NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2483, 21 July 1873, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A. proclamation appears in the General Government " Gazette," describing the route of the Northern railway from Eangiora to the north bank of the North Kowai, and giving the land which is proposed to be taken for the purposes of the railways,

Captain Thomson and the members of No 2 Company C.R.V. are doing their best to render their entertainment on Thursday evening worthy of extensive patronage. The music will consist of two overtures by full orchestra, as well as some part songs, and other vocal music, by well-known executants. A comedietta in one act, entitled " My Wife's Diary," is also in preparation, and has been entrusted to able hands. After the entertainment, the members propose to conclude the evening by a ball, for which Herr Biinz has kindly volunteered to provide efficient music.

The " Daily Times " of the 16th gives the following particulars of an accident on the Port Chalmers railway already reported by telegraph : —We regret to have to record the occurrence of a fatal accident on the Port Chalmers railway yesterday evening. On the arrival of the train at the Port at 6.45 p.m. the station master, Mr D. Eolfe, informed sergeant Neil, who was on duty at the station, that he was afraid that the train had run over a man near Burkes brewery. The engine-driver, John Thomas, confirmed the statement, saying that when about a quarter of a mile on the Dunedin side of the brewery he saw ah object lying on the line about a hundred yards ahead. He handed the sergeant a portion of what appeared to be human hair. The sergeant, accompanied by constable Nickle, proceeded in the train, which was just about to return to Dunedin, and on the scene of the supposed accident beiDg reached, the train was stopped. Sergeant Neil got out, and, lying by the side of the railway, he found the body of a man, stretched on a door, and frightfully mutilated. It was ascertained that the name of the deceased wae Angus McPherson, that he was a laborer, from 45 to 50 years of age, and that he had a wife, as well as one child about eight years of age. Hβ lived close to the railway, and about 100 yards or so from the spot where he was killed. It seems that the body was removed from between the rails by one John Crosson, a surfaceman on the railway, and others, to the spot where it was lying when the police found it. Crosson states that after the train had passed, as he was going along the line, he saw a German commonly known as " Ned," who was Been in deceased's company during the day. He asked "Ned'> where deceased was, and " Ned " replied that he was lying killed on the line some seventy yards off. The body was conveyed by the train to Dunedin, and wts taken from the station here to the Hospital Morgue. On Thursday evening, the 17th instant, a public meeting of the inhabitants of the Greenpark Educational District was held in the schoolroom to consider the desirableness of forming, with the aid of the Government, a public library in the neighborhood. There was a large attendance. Mr Andrew presided, and having stated the object for which the meeting was convened, Mr John Murray then moved the following resolution :—"That the Chairman write to the Board of Educa. tlon for its sanction to erect a book-case in the Greenpark schoolroom for the purpose of a public library. That, if the chairman receive permission from the Board of Education to use the schoolroom for such purpose, he be requested to at once make formal application to the Government for a sum of £100, to be expended in. books and book-case for the said library." The resolution was seconded and carried nem. con. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. " Augur " writes in the "Argus" as follows :—ln Manuka a fresh candidate for stud patronage appears this week. One moie fitted to occupy a place in any breeding stud does not exist, and with his Melbourne. Touchstone, and Sir Hercules blood, there can be no two opinions respecting his breeding. As a racehorse, he was decidedly the best that ever the Maoris produced, and they bred more than an average number of first-class horses. He had no chance at Maribyrnong , , Jbecause he was not a popular favorite with the public, and for this reason Mr Petty did not make much use of him ; but being quite as well bred as anything in the land, showing plenty of quality with strength combined, I think a mistake was made in not using him more freely. However, it is a fortunate circumstance for the welfare of the turf that he changed his quarters, ac at Maribymong he would have received but few mares, while in the district in which he is now located breeders cannot fail to patronise co promising a sire. Coming from that good old Sir Hercules strain (on the ram's side), which gave the New South Welshmen Cossack, The Barb, Baibelle, Yattendon, &c, and with Melbourne and Touchstone on the sire's side, he ought to prove ft it« 4 success if properly mated,

From the copy of the " Articles of Agreement" with the New Zealand Shipping Co.> laid upon the table of the House of Representatives, we ( li Wellington Independent ") learn that the Government agree that all Government immigrants and cargo shall be forwarded by the ships of the company, excepting that contracts already in force with other parties shall be carried out, and excepting also contracts for the conveyance of immigrants from the Clyde and contracts with the New Zealand Freight Co. The contract is to hold good until the 31st January, 1873, and the following rates are to be paid for the carriage of cargo : —Dead weight, at the rate of twenty-five shillings per ton ; measurement, at the rate of from forty to forty-five shillings per ton, according to description of goods and packages, such rates to be finally settled before shipment; special cargo to be paid for at such special rates as may be agreed upon in London between the Agent-General and the company's agent there before shipment. The above rates for carriage of cargo to be applicable in cases where the cargo is carried to the ports of Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Port Chalmers ; provided that where cargo shall be carried for other ports in the colony than those above-mentioned, the same shall be' delivered by the company at such ports at an additional rate to those above mentioned of fifteen shillings per ton. Upon all cargo rates, whether special or otherwise primage, at the rate of 6 per cent is to be allowed. The price of passage to the principal ports, including the expense of landing the passengers and their luggage, is fixed at £14 10s for each passenger of the age of twelve years or upwards, and half that sum for each child of the age of one year and under twelve years, no charge being made in respect of childen under one year ; but there is provision for extra payment for direct shipments to Tauranga and

Napier.

The gang of men receiving charitable aid from the Government have for some time been employed in planting trees alongside the Northern railway line to Kaiapoi, particularly between the Styx and Waimakariri bridge on the sandhills. About 7000 trees are said to have been planted this season. Last year a great number were planted, which for some reason did not grow, though we have no reason to think that any were stolen ; the rabbits also injured many of the small trees.

The " Marlborough Press " states that there are now six mills at work in the neighborhood of the Pelorus, giving employment to-some 150 hands, and capable of cutting about 7,000,000 feet of sawn timber annually. Valuing this at its now market price, it will realise something like £28,000, and will give employment to 200 vessels of the class now used in the trade. The abundant quantity of timber-supplying trees in the Pelorus Sound will enable the whole of the mills to be kept at constant work "for a number of years, supposing there should be no diminution in the demand, of which there is now no indication.

A Wellington contemporary learns that Mr M'Masters has dieposed of his Wairarapa property, consisting of 11,000 acres of freehold and improvements, to Mr Buchanan for the sum of £29,250.

It is rumoured (says the " Independent") in financial circles in London that Mr Alexander Brogden, M.P., of the firm of Messrs John Brogden and Sons, railway contractors and colliery owners, joins the board of the National Bank of New Zealand.

The following are the latest quotations in the Sydney betting market:—3 to 1 against Rose d'Amour (taken), 7: to 1 Sylvia Colt. Metropolitan—loo to 8 each against Patriarch, M'Callum Mohr, and Priam ; 100 to 7 Arrow and Wambo (off), 100' to 6 Prophet* Ace, and Dagworth. For the Hawkesbury Handicap, Prophet and Dagworth are most in favour at 100 to 14.

A telegram dated July 6 reports that the Bendigo Hunt Club meet was a great success, as far as turn-out went; fully 100 horses,, and a number of carriages and vehicles, were at the meet. The sport, however, was bad, the dogs being out of condition. The day also was wet, but nevertheless great enjoyment was experienced, everybody being in capital spirits. There were numbers of spills, but no one was hurt. There was some fine jumping. Mr Wakley, the master managed admirably. Ingleside and other Melbourne horses were at the hunt.

A telegram from Adelaide dated July 8 reports that at a meeting of sporting men. held that day, a jockey club was formed, and OTer seventy members were enrolled. It was resolved to ask the Governor to become the patron, and negotiations have teen opened with the corporation to keep the old Adelaide course.

According to the "Independent" an interesting return has been laid before Parlialiament giving a schedule of the contracts for the construction of railways from the Ist July, 1872, to the 30th June, 1873, from which we learn that in the province of Auckland contracts to the amount of £229,889 have been entered into, of which £22(5,973 fell to Messrs Brogden and Sons. In the province of Hawkes Bay Messrs Brogden obtained a contract for the construction of the line to Paki Paki at the price of £49,345. In the province of Wellington the total amount of contracts entered into is £49,948, of which Messrs Brogden take £29,016, and C. M'Kirdy £19,970. In the province of Taranaki Messrs Brogden and Sons obtained ;tbe contract for the Waitara and New Plymouth railway at the price of £41,0C0. In the county of Westland the contracts amounted to £24,168, let to a local contractor. In the province of Nelson one contract to the amount of £11,989, for a sectiou of the Nelson and Foxhill line, was entered into ; and in the province of Marl" borough Messrs Brogden made contracts to the extent of £80,309. The contracts, ttventy in number, in the province of Canterbury amounted to £147,109, all of which were taken by colonial contractors. A contract to the amount of £5796 on account of the Waitaki Bridge, the cost of -which is divided equally between the provinces of Otago and Canterbury, was let ; and six contracts for sleepers to be used on the Otago and Canterbury railways were entered into to the amount of £22,268. In Otago there were ten contracts on account of railways, amounting in all to £474,628, of which Messrs Brogden and Sons obtained £371,616, It will be seen that during the year contracts to the total atnonnt of £1,136,451 have been entered into by the Government, and that Messrs Brogdcu's contracts are £798,259 of this amount,

A meeting anent the Tai Tapu District Library was held on Tuesday evening, the 15th, in the chapel, Tai Tapu. Mr Richard Davics was called to the chair. It was moved by Mr Peryman, seconded by Mr Kirby— " That the office of chairmau of the library committee be held by each member in succession for the term of one year, and that Mr Davies be requested to occupy the post for the first year." Cairicd nan. con. It was also moved and carried—" That Mr Peryman continue in office as treasurer, and Mr Kirby as secretary and librarian." A voLe of thanks was passed to Mr Kirby for his services in the capacity of secretary and librarian. The Chairman reported the purchase of twenty-five additional volumes, all of the latest literature of the day, which, added to those already in the library, make a total of nearly 100 volumes. The form of application to the Provincial Government for a portion of the grant to public libraries was filled in, and it was announced that the committee were in hopes of obtaining a grant of land, on which to erect a suitable building for library purposes, from Mr Rhodes. The meeting shortly after separated, it being understood that another would be held on receipt of a reply from the Government. The progress of this new institution affords the highest satisfaction to the promoters, and has been contributed liberally to by the inhabitants of the district.

The " Daily Timee" reports what took place at an interview between a deputation of the Chamber of Commerce and the Superintendent ; —A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, consisting of Messrs K. Oliver. H. Law, H. Tewsley, G. L. Sise. and J. S. Webb, waited upon Hie Honor the Superintendent yesterday, to lay before him the opinion entertained by the Chamber regarding the unsatisfactory manner in which the Suez mail was proposed to be conveyed between this Province and Melbourne. The exceedingly unsatisfactory nature, so far as Otago is concerned, of the contract entered into by the Postmaster-General with Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co., was fully pointed out by Mr Oliver and Mr Law and his Honor expressed his entire concurrence with their views. He had, he said, commenced a letter to the General Government on the subject. The Provincial Council should endeavor, if other means failed, to to make arrangements for a special service to Dnnedin, via the Bluff, audthe co-operation of Canterbury should also besought. The deputation finally resolved to memorialise the Provincial Government on the eubject, and then withdrew. Acting upon this determination, Mr Oliver gave notice in the Provincial Council last evening, of his intention to move the following resolutions to-day:—l. That the General Government be respectfully requested to make arrangements for despatching the Otago portion of the Suez

mails to Port Chalmers via the Bluff j mmo , diately on its arrival in Melbourne, and fo the despatching the outward Otago mails by the same route at the latest practicable timo each month. 2. That in the event of the General Government declining to cotnp] ? with this request, this Council authorises the Executive to enter into a contract to effect the above mentioned object.

Tho followiug amusing paragraph on bil liards is contributed by (Egles to the "Au s * tralaaian ":—"Twas a game \,c did not v D * dcretnnd. No! he would not play a gatne of 500 up for a stake of £f>o- He couldn't afford it. He wouldn't mind playing for £5' he could lose that without feeling it. And so the match was made. And the bookmakers and betters of wagers laid heavily against " the chump "—Anglict, the greenhorn. But " the chump" had friends and they took tho wagers offered — for a few hundreds, perhaps. Ami the evening of the match came round, and to the dismay of the talent, "the chump" could do what he liked with tho balle aud the professional couldn't. And "thechump" and his friends spoiled.the Egyptians. It is said that " the chump," who is a young university man, is willing to ecnll nn ontrigger or play single wicket against any one in the colony. But he won't play skittles. He draws tho line at skittles. He considers it an ungentlemanly game. I have not the pleasuro of knowing thia young gentleman, but it Js at once novel and pleasant to hear of an amateur with sufficient skill and aplomb to hold his own against the brotherhood who make it their trade to live upon other men's love of sport."

The visitors to examine the wonderful hairless horse on Saturday were nearly aa numerous as before. We observe by advertisement that this great curiosity will bo exhibited at Kaiapoi, at the Pier Hotel, to. day ; at Rangiora, at the Red Lion Hotel, on Tuesday ; at Doylcston on Thursday ; and at Southbridge on Friday and 8 rdny.

The fourth entertainment of the series in connection with St Mary's, Addington, will be given in the Bchoolroom, this evening, at 7.30 p.m.

The next weekly entertainment in aid of St John's organ fund will be given this evening. A good programme has been prepared. The chair will be taken by the Rev H. C, M. Watson. A variety entertainment will be given in the Music Hall to-night, when Mr G. Bromley, in conjunction with Miss Nielson end the Julian Brothers, will appear—the weather having on Friday and Saturday night prevented them from opening. Eonge, duets, ice, will be introduced Jby Mr Bromley . and Mise Neilaon, while the Julian Brothers will have an opportunity of appear, ing on a stage, where their graceful and daring acrobatic feate will be eeen toad« vantage.