TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3397, 4 December 1871, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Open Air Music.—The C.Y.C. band gave their second musical performance in the Domain on Saturday evening, during the stipulated hours. There was about the same attendance as on the previous occasion. Cure Boating Club.—The Art Union which the members of this club are getting up, in aid of the] funds for the purchase of a new racing boat in England, is likely to be very successful. They have already received donations in the shape of pictures and other miscellaneous goods to the value of £25, and the drawing will take place at an early date. Kaiapoi Boating Club.—The musical men of Kaiapoi, assisted by several members of the Christchurch Mendelssohn Society, have volunteered to give a concert at an early date in aid of the funds of this club. Several rehearsals have already taken place at the Institute, and both the vocal and instrumental music that they intend producing at the concert is of a superior class. Theatre Royal.—There was a fair attendance at the Theatre on Saturday evening, when “ The Duel in the Mist ” and an amusing burletta were performed. To-night, “ The Sea of lee ” will he repeated for the last time, and we recommend those who have not seen this drama to go to the Theatre this evening. There will be a change of cast, Miss Matthews appearing as Madame de Theringe, and Miss Nye as Diana de Lascours. Road Steamer. Messrs Perham and Blake’s road steamer, Pioneer, arrived at Kaiapoi on her first trip from Oxford on Saturday evening last, at 10 o’clock. It started from Oxford with a cargo consisting of about 600 posts and rails, but ou arriving near the Oust, a scroll iron attached to the spring of one of the waggons broke off, and it was found necessary to discharge a portion of the load. The steamer then proceeded on the journey and arrived safely at Kaiapoi. An examination of the waggons clearly proved that in their construction they were never meant to carry the weight put upon them. Volunteer Parade. Yesterday, the head quarter volunteers together with the Lyttelton Artillery , and-the Heathcote corps of Engineers paraded by order of Colonel Packe for Church service at S. Luke’s. The respective corps fell in at the Drillshed, and, headed by the C.Y.C. band, marched thence to the church. There was a large muster—upwards of 250 of all ranks —and the Rev. E. A. Lingard, who conducted the service, preached a very effective sermon. We should say that the band of the Christchurch Artillery, (which corps hod the greatest number of men on parade, was also present and played alternately witli tho C.Y.C band, both in marching to church and on the return. Mendelssohn Society.—This society will give their eighth public rehearsal on Friday evening next, when they will present a programme of unusual excellence to the musical public. The first part will consist of Mendelssohn’s Cantata “ Athalio,” a work so full of beauties that it never fails to please even the least musical portion of an audience. The duet, “ Ever blessed child rejoice,” and the trio, “ Hearts feel that love thee ” —both for female voices—are among the most beautiful specimens of modern vocal writing. The, instrumental portion of tho work is no less striking, the overture being one of Mendelssohn’s very finest, and tho celebrated war march being too well-known to need any description. Wo are informed that the orchestra on this occasion will be unusually largo, Mons. Fleury having undertaken its leadership. This gentleman will also contribute to the second part of tho programme, which, while containing excellent music, is of an exceedingly popular character, and includes the overture to Don Giovanni, three of Mendelssohn’s charming part-songs, a song and duet by well-known lady amateurs, a pianoforte duet by tho Misses Marshman, and a duct for piano and harmonium by the conductor (Mr Parker) and a lady amateur of whom report speaks highly as a pianiate. We are glad to sec that the committee of the society have set apart a number of shilling seats, thus placing tho concert within reach of all who care for a musical treat,

Rifle Match. —On Saturday afternoon the. High School, or more properly speaking, Engineer Cadets fired their first match of the season at 'the Heatlicote range. The prize in competition was a cup given by Mr Isaacs, a member of the Christchurch corps of Engineers, and the conditions were ten shots each at 100 yards, with Hythe position and single target, with large bull’s-eye. The competitors, who wore confined to those who had never won a prize—thus excluding four or five of the best shots—suffered under a series of untoward circumstances, and therefore the scoring was not quite up to the mark. Not only was it their maiden contest for _ the season, hut they also used their now rifled carbines for the first time, and there was a strong cross wind which rendered it somewhat difficult to obtain a steady aim with such a light weapon. The following are the scores : —Sapper Rattray, 36; Wilkinson, 32 ; Anderson, 30; Richardson, 29; Hawkins, 28; Davie, 26; Douglas, 27 ; Prebblo, 25 ;• Soarell, 21; Parmer, 20; Lawrence, 20; Reader, 16; Martin, 10; Hawkins, 8 ; Coe, 3; Caverhill, 3; Lean, 0. Sapper Rattray was therefore declared the winner, though it should be said that the last five on the list only fired five shots each.

Papanui Entertainments.—-A very successful entertainment was given in the schoolroom on Friday evening. The room was very tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens, kindly lent by Messrs Norman and Cox. The latter occupied the chair, and read a financial report, showing receipts and expenditure during the season. The former amounted to £l4 Is 9id, and the latter to £ll 17s 2d, leaving a balance in hand of £2 4s 7£d. Apologies were received for the unavoidable absence of Messrs A. Duncan, Wynn Williams, and Dighy, who were to have taken part in the entertainment. The overture to “Preciosa” (Weber) was remarkably well played, as will be understood, by Messrs Biinz, Simms, and Spensley. Mr Dugald M'Farlane gave a reacting in place of Mr Wynn Williams, causing a great deal of merriment. Mrs limes gave very nicely “ The Treasures of the Deep,” which was encored, but not replied to. Mr E. B. Cox gave the comic song, “ Tweedle-Twaddle,” which was vociferously encored; Mrs H. Matson’s solo on the pianoforte was very finely played, and deservedly applauded. Mr Biinz next gave a violin solo, which, we need hardly say, was remarkably well executed. Mr Mackenzie gave “ The Tillage Blacksmith,” receiving an encore, which he responded to later in the evening, Mr Cox remarking, “That young man wants a rest too.” . Mr Cox then gave a humorous reading with great success. Messrs Biinz, Spensley, and Simms gave a selection from “ Lucia di La.mmermoor.” Mr Dugald M‘Parian c then gave the fine old Scotch song, “ Tull< ichgorum. ” Mrs Innes followed with “When sorrow sleepoth," which was succeeded by a pianoforte solo by Mrs J. Matson. Mr E. B. Cox gave another comic song, as amusing as the first. Mr Dunnett’s solo on the bagpipes was very well received. Mr Simms followed with a pianoforte solo, and it is unnecessary to say that it was well played. Mrs H. Matson then sung “ The wreck of the Hesperus,” and Mr Mackenzie replied to his encore. Mr W. Duncan recited Aytoun’s “ Widow of GHencoe,” with good effect. Mr E. B. Cox gave another comic song, “ I’m marri-ed to a mermi-ed.” The entertainment concluded with an overture- by Messrs Biinz, Spensley, and Simms, prior to which the chairman intimated that this was the last entertainment of the season. He begged to thank tho ladies and gentlemen, especially friends from Christchurch, for their assistance during the series. Mr Dunnage moved a vote of thanks to the managing committee, and particularly to Mr Cox, for the trouble taken in catering lor their amusement. He trusted Mr Norman would he equally successful in arranging for next year’s series of entertainments. Mr Cox said he would guarantee that Mr Norman would use every endeavour to make the entertainments as satisfactory as they had been hitherto, and he had no doubt would succeed. Three cheers were then given for Mr Cox, all those present feeling, in common with the inhabitants of the district generally, that in the removal of that gentleman anct'Tlls family from the province, they were losing valued friends who cannot be easily replaced. In noticing the last of these entertainments, it should be stated that the committee have been from the first greatly indebted to Mr Fleming, master of the Papanui school, for valuable assistance in carrying out their arrangements.

Corea.—According to the New York Times it is considered at Washington that other nations besides tho United States are interested in the Coreari problem, and there is understood to be no prospect of the United States making war against Corea without the co-operation of the other Western Powers. New Planet.—New York papers state that Professor C. H. F. Peters, of the Lichfield Observatory, Hamilton College, announces the of a small planet, the 114th hi the group of asteroids, at 3 a.m. on the 25th of July, 'ft was observed in 21 hours 43 minutes right declension, and 10 degrees 12 minutes south declension, having moved in 24 hours 45 seconds in the former co-ordinate, and four minutes and '2O seconds towards the south. Its magnitude is estimated between 12 and : 13. A Needless Search.—Baron Testaferrata Abela, a gentleman Irving in Malta, recently discovered in the valley of Gomerino a Roman tomb, containing four human skeletons, earthenware lamps, vases, &c. The baron expressed surprise that no coins were found, explaining to his man the ancient custom of placing pieces of money with the dead to pay the boatman Charon for crossing the Styx. The man asked if he really believed in such a story. “ Certainly,” said the baron. “ Then, why look for tho'money ?” rejoined the man, “ the boatman has got it.” Tea for the Million.—A correspondent of the English Mechanic thus writes : —Many of your subscribers may be glad to know that the raspberry-leaf —£' mean the second leaf (that now on the branches) —makes the finest tea I ever tasted. The spring leaves are too strong. I have used this tea myself for twelvemonths at a time without any fault being found with it. , The leaves, when dry, should be infused just in the same manner as ordinary leaves. The garden raspberry will do; but I prefer the wild variety, which is very plentiful in woods and dingles of England. Bismarck. —A little joke between Bismarck and Jules Favre is thus told in the Nationalk Zeitung-. —During tb|s treaty -«f peace and ! settling of war expenses,"'the weß-lhowh banker Bleickroeder, of Berlin, a Jew, being present as a competent judge with Bismarck to adjust the business, Jules Favre thought the war expenses so great that he said to Bismarck, to convince him of the enormity of the demand, that it would take one man from the time of the birth of Christ to count the money. “ Oh,” said Bismarck, “ I have brought one here, my dear Favr% who will be able to, count from the creation, and consequently alleviate your sorrow on that ground.” The Suez Canal,—The directors of the Suez Canal have obtained from their shareholders, specially convoked, an authorisation to raise a new loan of twenty million francs (£800.000) on the conditions at tho date, and with the guarantees they may think fit. Iu a report they presented, it is stated that the loan is to be chiefly employed in payment of interest and redemption of obligations up to October, 1872, and that lenders will not only have security for it in tho value of the canal, but that tho interest .on it can be covered, if need bo, by an augmentation of If. per ton on tho ships passing through the canal, which the Viceroy of Egypt has authorised. A Sermon Inthi(RUPTEd.— An American paper mentions that while the Rey, Mr Carter was preaching at Union. Ohio,on the, afternoon of Sunday, July, one Mrs Osborn came in and wqßced up to (ho pulpit and announced that bob persons had broken into Mr Trono’s hou9«|ri£»Mftnd hie family were attending Sabbath School, and that ho wished for some help to catch tho thieves. Mr Carter asked tho congregation to indicate what they would do, and a majority being for hunting tho thieves, ho “ called for the long metro doxology and pronounced the benediction,” and tho pursuit was commenced. It is stated that the thieves “ wore finally caught,” notwithstanding the advantage obtained by hicans of “ long metro.”

Teiumpii of tub Atlantic Telegraph. —A full report of the proceedings at the Scott Banquet on Wednesday evening was published in the first evening editions of the American newspapers (difference in time between England and New York, five hours). The American reporter sent seven messages, describing, besides the banquet, the Loan Exhibition, the procession, and the sights and scones in the Edinburgh streets, all of which, by the American newspaper system, were published simultaneously in New York, New Orleans, Havannah, Montreal, San Francisco, and all over the Western World, to the number of 230 daily papers. A Suicide Postponed.—The following is from an American paper, of course: —The editor of a newspaper in Richmond, Ya., received on Thursday last a polite note from a lady of respectability in that city, signed by her full name, announcing that she would at 8 o’clock in the evening of that day proceed to take her own life by the most available means, and respectfully soliciting the pleasure of a reporter’s company to witness the ceremony. Punctually at the appointed hour the reporter and several other invited guests presented themselves at the residence designated, but owing to the interference of friends, or some other circumstances, the attempt was indefinitely postponed. But the purpose of the writer came very near being carried out. Of course the lady is deranged. Tub Dangee of Exposing Spieitism.— The following is from the Pall Mall Gazette : —lf a statement that reaches us from America be true, our men of science may well take care how they attempt to expose “ Spiritism.” The Rev Mr' Thornton, it seems, made such an ■ attempt, but a steel collar was suddenly rivetted around his neck beyond the power of any blacksmith to file off. It is true that he afterwards discovered that the ring had cured a painful tumour on his neck, and, being converted by this circumstance, he goes about with his steel ring on, lecturing in favour of the spirits; but persons in good health, who would be without this compensation, might not find it altogether pleasant to find themselves invested with the ignoble symbol of slavery. Cannibalism v. Tobacco.—The following anecdote confirms the truth of the physiologist’s assertion that persistent indulgence in inordinate smoking results in the absorption of the actual essence of tobacco into the very tissues. Captain Wilkes, in an exploring expedition, interrogated a native of the Fiji Islands as to the fate of the crew of a vessel whose shattered hull still lay upon the beach. “ All kill,” replied the savage. “ What did you do with them?” asked Captain Wilkes. “ Eat ’em. Good,” returned the cannibal. “ Did you eat them all ?” inquired the half-sick captain. “ All but one, holding up a finger. “ And why did you spare one ?” “ Cause him taste too like tobacco, could’nt eat him no how.” Negeo Slavery in Damascus.—The Beyrout correspondent of the Levant Herald writes ; —Negro slavery has once more shown its head at Damascus, and, sad to say, Christians are mostly concerned in it. A certain M. Mitri brought a complaint before the criminal tribunal against his ex-partner, one Sirius, accusing him of having “ set slave against his master.” Sirius was condemned to thirty days’ imprisonment, or a fine of £7 10s. An Italian medical man long, too long in the service of the Porte, sold a Christian girl to a Moslem. She fled back from him, and took refuge among the French Fathers of the Seminary. When the local government ordered her to be given up, these strongheaded men replied that the walls of a French seminary contain no slaves. Let us hope that they will be firmly supported by their consul. Yankee Humoue.—ln allusion to the New York city frauds, the Tribune curiously writes: —“ Mr Beucher of the Santa Fe Democrat was so busy last week, attending to some mining matters, that he was compelled to leave his paper in the hands of his Mexican assistant. This ambitious Aztec, zealous to distinguish himself in his profession, and to strike a blow for the cause of his party, publishes a list of our New York Court-house expenditures, upon which he bases a savage attack upon Hall and Connolly, Ingersoll, and Garvey, denouncing them as Radical thieves, and predicting ruin and pillage to the citizens of New Mexico if they elect the Republican ticket. Que soleta de ladrones !he explains; ‘ what a horde of robbers are these Republican officials!’ Mr Reucher was last seen riding rapidly in the direction of Santa Fe, with a derringer in each hand and a bowie-knife in his teeth. It was conjectured he had seen his paper and yearned to see his assistant.”

A Threatening Letter. The Paris Liberie publishes the following letter, which has been addressed to the editor. The letter is written in print characters, and was forwarded through the post:—“ 200,000 citizens of Paris 4,000,000 citizens in Europe are active members of the Internationale. You are required under penalty of death to discontinue your attacks upon the members of the Commune. The Sergens de Ville, the Gardes de JParis and their families are all condemned to death within a year by the Supreme Council of the Association, as are also all the officers of the butchering regiments. The capitalists are condemned. We have numbers. We have strength. Discipline is being organised. Old society must perish; it will perish. Not a hair shall fall from the heads of any of the members of the Commune, or prepare for immediate massacre. L’lnternationale, the mistress of Europe.” Railway Enterprise.—lt is understood that President Grant, accompanied by many members of his Cabinet, will proceed on the 11th of October to St John, New Brunswick, on the completion of the European and North American Railway, which brings into communication St .John and Halifax with the railway system of the United States. He will be met oh the British American frontier by the provincial authorities, and there will be a great gathering of those interested in the new line, and the grand connection it will open. Halifax will then be brought into direct communication by rail with San Francisco, and the quickest route to the Pacific from Europe will be to take the train between those ports ; and the still quicker way to that ocean has yet to be formed when the Northern Pacific Railroad is in operation. The European and North American Railway will bring the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia into direct communication with the New England States and New York. A Healthy Family.—A trustworthy correspondent of the Daily Telegraph sends the following remarkable statement: —“ There is residing in Edinburgh a child one year old who has living a rather and mother, two grandfathers and grandmothers, four aunts and five uncles, thirteen grand aunts and eight grand uncles. The ages of one great grandfather and great grandmother are eightythree and eighty-six, and they have been married for sixty-ono years. The ages of another are eighty-one each, and they have been married for fifty-seven years. The ages of a third are eighty-one and seventy-seven, and they have been married for fifty-two years. The youngest groat grandfather and great grandmother are seventy-one and seventy-three, and they have been married for forty-nine years. In the three oldest couples the wife is older than the husband. None of them have boon more than once married. Two of the couples reside in Edinburgh, one in Aberdeen, and another in the south of Scotland. lIINDOSTANEK ENGLISH.—AII officer of the Bengal civil service sends to a paper the following specimens of English ns written by native officials :—“ An ex-schoolmaster, petitioning for a clerkship, promises that • I and my family will ever cease to pray to the humble Almighty to shower his blessings on you and yours for over.’ Another, begging for an increase of salary on account of the rise iq prices, says:— ‘ My pain and sufferings are impeachable, and lie only in the comprehension of gentlemen pf your honourable disppsitibiqrdady booperi your bowels of compassion, to sympathise with the afflicted, and by extending your gracious hand, to shoulder them from the civil darts of this dear city.’ A third makes the following excuse for absence : —‘ Please excuse attending office to-day, as my grandmother despatched her life, and want to go to firing place, to see body fired and ashes put in hole.’ A clerk, complaining of ‘ fever and grapes,’ requests, ‘ most very humbly a day’s leave,’ as he is ‘ unfortunately ill by the blessing of God.’ ”

An Awkward Predicament. —Ono Miss Maggie Seitz (says tbe New York World) lately afforded tbe inhabitants of Columbus, Ohio, ono of the most alarming sights they over saw. On the 4th of July she started to go up in a balloon, but one of the ropes connecting the basket with a bag caught on the limb of a tree, a hundred feet from the ground, the bag turned bottom upwards, and the gas began to escape. Sixty feet below her on this tree was a dead limb, which four young men essayed to climb, only one succeeding. He hauled up a small rope, then a big one, and two other heroes, and then all three climbed to the top of the tree and there fastened the basket, thus rescuing Miss Seitx “ amid the loud acclaims of the spectators, who had stood in great awe for ns much as an hour to see what fate would betide her.” Edik Ochiltree Again. —ln the department of Anthropology in the British Association, the Abbe Richard read a paperin French on the discovery of flint implements in Egypt, at Mount Sinai, at Galgala, and in Joshua’s tomb. Ho pointed out as a remarkable tiling the similarity of shape between the instruments found at Sinai and those at Galgala, and in the tomb he called Joshua’s tomb. On this subject, Professor Duns said, his opinion was that the age of these instruments was not at all so great as the Abbe would liave them believe. Recently, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, some remains of Roman pottery were found, and one of their highest geological authorities read a most elaborate paper on the subject. The late Mr Alexander Bryson having examined the specimen, found the Roman pottery to consist of nothing more or less than specimens of the delf made at Bo’ness and Portobello. Mr Bryson had even found an old man who, on looking at the pottery, could exclaim, “ Eh, maun, I see’d the beginnin’ o’ it.” (Laughter.) Below the Roman pottery was a pipe-head with the inscription, “ John Clark, Canongate.” Railways as an Investment. —The Daily News of a recent date, says : —There is not a line in the share list w lijh has not at one time or other been subject to extravagant depreciation, aud such occasions afford the opportunity to the investor who has the courage to act boldly, because he can see clearly at a time when his neighbours surrender themselves to the contagion of panic. It is the combination of a fair and for the most part a good return with progressiveness that commends railway property to the public. Among the stocks in which careful people invest London and North Western has had its vicissitudes, and yet those who bought the stock at 100 fifteen years ago, and held it, have received on an average £o 11s 4d per annum ever since, and now find themselves in possession of a property that has advanced one-third, or 33 per cent, in value. Similarly those who bought at 83 in April, 1859, have been receiving about 6f cent, on their investment, the market value of which has improved more than 64 per cent. It is not given to the shrewdest merchant in the world always to buy at the lowest point of an active and fluctuating market, nor can money for investment always wait for the opportunity absolutely favourable, but by a little care and much sobriety money may be greatly economised in buying. Western Civilisation. —San Francisco advices intimate that if there be any part of the earth where trade union outrages are more hideous and inexcusable than elsewhere, it is California. The worst feature of the evils are now to be authorised. In that State, at the Amador mines, the hands are on strike, and have taken to murdering their employers. In their latest attack, they had killed the bookkeeper, and their purpose seems to be to murder the officers and others in charge of the mine, to take possession of it themselves, and run it for their own benefiton the Communistic plan. Until lately, a battalion of Californian militia had been protecting the property, but on a solemn pledge on the part of the strikers to be peaceable this force was withdrawn. Hardly, however, were the soldiers’ backs turned when the strikers peremptorily demanded that men not belonging to the union should be discharged by the Company, and that men who had been turned off in consequence of - the strike should be reinstated. The Company refused these conditions. Hence the murders. The New York papers, commenting on this development, remark that it will be an imperative duty for the Governor of the State to march his soldiers again to the mine and enforce order with bullets and bayonets, and cause the arrest and speedy trial of the assassins. Swiss Climbing. —The Swiss Times reports that two young men, assistants in a druggist’s shop in Thun, started a short time since to make the ascent of the Stoekhorn, accompanied by a guide, and had almost succeeded in reaching the summit when one of them, in order to obtain a better view, ventured too near the edge of the precipice. The guide warned him not to go any closer, as the grass, from the recent rain which had fallen, was very slippery, but he answered that he was accustomed to climbing, and that there was no danger. Scarcely, however, had he spoken before he slipped, and in his frantic efforts to save himself seized his companion’s ankle, who leaned forward hoping to arrest his friend’s progress; but in making the attempt he lost his own footing, aud the guide, who stood by, unable to render any assistance (for the whole affair was the work of a moment), saw the two friends roll over the edge of the precipice, clasped in each other’s arms, and fall a distance of between 300 and 400 feet on the rocks below. Although without hope that either of them would be alive, the guide lost no time in descending the mountain and obtaining assistance, and, after considerable difficulty, succeeded in reaching the spot where the dead bodies lay. One of the unfortunate men was quite dead, having broken his neck in the fa\l; and the other had received such dreadfUk, injuries that he died a short time afterwards.