NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2607, 15 August 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Shipping —Oar Lyttelton correspondent telegraphs that the steamer now signalled it ■ presumedly the Macapouti, twenty*four hours - out from Wellington. Mispbint.—Mr W. Parker writes to say* that the 3s named twice in his letter of yea* terday should hare been 3i. Safety op the Tux —By a telegram which - * appears elsewhere, it will be seen that the a.s. Tui, for whose safety some alarm has been caused during the past few days, arrived safely under canvas at Wellington this morning.

Coon.—Thera are gome funny people run f in by the polios occasionally. Yegterday, at a Lyttelton, two inebriates were fined, one 5* s and the other double that sum. One could j and did nay the amount, the other was 6i 61 short. Being strangeie, among strangers, the man that paid his way out of custody f straightway wailed on the gentleman who „ e fined him—at being hia best acqnrintacce—--0 and requested that his mate’s fine should he remitted. As this was refused, he ciked for the loan of the requisite 63 fid ; but the man ® of justice couldn’t eee it. 6 Tee Elhoieio Light bob Poet..—The r following was read at the meeting of the 0 Lyttelton Borough Council on Monday a night:—“A meeting was held at the j Harbor Board Office, Lyttelton, on the 7th instant, to consider the question f of adopting the electric light for lightf ing the town and harbor of Lyttel- - ton. Messrs Hannan, Richardson, and , Cunningham were present, representing the ’ Harbor Board, and Messrs Grubb and Smith 8 and the Town Clerk for the Borough Council. - The cost of plant for five lights for the town 3 was set down at £1450, and six lights for the harbor at £2751, and annual maintenance at , £337 103 and £430 16a 8i respectively. The plant proposed for the borough would not be 6 available for lighting private homes. The a light proposed for the town would be. five j times stronger than the present gas service, j and wonld provide for burning 276 'hours longer. The practical result to the borough, : should this scheme bo adopted, would be that 7 the town would have fire times the light . it has at present for what is now paid for j gat.” The Lyttelton Borough Council did not decide to adopt the propoaal, but laid the r report on the table for 11 fuller oonsidera- , tion.” 1 Leave the Chinamen Alone.—A case 1 involving a very cowardly assault upon a \ Chinaman named Lim Hi, a vegetable vendor, . was heard by Messrs J. T. Bouse and J. W. Smith at the Lyttelton Resident Magistrate’s ' Court this morning. The accused was a 1 young man named John Harvey, He was a . passenger on the 3 p.m. train with the Chinaman, and after insulting and taunting the Mongolian, he pulled him by the queue and ; struck him in the face and about the head, his cowardly and brutal behaviour being manfully stopped by Mr Sopp, a carrier, who gave the ruffian in custody. He was sent to; prison for two months with hard labor. U.A.O.D.—The usual fortnightly meeting of the Campbell Lodge of Druids was held in the lodge room, Terminus Hotel, on Friday evening last, AD. Bro. Young presiding. There was a good attendance of members and visitors. Two new members were initiated into the Order, and four more proposed. After the initiation there was an adjournment for harmony, during which some capital songs were sucg by several of the members. On resuming business, P.D.P, Bro. Wilsteed gave a report of the opening of the new odge at Timaru, and after the transaction of further business the lodge was closed in duo form by the A.D. The Pioneer Lodge, Ho. 47, met at their lodge room, Terminus Hotel last evening, Thera was a numerous attendance of members and visitors. One member was duly initiated, after which P.D.P. Bro. Swinnerton, assisted other brethren, performed the initiation ceremony of the olden times—lCC years ago. Bro. Bishop, A D., then stated that be had a pleasant duty to perform, and that was in presenting P.A. Bro. Stewart with a P.A, collar, and referred to the many services rendered to the Crider by the recipient. Bro. Stuart responded, thanking them for the gift. Reference was made as to the progress of the library in connection with the lodge ; promises, it was stated, had been made, and the committee were requested to try and acquire further additions. Some further business having been transacted, the lodge was closed in due form. Missing.—A boy named Mitchell has been missing from Longbeaoh since Sunday. It is feared be has been drowned. Athletic Association.—The nominations for election of new members, originally intended to close on the 12th instant, have been further extended to the 24th. Yolfnteeb Movements.—What promises to be a red letter day at port in connection with the above will take place on Sunday, August 27th, when the Christchurch City Guards and the E Battery of Artillery, with both their bands, will proceed to port and join the Naval Brigade there, the whole parading for Church service, which will be held at the Holy Trinity Church. It io estimated that close upon 150 rank and file will answer the roll call upon that occasion. Accident.—A man named Michael Carroll had his leg broken yesterday while working at the railway cutting near the Waimakariri bridge. He was employed on Meiers Grigg and Guild’s contract, and was engaged, with others, in taking down a fall, when a piece of clay rolled down the face of the cutting and struck him on the leg, breaking it below the knee. He was taken to the Christchurch Hospital immediately. The Licensing Act.—Two Timarn firms have been informed against for not taking ont wholesale liquor licenses under the new Licensing Act. They have taken their licenses under the Distillation Act as heretofore, bat the civic and country authorities hold that this is not enough. Tae old liosnse costs £l, the new one £2O, The case is to

come off to-day.

ABhBUBTOK LibbAbx. —Last night wai the last evening on which the upper room of Ashburton town hall wai to be open as a public reading-room, the library committee, owing to want of cupport, having decided to close the room till the new library building* are erected. Akbbblbt. —A mania for dog poisoning seema to have taken possession of lome evi. diaposed inhabitant, or inhabitant*, of this place. Within the laat few days several valuable eheep doga have been poisoned on the chain in their owner’a premises, and pieces of poisoned meat have been found promiscuously oast into gardens and even doorways. It is to be hoped that the police will be able to find some means to bring the offenders to justice, a* apart from the serious loss to owners of valuable sheep dogs, the danger of young cbildrea being also poisoned is by no means a remote one. Genius. —The Wakatipn Correspondent of the “ Otago Daily Times" states that a young man, about twenty years of age, living near Kawarau Bridge, has developed a talent for the construction of steamboats, stationary steam-engines, and working locomotives, that is little short of the marvellous. On _ a dam of water he works his steamboats with precision and efficiency, while in his hut engines and locomotives of different constructions perform their work with perfection. The yonng man, whose name is Robert Thompson, is now engaged on a circular railway to test the practicability of his locomotives.

A New Explosive. —Dynamogen is the name of a new explosive which has been in vented by M. Petri, a Viennese engineer. If all that is said about it be true it is likely to compete seriously with gunpowder. It contains neither sulphuric acid, nitric acid, nor ultra-glycerine, and it cannot injure in any way either gun or cartridge. The charge of dynamogen is iu the form of a solid cylinder, which can be increased in quantity without being increased in size, by compression. The rebound of the guns with which the new explosive has been tried is said to have been very slight. It is also said that the manufacture of dynamogen is simple and without danger, that it preserves its qualities iu the coldest or hottest weather, and that it can be made at 40 per cent, less cost than gunpowder.

Skilled Labob nr Gaols. —The following is a report of the public petitions committee on the employment of skilled labor in gaols:—These petitions are signed by all classes of working men, and therefore entitled to consideration. The lists ef the petitioners comprise laborers, oarpente?e, carters, barmen, publicans, .masons, printers, saddlers, &o. The petitioners were represented by a deputation of intelligent workmen, who were introduced by Mr Hutchison, also by Hr Bracken, M.H.B, who mads a powerful appeal to the Committee in support of the prayer of the petitioners. On the examination of the members of the deputation, it appeared that they were not all in accord as to the object to be obtained, -Jine objecting to youths being trained to skilled labor in gaols ; others appeared to desire that the produce of work done in gaols should not be disposed of outside, so as to cause competition with free labor. Others thought that prison labor ought not to be utilised in making ordinary articles of consumption, snob as boots and shoes, for general :.use in all Government departments, from a policeman or a volunteer, to a member of the General Assembly, but that farming, flax-dressing, sugar reflniug, and quarrying, and dressing stone, should be the general direction in which the Government should utilise prison labor as interfering least with free labour. It was pointed out that flax-dressing and agriculture was done by free labour, and that the classes thus employed would also naturally object in having to compete with prison labour. With respect to one of the new sources of employment suggested by the deputation in which prison labour could be economically employed, it was pointed out that a sugar refinery was about to be established in Auckland. It appeared clear that each trade objected to any competition with the product of prison labour, but had no objection to the prisoners being engaged in work for the Gaol Department only. That, having carefully considered the subject matter of these petitions, and the special suggestions made by the deputations, the committee are of opinion that the question is one which involves large considerations of public policy, which the House should deal with at the invitation of the Government, The committee therefore recommend the petitions to the serious consideration of the Government, to take such action as may bo deemed necessary in the interest of the colony generally. The Southbkook Tbasbdt.— On Sunday the remains of the unfortunate Mr James Wright, rope spinner, who came by his death on Saturday, was interred in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Bongiora. A large number of friends attended the funeral. The burial service was conducted by the Eev. Bobert McGregor, of Baiapoi.

liASOb nr New Sowth Waxes. The •'Sydney Morning Herald,” of July 24th, Bays —“ In our feaue of Saturday there were two columns and a half of advertisements from employers in quest of persons to fill situations, and a little more than half a column of advertisements frem persons seek* ing engagements. This is some indication of the condition of the labor market. Judging from Saturday’s advertisements men and women are wanted in almost all kinds of occupations, and in some oases so scarce do applicants for employment appear that very high waves are offered. Plasterers seem to be •o much in demand that 13s a day would appear to have become a rate of payment too low to tempt men to engage, and one advertiser who required six plasterers to do some work at Ooogee Bay offered X4s a day and all expenses. In other trades the demand for men seems to be very brisk ; and for ordinary laboring men such as ore wanted on railway extensions, the requirements of contractors appear to be far beyond what the condition of the labor market is likely to satisfy. On the Great Northern railway extension from Uralla to Glen Innea 300 pick and shovel men, 250 sleeper getters, and splitters and fencers are required j and on the Great Western railway extension from Nyngan to Bonrke no fewer than 1000 men are wanted for ballast-getting, &c. As recently as Friday last the Minister for Works, when replying to a deputation who asked for tramway accommodation in the country, found it necessary to mention the difficulty that is experienced at the present time in obtaining a sufficient number of men to carry out the railway contracts now in hand. Good domestic servants are, as everybody knows, always scarce; but the demand musfc_ be extraordinarily large when an advertiser offers, as one did a few days ago, 15i a week for a uoefnl girl required to do the work of a small family.” The Texexootjb. Some experiments which have recently been made in the Pufferies Gardena are believed to have pretty well proved that the invention of a French officer of the line known as the telelogne is destined to be used with some success in military operations. The apparatus consists of a three-legged easel or frame, surmounted by « field glass, and arranged conveniently lor the exhibition of the signal* to be used. The only other thing required is the case containing these signals. This is flat, with a double folding lid, opening when required so as to display the plates within. It is fitted with thirty-six plates, each of which has a plain black ground, with a shining white fetter or mark roised upon it. The plates fit in like books into a shelf, and have marks on their outer edges, forming a sort of index, and enabling the operator to pick out at a glance the one required. Usually the marks on the plates are simply the twenty-five letters of the alphabet, and the ten Arabic units of number, but whenever it is desired these can be replaced by others having a secret meaning, and decipherable only by a friend, while useless as a means of conveying information to an enemy. The size of the plates varies according to the distance which it is intended that they should “carry.” For the purpose of communicating at a distance of two and a half miles, they are about 17in high and 12in wide, but by doubling the length and breadth of them they are made useful at considerably more than double that distance. In the former case, however, the weight is only 41b, whereas in the latter it is raised to 201 bor more. In one of the experiments conducted at the Tuileries communications were carried on between the operator in Paris and the racecourse at Jjongchamps, which is a distance of about Ihree miles, and the results were said to be altogether successful. One of the chief advantages of the system is, of course, its cheapness ; and its simplicity will enable any private soldier, after a very few lessons, to wort it with success.

Dkainaob Boabd.—The usual meeting of the Drainage Board was held yesterday after, noon, when a considerable amount of routine business was transacted. A motion to alter the hour of meeting to 3 p.m. was carried, bnt one to alter the day to Tuesday was lost.

Masonic. —The consecration of the Masonic Hall at Fapanui, erected by the brethren of the Concord Lodge, No. 1925, 8.0., took place last evening. A large number cl visitors, including representatives from the Bt. Augustine, Canterbury, Southern Cross, Conyers, Amberley, and Robert Burns Lodges, were present. W. Bro. Deamer, M.D, Acting D.0.M., conducted the ceremony, assisted by the following G.L. officersW. Bro. W. R. Mitchell, Acting D.D.G.E; W. Bro. A. R. Kirk, Acting D.0.8.W. j W. Bro. F. Pavitt, Acting D G.J.W. j W. Bro. R. O. Bishop, treas. D O. I Chap.; W. Bro. Keith Wilson, Acting D.O. Sec.; W. Bro. C. B. Briggs, Acting D.O S.B ; W, Bro. Jubal Fleming, Acting D.O.D O.; W. Bro, O. A. 0. Hardy, D.G.B.D. ; W. Bro. H. Sawtell, Acting D.G, J.D. j W. Bro. A., Evans, D. 0.8.; W. Bro. C. P. Hnlbert, DO. j Purst. j W. Bro. W. Stevens, D.O. Tyler, The dedication ceremony was most impressively performed, after which the lodge was closed in due form, Bro. W. H. Messenger, assisted by an efficient choir, ably rendered valuable service with the choral portion of the ceremonial. An adjournment was afterwards made for refreshment, during which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honored, the brethren separating at an early hour, having spent a most enjoyable evening. Tin-Kettling.—This old colonial practice of serenading a newly'married couple on their wedding night will soon be a thing of the past, if (those who keep it up take warning from the oases heard at the Kaiapoi Court on Monday, at which a score of defendants, whose ages ranged from twenty to fourteen years, were charged with breaches of the peace, and from the majority of whom fines to [the total amount of £9 15s and costs £2 were collected. The Bench intimated that the practice was quite on illegal one, and announced that any of the same persons offendiug again would be fined in a high penalty and bound over to keep the peace. The principal portion of the fines in this instance will go to swell the receipts of the Mandeville and Rangiora road district, the affair happening just outside the borough of Kaiapoi. ‘ Selling ’ Either Way.—lt is told of the son of a horse dealer, a sharp lad, that when once unexpectedly called upon by his father to mount a horse and exhibit bis paces, the little fellow whispered the question, in order to regulate how he should ride, * Are you buying or selling ?’ A man with a small salary and large family says if pride goes before a fall, he would like to see pride start on a little ahead of the price of coal and provisions.