NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1618, 28 April 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Enteetainment at Abmubton. The “ Blackbird*,” a t roupe consisting of some of the Georgia Minstrels, and Mr John Marshall, gave a very successful «ntertainment at the Ashburton Town Hall on Saturday evening, to an excellent house. To-morrow night the same troupe appear at the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton. Defective Abtksian Wells. —The Inspector of Nuisances to the Board of Health ha» been giving this matter some attention of late, as in many cases flagrant nuisances are caused solely by waste artesian water, which is permitted to stagnate. In connection with a complaint as to one of these, the Inspector has obtained authority to serve notice under clause 59 of the Act, Side-channel Ntrif j.—Typhoid fever has been reported from two houses which are drained by the side-cl anuel in AUen street, and in both cases the tenants attribute the sickness to the condition of that channel, which is described as being very bad indeed. The Board of Health have taken the matter in hand. Resident Magustbatb’s Oouet.— There were a large number of cases before the Court to-day, including numerous summonses under the city by-laws, but there was nothing of special interest. Dbainage and Health Boaeds.—Meetings of these Boards took place this morning. A report of the proceedings appears in another column. Shipping.— -The New Zealand Shipping Company Limited has received cabled advice of the arrival at London, all well, of the Opawa, from Lyttelton, and the Lebu, from Auckland, prior to the 26th instant. Native Commission.— The commissioners appointed to enquire into certain alleged unfulfl.led promises to Natives in the Middle Island, touching land claims in different districts, held their first sitting to-day in the Oddfellows’ Hall, the proceedings being open to the public in the same way as the Native Land Court. A considerable number of Maoris arrived by the first train this morning, and were about the hall during the whole of the day. The business done to-day was uectssariiy to a great extent preliminary. Dbainage Pipes.— The barque Coromandel, now lying in the Lyttelton Harbor, has on board a quantity of nine-inch drainage pipes for Christchurch, and on the suggestion of Mr R. J. S. Harman, it has been resolved to take steps towards having the pipes landed and forwarded as soon as possible in view of works in progress, or conti mplated, for which the material is necessary. The Gaiety. —There was a capital house atjthe Gaiety on Saturday evening, when the panorama of the Russo-Turkish war was again exhibited. A Pitfall.— There is a pitfall in Manchester street, at the corner of Martin street, which certainly requires the attention of the works committee. It consists of a drain which has been broken in, and remains as a trap for the unwary. Already several have had narrow escapes of broken limbs. Zealandia.— On Tuesday evening, Messrs Willis and Seymour’s grand panorama, Zealandia, will be exhibited at the Oddfellows’ Hall. The exhibition proper comprises two panoramas and a diorama, the painting of which has occupied the wellknown artist, Mr J. S. Willis, for the last fifteen months. Those who have seen it are lavish in their praise of its artistic merit, a nd of the striking fidelity of its illustrations. A number of the pictures possess historic interest, and the series of views as they progress are veritably a pictorial history of the progress of the colony of Now Zealand. In consequence of the great number of scenes which the panorama embraces, it forms two nights’ entertainment. The first half of it comprises the entertainment of Tuesday night. Amongst the most prominent of the scenes are views of the Bay of Islands, Kawau, Auckland in 1848 and at the present day, the wreck of the Orpheus in the Manukau, Taranaki, death of Major Yon Tempsky, French Pass, Otira Gorge, Mount Cook in a spow storm, Lyttelton and harbor, and a dumber of other interesting views. The second part of the panorama, which will embrace Wellington and the public buildings of Christchurch and Dunedin, will be exhibited in about six weeks’ time. Football. —The members of the C.F.O. mustered in strong force on Oranmer square on Saturday afternoon, to contest the match North v South of Cashel streets. Shortly after the commencement of the game the Northerners, who numbered some half-dozen in exces* of their opponents, worked the ball well into the quarters of the Southern side ; but the latter, who were all playing well on the ball, defended their goal in a very plucky manner, and time after time took the ball from close on to their own line down into mid-ground. Just before the close of the first spell Anderson, who was playing for the North in capital form, seized the ball on its coming through a scrimmage, and ran in and secured a touch-down, which was afterwards converted into a goal by a kick from Hartland. Shortly after this the Southerners worked the ball well into their adversaries’ ground, and through a smart bit of play on the part of Boulton, obtained what appeared to be a touch-down, but on an appeal to the captains of either side it was disallowed. Play was again resumed, and continued without any further definite results till just at the close of the third spell, when a lucky kick from Williams added another goal to the credit of the North side. In the last spell both sides played up hard on the ball, but no alteration was made in the score till about five minutes before the close of the game, when Stringer got hold of the ball and made a dart through his opponents to behind the Southerners’ line, which resulted in Hartland’s kicking another goal for the North, the match ending in favor of the latter side by three goals to nothing. Though the South side were unable to score, the game throughout was very pluckily contested by them, Boulton, Ollivior, and Lewin being particularly energetic forward, whilst Alack and Cottorill did good service as backs. Ot the North side Anderson and Mathias played well as backs, that of Anderson being particularly good. Stringer also played well, and ut times appeared in something like his old iorra. Among the forwards Evans, Hartlard, at d Shim-ff were the most prominent, and exerted themselves to the utmost throughout tho game.

Storting. —The nominations for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechases, which were received on Saturday evening, promise good sport. For the Maiden the e are fitteen nominated, for the Grand National Handicap sixteen, while twelve came forward tor tne Hunt Club Cup. Ranoiora Water Supply. —At the meeting of the Borough Council on Friday evening it was resolved that steps be taken to test the water supply scheme proposed by the Mayor (Mr Blackett.) Should the project be satisfactory, it is expected that an excellent supply will be obtainable from the Ashley at a high level, and the force through the mains will be sufficient to throw a jet in case of tire over tbo highest building in the borough. _ Mr Blackett contends for his scheme that it is not a costly one, and may be undertaken within present moans of the municipality. Chinese Djamonds.—Mi, Fauvel, who has lately been investigating the mineral wealth of the district of Shantung, gives some interesting particulars concerning the existence of small diamonds and the method of collecting them adopted by the natives. The stones are mostly very minute, varying in size from millet seed to a pin’s head, though occasionally larger ones are met with. One recently, as largo as a pea, was brought to Chefoo, and sold to a mandarin there. The mode adopted for collecting the diamonds is very curious. Men with thick straw shoes on walk about in the sand of the valleys and atroatni) of the diamond mountain? of Chinkanglihg, some fifteen miles south-east of Yichow-fdo. The diamonds, which are ragged and pointed, penetrate the straw, and remain there. The shoes are then collected in great numbers and burnt, the diamonds being searched for in the ashes. As is the case with amethysts and rock crystal in the Lao- ihar, the priests in the temples in the Cl inkmgling are the principal dealers in these small diamonds. From them they are bought by glaziers at the largo fairs held every year at Chuehow, Laichow-foo, Hwang-hsion. They are not to bo found in shops, and are packei in quills. The Empebor William. A home cori respondent writes ; —Oa the 22nd of March the Emperor’s eighty-third birthday will be celebrated, while on the 11th June next the “ Golden Wedding” will come off, that is the fiftieth anniversary of the wedding-day of our Imperial pair. Although the Emperor has expressed a wish that all costly entertainments, and especially all presents to him might be avoided and the money intended for them bo employed rather for benevolei t purposes, there are to bo some splendid entertainments. One of them is to bo a caroussel or tournament, performed by ladies and gentlemen of our highest nobility, and if report speaks true that entertainment will surpass anything of the kind ever seen here before. Wonderful Shooting.—The following is from “Land and Water” : “Captain Bogardus on the Bth and 9th instant undertook to break in two days 0000 glass balls thrown at fifteen yards’ rise from a trap. He wagered 1000 dollars even that to accomplish this task he would do so without having to fire at 62C0 balls ; 500 dollars to 1030 dollars that not more than 6100 should be used ; and 100 dollars to 1000 dollars that they would be broken without a miss. The match lasted two days, and Bogardus broke 5680 balls without a miss, and only missed thirteen out of the whole 6000. His thumb was much burnt by the heat of the barrels, caused by such continuous firing.” Victorian Politics, —In its April summary for Europe the “Argus” says: —In politics the month has been barren of events of interest. Public dinners have taken place at Baringhup, at which Mr Service spoke, and at Caulfield—on the occasion of the opening of the railway between Oakleigh and Melbourne —and at Myrniong, at which Sir Bryan O’Loghlen and his colleagues put in an appearance. Both the Opposition and Ministerial speakers, however, have confined themselves to generalities, as both are anxious, before committing themselves to any programme for the future, to learn the result of Mr Berry’s visit to Great Britain, and so far no definite intelligence is to hand. At Emerald hill a remark made by Mr Service, attributing to Sir Bryan O’Loghlen the phrase “a nation of serf's,” led to an amusing correspondence. Sir Bryan O’Loghlen published an indignant disclaimer, but he was shown to have made the statement in an election address. At the Caulfield dinner, Mr Woods, the Minister of Railways, somewhat astonished his hearers by a fervid address in favour of assisted immigration—a policy to which the Liberal party has been strenuously opposed—and there wore those who thought that the millennium was about to be inaugurated. It appears, however, that the Government are desirous of arranging, if possible, for a direct line of steamers between hero and England in connection with the mail service, and this is their way of notifying their policy. Horticultural Society.— -At the usual monthly meeting of the Christchurch Horticultural Society to-morrow evening a show of chrysanthemums and outdoor grapes will be made, for which prizes will be awarded. City Council. —The ordinary weekly meeting of the City Council will bo held this evening at seven o’clock.

Sydenham Borough Council.— The usual meeting of this body takes place this evening. 1.0.0 P..M.U.— The anniversary of the Loyal Woodend Lodge is to he celebrated on Thursday, May Bth, by a dinner and ball at Conway’s White Crane Hotel. Tai lapu Public Library.— The annual meeting of the subscribers to this library will take place at eight o’clock to-morrow evening. St. Mart’s, Merivale.— The first parochial entertainment in connection with this church will be given in the parish schoolroom, Papanui road, at eight o’clock to-morrow evening.