TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1787, 8 September 1866, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Canterbury Rifle Association.—Last night the monthly meeting of the Council should have been held at the Criterion Hotel, but there being only Messrs. H.E Alport, the Hon. Sec, and Major Packe present at the appointed time, no meeting took place. English So.no Birds, Pheasants, &c By the ship Sir Halph Aber<:rombie, a large number of valuable song birds and pheasants have come out in excellent condition, for Mr. Robinson, Cheviot Hills. They are in charge of Mr. James Young. The loss during the passage has been very trifling. They com prise—one pair of Japanese pheasants (valued at £3O), one pair golden pheasants, 30 English pheasants, three pair ring-doves, and a num >er of blackbirds, haw-finches, bramblefinches, and partridges.

West Coast Road Traffic—From a re turn furnished by the Provincial Secretary we learn hat there were driven past Mr. Blake's camp, on their way to Hokitika, during the week ended September 1, 177 cattle and 632 sheep. A return for the same period by the police sergeant in charge at Bealey shows that 43 males and 1 female passed to the gollflelds; and 18 horses and 141 cattle. From the goldflelds there were 57 males and 2 females; and 21 horses. The number of permanent residents at Bealey remains the same as before.

Magisterial.-Yesterday, at the Magistrate's C>urt, Christchurch, before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M., George Oliver North was charged with having been drunk and having used obscene language in a licensed house between 10 and 11 o'clock on Thursday night. Mr. Osborne, landlord of Mills's Hotel, said that the accused had behaved himself in a very diso' derly raauner at his hotel at the time mentioned, lie had abused. him (witness), used most disgusting language towards witness's wife, and tried to enter the private roiim behind the bar. Prisoner was fined 20s. Yes ; er lay at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lyttelton, before Wm Donald, Esq., R.M., Siimuel Pearson was fined 5s and costs for allowing a horse, his property, to wander at large. Tiieatiie Royal —On entering the dress circle of the theatre last evening we were reminde I somewhat of former days, wben theie used to be a full house every night. There were but lew vacant seats, and the large au lience was very enthusiastic, Miss Juno receiving quite an oration on her appeirance. Lucretia Borgia affords great scope for the passionate emotion, dignified scorn, and vehement indignation in which Miss Juno is rarely, if ever at fault, and it is doing her only bare justice to say that in every scene she most faithfully represented the author's iea of the woman whose name was alike the terror and disgrace of Italy at a time "'hen that country had attained an unenviable pre eminence for diabolical crimes. Mr. Carey's Gubetto was a very careful and frequently very successful piece of acting. Mr. Jones gave us an interpretation of ticnnaro which differed from that we have usually sien in bei g quieter, or rather less vehement. VV« rath' r prefer to have the part taken this way. The piece was remarkably well put on the stage, and great attention had been paid to the dresses, which were very appropriate. It will be repeated this evening.

Kaiapoi Band of Hotb and Temperance ociktt.— n Thur-day evening last initiutorv steps were taken to form a Band of Hope in connection with the Wesley.m Sun lay school, Kaiapoi A meeting was held in the chapel, Fuller street, at seven p.m., when I'd ween 30 and 40 children were ad-dres-cd by 'lie Rev. (J. S Harper, who, at considerable length, pointed out the evil and pernicious effects of intemperance, and the d.-sirahiity of young children learning to a oid every temptation likely to lead them to a 1 ive of a'coholio drin s. He related several aneedo es illustrating the degrading position to ffi ich thousands were reduced bv this, and h w it grew upon persons as a habit, if not carefully guarded against when youug. He hoped all would join ihe Bund of Hope, and by learning to absuin from spirituous drinks as a hev'rage when younp, ensure a happy aid prosperous future. Mr, W. H, Wake a!s" spoke at some length in a similar strain i :fter which the names of those willing to j -in the Band of Hope were taken dnwn, a .d the temperance pledge was ad- ; mislead to nearly all present, The children having separated, a meeting of the recent y-fonned Temperance Society was held, when tin' members assembled in considerable force. The meeting having been opened by

singing and prayer, several speakers advocated temperance principles, and several new members were induced to join the society ; after which the doxology was sung, and the meeting separated. During the evening, several temperance melodies were sung by Mr. H. Billens, who also performed some very choice and appropriate airs on the concertina. We are happy to learn that the society is now established on a firm footing, and that the number of members is increasing daily. To the Rev. G. S. Harper all thanks are due in this respect for the indefatigable energy and perseverance he has shown in forwarding the movement.

Submarine Cablk.—ln order to test the efficiency of the submarine cable, and to ascertain within what period of time it was possible for the Government at Wellington to transmit a message to, and receive a reply from the principal stations in the Middle Island, the Postmaster-General, on Sept. 4, caused a series of messages to be sent, with the following result; —A message to the Bluff was begun at Wellington at 8.13 p.m. and received at 8.15 p.m. The reply, begun at 8.15, was received in Wellington at 8.17. Another and longer message to the Bluff, begun at 8.17 was received there at 8 19. A message to Dunedin, begun at 8.19, was received there at 8.20, and the answer in Wellington at 8.22. The message to Christchurch begun at 8.23, was received there at 8.24, and the reply in Wellington at 8.25. The message to Nelson, begun at 8.25, was received there at B.2G|, and the reply in Wellington at 8.27. A third telegram to the Bluff, begun at 8.27j, was received at 8.29, and the reply reached Wellington at 8.30. So much for the rapidity with which telegrams may be transmitted. Horticultural Societt.—The usual monthly meeting of the members of this society took place last night, in one of the side-rooms of the Town Hall, at 8 pin. Mr. W. Wilson occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Some small accounts were passed and ordered to be paid, 'the treasurer, Mr. G. Gordon, undertook to hand over to the Misses Paynter the prizes won by them at the last exhibition. The schedules of pri.es at the approaching exhibitions were laid upon the table, and the tickets distributed amongst the members for sale. The schedule of prizes was read and appr 'Ved. The secretary stated that the funds of the society were in a satisfactory condition. A tetter was read from Mr. J. Koiiler, offering the use of his gardens for the purpose of holding the exhibitions. The consideration of the subject was deferred for the present. The chaii man stated that a letter had been received from Mr. F. E. Stewart, the Provincial Secretary, with reference to the ground required by the society. The Provincial Secretary had granted the use of about eight acres near the Hospital, which might be connected with the Acclimatization Society's grounds by means of a bridge across the river Avon. The Government had insisted on the free admission of the public to these grounds, as Hagley Park was a public place of recreation. A legal opinion bad been obtained on the subject, which confirmed this view of the case. The Government, however, intimated that a grant of £l5O would be made towards defraying the expenses of maintaining the grounds in order. Under the circumstances, he (the chairman) thought that it would be better to wait and see what sum cuuid be obtained from the Provincial Cuuncil. He undertook to support in the Provincial Council any liberal grant of money towards the funds of the society. Mr. Hislup remarked that the first great outlay would be incurred by the laying out and stocking the grounds. If the Government could atford such a large grant to the Acclimatization Society, surely they could give a liberal amount for the purposes of the Horticultural (Society. He regretted to observe that the two societies could not work harmoniously together. At least £IOOO wouli be required to commence the undertaking. Mr. liislop moved a resolution to the effect that it was desirable that the offer of the Government, as far as regards the land, should be accepted by the society, leaving in abeyance for the present the terms upon which it shall occupy the land. Mr. Sisson proposed an amendment to the effect that the consideration of the subject, should be deferred for the present. The amendment was lost, the original resolution being carried It was desired that a copy of the resolution should be forwardel to the Provincial Council, intimating that the society had taken possession of the land. It was arranged that the nurserymen of the city should be requested to furnish a certain amount of trees or labour in or.ler to commence the undertaking. A committee was formed for the purpose of framing an estimate of the probable sum required for the purpose of carrying out the views of the society, and what should be a fair claim upm the Provincial chest. Tuesday next, at 10 a.m., was appointed for the committee to meet on the ground, and take formal possession. Some fine specimens of hyacinths, Cyclamens, and the white Pyrus Japonicu, were shown, A very pretty bloom of the Fosiithia viridissiina, and of the Crown Imperial Lily were also contributed. A specimen of the Berberis Darwinii attracted great attention. Mr Chudley gave an interesting account of this shrub, which he stated was brought from Chma by Darwin. He described it as an evergreen shrub of great beauty, very easily cultivated, and attaining to a considerable height. It grows freely even in England, in the open-air. Its leaves are not subject to bronzing, and the tree, in the season lor flowcovered with a mass of golden bloom The meeting adjourned after a vote of thuuks to the chairman.