NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2855, 2 October 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Legal.—His Honor the Judge will sit in si Chambers this day, at 11 a.m. « College Sports.—The annual sports at g the College have been postponed until 16th « October. Cabinetmakers' Society.—The quar- c terly meeting of the above will be held m c the Foresters' Hall, this evening, at 7.30 c p.m. E Harbor Works. —A mine of three cbambers, containing a large quantity of powder, t will be fired this afternoon, at Officers s Point. * St John's.—A tea meeting and entertain- { ment look place last evening in St John's j Schoolroom, in aid of the funds of the Sabbath-school in connection with the ' church. ( Lower Heathcote School.—The prizes gained by the scholars attending the above school will be distributed this afternoon, at about 5 p.m., by Mr W. Montgomery, in the schoolroom. New Brighton Tea Meeting.—A public tea meeting will be held this evening in the school room, New Brighton, the proceeds to be devoted towards the erection of a new church. Master Bakers. — A meeting of the master bakers was held last evening at the White Hart Hotel, Mr A. Thiele in the chair. A resolution was passed to form an association for the protection of the trade, and a committee was appointed to draw up rules to be submitted at a future meeting. East Christchurch District. — The new schoolroom on the South Belt, under the auspices of the East Christchurch committee, will be opened on Monday next. This school is intended for children under eight years of ' age, and will be in charge of Miss Anthony. ,\ The Transit of Venus Expedition.— : As will be seen from our report of the pro- * ceedings of the Philosophical Institute last i evening, it has been decided to invite Major Palmer and the other members of the expedition to a dinner at an early date. These ' gentlemen have also been elected honorary " members of the institute duriDg their stay in i New Zealand. b Broadfields School Committee. —At [ a recent meeting of this committee the chairman stated that, in answer to his advertisement, he had received seven applications for the office of schoolmaster, which he laid ! before the meeting, when after consideration it was resolved that the application of Mr Maddison, of Killincby, be accepted, subject to approval by the Board of Education. : ' 1.0.G.T. —A public meeting in connection with the opening of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars will be held this evening in i- the Oddfellows' Hall, when Mr S. P. Any. Drews, GW.C.T., will occupy the chair. 3, Addresses will be delivered by several of the delegates now in Christchurch attending the couveution, and there will also be some is music rendered by a choir under the direce tion of Bro. Long.

Mc Kennaway at Timaru. —Mr Kennaway addressed the electors of the Seadown district in the Mechanics' Institute, Timaru, on Tuesday evening. At tbe conclusion of a long address, a vote of thanks for his address was carried unanimously.

1.0.0. F., M.U., Kaiapoi.—A summoned meeting of tbe Loyal Kaiapoi Lodge was held on Tuesday evenin&_at_wj(yc.h_jt^w l aß brate the opening of the lodge take place on the 29th inst. A committee was appointed to carry out the arrangements. A new trustee was elected and delegates for the district meeting.

Kaiapoi Volunteer Fire Police.—A meeting was aunonncedtobeheldon Monday at the Council Chambers, but adjourned till Wednesday evening to enrol members of this force. The Mayor was in attendance, and Messrs J. Beharrell, C. E. Dudley, F. 8. Funston, T. Taylor. J. C. Porter, E. Parnham, and J. Lowthian Wilson were sworn in, it being then announced that intending members might be enrolled on application to the Mayor at his office during business hours.

Skeleton Found.—The South Canterbury Times says :—We learn that on Thursday last a man named John Paling discovered a skeleton near Mr Newton's property, to the south of Timaru, in a quarry opening on the side of the hills. Inspector Pender and Dr Macintyre went to the spot, and on examination the doctor stated that it was the skeleton of a male Maori, and that it had been laying there perhapß about 100 years. It was abojt the ordinary male size, and had a remarkably perfect set of teeth.

Russell's Flat.—A correspondent writes: —A part of the Hawkins' mill has been washed down by tbe high flood in the river. Thia is tbe wettest season we have had for several years. At the last meeting of the district school committee the teacher's resignation was read. While the committee regretted the loss of his services, they agreed to his removal to East Malvern, and decided to advertise for another master. The chairman was instructed to inform the Board of Education that the school holidays would be as follows, viz—Three weeks in harvest, and the second week of each of the other quarters of the year.

Gband Lodge.—The grand lodge of New Zealand south of Cook's Straits resumed its sitting in the Foresters' Hall at 9.30 a.m. yste-rday. After opening the lodge in the usual manner, it waa decided to institute district lodges for tbe provinces of Canterbury. Otago, Southland. Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland, after which the lodge considered the Grand Lodge. District Lodge, degree, and juvenile constitutions, bye laws, _c. which were adopted. It was also resolved to offer a. prize of £20 for the best essay on the origin, progress, and objects of the order. The question of salary of the G.W.S. was decided, an appeal from a subordinate lodge disposed of, and several standing committees appointed. A report was read as to the state of the order south of Cook's Straits, and other business disposed of, when the session closed, to meet again in Dunedin on the first Tuesday in December, 1875.

New Caledonia—From late files of the Jifoniteur, of New Caledonia, the Sydney Morning Herald obtains the following information :—" The transport ship Alceste, which leftd'Arzew, in Algeria, whence it had gone to seek the passengers of the Sybille, anchored in the harbor of Noumea on the 9th ult, after a voyage of 124 days, which comprised a stay of twenty hours at Palmas, in the Canary Inlands, and five days at St Catherine's. The ship bears, says the Moni teitr, the eighth convoy of persons condemned to deportation, to the number of 196, of which 41 are destined for the Isle of Ducos ('afortified place'), while 155 have been sentenced to simple transportation (la deportation simple). The total number of the exiles which have been landed in the colony up to date, 3537, is made up in the following manner :—BIO persons condemned to transportation and imprisonment inside a fortified place, and 2727 condemned to simple exile. The number of women and children who have been brought out at the expense of the State, that they might be enabled to i-ejoin the transported persons, amounts to ; 273. Among the communications addressed j to the editor of the Moniteur is a letter describing the points of Young Leamington, a new arrival, which the writer says had been ' celebrated in the Australian turf world.' The distinguished arrival, whose advent in New Caledouia is lengthily chronicled in the Government organ of the colony, is a • fill; aged, three years,' "

New Brighton Ball.—The steamer Brighton left the Bricks wharf at 6.30 last evening, conveying a goodly number of visitors to the ball at the New Brighton Hotel. The ball was held in the long room of the hotel, a good quadrille band being provided under the leadership of Mr Schwartz. Dancing was heartily indulged in until supper time, when an excellent spread, provided in Mr Hopkins' best style, was done full justice to ; after which the dancing was resumed with vigor and kept up until an early hour.

The Jeddah.— writes in The Australasian :—" In Friday's journals the Eastern and Australian Mail Steam Company (Limited), advertised (by its agents; the sailing of the Jeddah, from the Sandridge Railway Pier, for Saturday, 12th September. But tbe ship didn't come to the pier, and she slipped of! in the most unceremonious way, without waiting for mail, goods, or passengers. And why 1 She had been on fire, and in order to extinguish the fire she was scuttled in Twofold Bay, and sunk. After being patched a little, she was raised, and came to Melbourne to earn her freight. Tbe cargo was tea, and valueless. The owners of cargo, acting on a well-known principle of marine insurance, considered that the ship was liable to contribute to a general average; the cargo having been destroyed in order to save the hull. But the company (by its agents) avoided any direct assent or refusal. And whilst the owners of cargo were getting into motion the lumbering machinery of law, the astute company (by its agents) coaled the ship in the graving dock, got steam up, cleared her at the Customs a day earlier than expected, and sent her to sea in the night. So the company (by its agents) has accomplished the brilliant feat of paying the claimants with the fore-topsail. The appreciation of the cleverness of this steamship company (by its agents) is most pronounced in commercial circles—the pronunciation occasionally rather harshly accented."

The Weather in the South.—The Timaru Herald of yesterday soys:—More water has fallen in this district during the last few days than during the previous six months, and the consequences of course are very distressing where they are nothing worse. The weather looked very threatening on Friday night, but Saturday was fine enough. Towards evening, however, the sky became cloudedj and during the night it rained heavily. Sunday morning broke ominously, but the rain ceased for a great part of the day. About four o'clock, however, it came on worse than ever, and continued to fall in torrents all night, during the whole of Monday and Monday night, and, with some short intervals, all yesterday and last night. Early on Monday aviolent easterly gale sprang up and lasted steadily all day long, shifting a few points to the ■ north towards evening, and dying away during the night. The benefit of the new side channels in the town of Timaru is now fully appreciated, for scarcely any water has remained in the streets, and places which would before have been impassable are entirely free. From all parts of the district we hear accouuts of heavy rains and flooded rivers, but we are glad to learn, from those whose opinions are likely to be sound, that the waters are now showing signs of abatement. The northern approach of the Opihi bridge gave way yesterday morning, interrupting the traffic between Timaru and Temuka. The coach was of course stopped, but the mails were carried over on a swimming horse. Mr Roberts and Sir Rochfort, the late and the new engineer to the Board of Works, went out to examine the damage, but were unable to get beyond the south bank of the Arowhenua. From that point it was impossible to judge of the extent of injury done to the bridge, but it is believed that the water has got under the sheet piling of the northern approach, and washed away the road leading up to the bridge. At the Te Nga Wai bridge, also, damage was reported to have been done, but we are glad to learn that, with the exception of an overflow of back water over the road, no injury has arisen. The Pareora is reported to be high, but the South coach came safely through yesterday, and was not much behind time. The North coach got as far as Temuka. but it was impossible to send either The San Francisco Service.—The New Zealand Herald of the 24th ultimo, in its monthly summary, says :— " The steamship Macgregor, which left Auckland for Sydney oa the 15th, took the Hon Mr Vogel and Mr Thos. Russell as passengers. The former gentleman's mission is to complete arrangements with New South Wales for the laying of the cable, after which he proceeds home in the capacity of Colonial Treasurer to negotiate the four million loan authorised by the last Parliament. Mr Russell goes as Commissioner from the New Zealand Government to make arrangements .vith the New South Wales Government for the reconstruction of the mail line. The A.S.N. Company have offered to take up the permanent contract upon the original conditions, but we are informed that the P. and 0. Company have also intimated their willingness to treat for the service. If there is any probability of arrangements being made with this company, it is probable Mr Russell may proceed home to entertain, and, if possible, complete them. With such an influential company as contractors, there would be nothing whatever to fear for the future of the line. Under any circumstances, it has been determined that the service shall be reconstructed, and as speedily J|as possible. The last mail from Melbourne brought us intelligence that the Victorian Government would be willing to treat with New Zealand for the running of the service in conjunction with our Government. What the result will be is uncertain, but unless Victoria be willing to fall in with New South Wales as a party also to the contract, the proposition is likely to fall to the ground.

The Coal Question.—The Southern Cross says :—The demand for coal at Newcastle, New South Wales, is far greater than the mines can at present meet. By private advices we learn that a fleet of vessels, representing fifty thousand tons of shipping, have had to wait many weeks for cargoes There are at Newcastle seven large cranes' for loading ships, and an eighth exclusively erected for the service of steam colliers, so that if a steamer arrives (he is first accommodated, aod any sailing craft that may be filling up at crane No 8 has to give place to the more fortunate steam ship, which has not, like a sailing vessel, to wait her "turn." A large steamer chartered by Mr Larnach, of Dunedin, has been very successful under this arrangement. The complement of her cargo is 2000 tons. Of this quantity she can take only 1600 tons at Newcastle, because of the want of sufficient water, and she goes to Bydney to load up. This she has done, steamed to Dunedin, discharged her cargo there, and returned to the berth at Newcastle, while some of the sailing vessels she left there where still waiting for the'r cargoes ! This shows what steam colliers can accomplish, and it also shows how the coal trade is expanding. Some of the Newcastle companies have this year, we are informed, yielded dividends of 40 to 50 per cent, which is an exceptionally large profit, caused by the exceptionally high price at which coals have ruled. It is now proposed to sink for coal under the city of Sydney itself. Ihe formation of the coal basin of New South Wales is peculiar. The coal seams extend along the coast with a dip which descends considerably at Sydney. It is conjectured tbat the seam may be found at a depth of 1000 to 2000 feet. It may be less ; but an enterprising speculator from England has, we learn, been arranging with various owners of property in Sydney for the right of searching 'and mining on payment of a certain royalty. It is believed, from the formation of the country and the cost of working that, at a depth of 2000 ft., coal could be profitably worked; and with the great advantages which Sydney harbor and the Syd- ( ney wharves could afford, an enormous

supply could be shipped of coal mined from beneath that city. That is the latest coal speculation ; and the speculator has high hopes as to the result, and has already secured a prior right—sufficient to warrant experim> nts. All this proves how the demand for this mineral is increasing, and it points to ft good futun for the coiil&tldi of this

colony. We have first of all to supply our own wants, —which is the primary essential. That once accomplished, we need not fear that we shall lack an export trade. That will como when we can supply the article with which the whole of the civilised world requires to be furnished, and for which fleets of vessels throng the harbor of Newcastle. When New Zealand is ready to deliver her coals for export, we shall not remain without customers. Palmer River Goldfikld. —The adjourned meeting of intending passengers to the Palmer river rush was held last night at tho Borough Hotel, Mr J. C. Stott in tho chair. The meeting was largely attended. The chairman said the meeting had been called that evening to sec whether a sufficient number" of passengers were coming forward to warrant the owners of the Especulador placing her on the berth for the Endeavor River, and from the number of applications already to hand, and the numerous telegrams received from Hokitika, Timaru, Temuka, and Ashburton requesting rate of passage, date of sailing, kc, the committee were now confident that the hundred passengers required would be forthcoming, and in all probability more applications for passage would be received than the vessel could carry. The chairman stated that the committee were satisfied with the vessel, which was 500 tons burthen, and all arrangements would be made on board for the comfort and health ot the passengers. Votes of thanks to the committee and to Mr M'llroy for their trouble was carried, and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

Sporting. — The New Zealand Times says:—'• It is a pleasing duty to inform owners and trainers of blood stock that the stewards of tbe Wellington Jockey Club have, after considerable trouble, succeeded in supp'ying a convenience much "wanted, and absolutely necessary for tbe welfare of horse racing in this province. We refer to a training ground which is now in the course of formation, and will be ready for occupation in a few days. It is situated at the Hutt, in close proximity to the racecourse. Its length is a little over a mile, beautiful level running, with half a mile of a straight clean run in, and, we are further given to understand, will bear favorable comparison with any other course of a similar character in New Zealand. This is certainly a step in the right direction, and the stewards are deserving of much praise for the untiring j energy they have evinced and the action they have taken in securing the same, as neither time nor money have been spared in making the ground all that possibly could be desired even by the most sceptical of trainers. No doubt owners will gladly avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded, and bring their horses to the post at the next December meeting in such condition as to reflect creditably on the preparation they have received. We need scarcely state that every accommodation in the shape of loose boxes and other requisites, together with good and comfortable hotels, cheerful and congenial landlords, are to bo met with in profusion at the Hutt." Horticultural Booikty.-*A committee meeting of the above society waß held yesterday evening. Present—Messrs W. Wilson (in the chair), Crooks, Allen, Stevens, Chadley, Proctor, Green away, and Leigh. The gold medals presented by the late president for competition during last season, were presented as follows:—Open class, J. Greenaway, 128 points ; H. Crooks, 168 points. Mr Chudley moved—" That the name of the winners, donors,and the purpose for which the medals were given, be engraved thereon at the expense of the society," Mr Alien seconded the motion, which was agreed to. It was resolved that a special meeting he held in a fortnight for the purpose of electing judges for next show. Mr Chudley moved—"That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the late president, E. 0. J. Stevens, Esq., for hi* present of the medals awarded, and the great interest he has always taken in horticulture, and for his generous support to the society." Mr Allen seconded the motion, which was agreed to. M r Stevens acknowledged the compliment briefly. The usual monthly meeting was t.hmr, h«M ' Mr f!»«i«*!«»X « >nA « p»P»* ° v " The cultivation of the rose." Mr Groen* away followed with some remarks upon the paper, end intimated his intention of going fully into the subject at next meeting. Mr Stevens gave a brief account of some of the new roses he had seen whilst in England. On the motion of Mr Crooks it was resolved - •" That the thanks of the meeting be given to Mr Chudley for the paper read by him." Mr Allen seconded the motion, which waa agreed to. The meeting then adjourned.