NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2499, 11 April 1882, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

. VoiiT/htbbb Inspection —The inspection of volunteers by his Excellenoy the Governor, whioh was to have taken place this morning;, at ton o'clock, in Hagley Park, wsb postponed, owing to the severe inclemency of the weather. The different corps that were to take part in the inspection mustered at their respective parade grounds, and placed themeelvcs in readiness to proceed to the Park ; but before the hour appointed for the inspection an order was received from headquarters that the parade would not take place, Major Knollys having brought a message from his Excellency the Governor to Colonel Packe to the effect that, the weather continuing unfavourable, Sir Arthur would be unable to attend. The men were consequently dismissed. As tho Governor was to leave for Wellington at twelve o'clock, and as there was not the slightest sign of the weather improving, the inspection had to be abandoned altogether, and many of the men belonging to the country corps returned to their homes this afternoon. Resident Magistrate's Coubt.—This morning, Mr Beetham being on the Bench, three men for being drunk, thier first offencss. were fined each sb, or in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment with hard labor. Wm. Park and George Kerr, for fighting the night before in Gloucester street near tho theatre were fined 10s each, or in default, forty-eight hours' imprisonment with hard labor. Dbwids' Annivsbsaby Bali. —The Lyttelton Hearts of Oak Loilge, U.A.0.D., celebrated their annivo-sary by a bull given at tha Oddfellows' Holl at Port on Monday night. The room was beautifully decorated, and was comfortably filled. Dancing commenced at nine o'clock, and at midnight an excellent nupper was sat down to, the caterer, Mr jB. W. Grantham, giving great satisfaction to his patrons.

Holiday Time.—ln spite of the large aocoßsion of visitors on Easter Monday, the night passed off very quietly in town, there being but a couple of caßas of ebriety taken this morning before the Police Court. Jt may, however, be mentioned that a band of some thirty warriors, dressed in Volunteer uniform, proved rather demonstrative in a direction which they would fain keep secret from " their sisters, their cousins, and their aunts." No doubt the damp weather has put the martial spirits, especially those who are strangers here, to the pin of their regulation collar for excitoment. To-day at noon half-a-dozen sturdy defenders issued fromawell-knowntoba-cor.i.t*d, each provided with a long cloy pips, technically known as a "churchwarden." Very sssthetio onr embryo " dooks" looked, walking in Indian file, and puffing too too clouds from their clerical Oilumeta.

The Exhibition.—The steady downpour of this morning has necessarily interfered with the attendance of the public, but still tho number of persons paying for admittance up till two o'clock was considerably in excess of what might have been expected in such wretched weather. The few leakages noticeable on Saturday in the roof were seen to on Monday, and the building may therefore be pronounced watertight. Attention is called to the advertisement of the promoters in another column, in which all particulars as to hours of admission, concerts, &0., can be found. Tho receipts of yesterday at the doors amounted to nearly JJBOO. Mr Adolphus Oppenheimer, of Auckland, who intends showing a collection of kauri gum. &0., arrived in Cbristohuroh this morning, and will shortly have his cases opened up and displayed in the space allotted for these exhibits.

Weslbyan.—The Rbv. W. Baumber having been transferred from Christchnrch to Wellington by a receut decision of the Conference will leave Lyttelton fsr the Empire City on Thursday.

Farming in Ashburton County —While visitors to Christchnrch deplore the wet weather prevalent daring Easter holidays, the farmers in Ashburten district hail with satisfaction the advent of rain, which enables ploughs to get into the ground, and affords a chance of whoat being put in early on dry lands. There is also now a prospect of some more autumn feed.

B.M. Court, Lyttei/ton.—-A stowaway on board tho Hawea, from Dunedin to Lsttel ton, was fined 25s at this Court this morning, Mr John Ollivier, 8.M., presiding. Judgment was Riven by default in Bobinson v Smith, .£4 lis lOd, and Beve:«l other Bmail civil cases wcr» ieard and decided Thbatbb BoYAii. —"Patience" was played laat night to the largest bouse ever within the Walls of the Theatre, every part being crowded to excess. The opera went splendidly throughout. It will be repeated to-night.

Skobelopj'b Famous Speech —»•** losving are the remark, by General Skobdoff which, having been made in receiving some Servian .tudenta in Pari., created anMM sensation on the Continent i-" H *«■»*»" not alwaj. herself equal to her Pjtnobo duties in general, and to her Slav tvfe m particular, it ia became both within and without .he i.*held in check by a foreign influence. We are not at home in our own honse. ine foreigner ia everywhere and hi. handlll in ever/thing. We'are the dupe, of hi. policy the victim, of hi. intrigue., the .laves o£ his power. We are dominated and paralyaod to suoh an extent by bis innumerable and disastrous influence, that if we are to deliver ourselves from them, a. I hope we shall .ome day or other, it can only be done by us .word in hand. And if you wish to know the name of this foreigner, this intruder and Intriguer, this enemy so dangerous to Bussian. and Slav., 1 will name him. It i. the German. I repeat it, and I beg you will never forget it. . lnis enemy is the German. A struggle between the Slav and the Teuton i. inevitable. It will be long, sanguinary, and terrible, but the Slav will triumph." General Skobolcff added: "If any one attempt, to moleat the States recognised by treaties, thank goodness you will not be alone. If fate should so decide we ahall meet again on the battle field aide by side agaiost the common enemy."

TbAppins Babbits.—Mr Joseph Saw, of Clifton Villa, Plymouth, writes to the "Maidstone and Kentish Journal" as iollows :—What is it to trap a rabbit ? How few people know. To trap a rabbit is to procure a powerful spring trap, four inches iquare, with a row of teeth on eaoh side made to fit in each, and to out and crush with the greatest severity. This trap is placed at sunset in the hole or run of the rabbit, and in a short space of time the poor creature ia pecured either by both or one of its fore leg.. In this painful oondition the rabbit, with partially orushed bones, lingers on hour after hour in the moßt fearful agony; the eyeballs often distended far beyond the socket, and its pitiful cries may be heard far away, until the leg ia broken off, which ia frequently the case, and the poor rabbit i. found wandering in the wcoda on the throe remaining lega, or on_ the arrival of the keeper or trapper its misery is terminated. We .hall be told that this fearful cruelty is legalised—we know it to our ehame. But surely the continuation of such cruelty can never be tolerated ? That gentlemen auoh a. at present compose the House of Commons ctm desire to perpetuate such brutality ? Men possessing the finest feeling of humanity, men of the highest possible oulture, and distinguished for the practice of the highest moral and domestic feeling, can never willingly and knowingly wish to torture any living creatnre; we cannot think it. The law for the Prevention of Crnolty to Animals, as it now stands, applies only to domestic animals; we pray that it may be made to apply to wild animals (and why not ?) May I ask your kind and merciful interference in this matter —to_ suppress & oruelty compared with which vivisection is mercy, and which aot of oruelty in thousand. of instances i. occurring daily ?

Thb Woodstock Rush.—The "Otago Daily Times" saya :—lt is quite refreshing to read the "West Coast Times" just now. Under an article headed " More Golden Claims" full particulars are given of the Woodstock rush, and of the " fancy prices" paid for business sites. For in>tanoe, we read that a Mr Dehn has been offorod £SO for tho site on whioh his cowshed stands. Hotels are going up, butohers, bakers, and blaoksmiths are starting business, and a sawmill near the scene is reaping a splendid harvest. We also read that a patty of juvenile diggers designating themselves "The Juvenile Amateur Prospectors," have made a start on their own acoount at the new rush. Their names are Masters Emerson, Wilberg, Sohaef, M'Donald, and another, at an average age of sixteen, each of whom has provided himself with a miner's right and mining toolc. They have set in on the west side of jthe Boss road, about a half mile beyond the prospeotors, and are bont on bottoming a shaft whether the result be for weal or for woe.