NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2714, 20 December 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Accident at Oxford. —Yesterday a man named Peter Gilbertson, while working in the bush felling a tree, got into such a position that the tree fell across him fracturing his thigh f and part of his ribs. His mate, with some difficulty managed to relieve him, and had him removed. To-day Gilbertson was brought into the hospital. He has a wife and one child.

Cricket —The Cup match. United C.C.C. v Addington, was concluded last Saturday, and resulted, as was expected, in an easy one innings victory for the U.C.C.C. We have been unable to obtain the full score of this match. A.O.F.—Court Thistle of the Forest held its usual fortnightly meeting in St. Saviours schoolroom, Sydenham yesterday, when there was a fair attendance of members. The nomination for officers was proceeded with, when Drs. Guthrie, Thomas and Fussell were nominated. Dr. Irving declining to stand for re-election. It was decided that the lodge meet the country lodges at the Railway Station on Boxing Day at a quarter to ten and then proceed to Latimer square. One person was initiated into the mysteries of the order, and five proposed for membership, after which the Court was closed in due form by C.E.. Bro. Haig. A.O.S.—A sanctuary meeting was held yesterday, W.P. W. H. Howard, in the chair. After the usual routine business was disposed of, a new member was initiated, and the W. P. opened the meeting for harmony, Bros. Bath, Gent, and Howard contributing. A pleasant evening was spent, and the meeting then closed. Druids. —The half-yearly summoned meeting of the Hearts of Oak Lodge, Lyttelton, was held on Tuesday - night. A number of visitors from Kaiapoi were present. The following officers were nominated :—P.A.’s, W. Hildyard (Lyttelton), aud Hill (Sydenham), for district president, and the election takes place on January 2nd. The receipts for the evening were .£33 10s 2d. Lyttelton Land Sports. —A successful meeting of the Lyttelton land sports committee was held on Tuesday night at the Albion Hotel. The programme was finally revised, and two pounds voted for toys to he given to the children. All subscriptions, it was said, should he paid in by the 23rd instant atjlatest. The next meeting is to be held next Wednesday.

A New Phase op the Prohibition Law.—W. A. Wood, licensee of the Albion Hotel, made an application to the Resident Magistrate at Lyttelton this morning requesting that one of his boarders should have his power to purchase drink stopped. Mr Wood said the person was an old friend of his in England. He was a fully qualified doctor of medicine, and had some months ago come to New Zealand, since which he had almost rendered himself insane with drink. Though staying at the Albion, Mr Wood said he had long since stopped any drink being sold to him there, and it was out of consideration for old acquaintance, and for the sake of his family at home, he now wished a prohibition order against all publicans. The order was granted.

Lyttelton Brass Band. —The Church of England bazaar opens at port to-day. The Lyttelton Brass Band have given their services, and it is to bo hoped the public will liberally respond. ■> District Prize Firing. —The Lyttelton Naval Brigade fired at the butts yesterday at port for the district prizes. Twelve of the brigade went out to the firing, three retiring after the first five shots. The scores were—Messrs Dransfield G2, Treleaven 59, Hester SS, Edwards G 5, McL.dlan, jun., 42, Wood 59, Jones 45, Dimond 41, Lieut. McLellan 53. Eighteen of the Artillery fired on Monday, and today the Citj’ Guards fire at Kaiapoi. Aquatic. —To-night the race for Junior Double-sculls in connection with the Trades Rowing Club will be pulled off. The crews are as follows :—First heat.- F. Wigzell (strobe) P. Hart (bow) v A. liunge (stroke) and 11. Wigzell (bow). Second heat : J. Stevenson (stroke) and C. Newman (bow) v Dearsley (stroke) and J. Harrison (bow). The course will be one mile, from Pratt’s to the Willows, and the prize is that offered by MrSandstein.

Working Men’s Club. —The committee of the Christchurch Working Men’s Club have recently received a very welcome addition to their library in the shape of twentyone volumes of the “ Saturday Review,” presented by Mr C. A. Pritchard. Kaiapoi Tradesmen’s Picnic. The committee for conducting the picnic on Anniversary Day met at the Municipal Chamber on Monday evening, Mr W. Fraser in the chair. The accounts were submitted and passed, and a balance of about .£5 was ordered to be divided between the Orphanage School treat and the aecb dent fund of the woollen factory. Votes of thanks to the officers of the committee were passed, and the proceedings terminated.

Fire near Febnside. —On Tuesday morning a somewhat serious fire broke out in the gorse fencing along the railway line at Mr Hodgson’s farm, at Fernside, and had the crops beeii ripe would have spread to an alarming extent. Fortunately, the fire was got under. It is supposed to have arisen from sparks left by the engine, from which cause a similar fire occurred about a fortnight ago.

Yesterday's Wool Sales. —The wool sales announced to be held yesterday by Messrs Ford, Wilkin, and Matson, came to a sudden conclusion in consequence of a misunderstanding between the buyers and the auctioneers. The point in dispute was the charge made by the brokers for deliveryrepacking, sewing, &c. Immediately after the conditions of sale were read the buyers left the rooms in a body, and no business was done. During the afternoon a meeting was held of buyers and brokers, and the former, recognising that a charge was necessary, mutual concessions were agreed upon, and the dispute was ended. The sales were proceeded with to-day.

Lyttelton Grating Dock. —From the progress that has been mads by the workmen in removing the rock and mud between the coffer dam and the mouth of the Graving Dock, there is little doubt but the dock will be entirely finished with in time to be opened on the 3rd proximo, as has been promised. The opening, it isstated, will take place at 12.30 p.m., and the luncheon an hour later. Preparations for the luncheon were being made yesterday in the large warehouse ou the breastwork between the watermen’s steps and the Gladstone Pier. About 900 invitations, it is said, have been issued.

The Small Birds Nuisance —At a. meeting of the Mandeville and Eangiora Hoad Board, held on Tuesday, present Captain Parsons (chair),Messrs Crossley.St • venson.and Duncan, an application was made by Mr E. Kayo, who presented a memorial signed by sixty-one ratepayers in the Woodend and Waikuku districts, asking the Board to adopt the provisions of the Small Birds Nuisance Act. It was considered by the Board that the Act ought to he brought into operation, and in the interests of farmers generally in the district it would adopt the Act for the district so soon as a majority of the ratepayers expressed themselves favourable thereto.

Teout Fishing Extraordinary. —That well-known disciple of old Izaak Walton, Mr W. S. Cooke, whose skill in circumventing the finny race is known to most anglers, has just returned from a trip to the gorge of the Selwyn, and gives the following remarkable result of one day’s fishing. The take was ten fish, weighing as under :—tjlbs, 4 Jibs, 2 jibs, 31bs, 211bs, 4Jlbs, net total of 40] lbs. As the public are somewhat sceptical as to these extraordinary takes, the fish were carefully and separately weighed in the presence of Messrs Thornton an i Gwatkin, and several others. For the information of those desirous of fishing in the upper waters of the Selwyn, or more properly speaking the gorge, it may be as well to state that the spot is easily reached by trap from the South Malvern Hotel.

Lec*dbe. —Last evening Mr W. M. Masked delivered a most interesting lecture on “ Insects ” to a crowded meeting of the members of the Working Men’s Club. The lecturer was assisted in the microscopical demonstrations by Messrs J. Inglis and Crook. For the purpose of illustration eleven of the best microscopes in the city were used. The lecturer 6pened his lecture by a description of insects, and a few remarks upon the metamorphoses which insects undergo, illustrated by the butterfly and the house fly. After the life of insects had been described, the bee, ant, butterfly and moth were described, as also scale insects of various descriptions. The varieties of flies were then dealt with. After which the specimens illustrative of lecture were viewed under the microscope and the various organs, Ac., explained. Throughout the lecture was a most interesting and instructive one, and it was listened to throughout with the greatest possible attention. At the conclusion a vote of thanks was proposed hy Mr J. S. Wykes to the lecturer and Messrs Inglis and Crook for their kindness in giving the lecture and assisting thereat, which was carried unanimously. The gentlemen named responded, expressing the pleasurethey felt at having been able to conduce in any way to the instruction or recreation of the members of the Working Men’s Club. Mr Maskell proposed a vote of thanks to the president of the club, Mr J. M. Thompson, for his services in the chair, which was carried unanimously.

Loyal City' op Christchurch Lodge.— The annual summoned meeting’ of the above lodge was held on Monday evening, for the purpose of electing medical and. lodge officers and other business. Dr. Deamer and Drs. Guthrie and Thomas were re-elected medical officers for the ensuing twelve months. V.G. Bro. Engg was electedN. G.; Past V.G. McMicken,V.G.;. C.S., Bro. Gardner (re-elected) ; E.H. and and L.H. Supporters to the N.G., Bros.. Kent and Archibald ; E.H. and L.H. Supporters to the V.G., Bros. Partridge and. Howe ; Warden, Bro. Irvin. Bro. Jamieson, the retiring N.G., took the G.M. chair,, and was elected Lecture Master. The N.G. presented P.G.P.S. Bro. B. J. Leahy with a certificate on behalf of the lodge,, for the zeal displayed by him in introducing the greatest number of candidates intothe lodge. Bro. Leahy returned thanks, and offered a certificate or officer’s regalia to the member who introduced the greatest number of candidates during the incoming year. Three financial and three honorarycandidates were proposed for membership. The lodge decided to summons the members together on Tuesday (Boxing Day), for the purpose of joining the procession of the Friendly Societies, and proceed tothe railway station to meet the country lolges. The receipts amounted to .£290 12s fid, and the expenditure to .£l7B 7s sd. The N.G. closed the lodge in due form.

Kaiapoi Farmers’ Club.—A meeting off members, at which eight were present, was held at the club chamber on Monday evening. Sir Pashby was voted to the chair. Mr E. Evans opened a discussion on the question of the railway tariff, pointing out that while the carriage of wheat, oats, and barley, from Kaiapoi to the Port was -Is 4d per ton, the carriage for beans, peas, and potatoes was Cs per ton. For--100 miles the carriage for these two classes, he said, were 11s aud 15s 4d respectively, and as the carriage of potatoes was one in which all the farmers in that district were interested in, he pointed out that thedifference between the cost of carriage between barley and potatoes, of twelve bags each to the ton, really meant an extra cost on the carriage of the latter to the district • of over £2OOO. He proceeded to refer to another disparity in the carriage of reapers on the railway, in which, if the reaper was sent set up the cost was about 4s, compared with Os to 11s if it was contained in a case. Mr Marmaduke Dixon drew attention tothe delay in the forwarding of some grain to West Eyretou till demands made by the railway were paid. Tbe chairman suggested the first question ought to bo re-fei-red to the Government, asking for revision of tbe tariff. Mr Evans complained that tbe Government had promised substantial reductions in tbe tariff to farmers, and had not made any reductions, only an unjust and unfair arrangement of the rates. Mr J. L. Wilson advised that the Government should first of all be asked if there was any reason for the difference in cost of carriage of barley and potatoes par ton. With reference to reductions, the rate on grain bad, by Mr Evans’ own showing of the cost of carriage from Kaiapoi to Port, from Gs per ton to the present rate of 4s 4d, received what must be considered a very substantial reduction of over 25 per cent. Mr Dixon moved, Mr Evans seconded—“ Thatthe Government be written to asking why a difference in the cost of carriage forbarley, where twelve sacks are taken to tbe ton, and potatoes, in which the same; number of sacks counted per ton, is made.”' It was hero stated that in the case of wheat, while the railway cai-ried one ton per acre, it would carry for an acre of potatoes about ten tons ; and further, the carrying of potatoes came to the lino at a season when the carriage of wool and grain was all but over. The motion was carried, and a memorial ordered to bo made to the Hon. Minister of Public Works.

Death op Captain Jenkins. —The Lady Jocelyn, a ship spoken in 18.48 S. and 29 ~W. by the Hurunui, on October 25th, re ported that Captain Jenkins died at sea of appoplexy on October 7th. Captain •Jenkins has made many successful voyages to Canterbury, and was a gentleman held in high esteem by all who knew him. Sawmill, Accident. An accident occurred this morning about 9.30 at Mr I’. Jenkins’ sawmills, St. Asaph street. An

artisan, named C. Poster was working' at a

dovetailing sawing machine, grooving sash frames, when the side of the sash he was working suddenly slipped forward beyond the stop, the result being that the saw closed on his left wrist before he had time to withdraw it, almost severing the same. Assistance was speedily rendered, and he was conveyed to Dr. Guthrie’s residence, where the limb was amputated, Foster being subsequently taken to his homo in Office road, St. Albans. No blame is attachable to any one. The man is a skilled workman, and thoroughly acquainted with the machine. On examination it was found that the accident was caused by that part of the sash frame resting against the saw stop being the fragment of a knot, which, parting from the other wood, when brought to the rest, rendered an accident inevitable. No serious results are apprehended beyond the loss of the left hand.

Temperance. —Mr .1. W. Jago delivered an address in the Ashburton Town Hall on Sunday evening on the subject of temperance, viewed from a religious and moral aspect. There was a very large attendance, amongst those present being several ministers.

The Successor to Dr. Pusey. —lt is stated in the “ Mail” for Ocober 30th, that the Rev. S. R. Driver, M.A., Fellow and Tutor of New College, Oxford, has been appointed Regius Professor of Hebrew in the University of Oxford, and Canon of Christchurch, in succession to Dr. Pusey. Mr Driver has been for some years a member of the Old Testament Revision Company, and has published a volume on the use of the tenses in Hebrew (Clarendon Press). He was a scholar at Winchester College during the headinastership of the present Bishop of Salisbury, and during his undergraduate career as Scholarof New College, took first-class honors in classics.

Rangioea Athletic Stouts. —On Monday evening a public meeting, called by requisition of fifty burgesses, was held in the Municipal Chamber. There were eight present, Mr Johnston, Mayor, presided. On the motion of Mr Farrell, seconded by Mr Hammond, it was resolved —“ That athletic sports be held on New Tear’s Day.” A committee of management, including thirty-five persons, was nominated, and Mr 0. J. Jennings was elected secretary and treasurer. The meeting then decided that a meeting be held on Friday evening to draw up the programme and make further arrangements, and with a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting terminated.

United Methodist Feee Church. —On Saturday last the teachers and their friends connected with the United Methodist Free Church Sunday School, St. Asaph street, held their annual picnic on the estate of Mr Thomas Green, at Ahuriri, near Tai Tapu, and thanks to the genial courtesy shown by the manager of the estate, and the fact of having such delightful weather, the party returned to town in the evening, feeling thoroughly satisfied with the day’s enjoyment.

Weather Exchange. —Yesterday—New Zealand—General increase in pressure ; depression passing to the eastward; strong N.W. wind in the North and West Coast with heavy sea and rain and thunder at Hokitika; S.W. at the Bluff and Timaru. Australia—Generally low pressure, with light westerly winds. Barometer—Russell, 30.9 ; Wellington and Bluff, 29.6; Albany and Hobart, 29.8; Portland, 29.6 ; Sydney, 30.7.

A kind-hearted woman, moved to pity at the spectacle of a poor man asking for alms before her door, rushes out to him with some cold victuals. ' Madame,’ he replies, haughtily, letting them fall on the pavement which she had just swept, ‘do not insult my manh»od. I may be a beggar, but I am not in want.’ Texas is the healthiest country in the world. We recently (says the “Texas Siftings”) came across a San Antonio paper, in which it was stated, in as many words, that ‘ the remains of a man killed forty years ago were discovered ploughing in Central Garden.’ In no other State, and in no other city of the State, is the air bo salubrious that the remains of a man killed forty years before can he seen pleughing. The attention of invalids is called to this astonishing evidence of the salubrious quality of the San Antonio atmosphere. Old Aunt Sukey, who lives on Austin avenue, Galveston, is known to he the stingiest woman in the city. Old Mose cut up a load of tough oak wood for her and she refused to pay him more than a quarter —about half the usual price. ‘ Aunt Sukey,’ said Mose, ‘ I wish you had been in de garden ob Eden, instead of Ebe.’ ‘ What do yer mean. Uncle More ?’ ‘ Nuffin’, ’cept you are so stingy ; ef you had been Ebe yer would hab eat de hull apple yerself, and not gib Adam none, and he would hab escaped the cuss.’

An individual who called his first daughter Kate, when his wife presented him with another girl, promptly christened her Duplicate. An American paper stated that ‘ The Rev. Abi]ah Green, of New York State, preached a sermon on “ Pools,” and then blew out the gas at the hotel and went to bed to be suffocated.’

A clever actress was playing Juliet to a -crowded house in the country. As she lay dead in the tomb she contrived to ask Romeo how the scene was going. * Beautifully,’ he answered, ‘ the people in the pit Rave to put up umbrellas to prevent being drowned by the tears of those in the gallery.’