NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1622, 2 May 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Kindness to Animais.—A touching instance of kindness to animals is related to have occurred last week at Waimate. A woman named Mrs Cunningham, who had heen on a visit to her husband at Elephant Hill, was being driven home in a spring cart, when the horse bolted, and the horse was capsized over an embankment on the top of Mrs Cunningham. The driver, who escaped unhurt, with great presence of mind is said to have unharnessed the horse, covered it carefully with a rug, and then having released the imprisoned lady, he placed her sitting on a bank without any protection while ho went for assistance. She was found in a cold, weak Btate by a kind-hearted hotelkeeper, and conveyed in a buggy to Waimate. The horse is doing well.

Bells in Cabs.—At different times during the day lately there might be heard a considerable ringing of small bells in tho vicinity of the City Hotel, and to those who do not understand the meaning of it tho effect is slightly puzzling. The explanation is this: —Some little time since the City Council resolved that all cabs should contain Bignal bells in the same way as the omnibuses in large cities at home. . The intelligent Jehus who, perhaps, do not relish this additional regulation, however useful it may be considered by the Municipal authorities, have taken a way of showing the effect of the bollringing apparatus. Whenever his Wordhip the Mayor makes his appearance in front of tho Auction Mart all the cabs on the stsnd in that locality set up a tremendous ringing in concert. It fact, the civic head cannot now make its appearance without being saluted by a bell. In another and differently worded sense, perhaps no civic head would object to be so saluted, but from a musical point of view it would seem to require variety.

Obstructing the Footpath.—The civic authorities caused a serious obstruction of the footpath in the ereotion of the central arch in celebration of the Governor's arrival in Christchurch. As a support to the upright poles placed on either side of the road in Cathedral square, ropes were attached to them and stretched across the footpath to the fence, and this at night presented not only a serious nuisance to foot passengers, but a dangerous obstruction also. It being almost impossible to see the rope in the dark, one gentleman passing along late last night came in contact with it, the rope catching him in the neck, and rather seriously hurting him. It might be pointed out that the Council in authorising this work, or rather in so performing it as to cause this obstruction, were committing a breach of their own by-laws. It is presumed they gave themselves a special dispensation for that occasion, but it would have been better to go a little further and block up that portion of the thoroughfare till the work was finished, which would have prevented persons running the chance of being halfhanged accidentally. Eksident Magistrates' Court. The only business done at this Court to-day was the fining of one inebriate. Mistaken Identity. —An accidentally overheard-conversation between two school girls yesterday would lead to the impression that these innocents had decidedly mistaken their man. First Schoolgirl: " Fancy, I have just seen Sir George Grey. Never saw him before. He was on the platform, and had just come from Lyttelton." Second ditto : "Dear me, and what did he look like?" First ditto : " Oh, he was so dark." Second ditto : "Ishe a Maori ?" First ditto : " No, not exactly a Maori; but so dark." What enfants terrilles so to blacken our volatile Premier! Sale of Salvage Stock.—The remainder of the salvage stock taken from the site of the late fire was sold by auction this afternoon, commencing at two o'clock, at the mart of Messrs Mafcson and Co., Cashel Btreet.

Zealandia. The exhibition of Messrs Willis and Seymour's panorama of New Zealand, at the Oddfellows' Hall, last evening, drew a good house. It will be again exhibited this evening. The proprietors had intended to give a matinee performance tomorrow, but they have now determined to postpone it, in order that it may not clash with the arrival of the Governor. They intend to place tho Hah at the disposal of his Worship tho Mayor and the reception committee, for the children to rehearse the national anthem therein, which will be a great convenience, as there is no other building available in which this could be done. H.A.C.B. Society.—The members of the Christchurch branch of this society .are requested to marshal at their lodge room tomorrow at 2 30 p.m., to take part in the procession to welcome his Excelloncy Sir Hercules Eobinson to Canterbury.

Tiik Govj.enon's Reception.—As will be seen by advertisement elsewhere, the chairman of each of the friendly societies is" requested to confer with Mi- B. J. Leahy, who has kindly consented to act as marshall of the procession in connection with his Excellency the Governor's visit to this .city., At a special meeting of the Sydenham Borc-rgh Council, held to-dey at 12.C0 p.ra., at the Mayor's oitico to consider the necessary steps to be taken for the reception, of his Excellency the Governor, it was resolved that the Council should attend in a body at the railway station on the arrival of the special train from the Bouth. As addr. eses were to be delivered by the Christchurch City Council and the Selwyn County Council, it was deemed unnecessary to prepare ah additional one ontho part of the Borough of Sydenham. East Belt Beldge.—The public works committee do not appear to have done anything in connection with the foot-bridge oter the Avon, opposite Ward's brewery, tb may be romembered that the engineer refused to pass the work, becauso it waß not constructed according to specification, and the City Council two weeks ago referred the matter back to the works committee, who subsequently decided to visit the bridge, and decide, after a personal inspection, what should be done. Since the meeting referred to, the Council have held a sitting, but no report on this subject has been received from the public works committee. Perhaps, therefore, a reminder may not be out of place, since the matter is really one of some importance to the public r Twelve Hundbed Sinless.—The different public schools in town have responded liberally to the request of the Mayor for youthful volunteers to sing the national anthem in Cathedral Square on the Governor's arrival there on Saturday. The children, who are to take part in the pr jceedinge, number about 1200. They had a rehearsal to day in the Volunteer drill enclosure, and acquitted themselves most creditably. Gbaving Dock. —It has been decided to call for tenders for the construction of the graving dock at Lyttelton, in Australia as well as in New Zealand. Kaiapoi Boeough Council. —There were no nominations received on Thursday for the vacancy in this Council, and a new election will be held. Scaecitt of Tbucks. —A letter was read yesterday, at the meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, from the Minister of Public Works, declining further correspondence on the matter of the scarcity of trucks. Philosophical Institute.—At a meeting of the members of the Philosophical Institute, held last evening, Mr N. K. Cherrill was appointed secretary to the Institute, in place of Mr J. S. Guthrie, resigned. Addbesb to the Goveenoe. —The address to Sir Hercules Robinson, to be presented on his arrival in Christchurch next Saturday, was prepared yesterday, and a copy forwarded to His Excellency according to custom in such cases.

Littelton Habbob Boabd.—The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held yesterday in the new offices, South British Insurance Company's buildings, Horeford street. A considerable amount of business was disposed of. Gband National Steeplechases.—Last evening was the time appointed for the weights to be declared for the Grand National Handicap, but for some reason they did not appear. The Gaiety.—The panorama of the Eusso-Turkish War was well attended last evening. To-night, a prize will be given for the best and worst conundrums, and tomorrow there will be an afternoon performance.

Boabd or Education. The ordinary meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday afternoon, when a good deal of business was transacted, the Board not adjourning until half-past six o'clock. Coleeidoe Election. —A requisition is in course of signature requesting Mr E. G. Wright to come forward for this constituency, and it is stated that there is little doubt that he will consent to stand. It is now reported that Mr John Grigg will not come forward. Ashbueton BfIANCn Railway.—His Excellency the Governor has notified to the Ashburton County Council his willingness to turn the first sod of the Ashburton branch railway. The ceremony will take place at Tinwald to-morrow on the arrival of the Governor by the special train. Diocesan Sunday School Association. —A meeting of the association was held last evening in the College library, when an interesting papar on the advantages of Sunday Schools was road by the Rev. Mr Stack. The next ordinary meeting of the association will be held on the 14th inst., in St. John's School-room, when a modol lesson will be given by Mr J. H. Twentyman. The annual meeting of the association will take place during the month.

The Lyttelton Telegeaph Office.— Yesterday morning the Telegraph Department at Lyttelton occupied the room lately fitted up for the purpose on the ground floor in the Government buildings. It is to be used for receiving messages, and is filled with counters, divisions, and an elevator, through which the telegrams are sent to the operating room upstairs. The change will no doubt be appreciated by the public, who heretofore had to climb up to the Becond floor to do their business.

Voltjnteees.—A company parade of the Chrißtchurch City Guards took place last night in the Drill Shed. On Saturday the company will mußter in the Drill Shed at half-past 2 p.m., and under the command of Captain Hawkes, accompanied by the infantry band, will march thence to the railway station, and serve as a guard of honor to his Excellency the Governor on his arrival. Sydney Exhibition. —At the usual meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday it was resolved to have a model of the Lyttelton Harbor works executed, at a cost not exceeding £SO, and to exhibit the same at Sydney during the proposed Exhibition.