NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2629, 9 January 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Cricket.—The eleven to represent. Canterbury in the ensu'ng match Hvith Otago, which takes place in Dunedin on Monday next, will leave Lyttelton by the Lady Bird to-day. The teatn, as finally settled, is as follows:—Messrs Barker, A. J.. Cotterill, Dawe, Dickinson, Fowler, Puller, Hill, Maples, Monck, Reeder, and Souter. The eleven, though not by any means the strongest that the province possesses, is nevertheless one which stands a fair chance of pulling off the match. Fuller, Souter, Fowler, and Dickinson represent the bowling. Fowler, Cotterill, Barker, and Souter are perhaps the most likely men to score. but Hill, Maples, and Monck are not by any means unlikely to show well. The fielding "we expect to be very good, and though, as before observed, the eleven ia not our _to&seit. yet we b»y«

very confidence that it will make a good fight. Canterbury is one match behind, and should the eleven be fortunate enough to pull off the match this time, the match next year in Christchurch will be of more than usual interest as being the conquering game. We wish the eleven success.

Art Union.—The list for the art union of Mr Hoyte's pictures of North Island scenery, is rapidly filling up, and will, if possible, be drawn early in the ensuing week.

German Church.—A meeting of German residents will be held on Tuesday next, at Barrett's Hotel, to consider matters relative to the German Cburcb.

Cabinetmakers Society.—The quarterly meeting of the above will beheld, this evening in the Foresters' Hall.

Horticultural Society.—The committee of the Christchurch Horticultural Society held a meeting last night at the Clarendon, Mr C. Collins in the chair. The secretary reported that the prizes awarded at the Lyttelton show amounted to £27, and that the receipts at the door were £10 158 6d. The thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr P. Cunningham for the use of his store for the show ; to Mr W. Wilson for a large number of conifers sent for exhibition; and to Mr T. H. Potts for a load of evergreens. Mr Allwright sent a cheque for £4 10s, collected by him in Lyttelton towards defraying the expenses of the show, and the committee voted him and the other subscribers their thanks. It waa resolved that the next show should be held on Tuesday, March 3rd. Some accounts were then passed and the meeting adjourned.

. A.O.F.—-The half-yearly meeting of the Canterbury United District of the Ancient Order of Foresters was held last evening, at the Foresters' Hall, Christchurch. The district officers present were D.C.R. Bro W. B. Hobbs, D.S.C.R. Bro T. V. Whitmore, D.T. Bro H. Crooks, and D.S. Bro C. Allison, sen. Credentials were handed in by the following delegates :—From Court Star of Canterbury, CR. Bro Ablett and P.C.R. Bro Evans; from Court Queen of the Isles, P.D.C.R. Bro H. Allwright and P.D.C.R. Bro Willcox. These being in form, the D.C.R. opened the Court after the ancient manner. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The district officers reported that they had delivered all the goods ordered at the previous meeting. Correspondence was then read from Courts Queen of the Isles and Star of Canterbury, all of which had been responded to. The report of the sub-committee appointed to classify the laws was received and adopted, and copies of the revised laws were ordered to be sent to the courts in the district. Bro H. Ford, P.C.R, and Bro Ablet, C.R., were appointed as auditors for the ensuing year. It was resolved that an honorarium should be presented to Br Crooks amounting to five guineas, and that this amount be placed in the hands of a committee for the purchase of a token in recognition of his services as treasurer of the district for the past eight years. The CR. and S.C.R. were appointed as a committee for the purpose. The election of officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows—D.C.R. Bro T. V. Whitmore ; D.S.C.R. Bro H. Ford; D.T. Bro H. Crooks ; D.S. Bro C. Allison, sen. A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring district officers, and a P.D.C.R. neck ribbon was also presented to P.DX..R. Bro W. B. Hobbs and his name ordered to be placed on the respect board. The officers having been duly installed the D.C.R. closed the Court. The next meeting will take place at the Foresters' Hall, Lyttelton in the month of July. Unfobtunate Accident.—A little girl named Emily Mills, 11 years old, residing with her father, who is a farmer in the Lincoln district, met with a very serious accident yesterday afternoon. She was riding on the shaft of a reaping machine, when the shaking of the machine caused the spring to loosen turning her right into the works. The fingers of the machine caught her in the left arm and side, inflicting very ugly wounds. Her left thigh was also broken. The little sufferer was placed in a springcart, and conveyed by her father and mother to the Hospital where she was received about 10 o'clock last night. Everything was at once done that could be, and at a late hour in the night she was getting on as well as could be expected. Compositobs' Meeting.—A meeting of journeymen compositors will be held tomorrow, evening, at the Clarendon hotel, on business of importance. Legal.—His Honor Mr Justice Gresson will sit in Chambers, at 11 a.m. this day. Accident.—A man named Adam Burke, farm laborer, working at Leeston, met with a serious accident yesterday. While oiling a reaping machine in front the horses started, the teeth of the machine catching him in the right leg under the knee, cutting it nearly through. It was fortunate he escaped the knives or he might have been cut to pieces before he was rescued. Burke was conveyed to Christchurch Hospital as quickly as possible, where he was immediately attended to.

Sons of Temperance.—The installation of the officers of the Perseverance Division. No. 4, Sons of Temperance, was performed last evening at the Crystal Palace Buildings, by the Deputy Grand Worthy Patriarch, Mr Ex all. The following is the list of officers : —W.P., Bro. E. Clarkson; W.A., Bro. W. Alexander ; R.S., Bro. J. H. Seager ; A.R.S., Bro. T. Menzies; F.S., Bro. Isaac Brent; Treasurer* Bro. T. Cutler, Chaplain, Bro. Rev.. R. Morton; Conductor, Bro. W. Simmons ; A.C., Bro. H., B. Ballingrer ; J.S., Brother T. M'Garva ; 0.5., Brother: C-Simpson. During the past quarter fourteen new members have been initiated, the total number of members on December 31st: being 107. The receipts for quarter have been £53 3s 7d, The expenses exclusive of benefits have been £22 Is lid; The sum paid for medical attendance amounted to £15 5s Od, and for sick benefits £7. The amount of cash in hand, including investments, is £162 16s Bd.

Theatre Royal. — " The Octoroon"— doubtless from its sensational effects and outre plot—is a prime favorite with playgoers, and never fails to draw a good house. Last night its production was no exception to the rule, and it went exceedingly well. Miss Colville made a capital Zoe, and Mrs Hill did her best with that thoroughly inane and thankless part of Dora Sunnyside. Mr Hoskins' Salem Scudder is a great improvement upon those who have played it in Christchurch latterly—that is since Mr J. L. Hall—and was a capital representation. The other characters were well played, Mr Steele's Jacab McCloskey being appropriately brutal, and Mr Hill's Uncle Pete ditto comical: Tonight Miss Colville takes her farewell bene■fit—a fact which we record with extreme regret—not that Miss Colville takes her benefit, but that the Christchurch stage will in a few days lose one of the best actresses we have bad here for many a long day — a lady who in the arduous line of business she has sustained has done so alike with credit to herself, and with fidelity to tbe author's conception. In losing Miss Colville and Mr Hoskins Christchurch playgoers lose two artistes who have since their opening here aimed at putting before them plays of a high character, in a manner worthy of a larger theatre, notwithstanding that they have had to contend with many difficulties in the course of the season; and we are sure they with us will wish them every success in whatever part of the colony they may settle. We hope that while so a short a time remains Mr Hoskins will give us an opportunity of witnessing the grand old comedies, in which both Miss Colville and himself have been so eminently successful, as it will be probably a lqng tirqe ere we have a chance again. Tornight " The School for Scandal " will be played, and Miss Colville will recite Bell's poem of " Mary Queen of Scots."

Kaiapoi Foundry.—Showing the progress which is being made at this foundry, it may be noticed that this week Mr Taylor has turned out the cylinder for a donkey engine of 6 h.p, for the s.s Moa. In every respect the casting and its fittings exhibit easeful workmawhip.

Arson at Laverick's Bay.—The jury at the inquest held on Monday last to inquire into the circumstances connected with the destruction of the fine steam saw-mill belonging to Messrs Webb and Sons, returned a verdict of arson against some person or persons unknown. The loss is estimated at £2000, and will fall heavily upon the owners, as the property was uninsured. Besides the actual loss by fire, the firm had prepared a great many logs for sawing during the summer which had not then been brought to the mill from the bush : and as timber is at present in great demand, and the prices ruling very high, they are deprived of the advantage offered by the present market. No clue has yet been obtained to lead to the detection of the perpetrator of the deed.

Okain's Bay School Treat.—The above school treat took place on Friday, January 2nd, when the children, together with their parents and friends repaired to the beach in the forenoon, and an excellent dinner was prepared in a large cave, a fire having been lit. After dinner some games took place, in which the children ran races for knives, mugs, belts, &c. About 4pm. it being high tide the party broke up. In tbe evening the school prizes for the past year were distributed by Mr Wm. Moore, chairman of the committee. Mr Bishop, schoolmaster, said he was glad to be able to report a decided improvement in the attendance and progress of the children, and called upon them to give three cheers for Mr R. H. Rhodes, M.H.R., M.P.C., to whom they were indebted for most of the prizes. Some very nice books were also presented to some of the children attending the sunday school.

New Oats. —The first delivery of new oats which has been heard of this season took place on Thursday, when T. Wilson, Waikuku, delivered several bags at the Kaiapoi railway station, which had been purchased by Mr Isaac Wilson, Ohoka Mills, for shipment to Wellington. The grain waa a very fine sample, being equal to sixty bushels per acre, and bearing out the expectations as to the yield of Mr Wilson's crop in our report on the crops of the Northern district.

Rangiora Literary Institute.—The usual monthly meeting of the committee called for Tuesday evening lapsed for want of a quorum of members. The president and treasurer alone were present.