NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4637, 11 June 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Ashzbt Conner Finro.—The last amount available for distribution among the Koad Boards of this County mi £691 13s 10d, which, has now been distributed.

Etbb Bbidgb.—-At the last meeting of the Eyreton Road Board, six tenders were opened for the work of re-erecting this bridge in two spans, which was destroyed by a recent flood, and the tender of Mr G. Ware, to do the work for £247, was accepted. Municipal Emotion.—The election for the vacant seat in the North-east ward of the city took place yesterday, and resulted in the return of Mr H. Thomson by a majority of 182, the numbers being—Thomson 423, Morton 241. Lahd Sootktt. —At a meeting held at the Golden Age Hotel yesterday evening, Mr G. G. Davidson was elected to proceed to TaranaM to represent the interests of the members of the Co-operative Land Society at the sale at Hawera. A Cow Deowkbd nr a Wart.—A cow belonging to Mrs Gordon, at Kyle, fell down a well seventy feet deep on Tuesday. A men was let down the well and fastened a rope round the cow's head, and with great difficulty the animal, which was quite dead, was drawn out The lose of her cow will be severely felt by Mrs Gordon, who is the widow of the man who perished in the snow on bis way home from Ashburton last winter. Ifc has been anaseed to give a concert for her benefit on the 18th iuet.

Dbpabting Pbofbssiohxls.—By th« Te Anau ye«terdaj the ITrolique Company and Madame Uno'e concert party were passengers. The former proceed to Wellington, where they open to-morrow night; and the latter join the Australia at Auckland for San Francisco, en route for England. A Quick Bfh Home.—-The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited) have received a cablegram announcing the arrival home of their splendid dipper ship Otaki, from Fort Chalmers, after a fine passage of seventy days. This i> the second tune this ship has demonstrated her fast-sailing capabilities. In 1877 she made the quiokest passage on record from this colony. On that occasion the trip oooupied sixty-three days from land to land, or sixty-nine days from Port Chalmers. The Otaki is sister ship to tho Orari, now loading at Lyttelton. Takbk Oabh ot.—On Thursday an elderly passenger presented himself at the Eaiapoi railway station for conveyance by the train, but being the worse for drink was refused a passage. He subsequently complained of the loss of a considerable sum of money, which he had received as change out of a cheque, being only able to find a very small proportion in his pockets. The police were informed of the matter, and on searching him two five-pound notes were discovered, making the amount of change received by him from the cheque correot. As the police thought him unfit to take care of his money, they wisely took him to the look-up till h<3 regained his sober senees. Thh Tbahway. — The traffic on the northern branch of the street tramway has so far exceeded the expectations of the company, although it was anticipated that the train would command a large share of patronage in this direction, extending as it does to a large and populated suburban district. Over 2000 people travelled to and from St. Albans on Saturday and Monday last, and it may naturally be expected that the tramway will be much more largely patronised when it reaches Papanui. In the meantime the Manchester street section is nearly completed, and will soon be connected 1 with the terminus junotion in Cathedral square. Bbsedbxt Magistrates' Coitbt.—lt is understood that Mr Mellish is still seriously unwell. Much inconvenience is occasioned by his absence from the Bench. The police business has been, fortunately, only of a trifling nature, but a considerable number of civil oases, some of importance, stand over from last week, and are Being added to daily. For the same reason the usual meeting of the Licensing Commissioners has been postponed for some time beyond its due date. Considering the circumstances there can be little doubt as to the cause of His Worship's illness, and the only wonder is that others, condemned to transact business in the present court-house do not suffer. It is open to the winds, and at this season has the temperature of a deep well.

Sefton , .—A meeting of the residents of this district was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday night, to consider what action should be taken in reference to the proposed property tax. Mr Vaughan was voted to the chair, and stated the object for which the meeting was convened. Mr Vaughan thought that all goods and personal property should be exempt, and that land and buildings only should be assessed. He also thought that an income tax would fit the shoulders of all those who would otherwise escape taxation. Mr J. Barclay agreed with the proposals in the property tax as now altered, and many to whom he had spoken were also of the same opinion. He would move the following resolution :—" That this meeting endorsee the action of the Government re the property tax ac it stands at present." A considerable discussion followed the resolution, which was eventually carried by a majority of one. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.

Landlords and Tbhaots.—Dorirg the late sickly season a certain street in the northern part of the town was particularly unfortunate in the number of deaths that occurred within it. One of the deaths happened to be natural result of old age, and a portion of the alarming mortality referred to was not traceable to any speoial defects from a sanitary point of view in the neighborhood. Nevertheless a panic took place among the residents, and one family, who had only occupied a house for a short time, suddenly left for another portion of the town. Since then the house—a large one—has been vacant, the reason being that the landlord will not let it on the ground that the last tenant had leased it for a term, and is liable to pay the rent until the term expires. The tenant perhaps, it is needless to say, holds a different view of the case, and it is probable that there will be an appeal to law to settle their difference of opinion. Another inoident in connection with this small panic has a humorous side to it. Aβ old couple who had lived in the street for some considerable time, in "peace and comfort," became infeoted with "" the alarm, and hastily beat up other quarters. One of them was about seventy years of age, and the other had nearly approached the allotted term of human existence. This would seem to support the old saw that as age advanoes life grows dearer. There have been no deaths in that street since.

Thb Bankbtotcy Law.—-The following telegram, from the Hon. J. N. Wilson and Mr W. D. Stewart, Chairmen of the Committees of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, re Bankruptcy Laws, has been received by the President of the Chamber of Commerce, and handed to us for publication:—"Committees have been appointed by the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives respectively, to consider and report what amendments if any should be made in colony. The committee invite you to forward euoh suggestions for their consideration as you think desirable, and would be glad to have your opinion on the following questions:—(lst.) On whose application a debtor should be made bankrupt. (2nd.) By whom the bankrupt's estate should be administered. (3rd.) The circumstances whioh should disentitle a bankrupt to bis discharge. (4th.) Whether any, and if so, what alterations should be made m law relating to bills of sale. (sth.) Whether the right of distress for warrants should not be modified. (6th.) By whom a bankrupt shall be prosecuted, and whether any fund ought to be created out of whioh the costs should be paid. (7th.) What claim should be treated as preferential. (Bth.) Whether the present mode of arrangement by deeds, should be continued. (9th.) Whether every debtor should not obtain his discharge after open hearing in Court. Your reply within the next ten days would oblige." Concert.—The concert given last night by the Misses A. S. and L. Taylor resulted in a full house. The programme, whioh was a very well seleoted one, went excellently throughout. Miss A. S. Taylor contributed two vocal soloa in the first part, one being a recitative and aria from "Le Nozze di Figaro," and the other a song by Macfarren, " Pack Clouds Away," with violin obligato. The two most enjoyable numbers were decidedly Miss L. Taylor's concertina duets, oce being"a connerto in D major by Bosen, and the other an arrangement of airs from " Le Domino Noir," "Masaniello," and "Fra Diavolo," the latter especially was excellently played. Mrs W. P. Townend sang " Shall I Wear a White Rose," by Farmer, and "The Raft," byPinsuti. Both were very artistically rendered, but the latter afforded more eoope than the former for the fine contralto notes which this lady possesses. A duet by Kucken, "Now the Gales," was nicely rendered by Mils A. S. Taylor and Mrs Palairet, as also was a trio by Daohemin, •ang by Mesdamea Deeborongh and Palairet and Mr Palairet. Mr Appleby sang " Olivia " and a ballad by Schumann, "The Lotus Flower," but he was not in such good voice as we have, heard him. Tbe choral trio for ladies' voices which opened the programme went nicely, but in the glees, "Lovely Night" and "The Image of the Rose," the voices scarcely blended harmoniously. The two last glees on the programme, " Evening "and "To-night" were very well ren« dered. Mr J. Coombs played a duet for violin and piano with Mr Landergan with much success. There was a fulness and roundness of tone in his rendering of tome of the variations which stamped the performance as a most artistic one. Roeckel'e cantata of " The Sea Maidens," the various numbers in which were well sung, closed a very enjoyable concert. Mr IT. G. Barnett directed the glees, and Mr Landergan played the various accompaniments with hie usual ikilL .

FBturnvß Methodists.—The members of this society have decided to hold Divine service in the Kaiapoi Institute on Sundays, the Bey. J. Clover being expected to preach the opening sermons.

Kaiapoi Bobotjgh Cotoch..—Notice ie given of an eleotion on June 24th to fill two extraordinary vacancies in this Cooncil. Candidates to be nominated before noon on Jane 18th.

Diocesan Sunday School Association. —The centenary of the establishment of Sunday schools will be observed under the auspices of this association during this month and next. There will be commemoration services at Bt. Luke's on Jane 29th; a conversazione at St. John's schoolroom, on July Ist; and a conference of clergy and Sunday school teachers at St. Michael's schoolroom, on July sth. The programme will be found in another oolumn.

Chbistchubch Harmonic Society.—The third concert in connection with this society will take place at the Oddfellows' Hall on Tueaday evening next. OXFOBD AND SHEFFIELD EatLWAT.—In compliance with a requisition, the chairman of the Oxford Boad Board has called a public meeting for Tuesday, June 15th, at the Boad Board office, to consider the desirability of petitioning the Government to proceed with the railway work between Oxford and Sheffield; also to consider the sparrow nuisance. Football.—A match will be played on Cranmer square to-day at 2.45 p.m., between the Normal School and East Christchurch. The following will represent the former:—R. Bowman, W. Bowman, J. Boss, A. Wagner, J. Homer, A. Gapes, W. Heywood, F. "Wilkinson, T. Blanohard, F. Mills, J. Moir, F. Brown, Jas. Bailey (captain), C. Stewart, B. Edwards: emergencies, G. Homer, W. Seay, and T. Prosser.

Acknowledgement.—The master of the Bornham Industrial School desires to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of one bag of onions from W. C, two bags of carrots from T. W., one bag of cabbage from a friend, and six roots of rhubarb from a working man, also iilO from a late Canterbury resident, residing in Otago, towards the harmonium f and.