NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2479, 17 March 1882, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Baptist Church, Oxford Terrace.— The Key. W. O. Banning, of Geelong, will preach in the above church on Sunday, both morning and evening. Mbs Sampson's Mission.—The noonday prayer meeting wos to-day conducted by the Bev. J. Crowes. The meeting in St. Paul’s Schoolroom was well attended; the Eev. H. Williams conducted the service. The meeting this evening will be held in St. Paul’s Bonoolroom. To-morrow evening the meeting will be held in St. Paul’s Church, instead of the schoolroom, as Mrs Hampson will be present to deliver an address to Christians, and a large meeting is expected. Thb High Street Outrages.—The five young men charged with a aeries of assaults committed on Saturday night. February 25th last, were tried at the Resident Mavistrate’s Court this morning with the following result: Gilpin, alias Long George the Stutterer, and Fahr, received each eight months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Chamberlain was fined £l4, or, in default, three months’ imprisonment with hard labour. The cases against Butterworth were not proved and he was discharged. The charges against Bushell wore withdrawn. The Magistrates expressed regret that they had not power to order those convicted to be flogged. On a separate charge against Gilpin he was remanded for a week, Mr Clements, the prosecutor, being unable, on account of his injuries, to attend. Gilpin’s punishment is suspended until that case has been heard. Thompson’s Diorama.—There was a very large attendance last night at the Gaiety, when the diorama of the Zulu war was exhibited. To-night a prize will be given for the best conundrum on the Zulu war, for which no doubt there will be a largo number of competitors, Kaixouea.—Horvestiug operations have been brought to a close in this district, and the yield of grain promises to be tolerably good. The flour mill in the district has undergone considerable improvement and enlargement, and has now sufficient space for the storage of 10,000 bushels of grain. Tbe annual treat to the children of the Suburban school recently took place, and also that in connection with the Presbyterian Sunday sohol. Both were a decided success. “N.Z. Country Journal.”—The March number of this popular journal has been published, and is, as usual, full of useful and interesting information. Tbe absence of Mr Potts’ contributions is noticeable, particularly after his interesting papers under the title of “Out in the Open,” whioh were one of the features of the journal. It is to be hoped that at some future period he will again take his place as a contributor, in which capacity be has achieved a very pronounced success. Dinner. —Last evening Mr B. Halo, who it on the eve of departure for England, entertained his employes at dinner at Mr Bashford’s restaurant, Colombo street. The chair was occupied by the host, Mr Harrison in the vice-chair. Mr Bashford provided a very excellent spread, which was done ample justice to by those present. In response to the toast of his health, whioh was given with much enthusiasm, Mr Hale mentioned that ■during his visit to the old country he should endeavour to obtain the very best machinery for tbe production of rope and twine, so that not only would he be able to compete against all comers, but also to largely increase the amount of skilled labour employed by him in this department. In addition to the employes of the works a number of private friends of Mr Hale were present, who were hearty in their wishes for a pleasant voyage to the family and himself, and a speedy return.

Thb Sba Sbbpbnt.—Professor Lockwood has unearthed what appears to have been the original progenitor of all the sea serpents, which figure so largely in the British press, in a fossil state in Monmouth County, New Jersey. According to an American reporter, the reptile “ was an interesting object to get away from when alive and squirming;” and as Professor Lockwood declares he was from 70ft to 80ft long, and was in the habit of ploughing through the sea with his bead lifted high above the waves and brandishing a vicious-looking bifurcated and oord-liko tongue, the reporter is probably right. It is distressing to learn, however, that our old friend is not highly intellectual. His brain case is said to be comparatively ■mall for a head sft long, and bis forehead was not ossified. Bis impelling force, mainly furnished by the tail, was increased by four paddles, the upper bones of which were sho.it and of immense strength, and perhaps concealed in his side, leaving exposed only the longhands and feet. The ankles and wrists, however, had no rotatory movement, so that the paddles could move only in one plana If the poor fossil had only been alive (says a Home paper) ho would, no doubt, have been highly gratified to learn from the papers that so many of his descendants are still disporting themselves in the deep, but as he died “ at the close of the cretaceous era " that last consolation was denied him.

• Eimb Shooting—There appears to be some danger lost in the study and practice of long-range rifle shooting, with wonderfully accurate aim and no enemy present to send bullets in return, the more important practice at short ranges and without accurate aim should bo less considered than it ought to be. There is plenty of room for both, and we have not a word to s»y against long-range shooting for picked rifle shots. But battles will never be fought, or at least won, by long range shooting. Only those (remarks the “Pall Mall Budget") who have Been real war can have any idea what a marvellous effect is produced on the nerves of even the best infantry by being under fire ; or what a very different affair the practice on a battle-field is from that at the rifle butts. It it were possible to get a row of men to lay their rifles perfectly level and each man Straight to his own front, that body of men would produce a more deadly effect than has ever been known in war. With a smaller bored rifle than the Martini-Henry and the same charge a velocity of 1700 ft a second can be obtained, and this would give a bullet so low a trajsctorj that there would be no necesalty to use eights at all for distances of five hundred yards and under. This is what is really wanted for the rank and file.

INTERCOLONIAL WBATHBB EXCHANGE.— Sydney yesterday—On the south coast of Australia and New South Wales, 8 W. wind, and fine weather; in Tasmania B.E. wind and gloomy. Barometer—Sydney, 29 9; Portland, 30 2 ; Hobart, 29 9. _ Aetillbby Band. —-An open-air promenade concert was given last evening in the Drillshed grounds by this favorite band, under the leadership of Mr A. Hamilton, bandmaster. The programme, whiob comprised nine numbers, was performed with noticeable fidelity to time, &o. The leader contributed two items to the programme, viz , a polka and valse, the latter being very good indeed. Perhapa the most ootnmendabl© selections were Mendelssohn’s “ War March,” from " Athalie,” and the prayer from Massaniello. The attendance was good, at least 300 persons being present. The JEsthbte Afloat. —Should the gifted lecturer on sesthetioism so far honor the colonies, he will, no doubt, travel by San Francisco to Sydney. If so, the Sydney people may get some fun out of interviewing him, as did on energetic reporter in New York. After a good deal of " high faintin’ ” and incomprehensible talk, in which Mr Wilde unfolded the principles of his sesthetic philosophy, the reporter, in graphic language, describes the philosopher’s appearance his pale, smooth shaven face, blue eye#, ana bluer necktie, his patent leather shoes and his enormous fur coat “of heaviest fur, surpassing aught that nr {esthetic mencameacb,’’ and far heavier than what ordinary men would wear in Arctic winter. Mr Wilde’s favorite garment in the streets of London (says the “ Home News 1 ) was something similar, even in the mildest weather. However, Mr Wilde appears to have been fairly popular on board the Arizona, in which he made the voyage across. The captain only found fault with him. It appears that the great aesthete was'disappointed with the Atlantic. “ The sea,” he observed somewhat slightingly, “seems tame tome. The roaring ocean does not roar. The Atlantic is not what I thought it was. I wish that I could see a storm arise and sweep the bridge from off the ship. I care not for this tamo, monotonous trip. I would that X could see a storm arise.” The skipper was naturally not so keen for dirty weather, and gave vent to his ire by wishing he had Mr "Wilde lashed to the bowsprit on the windward side. Strange to say, most of the passengers grinned and wished it too. London University.—This university has taken the lead among universities in throwing open the door of its convocation to women. Having already taken power to grant degrees to women, and having put those powers into execution, it has now taken the logical and natural s'cp of admitting those women who obtain the degrees to all the rights and privileges that are enjoyed by men who have taken the same degrees, including that of being acting members of the governing body. Cambridge University does not yet grant its degrees to women, nor indeed formally admit them to the examinations, but it informally examines them and unofficially reports the result. Oxford, says a Homs paper, has not got beyond lending a somewhat cold hand ti the establishment of colleges for women within its sacred precincts. But in a little while even there we may hope to see candidates from Lady Margaret and Somerville Halls distinguishing themselves in unofficial examinations, while Cambridge is admitting the members of Newnham and Girton to full academical degree. Whatever objections may be raised against the practice of the professions by women can hardly be_ urged against their being educated and admitted to “ do all things that appertain to the degree of Master of Arts.” Prater Meeting.—The _ Sunday Schoo Union quarterly prayer meeting was held last evening in the United Methodist Free Church, Colombo road. There was a good number of the members of the Church present. The choir sang Sankey’s hymns during the evening. Cricket. —The following will play for tbe Standard against the Kaiapoi C.O. on Saturday at Kaiapoi!—-T Beara, Brown, Garty, Hill, Horner, Marr, Price, G. Eowe (captain), H. Bows, Shea, Waller. Emergencies, Hart and Foster. Players are requested to meet conveyance at 10 45. —The following will play for the Sydenham Youths in the continuation of mutch with Second Eleven of U. 0.0. on Saturday :—Messrs Fowke, J. Taylor, Jones, Forsyth (2), Allardyce, Smith, A. Lawrence, Mason, Flowers and Eowe. Emergency, Ashby. Players are requested to be on the ground by 2 p m.— The following will represent the Addington C.C. in a match against the Snnnysida attendants and pa ients on Saturday, the 18th, at Sunnyaide, at 2 p.m. : —Messrs Hopper, Kiddle, Aulsebrook, Ashby, Simpson, McMurray, Burly, Parker, Paling, Lusk, Forbes. Emergency—E. Turner.—The following will play for the second eleven of L.P.C. against the Biccarton Club on Saturday. Match begins at 2 p m :—Aynaley, Donald, D. Dnnlop, Hamilton, Hassal, Izard, C. Longhnan, Lane, G. Beeves, T. Smith, Wood. SriBBP Tbain. —A train of thirty-three trucks, containing 1400 sheep for shipment per Southern Cross for Napier, left Ashley on Thursday evening. The sheep were sent away by Mr J. Maofarlane. Kaiapoi Beobbation Ground. —A meeting of about twenty persons was held at the Kaiap-i Borough Council Chamber on Wednesday evening to consider the question of purchasing a cricket and .recreation ground. Mr Isaac Wilson was voted to the chair. After some discussion it was resolved that a section of about ten acres be purchased by a company, and that Messrs Wilson, Moore, Fraser, and Burnip be a committee to receive offers, and report on the sections which may bo offered, and also that they ascertain from the Church Properly Trustees if they will sell the freehold of a section near the town, and that they report at a future meeting. It was thought that at least ten acres would be wanted for cricket and recreation purposes, and that a capital of about £3OO would bo required, which might be raised in shares of £5 each. The meeting then adjourned. Bobinq the Eabs.—A great deal has been recently written, says tbe “Lancet," on the subject of boring oars “for the sake of the eyes.” It is always easy to find excuses for any practice which ministers to vanity. That the counter irritation set up by boring tbe ear and wearing a ring may, during the few days following the operation, have some effect on the eyes, supposing these organs to be the seat of any low form of inflammation, is just possible, but that permanent good should be done by wearing rings in the ears after they have ceased to irritate is inconceivable. The test for motive in the recourse to this device would therefore be willingness on the part of the the applicant for this form of “ treatment’’ to allow the healing process to be delayed (say) by wearing a rough ring dipped in some irritating application—in short, so prepared as to act like a seton! This, indeed, might do good, but in such a case probably recourse to a few blisters behind the oars would be better. It is nonsense to suppose the wearing of earrings can be of any service to the eyes unless they irritate, and if they do irritate, the process by whioh the result attributed to them is obtained is circuitous and, from a surgical point of view, awkward in the extreme. Science cannot prostitute truth to fashion even in so small a matter as the wearing of earrings.

The “ Boston Post ” tells of an Idaho girl who was sitting under a tree for her lover when a grizzly bear came along, and approaching from behind began to bug her. But she thought it was Tom, and so just leaned back and enjoyed it heartily, and murmured “ tighter," and it broke the bear all up, and he went away and bid in the forest for three days to hide bis shame. Sozzla having read in the papers that iced milk is a dangerous drink, remarked, ‘ That’s one of them darned newspaper hes ; ther’s nothin’ bettor for a man to build upon in the mornin’ than iced milk with a leetle sperritts an’ sugar in it,’ and he absently added himself to a party who had just ‘ shaken for drinks,’ having shaken for one by himself for the previous half hour. Once, when somewhat under the influence of drink, a certain citizen of Wyndham, Connecticut, wandered off into the fields and went to sleep. On rising he forgot to put on his old cocked hat. Some boys found it and took it to him, thinking to cover him with confusion. ‘ln which lot did you find it?’ ho enquired blandly. ‘ln Mr White’s pasture, near the barn.’ ‘ Well, boys, go take it right back ; that is my place to keep it.’ ‘Friends,’ once said a clergyman to a number of people who had entered his church for the purpose of getting out of the rain * I have often heard of the church being used as a oloak for one’s sins, but this is the first time I ever heard of its being used as an umbrella.’ It is stated that the bepf-oanning establishment in East St. Louis, U.S.A., is about to be converted into a pork-packing house. The buildings are very extensive and admirably adapted to the contemplated use. There will bo cooling room for about 10,000 hoge and from 2000 to 30C0 can readily be handled daily

A young lady being addressed by a gentleman much older than herself, observed that the only objection she had to a union wi him was the probability of his dying before her, and leaving her to the sorrows of widowhood. To which he made the apt and complimentary reply, ‘Blessed is the man who has a virtuous wife, for the number of his d iy« shall be doubled.* , - * Yes, sir,’ said the old colored man, de firs' year, when I gave 50 dollars to do church, dey call mo Mistah Biohard Johnson, Etquah j de secon' year times were bad, an 1 couldn’t giv more dan 25 dollars, an' dey call me Brudder Johnson ; de next year I oonion t giv nuflln’, dey call me Ole Nig gab Johnson.’