NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2405, 20 December 1881, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY

A New Band.—A drum and fiEe band was formed last evening in Addington, under the name of the Royal Standard Protestant Drum and Fife Band. Mr J. Pooloy wsi eleoted bandmaster. A good number of persons have joined. Ityttelton .Land Sports.—A meeting of the land" sports oemmittee was held on Monday night at the Grown Hotel. It was decided that the oanvassers for subscriptions get in all promised moneys during the present week, and report to a meeting on Thursday night next. Legislative Council. —Mr Goo. McLean, the late member for Waikouaisi, has been offered, and has accepted, a seat in tho Legia« • lative Council.

The Govbrnob's Visit. —His Excellenoy the Governor, Lady Gordon and suite landed in Lyttelton from the Hinemoa at 1 p.m. today. Mr Studholme reoeived the viceregal party, and aooompanied them to Ja special train in waiting, wbioh left for Christchuroh a few minutes after the arrival of the

steamer in Port. A good number of people were on the wharf as the steamer came alongside, but his Excellenoy and parly landed without any formal reception. Vouso.— Mr T. C. Moorhouse reports at the Police Depot that he found a female's dress, rolled up in a paper parcel, in Hereford street, about a month since. Eaiway Exccbbions South.—The privileges advertised in connection with the railway excursions to Dunedin, Invercargill, and the Southland lake districts have been further extended, and, as will be seen by an advertisement elsewhere, passengers may book by express train on Monday, the 26th inst, at the same oheap fares as on the 24th, the tiokets being available for return for fourteen days from day of issue. Tailors' Society.— The half-yearly meet- j

ing of this sooiety will be held at the Foresters' Hall, at eight o'clook to-morrow evening. Fbuit Pbospeots.—There is every probability of the yield of fruit this year in the Canterbury provincial district being largely in excess of that of any previous year. This is especially the case with nuts and store fruits. The orop of apples bids fair to be a good one. The pear crop is a good averoge one, although some of the choicer kinds are less prolific than others. During the past planting season large additions have been made to the area of land under fruit cultivation, so that in a fow yea" there is every probobilily of the yield and consumption of fruit in Canterbury more nearly approximating than ho a been the oase in the past. City Council.—This body held an ordinary meeting last evening, and transacted some unimportant business, particulars of which will be found in another oolumn. Fowl Stealing.—Just jbofore dawn yesterday morning the Bev. A. W. Hands, of St. Stephen's Ohuroh, Ashburton.'was aroused by footsteps round his house. Getting up to observe, he watohed a man ooolly killing fowls and popping them one by one in a bag. A serving man, who went out to remonstrate, was knocked down, and the local police are investigating the identity of the delinquent who* developed so decided a taste for Anglican fowls.

Thb Eboent Earthquake.—The city surveyor, in a report submitted to the City Council last night, desoribed the results of his examination of several publio and other buildings, inspected with a view to ascertain whether or not any damage had been inflicted by the recent earthquake. The report, whioh appears in another oolumn, along with the other proceedings of the Council, does not show that any serious damage was sustained from the vagaries of our late visitor.

MiSB Ada Lbstbb.—Ohrislohurch playgoers will notice with regret an item in our Australian news this morning. We refer to the death of Miss Ada Lester, who it appears was lost in the steamer Olan Macduff a short

time since. Miss Lester appeared here in oompany with Mr Wybert Eeeve, and was known as a oharming and talented aotrcss. Her untimely end will be regretted by her many admirers, by whom she will be remembered as one of the brightest ornaments of the colonial stage.

Tbial of Ebapbb and Bindbb.—Yesterday, at Mr Andrew Dawson's farm, Wakanni, some four miles from Ashburton, experiments were made with one of Walter A. Wood's reapers and binders on a light field of oats. Mr Shand, of Wood, Shand, and Co., the Ohriatchurch agent, was present, also Mr Ferriman, of Poyntz and Co., Ashburton, agents. One or two stoppages occurred, but once the gear was got in proper order the machine gave every satisfaction. The ground was very rough, but the expressed satisfaction of the farmers present may be taken as an index of the excellent nature of the work done.

Eobkss fbom Places of Amusement.— This subjeot came under the consideration of the City Counoil last night, and it was decided that the Mayor elect, aooompanied by the City Surveyor and the Fire Inspeotor, should visit the Theatre Eoyal and and other publio places of amusement and report whether any alterations are necessary in the means of egress at suoh places. The Counoil having taken this matter in hand, it is to be hoped they will not be satisfied until steps have been taken to effeotually provide against the possibility of any suoh catastrophe occurring here as that whioh reoently happened at Vienna.

Sydenham Baptist Church Bakaab.— This bazaar was opened at the Oddfellows' Hall, Liohfield street, yesterday, at noon, by the Eev. T. Anson Gafo. The stalls were presided over by the following ladies and gentlemen : —Me'tdames Cato, Ooom, Forrest, E. Edmonds, T. J. Edmonds, Pillow, and the Misses Lowe, Baillie, Jamieson, Forrest, Hancook,Parkes and Stevens, and Messrs T. J. Edmonds,and J. O.Farquharson.and Greenslade ; Christmas tree, Miss B. Forrest ; refreshment stall, Mrs Burson, assisted by Miss Burson and Mrs Bird ; weighing chair, Miss Pugh. A galvanic battery and _ sundry soientifio instruments, lent by Prof. Biekerton, were shown by Mr Page. The ivory turning lathe was at constant work during the day by Mr Graham, of Lyttelton, and the wonders of the miorosoope were displayed by Mr Harrow. The museum of art was superintended by Mr Arthur Pillow, and some excellent working models of steam-engines were shown by Messrs Cunnington and Kent, of Colombo street. The Amerioan organ was played during the day by the Bev. T. A. Cato and Mr T. Searell, and also at intervals by the Misses Bailie, Lowe, and Stevens. Although sales were well pushed by the different stallkeepers during the day, there is still a large quantity of goods remaining unsold. The bazaar was again opened to-day at noon, and appeared to be fairly patronised. It will olose at ten o'clook this evening. Wanton Destbuotion. —For some time past certain frequenters of the reading room at the Publio Library have been behaving badly, very badly. In the room referred to files of paper are placed for the convenience of readers, and are not to be cut or disfigured. But it ia a cause of frequent complaint that whole articles are cut out, and yesterday, out of pure wantonness, some of the files were bo slashed with a knife or other sharp instrument as to hang in ribbons, whilst in one instanoe the wooden clip holding the papers was taken away. The use of this reading room is allowed without espionage, and for that reason greater care of property should be voluntorily shown by all frequenting it.

Bible Cheistian Sabbath School. —The scholars of the Ohristchuroh school of the above denomination, with their teachers and soveral other friends, met at the church, Lower High street, on Friday, the 16fch inst., at about nine o'clock a.m. Soon after this

time they proceeded in several express vans and a few private conveyances to the residence of Mr and Mrs Nicollß and family, of Maryflold farm, where a delightful picnics was thoroughly enjoyed. The weather was charming, the large grass paddocks afforded ample space for the several games that were indulged In, and Mr and Mrs Nioolls heartily did all in their power to promote the happiness of their visitors. Bunning, swinging, and cricket, with several other games, were heartily entered into by most of the company. The oricket match was between the juniors and the seniors of the party, but although a few of the seniors showed that they understood the game, the juniors beat their opponents by a great many runs. At about seven o'clook p.m. the company prepared to leave for home. The Rev. J. Orewea moved a hearty vote of thanks to .Mr and Mrs Nicolls, who had not only granted tho use of their paddooks and worked hard in ministering to the party, but had gratuitously provided all the milk, butter, cream, and hams, for luncheon and tea. The resolution was very unanimously and heartily accorded, and the company returned to the city, having enjoyed one of the best picnics yet provided in connection with the school. Although the school iB yet rather small the number of scholars is nearly twice that of last year.

St. Albans Municipality.—At a meeting of burgesses, held last evening at St. Albans library, the merits of the various candidates for election as councillors and auditors were discussed, but no definite conclusion was arrived at. East Chbibtohubcii Pigeon Flying CIiTTB. —The Derby flown from Amberley to Ohristchuroh on the 16th instant resulted as follows :—Mr W. Williams* Lilipee, 33min 55aeo ; Mr Bryenton's Swallow, 38min 35aec ; Meßsrs Walker and Groth'a Donoaster, 39min 35sec. The St. Leger will be flown on Boxing Day, and about ten birds will compete, including the winners of the three prizes in the Derby.

Mabonio.—The installation of the W.M. and investiture of theofficersiof the Canterbury Lodge, 1048, took place last night at the Bt. Augustine Hall, when the following officers 'were duly installed by the D.D.G. Master, Bro. H. Thomson, assisted by Bro. W. Deamer, P.M. viz., Bros. M. Sandstein, W.M. i W. T. O. Mills, S.W.; J. Berry, J.W.; Rov. E. O. Wright, ohaplain ; A. B. Kirk, P.M., treasurer (re-elected); J. U. Cooper, 8.D.; iW. H. Messenger, J.D. ; (*. Humphreys, 1.G.; R. Willerfoss, secretary; Bro. T. 8. Lambert, D.O. After the installation, the brethren and visitors adjourned to the Canterbury Hall, where refreshments were provided by Bro. Messenger, and the usual loyal and Masonio toasts were duly honored and responded to.

Tiib Wiihhibj Conobbts.—There was again a large attendance at the Theatre Boyal last night, when Herr Wilhelmj gave another of his delightful ooncerts. His opening solo was a oonoerto by Lipinski, which afforded Herr Wilhelmj an opportunity of displaying to the best advantage his wonderful ease of bowing and power of production of melody. In the seoond part he gave Vieuxtemps' '* Reverie," whioh was a oharming performance. This was followed by Ernst's fantasia on themes selected ;from Hungarian dances. This quaint and wonderfully characteristic piece was rendered by Herr Wilhelmj with great fidelity and spirit. As on former occasions the three numbers allotted on the programme to Herr Wilhelmj were extended to six, owing to re-demands which were courteously complied with. Mias Oonron in the first part of the programme sang the romanoe from " The Marriage of Figaro" oharmingly. In the seoond part her contributions comprised two ballads, one by Plumpton, "Elaine's song," the other '• I wish I were on yonder hill," a sadly mournful piece, whioh was most artistically sung by Miss Oonron. Both were encored, and in response Mies Oonron sang "Down the Shadowy Lane " and the Spanish romance whioh so oharmed the audieno on Saturday night. Mr Vogricb, in addition to acting as aooompanyist during the evening, played in the first part a lorghetto by Henselt and two numbers by Liszt, who appears to be Mr Vogrioh's favorite composer. One of these was "The Erl King," and the other a fantasia on themes from "Eigoletto." In the second part he gave us a taste of his quality as a composer in the shape of a valse brilliante, whioh was not only excellently played, but exhibited much originality and artistio taste on the part of the composer in the treatment of the theme. To-night there will be a specially brilliant programme, and his Exoellency Sir Arthur Gordon and Lady Gordon have signified their intention of being present.