NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2628, 23 August 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

It is high time the authorities had a lamp erected at the Slratliallan street railway crossing. At present persons crossing at night to the Breakwater landing steps to go oft' to the vessels in the harbor stand a very considerable risk of being run over by passing trains or trucks. On Saturday evening several intending passengers by the Annie Bow, on learning that the vessel would not sail that night, were reluming into (own, and when eros'ing the rails at. the above spot were startled by the 8.15 p.m. train from Christchurch rambling past. The train had deposited its passengers at. the platform and was being shunted back, and so suddenly did it make its appearance,owing to the prevailing darkness, that two or three persons were in the act of crossi g right in its path when they stepped back just in time. On a much-frequented crossing like this a lamp should always be kept burning at night. One of our stall during a recent tour in the South paid a visit to the new musical warehouse of Messrs A. R. Kelsey and Co., Dunedin, which is one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in the whole of the colonies. Tlure is nothing to approach it in New Zealand. Musical instruments of every description by the best makers may be found in the warehouse, the firm being the sole colonial agents for several of the best makers of England and the Continent. Messrs Kelsey and Co, have evinced great enterprise in establishing a local industry of considerable importance, namely, the manufacture of pianos, and we are happy to state that the venture has turned out eminently successful. The firm has succeeded in turning out instruments fully equal to the best imported pianos, both as regards elegance, durability, and tone, and at a considerably lower price than is asked for an imported instrument of equal quality. Messrs Kelsey and Co. took the first prize for a colonial made piano at the Exhibition held in Dunedin a few weeks ago.

The programme of the second popular entertainment under the auspices of the Lifeboat Lodge, No. 1011.0.Gr.T., appears in our advertising columns. It comes off at the Theatre Royal this evening, and it will be observed that the services of the Timaru Brass Band have been secured for the occasion, while Messrs Rogers, Kimber and Pa ton, the well known local amateur instrumentalists, have also consented to appear. The musical element will therefore not be found wanting, while the array of amateur talent for the songs, glees, character sketches,&c. shouldensuro a good evening’s amusement. Mr T. J. Kennedy and Mr W. Hayward, who can hardly be classed as amateurs, seeing they are both “ old stagers,” have also promised to a-sist. A disgraceful scene (says the “ Times”) was enacted in the pit of the Queen’s Theatre, Dunedin, on Saturday night during the performance of the “ Pirates of Penzance.” The first disturbance was created by a woman, who persisted in forcing her way through the crowd in order to obtain a scat. On being told to sit down by some of the crowd, she expostulated in a loud voice, • and struck out right and left with her umbrella. After a great deal of uproar she was persuaded to leave ; but matters did not end here, for an old man, who seemed to be under the influence of drink, got on his feet and started a solo in opposition to the Pirate King. So great was the disturbance at one time that the opera was interrupted to some extent.

Messrs'- Love well, Wing, and Co., the Am rt fican ‘tgem” photographers who have ■just glutted; Christchurch have left a legacy to -the townspeople behindthem in the shape of some thousands of. surplus •* Tins,” which might have been seen last evening lying in a heap to the ■intense delight- of the larrikins who quickly assembled and tarried off the spoil. It would surely have been an easy matter to have destroyed these photographs by burning or other means, but to throw them out at the rear of the premises to be picked up and criticised by all and sundry, was hardly the correct thing, and we do not wonder at complaints'being general on the subject, many ladies especially being annoyed at the indignity to which they have been-subjected. The usual weekly session of,the English Lodge Victory, No. 42, 1.0.G.T.; was held last evening at the Foresters’ hall. The chair was taken by Bro. Tichbon, W.C.T After the opening ceremonies, five candi dates were proposed for membership, and two initiated. A short recess was then granted for the congratulation of the new members, and when business was resumed the W.S. read a statement of the receipts and expenditure of the late conversazione which shewed a surplus of, 10s ,10d which he handed to the-Treasurer. He cohgfatu : lated the Lodge upon the success of this thoir first public entertainment, and be. lieved that the moral tone of it had done much to raise the standard of Good Teraplary in this district. He had heard the conversazione highly spoken of by a number of intelligent persons, who were deeply interested in temperance work, and it was satisfactory to know that it had produced beneficial results. The W.C.T* Bro T. Tichbon, followed in a speech of great force, after which a hearty vote of thanks to the Committee was carried item am. The Lodge closed at 9.130 pm. Seven boxes of tobacco each weighing about dOlbs, were discovered by Detective Benjamin yesterday afternoon, planted underneath a dwelling-house in Frederick Btreet, Wellington. Walter Lee, on whose premises, the discovery was made, has been arrested on a charge of having unstamped boxes of tobacco in his possession The police had been aware of the plant for some time and had been watching the premises withthe view of implicating others but without success.

The public arc hereby informed that the Cheap Sale of Drapery, Ac., at J. Strachan’s close-; positively on tba 2 3rd instant, when the premises will be closed for stocktaking, so as the business can be handed over to Messrs Park k Anderson on Sept. l.ln order to facilitate stocktaking, remnants of all kinds will be disposed of extra cheap. Those who hold receipts of purchases of less than £5 are reminded to Have them made up to that sum in order to got n ticket for the Gift Art Union to be drawn on 2‘2nd instant, prizes of which are now on view. —[ADYT.]