NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2667, 16 November 1871, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

« We beg to remind the joint-committees of the Early Closing Association, that they i meet thi* morning at 10 a.m. at Mr Pratt's. I A meeting of the Heathcote Rowing Club will be held this evening, at ths Boatshed, on j special business. A match will take place on the U.C.C I ground to-morrow, between the officers of H.M.S. Basilisk and the EUesmere Cricket Club. Wickets will be pitched at 10.30 a.m. We understand that Lady Bowen has kindly consented to be present at a procession of boats from the boat shed, on the Avon, on Friday evening, at six o'clock. The usual weekly meeting of the Colonists' Society will be held at the White Hart hotel this evening, at 7.30 p.m. The subject for discussion is " A corn duty for New Zealand." The complimentary dinner to Mr A. Cox, the late member for Papanui in the Provincial Council, will take place on Tuesday evening next, when a large attendance is expected. The opening match of the U.C.C.C. commenced some time ago, will be continued on Saturday next. A match will also be played between the Lyttelton Times and the Second Eleven of the U.C.C.C. Mr Johnson, curator of the Acclimatisation Society, dispatched yesterday, per Tararua, 100 of the young trout that have been lately hatched, to Wellington, for the Acclimatisation Society there. Should they i arrive safely a further supply will be sent. I A meeting of those who have subscribed towards the playing in the open air during the summer months by the Cavalry band will be held at Whites Hotel this afternoon at 4.30 p.m. We are very glad to find that this movement has been taken up, and if once established, there is no fear bat that it will become an institution amongst us. The special services in connection with the Durham street Wesleyan Church continue to be largely attended. Last evening the Rev. F. W. Issit, of Balclutba, preached to a crowded audience. On Friday next, the Bey. A. Reid (chairman of the southern district cf New Zealand) wijl preach the official sermon in the Durham street Church, at seven p.m. . . . I The following are appointed Inspectors of I Weights and Measures under the Weights and Measures. Act, 1868, for the Province of Canterbury : — Constantine Walsh, Christchurch district, which extends to the Hurunui on the north, the County of Westland to the west, on the southward to the north bank of the Rangitata, and on the east to the sea coast. David Ramsay, Akaroa; and James Kennedy, Timaru. We are glad to be able to inform our readers that Mr Sandrey, of Leeston, has succeeded in replacing the entire horse Farmer's Glory, that recently died of inflammation, with a colt "by Sir Colin Campbell out of an imported mare. We understand that Prince of Denmark, who was also indisposed, has recovered under the able treatment of Mr Hill, of Clhristchurch. The dinner of the Head-quarters corps of Volunteers, will take place this evening, in Spensley's Hall, when we hope to see all the various branches of the" volunteer force' in Canterbury folly represented. We do not know whether any arrangements have been made in order to allow of the Lyttelton volunteers participa ting with their comrades in arms on this occasion, but if not, we hope the promoters will'endeavor to do so. The laying of the foundation-stone of All Saints' Church, Prebbleton, this day, promises to be a very imposing ceremony. The Masonic fraternity, under the R.W.D.G. M. Dr Donald, and the officers of the Grand Lodge, will assemble at the St. Augustine Masonic Hall, this day, at 9.30 a.m., to take part in the ceremony, according to the antient usages of the craffc. A large assemblage of the clergy is also -expected, together with a goodly number of "visitors, and if the weather proves favorable there is no doubt but that the whole affair will be a great success. We learn from yesterday's Timaru Herald, that the mail was late last night, owing to j an accident which occurred to the coach on the Christchurch side of th<; Bakaia. It appears that one of the reiß.s broke, and the horses turning sharp round, smashed one of the hind wheels. They wero, by this, brought to a standstill, and were got out of the coach; a dray was procured, wl rich took the luggage on to the Bakaia where a fresh coach was got, and the passengers, of whom there were over twenty, were bron ght on, arriving in Timaru only about two hours later than the time at which the coach usually arrives. During the past week the officers of H.M. ship Basilisk have availed themselves of the use of the Lyttelton Volnn teer butt in Pollull's Bay for practice, and several sqnads have been practising daily. We give the names of the officers of tbis vessel:—Capt. Moresby; Lieutenants, Hayter, Smith; Navigating Lieutenant Mowryllau ; SnbLieutenants Bradshaw, Jones, Vivian ; Drs Goodman, Holmes ; Paymaster O'Neill; Assistant-Paymaster Morse ; Chief Engineer Slade; Midshipmen Smith, Waters, Pitt, prant, S,bortJ«jdj Navigating Midshipman

Sabin ; Engineers Skelton, Watts, Bouchart; Gunner Bentley; Boatswain Mudge; Carpenter Mabin; 120 seamen and marines. • The Lincoln township fair was held on Tuesday last, and was as usual well attended. About 100 head of cattle were entered and two mobs of sheep, one of which was disposed of. Some other stock was also entered. We are sorry to report that cattle were dull of sale, it being impossible to place them, in most cases, at owners' reserves. At one o'clock the auction sale took place, Mr Aikman officiating in Mr J. Bennett's stead ; but little business was done. After the fair a meeting of directors was held, at which it was determined that Mr Sluis should be J allowed to continue to have the sole right of vending refreshments on the ground for the ensuing nine months. i Those interested in the Saturday Jialfholiday movement, will be pleased to learn that the same movement in Anckland is likely to prove successful. The following notice appears in an Auckland paper ; —We, the undersigned auctioneers of the city of Auckland, agree to hold our weekly sales in future on Fridays instead of Saturdays, in accordance with a resolution passed at the public meeting held on Friday, 27th October, at the Haymarket. The alteration will commence on Friday, the 3rd November next. Richard Arthur, Alfred Buckland, Hunter and Nolan, Benjamin Tonks and Co., Henry Keesing jun., George Binney, George Sibbin, Stannus Jones, Samuel Cochrane and Son, W. G. Harrison and Co., Levi W. Eaton, E. and H. Isaacs (never sell on Saturdays), L. D. Nathan and Co. (never sell on Saturdays), H. L. Cohen and Co. The stewards of the Public Ball at the Government Buildings last evening are to be congratulated on the success attending their efforts. Perhaps a great deal is to be attributed to the splendid room at their disposal, but there is no doubt that the ball last evening was one of the most brilliant we have had in Christchurch. Over 200 ladies and gentlemen were present. The gas burners were decorated with evergreens, &c, giving the room a very cool aspect, and at either end was a gas star. The reporters' gallery was occupied by the band, which was under the direction of Herr Biinz, comprising Messrs Weber (piano), Rowley (flute), Biinz (cornet), Schmidt (violin), and Thompson (violoncello), whilst the stranger's gallery was thronged with spectators. The supper was laid in Bellamy's, and also in the upper room. Mr Morton was the caterer on the occasion, and certainly surpassed himself, the decorations of the tables being really excellent. Lady Bowen, . and the officers of H.M.S. Basilisk, were present, together with all the elite of Canterbury. Dancing was commenced at shortly after nine o'clock, and was kept up with unflagging spirit until the wee' ema' hours. On Sunday last sermons were preached in the Kaiapoi Wesleyan chapel, in the morning by the Rev. J. Rishworth from Invercargill, and in the evening by the Rev. W. Morley from Lyttelton. Both delivered appropriate addresses. The collections made after the services amounted to £2 17s s£d, and with the proceeds of the tea party on Wednesday will be devoted to paying off the debt on the circuit. The tea meeting took place in the Wesleyan schoolroom. Owing to the. fine weather there was no paucity of visitors, who came from all parts of the district. The tables were beautifully decked with flowers, and loaded with the usual dainties of the season. The ladies presiding were Mesdames T. Wilson, Isaac Wilson, J. Keetley, G. H. Blackwell, R. Belcher, W. H. Wake, Misses Keetley, Henwood, Reed) and a party of bachelor friends. The sum realised was over £15. An adjournment having been Inade to the chapel, which was soon quite filled, a public meeting took place. Tbeßev. R. Bavin, having engaged in devotional exercises, Mr Thomas Wilson was voted to the chair. The meeting was then addressed by the Rev W. B. Marten, J. 8. Smalley, R. Bavin, R. S. Bunn, &c. At intervals hymns were sung, Mr Burin ably leading at the''harmonium. Votes of thanks to the tea-makers, the speakers, the chairman, &c, were duly accorded, and with singing the doxology the meeting was brought to a close aftar a collection had been made. A meeting of the committee of the Early Closing Association was held at White's Hotel, last evening, Mr Pratt in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr J. J. Fletcher informed, the meeting that he had not been able to convene a meeting of the committee appointed at the public meeting, to wait on employers with reference to the Satuiday half'holiday. The chairman said that since the last meeting his views I had materially changed with regard to the present action of the association. He thought j that it was utterly impossible to bring all j business people in Christcburch to agree to the closing of their respective establishments at one o'clock on Saturday. He therefore would suggest that some modification should be made. Mr Fletcher and others sympathised with the remarks of the Chairman. After some desultory conversation, Mr J. J. Fletcher proposed, and Mr Black seconded, | that the signatures be obtained of those ! agreeing to close their respective establishments at four o'clock p.m. on Saturday, and that in order to accommodate pnblic convenience, business places be kept open till nine'p.m. on Fridays. The resolution was unanimously agreed to. Mr Spencer then moved that the committee appointed at the public meeting be requested to cooperate with the committee of the association in carrying out the provisions of the foregoing resolution, and to report at next committee meeting of the association. Mr Foster seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. It was then resolved that the joint committees meet at Mr Pratt's establishment, at 10 a.m. thie day. Borne accounts were passed and ordered to be paid. The meeting then adjourned till Wednesday evening. Lady Guinness, wife of Sir A. Guinness, has been the belle of the Lord Mayor's ball in Dublin, Her ladyehip wore diamonds to the value of £20,000. The A middle Telegraph "has seen a specimen of a meerschaum pipe, manufactured by a gentleman from a piece of meerschaum got on the Richmond River, where the material is to be found in quantity. Meerschaum is said to be eot near Uralla. The Thames Advertiser says :—"" Craig and Harris, after their lengthened battle in the Supreme Court, have adjourned to Whangapoua, where each has a email of sawyers, and a powerful contingent of friendly native* Mote Mangakahja *o<J hie

[ tribe range themselves on the side of Harris while Craig has enlisted the services of Paora Matutaera and his * mob 'from CoroI mandel. The native who stabbed the man has deen arrested for the offence, and i s now in custody. A sergeant and two policemen have been left at Coromandelgto prevent any further breach of the peace." Why cannot sea-water be brought to Lon- ! don in pipes laid along the Brighton R a j]. way? asks the Builder, which adds—"it would certainly pay. The water could be supplied to houses. It could be sold i n quantities at the works. Salt baths could be established in connection with the works, and a salt water lake similar to the lakes in our public parks would be a great attraction. The marriage of the Princess Mary 0 { Holland to the Prince of Wied has already been announced by telegraph. A letter in the Paris Constitutw.incl gives some family details of the happy couple. The Princess is thirty years old, and the Prince twentyfive. The bride is heiress to one of the largest fortunes in Europe, and, like Mdlte. de Montpensier formerly, had been asked for in marriage by all the lackland Princes of both hemispheres. The Princess, we aro told, is an excellent musician and a capital cook ; she not only played the organ during a part of the marriage ceremony, but made her own wedding cake. Dr. Angus Smith, of Manchester, who has been exploring in a large moss on the ahorea of Loch Etive, has discovered the remains of a lake dwelling, the platform of which is sixty feet in diameter-, while the dwelling in the middle is fifty feet in length by twentyeight feet in breadth. He also discovered io a large cairn a megalithic structure, consisting of two chambers, each twenty feet in length, connected by a narrow passage nearly as loDg. The Rev. R. J. Mulleton, of Dumbarton, who, along with several others, has visited the remains, believes no other cairn like it has been as. yet discovered in Scotland. It allies itself, he thinks, more to that of New Grange, in Ireland, than anyother, though it is much smaller. One broken urn and the remains of four others were also discovered. It is our painful duty (says the Pott) to record the fearfully sadden death on Saturday night last, of Mr John Hay, editor o! the Wellington Independent, whom an accident has cut off, without a moment's warning, in the prime of life. A report of the inquiry into the circumstancos attending the sad event, which appears in another column, gives our readers all the facts concerning it which have been ascertained, and it only remains for us now to express our deep sorrow for the loss which has cast a gloom over the city, and to convey to his bereaved wife and children the heart-felt sympathy which all classes of the community feel for them under their severe affliction. Mr Hay arrived in Otago in 1865, and articled himself to Messrs Howarth, Barton, and Howarth, solicitors, but after about three years, ho cancelled his articles, and joined the firm of Hay Brothers, and Wright, of Dunedtn. He retired from that firm eighteen months ago, and came to Wellington, and undertook the editorship of the Independent, which office he held at the time of his death. An admirable classical scholar, an able writer, a warmhearted man, and a witty genial companion, it is not surprising that Mr John Hay has left behind hsm both in Wellington,and Otago a very large circle of friends, who will sincerely mourn his sudden and untimely end. 1 : r The Raglan correspondent of the Southern Cross writes under date October 16th;—"A murder has lately been committed at Kawhia by Hone Kiwi, a chief of the Ngatimahuta, on a man of the Ngatiapakura. The victim was supposed to have been a powerful wizard, and to have been instrumental jn causing the illness or death of several persons—among others, Tawhiao's wife; hence, his shooting by Hone Kiwi. Another story is that deceased was a mighty ' porewarewa, , or prophet, and that he was in the habit,- by his incantations, of drawing the Hauhaalodiea into the bush after him. Jealousy may have been the cause of the crime, but I think the former tale is the most probable 0ne,,,,0α the 16th we had a visit from some ißatilka notabilities. Hare and Tamakawe, fchigft'<st the Ngatimaniapoto, and nephew of old Hore te Waru, of the Ngatiapakura. From their conversation they did not seem either anxious for or sanguine of, the conclusion of peace. The name of the man. murdered at Kawbia in Parati. He was shot dead. Tawhiao's wife was maddened by his witcheries, but she has since recovered. I am told Parati wasatfhief of his tribe. If so, further bloodshed may come of the murder." Our Alexandra correspondent supplies the following parUcHlara: —" A native has just 30th) from Kawhia, and brings the news that Topi (Toby), the native who acted aapoliceiaanfor the friendlies at the late meeting atthoKuiii, hag shot another native named Parati. ft appears Parati has for some time past ficted as a prophet, and claimed to hare supernatural powers, makutuing (bewitching) amongst the number. Several natiwwbp have died lately he has boasted owed their deaths to him. Tawhiao's wife has for some time past been insane. Parati declared that, if she was given over entirely to hii charge by means of his God he would restore her to her senses. She was accordingly fcw&j over to him, but it subsequently transpire? that his powers in this case were-onrfM , snmed to cloak certain improper dssigaS he had on the woman: ; This ti iscovery caused a great deal of ill-will towards him, and only the fear the natives had of him and Wβ a^ n9 saved him from punishment. While talking to Toby and boasting of his powers, Pawi told him that, if he did not listen' k> h ; 8 religion, and do as he said, Toby flfld k' 3 relatives would all die. Toby considered on this,.and determined to get rid of Para tl and his atua at once. He accordingly fi" ofi him, to the great joy of all Kawhis-"