NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXIII, Issue 3057, 9 June 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Good Templabs, Kaiapol—A public meeting is advertised fo be held at the Orange Hall, on Thursday evening, for the advocacy of Good Templaripm. Religious Instruction.—ln the Council last evening Mr Walker's amendment on the 49th clanee of the Education Bill, substituting the word " shall" for the word " may," so as to make it imperative on committees to have religious instruction in schools waa rejected by 18 to 10. Legal.—His Honor Mr Justice Johnston, accompanied by his secretary (Mr H. 11. Longhnan), and the Begistrar (Mr B, S Willcocks), left town yesterday on circuit to Timarn. It is expected that the session will last a fortnight, after which his Honor will proceed overland to Dunedin to hold the July Criminal Sittings there. Theatre Royal —The benefit last evening to the members of the dramatic company was well attended, all parts of the house being fairly filled. The first piece was " Oelicate Ground," in which Mr and Mrs Searle and Mrs Inglis appeared. This was followed by a musical interlude, comprising songs by Mrs Long, Messrs Carder, Long, and Cliff. The performance concluded with the farce of " The Fox and the Wolf." AGBICUI/TUBAL AND PASTOBAL ASSOCIATION. —At a meeting of the committee held yesterday it was decided to hold the midwinter show in the drill ebed and adjoining ground, the necessary permission to do so having been obtained. It was also resolved, on the motion of Mr B. Wilkin, to offer a prize of twenty guineas for the beat prise essay on the ergot in rye and other grasses, the nature of the disease, ite cauee, and best mode of destroying game,

Closing op Mails.—On any occasion when it is found that time will permitof the closing of mails being extended to a later hour of the day than is given in the notice which appears in the morning papers, the Post office authorities have determined to apprise the public of the fact by posting the hoar outside Cobb and Go's office, that place bfing considered the most central business portion of tht city. This was done yesterday. The Drainage of Chh'Stchurch and THE SUBURBS.—In the Council yesterdny afternoon a long debate ensued upon Mr Fisher's motion to grant £20.000 for the drainage of Christehnrch and suburbs, to be expended uuder the direction of Drainage Commissioners. Ultimately the Government amendment to strike out the sum of money to be voted was agreed to, and the resolution simply passed that it was expedient that some steps should be taken to provide fo the drainage of Christchurch and th; suburbs. Kaiapoi Fabmebs , Club.—A special meeting of the club was|held at the Kaikanui Hotel on Monday evening. Thirty-five members were present, and Mr C. Dudley presided. Mr J. Birnie read an interesting papec on the disadvantages of " f »lse cut," on which a lively discussion took place. On the motion of Mr Stanton, seconded by Mr E. Wilson, it was resolved—"That the system of ' false cut' is injurious to farming, as land so ploughed is made incapable of producing a good crop, and in the opinion of the club the 'false cut' should be discountenanced at ploughing matches generally." A vote of thanks to Mr Birnie for his paper, and to the chairman, brought the meeting to a close. Gazette Notices. — The Licensing Courts for the licensing districts of Monnt Peel and Geraldine are gazetted to be held at Tetnuka; that of Waitaki at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Waimate ; and that of Mount Somers district at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ashburton. Mr W. Andrews is gazetted deputy-registrar of births, deaths and marriages for the district of Geraldine. The resignation of W. O. Jennings, of Akaroa, as a public vaccinator, is notified. Letters of naturalisation have been issued to Johanne Sophie Christine Lohse, teacher, Biccarton. Mr Mellish is appointed chairman of the Licensing Court of Mount Someis; and Messrs J Grigg and H. T. Winter to be members of the Court. The Domain and the Late Gale. — Several large branches of willowe and other trees along the river and throughout the Domaie were broken off by the force of Saturiipy'e gale, and some valuable English and other trees, more especially the specimens in the pinetum, were twisted right round, leaving a hole underneath of about six inches in diameter, causing considerable damage to their roots. The river rose about three feet, submerging all the lower portions of the gardens, and all the walks were flooded, the hollows throughout the Domain being filled with water. The whole place was literally strewed with leaves and small branches. The water has now subsided, and Mr Armstrong, Government gardener, has had men engaged on Monday and yesterday in clearing away the litter. Sudden Death.—A man named Robert Protherpe, lately mate of the Elizabeth Curie schooner, who was lodging at Mrs Beverley's Saxon Hotel, Lyttelton, about a quarter past eight on Monday night, ask' d that lady to lend him a shilling, and wei t out for the purpose of buying a composing draught at the chemist's. He had been drinking heavily previously, and Mrs Beverly had not allowed him to have any drink for some hours previously. He had heard bad news from home, which had depressed him much. Later at night, about ten p.m , the cook heard some one moaning under his window outside in the passage between the hotel and Mr Ayers' shop ; he went out to help him, and found the man lying down. He was carried into the passage, and Dγ McDonald was sent for, but when he arrived he was dead, it is supposed from the effects of the opium he is known to have taken in composing draughts. Deceased was about thirty years of age, of good address, and very generally liked. Papanui Ploughing Match.—a committee meeting of the Papanui Ploughing Match wae held last eveninpr, at the Sawyer's Arms Hotel. Present —Messrs Mnnro (chairman), W. Goodland, hon sec, T. Patterson, treasurer, J. Wildj T Frame, C. Fantham, S. Glaring*, and B ff. Hawken. The following das" s for the match were adopted by the meet'ng—viz, " Champion Class," open to all comers, except those who have taker a first prize in thetJhampion Match of the province; " Men's Class," open to pII comers, for men wh"> have never taken a first prize in Men's Claes; " Boys' Class," open to all comers, for boys under the age of seventeen, who have never taken a first prize in the Boys' Class. The chairman iread the rules of the last annnal match, which were discussed at some length, and adopted with slight alterations. It was resolved that the programme of the match be advertised in the daily and weekly papers. It was proposed that the secretary write to the following gentlemen, requesting them to act as judges—viz, Messrs J. Guild, D. Dunn, R. Duncan, G. Hepworth, A. A. Fantham, and G. Edwards. It was resolved that the " false cut " be discountenanced by the committee altogether. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting. Vote fob the City.—His Worship the Mayor and Cγ Bishop waited upon the Executive yestererday morning as a deputation from the City Council, to ask that the conditions attached to the £5000 vote to the municipalify, placed upon the supplementary estimates, that that sum was to be spent in drainage and bridges, might be removed. The members of the Executive present were the President (Sir Cracroft Wilson), the Provincial Secretary, and the Hon G. Buckley. The deputation stated that the CSfcy Council would undertake to spend £6000 in bridges and drainage during the year, but they might require to borrow a portion of that money to pay off the overdraft at the end of the financial year, undertaking to repay the loan ont of theratrg to be collected after that date. The Provincial Secretary and the Hon Mr Buckley saw no objection < to this course being pursued. The deputa tion then asked that an Ordinance might be brought in to allow of the City Council procuring the fees that would arise from the wholesale spirit merchants and brewers' licenses, for pnrposes of revenue. It was pointed out that granting these fees to the city would not be taking away any portion of the revenue from the province, as the province had never received them, and the City Council might as well have them. The Provincial Secretary said that before giving an answer he would like to look through the proposed Ordinance, and before retiring the deputation left a draft of it with him for that purpose. Kaiapoi Ploughing Match.—Pursuant to advertisement, a public meeting of farnvre, at which from twenty-five to thirty were present, was held at the Kaikanui Hotel on Monday evening, to arrange the preliminaries for the annual ploughing match, to be held in July. Mr C. Dudley was voted to preside. The hon treasurer (Mr Edwards) read a statement of the accounts connected with last year's match, showing an available credit balance. The following officers were elected—Mr C. Dudley, president; Mr J. Walls, vice-president; Mr G. Edwards, hon treasurer and hon secretary. Committee— Messrs M. Dixon, I. Wilson, G. Coup, J. Beharrell, J. Storer, W. M. Ross, J. Stevenson, J. Birnie, T. Pashby, H. Vale, B. MoDk, A.McDonald, J. Forrest. J. Reed.W. B«raehan, W. Birnie, R. Belcher, J. Perrin, J. Clark, C. Young, B. Wilson, M. Duncan, 8. Bradley, J. Stanton, W. Lorrimer, D. O'Callaghan, J. McGregor, B. Mulcock, and J. Guild, with power to add to its number. It was resolved .—"That Messrs Ross, Young, J. Birnie, Strachan, Pashby, and Stevenson, be elected a working committee." Six judges were nominated, and the secretary directed to write to them. It was decided that the annual match dinner be held at Monk's Kaikanui hotel after the match. Votes of thanks were passed to the officers and committees of last match. It was decided that the general committee should meet, to receive offers of land and transact other basin ess, an hour before the . meeting of the Farmers , Club, on Thursday, June 17th. The meeting theu ftdjowned.