TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1482, 12 September 1865, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lunar Bow.—At 2.30 a.m. this morning, this phenomenon was witnessed. A heavy mist prevailed at the time, and the arch appearing as a pale white light at a low elevation from the horizon was clearly defined in the south-west. Licensed Victuallers' Association.— A meeting of the committee appointed to make the arrangements for the ball in connection with this association will be held this evening, at the Lyttelton Hotel, at 7.30 p.m. The Riflb Match which was to have taken place yesterday, between No. 1 Company and the Gloucester Rifles was postponed until tliis day, in consequence of the unfavourable state of the weather. Exhibition.—Messrs. Creasy and Ayer's Pantechnitheca of European and American scenery a voyage across the Atlantic, is expected to arrive in Christchurch about September 16th. It has been successfully shown in London and New York, and will, doubtless, be equally appreciated here. Governor's Bay Road. —We are able to state, on good authority, that the contracts for completing this road from Lyttelton to Raupaki will be given out, and the works put in hand, in a few days. The public are indebted to Mr. E. A. Hargreaves, Chairman of the Municipal Council, for his goqd offices in urging the Provincial Government to have this road completed. The Provincial Gazettes, Nos. 49 and 60, dated Sept. 8 and 9 respectively, have been received. They publish the appointments of Messrs. J. Brittan, E. Lee, W. B. Tosswill, as Revising Commissioners under the " Ratepayers' Roll Ordinance, 1864," at the same time specifying the places where the revision will take place, together with the dates and time fixed for the purpose. The B.UI for making roads through private property in Akaroa is published, together with a description of some land appropriated under

it. The Gazettes further contain a state'

raent of the revenue and expenditure of the province for the June quarter, 1865, which we have already given. Jewish Congregational Meeting.—The second annual meeting of the Jewish Con-

gregation took place on Sunday last, at the

Synagogue Chambers, Christchurch. Mr. D. Davis, the President, occupied the chair.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. M. Harris;

Treasurer, Mr. L. E. Nathan; Committeemen, Messrs. H. Moss, M. Sandstein, E, Phillips, A. J. Raphael, D. Caro, and W. W,

Gollin; Auditors, Messrs. Sandstein and

Gollin. The committee reported that they had applied to the Government for a grant of land at Hokitika, for religious purposes, to which the Government replied that, if reserves are made for above purposes, the claims of the Jewish community will be recognised in common with the other religious bodies. The Treasurer's balance-

sheet and the committee's report for the last year, were then read and adopted. There being no further business before the meeting, the proceedings terminated. Total Abstinence. —On Saturday last,

the usual meeting of the Total Abstinence

Society was held in the new Town Hall, the old room being occupied at the time for the sittings of the Supreme Court. Mr. Buxton occupied the chair. Several speakers addressed the meeting, dwelling Upon the evils

of intemperance, which, they contended, could only be counteracted by the practice of total abstinence. The attendance was a very limited one. In connection with this subject, we may mention that the Band of Hope will hold a meeting in the Town Hall on Thursday next. The proceedings will be enlivened by the performances of the Volunteer Drum and Fife Band; and several members of the association have undertaken to execute musical selections. .

Pigeon Match.—Saturday afternoon last, with its continued showers of hail and rain, accompanied by nor'-east wind, was not a very inviting day for any kind of out-door sports. Yet, notwithstanding this drawback, the lovers of the "trigger" in Kaiapoi and neighbourhood mustered in good force to take part in the pigeon match, for which Mr. R. J. Greening, of the Kaiapoi Hotel, the originator of the match, offered a fat pig as the first prize. A circular hollow amongst the sand-hills, in rear of the Bee-hive store, was the place of shooting. The conditions were : 5 birds each, with 21 yards' rise, 1£ oz. shot, and 60 yards boundary. An entrance-fee of 10s, with sweepstakes of 5s each, amounting in, all to £6, were also added to the "porker," as first prize. Eight entries were made, which was a small number, considering the people on the ground. Many were, however, doubtless prevented from entering, in consequence of the inclemency of the weather, to which may also be attributed the inferior shooting. The following is the restilt of the match Stranger, 010 0 I—2 ;G. F. Day, 00 0 1 0—1; —Hope, 10 0 0 0—1; Maakell, 0 0 1 0 o—l ; Hepworth, 0 0 0 0 o—o ; Mirehouse, 1111 I—s ; J. Alexander, 10 1 10 —3 ; .Tudson, 00 0 1 o—l. Mirehouse, who knocked his birds over in capital style, was I thus the winner, he having killed all. Two | impromptu sweeps were then shot for, conditions being lmlf-a-crown entrance,and three birds each, with same amount of shot, rise, and boundary as in the previous match. In the first one there were three ties, consisting of Mirehouse, Oram, and Stranger, killing two birds each. In shooting off, Oram missed, the two others each killing their bird. Mirehouse and Stranger then decided the tic, the first-named eventually proving the victor, by again killing his bird, whilst his opponent missed. In the second sweep, Messrs. Day and Alexander tied, and as it was then too dark to get a sight of the birds, they divided the stakes. The shooting, excepting that of the winner of the match, was very inferior, causing Homo little disappointment. It was remarked as a strange occurrence that men, on whom great reliance was placed, and who were considered dead shots, should make such bad shooting in tlio match ; but immediately on its being over, they turned out as scouts, and, when thought to bo unseen, killed every bird that came in their direction. By many this was thought a rune for ulterior purposes. Mr. Craig, who officiated with " the string," and as scorer, gave universal satisfaction. In the evening the proceedings of the day were agreeably wound up by a supper at the Kaiapoi Hotel. Another match is shortly to take place,

CJantkrhuiiy Goij). — Our readers will pcitjce in the commercial columns of this journal an official statement, showing the quantity of gold, the produce of the West Coast of: this province up to the end of last month. The total is 104,0894 ounces, valued nt £4105,570 ; or nearly Haifa million sterling.

Thin is a very large amount, considering the i short time that the digging* have been in existence ; worked, it must bo remembered, with only tho few digger® and limited appliances which hare at present been brought to bear on the immense tract of known auriferous country. The road i» now being preferred by many of the new arrivals to the sea route ; every steamer which arrives at Lyttelton bringing in a number of passengers for the West Coast. Yesterday the Queen brought in sixty diggers, who were taking the overland route, which is now in a very passable condition. We have reliable intelligence from Australia that an undoubted movement towards Canterbury is taking place amongst the Victorian miners who are desirous of trying their fortunes in the new sphere of action opened up for them. There seems every probability that the good old days of the Australian rushes will be revived in Canterbury.

Vomjntkkhs.—A special meeting of the Volunteer General Committee was held hut night at the Criterion Hotel, Gloucester street, Captain Steward in the chair. The object of the meeting was to consider the provisions of a new Volunteer Bill now before the General Assembly. Bewles a few verbal alterations, three suggestions were made :—lst, That the limit of the number of Volunteers named in the Bill —3000— should be altered to the full complement of the companies now recognized, and that if the Governor shall accept the services of any new companies after the passing of the Act, that special and additional provision shall be made for the same ; 2ndly, that in clause 19, the words giving commanders the power of issuing distress warrants for fines incurred by men of their companies, be struck out; and 3rdly, that clause 22 be amended, by giving the officer commanding any battery, troop, or company of Volunteers the power of disrating or discharging any non-commissioned officer or member of the company guilty of improper conduct, without previous reference to the Commander-in-Chief ; giving the person so disrated or discharged the right of appeal to the Commanding officer of the regiment, or senior officer of the district, and a final and ultimate appeal to the Commander-in-Chief. A letter, embodying the above suggestions, was ordered to be addressed to Captain Ward, requesting him to submit them to the General Assembly. The meeting then broke up.