Local and General.

Db Featherston. — In a General Government Gazette issued on the sth inst., his Excellency the Governor has accepted the resignation by Dr Featherston, of his seat in the Executive Council, and has been pleased to appoint him under " The Public Works Act, 1870," to be Agent-General for New Zealand in Great Britain and Ireland, the appointment to date from the 25th March last. Obituary. — We regret to have to record the death of the Hon. Mr Joseph Hawdon. The deceased gentleman distinguished himself in early life as one of the moHt enterprising of the pioneers in the work of founding the colony of Victoria. The extensive practical experience gained in work of this kind enabled Mr Hawdon to estimate the chances of a successful result in favour of the Canterbury settlement. Mr Hawdon was one of the first Australian colonists who visited Canterbury, and the result of his visit Was a considerable investment in the lauds of the province. Subsequently Mr Hawdon made Canterbury: his home. He was nominated, we believe/ by the Weld Ministry to the Legislative Council, and sat for one or two sessions. Mr Hawdon's health has been declining for the last few years. The immediate cause of hir death- was dropsy, brought on by excessive debility-, Leßon Bay.— The first anniversary of the Congregational Church, Leßon Bay, was celebrated by a public tea meeting, held in the church, on Good Friday. Although the weather had been so inclement, there was a goodly muster. The church was tastefully decorated with native evergreens and silver ferns, interspersed with flowers. After tea, a public meeting was held. The chair was occupied by Mr Wm. Barnett, the pastor of the church, who apologised for the absence of the Rev. W. J. Habens, of Christchurch. Having given a report of the financial fund, which showed that during the year the debt on the church' had been reduced to the sum of £10 13s ld, he was followed by addresses from some Christian friends, residents in the bay. After the usual vote of thanks, the meeting, which was considered one of the best ever held in Leßon Bay, broke up. On Sunday last the anniversary sermon was preached in the church by Mr Wm. Barnett. Magic Lantern. — A gentleman named Brown, hailing from Auckland, and professing to be successor to Mr Mitchell (whoever he may be), is at present travelling through the southern districts with an entertainment entitled " Phantasmagoria," which being interpreted, means magic lantern. The exhibition is rather above than below the average merit, though not to be compared with Mr Seager's. The views consist of some " scenes from the Holy Land," some photographs of pictures by the various masters, some twelve illustrations of the "Pilgrim's Progress," and the usual assortment of comic slides. Mr Brown, as a showman, is one of the most successful who have visited the country districts; his enunciation is plain and distinct, > while the descriptions of the various pictures i are short, clear, and sufficient, and in giving a series of views aa in those of the "Pilgrim's ? Brogress,'___he is able _to .connect the pictures and fill up the gaps in the story in a manner [ which commands the attention of the audi- • ence. Mr Brown has initiated a system of , selling tickets by aid of the school children, t who get a free admission on selling four, i which is of itself enough to awaken a sufficient interest in his exhibition and to ensure ■ him success. This week Halswell, Taitapu, > Lincoln, Springston, Broadfields, and Preb--5 bleton will be visited. The exhibition proves a. treat to the children, and any instructive entertainment will probably meet with suffi- » cient encouragement to prove remunerative I io its projectors,

Greenstone. — Persons desirous of purchasing greenstone are cautioned how they do so. Green glass has been offered, and in one or two instances purchased aa greenstone, the imitation being very good. Recovery of the Ironwork. — A Timaru contemporary of April 12 states that yesterday morning Mr Watson, the diver, came across the lost piece of ironwork. Nearly all of it was buried in the sand, which was just level with the top, and only a small portion of one end was visible above the surface of the sea-bed. A rope was soon attached, and the iron was hauled into the boat. Yesterday was the fifth day the diver had been engaged in the search. CanterburyPresbvtery. — The quarterly meeting was held yesterday at St. Andrew's Vestry. Present— The Revds. C. Fraser (Moderator), J. Campbell, M'Gowan, Douglas, and Messrs Macpherson, Roberts, and Henderson, Elders. The .minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Commissions in favour of Mr Roberts as representative Elder for St. Andrew's Church, and Mr Henderson for St. Paul's Church, were presented. Both commissions were approved, and the names of Messrs Roberts and Henderson were ordered to be added to the roll of the Presbytery. Mr Douglas intimated that as Moderator of Banks' Peninsula, he had visited the district, especially Pigeon Bay, Duvauehalle's Bay, and Akaroa. He had held services at the two former places, and made proposals for securing a minister or catechist, but he could not find any great encouragement. On the suggestion .of the Moderator, Mr M'Gowan moved that Mr Douglas be requested to collect subscriptions for the passage money of a catechist from home, but at Mr Douglas' special request it was withdrawn. Mr Douglas then tendered his resignation as Moderator of Banks Peninsula, which, on the motion of Mr Macpherson, was accepted, and Mr M'Gowan was appointed to the vacancy. The Moderator then left the chair, and moved — " A statement having been made by Messrs Macgowan and Douglas that the Rev Mr Todd, of Oamaru, had, on the Peninsula, dispensed the sacrament of baptism without any communication with, or authority from any member of this Presbytery, the Presbytery Clerk be instructed to communicate with the Presbytery of Dunedin, of which it appears that Mr Todd is a member, drawing attention to this violation of the ordinary manner of intercourse between ministers of different Presbyterian churches." The motion was seconded and agreed to. Mr Fraser, as Moderator of Lincoln and Leeston, reported that arrangements had been made for supplying the district with service in some central place, and efforts were also being made to provide services in other parts. It was resolved that a collection should be made before the last Wednesday in May for the Presbyterian home mission expenses. The Revs Douglas, Campbell, and Fraser were appointed a committee on statistics, and the Revs Fraser, Douglas, and M'Gowan were elected as a committee to arrange the preliminaries for a public meeting in connection with the Presbytery. The Presbytery then adjourned. Rifle Association. — A meeting of the Managing Committee was held at White's Hotel, at seven o'clock last evening. Present — Messrs Pavitt (chairman), Thomson, Crosbie, Barnes, Cohn, Manning, Glassford, and Hawkes. In the unavoidable absence of Mr Thomson, Mr Cohn was requested to act as Secretary. The business before the meeting was the correcting and checking of the score cards. In the Judging Distance Prize, some inaccuracy occurred in the prize winners, which arose from the cards being incorrectly totted up. The following are the prize winners: — Ist prize, Gunner Piper, 17 points ; 2nd do, Lieutenant Pavitt, 16 points. For the third prize, Private Paton and Ensign Davies both scored 15. and some discussion ensued as to the method of deciding ties. Mr Crosbie moved — " That for the Judging Distance and Horatio Ross Prize competitions, ties be decided first by the greatest number of hits ; if still a, tie, the greatest number of hits ; if still a tie,, by the greatest number of bull's-eyes. This resolution to apply to the Easter meeting, 1871, and to be submitted for consideration before the Council as a standing rule." Mr Glassford seconded the motion, which was carried, Mr Barnes dissenting. The third prize consequently falls to Mr Paton. Mr Glassford suggested that in the Horatio Ross prize at another meeting, the number of shots fired should be officially counted. In the Horatio Ross competition, the prizes were awarded as follows : — lst prize, Private Rule, 29 points; 2nd, Sergeant Cameron, 26 points ; 3rd, Lieutenant Paton. In the Canterbury prize, the winners were decided as follows : — Ist, Gunner Fox, 34 points; 2nd, Packard, 32 ; 3rd, Papprill, 32 ; 4th, A. Cuff, 32— the prizes being decided according to Wimbledon rules. In the attendance prize, the Ist prize was awarded to Lieutenant Wolfe, 88 points ; 2nd, Sergeant Raven, 87. The Civilians' Cup was awarded to Mr A. Cuff. In tbe Company competition and International matches respectively, the first prizes were awarded to No. 2 Engineers and the Scotch team; 2nd Company prize. Christchurch Artillery. In the President's prizes, the Ist was awarded to Sapper Allison ; Trooper Cohn, 2nd ; and Private Cameron, 3rd. In the Cadet prizes, Sapper Earle was Ist; Sapper Paxton, 2nd ; Sapper Caverhill, 3rd ; Trooper Black, 4th ; and Trooper Pavitt, sth. In the Association Cup, the first prize was awarded to Gunner Gulliver, the 2nd to Sergeant Dixon, the 3rd to Corporal Chapman, and the 4th to Sapper; Conley. Mr Crosbie moved, and Mr Hawkes seconded, *' That the All Comers' Cup be cx J eluded from the aggregate score." The motion was agreed to. Mr Barnes moved, : "That the country competitors not being i able to come down to compete for the ladies' prize, the prize be struck out of the aggres gate score." Mr Hawkes seconded tbe motion, which was carried. Messrs Barnes

and Glassford were appointed a sub-com-mittee to work out the aggregate scores. Mr Hawkes was appointed to act as officer of the day, on Saturday next. The aggregate scores for the Horatio Ross, Canterbury Cup, Judging Distance, Association Cup, and President's Prize competitions, were— Pavitt, 129 ; Paton, 128 ; Cameron, 123. Theatre Royal. — "Plot and Passion" was repeated last evening to a thin house. Mrs Steele will take her benefit to-night, when an excellent programme will be presented. Volunteers. — His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Ensign James Craig, of No. 5 Company Canterbury Rifle Volunteers, to be lieutenant; date of commission, 26th January, 1 87 1 . His Excellency has accepted the resisnation of the commission held by Lieutenant H. Dudding, of No. 4 Company Canterbury Rifle Volunteers. The Governor has nlso approved of the following alterations:— The No. 6 Company Canterbury Rifle Volunteers, to be the " City Guards " Company ; and the Royal Irish Company to be the " No. 2 " Company, Canterbury Rifle Volunteers. Literart Institute.— The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the Literary Institute was held last night, the Rev C Fraser presiding. There were also present, Dr Pring, Canon Cotterill, and Messrs Pratt, Martin, and Fyfe. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the Treasurer's statement, shewing a surplus of £15 17s Id; was approved. The following accounts were passed for payment : Weir Bros., £1 15s ; J. Hughes, £1 4s 9d ; Southland Times, postage, 8s 8d ; Otago Daily Times, postage, £1 10s. It was resolved that the Library Committee, in the view of a probable addition to the funds, he empowered to expend _£20 on new books, and that Mr Pratt inquire as to the probable cost of introducing gas into the Institute, and also obtain chairs for the reading room, also to see that the tables therein be covered with green baise. A donation of 150 volumes, ex Crusader, was reported from Mr Gould; It wa3 suggested that as an inducement to annual subscribers the plan of allowing- two books out at once instead of one as formerly be considered, in order to be discussed at the annual meeting. Tt was resolved that the committee approve of the alteration made to the reading room, and tender their cordial thanks to Mr Pratt for his liberality in defraying the entire expenses. Ay unanimous vote of thanks was also passed to Mr Gould for the handsome donation of books ex . Crusader. It was stated that arrangements had been made at the Post-office whereby newspapers, etc., would now be received immediately on arrival of the English mails. Lecture on Ritualism.— -Last night the Rev. A. F. Douglas delivered a lecture on ; Ritualism in St. Andrew's Churohi There !was a large attendance, and the Rev. C. Fraser, Moderator of the Presbytery, presided. After a few words of introduction, the Rev. lecturer stated; that the movement first called Puseyism or Tractarianism, but now Ritualism, took its formal rise about the year 1832. This, it will be remembered was the year of the first Reform Bill^. which had been preceded by the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, the Roman Catholic Disabilities, and the abolition of' ten out of the twenty-two Bishoprics of the Itish Church. As it was a time ef popular agitation, and the power of the nation had passed into the •hands of a more popularly elected body, and ,' there were loud outcries for further changes, it was felt that unless energetic steps were taken* the Church of of England, withi other established institutions, would be swept away. It was said that about this time a meeting was held- for concerting measures for opposing ithe latitudinarian tendencies of the times, and restoring the High Church principles of ;the English divines of the 17 th century. He !then mentioned the names of Keble, Pusey, Newman, Rose, Froud,. Williams, aa the headers of the movement., It was at first asserted that they had entered into a deliberate conspiracy to lead the Church of England back to the Church of Rome. There I was every reason to believe this, and it was I believed up to. the time of the publication of •Dr Newmans f Apologia pro Vita Sua," when it became evident that they did not then know that they were in an inclined plane leading to Rome. The "Tracts for the Times " which they published to advocate their opinions, with . the doctrines they contained — apostolical succession, sacramental grace, &c. — next came under review. He then explained the theory of "the Via Media, how, when it was discovered that it would not wear, Dr Newman , and many of his followers went over to Rome in 1845, and here the Tractarian movement proper took end. In answer to the question why the rest did not follow, and what is the present position of the Ritualists, the lecturer explained that they now held there was no necessity, for joining the Church of Rome, . because they were Catholics already, and their aim was to make the likeness as perfect as possible, and the height of their ambition : was to be recognised by the Roman Church as a true branch of herself. The lecturer summed up by saying that Ritualism was a system first of ceremonial, and second ofdoctrine; that it had made immense strides;, that, nevertheless, he did hot believe that England would ever become a Roman Catholic country, but that it would at no distant day disestablish the English Church. While this would occasion perplexities from the extraordinary variety of doctrines ranging from infidelity up to pure Romanism, the j end of which he could guess, he doubted' ' not that the whole would result in the morej > rapid extension of, that religion, which conI sisted not in meat and drink, but in righteous-i ; ness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.j ■ The proceedings were terminated with devo-j ' tional exercises, conducted by the Moderator, the Rev. C, Fraser. A collection was made ! as the audience retired in aid of the Preabyi tery's Home Mission Fund.

Lincoln District. — The nomination of a candidate for the seat in the Provincial Council rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr A. C. Knight, took place yesterday. The report of the proceedings at a pubiic meeting held on Monday evening last, and which was published in our issue of yesterday, explains the reason why it was the desire of the electors to have Mr Knight re-elected. Accordingly at the nomination yesterday Mr Knight was the only candidate proposed, and he was of course declared to be duly elected. Mr Knight was proposed by Mr J. N. Tosswill, and seconded by Mr Glyde. RiiLWATS. — The New York Herald, in alluding to the dangerous and overbearing power of the railway corporations in the United States, says : — "But what is the use of talking about state Governments controlling the management of railroads ? The ' * railroad magnates can buy up almost any of the State legislatures or governments. The "railroads are really a power greater than tbe state itself. It is a matter of doubt even whether they cannot control Congress or the Government at Washington as well. The time is coming, and not far off, when the Federal Government will be called upon imperatively by the people to protect them from the exactions and tyranny of the railroad corporations, and to control those powerful 1 institutions. A West Indian Confederation.— lt is stated, upon what appears to be credible authority, that a movement is on foot in the Caribbean for the establishment of a West Indian confederation. Cuba is bent, it is alleged, upon obtaining its independence,, by wearing out the repressive opposition of Spain;. Hayti and San Domingo warmly approve of the scheme because they dread annexation to the United States ; France., it is believed, is in no position to prevent the secession- of Martinique and Guadaloupe ; England's policy is interpreted as not unfriendly to- her West Indian possessions setting up in business for themselves ; and the agglomeration of the larger islands would necessitate, it is argued, the adhesion of those belonging to> Sweden, Denmark, aud the Netherlands respectively. The confederation would embrace an area of 79,462 square miles, with a- population of 4,389,287, and a trade of £65v000j000 sterling. It is stated, but the statement appears to rest upon mere rumour,, that Mr St. John, the British resident at Port au Prince, is urging ou the scheme, and that, if. it should be carried into effect, the British and Amerioau Governments would join in a guarantee of protection for the confederation.