SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1636, 14 March 1866, Page 6

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

(Summarized from the Lyttelton Times, from February 12 to March 13.) A man named Isherworth recently attempted suicide by hanging himself to a bedpost in his house. He was cub down before life was extinct, and. after being examined before the Resident Magistrate, was sent to the Lunatic Asylum as being a person of unsound mind. A gymnasium is about to be started in Christchurch, under .the management of Mr. Harold Palmer. Mr. J. R. Hill, the manager of the Bank of New South Wales, has been presented with a testimonial in recognition of his courteous attention to the customers of that bank. Mr. W. Thomson, the Provincial Auditor, has been appointed Inspector in Bankruptcy, under the Debtors and Creditors Amendment Act. The annual fete of the Licensed Victualler s Association took place at Kohler's Gardens, on Feb. 21. There was a rather numerous attendance, and a very pleasant day was spent. On February 19, the children attending St. Paul's Presbyterian School had their annual treat in Mr. Anderson's paddock. The young people seemed highly to eiijoy the games and sports provided for them. An entertainment -was recently given to the patients at the Sunnyside Asylum.* A considerable number of the friends of the patients, together with some other visitors, were present. The Christchurch Amateur Minstrels kindly gave their services, and the inmates, who behaved with great decorum, seemed to appreciate the efforts made for their amusement. During the month, the Stevens'troupe have been playing at the Princess' Theatre; the performances have been well attended. After their departure, the Lenton troupe appeared both at the Theatre and at the Town Hall, and succeeded in drawing almost the largest amount of spectators who have witnessed any entertainment in the province. A meeting of the Acclimatization Society has been held since the date of our last Summary. Some valuable additions have been made to the stock already in the possession of the Association. On the other hand, some loss has been sustained by the death of a few of the birds and animals contributed. Several donations o£ rare and useful seeds have been received. A specimen of the King Penguin has been presented by Mr. Field. A meeting of the persons who consider themselves aggrieved by the introduction of a toll-bar on the Papanui Koad has been held. Resolutions to the effect that the obnoxious impediment should be removed as soon as possible, were unanimously passed. A company is about to be formed for promoting the introduction of a steam plough into the Ashley district. The Sefton Farmers' Club are taking the initiative in the project. The Lyttelton Hotel is undergoing a course of thorough renovation, having been purchased by Mr. Oram, of the Carlton Hotel, who intends reopening it as an hotel, combined with a mercantile club. It is one of the oldest buildings in Christchurch, and was long used by the Provincial Government as a place of meeting of the Provincial Council. The doors for the new Provincial Council Chamber are nearly ready. They have been executed in inlaid New Zealand woods by Mr. Detthier, of Armagh street, from designs by Messrs. Mountfort and Bury, and are very elegant specimens of cabinet work. A little boy named Atkinson was recently drowned at" Kaiapoi by falling into the river Cam. An inquest was subsequently held upon the body, before Dr. Dudley, the district coroner, and a verdict of " Accidentally Drowned " was returned. A movement has been set on foot to form a concertina band in Christchurch, comprising such of the young people of the city as have a taste for, and a knowledge of music. We were recently shown a very large egg, laid by a white-faced Spanish hen, the property of Mr. Harvey, of Lichfield-street. The egg, which is inches long and 6| in circumference, weighs 4 ozs. An inquest was held on the body of a man named Samuel Hands, who died after a short detention in the lunatic asylum. A verdict of "Death from natural causes" was recorded. Another inquest was held at the same institution on the body of a man named George Letchfeld, also an inmate of the asylum. A similar verdict was found by the jury. Another inquest was held on the body of an infant who died, no medical practitioner being in attendance. A verdict similar to the two former ones was given. His Honor, Mr. Justice Gresson, at a recent sitting in banco, suspendei a solicitor named Willcocks from practice, for alleged malfeasance, until a point raised in his defence by the Court of appeal.