NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2633, 14 September 1882, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Cube Boating Club.—The annual general meeting of members of this club, to elect officers, pass account!, and arrange for the opening of the setaun, is expected to be held to-morrow evening, at Wearing'* HoLal, Eaiapoi. Lyttbltok R.M. Coubt —John Lloyd, an ancient mariner, was sentenced to a month's imprisonment at this Oonrt, this morning, for refusing to wori according to his agreerject on board the barque Ooronilla. Meerrs H. Allwright and J. W. Smith were on the Bonoh. Wobking Men's Political Association .—For the purpose of enrolling' members and other business a meeting of the above will be held at 8 p.m. to-morrov/ evening ia. the Tvnightstown Library. Fobbstbks' Benefits.—At a meeting «f Cburfe Queen of the Isles, No. 2703, held at Lyttelton on Wednesday evening, it was resolved that members' wives, and families be allowed medical attendance, the fees for sama to be paid by the Order,,

Frbe-Handbd Libbbautv.—Our contemporary the "Star" is now following the example of the "Telegraph" in distributing its oopiea gratia broadcast over the city and ■uburbs. Well, if people will not buy it, perhaps it ia about the beat thing that can be done under the oircunistanoes. Only runners should be careful—inmor has it that one of these individuals who goes his rounds in the duk—hei for the last weok been dropping a 41 Slur" carefully into an elaborate and monumental pigsty e erected by an eminent citizen. On one oooasion the pig grunted. " Oh, nothing to pay, Gnv'nor," exclaimed the runner, and hurried breathlessly on, A Monstbb Stbbl Chain.—There hes lately been made at Hull, England, a chain of Siemen's steel, 180 yards long, containing more than 3200 links, held together by about 860 itsel pins. It is intended for lifting purposes, has an estimated strength, of 60 tone, and ia thought to be the largest ohain of ita kind ever made.

EiHOnoK MbbtihS at Port. —A meetHg was held last night at Port, when Messrs Haxell and Holmes, two of the eight candidates for the three vacancies in the Lyttelton Borough Council, held forth to the ratepayers in the Coloniata* Hall. The Mayor took the chair. Today a good deal of fuu ia indulged ia in expectation of the result.

SYDENHAM HOKTIOULTUBAL SOCIBIV.— The monthly show of the above society takes plaoe in the Selwyn street schoolroom to-morrow evening. All exhibits are to be Staged by 6 p.m. ; at 7 p.m. it will be open to member* and their friends; and at 8.30 a speoial general meeting takes plaoe for the election uf committee-men.

laiAMiTio Doom.—The Turks have a fixed belitf, founded on some anoient prophecies, that this present year, 1882—the year 1300 in their calendar—will be a year of kismet (destiny) for Islam. Their students of the last book of the New Testament calculate that 622 (date of the Turkish epoch) added to the mjstio number 1260, makes up 1882 exactly. Further, there ia a tradition that on the night of the capture of Constantinople, the canqueror, Mahmoud the Magnificent, dreamed that the oity wor'd continue to be the aeat of the empire he had founded for exactly 4.30 years Jess one. Now, 1453 (the date of the fall of Constantinople), plus 429, makes exactly 1882, Q, E D.

Kaiasoi Hobtiotjxtubai Society. a general meeting of members was held in the Farmers' Olnb chamber on Wednesday ev ing. Mr K Coup was voted to the chair. A letter was received from the Woodend Society, forwarding date of next exhibition, and as the Xaiapci committee had fixed on the same date, the letter was referred to the committee for consideration, to deoide on a suitable date for the show, and report at next ordinary meeting. Ltttblton Bbass Bahd.—This band takes part in the benefit entertainment to be given to-night at Phillipstown, in aid of the benevolent fnnd of the Athelstan Lodge, TJ.AO.D.

A Lbviathan Blooh—There has lately been exhibited in the Botanical Garden of Berlin the biggest flower in the world—the great flower of Sumatra, known in science n the Btfllaaia Arnoldi, and peouliar to Java and Sumatra. It measures nearly ten feet in circumferenco and more than three in diameter. Sir Stamford Raffles and Dr. Joseph Arnold were exploring in company when they discovered this champion plant. Ohxy A Quest —At a masked and fanoy dress ball held at Kensingtonreoently, during midnight two polioemen called and said the company must separate. "Not at all," said the host; " this is a private house." " Very well, sir," said one of the policemen, " here are my orders, and I mast take the names of all who are present." "Do so," responded -the host-. The polioemen went to work, and put down all the names, making everybody feel supremely uncomfortable. Directly they had done so, one of them walked up to a table and poured himself out a glass of champagne. " What right have you to drink my wine P" roared the host. " I supposed, when I was invited," responded the policeman, " that refreshments were included ;" and, amidst a roar of laughter, he showed his card. Both the men were simply guests. Gr*T Auction.—The Be v. G. Penny requests all who have gifts for the Methodist Free Church to send them in as soon as possible to him at Durham street south, r-j the auotion takes place on Tuesday next. The Hoh. Ivo Bligh'" JSlevbh.— Cricketers will be glad to learn that the Hon. Ivo Biigh's Eleven will probably visit New Zsalr-id nsxt season. A letter has been received from the agent of the Melbourne Cricket Glub, inquiring what terms the Cricket Association will offer for a three days' match at Ohristohurch. We hare been requested to remind secretaries of clubs intent? ; ng to compete for the Challenge -Cup that entries must be sent to the hon. secretary of tbe association before the 20th fort.

Ashbubton Bactng Olub.—The Ashburton Racing Club committeeat its meeting on Tuesday evening decided to spend £2OO on improvements at the racecourse, and to build a new grand stand next year, the old one to be i c eluded, the stabling, &0.. arrangements which are to result from the improvements mentioned. There are now about seventy members of the Baring Club, and it is calculated that by the New Year there will be ICO. The committee expressed their thanks to Mr E. <3-. Wright, M.H.8., for getting the Bmecourse Beserve Bill passed through the Legislature. Australian Big Tbbes,—The Minneapolis " Lumberman " has an artiole on the gigantic trees of Australia, of which the following is an extract: —"The trackless forests in the west of Tasmania contain huge timber, and busbmen report that they have met with specimens of eucalyptus measuring 200 ft from the ground to the first branob, and fully 850 ft in all. Until 1873 there was standing on the eastern slope of Mount Wellington, within four miles of Hobart, a eucalyptus measured at 86ft *i girth and more than 300 ft in height, and its ruined boll still forms a grim chamber, in which many a merry party have enjoyed a picnic. The famous tree of the Huon forest measures 70ft in girth 6ffc from the ground, ani is stated to be 240 ft high, but in the deep gorges of this grand forest the writer has seen higher trees than this, though net of quite equal circumference. But Victoria now claims the glory of holding the biggost of all the living * big trees' in the world, so far as height is concerned. In the Dandenong district at Fernshaw has recently been discovered a specimen of eucalyptus amygdalina, or almond leaf gum, which has baen accurately measured as reaching the enormous height of SBoit before throwing out a single branch and 430 it to the top, and having a girth of 60ft at some distance above the ground." Kodbbn Wabfabb.—Mr Arob. Forbes, discussing the facility with which Adelaide could] bej surprised, says—And, believe me, future wars will not be of the old methodic pattern that gave ample time for getting ready. Some years ago I was talking with General Phil Bheiidan, one of the most original soldiers I know, on this very subject. "My idea of war making," said Sheridan, "is not by doing so in deliberate masses, and with pitched battles ; not by killing yaur enemy's fighting men, but by pinching your ewmy'i citizens. At the beginning of the FraneoGerman war, if I had had my old cavalry corps with me, I would have crossed the frontier with it alone, the day after the declara'ion of war. I'd have « stnok up' open town after open town right up to Paris. I'd have blown up railway bridges, run off canals, played the devil with the communications generally, and made France a misery to Frenchmen, so that instead ef the citizens, secure in their own immunity, cheering soldiers blata- tly as they marched to the frontier, these same citizens would have squirmed under the horrors of war brought to their own doors and into their own strong rooms," That Sheridan's line of reasoning was beginning to spread in general appreciation was apparent in that enterprise of Bussia in Amerioan harbors when tho war oloud hung between hor and England. It indioated the realisation that the British Empire could bo "squeezed" to use Sheridan's expression without an aotual invasion of the British Isles. Tae A'rika and her oonsorts would have preyed on British maritime commerce, no doubt as their leading role, but they would have kept a shrewd side glanoe on British colonies as well. The Licensing Act.—The Licensing Aot Amendment Act provides for the general granting of lioenses to eleven o'clock p.m., and copies of the same are expeoted to be in circulation in a few days, BahoiobA Pabish Ohttboh.—An entertainment, held under the management of a ladies' committee, was given in the hall of the Literary lustitute on Tuesday evening, consisting of songs, duets, andmrsical selections. The prinoipal worker in carrying out the concert was Mrs O. E. Tribe, and the result was very satisfactory.

DROWNING- AT Wooxbtoit.—A sad caße of

drowning occurred in the Biver Heathcote yesterday. It appears that Mrs H. P. Harrison, who only arrived from Auckland that morning by the Botomahana with her family, went to reaide in Woolston, and her children, four in number, went out to play in the vicinity of the river. One of them, a little girl, Buth Harrison, aged six years, fell into the stream. The other ohildren raised an alarm, and their uncle, Mr Abbott, ran to the spot, but by this time the child had sunk. The body was subsequently recovered and removed to the Woolston Hotel. Thb Inmtstbial School.—The master of this school writes that the statement that three boys had absconded was incorrect. The boys, except Orighton, had never absoondod, and he had not done so since he was brought back from Wellington. Leotubk.—A lecture was delivered last evening in the Merivale schoolroom by Br. Tivy, the well known hydropath. Mr W. H. Shaw ocoupied the chair. The subject ohosen was "Digestion," and its bearing on the health of the human frame was ably set forth by the leoturer. The audience, although not large, was a most appreciative one, and the lecturer waa listened to with attention and frequently applauded. Wkathbh ExohakQß. New Zealand, yesterday —Pine, with north-west winds; decrease in pressure all over. Australia— Generally fine j high pressure over Western Australia and calm; depression passing the Australian Bight, centre far to the south; moderate sea and W. winds. Barometer —Buisell, 29 9; Wellington, 29.8; Bluff, £9 6; Albany, 30.3; Portland and Sydney, 30.0.

C.B.C.—The annual general meeting of the Canterbury Bowing Club will be held at Warner's Commercial Hotel to-morrow evening.

Maori Stjsobptibilitt.— A Wellington paper has the following .— " Those who have had muoh to do with the Native rsoe know how peculiarly susceptible the Maori mind is to the influence of female beauty. A few days ago not a Maori member oould be seen in his plaoe, and it was found almost imposaible to get together a quorum of the Native Affairs committee. Inquiry ahowed that the disturbing influence was the presence in Wellington of a beauteous half-caste girl, who, rather startled at the feeling of admiration she excited in the breasts of her dusky admirers, beat a hasty retreat for her homo in the North." "Hohoh to whom Hohob."—lt ia the intention of the Canterbury United District of the Anr-'ent Order of Foresters to have the portrait of P.D.0.8. Bro. H. Crooks inserted in the " Foresters' Miscellany," which ia published quarterly in England by the Exeoutive Council of the High Court. Those who have known Mr Crooka during the time he has held offices of trust in connection with the Order, which extends over a period of twenty years, he haviag been treasurer to Court Star of Canterbury for that period, and also Treasurer to the Canterbury Unitsd Diatiict for over fifteen years, and fur-her sb an active offioer of the Widow and Orphan Fund, of which fund he is at present the honorary secretary, «2U recognise that the honor is a well merited one. Indeed the quiet yet earnest manner in whioh he has alwaya striven for the welfare of the Order places him second only to Mr B. Woodford, of Kaiapoi, the father of Foreatry in thia province.

Amothbb Stjbmabiwh Ttjknbl—A London paper asserts that " Sir E. Watkin and M. de Lesseps have bad a conversation together on the practicability of constructing a submarine tunnel to oonneot Scotland with Ireland. The points of connection at present under consideration are Fortpatriok in Scotland, and Donaghadee in Ireland. M. de Lesseps has consented to beoome a member of an experimental oommittee formed for the purpose of taking soundings and making borings for the purpose ef ascertaining the feasibleness of the soheme. The suggested tunnel would be only eleven miles long, or about half the length of the Channel tunnel. Nothing definite has yet been decided as to how the soheme shall be carried out, but it is in good hands." Pabliambntabv Dbcobxtm. —The General Assembly is fast descending to the level of a musio hall (says the correspondent of the Danedin " Star "). Some weeks ago we had the popular member for Dunedin Central entertaining the Commons with a real Scotch song, for which he was deservedly applauded, as the newspapers say. Mr Bracken's example was emulated in the " Lords " to-night by one of the noble peers, to wit, Captain F aser, who, while the Speaker was in the act of taking his seat on the woolsack, so far forgot himself as to indulge in a pat teul on the floor of the Chamber, to the intense delight of a select company of admiring friends, but to the greatest disgust and astonishment of Mr Speaker. This magnate exclaimed " Oapta<u Fraser!" much in the same tone of voice as Sir Joseph Porter called out " Captain Corcoran," when he suddenly discovered that gallant officer giving vent to the exuberance of his feelings in a somewhat similar mrnner. Captain Fraser turned scarlet with oonfusion, and went to his seat amid peals of laughter, in whioh even the solemn Speaker was in spite of himself oompelled to join. Fibb.—Shortly before nine o'clock last evening a fire broke out in a small cottage in Stewart street, behind the West Ohristohurch sohool, whioh was owned by Mr J. W. Tread well, and ocoupied by a family named Olarkson, who succeeded in saving their furniture. The adjoining cottage on the north side, which is the property of Mr MoDonald and tenanted by bachelors, was in serious danger of destruction at one time, its south end being ablaze, but owing to the efforts of Professor Biokerton, a near resident, who ran home and brought his garden engine, the fire was kept in cheok, although the only water available was from buckets full, brought by the neighbors from artesian wells. Good servioe was also rendered by two lads, who mounted the roof and beat out the blaze as it rose to the bargo boards. Some time elapsed before the fire bells rang, and it was at least twenty minuteß before the fire engines arr.ved on the spot, the little hand engine only being got into play, owing to want of water. The firemen also struck off the ridge boards o! the roof, end effectually extinguished the fire in the house in question. The oottage in whioh the fire originated was totally consumed, and considerable damage was done to some adjacent cottages belonging to Mrs Dickie by breakage and removal of doors and trindows. There is no clue as to the origin of the fire, which commence! in one of the front rooms.