NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7262, 23 January 1889, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Cabm CoanruKicATiON^—The P»*W win hne is interrupted, but ia JZLS B *' be restored very shortly. ex P**«lto Thb Australia* Maix —-Tha . *»'"' mahana, with the Australianiaafif "j '%•*■ at the Bluff yesterday. 'xK»ft *?*** reachOlxriatchnrchSnight B » ,ta *>sMi Piscatorial.—A very Ann 0~-* the kingfish was caught off TiSSW InTXRFROVIKCIAL CbiCXKT Maw* The annual match, Otago v will be played on LancaS day and Saturday next. ** Storkk* Court.—What i« fc—__ afternoon. The jury, after an little over half an hour. returnX2*v* verdict of J65 for plaintiff, divide? *£tl excluding SjR

FMBWOBKS.-Mr P. nimgworth, mL energetic business manager for Mr Pain wasia passenger fro Dunedin *«£? day by the Takapuna. Mr IllfaS says that the two displays K*t Dunedin last week were attended t enormous crowds. *v Professor Baldwin.—This darhw to*. former arrived last night from where he successfully performed thefe* of dropping from a balloon, and wffl b*S his first drop from the clouds to-niaht 2 6.15 p.m., at the Show Grounds, Add&a-nto A report of an interview with the ProfeS appears elsewhere. ™~f

Thbatrb Rotal.—Mr Nicholson h making rapid progress with the sorae* necessary for the opening of Mr DamSft season at the Theatre Royal on Sateriiv evening next. As already stated, tS initial piece will be Mr Dan-ell's dramaS! sation of Fergus Hume's novel "Tfe Mystery of a Hansom Cab." TbeVasoa in Wellington has been most suoceaM all the pieces drawing large audiences, LVTTELTON STREETS.—Now that the Borough Council employes are engagedT the repair of the footpaths in the town S Lytteiton, a little attention to the m& leading past the Harbor Board offloa towards the railway station would "fc» greatly appreciated by the public. Hitherto it has been a source of annoyance te ladies whose dresses have been mo*. ping up the tar which oozes out into*. mittently. - - Licbnbiko Cowmittebs.—The followia* have been elected on the Licensing Qua* mittees for several districts in the Ash. burton County:—Mount Somere—Messrs Messrs W. Edson, Andrew Macfarlane, W 8. Peter, A. U. Peache, W. C. Wa&at Ashburton District—Messrs T. BullooS 3 Grigg, D. McLean, T. Scaly, D. Thoiwa." Upper Ashburton District— Messrs T. Batlock, R. Priedlander, J. Q. ResteU, ? Scaly, D. Thomas. *'

Thb Shakkspbrian Fkbtival.—The pr®. parations for this event, which opens ia the Palace Rink on the 30th instant, are being rapidly carried into effect. Tfcs first rehearsal of those who have bo Madly promised to assist in the musical part of tho ceremonial on the opening night, tool; place last evening, at Hobbs* Bnilcuni?, under the conductorship of Mr P. a! Wallace. The rehearsals ot the inarch by the various character?! will take place in the St. Aloysius Hall, Barbados street, to-night" and Thursday evening, and in the Rink on Friday next, at 1 pja. Parish of Halswsll.—A nibst success ful picnic oi the parishioners of Halswell "was held at Sumner last Friday. Threa traracars were filled by the excuraionjsfe, who left in a special tram from the Adduut* ton Show Grounds. The party, trsaap. ranged by the Rev. Herbert Eaafc, inoaoj. bent of the pariah. The day was all that such an occasion demanded, and the general enjoyment was considerably augmented by the excellent music of the Spreydon brass band. Everything connected 'with the gathering passed off most happily, and the day waa vne of real pleasure to all cq»« | earned.

Damage to Papebs in the' Pbbiw Librasr. —After a considerable spell a? freedom from such mischief, some pewao? person* have again been indulging life practice of cutting and other vnee dassssing newspapers ia the reading room of tw Publio Library. Apparently a good deal of the damage ia done put of a Bpivitef pure mischief, whilst in othor cases agaia columns, and even pagea, have been cut and taken away. The last number of tte Australasian has had several of its letwss cut almost into ribbons, and taeWeuia|' ton and Dunedin papers have suited under the dopredators r hands in differasfc ways. It is to be hoped that the c»ff«aaip may be caught and an example nwja'a some'of them, and readers'would to give information at once to the Librarian if they catch anyone in the act of mu£flg|< ing the newspapers. "

SrsE&D oif TEMPEBA»cB.->-Acoordi»|f to the statistics of the colony the tempeWKt 'agitator ß have some cause- for eonpita' lation upon tho partial success of ;tbsk efforts in lessening the immense stream cl intoxicating liquors which, is anasiUy swallowed by the colonists of New Zeal<ffl#. In 1881 the consumption of beer ate was 5,040,818ga1a; in 1887 it cams down to 4,563,086ga18. In ISBL the quantity tt spirits drank was &7LB29galsj in im this was reduced to 459,0G7ga15. Ia 1681 the quantity of wine consumed «w 165,460ga1s j in 1897 this also eaSored a depreciation : to Il7>°s9gato, '1 hua t&? reduotiouß amount to 487,732ga1a of beer, 112,822ga1a of spirits, and 47,501 gsk & ■wine, :.•■..' ' : ABHfiET COUWTT CniCKET CMJB.— A meeting was held ; at King's Junetfea Hotel, Bangiora, on Tuesday, at whisk there was a good attendance; Mr B. Wilder in the «hair. In reference to theretam match with Kaiapoi on Saturday it *w decided to postpone same, owing to tss interprovincial match. The aeetrng was mainly called to discuss tfce question of selecting a team to play a eyries of matches in the South Island. It «s decided to ascertain from certain player named whether they would be aWs to arrange to form a team for this purpose m the month of March. It was resolved ttet arrangements might be made' with iss Bicycle Club in regard to the use of tae Ashley Club's pavilion on the recreation ground. Sundry accounts were p&apaThe Hon. Secretary was desired to obsfisa opinions from experts in' regard to f* treatment of the ground and cost of JayjaiT the isame down as a pennanect cnc**« ground. After passing socae formalists*' ness the meeting then adjourned. E Batter's or Abtillbst.—The ansajM meeting of the Battery was held into? Orderly-room last night, Captain Martiis ia the chair, and a large" attendance of busk bers. The annual report and balaucesheet were read and adopted. The wgen showed that tho battery had dooe'agpw deal of useful work during the y ea? generally had progressed ia a manner) The Firing Comtoittee vepnf that-owing to the bad quality of waffle*-* tionon issue during the early part «*»j year, the battery had not done a g«** *** of ehooting, but sine© Eky ammtnHß» had been issued the battery had,©»» three matches, winning two, agate* «» Engineers, by 57 potato, and the fy** ham Club by 51 points, and losing 4» against the Kowai Club by, 4 -p«*«r Several trophic* had been fired "M*" wori by various members of A new set of rules as required ft? **£ regulations was then gone threap and adopted. It was decided to e*p**» * sum not exceeding JlOon the If***}? of gymnastic appliances. It was eided to reduce the entrance fee to ss. v* elections of Committeea resulted « *»* Iowa: —General Committee, Costley, Taifc and Lowry, Corptad ■*+ leaven, Bombadier Mason, end Henwood. Firing Committee, c Major Sinclair, Qnartemasto-Sgfl** Bengali, Sergeants Costley aad TarfjtJJ porals fienwood and TreWen, Go»a«» and Nicholson; Auditors, Nicholson and Palmer. Ser*eanWMg Sinclair and DougaU were appointed « «*„ Finance Commiftese. Burm*? too w»g Corporal Henwood was presented wittgj Sergeant's Trophy, which •him. "Lieutenant Hferrir suad a Of "farewell to the Battery* regret at leaving. elected a life ra&nberof the Battery. . -™>

usual •team excur- ** !L£«* She Wim will leave the band will lecture by Mr i physiology and the h&£S*s the Jenny land by half■JSSSnfol the above will be held Wesleyan schoolroom. Lord stSetTon the 29th inst. at 8

f% Tons Ajcbthjvscb Association.— JJUJuai meeting of theabove> wid be 25 « Friday evening next at the City o'clock when {JSUce-sheet and report will be subPass School.—The late examinflr «s£rf the Kowai Pass School was a most KSble one. The percentage of passes 2Tmj76 The percentage in the class "TLZfr was 68, and in the additional sub*2«oi Mr Bogben, the Inspector, in his £"*li jeaarks, states that the results of $*®TZLjß»tion are highly satisfactory. ™?t«Iro Largest rao* the Person. A m*" nflmed Jonn McCaliuin » wao ** Zr* nSergoing a sentence of three months' !*"r"£ n Snt for stealing an accordion, before the Court to-day Ir» charge of larceny of a cairngorm 2b*. set in gold, value JBI2 12s, from the *TTj tt - of William Wilson, in August last. Btbbtok.— A public meeting in '. Juanf to discussing the adoption of the was to have been held at West '"snatoßon Monday evening. As there was '£fa»linuied attendance, and the Coun- !«&- for the riding was not present to gZfcjß tie Counties Act, the meeting fkajTadjourned for a week. > * Motrin Sosnas. —A social gathering, in riaaectionwitk the Mount Somers PresKrteian Church, was held in the SchoolSonLon Friday last. A tea was provided wjfesdames Edson, Finlayson, Hood, Harvey, Jones, and McClhnout. ufote tea the Bey. Mr Finlayson took the ,*«*, and addresses were delivered by the f£r a. Blake, A. M. Beattie, and Mr A number of musical items -ere also contributed, and a most enjoyVtta evening spent by a very large audijnpe. The proceeds will be devoted to ~<q£ choir and harmonium funds. : BcTTAioisif. — The Excelsior Lodge Met in the Club Hotel on Monday tfon'riEi Frimo Woodhouse presiding. §g& the usual routine of business, the AffffYfctg brother was balloted for: Keate; Bro. G. H. Albrecht was &en risen to the Second Degree by Pruno i W«bb, founder of Bufraloism in New leabad. In a most impressive manner "gp ceremony was carried out. Iters being no other business, the Lodge to the private room set apart, ijasre the host, Primo S. Lawrence, had a jabatsatial repast laid out. After a ynwW of songs, a vote of thanks to the C&s&maa terminated a most enjoyable (Waning. ftaa a* FtAXTOir.—On Monday at noon +%S9 brokeont in the granary and store hoasecfMrJ.A.Brown,atFlaxton. The building, which is of timber, rrofed with Assies, burned very quickly, but wr& the Ms&xace of neighbors an adjoining part fefc the premises was saved in addition to ftores of grain, flour, harness, &c. Mr Spawn's loss will be about MOO. The Wtdmgs were insured with the South British Company for JBIOO. The distance between the granary and Mr Brown's souse placed the latter building out of danger. The owner was from home at the time of the occurrence. The origin of the $re is not known. ,"' CatfTiBBTiBT Bowuso Club. —An ordi-B&ry-meetuig of the members of the Canterbury Bowling Club was held last evenhurat the Pavilion. There were present— mx-M C. Ashby, President, in the chair, and a good attendance of members. A fetter was read from the Christchnrch Bowling Club, asking that the return intercrob match be postponed - until after the l>unedin tournament. The Secretary was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter. Messrs H. W. Toomer, jun., B. Hale and H. Oakley were elected skips.for the medal matches and tonrnameat to bo Bell "inlhinMiri in Febmary next. * A isaaber of members stated their willing- ' sess to proceed to Dunedin, representing three rinks.

Waxtoht Flat.—A highly successful faa ; meeting, and social gathering in conBsctJoa with the Wesleyan Church was Md oa Friday last at Wsitohi Flat. There was an excellent attendance of visitors from the neighboring districts, and the sssptaous tea provided by lady friends was highly appreciated. After tea the cssir was taken by Mr J. W. Miles, senior cnaat steward, and excellent addresses »c» given by the Revs. R. S. Bunn (Weskp&) and White (Presbyterian), Captain Esrv«y (Salvation Army), and Messrs SiCTH and Miles. A very efficient choir, safer tile leadership of Mr James Harrison, eoEtribated largely to the enjoyment of the

tre&iag. WtscsxsTXS Jah Factobt.—A meeting OF the shareholders of .the proposed jam factory at Winchester was held on Friday ewsiag last, Mr J. A. Young presiding. He meeting was called for the purpose of hying before the shareholders the articles of association as drafted by the Company's

II tebate. On the motion of Mr BoUeston, I tse articles as read were adopted. In the coarse of a desultory discussion, it was sixtedthst about 500 shares had been subscribed, and the expenses up to the present amounted to Is ljd per share. Mr C. C. McCarthy was asked to act as Secretary, $ea£ng the registration of the Company. Deaicatic Bhtzbtainxent at East Cooed.—On Thursday evening last (Oxfaeirace day) the popular drama "Uncle Lisa's Cabin" was repeated at the Town Eaß, East Oxford. By this means the crowds of people who were necessarily unibkto gai" admission on New Year's Day Wre consoled for their previous disap-

pcanteent, inaemuch as the several parts *efe even better taken than at the first representation. The scene " Death of Little %»* was areally excellent piece of acting, •i the scenic arrangements simply perfat W«r Carrie Fischer, as Topsy, fairly fcsaeat the house down. There was an tEaSest house. The Hall Company erected tstost commodious ticket office and en- ***&* to "the chairs and.stalls portion of fee house, and this was much appreciated. CaxtDnnr's Treat. —The annual treat feeeeseeiion with the Christebureh Workfe| Men's Club to children of members ted Meads took place last night, under ■; ftlW of the most favorable nature. ■mm were fully two hundred ehSdreh at $*tse*t, which, from their laughter, they i liawatly enjoyed. During the past few \ *4s rehearsals of the maypole and. i dances have been actively carried \ the superintendence of members ; vbftCmb, and last night were performed S to all interested. The maypole ; *«,jSscted on the lawn, and the children lß*jj£d presented a joyous appearjjj*. After this and the distribution of a ; *S6 number of prizes and toys, the I s??® , * er » were entertained at a pantowßeia the Recreation Hall. Members of ! %Jftttiety Troupe and Dramatic Class S^ various comical characters, and further amusement for their |*S|ful audience, The pantomime was js**dedby country dances in the hal Land **3 a good evening's entertainment. Show.—The Committee of the Poultry, Pigeon, Canary and 2*Saciesy have just issued the price !s*» B le.fcr their twenty-second annual 2?*5". to be held on the 17th and I** Jary next, and are to be congratuJz*<!» having arranged with Mr R. H. the energetic proprietor of the g»Skating Rink, to hold the show !?*»»»>* is very doubtful whether there jjz*°*ber buflding in the Australasian 2*gjaore suitable to show birds to [ « vice versa. Taking into c©»----1 Hft»ttß' increased interest shown by I Z^P*,«■* year, the late mmortations, eipectett «™"ds from the «te aSS**, J** Executive have added. fS£2T classes to last year's schedule. Angoras aad one for Persians S|£W*ided to tiiecats, and monkeys, jnameapiga strock out The s§ rS«2S* *• Committee deserve satb a convenient buflding

Misowic.—At the January comrmmreation of the District Grand Lodge, E.C., held recently, the following brethren were appointed to tne chief offices:—D.G. S.W., Bro. W. T. C. Mills; D.G.J.W., Bro. Bevell; D.G.S.D., Bro. Scott; D.GXD., Bro. East; D.G. Sec,Bro. W. B. Mitchell; DistrictG.Treasurer, Bro. E. C, Bishop; District G. Registrar, Bro. F. J. Smith. Independent Oadeb. op Bbchabitxs.— The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Pride of Christchnrch Tent, 1.0. R., was held on Monday evening pa. tiie Temperance Hall, Gloucester street. Bro. "W. C. Shaw, C.8., presided, and there was a fair attendance of members. Bro. Owen, a visitor from Adelaide, was present, and. received a hearty welcome. The balancesheet for the past quarter and the auditors' report were read and adopted. These showed a balance to the credit of the Tent of .£421 lis sd. The valuation report of the funds of the Tent, as prepared by Mr A. G. Wiggins, was received. The business sheet for the annual meeting of the district, which is to be held in Nelson next month, was read and discussed, and Bro. A. Palmer, the representative, was empowered how to vote on behalf of the Tent. The following are the officers of the Tentforthe ensuing term: —C JL, Bro. W. C. Shaw ; D.8., Bro. H. Henwood; Secretary, Bro. A. Palmer; Treasurer, Bro. J. Coombs; P.C.B* Bro. F. Coles; Cash Steward, Bro. C. Cross; Levite, Bro. J. Bennington; Guardian, Bro. J. T. Brown; Tent Surgeons, Drs. Mickle, Moorhouse and Hacon. After the transaction of other business, the Tent was dosed in due form.

New Zealand Bowling Association. — The Hon. J. T. Peacock, President of the New Zealand Bowling Association, has presented to the Committee JglO for a prise or prizes for competition at the forthcoming bowling tournament, to be held' in Dunedin in February next.— Otago Daily Times.

The Poet Shelley's Son.—On November 11th Sir Percy Florence Shelley, son of i the poet Shelley, celebrated his seventieth year. At the time of Sir Percy's birth (November, 1819) the poet was residing in Florence, and christened his son by the | name of the City of Flowers. At or about this period two of the poet's greatest works —the sublime "Prometheus Unbound" and the terrible " Cenci "—were written. The present baronet has done much to promote the study of his father's works. Mb Chamberlain's New Relations.— The EDdicott family, into which Mr Chamberlain is marrying; is one of the most distinguished families in the States. It reaches far back into the history of America; but the present Secretary for War, Miss Endicotfa father, is the first member of the family who has ever held a prominent place in politics. Before entering on the duties of War Minister Mr Endicott was a member of the Supreme Court of Justice. He is President of the Peabody Academy of Sciences in Salem, and has used his official position to encourage scientific research, Clyde Ship Buildino. —Taking round figures for it, the returns show that the tonnage launched on the Clyde in October last was greater than that launched during any October for tho last ten years, not excepting the October of the sensational building year, ISB3. The figures were in October, 1878, 14,000 tons; October, 1888, 39,000 tons; and the amount varies in. the years between ranging up to 35,000 tons in 1883. The totals for the year ending October 3lßt, however, show that in 1883 there was tonnage equal to 419,000 tons, as against only 260,000 in 1888. Heavy Claim. —It will be remembered (says the Napier Telegraph) that on the night of the fire on board the barque Langstone, the Weka took off the Spit mannal engine, and remained alongside the vessel while the fire was being got under. Messrs Kinross and Company were offered and accepted £20 for similar service done by their steamer, the Ahuriri; but Messrs Richardson and Co., owners of the Weka, demand £2000, and have issued a writ for that amount. The registrar went out to the Langstone in the Weka to put a man " in possession" of the vessel, but on getting alongside Captain Tonkin declined to allow anyone on board, andMr Birch had to return to the shore without effecting his purpose. The matter ia sure to be the subject of a lengthy lawsuit.

| Copfbb Sheathino fob Ibott Ships.—lt I is not too much to believe that the inventor of a means of sheathing iron or steel ships with copper, and so minimise the fouling of vessels in salt water, has already a large fortune in his possession. The enamel patents, the anti-f onling paints and compositions, however good, would find a power fnl rival in such a discovery. After years of study a Mr Clark, of Adelaide, claims to have solved the problem which has baffled the attempts of many hundreds of workers in metals. TKh secret consists in the use of a flux which overcomes like a charm the difficulty that has heretofore been expe.rienced in bringing the two metals together. Proofs of the value of his discovery have been given by h*r" in the presence of practical men quite recently. The iron has in some cases been covered with a coating of copper, in others with a coating of muntz metal, a still more intractable material. The course adopted is to reduce the iron to a white heat, then sprinkle on it some of the mysterious flux, and next pour over it the molten copper or muntz metal, which at once adheres to it so firmly that it is physically impossible to effect a separation. A Stoby of the Egyptian Wab.—The British soldier 1b in some respects as simple and unaffected as ever. Here is a ease in point (says Vanity Fair). A gunner in the Royal Artillery, in one of the recent fights in Egypt, was serving a gun, round which a fierce contest with the Arabs was taking place, and wielded a rammer shillelaghfashion with such energy that he broke it. Tfia gallantry being conspicuous, he was the next day called before his commanding officer, in order that the circumstances might be inquired into, and the man, if Ms gallant conduct could be established, recommended for the Victoria Cross, The gunner, quite misapprehending the object of the inquiry, and unaware that he had done more than his simple duty, imagined that he was brought before a Board held to examine into the circumstances under which a certain article —to wit, a rammer, the property of the War Office —had been destroyed. Scarcely, therefore, had the inquiry begun than he naively confessed his guilt, and appealed ad misericordiam. He frankly admitted that be had broken the rammer, but, pleading that he had no other weapon handy, earnestly promised that "he would never do it again!" Tra Bogus Doctor. —Another remarkable fact in connection with the late " Dr. I Drummond,'' who absconded from Ashneld with his wife's money, about three months ago, has (says the Sydney Morning Herald) been established. When the investigations concerning the diplomas under which the so-called " Dr. Drummond" was practising showed that they had been stolen in 1875 from Dr. Drummond, of Rome, by his assistant, the Sydney detective police suspected that the individual practising in Ashneld with the diplomas in question might be the man who stole them from their rightful owner. Dr. Drummond, of Rome, stated m a letter that he believed that the assistant who robbed him had afterwards committed suicide. Notwithstanding this the detective department forwarded a photograph of the impostor to Dr. Drummond, of Rome, and they have now received a confirmation of their suspicions. Dr. Bmnunond, of Rome, recognises the photograph as that of the assistant who robbed him in 1875, and who he believed had oommitted suicide. The impostor's real name was George Vere Wood. The establishment of theidentity of the false doctor is the connecting link in the remarkable history of the once prosperous Ashneld practitioner.