NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4292, 2 May 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

GBAVr_.G Dock.—lt has been decided to call for ..tend?rs. for the construction of the gravitig dock' at in Australia &»' well as in New Zealand.'' •'* x -*'

Australian Mirr v At FrovdJbnt Sooibty. —We have; wceived a copy of the annual balance-sheet of the above society, just issued. -,- v ,yy,",.,...,..,. Kaiaeoi Bobou c.h Cotrjroii .— no nominations received oh Thursday, for the vacancy in this Counoil, and a. new eleotior* will be held. - "■•• ' ' • , ■

SQABCirs: ob TBUCKa.-rA letter was read yesterday," at the meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, from the Minister of Public Works, declining further correspondence on the matter of the scajcity of trucks. ' PrnxosoPHrcAt ItrBTiTTiTB.—At a meeting of the ■ members of "the. Philosophical. Institute, held last ; evening, Mr N.E. Cherrill was appointed secretary to the Institute, in place of Mr J. S. Guthrie, resigned. Addbbsb to t__b GovKßiroß.—The address to Sir Hercules Bobinson, to be presented on his .arrival inyChrißtchurch. next .Saturday, was prepared yesterday, attd ? -'of copy forwarded to His Excellency according to custom in such cases. .-_ , - ..,,... ...,_-. , r Lxttekeo_. Habbob ' __oa__x>.—The' usual fortnightly meeting of tbe Board was held yesterday in the new offices,.. South British Insurance Company's buildings, Hereford street. A considerable; amount of bu_ineg_ was disposed of. ..' t ""•■'•"" GaAtn. National evening was the time appointed for the weights to be declared for the Grand National Handicap'- but for Borne reason they did not appear.- ::"'.'. Thb •■ Girßry.— The panorama oi the Busso-Turkish War was well attended last evening. To-night, a prize will be given for the best.and worst conundrums, and tomorrow there will be an afternoon performance. ~y

Boabd d? Educatioh. — The ordinary meeting of the Board. of Education was held yesterday afternoon, when a good deal of business was transacted, the Board not adjourning until half-past six o'clock. ' •■• ** * Cb__EHi_)Gß_S_-BCTioir« —A requisition is in course, of signature requestiiig Mr E. G-. .Wright tocome forward for this constituency, and it is stated that there is little doubt that he will consent to Stand. It is'now reported that Mr John Grigg will not come forward. Ashbubtoh Bbancu- Baixtvay.—-His" Ex-cellency■-the" Governor has-notified to the Ashburton County Counoil his willingness to turn- the first sod of the Ashburton branch T___tway.y The -ceremony will take place at Tinwald to-morrow on the arrival of; the Governor by the special train. Diocksah Sukdat School Association. —'A meeting of the association was held "last | evening in the College library, when an in- [ teresting paper on the advantages of Sunday Schools-was read by the Bey. Mr 'Stack. The next ordinary meeting of the association; will he held on thel4th inst,, in St. John's School-room, when a model le_Bon will be given by Mr J. H. Twentjman, The annual meeting of the .association will take place during the month. - . ~'./. The <L_-T_XEKj_r T_S__sea?h Onioil.— Yesterday morning thf Telegraph Department at Lyttelton occupied the room lately fitted up for the purpose oh the ground floor in .he Government buildings. It is to be used for receiving message., and is fitted with counters, divisions, and an elevator, through which the telegrams are sent to the operating room upstairs. The change will no doubt be appreciated hy the public, who heretofore had] to climb up to the second floor to do their - business. ."."••'_. y..__ ] Toi_*wrßißßS.—A'. company parade of the \ Chrißtchurch City €ruards took place last night inths yDrill Shed. OnSaturday the company wfll muster in the Drill Shed at half-past.2 pari.,-and under the command of Captain Hawkes, accompanied by the infantry; band, will maroh thence to the railway station, '■■ and serve as a guard of honor to his Excel; ' lency Uie Governor on his arrival. .

' CtoMPLIMHHTABY DnnfES ASC TbMTTXA. — i A-reiy pleasant re-union-took place in the Crown Hotel, Temnka, iOn Tuesday t night.; The officers and members'of the Temuka No. 1 Company intited Color-Sergeant Coira fafa dinner on• the occasion of his leafing the' place for England. The chair was occupied by Captain Young, and the vice-chair by_ XientenantJ-idlay. A complimentary address' from the corps to ,£he guest of the evening was presented by Captain Young and suitably acknowledged. - A number of toast* were drily honored, and ssTeral excellent songs gn*en, ■'

Sydsbt Exhibitioh. —At the usual meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday it was resolved to hare a model of the Ljttelton Harbor works executed, at a cost not exceeding £50, and to exhibit the same at Sydney during the proposed Exhibition. Thb " at Sotrr_rßßii>e_f.—^ The Commissioners appointed to make an enquiry into the alleged system of cobbing prevailing at Southbridge, brought up their report at tbe meeting of the Board of Education yesterday. It will be found in detail in the repori o£ the proceedings. A motion, aeverely oen■uring tbe schoolmaster, was passed, and any teacher who may in future allow suchya system to prevail, will be instantly dismissed. Thb Mbi.bott_inb Exhibition. —A teleg - am received yet tsrdaygives a slightly differ* nt complexion from "Wednesday _ telegram on the same subject, re the Prince of Wales' remarks to Mr Berry respecting bis visit to Australia. It now appears that, although the Prince will not be able to be present at the: opening of the Melbourne Exhibition, he may "perhaps visit it later on. Yesterday's telegram led to the belief that he would not be able to be present at the Exhibition at all. ' :.■ -. •,• - ;y • • y VlCTOBIA"FlBB AITD MABIWB IH-ÜBASTCB j Compahi.—Some misapprehension appears to have arisen respecting the announcement in the newspapers as to closing up the old company. It may, therefore, be explained that it is intended simply to re-construct the j company by winding up the old one, thus enabling the directors to issue shares in New , Zealand or elsewhere, and so to place themselves upan an equal footing with local institutions. - The new company will possess the whole of the very extensive and profitable business of the old company, and there is no doubt the shares will be eagerly sought after. No alteration, it is-Bsid, will be made in the present staff of clerks and agents. Thb Deaf aud Dumb.—The question of the deaf and dumb was yesterday incidentally brought before the Board of Education, and -reference made to the correspondence lately printed on the subject. Tbe Chairman stated that it was a matter witb which the Board could not officially interfere, but after _some conversation of a desultory nature, it was decided that, individually, certain members of the Board should take steps, to call a preliminary meeting of the .public ou the subject. KBTiBn.9 Aixowaitcbs.—The question of rehiring allowances yesterday again came before the North Canterbury .Board of Edu,. cation, and a communication was read- from the Government stating that it was under consideration with the Government Insurance Department to establish a . teachers' and ,wiapwß and orphans pension fund. As, however, the letter of the Government did not contain a definite reply to certain questions put by the Board, it was resolved again to communicate with the Minister of Education on the.aubject.-FosßSTav.—-A meeting of the Entertainment Committee of the Widows' and Orphans' -E'aiid was held in the Foresters' Hall last night; all members of committee present. It was decided that the entertainment take place place during the winter, and the following pieces were selected, subject to alteration if necessary :—>•* Seven Clerks of ClerkenWell,'' and "Mrs Green's Snug• Little Business." The secretary was directed to write to the several ladies and gentlemen who have kindly assisted the fund on former occasions. Bro. T. J. Davis was elected treasurer to the Entertainment Committee. The members of the W. & O. Fund signified their intention to take part in the procession on Saturday, y TbitrmphaXi Abohbs.—There.are to be two triumphal arches on the occasion of his Excellency's visit. The first is to be opposite the Hallway station/ the eeoond and the principal one opposite the Cathedral in the square." The latter is in course of construction, and iwfcen completed will present rather an Jmv iposing appeajance. "The arch is to be of the' , Gothic stjle. The summit, or upper portion, constituting the arch proper, is being made in the Corporation yards, and a number of men were: employed yesterdair erecting the up. right supports on either side of the Btreet running past the Cathedral. As usual insuch ; cases, there will be two-side arches on either side of the central arch, and it is intended that the entire structure shall be arranged after the most-approved style. -' ' Zeaiahdia.—The exhibition of. Messrs < WilKs SeynibiurV; panorama .of NeW j Zealand,""at "the""OddfeDoirs' Hall, last j evening, be again ' exhibited this evening.*' ** The proprietors had | intended to give a matinee performance tomorrow, but they have now determined to '■ postpone it, in order that it may not clash I with 'the' arrival of the Goferilbr._.'They ' intend to place the HaL afc the disposal of his Worship the Mayor and the reception committee, : for the children to rehearse ; the national anthem therein, which will be a great convenience, as there, is no.other building available in which this could be done.

Gbain, at Stations.—On Wednesday; last there -had {accumulated at the various stations along the Christchurch section of the railway, 25,370 bags of grain, made up as follows V—Ashburton, 150; Ashley, 82 j JJealey's road,, 341; Burnham, 44; Cave, 2018 y Chertsey, 524; Dunsandel, 288; ElleSmere,* 133 ; Hinds, 100; HorndOn Junction, 350 ; Kaiapoi, 700; Leeston, 322; Lincoln, 362; Makikihi, 8359; Orari, 3527; Otaia, 2320; Oxford East, 99 ; Oxford West, 99; Pleasant Point, {1121,; Rakaia, 1129 j Rangiora, 7; Bangitata South, 659; St. Andrew, 321 ; Sef ton, 68; Sheffield; 597 ; Styx, 110; Templeton, ■125; 963 ; Tinwald, 45 ; Waihoa, 479; .Waimatejl322; Waimate Junction, 1827; Seadown, 3240 j Winchester, 1266; Winslow, 172. 1

Haefbb S-bbet Sunday School -—An entertainment in connection with this Sunday school was held on Wednesday evening, in the Colombo street schoolroom, which was crowded on the occasion. The entertainment was given in aid of the building, fund of Jthe Harper street Wealeyan Sunday school. The Rev. Mr Smalley waa in the chair, and introduced Mr E. W* Seager to the audience. That gentleman then proceeded to shoy ;a series of dissolving views from a very powerful lantern with a very strong h'ght. The views Bhown comprised English and Continental scenery, some very fine views of statuary, and a number of comic scenes, the latter of a decidedly superior, novel, and laughable character. It is expected that the result of the entertainment will be a contribution of £10 towards the object in aid of which it was given.

Abchebt. —The archery season will terminate to-morrow. The shooting for prizes will commence at 215 p.m. Annual IfIfENBiNG Meeting -•"■All applications for publicans' licenses v. ust be lodged On or before Tuesday; May 13th. ; The P_bi_cc Demonstration.—The members of the Court Star of Canterbury are requested to meet in the Foresters' Hall on Saturday, at 2.30 p.m., to join in the demonstration to, welcome his Excellency the Governor to Christchurch. ■'■ '"') Eail-svat, ABBANaEHENjs.—The puWic are reminded tbat no one will be admitted on 'to the railway station platform oh Saturday to yntness the arrival of the Governor without having obtained a ticket of admission from the Major.

H.A.C.B. members. of the Christchnrch branch of this -'are requested. t6 _mai*a_al at their lodge room tomorrow at 2 30 p.m., to take part in the procession to welcome his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson tot Canterbury.