NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2349, 13 October 1881, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY

Ihtbbcoionial Wbathbb Exchange.— Sydney, Wednesday evening :—An extensive depression is passing Tasmania, witn rain on the south coast of Australia, but the weather is still fine from Buss's Straits northward and on the east coast. Barometer—Portland, 29.5; Hobart, .29*4; Gabo, 29.6 ; Sydaey, 29.7. Thbatbb Botal—" Winter's Tale" was repeated last night to a capital house. This evening, "The Hunohback " is announced, with Miss Pomeroy as Julia. Scpsßa£3 Court.—The criminal session of the Supreme Court will open before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston r.t 11 a.m. on Tuesday next. The oalendar up to the present does not contain a large number of oases, nor are any of them of an exceptional character. Escaped Letkatic.—Yesterday evening at '7.46, the police were apprised by telephone from Sunnyaide,, that a man named Abednego -Savage had effected his escape from that institution. Savage is described as an Englishman, .sft 4in in height, of stout build, with •dark hair and beaed, dressed in a dark coat over another coat of light color, grey trousers, .and white hat with puggaree. St. Stephen's, AesEBtTBTON. —A very suo•seosful and largely attended tea meeting, in •connection with Ht. Stephen's Church, Ashburton, was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening. Several clergymen, inoluding Archdeacon Blarper, addressed the meeting after tea, and the choir and other friends sang part songs and solos. ASABOA PBBgBTTBBIAN CITTrBCH. The Bev. A. Blake met with the congregations of the Peninsula, at Pigeon Bay, Akaroa, and Wainui, on Monday and Tuesday last, for tho purpose of moderating in a call to a minister. After divine service at each place, the form of call was read, and by desire of the congregation the name of the Bev. James Niven was inserted. The call was then signed by the member*- and adherents prevent.

Committals pob Tbial—Fredk. Line was this morning committed for trial on a charge of stealing a lot of oopper boilers, valued ut £3O, the property of Solomon Nashelski, ironmonger, of Christohurch. Thos. Oolyer, was ah'O aent up to the same tribunal, 'charged with having converted to his own use a horse, cart, and harness, the Eroperty of O. G. Parker, of whioh property e was the bailee.

Thk Thbatkh— Visitors to the Theatre to-night to witness Sheridan Knowle's incomparable " Hunohbaok," are reminded that the tram care both north and south will remain until the conclusion of the performance for the conveyance of passengeas to Sydenham aud Papanui. Bast Ohbibtchtjboh Pigeon Flying Club.—The Oakes Stakes, flown under the auspioes of the above club, took plaeo yosterday, and resulted in Messrs Walker and Grouth winning first and second prizes with Lurline and Stormbird respectively. The birds were liberated by Mr Grey, stationmaster at BangiUta, at twenty-minute in-

Itervalfc Wbslbyan Home Missions.—The annuel meeting in connection with the New Zealand Woeleyan Home Missions was held last evening in the Wesleyan Ohuroh, Durham street. The attendance was large, and the chair was occupied by Mr E. Dawson. The meeting was commenced with the usual devotional exercises, after which the chairman briefly referred to the objects of trie gathering, hoping that one of its results would be that some young men present would devote themselves to the home mission work of the Church. The Rev. W. Baumber read a few extracts from the annual report, by whioh it appeared that the contributions from all sources during the ye*r amounted to £2397 lis 3d, of whioh the nontributions from the oircuits was £1955 8s Id, whilst tho conneo tional properties yielded £334 Bs, the balanca of £lO7 15s 2d being derived from othor souroes. The grants paid to the various missions were £2415 199, leaving a balanco of £lB 7s 9d due to the treasurer on the year's account. This is exclusive of a balance on loan to the Kumara trusteoa of £B2 19s 7d. He would call attention to an item of bank overdraft interest of £SO lis 3d. much of which might be saved were circuits more prompt in their remittances. He hoped a good collection would result on the present oocasbn that would wipe off this item. The Eev. James Buller felt be was getting old in the work, but his heart was warm. Ho thought they had much cause for thankfulness, because they had no speoial settlements like their friends the Episcopalians had, or the Presbyterians in Otago ; but, like their great founder—that holy man John Wesley—they said the whole world was their parish. His heartfelt desire and prayer was that a band of colonial ministers might be raised up to extend tho Kingdom of Christ. The Eev. Wm. Keall spoke at considerable length on the state of the Ashburton oirouit, urging its peouliar circumstances to the sympathy of the Wealeyani of New Zealand. The Eev. J. S. Smalley next addressed the meeting on the claims of the Home Mission fund. The offertory was then collected. The Eev. J. S. Eishworth followed with personal experiences of this work. The proceedings closed with the doxology and bonediotion. Several anthems were rendered by the ohoir at intervals during the meeting, with its accustomed efficiency.

The Shetland Disastbb. The Sootoh correspondent of the " Otago Daily Times" writes—" The case of the families of the fiftyeight Shetland fishermen (for that is now ascertained to be their exact number) who perished in the recent disastrous storm in those regions, has been taken up with practical sympathy in most of the large towns in Scotland, and the relief fund now approximates £6OOO. The Queen sent £25, a Manchester gentleman £SOO, and £IOOO was quickly subscribed in London. The destitute are reported to number nearly 200, among them being thirty-three widows and about 100 children. The remainder are aged relatives who were dependent for their support upon the men who perished in the storm. Some of the published accounts of the want, as well as the sorrow, caused by tho catastrophe are very pitiful, salt skate (and but little even of that) being tbe only food in some of the dwellings of tbe bereaved. It is hoped that one result of the present circumstances will be tho adoption of some system of aiding the fishermen in the Northern isles to provide' themselves with better boats, and so greatly lessen tho chance of a recurrence of such a disaster. A Deoll Incident.—The " Bruce Herald" is responsible for the following: "A ludicrous incident occurred in co nection with Kohlera' waxwork entertainment at Milton. The host of the Commercial Hotel sent a man in his employment across to the hall to inform the Messrs Eohler that dinner was ready. Opening the door and beholding an individual standing just inside, he made the dosired announcement. Some time afterwards, the Eohlers not coming to their dinner, Mr Ooombe it quired if they had been told. The man replied 'Yes, I told that cove just inside the door.' After a few hard words the landlord said, ' Why, that was a wax man,' to whioh the messenger responded, 'Well, wax or no wax, ho had a pipe in his mouth.' "

No Doubt About It.—The " Post" says that the Bishop of Wellington has few equals in the art of making torse observations full of dry caustic humour. In addressing the Synod at its opening, hia Lordship gravely remarked that " the Parihaka district still continued to present an unfavorable field for Church work." No member of the Synod seemed inclined to question the acouraoy of the view just at the present time.

Litbeaby.—The Dunedin papers state that " Thorpe Talbot," a lady whose poems and novelettes have so frequently been well received, has won the first prize of £IOO given by the Melbourne " Laader " for a colonialwritten novel. Ashbttbton School Committee.—At the meeting of the above oommittee on Tuesday last, it was decided to recommend _ Miss Seager to the permanent position of infant mistress, conditionally on her obtaining a certificate at next examination.