NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXXV, Issue 4929, 4 June 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Captttbb.—The man John Macmanns, who escaped from the Geraldine look-up, where he had been placed, having stolen a cashbox from the Winchester Hotel, was captured by Constable Rouse, near Rakaia, yesterday. Magibtbatb'b Coitbt, Kaiapoi.—At this Court on Thursday, before Mr Blaekwell, Mayor, J. Rogers was fined ss. P. Lyle 10s works * committee have decided to put the asphalte [channelling forwarded for trial from Ashburton in Cashel street, to replace a part of the wooden kerbing and stone channelling whioh has long been an eyesore in so frejjnanted a thoroughfare. church Hunt Club will meet to-day at Mr Emboli's farm, Avonhead. As the club has been put to great expense in repairing damages done by non-subscribers, all those following the hounds not being members of the Club will have to be introduced by a member or subscriber.

OAHTEEBtmy. Coubsiss Cxub—Entries for the Publicans' Plate and Maiden Puppy Stakes will close on Monday next, at 8 p.m., at the Shades, and tbe draw will take plaoe the same evening. It is probable that the meeting will be held in the Rangiora diatriot. Thb Dbutds.—-The Lyttelton Hearts of Oak Lodge held its usual fortnightly meeting on Thursday evening at the Foresters' Hall, Lyttelton. The attendance of members was large, and considerable business was transacted. Three candidates were initiated by A.D., Bro. Gillies. It is the intention of the members of this lodge to assist the Anohor Lodge, Woolston, at their concert on Thursday, 9th inst. P.A. Bro. Willstead, the newly-appointed D.P. of No. 20 District, was present.

Accident kbab Ashbttbtob. — A man named Olsen Neilson was yesterday driving a two-horse waggon with timber near the Spread Eagle Hotel. While endeavouring to adjust the blinkers on a young horse, it became restive, and by his movements struok a shaft against Neilson, and knocked him down. The horses in their frigafc moved on, a wheel passing over one of Neilson's legs and breaking it. He was conveyed to the Hospital by Mr W. H. Puddicome, who was driving towards Ashburton.

Kowai Cemetebx Boabd. — A speoial meeting was held at the Road Board office, Baloairn, yesterday, to receive tenders for keeping the cemetery in order for three months. Present—Messrs Williams (chairman), Ensor, Coleman, Cameron, Hiatt and McDonald. The chairman stated that all the tenders received being, in his opinion, too high, he had not accepted any. It would be for the Board to consider what should be done. It was decided to appoint a sub-corn-' mittee, consisting of Messrs Hiatt,' Ensor and J. Cameron,, to employ day labor to put the cemetery in order at once, and to call for tenders for maintenance on the completion of that work.

Ajtbeklby Domain Boabd.—A meeting S' ls held at Amberley yesterday. Present— essrs Ensor (chairman), Hiatt, Coleman, McDonald, Cameron, and Williams. The committee reported that two and a-half acres were ready for ploughing. It was suggested to sow a belt of blue gums, and to plant pines on the inside. The chairman was requested to telegraph to Mr W. S.Moorhouse, M.H.R., re sale of reserves 1639, no reply having been received to a previous communication on the subject. Mr A. McDonald handed in his resignation, bnt was prevailed on to defer doing so for tbe present. It was decided to plough a atrip inside the plantation on the reserve as a prevention against fire. Mr Coleman : being requested to get this done. The Board then adjourned. Brans Ohbistiab-s.—The new ohuroh for this denomination, situate at the comer of Lower High street and Wilson street, just opposite the Oaversham Hotel and Jenkins' sawmills, will be opened to-morrow. A prayer meeting will be held at 7 a.m. The Rev. J. Buller will preach in tbe forenoon, Rev. O. Dallaston in the afternoon, and the Rev. J. Crewes in the evening. On Tuesday there will be a publio tea at 6.80 p.m., and as near to 7.30 as practicable there will be a publio meeting, in which the Revs. T. R. Cairns, R. Taylor, E. Baumber, E. O. Perry, J. Wilson, and other gentlemen may be expasted to take part. The Revs. Elmslio, Ward, Williams, and Wilson and Dr. Russel and Mr J. T. Smith have kindly consented to assist in subsequent services, and as the ministers of so many churches have consented to come forward to express Christian sympathy toward the Bible Christian connection on this interesting occasion, and several other publio gentlemen have kindly consented to render help, it is expected that the members of the several ohurohes and temperance societies of the city will be present in large numbers.

Thbatbk Royal.— n The Knight of Arvs," one of the ■ brightest and most entertaining comedies wo have had here for many a day formed the first part of the programme at tbe theatre last night. It is wonderfully constructed, incident following incident so fast that one has hardly time to think. It relates the historical adventures of a knightly son of the Emeraldlsle in Spain, and if the play is to be taken si a guide he certainly must have had the good-people present at bis birth, as certainly good fortune never was showered so liberally upon one individual outside a fairy tale. Miss Watt-Tanner played the Princess excellently throughout. The part is one affording scope for the display of her really excellent dramatic power, and she took full advantage of it Mrs McGowan as the duenna was exceedingly funny, her assumption of stiff Spanish etiquette and dignity being very amusing. Mr Carden played the Knight of Arva with great humor and a thorough appreciation of the part. He was especially good in the soenes with the Princess, and the dosing one in whioh he checkmates all the diplomatists. Mr West had another of those character parts in which he is so excellent, and played it with care and artistic fidelity. Messrs Eliott and Sefton were good in their respective roles, and the comedy wont from first to last most smoothly, eliciting roars of laughter. « Withered Leaves" concluded the programme, and this pretty little sketch was admirably supported by all those engaged in ifc. Miss Leigh sang " Little Maid of Arcadee," and was encored, add Miis'Tanner scored another success in her impersonation of May Rivers. Mr- Carden made a very good Tom Conyers, and in-the hands of Mr O'Brien the part of Arthur Middleton received due justice. Mr Elliott a" always good in his character sketches of tine intoueiant man of fashion, and his Cecil Vane hut night was no exception to the rule. *The piece was very well put on the stage. To-night" The Streets of New York " will be. played, in which Mr Garden appears as Badger, a role far which he has received great praise elsewhere. Miss Maggie Knight will alio give a song and dance," Pretty as a Picture."

Besiiihht Masktbatb's OorrßT.—There mi no criminal business at the above Court yesterday. Fanct Dbbss Bail at Lyttkxton.— The Mayor of Lyttelton gave a fancy drfu ball on Thursday night in the ColoBiets' Hall, without question aa con; an event of the kind ac has taken piece in | Canterbury. The hall itself was tastefully decorated with flags and evergreens, the arrangement; of the "drawing-room" was all that could be wished, and the body of the hall perfect for the occasion. Between 100 and 120 fancy dresses were represented. Light refreshments were supplied in the lower part of the building, and did credit to the caterer. Dancing was kept up to about four o'clock. PT7PD& TbaCHBBS.— AK EXPKBIXKHT.—At the last meeting of the Board of Education, Mr Bowen referred to the difference between the present systems of public education in England and the United States. In the former country, the use and training of pupil teachers were made an essential part, indeed the very backbone of the system j while in the United States they were entirely dispensed with. He readily seconded Mr Fraser's motion, because it provided for giving a thorough and fair trial to the English plan. The resolution is as follows:—" That the inspectors be instructed in the examination of schools, to examine specially and report upon the condition and progress of pupil teaobers, and on the amount of instruction given theft in general education and the methods of teaohing." Gobsb CtJTTBSS.—At the annual monthly meeting of the committee of the Agricultural and Faetoral Association yesterday, Mr Moll wraith drew attention to the great want existing in Canterbury—where there are thousands of miles of gorse fenoes—of a goree cutting machine, with a view to seeing if the Association could, by offering a liberal premium, induce the manufacture of a good one. Some discussion ensued, in the course of which it was argued, that as the invention of a thoroughly good maohine meant a fort use to the lucky inventor, any efforts of the Association would be somewhat super* fluoue. It was mentioned that a well-known engineering firm in Ohristohuroh were engaged upon a machine, of the results to be attained by which they are very sanguine. Ihqttbst—An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at half-past twelve, at the Kingston Hotel, Colombo street, before Dr. Frankiah and a jury, of which Mr F. B. Lloyd was i chosen foreman, touching the death of a child named Mary Jane Trannay, whose mother, a widow, resides in one of Holmes' cottages, * Jersey street, Sydenham. Mary Tranaay, 'mother of the deceased child, deposed that lit; was sitting in front of the fire, fastened in fits chair, on Tuesday afternoon. Wittness went into the yard, and hearing it scream, ran in, and found the chair upset and fallen forward, the little one's head resting against the bars of the grate. She at once caught it up and applied castor oil and lime water to the burns on its temples, and it appeared getting better, but i subsequently relapsed, dying on Wednesday morning. Jessie Halliburton, a neighbor, gave corroborative evidence. Dr. Anderson deposed that death resulted from inflammation of the brain, caused by the accident. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental : death."—An inquest was held by the District I Coroner at the Waltham Hotel, yesterday, on I the body of Shoda McQueen, who was found dead in her bed early on the morn Lag of the 2nd met. Mr F. 0. Bower was foreman of I iho jury. A verdict of " Accidentally suffocated" was the result of the inquiry. I Theatbioal.—Mr J. Smith, the advanceagent of Simonsen's Opera Company, passed through Christchuroh on Wednesday. Mr Smith, daring his stay, endeavoured to negotiate for a week's occupancy by the company of the Theatre Boyal here, but so far as can be learnt, was not successful. It is probable i that the company will proceed to Donedin, where they will open at the Queen's Theatre. Mr Towle produces " The Chimes of Normandy," an opera bouffe which has created J quite a furore at Home*j&_the_ Theatre I Boyal, following the fel'ose of the Garden- ! Leigh season. The oast is a very strong one vocally speaking. Mr Gary is gradually collecting his company for " The Pirates of ' Penzance." Mr J. T. Hydes has been engaged for the Policeman, and it is stated that Signer Oarmini Morby will undertake the principal tenor part. Messrs Baker and Farrot], writing to a gentleman in Christchurch from Detroit, state that their return trip through the States has been a g*eat success, and that they hope shortly to re-viiit Australia. From Mr £}. Lingard, who will be recollected by many here, oomee the information that the panorama of " Zealandia " has been a very great success in England and Scotland, and has aroused a large amount of interest in' New Zealand.

Ahhbicah Faems.-The average value of farm lands in the United States, according to a recent Government report, has increased during the past year 8 per cent. The largest increase is in Florida (28 per cent) and the smallest in another Southern state, Virginia (14 per cant.) The average inorease in the New England states is 8 per cent., whioh is also the rate in Massachusetts. The middle states show about half this advance, the South Atlantic states more, and Southwestern states less, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska—states lying together in the wheat belt—return a round increase averaging 13 per cent.

A Radical Curb fob DmnmansrSßß.— Under the above heading, a Hungarian paper tells the following Russian story:—A workman brought a complaint against four of his fellows that they had given him twenty-five blows with a stick. The accused on being acked for their defence produced an agreement in writing, one olause of whioh expressly stipulated that if one of their number drank tc such an extent as not to be able to attend to his work, the others were to measure out to him twenty-five blows, and that they had merely carried out the agreement. Upon this the Magistrate discharged them, remarking that they were not deserving of blame for what they had done, but rather of praise.

Thb Fousth Estatb ih Makt Labds. —Under the above heading a correspondent sends the "Auokland Star" the following journalistic statistics :—The point nearest the South Pole at whioh newspapers are published is Invercargill, situate at 48deg 25min South latitude. The publications farthest south upon the continent of Africa are at Cape Totra, 34deg 56min South, and those farthest from the equator in South America at San Carlos, Chili, at 41deg 52min. In the island of Ceylon, India, twenty-six newspapers are published, including two dailies (one of whioh has a circulation of 1450 copies per day), eight weeklies, two rt mi- weeklies, ten monthlies, two semi-E>e_thiies, and two quarterlies. In the province of Punjab, India, are twentyseven newspapers, twenty-one of whioh are weeklies, and the remainder monthlies. Tbe interest attached to this fact is increased when we remember that Punjab forms the extreme north-west corner of the Indian empire, and lies adjacent to Afghanistan, the scene of recent exciting rebellion and war. The Empire of Morocco cannot boast of a newspaper of any description. It is literally revelling in the "bliss of ignorance." One paper only is published in Persia—the "Iran of Ispahan," a Government organ. Only a single paper is published in the Republic of Liberia. The " Observer," issued at Monrovia with a circulation of 365, published semimonthly. Iceland supports three newspapers. As far as is ascertained no other newspapers are published so near the Azotic circle as these. Tunis has one publio sheet devoted almost entirely to Governmental announcements, and published, like the Thames " Enoch," when occasion requires j or " sufficient inducement offers." In Algiers are published twenty newspapers. At Throndhjem (Dron theim), Norway, three daily journals. In South America, the Republic of Chili "runs" seventy-five newspapers. But New Zealand bears the palm for having attained, par excellence, the most flourishing civilisation in a _ ourn-listio point of view. Her catalogued publications are—collectively—unprecedentedly large (over 140 in all) able, progressive and high-toned, of which colonists may be justly proud. Thh Chctbsb Qirßsxioa". —The influx of Chinese is creating a stir at Riverton. A special meeting of the Borough Council was recently held, at which the Mayor is reported to have stated that "one of the principal reasons that induced him to convene the meeting was to consider the Chinese question. When the census was taken a month ago it was found that there were eighty-six JObinamen returned as occupying a certain building, and the smell that wm emitted therefrom was so noxious that people were compelled to give the premises a wide berth, and travel on the other side of the street." He thought that if they commenced an agitation against the Chinese, other towns would take the matter up, and by combined action some check might be put upon the evil. It wa s agreed to call together a public meeting on the question.

A Chdtbbe Entbbpbisb.—There is talk (the "Cromwell Argus" says) of a strong company of Chinese having combined to carry out a 'gigantic mining operation, being no less ths|L bringing the water Of the Nevis River to.dsewdie on the:aliuri»ldeposits of the Bsjtiwpibiife Thejanderti&ng will cost a lot of nM.neyAi|s th*. labor and outlay of capital must necessarily bei very great ;sb&t if tbe scheme should be carried ocnibid authorities say ifcls praot^sable—the exteWof auriferous ground the water would command is very wide and all carrying gold in more or less payable quantities. If there is any truth in the rumour, we much regret that Chinese are the movers, as it will result in the district being inundated by Mongolian laborers.

Spotfobth ab ak Athxhte.—Spoffortb is not only a good cricketer, but is alio a firstrate short distance runner. At the last Sydney Amateur Athletic meeting the event of greatest interest was the 100 yards flat race, whioh resulted in a dead heat between Spoffortb. and Rush. As Spoffortb. got away with the lead and Rush gained upon him considerably during the last twenty yards, it wag thought that in the run off Rush would easily dispose of the " demon," but Spofforth again got away at the start and succeeded in putting in the first fifty a gap of at least two yards between himßolf and his opponent, which he kept till the finish, winning easily in lOfsee. The most jubilant at SpoSorth's victory were Messrs Murdoch and Bonner. The Australian captain says he is ib a position to matoh Spofforth against any amateur in the colonies for a stake bet of £100.

Thb Latb Pibbbb Bonaparte.—Prince Pierre Bonaparte, who died recently at Versailles of gout, which had ascended to bis heart, was born at Rome in 1815, and was tbe third eon of Lucien Bonaparte. He early in life adopted the profession of arms, and first served in South America. On returning to Italy he made himself disagreeable to the Pope, who in 1836 had him seized and confined for a long time in the Castle of St. Angelo. On regaining his liberty he wandered in America and in Europe, and in 1843 came to France, where, in consideration of his father's Republican opinions, he obtained the grade of ckefde batallien. Elected by Corsica to the Constituent Assembly, he voted with tho Extreme Left. After tho coup d'etat he retired into privacy with the title of Prince and Highness. On tbe fall of the Empire he sold his estate in the Ardennes, and went to Belgium. He. afterwards visited London, where bis wife opened a dressmaker's shop, whioh failed. The couple then separated mutually, and the Prince finally settled down alone in tho hotel where he expired. Thb Bbitish Objtsttb.—lt is exactly eighty years (says the "Home News") since the first census of Great Britain was token. Not till ten years after was a similar reokoning attempted in Ireland, and then only with very unsatisfactory results. Yet the census is no modern invention. The office in Craig's Court, whioh, on April 4th, was tho very lifefocus and heart-centre of our great Empire, had its prototype in the Villa Publics, the building in tbe Field of Man, wherein the Roman Censor more than two thousand years ago anticipated the funotion of the English Registrar-General. The post, however, is easier and less complex under Queen Victoria than it was under the Ccasars. It was a startling disclosure of the last census that the United Kingdom contained about nine hundred thousand more women than men, and philosophical statisticians are no doubt impatient to learn whether nature has in tbe interim adjusted tho balance or enlarged the very remarkable disproportion.

Laws fob Biciolbs.—A Home paper says:—A code of by-laws has been adopted by the general watch committee of the Salford Corporation, and was to be passed under I tbe common seal of the Council at its meeting |on Wednesday, February 9th. They have received the approval of the Local Government Board. The by-laws direct that no bicyole shall be ridden on any footway $ that every bicyclist shall between sunset and sunrise carry a lamp, which shall be so lighted and kept lighted as to afford adequate means of signalling bis approach; that every bicyclist overtaking a cart cr carriage, &c, shall give sufficient warning of his approaoh, by sounding a bell or whistle, and that in passing such cart, carriage, &o„ the ordinary rule of the road as to wheeled vehicles shall apply. In the event of any horse or other animal becoming restive or alarmed on the approaoh of a bicyole, the bicyclist is directed to dismount until all danger is past. For every breach of these by-laws the offenders will, be liable to a penalty not exceeding £5, at the discretion of the justices, who, however, have power to remit. Thb Socialists ab» ihh Cbowk Pars- - CSBB.—It is stated that the Crown Princess of Germany received by post an anonymous letter declaring that hor illustrious husband, the Crown Prince, wonld fall a victim to a sentence of the Nihilists at the funeral of the murdered Czar. Maroh 27th being the second anniversary of the death of her third son, Prince Waldemar, Her Highness, accompanied by her ohildren, with Princess Christian and Princess William, went out to Potsdam to attend divine service in the Friedenskirehe, where the deceased Prince is buried, and returned in the evening to hear, of course, that the anonymous and discomposing prophecy had been falsified. The missive in question is as likely as not to have been eonoooted in a spirit of cruel levity; yet, pending the search for its unprincipled author, it will doubtless form the subject of comment in the Imperial Parliament, when the memorial on the Socialist law comes on for discussion. Meanwhile, it is persistently stated that the Governments of Russia ana Germany are seriously bent on bringing to tho notice of the European Powers the perilous spread of revolutionary principles, and intend proposing some common and international means of combating the growing evil."— " European Mail." Thb Panama Canal,—A private letter from Colon, dated the Bth of March, just received at Liverpool, makes the following reference to the present position of M. de Lesseps's canal aoross tbe Isthmus of Panama:— "There are in the field to-day 73 civil engineers, clerks, &c. They are engaged in making a 'complementary sumy '—that is, verifying last years survey and in endeavoring to make rit better. They have 400 laborers and will j take 800 more. They have divided the distance into four-mile surveying camps, and apparently are thorougly organised. Their great obstacle is the Chagres River. They propose to do away with it entirely by building a dam at a point where, at and between Mount Gamboa and another, it strikes the proposed line of the canal. This dam will be a most stupendous affair, perhaps the largest ever built, if, indeed, they succeed in building it. They have already sunk a shaft 100 ft. deep at the point where they propose, to build the dam and have not found bed rook, which they must do before the dam is commenced. This fact is giving them great anxiety. The dimensions of the proposed dam are—length, 1800 yards; height, SO yards; thickness at bottom, 1050 yards; and thickness at top, 260 yards. By building this dam they will (or tney propose to) create a lake capable of holding 1000 million tons of water, which will have an overflow to the Pacific Their present estimate is this —canal to be completed in six years, working 8000 men. The canal can be made at this point—viz., Colon to Panama—and will be, if it is built anywhere in this region, for the Nicaraguan route is not practicable. But whoever builds it must have money. This M. de Lesseps has not; he hat only promises and diplomacy." Habxwood Road Steam Thbishing Comtant.—The annual meeting of this company will be held at the White Hart Hotel at 1 p.m. to-day.