TOW & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 4984, 8 February 1877, Page 2

TOW & COUNTRY.

Prize Firing—The various prizes and conciiti- iiß of competition are advertised by general order. Autumn Race Meeting.—Thirty-eight entries were r. ceived last night for the Great Autumn Handicap, This greatly exceeds the number last year, and no doubt it is to a certain extent due to the nomination fee being reduced from £5 to £l. The weights will appear on March 81.

Drainage Baths.—We draw attentionto an advertisement in. another column which warns ratepayers that their rates must be paid by the 19tb of the month. • Meeting of Obiokbtbbb. A general meeting of cricketers in oonnootion with the All-England match, is advertised for this evening at Warner’s, at 8 p.m. Board of Education.—The members of the Board of Education now meet in the new Board room at the Normal School. Great improvements have been made in this department —the octagon at the south-west corner—and though the acoustic properties are bad, they are far better than before, the improvements. Licensing Meetings. The quarterly meetings of the Licensing Commissioners are advertised to be held at the Resident Magistrates' Courts at Malvern (for the districts of Malvern, Malvern East, Malvern South, Eakaia, Coleridge, and Upper Waimakariri), and Ashburton (for the districts of Mount Somers and Ashburton), for twelve noon, on Tuesday, March 6. Mdllb. Atlanti, —We are glad to observe that this talented artiste announces another of her attractive entertainments for to-night. Those who were present on the lost occasion will be sure to attend to-night at the Foresters’ Hall. She sings well, she recites well, and she plays well—accomplishments which can not fail to make her entertainment attractive. We hope to see a good attendance. Waimate.—Mr Teschemaker, M.H.R. for the Waimate district, addressed his constituents at Waimate on Tuesday evening last. In consequence of the unpleasant weather, there was only a small attendance. Mr Bruce was voted to the chair. Mr Teschemaker reviewed the events of the last session of the Assembly at some length, and on conclusion of his address a vote of confidence in him was unanimously passed. The Illicit Distillation Case,—John Hamilton of Waitohi Flat, who was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Temuka, in November last, for "having concealed on his premises a quantity of spirits on which duty had not been paid," and who appealed against the decision, has lost the appeal with costs, the decision of the Resident Magistrate, Mr B. Woollcombe, being upheld. East Malvern. Our correspondent, writing yesterday, sayslt has been raining hard since Friday last, and a great amount of grain is lying on the ground. There is not the least appearance of the weather clearing up, and the farmers’ prospects are about as disheartening as any one could imagine. The grain which has been stacked is almost as bad as that on the ground, as the high winds rendered it next to impossible to get a good top on the stacks when they were built. Permanent Investment and Loan Association.—The annual meeting of the members of this Association was held last evening, at Mr Clark’s room, when two directors were elected in place of those who retired. In consequence of the recent defalcations in the funds of this Association, the directors were not in a position to bring forward a report, but will do so at an adjourned meeting to be held on March 14 next. A report of last evening’s meeting will be found in another place. Sydney Grain Market—We take the following from the New Zealand Times of Feb. 3:—“ The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency'Oompany report, under date Jan. 24, as follows Wheat.—The market is somewhat excited. Stocks are getting low. Sales of Adelaide have been made at 6s 3d and 6s 4d, and some holders ask 6s 6d. Flour. —Best Adelaide is worth £l6 per ton.” We are very much surprised that the Press Agency have not forwarded us this or similar intelligence. Dangerous Conduct.— Two boys, about six years of age, were brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, on a charge of attempted arson. It appeared that they obtained a quantity of straw, placed it in an empty bouse belong to Mr Anthony, near the North town belt, and deliberately set it on fire. A hole was burnt in the floor of the building, which might have been totally destroyed. His Worship said he could not entertain such a charge as attempted arson against such young boys, and, after giving them a lecture, dismissed the case. Christchurch Horticultural Society.—A Committee meeting was held at Warner’s Hotel last evening. Mr B. O, J. elevens in the chair. It was -resolved that the Autumn Show takes place on March 7. Messrs Greenaway, Guntcip, and the Secretary were appointed a sub-Committee to make arrangements. Messrs H. R. Webb, J. Loe, and Clark were appointed judges for pot plants and out flowers; Messrs Sisson, Robson, and Collins, sen., were appointed judges for fruit and vegetables; Messrs G. Milne and W. Kerr were appointed Stewards. After some routine business the meeting adjourned. Temuka—The weather for the last ten days has been very unfavourable for harvesting. After a series of heavy north-westers, which did considerable damage to the ripe crops, torrents of rain set in, and continued in a heavy downpour. The rivers rose rapidly, and on Sunday night some anxiety was felt as to probable consequences if the fresh still continued. Mr Spillane’s accommodation house at Arowhenua is in a very perilous position, as the stream is now flowing within a few yards of the house, and the bank is still being eaten away. We are glad to report that to-day the rain has ceased, although the weather is very stormy and bitterly cold. Theatre Royal.—There was a much better attendance at this place of amusement last evening, consequent upon the improvement in the weather. " Check and Countercheck” was again played, and, judging from the nature of its reception, has lost none of its popularity. At the end of the first act, which finishes with a view of Now York City by moonlight, there were loud and continuous calls for the scenic artist, Mr Williams, but the stage manager came before the curtain and stated that Mr Williams was not on the premises. Jem Baggs was again the afterpiece. To-night, “ Check and Counter-check” will be repeated for the last time, and should draw a good house. To-morrow evening Tom Taylor’s beautiful comedy, “The Unequal Match,” will be produced on the occasion' of Mr Hall’s farewell benefit. Mr W. F. Baker, the tenor, has given his services for this evening, and will sing the pretty ballad, “ Come into the garden, Maud.” Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club. —The following entries have been received for the various events at the annual sports of this club, to be held on the Show grounds next Saturday afternoon.-—IOO yards—J. F. Waohsmann, A.R. F. Johnston, G. Wostenra, A. H. Anderson, B. F Moore, and J. Fowler. 1 Running Long Jump—G. Westenra, W. Tosswill, J. P. Waohsmann, and H. M'Oardell. 440 yards—A. R. F, Johnston, G. Westenra, and J. Fowler. One Milo Walking Race— P. H Duncan, M. Smith, and J, Rule. One Mile Running—J. F. Waohsmann, A. Matthias, and B G. Hawkes. Running High Jump— W. Robinson, W. Tosswill, and J. Rule. 220 yards Handicap—A. R. F. Johnston, W. Robinson, J. Million, J. Rule, £. F, Moore, H. M'Oardell, and A, 0. Saltmarsbe. 120 yards’ hurdle race, 10 hurdles three feet high—A. R P. Johnsten, W. Tosswill, M. Smith, W. Robinson, J. Rule, and W. Chapman. Half-mile Handicap—J. F. Waohsmann, A. Matthias, and B. G. Hawkes. 440 yards’ hurdle race, eight hurdles 3ft 6in—A. R, F. Johnston, W. Tosswill, and W. Robinson, 440 yards’ handicap—J. F. Waohsmann, A. R. P, Johnston, W. Tosswill, W. Robinson, J. Million, J, Rule, H. M'Oardell, and B. G. Hawkes. If the weather holds line the ground will be in good order, but if there is any more rain the Committee have decided on postponing the sports to the following Saturday. It is to be hoped that there will be a good attendance at the sports, as all the races will, judging from the above entries, be well contested. Gymnastic Training.—On this subject the Melbourne Leader says:—ls training for gymnastic exercises favourable to health P An official inquiry has been set on foot in France to decide the point. After six months inquiry it was ascertained that' gymnastic exercises increase the muscular force about 16 per cent on the average, while the increase sometimes attains the maximum of 30 per cent. When the stronght has been more on one side of the body than the other the exercises tend to equality. The capacity of

the chest is increased at. the least one-sixth. Although the weight is reduced by training, it is increased by the exercises themselves, the muscular increase being Usually in excess of the reduction to the extent of 6 or 7 per cent, and often more. The maximum of muscular force is reached in about three months ; and after that it begins to diminish, sometimes at a serious rate. The strain oannot be kept up, and it becomes Accessary to moderate or suspend the exercises. Excess is, therefore, apparently injurious in all things, a conclusion which, however, should not be strained to imply that all kinds of excess are equally bad. A Knotty Point. —Two men having been brought before Sir Robert Garden, in England, on the charge of picking pockets, a discussion arose as to the law on the subject. Mr Warner Sleigh argued that as the lady in this case had nothing in her pocket, the pri-. soners could not “have attempted to steal it,” and cited a case he had before the Recorder, where his lordship held such objection to be good, bat the alderman remarked that the law bad been altered since then, and mentioned that he had once convicted a man for putting back into a pocket a handkerchief he had stolen. The prisoners were in the present case severally sentenced to a month’s imprisonment. Defence of the Waikato. —The Waikato Times, of Jan. 30, has the following with regord to the defence of Waikato:—“ Arms have been issued to the Constabulary employed on the Taupo road, and work was resumed yesterday morning, the men stacking their arms in readiness for use alongside the work, sentries being placed at proper distances to prevent surprise. This determination on the part of the Government to be no longer overawed by Maori insolence and threats, will be received with satisfaction by the settlors, and will do much to restore a feeling of confidence, which the events of the past fortnight had done not a little to shake. The gathering of a largo body of natives about Maungatautari, which position strategically outflanks the frontier line, is looked upon generally with suspicion and distrust, and is the cause of a feeling of uneasiness to many of the settlers beyond Cambridge. The opinion of those best-in-formed upon the matter is, that a less force than 150 men in the Waikato, at any time, is false economy.”