NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 3215, 20 December 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Stamp Act.—Certain regulations under the Stamp Act, 1875, are published in the Gazette of December 10th, Lyttelton Borough School. — The annual distribution of prizes will take place on Wednesday evening next, at half-past 6 o'clock. Lyttelton Nomination. —The nomination of candidates for Lyttelton in the General Assembly will take place to day at noon, at the Colonists' Hall. Messrs Webb and H. P. Murray-Aynsley are the candidates. Chbistchurch Election.—The polling fer the City Election takes place to-morrow at the Oddfellows' Hall, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The declaration will be made as soon as possible after the closs of the poll. Waltham Free Library.—A public meeting will be held this evening at the Waltham Tavern, at half-past 7 o'clock, when the land committee will bring up their report, and a building committee appointed. Election Meetings. — The 'following election meetings will take place this evening :—Mr Moorhouse, at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street, 7.30; Mr Andrews, Colombo road school, at 8 ; Mr J. E. Brown, at Leithfield, at 8; Mr Jebson, Kobinson'a Hotel, South Rakaia, at 7.30. Lyttelton Borough School. — The prizes will be distributed on Wednesday next, 22nd instant, at 7.30 p.m. by Mr H. R. Webb, chairman of the school committee. A selection from the " Midsummer Night's Dream" will be given by the boys of the senior class, and a glee by the children of second and third classes during the evening. Doyleston. — The anniversary day was celebrated at Doyleston by a pigeon match in the grounds adjoining Mr Blackler's Railway Hotel. The amusements were very well patronised both by the residents in the district an Iby others. A capital cold collation was prepared by Mr Blackler for his visitors, and the large number of birds boxed gave the spoilsmen every opportunity of testing their individual prowess at pigeon shooting. Several sweeps were shot off, Mr H. Lunn securing for himself the principal prizes. CHRISTCHtTRCH BOWLING CLUB.—The members of tbe Christchurch Bowling Club met on Saturday afternoon for their third practice, at Papanui. where Mr Peacock had kindly placed his private ground at their dispeßal. Several keenly-contested matches were played, proving that the members were fast improving in efficiency. From the interest taken in the club since its formation, its success may now be considered certain, and several exciting matches may be looked for during tbe season. Theatre] Boyal. — "Paul Pry" wa3 repeated on Saturday evening to a capital bouse, Mr Hoskins as the meddling busy body who is continually interfering with other people's business being excellent. Miss Colville, as the smart lady's maid, though not having a great deal to do did what the author has given her with archness tod spirit, and Miss Hill was good aa Eliza Hardy. In the comedy 0f..." Checkmate" which followed, Mrs Walter Hill, Miss Mainwaring, Mr Walter Hill, and Mr Booth evoked roars of laughter, and we hope to see the piece again, as it certainly ia one of • the .feest comedies we have had for a long time! To-night " Temptation" will be rerepeated.

Woodkstd. —The annual treat oi the Woodend and Waikuku Wesleyan Sunday schools took place on December 16th oil a beautiful and shady spot on the property of Mr lvens, at Taranaki Creek. Contributions from all quarters had been liberal, and no sectarian limits were observed in the attendance, which, including adult friends, exceeded three hundred. After a day orHiorongh. enjoyment, when the coachman had got "pll aboard," Mr and Mrs lvens were greeted with three hearty cheers, as were also the officers and teachers of the Sunday school. The Road to the Gladstone Pieb. — We are happy to state that steps are now being taken to render accidents to sailors going to their ships at night when the vessels are lying at the above pier less likely. A fence is being erected at the end of the boat steps nearest to the Gladstone pier 6ft 6in in height, with a large door. In the daytime this door will be open, and passengers will proceed to the wharf by the same path as at present used, but at night the door will be closed, thus shutting up the dangerous road outside the fence. By the closing of the door, however, the road inside the fence on the rails will become accessible. It is hoped that by this means men will be able to reach their ships more safely than at present. 1.0.G.T.—A meeting of the members of the Independent Order of Good Templars was held on Saturday eveniag in the Templar Hall, Mr H. Bennetts, chairman of tbe committee on political action appointed by the ] grand lodge, in the chair. Letters from the various candidates for the representation of Christchurch in the House of Representatives, in reply to certain questions with reference to the liquor traffic, addressed to them by the secretary of the committee on political action, were read and considered, but no decision was arrived at by the meeting, which separated after a vote of thanks to the chairman. It was stated that owing to Mr Treadwell appearing so late in the field as a candidate, the questions had not been sent to him. BUBOLABY WITH VIOLENCE.—A serious case of the above, fortunately uncommon here, occurred shortly after midnight on Sunday, at Riccarton. About twenty minutes past one o'clock yesterday morning, a man named Dat-t_sfiadtk galloped up to Inspector Feast, wh# was standing in Hereford street, and told him that a man named Harry Cutler, who lives «%s the Riccarton road, immediately opposite" the Rwcarton bush, had been robbed and nearly jno__Jf ad* Caut then went for Dr Doyle, and the inspector, with Detective Thompson, at once went out to the place. On arriving there they found Cutler in Cant's house (about 120 yards distant from his own place) with his head bleeding and very much cut. The following are the particulars so far as could be learnt: —About 12 o'clock on Saturday night, Cant, who was in Christchurch with Cutler, left the latter at the lane leading to his house, and proceeded to his own place. Cutler, who lives alone, unlocked the front door, going inside, and leaving the key outside. After lighting a candle he sat down on a chair, and tried on a new pair of boots, falling asleep in the chair shortly afterwards. He thinks he must have slept for about half an hour, when he was awoke by the door being opened, and two men rushing in— he believes there was also a third manone of whom knocked out the light, while t he other pulled his (Cutler's) monkey jacket over his head. He struggled hard and s"ing out. when they threw him on the floor, aud kicked and struck him violently on th< head, and also tried to strangle him with t piece of clothes line. He then remained quiet, and heard one man go int< the adjoining room and take up i bag containing between £280 and £300 which was lying openly on a Bhelf ii the inner room, while the other retainet hold of bim. Both men then went out anc locked the door on the outside; After i few moments Cutler opened an insidi door leading to a small brewery, and sue cseded in crawling down to Cant*. when the latter immediately rode info town as already mentioned. Dr Doyl was soon in attendance on Cutler, who ha eleven distinct wounds on his head. I should be mentioned that it was general.; known throughout the neighbourhood tba Cutler had some objection to banking hi money, and used to keep a large sum alway in the house. Many of his neighbors ha< represented the folly ot this practice to hiu repeatedly. iDspector Feast and his suboi dinates have been investigating the matte

since. It has been ascertained that the piece of clothes line which was tightened round Cutler's neck was cut of. a line belonging to Mrs Craig, who lives near at hand. Leeston School.—A special meeting of the ratepayers was held in the schoolroom, Leeston, on Friday evening, December 17th, About twenty persons were present; Mr Geo. Sandrey, chairman of the committee, occupied the chair. The chairman opened the proceedings with reading the {circular from the Minister for Education authorising him to preside, and trusted that the gentlemen present would follow out the instructions of the Minister for Education by electing five gentlemen to act on the committee in place of those members who had resigned. In answer to a question, the chairman referred bis interrogator to some of Jthe late members of committee, who were then present, and who could personally explain the cause of their resignation. Mr John Barnett. as one of the gentlemen referred to, stated that in consequence of the action taken by the Minister for Education with regard to the resolution carried by a large majority at the annual meetinej of householders, and which that gentleman had declined acting upon, no other course of action was open than that adopted by himself and the other gentlemen who bad resigned. The chairman then requested the nomination of five persons to act as members of the district school committee, and informed the meeting that he had personally communicated with the Minister for Education on the subject, who had apprised him of his unwillingness to supersede their master in face of the satisfactory report furnished by tbe inspector, who. allowing for the several drawbacks caused by illuess and otherwise, considered the present state of the school to be highly satisfactory, aud to give promise of marked progress being shown by the scholars at their next examination. The Rev J. W. Cree then addressed tbe meeting at considerable length, pointing out the utter want of confidence reposed in and want of power allowed to the school committee by the head of the education department, and begged leave to bring forward the following resolution : —" That in view of the treatment received by the late committee at the hands of the Minister for Education, this meeting approves of tbe conduct of those gentlemen who had resigned their office, and declines to elect others in their stead, until tbe administration of the education office has undergone some reform ; and that the chairman be requested to forward this resolution to his Honor the Superintendent." The motion was seconded by Mr John Rennie. Mr Pat. O'Boyle proposed as an amendment—"That the business for which the meeting had been convened be not departed from," and had much pleasure in nominating Mr James Blackler as a member of the school committee. The amendment however fell through, no person present coming forward to second it, and on the chairman appearingunwilling to put the resolution to the meeting, which wasin his opinion informal and out of order, it was mooted by some that the chair be vacated. . The motion was however, after considerable discussion, put to the meeting, and declared by the chairman to be carried with only one dissentient voice. A vote of thanks to the chairman then terminated the proceedings.