TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2376, 4 August 1868, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

C}vil Servick.—\Ve understand it is in contemplation to amalgamate the pilot service, with the Custom House Staff. Theatre Royal.—There was a very small attendance last night, but the troupe went through the whole of the programme. Several of the songs were applauded. Puiiuc Holiday.—The Borough Council have supplemented the proclamation of a holiday for Government officials on the 6th inst., by issuing a similar one on behalf of the citizens of Christchurch, and inviting tradesmen to close their resDective places of business in honour of 11.R.11. the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday. Thk Stkki'lkohask.— I The following are the entries for the selling steeplechase of 40 boys. ; entrance 3 guineas; about two miles; the winner to be sold by auction immediately after the race, and any surplus to go to the fundMr C. Frank's br. g. Merrimac, aged, £4O; Mr 11. M. Morten's eh. g. Envy, aged, £SO j Mr T. Millet's b.g. Duke, aged, £3O; Mr 11. Hill's ch.g. Kismet, G yrs, £3O j Mr H. Prince's b.g. Trump, aged, £SO; Mr W. D, Barnard's gr. g. Don Pedro, aged, £4O. VoiUNTKKK ISSI'KCTIOX. monthly inspection of the Christchurch Volunteers took place at the drill shed last night, Lieyt.-Col, Pnckc was in command, and in addition to a large muster of the Cavalry, Artillery, and Rifles, the Cadet Corps assembled in considerable strength. After the official examination of arms and accoutrements, the Engineers and liifles were put through several battalion movements, the Artillery being at the same time engaged at gun drill, and the Cadets at company mancouvrcs under the instruction of Scrgt.Major Morgan. The whole of the evolutions were satisfactorily executed, but the Cadets deserve more especial mention for the aptness and intelligence which they evinced in obeying orders, After about an hour's practice, the whole force formed fours, and headed by the Cavalry band, marched through several of the principal streets in the city, subsequently returning to the drill shed where they were dismissed. The total muster was about 300 of all rankß.

Lrrrmox Vom;stkkk T~ • —* Yesterday aflcriHu.n ||„, ~, '/.'■'■'•'•■ v. under tin; command () f "''"''"H'-nt Lieut, Taylor, pr0w,,],,1 to kid. 1 '" an./ prwiticc. Major Kookes «■„, J* I f., r firing with solid s},ol. was ~X (, ' ■ T| 1(; being struck several lime:, -i'' ll ' r ".f with till: lime ami p< rcu-,i ( ,i, in-,"' very iin],. rfcr-1. Although ,-ei '. lt wall:, arid tlic line good, ||„. V'' '. ri '|«:r random, some bursting when " :it, till'. The usual adjutant'- T'''' l "'" 1 nijflil; tin: ha,,,| H playi'il .-'line musical selection-. ,l^'l I'ltiZK Imi!im;,_A very ( ](.j r , ; , emulative system of prize 'firi rr / i a,l 'l been e-lablMiod, and the fir-t" !n liri'd al llilUh-,roii' n 'li on Fridav a-,,] * ; '" If-t. The principal feature ,/f Vl',!. (f.'' : |:i / lion, is tin- encouragement of r j|] ( ' amount civilians, by allowin-- iI IH vantage in j.o-itiou and rifle ovi rt],,."/' . " ! - teer opponents. Thai i]„. I'i'ivcil with favour may |„, ~r < from the nuinher of novice.' u-j,,' - ' r, 'f their Mill in this the fir-t , the management have ;tlr<-.-i<!v ir' 'r : V sphere of operation-. The • r-,,-!!! ',"' ''''' r to take place in almei ;i ainount. shot for on Salur'liv iy ''■ increased to Ms, whi!-t 11ie'r.,,,;! *:: : j* extended to •>OO, :il)0, f „„| W: money competed for on I-'ri.j,-,' ' :, l: 'lay was all given in V' - r " conditions were ten shots each l ' : volunteers to fire with finv, ',i :r ' ! '' Hytlie position, an-l non-volunteer-or any po.-ition. The u-r ;,.tli'- r able on hoth days, hut mor- . Saturday, wlicn a >tnm» ' ,: i 'lull sky prevailed throughout' " V',' standing this, the shootingwa- --e r '< Lieut. I'avilt, it will l.e ,ee n , w',-[i^'.'. ; ' v| with 34 points. The follou-inL'.-irr thV-'.,,V ''' f ' r Lieut. Pavitl, 34; I'andrna-ter Xor'l i/ -' ~ Cornet Slcc, 2'.; Sapper iiarm'- J.' . C'oonibes, 23 ; Gunner Woodford' •<<s' Woodford, 22; Trooper ISruee,' Rule, 20; Trooper (iiraud, i't • ; ir : "' Judge, 24 ; Gunner Whale n ' I'crcival withdrew ; Private i> a ii. tP i" f ? drew ; Trooper Haine.do ; Ser-'t Krr'• ' Mr Murray, 19; Mr Ko.\- Itf- Ur ii'l' 1 withdrew; Mr Walsh, ,| O . Mr'Fo-tr r V'' p Mr Chapman, 3d , Mr iViw, -' ''V Jeffrey, 34. At the next £ amount of money offered will 1* divided; ten prizes, and the entrance fee he p/ . Cllt '* C " KXTKNMOV.-Copi (:; of the ing petition have heen forwarded to the Churchwardens of the various eari-he.._T, the Venerable the ]), V ,; « n Synod'of the diocese of Ghristc»mrch, fra'and Thr petition of the under.-:, members of th Church of England in the sai-l dioee-e hum bly aheweth, that Church building the objects for the furtherance of which the Ecclesiastical 1* und of the* Canttrburv Av-/ ciation was orginally e,tabli-htd: thv the fund thus established was transferred to the Church Property Trustees, to he u=M for this among other purposes: that ?o Ion" as Provincial grants continued to be made to a considerable amount for Church building and so long as there was pressing ne,-,l fy the erection of parsonage hou-cs in settled parishes, it was reasonable that the claim of Church building to receive aid from the Church Property Trust Fund should remain m abeyance: that Provincial for Church building having now ceased, and there being no probability whatever of their being renewed, and as no less than thirteen parsonage houses have been built bv the aid of larger or smaller grants from the Church Property Trust Fund, it appears to vour petitioners that the time has now arrived when the Church Property Tru-t Fund should be so administered as to ind&ie insistence to Church building among it; objects, Your petitioners therefore beg your rable Synod to take this subject into vour earnest consideration, and to devise plan's, in conjunction with the Church Property Trustees, by which material assistance may be given, by way of loan or grant, towards the erection of Churches without interfering with such due provision as it may seem reasonable to make front this fund towards the maintenance of the clergy. And your petitioners will ever pray." * Copies of' the petition are left for signature at Messrs Hawkes and Strouts, Sheppard and Co., and the Depot of the Christian Knowledge Society.

PciiLic Meeti.no.—A public meeting, convened by the Mayor, in reply to an influc-n----tially signed requisition, was held in the Town Hall, at half-past seven o'clock last evening, in order "that the public might have the opportunity of expressingunopinion uponthepresent very serious aspect of Native affairs." The Mayor presided ; ami there were about 500 persons in the body of the hall and on the platform. It was proposed by Mr W. Montgomery, seconded by Mr AVynn Williams, and unauitnously agreed to, " That the present attitude of the' disaffected tribes in the North Island is calculated to rouse serious apprehensions that the Colony is about to be involved in another Native War." It was proposed by Mr W, Reeves, and seconded by Mr George Gould, " That the attempt to hold possession of the confiscated lands, and to protect the settlers thereon by means of an armed force, is the prime cause of the present attitude of the disaffected tribes, and that it is expedient that the attempt be abandoned." Mr Grift' proposed as an amendment; " That all the words up to the words ' tribes and' he omitted." Mr S. A. l'ercival seconded the amendment pro forma. The amendment was lost, and the motion agreed to. Dr Turnbull moved, "That any cost incurred in maintaining peace with the Natives should be made a local charge, aud should no longer be borne on the general revenues of the colony." Mr H. J. S. llarman seconded the resolution. Mr E. J. Wakefield proposed as an amendment, "That the Government of New Zealand should at once ascertain, determine, and publicly declare within what boundaries it can undertake to defend all the settled districts from unprovoked aggression 011 the part of the Maori race. That it should then proclaim all parts of the colony, not included within those bounaries, to lie " prohibited districts." That all communication whatsoever, except under special government authority, should he absolutely interdicted and prevented between the Maori inhabitants of the prohibited districts and other people of any race or class, so that it may become the interest aud desire of the whole Maori people to plead for admission within the boundaries on condition of obeying British law, in order to enjoy the advantage of peaceful intercourse with the civilized and well-disposed inhabitants of the colony. That the cost of these arrangements should be defrayed by the whole colony, so us to uphold its iutegritv and honourable position in the world, and a feeling of justice between its various portions both now and in future times." 'I he amendment was seconded by Mr W. Kent, ami lost, The original resolution was agreed to. j Mr .1. 8. Williams moved, " That the Chair- ! man be requested to forward a copy of the foregoing resolutions to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, aud to the representatives of the province in the General Assembly ; and that the latter be requested to give their earnest consideration to these views." Mr Hubert, lihodes seconded the resolution, which was uuanimously agreed to. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings, a full report of which will appear in tomorrow's issue.