TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1785, 6 September 1866, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Poet Victoria Ploughing Match.—This match will take place on Friday next, at 9 a.m., at the farm of the Rev. It. Bradley, at Charteris Bay.

Northern Agricultural Societt.—The meeting of the provisional committee of this association will be held this afternoon, at two o'clock, at the Lion Hotel, Kangiora, Asskjibly Rooms, Lyttelton.—lt will be seen, by our advertising columns, that it is the intendon of the inimitable Barlow to give his fashionable, vocal, and instrumental entertainment in the above rooms on next Briday and Saturday evenings. He deserves to be well patronised. West Coast Road Traffic—During the week ended Aug. 25 there passed the Bealey, on their way to the goldfields, 57 males and 2 females; and the following stock were driven past:—4l horses, 93 cattle, 231 sheep, and 10 pigs. From the goldfields came 39 males, and 32 horses. '1 here are 7 permanent residents at the Bealey. Mechanics' Institute.—Last night the usual monthly meeting of the committee of this institute was held. Mr. C. W. Bishop, the vice-president, occupied the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The treasurer read a financial statement, which was received, and some accounts were ordered to be paid. The librarian reported donations of books, amounting in all to twenty-seven volumes, from Dr. Tumbull, and Messrs. Wm. Hislop and Denham.

Lyttelton Boating Club,—A meeting of the members of the Lyttelton Boating Club was held in the club room, at the Assembly Rooms, Loudon street, Lyttelton, on Tuesday, the 4th inst., Mr. D. Davis in the chair. Mr. Davis was unanimously re-elected president of the club for the ensuing season; Mr. W. H. Hargreaves as vice-president; and Mr. Roper as commodore. It was resolved that the members intending to go into actual work should enter into training immediately, and that a new boat be purchased for the forthcoming regatta. A vote of thanks to the chairman was proposed and carried at the conclusion of the meeting.

Ruffianism on the Ltttelton Bridle Path.—A woman, (name unknown to us), whilst ascending the hill from Port on Tuesday, about 9.55 a.m., was followed by a man, described as a sailor, who accosted tier with undue familiarity at the most secluded part of the track; meeting with repulse, and as the woman fearing his manner began to scream, he seized her by the wrist and neck and threatened to strangle her. Providentially, at this time a man with a horse and dray appeared, when the coward ran off towards Port; the drayman promised to take what steps he could for his arrest, and it is hoped his efforts will be successful, for the quicker such a case is brought smartly home to the criminal, the better for the welfare of the general community. Working Men's AssociATioN.-On Tuesday night last, in the Foresters' Hall, at 8 o'clock, Capt. Wilson gave a lecture on electricity in its various forms. Mr. Cutler, the President of the Association, occupied the chair. He regretted the apathy shown by the working men towards the success of the Society, although there was no diminution either in the number of the members, or in the amount of the funds. The association had been warmly supported by the local press, to whom he was anxious to tender the thanks of the society. He then briefly introduced Captain Wilson to his audience. That gentleman gave a plain and lucid explanation of the science of electricity, showing its different connections and affinities. The audience, who were rather numerous, testified their approval by their applause, and by a cordial vote of thanks to the lecturer.

Odd - Fellowship. —At a numerously attended summoned meeting of the Order, held at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street, on Monday evening, Mr. M. B. Hart, junior, was unanimously elected to the office of permanent Secretary to the Loyal City of Chrißtcliurch Lodge. We understand that this gentleman was lately elected Treasurer to the Loyal Benevolent Lidge of this order, and has entered into the usual securities, to the satisfaction of the trustees. We are informed that the next District Meeting, to he held at Christchurch this mouth, will he the most important in connection with the interests of the order that has ever hcen held in Canterbury ; all the lodges in the district will be represented by their respective delegates, including the newly-formed lodge at Hokitika'. We are pleased to notice the increasing spread of this most useful institution in this province, and also the fact that many of our influential citizens are taking an active' part in its duties.

Volunteer Engineers.—The first firing in a skirmishing match for a silver cup, and two pewters, took place yesterday, at Hillsborough,'at 2 p.m.- The conditions of the match were as follows; The enpa to form three prizes .to be won at three competitions, each competitor to contribute Is, to be expended in the second and tliird prizes; the

firing to take place on the first Wednesday in each month, Lancaster'rifles, regulation.targets, Wimbledon scoring, and ranges from 200 to' 400 yards; time;'fife minutes from flash of first shot. There was a fair muster yesterday at the butts, and the best score (19) was made by Corporal Cuff, who fired twelve shots within the five minutes allowed. Lieutenant Crosbie also made 10 points, with eight shots; and Sergeant Pavitt, 18 points in ten shots. The tie wus shot off, Corporal Cuff being the winner. Kowai District.—A meeting of this Road Board was held at the Board-office on Monday, Sept. 3, all the members being present. It was resolved that, after a resolutiou of the last meeting, requesting the chairman to appoint some well-qualified person for the assessment of the district, the following words be added:—•• The firm of Messrs. Buss and Hepworth was recommended for the appointment," such having been the wish of the Board, as expressed to the chairman at the time. The minutes of the last meeting were then read and confirmed. Letters were read from the Secretary of Public Works, dated the Ist, 28th, and 30th August. A letter was read from Messrs. Boss and Forbes, and also an application from Messrs. Herbertson and others. A letter was read from Mr. Chamier, tendering his resignation of the office of road surveyor, ■lt was resolved," That in accepting the resignation of the surveyor to the Road Board, the Board desire to place on record their appreciation of Mr. Chamier's services during his term of office, in the form of a testimonial to him." It was resolved that public notice be given that the ratepayers' roll will lie open for inspection for one day at Leithfield, and for one day at Ashley Bank during the present month. The meeting then adjourned to Monday, Ist Ocber next.

Bank op New Zealand.—This building is now nearly completed, and will soon be ready for occupation. It stands at the corner of Cathe iral square, abutting upon Colombo and Hereford streets. It is a large building, of heavy and massive appearance, Grecian in design, and constructed almost entirely of ashlar stone, from the quarries of Messrs. Ellis and Co, chisel-dressed. It is surrounded by an iron railing, cast at the Canterbury Foundry, by Mr. J. Anderson. This railing is rich in design, and altogether appropriate to the general aspect of the building. It is bronzed, which give 3an additional effect to it. On looking at the building, we are struck by the idea of massiveness and security, just such as a bank ought to convey. The building is entered by a flight of stone steps leading into the portico, with its ashlar wall and enriched ceiling; thence through a pair of strong well-designed doors, lined with iron, into the vestibule. On the right and left band, are two heavy screens, made of cedar, each fitted with a large sheet of plateglass. Passing through the swing-doors the public office is reached. This is a noble apartment, 56 feet in length by 25 feet in width, and 26 feet in height. The ceiling is very handsome. It is divided into large panels, formed by beams of cedar, richly carved. The interstices are filled in with inlaid New Zealand wood on a ground-work of Huon pine. The effect produced is both novel and striking. The inlaying is so artistically managed as almost to convey the idea of a painting, an effect which is mainly due to the variety of the woods employed, and the geometrical figures in which they are arranged We believe that this is the first instance in any edifice in New Zealand in which marque-, terie work has been employed for a similar purpose. The accountant's room is 16 feet in length, in in width, and 18 in height. The manager's room and stationery room being of the same dimensions. The strong-room is 13 feet by 9, with solid cube ashlar walls, two feet in thickness, with an arched roof also of stone. Over it is a fire-proof room, surmounted with a brick vault, approached by a flight of stone steps from the stationery room. The manager's room, 14ft by 10ft, is approached by a passage lighted by a sky-light in the roof. The banlc-parlour, 16 feet square, is a handsome room, with an enriched heavy cornice, and is fitted with a well designed marble mantel-piece. The residence for the manager is a well-arranged building, fitted with every requirement for comfort and convenience. A lavatory is attached to the bank buildings, furnished with an apparatus for generating steam to warm the public offices. An artesian well has been sunk on the premises, which affords a never-failing supply of excellent water. The approaches to the bank on every side have been asphalted. The building was erected from a design of Mr. Leonard Terry, of Melbourne. Mr. R. Speechly being the supervising resident architect. Mr. J. Bailey was the contractor for the undertaking, and all the woodwork was manufactured at his. f stablishment, some of the interior fittings being, however, furnished by Mr. T. Detthier. The total cost of the building has been between £15,000 and £16,000.

Theatre Koyal,—The "Flowers of the Forest," which lias been played for the last three evenings, is not by any means of the highest dramatic order ; it is not even second and barely third rate, and yet it is full of human interest, has occasional rugged beauties, and is not devoid of a certain kind of power. It aims at too much, and the groupiug of the characters is aa inartistic as the conception of some of them is happy. Cynthia and Starlight Bess are admirable both, and it is at least open to doubt whether the latter, in the hand of a firstrate actress, would not become the more prominent of the two. It certainly gives more scope for acting, though of a very different sort. Cynthia is the gipsy we sometimes read of, the gipsy of sentiment, of mystic traditions, of peculiar superstitions; very picturesque, and very unreal. Bess is the gipsy some of us have seen, who Bells brooms, tells fortunes, attaches stray articles occasionally without scruple, who loves her gipsy husband that is to be none the less, because he robs hen-roosts and plunders the Squire's preserves, and who talks of the peculiar vices of her race in the most natural and guileless manner possible. There is the same contrast between Ishmael and Lemuel, though the former is hardly so well drawn as his daughter, and the latter is a bit of a lout, who whines intolerably when to show a little spirit would beget sympathy ia his behalf. The Kinchin and Cheap John are evidently introduced for the purpose of relieving the action of the piece, for it cm hardly be said that they are at all necessary to the plot. They are amusing enough in a small way, hut there is a great deal too much of them. The piece went very smoothly again last evening, though some of the parts were represented very weakly— St.irlight Bess for example. The "Bonnie Fishwife," which is something less than a comedy, and more than a farce, was the afterpiece, with Miss Juno in the dual part of Miss Thistledown and Maggie Macfarlane. Of all the stock after-pieces there is none wilh which Christchurch play-goers are more familiar, or for which they have shown a a stronger preference; and yet it is full of the strangest incongruities and the most obvious blunders. The main charm of the picceis doubtless to be found in the part of Maggie Macfarlane, a most truthful, most natural, and altogether delightful type of a class, though it is owing in a general sense to the genial, honest heartiness, and thorough healthiness of tone which runs through it A love intrigue which is so innocent and so full of fun, a deceit which is so guileless, and which ends so happily for all concerned, ought to be, and always will be relished. Besides, it is not always that the unrelenting pertinacity with which a lady hunts down the victim she has selected is so candidly avowed, or so skilfully exhibited. We do not think it possible to hare ut better Muggie Macfarlane than Miss Juno. Her Scotch is as fresh as the dew on Arthur's Seat on a May morning, and as racy as anything which Newliaven could produce. Mr. Gnome's Sir Iliccory, especially in the earlier scenes, was remarkably good, and Mr. Jones was exceedingly funny as Gaiters. We hope Mr. Pollock will not again spoil an otherwise successful representation of his part in the " Bonnie Fishwife" by forgetting the'words set down for it. He ought to remember that it is not only one part which suffers. Miss Juno was most enthusiastically, and we think very deservedly called before the curtain at the conclusion of the "Bonnie.Fishwife." We are glad to see thaflghomar" and the same farce are to be repeated this evening.