NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1535, 18 January 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Distect Coukt. —The newly established District Court will hold its first sitting, before Judge Ward in the Provincial Council Chamber, on Monday, at 11 a.m. The following cases are set down for hearing-Bray v Huchivson and Bennett; Klaus v G-raban ; Hofmeister’s Trustee v Marks; Vincent and Co. v Do Cosla ; Petition of Maria Benjamin under Stamp Duties Act, 186(3. The South Town Belt Nuisance.— The question of (his nuisance is in a fair way of being settled one way or the other. At the meeting of the Board of Health yesterday a number of complaints were read on the subject, and Mr Harman wan instructed to fee the City and Sydenham Councils in order that they might arrange between themselves to take steps to abats the nuisance If they do not, Mr Harman is instructed to obtain legal advice with a view to proceedings being at once taken to put a stop to a nuisance that has now become unbearable.

Tjie Proposed Town Hall.— A deputation, consisting of Mr E. C. J. Stevens, M.H.R., and his Worship the Mayor and Os. Q-apes, Wilson, and Binstead, last evening waited upon the Attorney-General in reference to the market reserve, to see if there was any probability of obtaining a grant to the City Council unreservedly for the purposes of a town hall and municipal offices. Mr Stout expressed his opinion that the Government would entertain the application favorably and would remove the present reservation on the site in question, so that it could be need for the purpose for which it is desired by the City Council. Tub Mayor’s Cup— The Mayor’s Cup, for presentation to the best scorer in the district prize firing, is on view at the establishment of Mr Sandstein, jeweller, Cashel street. The cup, which is a yery handsome one, measures thirteen inches in height. It has engraved around it three figures of riflemen standing at ease, firing standing, and kneeling. There is also a circular belt for the inscription of the name of the winner. The lid of the cup is surmounted with the figure of a rifleman, and the whole design is very neat.

Typhoid in Immigrant Ships.— At yesterday’s meeting of the Local Board of Health, the medical oflicer brought forward the question of the groat prevalence of typhoid fever in immigrant vessels arriving in various ports of Sew Zealand. Hr. Powell expressed his opinion that the disease was engendered for the most part by the bad v.-.v er supplied on board the immigrant vessels. He was instructed to draw up a report on the subject, with a view to the matter being brought officially under the notice of the Government. Merchants Employes’ Picnic. — A meeting was held at the Scotch Stores last evening, lo consider tho question of the annual picnic of the merchants’ employee. The balance-sheet of last picnic was brought up, showing a balance in hand. The accounts as presented were adopted. Messrs Barrington, Horwell, and Oanott were appointed a committee to issue circulars to the merchants’ employes of the city, inviting them to attend an adjourned meeting next week, to fix tho date of the picnic and to take the necessary steps for holding the same, The Local Board of Health. —At the first meeting of the newly elected Board of Health yesterday Mr K. J. S. Harman was elected chairman for the ensuing term of three years, A good deal of business w.->« transacted.

Fiee Brigade Committee. —At the meetinjv of the committee yesterday the chairman (Cr. Gapes) stated that the Government had given instructions for the connection by telegraph of the fire brigade stations with the Government buildings. The Associated Insurance Companies have also agreed to defray the expense of connecting the house of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade with the brigade stations by means of the telephone. AQUATICS. —A senes of pair-oar races for prizes presented to the Union Rowing Chib by Mr Saudstein, will take place on the Avon this afternoon, the course being from Pratt’s to the Willows. The races will be rowed in heats, for which the following entries have been received : —II. Keith, R. J. Gilchrist, v S. Johnston, P. Fuller ; C. Allard, J. R. Johnston, v F. C. Bowley, T. Wormald ; F. A. Button, J. Thompson. The last crew will row the winners of the first heat. First Grain of the Season. —The first grain of the season arrived in Christchurch yesterday, a consignment of several waggon loads reaching this city from the district of Southbridge at an early hour. The grain season has now fairly commenced, and every effort has been made by the railway authorities to meet the demand on their rolling stock. During the present week no less than 80 trucks have been turned out from the railway workshops.

Drapers’ and Clothiers’ Picnic—A meeting of the committee appointed to make arrangements for the forthcoming picnic was held last evening at the Commercial Hotel, Mr Gray in the chair. A general meeting of the whole of the trade will take place on Monday evening, to reconsider the question of place of holding the picnic, as there seems to be some diversity of opinion as to the suitability of the spot originally selected— Governor’s Bay. Local Board of Health Funds.—The newly-elected Board of Health again find themselves short of funds, and they yesterday resolved to apply to the Drainage Board at its next meeting for an imprest of £2OO. Steel Rails.—The work of replacing the iron with steel rails is going on apace. During the present week some two miles of iron metal south of Selwyn have been taken up and replaced with 521 b. steel rails. Drainage Work in Antigua street.— At yesterday’s meeting of the Drainage Board a tender amounting to £l6Bolßs 6d, was accepted for works to be at once commenced in Anting ua street, in connection with the general scheme of drainage for Christchurch.

Rangiora Horticultural Society. —The committee have decided to hold an autumn show for the exhibition of flowers, fruit, and vegetables, on March 6th. About thirty-seven special prizes have been offered, in addition to those given by the society. The Railway Employes’ Mutual Benefit Society. —The committee of this society held a meeting last night, to consider the applications for the clerkship of the society. Mr E. A. Dowden was elected to that office, and will commence his duties as soon as possible. The Southern Railway. have been sent to the Mayor and Corporation of Christchurch by the Railway authorities to accompany the official excursionists on the first through trip from Christchurch to Invercargill. The journey will occupy two days. A start will be made on Tuesday morning, the travellers sleeping that night in Dunedin. The journey will be resumed and completed the following day. During the brief stay of the civic party in Dunedin, the opportunity will be taken to acquire information as to the water supply, and such other particulars of interest as may be connected with municipal matters generally. Railway Volunteer Eire Brigade.— This newly-formed, or rather re-formed, fire brigade held their first drill last evening, when it was intimated that Mr Ranken had written to the secretary declining the honor of being the superintendent, as ho lived too far away to be of any service to the brigade, and thanking the brigade for having appointed him. It was then resolved that the brigade place themselves entirely under the orders of Mr Merson, who is now the foreman, and who has had long experience in the London fire brigades, Mr McFarlano was appointed the engineer. Most of the members present being residents in Sydenham, seemed to take great interest in the new brigade. After Foreman Merson had given a descriptive address to the men, the several parts, such as the hose, branches, &c., were unshipped, and so on, to show how to use them. Every man was appointed to a post, and told what was expected of him, that is, should their services be required before they are thoroughly in working order. It was also intimated that the next drill would bo on Monday next, at 7 p.m. The brigade now numbers twenty-eight men, and it is only intended to have thirty. It may not be out of place to mention that with a night watchman always on duty, and others of the railway staff, beside horses in a stable, at hand, with a little practice the railway brigade should be equal to any in the colony.

The Clutha Protective Works.— Ths work of river bank protection (says the Clutha Leader ”) continues to bo proceeded with in a very energetic and satisfactory manner. A week or two will suffice to complete the present temporary works, which so far as gone, have completely arrested further encroachment. They have during the past week been subjected to a very severe test, as the river has been in a state of high flood, but they have stood the test, and their progress has not even been interrupted. But for these works we have no doubt whatever the river would before now have reached Charlotte street. There is now, however, every prospect that its progress has been stayed, and that it will never be allowed to do more damage than lias already been accomplished. We learn that the permanent works to be undertaken will, bo of the most substantial character, and such as will entirely meet the necessities of the case.

Hard Times on the Coast. —Some of the Banks at Hokitika have lately been giving an additional turn to the screw, whereat the “ West Coast Times” thus remonstrates;— At the present moment something like a panic has set in. Stable men are being called suddenly to realise upon their resources, cheques and bills are being dishonored in shoals, advances of the smallest amounts, and for the most limited periods, are not to be had. Public bodies to whom largo sums are payable from the General Government cannot raise a loan of the smallest description in advance. The folly of calling in every shilling in this way, and otherwise forcing men to realise at a moment’s notice, does more than restrict development, it cripples and destroys the very life of every branch of trade and industry. What principle, or policy, or discretion, can justify the sudden demand to pay up at a moment’s notice. What sanity is there in forcing old and tried customers of years standing, who can shew good available assets of live pounds for every one they owe, to become their own bankers, and cripple their trading power ? The responsibility on the banks will be great indeed, if through capriciousness or folly they thus create obstacles to the restoration of a healthy industrial life. Could the banks themselves pay their liabilities, if suddenly called upon to do as they are doing to others ? Their action at the present juncture seems to us inexplicable. Possibly their keen efforts to pay fifteen and sixteen per cent, dividends year after year, may have unhinged their resources, and embarrassed their abilities. Even so, their policy seems to us suicidal, for (heir action must end in the conversion of what otherwise probably would bo fair assets, into dead losses. There can be no other conclusion than this, that some of the banking institutions are extremely hard pressed ror lunds. It cannot be otherwise. But, if this is the course they intend to adopt, to obtain the nswfisary relief, if the same sudden turns of the screw are to bo applied indiscriminately throughout the colony, as they have been during t his, and the past week in Westland, the action will bo certain to recoil upon those who have instituted such a mistaken, unwise, and suicidal lino of policy.

Temperance Hotel Company, The shareholders of this projected company will hold « meeting in the. old Temperance Hall, (iloaccster street, next Thursday evening, tor the purpose of forming the company and electing a permanent, directory.

Hospital anjo Charitable Aid Board. —Thu 'A-wd weekly meeting of this Board will iaxe place at the Hospital gt four o’clock on afternoon.

Sale of Race Horses.—A sale of wellknown race horses was advertised to take p'ace yesterday afternoon at the stables of Messrs Millett and Griffith. There was a very largo attendance, but only two horses changed hands, viz., Laertes, by Maribyrnong, out of Frolic, for 450 guineas (purchaser, Mr P. Butler), and Javelin, by Yattendon, out of Lilia, for 300 guineas (purchaser, Mr F. W. Dolamain). Jangler, by Traducer, out of Tantrums, was bought in at 475 guineas. Testimonial to Db. Donald.—A number of influential residents in Canterbury, headed by the Mayor of Lyttelton, the Yen. Archdeacon Dudley, and Mr John Ollivier, have formed themselves into a committee for the purpose of presenting Dr. Donald with a testimonial on the occasion of his retirement from the public service. Public subscriptions have been advertised for, and from the esteem in which Dr, Donald is invariably held, there is little doubt that contributions will come in freely.

Cruelty to Cattle.—Attention has been before called to the manner in which cattle are treated, both in their transportation over the railway lines and in shipping them at the wharves at Lyttelton. A case in point occurred yesterday. On the arrival of the freight train from Addington at Port with cattle for shipment by the steamer Wallabi, it was found that in one of the box care, into which eight beasts were packed, five of the number were lying dead, having been suffocated in the six hours they were on the journey. From another waggon one was hauled out dead, evidently from the same cause, and one was as nearly as possible at the last gasp. All the cattle carried in the same style of waggon, namely, the covered goods waggons, were scarcely able to stand from exhaustion. Mr W. Keith, of Lincoln road, shipper of the cattle, states that he ordered proper open topped waggons from the railway authorities, but only a few were supplied, and he had to take what he could got.