NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume III, Issue 299, 28 May 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

St John's Parish ; Waltham—A teameeting iu connection with the Church of England Waltham Mission will be held on Friday, June 4th, in the Colombo road schoolroom at six o'clock.

Slaughter House Licenses.—A special meeting of Justices of the Peace will be held at the Resident Magistrate's Court. Christchurch, on Thursday, 10th June, to consider applications for licenses to slaughter.

Appointments.—We understand that Mr W. G. Brittau, Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands, has received a year's leave of absence, and that Mr J. VV. Hamilton has been appointed deputy commissioner. Mr John Marshman has betn appointed Receiver of Land Revenue, in the place of Mr Hamilton.

Professor Bickerton's Lectures. The third and last of the series of lectures on Agricultural Chemistry delivered by Professor Bickerton, was given last evening in the Oddfellows' Hall to a good audience, considering the inclemency of the weather. The lecture was on special agricultural processes, and had refereuce to the effect of deep, shallow, and subsoil ploughing, fallowing, burning, irrigation, &c, and was illustrated with diagrams, &c.

Good Templars.—An entertainment, in connection with tho Guiding Star Lodge of juvenile Good Templars, was given in the new hall attached to.the reading room, High street, St. Alban'e, on Tuesday last. The attendance was very good, considering the inclement weather. The first portion of the entertainment consisted of readings and recitations, interspersed with selections of vocal and instrumental music, by members and friends. The second portion consisted of a magic lantern exhibition, by Mr Shanley, ol Ohristchurch. The entertainment was a great success, and was very much enjoyed by all piesent. PEDESTRIANISM. —Mr Edwards, who walked a seven mile match against the then champion of Olago—MacgrcKor—has now undertaken, says the Dally Times, to match himself agninst time in a much more arduous task, namely, that of walking 100 miles within twenty-four hours. This, we think, will be the first performance of this feat south of the line. In the event of his winning the match we believe Mr Edwards is to be presented with a piece of plate by several Dunedin gentlemen, who will also act as a committee to ensure the legitimacy of all the arrangement o . The couise on which this daring attempt is to be essayed has not yet been selected.

INQUEST. —An inquest was held at the hospital yesterday, before J W. S. Coward, Esq, coroner, on the body of a man named William Williams, who died suddenly on the 25th. Deceased, who had been a sailor on board the s.s. Alhambra, was taken suddenly ill whilst at work that day with an attack of apoplexy, He was attended by Dr McDonald, who ordered him to be removed to the Christchurch hospital. While being conveyed by train, under the care of Sergeant McGuire, he expired on reaching Opawa. Dr McDonald, who made the post mortem examination, attributed death to apoplexy. The jury returned a verdict of "Died from natuial causes." East Christchurch Educational Committee —The usual fortnightly meeting of the East Christchurch school committee was held in St John's schoolroom last evening. Present—Revs W. J. Habens and H. C. M. Watson, Messrs Dymock, Mitchell, Kirk, Jameson, and Packer. In the absence of the chairman, Mr Wynn Williams, the Rev W. J. Habens was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. It was decided to offer the post of second master of the Gloucester street school to Mr Hill, at present master of the Bingsland school, and that of second mistress to Mrs Haughton, of M John's school. After the transaction of some routine business aud passing various accounts, the committee adjourned. Great Southern Uailway.—The see tion of this line between Ashbunon and the Rangitata was partially tested with a view to its being opened on Monday next. th.p 31st instant. The deflections noted on the Ashburton and Hinds bridges were scarcely appreciable, but these bridges are to be further tested on the 31st ins'ant with two of the heaviest engines sent out to this country for the narrow gauge railways. Very great praise was bestowed on Mr E. G. Wright, the contractor for the efficient manner iu which the whole of the details had been executed throughout the entire secliou. It is believed that arrangements will be made for two trains to run daily to the Kangitata, morning and evening, in connection with the Southern coaches, which in future will start from the Rangilata. There are three stations between the Ashburton aud the Ran gitata, viz, South Ashburton, 1 ongbe: ch road, and th" Hi',ds Ti n total length of this section is 18 miles 78 chains aud 37 links.

St. John's Juvenile Society. The third entertainment of the St. John's Jnvenile Society and Christy Minstrels will be held this evening in the schoolroom. A very good programme has been prepared, and should the weather prove favorable, a large Mlteudance may be anticipated.

Volunteer Reserve Corps.—A meeting of the promoters of this corps, was held last evening at Warner's Hotel. Mr J. A. Bird in the chair. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been confirmed, the acting secretary stated that, at the meeting of the provisional committee, held on the previous Friday, it was found that the enrolment of members would first have to take place before other business could be proceeded with. Twenty two persons then enrolled their names, two of whom had been excaptains in the volunteer service, some in the regulars, and others non-commissioned volunteer officers. It was stated that a number of persons had expressed their intention of joining the corps, sufficient to warrant the companybeing formed under the regulations . Recruiting lists were distributed to each member, for the purpose of procuring names. A. feeling of satisfaction was expressed that the members so far were all drilled men, which circumstance must tend to raise the standard of the corps. It was decided that the acting secretary should also act as treasurer tern. It was resolved—" That the enrolled members be a committee, with power to add to their number, for the purpose of procuring members, and for the transaction of other business, to meet again ou Monday next, at 8 p.m." A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business.

The Otago Grand Hotel. -The appearance of the city, says the Daily Times, is being rapidly improved by the erection of handsome and substantial buildings in all directions, and we are glad to learn that one of the best business sites in the centre of the city will soon be occupied by a very large and commodious hotel and a number of shops. The Otago Hotel, in Rattray street, kept by Mr Louis Court, is to be extended from where it now stands right round into Princes street, taking in what is well known as " Wise's Corner." The new hostelry, which is to be called The Otago Grand Hotel, will have a frontage to Rattray street of about 130 ft, including the space occupied by the hotel as it now stands, and a frontage of 66ft to Princes street. The building, for which Mr Lawson is the architect, will be a very handsome one in the Grecian style. It will be three storeys high, in addition to the basement, and the street level in Princes street will be occupied with shops. In Rattray street there will be one large shop, the present Otago Hotel, and the principal entrance to the new hotel building. This entrance, which will be lift wide, will be about the place where the right of-way next the building occupied by Mr Wise now is. There will be spacious cellars for the use of the occupants of the new shops, and the hotel will occupy the two storeys above the shops all round. The whole block of new buildings will be carried round as high as the Otago Hotel is at present, so that it will have a very imposing appearance. The difference in the levels prevents the possibility of an entrance to the hotel from Princes street, or one would have been made. The building will be of brick and cement. The Rattray street entrance on the street level will present a series of semi-arches, with projected pilasters, and, on the second floor, pedimented {projected windows. In the upper storey, the windows will have cornices over architraved openings. We have seen the plans at Mr Lawson's office, and from them can see that new building will be an ornament to the city. From the large amount of space available, the hotel will be a splendid one, the interior arrangements, so far as they have been determined upon, being particularly good. There will be about eighty bedrooms on the second floor, and on the first floor seven sittingrooms, with bedrooms en suite. The diningroom will be fifty feet long by eighteen feet wide, and will h. capable of accommodating seventy persons at the same time. All the rooms on the upper storey will be furnished as bedrooms, 'fie present Cafe will remain as it is, and there will be means of communication between it and the new portion of the building. There will be bathrooms and all necessary accommodation on each floor. The present front door of the hotel will remain, and will be used as a night entrance to the new building.