THE GLOBE. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1882.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2451, 13 February 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1882.

Cur Br-LAwa.—At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning several prosecutions under the city by law regulating camera' traffic failed. la one instance. where the by law required a carrier to “ ply ” for hire while itaadi"g on a public eland, it was declared inoperatho as it required an impossibility. In others it was ruled ultra vires to the Municipal Corporations Act in tha matte' of fixing the amounts of penalties. Supposed Suicide. —This morning, about eleven o'clock, a lad in charge of the shop belonging to Mr T. Pye, gatfitter, High street, chanced to go into the upper part of the building, where he found the body of Burton Pye, son of the proprietor, lying amongst some lumber. At his side was a pot containing some liquid bronze. The young man (who was about twenty-two years of age) was quite dead, and had apparently been so for some hours. It appears that he was last seen alive on Sunday evening about halfpast six o’clock, when he had his tea at Bisdon’s boarding house, Madras street South, where he resided. After that he left, and it is presumed he went to his father’s shop, and it is thought he took some of the contents of the vessel which was found lying at his side, the liquid being a deadly poison. The police ware communicated with, snd the body removed to hio lodgings, where it awaits an inquest, which will probably be held tomorrow.

Election Petitions.—The trial before their Honors Judge Johnston and Judge Williams, of the petition against the return of Mr Harry All wright, as member for Lyttelton in the House of Bepresentatives, takes place to-morrow in Lyttelton. Magistrates’ Copet, Eakgioea.—At this Court on Saturday F. Gutzewetz was brought up by Mounted Constable Gaffney, before J. Johnston, Esq., Mayor, charged with stealing a cheque for £2 from Mr Burt’s office. Ho was remanded till to morrow for the production of evidence. Thhndbbbtoem. —A rather severe storm passed over the Peninsula on Thursday afternoon, accompanied with heavy squalls of wind and hail, causing considerable damage to the grass seed, which is now all cut but only partly threshed. The weather is still veay unsettled and showery, which puts a stop to all grass seed work, as it can only be threshed and cleaned on fine sunny days. Things in general are looking much healthier here, owing to the increase in prices of cheese and grass seed, and hopes are entertained that the worst is now passed. Scholastic. —Mr Egbert Mayo, recently second muster of the Ashburton Borough School, was presented with a white marble clock by the teachers and scholars, prior to his departure for View Hill School, near Oxford. The memento was a piece of workmanship creditable to the maker, Mr Murray, of Ashburton. The Lodge Pride op the Valley.— The Mammoth Minstrels gave an entertainment in connection with this lodge on the 9th in Heathcote Valley. A diversified and interesting programme was gone through with spirit, and pleased the audience so much that several encores were demanded. Mr Tivy returned thanks for the patronage afforded, and dancing concluded the entertainment.

Paintees' Picnic.—The painters' picnic party, numbering about 250 persuns, proceeded to Bangiora on Saturday by specisd train, accompanied by a brt.su band, and spent the morning in Mr J. Boberts’ paddock. Owing to the rain the enjoyment of the afternoon was much marred. The spe» cia! train returned to town at 6 p.m.

Thb Dbake Mbmobial. —A movement is cow on foot in England ‘‘t°. fo^ h eminent services of Sir Erancis D f& k . only to his own country, but to the A g * Saxon race throughout the world ; and this view subscriptions are requested to tne memorial fund from all who claim scions of the stock of which Drake was so worthy a branch.” Anyone wishing to tribute can do so by communicating witn mo lion, treasurer or Mayor of Devon. Allbsbd Embezzlement. — On Saturday morning at Ashburton, before Mr Alcorn J.P., Peter Bussell, formerly a saddler at Oamaru, and subsequently Oamaru agent tor the National Mutual Life Assurance Company, was charged with having, at Oamaru, embezzled £8 19s 7d, and other sums, the property of the company. Bussell Jett Oamaru last May for Christchurch, and recently managed Mr Welsh’s saddlery business in South Rakaia, Constable Bouse, ot

Bakaia, arrested Bussell on Friday, and the Ashburton Bench remanded him to Oamaru, to be brought up there to-day. “ The Colonel.” —To morrow evening Mr Harkins and his company will introduco to Christchurch playgoers Burnand’s satire on the aesthetic craze of.the day at homo ‘ The Colonel.” Mr Harkins himself comes to ns with high testimonials as to his ability as an actor, and all the members of bis company are too well and favorably known here to require introduction. In Dunedin the piece has boon remarkably successful, and no doubt it will be equally so here. It was at first intended to open the season this evening, but Mr Harkins preferred losing a night rather than put the company on the stage immediately after a long and' fatiguing journey by rail. •South Oanthbbuby Chops.—Nearly all the grain, as far as the Orari, has been cut, and the greater part of it stacked, although a lot of it south of the is still in ■took. In the neighborhood of Temuka, and from thence to the boundary of the province, there is still plenty of work for the reapers and binders. The yield is very good, although a lot of grain has been shattered out by the nor'-wosters. The returns in the,Makikihi Valley will suffer from the same cause. The rain of Saturday will not bo so detrimental os might bo imagined, seeing it was not so heavy, nor of such long duration, as in the more northerly part of the province. Thb Wbatheb. —A seriously heavy rain storm, accompanied by occasional peals of thunder, passed over the northern district, and lasted about three hours, on Saturday. A certain amount of damage to grain resulted, both from the quantity of rain which fell as well as from the force of the storm. In the townships the streets and side drains ■were temporarily flooded, while in the country the drainage systems were put to the test for a time. This kind of weather is most inopportune, and the grain producers are at present in o state of considerable anxiety tor the safety cf crops, which for the most part are in readiness for the threshing machine, and ore standing out in the stock or unthatohed stacks.

A Nbw Zealandhb in England.—The following paragraph is copied from “Keene’s Bath Journal’’ of December 24th, 1881: Mr J. W. Oram, of the Island, Midsomer Norton, and late of New Zealand, has again shown his good feeling for his poorer neighbors by giving to eaoh recipient of parish relief in that parish Is eaoh, and yesterday over 350 called at his door and were paid the above sum. Since his arrival in England, six years ago, Mr Oram has shown bis generosity, not only in the repetition of the pleasant incident above referred to, but in continually in a quiet way assisting those of bis parish, and no one who is in actual need is overlooked by him. It is understood that he contemplates leaving England again for the colonies. He will carry with him the assurance that his return will always bo welcomed .

Kaikouba. —A correspondent informs us that the crops in that district have been considerably damaged by wind and rain, and that a couple of bushels to the acre have been shaken out by the former. An eight acre paddock suffered severely, as it was estimated that its yield will bo diminished by at least 100 bushels, in consequence of the wind. Three shocks of earthquake were felt on the Ist of February, that which took place at three o’clock being the most distinct. Beceatly an accident happened to Natima, a Maori, who was going home from Waipapa. When about a mile from the Irongate northward hia horse slipped off the track, rolled down a steep place, and jammed him against a tree, where he was unable to move. Two men found him, the horse still on him, and after much trouble succeeded in extricating him from his dangerous position, and removed bim to his home at Mangamunnu. This track was a foot in width, and over some precipitous cliffs. The election of school committees passed off very quietly. Harvest operations are being pushed on vigorously, and with a continuance of favorable weather should be finished before the 20th. Detuds’ Entertainment. —On Thursday evening an entertainment was held in the West Oxford Town Hall, in aid of the regalia fund of the Druid Dodge 141. This lodge baa only been opened two months, and numbers seventy members. The hall was well filled, and Mr Kneeshaw, Arch-Druid, took the chair. The district president, Bro. Samnels, made a few appropriate remarks on the benefits of the Order, and advised those who had not done so to join the club. A long programme was gone through. The following ladies and gentlemen kindly assisted ■ Miss Samuels, Miss Horneman, Mrs Woodward, Miss Thomson, Miss White, Miss Chapman, Mrs Thompson, Messrs Samuels, Smith, Thompson, Tomlinson, Smart, Fisher, and Mordon. The Druids’ opening chorus, by Brothers in full regalia, was rendered in capital style, and was well received. Several of the songs were encored, but in consequence of the length of the programme only one was allowed to be responded to. The entertainment concluded by a laughable negro farce, in which the following gentlemen took part: — Messrs Killiok, Wallace, and Woodward. The whole entertainment passed off well, and may be considered a success in every way. After the entertainment a ball took place in the hall, and was kept up until an early hour in the morning.

Gbaik ik Qbrmakt. —The German “Eaich statistik ” has just given some interesting figures relating to the production and consumption of the empire from July 31st, 1830, to August lot, 1881. Aggregating wheat, rye, barley, oats, and corn, the production was 890,108 000 bushels ; the importation was 92,261000 bushels; the exportation yras about 9 000,000 bushels, and the consumption, obtained by adding the imports, minus the exports, to the product on, was 773,245,000 bushels. Taking the groins separately, it appears that the production of wheat was over 101000 000 bushels, and the net imports were 15 000 000 bushels ; of rye there was produced 195,000,000 bushels, and (the imports minus the exports, amounted to 28 000,000 bushels; of barley the production was over 98,000,000 bushels, and the net imports were nearly 10,000,000 bushels ; the oat production ran up to 291,000000 bushels, and more than 11,000,000 bushels were imported in excess of the exports ; the corn production amounted to only 420,000 burhels, but the net imports of corn fell but little below 19,000,000 bushels. In wheat and rye the net imports were about equal to one-seventh of the home production, and in barley about one-eleventh. In oats the importation was trifling as compared with the production, while in corn the ratios were reversed. In 1879 the wheat production of Germany amounted to something more than 88,000,000 bushels, or 16,000,000 bushels less than in the following year. The oats produced in that year amounted to 200,000,000 bushels. No reliable reports of the present crap have been published, but estimates for •Prussia indicate that wheat and rye will fall 15 and 13 per cent, respectively below those of last year. If the consumption of wheat in 1880 was 120,000,000 bushels, and tho crop falls of as compared with last year 15 per cent., an importation of considerably more than thirty million bushels will bo probable. There is one fact that will have a tendency to increase the importation of wheat. Hitherto the price of wheat has put it beyond the reach of common people, who have eaten rye in its place, a fact shown by the enormous consumption of 223,000,000 bushels of that grain in twelve months. But during the past year the cheapness of wheat, the price of which has ranged close to that of ■rye and has frequently fallen below it, has enabled the peasantry to eat white bread. They are reported to like the change, and if the price does not get too high for them it is very probable that they will, during the coming year, buy considerable quantities of it to replace the rye that till recently was the only breadstuff in their reach. But an advance in the price of wheat would drive them back to rye, unless these was an equal advance in that grain.

TboXTINH Baoes. —Two trotting matches were run off at. West Oxford on “ a *“. rcla y; The first event was a race between Mr Edward Murfilt’s mare Bumblefoot and Mr P. Marsh’s Nellie, the distance being two miles, Bumblefoot receiving a start; of 200 yards. The match was for £5 a side, and after a capital race Mr Marh’s Nellie won by a few yards. The second event was a trot of two miles by Mr P. Marsh’s Nellie against Mr Murfitt’s pony Butterfly. Both animals started from scratch, and Mr Murfltt’s pony won by fifty yarde, hard held. The races were run on the main road from the Barracks

to Mr Barker’s Terminus Hotel, Mr Cockburn acting as starter and Dr. Elsher officiating as judge Theatre Eoyal.—The Williamson dramatic season was brought to a close onjdaturday evening, when “ Dear Joe ” and “ Kerry ” were played. In the latter Mr Williamson played excellently, eliciting loud applause by hie artistic rendering of the character of the old servant. 11 Dear Joe,” in which several slight alterations and improvements have been made, in accordance with the suggestions thrown out on its first representation, went well, and the audience were most demonstrative in their expressions of approval. The company leave to-day for Timaru, where they play a short season, and thence to Dunedin. In the latter city they play until the arrival of the Opera Company about the 24th inst. Thompson’s Diobama. —The gonial W. H. Thompson, of diorama notoriety, is once more amongst us, this time with a “ show ” which has won golden opinions in all parts ot the colony. It is a pictorial representation of the main incidents of the Zulu war,

with an illustrative and explanatory lecture. When it is stated that Mr Thompson himself is the lecturer, those who remember his fervid eloquence and glowing periods when here before in a similar capacity with a diorama of the American war, will look forward with pleasure to a renewal of his acquaintance. Mr Thompson opens his season at the Gaiety on Saturday next, and judging from what has been said elsewhere of the diorama, there is a great treat in store for those who affect this kind of entertainment. In place of the usual lottery for the gifts, Mr Thompson with great liberality presents a portion ot his patrons every evening with costly mementoes of his visit.

Ah Exciting Etbnt at Oxbobd.— An incident happened at Oxford on Saturday, which for incongruity bears a strong resemblance to the unwelcome appearance of the proverbial bull in a china shop. A bullock had been sold on Friday evening in Mr Mardon’s saleyards, and when liberated the next morning forthwith proceeded to work off the superfluous energy which he had accumulated during his temporary confinement His natural inclinations in this direction were increased by the gentler incentive of a man pursuing him on horseback. After a little display in the road the bullock tried to rush into Mr White’s store, near the saleyards, but failing to accomplish his object he ran down the road and made a bee line for the front door of the Terminus Hotel, which being opportunely open he entered, and then made a flank movement for the sitting-room, jumping over a young woman who happened to be scrubbing the passage. Of course it is almost needless to say she was excessively alarmed, and was ill for some hours. After some delay and trouble the intruder was ejected, and our informant adds that the bullock left the hotel much sobered by his visit, and walked quietly away along the road, a result which does not always follow visits to an hotel.

A Sad Accident.— On Tuesday afternoon a serious accident occurred on Mr William Abbott’s farm, near Southbridge. Mrs Abbott was playing with her children on the grass in front of the house, watching the men carting in the grain and making posies out of clover for the little ones. As one of the horses was leaving the stack his blinkers by some means got shifted, and he bolted towards the stables. On seeing Mrs Abbott and the children the horse suddenly swerved, upsetting the cart on the top of them. Assistance being handy, the dray was soon removed, but not before those underneath had received severe injuries. Dr, Chapman was sent for, and promptly attended. Mrs Abbott had her loft arm broken, and received a severe wound on the temple. The little baby, which Mrs Abbott never let out of her grasp, notwithstanding that her left arm was completely smashed, had its leg broken. A little boy two years old received a severe blow on the top of the head, and when picked up the brain was protruding. Litile hopes are entertained of his recovery. Gne littlo girl was a great deal bruised, bat the other escaped with a severe shaking. Groat sympathy is felt in the district for Mr Abbott. Mtstebiotts Disatpbakanob.—lnformation was given to the police at port on Frid y night that a man named James Morris could not be found, and that he had disappeared somewhat mysteriously. The occurrence is related by the informant about as follows : A seaman belonging to the barque Helen Scott, then lying at the Gladstone Pier, met Morris in some place in town, and at about ten o’clock at night Morris accompanied him down the wharf to the vessel. On parting with him Morris said that he would go down as far as the ship M arlborough before returning up town, and that he wonld call on the Helen Scott after he had been there, and wished the seaman “ Good night,” The Marlborough is lying two ships’ lengths further along the pier than the Helen Scott, so that it would not have taken Morris longer than a few minutes to walk to her and back again. Ho did not return to the Helen Scott, and upon inquiries being made of the night watchman on board the Marlborough it appears he did not reach there, nor has he been seen since. Morris was formerly a seaman on board the steamer Grafton, and he had worked his passage down from Wellington last Wednesday. He had no money, and had left a swag of little or no value at a boarding house in London street, Lyttelton, kept by Mrs Guy. He had said that ho intended to go to the Bakaia to work at a threshing machine. He was sober when last seen, but seemed to be in a despondent frame of mind. He said that he had bsen residing inWinohester street at Port sometime back, since which he had buried his wife. He was a native of London, was about thirty-eight years of age, sft, sin. height, slight of build, and had brown hair, and a small brown ” goatee” beard, and wore a moustache. He was dressed in a drab tweed suit when last seen, a white linen shirt with imitation gold solitaires. He had on a Scotch cap with the ribbons cut oS, Prom what Sergeant Morioe, in charge of the police at Lyttelton, has ascertained, it seems the man had been making enquiries for work on Wednesday last among the shipping, but had asked higher wages than would-be employers were prepared to pay.