NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2321, 12 September 1881, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY

Trout Fiies. —lt may perhaps be interesting to the lovers of the gentle art to know that a lady has lately arrived hero from England who ties files to pattern in a style to please the most fastidious taste. Wo have seen some samples tied for Mr W. S. Oooke, of this city, which seem perfection. Mr Oooke, whose authority on piscatorial mattersjis worth something, affirms that they are first-class. Lttteltok Magistrate's Court. A seaman belonging to the barque Lutterworth, on remand since Saturday, for being drunk and absent without leave, was ordered on board by Mr J. Beswiok, 8.M., at this Court this morning.—C. James Clarke, was charged with being drunk oa the railway platform on Saturday afternoon, and upon explanation was discharged with a caution.—A seaman was fined 10s for drunkenness, and another for drunkenness and obscene language was fined 20s.

The Fallabilitt or Exhibition Judges. A New Zealand correspondent writing to the London “Printers’ Register” says: Several of our New Zealand printers received awards and honorable mention at the Sydney Exhibition for specimens of fine printing. To show that the judges at the Sydney Exhibition were " the right men in tho right place,” I have only to mention that Messrs Gordon and Gotoh exhibited some now type cases, and were awarded a gold medal for “ washing boards.” Asphalt Kebbing —After several weeks’ delay, tho work of completing tho laying of the trial section of asphalt kerfcing and channelling in Cashel street has been recommenced. Native Vaccination. —lt is understood that Dr. Ovenden, of Kaiapoi, under instructions from the Colonial Secretary, has vaccinated or ro-vaccinated eighty-two of the Maoris in the North Canterbury district. The remainder of the Natives will bo vaccinated when a farther supply of vaccine matter, whuh appears to bo very scarce at present, can be obtained. FbIESXON WESLEYAN Chuech. —A very successful service of song, entitled “ Moses,” was given in the above church last Thursday evening. Mrs Etheringtoa presided at the harmonium, and was ably assisted by the senior Sunday school scholars and several friends. Tho Rev. J. S. Rishworth gave the connective readings Tho church was well filled by an appreciative audience, who evidently highly enjoyed this musical treat. It is intended to provide a library for tho Sabbath school, and tho proceeds of tho entertainment will be applied to this object.

Drainage Boabd. — A special meeting of the Drainage Board was held at 1.30 p.m., for the purpose of striking the rate. Present— Messrs H. T. Tailored (chairman), J. V, Ross, H. J. Hall, W. White, jun., and B. J. 8. Harman. Mr White called attention to what he considered an unfair allocation of charges upon the Sydenham district. After a desultory conversation the formal resolution striking tho rate was put and agreed to, Mr White alone dissenting. The rate roll was then signed by the members present, and the Board adjourned. Cool —lt is rumored that the disorganised Grey faction have already in their ideas disposed of tho three constituencies of Christchurch North, Christchurch South, and Sy.ienham, by allotting Mr 8. P. Andrews, Sir G. Grey, and Mr J. Joyce, as tho winning men at the ensuing election for the Qenerol Assembly. Thhatbb Royal. —On Saturday night Mr Cary's company re-ocoapied tho boards of the Theatre with “ Tho Pirates of Penzance,” which drew a capital house. Perhaps owing to the constant travelling tho company have had to go through during the past week, the principals were not in such good voice as we have heard them. The gems of the opera, especially tho waltz song and the unaccompanied chorale “Hail Poetry,” were re-de-mauded. To-night tho same bill will be played. The next novelty in preparation is “ Les Cloches de Oorneville,” which will follow the “ Pirates” during the lost week of the stay of the company here.

Fabewbll Benefit to Mbs Waltbe Hill. -An arrangement has been come to with Mr B. W. Cary by which the Theatre Royal will be available for the farewell benefit to Mrs Walter Hill. Mr Cary, as soon as he understood tho position of affairs, gave way to the promoters in a very handsome manner, and the result will, we hope, be a success of the most pronounced kind. Mr Cary has acted in the matter in a very liberal spirit, and we have no doubt the public will manifest their appreciation of his generosity at tho proper time. Midland Obiokbt Club. —Tho annual meeting of members of the Midland Canterbury Cricket Club was hold in the City Hotel on Saturday evening. Mr G, Mclntyre in the chair. Mr E. T. A, Fuller read the annual report, which was of a very satisfaofactory character, the club having been to the fore during tho post season in the matches which they contested, and the balance-sheet (which the treasurer, Mr O. Palairet, submitted) showed that the receipts were £97 8s 4d ; expenses, £92 10a; liabilities, £5 Is ; cash in hand and outstanding subscriptions, £7 8s 4d. On the motion of Mr F. Pavitt, seconded by Mr Bell, the report and balancesheet wore adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :—President, Mr W. H. Wynn Williams ; vice-pre-sident, Mr J. K. Hill; non.’ sec., Mr E. T. A. Puller ; hon. treasurer, Mr. 0. Palairet; committee—’Messrs G. Watson, A. P. O’Oallaghan, J. Fowlke, W. H. Ataok, J. Hunt, P. Pavitt, and L. Cohen ; delegates to association, Messrs W. H. Atack and 0. Palairet; captain of club, Mr E. T. A. Fuller ; captain of second eleven, Mr W. H. Atack ; senior match committee—Messrs E, T. A. Fuller, J. Fowlke, and G. Watson ; junior match committee —Messrs W. H. Atack, G. Fairhurst, and J. Hunt. Nineteen new members were elected. Votes of thanks were passed to the president, vice-president, and retiring officers, and a special vote of thanks was passed to Messrs E. T. A. Fuller and W, H. Atack, captains of tho first and second elevens, for tho admirable manner in which they had discharged the duties of their respective offices during the past year. The meeting then adjourned.

Oantebbuey Lawn Tennis Club. —The first annual meeting of this, club, at which upwards of fifty members attended, took place on Friday evening last at Warner’s Hotel, Mr H. Alan Scott in the chair. The chairman, in opening the proceedings, referred to the satisfactory condition and future prospects of the club, and in particular thought the club had reason to congratulate itself on the asphalt tennis courts that had been laid down, and stated that he had lately had an opportunity of seeing tennis grounds in Australia, and in his opinion none of them could compare with those of the club. The chairman then proceeded to read the report of the committee, and stated that two asphalt courts had been laid down, and a third was in course of construction on their ground in Oranmer square, and that a quoit ground had also been formed. The receipts amounted to £176 Bs, and the expenditure to £157 3s, leaving a credit in bands of treasurer of £l9 ss, against which there would bo the necessary current expenditure and cost of new court. Tho club numbered ninety-two members. Mr Oondell moved the adoption of the report andbalanoa-sheet, which was carried. The following were elected officers for the ensuing year : —President, Mr E. O. J. Stevens ; vice-chairman, H. Alan Scott; committee, Messrs Lance, Gorfe, Gould, Blood, Gresson, Neville, and Mainwaring ; secretary, Mr F. H. Bruges ; treasurer, Mr T. Y. Wardrop. Mr Bruges, at the suggestion of the committee, moved that ladies be eligible as subscribers of the club. Mr Parker, in seconding the motion, referred to tho desirability of allowing ladies to become subscribers, and the benefits that were likely to accrue if the motion were adopted. After some discussion as to the terms upon which ladies should become subscribers, it was resolved—- “ That they should bo eligible on payment of an annual subscription of 10s 6d. Mr Oresson moved—“ That members and subscribers should have the privilege of introducing lady friends on such day of the week as might be fixed by tho committee,” which was carried. On the chairman’s suggestion, it was agreed that persons resident beyond a radius of twelve miles from Christchurch should be eligible as members on payment of half the entrance fee and half the subscription. A vote of thanks to the auditor, Mr W. G. Brittan, for auditing the accounts was carried unanimously. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

Woodbnd. —A public meeting, called by the provisional director* of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association of Canterbury, wa* held in the district school on Friday evening last ; Mr O. D. Crossley in the chair. There were about forty farmers present. Mr O. Ensor attended and explained very explicitly the objects and advantages of forming such a society. Captain Parsons and Mr L. O. Williams also spoke in favor of co-opera-tion. Several questions having been put and satisfactorily answered, Mr Pateman moved—- “ That this meeting ie greatly in favor of cooperation.” The mover stated that he thought the majority present would take shares. The motion was carried unanimously. Votes of thanks were passed to the visiting gentlemen, and several shares were applied for at the close of the meeting. The Amateur, —"I think,” said a well, known orchestral leader, “ the best joke ever played in this town was on an ambitious amateur pianist when Gottschalk was here. The amateur’s father was the owner of a large hall, and he offered the use of it to Gottsohalk for his benefit. There was to be a piece for eight pianos, and the amateur was to play one of the instruments. I was the leader. I thought Gottschalk would have a fit when I told him that the amateur could’t play three straight notes of the piece. *He is sure to throw us all out,’ said I, 'and ruinjthe perfomanoo.’ Gottschalk swore like a major, but ’twas no good. The bills were out,’ and he couldn’t go back of hi* programme, even if the gift of the hall for the night was no consideration to him. At last I hit on an idea that fixed the whole business. The amateur came down to the rehearsal, and we praised him up until ho thought he thought he was to bo the star of the night. As soon as he loft wo took the hammers out of his piano, and made it dumb as an oyster. I guessed he would never know the difference, with seven pianos going at once.” The tuneful convention laughed. ‘‘And just as I thought,” said the leader, hammering on the table with his glass, “that amateur or his friends never discovered the trick.” “No?” “No, sir; he just sailed in and pounded" on the piano as if it was the worst enemy he ever had. He was bound to show off among so many good pianists, and hammered on his keyboard until the perspiration nearly blinded him. Now and then I looked at him apnrovingly to give him fresh courage, and every‘time that I did ho gave the piano a lick that nearly made matchwood 1 of it. His friends all round threw bouquets at him till he looked like a wedding arch, and when it was all over his fond parent fell on his neck in the green-room and slipped a check for 250d01. into his hand. The old man didn’t know whether he was standing on his head or his heels, he was so tickled, and the way he sent up the wine for the crowd was a caution. ' Didn’t he do fine,’ said he to,me, 'among so many first-class professionals, too ?' ‘ I never heard an amateur do so well in public,’ said I, and what’s more I meant it, eh ? Don't you think I was right ? ” —“ San Francisco Chronicle.”

The Ellbsmebe Railway Station. The ■ paragraph published a few days back respecting the removal of the Ellesmere railway stanon iscaloulated to convey a wrong impression. Xne deputation which waited on the Government • recently desired that more accommodation should be afforded to the residents on the other side of the river for the storage of their grain, and at the meeting of the Selwyn County Council, held on August 30th, the chairman stated that the Government had agreed to erect a grain shed on the site offered by Mr Gardiner for the purpose. Oantebbury Fbbethobqht Association. —A meeting of the Canterbury Preethought Association was held on Sunday evening in the large room above Mr J. M. Thompson's sewing machine depot, Colombo street; Mr William Pratt in the chair. About fifty members were present, and a good deal of important business was transacted. Mr William Pratt was unanimously elected president and treasurer of the association for the ensuing year, Mr A. Stiffe honorary secretary, and also a committee of management, consisting of several prominent citizens. It was also resolved that Mr Robert Stout of Dunedin be invited to give the public inaugural address at an early date. Kaiapoi Wesleyan Chtjeoh. —A tea party and general meeting of members of the congregation of this church, at which latter the ways and means of church finances were discussed, was held on Friday evening. Tea was provided by Mesdames Anderson, Coup, Wood, Weston, Keotley, and Pashby. At the meeting the Rev. J. H. Simmonds presided. Addresses were given by Messrs Blackwell, Wood, Pashby, Anderson, Isaac Wilson, and Heap. It was decided, after discussion, to give the envelope system of collecting a trial. The choir contributed several capital selections of sacred song. Votes of thanks to the ladies providing the tea and the speakers were passed. It is inton ed, during the current month, to hold special services in this church. The Rabbit Nuisance. —Moa Flat Station is at present the scene of unprecedented slaughter of poor bunny. Mr Kitching at present employs 107 rabbiters in the work of extermination, and no less than 100,000 rabbits succumb every month to the tempting bait. The “Tuopeka Times” is informed that Mr Kitching has already 'expended £4OOO in the work of extermination, and his present monthly outlay cannot bo set down at a fraction less than £IOOO. The rabbiters are paid 2d a skin, and at this rate they earn from 10s to £3 a week. Some of them cannot earn as much as keep them in tucker, while others make a good wage.

A Floating Nkwspapkb Office. —The latest “ new departure ” in newspaper enterprise is reported from New Orleans. The “Democrat” of that city ban fitted up a branch office on a barge, which, having been towed up the Mississippi River to Memphis, is now floating down to Now Orleans again, stopping at all points of interest on the way to gather information concerning the country along the river and for some dit. tanoe back into tho interior. The barge is sixty feet long, with twelve feet width of beam. Its interior accommodation comprises business, editorial and job offices, composing aud press rooms, sleeping apartments, diningroom, kitchen, and stable for the horses used in making land trips back from the river. It is practically a fully-equipped newspaper establishment afloat. There has been recently some talk of establishing in Athens or Smyrna an American Institute for the training of arohmologists, and as a permanent committee for archtcelogioal research and correspondence.