NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4268, 3 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

TH.C. Backs.—Mr Miller Larkin's Bineman has been nominated for the district hurdle race. C_—i_c_ TO Vote.—The number of new chinis to . vote for the Ashley dutrict ia twenty-fire, for the Kaiapoi district eighteen. It is expected that the ratepayers' list which have to be in by the 7th will greatly add to the names at present on the rolls. New RArcwAT Mach_test.—A considerable -mount of machinery arrived at Port Chalmers a day or two ago in the barque R.S. Lyman, whioh is intended for the Christchurch seotion of the railway. It will be removed to the new railway workshops now building at Add—tgton. Ihe machinery is intended for working both wood and iron, and when the new shops are fully fitted np, it is stated by competent judges that they will be the best in the Australian colonies. ; BaiAPor Woo__ mk Masufactub isto Coxpast.—At a meeting of shareholders of this company, held at the company, offices, Charles street, on Wednesday, Mr William Sanaom was elected a director in place of Mr Isaac Wilson, who has resigned owing to bis visit to England. Mr Q-. _L Blackwell was elected chairman of directors. It was resolved by tie shareholders to give the employes at tho factory an excursion to Oxford by train on Saturday and a picnic __b .LATH Mb Co__iebwobth.—Yesterday morning the Bey. £L B. Cocks and Mr Joyce, chairman of the local committee, attended, the Colombo road school, and, after addressing the children, intimate- that the eohool would be closed during the remainder oE this week out of respect to Mr Cumberworth's memory. Tho teachera of the school and the class which was more directly under Mr Cumberw—-th will meet in ths school before the funeral on Friday and follow his rem—ins to the grave. Thb Lath Col_ihioh at AsHßtraxoN-.— It will be remembered that the American engine Washington received a severe shaking during a late coll—ion near Aahburton, and it was stated at the time that its cylinders had been rendered completely useless, and that it would probably require £500 to repair the damage, besides taking a con—dera h le time before it could be done. On farther examination however it was found tbat the only injury done to the cylinder was a few •cratches, alt—ough the cow catcher, b—— —a, and the front part had been completely doubled up. Th e who-? of the repairs have now "bee a e_ec__,"ja-d U» Wash:ington is as good aa ever. .It will reeon—nenoo running to-day. i Ah :

Hospital ikquibt. —A committeo was appointed by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board some time Ego to inquire into certain charges made against the matron of the Hospital. The committee met again on Tuesday, and sat for two hours'taking /evidence in tbe case. It is undwßS>od they will report the result of their i_v*Siiga£o_r'to the Hospital and Charitable. Aid Board. , _>'__3TAQB -toABD. —A special meeting of this body was to have been held at half-past ten a-m. yesterday, but in consequence of legal opinion not having been yet received on a certain subject the meeting did not take place. Those present at the hour mentioned were Messrs R. J. S. Harman, John Evans Brown, A. Duncan, and Boss. Tbuc- Wheels. —A large number of sets of truck wheels are now lying at the railway workshop*, and the framework for some 500 trucks are also ready. The iron work for thes% cans-ting of ipringboies, buffers, &c., is expected to arrive very shortly, and it is stated that within a fortnight or three weeks after their arrival the whole of them will be put together and will be ready for use. W-si-TAir Church at Ai>d„.-gtos\— A site for th's church has been purchased at the corner of Hamilton and Lincoln road. It is in the centre of "a large and increasing population, being close to several new townships, besides occupying a most commanding position on the main road. It is intended to erect the chnrch at an early date. A large number of Weeleyan families reside in the district, who are compelled to travel to Colombo road or Durham street, the nearest Wesleyan churches. Subscriptions to the building fund are invited by the Bey. J. S. Smalley, superintendent of the circuit. Thb Big Gujra.—The shot and shell sent with the big guns wero landed yesterday from the City of Quebec, and placed in the shed. There are still to be landed carriages and iron platforms for the two 64-pounderguns. The shed has already assumed quite a warlike appearanoe. Sergeant Macdonald proposes to nave the division of the building allotted to the munitions of war partitioned off, after which he will devote some weeks to cleaning the guns, the carriages, and platforms, a work which from theirrusty appearance, is certainly much needed. He states tbat the material will be formally taken charge of by Major Lean to-day. St. Petkb's, A-ABOA. —A meeting of the vestry of St. Peter's Church, Akaroa, was held in the Chnrch on Tuesday last, when the vestry unanimously approved of the nominators' choice of the Rev. Harry Stacker, now at Lincoln, to the cure of the parish of Akaroa. The Rev. Mr Stack was requested to conduct the Easter services, and the churchwardens were asked to make the best possible arrangements for conducting the services until the arrival of Mr Stooker. The churchwardens reported that they had been unable to carry out the Bishop's suggestion of making a temporary arrangement with the late incumbent, the Rev. P. C. Anderson, to carry on the services in the meantime. Poaching ik the Domais.--Two young gentlemen were deteoted committing a breach of the Domain regulations, by carrying a gun within the boundaries of the Domain. Th.) weapon they had in their posaeesion was an air gun, and had they simply been carrying it, there is every probability that they might hive defeated the vigilance of the most watchful of curators, as the gun in question when put together presents the appearance of a large sized ebony walking stick; but they were discovered pointing it at some ducks, and thus a'traded attention. The gun was placed in the police depot, and the young sportsmen will be prosecuted. Gu» I___o3ioN.—A man named Robert Harrison met with a very serious accident on Tv g"ay when out shooting at Lake Ellesmere. He had been firing all day, and at about ■ three o'clock in the afternoon, just as he was about to fire at a flock of ducks, his gun exploded, and shattered his left hand severely; the hammer of the gun also hit his companion on the eye, fortunately without doing him any injury. Harrison was brought to town and conveyed to the hospital, where his wounds were dressed. It was found necessary to amputate the second finger'of his hand, whioh was very much ont about. It is a somewhat remarkable circumstance tbat for years past in Christchurch there has been one or more accidents of this kind at the very commencement of the game bfason. Lnrco-H Road Baptist Sunday School. —Tho twelfth anniversary of the above school was held on Sunday last, when special sermons were preached by the Rev. Thomas Farrington, of Wellington, to good congregations. The annual tea and publio meeting took place on Tuesday night, when about 150 persons sat down to a good tea. The report, whioh was very satisfactory, showed an in-: crease of forty scholars daring the past year,* I and two of the scholars had been added to j the church. The number of scholars on the books is 135, with an average attendance of 110. There aro nine teachers, and also a library of 228 volumes. There is also a Band of Hope in connection with tho school of 120 members. The present building is quite inadequate for Sunday school work, aB it is inconveniently crowded on Sundays. The question of building a new school was referred to by several speakers, and help for this object will. be gladly received. The meeting was, addreßied by the Revs. Smyth, Harrington, and Messrs EL'is, Waters, Binstead, and Allan. The children also assisted by recitations and singing, and the meeting, which was very successful, was closed with prayer by the Bey. Thomas Harrington. Waika—l. —A meeting of ohuroh members was held at the Star and Garter Hotel here on Tuesday. The Yen. Archdeacon of Bangiora occupied the chair. An explanation was given by Mr E. A. Buchanan, church officer for the district, in reference to the amounts which could be collected towards the stipend of a clergyman. It had been proI posed that the Rev. Mr Keating's services should be engaged jointly by the parishes of Woodend and Waikari, each contributing £187, and a letter from the Hon. H. B. Gresson, churchwarden, at I Woodend, was read, approving of the arrangement. . After some discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr H. P. Lance, seoonded by Mr W. Cornder, that the arrangement with Woodend be entered into. The meeting then i separated. It is stated that the settlers at Waikari would have preferred to have a clergyman resident thero instead of at Woodend. Engines by thb Piako.—Mr Smith, the head of the locomotive department, proceeded to Lyttelton on Tuesday for the purpose of making an official examination of the two engines just discharged from the ship Piako, which, it will be recollected, was scuttled at Pernambnco in consequence of being on fire. They were found to be not nearly so much damaged as was expected, and it is considered that they can be both thoroughly overhauled and repaired for the sum of £400, which amount will have to be paid by the insurance companies. The damage was principally done through the sea water, which has completely rusted the engines, and the work of cleaning them wSI be undertaken by the railway department. The boilers are still on board, but it is not anticipated that they will be found to be much damaged. As the value of the engines in question is something like £4000, the loss will not be so very serious after all. Bxdenham. — Great improvements are being made in Colombo road, Sydenham. Within a short time there has been a number of new buildings erected on the east side of the road. First, there is a boot and shoe shop belonging to Mr Robinson, and next door there is a grocery store occupied by Mr Familton. After this comes the large furniture warehouse of Mx D. Foster, where an extenaivo business is being carried on in the manufacture of all sorts of upholstery and cabinet making. A short distance further down the road Mr Simpson, the painter, has just erected a new shop next his own, which will be opened shortly as a pork butcher's. Opposite this is the Sydenham Dispensary, which is of a very imposing appearance, having a most extensive verandah. Returning to the east side there is a vacant space, where Mr Sherlock intends erecting the Temperance Boarding House. Further down, on the west side, is the grocery establishment of Mr Hill, and on the opposite side there are two new shops built for Mr Day, the butcher, and another for Mr A. Hall, in which is carried on a large drapery business. Immediately opposite, and next the old post office, is a drapery shop built for Mr Bowie. Besides the new buildings on the main road, between the Railway gates and the Pound road, there has been a considerabhj amount of building going on- on each side street leading oft Colombo road. There is no doubt that within. a very short time this district will he closely built over, and the centre of a large amount of business. She Council is doing good work in the matter of roeds and footpaths, and the difference observable between the Colombo road of to-day and that of twelve months ago is something to congratulate - the owners of property upon. ' . . _ .....';'_

The Latb Fibe.—The magisterial ecquiry into the late fire at Bchwartz's premises in High street will take place this morning befera Mr G. L. Mellish, B.M. Baptist Chpech, BBpbpobd sibsbt.— Afteri'fche usual eervice *at this_ chnsroh list evening nipe persons were baptised 'hjf the Bey. GharTes Ballaeton. SKBIOOB Ooach AccnjßKT.—Particulars of a serious accident which ceramd to the Hurunui coach at the Waipaxa cutting yesterday are published in this issue. Mb COHTBBB. —Letters from Mr Conyere slate that he has now fully recovered from bis late severe accident, and that he hopes in the coarse of a few days to be again at work in hia accustomed place at the head of the department. Fibs at Ambbblby.—A fire took place on Wednesday at Mount Brown, at which Mr Daitiel'had a quantity of grain and some farm implements destroyed. His lose was partly covered by an insurance of, £20Q in the South British. •_ CoKVBBSAztoKE. —The conversazione in connection with the Philosophical Institute j takes place at the Provincial Council Chambers this evening. There will be a very large collection of articles of interest displayed, including the Arundel pictures, which no doubt will receive a large amount of attention. The ! work of fitting up the various rooms is being rapidly proceeded with, and when all the articles are placed they will form a very interesting exhibition. ; Sydhby Exhibition.—The usual weekly meeting of the local committee of the Sydney Exhibition was held yesterday. After tbe transaction of some purely routine business the meeting ad jouraed. Buring the day Dr. Hector had an inter-new with the secretary of the local committee,- Mr J. A. Bird, on the subject of the unwillingness of intending exhibitors to send articles to Sydney. It has been stated that the New Zealand exhibits sent to Philadelphia were neglected, and that great loss therefrom resulted to exhibitors. To this statement Dr. Hector gives a most unqualified denial, and purposes writing an official letter to the local commission on the subject on bis return to Wellington. iMPBOTEMBwra nr Passbkgbb Cabs. —A number of railway carriages are now undergoing repairs and improvements in the workshops at the - Ohristehurch station, among them being a second-elate American carriage which is being transformed into a first-class smoking. A novelty has been introduced into this by Mr A. Smith, the head locomotive engineer, in the shape of a strip of corrugated glass about two inches wide, which which runs along the whole length of the each seat, immediately beneath the sitter. Another improvement has been introduced in the shape, of a ventilator at the top of the carriage, which can be opened at either or both ends for the purpose of letting the smoke out, and at the same time of admitting the fresh air. While the ventilators serve these purposes they will keep the carriages free from draught. New Joubhaii.—Under the title of the " Marlborough Times," a new and creditably got up little bi-weekly journal has been started in Blenheim. In describing its intentions the "Times" says :—"No petty local feeling, no miserable localism, will warp our judgment, make Blenheim ridiculous, and through our columns injure tho whole district. Localism has done much to injure our district in the past, and if one reason above all others should call a Liberal journal into life, it is that our miserable localisms should not be fostered but crushed out." Aβ to political riewe, our contemporary speedily dispels all doubt by saying -.—" Born in senile puerility, the Grey party has made no attempt at a policy which has not resulted in failure, and looking even at their administration alone, the verdict of the people must be—the most impotent Government ever known in this country." Biblb Chbistians.—This church held their quarterly meeting on Tuesday at Addington. The Bey. W. H. Keaet presided, and there were present Messrs Beed, Smith, Harding, Knipe, Tregeagle, Scawer, Chiverton, Manhire, Lsnyon, Peek, Q-lass, Farro, Guy, Wright, and Potter. The finances were considered highly satisfactory, and the mission is now self-supporting. A lengthy conversation took place on the class-meeting question, and it was thought that while class-meetinps were highly desirable, they cannot be made the test of membership. With a staff of fourteen local preachers it was felt that more work must be undertaken, hence it was decided to engage the Waltham Library for Sabbath services. It was decided to send a strong appeal to the executive for more missionaries for the colony. At 630 an excellent tea was laid, generously given by Mr and Mrs Straw. A public meeting followed, and excellent addresses were "given by Messrs Farro, Guy, Lanyon, and Knipe. Mjsa Tregeagle presided at the harmonium. The church register shows a membership of about eighty. Libraby Catalogue.—Considerable additions have been made to the catalogue of the Chrietchurch Public Library.within the past month. By the Orthes, which arrived from home in March, there arrived some two hurdred works of fiction and about one hundred works of a miscellaneous character. A email parcel also arrived by way of Suez. A great number of the books were ordered to replace those missing from the library or destroyed, but the majority are entirely new to the catalogue. Among the worke of recent authorship may be enumerated the Bey. James Buller's " Forty Years in New Zealand." This should prove a valuable addition to the meagre collection of works on New Zealand, as it presents an admirably written reoord of our early colonisation. Another book among the number, possessing similar interest just now, is a " History of Afghanistan, from the earliest period to the outbreak of the war of 1878, by Malleson. " A Great Mystery Solved," being a sequel to Diokens's novel " The Mystery of Edwin Drood," is contained in the catalogue of new works of fiction. Some of Mr Farjeon'a works are also among the number. School Committee, South Bakaia.— The ordinary monthly meeting of this committee "was held in the schoolroom on the evening of Ist. ApriL Present ■ — Messrs Brimmicombe (ohairman), Gardner, Makeig, Shellock, and Welch. Mr. Gardner reported that he had waited on Mr Mann re fund of entertainment, and was informed that as soon as all claims against the fund had -been paid, the balance would be paid to the committee. A letter was read from Mr Cox, schoolmaster, tendering the resignation of Mrs Cox as assistant mistress. On the proposal of Mr Makeig the resignation was accepted. Mr Cox's resignation was next considered. On the motion of Messrs Shellock and Welch, it was resolved to write to the Education Board recommending the Board to accept Mr Cox's resignation, and that the committee being ignorant of Mr Cox's services previous to his taking charge of the Bakaia School, left his retiring allowance to the discretion of the Board. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Makeig that the chairman in writing to the Board re Mr Cox, ask them to appoint the date of his retirement as nearly as possible to the date of ■Mra Cox's resignation, so as to enable the committee to advertise for a new master and mistress at the same time. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Shellock, that the school children be allowed one week's holiday at Easter. The chairman reported having received the sum of £11 Oβ 3d for incidental expenses for March quarter. The chairman was {requested to write again to the Education Board, re the school reserve. [ The Kabamea Settlbbß.—The settlers at the Karamea (says the " Grey Biver Argue ") had a meeting recently, at which all the settlers with four exceptions were present, to raise formal protest against and denial of statements that they wished to be removed by the Government from the settlement, and further to the Government should not issue leases for twelve months, and also that a short history of the settlement should be drawn up and forwarded to Mr Warden Broad, with a request that the same be forwarded to the Jackson's Bay Commissioners, explaining grievances and suggesting remedy. In explanation of the latter resolution we may-state that Mr Warden Broad has been deputed by Messrs Bunny and Whitfoord to obtain reliable information concerning the Jackson's Bay Settlement. Wesletan Chttbch, Sydenham.—Anniversary services will be held on Sunday next. The preachers will be the Bey. W. Morley, Mr J. Bronghton, and Bey. J. 8. Smaßey. The soiree comes off on Good Friday. Tea will be provided in the Colombo road schools, and a public meeting wDI be held in the church, when addresses w;ll be given by the Hon. W. Fox, Beys. W. Morley and Luxf ord, and others. ] Chibitablk Atd Boabd. — The usual meeting of the Charitable Aid Board will be held at the Hospital, at 4 p.m., to-day. J Habboe Boabd.—The ordinary monthly ; meeting of the Harbor Board will take place today at 2.30 p.m. Board of EmrcATiqiij>-The Board of J Education for Koith Canterbury will hold its usual fortmgbily meeting this dajr at 3 p.m. v