NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 128, 28 October 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Public Buildings, Lyttelton. The first stone of the new public buildings at Lyttelton was laid yesterday.

Telegraphic.—The steamer Hero is expected to leave Auckland at noon on Thursday the 29th instant. Telegrams for the Australian colonies or Europe will be received at the Telegraph office for transmission to Auckland till 11 a.m, of the 29th. Philosophical Institute. —A special meeting of the institute will be held this evening at the Public Library, for the election of a governor and honorary member of the New Zealand Institute. Papers will be read by Dr Buller and Professor Bickerton. Diocesan Synod.—The debate on the report of the select committee on the disposal of the Church Property Estate, recommending the sale of a portion of the unlet sections, and the appropriation of £IO,OOO towards the building of the Cathedral, and the building of churches and parsonages in outlying districts, will come on at 8 p.m. this evening. Attempted Suicide.—A man named John Findlay made an attempt to cut his throat with a knife on Monday last near Longbeach station, Ashburton. Findlay had been suffering for some time from a complaint which caused him great agony, and in a fit of pain he attempted the rash act. The man was seen by Dr Trevor shortly after he made the attempt, and was brought to the hospital last night. Though he inflicted a nasty cut, he is considered to be now out of danger. Exhibition op Church Art. -In connection with the church meeting which will be held in the College Library on Friday evening there will be an exhibition of church fnrniture, embroidery, rubbings of ancient brasses, &c. The exhibits will be arranged in the gallery, and there will be a short interval during the proceedings of the meeting for their inspection. It is, we understand, contemplated to make this exhibition an annual feature of the church meeting. Intending exhibitors are requested to send any articles for exhibition to the College Library on Friday morning, after ten o'clock.

WOOLSTON Wesleyan Church.—The anniversary of the Woolston Wesleyan Church was celebrated last evening by a tea meeting, held in the new hall, Woolston. There was a fair attendance at the tea meeting, after which a meeting was held, the Rev G. Bond in the chair. The Rev B. J. Westbrooke, Messrs Dawson, Mouldey, Harding, and Spensley addressed the meeting. During the evening several pieces of music were sung by the Durham street Wesleyan choir, including the following :—" How beautiful upon the mountains," " Praise the Lord," "Behold how good," "Incline thine ear," " I will lift up mine eyes." Songs were given by the Misses Calvert, and a pianoforte solo by Mr K. Searell. A vote of thanks to the chairman and choir having been passed, the proceedings terminated by the singing of the Doxology.

Presentation.—The retirement of Mr Foreman Gourlay from his connection with the Fire Brigade was made the occasion of a very pleasant meeting last night at the Lichfield Station, when he was presented with a silver bar, to be attached to the riband of his medal, by his Worship the Mayor, on behalf of the City Council, for seven years' services, and with a handsome 28-day ormo u clock, by Mr Superintendent Harris, subscribed for by the members of the brigade. In addition to the Mayor, Crs Jones, Bishop, Ick, and Gapes, Captain Mitchell of the Fire Police, Fire Inspector Bishop, Mr D. Craig, and Mr H. E. Alport, were also present. Refreshments of a first-rate kind were provided, and after the loyal toasts and that of his Hotior the Superintendent and Executive had been disposed of, his Worship, in a very eulogistic speech, made the presentation of the bar to Mr Gourlay. Mr Superintendent Harris followed, with the presentation of the clock on behalf of the Brigade, after which Mr Gourlay's health was drunk in bumpers, with musical accompaniment. Mr Gourlay replied in an appropriate speech. The toasts of "The Fire Brigade," coupled with the name of Mr Superintendent Hams; "The Fire Police," and Captain Mitchell ; "The Insurance Companies," coupled with the name of Mr D. Craig ; " Ex-Mayors," coupled with the names of Cr Bishop and Mr W. Wilson, succeeded, and were responded to, interspersed with songs, and the meeting—which had been a most enjoyable one—broke up at an early hour. The bar bears the inscription—" For seven years' good service, October, 1874," and the clock, " Presented to H. T. Gourlay by his comrades in the Christchurch Volunteer Fire Brigade, October, 1874."

" Mrs M'Fadden has gone from this life ; she has left all its sorrows and cares ; she caught the rheumatism in both her legs while scrubbing the cellar and stairs. They put mustard plasters on in vain ; they bathed her with whiskey and rum ; but on Thursday her spirit departed, and left her body entirely numb,"

The following little " eye-openers " appear as advertisements in Saltcoats Herald, and follow each other : —" I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by my wife, Catherine Brown or Wilson.—Jacob Wilson." "Jacob Wilson is informed by his wife that she would scorn to ask credit in his name, though he left her with only one halfpenny piece in her possession, and without either fire or food.—Catherine Brown Wilson." In Brittany there is said to prevail a curious matrimonial custom. On certain/c'e days the young ladies appear in red petticoats, with white or yellow borders around them. The number denotes the portion the father is willing to give his daughter. Each white band, representing silver, betokens one hundred francs of rent; and each yellow band denotes gold, and stands for a thousand francs a year. Thus a young farmer who sees a face that pleases him has only to glance at the trimmings of the petticoat to learn in an instant what amount accompanies the wearer.