NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 3224, 31 December 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Draikage Board .—The first meeting of the newly-constituted Drainage Board (trill be held on Tuesday next,

Banks' Peninsula Show. —The annual show pf the Banks' Peninsula Pastoral Association will be held to-day at the Head of the Bay.

Supreme Court.—The quarterly criminal sittings of the Supreme Court will open on Monday, before his Honor Mr Justice John* ston, at 10 a.m.

L.0.L., Kaiapoi.—The ball in connection with this Order will take place at Monk's Concert Hall, on New Year's Eve (this evening).

Canterbury Railways.—-In addition to the arrangements already announced, a late train will leave Christchurch at 11 p.m., returning from Lyttelton at 11.30 on New Year's Day.

The Skkrryvore.—The barque Skerryvore, which put into Lyttelton on Wednesday for water, &c, has on board the exhibits from Melbourne for the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition.

New Year's Eve.—The customary watchnight services will be held this evening in the various Wesleyan churches. In some of the City Episcopalian chHrches also vigil services have been arranged. At St John's the service begins at 11 p m.

Loyal City op Christchubch Lodge, No 4602. —At an adjourned meeting of the above lodge held last evening, Drs Deamer and Campbell were elected the medical officers for the ensuing term. The meetings of the lodge will for the future be held weekly.

Display of Fireworks —There will be a display of fireworks in the Summer Cave on New Year's Eve. The arrangements will be carried out under the superintendence of a local committee.

The Weatheb.—Yesterday w&sthehottest and most oppressive day felt this season, the thermometer registering 86 degrees in the shade and 130 in the sun. Several cases of sunstroke occurred in Christcburch daring toe morning, the most serious being thatt of Mr J. Save?, who was observed to fall in Oxford terrace between nine and ten o'clock, bat recovered consciousness while being con* veyed to his home.

Bbcatta Committee. —We call attention of those interested to an advertisement in oar eolamne giving notice of a special meetiog of the officers of the Lyttelton regatta, and sub-committees to be held at Mr Cunningham's store, Lyttelton, on New Tear's day, at 9.30 a.m.

Horticitltubali Society.— A meeting was held last night in the Congregational schoolroom, to make final arrangements for the exhibition of cat blooms, and collection of fruit and vegetables for the show in connection with the monthly meeting on January 6th.

Chbistchubch Hospital.—Dγ Qnthrie having resigned his position of surgeon to the Christchurch Hospital, was, previous to hie departure from that institution, on Wednesday last, presented with a testimonial, signed by-all the-patients, expressing their regret at his leaving, and the gratitude felt by them through his kindness and unceasing attention daring-hie charge. A letter bearing similar kind expressions was subsequently presented by the officers. Dγ Guthrie .replied in feeling -Government have appointed Mr Robert Robinson, M.R.C.S., England, and L.A.S. London, who lately arrived as surgeon-superintendent of the Waitangi, to the position of surgeon to the institution.

New Yeab's Day.—The advent of 1876 in Canterbury will this year, as on former occasions, be fittingly welcomed. First in order on the programme of the day's amusements comes the Lyttelton regatta, for which extensive preparations have been made by the committee, and a capital list of prizes offered for competition. The Duke of Edinburgh will be the flag ship on the occasion. Our German fellow colonists celebrate the day by a- pic-nic to Mr Tiech's farm on the North road, and numerous private picnics- will start for the various places of interest within easy distance of town. In the country, in various parts, sports, horse racing, &c, have been arranged for, and generally, if amusement for the public is to be taken as the year 1876 will commence in Canterbury under very happy auspices.

Colebidge Election.—A meeting of the Ashburton election committee was held at Mr Friedlander's etore, Ashborton, on Wednesday evening. Present — Messrs Alfred Saunders (chairman), H. Friedlander, D. Williamson, B. Jones, J. Hunt, G. Parkin. J. .Jameson, A. Leatham, and E. Saunders. The following resolution was carried :—"That in the opinion of this meeting Mr Cathcart Wason is the most suitable v candidate to represent the Celeridge district; but to keep out the candidate who has grossly misrepresented the electors, and more especially his former supporters, it iff advisable that those who cannot agree to vote for Mr Wason should vote for "Mr Tosawjll." A cordial yote of thanks to the chairman for the able way in which he bad conducted the business of the committee was passed, and the meeting terminated. Cbicket.—Mabbied y. Single.—-This match has been arranged to be played on Saturday next (New Year's Day), commencing at half-past ten sharp. Players are requested to put in an early appearance, this being the first of a series of practice matches prior to the selection of the interprovincial team. The following are the respective Bides:—Married : Fuller, E. Fowler, Stevens, Dickinson, Turner, Alpe, Beeder, Mclntyre, Monck, J. Wood. Single : Ashby, Ollivier, Souter, Baker, G. H. Lee, Smith, Hislop, J. Fowler, Maples, E. Cotterill, Neilson, A. C. Wilson. U.O.C.C. v. O.C.C. —A match will be played on the U.C.0.0. Ground on the Bth and 15th January next, between an eleven of the U.C.C.C. and the second eleven of the C.C.C., play to commence each day punctually at 2 p.m. The following players will represent the C.C.C, viz, Messrs W. Beard, T. Chapman, C. Frith, W. W. Gray, K. C. Kent, C. Palairet, F. J. Beeder, J. F. J. Taylor, G. A. Taylor, G. A. Tamer, and A. H. White. Emergent cies : McCardell, Poore, and Fairhurat. Fatal Case op Sttostroke at Bangioha.—A Very serious case of sunstroke occurred at Bangiora yesterday morning, which resulted in fatal consequences. Two brothers, Abraham and William Jones, laborers, at Bangiora, the former an old resident in the district, were at work on their land near the Ashley, mowing grass, during the morning. Another man was also at work in the same field with a mowing machine, and in passing where Abraham Jones was working, noticed him staggering, and at once went to his assistance. He did not see the other brother about, and concluded he had gone home. Several neighbors he'ped to get Abraham Jones to his home, and Dr Burrows was sent for, and at once pronounced his case a hopeless one, and that he was beyond human aid. However, he lingered on during the day, and was alive when our express left. On bringing the one brother home, the neighbors found that William had not been heard of, and a search was made round the paddock in which the i men were working, and the poor man was soon found lying on the ground quite unconscious. He was also taken home, and expired almost immediately. Abraham Jones is a married man, and the father of a large family ; but William was not married, but lived with his brother. An inquest will be held to-day.

Theatre Royal.—The mid day performance of the pantomime yesterday afternoon was largely attended, though had it not been for an inopportune thunder shower the number would haJve been largely increased. The pantomime appeared to be highly appreciated by the little folks, especially the comic scenes. In the evening there was again a large attendance. The first piece was one of those pretty little domestic sketches which Miss Colville and Mr Hoskins play so naturally and so effectively. Of the many pieces of this class in their repertoire none go so well or exhibit to the full the talent of the two performers, as "The Happy Pair." Looking at it, the auditor insensibly loses sight of the fact that he is viewing acting, and feels as though he were a privileged spectator of a bit of real life, so thoroughly is the performance of Mies Colville and Mr Hoskins removed from the faintest suspicion of stage trickery or semblance of pretence. The piece was thoroughly enjoyed from first to last, though from the wretched ventilation of our (so-called) theatre, to sit a piece out in this weather is a very severe penance. The pantomime followed and went excellently throughout, all engaged in it evidently doing their best to make it, what it undoubtedly is, a thorough success.

The Regatta at Lyttelton.—Preparations are being made rapidly for this regatta, which promises to be a great success. The principal events will be warmly contested, No less than seven entries are expected in the Yacht race, in which Wellington, Dunedin, and Akaroa will be represented, as well as Lyttelton. The Wellington yacht the Xarifa, which sailed from Wellington on the 24th, has not yet arrived, but was seen by the schooner Bee on Wednesday off the Double Corner ia Pegasus Bay. The Venture, too, has not yet arrived from Akaroa. She started from that port at the same time as the Scud that arrived last night, but put into Flea Bay. In the Champion Sailing race, Hobart Town ie represented by the fine topsail schooner Leslie, and the ketch Franklin Belle, belonging to the same port, is hourly expected from Timaru. We know of four Lyttelton vessels that intend entering in this race, but the North is as yet unrepresented. The Cynthia may come in from Pelorus Sound, however, at any moment to represent Wellington, and who knows what a day may bring forth with regard to other vessels hailing from that town, which boasts the fastest small craft in the oolony. The Champion Whaleboat race has been a great source of bother to the committee. About three months ago Mr S. Graham, of Timaru, wrote to Mr P. Cunningham, asking him to order a racing whaleboat for the Timaru crew from Hobart Town. The order was sent by Captain Gourlay, of the barque Italy, and that gentleman, besides procuring one for Mr Cunningham, bought another for himself. On the arrival of the two boats they were much admired; the one ordered by Mr Cunningham went to Timaru, and the other was bought for the

French Farm crew at Akaroa. At the Akaroa Regatta the Hobart Town boat, that that had been bought by the French Farm crew, won easily; but a protest was entered, stating that she was not a whaleboat at all, but a batewing gig. Now, although these boats had been allowed to compete at the Hobart Town Races, they are certainly very different craft from those usually denominated whaleboats here, and the latter stand no chance with them. The committee were asked by the people of Akaroa if they intended to allow the French Farm boat to be pulled in the whaleboat race. The matter has since been referred to the judges, and they have decided that she is not to go. With regard to the Timaru boat, which is more of the whaleboat stamp, they reserve their decision. Mr Miller, of Lyttelton, has also built a boat (30ft long and 4ft beam) on the fastest principles, and those who intend to compete in the old fashioned whaleboats object to this also, The Akaroa crew say they will pull in the Banshee if their boat is barred, and also the Timaru. The Freewill, and Mr D'Authreau's boat, with a Maori crew, are also "expected to compete. It is to be hoped some definite rules will be laid down on this point after this disturbance, plainly denning what a whaleboat is. The Duke of Edinburgh was shifted into the berth she will occupy as flag ship yesterday afternoon, and the steam dredge Heathcote was moored off the wharves, and will be used as the committee ship. The open boat Sailing race is expected to bring seven starters to the post, and no doubt this will be a splendid race, as many of the watermens , boats are pretty evenly matched, and all who have seen them know what smart weatherly craft they are.