NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4264, 29 March 1879, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

No—tnated Immigba—on. — The total number of persons nominated at the Christchurch office during the past month was 250 souls, equal to 224. statute adults.

Dbtnbss of thb Season.—ln consequence of the unparalleled dryness of the season, it ia impossible in many cases to get forward with ploughing operations.

Fbaudtobnt Baitkbtipxct.—His Honor Mr Justice Johnston yesterday ordered the trustee (Mr Suckling) in the estate of John Johnson to institute legal proceedings against the bankrupt for fraudulently concealing a portion of his estate from his creditors. BuTbb—b Cotjbt.—Their Honors JusticJohnston and Williams sat in oaneo yesterday. Prior to the banco sitting a good deal of Chamber business was got through. Their Honors proceed to Dunedin to-day to attend the banes sittings at that place.

Nobthbbn Railway Eithhsion.—The first sod of the northern railway extension bsyond Amberley was turned yesterday. An account of the ceremony and report of the speeches on the occasion are published in this issue. - -

Fabhwsx- Ddiztk——On the eve of a late and respected director of the Canterbury Saleyards Company, Mr George Tickner, taking his departure on a visit to the old country, several of the directors and shareholders of the above company invited him to a farewell dinner on Thursday evening last at the Clarendon. S_ J. Cracroft Wilson, chairman of the company, presided, and about fifteen or sixteen gentlemen sat down to a repast served by Mr Wagner in an exceptionally good stele. After the usual loyal toasts and due "honor having been done to the departing guest, the company enjoyed • most pleasant evening.

. Octwabd Mail via Sab* FaAirciaoo.— The mail for Europe and America via San Francisco will be despatched to Auckland this afternoon by the steamer Ladybird. Db. Chilton.—Dr. Chilton, the house surgeon to the Hospital, is at present confined to bis roo— by a severe attack of rheumatio fever, which just now is very prevalent. Thb .Bio Guns.—The two aeven-ton guns and two sixty-four pounders were landed yesterday afternoon from the City of Quebec, and stored in the Gladstone shed. The platforms and carriages will be landed and stored to-day. " TrsrwA—o. —The aheds at this prosperous township are full of grain, and it aeems there is considerably difficulty in getting it to Christchurch, owing to the scarcity of trucks.

A PoimD-—KS.—-On Thursday night, between nine and ten o'clock, a male child only a few day a old was left on the doorstep of Mr Mill's bouse on tbe Ferry road, next to the Heathcote Road Board ofß.ce. At the present time there is no clue to the person who abandoned the infant, whioh has been taken charge of by the. Charitable Aid Department. Tbaihs ok Max**—&n Bbasch Line.— There is now running on the Malvern and "Whitecliffs branchea a regular gooda train, and if. a passenger carriage was attached to each train it would be a great oo.ivenienoe to the public, especially to thebuaicess people of Chratohurcb. At present no passengers are allowed to travel by these trains. Thb Gbobgias —-Mr Hio_s' company of : Georgia Minstrels concluded their season at j the Gaiety Theatre laat evening. The various | items on the programme were gone through excellently from first to last, and applause and encores Were both loud and numerous. Ihe company have, to-day for Dunedin, where they play a short aeason. Sblwth Coraty Goo-foil,.—The usual monthly meeting of the Selwyn Country Connoil was held yesterday. A large amount of ordinary business was got through, a conaidirable portion of it being connected with the distribution of fund a set apart for cemeteries and recreation grounds. A report of the meeting will be found elsewhere. Cantbbbuby Mabblh. —Ths direotora of the : Canterbury Marble Company have decided to send several specimens of marble to the Sydney exhibition by theJJbhn Knox, Cap—in Davis having kindly consented to take charge of them. They will be polished in Bydney,and will doubtless be inspected with interest by the viaitora to the exhibition. It may also he mentioned that Captain Davis has offered to take charge of any small exhibits, and deliver them in Sydney. P__b_s_on Pbbsbytbbian Chuboh.— On Thursday evening last the Rev. Mr Waddell and Mrs Waddell, who are about to leave Canterbury for Otago, were presented with a beautiful silver tea and coffee service and inkstand. .An address was read by Miss Patterson, and the.service bore-, the following inscription :—" Presented to the Rev. and Mrs Rutherford Waddell by the members of the Prebbh tm Bible class, as a mark of their esteem and respeot, on leaving for Dunedin. March, 1879" Ms Maktin Si-lonsbn.—This well-known violinist arrived in Christch—'oh on Thursday, having come from Australia in tha Rotorua en route to San' Francisco and the United States. It is his intention to return with talent, either, operatic, dramatic, or of the variety type, of a quality superior, if possible, to any that has preceded. Mr Simonsen ia very popular as an enterprising entrepreneur and no doubt will be successful in his mission. Wbathbb at Akaboa.—The weather at Akaroa during the past two days has been exceedingly bad; nothing like it is remembered since the time (two years ago) when Captain McLean, in command of the Ringarooma, put in to that harbor for shelter after steaming ■even miles in eight hours. It was blowing a gale all the time, and the Lake has been forced up so high that the coach had to keep to tho main road, whioh is in a very bad state of repair. Dbaihagb Wobes,—The most satisfactory ! progress is being made with the drainage j works, the weather having'of late been exceptionally favorable for the operations of the workmen. In the course of a few days, as soon as a sufficient supply of bricks are obtained, the engineer to the Board intends commencing the big main sewer at the eastern end of Tuam street Eait. Tho Board are in hopes of obtaining a piece of land sufficient to widen the street a chain, and when the water which now passes through the old sewer is drawn sway from the locality the new one will be commenced and taken down the centre of the road. Thb A6HBU3TOIC Maoistbatb.—At yesterday's sitting of the Ashburton Court, the Magistrate stated that he understood he would bo removed to Collingwood, but the precise date when hia successor would come to Ashburton was not known to him. He would, therefore, direct that no cases over the value of £20 be set down for hearing by the clerk until another Resident-Magistrate took his seat on the Bench, to prevent any difficulty which might arise regarding any adjourned case over the value of £20, in whioh Justices of the Peace had no power to adjudicate. Thb Yoi*o*xtbhbs.—The inspection parade of the head-quarters corps of Vo'un'oers took place'yesterday evening. Major Lean, Commandant of the District, was the inspecting officer. There waaavery large muster of all the companies, the City Guards particularly showing up"strong. A number of evolutions were gone through after the inspection, whioh were I executed very creditably. There is jurst one point about these parades which seems to mar somewhat the general appearance. It is that in some of the companies members appear in civilian clothes. This has a very incongruous appearance, and should certainly not occur. It had been intended to present the district prizes to the several winners, but. owing to some delay in the Government offices, this had to be postponed until a future oocassion.

Conveesazione. —The first quarterly conversazione in connection with the Young People's Christian Association was held last evening at the Congregational Schoolroom, Manchester street. The association has now been in existence three months, and has proved.highly auccetsfill. It consists of young people of both sexes, who meet weekly, when certain scriptural subjects are discussed. The chair ia occupied by. the president, Mr Walker, and the evenings are passed by short addresses from the young men, and papers (read by the president) from the young ladies, all bearing on the particular subject of the ovenipg. Last night, to celebrate the end of the first; quarter, a conversazione was held, and was largely attended. The room was tastefully decorated with .-_gs, evergreens, and soriptural mottoes. Tea was served at half-past six, and afterwards recitations were given, as well as selections of vocal and instrumental music, and altogether a very pleasant evening was spent.

South Rakaia Libbaby.—The annual meeting of members was held in the library on Thursday evening, the 27th, about fifteen members being present. Mr Bremicombe was voted to the chair. The secretary read the committee's report and balance-sheet of the past year, which showed a balance in hand of £12 3s Id. On the motion of Mr A. Bowler, seconded by Mr D. Bruoe, the report was adopted. Mr E. Coster was re-elected president for the ensuing year. The election of committee then took place. Ten persons were nominated. A ballot was taken, and the following were elected: —Messrs Bremicomb?, A. Bowler, J. Makoig, E. Bowler, T. White, D. Brnce, and 0. A.C.Hardy. Mr Bremicombe was unanimously re-elected secretary and treasurer. Votes of. thanks to the retiring committee aud chairman were carried unanimously. Raiiwav Bbnbh:t Sooibtt.—A committee meeting of the Railway Employes' Benefit Society was held on Thursday evening last, at the railway station, Christchurch, at 8 p.m. Several of the committee were present, and various matters disc—sed. Tiie chief business of the meeting however consisted in the reconsideration of the rules cf the society. A resolution was moved by Mr Heaton (chairman of committee), who vacated the chair for the purpose, to the effect that the new rules be considered in forre. This having been seconded, an amendment was moved by Mr Ashley, and duly seconded, to the effect that the new rules, ao far as they relate to funeral benefits, come into force on the 20th of April next. Mr Spencer, chairman pro tern., having put the amendment to tho meeting, it was carried. It was thought, however, by sores of the committee that, as this matter is likely to meet with the non-approval of several of the members, it wQI come up again for argument at the next meeting. After passing several amonnts for sick benefits, the meeting sdjouined. Mr Davis, who was appointed hon. secretary, vice Mr Bain resigned, has declined the office, and Mr Ellis, the tressurer, has also resigned. ,Mr E. A, Dowden ie now secretary andf treaiurer to the society. ■"* This society is a very large one, and is evidently progressing favorably.

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YBS-a_A_*a Ga_b. - The gale morning was felt very severely at AddinaST The strain on tho now Government worhwT there was very great. A report waa ohm lated that the whole building had been cWrka away. It appears, howev'or that only small part of the gable waa blown and that an expenditure of about £5 wt! place everything on its old footing. Baptist Chubch.—The anniversary «*, vices in connection with this will be W<i to-morrow. Ihe annual tea luootint win t held next Tuesday. h ™ » Waikari. —A general chnroh meeting of ft*. parishioners of Waikari will be he! J at tho Sta and Garter Hotel, at noon, on Tuesday next Nation&l Bank ov New Zeala-ot) — i This Bank will bo closed on Tuesday on the half-yearly balance. sl Fbibndlt Society's Mretiso— A taw moned meeting of the Queen's Lodge $} 0 * : 38, of the Protestant Allianco Friendly Sociefci lof Australasia will be held at tl;o Orango __» on Monday evening next. ' Cantbrbtjry RovriKo Clpb —The aaaussupper in connection with this club will place at the Commorcid Hotel wxt Shards* evening, when thi prizes won during; ti» }_& season will be presented. w Nobth Canterbury-Races.—Tho noasSaa. tions for these races will be received up to ereht o'clock on Tuesday next, and accepi_cea _i general entries up to Aprilßth. Cbioket Fixtubes. — A match wiit v. played at Ashburton to-day, as the reanlt 0 f a challenge from the "Timaru Herald" to the Christchurch Press. Tho foliovdng aro tie teams :—" Timaru Herald" : Collins, Brunton Roper, Campbell (2), Walter Hill, Bays' Nichols, Jones, Rodpors. Press.- Ascraifij' Board, Brunt, Carn-han, Edmonds, Gibum* Kent, Maurice, McCleary, Smith, Wmtfojji' The following will represent the Richmond ia their match against tho Hagley Oak leaf O,{J to-day, on tho ground of tho latter:—-C_arc Wenlock (captain), Marr, Hardie, Prestoa Cavanagh, McCleary, Eldridga, Harvey, qJ Peacock, Wisizell; emergencies, Newsome „J Woodham. P'av to comiorrioe at 130 p.n.