NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, 30 December 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Counties-Act.— Mr Rolleston h4B - received the following telegram from Wei-,, lington :—“Government Buildings, Deqem-'-her 30th, 1876 —To W. Rolleston, Esq,* OhiSstchurch, 940. Warrant lished yesterday fixing first meeting of County Councils of all Counties in provincial district of Canterbury at noon on Thursday, 4th January, as follows:—For Selwyn, the apartment formerly used as' the Provincial Coj||fel Chamber, Christchurch ; for other «Bttiea; the R. M. Courts as follows Amufi, Waiau; Ashley, Rangiora; Akaroa, Akaroa; Ashburton, Ashburton ; Geraldine, Timaru; Waimate, Waimate, WpN, in absence of Colonial Secretary.” kSpfuNDAY SCHOOL UNION. The annual services in connection with the Canterbury Sunday-school Union will take place Jbmorrow, The children of the various schools connected with the Union will meet Jnf the Durham street Wesleyan Church at 8 p,m, when an address will be delivered by the Rev W. Morley, Ashley.—Considerable excitemeflfc has been caused in this usually quiet township by the sudden disappearance during the week of a member of the mercantile*interest. No tidings having been gathered of hie whereabouts, or the manner in which he had gone away, the impression got 4|(broad that he was either murdered or drowned in the river. As he was a steady man this latter was scarcely expected to be the case, unless be might have accidentally fallen while crossing the footway of the railway bridge, whioh consists of narrow planks. The Ashley was vigorously dragged by the police and a party of volunteers yesterday. In the midst of operations, however, intelligence was received that the missing man of com* merce was still alive in Christchurch, and intended to return home next day., Inquest,—An inquest was held yesterday at 'the Foresters’ Hotel on the body of Catherine O’Connell, who was found dead tbe previous morning on the kitchen floor of' her house near Bricks wharf. From the evidence of witnesses it was shown that deceased’s husband, her son, dangbter-in- I law, and a friend went to the house about J nine o’clock on Wednesday evening, taking M with them a bottle of brandy; deceased ’ waE | then under the influence of liquor, and had 1 some of. the brandy. Three of the party left about eleven o’clock, and were accompanied to the gate by deceased and her husband, a both of whom were worse for drink. The M bottle, which was not taken away, was about three-parts full of spirits. O’Connell bis wife returned to the kitchen, and fromH . that time he remembered nothing About five o’clock next morning he found himself on a sofa in an inner room, and on going to look for his wife he discovered her lying on her face on the kitchen floor dead, and tbe brandy bottle empty, The medical evidence showed that there was a cut near the back part of one ear, and a severe contusion on the back of the head; tbe liver and heart were in a very unhealthy state, but death had resulted from rupture of the brain caused by /falling heavily on the kitchen floor. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence. • - -J :u • i The Price of Pis andies Our English have frequently of !tbe price of brandies. Ne!son exchange) following extract at r.uez mail v J VVf.:■ Vi

Art Union.—At a meeting of subscribers to H. B.,Nathan's art union, held last evening, the date of drawing was fixed. H.A.C.B. Society.— A summoned meeting of members will be held at the Barbadoes street schoolroom this evening at half-past seven. Court Stab of Canterbury, No 2309. —A quarterly summoned meeting of above lodge, for election of officers and district delegates, will be held on Monday next, at 8.30 p.m. Papanui District School.— The annual school treat will be held in Mr Derrick’s paddock, adjoining the school, on Wednesday, 3rd January. Evangelistic Services.— A special service, conducted by Messrs Harrison Ord, and Douglas Russell, was held last evening at the Congregational Church, There was a large attendance. Lyttelton Town Clock. —Yesterday and the day before many people lost the train through this clock being wrong, as it is seven minutes slower than the railway time. Watch Night Services.— The usual watch night services in connection with the Durham street church will take place to morrow* evening. Services in connection with the United Methodist Free Church will also be held. Lyttelton Regatta. —Mr H. B. Nathan has given a cup, value £3 3s, for the ships’ boats sailing race at the coming regatta. We notice that the crews intending to compete in the rowing races are now hard at work both morning and evening preparing themselves for the coming contest. City Improvements.— We are glad to notice that steps are being taken to improve and utilise the piece of waste ground fronting the river near the Post-office, the con dition of which has long been anything but creditable. A good deal of land has been reclaimed from the river, and it is intended, we believe, to run a road straight through to Colombo bridge in continuation of Oxford terrace. Steps are also being taken for the 1 - removal of the dilapidated pile of buildings used as the Market place fire brigade station, which cannot but be regarded as a step in the right direction. Anniversary Sports.— A meeting of the committee was held at the City Council Chambers yesterday at i p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Captain Wilson, Messrs Andrews, J. A. Bird, B. B, Bishop, Walkden, and H. B. Alport (hon sec.) A letter was read from Mr Wynn i Williams, apologising for non-attendance on account of absence from Christchurch. A number of accounts connected with the late -'Sports were passed for payment. A letter I was read from Mr Anderson, asking whether I the committee could give a isecond prize in r the One Mile Handicap flat race for which no prize was awarded on the programme. The secretary was instructed to reply that as no second prize was mentioned on the programme, the committee could not award it. The question of the awarding of the prizes for the best dressed man and boy on the ground was discussed. Mr Andrews moved—“ That the first prize for men be awarded to Bowley, and that for boys to Manning.” Mr Walkden seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Bishop moved—” That with a view to en ■ courage the formation of a band composed of lads under sixteen years of age for the performance at future anniversary sports and on other occasions, this committee give notice at once that at the next annual meet-, ing they will offer prizes for the best band upon the following conditions—That there shall be not less than ten performers in each band, the selection of instruments to be left to themselves ; each band to march twice round the square performing, dressed in i uniform, and carrying a banner showing to k what school or institution they belong.” £ Mr Alport seconded the motion, The motion p. was agreed to. Mr Bishop then moved—- ■ “ That Mr Bishop be authorised to send a ■ copy of the above resolution to the chairmen I of the school committees in and around ■ Christchurch, with a request that they will whether the various committees feel a band in connection P ar t in the contest; July.’’ Capt