NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 115, 13 October 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Magisterial. —There were no criminal cases brought before the Resident Magistrate this morning.

The VVaimakariri.—A public meeting is convened to be held at the Kaiapoi Institute on Thursday, to consider matters in connection with the overflow of the river. Merivale Entertainment, —An entertainment consisting of music and a comedy by the Avonside Dramatic Club, will take place this evening in the schoolroom.

Victoria Bridge. —ln view of the approaching alteration of this bridge by the City Council, it is intended to close the place at which horses are now watered at an early date.

f-’CHOOL Committees. —The annual meetings of ratepayers in the various districts for the election of school committees and auditors took place last evening. Reports of the proceedings at the various town and suburban meetings will bo found elsewhere.

Lecture. —A lecture will be delivered in the Hicearton schoolroom to-morrow evening by Mr J. H. Twentyman on “ The present religious movement in England.” The lecture was intended to have been given some time since, but was postponed owing to Mr Twentymau’s illness.

Proclamation.— The proclamation by the Victorian Government, revoking a former proclamation rendering vessels from Lyttelton liable to quarantine, is published in the Gazette.

Inquest. —The unfortunate man who was found drowned in the Heathcote on Sunday was yesterday identified as Jonathan Lilly, An inquest was held on the body yesterday, and a verdict of “ Found drowned ” recorded. Arrival of the Governor.— The s.s. Taranaki, Captain Wheeler, arrived in harbour this morning, at 8 p.m., from Dunedin, having on board his Excellency the Governor, his Aide-de-Camp, and Mr Gully. Captain McLellan met them at the Gladstone Pier, and telegraphed to Christchurch for a special train, by which Messrs Montgomery and Maude arrived. The party proceeded to Christchurch about 9 a.m. We hear that the Governor expressed himself highly satisfied with the improvements in Lyttelton since his last visit. The wharves looked quite gay with the display of bunting. We hear that his Excellency proceeds North by the s s. Taranaki to-morrow.

Blood Stock.— Mr J. Greaves, who arrived in the Natal Queen, brings two blood horses with him, one a chestnut gelding, three years old, and the other a dark brown entire colt, two years old. They both arrived in first-rate order, their quick passage from Hobart Town not appearing to have injured their health in the smallest degree. They are full brothers, by Architect by Peter Wilkins (imported) dam Black Bess by Mr Rose’s phantom, the grand-dam by “Plenipo,” bred by Mr Field, by Little John out of Pet ny Bolivar, grand-dam Whizgig by Whalebone, great great grand-dam by Peter Fin. We had no opportunity of seeing the entire out of his box, but he looks, as far as we can judge, to bean acquisition to our blood stock. Cricket. —On Saturday next two matches will be played at Hagley Park, viz., Married v Single, and an Alphabetical Match, A to G vHto Z. It is requested that the players named below will, if members of the U.G.C.0,, give notice of their willingness to play, to Mr E. C. J. Stevens, and if members of the C.C.0,, give notice to Mr E. Fowler, not later than Thursday next. Play will begin at 2 p.m. Married—Messrs Alpe, Cardale, G. Dickinson, Dixon, B. Fowler, Mclntyre, Monck. Reeder, Stuart, E. C. Stevens, G. Turner, J. Wood. Single— Messrs Beard, Corfe, B. Cotterill, H. Cotterill, D’Emden, J. Fowler, Fuller, Maples, T. R. Moore, A. Ollivier, Souter, Sweet, A. C. Wilson, A to G —Messrs Allison, Anson, Asquith, A. Cook, Chapman, Condell, Colmore, W. Cuff, Dawe, Deacon, M. Dickinson, Eyes, Frith, Glen. Hto Z—Messrs Harding, Jacobsen, Knox, Macquarie, Mainwaring, O’Connell, L. M. Ollivier, Parkerson, Reade, Seaton, Shelton, Triggs, Watson, Webb, J. H. Wilson.

Board op Conservators.— The usual meeting of the Board was held yesterday at noon. Present —His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Hon J. T, Peacock, and Mr Fisher. A letter was read from the overseer stating that the flood had done no harm to the works at the Waimakariri defences. The only alteration that had taken place was that tbe river had cut itself a fresh channel more to the south than before. The Board expressed an opinion that it should receive each meeting a full report of the works in progress from the overseer. It was resolved that in future all accounts passed for payment should be entered in the minute-book. A letter was read from Mr James Johns, of the River Styx, asking that the Board would take steps to prevent his land being overflowed, as at present the Waimakariri had come on to his land, section 699, adjoining the railway bridge on the south bank of the Styx. The secretary was instructed to acknowledge receipt of the letter. The Board then adjourned after passing several accounts.

SouthbridGtß .—An inquest was held at the Boyal Hotel, Southbridge, on Saturday, the 10th inst,on the body of Frederick William Fagan, aged 16 years, who came to an untimely end in the Bakaia river on Wednesday last, before W, B. C, Christie Esq, (coroner), and a jury of whom Mr Alex. Webster was chosen foreman. It appeared from the evidence of James Miles, a lad who had accompanied deceased, whilst in charge of a two horse dray to search for firewood on the bed of the Hakaia river, that, having obtained a sufficient quantity to make up the load, they started on their return journey. The deceased was riding on the shaft horse, whilst witness was sit ing on the top of the load, By some means, when crossing the last stream, which was both deep and rapid, the horse on which he was riding fell, and after being with difficulty extricated from his harness, bolted. In order to reach the bank in safety the lads then both mounted the remaining horse, which had not proceeded far before it likewise stumbled, thereby throwing the deceased into the body of the stream, after which he was never seen alive. The witness however managed to cling to the horse’s mane and was enabled to reach the land, although with great difficulty in safety. After searching for a considerable period the banks of the stream and not finding the deceased, he hurried at his utmost speed to acquaint the father, who lived about a mile and a half from the scene of the occurrence. Michael Fagan, father of the deceased, deposed to seeing the horses, in charge of which the two lads had left his residence in the morning in saerch of firewood, returning to their stables about dinner time without the dray. Fearing an accident had occurred, he hurried to the river, on his way to which he was met by the last witness, who informed him of what had happened. He then hastened down to the river, and after searching the various spits for some time discovered the body of his sou about a mile below the scene of the accident quite dead. The jury in face of the evidence adduced, on the recommendation of the coroner returned a unanimous verdict of “Accidentally Drowned.” At the close of the inquest one of the jurors who had absented himself on this as well as on a former occasion, appeared before the coroner, by whom he was informed of the fine to which he exposed himself, and considering the inconvenience such delays caused to the public and disrespect shown by such behaviour, he (the coroner) would be compelled to impose the full penalties of the law’ should such conduct be repeated.

An alderman, who prided himself on his sense of justice, was called upon to estimate the damage which a cow had done ’n a garden. He viewed the premises and gave liberal damages, whereupon he was introduced to the marauding cow, that turned out to be his own, whereat the conscientious alderman was profanely enraged,