TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2481, 15 December 1868, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Cricket.—To-morrow the first match this Bason between the U.Q.C. and Albion Cricket Clubs will come off. The wickets will be pitched at 10 o'clock punctually, in order that the match may be played out. The following are the players on each side : U.0.C.C.-Messrs Anson, Condell, Cotterill Dickisson, Harley, Mainwaring, Moore, Ollivier, Parkerson, Eeade, and Stevens. Al-bions-Messrs. Mngton, Calvert, Dawe, Hobbs, Maples, Murray, Odell, Souter, Taylor, Turner, and Wood. y Meetings of Creditors. - Adjourned meetings of creditors in the estates of Robert McKenzie and Charles Frederick Worth, were to have been held on Saturday last, but lapsed through non-attendance of ! creditors. The estates therefore vest in the provisional trustee. A meeting of creditors m the estate of David Scott was held before the Registrar at noon. The liabilities are estimated at £384214s Bd, and the assets at *4894 18s, shewing a surplus of £1052 3s 4d Creditors proved to the amount of £993 6s' Mr J. E. Graham was chosen trustee, and Messrs Alexander C. lyfe, and William lratt, supervisors. Mr Wynn Williams is solicitor for the bankrupt. The JAPANESE.-This troupe appeared at the Town Hall last evening, in aid of the building fund of the Sunnyside Asylum lhere was not so large a house as was anticipated, more especially iu the front seats, but the back scats were nearly all tiled. Amongst the audience we noticed us Honor Mr Justice Gresson, his Honor the Superintendent, Mr Jollie Provincial Secretary, and Mr Wynn Williams, Provincial Solicitor. The performances gave the highest satisfaction, and the applause was most demonstrative. To-night the troupe appear at the Town Hall for the last time and we notice that the prices are reduced ine theatre lias been rented for to-morrow evening, which is positively announced to be the last appearance of the Japanese in ChristChurch. They proceed North by the Airedale on Friday. Rifle Association.-A meeting of the council was held at White's Hotel last night Present Messrs Simmonds (chairman). Wolfe Mundy, E. B. Bishop, and 11. E. Alport! Inei minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Lieutenants Pavitt aud Papprill and Messrs Mundy and Alport were appointed as a sub-committee to prepare a report of the councils proceedings during the past year and hand it innot later than the first Monday in January next. The secretary read a letter from the Volunteer General Committee granting the use of their targets forthe competition on Wednesday next, and he was requested to acknowledge it with thanks. A number of accounts were passed and ordered to be paid Four markers for the Weld Cup firing were seected, and the secretary was requested to ask Colonel Packe to take command of the men on the ground. Captain Simmonds consented to act as umpire, and some other minor arrangements having been made for the firing, the meeting terminated. Anniversary DAY,-The eighteenth anniversary of the settlement of Canterbury will be celebrated to-morrow. The following programme of amusements for the day is open to the public to patronise :-The trst exhibition of the season of the Horticultural Society takes place in Coker's gardens. It will be open to visitors at noon, by the entrances from Gloucester and Manchester streets, at an admission fee of two-and-sixpence, and from two o'clock until 7 at a charge of one shilling. The bands ot the Yeomanry Cavalry and Orphan Asy imi will be in the gardens throughout' «he'afternoon. In the eveniug; a grand vocal and instrumental concert will be given at the Town Hall for the benefit of Mr J. M, Thompson, under the patronage of his Honor the Superintendent andJ;he Executive Council, the Mayor of Chnstchurch and Councillors, and the officers and members of the Ancient Order of foresters. Mr Thompson has put forth a most attractive, programme which will include amongst others Mr Honniugton and the members of the String Band, Hen Biinz ; and the Yeomanry Cavalry Baud, and the Chnstchurch Christy Minstrels. The Japanese iroupe will perform at the Theatre forthe last time, as they proceed north by the Airedale on Friday. To volunteers the chief attraction will be the firing for Mrs Weld's cup which takes place at Hillsborough. J. hose who have a preference for the sea side will have an opportunity of inspecting the ships Hydaspes and IJIuo Jacket, by the permission of Captains Babot and White Ihe p.s. Betsy Douglas will' ply hourly betwecu these ships, the railway, or Peacock's wharf, taking passengers to and fro at a charge of one shilling each way. Return tickets at single fares will be issued at all stations on the Canterbury Railways. In addition to this, a special train will leave Christchurch for Lyttelton at 9.30 p m returning at 10 o'clock. Wc have no doubt that tins act of liberality on the part of the Government will be thoroughly appreciated, A bazaar will bo opened to-day in the Colonists' Hall, and will be continued tomorrow and Thursday. The proceeds will be devoted towards paying off the debt on St John's Presbyterian Church, Lyttelton

Tub Latk Fiub at Timaiiu.—The Herald ! of .Sntiirday aiiya:—Tiiere nre but few partLiilurß toaddto ttioac puliifshed in our last issue concerning the great calamity on Monday afternoon. As far ub can lie judged, the lire was first discovered about halt-past three o'clock, when men rushod to the 6c*ne from nil parts of the town, and there was soon a general cry for water. We were Hinong the first on the ground, and CiiuUßtify that a very small engine would have thrown sufficient water to arrest the progress of the flames. At that time not lite Icist foar was exnresscd by those most interested that the fire would extend beyond i he block of buildings m wliich it commenced!--It, however, spread more like lightning than anything else, and the town was in ruins before any one had fully realised that it was on Are. All who were acquainted

with Timaru and heard of the fearful visita on, at once discredited the Intelligence, believing it to be impossible for any Are to Bireep away the.town at one fell swoop, wlion the two principal blocks of buildings were separated by a large open space. There w»b not a person present who did not work bravely, but little could be done'ln uo face of such a firo. It ran through the T w s reßistle9Bfur y in fl n hour and a. naif. The burning ruins were nil that remained, and they are still burning. To those who have «een the town grow year by year, the calamity appears like a dream, so clean has it been swept away andreduced to a mere village, the shadow of its former self. Of course, no business has been done since the lire; but we are glad to see that the blow, although it has fallen with stunning effect, is not likely to cause men to flee from present evil. The Club Hotel is now iepresented by a email lean-to where liquor is kept on the premises more for the purpose of keeping tlio license than for any ntber reason, Mr Turnbull has opened ont a quantity of new g.iods, which arrived two days after the fire, in the store of Messrs Russell aud Co. We hear that a few persons will erect stone buildings at once, but there are several we regret to learn who are not in a position to do so. Great anxiety was shown for the presence of the insurance agents from Christchurcii (the agents in Timaru, with one exception, not having power to act in the matter), and on Thursday night some relief was given by the appearance of these gentlemen. Mr Symmington (North British) arrived on Tuesday night but returned to Christchurcii the following morning. On Thursday night Mr Craig (New Zealand), Mr Bird (Liverpool and London), Mr Jack (Victoria), and Mr Hudson (London and Lancashire), arrived. They have since been engaged in making enquiries into the losses, &c, and had a meeting yesterday afternoon. Valuators were appointed to go over the stocks injured by removal, where the premises were not destroyed, and we learn that the companies propose to make a speedy settlement of the claims against them, without deducting, where persons are not fully insured, the stock which has been saved, when it does not exceed the sum for which individuals were their own insurers.