NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2401, 13 December 1881, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY

1.0.G.T.—A new lodge under the Eight Worthy Grand Lodge of the World, was instituted by Bro. Bridges. 8.D., on Monday, the 6th December, 1881, at Bingsland. The now lodge was opened and named the Hope of Eiohmond. Thirteen members were initiated into the order, and two members by clearance cards. The officers were duly elected and installed, and it was announced that there were several candidates for initiation at their next meeting. INTBECOIONIAIi Weatheb Exchange.— Sydney, Monday—On the south coast of Australia and Tasmania, moderate S.W. winds and fine weather prevails, and in New South Wales moderate S.E. winds with rain. Barometer:-Portland, 30.2; Hobart, 29.8; Sydney, 30 0. A Eunawat Hoax. —This morning, at Fort, a hundred fingers from hands held up in front of the Canterbury Hotel might have been seen pointing towards the vanishing figure of a supposed escaped prisoner, ns every now and then he was supposed to be clearing fences at a bound and periodically disappearing in the denser vegetation of the Fort hills. Any number of telescopes were called into requisition, only to find that the runaway had not “escaped,” and that, while the excitement was at its highest pitch, all the lodgers at Mr S. C. Phillips’ Hotel, better known as H.M. Gaol, were sitting comfortably taking their mid-day repast within the four walls of the hostelry.

The Late Deowning Case.—An effort is being made to afford some assistance to the widow of Mr Kerr, who lost his life in the Heathoote river on Sunday, in endeavoring to rescue the lad Campbell, and also to help the lad’s mother, who is a widow, and who by the loss of her boy has been deprived of her principal means of support. With the above objects subscription lists have been opened at Messrs E. Wilkin and Co.’s, Mr B. Hale’s shop, Messrs W. Howe and Co.'s, Manchester street, Mr Bichardson’s Empire Hotel, and Mr Hiorns’ Central Hotel. The secretary of the Oabmen’e Society has also a list open. The melancholy deaths of those who were the mainstays of these poor women are sufficient to excite our deepest sympathy, and the utter helplessness of the bereaved ones is a powerful appeal for substantial help. In addition to the above, and pending the formation of a general committee, Mr John Ollivier and Mr O. B. Taylor have kindly consented to receive subscriptions, and we trust that the public will respond freely, as no' more painful or deserving cases have come under our notice for some time.

Theatrical—Mr Josh Piokersgill has arrived in advance of Miss Louise Pomeroy and her company to make arrangements for the Christmas and farewell season of Miss Pomeroy here. The season will open on Christmas Eve, and it is probable that several novelties will be produced. Drainage Board.—The usual meeting of this body was held yesterday, when a good deal of business was transacted. Amongst the most noticeable item was the settlement of the vexed and long pending question of the disposal of the water draining down from the north of Papanui. The Board will meet again on Tuesday next, owing to the regular meeting falling on Boxing Day. Electoral. —As will be seen from the election intelligence published this morning, a scrutiny of the votes recorded in the Wallace election has resulted in placing Mr Hirst, the Ministerial candidate, at the head of the poll, in the place of Mr Daniels, the Oppositionist, who was announced in yesterday’s issue as having been returned. The Pipe Drainage.—Tenders for the laying of the pipes throughout the district, as proposed by the engineer of the Drainage Board, were received yesterday, and will bo considered at a special meeting to be held tomorrow, at 10.30 8.m., when the report of Mr Harman and the engineer, to whom they have been referred, will be brought up for discussion by the Board. Ashburton Agricultural Prospects.— The farmers round about Ashburton may be excused for rinding fault with the clerk ef the weather. During the past week some very hot days have been experienced, and the clouds, though overhanging in a tantalising manner, refused to break. On Bunday afternoon and during the night some refreshing showers fell, but a heavy downpour is sorely needed. Valedictory.—The Eev. Thomas Harrington preached his farewell sermons as pastor of the Oxford Baptist Church on Sunday last. The rev. gentleman took as his text in the morning, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life,” Bev. ii., 10 v., and in the evening, “ Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, bo of good comfort, bo of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace ehall be with you,” ii. Oorin. xiii., 11 v. Both services were very impressive throughout, and the sermons were earnestly delivered to attentive and full congregations on both occasions. Cricket. —Yesterday an eleven of the Opera Company tried conclusions with the Lancaster Park Club. The strangers were overmatched, having to do a considerable amount of leather hunting before the afternoon was over. The Opera team made 66, -while the home team put together the large *oore of 260. For the former Thompson made 29 and Hall 10. For the latter W. P. Beeves made 100 ; Wilding, 42 ; O. Beeves, 35 (not out) ; H. Loughnan, 22 ; Ataok, 12 ; Campbell and Taylor, 10 each. Beeves’ century (the third of the season) was a fine performance, only one chance being given. Ataok and Wilding did the bowling for Lancaster Park, while Hall trundled well for the Opera, but was hardly well supported by Lis field.

The Late Drowning Oabb. —At the inquest yesterday, on the bodies ot the two men who were drowned in the Biver Heathcote on Sunday last, the jury expressed their warm approval of the conduct of Smith, who, at the risk of his life, endeavoured to save the drowning men. The outside public have also very generally endorsed the opinion, and expressed the hope that the Royal Humane Society’s medal may be awarded to Smith in recognition ot his plucky efforts. Gold Medal —The gold medal recently awarded to Mr T. J. Watters by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association at its late show for the best colonially-made cooking range is now on view in the window of Messrs Ooates and 00., Colombo street. Union Rowing Club. —The following are the crews for the junior four-oar race (club’s prize), to be rowed this evening :—F. Moule (stroke), P. Ward (3), A. G. Ataok (2), W. P. Clarkson (bow), in the Thetis, v W. A. Styoho (stroke), J. Bhaokleton (3), E. H. Woledge (2), H. Hinge (bow) in the Electric. The winners of the above race will row again to morrow night against F. 0. Rowley (stroke) H. Martin (3), W. G. Atack (2), S, R Lough (bow). Loyal Persbvbbancb Lodgb, 1.0.0 F.,

M.U.—An excursion, under the auspices of tho [ above lodge, is advertised in another column to leave the Steam Wharf, Woolston, for Port Levy on Friday, December 16th (Anniversary Day), returning via Lyttelton. Boabd of Oonsbevatobs. The usual meeting of this body was held this day at 2 p.m. The overseer’s report as to the state of the Waimakariri was read. Mr England stated no formal report of the works committee would be submitted, as no fresh work had been undertaken. Mr F. Jones stated that the gorse groin, No. 14, had answered all tho expectations formed of it; the overseer also, who was in attendance, mentioned that a large hollow that had previously existed at its roar was now filled up with shingle, owing to the groin having been placed in position. Accounts to the amount of £430 6s 2d were passed for payment. A letter was road from Mr James Wilson, Yaldhurst, stating that the Templeton Road Board had been removing shingle from the reserve leased by him, and requesting the Board of Conservators t o inform him how to act in the matter, as the clerk to the Road Board had told him that they were about t> have a portion of the land be had leased reserved to them for getting shingle from. It was resolved to forward a copy of Mr Wilson’s letter to the Templeton Road Board, and ask that body for an explanation. Also, that Mr Joel be instructed to visit the reserves and report, at the Board’s next meeting, what was being done in the matter. From Mr A. H. Maclean, Inspector of Audit, in reply to the Board’s letter of October 23rd, stating that he had not yet received any communication from the Colonial Secretary with respect to fixing the remuneration to bo paid to local bodies for collecting the Waimakariri rate. So soon as the instructions were received he would communicate with tho Board. Also, from the Colonial Secretary's office, re the matter referred to in the letter from the Inspector of Audit, and stating that instructions on the subject bad been sent to that officer sit oe he had written the above letter. Nothing further has yet been done in the matter. The Chairman stated that the manager of the Union Bank of Australia had intimated the receipt of £872 7s 3d from the Government, which had been duly placed to the credit of the Board. This was all tl • business. Narrow Escape pbom Deowning in a Sbweb. —A sensational affair occurred in Melbourne recently. A cabman named Brown fell into one of the deep channels which border the streets of Melbourne, along which a torrent of water was rushing at the time. He was carried under all the footbridges and the sewer at Little Bourke street, with a crowd of excited persons running along, making vain attempts to rescue him. They could, however, do little towards that end, as their own safety waa at stake. A large dog, belonging to a shopkeeper, plunged into the stream, and caught hold of the unfortunate man for a moment, but ho failed to keep his grasp. When the whole length of Swanson street, from Lonsdale street to Bourke street, had been traversed by Brown in the channel, a last determined and successful effort to save him was made. He was hauled out of the water, as the bystanders thought, dead, and conveyed to the Melbourne Hospital by Constable Walsh, Upon an examination being made it was found that Brown’s right leg was fractured jnst below the knee, the injury being caused by his being dashed against one of the footbridges on the side of the curve, and that he was in a thoroughly exhausted condition.

A Dead Shot.—Lady Florence Dixie, who went to the Transvaal as correspondent of the London “Morning Post,” is camping out with her husband, and cooking her own rations. Not long ago, says an exchange, a Boer, who made large boasts about his skill with the rifle, was challenged by her to a trial of skill. The Boer shot with a MartiniHenry rifle, Lady Florence with a Winchester, at bottles placed at a distance of two hundred yards. To the delight of all the onlookers, Lady Florence hit the bottles one after the other as if they were elephants, and the Boer went away signally defeated, and with the conviction that if all Englishmen can’t shoot, some Englishwomen can.

Lifeboats fob New Zealand.—ln ‘reporting upon an inquiry from the Loudon Board of Trade to the Dunedin Harbor Board on Thursday, Captain Thomson took the opportunity of making the following remarks :—“ Perhaps the time has coma for the establishment of a New Zealand Lifeboat Institution, to he upheld by voluntary contributions, and Dunedin to take the initiative in such a movement. Lifeboats are the gifts of philanthropists in the Old Country, and I am sure an appeal to the public in snob a noble cause would meet with very liberal support. Such an institution once established would soon place lifeboats at every dangerous point round the coast.”

A Strange Tale of Slavery.—One of the most singular incidents of the British defeat at Maiwand, in Afghanistan, according to tho “ Now York Times,” has just transpired, and if the details of it were only known it might be shown that a tragedy has been enacted full of the deepest touches of pathos. Some Sepoys, who were captured and taken to Herat after the battle in which Ayoob Khan defeated General Burrows with heavy slaughter, have by some moans managed to escape from Ayoob’e citadel and reach the British frontier. How they could have travelled along the line of territory that stretches between Herat and Quetta, tho capital of the Khan of Ehelat’s dominions, without being murdered or captured by the hostile tribes who swarm in the country, is difficult to imagine ; but in all probability they were Mussulmans, and in that case they would bo able to claim some hospitality from the Afghans, who are much more liable to be affected by the claims of Mohammedanism than they are by the distinctions of nationality. The story they told the British authorities at Quetta is to the effect that four British soldiers who were captured at Maiwand have been sold into slavery by their captors. What the sufferings of these slaves are cannot be even imagined, because the Afghans are brutal to a degree with respect to aliens whom they have taken in battle. If they eave a life, it is only from a whim that they may put it to prolonged torture, and these four men Srobably are now undergoing miseries to which oath itself would be a comparative relief. When Dr Bellow entered Afghanistan twenty years ago, in connection with an Embassy to tho Ameer, he met a man who was pointed out to him as a British captive who had been taken in the war of 1839 42. The man resembled a beast more than a Christian human being. Ho had almost forgotten his own language, and the little be had left of it be dared not epeak, so terrified was he of bis Afghan masters. Bellew says the case was siegularly pathetic, and in it alone the world may gain some idea of the fate of the four white slaves who are now reported to be alive in the capital of Western Afghanistan.

Killing a Chinaman. —Great excitement has been caused in Perth (Western Australia), by the trial of John O’Grady, captain of the schooner Clarence Packet, for the murder of a Chinaman, whom he forced to work at the pumps when sick. The China man broke down, whereupon O'Grady pulled him about the deck by hi* pigtail, kicking him severely. A kick in the groin finally disabled the Chinaman, who lay on tho dock struggling for a few minutes and then died. O’Grady then took him up and pitched him overboard. Tho jury were occupied all night and till two o’clock in the morning considering their verdict, which was given as one of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy. The judge imposed a sentence of twenty years’ penal servitude, evidently having very little sympathy with the jury’s recommendation.

Aw Exciting Ohasb. The Dunedin " Herald ” gives an account of an exciting scene in Princes street on Friday afternoon. A Chinaman named Sah Lee of Kaikorai, was unloading a dray at the warehouse of Mr Sew How, in Stafford street, opposite the polling booth for City South, when the horse began to move, and Rah Lee trying to stop it the bridle came off. This frightened the horse, which dashed away into Princes street, among the tram oars and a number of other vehicles, threading its’ way, however, without colliding. When it got as far as Walker street it suddenly turned round and went back Princes street in the opposite direction, again passing between other vehicles and clearing the way of pedestrians with great rapidity. In the course token the horse and vehicle described several circles, during one of which the animal got on the pavement by Mr Speddiug’s, and brought the cart into collision with an express backed against the path, which was swung round without being injured. Many efforts were made to stop the horse, but as there whs nothing on its head to hold by this was difficult. At length, when opposite Liverpool street, a young man caught hold of its mane, and presently was seen to be on the ground among the horse’s feet, the dray passing over him. The excitement now was great, it being thought the man must be killed. A few yards further on the horse turned round again, and began to come back along the street, but being now pretty well spent, a number of men, by holding to the tail of the cart, were able to stop it. Simultaneously the man rose, shook himself, and found beyond a few scratches on his skin and clothing he was uninjured, and everything being then safe, he asked the Chinaman to “shout” a pint of beer, which John immediately did.