NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2297, 13 August 1881, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Druids —The Ljttelton Hearts of Oo.k Lodge held their usual fortnightly meeting on Thursday night. An official visit was paid from the Mistletoe and Oak of Sydenham Lodges, and in honour of that the Foresters’ Hall, in which the Druids hold their meetings at Port, was decorated. The lodge work of the evening included the initiating of a candidate and proposal of four others. The Lyttelton Hearts of Oak, since its first opening, has gone steadily forward in the march of progress, in a soci ty point of view, in proof of which it may incidentally ba Stated that, at the meeting in question, there were no less than sixteen applicants on the proposed list and who have come up for initiation. The advancement of the Order in Canterbury has, since its first establishment, been most encouraging, and the Lodge at Port has fully shared in the popularity the Druids’ Society has attained. After the ordinary business of the Lodge had been disposed of, tables were laid by tbs stewards, Bros. McKenzie, Madden, Gregory, Moynihan, and Brown, and the visitors were entertained until the departure of the late train fr;',m Lyttelton. Ashburton Local Industries Association. —The annual meeting was held on Thursday evening in the Ashburton Town Hall. The Mayor (Mr Hugo Friedlander) was in the chair. Mr Poyntz, secretary, read the annual report. It stated that the collection of data in regard to the manufacture of beetroot sugar would lake time, most of the information having to ba procured from Europe. The analysis of beet forwarded to Professor Bickerton proved that the root grown in Ashburton district produces a higher relative quantity of saccharine matter than even in Germany. Local tanneries would not at present pay, such industries being already established near a market in which the goods wore manufactured. The establishment of cheese factories, seemingly feasible, was at present thwarted by the news of the failure of the shipment by the Oruri. A local woollen factory did not appear likely to bo successfully floated. The establishment of a landing service near the mouth of the River Ashburton, regarded by many as a visionary scheme, was thought by Dome professional men to bo feasible and easy of accomplishment at a low cost. The report recommended the question of establishing a museum in Ashburton. The committee had under their care a collection of articles presented by Mr Passmore, worth some £3OO. Messrs Zander, Bruce and others were desirous of giving collections, and Mr Joseph Clark had offered a donation of five guineas. The chairman stated that he had received a sample of beetroot sugar, refined in London. It was third-class quality, and, according to Professor Bickerton, they could grow better beetroot than in the Old Country. The sample grown by Mr Ssaly hod been shown by analysis to yield 14 par cent, of sugar, being 4 per cent, more than the European average.—On the chairman’s motion, seconded by Mr Thomas Bullock, the report was adopted.—Mr Hodder said ho was happy to say that tho cheese by the Otaki had not proved a failure. On the contrary, ho had received word that day that the shipment had yielded a profit. Ho trusted this would lead to the establishment of creameries and dairies.—Tho following officers were elected : President, Mr E. G Wright, M.H.B. s vicepresident, Mr Hugo Friedlandor; secretary, Mr Poyntz ; treasurer, Mr Hodder. —A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting. Lyttelton Borough School. —Yesterday this educational institution “broke up” r the usual holiday term. The school will en on the 29th of this month.

lEaekbbs’ Co-opebativb Association. — A meeting of the directors of the above was held to-day, at the Corn Exchange, when a considerable amount of business was transacted. Lyttelton Resident Magistrate's CotTßT.—Edmond Stuart, for being drunk and disorderly, was sent to gaol for fortyeight hours at this Court, this morning ; and Thomas Mooney, for a similar offence, was fined lOi, and for using obscene language was mulcted in 20s. Dr. J. T. Rouse, J.P., wa? the presiding Magistrate. Dinner,— The employes of Messrs P. and D. Duncan celebrated the anniversary of the South British Agricultural Works by a dinner last right, at the Wellmgton Hotel. Several toasts were drank and willingly responded to. Several songs were sung (including two about the “ Duncan Plough," and “ Runaway Mare," composed by Mr R. Lawrenson, author of tho “ Canterbury Songster,” for the occasion), which were loudly encored. The catering was very good indeed, end a very enjoyable evening was spent.

INTERCOLONIAL WeATHEB EXCHANGE. — Sydney, Friday : Fine light westerly weather and high pressure prevailed till Wednesday last, when a moderate depression passed to tho south of Portland and Gabo same night. It is now well to the south-east of Hobart, and is blowing a heavy 8. W. gale, with rain, between there and Portland.

AsHi.Br Masonic Lodge. —At the monthly meeting of this lodge on Thursday, the question of tho erection of a new hall was generally discussed, and it was decided that tho whole matter be referred to a committee of the W.M., wardens, past officers, and secretary, to bring up a report at the next monthly meeting. Fire at West Oxford. —Yesterday morning, about half-past two, the blacksmith’s shop in the occupation of Mr Olutterbuck was discovered to be on fire, and in a very short time the whole was destroyed. The building, tools, and stock-in-trade were insured in the London and Lancashire for £220. Connected with the blacksmith’s shop was a wheelwright’s shop, where the fire originated. The origin of the fire is unknown.

Benevolent Association. —At a committee meeting of the Benevolent Association held yesterday afternoon at tho City Oouno'l chombera, the honorary secretary, Mr W. R. Mitchell, road tho correspondence that had passed between the Government and himself upon the subject of a subsidy in grant in aid of the funds of the association, and announced the receipt of £663, being a £ for £ subsidy upon tho amount of subscriptions collected last year. It was subsequently resolved “ That a meeting of subscribers be called for Thursday next, at three o’clock, at the City Council chambers, on important business connected with the association and its future operations, and also to appoint a committee for the current year.”

Febby Boad Presbyterian Ohuboii.— The Congregational communities of Phillipstown and Ferry road having united in February last, and having subsequently joined the Presbyterian Church in May, have since found the necessity of obtaining a larger church building upon a more central site, in lieu of the structure known as the Ashbourne Congregational Church, which they are now renting. In view of this necessity, a site of half-an-acre in an excellent position on the Ferry road was promptly and generously given by Captain Sproul, of Lyttelton. The congregation then met, and resolved to build, and subscriptions to the amount of £l3O were promised at the meeting. A few weeks ago an appeal for help towards the enterprise we* made by the Church Extension committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and the movement has been so far successful, that a subscription list of £SOO has boon obtained. Stops are therefore being taken to build at once a church capable of seating nearly 300 persons, according to plans prepared by Mr Widdowson. The tender of Mr Ferguson, builder, of Sydenham, has been accepted, and the ceremony of laying the foundation stone is expected to take place early in September.

Child Dbowned at Abided Forest. — On Thursday night Mr Noil Holsen informed the Ashburton Police,that Thomas James Neil, aged two and a-half years, son of Mr Thomas Neil, of Big Jim’s Point, Alford Forest, had been drowned that morning. The child was playing about a well which had been left uncovered and fell in.

Nobth Belt Pbesbytebian Ohuboh.— A meeting for the organisation of the Band or Hope was held in the above church on Tuesday evening last. The names of fourteen adults, seventeen girls, and twelve boys were received as members. The following comprise the office bearers :—President, Bev. G. Malcolm ; vice-president, Mr A. Davidson; secretary, Mr Armishaw ; treasurer, Mr G. Callender ; lady superintendent, Mrs McKee; committee—Misses Goss, A. Goss and Miss Fergusson, Messrs E. Davidson, J. Kerr and W. Goss. The meetings are to be held fortnightly.

The Cathedral Organ. —lt is expected that the cathedral organ will not arrive before December. The chapter however have decided not to postpone the opening until its arrivol, but to open with a temporary organ. Accordingly the Very Rev. the Dean addressed a letter to the Rev. T. Flavell, incumbent of Merivalo, stating that the chapter would esteem it a great favor if ho, with the concurrence of the vestry, could grant the use of the now organ at present being constructed, and near completion, for St. Mary’s Church, by Mr Jenkins. A special meeting of the vestry was held last evening to consider the matter, when it was unanimously resolved to grant the cathedral chapter the use of the organ as requested,

Medical Society.—At the usual monthly meeting of tho Medical Society, hold at their rooms on Thursday last, the second section of Dr. Doyle’s paper on vaccination was road. The discussion .which followed was very interesting, and resulted in the appointment of a committee to draw up resolutions expressive of the opinion of the society as to the necessity of a strict inquiry into the number of unvaccinated children, the absolute necessity of vaccination for those found unvuceinatod or imperfectly so, tho extreme importance of re-vaccination, the necessity for the erection of hospitals for infectious diseases, and of disinfecting chambers in largo centres of population, and generally to take steps to bring the whole subject prominently before tho Government and the public.

Theatrical. —Mr G. W. Geddoo arrived last night, in advance of Mr Leake and company, to mal e arrangemente for the opening performance on Wednesday evening next. The opening piece will be “My Partner,” in which Mr Loaka scored a success in Dunedin. A Vessel Destroyed by Fire.—Between Thursday night and yesterday morning a ketch named the Treble X (XXX), at the time lying on Mr Malcolm Miller’s slip, was destroyed by fire. There was no insurance on her ao far as can be ascertained, and tho origin of the fire so far is wrapt in mystery. Tho ketch was not of any great value —probably not worth more than from £IOO to £2oo—but tho circumstances surrounding her destruction are such as to lead to tho suspicion of incendiarism. Sergeant Morice, yesterday morning, went out to the scene of the fire in Corsair Bay, near Ljttelton, and made a number of inquiries respecting the loss of tho vessel. It appeared that the first persons on tho spot were Mr Browning, the keeper of the powder magazine in an adjoining bay, and Mr D Grubb. They had been apprised of the fire by a Maori woman at about eight o’clock yesterday morning, tho woman being at that time on her way from tho settlement at Raupaki into port. When they arrived at Corsair Bay the vessel was all but consumed, and an adjoining shed, owned by the proprietor of the slip, Mr Malcolm Miller, was in ashes. Mr Miller’s loss is not leas than £l5O, no portion of which is covered by insurance. The vessel had but the day before been transferred from tho then owner or trustee to Mr R. Munro, and Mr Munro will, of course, be a considerable loser by the fire. Fortunately for Mr Miller the slip escaped injury, but his lo(-s of working tools, two boats, and a new shed has been a severe one for him. The owners of the steamer Akaroa are also losers to tho value of a boat and some cans of paint. Thera is a strong feeling in port that tho fire was not accidental, and the opinion is commonly expressed that no stone should be left unturned to sift the matter to its origin.

Lb Eon’s Bay.—A very painful accident happened on Wednesday atternoou at Le Eon’s Bay to a boy a little over four years old, belonging to Mr W. Barnett. It appears that a blue gum tree was being cut down, whon a squall of wind blew the tree in a contrary direction, and the boy was knocked down by one of the branches and one of his hip bones broken. Dr. Singleton was promptly in attendance and dressed the fractured limb. The boy is in a fair way of recovery.

Ashburton Pigeon Club. —Yesterday afternoon the first mulch (half-crown stakes) under the auspices of this club tooplace on the Hon. John Maoleax's paddock, adjoining the River Ashburton, south of Ash-burton-1 inwald bridge. Some five and thirty people assembled, including nine competitors. Owing partly to the untoward effects of poisoned wheat intended for sparrows, there was a difficulty in obtaining the full complement of birds, only thirty-seven pigeons being secured. Of these the greater number were very lazy. Mr J. Carter drew the numbers, Mr Power acted as referee, and Mr Morshead kindly attended to the trap, made by Mr Bird, and presented by iim to the club. The round resulted ns follows : - Geo. Martin, 1.0.0.; O Digby, 0.1 0 ; J. Carter (by proxy), 0.1.0. ; G. Robinson, 1 1.1. ; J. Cambridge, 0.0.1. ; J. Corbett, 0 01.; R. Bird, 0.0 0.; R. Elston, 0 0 0.; J. Tuit, 0.0.0. Mr Robinson, who scored clean shots, won the first prize of £l, On the ties being shot off, Mr Martin dropped both birds, and was awarded the second prize, saving his stake. The club has now about twenty members. The next match is expected to come off in « f--