TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1613, 14 February 1866, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

South Sefton.—Mr. W. M. Maskell has issued an address to the electors of this district, soliciting their suffrages as a candidate for the seat in the Provincial Council. Chbistchurch Fbbbhold Land Association.—Last night a meeting of the members of this association was held at the Forester's Hall. About 750 shares have been taken up. Election Intelligence.—Owing to a serious accident, we learn that Mr. E. A. Hargreaves will not be able to offer himself as a candidate for a seat in tbe General Assembly, for the town of. Lyttelton. Yesterday a requisition was in course of signature to Robert Heaton Rhodes, Esq., to ask hira to come forward and represent Lyttelton in the next General Assembly. No. 1 Compant 0. R. V.—This Company held a general meeting last evening, and resolved to tender its services, under the New Volunteer Act. The meeting was adjourned for a fortnight, in orler to give time to consider the proposed Company liules under the Act and Regulations. St. John's Church.—The following is the order for tbe services in this Church during the season of Lent:—this day being Ash Wednesday, there will be prayers at 11 a m. On each succeeding Wednesday the Litany will be read at 9 30 a.m. On Fridays prayers will be read at the same hour, with the Litany and lectures at 7 p.m. Prayers and a sermon will be solemnized at 11 a.m., on Good Friday. The subject of the lectures on Fridays will be the Lord's Prayer. Ratepayers' bocietv.—Mr. Bowen has decided that Mr. Wynn Williams must give his personal security for £100, to meet any liability that may arise out of his appeal against his rate to the Court at Wellington. Since the decision given against the society in the Magistrate's Court, a great many ratepayers, who had held over their rates pending Mr. Williams's defence, have paid them; and we believe that unless the members of the society follow their example they will be summonsed forthwith. Leithfikld—On Monday evening Mr. Travers addrensed the electors in this neighbourhood at Mr. Leith's Hotel. Mr. Moore on being called to the chair, introduced Mr. Travers to a crowded meeting. Mr. Travers, in his address, explained very fully his waste lands scheme. He mentioned the great public works which wore contracted for, and others which were very much wanted in the province, the expenses of which, he said would be defrayed by his scheme with far more profit to the province than by borrowing money at 8 per cent. He called the attention of the meeting to a letter of his which appeared in the Lyttelton Times of Saturday, and said that neither the Times nor the Press had been able to confute a single statement in it. He next explained the regulations which exist respecting preemptive rights, and showed the extent to which this evil is being carried on. The following resolution was put to the meeting

and carried" That in the opinion of this p«eting, any candidate for the Superintendenoy should be required to pledge himself to attempt to put a stop to the present method of acquiring pre-emptive rights." A vote of tliatiksto Mr. Travers for bringing existing grievances so dearly to notice, closed the meeting. Tim &atb Cass of Honsn Stealing.—ln a recent issue of this journal we mentioned ..that Mr. Lawrence, the proprietor of an express waggon, had his horse stolen from hiß premises. Through this loss Mr. Lawrence has been deprived of his chief means of earning a livelihood. The animal was valued at nearly £50, and hiß business is at a standstill till the loss can be replace I. Some gentlemen have kindly promised to get up a subscription for Mr. Lawrence, and Mr. R. Wilkin has generously headed the undertaking. Prince of Walks Thbatrb. — The performances lost night at this theatre were for the farewell benefit of Mr. Small, the comic singer, on which occasion a new petite comedy, by Edward Jerningham Wakefield, Esq., was produced. The house was better filled than we have seen it for some time past, partly owing to the fact, we presume, of Mr. Small being a general favourite with the public, and partly because Mr. Wakefield was about to take the principal part in his own play. With regard to the comedy itself, which is entitled "Playing for the Odd Trick," but why we cannot say except that those words are tagged on to the end of it, it is more of a farce than a comedy; it depended chiefly on a few ludicrous incidents for any little success it may have obtained last night; the characters are not very difficult to delineate, and the ideas and sentiments which they* give utterance to, are not expressed with any remarkable polish or elegance of phraseology. The whole plot consists of the stratagem of a Lieutenant in the Guards in wooing the lady of his choice. At the close of the piece there was some applause, and Miss Aitken and Mr. Wakefield were called before the curtain. Mr. Norton then gave a song and dance, and Mr. Stevens and his sons gave some of their feats. The entertainment closed with the farce, in two acts, entitled " His Last Legs." There will be no performance to-day, being Ash Wednesday.

Tjbbtjmonal.—On Monday last a number of gentlemen met at the Carlton Hotel to present Mr. J. R. Hill, manager of the bank of New South Wales, Chri>tchurch, with a testimonial on the occasion of a contemplated visit on his part to England. Previous to the luncheon, at which Mr. Garrick presided, Mr. Slater acting as vice chairman, the former gentleman in a few well chosen words presented Mr. Hill with the following address, numerously signed, accompanied by a beautifully worked purse containing one hundred and fifty guineas. " Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z., February, 1866; to James Richard Hill, Esq., manager of the bank of New South Wales at Christchurch. Dear sir, —Having heard of your contemplated departure from amongst us on a visit to Europe, we avail ourselves of the opportunity to express to you our appreciation of your courteous and gentlemanly bearing as a bank manager, as also the pleasure wc have had in doing business with the bank of New South Wales, under your management, and would beg your acceptance of the accompanying purse of one hundred and fifty guineas, with the request that you will, upon your arrival in England, purchase some suitable memento to be held by you in remembrance of our esteem and friendship. Wishing you all the pleasure resulting from a voyage to the old country, and a speed </ return amongst us to the resumption of your duties." Mr. Hill in reply expressed his sincere feeling of satisfaction at receiving so unexpected and gratifying a testimony of friendship, and took occasion to observe that while acting as a bank manager in Christchurch, he had never once had occasion to regret the abuse of his confidence. A very capital luncheon in Mr. Oram's best style helped to pass a most agreeable hour.

Rifle Match.—A very interesting match came off yesterday afternoon between the different Christchurch corps of Volunteersj Cavalry, Engineers, and Rifles, for a cup presented by Mr. Luck, the Chairman of the City Council during last year. Though a private donation, yet as Mr. Luck offered the prize in his official capacity, it will bear the name of the City Council Cup. The conditions were, that five men from each corps should fire seven rounds e&ch at 200,400, and 500 yards, Government target and regulations, and Hy the position. The winning company to be the highest over 262 points, failing which the prize to be held over. The winners to hold the cup for one year, when a second competition will take place ; and if the same company win a second time, the cup to become its property, to be shot for among the members of that company at the longest ranges, and to become finally the individual property of the member then successful. The 'match began yesterday morning, the competitors proceeding to Hillsborough by the eight a.m. train. Owing to the day being, mail day, Mr. Luck himself was unable to attend. The weather was very bright, with a fresh N.E. wind. Both targets were in requisition, the competitors being divided into two squads by lot. The firing was, as will be seen, very unequal, and only two companies, Noa. 1 and 6, made the required number of points, the former winning by 7. It will be noticed that the cavalry had only four representatives present, which fact of course robbed them of any chance ■, but apart from this their breech loading carbines are not at all to be depended upon for 400 and 500 yards. Lieutenant Cook, of No. 1. Company, one of the representatives of the province for the Colonial Prize Competition, made 67 points, and headed the score, which we subjoin. No. 1 company, we may add, holds at present two challenge cups, the one above described, against the Christchurch companies, and the Superintendent's Cup of last year, held against the whole battalion.

Fibbt Squad. v . 200 i00 600 mii Names. corps yards ytrdg yard#i Total. Serg. Axup ... C 10 2 2 14 „ Turner ... E 14 9 2 25 . Priv. Farr ... E 19 12 9 40 Priv. Thorne ... E 17 12 4 83 Lieut. Cook ... 1 20 22 19 67 Corp. Packard ... 1 20 17 14 61 Priv. Niemann... 2 24 19 10 63 „ Hobson ... 2 17 17 15 49 „ Free ... 2 18 16 2 34 „ Ballard ... 6 17 20 11 48 „ Jackson ... 0 20 19 17 66 Secohd SQUAD. , 200 400 600 rn A f.i corps yard8 rd#i yftrdg Total. Serg. Slee ... C 12 11 0 23 Tr.McKellor ... C 22 10 13 46 Corp. Pavitt ... E 21 18 10 49 Prir. A. Cuff ... E 20 20 17 67 Serg. Johnston ... 1 23 10 16 67 Corp. Berry ... 1 21 17 16 63 Prir. Barnes ... 1 17 19 7 43 Serg. Papprill ... 2 23 22 20 05 Prir. Nelson ... 2 11 17 2 30 Capt. Steward ... 6 18 20 12 60 Serg. Rule ... 0 19 23 . 16 67 Priv. Frew ... 0 19 17 17 63 Corp. Stringer ... C 18 13 0 31 Rbsui/T. No. 1 squad. No. 2 squad. Total. Cavalry ... 99 ... 14 113 Engineers ... 100 ... 88 204 No. 1 ... 168 ... 118 271 No. 2 ... 96 ... 130 231 No. 0 ... 100 ... 101 204