NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 428, 27 October 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

H.M.S. Saapho. —This man-of-war arrived in Lyttelton this afternoon.

Reserves. —The Provincial Government Gazette contains a list of reserves which have been made temporarily. Mail Notice. Mails for America, United Kingdom, &c, via San Francisco, per Mikado, will close at Auckland, on Friday 29th inst, at 10 a.m.

Kaiapoi-Eyreton Railway.— The first locomotive (with trucks attached) on this line ran into the Kaiapoi station on Saturday last. Metropolitan Race Meeting.— The sale of rights of publicans’ booths, refreshment stalls, sports, horse 3 ards, and cards of the races, will take place at Warner’s Hotel on Monday, November Ist, at three o’clock. Telegraphic —The Ringarooma is expected to leave Hokitika at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Telegrams for the Australian colonies or Europe, via Java cable, will be received at the Telegraph office for transmission to Hokitika up till 5 p.m. of the 28th.

Electoral.— Mr E. C. J. Stevens announces his intention of offering himself for election as one of the three representatives of Christchurch in the next Parliament. Mr Andrews has also announced his intention of seeking the suffrages of the Christchurch electors at the same time. Unclaimed Pensions. —We observe a notice at the Custom House that pensions due to William Balfour and Henry Birmingham for the current quarter are to this date unclaimed. Pensioners should remember that their pensions, if not claimed within the first month of one quarter, will not be paid till the beginning of the next quarter.

Supreme Court.— His Honor Mr Justice Johnston sat in Chambers yesterday at 11 am. In the case of Thomas Jervis Ryan, the last examination was fixed for November 4th, and in the case of Hills v Hills and Another (co-respondent), a suit for divorce, the trial of fact was fixed for Monday, December 13th, before a common jury at Timara, Masonic Ball.—The arrangements for the Masonic Ball on the 3rd November at the Oddfellows’ Hall in aid of the scholarship endowment fund are progressing favorably; and there is every probability of a successful gathering. A very influential list of stewards has been issued, comprising besides brethren of the craft many leading citizens nonMasons,

Coleridge Electoral District.— ln addition to the candidates already announced as intending to solicit the votes of this district at the next general election for the General Assembly, we are informed that George Holmes, jun, E?q, has been requested to enter the field. As the requisition was from some influential electors, Mr Holmes has consented to become a candidate.

Canterbury Railways.— A comparative statement of the traffic for the month of August is published in the Gazette. The tonnage of merchandise was—wheat, 1057; oats, 572; barley, 135; flour, 361; other agricultural produce, 838; coal, 1994; other minerals, 341; timber, 5015; wool, 71;general, 7298; total, 17,682; as compared with 17,516 for August, 1874. During the same period 42,711 passengers travelled, as compared with36,762| for August, 1874. The receipts were—merchandise, £7105 16s 2d; rents, £l4 3s 6d; wharfage, £1076 0s lOd; passengers, £3724 18s 8d; parcels, £197 4s Id; horses, carriages, &c, £B3 18s lid; total, £12,202 2s 2d; as compared with £10,620 Is lOd for the same month in 1874. Cricket.—South Rakaia v Ashburton. —On Saturday, 16th inst, a match was played on the South Rakaia Ground between two elevens of the above clubs. It was decided that should it be found there would not be time to play the match out, the stumps were to be drawn at four o’clock. Ashburton won the toss and sent their opponents in first, who placed 71 to their credit (including two byes and four wides) before being disposed of. Some very good play was shown on both sides. The fielding of the Ashburton team was excellent, J. Eagle at point making the best catch of the day. The Ashburton team then took the wickets, and scored 55 (including four byes and one leg-bye), though they had very superior bowling to contend against, notably that of T. Fagin, who bowled seven wickets. The South Rakaia team in their second innings had scored 77, inclusive of one bye and one no ball, with three wickets to go down, when time was called.

Municipal Corporations Act, —In reply to a telegram, addressed by his Worship the Mayor to the Hon E, Richardson, enquiring whetherthe Amended Municipal Corporations Act had become law, his Worship yesterday received a reply in the affirmative. Mr Richardson says :—“ The Municipal Corporations Act has been assented to and is now law. I will sent you some copies of the Act as soon as printed.” In the summary of the new Act given by his Worship on Monday it was stated that the election of Mayor would be the same as that for a Councillor; the necessary qualification for the office being that the candidate must have been rated to the extent of at least £25 per year on the 90th June last past, and must be on the burgess roll for the time being, so that it will be seen that any ratepayer, whether a member of the Council or not, is eligible for the office of Mayor next year.” Imported Sheep.—As will be recollected by all who have taken any interest in sheepbreeding, the Canterbury and Otago Association have long held a high position as breeders and exhibitors of merinos, and they have recently made such an addition to their already fine flocks as evinces their desire to retain the prestige which they have so long and worthily held. In furtherance of this object, they despatched Mr Neil Maclean specially to Melbourne with carte blanche to secure the best blood to be obtained in Victoria. Mr Maclean returned per s.s. Albion, beinging with him sixty-three rams, all of which have been landed safe, not having lost one on the passage, and placing them here in top condition. For this result Mr Maclean was indebted in no small degree to the care and attention shown by Captain Underwood and his officers during the voyage, every facility being afforded by them to him for seeing to the well being of the sheep. The importation is one of the highest possible importance to the province, as introducing a strain of the very best blood of merino, the sheep taken all through being really grand animals. Of the number brought by Mr N. Maclean, fortythree are from the well-known flock of Mr J. L. Currie, of Larra, one of the oldest and most successful breeders of merinos in Victoria; and twenty from the flocks of Mr E. J. Greeves, of Boriyallock. The price paid per head ranged from 30 guineas to 200 guineas, which will give our readers some criterion of the quality of these sheep. It is matter for regret that, owing to the sheep having to be dipped, they will not be able to be exhibited at the forthcoming metropolitan show. We commend the enterprise of the Canterbury and Otago Association to the notice of our large sheep breeders, and congratulate Mr Maclean upon the success with which he has carried out his difficult mission in landing such a valuable lot of sheep without losing a head.

Acclimatisation Society.—A meeting of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society was held at the Gardens yesterday afternoon, Dr Campbell in the chair. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The chairman mentioned that the resolution as to fishing had been carried out, and the proclamation had been issued by the Superintendent opening the fishing in Hagley Park. A deputation from the Hunt Club waited on the society, comprising Messrs Moore, Egan, and J. B. Gresson, requesting the aid of the society in turning out hares in the various parts of the province. The hares were now getting very numerous around the town, and they wished to know what the society intended to do. Colonel Packe said that the hares were spreading in the Park very fast, and were eating up everything in the Gardens Now, therefore, was a good time to distribute the hares in the various parts of the province. After some remarks from Messrs Egan and Gresson, Colonel Packe moved “ That the matter be left in the hands of the garden committee so soon as the new curator arrived with instructions to act as speedily as possible.” Mr Egan said he would desire to point out that the hares now in the park were prevented from increasing, as the dogs in the park ran down the young leverets and killed them ; indeed, Mr Garforth’s men had found a number of them lying dead. What the club wanted to see done was that the hares should .be netted and sent to rangers, who would take charge of them. After some further discussion, Colonel Packe altered his motion as follows:— ‘ That arrangements for the purpose of capturing the hares be made by the garden committee as soon as possible after the arrival of the new curator, and that arrangements be made for a meeting between the garden committee and the hunt club.” Mr Farr seconded the motion, which was agreed to, and the deputation retired. Respecting the ’importation of salmon ova from America, Sir Oracroft Wilson moved secretary write to Mr J. D. Ormond, asking him how he got out his ova from America, and the agent employed by him in California.” Mr Bird seconded the motion, which was carried. It was resolved that 1000 young trout be reserved for the rivers of the province accessible to the public. The secretary reported that he had issued twenty fishing licenses. The chairman reported that the salmon cage had been removed to New Brighton. The secretary submitted a statement of receipts and expenditure for the month. The chairman announced that the garden committee had selected Mr John Beck, of Winton, near Invercargill, as the curator, and their selection was approved. Messrs Buys and Foster applied for 200 trout, to place in Lakes Lyndon, See., 100 to be granted by the society, and 100 to be paid for. The Council declined to make a grant as requested. A similar application from Mr W. O. Walker was declined. The meeting then adjourned.