NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4290, 30 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Tbamwat Staho*.—The successful tendererfor the Christchuroh Tramway Company's terminal station is Mr James Goss, for the sum of £2322.

Mabtok Steket.—The broken drain in Marton street, to whioh attention wbb called on Monday, was yesterday repaired by City Council employes, AccLiHATisAtioir Socibtt. — The usual monthly meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday at Oookson's Oom» mercial Hotel, and a considerable quantity of business was transacted.

Appoiktmbnt.—The Bey. F. T. Opie, who has been for eight years incumbent of the dis triot of Oxford, has been appointed as incumbent of Picton. General regret is felt at his leaving the Oxford district, in which he is so well known and loved.

GovßEHif eni Bbwabd.—The Government have offered a reward of £500 for suoh evidence as will lead to the convic'ion of any person or persons wilfully setting fire to any properties in the colony of New Zealand. Cottbbhts Sr-Soic —It maybe as well to remind enortsmen that the Acclimatisation Society are determined -this season to carry out stringently tbe 16th clause of the Protection to Animals Act, which imposes a heavy pecuniary penalty for coursing or shooting without a license. The season for coursing and pheasant shooting commences on Thursday, Ist May. Pigeon Match.—Owing to the inability of several of the Dunedin sportsmen to put in an appearance, the proposed Interprovincial Pigeon Match between Canterbury and Otago will not come off at Oamaru, as was anticipated on the 24th of May, the day of the Grand National Steeplechase.

Castsb.hub.y HimT Ciub.— There is, a probability of the Canterbury Hunt Club holding their first meeting of the season during the visit to Christchurch of His Excellency the Governor. The hounds are doing strong wort, aud are likely to appear in good condition. In addition to this, there will shortly be a meeting at Oamaru, on which occasion Mr Eich, the well known owner of Bushy Park, has promised to place a deer at the disposal of the Club. Hob-icoxttjbAli Society.—A meeting of the oommittee of the Christehureh Horticultural Society was held last evening. Present —Mr A. Duncan (in the chair), Messrs D. Nairn, C. Kiver, juni, S. Manning, T, Allen, |W. Gimblett, and the secretary. The minutes j were read and confirmed, and several accounts passed for payment. The date of the general meeting was fixed for Tuesday, the 13th proximo, and Meesrs E. C. J. Stevens, G. A. Reade, and the secretary were appointed to draw up the annual report. Wadd_ngtok.—A tea meeting was'held in the Primitive Methodist chapel to raise funds for the building fund and to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the chapel. Tables were provided by several ladies of the district and the sale of tickets had been so large that the visitors had to sit down in relays. The tables having been cleared, Mr Gamble being elected chairman, addresses were given by several Christchurch and Ashburton visitors, the proceedings being varied by Moody and Sankey's hymns, and concluding with prayer about 10 p.m. MtnfioiPAi. ExPHiromrßß.—The comparative returns of last year's expenditure with the estimate of expenditure for the ensuing term were laid on the table of the Counoil last evening. Two days ago a statement was published as to the result of the finance committee's deliberations, but that statement was incorrect, being considerably within the mark of the estimate actually made out. It appears that the estimated expenditure for the year is £30,039 3s 33, as against £21,66- 17s 4d expended last year, which shows an increase of £8374 5s lid. To meet this in a measure the rateß have increased from £8371 5s to £10,202 10s. Thb Dog Tax.—The dog tax since it was taken over by the City. Council, and a ranger appointed, has shown a considerable increase. From Ist January to 31st March 1241 registrations were effected, representing a revenue from that source of £620 10s. The reason of the large increase, which has doubled the income obtained whilst the tax was administered by the police, is no doubt that a responsible person was appointed, whose special duty it is to see that no infringement of the law takes place.

Thb Qovbbnob's MovBMEHTa ih Chtbistc_rrao_t. —Hia Worship the Mayor received the following telegram from tiie Hon. 3. T. Fisher at noon yesterday: —" Dunedin, 29th April. To the Mayor of Christchnrch.—The Governor will be only too happy to accept your invitation to the banquet, if well enough, out is at present suffering from a severe oold and sore throat. J. T. Fisher." Under thege circumstances and considering that his Excellency has declined to attend proposed banquets at Dunedin and Timaru, in all probability the Christchurch banquet will fall through. A ball is being substituted in its stead. The railway authorities have made arrangements by which his Excellency will leave Timaru by special train, arriving in Christchurch at half-past three o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Pbimitivb Methodist Chitboh.—A tea and public meeting was held in the Primitive Methodist Church, Cambridge terrace, last evening, in celebration of the sixth anniversary of the churoh, and services were given in recognition .of the arrival of the new pastor, the Bey. Mr Clover. The tables were laid at half-past six o'clock, when over two hundred sat down, the tables being presided over by ladies of the congregation. After tea, the tables having been cleared, Mr Leadleytook the chair, and addresses were delivered by Mr Delamare (station steward), Bey. Mr White, Bey. Walker, Mr Trumble, and the Bey. Mr Clover. The proceedings were interspersed by vocal selections, rendered by the choir of the church, and terminated with prayer.

Kaiapoi CO.—An ordinary meeting of this club was held at the president's office, on Mondey evening. Present, Messrs Wright, A'Conrt, Bate, Hardy, Thome, and Wilson. The minute to collect a subscription from each member to pay] all the liabilities, was confirmed. A unanimous rote of - thanks was Eused to Mr and Mrs Merrin for their ospitality to the members of the club on Good Friday. The question of the award ofMr Wright's ball and the president's bat was considered, and having taken ths averages, it was decided that the former was won by Mr Merrin, the latter by Mr Wright. A committee fof Mc srs A'Court, Thome, Bate, and Wright, was appointed to obtain a suitable ground to be prepared for next season. It was decided that the final general meeting of this season be held on Monday, May. 26th, at which the bat and ball would be handed to the winners. The meeting then adjourned.

Thb Gaibty.—There waa a capital house at the Gaiety last night, when the panorama of the Russo-Turkiah War waa again exhibited. It will be shown again this evening. Thb lixttbiokists.—The Royal Illusionists concluded their season last night at the Theatre Royal, when there waa a fair attendance. The company appear again this evening at the Port. Kaiapoi Vbstby.— A meeting of the newly-elected parish vestry was held hereon Monday evening, at which it was decided to put the parsonage into a proper state of repair. The question of increasing the seating accommodation of tho Churoh was also fully discrsied.

Thb Governor's Visit. —Yesterday a meeting was held at the Council Chambers, in response to an invitation by his Worship the Mayor, to take steps for the purpose of holding a public ball in honor of his Eicellency's visit to Christchurch. There were present his Worship the Mayor and the following gentlemen—Messrs Stevens, Cunningham, Nathan, Aynsley, Studholme, De Malet, Richardson, Coster, C. E. Brown, Perring, and Dr. Prins. It was resolved that there be a public ball in honor of his Excellency and Lady Robinson's visit, and that it be held in the Oddfellows' Hall on Tuesday, May 6tb, at nine o'clock. Resolved—Thafe the gentlemen present form themselves into a committee, with power to add to their number. The following gentlemen were appointed a working committee —His Worship the Mayor and Messrs De Malet, J. Gould, Perring, and Cunningham. The committee were appointed to act as stewards. It was resolved that the Mayor, in the name of the committee, be requested to wire a formal invitation to hia Excellenoy the GoTernor, Lady Robinson, Miss Robinson, and suite to the publio ball. The committee then adjourned. CAiiiyoßNTAir Mihikg-.—According to the Philadelphia correspondent of "The Times," the yield for 1878 of procious metals on the Pacific slope of the United Slates territory waa ll 1 267,132d01. below 1877. Tha value of gold produced was 38,956,231d01., and of silver 38,7_6,391d01.; ore also yielding 3,452,000d01. Lead raised in Nevada produced 35,181,949de1., being a decrease of 16,398,3-ldol., the Comstock lode producing only 21,295,043d01., against 37,911,7-Odol. in 1877. California produced metal value 18920,461d01. ; Montana, 9,763,6-Odol.; Colorado, 6,232,147d01.; Utah, 6.064,613d01. The total yield for 1879 is estimated at 70,000,000_01. ATTSTBAUAsr Expiobation.—The Colonial Secretary of Western Australia has forwarded to the "Freemantle Herald," the following further particulars respecting the movements of the exploring party to the North-Weat, under the command of Mr A.Forrest:—"Mr Forrest reports, from the DeGrey station, under date 22nd February, the arrival of his party at that place, from whence he w»9 to take hia final departure on the 26bh ultimo. He states the season ia a splendid one, aud that the horses and equipment are in good order."

Thb Doplicatb Cab_b. —The "Sjdney Mail" states that a telegram haa been received from the Secretary of State for the colonies and Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, aakirg for the consent of the New Sonth Wales Government to the duplicate cable, now being manufactured for the Singapore and Port Darwin line, being used for the purpose of connecting Aden with the Cape of Good Hope, the term of eight months specified in the agreement for the completion and laying of the duplicate Australian cable to count from Ist July instead of from the date of the execution of the contract. The

Company consent, if this application be acceded to, to let the reductions on Government and Press messages come into operation immediately. The request of the Imperial Government has been complied with, and the " Mail" hears that a similar request has been made to the Government of Victoria, and has also been complied with. OSTHICH FA-MIKS AT THB CAPB. — The " Mark Lane Express " says :—Oatrich fanning continues to receive a large share of attention throughout Cape Colony, and the weekly •ales have been liberally supplied with feathers. A decline occurred only in November, owing to the fall at home; but during the few succeeding weeks, though prices have ruled very irregularly, they have not suffered to any appreciable extent. Among tha luge quantity offered, the superior classes have been well represented, though the proportion of pluckings from the young birds and the inferior grades of drabs and blacks has been very large. Good whites, as also white tails and the better description of blacks, remain in fairly active demand, and for other classes the competition continues unchanged. Whites vary from £7 10* for inferior, to £40 for prime whites per lb. At Clifford's Camp, a •ale of birds has been held, and twenty to thirty pairs sold at from £70 to £200 a pair. Thirteen chickens brought £123 10s. The export of ostrich feathers during the quarter recently ended, has been £157,779, as against £90,910 in the corresponding period of 1877. West Coast Goldfihuds. —It cannot

(says the "Grey Biver Argus")_ he alleged that even more than a mere tithe of the wastes and forest of this Coast has been prospected. Daily experience proves this. Gold is continually being found on spots — some of them long ago passed over by the diggers, and others quite unsuspected of being auriferous ; but still it remains an undoubted fact that not a single paid prospecting party, however well organised, has ever resulted in anything of advantage. How, and why, this should be we cannot profess to explain; all that we know is that it is the case, that paid prospecting parties havo inevitably been failures. In Victoria a large sum of money was voted a few years ago for prospecting purposes, and parties equipped by Government with the best appliances— boring tools, &o.—were sent out in all directions where gold had not been found, but where its existence was confidently believed in. Not one of these parties effected anything of any value, except of a negative kind, in disproving the high-colored anticipations formed of them. In New Zealand the same fate has followed every paid prospecting party we have ever heard of.

Sebvice of Song.—The service of song which was intended to take place in St. Paul's Church next Thursday is postponed until Thursday, May Bth. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD. -—The. usual meeting of the above Board will be held this afternoon, at the Hospital. DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION. —A meeting of th s association will be held next Thursday evening, in the College Library, and the Bey. J, W. Stack will open a discussion on " How to manage an infant class." •