NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6964, 18 January 1888, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Divorce Court.—ln divorce yesterday the decree nisi, for dissolution of marriage in Taylor v Taylor and another, was made absolute. Team way Excursions. —An excursion was run on the tramway last evening to Sumner, which was fairly well patronised. To-night there will be one to New Brighton, when the Addington Band will perform selections of music on the beach. Polo. —The match on Saturday will be Miles and Co. against the Club. The former will wear white; the latter blue and white. Play to commence at three o'clock sharp. This rna*-A>h will be worth seeing, as the ground is in good order and the sides evenly matched. Bowling.—The interclub match, Christchurch v. Canterbury, was completed yesterday evening on the. Worcester street green. The Christchnxch representatives won by ; twenty-four points. Supreme Court. —The civil business before His Honor Mr Justice Ward yesterday only occupied a very brief space of time. In Marks v George it was announced that the action was settled, and this being the only case set down for yesterday, the Court adjourned. To-day his Honor will sit in Chambers, and al_.o_ commence the AufrRALiAN Centenart.—Thanks s the jfeal of Mr H. E. Webb, himself | " coAstalk *' of many years' standing, 1 meeSng has been arranged to be held ia the ffCity Council Chambers to-morrow aftsnoon at 4.30 p.m. to consider whal memos shall be adopted to fitly celebrate thjcentenary of Australia on the 26th insta Tl* Government have proclaimed the daw a jfoliday, and no doubt there are suflicien* " fcrnstalks " in Canterbury to mark tha >^ repeated last night to a very good house. M|ss Swain's pci__.'._. __3 o_. of tiie tomboy was received with loud plaudits, and her vocalisation and dancing received full appreciation at the hands of the audience. The progrtfmme issued by the management bears on thy face of it the name of Mr A. Leopold as tije musical conductor, but the credit of the Jjerformance of the excellent selections of in&sic played by the orchestra should be given to Herr Bunz. -** The Tomboy" will be repeated again to-night. A Bolt.—A horse at.ta_-.hed to a coal hawker's cart, in charge of a boy name Kennedy, whilst being fed yesterday in Cashel street opposite Tattersall's, took fright at the ringing of the Ferry road tram bell, and turning round bolted along the street westward. Kennedy and another boy were in the cart at the time, but the bit being out of the horse's mouth the reins were useless, though Kennedy pluckily stuck to them, the other boy jumping out behind and consequently getting a good shaking. There" was not much traffic in the street at the time, and the runaway was stopped opposite the Eotherfield hotel without any damage being done.

Angling.—A correstpondent at Spnngston writes :— " Perhaps some ot our anglers would like to know the• Sf w >» river is affording some good sP ort . a *P I *'?*' sent, Mr T. Everest having caught Oblb weight of trout in two nights." Si. Mary's, Haiswim-i..—Tbe annual treat to St. Mary's Sunday School wiU ba held to-morrow at New Brighton. Yaraley*a coach, together with private traps.will leave th! church gate at; eight to convey the school party to the Thk VoI-tjntkibs.— The officers andmen of the North Canterbury Volunteer Foxoo taking part in the operations on December 16th, will be gratified to learn by a letter addressed to Lieut,-Colonel Lean, appearing elsewhere, that their efforts have been highly appreciated by Major-Generall Sir Geo. Wbitruore. In the letter referred.to Sir George pays a high compliment to the force.

Darfield.—Very good progress is noticeable with the various improvements going on at this township. The contractors for the races and dam leading to Mr Moffatt's flour mill are making good headway with their work, Mr Moffat* hopes to have the mill in full swing during February. The erection of the saleyards is also well in hand, and when completed will add to the prosperity of the residents. Serious Chabo__ at Timabtt.—Robert Ingram Boys, a young man about 20, waa arrested by Detective Kirby yesterday afternoon at Timaru, for attempted rape on Edith Hilton, aged 8 years. Prisoner was arrested at his father's house, Latter street. The offence is said to have been committed at the girl's parent's house, Prisoner comes before the Court this morning

Picnic—A well-attended meeting of fruiterers and fruit-growers was held last night, at the Golden Fleece Hotel. Mr Mumford was in the chair, and after a large amount of routine business had been transacted it was arranged that the traps should meet in Cathedral square to-morrow morning, at 8.15, the judging of the best turn-out to take place at 8.80 a.m. The complimentary bail waa fixed to take place at the Tuam street hall in the evening. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman tho meeting adjourned.

Queen's Cadets.—The two Senior companies of the Queen's Cadets drilled together on Monday evening, when there was a large muster. Prizes for attendance and for smartness and proficiency in drill have been offered by the officers of the companies, and no doubt will be keenly competed for. Last night Nos. 3 and 4 Companies drilled together under Staff Sergeant-Major Finn, when there was again a good muster. A battalion parade under Major Richards has been fixed for Monday next, at 7 p.m.

Aquatic.—The lovers of aquatics will be glad to learn that the Star Club, of Wellington, will send crews to compete at the Intel-provincial Amateur Kegatta, to be held on Lake Forsyth on the 26th inst. They have entered for no less than eight events, and no doubt their spirit and enterprise in coming so far to compete will meet with a due meed of praise from all rowing men.

' West Coast Sounds.—The applications for passages to the West Coast Sounds having been so numerous, the Union Steamship Company have arranged to run a third trip should a sufficient number book, leaving Port Chalmers on the 81st instant or February Ist. The prograiniae of amusements, Sec, provided for those who may go will be on the same liberal scale as that which has been so successfully carried out so far in connection with the first one.

Casualty at Poet Levy.—At 8 o'clock last night Dr. Fitz Henry was summoned by a telephonic message to leave Lyttelton for Port Levy, and at a little past that hour he left in the s.s. Canterbury. One of Mr Field's sons, it was understood, had been picked up in one of the paddocks apparently suffering from sunstroke. The doctor would not return until a late hour, and no further particulars be obtained.

Ashlby Tbastio BaiDGE. — The adjourned meeting of representatives of the local bodies within the radius interested in tlie question of the Ashley river dray bridge, was held at the Eangiora Borough Council Chamber on Tuesday evening. Present—Mr H. Blackett (Mayor of Eangiora, in the chair), Dr. Downes and Mr H. Boyd (Eangiora), Messrs Brodie and Duthie (Kowai), and Mr Gh Wallace (Mandeville). After some conversation on the general object of the meeting it was resolved, on Mr Brodie'a motion, seconded by Mr Wallace —"That as the representatives of the Ashley Boad District have failed to attend the previous meetings and this, the question of the bridge be allowed to drop." This having been unanimously agreed to, a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.

Tinwald School. —At the. usual meeting of the Tinwald School Committee, held on Friday, there were present Messrs J. Caygill (Chairman), S. Corrigan, W. H. Smith, W. Robinson, and M. O'Brien. The Inspector's report on the sohool was received, and considered satisfactory. The master reported that tho average attendance for the month of Decembor had been —Boys 48, girls 31-9; total 81. ]_%

O'Brien gave reasons for his no: attendance at previous meetings, and was resolved that he be allowed to retai

his seat on the Committee. Mr Jephsonj seat was declared vacant for non-attend ance, and Mr Fergis was elected to fill thi vacancy. Messrs Smith and Corrigan werj appointed a Visiting Committee. It wa_ resolved to issue subscription lists fos funds for prizes and school treat.

Orange Meeting. —On Wednesday! evening last the ordinary monthly] meeting of No. 20, L.0.L., was held! in the Orange Hall. There was a large attendance, including several visiting! brethren. Bro. Hassall gave a .emimej ot the business transacted at the Grandj Lodge. One hundred copies of a pamphlets on Orangeism were ordered for circulation] in the district. The Lodge was then] raised by the W.M. to the sublime A.P.i degree, when the A.P. degree was con-i ferred on Bros. Searles, Thompson, and! Crodurson by Bro. Venables, assisted by the E.S., Bro. Eivel. Business over, about forty of the brethren sat down to an excellent spread, provided by Bro. Early.' The usual loyal toasts were given, and several patriotic songs were sung. Altogether quite a pleasant evening was spent.

Drainage Board.—The first meeting of the recently-elected members of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held last evening. Mr John Deans was elected Chairman for the ensuing year. The '"various Committees were appointed, and Mr J. H. Hopkins gave notice to move at the next meeting that the various local bodies in tbe rural district be asked if they will undertake to carry out the duties of the Board in their several districts upon certain terms specified in brief in the notice of motion. The accounts for last year, duly audited, were laid on the table, and in reply to a question the Secretary stated the auditors had been very expeditious this year in going through the Lgccounts.

f* Jack Abhors.—During the stay of the fleet in Wellington a party of five marines visited the Hutt and surrounding district ■ two of them hiring a buggy for the purpose while the other three acted as outriders. All went well till the Taita was reached when the buggy horses bolted and went for three miles at breakneck speed, .much to the delirious enjoyment of the occupants of the vehicle in tow. Then lin some way or other, the traces broke, and the driver letting go his reins, the spirited steeds disappeared in the distance, leaving the buggy and its contents unharmed, but i_a.tS__a.-y in the middle of the road. The horse marines « ..v-*- 6 *! -*.**-*- _J* y kee * rin g «P the chase all the while, and now they went on ahead in pursuit of the runaways, which they after a time succeeded in capturing, and bringing back to their comrades. Then some spun yarn was brought into requisition, the traces were hitched up, and a start for homo was made, bnt on the return journey two of the equestrians' horses cast shoes, and so altogether, tlie trip may be regarded as an eventful one. The marines, nevertheless, thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and arrived in town again «ound ia wind and limb

Maj_vsrn "WATtn-lUcE.—'The enointo," of the Malvern water-race, Mr C. L. IX.yW is at present engaged with his subordinavS and a gang of men Making repairs at the head works' dam. These some injur, hiu been done by floods Jaijd shingle to tho cement work. It will prdbably take a w £6 l or ten days to complete tig work. EHTttm-CH-Kaarr.—The Hon. Mr EeynoM, ,1b reported to have said, oo the <mj£ tion of retrenohment, there were t\wr watchmakers employed in the vario» rooms of the General Assembly during the session to wind up the Government clockß. And ha oouM cite nmdberW other cases oi equally wasteful gaaoe within his ken. If we (_fiMtafc| Times) did not know that the hon. goajfe. man is like the typical Sootchman, «. should cay that he was trying toperpa. trate a "goak." But a joke is beyond him.

Nabbow Escape op a Biarcum —Mr W. J. Shaw (says the Iwng<_\Z Tinuss of the 4th inst.) had a rather narrow escape on Wednesday last. He waa too. ceeeung to the Blank's Point sports oa hh new Apollo bicycle, and at the steepest part of the Blip the fore wheel of the machina slipped on a loose stone on the road, the resnlt being that tho bicycle and rider wen precipitated over the slip. Mr Shaw feJIJ distance of between COft and 70ft, landing on the rocks below, the machine falling cj top of him. By singular good luckSStj t Shaw escaped with only a few slight .cratches, and tlio bicycle was little ia« jured. Thk Weather.—Mr Marmaduke Dixon's prophesied nor'-wester ranged iuriouslj throughout Ashburton on Monday. Hear* banks of ominous looking clouds gave tha sunset a most strange appearance, and it was hard to tell whether it denoted vriaL ruin, or the end of the world. Yesterday however, the weathor was beautifully Sn e " and the farmers were busy in many cutting oats for chaff. Should the &•< weather continue the oat harvest will ht pretty general in a fortnight. Attempt to Wbeck a Train.— On Tuesday morning, immediately after .tin train from Springfield {arrived at Sheffield, it was discovered that the points oaths main lino near the coal-loading bank had been tampered with by placing two large stones between them and tho rails. Fortu-' natoly the Btationmaster had occasion to visit that portion of the line before tha engine passed over, otherwise probably an accident would have occured. The polica have the matter in hand, but there is no clue to the person who played such a foolish and heartless prank.

Aquatics.—The Challenge Maiden Pomoared Eaco in connection with the Canto*" bury Eowing Club waa pulled off evening. The crow which was picked by the Club to row at Lake Forsyth on tie 26th inst., and consisted of H. yon Haait' (bow), Goss (2), Butler (8), and Strattoa (stroke), were challenged by _£_•»_«, (bow), S. Wright (2), Murray (3),andß.* C. Eich (stroke). Eich won the toss, and chose the north bank, as the first couple of hundred yards on the other side was pretty thickly choked with weeds, which Tiers calculated to prevent any work being done for the distance. Stratton, however, got away with a good Btart, and, much td the surprise of the 80-called knowing ones, increased it by about a length before the first corner was reached, in spite of having to take his boat over what for a few y&rde was literally a bank of weeds. At C<mi_ ehaw'a corner there was about a length between the two boats, when Strattoa quickened a little, and eventually wont' fairly good race by about three length., ;"

Tempbrnch Mission.—The Eev. Fred.". C. B. Fairey conducted a Temperam*meeting in the Blue Eibbon Hall, und« the auspices of tho Women's ChriatUa Temperance Union, at 3 p.m. yesterday, ■ and at 8 p.m. in St. John's schoolroom lie, gave an addiess, entitled " The use of drink; its temptations, dangers, and re*. suits." The lecturer pointed out the be* ginnings of the countless evils from intern- ■ eating drink was f ovuid in the uso of ii He described its __afluen«_. jßfha work, aad the dangers to which a person was exposed from disease and the drink crave. Tha lecture was delivered with eloquence, aa(j; some very telling anecdotes were interspersed. The Eev. H. C. M. Watson pre* sided, and there was a fair attendance. Several of Moody and Sankey*s melodies were sung during the meeting, and it w_J. closed by the pronunciation of the benediction.

Funeral at Kaia_?oi.—On Tuesdw* large funeral took place at Kaiapoi, when the remains of the late Mr Thomas Kin?* were interred in the Church of England' Cemetery. The stores were temporarily closed, and in addition to a large number of vehicles belonging to residents of Clarkville, the Druids of the Trafalgar.Lodge. - Sons and Daughters of Temperance, and the Rifle Volunteers took part in tha procession. The cortege was headed by a firing party of thirteen volunteers under ColorSergeant Blackwell, and tho Band of the Corps under Bandmaster Blakeley, which played the Dead March. The Eine Ctops was under, the command of Captain White* fpord- and the Cadets under Captain Alexander. About 250 joined in tha funeral obsequies. The Rev. J. W. Stack conducted the burial. Large numbers d persons lined the route from the church to the .cemetery .... ~.«.._.'! . , J _ -> ~. < i J „, „.... _*__

—The meeting to bo held at the Citflst-J J;! church municipal buildings on Tuesday! . next is the result of a request from -Ml j Royal Commission which has been J**-! ". cently appointed. Circulars are inconj»» § -, ; preparation, setting forth the object - of the Committee and inviting tlo* I';' zens to attend. . It does not nett*- -y, earily follow that non-intending «• **?"* hibitors or those who do not recii"*- ;&; circulars should mako room for others PJ £« staying away. The Committee is to be JW I';, open and general one, including in B* V| numbers exhibitors and persona decta- |.g ing to send goods for M By this means it is hoped to g*» |k tbe advice and assistance of «**' Kg perienced exhibitors as well a»'t» IM concurrence of the manufacturers, growers n| and others whose inclinations lead tie*" ||| in the direction of showing at the -»«• m bourne Centennial Exhibition. There« W object of the Committee is to consider JM jn best steps which can be taken to fatOif |g [the interests of the exhibition from th" if ipart of the colony, and for that reason . li Ms sincerely hoped the Bars will be m SUSfeting of the shareholders ot the «e w *SJ iM land Shipping Company will be held ~ | »t noon, to confirm the special re9°* u 4!n£ M passed at the extraordinary meeting *"3 >5| reference to the alteration of tbe ArfMiw » Association. i s9 Union Rowing Club.—A special,«®*S* _j moetine of the above Club will be hew**''"' 3a Star and Garter Hotel on Friday evaaioS ** B **' as at 8 p.m. ._, 'I Rouon on Catxbbh corrects offonsivepfl£n t -| at once. Complete erne of wo-_rtc_ro_ue-*w»f ..8 also unequalled aa gargle tor diphthe&a. am « t__jroat,toulswth*-{A_ovT.J __, . tßy ,] "Rough on Piles."—Why suffer tfi m { t Z . mediate relief and complete cure gua*» nM £ .... Ask for r 'Rou£h on Piles." Sure cote Kj. -j itching, protrudlnff, bleeding, or any »«■ *** | piles.—lAdvt.J ,| Personal.—Mr John -Kenning. **j .J well-known scenic artist, is quite j»>*"* ,v;| owing to rheumatism of the o P tio "1 and he is now under treatment in a pri**"** ~,.*! hospital. ';; Mr O'Brien's Tatlor.—The taftff*** !-/. suppHed Mr O'Brien with the tweed S**** , -. which has given so much dMcennfltwraw g_ the prison authorities at Tnllamore i*flj°* v. London correspondent of the Leeds & trtt !* „ ■'& says) in a fair way of making his forts'*"- -js*. The guardians of the Fermoy Union a** _ : :* tend to purchase from hf*" a suit -/;| the same material, and if the <*"°tk v> r only hold out Mr Goulding may be a»» J» |;S clothe half Ireland in a siintlar g&** w i J that of Mr O'Brien. , If VHwriiAraos.—A Company to be '• } " (l ?2 yg with a substantial capital has put **•»■•*,?s M prospectus in the English journals «***"£ ~M for its object the induced movement of *** |JI and gases into tubes, fines, And paaaagw gg| by means of the injection ot air « #3 m under pressure. The main wtentia l ** W the promoters appears, however, to If/T:'||| application of their system to venti**-*" rS of ships, engine-rooms, public buU«*"B* VM breweries, mines, tunnels, and so for-**- ** is stated the plxm of the promotert B *" m been tried an certain vessels and the Wj* p Courts, while an installation bus »*• 'Si applied tor to cool the mansion. *» J .-§ wealthy native gentleman of India.' •-"■ Q ri $£ the enterprise be put fairly under tw'P X there are several buildings in Chritrtohißg || to which its application would aotlf*'*. , m ot place. ' •[:.' m

Ejh-kbob ot Cktsa'b VMsstvts to -__ OcEBK.-The Chinese Minister went If-wSSr Castle on Wednesday after- - noon for tbe purpose of presenting the ' SteWe gifts sent by the Emperor of Stotite Queen upon the oocaaton ot gTjubilee. The gifts consisted of a grtHtal green jade stone .sceptre and tare porcelain vases, and S richest silks allegorically S£«l Fielding also had an audience rf gJSUn,to whom he had the honorei rLS a gold model of the Albert j5S3f the Jubilee gift of the Sultan ot

- Ms Shttej. <m "Tosca -Wrrhng te Q_e Melbourne Aryas from Pans, MrR S. ££4e says that be visited the Theatre iSte St. Martin to witness areprwente- «* of Mr Sardous new play, with the !is of purchasing the Australian ngbta. the Slightest besithat 'La. TW (the "•"T rf » popular singer), even ZZL Sarah Bernhardt, for whom it was ■ in the title role will never be a Sprite -play *- ri<h English maa^ m _ t ' Splendid a* is the performance of the J7__d_esb living actress, to whom Miss Mary £S>n could not hold a candk, ev<mthe gSlans do not like the pb£ TheJ are spellbound by the wonderful act- ___•- they call __*er_Lhardt before the .cJtkin, but they do not go away de- - ltebted The drama i_r in fire __cts; there ofuM not be a sixth, for at the end of the fifth the four principal characters are all dead Two commit suicide, another is murdered the other is shot. The drama is toodreadfuL In the third act an appalling effect is produced by the agonised Bhrleks of La Tosca's lover undergoing torture in an adjoining chamber, and when the bruised and bleeding man, eT es starting from their sockets, rashes 'into the presence of his mistress, the audience are absolutely overcome with iorror. To English audiences, "LaTosca would'be as revolting as " The Cenci." £__?sn__— or Buttee.—Mr John Duffill, says the Star, has sent Home, per Kaitourt a shipment of butter, for the purpose o. testing the English market, under what aopears to be very advantageous terms. "He has a brother residing in the ■ West End of London, and to him he has cent a pare .1 of 7cwt to be sold to large re- ' tailers on i\s merits, just for what it is worth, without any informafion' as to * what is thought cf the article free from any prejudice as to place of production. Mr DufSll was in Wellington recently, and when on the wharf look-hg 1 to the shipment of his own exportation, he a very large number of kegs awaiting shipment in the Kaiicwis.. He was- struck. -ith the careless way in -which so pe_-ish-able an article as butter is treated— thrown down on the open wharf, exposed to the burning heat of th6.snns. and-thinks that treatment such as he witnessed is quite enough to account for samples- of butter turning bad, for those kegs which, being on the top of a parcel, caught the foil heat of the sun, could scarcely, be expected to stand. Wellington "Wind.—There has lately "been some discussion concerning the violence of the wind in different part* of New Zealand, and a Wellington residentrelated; ss a proof of the superiority of his city's nor'-westers, the circumstance that sameyears ago a flat-bottomed boat lying on the beach here was raised bodily in the air by the wind, carried some distance, and fell on a lady passing by and killed her. The accuracy of this statement was questioned, and we (Wellington JEvening Press) were appealed to to decide the point. The occurrence did actually take place about the middle of the year 1843. The boat was lying bottom upwards at Te Aro undergoing the process of painting, when a gust of wind sweeping up the bay got nnder it, - took it up like a balloon, carried it «ohm>. distance, finally dropping it, with the f ataf . xesult mentioned, exactly opposite the Ship '■ Hotel, 'which was on the trite now occupied -. by Mr Macdonald's baker's shop in Man- * ners street. There are many old settlers still in Wellington who remember the occurrence perfectly well. The lady who was killed was tlie mother of our esteemed fellow citizen, Mx James Catted. The beat, or rather punt, was twelve feet long, anc. wide in proportion, and was owned by Messrs Houghton and PoweU.