NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4539, 17 February 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Bathing —It is the intention of the Sydenham Borough Council to erect a dressing shed on the north bank of the Heathcote river, as a convenience to bathers.

Labobnt. — John Bird, alias Threefingered Jack, was taken into custody last evening on a charge of having stolen a quantity of lead, value 10a.

City Water Stjtp_t.—At last night's meeting ef the City Council the surveyor stated that the workmen engaged in sinking the artesian well to the-lower stratum had got through the hard ground, and tbe work was going on well.

Obmbtbbt Bo&bs-—A special meeting of this Board, at which the adjourned bi EinßJs of the annual meeting was disposed of, took place yesterday, at the Provincial Council Chamber.

Mtj-icdpai Loak.—At last night's meeting of the City Council the Town Clerk submitted a copy of the proposed advertisement giving notice of the loan which it is intended to raise for municipal buildings, &3., which was adopted.

Cbickbt.—A match was played on Hagley Park, on Saturday, between the Bingsland and Royel Oak Cricket Clubs, resulting in a victory for the latter by two wickets. The scores were—Bingsland, 40 and 60; Boyal Oak, 39 and 53 for eight wiokets. For the Bingsland, Dalley and Garrard distinguished themselves, and for the Boyal Oak, Mason and Shea played well.

Ba_wa_ Csosbwqs. —A deputation from the Sydenham Borough Council will wait oa the Minister of Public Works during his visit to Christchurch to lay before him the inexpediency of the removal of the railway crossing and gatekeepers, and ask that they may be re-appointed.

Thb Wobxs Committbb.—Matters in the works oommittee of the City Council scarcely seem to bo in harmony. List night the chairman and the members of the committee each emphatically declined to agree with the aotion taken by the committee. This naturally camled some comment.

Thb Fish E_w_-& Ntna_fCß.___e question of the removal of the fish carts from the Al corner has been brought before the sanitary committee by residents in the vicinity. Last night the committee reported that they co_d not take any steps m the matter, owing to the by-law not being in force.

—KTBBTAIK—BHT AT ASHBITSTO - . —A Capital evening's amusement was given at Ashburton on Saturday by the new opera booffe Company. The opening piece was "The Bose of Aavergne," which was _ar_bg}j rendered by Mdlle. Muriell, assisted by Messrs Crothers and Browning, some additional mnaic being introduced. Some scenes from " Maritana", some ballads, and some eccentric sets of Mr F. W. Father, which highly pleased tha audience, followed, and the entertainment was brought to a successful conetnsion w_h "TheSoldier's Beturn," in which Mdlle. Muriel and Messrs Fisher, Browning, and Crothers all won golden opinions. The troupe played at Temuka last Bight, and appear in Timaru to-day.

Stde—ham Bosons- Cotoci— — The Council held their usual meeting last eight, and transacted a considerable amount of business.

Bowlaxd Hu_ Mhhohialu—A requett from the Lord Mayor of London that the inhabitants of Christchurch should contribute towards a memorial to the late Sir Rowland Hill was before tho City Council last night.

Abbbst.—A woman named Minnie Bench, alias Edwards, alia* Thompson, was arrested by Constable Bullen, of Addington, yesterday. She made her escape from Addington gaol on the sth instant.

Thbatbs Rot__—«'The Jealous Wife" and the burlesque of "Mazourka" formed the bill last evening at the Theatre Royal. To-night "The Game of Speculation" will given. A Caotbbb - by Matt at Hour. — The ,: E_t Somerset Telegraph" of December 27tk 1879, has the following paragraph : —" Midsomer Norton. —Seasonable Benevolence.— Mr J. W. Oram, who has recently returned ■from New Zealand (an old Nor to man), has most generously given sums of money to all the poor persons in the town and neighbourhood, through Mr G-. York, relieving officer of the distriot. The recipients number over 300."

ETSSVfB T&MS ON Malvbbw Branch.— At present this train leaves Bolleston about one minute before the South train reiches that station. Consequently any passengers by the latter who wish to go on the branch line have to wait till the next morning. Public convenience would be better consulted it the railway authorities were to allow the Malvern train to be detained till a minute after the South train reaches Bolleston.

Aquatics.—The first of a projected series of annual matches between the Canterbury and Otago Bowing Clubs is arranged to take place on the Heathcote Estuary, on Friday, February 27th, late in the afternoon. The boats will be four-oared outriggers. The Dunedin men will be in Chriatchuroh about Saturday. The Canterbury crew will be -L. M. Ollivier (stroke), J. R. Evans (No. 3), T. Tayler (STo. 2), J. O Jones (bow), C Dixon, coxswain. This crew has been in training for the event since the beginning of the year, and may be seen on tbe Avon most evenings.

Srrnday's Hbat. — Mr J. B. Stansell, Government observer, has favored ua with the, following respecting the unusually hot weather experienced on Sunday :—The barometer at 9 a.m. on the 14th read 30 081, at 9 a.tn. on Sunday 29.489, and at 430 p.m. 29 403. The maximum thermometer in shade on the 15 th reached the great height of 92deg., and the solar radiation thermometer (black bulb) mounted to 1444 eg. The degree of moisture (eaturation=loo) fell to the very low figure of 42. The direction of the wind was N.W. Sunday was the hottest day but one that has been experienced in Canterbury sine* the establishment of the observatory in Christchuroh. The following are the highest temperatures yet recorded :—24th January, 1871, 95.7 Fan. j 12fch January, 1879, 89.0 Fah. } 15th Feb., 1880, 92.0 Fah. Thhuka Ihstittttb.—The regular monthly committee meeting of the Temuka Mechanics' Institute was held in the reading-room. Pregen fc—D,. Hayes (chairman), Messrs Mendelson, McKay, Gray, Mason, Gentlemun, Franks and Elliott. The librarian's report was read and considered. Accounts to the amount of £8 8j 6d were passed for payment. The question of painting the institute and repairing the roof was brought under the notice of the committee. Resolved—"That a sub-committee, consisting of the president, vice-president, and Mr Gray be empowered to have the building painted, the windows frosted, and any necessary repairs effected, provided that the cost does not exceed £16; if it exceeds that amount the sub-oommittee to report to a special meeting called for the purpose of considering the matter. Several resolutions upon minor matters were also passed. The secretary undertook to procure the stationery required by the librarian, also to see after various matters complained of by librarian.

Patbst Thhkshihg Machine.—Messrs George King and Co. have imported a new threshing machine whioh seems likely to be very popular here. It is Robey's patent iron framed threshing machine, whioh is described aa follows: — The frame, constructed of wrought angle iron on a trussed principle, it stronger than any wood frame, and is always perfectly true and rigid. It cannot be strained or twisted in travelling over rough roada, is not like a wood frame, affected by both heat and moisture ; saves expenses in repairs, becauses the brasses wear longer through the drum and other spindles being kept perfeotly true. All the working parts are placed inside tbe frame. The straw, cavings, and chaff are delivered at one end of the machine, and tho clean threshed corn at the opposite end free from all dust and dirt. The drum is fitted with patent grooved beaters and steel spindle. The concave is of epeoial construction of wrought iron, whereby clean aud perfect threshing is secured without injury to the grain. It is provided with indicators, and can be set to the greatest exactness for threshing all kinds of grain. The waaring parts are of the best gun metal, and the remprooating shoes being very carefully balanced,' the friction is rednced to a minimum. All the working parti are easy of access, both for oiling and adjustment. Dbath op an Eablt Settees.—By the sudden death of Mr George Kampieman on Friday last, at Akaroa, New Zealand loses one of her very earliest settlers. Mr Ham pie- ! man was born near Hamburg in 1799, and was consequently in bis eighty-first year. He came to New Zealand on a whaling cruise from Sydnfty in 1835, and finally settled in Peraki in 1836, being the first white resident on Banks' Peninsula. Shortly afterwards he purchased from the Natives a block of land on the Peninsula fifteen miles square for a small cutter and some blankets. This transaction gave rise to the celebrated Hampleman land claims whioh have been before successive Commissioners and Governments up to the present day. In fact, the deceased was preparing to state his claims before tbe Native Commissioners, who are expected to sit shortly in Akaroa. During the latter years of his life he devoted all his energies to the prosecution of his land claims, and was by this means reduced to comparative want. The deceased was a keen and intelligent man, and could tell many a story of bygone days. A rather extraordinary thing was, that he had, through his long intercourse with English speaking people, forgotten his mother tongue —German. In his diary, which was regularly written up for many years after his coming to New Zealand, many interesting accounts occur of the incursions of Bloody Jack aud the Native quarrels. His life in the hands of a competent biographer would form an in teresting page in the early settlement of New Zealand. : *.

Hbathcote F-gatta.—-A meeting will take place to-morrow evening at Cookson's Commercial Hotel, to take into consideration the advisability of holding a regatta on the estuary in March.

Theological Debate.—A public theological debate will take place in the Oddfellows' Hall, ou the evenings of Monday 'and Tuesday, the 23rd and 24th inst.