NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2443, 3 February 1882, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY

Intercolonial Weather Exchange.— Sydney, Thursday : Fine weather, with calm or light B.W. winds, prevails all over the south-east of Australia and Tasmania. Barometer Portland, 30.3 ; Hobart, 30.0 ; Sydney, 30.3. Another Definition, —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, eu offender, being asked as to the quantity of liquor he had on board during a certain free fight, described himself as being at that time “military drunk.’’ This information was eked out by Sergeant Mason, who informed the Court that one glass of liquor constituted a “soldier’s drunk.” Mors about Acoustics. — At the BM. Court this morning the echoes disported themselves in a singularly fantastio manner. When there is a full house what is said by speakers can be distinguished pretty well, but when, as ou this occasion, the room is nearly empty, he would be a bold person indeed who, from certain points on the floor of the Court, would undertake to give an intelligible account of what goes on between the parties engaged. Cricket. —Eleven of the following will play for Lyttelton in their match with the Hillsborough 0.0. on Saturday :—Messrs Mitchell, Wright, Seymour, North, Morrison, Grubb. Brown, Atkinson, R. Arnold, Lindsay (2), Hatchett, W. Willoox, and Wood. The above are requested to proceed through by the 12,40 p.m. train. Thb Board of Education. —This body held an ordinary meeting yesterday, and transacted some routine business, particulars of which will be found in another column. Northern Land, Building, Loan and Investment Society. —At a general meeting of members of this society, held on Wednesday evening, Mr C. E. Salter was elected solicitor to the society. Artillery Band. —This band, which is gaining immense popularity, gave a promenade concert in the drill grounds last night. There was a very large attendance. The programme, which was comprehensive and diversified, was rendered in a manner which gave evident satisfaction to the audience. Ebported Stiokikq up at Kaiapoi.— On Thursday, a report was current here that a man had been stuck-up near to Dr. Ovenden’s house. The alarm, at midnight, had been promptly given to the police, who, on investigating the affair, decided that it was a practical joke. The Weather at Ashburton. —The rain, the advent of which caused much consternation to the farmers on Wednesday morning, cleared off at about noon. On Wednesday night, a few showers fell in Ashburton and the vicinity, but yesterday was fine, with a nice brisk wind blowing. Theatre Royal. —The bill of the preceding evening vres repeated list night to a very good house, and both pieces wont well. This evening, “ Snowball ” and “ The Chinese Question ’’ will be played for the last time, as on Saturday “ Eureka,” a play in which Mr and Mrs Williamson created some excitement in Australia, will bo produced. Ashburton Theatricals. —On Wednesday evening the local Dramatic Club performed "Doing My Uncle,” and “The Dead Shot ” to a good house in the Town Hall, and about £2O was realised for the benefit of Mr 0. Rourk, scenic artist, whose premises were recently burned. The pieces were amusing and creditably given. Married at Fourteen. —ln yesterday’s issue were published details of the hearing at Ashburton of a case in which James Fowler was charged with the abduction of Miss Lucy Mary Haines, both residing at Methven. Fowler’s promise to marry the girl, or rather child, was promptly kept, the marriage having taken place on Wednesday in the Registrar’s Office, a few hours after the bride, the bridegroom, and Miss Lucy’s foster-parents bad •greed to compromise the matter by hasty espousals being entered into.

Swimming Bags.— The swimming race under the auspices of the CanterburyEowing Club for a trophy presented by Mr Harman, will take place to-morrow afternoon at three o’clock. The competitors will have to swjm, over a course to be indicated, m full boating costume. The idea of the _ inauguration of these matches is an exceedingly good one, viz., to prepare boating men in case of an emergency, such as the swamping of a boat, and as the contest is of a somewhat novel character no doubt there will bo a goodly attendance of visitors on the occasion. Dbainagb Uoabd Election. —The trial of the objection to the election of Dr, Prins I as a member of the Drainage Board for the north-west sub-district will take place on Thursday next at the Resident Magistrate’s Court before Mr B. Beetham, at 2 p.m. Magistrates’ Warrants.— The form of the warrant of commitment hitherto used in the Dunedin B.M. Court under the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act has, on appeal to Mr Justice Williams, been held to be bad in law. A debtor who had been sent to gaol on the authority of the Magistrate’s warrant, applied for a writ of habeas corpus, and was liberated from custody. Board of Education Election. —An election of three members for the Board of Education is necessary, owing to the annual retirement of one-third of the members. The

following have been nominated : —Mesne Q-. Booth, 8. O. Farr, W. Montgomery. Wm. Parkerson, J. L. Wilson, and Eev. A. B. D. Tosawill. Each school committee will have to forward to the Board on or before February 28th the names of three of the above which they may select as members. The election takes place on March 2nd. Theatbicul. —Mr Piokersgill and some other members of the Pomeroy Company were passengers yesterday by the Wakatipu for Sydney. Miss Pomeroy proceeds thither

in a few days to fulfil a starring engagement under Mr Allison’s management. She will take advantage of a well earned rest to recuperate her health, which has been far from good throughout her Now Zealand tour. It may interest playgoers to learn that Mr W. Leake has entered into the marriage state at Dunedin. The fair bride is Miss Hettie Lambrette. Licensing Committee. —The nomination of twenty persons to form the licensing committee for the city of Christchurch will take place at noon on Friday, February 10th, at the Besident Magistrate’s Court office, Christchurch. The polling, if necessary, for the various districts will be held as follows, the election being for five persons in each case : North district—At the City Council Chambers, on Friday, February 17tb. For the Bast district—At the Orange Hall, on Saturday, February 18th. For the West district —At 8 . Michael’s School, on February 21st, and for tbs South district—At St. John’s School, on Wednesday, February 22nd.

Pboposed Footbbidqb, —A preliminary meeting to consider what steps should be taken to ensure the erection o£ a footbridge across the Avon in continuation of Salisbury street west, was held last evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Montreal street, Mr S. P. Andrews was voted to the chair. The chairman stated'the object of the meeting, after which a conversational discussion ensued, and a resolution affirming the desirability of the bridge in question wss proposed, seconded and carried unanimously. It was also agreed that the necessary funds be raised by voluntary subscription, and that the said bridge be built with the consent of the Oity Council and Domain Board, and that a deputation wait upon those bodies in the matter, and report at a future meeting. Thie was all the business.

Eidebmbeb Road Boabd, —The usual monthly meeting of thie Board was held in the Road Board Office, Leeaton, on Wednesday ; present all the members. Mr J. R. Campbell was 'elected chairman of the Board for the ensuing twelve months. The minutes of the previous meeting was read and confirmed. Correspondence was read from the Selwyn County Council re removing fordsman from Dobbins Ford to Burnt Island, stating that the island is under lease. Mr John MoConkey waited on the Board to ask them to deepen and straighten the mouth of the drain near his property, and also to deepen the drain on the Leeston Tramway. It was resolved to undertake the work after harvest. It was resolved to join with the Springs Board in repairing Selwyn bridge. The overseer’s report was read and considered. The pay sheet, amounting to £298 5s 9d, was examined and passed.

Thb Exhibition. —The Education Board yesterday voted a sum of £lO towards defraying the expenses of a bay in the Exhibition to contain exhibits the hona fide work of boys and girls under seventeen years of ago. There is a special class for exhibits of this description, and the assistance granted by the Board is only for the benefit of the children attending the public schools in the North Canterbury district. Particulars as to the character of the exhibits will bo found in our report of the meeting of the Board given elsewhere. Mr Twopeny received a telegram yesterday from the A.D.O. to the Governor stating that his Excellency will visit Christchurch for the purpose of opening the Exhibition. A telegram has also been received from Mr Joubert to the effect that the art exhibits from Great Britain will be sufficient to warrant the erection of an Art Gallery in connection with the Exhibition, Mr Fletcher, who had charge of the British pictures in the Melbourne Exhibition, has boon engaged to take charge of the Gallery.

An Eventful Journey. —The mail coach from Christchurch had rather a rough journey of it on its last trip over the ranges to the West Coast. Though the rivers were observed to be rising fast on Saturday morning, no great difficulty was encountered until reaching the Otira, which was divided into two streams, and down which the current was running fast, and was rapidly increasing in volume. Arthur Davis, the driver, managed to got across the first stream without much difficulty, but on reaching the second, one of the polo horses got into deep watsr with a rough footing, and stood a fair chance of being drowned, had Davis not jumped into the river and cut the horse loose. Nor were his troubles then over, for he had then to land his passengers, and get the coach out of its precarious situation, which wss no easy undertaking. In accomplishing this, one passenger got a “header” in the cold Otira, and a second passenger, a Chinaman, also made a slip in beyond his waist. After much trouble (says an exchange) all were landed on the southern bank, and ultimately got on the length of the Taipo, late that evening, where they stayed all night, reaching town early on Sunday morning. The passengers give Davis great credit for the plucky manner in which ho acted throughout the journey, which was one of the roughest that bos been experienced by him for years.

St. Mary’s, Merit alb.— Yesterday being dedioation day of St. Mary’*, Merivala, caused a stir amongst the Anglicans of the district. The day’s proceedings commenced with the celebration of the holy communion at eight in the morning, followed by choral evensong at 7 p.m., after which an adjournment was made to the schoolroom, Fapanui road, in which the arrangements for the annual conversazione were made. The attendance was very good indeed. The walls of the schoolroom were hung with oil paintings and choice engravings, &e., whilst the tables were laden with a vast collection of elegant novelties in science and art, several groups of statuary being particularly noticeable, as also were a magnificent oolleotion of ferns very carefully mounted. On the western wall of the room a magnificent new altar frontal, specially procured for the Cathedral, was displayed, immediately beneath which the very chaste and valuable solid silver communion service, presented to St. Mary’* by Mrs W. B. Rhodes, of Wellington, was set out, and attracted considerable attention. Perhaps the most interesting feature of [the exhibits was a manuscript copy of the Melbourne “ Advertiser ”of January Bth, 1838, of which paper the late Mr J. P. Fawknor was the projector and proprietor, whilst coming nearer home, a copy of the now defunct “ Lyttelton Chronicle,” of May 17 th, 1865, on silk, was also shown. The scientific portion was very attractive, as was shown by the groups around the graphoscopc, microphone, and phonograph. The wonders of the microscope were eagerly examined, and were objects of in* terest. The vocal and instrumental selections were well rendered, and, as is always the case at Merivale, the gathering was mostlsucoessfnl. A complete appliance for the most approved method of carrying on beo farming, with bar hives and comb in its different stages of formation, and also some sections filled with pure honey, were exhibited by Mr Chaplin, in whoso charge are the celebrated Ligurian bees lately introduced into this province.

Tag Tbansit op Yunus. — The expedition tot the observation of the transit of Venue in New Zealand, which is to be sent out Irora Home, is expected to arrive at Auckland some time in July, so that there will be ample time for making the necessary preparations. The names of the gentlemen composing it are not yet known here. Dr. Hector has recommended the Government to erect the observatory at Napier in preference to Auckland, the reason being that there is a greater chance of obtaining a clear horizon at the former place, where the sun rises over the sea. As the transit occurs at an early hour of the day this is a great desideratum. Picnic. —The annual outing of the cabmen and livery stable keepers yesterday was a groat success. The turn-out of horses and vehicles was such as reflected great credit upon all concerned, there being over sixty in the procession, which comprised hansoms, four-wheelers, four-in-hands, &c. The locale of the picnic was Mr Boag’s farm, where ample provision for enjoyment had been made by the committee. Sports of ell kinds, races, Ac., were engaged in, and those present had I quite a good time. Some few patriotic cabmen, anxious, no doubt, that the public should not be entirely deprived of vehicles, remained on the stands, but with this exception every cab was pressed into the service to convey the very large number of visitors to the spot. Altogether the outing was a most enjoyable one, the weather being splendid. Attempted Incendiarism. —About three weeks since an attempt was made to sot fire to the dwelling house of Mr J. H. Stringer, confectioner, Colombo street. The house, which Is situated in the Stanmore road, near the residence of Mr W. B. Cooke, has recently had additions and alterations made to it, and which were in progress at the time referred to. When Mr Pusohell, of Lower Avonside, was driving past he saw the glare of fire in one of the unfinished rooms, and having alarmed the family the fire was quenched. At about eight o’clock on Wednesday evening last one of Mr Stringer’s children found that the incendiary had been again at work, and that some sacking which was covered over the woodwork to protect it from the plasterers was on fire. A few buckets of water were speedily procured from the adjoining premises, and the fire was quickly put out. It is to bo hoped that the dastardly person, or persons, bent on destroying the property may bo speedily arrested. Debtbotebs op Chops —Many of the crops in the Taieri will not be worth cutting this year, owing to the havoc wrought by the small birds. Some farmers have already started to out their crop for chaff, being certain that it left standing it will bo completely destroyed. Many people have no idea of the extent of the depredations, and a number of Dunedin gentlemen who travelled through the Taieri recently could hardly believe that the sparrows and green linnets could have occasioned so much damage to the crops. In some parts of the district (says the “ Daily Times ”) the farmers have men employed searching for the eggs and young birds, which are destroyed by thousands. , Women’s Wobk. —In contrasting the work of the women with that of the men in the London Poet Office, the authorities say that the women are more conscientious, and take a greater interest in their occupation. This < is, perhaps, only too easily accounted for when it is remembered what is the class of women who are here employed. The women in the Telegraph Department and other Post ' Offioe work are distinct from the Post Office ■ clerks proper, and their social position is not enquired into when they are admitted. But , these speoially appointed clerks were not born with the prospect of work lying before , them, and many a ead history is connected with their entrance on official life. The young men in the Post Offioe spend their time in exeroiso or amusement when the hours of work are over. Many of the women go home to continue their exertions in some other form. The salary is small, and one tries to increase it by giving lessons, another by sewing, a third in drudgery of a domestic kind. The continuous close application is often found a relief from pressing thoughts of great sorrow or loneliness ; or there may, perhaps, be anxiety to rise as rapidly as possible to a higher position in the section, that a larger salary may be obtained. The clerks in some cases have others depending on them. Lodgings, where two idiot brothers are her only companions, is the home of one woman. A solitary attic near London Bridge is the home of another of these clerks. Possibly the women plod more steadily than the men do. At any rate, the authorities are satisfied that nothing is wanted among them of quiet business-like ways.

Ooalgatb Ponies Court. —On Wednesday, before J. A. Mollraith and H. J. Mathias, Ejqra., John Woods and Thomas Wilson were charged with having entered the Coalgate Railway Goods Shed during the night of the 30th January and stolen some beer from a hogshead therein. After hearing the evidence of several [witnesses, the offenders wore each sentenced to one. month’s hard labor.