NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2697, 29 November 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Arrest —John Johnston arrived by the Rotorua yesterday in custody of Sergeant Donnelly, who arrested him at Gisborne for obtaining by false pretences a promissory note for £250 from Mr A. Graham, of Timaru. Johnston was sent to Timaru by the midday train. Mr Beetham. —It was mentioned at the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day that Mr R. Beetham, Resident Magistrate of Christchurch, who for a long time has been on sick leave, has applied for a further leave of absence for three months. U.A.O.D.—The anniversary of the Perseverance Lodge of Druids was celebrated last evening by an entertainment in the Selwyn street schoolroom, Addington, which was well filled. The Mayor of Sydenham presided. Songs and addresses were contributed by Misses Sutherland, Pi«her, Billing, Simpson, Mrs McKeown, Messrs Parsons, Penfold, Robinson, Just, Andrew, and Dr. Russell, whilst the risiblo faculties of the audience were provoked by the comicalities of Messrs Thoill and Kerr. Judging from tie applause, which was frequent, the entertainment gave every satisfaction.

Lyttei/tojt E.M. COUET.-Hr John Olhvier, E.M., held Court at Lyttelton this morning, when the following cases were heard : —Catherine Kelly, charged with using’ obscene language, was absent when called, and a warrant was issued to bring her up. William Thomas was charged with disguising himself in women's apparel. Mr Nalder appeared for the defendant. Evidence was called to show that on Saturday, November 11th. defendant went into the Mitre Hotel disguised as a woman, apparently to purchase some beer. Sergeant Morice, who prosecuted, said that the defendant’s conduct had been the means of causing a good deal of uneasiness to the'residents in the part of the town injwhich he lived. The charge was laid under the Vagrant Act, section 3 sub-section 2, which Mr Nalder contended did not cover the offence as alleged. The Bench took the_ same view, and dismissed the cuse. Catherine Kelly now made her appearance in the Court in. charge of a constable, and remarked, byway of expressing her surprise, that “ she did not know what she had done.”, Charles Burns, a neighbor, testified to the uproar the refractory female had created. T. Harkiss, another unfortunate neighbor, related his experiences of her abominable language and riotous conduct. Sergeant Morice gave the Bench an account of the woman’s abandoned conduct, and she was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor. G. N. Haxell, for not keeping an outside lamp at the British Hotel lighted, was fined 10s and costs. Mary Campbell, a stout, elderly lady, was charged with catching Julia Anthony by the hair of the head, with pummelling her, and calling her certain vile epithets. Mrs Anthony, who appeared in the box with an infant at her breast, related the {circumstances of the assault, and explained that the trouble arose over some misunderstanding ahont a couple of eggs, and, as the defendant explained, because the complainant was “ a nuisance and disgrace in the neighborhood.” Defendant was fined 5s and costs. A civil case. Bouse v Davis, judgment summons for £,7 2s, was next heard; Mr Nalder for the plaintiff. Ordered to pay in one week, in default two months’ imprisonment. ■

The Drama at Poet. —The popular play “ East Lynne ” was performed last night in the Lyttelton Oddfellows’ Hall by the Willmott theatrical company to a moderately numerous audience. The piece was much enjoyed, and as the steamer in which the company purpose going to Greymouth does not leave until to-morrow, they will give a second performance at Port to-night, when the laughable comedy of “O’Callaghan” and the burlesque of “ Cinderella ” will be played, as announced by advertisement elsewhere.

A Goon Appetite. —An alligator’s throat is an animated sewer. Everything which lodges in his open mouth goes down. He is a lazy dog; and instead of hunting for something to eat, he lets his victuals hunt for him. That is, he lies with his great mouth open, apparently dead. Soon a beetle crawls into it, then a fly, then several gnats and a colony of mosquitos. The alligator does not close his mouth yet. He is waiting for a whole drove of things. He does his eating by wholesale. A little later a lizard will cool himself under the shade of the upper jaw. Then a few frogs will hop up to catch the mosquitos Then more mosquitos and gnats alight on the frogs. Finally, a whole village of insects and reptiles settle down for an afternoon picnic. Then all at once there is an earthquake. The big jaw falls, the alligator blinks one eye, gulps down the entire menagerie, and opens his great front door again for more visitors.

The London Post Office. — A curious form of German humor appears in a book published at Berlin, under the title of “ Schultze and Muller in London.’’ Hera is a passage : —At 5.45 o’clock we went tothe great Post Office. The squeeze was tremendous round the newspaper box, where the newspapers are thrust in in bales. I warned Schultze not to go so near the crush, but he did not; heed me. As ha was standing there, there came a great shock of newspaper boys running with bales of newspapers and throwing them in. at the window. A bale of newspapers hit Schultze on the head ; he loses his balance, and tips head forward into the bureau. Half a dozen officials seize, stamp him on. the stomach, and the unhappy Schultze is despatched in an unpaid newspacket to the provinces. At this moment the box is closed with a snap. I rush against it and cry “ Schultze !” “ Schultze !” But it is too late—your unhappy son-in-law was already packed in the post cart. I ran into the bureau of the postmaster, and demanded back your son-in-law. “Is your friend addressed ?” he asks. “ No,” I answered. “Very well,” says the Englishman, “ M. Schultze will remain in the bureau, and should no one apply for him, ho will beburned as a dead letter.”

Tibed op Going to School.— “ The cause of education be hanged ! ” ho muttered, as he sat down on the kerbstone on Fayette street. He was a lad of thirteen. His pants were supported by a piece of wire clothes line girded around his waist; his big flat feet appeared to be waiting fora thunder shower to wash them clean. “ That is what ails me,” he went on as he pushed his toes into the wet sand; “ I don’t believe in a fellow dipping in and learning all there is to learn, and not letting other .folks have a chance. There’s lots of other folks in the world beside me, and I ain’t going to be a hog, and try to learn all there is to learn.” After a few minutes he went on :—“ Don’t I know ’nuff ? Three times two are six, four timesfive are twenty, and four and four are eight. That’s as correct as I could get ’em if I went to school for a hundred years. And' don’t I know how to spell ? C-a-t is ‘ eat’ the world over, and I’ll bet on it every time. H-e-n spends hen, and I know it as well as if I weighed a ton.” He rose up to throws, stone at a dog across the street, and after resuming his seat he went on—•“ Jogcrfy kinder wrestles me down, but I don’t go much on jogerfy. What do I care whether an island is entirely surrounded by water, or whether there ain’t any water within ten miles of it! S’pose I’m going to buy and sell islands for a living. I don’t care which is the highest mountains or the longest rivers, do I ! I’m going to keep a feedstore, and when I’m rolling bales o’ hay around will I care about mountains or rivers ? I’ve heard the boys go on about exj>orts and imports, and straits, and seas, and capes’ but what’s them to me ? If n feller wants a bag o’ oats is he going to wait and ask me when the Island of Madagascar was discovered ?’

Lyttelton Graving Dock. —The caisson of the graving dock, when tried the revers e way, was found to still admit water below the keel, and the workmen had yesterday made such alterations as they expected would remedy the fault. It is a veryslight fault indeed, being out but about 3-16th of an inch from the stone facing, just at a j>articular part of the keel. This, though taking time, of course will be put right, and it is proposed to fill the dock today to test it. Judging by appearances;, the dock can scarcely be opened before the end of December, though the work is being pushed with all despatch, in the hope that it will be finished by the 20th of December at the latest. Young Men’s Club. —The usual meeting of the committee of the above was held at the rooms, Gloucester street, last night. Present —His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Messrs Packer, Malcolm, March, Joseph, Lambert, Hogbon, and Griffiths (hon. sec.) The following gifts and subscriptions were received and ordered to be acknowledged:—Prom Archdeacon Wilson, £5 ; from Mr G. Gould, five pictures ; from Mr F. Horwood, a set of chessmen. It was announced that Messrs Allardyce, McCormick, and Knowsley had been elected, to assist the managing sub-committee. Mr Joseph was accorded leave of absence for six months. A vote of thanks was passed to Messrs Seager and Crook for services rendered in connection with the weekly entertainment.

Borough of Sydenham. — A public meeting, convened by his Worship the Mayor of Sydenham, in compliance -with the requisition of the burgesses, will he held tomorrow evening in the Oddfellows Hall, Sydenham, to consider a proposition to buy property to open up Gordon street inta Colombo street.

Wool Season. —The railway Jtrains from North and South are already bringing quantities of wool from the up-country stations down for shipment. Waiau Bridge. —The men employed on this work are reported to have gone out on strike in consequence of some disagreement, and the erection of the bridge is expected to be some time delayed, St. Matthew’s. —The conversazione and -exhibition in St. Matthew’s schoolroom yesterday was well attended, and there is every reason to believe the church funds will be considerably augmented by the receipts of the past two days. Shearing. - Shearing operations are now in full swing in Malvern and the surrounding districts, and wool is being rapidly sent to the different railway stations. The clip generally is rather above the average weight and quality, and sheep in very good condition. Simon,sen’s Opera Company. —Mr Smith, the agent in advance of the Simonsen Opera Company, arrived last night from the South to make the necessary arrangements for the appearance of the company at the Theatre Eoyal here. Amdebley Magistrate’s Court-house. —ln reply to representations made by the Eesident Magistrate of the district, the Government have agreed to the conversion of the late post and telegraph office building into a Court-house, and it will he forthwith fitted up as a temple of justice. Malvern. — A lady named Mrs Scott is at present in the Malvern district very successfully conducting revival- services and lecturing on different subjects connected with religion on behalf of the Wesleyan denomination. She held a meeting at Eussell’s Flat schoolroom last Sunday, which was very largely attended, and is now drawing crowded audiences nightly ; to hear her discourses at Sheffield. The , attendance is largely composed of other ( ■denominations as well as Wesleyans. , Picnic. —Yesterday a picnic in conuec- . tion with the Wesleyan Sunday-school was ( held at Malvern. The children met at the ; chapel in the morning, and were taken in s traus, buggies, &c., to Barton farm, the ( property of Mr John J ude, who had kindly placed his paddocks at the disposal of the ■ promoters. The necessary refreshments , were provided hy members of the Church < and friends of the children, who thoroughly < enjoyed their outing. Late in the evening ■ they were conveyed to their homes, but . before leaving gave three hearty cheers to Mrs and Mr Jude for their kindness, and . to the kind friends who had been the . means of enabling them to spend such an enjoyable day. Mrs Scott addressed the children on the ground. Magistrate’s Court, Eangiora. —At j this Court, on Tuesday, before C. White- < foord, Esq., E.M., the civil cases disposed ] of were —J. Anderson v James Johnston, ] £5 3s 4d ; judgment for plaintiff. F. Ste- j vens v W. Pinching, 12s 9d; Mr Wilson ; appeared for defendant, who denied giving ' authority for carting charged for; H. 1 Davies gave evidence that he ordered the ( service as defendant’s manager, and judg- i ment was given for plaintiff. P. Day vH. s Bloomfield, Ail 5s ; judgment for plaintiff. f J. Bell v J. Busch, AS Os 6d, balance of - accounts, upwards of £6O; judgment for plaintiff for £7 Os 6d and costs, inclusive j of accountant’s fee of one guinea. i Presentation at Port. —A handsome 3 silver tea and coffee service was presented 1 yesterday to Mrs S. C. Phillips by the 1 officers and warders in the Lyttelton prison. 1 The gaoler, Mr Phillips, has been trans- 1 ferred to the charge of the gaol in Dun- ] edin, and the above present was but an < expression of tbe good feeling whicb has i subsisted between the gaoler and those in < the prison service. The chief warder, Mr - Ferguson, in a few appropriate remarks ‘ introduced the donors of the gift to Mrs 1 Phillips, and Mr P. Jones, to whom, as 1 the oldest officer in the gaol, the duty of making the presentation was delegated, expressed, the sentiments of regret the staff felt at the removal of Mr and Mrs Phillips from Lyttelton, concluding by wishing them both prosperity and health for the future. • Southbkidoe Faemees’ Club. —A meet- , ing of the committee of the Southhridge • Farmers’ Club was held in the Eoyal Hotel on Monday evening, the 27th November. Present—Messrs G. C. Waby (in tbe chair), J. E. Campbell, A. E. Inwood, and J. T. Elwin. It was resolved ! that at the public meeting on Thursday, ' "the 30th November, the following resolu- . ' tions be proposed :—l. That it is desirable that the Small Birds Nuisance Act, 1882, be brought into force in the Ellesmere district. 2. That in the opinion of this meeting the funds of the Board having been originally granted for road purposes, 1 it is undesirable to allow any portion for the destruction of small birds, and that therefore! a petition be drawn up praying the Board to levy a special rate for that 1 purpose. 3. That poisoned grain be distributed to the ratepayers on four sepa- 1 xate occasions during the sowing season, to ( each in proportion to his rateable value, in any q uantities he may require, provided . that he shad! give notice of his require- - ments at least one week previous to the * distributing date. 4. That in the opinion ■ of this meeting the clause of the Act prohibiting the sowing distance * should be '• altered from ten chains to five chains. A • vote of thanks to the chairman closed the 1 meeting. . Cactus G ran difloea. —Mr Taylor, of , St. Albans, has a magnificent cactus in bis greenhouse, which for size and free flowering, may be said to be unequalled in this ■city. It covers a wall about ten feet square, and yesterday upwards of fifty blooms were fully out, proving that although it will flower freely out of doors, it improves vastly by greenhouse culture.

Weather Exchange. —Yesterday : New 'Zealand —Pine weather, with moderate variable winds, high pressure and uniform. Australia —Slight depression off the south coast; wind, N.W. and S.W. on the west coast, N.E. at Tasmania, and calm in New South Wales. Generally overcast; sultry and threatening rain. Rough sea on the west coast. Barometer—Russell, Wellington, Bluff, 30.3 ; Portland, 29.7 ; Hobart, 29.8 ; Albany, 30.1 ; Sydney, 30.0. Taldhurst Sports. —A meeting of those interested in the above sports was held rat the Talbot Hotel on Saturday evening, Mr Hepworth in the chair. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee : Messrs J. Taylor, W. Taylor, Galletty, Johnston, Jamieson, Joseph Wilson, W. Grey, T. Grey, F. Bailey, Hepworth, W. Mason, R. J. Mason, and Holmes. It was agreed that the sports be held on Friday, December 29th, also that they be confined to the Templeton Road Board district. After passing a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting adjourned. Road Closed. —A meeting of ratepayers of the Rangiora and Mandeville Road Board was held on Tuesday at the office, Rangiora, to consider the question of closing a road, including 1 rood 16 perches, situate on R.S 338 b, near Kaiapoi. Captain Parsons, chairman of the Board, presided, four persons were present. There being no objection taken, the meeting adjourned. At the Magistrate’s Court, before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M., application was made under the Public Works Act to close .the road. After hearing the statement of W. H. Bristow, surveyor, and the chairman of the Road Board, who proved to its proper survey and that legal notices of the closing had been given, the Resident Magistrate declared the application of Mrs Mary Dale to have the road cltcod granted, and the Board empowered the land contained in the same.

A Military Prophet. —The “Times” in a leading article on the attack on Tel-■el-Kebir says :—“ It is impossible to conceive of an operation more successful and executed in a more masterly manner. The whole pb n of . the campaign was settled by General Wolseley, with the concurrence of his superiors, and the hearty acquiescence of his chief advisers, before he left England. There never was any question about the Canal being the basis of operations. Before he left England he put his finger upon Tol-el-Kebir, saying there Arabi would stand, and we should attack him on 15th September. We mention the circumstances to show that a great deal which to the outside observer seems chance really foreseen, planned, or allowed for. eneral Wolseley has achieved a success h renders all apology for his methods fluous.”

Cost op Egyptian War. —By a telegram too late for insertion we learn that the total cost of the Egyptian War will be four and a-half millions sterling. Eangioba School. —At the monthly meeting of the committee, at which there were present Messrs Cunningham (chairman), Best, Keir, T.Boyd and Stephens, it was decided that a holiday he granted tor Thursday, on the occasion of an Oddfellows’ fete. The master’s report on the attendance was read and deemed satisfactory. It was resolved that the committee give Mr Conner, assistant master, a testimonial letter, expressive of satisfaction with his work. It was resolved that the summer holidays commence on December IGth for a term of four weeks.

Presbytery op Christchurch. —A meeting of the Presbytery of Christchurch was summoned to be held yesterday forenoon at St. Andrew’s Church. Oa the members arriving, it was found that the entrances to the church had been locked. The Presbytery was therefore constituted on the precincts, and thereafter the meeting was adjourned to St. Paul’s Church. It was resolved that a committee be appointed to examine into the position of the Addington Cemetery Trust. The following resolutions were also carried :—“ That having heard the report of the committee appointed to enquire into certain faunas affecting the character and ministerial standing of the Eev. C. Fraser, and having heard also and carefully considered the depositions of witnesses, for and against, and also the explanations and rebutting evidence adduced by Mr Fraser laid upon the table, the Presbytery resolve to proceed by libel in strict accordance with the laws of the church ; that a committee bo appointed this day to frame the libel ; that Mr Fraser be suspended from the office of the Holy Ministry forthwith j and that the Moderator of Presbytery (the Kev. A. Blake) bo now appointed Moderator of St. Andrew’s Kirk session, and to preach in St. Andrew’s, Church, next Lord’s day.” " That the Presbytery express the strongest disapprobation of Mr Fraser’s conduct in excluding them this morning from their usual place of meeting, and in his unworthy attempt to escape from the discipline and withdraw from the jurisdiction of the church in direct contravention of his ordination vows.”

Ellesmere. —The usual meeting of the Ellesmere Branch Association of the North Canterbury Educational Institute was held in the schoolroom, Leeston, on Saturday last. There was a good attendance of teachers. A letter from the Eev. A. P. O’Callaghan, M.H.E., re additional capitation allowance for refund of 10 per cent, reduction upon salaries, was read and discussed. The secretary reported that he had, by circular letters, invited the chairman and members of each school committee in the district to become members of the association, and read replies to the same. The president (Mr Baldwin) reported the business done at late meeting of committee of management of N.C.E. Institute, and then formally resigned his office, as he was about to remove from the district. Ee solved —“ That the resignation he received with regret, and that this meeting congratulates the retiring president on his swellmerited promotion to a larger sphere of usefulness, and also wishes to accord a hearty vote of thanks for his past services to the association.” Mr McKay was unanimously elected president, vice Mr Baldwin. Mr Baldwin stated that the Institute wished each branch to contribute a paper upon some important topic for discussion at the ensuing annual meeting, and consented to prepare one on “The Practical Working of the Present Elementary School System.” Resolved—- “ That this association cordially recommends the North Canterbury Educational Institute to co-operate with the Nelson Educational Institute to obtain a certified set of text hooks for pupil teachers’ examinations and for examinations for the E and D certificates.” An aged teacher from another district expressed a complaint that he had received unfair treatment at the hands of his inspector, and it was felt by the members of tbe association that his case shows the necessity of a superannuation fund being established, to provide for old teachers after they become incapacitated for wqrk. A short discussion took place upon the standard syllabus and the desirability of the year’s work being divided into sections, with a view to interchange of examination papers. Resolved, that the next meeting be held at Leeston on the last Saturday in January, 1883.

Free of charge—An empty gun, A refreshment * bar ’ —The Sunday Closing Act. Advocates of improved husbandry—Old maids

The wind always finds something to blow about.

By contracting a disease you help to spread it. Queer, isn’t it ? People who don’t suffer in the long run— Theatrical managers. First lady— ‘ Dear me, I never saw Mrs Potts look so pale.’ Second lady —‘ Nor I; she’s probably been out in the wet without an umbrella.’

One night a judge, a military officer, and a minister all applied for a lodging at an inn where there was but one spare bed, and the landlord was called upon to decide which had the best claim of the three.

c I have lain fifteen years in the garrison/ said the officer. ‘ I have sat as judge twenty years/ said the judge. ‘ With your leave, gentlemen, I have stood in the ministry twenty-five years, said the minister. ‘ That settles the dispute/ said the landlord. ‘ Tou, Mr Captain, have lain fifteen years; you, Mr Judge, have sat twenty years; while this old gentleman has been standing up for the last twentyfive years, so he certainly has the best right to the bed.’ All Berlin has been horrified by the news of a quintuple murder. A mother and her four children of tender age have been all discovered lying dead in their dwelling, death having been caused by strangulation or hanging. The husband and father, a porter named Conrad, who had deserted his family for six months past, has been arrested on suspicion of having committed the crime.