NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2160, 21 March 1870, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

o The Carandinis are to visit Kaiapoi and give a concert at Burnip's Assembly Rooms on Tuesday. The " West Coast Times " says that the Lancashire Bell Ringers will leave by the first opportunity for Christchurch. It has been decided to hold an Easter race meeting at Hokitika on Easter Monday and Tuesday, on Clapcott's race course. The Carandinis will give another of their delightful concerts this evening at the Town Hall, and on Thursday Madame Carandini will take a farewell benefit. Upwards of 270 persons visited the Art Exhibition on Saturday. We would remind our readers that this is the last week during which the exhibition will be open. The long vacation (legal) commences today, and will terminate on the 30ih April. During the vacation the Supreme CoS-t offices will be open only from 10 amtol pm. The Registrar, E. S. Willcocks, Esq, will sit in bankruptcy on Tuesdays and Fridays. A harvest home dinner was held on Thursday at the Sawyer's Arms Hotel. About 60 guests sat down to a capital repast, which was served in first-rate style by the host, M. J. Wild. After dinner, a ball took place, and dancing was kept up with great spirit for several hours. The Lyttelton amateur dramatic performance is to take place on Tuesday night at the Colonists Hall. A very pretty little stage has been erected, and a full dress rehearsal takes place this evening. The proceeds will be handed in to the treasurer of the Colonists Hall for the benefit of the funds of that institution. An inquest was held on Saturday morning at the White Swan Hotel, before Dr Coward, coroner, on view of the body of Mr Sampson Rogers, who died from the effects of an accident which occurred on Thursday evening, the particulars of whioh have already appeared in the " Press." After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of Ac;idental Death.

We hear that Mr White has now completed the tramway along his temporary bridge over the Bakaia, and will shortly commence to drive the piles for the permanent one, the dankey engine, &c, for which has been erected. His Honor the Superintendent, accompanied by Mrs Rolleston, will leave Christchurch by the 1140 am train to-day on a visit to the work. We bolieve Mrs Eolleston will be the Gret passenger who will be conveyed across this novel bridge. A meeting of the Kaiapoi Volunteer Fire Brigade was held at the Borough Council Chamber on Friday evening last, Chief Inspector Wright being in the chair, nnd about seventeon members present. Mr Wra. Burnip was elected foreman of tho brigade, and Mr Henry Blackwell secretary and treasurer. The rules of tho brigade were next drawn up and adopted, and it was decided that the practice evenings of the brigade take place once every fortnight. After transacting some other business tho meeting terminated. We are glad to state that at last there is every probability of a very efficient fire brigade being established in this town. We hope they will receive a very general and cordial support. The Theatre Eoyal was crowded in every part on Saturday evening, when " Poul a Dhoul" and the burlesque of " Susan the Black Eyed" were performed. The first piece went off very smoothly, the sensation scene at the conclusion of the third act eliciting loud applause. The burlesque of " Susan the Black Eyed " which followed, was very nicely put upon the stage. Miss Anna Forde, as William, sang several songs; her rendering of " Her bright smile haunts mo still" being exceedingly good. Miss Cassy Mathews, as Dolly Mayflower, and Mr. M. Forde, as Dame Hatley, provoked roars of laughter, as did Miss Jennie Nye in the part of Susan. To-night we are to have " Woodcock's Little Game" and the Oriental burlesque of " Lallah Kookh," of which report speaks very highly. The " Hawke's Bay "Times" of the 14th inst. says :—" The news from the front continues to be of the most meagre and unsatisfactory character. The rumour of a skirmish in the Wairoa district, as reported in our last issue, proves to have been correct, and the casualties were as reported, one on each side. From all that we can learn, it seems that Te Kooti's gang are in possession of the shores and country round Lake Waikari, and the friendly natives are not very willing to try their strength against tbem. All tho efforts made by the authorities to this end seem to have failed, and even those of the Wairoa natives who had engaged to take the field have since seen visions, and dreamed dreams which their fears interpret in an unfavorable sense, as indicating disastrous results to them, and we understand that they have Bince broken up. Possibly the cessation of the daily four shillings per head may have something to do with this, and they may be desirous of a return to tho old system."