NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7214, 27 November 1888, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Australian Mails. —The s.s. WaTrarapa arrived at the Bluff yesterday -with Australian mails, which should be delivered in Christchurch. to-night. New Zealand Shipping Company.— The annual meeting of this company will be held to-morrow at noon. Spouting.— The settling in connection with the Canterbury I rotting Club meeting takes place at the Al Hotel at 3 p.m. ■ to-day. Chess Club. — The annual meeting of the Canterbury hess Club will be held this evening, at eight in the Club room, Hobbs' BuiMings. Caledonian Soctett.—Members of the Canterbury* Caledonian Society are reminded that a special general meeting of the society will be held to-morrow evening at eight o'clock. Small Debts Fikld Dat. —It is reported that a plaintiff who has about fifty or sixty small debts to collect has arranged to have a special Court held at Kaiapoi oh December 21st for the purpose of having the same dealt with. . : . , . Export of Produce:—As an outcome of the drought in New South Wales there is a quantity of produce being shipped at Lyttelton .for. that colony. The barques Thurso and Conference have each fnll cargoes, and the Union Company's steamers* Wakatipu and Tanpo are also loading. All these vessels will sail this week. Little Kivee. —The ungenial weather still prevails in these valleys, and shearing is greatly retarded thereby. On Saturday night a sharp frost occurred, and did much damage in the gardens, and there were loud lamentations made*, by; the growers of early potatoes on Sunday morning. The vines and walnuts have also suffered. Temperance l-JNTEBTATNarENT.—-A successful concert came off at Lodge's Temperance Best on Saturday night. The following assisted: — Missee Hopper (2), Pickett, Florance, Long, Messrs Evans, Mason,' Carter, Bowan, v Topham. Miss Burrell presided at the piano. Mr Topham. occupied the chair, and in the course of the evening delivered a forcible address upon the evils of intemperance. View Hill. —A correspondent writes:— For some time past the weather here has been very unsettled, and on Friday heavy showers of sleet and hail continued at intervals throughout the day. Towards midnight snow set in, and on Saturday morning the snow was found to be two inches in depth. This will be hard on the newly-shorn sheep, of which there are now a considerable amount in the district. Chubcriten's Clitb. —A special general meeting of the above Club was held last night to consider the addition to the rules of a motion for the admission of associates. The Key. J. Holland presided. After a little discussion, the new rule was unanimously carried in the following form :— " Anything in the foregoing rule 3to the contrary notwithstanding, persona not members of the Church of England may be admitted by the Committee as associates on the written introduction of two members, and on signing a declaration of their willingness to abide by the rules and regulations of the Club. Associates shall pay the same fees as members, andl will be entitled to all the privileges of the Club except voting and serving on the Committee/

Pkbsonal.—The Bey. J. Hoatson was among the passengers who arrived at the Bluff by theJWairarapa to-day. Alleged Larceitt of a Watch.—A lad named James Lynn, was arrested yesterday by Constable O'Connor, on a charge of stealing a silver watch, value £2, the proI perty of John Burge3S, of Sydenham, on the 19th instant. Boi'FALOissr.—As will be seen by advertisement elsewhere the opening of the new Buffalo Lodge in Lyttelton, under the banner of the Grand Lodge of England, has been postponed until December 4th. PAiAOB Skating Eras.—There was a very good attendance of skaters and visitors last night at the Palace Rink. Tonight a novelty is announced in the shape of a burlesque sketch entitled " New York Dudes Learning to Skate." Sudden Death.—Mrs Beattie, wife of Mr. Alexander Beattie, farmer, 'oalgate, died suddenly at 4 a.m. on Sunday. Dr. Meadows was sent for, but when he arrived Mrs Beattie was dead. An inquest will probably be held. Oegan Eecital. — A very successful organ recital was given by Mr E. T. Searell, organist of Durham street Wesleyan Church," last night in the church, when there wae a large attendance. Miss Randell sang two solos, and several pieces were given by the church choir. A report appears elsewhere. Mounted Riflks.—The Committee of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles have decided to offer prizes for the best " turn out" trooper and horse, best attendance ■and smartest trooper, and smartest section at dismounted work; the last named event to be competed for on 20th December next in Hagley Park in the evening; all the prizes to be presented at the end of the year. It is probable that other events will follow later in the summer. Cantebbury Collkoe.—The report of the Committee of the School of Agriculture recommending the payment of the pupils for harvesting and shearing at the rate of 25 per cent, below ordinary wages for this class of work, provoked some diecussion at the meeting of the Board of Governors yesterday. Ultimately the report, with the addition of words making the payment for the forthcoming season only, was agreed to by seven to six. Ashmst Road District.—On Saturday a meeting of ratepayers was held at the Ashley Road Board office to consider the question of closing a road between rural seotions 7812, 30491, and 30492. Mr W. C. Nicholls, Chairman of the Board, presided. A motion was agreed to in favor of closing the road, and the meeting aljourned. As the Counties Act ie not in force in the Ashley county, the Resident Magistrate will be applied to to declare the road closed. ' " Polo. —A match took plaoe on Saturday, Messrs Boyle, Hale, Lane, Lascelles and K. H. Rhodes playing against white —; Messrs Ximbell, Miles, Palmer and A. E. G. Rhodes. The play was very even and the game well contested during the first twenty minutes. Both sides scored a goal, Mr Lane hitting one, Mr A. E. G. Rhodes the other. On resuming the Blues played with great dash, ; especially, Mr Lascelles, who succeeded in obtaining two goals. The Whites worked more together, the result being , that they secured three more goals, IMr Miles hitting two, Mr Palmer one. ! The game thus ended in a win for the I Whites by four goals to three. The play wa3 not very fast, owing to the ground being soft and dead; still the contest proved a very interesting one. Tempbkakoe Sundat.—On Sunday last !Mr J. T. Smith, the Chairman of the Canterbury Band of Hope Union, conducted services morning and evening at the Sydenham Baptist Church. At the latter service he preached from the words in Luke xvii. chap., 19 verse—" Why could we not cast out the evil spirit." He pointed out that it was the duty of the Church to expel the demonof "drink which how possessed the world. In New Zealand they had 24,000 police cases out of a population of 600,000, and of that number 7000 cases were caused directly through drink. There were 2000 lunatics and 2000 prisoners in our gaols mainly through drink.- In Christ church they had to lament crushed hearts, wrecked homes, and blighted prospects all through drink. ' In the pulpit the tables were turned now. Some fifty years ago abstinence had but little support; now 90 per> cent. «£ Nonconformist ministers were total abstainers. In that period the Band of Hope movement had sprung into existence. The working classes had taken up the movement, and the cry was •' Forward." There must be no half measures, and they must be thorough in their work against intemperance. Valedictory,—By the departure of Mr J. F. M'Cardeil, who leaves to-day for Australia, Christohurch loees one who has been prominently connected with musio here almost since the foundation of the settlement. He was the conductor of the first church choir started in Lytteltbn in 1851, and also conducted the first concert given in Lyttelton on December 20th, 1852. In May, 1852, the first Choral Society was formed in Lyttelton, of which Mr M'Car- ' dell was conductor, and they gave their first concert in 1853, comprising selections from "The Messiah" and glees and madI rieals. In 1860 in Christchuroh flic Vocal J Union was started, with Mr M'Cardeil as I conductor, for the practice of part songs and glees, many of the now favorites of the OhristchurchfLiedertaiel being then sung for the first time. In 1865 the Vocal Union and the Orchestral Society wae merged into the Canterbury Musical Society, with Mr .M'Cardeli as conductor; and *r C. Bonningfcon as leader.,. Several excellent performances of oratorios were given, notably "The Messiah" and " Creation." In addition to this record Mr 'SS'Cardell conducted the concert given to commemorate the first visit of the General Synod to Christchurch and Mrs FitzGerald b concert for the Female Refuge. He has also been ' choirmaster of St." John's," Latimer square, [ and a member of the St. Luke's and St Michael's. Latterly he was one of the lay clerks of the Cathedral, and one of i the voluntary choir of the Cathedral up to the time of his leaving here. It will thus be seen that Mr aTCatdeU has been.prominently;:, connected with S the histciy of music* ixi* Canterbury from a'Very "early -period. Swimming? Competitions. —On Monday morning on*" the Assembling of the pupils at the Kaiapoi Borough School. Mr Caleb Whitefoord, one of the hon. correspondents of the Royal Humane Society Society of Australia, by desire of the Head Master (Mr Alexander), addressed the boys on the question of the competitions for the bronze Medallions" offered by'the Society .to youths for proficiency in the theoretical knowledge of saving life from drowning Mr- Whitefobird . observeS ■ that r ii /. the summer months the. ( boys about Kaiapoi made a regular practice of bathing in the river, and, as at other times, the occasion might happen as it bad already done, that in - case of accident those who were acquainted with the rules of swimming, and steps to be taken to rescue persone I from drowning might render valuable aid, [he hoped a competition under the rules of the Society would be established there. It was advisable in all cases to' acquire a full stock of informatidri td fit them for after life,.and, apart from the practice in this manly exercise, probably some of the many to whom he was then speaking would be able to perform a noble act which might render him famous for the rest of his" life. Hβ explained that for each subscription of one guinea from a public school, a bronze medallion would be given by the Royal Australasian Humane Society, to be competed for by the pupils once a year. The competition would include —Ist, a trial with a dummy floated out into the water, which would have to be brought to the shore; 2nd, a trial with a weighted dummy or block with handles, sunk at a place which might be indicated by a floating cork, and which would hare to be brought to the surface; and 3rd, a weighted dummy sunk at a spot not indicated, which the competitor would also dive for and bring to the surface. Competitors had to be partly clothed, and the award would be made to the pupil making the most points in the competition. He con* eluded by remarking that if the matter was fully explained, parents would join in assisting to have such a contest carried out either by itself or on some public day when there was a regatta in the town. Mr Alexander said he also felfcan interest in the matter, and thanked Mr Whitefoord for his remarks, which he trusted might be heartily acted upon.

Wbathkr Forecast.-The folWini weather indication was received from Can. tain .Ed™, of Wellington, yesterdw morning:—"Westto south gale, withii next twelve hours, with heavy sea. Glass further rise and weather very cold." Fish: Jubilee Singers. — The Fisk Jubilee Singers, who made a tour of the colony some months ago, were passengen by the s.s. Wairarapa, which arrived afe the Bluff yesterday morning. Ihe company commence their tour at Dunedin on December 3rd. Funkbaii at Ranoiora.—The funeral 61 Mrs D. Graham, of Southbrook, took pkce at Rangiora on Monday, and was largely attended. As the deceased and her faraSy have been connected with the Wesley&n Church at Southbrook for many years, a funeral sermon will be preached there next Sunday morning, and one will also bo held in the Rangiora Wesleyan Church in the evening of that day. "Tub Messiah."—The Committee of the Musical Society have arranged to have the practice of " The Messiah " for this evening in the Wesleyan schoolroom, Durham street, commencing at 7.45 sharp. Interest in the forthcoming performance appears to be still further increasing, and no doubt there will be a large attendance on the production of the work. Kaiapoi Cadsts.—On Saturday, at the range, this company continued its carbine practice. The highest scores made out of a possible 20 were—Cadet Milsom 15, Parnham 12, H. Revell 11. It is hoped that during the su mer months a match may be made with one of the other companies of the Queen's Cadet battalion, who might be allowed passes by railway some Saturday afternoon, and have the use of the Kaiapoi Cadets' carbines on that range. Oddfkllowship.—At a special summoned meeting of the City of Christchurch Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., held last the following gentlemen were re-elected to the position of medical officers for the year 1889 :—Bros. J. Guthrie, W. Thomas and W. Deamer. The sick business of the Lodge and other matters having been dieposed of, the Lodge members indulged in harmony, and several good songs were given, after which the N.G. received nominations for filling the various offices during the next term, and duly closed the Lodge in the usual manner. Mr Towsey.—A Committee meeting of the Musical Society, held a few days ago, on accepting Mr Towsey's resignation as. Conductor, requested the Secretary to inform Mr Towsey that the following resolution was passed:—" lhat the Committee regret exceedingly that Mr Toweey'eintention of leaving Christchurch for Mel* bourne obliges them to accept his resignation, and that the Hon. Secretary in informing Mr Towsey of the acceptance of his resignation, be directed to convey to him the hearty thanks of the Committee and of the Society for the able and careful manner in which he has always discharged his duties as Conductor, and their sincere wish that his future career is Melbourne may be successful beyond his most sanguine expectations." Masonic.—The annual installation of the W.M., and the investiture of officers of Phoenix Lodge, 1959 E.C> took place at the Masonic Hall, Akaroa, on Friday evening last. The District Grand Lodge officers present were Bros., 11. Sawteu, D.G.S.W.; Jubal Fleming, P.D.,G.S.W.t W. H. Gundry, P.D..G.5.8., and W. E. Mitchell, D.G., secretary. The installing officer was Bro. Gundry, and he wag assistedby Bros, -awtoll and ileming. officers installed and invested were BrbS. E. E. Lelievre, W.M., (third re-election), G. Daly, S.W.; F. Potts, J.W.; R. Noonan. Secretary (re-elected) \ J. D. Garwood, Treasurer (re-elected) ;W. Curry, S.D.| T. Jones, J.D.; E. Joyce, I.G. At the conclusion of the ceremony, which wae excellently carried out, the Brethren adjourned to the Town Hall, where this annual ball and supper were held. The visitors were most hospitably entertained, and everything passed off most satisfactorily. Christ's College.—A meeting of parents, friends and old boys will be held at Messrs Miles and Co.'a rooms, Hereford street, on December Cth, at 4 p.m., to consider the besb means of showing their appreciation of the many cervices rendered by Mr C. C. Corfe to Christ's College. A Matobiess Borough.—Local government and its cares is evidently not much appreciated in Eiverton. Not a single nomination was made for the Mayoralty of the Borough. Cricket Plebicitb. —An issue of coupons by London Truth to ascertain the best all-round player, best batsman, best fast bowler, beet medium paced bowler, best slow bowler, and best wicket-keepee in the world, has resulted in Blackham being placed head and shoulders over all the world as a wicket-keeper. Sherin is second; but Blackham out-votes two to one. Grace, according to those who voted, is the best batsman, best all round player, and best point; Lohmann best fast bowleri Turner, best medium; Peel, best aloili bowler . ... . . The Eise in Freights.—The Argut i-e* marks that Melbourne importer* are now feeling the pinch of the great rice (exceed* ing in many cases over 100 per cent.) which has taken place in freights, as well as the inconvenience arising from a frequent shutting out of their goods in British ports. This condition of affairs, aided in some degree by the persistently high selling rate of exchange in London, and by the enhanced value of money in the colony, may bring about a reduction of imports,, which, in view of generally overstocked markets, would act beneficially in the way of improving profits, which are at present; extremely fine. r A Good Example.—•Mγ Jchn Harris, the retiring Mayor of Sydney, announced at the close of his term of office that he had not made himself famous by the frequency of his social and other entertainments b& cause he had been using his own morieyi He then announced that the customary allowance of iiIOQO would be handed over to the Sydney University to provide for a bureary, for some poor son or daughter of those who might not- have the means of educating; themselves; and who thus might be the better able to assist himself or herself,- the Council, and the colony. Locai, Patents.—The following" patents have been applied for by local inventors:— Robert Thompson, of Christohurch, music seller, for improvements in apparatus for holding, fixing and tuning the strings of pianofortes and other stringed instruments of the like kind. William Andrews, of Christohurch, agricultural engineer, for an improved horse-power, styled " Andrew*** Simplex horse-power." Alexander William Bickerton, of Christchurch, Professor'of Chemistry, for a foot-grating for scraping boots.and keeping the feet from damp* Henry Shirley Lough, of Amberley, farmer, for: an improved press suitable for wool and some other purposes. Moses Scott, of Opawa, engineer, for screw and hydraulic dredging machine. A New Zealand Astrologxb.—A oopyti* the Auckland Examiner, of October 12th,18?9» forwarded to the New Zealand Herald, contains a prediction on the fate of Napoleon 111., from a correspondent, which, read is the light of later history, has a singular interest. We quote a passage:—" Some who predict by present appearances, instead of being guided by astrology, say that Louis Napoleon will continue successful as he has gone on. I say no! He has Saturn, a maufic planet, in the mansion of honour. Certainly it is his own ruling star; but Saturn is Saturn wherever he may be, and though it is a nativity fortified by other most powerfully good influences, still I say the close of his career will be evil. Jupiter and the Moon may give wealth and dominion to the end, which his uncle had not, but -he has Saturn where his uncle hod him. Thrice fled that uncle, from Egypt, from Moscow, and from Waterloo, and twice has the present Napoleon been discomfited, to wit — Straeburg and Boulogue. What the third disaster is I know not; but it must come, the stars lie not. Let his future triumphs be what they may—should he die a natural death —dark days are in store for him who strangled the Eepnblic, destroyed liberty, and persecuted the patriots of France. For years I' have read the writing on the wall, 'Mene Tekel.' Patriots of France, despair not! Shades of Lambessa and Cayenne be appeased, liberty but 3. slumbers. Not many years and another f "Republic shall, phoenix-like, arise—not e> Bed Bepnblic—strong, wise and gentle, guided by morality and true religion; holding in her hands the lily, the sword, and the olive branch. France shall yet have her Washington aad Europe too.* .

JZTeat a very heavy shock of earth--25* **S experienced at Port Chabnere half an hour after midnight on audav Its coarse was from east to west. Seated for some two or three second* fenced at Broad Bay, on the Penin--J£ rich story ■« toldof fc chara of the Defence Department, ffidtoS the WoodviUe police station. Sreetine the affable officer in charge. Mr iS said he had some recollection of Sag him some few years back down the SST^The constable could not recall his fcrmor &cauaintance with the stranger, and Member aU the prisoners he had had . Snde7 his care; but the humor of the situation was not so apparent to the guardian of the peace when his snpenor Officer casually mentioned who he was. THB WbSCK OF THJt LIXZIM UCX.—XOe -efterooa hospitality and kind tfaoughtfolness of Mr Barton and the employes of the White Bock Station, and of the pro rrjdkar and men on the adjoining station, of the shipwrecked castaways of the aehooner Lizzie Guy, is deserving of the greatest commendation. Not only was gj&j effort possible made to alleviate &eir wretched condition, but when they •■ere leaving a cheque for JEIB, which had teen subscribed on the White Bock and Te Awaite station, was handed to the in ifr for distribution among the unfortnrpt" men. The whole of the eurviyora 4peak in glowing terms of the kindness ■with which they were treated. No sign of the body of the late Captain Stevens has been eeen, although Constable Mackay, of jUrtinborough, remained at the scene of the wreck for a week, and regularly patrolled the beach. — New Zealand Times. SJlavi Emancipation in Brazil.—The British Consol at Santos in his last report "refer* to the approaching emancipation of the slaves in the province of Sao Paulo, gad says that the transition from slave to free labor has long been regarded with anxiety by those having an interest in tie province. At present the system of i]*ve labor has only partial and prospective substitutes; the blacks themselves irenot reliable when suddenly freed, and the only effectual remedy for the abuse of slavery is labor immigration. It is not so jnnch that the freed slaves will not work— they most do so to some extent—as that tfcej will not work in a steady, reliable vaj. Hundreds of runaways are encamped around Santos; twenty took up their abode near the Consul's house in the gobnrbs) their plan was merely to clear a gymjl plot of ground and erect a ranch round which they lie and smoke; when compelled to work to gain sufficient to buy food they will do bo for a day or two, and then relapse into their former indolence. These few, says the Consul, are mere ffmjjLm at the hundreds around Santod, and may be taken on the whole as fair uppffrnann of the entire race. The profpeettd immigration are, however, said to be hopeful, and if they are realised the ' labor question, as far as the province of S» Paulo is concerned, will be tending towards a settlement. j JiOEd tT.yaxn Pagkt*s Will.—The value d the personal estate of the late General -Lead Alfred Paget, who died at Inverness en the 24th of August last, aged aeventytw© years, has been declared at £107,821 M» Id. By his will, dated January 11th, 186& with -» codicil made in 1880, the testatorbequeaths £1000, all his furniture lid household effects, and all stocks and iheres, to hia wife. Lady Alfred Paget, absolutely, and the use for her life of his plate and pictures, and the income for life «| all his residuary estate. The testator bequeaths £400 to an old servant, £100 to fte steward of his yacht, £100 to Lord - listowel and Mr Frederick Cox, the iaaxer, two of the executors of bis will, iad hie gold watch and chain, and a piece date, won. by his yacht Rosalind, to Mr Soger Eykyn, formerly named as an executor. On the death of Lady Alfred I PiMjet £5000 is to be paid from the teai' residuary estate to each of his six jjoaa, and £10,000 to each of hie seven daaghters, and the ultimate residue is to fee divided equally among them.