TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5009, 9 March 1877, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

1,0.0.F.,M.U.~ Tht saw Lodge recently eatablistud at lltlvera will be formally opened by a public dinner on Wednesday next. LniOIBTKBr finißP;—Mr John Maofarlane, Baagiora, has purchased fire very laporior stud Leicester sheep from the Morton Main’s dock, Southland, from whence they are expected to arrive in a few days. Basse and Fakkoh.— These artistes gave the last of their entertainments at the Mechanics' Hall, TimAru, on Wednesday evening, to a full house. They have been well patroniaed at all their performances, and, without doubt, they have well deserved it. GRBIBTOnDBOIt FOOTBALL OliDB. The annual general meeting of member* will bo held at Badoliffo’s hotel to-morrow evening, when the olßoera for the ensuing year will be elected, and other important businese disposed of. It is to bo hoped that there will bo a Urge attendance, Lydia Howards Bdblbsqub Trodpb. — The members of thie company, who have been travelling overland, joined the Miasee Howardo and Navaro and Mr W. F. Baker yesterday, and the whole of them left for Nelson last evening in the s.s. Tui, whioh bad been specially chartered for the purpoee. Oxford Raobs. —The weight* for tho Hurdle Race and Oxford Oup will be found in another column. Tha altos for booths at tho races were sold by auction by Mr B. Dickenson yesterday. Site No. 1 woe knocked down to Mr J. Mullins for £7 15s, and No. 2 to Mr P. O’Shannessy, of the Oast Hotel, for £9. Canterbury Volunteer Representatives.—The Canterbury representatives at the Colonial prize firing at Hokitika returned from Wellington in the ■s. Stella yesterday. They came through to Ohristohuroh in the afternoon, and were met by a few Volunteers, among whom were Major Lean and Captain Craig. Lincoln Shbbf. —By (be s.s. Arawata yesterday there arrived 112 splendid Lincoln sheep, comprising 58 rami and 54 ewes. The sheep whioh are from the flock of Messrs F. J. and T. Sutton, Southland, are all magnificent animals, large framed, carry an immense quantity of wool, and are in very fine condition. They will be entered for the ram and ewe (airs whioh take place next week. Thb Canadian Government and xhb Sydney Exhibition. —Mr George Young, the Canadian Commissioner, who has been deputed to visit (he Sydney Exhibition, to be held in April next, waited upon the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, and explained to that body the exact object of his mission, which ia to draw closer the bonds of amity and commerce existing between these Colonies and our sister Colony in North America. His remarks are reported elsewhere.

East Christchurch Main School.-— The distribution of prizes to children attending the Gloucester street School will take plaoe at half-past 10 o’clock this morning. The prizes are more than usually numerous, the funds with whioh they were purchased having been greatly augmented by a donation from Mr VFynn Williams, who to show that he opposed the lost school building rate purely on principle, paid the amount at which he was rated to the school prize fund.

The English Cricketers. —The match with Twenty-two of Southland was completed early yeaterday afteenoon; the second innings of the home team closing for 46. The Englishmen thus won in one innings with 64 runs to spare. All, except Pooley, sailed in the evening for Melbourne, where two matches are to be played before starting for England. Pooley left Port Chalmers for Lyttelton in the e.s. Rotorua yeaterday, for the purpose of answering to the charge of assault and wilful destruction of private property preferred against him by Mr Donkin.

Cricket. —The return match between the M. 0.0.0. and Leeston CO. will be commenced on the V. 0.0.0. Ground on Saturday next. Wiokete to be pitched punctually at 10 o’clock a.m. The following is the M 0.0.0. team, viz.:—Messrs 8. Alpe, O. Frith, B. Hislop, J. Homer, G. Mlntyre, O. Palairet, F. J. Reeder, G. F. Biteo, F. Pavitt, G. A. Taylor, and W. Thompson. The following will play for the V. 0.0.0. on Saturday next against tha College.—Messrs Ootterill, H. Ootterill, B. Ootterill, W. Condell, Dawe, Field, Macquarie, Mounier, Nalder, Parkersou, Warner. Temdka Choral Society.— The first practice was hold at Messrs A. Wilson and Sous new concert rooms on Tuesday evening ; present —Mrs Dr Cumming, Misses F. Bayner and J. Chapman, Messrs Butland (conductor), Dr Gumming, Hooper, A. L. Wilson, Pilbrow, Buchanan, Smith, Barber, A. O. Bayner, Lang bridge, and Bobicson. Some gleea were sung so successfully that the conductor intimated that, with a little attention and a few more practices, tho Society may bo able to give a public concert. Tbmuka Park, —A meeting of the Commissioners was held at the Boyal Hotel, on Tuesday evening; present —Dr Bayner (In the chair), Messrs Wood, Bayner, and Wilson. This meeting was called for the purpose of electing a working man for the park. There were 14 applications. After considerable discussion, whioh was not of the most agreeable nature, between some of the Commissioners, the Chairman left; consequently, the Commissioners had to adjourn to enable them to obtain a full meeting to arrive at their decision.

Weslbyak Ohuboh, Papahti,— On Tuesday, the anniversary of thia Church was celebrated by a tea and pablio meeting. Tea was supplied by the ladies in the schoolroom, and the pablio meeting was held in the church, which was comfortably filled. On account of the absence of two ministers, who had been invited, some disappointment was experienced, bat satisfactory explanations were given by the Chairman, the Bev J. Crump. The Treasurer, Mr Beeoe, reported the Church to be free from debt, and that there was a balance in band. The Bevs Luxford and Crump delivered addresses, and the choir sang several anthems creditably. Miss Crump presided at the harmonium. After the usual votes of thanks, a very pleasant meeting was brought to a close. Thb Obaik Sbabon. —The railways are now becoming very busy in the conveyance of grain, which is coming to band with perplexing rapidity. The railway extensions which have been opened since last season have added very greatly to the traffic, and the number of trucks not being increased in anything like the same proportion, the strain will be very severely felt. Sre long the lines will have to be worked night and day, and it is doubtful if the grain can be moved away even then as fast as could be desired. To give some idea of the amount of grain traffic, it may be stated that last week one train arrived in Christchurch with 66 truck loads of grain j while on another occasion no less than 92 truck loads of grain were brought in from a single station (Longbeaoh) in one day. As the trucks would on the average hold 70 sacks containing over four bushels each, the 92 loads might fairly be said to make in all 26,000 bushels of grain. Boad and Footpath Mbtal.— Mr J. L. Wilson, who some time ago purchased the atone breaking machinery imported laet year by Mr J. Newton, is about to commence operations on a large scale. He has purchased a thirty-five acre section of splendid shingle near the Southbridge Junction, some five miles from town, and will oommenos work there next week. The shingle will be passed through a revolving screen, during which it will be separated into four kinde of material; first—sand, which being ooareer than that obtained from the sandhills, is much better for building purposec j second •mall footpath shingle, third road shingle up to 2} inches in sise, and third large shingle for being converted into broken metal. The latter kind of shingle will be passed through the breaking machine, on leaving which, it will be divided by another revolving eoresn into two or three different kinds of material. Mr Wilson purposes having a town depAt, for which he haa acquired a piece of land near the Addington railway gates. Sidings will be earned from the tail way. to both his pieces of land. At the present time, Mr Wilson bae a contract with the City Council for supplying a luge quantity of road metal.

Txkabu Bx* K .-Thi» great ammement, wd tf being w# P** by the public, _. Thb Bam un> Kwk; FAiM-Tbose interested«e reminded to.»orrow iMt day for lending in entriee for the B*m end Ewe Feire. __ . AaHiooivnmAii &TA T ing, as uiuel, the amount ofland under oid ration, it. agrioulturel produce, end other information, concerning the Pro vino , trict of Canterbury, ere ? obbsbed for general information in our advertising column*. Now Sat.btahds, Eakoioba—The newly erected esleyorde, (ituate on the Vf*io ro , next to Mr Ban’, were opened on Taeeday laet, by Meeere H/B. Huddleston and Oo„ Aactioneere and Agents at Bangiora. The attendance at the Innofa and subsequent sUxsa sale was very numerous, and all the lots entered changed bonds at very satisfactory rates. _ _

Mission Seevioee. The Bev H. B. Macartney, of Caulfield, Melbourne, who arrived by the Armwata yesterday, will commence an eight days’ mission in St. Johns parish on Sunday next. A special meeting of " church workers ” will be held in the Schoolroom on Saturday evening, and there will be service in the Church on each of the eight succeeding days. There will also ba a prayer meeting and Holy Communion every morning. Benevolent. —It will be remembered that some short time ago a small farmer living at Yaldbnrst, named James Pratt, lost the sum of £BS in Christchurch, and after advertising and offering a reward for aome time, has never been able to recover it. Under these circumstance a few of bis neighbours and friends started a subscription list towards making good his severe loss, and on Wednesday evening last a meetingof the subscriber* was held at the Talbot Hotel, when the very handsome sum of £lO 6s 6d, the amount collected, was handed over to him. Lyttelton Colonists’ Society. The usual monthly meeting of the Committee was held at the Colonists’ Hall on Wednesday evening; Mr A. Joyce, Vice-President, in the ohait. A letter was read from the Borough Council, granting a license for the hall, and pointing out the necessity of increasing the means of egress from the building. On the motion of Mr Boddington, the President, Vice-President, and Mr H. B. Webb were appointed a sub-Committee to report upon the best means for effecting the deiired improvement. The same Committee waa also requested to take the necessary steps for improving the ventilation of the hall. Mr George Tayler was elected to fill the vacancy on the Committee caused by the resignation of Mr Frank Graham. The Chairman undertook to see that the present escape of gas in the ball was remedied. Begird log the reading desk for the public room, Mr Boddington, one of the Committee appointed to attend to the matter, reported that he had been waiting to see the desks constructed for the Christchurch Library, and found that the style would not answer the purpose for the Society. He said the erection of a desk would be aeen to at once. The hou Treasurer reported that the receipts for the past month amounted to £l4 11s 6d. Accounts amounting to £l6 4s 4d were passed for payment. It was agreed that £3 should be expended in procuring works of fiction, and that the Timaru Herald be ordered.

Heaxhcote Edwins Club.—A special general meeting of the Heatboote Bowing Club was held in the Lower Heath cote Library on Tuesday evening. Mr J. H. Hopkins occupied the chair. There waa a good attendance of members. A letter was read from Mr J. L. Coster, regretting bis unavoidable absence from the meeting, and enclosing a cheque of £5 5s as a donation. The following gentlemen were elected as members:—Messrs J. Barnford, F. Bamford, H. Buxton, T. Pepperell, J. Pepperell, 0. Dyer, 0. Day, and Thomas. A letter was read from Mr J. O. Jones, captain of the Christchurch Bowing Club, on behalf of Mr Macfarlane, of Kaiapoi, requesting the loan of a four-oared boat fora Kaiapoi crew. It was resolved to lend the Waterlily and the Heatboote for any races in which the Beathcote Bowing Club would not require them. It was resolved to enter for the sweepstake race and junior four-oared race, and for the junior pair-oared race, if a boat oould be obtained. The entries to be made for the Heatboote Regatta were left for the Yice-Commodore to arrange. It was resolved —"That the competition for Mr Coster’s prizes be left to the Committee to arrange at an early date.” The Treasurer reported that he had received donations from Messrs J. L Coster (President), W. Montgomery and A. Duncan. A vote of thanks was passed to (hose gentlemen. The hon. secretary reported that Mr Bees had made a first class job of the repairs to the Heathcote, and that the Club property was in good order. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting ended, Matobal Banquet.—Last evening, his Worship the Mayor entertained a large party of citizens at a banquet, which took place at Gee’s schoolroom, Worcester street. The chair was occupied by the Mayor, supported on his right by Messrs W. Bolleston, the Hon. B. Richardson, and E. C. J. Stevens; and on his left by his Honor Mr Ji stice Johnston, Mr G. L. Mclliah, R.M., and Sir Oracroft Wilson Mr Fredk. Hobbs occupied the Vice chair. Mr Gee provided the banquet, and it is needless to say that the viands and wines were of the best quality. The table presented a very pretty appearance, being tastefully decorated with flowering plants in full bloom. Ample justice having been done to the good things provided, the Chairman proposed the usual loyal and patriotic toasts which were, as they always an among English people, received with gnat enthusiasm. The toast of " His Excellency the Governor ” and “ The General Assemby of New Zealand,” coupled with the name of the Hon B. Bichardaon, was res ponded to by that gentleman, who said he was quits sun that no Governor who had ever presided over New Zealand had the we!, fare of the country more at heart than the Marquis of Normanby. Tbs “ Army, Navy and Volunteers,” was proposed by Dr Foster and nsponded to by Sir Oracroft Wilson, Mr J. T. Fisher, M H 8., and Mr J. G. Hswkes The “ Bench and Bar ” was the next toast, the proposer being Mr A. Duncan. Mr Justice Johnston and Dr Foster replied. The other toasts of the evening were "The Chairmen of County Councils,” responded to by Mr Bolleiton; " His Worship the Mayor,” proposed by Mr Justice Johnston ; “ The City Corporation,” proposed by the Hon J. T. Peacock, and responded to by his Worship the Mayor; " The ex-Mayors of Christchurch,” proposed by Mr B. C. J Stevens, and responded to by Messrs Jameson, Dunoan, and Hobbs j " The members of the Drainage Board,” proposed by Mr G. L. Hellish, and responded to by Mr Hobbs; “ the Kre Brigade,” proposed by Mr T. D. Jonea, responded to by Mr Harris; "the Officers of the City Council,” coupled with the names of Dr Foster; and the Press, proposed by Mr Hobbe, and responded to by Mr Oogan of the Press, and Mr Uttin* of this journal. The entire list was got through by 11 o’clock, when the company separated after having spent a very enjoyable evening.

Tub Oath Pa.-—Tho Tauranga Highway Board hare demolished the Gate Pa. The Bay of Plenty Timet wye :—" The earth works of the pa hare been levelled to the ground, and well nigh all memorial of the scene of the memorable Gate Pa fight thus destroyed. What possible motive ooold have actuated tho B >ard in thus acting, or how they could have dared to destroy tbit interesting relic ru P M . fc Ma at a loss to conceive The historical associations connected with the Gate Pa are not only of local but of world.wide interest. It was one of the first spots an Englishman would go to see when pasting through this district, in conjunction with the cemetery where the remains of the gallant soldiers and tailors who fell at the fight are interred. Humour has it that the p* was demolished at the instigation of a settler in the vicinity, who acted without the slightest authority, and that a searching inquiry will be made into the circumstances. An inquiry should csrtainly be made at once, •* the demolishment of this landmark must not be allowed to past by unnoticed by the eettlere in the diatriot, some of whom were preeent at the Gate Pa fight."