NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2584, 19 July 1882, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A O.P. —Court Thistle of the Forest held its usual fortnightly meeting in St. Saviour's schoolroom, Sydenham, last night. There was a fair attendance of members present. The officers were du’y installed by the 0.8. Sro. Crooks, P.D.C.K., was present, and re ceivad a hearty vote of thanks, after which the Court was closed by O R. Bro. Haig. Thb Htjok Belle Ekquxby.—The evidence of Pilot Day concluded this enquiry yesterday. He deposed that the mishap to to the versel was owing to the mainsail coming away, and not on account of want of wind or the bar being shallow, and that, according to his knowledge and belief, the deposition of Daniel Keyes, tho master of the Huon Belle, was correct. The Collector of Customs will forward the evidence to the Government Office, Wellington.

Boaed or Hbalte. —The Christchurch District Board of Health have issued u very lengthy list of instructions to be observed by parents and others in cases of infections diseases, and which will ba found in another column. To all and sundry a perusal of them and careful study may be the means of averting what otherwise might prove serious to many, and to the city at large. Debating Class. —The Canterbury Freethought Association notify to members and others a meeting to morrow evening in the Freethonght Hall, Worcester street, when After the ordinary business has concluded a <ieb»to will be commenced.

Thb Exhibition Fbee. —Daring the great Japanese sale at the Exhibition, Messrs H. Matson and Co. will anpply tickets of admission free to all interested. Ebduotion op Bates.— A conference took place to day between the City Council and the Insurance Association to consider the present rate of premiums with the view to makingareduction in the oity and to a further reduction if a water supply was carried out. The conference was very satisfactory. A full report of the meeting will be placed before the Council at its next meeting. Botaii PbebehtAtion. On the 25tb

April, 1888, the employes of Messrs John Brimmead and Sons, of London, presented to Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, and Princess Helen of Waldeok, a grand oblique pianoforte, in a very handsome ebouised case, decorated in Adams’ style. It is 7 1-3 octavos in compass, and contains all the recent improve menta of the firm, including a third pedal that produces most melodious effects, the sound being sustained to an almost indefinite length of time.—“ Morning Post.” Auction Salk. —Mr Charles Clark announces a sale of furniture, billiard tables, gasalsers, &0., of the Palace Hotel, at eleven o’clock to-morrow, when hotel-keepers, &)., arc invited. We&iheb Exchange. New Zealand, yesterday—General 8. W. winds; the depression is now off Gisborne, with a gale from the S.; elsewhere moderate or fine. Aus-tralia-General pressure is high, with light westerly winds in New South Wales, and sotting in easterly along the *outh_ coast. Barometer Bussell, 29.5 ; Wellington, 29.4 ; Bluff, 29.5. Australia—Albany, 30 2 ; Portland, 30 3 ; Sydney, 30.4. St. Albans Beobbatioh Club. The above club seems to grow in favor with the youths of the district, as on Monday night over ninety boys were present. The gymnastic apparatus was ready for use, and on Thursday next some further amuaements will be provided. The thanks of the committee of management are due to those gentlemen who have so kindly come forward and presented the club with the means of amusement.

'• Captain ” Bakey.—Captain Jackson Barry has had a four home’ intervisw with Tawhaio, in which he enlarged on the vastnees of his experiences, and the benefit that would accrue to the Maoris by leasing their country. The captain met with a most gracious reception, and had the distinguished honour of being asked to stand godfather to the child of the great chief Te Ake, who was christened 11 William Jackson Te Ake.” Mrs Morgan was godmother. After the ceremony the visitors were invited to the house of Mrs Morgan, and enjoyed her hospitality. An Alleqbd Absconding Dbbtob A warrant to arrest one Joseph Willim Francis was issued by Mr J. Ollivier, K.M., yesterday, on the application of Messrs B. Wilkin and 00. Counsel representing Messrs Harper and 00, was present, and applied for the warrant under section,!? of the Act. A. Leonard, accountant at Messi s Wilkin and Co.’s, proved the debt, and produced a dishonored promissory note of the defendant’s for £SB 14), plaintiff’s claim. James Niohol gave evidence of his belief that defendant was about to go beyond the colony. Benjamin Cehren, a witness, stated that defendant told him he intended to clear out for Sydney, and did not propose to pay the claim. The warrant was made returnable immediately. An application for a writ of arrest had been ma:o at the Christchurch Court in the morning. Mr Ollivier, whose jurisdiction in that Court extends only to sums not exceeding £2O, was unable then to deal with it. To meet the difficulty, he suggested the holding of a Court in Lyttelton, where his jurisdiction extended to £IOO, which chance was eagerly accepted by the pl&iitiffs. Mr Ollivier proceeded to Lyttelton, the plaintiff and his solicitor went with him, and within ten minutes after arrival the warrant was issued as above stated. Accident. —An aooident of a somewhat singular nature happened in Ashburton on Monday night. A man named William Walsh, a cabman, pulled up at the Somerset Hotel about ten o’clock, and having occasion to go inside the borse and cab were left unattended for a short time. On Walsh coming out to attend to his duties, he was told that the police had taken ohaige of the cab, and on this intimation Walsh appears to have gone home, content to wait a communication from the police on the subject. The following morning, however, the horse was found wandering alone in the Ashburton riverbed, with portions of the harness on, and evidently suffering from internal injuries. A further search revealed the fact that the cab was lying completely smashed in the riverbed just above the Old Men’s Home, and traces were seen where both horse and vehicle had gone over the embankment, which at that particular spot is fully twenty feet high. It is supposed that during the temporary absence of the driver the hone took fright and bolted up the Alford Forest road and fell over the embankment into the riverbed, and in the fall, or subsequently, managed to kick itself free from the cab. The horse did not appear to have sustained any great injury, but the cab was a perfect wreck. Indcstbtaii Association. —A meeting of the committee of the above association was held last evening in its rooms, Hereford street. Present Messrs A, Q. Howland (in the chair), O. Toomer, J. B. Sheath, B. H. Banks, P. Keeie, E. W. England, A. E. Kirk, and B. Ford. The subject for discussion was the present railway tariff. A conversational discussion ensued, and further consideration of the matter was adjourned to a further meeting, to be held at 7,30 on Friday evening next. Tbmpbbanob Lbotubb. —About fifty persons assembled at tbo Hood Templar Hall last evening to listen to an address by Mr J, W, Jago on the above subject. Mr J. T. Smith presided, and briefly introduced Mr Jago, wUo said they had met to discuss yet further this great and important question in which all wore concerned, than which no question so deeply touched all the interests dear to them and the physical and moral well being of the community, and this was the opinion of men of tho broadest views and the highest intellectual capabilities, many of whom bad pronounced it to be the most important question that could engage the public mind. <3anon Farrar termed it as overwhelmingly important, and worthy to be classed withthe efforts of those who gained our civil liberty or religious freedom. This, too, was the opinion of the Premier of Great Britain, of John Bright, and the late Richard Oobdcn. He would ask them to think of the crowded prisons, tho filled hospitals and lunatic asylums, and then realise that this was a question that could not be overestimated. The argument came before them in many phases, but the phase that at the present moment was of the most vital importance was the present Licensing Act and the proposed amendments to it by the friends of the liquor traffic j and he thought the educational influence that the Act would exercise by its annual recurrence before the public was a good augury of its results. It had been said the Act was after the heart of the Good Templars. But he denied the soft impeachment, But he did believe that it was the result oi Good Templars’ i caching that had influenced the Legislature into passing the Act. If Good Templars could pass an Act after their owr heart, it would bs one that would abolish al licensing to sell |drink. As to the principle of the Act, that the people should elect those who controlled the traffic, was a step in the right direction. This wes a principle thej bad been striving to bring about for year* and now it was so far given that the rate payers had the absolute, complete, and entire control of tho traffic, and tho com mittees were elected not to grant nov licenses only, but, it they thought fit, tc wipe cut every licensed house from their district. It would bo well for them to strive am elect such men on these committees thil would put a stop to the liquor trade alto gether, and this must be taught from tin pulpit, the lecture-room, and the Press ; am one grand feature was, that from the aots o these Licensing Committees there was m appeal. This was a sore point with some but he would like to know to whom such at appeal should be made. It had been sab that tho Supremo Court was the prope Court; but he said no. He would ask this Did not every one, according to what ho pro fessed, who wished to open a public hotel always profess to do it for the public benefit Wei!, then, who elected the Licensing Com mittees ? Why, the public ! Then to th public be the appeal, and that would cop with each annual election of tho Licensiti] Committee. He hoped the day would sooi come when the people would see there wa no need for liquor shops, and would wip them out. The lecturer then dwelt at lengtl on the various aspects of tho liquor traffic and at tho conclusion of a long address wa heartily cheered. The usual votes of thank to the lecturer and chairman were heartil; accorded.