NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2530, 18 May 1882, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Opbnino op Parliament.—By c.'minission, Parliament was opened at two o’clock to day, when Sir G. M. O’Korko was elected Speaker. Mr Parnell and the Qorfflun«lT.— According to a cablegram from no. uun tins morning, a very hot debate took place in the House of Commons last night, when the subject of an alleged compact between Mr Parnell and the Government was under discussion. Although several Conservatives reaffirmed the truth of the statements which had been current, Mr Giaistoae stout.y denied their truth, and challenged proof of any compact having taken place.

Mb Pillirt ik Pabuiament.— Upon the 'Home meeting thi* morning, Mr Pllllat was ■worn in (with objection) *» a member of the i Home of Representatives for the Stanmore district. ... , j Stanmoek Election. —Elsewhere will hi found a request of Mr Andrews that the electors will meet him at the Knightetown Library to-morrow evening, at half-past seven o’slock. C.TAHDABD Weights and Mbasuhes. On Tuesday these were forwarded from Christchurch to Wellington for adjustment. The office of the Inspector of Weights and Measures in Christchurch will therefore be closed until Tuesday, 30th inst, K.M. Coubt, Lyttelton.—The only case for hearing at this Court this morning was a civil action, J. It. Willoox v Leckie, claim £1 17s 6J. Judgment went by default and costs, 2fis. Mr John Ollivier, R.M., presided. Exhibition Sports.—There are six events (exclusive of a football ma'ob) advertised to take place in Lancaster Park on Saturday next. It is to bo hoped the weather may so prove as to avoid another postponement of these sports, so eagerly looked forward to by

all admirers o£ athletics. ExhibitionSoutenib. —We have received from Messrs G, L. Beath and 00. one of their handsomely chased Exhibition medals, which they are now presenting to their customers whose requirements exceed the value of 10s. They are massive specimens of casting, and the designer has displaced good taste in the subjects chosen. On the one side a raised floral wreath encircles the head of a Maori chief, around which the words “New Zealand International Bxh bit ion” are engraved in a sunken centre. On the obverse is an excellent figure of the Angel of Peace and Plenty, which stands out in bold relief orer a cornucopia, the contents of which are being scattered broadcast.

Commit ted for Tbial. —At the Besident Magistrate’s Court this morning, John O'Oonnor was committed for trial, oha>g;d with having robbed a men named William Shead on May 6th of a watch and chain, a purse, £ 1 in silver, and some keys. Aooidbnt at Oxfoed —Yesteiday as Mr Scott was driving his wife and family in a dog cart, the horse stumbled, throwing Miss Scott from the trap and breaking her ankle. The injured limb was set by Dr. Bowley, and the patient is progressing favorably. Nobth Oantbbbubt Oohbsing Oi/na.— A meeting of members was held at Boberti’ Junction Hotel on Tuesday evening. There was a fair attendance. It was decided to hold a match on Monday, beginning from Mr Dailey’s estate, Swannanoa. The date of the annual meeting was fixed for June, and after some routine business, the meeting terminated.

Ashburton Police Cotjet. At this Court on Wednesday, befo k e Mr T. Bullock, J.P., a first offender, tor being drunk while in charge of a horse, was fined ss. For drunkenness and committing a breach of the peace, James Harrison, an old offender, was ordered to pay 20s, and Bobert Gibson, another old offender, was mulcted in a similar amount, with the option of undergoing forty eight hours’ imprisonment.

Accident. —Yesterday morning, Mr H. Mark Baker, proprietor of the Wind Whistle Hotel, Bakaia Gorge, was riding en route to the Hororata Licensing Bench. Hu coat tails frightened the horse while Mr Baker was in the act of mounting him, and the animal shied, throwing his rider, and inflicting a very severe compound fracture of the left leg. The sufferer was taken by train to the Christchurch. Hospital without delay, and attended to.

Kaiapoi Bobohgh. — A proposal has bean made to include within the borough boundaries the portion of the Mandevilie and Bingiora road district whicn embraces the Domain, woolen works, and malt house, and the Korotueka block, which was recently sold in township sections. Whether any definite steps will at present be taken seems doubtful, bnt at soma future time this land will be a part of the town, and, in order to promote proper sanitary regulations will be included.

Wondbbvtjl Thenipb.—Some wonderful purple top turnips have been grown by Mr David Scott, of Doyleaton, from seed imported by Messrs Bluett, Frankish and 00., auctioneers and seed merchants, Leeston. In a paddock of twelve acres there are thousands equally large, and probably some even larger than these. A specimen of these monsters may be seen at the offices of Messrs Bluett, Frankish and 00., Leeston, who, out of curiosity, weighed six of them, and they turned the scale at seventyone pounds. Midwintkb Show.—ln addition to the private prizes already offered for the forthcoming midwinter show of fat stock, &0., under the auspices of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association on Thursday, the 25th instant, Mr P. Cunningham, the president of the association, offers £2 10s for the best 31ba of fresh butter, also the same amount for the best sample of salt butter fit for export; same conditions as in premium catalogue. There is likely to be keen competition for the prize offered by Messrs Wood, Shand and Cc. for the best collection of roots and seeds. This will require a separate entry. Thb leish Absabsihatiohs. —Telegrams in the Melbourne “Age” state that large numbers of persons were in the Phoenix Park at the time of the murders, which occurred in broad daylight, but they imagined that the souffle was simply a drunken brawl, and did not therefore interfere. The Irish assert that four American Fenians were the principals in the atrocious deed.

Mkbitaliß Clumen Wonz Society.— Last evening a quarterly meeting was held in the schoolroom, the Rev. Mr Elavel in the chair. Mr W. H. Shair read a paper on the “ Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,” with a view to locally initiating a society for that purpose. The paper was replete with arguments tending to show the necessity for an institution hero similar to that at home, and appeared to meet with warm approval from those present. It was decided that such a society should be established in Christchurch, and the fallowing were appointed a committee :—The Eavs. Davidson and Elavel, Messrs W. H. Lane, J. P. Jameson, T. W. Jones, W. Stringer and Gibbs, with Mr Shaw as hon. sec. A number of gentlemen willing to join the society gave in their names. On the chairman’s proposal a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Shaw,

Ohbistohubch Hobtioultubal Society.

—A committee meeting was held on Tuesday evening. Present—Hon. B. O. J. Steven* president (in the chair), Professor Bickerton, Messrs H. B, Webb, D. Nairn. T. Turner, O. Marsh, H. Crooks, J. Guntrip, T. Allen, and P. Jones, hon. seo. It was resolved to hold the annual general meeting on Tuesday evening, May 23rd inst. (by permission), at the rooms of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, at 8 o’clock p m., and that the president, treasurer, and hon. secretary, be a sub-committee to prepare the report for the annual meeting. The Secretary reported a protest from Mr Ashton against the exhibit of Mr E. W. Wilson, amateur class, at the chrysanthemum show, consideration of which was deferred for further particular*. It was arranged that the committee meet half an hour prior to the general meeting on Tuesday, and that the treasurer and secretary be in attendance at 7 o’clock p.ra. to pay over the prize money to the successful competitors of the past season, and to receive subscriptions. There are seventy-one prize takers this year, being a considerable increase on forme: years, and satisfactorily indicating the increasing interest which is being taken in the proceedings of the society. Tub Maobi Peisonbbb.— On Wednesday Te Whiti and Tohu wore taken by rail to Kaiapoi, accompanied by Mr Butter and Mr Locke. They were met at the Kaiapoi station by Mr Isaac Wilson, M.H.8., and a number of the public curious to tee them They lunched at Patman’s Pier Hotel, lind afterwards visited the woollen mills, in which they spent some hours, expressing their surprise at the achievements of the pakeha. To Whiti seemed to take a livelier interest in the various branche* of the industry than did Tohu, though both were very much astonished with the working of the mules, the making of gay colored rugs, and the pattern loom and the wool scouring machinery took their attention tor a considerable time. They more than once stated the sights in the mills had exceeded the other sights they had witnessed within the area of civilisation. They however grew tired of the busy hum of the machinery and the nervous feeling which they appeared to labor under in the midst of rapidly moving belting and spindles, as well as the vibration in some of the departments, and at last begged to be allowed a smoke outside. The party returned by buggies to town owing to the late hour at which the train'would*depart. Te Whiti and Tohu expressed a wish to see the Aahve village of Sfc Stephens, and after proper notice has been sent to the NgaiUhu people, probably they m »y visit that settlement at an early date.

Potato Diggbb Trial. —On Wednesday the trial of a potato digging implement, imported by Messrs T. O. Kelsey and Co., or this city, was made upon Mr T. Pashby s Elmwood Estate, near Kaiapoi. There were a number of persons interested present to witness the experiment. The machine was drawn by a pair of horses. It comprises a series of bars ranged to form the front of a plough which passes in the ground under the potato rows, and by its action loosens the earth and the crop, when a sort of revolving fan arrangement of forks further free the tubers from the soil and oast them out on the surface ready for the pickers. Tbe implement worked very well in land which was fairly dry, but as thojrows were close together, it was necessary to pick up the potatoes before the machine came down the next, otherwise it might be possible for some of them to be covered. The machine, so far as this trial went did its work expeditious ly and apparently satisfactorily.