NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1252, 12 March 1878, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sittings at Nisi Peius. —The date for holding the civil sittings has been fixed for April 10th. Volunteer Engineers,— A general meeting of the Christchurch Engineers will be held in the Orderly room on Thursday next, at 8 p.m.

City Wards. —Or. Briggs gave notice of motion last evening for next meeting, affirming the desirableness—in pursuance of a resolution previously passed—of dividing the city into wards.

The Criminal Session. —His Honor Mr Justice Williams will take the criminal and civil business of the April session here, Mr Justice Johnston exchanging circuits with him.

Steam Launch Eclipse.— Mr Croll, Inspector of Machinery, came down to inspect this launch yesterday, and expressed himself well satisfied with her boiler and fittings.

Legal. —His Honor Mr Justice Johnston sat in Chambers and in banco yesterday at 11 a.m. The cases on the list, which was a lengthy one, were all disposed of, as his Honor goes to Dunedin to-day.

The “Akaeoa Mail.”— We hear that a change has taken place in the proprietorship of the “ Akaroa Mail,” Mr A. Wiggins, late of the Government Insurance Department, takes the place of Mr J. D. Garwood.

Licensed Victuallers’ Association.— A special general meeting of the Association will be held this evening at RadcHffe’s Hotel. For the nature of the business we refer our readers to an advertisement appearing elsewh re. The Native Birds of New Zealand.— The London “ Times ” supplies the following news for the legislators of this colonyA Bill has recently passed the Legislature of New Zealand haying for its object the protection of the indigenous birds of the country of which any specimens still remain. Among the rarer native varieties included in the schedule are the ibis, lyre bird, satin bird, and bower bird; but robins, wrens, finches, larks, water rails, and cuckoos are also placed under the protective clauses of the Act.

Sufferers dy the Late Fire. —After the adjournment of the City Council last evening, the Mayor mentioned the eases of the sufferers by the late fire in St. Asaph .street west. Two females had been left without clothes or even boots, and one poor woman, who was supporting her family, and had lately added a room to her house, had lost everything, even to their clothes. There were several others reduced to a very pitiable plight, and he would be very happy to receive any additions to his subscription list, which now amounted to £l7. Several councillors expressed an intention pf subscribing to the fund. Kaiacoi Doha in Board. —An Order in Council of February 27th constitutes a Kaiapoi Domain Board under the Public Domains Act, 1800. The members nominated are Messrs J. L. Wilson, G. H. Wearing, J. Beharrell, 1. Pashby, E. Coup, and the Mayor of iyaiapoi. The Board is to meet on the first Monday in each month, but the first meeting is to be held “ on Monday, the fourth day of March.” A second Order in Council brings the Kaiapoi Domain, the boundaries of whicn are given, under the Public Domains Act, 1860.

Pointers’ Picnic. —A meeting was held at the Market Hotel last evening, to make the arrangements for a picnic to be held pn the 23rd inst. of the painters and plumbers. There was a large? attendance, and Mr Parry occupied the chair. It was settled that the picnic should be held at Mr J. W. Anderson’s paddock, adjoining the Prebbleton Hotel. A committee has been appoint ed to draw up a programme of the sports, Ac., to be held on the occasion. The time of starting was fixed for 8 a.m. from the Post otlice. Attempted Suicide. A man named Henry Steele, who had been discharged yesterday from Lyttelton gaol on a charge of lunacy from drink, attempted suicide in the afternoon when coming up to town. Shortly after the 4 30 train had entered the tunnel he rushed out of the carriage on to the platform and endeavored to throw himself hel ween the carriages. Mr jfisher who saw the attempt caught him just in time, and with assistance lifted him inside. Steele, who |s not supposed to be in his right mind, threw himself out of an upstair window of his boarding house some short time since.

The Late Fike.—His Worship requests us to acknowledge the receipt of the following dopa'ions towards the cases mentioned [by him at'the meetiruz of the Chy Council last evening i—T. Tombs, tU Is • FJv.ll., 2s 6d ; J. Philips, 2s fid j S. Nushelski, £1 I*"- Uevi H. C. M. Watson, 10s ; F.L. A T., 2s fid ; T. H., 2s ; Discount, 2s fid ; J. J. Buchanan, £2 2s; \Y. Wilson, £2 2s; Mrs C., 10s; Mrßowror-, 10s ; Mr Mann. 5s ; C. P. Hulbert, £2 ; Hobclav and Co.. £1; G. L. Mellish, 10s ; the Mayor, £5; R. Clark, [2s fid ;J. A. Bird, 10s; W. Philips, ss; C. H. Briggs, £1 ; W. Pratt, j.l ; C. Wwlkden, 10s; F. T. Haskins, 10s; (1. Gould, £1 ; W. Viutiiiil) £3; W» P, W •/ j K, p, t XL,

CurcKET.—The Association match for next Saturday will be England v Colonies, and will be the last match of the season. The following are the sides : —England—Messrs Austen, Dickinson, Godby, Lee. MacDonald, Moore, Morice, Morrison, Neilson, Skelton, Stevens, and Wilson. Colonies—Messrs Allen, E. Cotterill, C. Frith, W. Frith, Fuller, Hartland, Mathias, Ollivier, Peter, Reeves, H. S. Smith, and Wood.

CoIumBAHIAN Society. —The entries for the sixth pigeon race, to take place under the auspices of the Columbarian Society, on the 26th March, closed last night at the Shades, Hereford street. The following are the entries : —Mr E. R. Deacon’s Swiveller, Rainbow, and Sunbeam ; Mr C. Harris’s Pardon ; Mr J. Hicks’s Chester, Elvira, and Faugh-a-Ballagh ; Mr A. Walker’s Porb-Wine-Hot and Adele ; Mr J. Perry’s Roseberry : and Mr E. D. Rees’s Bluebeard, Trickett, and Hysteric. It may be mentioned that a prize of two guineas has been offered by a member of the Society to any other member who can get a bird to come from Dunedin to Christchurch ; also that a race, to be flown next Monday, has been arranged between Mr E. D. Rees’s Bluebeard and Mr A. Walker’s Moonlight.

Otago Benevolent Institution. —The annual report of the Otago Benevolent Institution shows that the total amount expended on out-door relief for the year has been £2410 5s sd; the total number relieved was 1305, composed of 101 male adults, 316 female adults, and 888 children. Of those relieved SO were widows, and 266 children, 32 deserted wives, with 116 children, and 9 women, with 29 children, whose husbands were in gaol. Sixteen male adults and 11 female adults were received into the Institution at Caversham during the year, and 19 male adults and 11 female adults were discharged, the number remaining in the Institution on 3lst December being 37 male adults, 9 female adults, 12 boys, and 16 girls. The committee had. also assisted a number of people in distress to reach their friends in other parts of the colony, or beyond it. They report that, as far as their information extends, wife desertion is slightly on the decrease, the number relieved during the year being 32, with 116 children, against 44, with 114 children, the previous year. Chemical Phopeetiks of New Zealand Tebes, &c.—A resident of Omata, near New Plymouth, named Grayling, has been experimenting on the chemical properties of some of the native trees. Years ago we remember a substance having something of the properties of catechu, which had been extracted by Mr Grayling from the bark of the Towai. More recently he has, according to the “ News,” produced a valuable alkaloid possessing all the qualities of quinine from the bark of the pukatea ( Atherosperma ). It is in the form of a resinous extract, and from personal experience our contemporary is able to say that a small quantity taken up by the point of a penknife has the effect of a strong tonic on the stomach. This valuable drug would be in a more sightly form if it were crystallised, but the high duty on alcohol which is necessary in order to produce crystallisation, prohibits the idea of that process being carried out economically. Mr Grayling has also devoted some attention to the ferns, and succeeded in producing an extract, containing a large percentage of tannin. By last mail he received from a Bermondsey tanner an order for five tons of this substance. New Zealand Flax foe Papee Making.— A manufacturer in England, writing to a friend in Tasmania, says:—One of the greatest wants in the manufacture of paper is that of a good material of which to make it. The two essential qualities are strength, and bleaching properties, and the only material used so far which has these in perfection is linen. This is very expensive, and I have long thought that the wild flax growing in New Zealand, and I fancy in Tasmania, would, if properly prepared, answer the same purpose, and in all probability could be imported here at a much less cost than the rags can be purchased, especially if the flax-cutters could lie induced to consign it. The great difficulty with the New Zealand flax has been to rid it of a resinous substance. lam told this difficulty is now overcome, and in any case I believe a solution of caustic soda would have the desired effect. My object now in writing to you is to inquire if you could get me any information about the article named, or if you could in any way influence a trial consignment, or regular consignments, if the thing on inquiry, was found practicable to work with, and to ship profitably. Goldfields Moealitt.— Speaking of the depression on the Thames goldfields, the “ Herald ” says : —There is no more lack of capital at present than there was on the opening of the Thames goldfields, but there is less willingness to invest in mining speculations, and the reason is obvious. Persons have been so often victimised by their own servants, that nearly every business man has registered a vow in his heart never to look at mining shares again. There are good grounds for this distrust, and it is a matter of great regret that such grounds should exist. Obvious facts, and no less obvious deductions, however, cannot be put aside, We honestly believe that there have been, and are at present, managers of mines on t he Thames on whose judgment and honesty the most implicit reliance can be placed, so also are there boards of directors who would scorn to use their positions for their own advantage, to the detriment of the shareholders who placed them in office to watch over the general interests. But if this is the rule, there are notable exceptions to it.

Escape and Recapture of a Prisoner. —About half past ten yesterday morning a lad named Samuel Dann, who was undergoing three sentences —two for breaking into and stealing from dwellings, and one for escaping from Addington Gaol—made his escape from the Hospital grounds. Dann, who was working with a hard labor gang employed in front of the institution, made for the iron fence which divides the acclimatisation enclosure, and was over it in a second. Warder Horrell, who was in charge of the gang, followed him to the fence, and levelling his carbine called on him to stop. The runaway, however, took no notice of him, and as the warder could not leave, and did not think the lad could get away, he refrained from firing. Information was at once sent to the police depot, and a search party of five immediately dispatched. After searching the Park and grounds for about three-quarters of an hour, Dann was found by Constable Lalor secreted under some brambles in the acclimatisation enclosure. When arrested he said he had escaped because he was so badly treated in prison, and he wished the yarder had shot him. He qlso expressed his regret that there had rot been a tew high trees convenient for him to

get into,

The Late Me Abrahams. —The news of the decease of this gentleman, though long expected, wiil be received by a very large circle with regret. Mr Abrahams enjoyed the distinction of having been the founder amongst us of the I.C 0.F., M.U., having been one of the most active promoters of what is now known as the mother lodge of Odd Fellowship here, viz., the Loyal City of Norwich, opened in Lyttelton about the year 1851. He served most of the offices in (lie lodge, and also attained to distinction in the district, and in all his offices secured for himself the respect and esteem of his brethren. When the first lodge was instituted in Christchurch, Mr Abrahams strove most jealously to extend the principles of Oddfelloyrship. throughout the jhen infant settlement. Indoing this, he spared neither time nor trouble, and lie lived to see the small lodge then started grow into a large and flourishing district, with offshoots in every part of the province. For some years past, Mr Abrahams had been unable from ill-health to take an active part in the work of the Order, but his interest in it was na keen and unabated as ever. Some time back a very excellent portrait was painted by subscription from the various lodges, and each one in the district furnished witti a photographic copy, which hangs in all the lodge rooms, the original picture being placed in the large hall of the City of Christchurch Lodge. There are few men who have secured to such a degree the esteem of those with whom they have been in contact, and it wil} be long ere the Oddfellow? of Canterbury torefet the mmwf of

Dangerous Goods in Dunedin. The Dunedin “ Herald ” says that the police have seized a quantity of inflammable oil known as painters’ spirits, and our contemporary understands the matter will shortly come before the Police Court ns the subject of a prosecution under the Dangerous Goods Act. t Appointments.—lt is notified in the “ Gazette” that Mr J. W. H. Gordon has been appointed clerk to the Christchurch Asylum. Doctors Turnbull, Deamer, Doyle, Frankish, Bell-Hay, Ned will, and Powell hare been appointed the Medical Board for the Hospital at Christchurch. Land Sale.— Messrs H. Matson and Co. held a sale of town land yesterday, which was largely attended. The land offered comprised one acre fronting on Cashel street West, and Cambridge Terrace, which had been divided into twelve lots. Four lots faced Cashel street, two faeing Cashel street and Cambridge Terrace, and six fronting Cambridge Terrace. The corner section having a frontage of 81feet on Cashel street and Cambridge Terrace was bought by Mr Mitchell at £/ Iss per foot. The adjoining section, fronting on the same streets, was also purchased by Mr Mitchell for £8 5s per foot. Four other lots facing Cashel street only with frontages varying from 31- to 42 feet, brought from £6 5s to' £6 15s per foot. The remaining sections, fronting Cambridge Terrace, only brought from £2 17s 6d to £5 15s per foot. The purchasers were Messrs Mitchell, .13. J. Hale, and others. The total price brought by the acre of land was £3llO. Political Opinion in Southland..—That the Premier did not meet with an uncomfortable reception, cool or hot, in Invercargill has been already chronicled on the authority of the “ Otago Daily Times.” Wo may, however, gather what the people of those parts think from the following taken from the “Southland Times,” and written in anticipation of Sir George’s visit: —If only for hospitality’s sake, we sincerely hope a welcome will be extended to the visitors, but a welcome absolutely divested of every scintilla of political significance. Sir George Grey will bo welcome in every one of his manifold capacities save that of agitator. Let him whilst in Invercargill, assume the toga once more, and the role of the noble Roman which so eminently suits him, and by all means avoid the stump. The people of Southland, whilst advocating needful reform, entertain a wholesome horror of extreme innovations, such as those enunciated by Sir George Grey and his party. The Premier's Sentimental Moods.— In his after-dinner speech at Greymquth Sir George Grey said :—“ He found a difficulty in sufficiently expressing his admiration of the spirit and energy which was betrayed in every direction by the inhabitants of this district, whom he might term his god-children.” The children applauded their god-parent vociferously. At Kumarq he promised the people a Hospital. Further he said “ I must express my gratitude to Providence for haring allowed me to see the sight I have witnessed this day—a sight which you must all feel proud of; that here in a country that was utterly unpopulated and densely covered with forest, a town has sprung up in such a short time, inhabited by people who have not fled from civilisation, but have brought civilisation with them, bringing all their home comforts about them, and establishing what I believe has never before been seen in so short a period of time, a town possessing every element of prosperity, and everything that can attach men to their homes ; a town not inhabited by semi-harbaroua miners, but by heads of families, and owners of happy homes.” Coming from any one else in the colony such stuff would be called rubbish and twaddle.