NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 5710, 7 January 1884, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

R.M. Codbt.—There are ten police cases to be heard at the R.M. Court to-morrow, and seven private summonses. A—best.—A man named John Frowe was arrested yesterday afternoon by Detective Jones, for the larceny of two axes from Mr ChadweU's works in lyttelton. Sctbk_b Coubt.—The criminal session of the Supreme Court opens this morning before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston. The calendar, though heavy as regards the number of cases for trial, does not present any special feature calling for remark. TJ_t,C. — Members are reminded that entrances for the Handicap Swimming and Junior and Senior Single Sculling Races close on Thursday and Saturday evenings respectively. Stolen Pbopbbtt. — The woman Mrs Hunter, recently arrested for stealing 4110, has been remanded to Dunedin. The police have, however, already recovered 450 of the spoil. It was hidden in a portion of her dress. Accidents. —Frederick Ward, the man who fell from the scaffolding in Gloucester street on Monday last, is recovering his strength rapidly. Beyond the shock to his system, and some unavoidable bruises, he sustained no in jury whatever, and be expects to be at work again this week. The boy admitted to the Hospital on Friday with a broken leg is named Charles Smith, and the accident was due to the top of a baker's cart slipping on him. The fracture was a simple one, and is doing weU. M—thvbn. — The first meeting held at Methven in connection with the Gospel .temperance movement took place on Friday evening in the schoolroom. * There was a good attendance, and the meeting was presided over by Mr D. H. Brown, of Ashburton. The Rev. A. McLenjin, and Messrs Gavin, Isaac Scott, and Killworth, addressed the meeting. Seven new pledges were taken, and thirty-four donned the blue ribbon. .

Tikwald. —On Friday evening a most successful gospel temperance meeting was heldatTinwald, the Bey. E. A. Scott, of Ashburton, in the chair. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. Garbett and Nixon and Mr Sawle. A number of new pledges were taken, and a number also donned the blue ribbon.

Law„ Tennis Match.—A' lawn tennis match was played on the Ashburton tennis ground on Saturday between Christchurch and Ashburton. Messrs Ross Brothers represented Christchurch, and Messrs Dignan and Howarth Ashburton. The match resulted in an easy victory for the Christchurch representatives. Ranoioba Sports.— A meeting of the Athletic Sports Committee was held on Friday at the Municipal Chambers, Mr Geo. Cone in the chair. The receipts were reported to have been 439, the expenditure 429. Accounts amounting to about 410 were passed, and the meeting adjourned for a week to get in unpaid subscriptions. C.J.C. Su_K—i Meeting.—The settling up for the C.J.C. Summer Meeting took place on Saturday, the amounts paid to the various winners being as follows : — Hon. W. Robinson, 4494 19s j , Hon. G. McLean, 4310 13s; Mr D. O'Brien, 4171 ss; MrH.Horßford, 423 15s; Mr P. Butler, 447 10s; Mr Brien, 419. Total, 41067 2s.

Addington Total Abstinence Society. —Another very successful meeting was held on Friday evening in the schoolroom, Selwyn street. Tbe room was full. Mr T. Thompson occupied the chair. A short but very interesting address was delivered by the Rev. R. Taylor. Songs were given by Miss Atkinson and Messrs S. Penrose and C. Brown. A song and recitation by little Miss Scott were loudly applauded. The choir Bang four pieces in a very creditable manner. Several pledges were taken at the close of the meeting. The Exhibition. —There was a capital attendance of visitors at the Exhibition both on Saturday afternoon and evening. In the afternoon Professor Westen gave his Punch and Judy performance in the quadrangle, and the City Guards Band played several selections. In the evening there was dancing in the quadrangle, and Professor Westen's legerdemain performance in the art gallery. To-night the juvenile chess tournament with living figures will take place on the dancing floor in the quadrangle, and there will also be an organ recital in the art gallery. Ranoioba Linseed Oil and Fibbb Compant.—A meeting of the Directors was held on Friday evening, Mr J. Johnston, chairman, presiding. A letter from the Patea Company was read, offering an oil extraction plant, was received, also asking if there was any seed for sale. It was decided to reply that the company could sell 300 bushels. It was decided to adopt the same plan for buying flax as last year. The company's manager agreed to inform persons how to grow the crops, and the proper time for pulling same. It was stated that retting operations were being gone on with. Meeting or Cbbditobs. — The first meeting of creditors in the estate of Messrs Louden Bros., well-known farmers ot Kyle and Methven, was held at Ashburton on Saturday. Those present represented in all seventy - four creditors. The statement of accounts put in showed the liabilities to be a little over 410,000, and the assets about 413,000. The principal creditors are the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company 44000, and Messrs McKerrow and Co. 43000, both secured. The principal unsecured creditors are Messrs Hardy and Co., Matson, Cox and Co., Mr John Anderson, and Mr C. W. J. Cookson.

Flemington School.—At a meeting of the Flemington School Committee held on Wednesday it was decided to support the election of Messrs Inglis, Fraser and Peryman, as members of the Education Board. The Inspector's report was read, showing that though the per centage of passes was not so high as in former years, still there was abundant proof that good progress had been made since the last examination. The failures in Standard 111. are attributed either to irregular attendance or the pupils being below the average age. The number of scholars en the roll is 75, average attendance during the past quarter, 50; presented in standards, 38; passed, 20; percentage passed, 80; per centage of roll number presented, 50; below Standard 1., 25.

Thbatbb Rotal.—" An Arabian Night" was produced at the Theatre on Saturday evening by Mr and Mrs Polk and their company. The piece, which may be aptly described aa a society comedy, with a strong vein of humour run—ing through it, is smartly written; the plot is well developed, and the situations funny and effective. Mrs Polk as the lady connected with the circus, played the part with much verve, especially in the circus scene. Mrs Bryer was excellent as the mother-in-law, and Miss Lena Ellis and Miss L_lie Bryer were good in the parts respectively of the niece and wife of the gentleman whose attempts to imitate the Sultan Haroun Al-Raschid in these degenerate modern days, landed him in such peculiar predicaments. The weight of the piece falls upon Mr Polk, who {days the part of Mr Spinkle excelently. The great power of quaint expression which he possesses, together with a fund of humour, makes the character a great success. Mr Emmett deserves very great credit for his capital character impersonation of the inane fop, which is an excellent piece of acting. Mr Boothman has returned once more to the role of Byronic lovers, and it is needless to say is successful, while Mr Power as a cannon ball performer, Mr Calvert as the confiding uncle, and Mr Stewart as the comic servant, all help to make tha piece go well. The comedy is well put on, Mrs Polk's costumes being a revelation in the matter of dress. A scene set in the third act is exceedingly pretty, and the burlesque circus performance in the same act is well worth seeing. The piece will be played to-night.

Mandbvillb and Ranoioba. — The monthly meeting of this Board was held on Friday. Present—Captain Parsons, Messrs Duncan, Crossley. and Stevenson. A letter was read from Property Tax Commissioner relative to an assessment of one of the larger properties of the district. The Board decided not to agree to the reduction asked for, the assessment to stand as it is on the Board's roll. Mr Luxton interviewed the. Board respecting certain ditches near his property, and pipe crossings, which it was decided be seen to. Tenders were opened for Chinaman's road |at Southbrook, and the lowest accepted. The Chairman reported he had called a meeting, as decided at last Board meeting of the Chairmen of the Boards in the Ashley County, respecting forming the County Council. Up to the present he had only received replies from the Cust and Kowai Boards. It was decided to call for tenders to shingle the road from Mr Young's road along the Cam to Boys' direct road. It was decided to continue fifteen chains formation of road to Woodend from the Maori pah. The work from Fern_de station to Oxford road had been completed, at the request and cost of the Government. Accounts, 444 ss, were j passed for payment.

Lodge Meeting. — The bi-annual installation meeting of the members of the Mistletoe Lodge, No. 96, UA.O.D., was held on Thursday, the 3rd inst., at their Hall, Barbadoes street, AD. Bro. Bailey presiding. The ceremony of installing the Arch Druid and h_ subordinate officers was conducted by Bro. D. Sutherland, D.P., in an impressive manner. The District President Elect Bro. Bailey, PA, was received with acclamation, and thanked the members for the honours conferred upon him. The auditor's report and secretary's balance sheet proved very satisfactory to the members, and votes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers. Brother S. D. Nathan, P.A, was accorded a special vote of thnnVg for his services as presiding officer of the lodge; for the past term, and it was resolved unanimously that the lodge present him with a Past Arch gold-framed diploma, and that his name be placed in gold letters on the respect board. Harmony was indulged in for twenty minutes, and was contributed by several of the members and brethren from sister lodges, and the lodge was closed at 11 pan by the newly installed chairman, A. D. Bro. Burbury.

Distbict Comit.—An adjourned sitting of the District Court was held on Saturday before his Honor Judge Hardcastle. The case of Johnson v Matson and Co., in which the claim *was to recover 452 8s 6d, deposit on land purchased, with interest, was called on. Mr Deacon, who appeared for the plaintiff, stated that the case had been compromised, his client consenting to accept J827 and costs. Mr Harper, counsel for defendant, agreed to this course, and judgment was given accordingly. School Picnics.—The children attending the Longbeach schools were given their annual picnic on New Year's Day. The children and their friends, at the invitation of Mr J. Grigg, assembled in a padl dock near the beach, where they were supplied with luncheon and tea. The usual sports were indulged in, and during the afternoon the Chairman distributed the school prizes. The annual treat in connection with tbe Elgin school was given on Wednesday last, and the day being fine the children had a most enjoyable outing.

OUTBAG—3 ON A___«AN CHRISTIANS. Another outrage on Armenian Christians has again directed attention to the enormous difficulties which the central authority in Turkey has to contend with. It occurred in the neighbourhood of Erzeroum, and has been reported by the foreign consuls. The newspapers state that a caravan, composed principally of peaceable and inoffensive Armenian traders and labourers proceeding to their homes with their hard-earned savings, was attacked by a band of ruffians at a few hours' distance from the town. The robbers ordered the Christian members of the caravan to separate from their Mussulman fellow-travellers, and then brutally maltreated the. defenceless Christian victims, robbing them of all they possessed, abandoning them naked and wounded in the snow, to find their way on foot to the town, which they reached in a pitiful and desperate condition, imploring the officials to save them from death through hunger and cold. What is most significant in this case is the fact that the Mussulmans of the party were net molested, while the Christians were shamefully ill-treated. Recent reports from the foreign Consuls in the interior of Armenia tell a fearful story of misgovernment on the part of the officials. The Embassies have now taken up the matter, and the dragoman of the British Embassy went to the Porte with a verbal note to the effect that the Consuls at Erzeroum having reported to the Embassies at Constantinople the incident just described, the Powers urged upon the Turkish Government the necessity of the arrest and punishment of the offenders ; and invited the Porte to take measures to prevent a repetition of similar outrages. The Armenian Patriarch also sent a communication to the Porte on the same subject. Imported Stallion.—The entire horse Ingomar, imported by Mr Pat. Campbell, in the British King, is now stabled at Messrs Ford and Co.'s repository in Cashel street. Ingomar is a deep rich bay witblack points, a brown muzzle, and a few white marks on his face. He is a powerful lengthy horse, a trifle over 16 hands in height, and stands over a lot of ground. His middle piece is deep and round, and stands on strong muscular legs with big jo—tts,his hocksbeingespecially well shaped. His quarters are very massive, but round rather than lengthy, which gives him a somewhat common appearance behind, as also doesthe setting on of theheadtoacoarseish neck to his forehand, but his shoulders being placed well back he has a good rein and the head itself is a >cry thoroughbred looking- one with a wide sensible forehead. Most of the thoroughbred stallions imported to Canterbury have shown more quality than Ingomar, but not one of them is his equal in substance or in strength of limb, and judging him by his walk he should have a very free action. He has proved himself a good horse at Home, both on tbe flat and over country, and his shape, breed, and performances proclaim him a great acquisition to the New Zealand stud. He has been landed in excellent condition, without scratch or blemish of any sort, and reflects much credit to his groom. His shipmate, the mare Corcyra, is also built on a large scale, with great width across the hips, and Wonderful good thighs. She is by King Tom, the sire of old Mermaid, who she somewhat resembles, more, especially in the way her tail is set on high up in her back. A LBIBU—ELY STEEPLECHASES. —An amusing incident occurred in connection with the Hack Steeplechase atthe Feilding sports on Boxing Day. A well-known local "jock" who was mounted on a weedylooking animal came to grief atone of the fences. He was lying underneath his steed, and neither seemed capable of regaining their legs. However, some of the bystanders took pity upon them, and gave a hand to assist them in their difficulties, and -with. their help the horse succeeded in straggling to his feet, and the pair went on their way rejoicing without the ignominy of parting company. At the next fence, however, the steed, thinking proba'Jy he had had enough for one day, made a determined stand, and positively refused to negotiate the jump, and the rider reluctantly left his saddle and put his shoulder *o the fence, which he succeeded in removing, and regaining his Beat persuaded his animal to pass through the gap. All these difficulties overcome, the pair deserved to win the race, but no, cleverer fencers were before them, and they had to be content with a position very near the last.

Fbozen Meat.—The following is an extract from a letter received by last mail at Auckland:—"l saw some mutton last Saturday in Leadenhall market ticketed ' New Zealand mutton,' and was told on inquiry it was ex Catalonia. I am perfectly sure it was not New Zealand mutton at all, as it was very small, very poor looking, and very dark in appearance. It was so bad altogether that I am sure you, for instance, would not have had it on your table at all, or anyone else who could afford better. What you want is shops under the management of the Freezing Company, to retail the real New Zealand article. It must do the trade an. immense deal of harm for any butcher to have the power to ticket anything he likes as New Zealand mutton; and this will always be the case until reliable men are provided to sell nothing else than .the real thing. Surely some such arrangement could easily be made." A Singula- D_bam. —A young lady living in Boston dreamed that an undertaker drove up to the door of her residence, alighted from the hearse, and rang the beU. He asked to see the lady ia question, and on her appearing at the door the undertaker asked, "Axe you all ready?" It was repeated on two successive nights, and it so preyed on her mind that her health became affected. By the advice of her physician she made a change of scene, and went to visit friends in a Western city- Shortly after her arrival there she went to call on some friends living in an apartment house, and on arriving at the house she entered the elevator to go to one of the upper floors, where her friends' apartments were located. Just before the elevator started, the man in charge of it turned to her and asked, " Are you all ready P" She looked at the man, and at once recognised tiie face of the undertaker she had seen in tr dream. Startled by their resemblance, c asked to be let out of the elevator before it had started, and after it had gone up a short distance it fell, and killed the man whose face had startled her, and who was the only passenger at the time. F_bnch Cbd_nals. —Our ("Argus") latest file of papers from New Caledonia apprises us of the arrival at Noumea of the _oire with 373 convicts on board. An official classification of these criminals [shows that 225 of them are hardened offenders, including 33 who have been trains- ! ported for assasshiation, 18 for murder, 24 ' for voluntary homicide, 21 for arson, 9 for stabbing and wounding, arid 18 for criminal attempts upon women. Scarcely a number of the "Neo Caledonien appears without a report of convicts having escaped from custody, and of their lawless proceedings in tbe bush. - At Port Laguerie a gang of eight plundered the house of a settler, and drew their knives upon five Canada, who endeavoured to prevent them. At St. Vincent, two station hands were bailed up, and stripped of everything they possessed, even to their clothes. At Upper Ouame_i some escaped convicts

were frustrated in a second attempt to pillage a house. In the Bay of Bourake three evades were seen making for an island in a boat. From Boloupari numerous complain— have been received of fireraising by the fugitives. One farm has been entirely destroyed, and the flames had reached the forest of Prouy. Just outside of Noumea, one of the native police was Bhot in the shoulder by an escaped convict whom he endeavoured to arrest. He fired three other shots at his pursuers, and these were so incensed that they killed him on the spot. At Mont Dor, where three evades had been lifting the cattle of the settlers, it was found necessary to organise a regular battue for the apprehension of the culprits; and the editor of the " Neo-Caledonien " seems to anticipate that a still more serious state of things will arise in consequence of the large addition which has just been made to I the convict population of the island.

Citt CouNcn..—The first ordinary meeting of the City Council since the adjournment for the holidays, will take plase this evening at tbe usual hour. St. Albans Counoh. .—The usual meeting of this Council takes place this eveninjr. Friends or Labour. —The half yearly meeting of the Friends of Labour will be held at the Market Hotel this evening for the election of officers, Ao. Goosbbsbbt Show.—A show of gooseberries, open to all growers, will take place to-day in the store recently occupied by Eckersley and Macfarlane, Lichfield street, when several prizes are offered for competion. Weighing wi:l commence at 2 p.m. A Rattlesnake b Bits. — The quick venom of the rattlesnake has not killed so many people as the more iilsiduous but deadly poisons found in the air of foul rooms. The aeration of the blood by the lungs becomes impossible sometimes, and the failing health, growing weakness, and loss of appetite are harbingers of approaching death. For such cases Hop Bitters are the potent and all powerful remedy to drive all fevers out of the system, purifying the blood, and giving a new and happy lease of life. Notice.—[Advt.] 4100 Reward. —They cure all diseases of the stomach, bowels, blood, liver, nerves, and kidneys, and 4100 will be paid for a case they will not cure or help, or for anything impure or injurious found in them — Hop Bitters. . Test it. Read.—[Advt.J