NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2491, 31 March 1882, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lyttelton EoEouan Council —Mr Adam Chalmers, anex-Mayor and Councillor, was the only nominee for the vacancy in this Council, caused by the resignation of Mr J. D. Maopherson, a; the closing time for nominations to-day, and therefore was declared by the Returning Officer to be duly returned. Oystbkinq Season —To morrow is the first of the oy staring season. The favourite grounds in Lyttelton harbour lie between Quail Island and Chu'ch Bay or across the entrance to Oharteris Cay. R.M. Coubt, Ltttblton. —The carpenter of the ship Wigtonshire was charged before Mr H. Allwright, J.P., at this Court this morning, with deserting from the vessel. He was remanded in custody until Monday. Fbiendly Societies’ Dispenbaby. A meeting of the delegates elected by the various friendly societies for the purpose of establishing a dispensary on the 00-op:rntive principle was hold on Wednesday evening last. The majority of the delegates was present. Mr 8. D. Nathan was voted to the chair. The balance of the draft rules were considered, and with some slight amendments were finally adopted. It was resolved that the secretary should get a supply of proof copies of the rules printed for the use of the lodges, courts, tents, &c., interested, and whose members will have an opportunity of approving of them prior to their registration. It was resolved that a sub committee bo formed, consisting of Messrs W. B Samuels, 8. D. Nathan, Lezard, Sexton, Buckley, and Willsteed, for the purpose of considering ways and means for the floating of the institution, and to report at a general meeting to be held on the 19th April. Waianui Eleotobaxb. —Mr Alfred Saunders delivered an electoral address at Newlacda on Wednesday evening, and received a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. The chair was occupied by Mr Joseph Lloyd.

Oheibtohuboh East School. —A very interesting exhibition will bo on view in the East Christchurch schoolroom, Gloucester street, from noon till three o’clock to-day, consisting of models of ships, violins, houses, bird cages, a sot of artificial teeth (mounted), atuffed birds, water color and other drawings, maps, crewel work, wool work, needle work, flower work, &c., produced by the scholars at the school as a contribution to tho bays secured by the Board of Education for the display of schoolchildren’s work at the forthcoming Exhibition in Hagley Park. Scholars, and also their parents and friends, and all interested, will be admitted gratis, Boabd op Education. —An ordinary meeting of the North Canterbury Board of Education was hold yesterday afternoon. A report of the business transacted will be found in another column. Evangelistic. —Owing to the effect which her recent efforts have had on Mrs Hampaon’s physical powers, it is feared that her evangelistic “mission" at Ashburton will have to |o deferred for three or four weeks.

U.A.O.D —The Anchor Lodge, Woolston, held their quarterly lummoned m e ®^' n ß OI J Wedne«day evening last in the Oddfellows Hall, Woolston, A.D. Bro. Ingelmann presiding. All the members were present. Two candidates were proposed and one initiated into the rites of Druidism. The lodge decided to take part in the Exhibition procession. A large amount of business was transacted, after which the lodge was closed n dae form by the Arch Druid. TnOMPTiTUDB. — On the 28th of this month a cottage situated at Eiccaiton, belonging to Mr Samuel Clarkson, was destroyed by fire. The building was insured with the Union Insurance Company for the sum of £l3O, a cheque for which sum was handed to the insurer the following day. OxrOBD. —A number of the leading resi dents of the Oxford district met at the Oddfellows’ Hall, West Oxford, on Wednesday afternoon, to bid Mr George Cooper, sen., of Hobonheath farm, “ Good-bye.” Mr D. Sladden occupied the chair, and referred at Borne length to the good work done by Mr Cooper during his fifteen years’ residence in the district, both as a member of the Boad Board, and in other public matters. At the same time ho expressed regret at losing so good a neighbor. The Eev. John Sheldon, on behalf of a number of friends, presented Mr Ooouer with a very handsomely bound Prayer Book, referring at the same time to the good example shown by Mr Cooper in church work by precept and example; also, to the great assistance he and his family had rendered to the choir. Mr and Mrs Cooper’s health was then drunk in champagne, and the proceedings terminated by wishing them both “ Good-bye.” L0.0.E..M.U. —The quarterly meeting of the Loyal Volunteer Lodge was held in their lodge room, Montreal street South, on Wednesday evening. There was a large attendance of members and visiting brethren, and four now members were initiated and three proposed. There was a large amount of business transacted in connection with the opening of the new hall in Colombo street South. It was also resolved to take part in the procession re opening the Exhibition, Owing to the lateness of the hour the ©lection of hall keeper was held over to next lodge night. The Prov. G.M. congratulated the lodge on their erecting so fine a building for the use of the order, and the important position they had arrived at as regards members, who now numbered nearly a hundred. The lodge was then closed in peace and harmony, Eeceipta of the evening, £142. Inquest at Lbithfibld. —An inquest was held on Tuesday, before M. Morris, Esq., coroner, and a jury of whom Mr Harrill was foreman, touching the death of Ellen B. Smith, eighteen years of age, who had died suddenly while in domestic service at Mr Moore’s farm, Gray’s road. Evidence was given that after a hearty meal on Monday, the deceased was seized with sickness and vomitting. The medical testimony showed that death resulted from a rupture of one of the ventricles of the heart, which was diseased. A verdict of “ Died from natural causes ” was returned.

Feozbh Meat Company.—The directors of the Frozen Meat Company intend losing no time in making arrangements for vessels to carry their next season’s meat and produce to London. They have already placed themselves in communication with the various shipping companies trading to the colonies, asking for offers of vessels fitted with refrigerators. It is estimated the company will require from five to eight vessels fitted like the Mataura to load between November next and June, 1883. Spooial.effort is being made to secure a steamer to carry a large quantity, and to load when meat is cheapest, at the end of summer. The site for the company’s works has not been decided upon yet. We observe by advertisement the secretary is open to receive offers from land owners up to Saturday, 15th April. Aetildbbt Band.—The last promenade concert of the series given by this band took place last evening, in the Drill Shed grounds, when a programme of ten numbers was submitted. The members of the B battery mustered in force, and a good attendance of the general public and also of several members of the Austrian band, testified to the growing appreciation bestowed on these really excellent performers. Perhaps the best item of the evening was a pot ponrri of melodies selected from the best composers, in which the wellknown airs, "The Last Bose of Summer,” “Annie Laurie,” “The Bay of Biscay,” “Eulo Britannia,” and several others equally good were most artistically blended, the execution of which called forth a well merited burst of applause. The other numbers were also most favorably received, and a most enjoyable concert was appropriately terminated by the National Anthem. Considering how recently they have been organised, their renderings have been most creditable alike to the conductor and members of this popular band. Thbatbb Royal.—This place of amusement was again well filled last evening en the occasion of the second production of “Patience,” by Williamson’s Opera Company. The piece went even more smoothly than on the previous evening, and the music, like most of Sullivan’s, seemed to improve upon acquaintance. The audience showed a keen appreciation of the many beauties of the opera, and testified their approval by loud and frequent applause. Among the encores which were demanded and responded to were the following :—The duet between Signor Verdi and Miss Rees, “Prithee, pretty maiden the sestette, “ I hear the soft note”; the song by Signor Verdi about a magnet and a silver churn. the exceedingly comical duet between Mr Vernon and Miss Navaro, “So go to him and say to him,” which had to be repeated no fewer than three times; and the duet between Mr Vernon nnd Signor Verdi, “ When I go out of door,” which was again productive of much amusement on the part of the audience. " Patience ’’ will of course be repeated this evening, and we can safely predict for it a long and successful run.

The Thbateb Act Deop.—The now act drop of the Theatre has arrived per s.s, Rotomahana, and will be displayed to the public on Monday next. By the courtesy of Mr J, 0. Williamoon however wo ere enabled to give a brief description of it. The drop is from the pencil of Mr Gordon, the most accomplished artist in the southern hemisphere, and the subject chosen is Windsor Castle viewed from the Thames, with Windsor old town in the background. It is quite refreshing to find an artist quitting the conventional Italian landscape, with the inevitable donkey, padre and group of peasants, and in the work under notice Mr Gordon has imparted to the picture quite a delicious feeling of coolness by the artistic way in which he has treated the water. Old Father Thames occupies the foreground, with the massive towers of the castle rising behind, purpled with the flush of sunset. On the left hand is the town of Windsor. A fishing and pleasure boat on the river, and a few swans, impart variety to the scene. The picture itself, which is oval in shape, is enclosed with white satin drapery, with a heavy bullion fringe, relieved here and there by bouquets of flowers, beautifully painted. Outside of this, again, and on what may be called the edge of the picture, is a heavy drapery of old gold, presenting a splendid foil to the lucidity and lightness of the centre picture. The drop as a work of art is well worthy of the high reputation of Mr Gordon, and no doubt the patrons of the theatre will hail with pleasure the change from the dingy red curtain which for so long has done duty.

Some people’s ideas of morality are a little mixed. Lord Alvanley spoke of a friend of his as a foolish sort of fellow who had “ muddled away his fortune by paying his tradesmen’s bills,” and Pelham used to argue that it was a very respectable thing to_ be arrested for debt, because it showed plainly that the arrested party had once had credit. “Eloise” asks if we will publish her poem on “ The Wovelet of the Rivulet.” With a smilelet upon our faoelet, we reply yes. Write only upon one sidelet of the sheetlet, Eloise, and put on enough stamplets. Your poemlet shall have spaoelot. Before the suggestion that women should be employed as pharmaceutists or dispensers is adopted (tho “ Lancet ” says), let other considerations besides that of mere “ intellectual and physical fitness ” have weight. The experience of the postal and telegraph offices, in which females are entrusted with the simple duties of selling stamps, issuing money orders, and taking in messages, would seem to show that there is one propensity of the sex which is in itself an insuperable obstacle to the employment of women in pharmacy. They will talk. This is a universally evident weakness on the part of those at present occupying the desks at both, largo and small offices. This evil is so widespread that we venture to predict the abandonment before many years have elapsed of any attempt to employ women in public Offices, I£ females were entrusted with tho

duty of dispensing, oases of poisoning frop misadventure would certainly increase in number, while less formidable blunders m the compounding of mixtures would become tha rule. There is in the mind of woman an inherent disability for work of any kind which requires concentration of thought and mental isolation. It is not that she will not, she cannot, attend to the business in hand so exclusively as it is necessary the practical pharmaceutist should attend, if his duties are to be discharged with credit to himself and safety to his customers.