TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 8323, 10 November 1887, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Industrial Association. —A Committee meeting of the Association was to have been held bust evening, bub owing to the want of a quorum the meeting was adjourned until Tuesday at 7.30 p.nj. Cibctjs.—The attendance at the Great London Circus last night was fairly good, and the performance passed oil successfully, the feats of the various artists, human and equine, being warmly appreciated by the audience. There will bo another performance this evening. Ashburton Gas Company. —The annual general meeting of the Ashburton Gas Company was held on Tuesday. The report and balance-sheet, the former recommending a dividend of eight per cent, were adopted. Messrs Bullock, Douglas, and R. Friedlander, the retiring Directors, were re-clccted. Supplement. —Enclosed as a supplement with this morning’s issue is a very tastefully got-up little circular from those wellknown grocers, Messrs Checkley and Co. They desire the special attention of the public drawn to the special lines kept in stock by them and their shipment of new season’s fruit they have just received. For further particulars we must refer our readers to the circular. St Peter’s Church, Ferry Road.— The sale of woxk in this church was carried on yesterday with increasing interest. It will continue to-day from two o’clock, and it is hoped the friends of the cause may turn out in large numbers to buy up what may remain of the various useful articles, which are being offered at very moderate prices. The concert, which is expected to be very attractive, begins at 7.30 o’clock this ingVolunteers. Yesterday LieutenantColonel Lean, accompanied by Majors Newall and Slater and Captain Martin, visited Kaiapoi by the mid-day train, for the purpose of inspecting the Sandhills Range and surrounding country, with a view to future manoeuvres, at a spot so easily accessible to the headquarters corps. After examining the country between the butte and the sea, and following up the Saltwater Creek, these officers (who, it will be noticed, represent Cavalry, Artillery, and Rifles) concluded that they could hardly find a more suitable locality for evolutions of all arms. It is therefore likely that the sham fight of Dec. 16 will take place at Kaiapoi. Ch.bißtchuf.ch Ministers’ Association. —The monthly meeting of this Association took place on Monday last, in Durham Street Wesleyan Church. An earnest and thoughtful paper on “ Ministerial Responsibility for Soul Winning,” was read by the Rev W. Ready, on which a free discussion ensued by the members present. The Committee appointed to consider the present state of the law on the subject of gambling gave in their report, and it was agreed that the ministers should call attention to this prevailing vice, in their several churches, on the last Sabbath of the present month, and that a public meeting be held on the Monday following, particulars of which will be duly advertised. It is hoped that absent members will be careful to cany out the above suggestion. Theatre Royal. —As was to be expected there was a holiday audience last night .to witness Mr George Leitoh as the Rev Robert Sparerib, and to hear his song, “ The Good Young Man who Died.” He was very well supported by Mr H. 0. Sidney as Arthur M‘Donald, Mr W. J. Montgomery as Harry Maitland, Me G. Melville as Uncle Mac, Mr W. F. Clitherow as Squire Maitland, Mr H. Marshall as Mr Gibson, Mr F. Stanmaur as John, Miss Alice Norton as Edith Maitland, Miss Emelie Bevan as Eva Sumners, Miss Flora Anstead as Sahrah, and Mies Marian Medway as Mrs Dixon. To night the Company appear in the dramatised version of that terrible record of convictism, “ His Natural Life,” in which the horrors of penal servitude are intensified by the droll business of Mr Leitch. To-morrow “ Harbour Lights” will be repeated with two commodiottas, “Money Down,” iu which Mr George Leitch appears in four distinct characters, and “ Bamboozling,” iu which Mr H. 0. Sidney and Mips Alice Norton will sustain the.principal parts.

Appointment.— Mr D. M. Boss, of Boss, Sims and Co, has been appointed Sonth Canterbury agent for the Public Trustee, vice Mr A. Ormsby resigned. There were many competitors, and general satisfaction is expressed at Mr Boss’s appointment. Hunt Club Dinner. The annual dinner of the Christchurch Hunt Club was held at the Oddfellows’ Hall last evening. There was a fairly good attendance, and the Hon E. Parker presided. After the discussion of the good things provided, a lengthy toast list was disposed of, and a pleasant evening enjoyed by those present. Concert. — A concert was given in the Lichfield street Oddfellows’ Hall last evening, to a moderate audience, in aid of the Catholic Literary Society’s Band Fund. The following gentlemen performed:— Messrs E. Maurice, George and John Collins, P- H. Mohr, J. Sinclair, S. Dickey, and Adam Shott. The affair was a fair success. The Waimakabiei. —The swollen and discoloured condition of all branches of this river, at present, shows how heavy the recent rainfall must have been on the Plains and at its gorge. However, a very short interval of clear weather should suffice to put this turbulent stream on its good behaviour once more, unless further vexed by north-westers in che hills. Holiday Charges. —At the Besident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before E. Westenra and G. Booth, Esqs., a man named William Bailey was fined 5s for drunkenness, and Is for damaging the constable’s shako. He was also ordered to pay 12s 6d, amount of the damage done. Another man, a first offender, was fined 5s for being drunk at the theatre last night. Th* Timaru Whale. The “queer fish ” caught at Timaru last Sunday is now on exhibition in a tent in the paddock in Gloucester street, opposite the Palace Hotel. It is black in colour, with irregular white spots and marks, very similar to scratches. Its length is 18ft, and it is about 3ft in diameter at the thickest part. In shape it resembles a whale, save that the head is tapering and terminates in a narrow snout ISin in length. In the lower jaw are two small tusks, and it has also a number of teeth. Fish Culture at Ofawa. —Amongst the new introductions of fish at Troutdala Farm, the American catfish may be considered as one of the most valuable, having proved itself hardy, productive, and well suited to our climate, thriving in warm, shallow water with a muddy bottom, and little flow, unsuited to trout. They grow fat and multiply, apparently on nothing, their food chiefly consisting of minute water worms, the topknots and whiskers of the fish evidently assisting them to discover their food amongst the mud. The catfish now acclimatised are believed to be a small variety of silurus, attaining about 61b, described as delicious eating, and affording capital sport; .the young fish, hatched from the parents at this establishment are growing rapidly. Quantities of young perch may also be seen hatching out in the aquarium building, whilst the various races are crowded with the active American brook trout, now in splendid order for turning out. The price of admission to the establishment has been reduced during holiday week, as may he seen by advertisement. Christchurch Phonographic Association. —The annual general meeting of the Christchurch Phonographic Association was held in the Young Men’s Christian Association Booms on Monday last, at 8 p.m. There was a fairly good attendance, Mr D. Lumsden occupying the chair. The annual report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The report showed a fallingoff in the number of new members. During the year examinations were held for Mr Isaac Pitman’s certificates of proficiency. The examination papers were sent Home to Mr Pitman, and all the candidates were successful in passing. The library has been well patronised by the members. New books have been received from England during the year, and also the regular supply of periodicals every month. The receipts amounted to JE4B 15s 4d, and the expenditure to JET 4 18s Bd, leaving a credit balance of £Ai Is Bd. It was decided to postpone all the classes until after the New Year holidays, but in the meantime the members can make use of the library. Officers were elected for the ensuing year. After votes of thanks bad been passed to the retiring officers and the Chairman the meeting terminated. On Saturday the Christchurch Eiflo Club trill fire a m» r, h with the College Rifles on the Club range. The following gentlemen will represent the Club, leaving the office at 1.30 p.m..:—Messrs Bashford, Scull, Dougall, Fox, Gray, Jones, J. Scott, Sondford, SI. E. Anderson, C. A. Lees; emergencies—Messrs Hackworth and .T. A. Tait. The Lincoln hoad Baptiet Church celebrate their twenty-third anniversary this evening by a tea and public mealing. The s.s. Akaroa will run a cheap trip to Pigeon Bay to-morrow morning, leaving Lyttelton on the arrival of the 0 am. train from Christchurch, and returning from Pigeon Bay at 4 p.m. To the Deaf.—A parson who was cored of deafness of 23 years’ standing hy a simple remedy, will send the description of it free lo any person who applies. Address, J. H. Nicholson, IS, Camden Pk. road, London N.W., Kngland.—[Advt.l