TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3565, 21 June 1872, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Paper Hunt. — -The meet has been fixed for Saturday next, at the Hush Inn, Riccarton, at 2 p.m. Mendelssohn Society. —The ninth public rehearsal will be held at the New Oddfellows’ Hall this evening, at 8 o’clock. Acclimatisation. —The usual monthly meeting of the society will be held at 3 p.m. to-day at the Literary Institute. Poultry Association. —■ The fourth annual meeting is announced to bo held at Coker’s Hotel, on Tuesday next, at 8 p.m.

Lyttelton Church op England Cemetery.—The consecration will take place on Monday, June 24, by the Bishop of Christchurch, at 2 p.m. punctually. Northern Railway. —The Government invite tenders for the erection of a stationmaster’s house at Kaiapoi. Tenders will bo received at the Public Works’ Office, up to noon on Saturday, June 29. Lyttelton Industrial Co-operative Society. —The New Zealand Gazette of Juno 12 contains a notice that transcripts of the rules of this society, duly certified, have been lodged with the Registrar of Friendly Societies and registered under the provisions of the Friendly Societies Act, 1867. 1.0.0.F.,M.U. —The Loyal Volunteer Lodge held their usual half-yearly meeting in the Hall, Montreal street south, on Wednesday evening, when the following brothers were elected: —N. C. Sadler, os G.M.; V.G. Smithson, as N.G. ; Treasurer Smith, as V.G.; C. S. Ashton and E. S. Allard were re-elected. The lodge was duly closed in harmony and peace. Kaiapoi Ploughing Match.— This match takes place to-day in a paddock near Harrison’s bridge, about 2| miles distant from the town. There ore 22 entries, including two for the double-furrow class. There is some doubt whether the Maoris will plough as previously arranged, but should they do so, there will be about 30 ploughs entered for the different classes. The sub-committee pegged off the ground yesterday. The Museum. —A meeting of the Managing Committee of the Museum was held yesterday. Present—Dr Haast, the Rev C. Fraser, and Dr Barker. Arrangements were made for submitting definite proposals in connection with the building matters to the trustees at their meeting on Wednesday next. It is proposed to erect at once a commodious working room for the reception and preparation of the specimens forwarded to the Museum, the room now at disposal being much too small for that purpose. It is also intended to provide for additional show cases, and for the fittings necessary for the suitable furnishing of the new class-room. The new building is now in a very forward state, and efforts will be made to have the room ready for the delivery of lectures early in September. Papanui Ploughing Match.— A meeting of the committee was held on Wednesday evening at the Sawyers’ Arms Hotel, Papanui. Mr Norman presided, and there were also present Messrs Preston, Wild, and Strange (hon. sec.) It was decided that the match dinner should take place at the Sawyers’ Arms, and be on the table at 6 j>.m. It was also resolved that Mr Wild should be granted the privilege of erecting a publican’s booth on the ground on the day of the match. The following additions to the prize list were then made:—For the best kept harness, first prize value £4, given by Mr Clark, Christchurch ; second prize, a cart bridle value 255, given by Messrs Wood, Brothers, Christchurch. Best groomed horses, first prize, £2 2s; second prize, one pair of plough backhands, given by Mr Suffield, Christchurch. For the best Bering in the boys’ elass, a Pelham bridle, value £ll2s, given by Mr Lawrence, of the Selwyn hotel. It was then derided that entries should close at the Sawyers’ Arms hotel, on Monday, June 24. A vote of thanks to the chairman, terminated the proceedings. The committee have paid a visit to Munro’s paddock, and are very well satisfied with it for the match. It is about 14 acres in extent, is fairly level, and has been in grass five years. The Permissive Bill.— A well organized movement in favour of the Permmissive Bill, by petitions to the General Assembly is now being earnestly prosecuted throughout the colony with considerable success. In Canterbury the movement commenced under the auspices of the ‘ ‘ Perseverance Division " of the Sons of Temperance. Draft forms of petition were carefully prepared, and hundreds of printed copies, accompanied by an earnest appeal for aid in the movement, were circulated throughout New Zealand, going even into the outlying districts, and amongst the digging population on the various goldfields. In Christchurch the petition is headed by the signature of the Right Rev. the Primate. It has also been signed by the Dean of Christchurch, the Archdeacons of Christchurch and Westland, Canons Dudley and Cotterill, and most of the clergy of the Diocese, together with the ministers of other denominations. It has been signed by members of the medical and legal profession, merchants and tradesmen and numerously by working men. A ladies’ petition is also being signed. Direct intelligence of the movement has been received from other parts of the colony. In Auckland a petition, under the auspices of a branch of the “ United Kingdom Alliance” has already been most numerously signed and it is anticipated that when presented it will bear considerably over 3000 signatures. The Thames gold-fields, and also the country districts, are being successfully canvassed. In Dunedin, the “Otago Temperance Alliance” has taken the movement in hand, deputations are about to wait upon the clergy of every religious denomination, soliciting their cooperation, the city has been divided into districts, and an active canvass for signatures from house to house has been commenced. The movement is also being vigorously prosecuted in the interior, and on the gold-fields. From Southland, the news is equally satisfactory, an application from Invercargill, received in Christchurch, requesting that more draft forms of petition might be furnished for circulation up country, was at once complied with. Petitions are being numerously signed at Oamaru and Wainmte, and it is contemplated, ere long, to hold a public meeting on the subject at the latter township. Many of the country districts in Canterbury are being canvassed for signatures. No direct intelligence has been received from Nelson, Wellington, Westland, or Hawke’s Bay, but,indirectly, news has come that similar activity prevails.

The Court of Appeal.—The Wellington Independent, of June 18, says :— Owing to the extraordinary amount of business which had to be dealt with at the sittings of the Court of Appeal, it could not all be gone through. After the most severe and protracted exertions their honors found themselves overtaken by their circuit business. The result is that the Court of appeal had to be adjourned without the arguments in the Queen v, Fitzhorbert being gone into. Sir George Arney said that if he did not take the opportunity of going by the Taranaki he would probably be compelled to remain here another week, while a very important calender had to bo dealt with at Auckland. Mr Justice Chapman said he had already postponed the Invercargill sittings, but could do so no longer, as the Supreme Court sittings in Dunedin would take place in the beginning of July. Sir George Amey and Mr Justice Richmond were passengers by the Taranaki last night.