TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5011, 12 March 1877, Page 2

TOWN & COUNTRY.

City Council.—^ The ordinary meeting of the City Council will be held thia afternoon. District Court, Timaru. The civil sitting of this Court was adjourned to March 26.

Albuey Linb.—The repairs necessary to the Opawa extension were commenced on Tharsaay last, Ur E. G. Wright being the contractor.

Harmonic Socibty. —A meeting of the " male members ” of the Society is announced to be held at the Commercial Hotel tomorrow evening. Kaiapoi Weslbybn Bazaar.— The bazaar in aid of the building fund of the Kaiapoi Wesleyan Church will be held to-day in Mr Matthews’ groin store. Kaiapoi Regatta.— This regatta takes place to day, and as there are a good number of entries, it is likely to be very successful should the weather continue fine.

Entbbtainmbmt at Lkbston, —A grand entertainment is announced to be given on Wednesday evening, on the occasion of the opening of the Leeston Town Hall. Importation op Ponibs.— By the barque Mary Ann Annison there arrived from Newcastle yesterday, six very useful ponies, consigned to Messrs W. Langdown and 00. Lbotubb. —Mr B. Short, representing the Australian Mutual Provident Society, gave a very interesting lecture at the Mechanics’Hall, Timaru, on Friday night, the subject being "Happy homes, and how to make them.” The hall was well filled, and those present seemed much interested.

Howahtxtb Hibhenica.— This Hibomios, which it aaid to be the real Simon Pure, and the only original one, will open at the Music Hall on Thursday evening next. It consists of views of Irish scenery, and a company of ten members, who give a miscellaneous entertainment. It was a great success in America and Australia, and more recently in Dunedin, where it was spoken of in very glowing terms by the Frets. Mr Williams is the advance agent. The Home Ships.— There will doubtless bo a considerable amount of speculation regarding the arrival Home of tbo vessels that have left for London within the last few days. The vessels are all well-known smart sailers, comprising the Avalanche from Wellington on Thursday, Orusader from Port on Saturday, the Rangilikoi yesterday, and the Otaki from Port Ohalmers on Saturday. The result of the race will be eagerly expected, as all the vessels are taking a large number of passengers. Harvesting at Abhbdbton.— The grain crops have, with few exceptions, been secured, and the threshing-machines are all busily engaged throughout the district. The weather for the last few weeks has been most favourable, and the farmers, generally speaking, are not dissatisfied with the yield. They seem to think that the losses by wind and rain during the early part of the harvest will not be so great as might have been expected. In some parte of the district the damage done hae been trilling. Delivery of the grain hae been commenced, and the opening prices are certainly encouraging. Bam and Bwb Faib.—The entries for the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s ram and ewe fair oloeed on Saturday afternoon, the number being very greatly in excess of that of last year. The approximate numbers are 1860 rams and 1285 owes. The numbers entered for the fair of 1876 were 800 rams end 150 ewes. On Saturday afternoon Hessre Matson and Co. sold the rights to erect a refreshment booth and to soil catalogues at the fair, by public auction. The former was knocked down to Mr 0. E. Paget for £l6, and the latter to Mr J. Marsden for £lO, making a total of £26, which is an increase of £lO oh year.

jSSiAstuStlXts morrow evening. —The UNIVKB9ITV ov . 10. first term tor th. day, and will end on th* third 7 Juno. The prospectus of lecture* bae been tb. tbii morning, the charge of wdful do« ™ c l "? of property! brought against PooUy and Bremhall, of the English cricketing team, by Mr R. Donkin, will come on for hearing. Habvbst Thanksgiving BaßTioca. — Special thanksgiving services were held at the Avonside Church yesterday. The intenor of the building was appropriately decorated, and the services, at which the attendance was good, were conducted by the BevH. Qlasson. City Absbssmbntb. —The Assessor has allowed a large number ol the objection* made against the now assessment, and upwards of 192 of them are published elsewhere. A long list of objections will, however, still remain to be heord by the Resident Magistrate tomorrow. | Obicket. A match between the St. Criepinjand Excelsior Clubs was played in Hagley Park on Saturday, which resulted in a victory for the former in one innings, with II runs to spare. The Excelsior Clnb in its first innings made 35, and in the second 16 The St. Crispin’s made 66. Tub Skating Rink.—The rink was fairly attended on Saturday evening, when Mdlle. Franzini made her final appearance on the ! bicycle. She was assisted by Miss Alice RainI ford, and, as usual, her performance was graceful and clover. A full band was in attendance, and during the evening the skating wos of the ordinary character. Mdlle. Franzini appears at Timara to-night. Bast Town Belt.—-The improvements recently made by the City Council on the East Town Belt have mode a great alteration in the appearance of that thoroughfare. The width of the footpath has been increased to 15 feet, concrete channelling has been laid down, and the roadway and the road considerably widened. When the footpath is shinglea, the residents in this part of the city will have all they could reasonably desire in the matter of street improvements. Boatßaob. —A sailing race, between Mr J. Sinclair’s skiff Qaffr Mynwdd and Mr Walter’s Nellie, for £5 a side, came off in Lyttelton barbonr on Friday afternoon. The boats were started by Mr J. Roberts, from the point of the breakwater, at 3.20 p.m. The Qaffr won the toss, and took the weatbermost position, getting the best of the start. The course was round Parson’s Sock buoy, then down and round the reef, back to the starting point. The Qaffr led throughout the race, and on rounding the reef was half a mile ahead of the Nellie, She then increased her distance considerably in beating up, and eventually won by 20 minutes.

Au ijei Pbbsbttbbiah Ohhbch. The second annual soiree of this church was held afc Waiau, on March 6. Tea was given at 6 p.m. in the large store adjoining Mr Darnel's Hotel, the tables having been plentifully supplied by ladies resident in the district. After tea the company met in the church. Miss Bishop played on the piano " He shall feed his flock.” The Hundreth Psalm was then sung, after which the Bev J. Elmslie offered prayer. The Rev W. E. Campbell, Chairman, haying spoken briefly, Mr W. O. Rutherford, the Treasurer, gave in his report, showing that the minister’s stipend of £290 per annum had been paid quarterly, and a balance of over £4O remained in hand, with subscriptions still to be paid. The report was approved, and a vote of thanks given to the Treasurer. Thanks were given to the Committee, and the same gentlemen were reappointed to act for the ensuing year, viz., Messrs W. Balfour, rhos. Fraser, J. M‘Arthur, J, Macfarlane, Macmillan, Walter Rutherford, •ud W. O. Buthorford, Mr W. O. Rutherford to be Treasurer, and Mr Thos. Fraser, Secretary. Mr Crockett was also appointed a member of Committee. A special vote of thanks was given to Mr Fraser, the Secretary, for preparing the church for the services. It was stated that the. Church Library, begun lost year, contained now 142 volumes, and that there was a balance to credit. The four annual collections, made by appointment of the General Assembly last year, amounted to £l6 9s 9i, contributed chiefly at Waiau. A subscription list had been opened for an harmonium, and contributions amounting to £5 promised. The paper was sent round, and about £9 subscribed at once. The Rev W. Douglas, of Akaroa, then gave an interesting address on “The Conditions of Success in Church Work.” The Rev J. Elmslie, of Christchurch, gave an earnest address on " Co-operation in Church work." Cocoa-nuts brought by Mr Gavin from the mission vessel Dayspring, were given to the children. During the evening a number of songs and pieces of music were given at intervals. Votes of thanks were carried to the ladies who gave the tea, to Mr Daniel for the use of his store, to the Ministers who had addressed them, and to the musicians. It was stated that the proceeds of the soiree were estimated to exceed £7. The meeting was closed with a hymn and the benediction. St. John’s Mission. —Parish Missions are comparatively a new thing in the Church of England, dating in the present form not further back than ten years. We believe, however, that missions of a similar character were held in several Irish parishes upwards of 35 years ago, and that they were then introduced into England. The movement then died out in the Church of England, but about ten years ago it was taken up again, several mission services being held with marked success. This led to a united effort on the part of the Bishops of London, Winchester, and Rochester, who issued a joint letter to their olofgy, recommending the holding of a mission in the metropolis. This series of services was successful in the highest degree in achieving the purposes for which it was held. Since then, every principal town in the United Kingdom has held its Mission services. The honour of introducing such services into the Colonies is, we believe, due to the Rev T. 0. Cariven Campbell, who relinquished his pariah for the purpose of devoting himself entirely to such work. Services have been held by him and the Rev H. B. Macartney, in Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Hobart Town, and various' other towns. Between four and five years ago the desirability of holding such services in this diocese was discussed by some of the clergy, and about a year since a paper was read at ope of the clerical meetings which resulted in the resolution to obtain the Bishop’s consent to the establishment of such a Mission here. His Lordship’s consent was heartily given, and it was further determined to invite the Revs T. 0 Campbell, H. B. Macartney, and Canon Bramloy, to take the part of Mission preachers. The former clergyman has, from ill-health, been unable to accept the invitation of the Bishop, and the latter is not able to come until the end of the month. The Rev Hussy Burgh Macartney, the Mission preacher for 8. John’s, Waltham, is the youngest son of the Very Rev the Dean of Melbourne, He arrived by the Arawa'a, and commenced his mission work on Saturday evening, as notified in these columns. Bel wee-n 60 and 70 people assembled in 8- John’s schoolroom to meet him, the Dean presiding and delivering an earnest address of welcome. Prayer was offered by the Revs H. B. Cooks and H. 0. M. Watson, after which the Rev H, B. Macartney delivered an impressive address to Church workers. Yesterday, morning and evening, crowded congregations attended at the church, and took an earnest port in the special services of the day, the mission preacher making a most favourable impression by his eloquence and intense earnestness. The hymns sung were those specially chosen for the purpose, and published, with the mission services, in a small book form. Among them are several from the sacred songs and solos of Ira D. Han key. These were sung very heartily by the worshippers. The mission will be com tinued during the whole of this week, a prayer meeting being held every morning at 7 o'clock, ®nd a special service at 7.30 in the evening. On each occasion the mission preacher delivers an odoruss. At the afternoon meetings, the Bishop, the. Dean, and the clergy in and around Christchurch assist the mission preacher,

Til RATER Rorit.— On Saturday Borneo and Juliet was repeated L , enir ‘* hoo M . The play w., foiled by . from one of Lore/, humorous In.h ZV * in which Mr* Siddon. wu extremely and amusing. }

HIODCB FROVf AfCKLAKU. _ Xhfl V K Zealand Herald say* :—Anyon 9 pr.-‘, Br .' ‘ K II the departure of the Hero for .Syoner K ; Wanaka for the Southern poru 4 * K help being .truck with the large uun Br arti.an. and their familie* who w Pre C - K--the dUtrict. By the former veeeel there V"* B no fewer than 12 to U persons all t,/,i . B the Thame*, the bulk of whom hvl re K there for year*, and wore at la*t Wr r, J* >A B| by the dallne** of mining, and the aUencs B other mean* of making a livelihood, < fl ''v B| fre*h field* and pasture* new. -p',,. ** B fonr, however, were bound for *•„ /'J H country, having been pretty J f H varione tribute* during the la»t Id B On the other band wo noticed many who wi." B| recently brought into the country H country'* expense, bound for B Wale., not having found the Auckland T' B trietto their toete or the work r, f B here a* it had been repreeented tr, h» Bj old country. In the Wanaka ( ,7 * B young men who came out in the Oi*r,;oM,\?- B Thurland Caelle with the intention of ‘ B upon land, but, after a few wee**’ r » B have not eeen anything they fe t ..-,0..-"v Bl pnrehaeo. B The Ohinewcbi Nativse.—t;-,. n:,.. B Ad’iertieer ol a recent date eay.;— 1 X, Bj nui and eome Native* arrived at Te p terdayfrom Shortland, and after B| * of the Native troop* Te Moanar.u Bl the pah and the obstruction* that .T,.' B| placed aero** the Waihou river. Di.ripu-*- H ’ that the Aroha Native* intend buiimr.*i ' Be ’ pah at or near the foot of the moun ir, B 1 ole of holding about two Ihousar.; 4 \ B| that they will be assisted by Te Knot r, fl| 1 who ba* notified that he will vi.it ‘.r.» B 1 defending the pah* at Rotokohu ar i |B 1 1 scoff ’ them all. It is also iai i ■;-* B 1 Shortland Natives must come up JV B ’ that certain ceremonies must B| ‘ through before the aukati can he -.rdr B and the harmony of the ccntenci.-g B 1 restored. The Maori flag ba* been x-.n. r the Queen’s flag at the Botoknr.u t.-., i.*.c this coming to the knowledge of a zLk: H young officer of the Thames Narali, B| r there on a risit, he threatened to bnr.g j r posse of his men, and show them H| 2 their defence* were. The Maoris are * .- r p..y. H| s with splendid rifles, sii-ihooten, a hi,:. 9 ammunition and cartouche boxe*. arc --;n. r of them are to ba seen in full dress »;v. 7 t a shawl round their loins, the caroh-j 9 over their shoulder, a six shooter ir. a 2 and a single or double-barreUed rifle ;r. rar: 1 g Poisoned Abeows.— The report to -.;e H i Admiralty of Stafl-Surgeon A. £. iliim i M.D., 8.N., on this subject, u very imporur;, The Home Item say.:—Dr Messer mcr .-j • the opinion that so-called poisoned have no effect, save that of the fl-Xn e which they cause and of the terrors v:.1 their supposed deadliness create in tnatr - t t of the sufferer. The lamentable death :i b Commodore Ghwdenougb, of the Pearl, v... j be fresh in the memory of all. But Dr llesie; mentions the highly significant iu.it iru B| several men were wounded at Sana Cr : HB 1 besides Commodore Goodenough and ;hs:, i nevertheless, five of them recovered, althu-gh. i at leut in one casd tetanic ha: i, begun to display themselves. The mtersme l t drawn by Dr Messer—and if it be oorrect t should be made known to every sailor, r H| a chant,or missionary in the South Pa ;;: —u iij; f whenever arrow-wounds cause loci■;>, it u either an instance of what surgeon. :>.i trv--made tetanus, or else, as with some an u B hydrophobia or small-pox, a mere duct to be accounted for by an unaemab.e :.i still half unknown action of the ima; na.::n , upon man’s physical organism. It ni. ;< ■ ( urged that the Polynesians sometimes dip , ends of their arrows in tariet or corrupte: j animal matter, bat then Dr Messer »pp»;;s> observes that this would produce pytti > . that is, blood-poisoning, bat not look er f Still there is one difficulty which Dr ilase: , does not remove. Strychnia causes teUcu, t and the phenomena of the agony are not:: Hfl i distinguished from those occasioned bv i:a t jaw as the sequela of a cut or wound, j - 1 certain that the Polynesians never sosk 1 arrows in a uoludon of strychnia or sous t analogous vegetable poison P