NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3988, 7 May 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Electoral Roll.—The list of objections to voters and persons claiming to vote for the electoral districts of Christchurch, Avon, Heathcote, Coleridge, and Selwyn, iB published in a supplement with this day's issue.

Building Socibty.—By an advertisement in another column, it will be seen that subscriptions, &c, to the Canterbury Building Society (Permanent) are due this evening.

Newspaper Stall. — Permission was granted last night for the erection of a stall in Cathedral square for the sale of newspapers for a day or two preceding the leaving of the Eoglish mail. This will doubtless, be found, here as elsewhere, a great public convenience.

A Series of Fatalities. —The telegraphic intelligence published this morning is of an unusual character. Three men burcud to death at Kingston, a child nearly burned to death in Auckland, a man crushed to death in a claim at Arrow, and another fatally, as is supposed, injured at Wellington —taken together, these items form a melancholy budget of news, such as is very rarely found in a single publication. Waimatb Steeplechase.—Owing to the protracted drought rendering it impossible to procure a sufficient quantity of water for the water jump, it has been decided to alter the date of the Waimate Steeplechase meeting from the 14th May, as originally advertised, to the Ist June. Particulars of the alteration of the dates, and of entries, nominations, d:o., will be found in the advertisement columns.

Legal.—His Honor Mr Justice Johnston will eit in banco and in Chambers at eleven o'clock to-day. At the former sitting judgment will be given in four cases reserved from last banco sitting, viz.:—Fuller v the Queen, E. Knapmimn v District Land Registrar, Johnston v Oxford Road Board, and Crammond and otheis v Newton and others. The list of cases set down appears elsewhere.

Thk Corporation Reserves. —As will be recollected, the corporation of Christchurch some short time since, acting tinder the legislation of 1876, selected an endowment of 2000 acres. The selection was made in the Geraldine district, and the land is apoken of as being of very excellent quality. By an advertisement elsewhere it will be seen that tenders are invited for leasing the same for a term. Applications will have to be sent in on or before the 27th July to the Town Clerk.

Loyal Avon Lodge.—A special summoned meeting of the Loyal Avon Lodge, 1.0.0. F., was held last night in the Orange Hall, to make arrangements for the reception of Deputy Grand Sire Br. Hsrmon, from the United States. It was resolved to appoint a committee, consisting of Bros. Lczard, H. D. Manning, and P. Patterson, to wait upon the visitor and escort him to Christchurch. Ho is expected to arrive on Sunday next, and will be met in Lyttelton by Bro. Braithwaite, representing the Dunedin lodges.

Nabkow Escape.—A very narrow eecipe from drowning—or, more properly speaking, smothering—occurred on Sunday evening. Some person* passing over Colombo bridge heard a groaning noise near the foot of the bridge on the eastern side, and, on going down the bank, they found that an old man, named Tompkins, had, by some means or other, fallen into the heap of silt formed by the discharge of the drain at the side of the bridge. He was taken out and conveyed to the residence of a relative near. Had not the attention of the passers-by been attracted by the noise, he would most certainly have been smothered in the mud.

Haast Pass Track. —It has been stated that this track, which is to connect Otngo with the Wfst Coast, is about to be constructed at the joint expense of the Colonial Government and the Vincent and Westland Counties, the first contributing £3000, and the counties £1500 eich. As far as Vincent County is concerned the statement is incorrect The Council of that district resolved, on April 26th, not to entertain the proposal, on the ground that the projected track would not affect Vincent County for good or evil.

ASHBTJBTON LoCAIi BOAHD OF HEALTH.— This Board met yesterday. The report of the inspector of nuisances stated that the inspector had written to the proprietors of the various hotels in the town, communicating the resolution passed by the Board at the last meeting, re permitting foul and offensive matter to rnn down the side channels, but with no result. The report stated that the evil could only be remedied bj a system of drainage. The inspector also referred to a number of persons who are in the ha' it of keeping pigs within the belts, and asked for instructions in the matter from the Board. It was decided to proceed under the Act against the owners of the pigs in question.

Drainage Boahd.—A special meeting of tl c Christchurch District Drainage Board was held yesterday, to consider the apportionment of the rate in the several districts. It was decided that the cost of clearing the Avon should be charged £250 on the Christchurch, £75 on the Avon, and £75 on the Heathcote districts. The rates to be levied on the various parts of the drainage district for the period ending December 31st, 1878, were fixed as follows :—City of Christchurch, sid in the £; Avcn Boad district, 7d ; Biccarton, do., 7d; Heathcote, 6d; Sydenham Borough, 5Jd ; Spreydon Boad district, 7d. The date for levying the rate in all the various portions of the district, except the city of Christchurch, was fixed for May 20th. In the case of the city, owing to the Board not having a copy of the Christchurch roll, they were nnable to comply with the requirements of the Act. The date of levying this rate had therefore to remain in abeyance for the present.

KAiAreu Railwat Station. —The disgraceful arrangement of the passenger platform and waiting; rooms at this station has on many occasions rurnished a subject for remark. The inconveniences in question were never more plainly exhibited than on list Saturday evening, when more than a hundred Eassengers, of whom a large ncmber were idies, were compelled to alight from the carriages away from the platform. Later in the evening, an accident nearly occurred in consequence of the want of lamps and a barrier to prevent persons issuing from the ticket office stepping heedlessly on to the line in front of approaching trains. It would surely net land the coo y in insolvency if a wooden platform 200 ft.' long, a necessary lamp or two, and a few yards of hand-railing were erected. On the other hand, these inexpentive works would do away with the danger of a serious accident, and bo a great comfort to a large number of people.

Dog Show. —The committee of the dog show will hold a meeting this evening, at 8 o'clock, at Morton's Hotel. The Cheviot Election.—A sammary of Mr Ingles' speech to the Cheviot elojtois, delivered at Kaikoura on S-iturday evening, will be found in another column.

City Council. —The City Council held their usual meeting last night, and got through a large amount of business. Z3ALAHDIA AMATEUR MINSTHELS. —The performance of these amateurs, which is to be given at the Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday, tor the benefit of the Sunnyside Asylum, will be under the patronage of the Mayor and Council of Christchurch.

Scholarships.—The Education Board of the North Canterbury district have notified that the lists of candidates for the Scholarship examinations in June will be closed on the 10th inst.

Asphalting Footpaths.—The side walk extending from the post office to the Colombo bridge on the western side of Colombo street is now in course of being asphalted, an improvement for which pedestrians will no doubt be grateful. The Mator. —The city councillors are becoming anxious for the return of the Mayor. The annual meeting of the City Council should take place next week, when the absence of the Mayor would be remarkable. It is probabl"* that the meeting will be postponed for a fe -v days in order to allow of his Worship's return. Colonial Insurance Company—The following local directors of the Colonial Insurance Company have been appointed : —Hon. E. Richardson, Messrs H. W. Lee, W. Saunders, and C. W. Turner. It is also the intention of the company to appoint several gentlemen in the country districts as local advisers.

Abhbuhton County Council.—ln compliance with an influentially signed requisition, Mr E. S. Coster jhas consented to allow himself to be put in nomination for the seat in the Ashburton County Council, vacant through the illness and consequent nonattendance of Mr C. N. Mackie.

Asphalting TUB Strbbts.—Astbewinteris now advancing, the contractor for oepbaltirig the streets will, no doubt, avoid delay in commencing his second contract for the same. We understand that uuasphalted footways in the centre of the city will be first proceeded with, and then those more remote. Grand National Steeplechases.—By advertisement elsewhere it will be seen that the secretary of the Steeplechase Club notifies tout in accordance with rule 42, if the highest weight accepting for the Grand National Handicap is under 12st 71b, it will be raised to that weight, and the others below in proportion thereto. The Tbremakau Bridge.—The "Kumara Times" authoritatively states that the Government intend to proceed with the erection of the promised Teremakau bridge at once. The Teremakau lies about half-way between Hokitika and Grreymouth, and a vote for bridging it was taken last session.

Woodend. —The annual celebration of the establishment of the Oddfellows' society here took place on Friday afternoon and evening. After tea had been despatched, an entertainment was given in the district schoolroom. The R-v. H. G. Gould presided, and selections of music and readings were given by ladies and gentlemen present. Altogether, the uffair was most successful.

City By-law?.—A number of in

which a nominal penalty was inflicted for breaches of the City by-laws, were brought

before the Resident Magistrate yesterday. In the City Council last night, dissatisfaction was expressed at the trifling punishments inflicted, and it was stated that owners of cattle and horses found it worth their while to pay the fines, as it was a fcheappr way of keeping their cattle in fodder than purchasing food or renting paddocks. Theatrical. —From Sydney, we learn that Mdle. SolßUge Navaro and Mies Lydia Howarde made a very successful debut on Easter Monday at the first of a series of concerts given in connection with the Sydney Exhibition. The Sydney papers speak very highly of the vocal talents of both ladies. Mr Creswick has made a hit in the part of Fabtnff in Hsnry IV., as slso Mr H. N. Douglas in that of Prince Hal in the same play. The Calitohnian Shooting Gallbby.— Mr Donaldson's application for permission to use his shooting gallery was granted by the City Council last night. The application was suppoited by a petition from a large number of ratepayers, who testified to the excellent character of Mr Donaldson, and expressed their conviction that the gallery would be conducted in a thoroughly orderly maimer. Peopebtt Sale.—Mr J. G. Hawkes yesterday offered for sale part of town res;rve No. IS, situate on tho Ferry road, opposite the Catholic school, comprising a quarter of an acre of land with ssven-roomed house thereon. A start was made at £150, and it was ultimately knocked down for £750 to Mr Devine. The property being well-known induced a large attendance of buyers. An Honob to the Colony.—ln an article on " The Education of Girls, their admissibility to Universities," the " Westminster Review "of January last says : —" To the New Zealand University the real honor belongs of having been the first throughout the British Empire to admit a woman to its degrees. On January Ilth, 1877, the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred on Miss Edger, a student of the Auckland College and Grammar school." Tns Ptjblic Building?.—The new public buildings in Cathedral Square have advanced as far as the roofing. The clock tower is now beginning to show out, and apparently there are to be four faces. Up to the present time it has not been stated whether the clock is to be illuminated at night, but it would be a very great boon to the public if the Government made an arrangement for bo doing. In Dunedin the public clock is illuminated at night, and can be plainly seen from all parts of the city. If the same course were pursued with the Christchurch one the height of the tower would render it visible in many parts. Gaol Rbtubns —At the *nd of April, there were 99 prisoners confined in the Lyttelton gaol, 44 in that at Addington, and 31 at Timaru, giving a total of 174. At the end of February, the numbers were 106, 53, and 27, or a total in confinement of 186. The num-

ber of Canterbury's prisoners has, therefore, been reduced by a dozen during the past two months. During the month of April, there were, altogether, 279 persons in gaol, of whom 37 were females. During the month of February, there were 309 persons in gaol, of whom 37, or the same-number as in April, were females.

Steam Plough.—Owing to the long prevalence of dry weather, Mr W. M. Xoake, the agent of the English firm who supplied the steam plough now ready for work at MrPaasmore's farm, Chertsey, has been unable to carry out his intention of having a public trial of the implement. In order to allow farmers to judge for themselves of its capability, Mr Noake wished to arrange for the trial about the end of last month, but was prevented for the reason above stated. As there now appears to be a likelihood of the drought breaking up, no doubt he will have the trial at an early date. During the past few weeks Mr Noake has been on a visit to Otago, where the steam plough found great favor in the eyes of the farmers. R. M. Cottet.—A great number of cases were disposed of at the Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, yesterday. Most of them, however, were of the usual trivial character of the cases which occupy the attention of the Court on Mondays. Several persons were fined the invariable ss, for allowing horses and cattle to wander at large. Cases of abusive language, brawls, and assaults, hud their ordinary prominence, the only one of an exceptional character beiner that in which J. M. Fitzgerald was fined £5 for spitting in a woman's face. A number of informations under the Publio House Ordinance end Protection of Animnls* Act, were disposed of in the manner reported elsewhere. One almost unprecedented circumstance in connection with a Monday's business was, that there whs not a single prisoner brought up by th© police.

Impbovei) Vbbandah.—Christchurch has often been styled the city of verandahs, and judging from the many and diverse specimens, ranging from the highly ornamental to the decidedly ugly to be seen, the name is by no means misplaced. There is, however, one now in course of erection in Colombo street, which when finished will be decidedly handsome, betides being the only one of the kind in the city. This is now being placed in front of the recently renovated shop of Mr G. P. Daye, and is from a design by him. The lower portions of the framework is composed of iron work of floriated pattern, and very pretty design, from which spring semi-circular ribs which will be glazed. When completed the verandah will be an ornamental addition to the street architecture of Christchurch.

Municipal Subsidies. —A rumor has up pareDtly been circulated in Southland that the subsidies to the boroughs, &c, would not be continued after June 30th. The rumor probably had its rise in the fact that many journals in all parts of the colony have suggested the possibility of the Governmeiit being reduced to such financial straits that withdrawal of these subsidies would become a necessity. However that may be, Sir John Richardson telegraphed to Wellington, askiDg if there was any foundation for the report, and received the following reply : —" Be your telegTatn to Mr Ballance, there is no foundation whatever for the report alluded to about subsidies."