Local and General.

Magisterial. — There was no public business transacted at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court this morning. Quartz.— Some very likely looking quartz was brought into town yesterday from the Spraxton Btation, situate between the Ashburton Forks and the Rakaia. Reserves. — A Provincial Government Gazette, published yesterday, notifies that reserves amounting to 1852 acres for educational and hospital purposes, have been made on the Peninsula. The late Prikck Consort. — To-day being the anniversary of the birth of H.R.H. the late Prince Consort, flags have been hoisted on both public and private buildings in many parts of the city. Legal.— His Honor sat in the Court Chambers, at 11 o'clock this morninv. Orders were made, fixing the 13th Sept. for the last examination in re William Weston, Henry Barton, and C. A. Calvert. YyELociFEDEs. — The velocipede mania seems likely to prevail in Canterbury with considerable vigour ere long. The bycicles introduced by Mr Wagstaffe have excitedgreat interest in this novel and amusing means of locomotion, and several persons have already acquired a fair amount of skill in their management Mr Wagstaffe has only turned out two~lrp to the present time, but the demand is so good that he has now several others in hand, and next week will see many of them in use. A few have also | been imported in the Joliba, andfwe hear of one gentleman resident at Woodend, and recently arrived from England, who intends performing the greater portion of the journey overland to Timaru on one. The matter does not, however, rest here, for we learn | that two gentlemen of strong aquatic propensities have determined upon trying the [ water adaptation of the machine, and intend . racing on the river Avon for a silver cup I to-morrow week. The plan is to have two light canoes, a foot wide, with discretionary length, parallel to each other, and two feet apart, the driving-wheel being in the centre of this latter space, and covered in I like the paddle-box of a steamed We have i seen one of these in progress of manufacture, and it certainly appears likely to secure a good rate of speed with but moderate exertion. Entertainment. — The members of the A.O.F. gave another entertainment in their hall, Oxford terrace, last night, but the threatening aspect of the weather caused only a small audience to assemble. Mrs Long, who presided at the pianoforte during the evening, led off with a solo, and was followed by Mr Cliff, who sung " Mother would comfort me" in a manner earning for him an enthusiastic encore. Mr .T. C. F. Lawrence recited " a Legend of St. Augustine " with good effect, and was freely applauded; Mr Ness being- equally successful with "the Idiot Boy, " and Air Fred Williams, by his humourous singing of "Jemima Brown," fully deserving the encore awarded him. In the second part, Mr Dunlop was loudly encored for his song, "the Muleteer," which he gave with force and expression. Mr Mansell read the " Disconsolate Widow ; " Mr Dorn was encored for singing " the Friar of Orders Grey," which was fairly rendered. Mr Lawrence excited the risibility and applause of the audience by reciting in good style " the Country Bumpkin's Courtship," and Messrs Stapleton and Taylor, in the comic duet, " the Yankee and Yorkshireman," fairly brought down the house, an encore being loudly demanded, This terminated the programme, and the National Anthem brought a very pleasant evening's amusement to a close. Rangiora and Mandeville Road Board. — The Board met at the Road Board olhce, Rangiora, on August 2. Present : — Messrs Dudding, Reynell, and Clark. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr J. S White waited on the Board, and requested permission to continue his drainage across Logan's road, between section 7980 and 6521. Permission was granted. The Surveyors' report was then : read and considered. Mr Ford had an interview, asking the Board to repair Jackson's road. It was resolved "That £5 be given towards tbis work, on conditiou that the work be executed to the satisfaction of the Surveyor to that J Board." The Clerk submitted a correspon- j dence between himself and the manager of the Kaiapoi branch of the Bank of New Zealand ,• and also from the Hon. George L. \ Lee, chairman to the Board on the same subject. Mr Clark proposed, and Mr Reynell seconded the following resolution, which was carried, " That the chairman at last meeting be directed to write to the mauager of the Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch, asking an explanation of the conduct of the manager at Kaiapoi. he having refused to pay cheques signed by the chairman pro. tern., and treasurer ; the Board having fully considered the subject, consider the conduct of the manager as calculated to impede the business of the B»ard." An application from Mr D. McCallum for remission of rates was refused. Accounts amounting to jEll7"l4s 3d were passed, and ordered to be paid, and the Board adjot raed.

SotJTHERH ItJVHSTMENTS. — TM& *V^effln^ol_f correspondent of an Auckland journal, writing on July 21 says : —The Southern gentlemen while proposing the abandonment of the out-settlemehts at the ISforth, do riot hesitate to invest their extra capital at the Thames. There is a second Wellington Mining Investment Company, for the Thames, now started at this place, and not less" than £200,000 (I have it on very good authority) is now being transmitted to Auckland for the purchase of shares at the Thames. Band op Hofe Dkmosstration. — The members of the Christchurch Band of Hope held a most successful inaugural soiree in the New Temperance Hall, Gloucester street, last night. Upwards of 200 children and adults partook of the tea which was served in good style.and during the subsequent proceedings the room was densely crowded. Mr R. J. Pearce presided, and delivered a brief introductory address, the Secretary and Treasurer afterwards reading statements of the numerical and monetary positions of the Association. From the former it appeared that about 144 members were on the books, and from the latter that a balance of about £5 remained in hand towards the cost of the new building erected by the parent society. A series of vocal music, readings, addresses, and recitations, then succeeded, and were highly successful. A dialogue by Messrs J. Caygill, H. Nettleton, W. De La Mere, — Le Breton, and J. Caygill, junr., in which the partners of a mercantile firm are described as selecting a clerk by a wine test, was very successful. "jJ-A.li.eged Gold Discovery. — For some timb past rumours have been current that Mr Walker, of Lyttelton, was aware of the existence of a gold-bea_ring quartz reef not far from the port tow^\ Mr Walker was known to possess specimens of quartz, in which, according to good authority, the precious metal was present, and it was generally believed that he was in a position to make an important disclosure. jThe history of Mr Walker's 'specimens is substantially as follows., TAbOut a year ago, he found pieces of quartzlin the neighbourhood of I'urau, which he carried homjy He did not suspect then that they , contained gold, but when, some few weeks ago, the excitement about ijuartz arose, the specimens were broken mp and specks of what is believed to be gold found in them 7)^lr Walker, in company with Mr Hawkins,- also of Lyttelton, then paid a visit, to the locality where the specimens had been picked up. They brought away a considerable quantity of quartz, which, when broken , up, further confirmed the opinion first arrived at— that the quartz was gold bearing^ Messrs Walker and Hawkins, havftfg ascertained that the reef from which they procured the specimens was on or close to land belonging to Mr R. H. Rhodes, have been waiting for that gentleman's return from the North before taking any further action in the matter. Mr Rhodes returned yesterday, and was waited upon by Mr Hawkins.-fWcf bdlieve steps will be taken at once to test the value of the discovery. In the meantime, it is believed that auriferous quartz Jms at last been discovered on the Peninsula^ We may add that Mr Hawkins is undersrood to have had considerable experience in quartz mining. Dinneb. — A dinner was given last night •by. the well-known proprietor of the City Hotel, on the occasion of his retiring from business. About forty-five gentlemen sat down, and a greater number would have attended, had it not been for the closing of the Australian and European mails. His Worship the Mayor of Christ .hurch presided, and he was supported on his right by Mr Ruddenklau (host), and Councillor Tombs ; and on his left by Mr Gordon, Town Clerk, and Councillors Duncan and Calvert. The vice-chairs were occupied by Messrs W. S. Moorhouse and J. A. Bird. A really capital dinner was placed on the tables, and one which spoke eminently for the cuisine of the establishment. After ample justice was done to the good things on the table, which were of every seasonable variety, the cloth was removed. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were proposed by the chairman. Mr Ruddenklau's health was also proposed by his Worship in a graceful speech, and was drunk with every demonstration of enthusiasm. Ihe host, in responding, acknowledged his deep indebtedness to the public of Canterbury, saying that it was their kind and lengthened support which had placed him in the position which he now occupied. Mrs Ruddenklau's health, proposed by Mr Moorhouse, was most warmly received. Other toasts were proposed, including "hia Excellency the Governor," " his Honor the Superintendent and the Provincial Council," " the Mayor and City Council," '* Mr Moorhouse," " Local Industry" (responded to by Mr Douglas), and "* Mr J. W. Oram, the successor of Mr Ruddenklau." The proceedings were enlivened by several songs and recitations, and altogether a most enjoyable evening was spent. We understand that a complimentary dinner will be given to Mr Ruddenklau at an early date. Cube Boating Clv». — A general meeting of membera took place on Wednesday evening ; in the absence of the commodore, Mr C. Oram occupied the chair. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. An amended copy of the rules was submitted by the secretary to the Club, and on the motion of Mr Nettleton, seconded by Mr Matthews, they were adopted as read. The chief alterations were in the rules — the reduction of the honorary members subscription from one guinea to half that amonnt annually, and the change of the club colours from scarlet to purple, rendered necessary in consequence of a Christchurch club having adopted the same colour. It was resolved—" That a series of pair-oared competitions take place during the ensuing season among the active members of the club, under the following regulations: — 1. The prize to be two pewters, given by the club. 2. Eight competitors or no race. S. Pairs to' Im drawn for

before tne race, any pair drawn to be bound to pull together. 4. The entrance fee tp'be 2s 6d per man, to be paid previous to the drawing. 5. Crews to toss for choice of boats, the crew losing the choice of boats to liave the choice of water. 6. The winning crew to present the coxswain (if any) with a donation. 7. The races to be run in heats at intervals of one hour, crews to pull in the order in which they are drawn, the winners of the first and second heat to row the deciding heat. 8. The captain of the club to be judge and referee, and his decision in all cases of dispute to be final. It was resolved, " That Messrs W. Burnip, C. Oram, and H. Feldwick, bea committee to attend to the repairing of the boats, and to have the same repainted." It was also resolved, ..' That the sub-committee be authorised to have a small punt built to go off to the practice boats which shall be kept at moorings during thte ensuing season. Mr Matthews was requested to prepare an estimate for a new pair-oared boat, and submit it at the next meeting.