NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2685, 15 November 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sir Julius Vogel.—A Dunedin telegram states that Sir Julius Vogel will arrive at the Bluff about the 20th of this month. Weather Exchange.—Yesterday—New Zealand, dull with slight rain and prevailing S.E. wind. Australia, generally fire, with high pressure and light S.E. wind. Barometer Bussell, 30.0; Wellingnj 29.8 ; Bluff, 30.0; Portland, 30.4 ; Sydney 30.3. Curb Boating Club.—At a meeting of the Cure Boating Club, held on Monday night at Wearing’s Hotel, it was decided to send a crew to compete in the intercolonial regatta at Lyttelton. It was also decided to compete at the Akaroa regatta in the senior double sculls, senior pair oar, and junior double sculls.

1.0.0. P., M.U., Eangiora. —At a meeting of this lodge oa Monday evening. Dr. J. McKenzie Gordon was appointed medical officer to the society. Courtenay Show. —The annual show of the Courtenay Agricultural and Pastoral Association will tato place at Kirwee on Friday, November 24th. Saltwater Creek School. —The following is the Inspector’s report:—No. on roll, 53; present, 41; master, Mr J. Mclntyre; percentage of passes, G 4; discipline, good. A much higher percentage of passes would have boon secured if the master had not been over-ambitious in attempting to pass a number of children in a standard higher than they were quite able for; this will make it up-hill work for both master and scholar for the nest year. A number of the children passed twostandards higher than that which they last passed. Judging from last report on this school the Inspector considers the progress creditable. Union Insurance Comp ant. —We understand that the directors of this company have decided to follow out the line of policy indicated by the chairman at their last annual meeting, and increase the> paid up capital to j£loo,ooo, in accordance with the plan originally laid down in their prospectus. The seventh and eighth pay-: monts of 2s 6d a share on the shares of the company have now been made payable on the 14th January and 14th May next. We believe that the directors are -wise in placing the company on a substantial basis, and that the increased capital should tend to increase the popularity of the company with insurers. The late Metropolitan Show. — The following is a corrected list of private prizes:—The vice-president’s cup for the best fat bullock or steer, any age, was won by Mr S. Garforth; Mr Garforth also won Mr W. Norman’s cup for the best Hereford cow, any age, on the ground. Messrs P. and D. Duncan won the “ importers and makers of implements’ prize,” offered for the winner of the largest number of points in the implement classes. Mr E. Marshall was awarded Mr S. Manning’s cup, offered for the best sample of binding twine made from European flax grown in the colony. Mr Urquhart’s cup for the largest prizetaker in breeding cattle cannot be awarded till after the next meeting of committee, as two of the exhibitors of breeding cattle have scored an equal number of points. Mr C. B. Candy, in accordance with his usual custom, has presented the Agricultural and Pastoral Association with his first prize cheese, which is now in the association’s office, where those interested in the manui facture of cheese may call and procure a . sample free of charge. Young Men’s Club. —The ordinary meeting of the committee of the above was held last night. Present —His Worship the 1 Mayor (in the chair), Messrs Malcolm, ■ Joseph, Miller, Hogbeh and Griffiths. Mr ■ March and the secretary were empowered to purchase certain articles required by the i caretaker. A list of periodicals, as recommended hy the sub-committee, was read 1 and approved. A rule was passed prohibit--1 ing playing for gain in the club. The i thanks of the committee were ordered to he conveyed to Professor Hutton for the lectures given by him ou " Physiology,” and the books presented to the club. The meeting then adjourned to the 21st inst. Inquest. —An inquiry touching the death of an old man named Bernard Evers was held at 3 p.m. yesterday in the house of Mr Campbell, Waltham, before Dr. Coward and a jury. The particulars of his death were narrated in the Globe of Monday. Mrs Mary Ann Campbell deposed that deceased lived by himself in a cottage adjoining that occupied by witness and her husband. It appears that he formerly belonged to the Victorian police force, dating from 1853 to 1871, when he was discharged. He obtained his livelihood in this colony as a jobbing gardener, and had accumulated a little property, viz., some .£53 in the Bank, and also a freehold quarter-acre section, amounting in all toabout .£2OO. Feeling his end approaching, he made a will, leaving the whole of his property to witness, and asked her to caH in two persons to witness same, hut as she did not think his illness serious she dissuaded him from the step, hy which she loses the property. Dr. Irving deposed that he had made a post mortem examination of the body, and that in his opinion death resulted from serous apoplexy. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.

Thb Season Why.— On the occasion of the opening of the Convent schools at Invercargill last Sunday, Bishop Moran said that it might be asked why did the Roman Catholics put themselves to such expanse when the Government offered them instruction for nothing. His answer was thatthe Roman Catholics erected schools for the education of their children, firstly, because the schools erected by the Government were not Christian schools ; secondly, because they were not Catholic schools; and thirdly, because they were godless schools. Ho went on to speak on the education question at some length. An Austbalian League. —According to the Melbourne “Argus,” an Australian Federation League is to be formed by Mr Munro and some other members of the Assembly, and others who hold viewssimilar to those which he has expressed on the question in the House. The basis of action is thus defined:—lst, for the adoption of a system of in tual and general defence; 2nd, the arrangement of railway tariffs where border or through trade is affected; 3rd, the free interchange of local manufactures and indigenous produce;. 4th. the conservation and distribution of storm waters for the irrigation and reclamation of dry lands; sth, making the colonies into an attractive home for millions of our race and language ; and 6th, the exclusion of the Mongolian races, and the prevention of the institution of slavery in any part of Australia. Te Whitt and Astbonosty. —The Nelson. " Mail ” of Saturday says that Te Whiti viewed the eclipse with calm indifforeneeBetween forty and fifty years ago ho had seen a total eclipse, of wldch ho considered Saturday morning’s performance to ho hut a poor imitation. It, however, recalled to his mind an anecdote he had heard from his father, which he related with some animation. His (the father’s) tribe and another had had some difference which necessitated an appeal to arms. The hostile forces were drawn up in battle array at some place on the west coast of the North Island, and, at a distance of not many hundred yards from each other, were engaged in getting up steam by singing their war sings and darc'.ng the haka when, at ntarmidday, the sunlight began to fade. As it grew darker and darter, the spirits of the intending combatants fell lower and lower, and at last, when the sun became totally obscured, they turned tail and fled, regarding the, to them unaccountable, phenomenon as an omen specially sent as a warning to them to desist from fighting. Xu connection with this matter the “ Mail ” states that a story of To Whiti having sent a telegram to the Parihaka natives regarding the comet, [as tel-graphed from New Plymouth to the Press throughout the • colony was a pure fabrication. He is not allowed to communicate with anyone, except in the presence of the interpreter, and most certainly would n -vijr have been, and as a matter of fact was not, pern, it ted to send any such message as that with which he is credited.

Agricultural Wages.—Tlie agricultural labourer, alter many ups and downs, caused I by strikes and agitations, seems now to | have settled down again into a state of comparative contentment, and certainly j with bis wages and other advantages ; equivalent, according to the most trusti worthy computation, to not loss thau .£1 a week—he has teas n to thank his stars that he is horn an Englishman. Some in- | teresting statistics have boon compiled in J Germany, showing the average rate of wages given in Europe to agricultural labourers, and they show that for men casually employed the average is from .£l9 7s a year to .£45, ° while for men permanently emnloyed it is from .124 to about JES2 10s. * These statements are quoted in a Consular report for ; Italy, where it appears the peasant receives ' rather more thaa the average in actual | money, but is still worse off than the laborers in other countries by reason of the heavy tax levied upon him, and the miserable character of the cottages or huts in which ho lives.