NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2619, 12 August 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The concert of the Presbyterian Church Tonic Sol-fa class at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Barnard street, was excellently attended last night, The Rev Mr Gillies presided, Mr Thomson, made conductor, and Miss Fisher accompanied with her usual taste and skill the choruses and songs. &c., on the hai monium. The service of song entitled “ Joseph” comprising the first part of the programme was highly succc-sful, the vocal portion hein? w T cll rendered, the Rev Mr Gillies supplying (lie readings. A number of songs, readings, and recitations followed, and, judging, by Die frequent and hearty applause, were greatly enjoyed by the audience. A quarter-acre section in Cashel street Christchurch, next the “ Press ” oriice ) was sold this week at the rate of £22,100 per acre.

According to the last railway returns the Albury branch line is the best paying line in the colony. Out of every £IOO received from the passenger and goods traffic only the sum of,£fi‘J Ifisgoos for working expenses. The following are the returns of the Banks doing business in New Zealand ior the quarter ending June fit) : —Total liabilities, £10,141,820 7s lid ; total assets—-£l-1,750,118 10s id. It is stated that Mr Purnell and Mr Ivcss wilt contest one of I lie Ashburton constituencies at the coming election.

Thomas was to have been charged with rape at the E.M. Court this morning,

but owing to the Clerk of the Court being too busy to take down the depositions, Mr Eeetham decided to adjourn the case until, to-morrow morning at ten o’clock, observing that in such an important case he could not dispense with the Clerk’s services.

' A private meeting of persons interested in the establishment of the proposed Tiraaru Woollen factory was held last night. A Sub-committee was appointed to enquire into the question of site, together with probable cost of same and other information relative to the undertaking, As soon as the Sub-eommittee is in a position to furnish the required information, a general meeting will probably be held to consider their report. The promoters of the scheme evidently mean business, for they are sparing no elfort to bring the affair to a successful issue.

Much faith (says the Dunedin “ Herald ”) is not apparently to be placed in even oflicial weather prophets. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch on Tuesday contains the information that the “ sou’-wester ” predicted by Captain Edwin, was conspicuous by' its absence, but that a appearance instead. Nevertheless the meteorological authorities make the best guess they can. News has been received in Hokitika that T. Ward, of Paringa, a settler, whilst crossing Oamaru Creek, four miles south of Waiho river cn roufr. to Hokitika, on the Gth in«t., was drowned, His horse was found dead on the beach near the Waiho river. The saddle was on and a bag containing letters and pocket-book was hanging to the saddle by one stirrup. Ward’s body up to the present time has not been recovered. Parties are searching the beaches in every direction. He leaves a widow and seven children.

It is not often that the Chinese go into hotelkeeping, and such a contingency was probably never contemplated by the Legislature, fur the Licensing Bill is sdent on the matter. One of the Celestials, named Ly Chong, is reported to have applied to the Magistrate at Riverton the other day. to know whether, in the event of his purcha-ing a hotel in town, his Worship would grant him a license. Mr McCulloch advised the applicant to apply for a license in the usual way at next quarterly meeting of the Commissioners.

The Duke of Norfolk has commissioned Mr 0. Gilbert Scott, the architect, to prepare plans for a large church in the early English style, which ho is about to erect in Norwich, in fulfilment of a vow.

The “ Dunedin Herald ” aays .—lt is rumored amongst educationists that the Education Board has got into a quandaryover the case of a teacher down South. It is the old story—drink, with its etceteras. The Board asked the teacher to resign, intending to give him a neighboring school, against which objections are lodged, and a public inquiry is threatened. There arc rumors of undue influence in the teacher’s behalf on the part of some connected with the Board; and altogether, should the inquiry eventuate, some sensational evidence is expected to be forthcoming. Among the curious papers received hy Sir Brydgcs Hauniker on census morning in London, the other day, was that of a lady well up in years, who entered her age “ the same as last time—ll 3.”

Electricity has been applied to propel Velocipedes. M. Trouve recently drove an English tricycle through the streets of Paris by means of electricity stored in a Plante secondary battery and a pair of depress electric motors. The weight of the apparatus was 4 cwt. and the speed was not great. •

The following advertisement appears in “ London Times”:—New Zealand Christian Settlement.—Christians about to emigrate and lake up land for agricultural and pastoral pursuits are desirous of meeting with other like-minded capitalists to join them. Apply to C. Young Men’s Christian Association, Exeter Hall, Strand, Without at all depreciating the excellent intentions of the promoter (says the New Zealand “ Herald,”) the history of past attempts at colonisation in this fashion shows the spirit of discord speedily enters the Arcadia. A man may bo a very good Christian, but a very poor specimen as a candidate for the “Heroic work of colonisation.” As the Rev. J. Upton Davis remarks, “ Religion is religion and business is business.”

Mr R.J. Felton of Auckland has forwarded to Sir George Grey for presentation to Parliament a petition praying that the sons and daughters of old colonists may get a fair proportion of land.

In connection with the Wade smuggling case, at Auckland, Maurice Kelly, Win. and Robert Wilson, Nicholas Casey, and Wm. Morton were fined £IOO and eight guineas costs collectively. Through giving evidence James and Ernest Frost wert discharged. The rehearing of the cas<? against Ernest Polkiuton will last two days. Information received in Dunedin states that the company formed in London designated “ Robert Campbell and Sons, Limited,” takes over the middle Island stations cf Campbell and Sons, who retain half the interest, and conduct the manage menr. None of the North Island estates go to the company. The football match Dunedin v. Invercargill was won by the former with two goals and three tries to Invercargill’s one goal.