NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2071, 13 October 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sufeeme Couet. —The special jury cases at the nisi prius sitting were commenced this morning, when the case of Saunders v Godby was taken. The plaintiff sought to recover £2lO on a bill of exchange, endorsed by tho defendant for tho late W. F. Neilson. The case was proceeding when wo went to press. Police Couet. —There was a clean sheet at this Court to-day. Oddfeleowship. —Tho members of Loyal City of Norwich Lodge, M.U., Lyttelton, will attend the opening of the new hall here tomorrow. They have arranged to como through from Port by the 5 55 p.m. train, Ashley County Oeicket Club. The annual meeting of this club was to have bean held at the Junction Hotel, Rangiora, on Tuesday, but after waiting some time for a quorum, it was decided to adjourn tho meeting. This club proposes to play against tho Wanderers on the 21st.

Tai Tapii.—A meeting of the Tai Tapu Sparrow Club was held in the schoolroom last Thursday evening. Present—Messrs R. J. Fleming, in the chair, Peryman, Rainey, M'Oartney, Doyle, Leatham, Tanner, and Gerken. It was found that the shelled oats used at the commencement were not eaten by tho birds, and wheat had been used in place of them, which was a great success, killing the birds by hundreds. It was resolved that three prizes of £1,12s 6d, and 7s 6d be given for eggs. The Lyttelton Choeal Society.— Since this new society started al. Port, with Mr J. T. Maoleod Smith as musical director, its roll of membership has been considerably augmented. This season the society has produced two very fair concerts, and a third one is promised for the 22nd instant, to be held in the Colonists’ Hall. The practices for the “ Messiah ” are also being well attended. At the last one, held in the Church of England schoolroom on Monday night, there were over fifty took part in it. This may be considered a large number for Lyttelton, but the committee who have iu hand the conduct of the society, hope for a much larger membership, and will be moat happy to receive names of tho musically interested who wish to join tho society. Good Templab Conceet. —The Addington Pioneer Lodge No. 9 gave a highly successful concert in the Free Methodist schoolroom, Selwyn street, on Monday evening last, in aid of the funds of the lodge. The attendance was a large one ; the chair was taken by Mr O. M. Gray, District Deputy, and the programme, consisting of upwards of twenty items, was sufficiently diversified to suit the tastes of all. Pianoforte solos were rendered by the Misses Lsgaseick and Mr E. E.Wright. Songs were contributed by the Mieses Fisher, Legassiok and Radclifio, Mrs North, and Messrs A. A. North, E. E. Wright and Stewart Porter. The programme concluded with the National Anthem, by the company. A [Sevebe Rebuke. —“ Frank Fudge,” in the “ Saturday Advertiser,” thus rebukes the larrikins of Timaru:—lf Invercargill is distinguished for its learning, the great seaport of Timaru occupies quite as prominent a position among the towns of New Zealand, though in quite a different line. The Southlanders are the Athenians of the colony, but the Timuruffiana are the Spartans. The development of brave and warlike qualities is as much pursued in Timaru iu the present day as it was in Laconia under Lycurgus. It is true that the Timaruffians have not as yet figured at a Thermopylae but they have distinguished themselves on different occasions after a most valiant fashion. The gallant bombardment of a cottage in Stuart street, Dunedin, is still fresh in the memory of my readers, and the siege of Timaru is an affair that can never die. But the crowning glory of the Timaruffians was gamed a few evenings ago, when a brave band of those gallant fellows attacked a poor old man of three score and ten with showers of rotten eggs. Such a noble deed deserves to be chronicled and treasured in the archives of the nation. The dauntless daring exhibited in tho attack on that harmless old colonist “ Captain Jackson Barry " deserves recognition, and the “Rotten Egg Brigade ” of Timaru are deserving of new colors—on their backs with cat-o’-nine-tails.

A.0.F., Court Woodford, Kaiadoi. — The second meeting of the members of the above Court of Forestry was held at the Farmers’ Club room, Cookson street, on Monday evening, when eight financial and one honorary member were admitted into the Court. Five pronoeitions for new members were received. The new Court now numbers thirty-eight members. Theater Royal. —There was a very good house at the Theatre Royal last night, when the Diorama was again exhibited. Lieutenant Herman delivered the first part of the descriptive lecture. Mr Chalet’s ventriloquial performance was again loudly applauded. The gift distribution followed, and was as usual greatly appreciated. To-night, in addition to other gifts, the proprietor offers a prize of a gold watch for the best conundrum on ventriloquism. Benefit— An entertainment was given by the Comiques at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, last week, for the benefit of H. Fisher, who was accidentally injured for life on the railway by being crushed between two trucks. The hall was crowded. The ordinary Christy Minstrel business was proceeded with, the different items being encored. A song and dance by Mr Kirk and a violin solo by Mr Braham were heartily encored, the latter not responding. Mr Agar conducted. The Comiques give another entertainment at a future date in Lyttelton. A dance concluded a very successful programme. Inquest at Rakaia. —An inquest touching the death of an infant named Johanna Coffey, was held at the South Rakaia Hotel, before J. B. Trevor, Coroner for the Ashburton district, on Tuesday. The evidence of the parents showed that the child, which was only six months old, had been weakly from its birth, that it had whooping cough, and that on Sunday last it had convulsions, getting gradually weaker and dying on Monday morning. After hearing the evidence of Dr. Ross, who made a post mortem examination of the body, the jury returned a verdict of “ Death from natural causes.”

The Deuidb. —The Pioneer Lodge held their ordinary meeting at their lodgeroom, Wellington Hotel, on Monday evening. There was a very large attendance of members. Official visita were received from the Ethelbert (Springston), Star of Anglesea (Lincoln), and Hope of St. Albans Lodges. A circular was received from tho secretary of the friendly societies fete committee; five delegates were appointed from this lodge, A brother was received by clearance from the Hope of St. Albans Lodge. Four members wore initiated, and four were proposed. Bro. J. B. Harris resigned his office as V.A.B. The election of a brother in his place was postponed until next lodge night. D.P. Bro. Swinnerton stated that he had received an opplication for a dispensation for a lodge to be opened at Amberley, under the title of the Star of Amberley. Some business of a routine character having been transacted, the lodge was closed in due form.

Magistrate’s Court, Rangioba.—At thia Court, on Tuesday, before J. Beawick, Esq., R.M., A. H. Cunningham and S. Heywood, Esqa., W. White, for allowing cattle to stray, was fined sa; Jane Rollingaon, for threatening to strike Jane Parquhorson at Saltwater Creek twith a stick, was fined 20a. R. Hanna and Co. v W. H. McCauley, £2O 12s 9d; Mr Clark for plaintiff, Mr Qresson for defendant. This was a claim on balance of an account which defendant held had been wholly settled by the piymont of 6s Sd in the £, for which a receipt given by plaintiff was produced. Plaintiff’s case was that he only received the 6s 8d in the £ as part payment, and was to receive the balance as soon as defendant was in a position to settle. Judgment was given for plaintiff. W. Herris v D. Martin, £4 17s 8d ; judgment for plaintiff. H. Blackett v James Johnston, £3 6s 3d ; judgment for plaintiff. L.O.L.—An A.P. Chapter of the L.O L.. No. 3, C.T.8., will bo held in the Orange Hall thia evening. Post Sessional Address. —Mr C. C. Bowen will address the electors at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Kaiapoi, on the 2Qth iast,

Ranqioea Domain Board. —It is intended to form a Domain Board here, to hays control of the recreation'; and racecourse reserves. The gentlemen whose names have been sent in to the Governor to be appointed on the Board are Messrs H. Blackett, M. Duncan, J. Lilly, E. Mulcock, J. Luxton, and Captain Parsons.

Buna wavs. —Two boys, one about nine years of age and the other about six, named respectively William George and John Tozer, were captured at Bakaia, having escaped from the Industrial School at Burnham. They were sent back by the second train on Tuesday. Benevolent Association. A preliminary notice appears to the effect that a grand concert will be given in aid of the funds of the association, at Matson’s Repository, on the 2od proximo. Masonic. —Members of the St. Augustine Lodge are reminded that it is intended to pay a friendly visit to the Canterbury Lodge on Friday next, and are requested to assemble at.the latter lodge at 7.30 sharp. St. Michael’s Ladies’ Woke Society.— The usual quarterly sale of work in aid of the funds of St. Michael’s Church, will take place to-morrow, in the schoolroom. There are a numerous and varied assortment of useful and ornamental articles, the result of the past three months’ work by the ladies of the pariah. Home Missionary Meeting. —The annual Home Missionary meeting will be held in the Wesleyan Church, Durham street, this evening. Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club. —A general meeting of the members will take place at the Commercial Hotel to-morrow evening, at eight o’clock.

Lord Beaconsfield is said to be arranging the materials for his own biography. If he does not intend to be his own biographer, a jocular contemporary hopes his lordship will bequeath the materials to the bon. member for Galway (Mr T. P. O’Connor), who would be able to make very effective use of them. Mr Burnand has succeeded to the editorship of “ Punch,” vacant by the death of Mr Tom Taylor. Mr Burnand has for some years been the most popular of the contributors to the journal, and, the “ Atbenmum ” says, he will no doubt prove a worthy successor of Mark Lemon and Shirley Brooks. Mr E. A. Sothern, the popular comedian, is suffering from severe illness, and will in all probability be debarred for a long period from following his profession. Acting under medical advice, he has relinquished all his American and other engagements for the next twelve months, and is about to try the curative effect of absolute and perfect repose during that period. The first volume of Jules Yerne’a “ Maiaon a Yapeur ” has appeared. Nana Sahib is the principal character in this now romance, which is laid in Northern India, and contains the usual amount of incident and perilous adventures with which the author usually favours his readers, though it wants, in common with his later productions, the spontaneity and freshness of the earlier works. The success of the “Pirates of Penzance” has stimulated Mr Gilbert and Mr Arthur Sullivan to fresh exertions. These gentlemen are hard at work on a new musical piece, with libretto rather fairy than nautical this time. It is probable that the operetta will be produced in New York during the month of December.

In his book on “The Theatres of Paris,” Mr Matthews gives some particulars which are often the subject of inquiry, as to the capacity of the principal opera houses in different parts of the world, and I notice that the reviewer has not gone into this point. From these details it appears that the Scala at Milan is the largest ;European Theatre, having 3000 seats; Oovent Garden comes next with 2500; the Vienna Opera follows with 2400 ; the Theatre Royal. Munich, has 2300; Grand Opera, Paris, 2100; and the San Carlos, Lisbon, the Carlo Felice, Genoa, the Academy of Music, New York, and the Fenice, Venice, have each 2000.