NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5081, 20 December 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Crrx Cottxcil.—This body held an ordi- i nary meeting last evening, and transacted some unimportant business, particulars of which will be found in another column. Ihtbboolohial Wkatheb Exohangb.— Sydney, Saturday—There is a moderate depression off Qabo,withnorth-easterly winds in Tasmania, and light S.W. winds in Victoria. Barometer—Portland, 29 6 ; Hobart and Sydney, 29.7. Fowx Stbaliko. —Just'before dawn yesterday morning the Bey. A. W. Hands, of St. Stephen's Church, Ashburton,'was aroused by footsteps round his house. Getting up to observe, he watohed a man coolly killing fowls and popping them one by one in a bag. A serving man, who went out to remonstrate, was knocked down, and the local police are investigating the identity of the delinquent who developed so decided a taste for Anglican fowls. Thb Ebobnt Earthqtjakh.—The city surveyor, in a report submitted to the City Council last night, described the results of his examination of several publio and other buildings, which£he inspeoted with a view to ascertain whether or not any damage had been inflicted by the recent earthquake. The Teport, which appears in another column, along with the other proceedings of the Council, doea not show that any serious damage was sustained from the vagaries of our late visitor. Miss Ada Lbstbb.—Ohriatchurch _ playgoers will notice with regret aa item in our Australian news this morning. We refer to the death of Miss Ada Lester, who it appears waa lost in the steamer Clan Macduff a short time since. Miss Lester appeared here in company with Mr Wybert Beeve, and was known as a charming and talented actress. Her untimely end will be regretted by her many admirers, by whom she will be remembered as one of the brightest ornaments of the colonial atage. . Tbial of Bba?bb ahd Biwdbb..—-Yester-.day, at Mr Andrew Dawson's farm, Wakanui, some four miles from Ashburton, experiments were made with one of Walter A. Wood's reapers and binders on a light field of oats. Mr Shand, of Wood, Shand, and Co., the Christohurch agent, was present, also Mr Ferriman, of Poyntz and Co., Ashburton, agents. One or two stoppages occurred, but onoe the gear waa got in proper order the machine gave every satisfaction. The ground was very rough, but the expressed satisfaction of the farmers present may be taken as an index of the excellent nature of the work done. Egebss pbom Placbs op Amusbhbht.—Thia subject came under the consideration of the City Council last night, and it was decided that the Mayor elect, accompanied by the City Surveyor and the Fire Inapeotor, should visit the Theatre Boyal and and other, publio places of amusement and report whether any alterations are necessary in the means of egress at such places. The Council having taken thia matter in hand, it is to be . hoped they will not be satisfied until steps have been taken to effectually provide against the possibility of any suoh catastrophe occurring here as that which reoently happened at Vienna. . . * .. hWasxos i)BSi»uciibH.r--For aome tone" past certain frequenters of the reading. room at- the Publio Library have been behaving badly, .very badly. In the room referred to - files of paper are placed for the convenience of readers, and are not to be out or disfigured. But it is a cause of frequent complaint that whole artioles are cut. out, and yesterday, out of pure wantonness, some of the. files were ao slashed with a knife or other sharp instrument aa to hang in ribbons, whilst in one ! instance the wooden clip holding the papers was taken away. The use of thia reading room ia allowed without espionage, and for that reason greater care of property should be voluntarily ahownby all frequenting it Biblb Chbistiah Sabbath School.—The aoholars of the Christchurch school of the above denomination, with their teachers and several other friends, met at the church, , Lower High atreefc, on Friday, the 16th inst., at about nine o'clock a.m. Soon after thia time they proceeded in several express vans 1 and a few private conveyances to the reaii dence of Mr and Mrs Nioolla and family, of ; Maryfield farm, where a delightful pionio waa thoroughly enjoyed. The weather was charming, the large grass paddocks afforded ample space for the several games that were indulged ■ In, and Mr and Mrs Nioolla heartily did all in , their power to promote the happiness of their . visitors. Bunning, swinging, and orioket, with several other games, were heartily entered ' into by moat of the company. The cricket match was between the juniors and the i seniors of the party, but although a few of the seniors showed that they understood the game, the juniors beat their opponents by a great many runs. At about seven o'clock p.m. the company prepared to leave for home. The Bey. J. Orewes moved a hearty vote of thanks , to Mr and Mrs Nioolla, who had not'only t granted the use of their paddocks and worked hard in ministering to the party, but had 1 gratuitously provided all the milk, butter, ' cream, and hams, for luncheon and tea. The : resolution was very unanimously and heartily accorded, and the company returned to the city, having enjoyed one of tbe beat picnics yet provided in connection with the school. 1 Although the sohool is yet rather small the ; number of aoholars ia nearly twice that of last year. Magistrates' Coubt, Kaiapoi.—At this Court on Monday, before 0. Whitefoord, ' Esq., 8.M., W. Moody admitted having ' oreated a breach of the peace on polling day. He said that he struck a man with hit whip i for throwing flour, but finding afterwards he had picked the wrong man he had apologised. The Magistrate, in inflicting a fine of 20s. 1 hoped that aome of the persons who threw ■ flour on inch occasions would be arrested ao I that he might make an example of them.— G. j Latto, charged with making use of profane language in a publio place was fined 20s.—H. * Council vH. Hopa, £15 4s; jadgment for * plaintiff. J. Jones v B. Paokwood, £1; j judgment for plaintiff. XL McLacolan v I B. Wilson, £713 a; same vW. Pinohing, £4 } 18s 6d ; same v 3. Forrest, £2 19s 3d; same v J. Bice, 19s 6d; same v Eokeretey and " Maofarlane, £2 14a; same v E. Pambam, £7 la; same vE. Hicks, £13, tendered £65i. ' In these eases defendants were prepared to I show that their respective amounts had been paid to a man whom plaintiff represented as bis | agent. On plaintiff's application for adjournf ment for the attendance of hia solicitor, ousts, [ 5s each, was allowed to each defendant. Si. Patkicx'b Catholic Citjhch, | Kaiapoi.—Thia church ia now nearly finished. Mass ia expeoted to be said in it next Sunday, ' but the solemn opening by his Lordship ) Bishop Bedwood will take place on January [ 15th. The church, when finished, will car- [ tainly be a noticeable structure, and will form an attractive addition to the buildings in Kaiapoi. Over the western gable a (tower > rises to the height of 65ft, which is surmounted i by a gilt foliated iron cross, which was the gift of Mr Johnston, of Bangiora. The walla inaide are dadoed and Plastered ' with octagonal pilasters under the principals. The gothio windows are' giawd with ground glass in the middle, and a large border of purple and emerald green, which gives tbe interior a very pleasing appearance. The general plans were prepared by Messrs Jacobean Bros-, but most of the details were given by Bey. 3 1 . Binsneld and Mr J. J. Bobinson, the clerk of worka. W« Hear that Messrs Boyd and Keir Save given pt9t ,»&. faction to the committf c by the way they have carried out their is intended to arrange for a special train from Ooßatohuroh for the day of the opening.

LKQiSIATrvB CotmoiL.—Mr Geo. McLean, the late member for Waikonsiti, has been offered, and lias accepted, a seat in the Legislative Council. Taps Govhbhob.—-His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Lady Gordon, will arrive from Wellington by the Hinemoa to-day. Sir Arthur** visit, whioh will extend over a week, is an unofficial one. St. Albabb MrnnorpALiTY.—At a meeting of burgesses, held last evening at St, Albans library, the merits of the various candidates for election as councillors and auditors were discussed, but no definite conclusion was arrived at. Chbistmab Cabbtval. — Yesterday the third annual Christmas carnival, projeoted end carried out by Mr Montague, was opened |in Messrs Ford and Co.'* rooms. There ia a very large collection indeed of fancy articles, and in addition, what is not usually seen in gatherings of this kind, a capital collection of pictures by well known artiste. The whole exhibition is worth a visit. East Chbistohtjech Pigboh Flxisq Club. —The Derby flown from Amberley to Christchurch on the 16th instant resulted as follows s—Mr W. Williams' Lilipee, 33min 55seo; Mr Bry en ton's Swallow, 3Smin 35iec; Messrs Walker and Groth's Doncaater, 39min 35sec. The St. Leger will be flown on Boxing Day, and about ten birds will compete, including the winners of the three prizeß in the Derby. Tblbqbafhio.—lt has been decided to observe Monday, the 26th inst., and the 2nd trox. as holidays at all telegraph station! rithin the colony. The hours of attendance rill be as follows—From 9 to 10 a.m., and rom 7.30 to 8 p.m., instead of the usual lunday hours. —Bahotu telegraph station it ■ow dosed, and a post and telegraph office las been opened at Parihaka, the hours of at< ■endanee being (from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ox ■reek days and on Sundays and holidays 5 tc 1.30 p.m. Masonic.—The installation of the W.M tnd investiture of the officers of the Canterbury [jodge, 1048, took place last night at the St JLuguatine Hall, when the following offioeri *ere duly installed by the D.D.G. Master Bro. H. Thomson, assisted by Bro. W Deamer, P.M, viz., Bros. M. Sandstein W.M.; W. T. 0. Mills, S.W.; J. Berry r.W. j Eev. E. 0. Wright, chaplain ; A. B Kirk, P.M., treasurer (re-elected); J. O. Oooper, S.D.; ,W. H. Messenger, J.D. ; G. Eumphreye, 1.G.; B. Willerfoss, secretary; Bro. T. S. Lambert, D.O. After the installation, the brethren and visitors adjourned to the Canterbury Hall, where refreshments were provided by Bro. Messenger, and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honored and responded to. SIDBHHAM BAMIB* CHTJROH BaJSAAE.— This bazaar was opened at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street, yesterday, at noon, by the Bey. T. Anson Oato. The stalls were presided over by the following ladies and gentlemen :— Me'sdames Cato, Coom, Forrest, E. Edmonds, T. J. Edmonds, Pillow, and the Misses Lowe, Baillie, Jamieson, Forrest, Hanoock,Parkes and Stevens, and Messrs T. J. Edmonds, and J. O.Farquharaon.and Greenslade; Christmas tree, Miss B. Forrest; refreshment stall, Mrs Burson, assisted by Miss Burson and Mrs Bird; weighing chair, Miss Pugh. A galvanic battery and sundry scientific instruments, lent by Prof. Biokerton, were shown by Mr Page. The ivory turning lathe was at oonstant work during the day by Mr Graham, of Lyttelton, and the wonders of the microeoope were displayed by Mr Harrow. The museum of art was superintended by Mr' Arthur Pillow, and some excellent working models of steam-engines were shown by Messrs Cunnington and Kent, of Colombo street. The American organ was played during the day by the Bey. T. A. Oato and Mr T. Searell, and also at intervals by the Misses Bailie, Lowe, and Stevens. Although sales were well pushed by the different stallkeepers during the day, there is still a large quantity of goods remaining unsold, whioh it is hoped will meet with buyers to-day, when the bazaar will be again opened from noon till 10 p.m. Thh Wilhblmj CoHOßßTfl.—There was again a large attendance at the Theatre Boyal last night, when Herr Wilhelmj gave another of bis delightful concerts. His opening solo was a concerto by Lipinski, which afforded Herr Wilhelmj an opportunity of displaying to the beat advantage his wonderful esse of bowing and power of production of melody. In the second part he gave Vieuxtempa' " Beverie," which was a charming performI anoe. This waa followed by Ernst's fantasia on themes seleoted from .Hungarian dances. This quaint and wonderfully characteristic 1 pMoe waa rendered by Herr Wilhelmj with ' great fidelity and spirit. As on former occasions the three numbers allotted on the programme to Herr Wilhelmj were extended to six, owing to re-demands which were courteously complied with. Miss Conron in the first part of the programme sang the romanoe from " The Marriage of Figaro" charmingly. In the second part her contributions comprised two ballads, one by Plumpton, "Elaine's song," the other '* I wish I were on yonder bill," aaadly mournful piece, which waa most artistically eung by Miss Conron. Both were encored, and in response Misa Conron aang " Down the Shadowy Lane " and the Spanish romance which so charmed the audieno on Saturday night. Mr Yogrioh, in addition to acting as aooompanyiat during the evening, played in the first part a lorghetto by Henselt and two numbers by Liszt, who appear* to be Mr Yogrioh'a favorite composer. One of these was "The Erl King," and the other a fantasia on themes from " Bigoletto." In the second part he gave us a taste of his quality as a composer in the shape of a valse brilliant*, whioh was not only excellently played, but exhibited muoh originality and artistio taste on the part of the composer in the treatment of the theme. To-night there will be a specially brilliant programme, and hia Excellency Sir Arthur Gordon and Lady Gordon have signified their intention of being present.

st —~~ : —: ie Wbsleyan Chubch.—The Bey. A. Eeid, jf who has recently returned from a trip to ie England will deliver a leoture in tbe Dnrham a street oburch on his trave's in the Holy Land. 3 Industbiai. Association. —A meeting of ' the above will be held this evening for the election of officers. F*. Dbainagx Boabd.—The usual meeting of ly the above will be held at 2p. m. to-day. '« Acknowledgment. — The master of the d Industrial School desires to acknowledge with r, thanks the receipt of two guineas from Messrs ie Hobaay and Co. towards the children's Christ[y mas treat.