NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2381, 22 March 1873, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

From our advertising columns it will be seen that Mr Charles J. Harper has offered himself as a candidate for the Sefton district in the Provincial Council about to be vacated by Mr Melville Walker. We also learn that Captain Bullock will probably offer himself for the seat. Judging from the late excited contest in the Geraldine district, when the gallant captain opposed single-handed a popular local candidate, as well as from the good feeling, repartee, and humor, that, according to our Timaru contemporary, characterised the contest, we may anticipate some pleasant excitement for the Sefton district should there be a contested election.-

We understand that an Acclimatisation Society has lately been formed in Marlborough.

The Rev A. R. Fitchett will lecture at the Rangiora Literary Institute on Spiritualism on Thursday next.

The Catholics of Akaroa and the neighbourhood are informed, that at a meeting held pursuant to notice on the 4th March instant, Mr R. J. Loughnan, in the chair, the following among other resolutions were passed : —lst. That the sum of £120 be raised by subscription for the following objects : Ist. The building of a Presbytery, at Akaroa. 2nd. The supplying of furniture for the altar, a musical instrument, and some music for the choir of the Church. 3rd. The completion of tbe fittings and seats in the Church. 4th. Any surplus subscribed over the said sum of £120, or remaining unexpended out of it, form a' reserve for ultimately enlarging the buildings. sth. That in order to enable the resident, in the outlyr ing districts to co-operate in carrying out the objects of this meeting, and in providing for the proper accommodation and maintenance of the priest (lately appointed to the spiritual charge of this place and Lyttelton) during his visit to Akaroa. This meeting do adjourn and reassemble at the Criterion Hotel, Akaroa, at two o'clock in the afternoon of the 4th April next. That due notice be given of the adjournment, and that the chairman act as treasurer, and receive subscriptions during the interim.

We beg to remiud the burgesses of Kaiapoi that nominations for the vacancies in the Borough Council must be handed in to the Mayor before four p.m. ou Monday next.

A meeting of the Board of Health will be held at noon on Monday next in the Super» intendeat's office, Government Buildings.

The final cricket match of the season is to be commenced to-day between the U.C.C.C. and C.C.C. The wickets will be pitched at 1.30. The following are the sides—U.C.C.C. —Messrs Anson, Alington, Cotterill, Dickinson, Lee, Moore, Reade, Souter, Stevens, A C. Wilson," and Wood. C.C.C—Messrs Barnes, Brearley, Fowler, E. Fowler, J. Fuller, Lambert, Miles, Nalder, Ollivier, Reeder, Turner, and Wontner. —The return cricket match between the Melville House school pupils and the Rangiora Junior Cricket Club will also bo played to-day.

The Oamaru correspondent of the " Otago Daily Times " writes that a large quantity of material for the Waitaki bridge is now delivered at the south bank of the river* The Government Eugineer, in order to get data for a contract, has set on a small gang of men to sink two or three cylinders. These cylinders are smaller in size than those of the Rangitata, only the lowest segment being large enough for men to work inside, the various segments gradually tapering up. It is not intended, however, to use the pneumatic arrangements employed on the Rangitata bridge, Mr Hemans, C.E., the English Engineer for the Government, having sent out screwing implements of a peculiar construction to serve instead as a means of clearing out the inside of the cylinders and allowing them to sink. These machines, though simple, are very ingenious, and where there are no larger boulders to contend with, will no doubt prove effective as they have done in the silt of Indian rivers. A wooden frame is erected about ten feet high above the cylinder to be sunk—a square iron bar passes through the centre of this, and is worked by a lever which turns a peculiarly-formed screw attached to disconnecting gear. When this is turned round several times it fills a cavity with stones and sand, and then half a turn back disconnects it and it is drawn up like a bucket and emptied. Up to Thursday last three cylinders had been sunk to a depth of nine fee** each, pending the fixing of the actual depth to which they were to be finally sunk. This is now ascertained at that particular spot to be 36ft 6in, and the sinking will proceed accordingly. Up to the present the work proceeds quite as fast as the Rangitata bridge work, and will, no doubt, be improved upon. Four men are required to work each cylinder, and twelve sets of men could be employed at once. As there are 330 cylinders to sink, it seems very desirable to commence at both ends at once, if the necessary ironwork can be crossed over to the other side. It seems probable that unless a large force of men is put on when the contract is taken, the bridge will not be finished under three years, even if no unforeseen difficulties are experienced as the work advances j

Mr Fred. Clifton and Miss Fanny Sara announce their intention of appearing at the Kaiapoi Institute, on Monday evening, in a drawing-room entertainment.

We beg to acknowledge the receipt of " Life Among the Maoris of New Zealand' being a Description of Missionary, Colonial' and Military Achievements, by the Rev Robert Ward, twenty-six years a resident in the North Island." We will notice it at length in a future issue.

An extraordinary general meeting of the Southbridge Town Hall Company is advertised to take place at three o'clock on April 17th, for the purpose of confirming a resolution carried at an extraordinary general meeting, held on March 17th, authorising the directors to raise a loan. A general meeting of the members of the Woolston Cricket Club is called for Monday evening, at the Wharf hotel. Some important business will be brought before the quarterly meeting of the Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge, to be held on Monday evening. The election of a medical officer, and of delegates for the next district meeting will take place. The funeral of the late Dr Barker will take place on Monday next, and will no do«bt be largely attended. His Honor the Judge is expected to arrive by this evening's coach from Westland, and will in all probability hold a chamber sittings on Tuesday next. A Roman correspondent of the " Record" writes : —The demolition of the premises occupying the site purchased for Trinity Church commenced on the 18tb of November last. The basement foundations were laid in the first portion on the 11th inst. In addition to the church, the building will contain a vestry, a room for a library, and a room for a Sunday school for the children of members of the congregation. The plans have been made by Commendatore Cipolla, who has taken the charge and the responsibility of the building. Signor Cipolla is an architect of wide-spread reputation. Among some of his works are the National Bank at Florence, the new savings bank at Rome, not yet finished, and several important buildings in Bologna. He ia also engaged at the pre-, sent time in extensive alterations and additions at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, the residence of his Majesty Victor Emmanuel. The front of Trinity Church will be of cut stone " pietra serena," from the neighbourhood of | Florence. The walls will be built completely of brick ; the church will have an apse ; great attention will be paid to the ventilation ; the floor of the church will be raised three feet above the surface of the ground ; the style of the building will be Roman. At the same time that the strictest economy will be observed consistent with stability and appearance, it will be one worthy of the cause which it will represent, and of the English nation. It may be well to state that the services of this church will be conducted, as they have been hitherto in a hired room outside of the walls, on thoroughly Protestant, Scriptural principles of the Reformed Church of England. This church will be for the sole use of the English residents and visitors. It will be the first Protesfant church ever built within the walls of Rome.

The new Education Bill says the " Pall Mall Gazette," introduced into the Danish Chamber by M. Hall, the Minister of Worship and Instruction, though not in advance of public opinion in Denmark, is evidently of a very thorough-going character. Compulsory education at the expense of the State has existed in Denmark since the beginning of the century, but the compulsion put in exercise has not been found adequate for the purpose. According to the new Bill, children of both sexes are to be under strict obligation to attend school until their fifteenth year is completed, after which it is assumed they will be ready for secondary instruction. Those children wrjo go on to the latter will be taught in' separate schools, specially created for the purpose. The demands by any six pupils above the age of fifteen—either boys or girls—for higher instruction than the elementary schools can provide will irpposs the duty of establishing iD any commune a superior school for their use. The course of study which now extends to six years and a half' is raißed to seven and a half. Compulsion is exercised by means of fines inflicted on neglectful parents, the amount of which is to be increased. The money obtained in this way is to be distributed among the families of the poor who shall have exhibited most zeal in the instruction of their children. The more effective supervision of the schools is provided for by the pppointment of eight general inspectors entrusted with the duty of seeing to the strict observance of the rules and regulatioas laid down,