The Star. TUESDAY, DEOEMBEE 14, 1880.

Thbatbical. — A holiday trip of a novel charaoter h contemplated by a number of amateurs, well-known in Press circles, who propose giving a series of theatrical performances at Kaiapoi, Bangiora, Ashburton, and Timaru. Their first appearance will probably be at E>.iapoi towards the end of next month. " Caste "isto be their piece de resistance.

Accident.— This morning a man named John Warren, a sailor on board the J. P. Parker, received a fracture of the right jaw by an iron hook attached to a rope striking him in the face while engaged in laoding cargo at Lyttelton. He waß removed to the Christchurch Hospital, where his hurts were attended to.

Pbizh Fibiito.-— The firing for the District Carbine prizes will take place at the Cashmere raDge on Monday next. The corps competing are the Yeomanry Cavalry and E Botlery of Artillery. Abtilxbby Pbaoxicb.— The B (Christohurch) Battery of Volunteer Artillery will prooeed to Lyttelton by an early train on Thursday (Anniversary Day) for shot and shell practice.

Exoubsion to Akaboa. — The Wanaka will make an excursion to Akaroa on Thursday next, leaving Lyttelton about half -past 8 a.m., and reaching Akaroa in time for the regatta and sports. She will sail again in time for passengers to return to town by the 11.45 p.m. train.

QUABTEBLY LICEKSHTG COT/BT.— A meeting of this Court wap held at Kaiapoi, yeßterday. The only Commissioners present were Joseph Beswiok, Heq., R.M.,andE. T, Hevell, Esq. Consequent on their being no quorum, tbe Court was adjourned till Jan. 3, 1881.

Aiabm op Fibb.— About eight o'clock last evening an alarm of fire was caueed in town through a f umace-fire at Mr Martin's blacksmith's shop, Tuam street, catching the woodwork of the building. One of the neighbours gave the alarm at the Lichfield street Fire Brigade Station, and immediately the bells were rung, and the engines proceeded to the scene of danger. On their arrival, however, it was found that the application of a few buckets of water had extinguished the fire before any considerable damage was done.

Oxfohd Obmbnt.— We call the attention of our readers to an advertisement calling a meeting of all interested in the manufacture of cement from materials recently discovered on the property of Messrs Ingram and White, Oxford. We have already published the favourable report of Messrs Lambert and Walkden thereon, and the still more favourable analysis made by Be Bkae, of the Government Laboratory, Wellington. As the manufacture of the local article will be an immense saving to the Colony at large, we hope the matter will be warmly taken up.

Ambhblby Race Mebtikg. — A meeting of the Committee was held at M'Lean's Hotel, on Saturday evening, Mr W. A. Benn in the chair. The action of the Hon. Sec, in intimating at the sale of privileges that only officials, owners, jockeys, and representatives of the Preßs would he admitted free to the saddling paddock, was approved. Correspondence, regarding a special train on the race day, was read. It was decided to fix the amounts of the stakes in the Hack races, both hurdle and flat, at £10. Saturday, Dec. 18, was appointed settling day. Kowai Riklb Cltjb.— On Saturday the Sefton and Amberley contingents of the Kowai Rifle Clubs concluded firing for representatives in the above match. It was greatly to be regretted that business engagements prevented the President (Mr R. Foster) and the Vice-Pre6ident (Mr D. Stewart) qualifying themselves as members of the team. The following have been selected :— Meesrß Hunter (Captain), Cameron, H. M'Kay, Powell, D. M'Kay, Jones, B. M'Kay, Pate, Frew, Barclay, Brock, Campbell, Vallance, J. M'Adam* and Manning. Emergencies — T. Croft and R. M'Adam. Kaiapoi Native Schools.— The annual treat in connection with these schools is to be held this year on Anniversary Day. They will consist of Sports and a Horticultural Show. A', specialty will be offered in the shape of a prize for the beet kept garden at the pah, for which the Hon H. B. G-resson has offered a prize of one guinea, and another for the best kept grounds in connection with any of the premises. The visitors will have every opportunity of inspecting them. The children will, as usual, recite pieces and give an entertainment of a varied kind, and, in the evening, the "Comiques" have promised to give one of their mirth- provoking entertainments. Thu9 there will be every means of persons spending an enjoyable day, and at the same time giving the Native race the satisfaction of seeing their festival well attended. Cantebbuby Fabmbbs' Co - opebative Associaiion. — A meeting of shareholders in this Aessciotion was held in Mr Henry Green's store, Timaru, on Saturday afternoon. There was a largo attendnnee, fully 150 farmers being prcsont. Mr Postlettiwaite, Chairman of the Provisional Directors, was appointed Chairman. The articles of association were read over and signed by those present. The names of seventeen shareholders were proposed for election as Directors, but the election was postponed till Saturday next. The association is meeting with a largo amount of support in South Canterbury, and it is probable that the assistance of tho farmers of North Canterbury will be asked by tho Directors when tho Company is fairly floated and incorporated' under the Joint Stock Companies' Act. Funbbal of Mk Duncax. — The remains of tho late Mr Andrew Duncan were interred in tho Addington cemetery yesterday afternoon, and were followed to their last resting place by one of tho largest funeral corteges that has been witnessed in Christchureh tor some considerable timo. The hearee was followed by mourning coaches containing the family and intimato friends of the deceased gentleman, after which came a coach with the Mayor and City Councillors, who attended in their official capacity, succeeded by a long train of carriages and other vehicles, in which wero several members of the different bodies to which Mr Duncan belongod, together with a large number of others, including rnosX of tho principal residents of Christchurch and vicinity. Tho service at tho grave was impressively performed by the Bovs J. ElmsJie i and C. Frascr. Tho meeting of (he City i Council, which was to hare been held la?t ' < night, was adjourned for a week, out of i respect to Mr Duncan's memory. The flags ' ] of tho boat sheds floatel half-mas'-, as tho j < deceased gentleman was Vice-President of the . ] Union Rowing Club. ' {

M'Murray. E. Wood. jun.?'s Fleet J T &"«' I" Pavitt, J. Ward. T Prusc HL E PaWtt E fe&n* toy. W. Pavitt D M'Kinkr The above mJcSI" bo played on tho Bohemia Cricket Ground, Standay. Deo 16.° mmenolDgEt 10 a m ' Bhan> on Thnt&rn£*j£nO nn S r' a t re P resen t tho Bakers' C.C. T. ifl ? MM y . C '»" to L ei)fa y cdatCour t e^y. on Deo. Eitchie, Woodham and Philpott. A conveyance Sfaiw mM^ p , lao<lilt « even "'dock sharp. The following will play for the Midland Club on LnY P y i tt nex f **£ n , 9t : -M e ssrs Ataok, feff n'n et '-J ) ? g , by ' Pftvitt ' Grettou, Bailey^ SSSSf' ? m i* F ? lrhuret at) d O'Callaghan. lie r m ° m k en W ottF& d aa 0 f the Midknd «-• Tho following will play for tho Harewood roaa C.C. in their matoh with tho Woodend C.C, at Papanui, on Thursday .—Messrs Thomos, J>errett. E. BeU, H. Bell. Morgan, Philpott, Cosgrove, D. Eeese. Wilson, Pattrick. and Hack ; emergencyJ. ueeso. PJay to commence at 10 a.m. sharp. A match will te plnyed on the Association: group d. on Thursday (Anniversary Day), between the Wanderers nrd a team selected from tho Working Men's Club, piny commencing at 8.45 a.m. sharp. Tho followiDg Lave been chosen to represent the W.M.C.— Mos-rs D Aehby. C. Frith, W. Frith, J. Fowko, J. Wood, W. Board, A. y h o to Ifr1 frr W - l B \ Hobb8 ' J - Costiey. F. Simpkins, ana 1. a. Whitflold ; emergencies -W. id. Hix and H. otapioton. An Extensive Conthaoxiob Machiheet. — It is stated that ono of the most extensive contracts ever made by a Continental power in England has just been entrusted by the Italian Government to a large machine tool" making firm in this district. The order is for improved machinery to be UEed in the construction of small arms, and the quantity would appear to suggest that the Government of Italy must intend either to discard the appliances it is now using, or - lse to makemost extensive additions to its facilities for producing rifles and other implements of warfare.