NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 279, 4 May 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Tea Meeting.—The tea meeting of the Congregational Church, arranged for Wednesday evening, is postponed for a week in consequence of the weather. Board of Education. —There was no meeting of the Board of Education last evening, the only member present being the chairman, Mr lnglis. The Late 8.. Parkerson, June.—We learn that the funeral of the late Mr B. Parkerson, junr., will take place from the Hospital on Wednesday afternoon (tomorrow), at three o'clock. The Railway.—The contract for discharging coals, wood, iron, &c, on the Canterbury railways, which has hitherto been done by the employes, was yesterday let to Mr Thomas Corcoran. City Ratepayers.— It was resolved at last night's sitting of the City Council that the rate collector furnish, next week, a list of those persons whose rates are at present outstanding, with a view to ulterior proceedings being taken. Canterbury College.—A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College was held yesterday at the Public Library, to consider questions relative to the College site, and a communication from the Provincial Government to the contractors for the additions to the Museum, desiring them not to proceed with the contract. We arc unable to give a report of what took place, as the reporters were requested to withdraw. Immigration. From the Wellington papers we learn that advices from London have been received from the Agent-General that the following immigrant ships sailed for New Zealand:—ln February: The Hindostan, for Wellington; the Dunedin, for Auckland; anl the White Rose, for Canterbury. In March; The Countess of Kintore and the Carl Zealand, with Scandinavians, for Napier: the Forfarshire, for Auckland and Otago. The Oollingwood was to sail for Wellington early in April. Building Stone. —Between and six miles from Waimate, stone of a superior description can be obtained (says the Waitangi TribuneJ, and we are informed by a builder that it excels the now-famous Oamaru stone as it becomes harder after exposure to the atmosphere than the other, and does not change its color. Such being the case, we may hope to see another new industry started on completion of the railway, more especially as Is per foot can, we understand, be obtained for the stone at the present time. Theatre Royal.—" Elizabeth " was repeated last evening to a fair house considering the inclemency of the weather. Mrs Bates in the title role was excellent, and the whole piece was so successful that we hope the management will not take it off. Tonight it vvill be repeated, when we hope tht weather will be such as to permit the playgoers of Christchurch to witness what certainly is one of the greatest dramatic treat we have had here for many a day. Fire at Lyttelton.-—The firebell was rung in Lyttelton at 10.45 last night. It proved to be the girls' schoolroom at the Orphanage. Luckily this room is only connected with tbe main body of the building by a verandah, and this was quickly pulled down. If it not been for the force pump kept at the institution it would have been almost impossible to sever the communication, and in that case the building must have gone. All danger was passed by midnight. It was rumoured that the lire was c; .used by lightning, as there were several vivid Hashes just before the fire was discovered. The detached building was totally destroyed.

Acclimatisation.—Onr readers will be glad to notice that Mr Bills and his shipment of birds have arrived safely per Tintern Abbey. Out of 1010 placed on board. 811 have been brought here. Particulais will be found in our shipping columns. Railway Works in Otago.—The Daily Times of the Ist states that great progress is being made at the Chain Hills tunnel. When work was stopped for the week on Saturday night last, there were only 258 ft to be cut through. The amount of work done this week will lessen the distance to about 220 ft. A distance of 140 ft has been cut during the month of April, and if the material is favorable, six or seven weeks svill see the excavating portion of the work at an end. At the Deborah Bay tunnel, a more rapid advance has been made in the month just ended than in any previous month. Legal.—At the sitting of the Supreme C urt the other day, in Dunedin, his Honor the Chief Justice stated, we learn from the Times, that it was very probable Mr Justice Williams would not arrive in Dunedin for some considerable time after the rising of the Court of Appeal. There were some Native cases to be tried at Napier in which Mr Justice Gillies and himself (the Chief Justice) had been concerned, so that neither of them would be able to sit there. Either Mr Justice Williams or Mr Justice Johnston would have to sit at Napier, and one of the other judges wouli probably visit Dunedin for a short time. Fire. —A house on Ihe North road, Papanui, nearly opposite the Sawyer's Arms Hotel, occupied by Mr Lawrence, and owned by Mr T. Green, was burnt to the ground on Thursday night last. The back of the house was all aflame when first seen by a Mr Godfrey at half-past ten o'clock, and he had some difficulty in explaining on the instant the position of affairs to the inmates, who, as the flames increased, were compelled to escape through the windows. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mr Lawrence says he and his family retired early to bed, and had put out all the fires shortly after six o'clock. Nothing was saved, and it is to be regretted that both tenant and landlord will suffer very considerably, and neither were in sured. A Sensation Trip.—The Argus gives the following account of a scene which happened on board the s.s. Ellora on her voyage from Sydney to Melbourne :—At about four o'clock on Sunday afternoon, Captain Dundas, who had exhibited symptoms of eccentricity during the voyage, ordered the helmsman to steer right into the shore, saying that there was a passage through Wilson's Promontory, which the vessel was approaching. The officers, humouring him, turned the vessel's head towards the shore, and then wore round to weather the point in the ordinary way. Captain Dundas, finding ihat his orders were disregarded, descended from the bridge, took the helm, and steered the vessel straight towards the Promontory. The shore being only about a mile and a half distant, and the vessel going under steam at the rate of about eleven knots an hour, the danger of its grounding was imminent, and most of the passengers lost their heads in the excitement, but a few, including Captain Standish, the chief commissioner of police, preserved their presence of mind, and finding that the captaiu could not be dissuaded from his mad intention of taking the vessel overland across Wilson's Promontory, Captain Standish seized him, and with assistance carried him downstairs, where Captain Dundas was kept, while the chief officer navigated the vessel safely into port. On arrival at Williamstown Captain Dundas proceeded quietly to Melbourne, having apparently recovered his senses. No reason can be assigned for the captain's temporary aberration of intellect. Now that contagions diseases are abroad, every housewife should use carbolic soap for household purposes, as it is a thorough disinfectant, and recommended by the faculty.— [Advt.l