NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume II, Issue 146, 20 November 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Confirmation. —The rite of confirmation will be administered at Holy Trinity Church, Lyttelton, on Sunday nexC The Right Rev the Primate will officiate. Sons of Temperance. — A special meeting of the Perseverance Division, No 4. will be held this evening at the Temperance Hall, Gloucester street. Cricket, —Cricketers who took part in the matches begun last Saturday, English v. Colonials, and LJ.C.O.C. v. second Eleven of C.C.C.,are reminded that both those matches will be continued next Saturday. Play will begin at 2 p.m, and it is particularly requested that those taking part will be punctual in their attendance. Chamber of Commerce. —The usual monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was to have been held yesterday; but after waiting half an hour, there was not a sufficient number of members present to form a quorum, and the meeting lapsed. The chairman mentioned that arrangements had been made whereby the Chamber would receive shipping telegrams during the present quarter.

Aquatics in Lyttelton. —An open boat race is we learn arranged to take place in Lyttelton on Saturday afternoon next. The competing boats are two from the ship Dorette, one from the Merope, and two centre board waterman’s boats from the steps, the former boatshre to be sailed by officers from the respective ships, and the latter by amateurs residing in the town ; the race will come off about 2 p.ra., and the course is we learn from the Dorette about half way down the harbour and back. St. Pauls, Papanui. —The last of the series of the entertainments, in aid of the funds of the above church was given last evening, there being about 120 people present. Songs were sung by Mrs W. Palairet. Misses Stringer and Spenaley, and readings by the Rev E. A. Lmgard and Mr W. C3L Brittain. Mr and Miss Spensley gave some amusing vocal duets, which were warmly applauded, and the entertainment was brought to a close by the laughable farce, “An unwarrantable intrusion,” given by numbers of the Avonside Dramatic Club, and the warm applause they received, testified to their audience’s appreciation. A pleasant evening’s entertainment was brought to a close by a vote of thanks from the Rev F. G. Brittain, to those who had kindly tendered their services on the occasion.

Sunday Observance League, The committee of the Sunday Observance League met last evening in the Music Hall, the president, Mr J. H. Twentyraan in the chair. It was agreed that the second address be delivered by the Rev J. Buffer in the Wesleyan schoolroom, Durham street, on Friday evening, November 27th, at 7.30. The subject of the address to be '‘The connection between Sabbath Observance and Temporal Prosperity.” It was further resolved to make this meeting as well known as possible, so as to invite the fullest and freest discussion. The president read extract of a letter from the Rev L. Moore, late of Pananui, concerning the discussion in the Victorian Legislature on the proposal to open public institutions there on the Lord’s Day, when the following resolution was moved by Rev Mr Buffer, and seconded by Mr F. C. Farr, and carried unanimously—“ That the committee of the League rejoice to find that the attempt to open the Museum and other public institutions in the colony of Victoria ©n Sundays has been defeated. They accept this fact as an indication of a deepening conviction of the importance of a day of rest As far as is known to the committee the Province of Canterbury stands alone among the British dependencies in opening such institutions on Sundays, and they renew their expression of re gret that it should occupy the position.” After making arrangements for future proceedings, the committee adjourned to meet on 17th December next,

Canterbury Jockey Club.—A committee meeting of the C.J.O. will be held this evening at Warner’s Hotel, at eight o’clock. Volunteer Engineers’ Dinner. —The tenth anniversary dinner of the Canterbury Volunteer Engineers was held last evening at the Shades. A capital spread, most creditable to Mr Blyth, the caterer, was provided, to which twenty-seven officers—members and guests—sat down. The chair was filled by Captain Pavitt, Lieutenant Stuart and cx-Sergeant-major Turner being in the vicechairs. After the covers had been cleared, the usual loyal toasts were given and honoured, when permission was granted to “light up,” which was very generally availed of. The list of toasts comprised, “ The Health of his Honor the Superintendent,” “ Lieutenant-Colonel Packe,” “ Volunteers and Officers Present,” “ Visiting Civilians,” “Dr Frankish,” “ Captain Pavitt,” “ Ex-Sei’geant-major Turner and Honorary Members of the Corps,” “ Dr Campbell,” “ Staff Sergeants,” “ The Host,” interspersed with songs ; and, at eleven o'clock, the company broke up with “ God save the Queen,” having spent a very enjoyable evening.

The English Mail. The chaitman of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr L. B. Nathan, has handed the Press following documents respecting the closing of the English mail yesterday at an earlier hour than previously advertised; —“Lyttelton, November 9th.— I beg to give you notice that the s.s. Ladyhud will leave this port for Wellington and Northern ports’ on Wednesday, November 18th, at 4 p.m. G.’Mackay. —The Postmaster, Lyttelton.” Subsequently, and 24 hours prior to the sailing of the steamer, the agent gave the Postmaster notice, under date of 17th November, that the steamer yould leave at 1 p.m.—Mr FitzGibbou then telegraphed to the Postmaster at Lyttelton as follows: —“Christchurch, 17th November. Will agents of Ladybird not give you a notice for later time than I p.m. I have been advertising English mail to close at 2 p.m. This alteration will cause much inconvenience to the public.” To this the Postmaster replied as follows:—“Lyttelton, November 17th. Ladybird must sail at 1 p.m. to-morrow to catch steamer at Auckland, as she has a lot of work to do in Wellington.” The Opera. —Verdi’s opera of “II Trovatore ” was repeated last night to a capital house. Miss May’s acting and singing in the part of Leonora was worthy of ail praise. Where all was so good it is hard to make a selection, but we may instance her singing of “ Can I believe the vision blest,” her singing in the miserere scene, and the concluding aria, “ Rather a thousand deaths I’d die,” which was beautifully sung, and dessrved far more recognition at the hands of the audience than it received. In the dying scene Miss May was exceedingly effective, her acting being natural and not in the least degree overstrained. She was recalled at the close of the acts, and received a perfect ovation of bouquets. Miss Lambert did her best as Azncena, but she is overweighted with the part. In “ Home to our mountains” she sang very well, and also in the finale to the second act. Mr Hallam was in fine voice, and sang excellently. He gave “ Tremble ye tyrants ” most effectively, and also sang very well in “Ah che la mortc.” Mr Templeton deserves every credit for his rendering of the part of the Count di Luna, and he sang his music excellently, his rendering of “ II Balen” being a great improvement on the previous night. The other parts were creditably sustained. The choruses went fairly, but they have hardly yet succeeded in mastering thoroughly the dramatic character of the music. Mr Richardson, jun, played the harmonium accompaniment to the “Miserere” very well. To-night the favorite opera of “ Satanella” will be given, the title role of which is one of Miss May’s best parts, added to which the music throughout is excellent.

A Yankee process-server, proverbially smart even among that smart race, who had a writ to serve, ascertained that the defendant was dead. Tossing the summons over the wall of the cemetery, he made return upon the writ that he had left the summons at the last and usual place of abode. Messrs Clark and Co, of Old Bond street, have held a public sale of the Claimant’s jewellery and other effects, which had come into the possession of the trustee of his bankrupt estate. The catalogue included Orton’s gold chronometer, snuff-box, fuseecase, &c., all with the Tichborne crest emblazoned upon them. Presents from Mr Guildford Onslow and other supporters were brought to the hammer, and, as a rule, they fetched about double their value.

A young Aberdeen minister, good, looking and agreeable enough in manner and appearance, but somewhat thin and delicate, was introduced for the lirst time to one of his hearers. After he had departed the latter said to his wife—“ Jean, woman, I dinna ken what to mak o’ oor new minister.” He’s weel-fauled, and 1 maist think he’ll be weel liket here ; but wae’s me, he’s been illwintered where he cam frae.”

The people of the South-west have a wit all their own, as witness the trick recently played upon the authorities of Jefferson, Texas. The policemen have been without pay for live months, and their wives were at their wits’ end to feed the children. A consultation was held, and one lady undertook, if the matter were left to her, to bring the financial department to toe the mark. Her sisters in suffering took her at her word, and next day she had the whole force arrested and brought before the magistrate as “ vagrants, without any visible means of support.’ The process was successful, and the men got their money.

A ghost (says Josh Billings) is about 5 foot 7 inches in height, and weighs from four to six ounces. They are of the maskuline and feminine natur, but principally nutur. They aint afraid ov nothing, and will hang around a graveyard az kareless az a skoolboy will around a norchard in green apple time. They are like a grate menny other things in this world —often heard ov, bul seldum seen, I will give 15 hundred dollars to see a ghost, and 250 dollars more to own one ; but i want one kaught whole and not hurt. Mi friend Phineas T. Barnum will take a whole drove ov them at the same price per ghost. Therefore bring your ghosts. Ghosts allwus dress in a wite nitegown sort of rig, and are the quickest that have ever been trotted out yet. Their ordinary gait iz a mile in a secund, but it iz sedfor a purse they can beat this handy. I would really like to see one go in publik for mutiny —private time is allwus suspishus, Whi don’t some of our agricultural boss trot assosiashuns offer a ghost puss, free for all ghosts. It would draw like a mustard plaster in the month of of August, Ko it would.