NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2462, 25 February 1882, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Stanhobh Seat. —A rumour ia being ( industriously circulated in the Stanmore ( district that it is the intention of the Hon. Mr Richardson to come forward for the ( Taoant seat at Wakanui. So far from this ] being true, we are authorised to state that Mr , Richardson has no intention whatever of offering himself for that seat. E.M. Court, Lyttelton. —Mr H. All- j wright, J.P., disposed of the following business at this Court this forenoon : —Two first offenders were fined 6a each for drunkenness, * and a lad named William Mullen was brought up under the Neglected Children’s j Act and remanded to the custody of his . parents at Bangiora. Cricket. —A team of the Christchurch j Press Club proceeded by express train this morning to Ashburton to play the annual 1 match with a team of the Timaru Press Club, ■ it having been arranged to meet half way and contest the match on the Ashburton ground. The Timaru men went first to the wickets ' and scored 51, Hughes making 19 and Shep- 1 herd 12. At the lunch adjournment the 1 Ohristohuroh men had put together 52 for the 1 loss of seven wickets, Allardyoe being not 1 out for 30. 1 Professob Wbstbn. This renowned illusionist is advertised to appear in the Odd- 1 fellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, next Monday and ! Tuesday nights. His bill of fare should secure for him and Madame Westen a bump- ' iug house. ' Biblk Christians Sabbath School.— j The anniversary of this school. Lower High street, will be celebrated to morrow, and on 1 Monday, as announced in advertisement in ! another column. As the Rev. A. Reid is about to leave Christchurch it is hoped that 1 there will bo a large congregation to-morrow evening, and a special invitation is given to ' the public to attend the meeting on Monday, when rewards will be publicly given to the scholars. Vocal Music. —Our readers are informed that a singing class will bo opened, the particulars of whioh appear in another column. Congregational Church.— Special sermons in connection with the annivuraary of Trinity Congregational Church will be preached to-morrow, in the morning by the Rev. J. Elmslie, in the afternoon by the Rev. E. Williams, and in the evening by the Rev. W. E. Gifiam. The usual service will be held on Tuesday evening, when addresses will be delivered by various ministers. Btanmobb Election. —We are informed that, in response to the request of numerous electors of the Stanmore district, Mr W. P. Oowlishaw has consented to contest this seat against all comers. Licensing Bench. —The Returning Officer for the Port Lavy district, Mr John Ollivier, received the following five nominations for the Licensing Committee yesterday, at Port Levy:—Messrs W. D. Gebbie, B. E, Bradley, John Gabble, Hugh Urquhart, and Richard Fleming. There being no further nominations, they were declared duly elected, no poll being required. Postal Delivery at Woolston.— -At the request of the inhabitants of the rapidly increasing village of Woolston, Mr Wynn Williams, the member for the district, applied but a very short time ago to the PostmasterGeneral requesting him to kindly consider the inconvenience the inhabitants are put to by the want of a postal delivery. We ore informed that Mr Wynn Williams has already received a rrply that provision will be made very shortly for a delivery by letter carriers. This boon will assuredly be most gratefully and thankfully received by the inhabitants of Woolston and the surrounding neighbourhood. Gaiety Theatre.— There was a very large attendance last night at this theatre, when Mr Thompson’s diorama of the Zulu war was again exhibited, and a large number of presents distributed. In addition to the matinee there will be the usual performance this evening. Runaway. Shortly before five o’clock yesterday the master of the Burnham Industrial School telegraphed to the police authorities slating that a lad named Webdale had absconded from that institution. He is described as wearing brown moleskin trousers, dark tweed coat, and a black hat. The Electric Light. —Erom a private letter the “ Argus” learns that a company is being formed in London for introducing the electric light into Australia. The Duke of Manchester will be chairman of the Board, and the provisional directors representing colonial interests will be Sir Samuel Wilson, and Mr Gilchrist of Sydney. Sir Herbert Sandford will represent the English companies whose systems of lighting are to be employed. An Agricultural Visitor. —From the 5! Timaru Herald ” we learn that Mr J. Brittain Pash, a member of the Council of the Boses Chamber of Agriculture, has arrived in Timaru. Ho is making a tour of the colonies with a view of reporting upon their agricultural and pastoral resources, and he has already visited Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania. He will spend two days in that district with the object of seeing for himself what prospects there are for agriculturists settling in it. Manbbvtllb and Bangiora Drainage District. — A meeting of the Board of Conservators was hold at Elaxton on Friday, 24th. Present —Messrs Mulcook (chairman), Boye, Duncan, and Young. The surveyor’s report, at great length, respecting the various works to be done before the winter, was read and discussed, and he was instructed to prepare specifications for No. 2 contract, from railway bridge to Skew bridge ; for protective ■works at the junction of No. 1 with main drain : and for completing the deepening of No. 3 drain ; also, to advertise for tenders as Boon aa completed. The Board then adjourned.

i' Intercolonial Wbathbb Table. Sydney, yesterday—Light N.K. ° d I B.W. ooaat of Australia ; fresh S.E. winds at New South Wales ; and moderate SB .on the south coast and at Tasmania. Bar -Sydney. 30 3 ; Albany, 30.0; Portland, 30.3; Hobart, 30 1. . , . - Accident. Last evening, a “°”: o’clock, a number of boys were play g the vacant section of land adjoining Theatre, when one them named S y, whilst in the act of jumping, fell upon a ad named William Nixon, breaking the loft leg of the latter in two places. The parents of Nixon, who reside in Sydenham, were sent for, and it was decided to carry the lad to tne Hospital, which was done, where he received prompt attention. . Thb Gaming and Lotteries act. There appears to be an absence of unitormi y in vindicating the law as laid down by e above Act. On the Dunedin course, at this meeting sweepstakes, which were wont to e so common, were suppressed with the greates impartiality, even law-makers not being respected, as two of Dunedin’s M.H.K. s had their names taken down by the police. names were not telegraphed, but probably tne Association’s reporter left his readers to arrive at the fact by the safe and logical process of elimination, feeling sure that no one would suppose that the Hon. Mr Dick, who introduced the Bill, or the Bev. Mr Green, would be guilty of such a rash act as to gamble. The other two gentlemen are Messrs H, 8. Fish snd Bracken, and it is these who, in legal parlance, will probably be called upon to “show cause” why the law had no terrors for them. It will be seen that at Wairarapa the old regime prevailed, and the sweepstakes were not interfered with.

Eangioba High School. —A meeting of the Board of Governors was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Thursday evening. Present Messrs Cunningham (chairman), Johnston, Leech, Tribe, Fulton, and Wilson. The chairman reported having written to thank Mr Marshman for his letter read at a previous meeting. He had transcribed the regulations of the Board into a book. Since last meeting tho reserve of 233 acres, part ES. 1127, on tho Cattle Yards road, Waimate, had been gazetted as an endowment for the Eangiora High School. A letter was read from Mr J. Marshman, stating he had informed Mr Studholme, the lessee, that the Board waa now entitled to £l6O 13s 2d per annum till 1884, and for the succeeding seven years £230 per annum. As the Akaroa Board was also interested in the same reserve, the leases he proposed to deposit in the land office. The chairman said he had applied for the last half year’s rent. A letter was read from Mr W. B. Tosswill, chairman of the Akaroa High School Board, stating that seeing application was being made to the Government, it might be desirable to take united action. The chairman referred at length to the urgent necessity for establishing the school, and taking steps in furtherance of the object by hiring a building and arranging for teaching staff, concluding by moving—“ That the Board consider what action be taken in furtherance of the object to be attained.” Mr Johnston seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Board then went into committee and resumed. It was decided to reply to the chairman of tne Akaroa High School Board, that steps were being taken to obtain an adequate grant, sufficient to warrant the establishment of the school, and co-operation of the Akaroa Board was solicited. Mr Fulton gave notice to move an amendment to the regulation limiting the speeches of members to ten minutes only. The Board then adjourned. The Otago Buns. —The agitation North and South—such as it was—to induce the Government to delay the disposing of the Otago runs has been fruitless, and the land in question is to be passed under the hammer on Monday next. The “Daily Times,” referring to the sale, says:—“ It is announced to be held in the long room, or dining room, at Watson’s Hotel, High street. It will commence in the hotel, but should it be found that the attendance is too large for the room there, an adjournment will be made to the Garrison Hall, arrangements having been made for holding tho sale in that building if it is found necessary. Hitherto the land which has been occupied for pastoral purposes has be en leased or sold gradually, the largest quantity previously offered at one sale being the comparatively small area of 350,000 acres. The land to be offered on Monday comprises about 2,600,000 acres, and is divided into 170 runs. Twothirds of the land is in the Maniototo district, and with tho exception of about 100,000 acres it is all situated to the north of Dunedin. Should all the runs be sold, it is estimated they will yield a total annual rental of about £45,000. The most important sale of runs yet held was in May, 1879, and the amount then realised was between £4OOO and £3OOO per annum. It is expected that there will be a very numerous attendance at the sale on Monday, and judging from the number of plans showing the runs that have been applied for at the Land Office, there is reason to expect that the competition will be satisfactory.”

The Rabbit Nuisance, —The following extract from an Invercargill paper indicates how they propose to deal with bunny in Southland :—“ Persons prepared to undertake the trapping and snaring of rabbits are elsewhere requested to communicate with the manager of the New Zealand Meat Preserving Company, who have decided to reopen their woiks at Woodlands for a time. Last year the company had about 100,000 rabbits forwarded, and it is reported that ‘bunny’ in hia preserved form has given so much satisfaction at Home that they have now made arrangements to receive a much larger quantity. As an example of the extent of the ‘industry,’ it may be naenmentioned that by the time 100,000 rabbits are prepared and ready for shipment a sum of £4OOO will have been spent locally, whereas if only the skins were made use of not more than one-third of that amount would be left in the colony. The company are prepared to receive 10,000 rabbits per day, but even if they get half that number they will be enabled to give employment at the works to over 100 men, and an equal number will probably be engaged in trapping. It is to be hoped that the company will receive ample supplies, and so be enabled to carry on a work that will absorb a large amount of labor.”

The Timabh Sandbank. A startling piece of information, says the local “ Herald,” came to light at the meeting of the Harbor Board on Tuesday. It is that a sandbank has formed to the north of the breakwater. This sandbank is stated to be 100 ft long, 40ft wide, and from 4£t] to sft deep, and it is situated near the shore end of the breakwater. The Board seem to have received this item of intelligence as if it related to some casual matter of everyday occurrence, and, as if the sandbank were a mere freak of nature, an accident of tides or currents. In reality it is the most important discovery that has been made since the project of a breakwater at Timaru was first mooted. It is the solution of the hitherto unsolved problem of the travelling shingle. It settles onoe and for all the question of the ultimate success or failure of the breakwater scheme.” The importance or seriousness of the discovery having been exhaustively discussed by the “ Herald,” it concludes : “ The sandbank, owing, we cannot hut think, to a singular lack of vigilance on the part of the Board and their officers, has come upon us like a thief in the night ; and it is of little use enquiring when it began to appear, or how fast it grew. The first thing to be done now is to get rid of it as soon as possible ; and after that to keep a smart look-out for its re-appearance in future.”

A Floating Prison. — A Russian ship which arrived at Liverpool recently with a cargo of sugar, attracted a large amount of attention. After discharging her cargo she wag to proceed to Odessa and Sebastopol to take on board 600 prisoners for Siberia. Her ’tween decks contain a large space, enclosed with iron bars, arranged very much like a a number of large cages, and the whole having somewhat the appearance of a wildbeaat menagerie, except that the bars are very much thicker. Sliding doors are fitted to each of these cages, and through these food is passed to the prisoners, and the sliding door is then securely fastened on the outside. It is said to be quite impossible for any prisoner to escape from these dens, the bars at the top being as strong and secure as those all round. Dbbioibht Vegetation. —A gentleman who resides in the interior of Otago, and who has been in this colony for the last twenty-three years, informs the “ Mount Benger Mail ” that during the whole of that period ho has not known such an unfavorable season as the present one for the growth of vegetation." The continual dry winds have proved very disastrous, and what little ram there has been was absorbed almost immediately by the winds, end consequently very little good wh done.

Obxhodoxy Defended. —The lecture on geology and the origin of man recently delivered in Dunedin by Mr Denton, an Ameri- [ can lecturer, caused a great deal of contro- ■ versy in that city; and the Young Men’s Christian Association was requisitioned to supply an antidote, and they applied to the Bev. A. O. Gillies, a recent in Dunedin, to deliver a series of lectures in reply to Mr Denton. One of the local papers, summarising the rev. gentleman’s remarks, says : —“ He then compared what Christianity and infidelity had respectively done_ for the world, and gave a long list of biblical and historical great names whose owners had been deeply imbued with religion, asking if infidelity could produce such a list. He answered, emphatically, No, Notone such name could be adduced. [Applause.] Why the little finger of a Baikea or Guthrie had done more good than the whole body of the infidels, (Laughter.) Against the many honored names connected with Christianity, from its founder downward, what had infidelity to show ? The father of modern infidelity was Bousseau, and other names after his were Danton—not Denton—(Great laughter) —Marat, Tom Paine, Byron, &o. Every infidel now was a great scientist, and if he I could only speak a few big words, such as “paleogoio,” straightway he was accepted as a savant —(Laughter). Mr Gillies then narrated the great missionary work of Christianity, and asked what infidelity had similar to show; replying, nothing. The infidels were always chattering and jabbering like so many monkeys before their dinner —(immense laughter)—while Christians were giving many millions to christianise and civilise the world and raise society. To whom was it owing that so-called scientists, really infidels, could come here, take the Garrison Hall, and pocket the money that they made people pay through the nose, to hear them insult the feelings of nearly everyone in the community by speaking of their Deity as trying for millions of years to make a man, and as working like a carpenter ? To whom was it owing that such lecturers could come and do this without being hung or burned ? They owed that to the past labors and sacrifices of believers in Christ—[applause]—and that was how they showed their gratitude. Christians gave thousands for their creed, and would take a hall and give a lecture free, but to hear the creed of Infidels you must pay at the door. They made money by propagating their belief, while Christians had spent tens of millions in propagating theirs. Mr Gillies then gave the names of a number of the greatest Christian philanthropists, and asked could infidelity show a like list ? [Laughter ] Infidels might reply that they were a poor body with few millionaires among them. That was true; still, they counted some. There was James Lick, who died a bachelor, worth millions, leaving money to build an observatory, yet was scarcely dead when his children appeared and contested his will. [Great laughter, ] Then there was Michael Bees, a millionaire so penurious that he would jump the cemetery fence when visiting his parents' graves, to evade giving the sexton sixpence. He (the lecturer) said it was a pity he had ever left the cemetery when once there. [Laughter.] The sooner such dogs died the better. [Applause.] He (Mr Gillies) wished he had the privilege of preaching their funeral sermons—he would take the text, “ the beggar died,” [Much laughter.] Another infidel millionaire was James Fair, who had refused to give him (Mr Gillies) a red cent, when taking round a subscription list for a Church object, and had on another occasion given £8 when he might have given £BOO without missing it. Thesa were the sort of men rich infidels were, [Applause.]

The Yiotoeian Harvest.—Tho Melbourne “ Argus ” of the 15th instant says : “ The country papers continue full of harvest notes, the general tenor of which has been already given. We notice that in the shire of Alberton an average yield of twentyfive bushels of wheat per acre is expected. The outcome of threshing operations in the Ballarat district has been to show that in most cases the yields are the best that have been known for the past twenty years. Throughout the Strathbogie district the yield is very good. Farms in the vicinity of Glenorohy average fourteen bushels.” The same journal has the following :—“ The Commissioner of Lands, who has been visiting the twelve hundreds, reports the crops within parts of South Australia to be very light, averaging from half a bushel to four bushels to the acre. Farmers think that an average of six bushels to the acre would pay.”

A New Favoueitb. A Paris writer says: “A brilliant example of social, literary, financial, and even political success is afforded by the ‘ rise and progress * of the bewitching widow who has made for herself so conspicuous and commanding a position here under the Third Republic. Not regularly beautiful, but very pretty, and a mistress of the art of getting onesself up, very clever, very graceful, and possessing in the highest degree the undefinable quality of charm, Mme. Edmond Adam, daughter of an obscure country doctor, brought up in an obscure village, has made herself the Egerio of the fickle and critical capital, to which she came without money or friends just twenty-three years ago. She is literally worshipped by all the leaders of the present Government. Her receptions are crowded by all the leading writers, artists, and ‘ new men ’ of the day. Her ‘New Review ’ Is the leading organ and mirror of the time in this region; her comings and goings are chronicled as though she were a sovereign j sovereigns receive her and talk with her if she visit their capitals, and their scientific and political ‘ tip-tops ’ get up banquets, dinners, and soirees in her honor; and the iconoclastic municipal body of Paris has just given her maiden name, ‘ Juliette Lumber, ’ to a now street. This ‘ leading lady ’ of the Third French Republic has just opened her salon, for the present winter, by a grand dinner, and her Wednesday evening receptions are expected to be mure brilliant than ever, as ladies are to be admitted, and politics excluded. It is announced that she is about to make a visit to St. Petersburg ; and that, on her return, she will give a fancy dress ball that is to outshine all former entertainments of the kind in originality and in splendour. So much, as ‘Ouida’ judiciously remarks in reference to a somewhat similar success now at its pinnacle in London, for the absolute devotion of a lifetime to the one sole, carefully calculated, and ever-present aim of ‘ getting on!’ ”