TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1569, 22 December 1865, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Provincial Council.—Want of space excludes the remainder of the report of last night's proceedings.

St. John's Church.—This church will be consecrated on Wednesday, the 27th inst. The ceremony will be performed by the Lord Bishop of the diocese, Divine service being solemnized at 11 a.m. The Rev. J. O'Brien Hoare will be the incumbent of the new church.

The General Government Rifle Prizes. —We find that we have inadvertently been led into an erroneous statement relative to the time when the applications of intending competitors for these prizes must be sent in. The date given by the Gazette is Dec. 30, not 24, as stated yesterday. Chiusty Minstrels. —These artistes appeared for the first time last night, at the Town Hall, before a very fair audience, and their entertainment was in every way successful ; the accompaniments are good, and the performers keep excellent time. The gems of the evening were, We meet again," "Shining Moon," and "Come where my Love lies dreaming." These were beautifully given, and their pathos was relieved by the usual amount of conventional negro wit and humour. Mr. Norton's dancing must be seen to be appreciated. Mr. Nish is an able violinist, and the eccentricities of the " Crow Family" are very entertaining. An amusing burlesque of " The Bohemian Girl" closed the entertainment.

The Volunteers. —The General Committee sat last night. The chief subject of discussion was the firing for the Government District and Colonial Prizes The Major commanding was present, and referred various points for the consideration and advice of the committee It was recommended that the whole of Canterbury should be comprised within one district, instead of two, as proposed in the regulations, and that the two sets of prizes should be amalgamated accordingly. It was further leconnneuded that the firing for the district prizes should be fixed to commence on the Bth of January, and the selection of competitors for the colonial prizes on the 22nd of the same month, so as to leave as long an interval as possible for practice before the colonial prize firing, which has to be competed for in Wellington by the representatives of the district. A letter was read from the Defence office, announcing that the Lancaster Jiiflea issued by the Provincial Government might be uned in the district, but not jn the colonial prize matches, but only if no competitor objected It was recommended that any objections to the use of the Lancaster should be sent in within three days from notice being given by the Major commanding. The case of the men who had sustained injuries at the sham fight on Monday was then considered, and the following resolution was unanimously adopted ;

" That, when any volunteer on duty may have received bodily injury, from no fault of biik own, the case should bo submitted to the Gtoneral Committee, with a view to remuneration being given for any pecuniary loss sustained by such volunteer, provided always that such volunteer produce a medical certificate from the regimental surgeon as to the nature of such injury." The case of Private Lloyd, of tho Engineer Company, was ordered to await the Burgeon's report. A motion was then put, and passed, to the effect that the Major commanding be request .d to order the classification for target practice, and the wearing of badges of marksmanship, &c., to proceed strictly according to the service regulations. With regard to the competitors for the colonial prizes proceeding to Wellington, it was arranged, after some conversation, that the Rifle Association be requested to set apart a sum of £10 in aid of their expenses, besides the Government allowance. The Bazaar Committee's report and statement of account was then considered and adopted, and the committee adjourned.