Local & General.

A meeting of the Managing Gommitteo of the Heat hcoto Pcpatta wJI bo held to-mor-row eyening in tbo Commercial Hotol. The Dunodin Haco Mooting begins on Thursday. Tho final ucceptunees for the Cup, 12 in number, appear eluowhere. A publio meeting will bo held ot the Ksiapoi Institute «bm evening, for tho purpose of hoitring the views of tho candidates for tho Licomiug Committco. A meeting of mombcrs of tho German Church will bo held at the Wellington Hotol at 2 p.m. on b'oturday next, for tho transaction of important business in connection with Ohurch matters. A good doal of commotion was caused yesterday afternoon, at the junction of Gloucester and Manchester al reels, by tho conduct of a iDun who, from hie uclione, appeared to bo a lunatic. Ho obstructed tho foot passengers nnd vehicles to euch an extent tiiat at last ho whs arretted, but bo violent, wib bis resistance that it took four or five men to tie him. Eventually ho was quieted and taken to tho Police Dep6t.

The City Council held an ordinary meeting last night, when a good deal of important business was transacted. A report of the proceedings will be found on another page. Scarlatina has broken out in the Lincoln district, and owing to the prevalence of the disease among children, the re-opening of the school, which was to have taken place yeßtorday, has been indeSnitely postponed. The House Steward of Christchurch Hospital begs to acknowledge the receipt with thanks of £1 towards the Destitute Patients' Fund from " One who is Thankful ;" also of a number of bouquets from the Girls' High School. Williamson's " Patience " Opera Company arrived yesterday, one detachment ooming in the Rotomahana by way of the Bluff, and another in the Wakatipu via Wellington, where one of them had the pleasure of being quarantined. The season opens at Dunedin on Monday. A letter from the Colonial Secretary was read at last night's meeting of the City Council, suggesting that the Council should erect a morgue upon an isolated Bite. The Council passed a resolution affirming their inability to find tha means or a Bite for such a purpose. On March 4 Fagan and Woollerton will again try conclusions on the running track. The first deposit towards the stakes, of £30 a-side, has been made with the stakeholder, Mr JB. Richardson, of the Empire Hotel. The distance is one mile, Woollerton receiving 30 yards start. Steam was raised in the boilers of the pumping machinery at the Lyttelton Graving Dock yesterday. The engines worked very well indeed, excepting a slight leak in tho throttlo valves of the main engines, which will speedily be remedied. The leakage and donkey engines worked splendidly. Tke test was merely a preliminary one. Councillor Hulbert's motion calling upon the Water Supply Committee to take into consideration the question of an eflioient water supply for the city of Christchurch, was discussed in the Council last night, and was unanimously adopted. Councillor Hulbert was added to the Committee, as also was Councillor England, provided the latter gentleman would consent to act. The Sunday Schools of the parish of St Luke celebrated their anniversary to-day. At 10.15 a.m. the children from Sfc Luke's and St Matthew's Bchools assembled in the parish church, where service was held. The youngsteri, to the nvmber of over 400 were then conveyed bj apecial tram cars to Papanui; but the heavy thunderstorm which passed over about 1 o'clock must have sadly marred the pleasure of everybody concerned. The annual matches in connection with the Christchurch Amateur Swimming Olub will oomo off at the Weat Chriatchuroh School Baths, Lincoln road, to-morrow, at 3 p.m. A very good programme has been provided, and, judging from the faot that three gold medals are offered for competition, and that there ore a considerable number of entries for eaoh event, a good day's sport may be anticipated. Mr Alfred Leonard has also consented to give an exhibition of ornamental swimming and floating. There is no charge made for admission to the matches. A deputation, consisting of Dr Frankish (vhairman of the Hospital Staff), Mr Joyce (Mayor of Sydenham), Mr Vincent (Chairman of the Board of Health), and Dr Nedwill, waited on the City Council last night for the purpose of bringing before that body the necessity for the erection of a Contagious Diseases Hospital. The Council went into Committee to listen to the views of the deputation as to a suitable site. On resuming, a resolution referring the matter to the Works Committee to report upon was agreed to. Mr Peebles, blacksmith, of Washdyke, met with a serious accident on Friday. ! A horse tied up to a post got "wound yip," and while Mr Peebles was releasing ifc the animal gare a start, and entangling the man's leg in the rope pulled him over a double-furrow plough, and also kicked him. He received an ugly cut on the head, six inches long, and one of his legs was broken just below the knee, besides other injuries of less importance. Dr M'lntyre was sent for, and according to latest accounts the patient was progressing satisfactorily. An inquest was held at the Hospital yesterday afternoon upon the body of Charles Smith, whose death. !»<»■» been already mentioned. The inquiry was held before Dr Coward, coroner, and a jury, of which Mr B. P. Hill was chosen foreman. Tho witnesses examined were Charles Turvey, brother-in-law of deceased, and Dr Robinson, house surgeon of the Hospital, whose evidence showed that death had resulted from lockjaw, caused by the wound in the deceased's thigh. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned. An application has been received by the promoters of the International Exhibition from the Victoria Sugar Company, who intend to exhibit a large trophy, showing all the difforent varieties of sugar. This trophy will be 16ft by 16ft at the base, and 32ft io. height. The Oriental Tea Company purpose fitting up a ladies' Baloon in the Exhibition building, where afternoon tea will be served daily. !Th<9 contractor for the building is making good headway with bis work. The .greater portion of the iron of the walls and roof is now fixed, and the framework of the octagonal turrets at the corners is in course of erection. The Church Work Society has, through the liberality of its supporters, and a sum from the Church Property Trust Fund during the past yaor, been enabled to provide a stipend of £250 a year to a clergyman to conduct services at the Hospital, Asylum, Female Befuge, Industrial School, Burnham, and the seamen on board ship 3 from time to time in harbour. In order to continue religious ministration in these institutions, as well 5.3 to undertake other work of considerable importance to which their attention has been drawn, the Committee of the Society invite further assistance from Chnroh people residing in tho diocese. In connection with the Amberley Boces, a meeling of the stewards waa held at the Crown Hotel, Amberley, yesterday afternoon ; present— Messrs G. D. Greenwood (in the ohair), C. Ensor, Holdsworth, T. M'Naught, and A. H'Donald. The meeting was called for the purpose of considering the reply from thu C.J.3. re disqualification of Pippin. The matter being discussed, it was proposed by Mr Ensor, seconded by Mr Starker, and carried— "That the horse Pippin be disqualified owing to infringement of rule 20 of the C.J.C. rules," and it waa ordered that the stakes in tho M.aidea and Northern Handioap races be paid to the second horse. A special meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College was held at 3 p.m. yesterday; present — Messrs W. Montgomery (chairman), J. N. Tosswill, Potts, W. J. W. Hamilton, H. J. Tancred, J. O. Veel, H. P. Lance, B. W. Feredey, H. B. Webb, J. J. Inglis, the Most Bey the Primate, the Bey 0. Fraser, and Dr Turabull. The Chairman said that the meeting hud been specially called for tho consideration of tho estimates for the ensuing year. As tho various items could be more conveniently discussed conversationally, he would suggest that the Board go into Committee. On the motion of the Bey <\ Fraser, seconded by Mr J. N. Tosswill, the Board went into Committee, when ths estimates wero considered. On resuming, progress waß reported, and tho Board adjourned. During tho delivery of the judgment on the eleotion petition case, Conlishaw v. Pilliet, at the Bupremo Oourt yesterday, the Judge's remarks on tho conduct of the petitioner were received with very perceptible signs of approval from the spectators in the gallery. His Honor Judge Johnston paused in his delivery to warn those present that any person rxpre?sing either approbation or disapp?(,;.(ion while tike judgment was being delivered, would be immediately imprisoned. The spectators saw the wisdom of restraining their feelings on the matter while in the presence of the Oourt, and their Honors were not troubled by any farther interruptions. A few of the incensed ones, however, could not; forbear, when passing the offices of Mess a OJarrick and Cowlishaw, to give vent to their long pent-up feelings, and they favoured the petitioner with three groans. Mr Cowlishaw appeared at an open window, £:ul very politely waving his hand to tho littl ■ r^wdboiow, said: "I thank you, gentlemen : I thank you."

The Master Butchers and Bakers had their Cricket Matoh to-day, in Hagley Park. It resulted in a victory for the Butchers. Throe new links have just been added to the Mayor's chain; they are to commemorate the Mayoralties of Messrs Hall, Ollivier, and Isaac Luck. The links are from the establishment of Messrs Ooates and Co. A Qazttte notice, dated Fob. 11, refers to the fire which ocourred on Jan. 16, on the premises of Nicholas Welsh, Bakaia, and offers a free pardon to any person implicated —not being the principal offender, who will give such reformation as will lead to an apprehension and conviction. The Beturning-Officer for the Kowai Boad Board election gave his casting vote yesterday in favour of Mr J. Cameron; consequently the three gentlemen elected are Messrs K. Bristow, J. Stewart, and J. Cameron. A petition will be lodged in due course against the validity of the election. A soheme for utilising Victoria, Colombo, Cashel and Montreal streets and bridges, us sites for ornamental advertisements, wss the subject of an application to the City Council last night. Nothing was done in the matter, the Council awaiting further information from the promoters of the scheme. Another large trade picnio took place to-day, when the Grocers' employee's of Ohristchuroh held their annual outing at Hoon Hay. The excursionists were accompanied by Button's band. • The party were conveyed to their destination in some fifteen traps, which passed in procession through the town in the morning, headed by a drag containing the band. The Wellington Ladies' Christian Association, formed for the purpose of providing a home for friendless and destitute women, of rendering assistance to yonng women who may go to Wellington as strangers, and of engaging generally in charitable and evangelical works, has been proclaimed a body corporate. In addition to the prizes previously announced to be awarded at the Trades' Athletic Olub Sports, which will probably be held early in March, Mr I. Herman has presented the Olnb with a silver cup, and Messrs G. Adams and Co. an electro-plated pickle stand. Both prizes have been left to the Managing Committee for disposal. On Sunday last two boys named Boscoe and Burmeister made their escape from the Industrial School, at Barnham. They are about 11 years old ; the former was dressed in dark tweed, and the latter in corduroy. The boy Burmeister was taken to the police by his father this morning, having beea discovered in Christohuroh. The larger cable crossing Cook Strait has suddenly snapped, and communication with the North will therefore be less easy than before. The work will be thrown upon the other cable across the Strait and the cable to Wanganui, both of which contain a single wire only. It is supposed that the covering has been gradually corroded till it at length gave way, and at the least six weeks must elapse before the defect can be repaired. More patents are being applied for. A druggist at Blenheim wants one for a specifio for relieving toothache, to be called <• Odontia," a title very nearly approaching Rowland's famous " Odonto j " and a Wellington tanner°also wants to cure the toothache, by means of "Guildford's lotion." A Marlborough engineer s«eks to protect an invention for harvesting peas, and a plumber at Invercorgill one for cleansing seeds and grain. The applications appear in the Gazette of Feb. 16. A regnlar meeting of the Amberley Farmers' Olub was held yesterday afteraoon, Mr G. D. Greenwood and ten members being present. In the absence of the President, Mr Greeawood occupied the chair. The meeting at once proceeded to the election of a Secretary and Treasurer, when Mr A. M'Donald was unanimously voted to that office. Arrangements were made for carrying out the purchase of sparrows' eggs for another month. Two gentlemen present promised to road papers on different subjects — Mr B. Foster on "Diseases in Sheep," and Mr Aherce on "European Flax." The meeting then adjourned. Thompson's Diorama of the Zulu War was again exhibited at the Academy of Music last evening to a large audience, by whom the various scenes were well received. The torpedo explosion and the march to Ekowe were especially popular. The usual distribution of gifts took place at the close. The principal presents were a gold watch, given to Mrs Tenner, Campbell street, a silvor watoh and a silver tea and coffee service, both of which went to the pit. The Diorama will be exhibited this evening, when another distribution of presents will take place. On Saturday a matinee will take place, at which every child will receive a gift. A highly successful concert in aid of the funds of the " Pride of Knightstown " Lodge of Good Templars, was held in St Matthew's School-room on Monday evening. There wa» a large attendance, and the chair waß occupied by Mr 0. M. Gray, P.D.D.G.W.O.T. Songs were contributed by Mrs Gray, Mtb Amos, Miss Kirk, Miss Amos, and Miss Dixey ; and by Messrs 0. Hill, T. Heath, and J. Franois ; trios and duets by Messrs Moor, Broughton, and Cooper ; a bone solo by Mr Crooker ; recitations by Mr Tomlinson and Master Butterfield ; a reading by the Bey. Mr Mortimer ; and an address by Mr Gray. The accompaniments were played by Miss Moody and Mr J. Bowman. The proceedings terminated with the Binging of the National Anthem.