NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2185, 20 April 1870, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

To-morrow evening Handel's Oratorio of '* Judas Maceabreus " will be performed in the Town Hall by tho members of the Philharmonic Society, under the patronage of Hia Honor the Superintendent and Ilia Worship tho Mayor of Chriatchurch.

This evening a meeting convened by His Worship the Mayer, in accordance with a numerously signed requisition, will be held in the Town Hall for tho purpose of considering a bye-law agreed to by the City Council for regulating places of public amusement.

Tho now Masonic Hall in the course of erection in Manchester street for the St. Augustine Lodge is progressing rapidly, nnd already the front presents an imposing appearance. When finished tbe building will be an ornament to tho part of the city in which it stands. The interior also promises to be well adapted for working tho mysteries of the craft.

There was another good house at the Theatre Royal last evening, when the drama of "Time Tries All," and the burlesque of "Orpheus and Eurydice" were repeated. The first piece went remarkably well, and the success of the burlesque was, if possible, more brilliant than on the first night of its representation. The same bill will be repeated this evening.

Tbe rain gauge at Messrs Parker's station, on tlie Waiho river (says tbe "Timaru Herald") showed n fall of no less than 532 inches of rain in 5G hours—from midnight on April 8, to Bam on April 11. This fall is ono-fifth of the average rainfall in that locality for a whole year. Tho Waiho river was higher than it has vet beon known, the great flood of ISG3 excepted.

A boiling-down and meat-preserving company lias been projected, says the " Otago Daily Times," by some gentlemen in this city interested in pastoral pursuits. The prospectus will appear in a few days. A second company is also in course of formation for the purpose of purchasing a Thomson's road steamer, and running it between Dunedin and Tokomairiro. Should tbe project prove a success, the operations of the company- will probably be extended. A telegram in the "Otago Daily Times," from Castle point, date 14th, says : —The Government report of the late success is greatly exaggerated. Kemp, not Ropata, shot IS and captured 305, of the latter of whom 200 were friendlies, prisoners of Te Kooti. The number of Uauhaua captured was 105, of whom 63 were women. Te Kooti's fighting men were unpursued, and he is ns strong as ever. The friendlies have returned home. On Easter Monday an auction sale of the Wesleyan bazaar goods took place at Kaiapoi, from which a sum of £27 was raised. In tho evening there was a public tea meeting in the chapel, which was densely crowded, and at The public meeting about 250 person* must have been present. Tho trays were provided by Mesdames Newnham, I. Wilson, Veysey, Hall, and Belcher, Misses Hunter and IffenI wood, and the bachelors. The public meeting was presided over by Mr M. Hall, the speakers being the Revs W. H. Beck, R. S: Bunn, W. Kirton, Messrs Sharplin, and T. Wilson. A statement of the affairs of the chapel was given, from which it appeared with money in hand aud assets there was £100. To this is to be added the j amount of tho anniversary collections on Sunday and the tea, in all £19. Towards a new chapel, during the meeting a sum of £148 was promised. This meeting was regarded as I the introduction of the Rev. J. Bunn to his new circuit. At its close a vote of thanks was carried by acclamation to Mr Buss for conducting the auctiou free of charge. The bulies and speakers were also thanked, when th is most successful meeting terminated.