NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2681, 10 November 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Little Akat.qa Fires.—lt is beI lieved that a clue has been obtained to the; origin of the late fires at Little Akaloa. Messrs Alexander and Henry Mcintosh, residents of that place, have been arrested by Constable Scott, and on "Wednesday last they were brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Akaroa, before Mr Justin Aylmer, when they were remanded. till November 16th for further particulars. Larceny.—Edward Newman "Wright was sentenced at the Rangiora Court, on Thursday, before A. H. Cunningham and H. Blackett, Esqs., to fourteen days' imprisonment for stealing a pair of trousers, the property of Jeremiah Corboy, of Loburn. Cathedral Bells.—Yesterday being the Prince of "Wales' birthday, the bell ringers rang out merry peais all day. Six of the bell ringers rung several peals of grandsire changes. At no distant date they will be able to ring 5040 changes, bringing in the seven bells.

Hosbital Destitute Patients" Fund.— The open air performance by the CityGuards Band in the grounds of the Hospital, which was announced for Saturdaylast, but had to be postponed by reason of the inclement weather, will take place next Saturday afternoon, weather permitting. Bitten by a Pig.—A man named Robt. Jones, whilst attending to a prize boar belonging to Mr Boag, of Fendaltown, which was exhibited at yesterday's show, had his right leg ripped by the animal's tusks. Jones was at once attended to by Dr. Thomas, who advised his removal to the Hospital, where his injuries received prompt attention, and he is reported as progressing satisfactorily. Ashley Band op Hope.—At the annual meeting of this society, recently held, the following office-bearers were chosen: President, Rev. E. R. Otway; vice-pre-sidents, Revs. S. Macfarlane and R. Tout; superintendent, Mr T. Q. Smith; lady superintendent, Mrs Hayman ; secretary, Mr J. Thwaites ; treasurer, Mr J. Hayman. The annual report showed the society to be in a flourishing condition. It is contemplated I to hold a picnic shortly, the treasurer ; having in hand a sum of money speciallyraised for that object. Cowardly Attack on Chinamen.—Two Chinamen were walking along Kilmore street last evening when they were annoyed by three men, who dealt one of them a severe blow, cutting his lip and inflicting other injuries. The fellows cleared off on. the approach of the police constable on the beat, but a crowd of men and larrikins came up, and their attitude being anything bnt friendly to the Celestials, the constable escorted the latter home amidst the jeers and hootings of the mob, and as the Chinamen passed into their house stones were thrown and a window was broken. At this stage of affairs four Chinamen, emerged therefrom, and armed with pitchforks and shovels drove the crowd before them. At this the constable again interfered, and ordered the Chinamen back to their premises, which order being complied with the crowd dispersed. Oddfellowship.—A special meeting of the Ridgeley Lodge will be held at the Orange Hall this evening, at Bevon o'clock.

Pobe Mkbino Sheep.—A sale of the aboye was held to-day at the ;yards of Messrs R. Wilkin and Co., when a "large ana representative company of South Island wool growera was present. Of the four-tooth rams from the flock of Mr Gibson, Belle Vue, Tasmania, the highest figure was 120 guineas, a splendid auimal bought by Mr A. D. Smith. Of Mr Tossey's nine sheep 90 guineas topped the list. Of the Scone merino 3 136 guineas was the highest bid, the animal falling to the nod of Mr Hatching, of Moa Flat. Messes H. Matbon's Sale op Purebbed Stock. —The annual sale of pure--bred shorthorns, sheep, &c, by this firm on the 10th of November, has become as established an institution in this city as is the November Show of the Canterbury A. and P. Association. A.t this day's sale a grand lot of. stock was submitted. Up to the time of our going to press the highest price realised for shorthorns was the sum of lOOgs, at which price the Hon. H. B. Gresson secured the grand bull Count, from the stock of Mr John Deans. The well-known Summerton's Earl of Brunswich was passed in, having failed to elicit a higher offer than 425g5. Kaiapoi Horticultural Society.—A meeting of the committee was held on "Wednesday evening. It was decided to add the name of Mr J. Butt to the committee. Special prizes to be awarded at first show were announced Prom Mr Whitefoord for the greatest prize-taker in fruit and vegetables in the amateur's class, and for flowers in open class ; from Mr B. Wright, for best brace of cucumbers; and . from Mr Butt, for three distinct pot plants in bloom. Arrangements were made for providing judges and the staging of exhibits at December show. The meeting then adjourned for three weeks. Accident. —A horse that was attached to a waggonette belonging to Crowe and Co., bottlers, and driven by an employe of theirs named James Atkinson, became unmanageable yesterday afternoon near the show grounds. A man named Grindrod, who was standing near, fell beneath the wheels of the trap, which passed over his body. He was at once picked up and taken to the hospital; but as he was not in a fit condition to allow of his injuries being attended to, the extent of same is at present unknown. Greendale. —A tea, entertainment and dance was held in the Greendale schoolroom on November 3rd in aid of the erection of an Orange Hall in Greendale, when over 200 people sat down to an excellent tea, which was well got up by Mr G. Batson, of Kirwee. The tables were under the superintendence of Mrs G. Mangin, Mrs H. Gillanders, and several young ladies. The Courtney brethren, with their banner, mustered in - strong force, as well as brethren from other districts. After the cloths were removed the Bev. Mr Maxwell was voted to the chair, the Kev. Mr Jones opening the meeting with prayer. The chairman then said he had much pleasure in being present on such an occasion. The Bev. Mr Jones was celled upon, and gave a very lengthy address, speaking greatly in favor of the Orange institution and its principles. Mr J. W. Sawle was next called to the platform, and said he had read the rules and regulations of the order and greatly approved of them. He hoped the lodge in Greendale would long continue. Mr Jebson then gave a lengthy address, which was very appropriate to the occasion. The chairman, in response, said he thought the Orange institution must be a society that will greatly spread throughout the world. The Rev. Mr Bray then said it was his first time to be present on such an occasion. He had only time to read some of the rules, which he thought were very good. He hoped to soon tie more acquainted with them. An interval of-five minutes brought the Hororata Christy Minstrels to the stage to display their exceUent talents. They played some very good music, and several songs were well sung. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and waiters, and the entertainment was brought to a close. The room was then cleared for the dance, which was kept up till long after daylight. The honors were divided between the Misses Jane Mangin and Dawson, this being one of tne most successful meetings that has been in Greendale. _ . Industrial Association. —A meeting of the committee of the above association, which was to have been held last evening at 7.30, lapsed for want of a quorum. Rangiora Magistrate's Court. —The cases set down for hearing at this Court on Tuesday were settled, and the magistrates in attendance were not .required to take their places on the Bench. Lincoln. —A meeting of the above school committee was held in the district schoolroom on Monday, November 6th. Present — Messrs Wolfe (chairman), Doherty, Baker, Topham,Tod,and Teakle. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education re salaries, &c. It was resolved by the coinmittee to accept Mr Palmer's tender for fence trimming, to repair the pump and gate, and to close the school on Thursday and Friday. The report of the school for the preceding month was received from the master, and was considered very satisfactory. Having gone through the usual routine of business, the meeting closed

Labor Traffic in thk Pacific —Commenting upon Admiral Wilson's report on the labor traffic in the Pacific, and referring also to the charges and denials which have been made as to the conduct of the traders, the " Brisbane Courier " suggests that the various colonial Governments should be associated together in the appointment of a Royal Commission to take evidence in the islands themselves, on the Queensland plantations, and at Fiji, so that the whole subject might be disposed of on indisputable evidence.

The Labor Question in New Caledonia. —The' Noumea correspondent of the " Sydney Morning Herald" remarks that considerable anxiety is being felt throughout New Caledonia respecting the threatening results—especially to the mining and agricultural interests—of the stoppage of the native immigration from the South Sea Islands. The subject is a most serious one, vitally so to the prosperity of the colony, which, in the opinion of all practical men here, will rapidly retrograde unless this invaluable source of labor is restored. This rude check comes just as the country was recovering from the crushing effects of the bank and mining failures a few years past, So imminent is the danger, and ruinous in its prospective effects upon the mo3t important interests of the country, that a number of the most influential people here, headed by Mr John Higginson, have formed a company termed the "Compagnie Caledonienne des NouvellesHebrides," capital £20,000, for the purpose of colonising in the New Hebrides, and inaugurating a reliable and unobjectionable system of procuring laborers for this colony. Half the shares of the company Mr Higginson took up; the rest were speedily allotted. So far as preliminaries are concerned, a great success has attended the company. All efforts to induce France to annex these islands having failed, the. promoters of this company have the intention to follow the example given by various pioneers on the islands, and become possessed, by such means as they can employ, of laud on which to form establishments for different industries, with the ulterior view of their acquired rights being Tespected by any power that may eventually annex, as was the case with the planters in Fiji, and with one or two early colonists here."

Ambeican Lakes. —The following measurements of the great lakes of America have been taken by the Government surveyors: —The greatest length of Lake Superior is 335 miles; its greatest breath is 160 miles; mean depth,.6B3ft; elevation, 627 ft • area 82,000 square miles. The greatest length of Lake Michigan is 300 miles • its greatest breadth, 108 miles; mean depth, 690 ft; elevation, 506 ft; area 23,000 square miles. The greatest length of Lake Huron is 300 miles; its greatest breadth is 60 miles mean depth, 600 ft; elevation,274ft; area 20,000 square miles. The greatest length of Lake Erie is 260 miles; its breadth is 80 miles; its mean depth is Sift; its elevation, 26ft; area, 6000 square miles. The greatest length of Lake Ontario is 180 miles ; its greatest breadth, b% miles; its mean depth is 500 ft; 261 ft; area, 6000 square miles. The total ,of all five is 1265 miles, covering an area of upwards of 316,600 square miles.

THB RESULT OF A SUBPBISB VISIT. Some time ago the two morning papers in Sydney were invited each to send a reporter to inspect a home for destitute boys, situated at Middle Harbor. Ihe reporter of the " Sydney Morning Herald made an unexpected visit whilst the master (and his wife (Mr and Mrs Anderson) had gone in a buggy to meet himself and h s confrere (of the "Telegraph"), t*e )«■«« of whom only did they see. He of the " Herald," in their absence, discovered a variety of unsatisfactory things—such as that the boys were suffering from a, S'rin disease/ that they were dogged by Mrs Anderson with almost untailing regularity, that they complained of getting too little to eat, that they knew nothing ol prayers or religious exercises, &c. J. he outcome of his expose next morning was that the Government sent a doctor and some police officers to investigate; and it has been decided to remove the boys from the house. The first object is to cure them of the disease from which many of thorn are suffering. The boys will probably bo taken to the Benevolent Asylum. lhe Government will also eject Mr and Mrs Anderson from the land of which they have taken possession. A NOVELTT IN FOUNDBT PIiACTICE.—Herr G. Ahlemeyer describes in " Glaser s Annalen" a new system of melting iron, and at the same time incorporating in it scrap, wrought iron, &c. The inventor , is Herr Ibruegj?er, a well-known engineer, who has built one furnace at the Michel* Ibaeher Huette, at Michelbach, Hesse- ! Nassau, and another at the works of Julius : Meyer and Company, at Norden. lhe cupola is supplied with blast throughtwo sets of tuyeres, one above the other, there being eighteen in each set. Tho tuyeres or ports, which have the form of a vertical slot, are directly connected with a circular tuyere ring. The particular feature of the cupola is, that the bottom is a slightly inverted arch which is pierced by two openings through which both blast, or rather imperfectly consumed gases of combustion, and the fluid iron can flow. Below is a small chamber in which the iron collects. It is heated by the gases forced downward from the cupola above, which are supplied with the necessary air for combustion by a special tuyere leading from the maiu blast pipe. This chamber at the same time servos for preheating scrap, &c, which need only be pushed into the bath for dissolving it. Of course, it is well known that considerable quantities of scrap can be used by directly charging in any ordinary cupola; but it is claimed that in this case there are economy of fuel and a greater facility in making sharp, strong castings and a purer metal. The best iron j for this purpose is said to be inferior piglike No. 3 Middlesborough, holding con, sidorable silicon and little manganese. To it from forty to fifty per ceut. of scrap, &c, may be added. The total consumption of j fuel is stated to be ten per cent, of the weight of the product. j