NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2254, 23 June 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Thu Pabk Footpaths.—A few loads of shingle on these footpaths would enable pedestrians to traverse them with more comfort than at present, portions of them being now more watercourses. Tub Ship Waitaba.—The New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited, have received advice from London of the arrival of their ship Waitara, from Port Chalmers, on the 21st inst.

Oxford Road DIBTEIOT.-Xh» question of doting certain roads in this district, ot which public notice has been g*J®P> camo before Mr Whitefoord, E.M., on Wednesday for confirmation, when it w * B * oun(i certain plans of the roads to be stopped had not been deposited with the court as required by the Public Works Act, and the application Of the Board was further adjourned for

a fortnight, . ... House Injured. The engine of the North train on Wednesday evening camera collision with a horse on the lino near the crossing at the Chinaman’s, at Southbrook. The animal, which seemed to have been maimed in a hind leg, was reported to be the property of Mr T. at Smith, Ashley. The Bbcbabites. — The quarterly meeting of the Pride of Christchurch Tent, Independent Order of Reohabites, was held on Monday evening last at the Templar Hall, Worcester street, when the following officers wore elected for the ensuing term : —O.R., Bro.W. Shaw ; D.R., Bro. J. Sherlock ; W.T., Bro. J. Coombs (re-elected) j secretary, Bro. W. B. Colo (re-eleoted) ; 8.5., Bro. B. Eronoh ; W.L., Bro. Ellis; W.G., Bro, Patten. Bros. Kerr, Sherlock and White were elected auditors. The retiring members of the judicial committee were re-elected. After the transaction of the routine business, the nowly-eleeted officers were duly instollod by Bro. J. T. Smith, 0.E., and the Tent ■closed in duo form.

Something likb a Legacy. — A large fortune has been lelo to the Duchess of Edinburgh by her father, the Czar Alexander 11., whose will has boon proved. The personalty consists of 48.000,000 roubles, lying to tho credit of tho Czar with some London bankers. Forty-eight millions is a large sura, especially in roubles, and it is not an insignificant amount even in pounds sterling. Tho amount may bo put roundly at £4,800,000. His late Majesty paid perhaps an unconscious compliment to the stability of tho English order of things when ho selected London bankers for taking care of his immense wealth.

Mr Ralph Disraeli. —Lord Beaconsfield’s brother (Mr Ralph Disraeli) is tho junior clerk of the House of Lords, and it hes been stated that tho late Earl treated his humbler relation with marked obolnesa. The fact is the very contrary. Lord Booconsfiold never lost an opportunity, no matter how crowded was tho House, or how brilliant tho assembly, of letting tho world know that he was not ashamed of his brother. He used to leave the Treasury Bench, and loaning over tho chair at the table would chat with him. He would walk out of the House of Lords arm-in-arm with him, and also enter it with him. Mr Ralph Disraeli is the only near relative left, but Lord Besoonsfield leaves a number of nieces and nephews by his mother’s side. New Bicycle.—An ingenious Chicago inventor has constructed a bicycle driven by tho expansive force of a strong steel spring. When tho machine is to be used the spring is wound up. The rider then leaps into his plaos, and the moment bis weight presses the saddle the spring is released and tho bicycle starts off at full speed, thus obviating all danger of falling. The spring is warranted to keep the bicycle in motion for an hour, and by pressing a lever placed immediately in front of the saddle the machine can be instantly stopped. Bests for the feet, unconnected with the treadles of tho driving wheel, are provided, and the rider can thus journey without making tho least exertion, until at the end of an hour ho is obliged to dismount and wind up the spring. , Poisoned by Drink. —At an inquest held -In Sydney on the body of a person named Buokley, a Qippsland squatter, his brother said that the deceased took a mob of cattle to sole, and received £126 and a draft for £2O cash. He was a strong and healthy man, thirty-two years of age. Ho occasionally went on the spree for a week or two. The landlord of the hotel in Sydney at which the deceased lived swore he ordered over 2000 drinks during three weeks at his house. There is no doubt it was a case of alcoholic poisoning. Evidence was given that he was served with 100 nobblers daily, and that the landlord paid his own account by an order in Buckley’s favor for £126.

Political Wit.—The Duke of Argyll’s resignation, says the “ Homo News,” has given rise to some very clever cartoons that are going about. One of those represents the Premier ns a stucco-image vendor, who has just made an awkward stumble over an obstacle on tho ground labelled “ Land Bill.” Tho result is that Argyll has fallen off the board upon his head, the Homo Secretary is lying on his back and threatening to roll off, while Lords Kimberley and Spencer are nodding forward ominously. The members for Birmingham, indeed, are tho only ones that remains thoroughly fast and firm. Another is a Home Rule mot, and it shows Mr Gladstone drafting the Land Bill under tho guidance of a formidable Land Leaguer, who stands behind the chair with a mild persuader in the shape of a bludgeon. _ Atone side is a waste-paper basket, in which have been thrown tho Land Act of 1870 and the Coercion Act of the present year. Loed Bbaoonseibld’s Pension. The death of Lord Beuoonsfield relieves the Exchequer of a payment of £2OOO a year. This was the pension which tho late statesman drew as ex Cabinet Minister, It is an optional advantage which a few ex-Ministers may or may not avail themselves of, as they think proper. Tho salary of an English Prime Minister is a manifestly inadequate remuneration. If tho matter were to be regarded merely from a monetary consideration, it is obvious that a man able enough to bo a Prime Minister of England could, if ho turned his attention in other directions, earn considerably more than £SOOO a year. It was, therefore, delicately arranged many years ago that two or three of the principal offices of the State should carry with them retiring pensions of £2OOO a year. Mr Gladstone has never availed himself of this privilege. Lord Beuconsfleld, being a man of smaller fortune, accepted the not too overwhelming bounty of tho State. The pension lapses when the regular salary of a Minister is drawn. Thus from 1874 Mr Disraeli disappeared from tho list, but in 1880 application was made for the £2OOO in the name of tho Bari of Boaconsfield.

An Appeal to the Public —Under the above heading the following letter appeared in the Melbourne “Ago” of June 12th :—“ Sir, —I hope you ■will excuse the liberty of addressing myoolf to you, but being one of the fow survivors of the ill-fated s.s. Tararua, and without friends in Melbourne, I think you will pardon mo. I booked from Wellington in the Tararua for London, to bo transhipped in Melbourne into the Orient a.a. Liguria; but after the catastrophe, through which I lost my all and only saved my naked life, I was obliged to stay at Dunedin for’ the inquiry, and I am now already stopping here two weeks. I was therefore forced to get the money for the passage from Melbourne to London refunded in order to keep me during the inquiry (for which I only received £3 from the Uourt) and whilst staying hero in Melbourne. I am now unable to continue my journey Homo. I have seen the captain of the Chimborazo, and also called at the office of the Orient Steamship Company, and tried hard to get them to permit me to work my passage Home, but mot with a refusal. The Union Company refuses any assistance. I therefore appeal through you, Sir, to the general public to assist me to continue my journey Homo.—Yours, &0., Tom Davis.”

Lincoln. —A mooting of farmers of the above agricultural district was held at Sluis’ Hotel on Tuesday evening last, for the purpose of considering the advisability of reviving in the district ploughing matches, which have been discontinued during the past three years. There was a fair attendance, and Mr John Wills was voted to the chair. It was mentioned that a balance of £2 5a 6d was still in hand from tho last match. It was unanimously resolved that it is desirable that tho matches bo renewed this year at Lincoln, and tho following gentlemen were elected a committee to carry out all necessary arrange monts :—Messrs J. W. Anderson, W. B. Andrews, Broom, Brown, Bell, Bruce, Beaumont, Campbell, Dunn, Day, Dalton, Duke, Gammaok, Gilmour, E. Giles, John Gebbie, Gallotly, Gallagher, Goodwin, Herrick, Healey, Haydon, John Hurst, Ivoy, H. Kimher, Leadloy, Larnbie, McPherson, Morrish, Muir, Moresheod, J. G. Murray, F. O. Murray, Miles, A. P. O’Oallaghan, W. Prebble, K. Prebble, Pyno, W. Pear on, T. Pannett, H. Pannett, Peryman, Powell, Hainoy, Sharp, Btoddart, Sluis, John Tod, Jus. Tod, Taylor, Trott, Townshend, Topham, J. N. Tosswill, Wills, F. Wright, B. Wright, and H. White. Unsolved—“ That tho match bo open to all comers.” Mr E. Townshend was re-elected hon. secretary and treasurer. A subscription list was opened in the room, and liberally responded to. The meeting was adjourned till Thursday evening, 30!h J une, to bo hold at the Perthshire Arms.

Arrest. —This morning Detective J. Neil arrested a man, named Thomas Jardine, on a charge ot stealing a quantity of lead, the property of Mr Oakleigh. Indeobnt Expositor. —A man, named Herman tiohumakor, was arrested by Oon stable Leahy this morning, on a charge of indecent exposure. A.O.F.—The usual meeting of the members of Court Thistle of the Forest, No. 6494, A.0.F., was held in the lodge room on the 21st June, 1881. The court was opened in duo form byP.O.B. Bro. O. Samuels, at 7.30. The Woodwards’ report was read and received. The nomination of officers for the next half year was continued from last court night. Bro. Gapes, District Secretary, favored the court with a visit. One now member was proposed and court closed in due form.

Taxing Hawkers. —A councillor ot the last meeting of the Kaiapol Borough Council asked the Council to consider tho question of adopting a by-law to license hawkers. The Mayor replied that tho matter was before tho by-law committee and would be dealt with.