ; 2nd £2, T. SKevington ; 3rd £l, J. Stevenson. Best brood mares, silver cup, given by Mr Hooper, jeweller, J. Walls ; best matched team, bridle given by Mr Nicol Kidd, F. Walls ; best groomed team, bridle given by Mr Howell, F. Marrin ; 2nd, clothing given by Strange and Fountaino, J. Busby ; best kept harness, to have been in regular use six months, backhands, given by Mr White, J. Busby; 2nd, boots given by Mr E. George, E. King. After passing the accounts of the match, and a vote of thanks to the donors of private prizes, the meeting terminated. Oobhobokatite Evidence. —In eorrobora-

tion of a statement made some weeks ago to the effect that hawks wore not poisoned by eating poisoned sparrows, a farmer in the Flaxton district vouches for the following facts About ten days ago his sons found a hawk caught in a spring trap set for catching those birds. At it did not appear to be injured a small chain was attached to it, and it was kept in the garden. Each day it was fed on supplies of poisoned sparrows, which diet seemed to suit it. Curiosity on the matter led to the close observation of the hawk’s habits, and led to the discovery that in every instance while it eat nearly the whole of its prey in the shape of a sparrow it in all cases refused and left the crops of the poisoned birds. Having discovered about fifty mice dead from eating poisoned wheat a few of these were intended to be given to the hawk. The first one it received was swallowed whole, and in half an hour after the bird was dead from having taken the poison unawares.

How to Encourage Imiugbation.— ln a trespass case heard at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, the plaintiff, one John Pattinson, stated, among other remarkable things, that when he landed in Canterbu'y he had with him one hundred pounds in gold and silver. The Q-overnment had brought him, his wife, and three children free of charge on the nomination of his brother. The Magistrate said he thought that ho had made a very good start. Mr MoOonnel suggested that men like plaintiff, who brought some little capital into the country, were just the class of immigrants we wanted here. His Worship said he did not know about that. If for every similar transaction we were made to pay £SO or £6O, it was easy to see who were the gainers and who the losers by the operation. Tiik Rbpbebentation Bill —The above Bill was introduced and read a first time fn the House yesterday afternoon. An attempt was made to get up a debate on an amendment moved by Mr Barron to the effect that the number of representatives should not bo increased. After some discussion, however, the amendment was negatived and the Bill introduced.