NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4176, 16 January 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Thb San Fbanoibco Mail.—The City of Sydney, with the inward mail from England, reached Auckland shortly after midnight, having been delayed by a slight accident to her machinery. She arrived too late for the usual summary of news to be transmitted in time for this morning's.issue- He* New Zealand passenger list appears in the shipping column. Cobbbction. —The statement |n the report of the Q&Ugiora Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday that a warrant was " quashed " is not correct, as it appears it was withdrawn by the police. Justices op thb Peace. —In consequence of the lack of Justices of the Peace in the Kaiapoi district two gentlemen have recently been nominated for enrolment on the com* mission of the peace, : Dksbbtino Seamen.--Five of the seamen belonging to the-barque Charles Beeying, from New York, deserted on Tuesday night. The master offers a reward of two pound? per man for their arrest. Depaetpbh op Home Maim.—Mails for the United Kingdom via: Southampton-:and Brindisi, and for India, China, and the East, were forwarded yesterday afternoon by the . o,s. Arawata, wbio'i left Fort at half-past four L o'clock for xdelbourne yja So^th. Dbainagb BoXbd EhEOTipir.—Tho fok lowing are the boundaries of the Spreydon' district, for which an election 1 will take place to-day :—Bounded on the north by the City of Christchurch and the Biccarton district, oa the east,by Colombo street;, on the southeast and abut>h-ww_ by the |icje of tho Rivfr Heat b,oote-from the continuation of ' Colombo'street south-to Archer's Bridge on * the Ehicoln w>es. AMAtjjOB QJPBBA' CoMPAinr.—" Martha " ! will be repeated tO-nighfc for; the leat time. With the cast strengthened Joy- ,Miss Amy Sherwfn in the 'title r/>fe; ; a'peitforii_arieef of unusual merit may be anticipated^ j:: ___ _ti F. 7 Tc»wle has carried out the .arduous task:he , had undertaken in a most thorough and satisfactory manner, and there is little doubt that a crowded house will assemble to witness the last and crowning performance of hia company of operatic; amateurs. Bifle MA!-OHj—A match of : considerable int(Jres| wilf be' flred-ait |h<» Cashmere range l on,. it ia r expected,"'Saturday' Week; between ten members of the Engineer Company md tfua Civilians.' Tjj?~ diayenge cam.c froja the Engineers, who "will undoubtedly have hard work to beat their, opponents, who number Sgme of our best shots; the company has a strong shooting stbJ* W consifterably' Strengthened by the presence of Mr Appleby, ; wbo has joined the company as lieutenant. ' > /.. THB pAHTpBBBTTBT --Ckr/BSEse-, CwJß.—The annual meeting of this club waa held at five o'clock last evening at the Shades, Hereford street, when the report and balance sheet, bofch 'of Tybioh .Iwere' of a very satisfactory were adopted, ajid a number pf oemmiolEee meil appbintgi foti the-s ensiling year. It was stated that the subscriptions for a testimonial to Mi? A Anson, the late, were coming in, very freely. A report of the proceedings appears' elsewhere. -. Dbapebs' Pjckic.—A meeting of the committee, appointed at the .late, general meeting of drapers arid clothiers, to make arrangements for the forthcoming picnic on j the ffiith instant, was, held fri-tha Commercial Hotel on Tuesday eyemog, Mr in the j chair. It was 'reported that active steps were j hieing takeh to canry Out the various arrangements. It was stated that the .secretary (_fr j R. Clark) and Mr M. Jacobs bad been to tb,e I Port to make arrangements fg? the steamer that is to ponyfytie party Bay. j After some discussion the meeting was-' adjourned! ~"..".' Lost Spare.—The police authorities wish attention to be' called' to a packet of •Bprip, representing twenty £30 shares in the Bir.nungham and Leicester Railway Company, j now in-their pDflseaaiou, await ng an owner.] Tha scrip waa-picked up as far back as the beginning' of November, in Colombo street, by a porter at the .Canterbury College, John Mco-regor. ! The d4l* p| the-issue of the shares 'on the scrip, which alga bears th» signature the secretary of the Bail way Company, and although a nbtice of the finding has been affixed on the notice board outside the' Police Depot, no one has as ye: put in a claim to it. ..-; ! FBOM CHBIBTOHiraOH TO I_fVTOCJ_B<_ «,_..— Tbe railway, from Dunedin to Invercargill will-positively be opened on Wednesday pext, the _.#£, The .passenger, train with Ghrlstohuroh. exouwiohia-s will leave on the previous day,: so that $bey may be in time-to take part in'the demonstration, which will be strictly; by inyiiation, TJia ordinary traffic will commence on the following morning, and passengers leaving Ch?iatohtu_>h one morning at 84Cj a.m. wtM reach Invercargill at 3 30p.m. on afternoon. Ifc is expected when the whole of the line is fenced in to prevent cattle, '&&, gettmglon; to ■$-, that the" iOUrjpjey ? wijl he U&gah more ra_risy performed* Ib the train will ttjeri be able to travel c duri_g; 'the night,-: .: : -,--.-■'-.-■ • - 7 ,-;,<, r-T \ ' BiNBBH CoNTEST.—Thecomv petition for the prizS'offered by the 7 Agr*£ Pastoral A>seeiatioa.__r the best reaper and, id&der'tai**; place to-day on Mr Boag!s farm at. Fendaltown. The machines -entered wre .the Osborne, iStimbaje and Marsh Harvester. Of these the first? three, named competed at last yeai's - trial, in Wbicir the Qsborne pro*ed victorious. The other i?rq feiifcjes tag* new here.' In addition V> the reapers «ad ■ binders, Mr John Anderson will have a traotion ; engine at work yn 'ffitfieM? The to b*on the ground at 9 o'clock. The crop-in wliich the trial is to take place is a Veiy-good ; one for the purpose, though the ground, is somewhat soft from the eff.cts of the wiin. Xt may be mentjonsd that a'tnaf is in QtHtrsjejof axrongeinerfc under th» außpscesaf. the North Otago Agricultural and* Pastoral Association at Oamaru about the middle of tbe present month.

Thb CosreiißSioNß- op Rai_wats—Mr C.n.ers arrived by the Arawata yesterday from the -forth, having been absent lor sjui. weeks on hi. visß of inspection to tho Nelson and West Coast r_ilwny.. LOSS OP THB BARQUE SCHIBHAIXTO-f—lt will be seen from this morning's intelligence by cable that the barque Schiehallion, from Auckland to London, has been totally lost on the Isle of Wight. Nothing is sail of any loss of life. The passenger list, and particulars of her cargo, will be found amongst the telegraphic shipping intelligence. Madamoiskixb Chabboknbt . — This talented lady, who has recently been givir.g concerts in the North, has arrived in Christchurch, and will give two concerts at the OddfeUows' Hall, commencing*-h the ~23r_T ; inst. ' She will be assisted by Signora Venosta, Herr Buns, and other artists. The pro.jg&inme selections of classical music, Ac., and no doubt many of the"lovers of music in Ghristehurch will avail themselves of the opportunity of hearing a pianiste of whose performances tbe Australian, papers speak in such high terms. The programme for the two nights has not yet been definitely | arranged, but the selections will be snch as to display to the best advantage the talents of I Mdlle. Charbonnet.

Ri___ Association.—The prize firing of this Association will take place at the Cashmere Range on Thursday, the 30th instant, firing to commence at 8 a.m. punctually. The prizes to be shot for are mentioned in our ad-vert-iing columns. His Worship the Mayor, following in the footstep's of his predecessors, has given a valuable- cup to be shot for on the date mentioned. .An alteration in the terms of Blake's Challenge Cup has bean assented to by the donor, namely, that any ppsitiqn may be adopted at the 200 yards range, and the 8-inch balls-eye need in plaoe of tho long one of previous contests. By this alteration, mnch time will be Bayed by the competitors, as an alteration of targets will be saved. Entries must be made with the secretary of the Association at Warner's Hotel, on the evening previous to; the match. RaiIiWAT Fibb £bI-_x>_.—An adjourned meeting of the Railway Fire Brigade was held in the Accountant's- ofiice at eight o'clock last eveuinp, for the purpose of enrolling members and electing officers . Mr F. Back was in the chair. Twenty members ■were enrolled, and the following officers we're elected:—Superintendent, Mr W. Rankin; foreman, Mr G. Merson ; branchmen, Messra P. Pearson and B. P. Ekberg ; assistant branchmen, Messrs White and O'Neil; secretary, Mr James Ashley. After some discussion, it was agreed that the officers elected should retain ofiice for twelve months.. It was unanimously resolved that the following officers should be honorary members of the brigade -. —Messrs W. Conyers, F. Back, W. M. Hannay, A. D. Smith, J. Dickenson, R. Oarrbn, A. G_r.ti_, P. Pope, arid J. McGarva. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting adjourned.

Sufbbme Coubx.. —The caße of Cleve ;v King came to a conclusion yesterday, when the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for £150. This, however, is only the first step in the case, as it was agreed between the learned counsel _ engaged that the several points of-law raised on the trial-' should be argued in banco, on the motion of counsel for defendants that a nonsuit' should be recorded or that the verdict should be entered for the defendants. It is also more than probable that the c.ge will conic before the Court of Appeal. To-day ibfi case of Henderson v the Napier Harbor Board will commence. This is likely to occupy a considerable time, and quite an array of legal talent has been obtained. The Attorney-General aud Mr W. L. Rees will appear one one side, and Mr Macaesey and Mr George Harper the other.

. JpvEiriiiß Is-GbAtjtitoe.—A boy twelve years of $ge, named James Murray; was charged yesterday at the Resident Magistrate's Court with absconding from the Bum-, ham Industrial School. Tho facts displayed an unusual instance of ingratitude on the part of the youthful delinquent. He had been committed to the school in December, 1875, for a period Of six years: It is-"well that Mr .Mellish has nhown considerable interest in "the welfare of the inmates, "and he had taken the a*, eatiqri'from it into his. own jn lihe capacity of an apprentice* Tne"lad "exhibited his gratitude for the opportunity afforded; him bf making a start in life iby absconding from his service, and hence arose the charge which -was-preferred against him. Messrs Walton and Hobbs, J.P.s, occupied the Bench, and i after bearing . the evidepce- of. Mellish, ordered the boy's to Burnham with the preliminary addition of a eoupd fogging. '.- y jppcvyQpiafOiii WoBKS.—TtB iwo«6» coin" pij<t£d. of the. City. Council .ipet yepterdiy, and passed several accounts ft. r payment. It was reaolved to ball for .tenders for widening the .Cojambb. street, bridge, ', jtt.wtfebdecided .hatb-fbre anything could h& done In matter of widening Lyttelton,, street, its wi<_th f should be : verified., Th{_.. that tW k footway, _rofnt]&c 3*ijth( town belt to ,the railway lbproceeded with Mlf "mc cost of the by the residents in the locality. [.The surveyor was to be 'ibstructed to remove all advertising boards' crossing " Joo.patb_ ' where they.ajns sppipiofcted wi%fy ihs exception.of those .yerandaiiSi Witn the vjfif 6£ openjtpthe puljlro' as %ooij aai possible th© ifajke't-Tplace Btreet now being formed, it was resolved to shingle, the same, tenders to be at once called for the, material. The removal of the lamp in __-_.. street from -Inwood's new building to theopppsite side,of the st.cc(; between thb j»emises of King and Davis, was .also detjer'mihed'on. ;■- :s - ; - ; ! "■ : - '-Y;XX IA -j m

KaiapiO- Wboiiimr > CQlf• pahx—The &|t aarm&l tweeting of 'propiietoKj waa held on ."Wednesday at the com-, piny', office,' Eai_pbi. 'Nearly all the share-' holders were present, Mr Isaac Wilson, chairman of directors, presiding. Mr;J. 'Harold, Efans, Secretary, read the 'Report, which notioed the progress of the company and matters of interest only to thessnarpholders. It concluded by stating that '_jjijp ,yFilson, the retiring director, wapj eljgW- Ifor, re-election. To the reucs attached > satisfactory by Mr ?W_! P. auoWihg the position of the c. mpany* th" be sound. The nominal capital fv«r, stated to be £15,000, of whioh £13,000 has been paid-up. The working q£ the machinery waa being carried, out on an ec'oa^ioalbasis, and the large outlay 'or bpil^gr 'arid j increased plant yvxtbeen-, provided for. 'On <■ the rufttion.ot the 'chairman aeoondefi by Mi __ Coup, the report and station, were unanimously adopted, M. Isaac Wilson Was unardmamly elected a director. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the directors for their services during the past year. Ihe meeting then terminated. Mb Gbaham's B-____T-.-- Mtj "SJ.i p. Graham haeiacapital house at tha .Theatre Roy .1 la*t night, on the of hia benefit and Iwt in sew Zealand. jThe per commenced with, the closet, scene from "Hamlet," the parts of the Prinoe of Dent-ark and Queen Gertrude being by the beneficiaire and'Mi»| Tilly Arid-Jews, who kindly gave her servi oe.b The sdenelwas well acted by each performer, thoaghs Mr Graham was suffering ,ro__ a severe cold, which had an injurious effect on his vioice. Mrs W.£_£ Take played Beethoven's Sopata 4 No. \%, on the pianoforte. The perfO._-sn.e was brilliant, but too ' recherche- f *ior_\ the frequenters of the pit, ,rhb manifested in their usual .way their' .iaapproba'-ioA of what they did not U-deyafcaftd "or appreciate. The unmanly d_siu__in*«_ was both an _fs_le : to the talented lady who performed aad to tho gentleman whose benefit t&oyXcame to patronise. An amusing trifle, iv ti_j shape of a two.acb 'comedy -drama} written by* Mr Graham, i and entitled '*I/OT_'« 3T£ung D_._b_, , *-w_s tbe next on the bill.: As acting ofj Mil tfrid _K__.e#», it __r . purpose of affording considerable amusement to jtjj_ Were liberil' ih^pplaud__gl_i_i_j()ldfavorites. Miss A^drtfWsuihtrodnc§4 * * 01 \& - JfU. <*- ace > " Blpe_ Eyed joejl -Whi-h being' *n<-_redX *-&*'%&&-* lively naval hornpipe as a substitute. titer on sh. r -.ang a rathe." nice song,l the, composition ot- Mr Graham, enfit-eW iorgefe'V The niugio 9*% my) and -owing and the' words appropriate. S It was also w&H The piet» f iini.__d ..bj' Mx Graham's imitating Signor Majeroni in the « Old capitally donej ~.____f. M. Bates as JBCssex in " Queen Elizabeth j"! ?$& MrjHcakins as "Cardinal. j entertainment concluded third SO. JO. •*he. <f? Jiady pf LrapsJ-' "with,- Mi»s karewa and Mr Graham in the characters of Paulino R,_dOi&n_.. Theirperformanee was spirited, l and brought an amusing entertainment: w aiconclt_lion. Messrs Bunz, bed, Poore, Weber, and Miss Eleanor James gave tbeir sei.; 08, and helped to (jontribute to the general mo* vW'

Thb Late Floods.—The trifling damage dona to the railway by the floods has been completely repaired, and the trail 8, both passenger and goods, ranaa usual yesterday.

M»,i-fosKiNß' Company;—Mr Hoskina* company concluded their season at Napier last night, and; may be expected in Christchurch about Saturday.

Piex-icx CdußT, ASHBUBTON. — District Judge Ward visited Ashburton ou Wednesday, for the > pu-poee of holding a District Court, but ns no cases wore ready, owing to the delay in sending the necessary forms, tho Court -was not held. In future it is understood the sittings of thi9 Court will be held on the loth of each month.

"Thb Bane-Apic- - Cash;— James Bassingthwaite, who was remanded by, the Rangiora Bench to Christchurch, will be. brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court"'to-morrow morning oh the" charge, As set forth in 'the warrant for his arrest, of " concealing and fraudulently removing part of his property, and making material omissions in the statement relating to his affairs."

Thb Hos-i-Ai, Concbbt. — The grand concert in aid of the Destitute Patients Relief Fund on Friday evening will largely contribute to the charitable object for which it has been got up. Nearly all the seats in the dresscircle are engaged and close upon £200 has already been realised by tho sale of tickets, and subscriptions from sympathisers in the cause. The pro- i gramme has already been notioed, and com-" "prising as it does the names of Miss Amy Sherwin, Signora Yenosta, Messrs Towle, | Marshall, Simms, and others of acknowledged talent, promises an unusual musical treat.

Mb. VaK-EY. —The bible reading yesterday afternoon was the most largely attended of any given, the floor of the hall being well filled. The eubjeot, as previously announced, was " The Lord's second coming." Mr Tarley gave his views in a very clear and able manner. In the evening, long before the time of meeting, numbers were flocking into the hall, which was filled to overflowing, extra seat 3, being brought into requisition in every available space. The whole of tho scenery having been removed, the platform was made use of for the audience, numbers being obliged to stand, but the powerful voice of Mr Yarley was readily heard at all parts of the buildings. The subjecttaken was a continuance of the theme, whioh was announced by Mr Varley as "The Three Sessions of Judgment." The Bible reading to-morjrow aiteruooo, as per advertisement, will be devoted to'the consideration of Scripture, testimony regarding " The. Jews:—eigus of the times, indicating the approach of the crisis," and a special address will be delivered in the evening, at 7 30.

City Valuation;— Apart from the natural increase in the value of rateable property in Christchurch, caused by the growth of the city, it would aeem to be not altogether unaffected by the choice of the Corporation's assessor for the time being. For instance, in 1875, when Mr Huddleston acted _-"city valuator,? the -total amount of tho valuation, .list' after passing the Assessment Court, was £150,626.; "In 1876, when Mr Cuff prepared the list,,. th,9 tpt*lvalneafter revision was repreaeht-d Jby X-147.7H. In 1877, Mr Kookton's revised- list showed the rateable value of the- property of the city to be £173,5-91 and in 1878 Mr Cuff reduced it to £170,596, which the Court further diminished to £168,080. For the present year Mr Leach estimates the total value of rateable property in Ohriatehuroh to be £216,702. This estimate i», of <y>arse, subject to revision, anq_ p,wxbabiy *ome changes will be but these will not prevent tbo amended valuation from showing an enormous increase on tbat of last yea.. Supposing even the valuer's statement of increase is reduced by 20 per cent., which is very improbib-j, the total increase would atill be upwards of 23 per cent, of the total value of property as stated last year.

Intebpbovinciai. Riqatta.—A meeting of those ii-terestod in aquatics will be held at the Commercial .Hotel tins evening, when, the subject of an Interprovincial Regatta .for -1879 will be discussed. ' X .

Watb« Su-'PI.t Committee .--A meeting of the water snpply committee takes plaoe at the City Council ohambors at 10 a.m. this,day. .< Bowling Match,—-The match .between Christchnrch.. and Dnnedin will rtfake place to-morrow afternoon ,_t 2 o'clock on tho club (.round, Worcester street east.

Mbbchcants'; Picntc.—A meeting of persons interested in getting up this picnic will bo held to-morrow evening at the Scotch Stores at half-past 7 o'clock. C-JtOKET Pixtubes.—The Association match Town v. Country, begun laqt Saturday, will be continued, next Saturday. All those who yre : engaged, in, the match,are-particularly requested to attend punctually." A match will be played tO-.day-between' the "H.O.L.C.C. and Bakers 1 : Cricket Clubs,: on the ground of former. The following: will represent-, the Hagley Oak iLeAf-X-H. (papiain),. H- Fisher, G. Hepworth, W. A. Dnnb*. » Jr.-Lnsk, J. Jn%B. W, Collier, P. Board> A. Johnston, Emergency—J. Niven. The following *w_l represe__ the U.C.C.C. in the match-igjiinst Q. Cotterill (captain. lt WXj, Cott-rill, J.Dawe.H.O. D.:Mev«a,.M. Naldßr, P. Robinson, E. J. Rosa, Qep. Thorne, H. S. Smith, M. S. S«\i% Jf. R. Wilkinson.