NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2409, 24 December 1881, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Parihaka. —ln a letter received from the Armed Constabulary camp at Parihaka, the writer says:—“ As I told you in my last letter, we were on the eve of quitting Bahotu for Parihaka ; so on Wednesday last, the 14th December, wo all left the former place and marched into Parihaka about noon. After dinner we pitched our tents in an excellent position at the foot of Fort Bolleston, where a guard is mounted to watch over the potato crops of the Maoris, so we cannot take any if we felt inclined. At present we have our meals in the open air ; no comfortable mess whares as at Bahotu. This state of affairs will last about six weeks, by which time a large mess where, 162 ft. long, will be built. The walls will be of fern tree slabs (punga), and thatched with toi-toi. The camp is being improved every day, long flights of steps being cut in the steep places leading to the fort. The band plays for two hours every evening, and it practices four hours every day. At present no guard is mounted on Fort Bolleston. The Maoris are returning here in ones and twos. I think there was a meeting in the pah on Saturday, the 17th, in one of the big whares. Why I think there was a meeting is because not a Maori was to be seen about that day, and on the two previous days they were busily employed taking provisions into the pah. They are very friendly to ns, and their crops are looking well. They have between 4000 and SCOO acres of potatoes, with several splendid paddocks of wheat, oats and maize. lam obliged to you for the copies of the ‘ Weekly Press ' you are good enough to send me, a* it keeps us Canterbury boys posted up in what is going on at home.” Railway Bbnbpit Focibty. —The annual meeting of the Christchurch Eailway Employes’ Sick Benefit Society was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Montreal street South, on Thursday evening last. The report of the committee showed the society had done a prosperous year’s work. Forty-eight members had left the society and received their share of tho accumulated funds, two members have died during the year and one member’s wife, leaving the total membership 102. £65 16s 8d bad been paid as sick benefit, £ls as funeral donations, £25 Is 9d dividends paid to members leaving, leaving a cash balance of £Bl 17s Id, which was divided amongst the members, a twelvemonth’s member receiving 16a Tho election of officers then took place, and Mr B. Barrington was elected president; Mr D. Bsndysides, vice-president; Mr J. A. Efford, secretory; Mr J, Jansen, treasurer; Mr J. Young and Mr J. Greenwood, auditors ; Mr G. Bugg, provisional auditor. Committee—Messrs W. Haig, H. Hancock, A. McKinley, O. Oppenheim, J. Burns, G. Bugg, H. Bulling, J. Nichols, D. Gunn, G. Bunge and B. Ashton. Sick visitors—N.E., Messrs Bullock and Gibson ; N.W , J. Boyd and Gates ; 8.E., P. Dooberty and G. Smith; 8.W., McDonald and G. Smart. A hearty vote of thanks to the retiring officers brought the meeting to a close. Christmas.— The festive season, is again close at band. Ample evidences of the preparation to keep the feast are seen in our streets, the business premises of the various Christchurch traders being in the majority of cases gaily decorated with flowers and greenery. Mr Bashford, of Colombo street, has a magnificent display of Christmas cakes, bon bans, and confectionery of every description ; and it is almost needless to add that it is the cynosure of a host of youthful eyes. The butchers’ shops all vie with each other in most excellent displays of meat of every description, from the traditional beef down to the sucking pig. The various fruiterers shops are well stocked, and their decorations are very prominent, the establishment of Mr Nanoarrow, of Colombo street, being particularly noticeable. The town presents a busy appearance owing to a larger influx of country visitors than usual; and, coupled with the beautiful weather, there is every indication of a merry Christmas being very generally spent. Drainage Board Election.—Considerable astonishment has been expressed at the selection by the returning officer of so inconvenient a day for the reception of nominations for the Drainage Board election as Boxing Day. This is always observed as a close holiday, and a day or two laterjon could easily have been fixed rather than the one selected. We understand that withthe exception of Mr W.J White, junior, the old members of the Board have refused to allow themselves to be nominated as members of tbe new Board. Local Indus iry. —Another local manufactory of cigarettes has just been started by Mr B. Simpson, who is now issuing the giant cigarette. In addition to the novelty of their size the cigarettes are enclosed in a wrapper containing tho calendar for 1882. The cigarettes themselves are of very good qualify. Caledonian Sports. —An error has occurred in the programme announced for these sports, to be held on Lancaster Park. The event given as “ One Mile Hurdle Handicap” should be “One Mile Handicap.” Intercolonial Weather Exchange °ydney, Friday evening—The weather is line all over Australia, with light N.E winds and a rising barometer. Portland, 29.8 ; Hobart, 29.9; Sydney, 30.1. .Resident Magistrate’s Court. —There will bo no Court on Monday next. The usual business for that day will be taken on Tuesday. Lyttelton Friendly Societies.—Members of friendly society lodges in Lyttelton are requested to meet in the Oddfellows’ Hall at Port on Monday morning. The Premier —The Hon. John Hall was a passenger for here from Wellington by the s.s. Waitaki, which arrived this morning.

Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court.—A teaman named Jamei Brown, belonging to the barque Annie Melhuish, was charged, before Dr. J, T. Rouse and Mr T. H. Potto, with being absent from bis ship without leave, and for assaulting the mate of the vessel. He was convicted, and sent to gaol for one month with hard labour. . Drainagb Board Election. —W. F. Hubbard, 0.E., has received influentially signed requisitions to stand for the Avon district in tho Drainage Board, and has acceded.

Abt Society’s Exhibition.— The second annual exhibition of this society was opened to-day at two o’clock. A decided improvement in the quality of the pictures is noticeable, as compared with the exhibition last year, showing that the society is doing valuable work in encouraging art, A detailed notice of the exhibition will appear in our next issue. The exhibition will be open for two or three weeks, and will commence each day at 10 a.m. Committed yob Tbial. —This morning, at the Resident Magistral’s Court, Wm. Henry Sutton was committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supremo Court on a charge of felonious assault. Holiday Eioubbions. —The steam launch Lyttelton is to run to Governor’s Bay tomorrow and on Monday and Tuesday. The Akaroa makes a cheap trip to Little Akaloa on Monday. Masonic. —The installation of the W.M. and investiture of the officers of the Lodge of Unanimity, No. 604 8.0., Lyttelton, took place on Thursday evening at their Hall, when the following officers were duly installed by the D.D.G.M. Bro. H. Thomson, assisted by P.M.’e Bros. O. A. Rich and J. Joyce, viz.:—Bro. Thos. Pritchard, W.M.j W. Hatnson, S.W.; W. Hannay, J.W. ; 8. O. Phillips, Treasurer (re-elected) 5 A. J. Arnold, Secretary • J. L. Wiggins, Organist (reelected) ;J. Thompson, 8.D.; J. Roberts, J.D.; H. F. Arnold, D. 0.; and J. O. Sopp, I.G. After the installation the brethren and visitors partook of refreshment, when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were honored and responded to. Thbatbb Royal —To-night Miss Pomeroy and her company will inaugurate their second season here at the theatre. The piece chosen is Gilbert’s mythological comedy of “Pygmalion and Galatea.” No doubt the appearance of Miss Pomeroy in a new piece will have the effect of drawing a large bouse, Oxfobd Spoets. Messrs Ingram and Thompson submitted to auction the publican’s and confectioners’ booths, the right of sporte and the cards for the annual sports at their sale rooms, West Oxford, on Wednesday, with the following results :—The publican’s booth realised £3, the confectioner’s £1 ss. The right of sports and cards were retained by the committee. United Papanui Ceioket Club,—A meeting of the members of the above club was hold last evening at the Papanui Library, when a code of rules was discussed and adopted. The opening meeting of the club will take place at 1.30 p.m. this day on the Recreation Reserve, when sides will be chosen on the ground. The members number about thirty.

St. Albans. —The election of auditors for this borough resulted in the return of Messrs Ward and Waymouth, the numbers polled by these gentlemen being 50 and 41 respectively, Mr G. H. Morleytied Mr Waymouth with a like number of votes, but the casting vote of the Returning Officer was given in favor of the latter-named gentleman. The following is the number of votes recorded Ward, 50; Waymouth, 41; Morley, 41; Black, 34; Jameson, 26; Maclean, 8. Loyal City on Ohristohuboh Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U.—The above Lodge held its yearly meeting at the Chambers, Lichfield street, on Monday evening last, when there was a very good attendance, and a large amount of business transacted. A levy of 6d per member was struck for the relief of a distressed brother. The secretary reported that the receipts for the evening were £2BB 16s Bd, the largest amount of contributions ever paid on one night since the foundation of the lodge in 1853. He also offered a prize of a suitably framed certificate of merit to the lodge, to be awarded to the member who proposes and has initiated the greatest number of candidates in the year ending 1882. The following officers were elected :—Bro. D. Kennealy, N.G.; Bro. J. Jameson, Y.G.; Bro, G. Rugg, E. 8.; Bro, A. P. Farrow, auditor. Bros, W. Thin and A. Wilson were re-elected on the hall committee ; and Bros. W. Deamer and W. F. Moore were re-elected by a large majority as lodge surgeons. Owing to the lateness of the hour, the installation was postponed till next lodge night.