NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 165, 15 December 1874, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Anniversary Day,— lt is notified by the Superintendent that the public offices will be closed on the 16th. The Vacant Seat for Timaru.—Mr J. W. White is a candidate for the seat in the Provincial Council vacated by Mr Healey’s death.

Appointments.— Messrs A. M. Ross, H. J. Chalmers, and H. J. Lewis, are gazetted assistant-surveyors, and Mr G, Whitcombc, jun, draftsman, in the survey office, Timaru.

Loyal Volunteer Lodge. L0.0.F.M.U. —The next meeting of the above lodge will be held this evening, instead of to-morrew, as previously intimated. Aquatic. —The match, Bankers v Mercantile, will be pulled this evening at 5 p.m, over the mile course pulled on Saturday. The bankers are hot favorites for the event. Kaiapoi Wesleyan Chapel Anniversary.—The sermons are to be preached on Sunday next by Rev W. J. Habcus, and the tea meeting is advertised to bo held on Christmas day. Banks’ Peninsula Pastoral Association, —The next exhibition of the above association will be held on the grounds, Duvauchclle’s Bay, on Tuesday, the 29th instant.

Harmonic Society.— The next concert of this society is fixed for the 23rd instant, when Haydn’s “ Imperial Mass” and Mendelssohn’s “Athalie” will be given. A full rehearsal will take place this evening at 8 p.m. Heathcote Rowing Club, — A special general meeting of the above club will be held at the Woolston Hotel, on Thursday evening, at half-past seven, to consider the advisability of having a Heathcote regatta and other business.

Prize Essays, —At last night’s sitting of the City Council, the Mayor expressed his intention of giving two prizes of £SO and £lO, for the best and second best essay on a practical means of improving the sanitary condition of Christchurch; the essays to b j submitted to a committee of seven gentlemen. Mr and Mrs Bates— These artistes were passengers by the Taranaki yesterday for Wellington, when they give a short dramatic season. They purpose opening a season here shortly, when, in addition to producing several novelties, they will be supported by an entirely new company expected from Sydney.

Education Rates.— lt is notified in the Gazette , that under the provisions of the 42ad section of the Education Ordinance, 1873, a rate of twopence in the pound his been levied in the West Melton district, payable to Alexander Sandison, and a rate of ninepence in the pound in the district of Little River, payable to Thos, Holt. Concert. —Madame and Miss Winter will give a concert of vocal and instrumental pieces at the Music Hall, to-morrow evening, when a very attractive programme will be submitted. In addition to pieces by the two ladies mentioned, Messrs Carder. J. Rowley, and Yule will also appear. The full programme will be found elsewhere.

AKAROA Regatta. —Mr Packard telegraphed to the hon secretary of the Akarca regatta enquiring whether the Bruce would arrive in time for the principal rowing and sailing events to come off at the regatta on Wednesday, and received an answer in effect that the regatta would not commence until the Bruce arrived, and that entries would be extended until that time. Three sailing and two rowing boats leave Lyttelton to contest at the regatta.

Thieving. —We are informed that a day or two ago a few children were playing near the foot of the hills, near to the continuation of Colombo street south, when they came across “a plant” of several articles of linen apparel, evidently the result of more than one successful raid upon clothes lines. Borne of the linen, we are informed, are marked with the initials of several respectable people, and it is stated that the affair is already in the hands of the police.

Registrars Returns. During the month of November the following births were registered in the city of Christchurch : males, 24 ; females, 33 ; total, 57 ; Christchurch district, males, 46 ; females, 43 ; total, 89. Deaths—City of Christchurch, males, 13 ; females, 5 ; total, 18. Christchurch district, males, 7 ; females, 8 ; total, 15. Marriages—City of Christchurch, 31 ; Christchurch district, 5. For the corresponding month in 1873, the returns were : Births—City of Christchurch, 42 j Christchurch district, 57. Deaths—City of Christchurch, 9 ; Christchurch district, 10. Marriages—City of Christchurch, 23 ; Christchurch district, 3. The Opera. —Miss Alice May is so popular amongst the lovers of operatic music in Christchurch, that the announcement that she would take her benefit last night Avas sufficient to draw a crowded house, although the weather was far from agreeable. The opera presented was Gounod’s “Faust,” Avith the fair hcnejiciare in the character of Marguerite. Throughout the opera Miss May appeared to great advantage, and her singing and acting Avere both of a very high class. Miss Lambert, too, gave great satisfaction in the part of Siebel, although the character does not give the performer the best chance in the Avorld. Messrs Hallam and Templeton appeared as Faust and Mephistopheles respectively, and Avere successful in their different characters, though Mr Templeton will improve on his last night’s performance. The remainder of the company were efficient in their allotted characters, and altogether “ Faust” may be pronounced to be a decided success. The piece will be repeated to-night, and Avill commence at 7.45 in order to allow visitors to Christchurch to get aivay by the late trains.

The San Francisco Mail —Regarding the San Francisco mail service, the Sydney Morning Herald states that “ the latest on dit is, that negotiations have been re-opened with the A.S.N. Company to carry on the temporary service until June. It is pretty well known that Mr D. Macgregor has also, through a Sydney firm, made an offer to the Government to keep the Mikado, Macgregor, and Cyphrencs on the line until a permanent service shall be established. Three boats are not sufficient to do the work under any circumstances, as there is no margin left for de lays or deficiency of speed. This being the case, it appears almost impossible to carry on the line unless a fourth boat can be obtained ; and even then, in case of any breakdown, a fifth would be necessary to meet the contingency.”

Tub Kaiapoi Resident Magistrate.— Speaking of the appointment of Mr Whitefoord, as R.M. at Kaiapoi, the Grey River Argus says : —The intelligence that the late Warden of the Grey Valley had received a permanent appointment under the General Government, has been received by the numerous friends of Mr Whitefoord throughout the up-river goldfields, with unalloyed satisfaction. This is the first successful result of Mr O’Conor’s retrenchment (?) policy, and no doubt the majority of the officers of the Civil Service of Nelson would be extremely gratified to be “ retrenched ” in the same manner. Kaiapoi, to the Resident Magistracy of which place Mr Whitefoord has been appointed, is within twenty miles of the city of Christchurch, and is the centre of a large and populous district. Excepting the Resident Magistracy in the chief towns of the larger Provinces, the office now held by Mr Whitefoord is one of the best remunerated of the class in the Civil Service of the Colony. The Province of Canterbury, in securing the services of a gentleman of Mr VVbitefoord’s official ability, has most decidedly scored a point at the expense of Nelson. Rangiora District Schools— The committee of these schools met on Friday evening, There were present all the members except Mr Bell. A letter was read from Mr Chapman, master, resigning his 'appointment of master to the school. The committee expressed regret at losing Mr Chapman s services, and decided to advertise for applications. Mr Cunningham moved, and it was resolved—“ That in the interest of the school a petition be drawn up to the chairman of the Mandeville and Rangiora Road Board, asking him to call a public meeting of ratepayers at some early date, to test the feeling of the public as to whether it would be advisable to form Rangiora into a borough.” It was resolved that the school be thoroughly cleansed during the Christmas holidays ; that the school break-up on the 23rd instant; and that a clock be procured for the boys’ school. Several small accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned. At the conclusion of the meeting the subject of supporting Mr Bowen in the present election was brought forward, when a unanimous wish was expressed that he should be returned, all the members present pledging themselves to use every effort to secure his return. Fire Brigades’ Torchlight Procession.—At a meeting of officers of the Christchurch Volunteer Fire Brigade, held last evening, final arrangements were made for the torchlight procession, to be held on the 16th. It was reported that the Fire Police, the Lyttelton and Kaiapoi, and some members of the Rangiora brigades, had promised to take part in the proceedings. Torches will be provided for the fire police and visiting brigades. The procession will leave the drill-shed, at the Cashel street gate at 9 p.m., proceeding to Colombo street, thence to Hereford street, to the Public Library, past the Government Buildings to the Whately road, to the Junction Hotel, returning thence along Kilmore street to Colombo street, round Cambridge terrace to Victoria bridge, along Colombo street and High street to the Railway Station, It was arranged that the procession be led by the Orphan Asylum band and Kaiapoi brigade, followed by the Lyttelton and Rangiora brigade, succeeded by the different companies of the Christchurch brigade. On Cambridge terrace the order of the procession will be reversed. The visiting brigades and invited guests will be entertained to a cold collation at the Clarendon Hotel at 7 p.m. The total number invited is about one hundred and seventy. Board op Conservators. — A meeting of the Board was held yesterday at noon. Present—Mr R. J. S. Harman (in the chair), his Worship the Mayor, Hon J. T. Peacock, and Mr J. T, Fisher, Letters were read from Mr Batkin and his Honor the Superintendent, relative to the sinking funds. The chairman was instructed to n ply that the Board would arrange for a sinking fund of 13s 4d percent per annum, and that the same bo deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank to the credit of a separate fund. The chairman reported that, in compliance with the resolution of the Board, be had arranged for a further loan of £4500 at 6 per cent for ten years, and that debentures had been issued. The Board approved of the action, and resolved that the same amount of sinking fund should be appropriated as in the other case. The Mayor said that as this was the last occasion upon which he should have the pleasure of meeting the members of the Board, he desired to return his thanks for the courtesy and consideration with which he had been treated by the Board during his term of office. He should always be ready to do all he could to advance the works the Board had in hand. The chairman said that they regretted the Mayor’s term of office had come to a close, the more so that he had taken great interest in the work. They had always as a Board received the greatest assistance from the Mayors of Christchurch, and the present one was no exception. The overseer, Mr Potts, attended the Board, and made a report as to the state of the works. The Board then adjourned.

A Yankee philosopher says that “a true man ncA r er frets about his place in the Avorld, but just slides into it by the gravitation of his nature, and SAvings there as easily as a star.” At .Springfield, Massachusetts, one Hugh Donahue, a mxrle spinner, accustomed for years to Avalk thirty miles a day at his work, has succeeded in Avalking 1000 miles in 1000 hours. He began his task on the 16th of May and finished it on the 27th of June, and took no alcoholic stimulants ormncicines in the Avhole period. Tavo miles Avere done at a time—at the latter part of one hour and the early part of the next, and after each two miles he Avas rubbed down Avith rum and camphor. The last mile Avas Avalked in five seconds less than tAventy-tAVO minutes. His appearance then Avas that of a man Avorn doAvn by fatigue, though not utterly exhausted,