Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 96, 3 September 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

The Telegraph. — Communication was restored on the West Coast line yesterday afternoou. Northern' Rivers. — The Waimakariri is still in fresh. The Eyre is impassable, and the Ashley also, for vehicles. The Cust ford is washed away, aiid the river is impassable for either vehicles or horsemen. The Borough Ejections. — The following is a list of the candidates nominated : — For Christchurch — Messrs 11. Sawtell, W. D. Barnard, J. H. Tompkins, J. L. Wilson J. V. Ross, H. Leake, T. Nottidge, J. C. Angus, W. 11. Barnes, aud J. Anderson. Lyttelton — Messrs Hargreaves Woledge, Hawkins, Ellisdon, Julian, Roper, Reed, Kenner, Holmes, Weastall, Mutton, and Chalmers. Kaiapoi —Messrs J. Birch, P. L. Neilsen, E. G. Kerr, C. Oram, M. Hall (the present^fayor), H. Middle-ton, A. Weston, E. Revell, F. S. Funston, Dr Dudley, C. Lezard,and J. C. E^orter. Runaway. — A mare belonging to Mr Ritchie, baker, Colombo street, bolted with a spring cart this afternoon, and was not stopped till she had made a complete tour of the eastern part of the city. It appears that having been driven round with bread in the early part of the morning, the boy gave it a feed, aud left it standing in the right of way between the Lyttelton Times office and the Central Hotel. The blinkers having been removed, it is supposed that seeing the cart the mare took fright, and bolted into Cathedral square. From thence she passed up Worcester street on Madras street up Hereford street to Stanraore Road, thence across the river down some of the iutervening streets to Manchester street bridge, on Manchester street, down Gloucester street, and on Colombo street to the City Hotel, where further progress was fortunately arresled.XDuring the gallop the cart turned over several times, and once it came in contact with a post near the Warwick Hotel, but all without effecting a stoppage. Near Coker's Ilotel a valuable retriever dog was run over and killed, and it is scarcely necessary to say that the body of the trap was, when the mare was stopped, alnjosfc smashed to pieces. The harness was also very seriously injured, but the mare, very strange to say, escaped without severe injury. The Weather. — In a Provincial Gazette dated August 31, and published this morning, we find the results of meteorological observations for the months of June and July at Christchurch, Hokitika, aud Bealey. The following are the remarks which accompany the tables:— Christchurch — The cold during the months of June and July has been severer than any experienced since the establishment of the station, 1863. The mean temperature of July, 1865, was 41 ° .5, whereas the mean temperature of the above months was 40 °.9 and 41 °.4 respectivel3 r . The mean temperature of the thermometer exposed on the grass in August, 1865, was 28°. 8, whereas in the last two mouths it has been 25 ° .3 and 22 ° .8. The days, however, were, as a rule, remarkably fine and pleasant; although a week of severe weather occurred in the middle of June, when the fall of rain was 2_ inches in depth. Snow fell in Christchurch on the 3rd of June, and on the Ilth of Jul}'. There was a strong gale from the N.E. on the night of the 22nd of July. Hokitika — During both months about au equal number of fine and wet days were experienced. On the 18th and 17th of July, thunderstorms, accompanied by hail and heavy N. W. winds occurred. On the former of these days the barometer fell to 29.131 inches, and at Bealey to 26.91, whilst at Christchurch at 3.30 p.m., it stood at 28.997, though accompanied by bad weather. On the 1 7th, the weather appears to have been unfavourable at all tbe three stations, as rain to the depth of 4.270 inches fell afc Bealey, and to the depth of 0.227 inches at Christchurch. Beaky — Snow fell on five days in June, and on two days in July, and was 4 inches deepon the ground on June 27th. There was a considerable amount of fine frosty weater during both months. The cold during the nights has really beeu very severe; on the night of the 3rd of June, the thermometer exposed on the grass stood at 5 ° 0, while the temperature of the atmosphere sank to 12 degress. Gold Ohampion Medal. — Capt. Hargreaves, of the Lyttelton Artillery, has offered a gold medal for competition by the members of the battery under his command, and on such conditions as to well merit the term " champion " to whoever may succeed in winning it. No member who has not qualified himself for the position of at least a third-class marksman is to compete, and to constitute private ownership of the medal, it must be held for two years against any who m<y challenge for a new contest, the number of such challenges, however, to be limited to two in each year. The ranges to be fired at are 200, 400, and 500 yards, with five shots at each, Hy the position and targets, and the minimum number of points to win is 40. These conditions are a novelty in Canterbury Rifle competitions, although not unfrequently adopted under similar circumstances in England. The plan is beyond doubt a good one, but it may be ques tioned whether, on this occasion, it has not been stretched a little too far. The object in view is, we are informed, to encourage new beginners; but, in such cases, a prize may be placed too high, and consequently fail to excite that emulation which a reasonable chance of winning would induce. The medal has been manufactured, to order, by Messrs Petersen and Co., of High street, who have executed the order with their characteristic nicety of workmanship and beauty of design. The medallion is one inch and a-half in diameter, and has a raised rim, the whole being attached to a blue ribbon by a frosted gold swivel, of delicate proportions, but possessing the requisite strength. The ribbon bears a bar and clasp of similar work, and on one side of the medal is a gun, encircled by a laurel wreath, whilst on the reverse is a suitable lettered inscription, to identify it with the corps, with a blank space for the winner's name

Aquatics. — A meeting of the " Cure " Club took place at the Pier hotel, Kaiapoi, on Monday evening. Present— nearly all the members. After electing a treasurer and secretary for the ensuing year, they then proceeded to consider the advisability of extending the club, as several persons had expressed a wish to join, all new members to be admitted by ballot. The " Cure" was ordered to be put in good repair at once, and Mr R. 11. Matthews was requested to prepare plans and model for a new boat, and lay them before a sub-committee on the evening of Saturday next. The '•' Ariel " club have had their boat put into thorough repair by Mr Simmons, of tlie Ferry Road, aud have strong hopes of again carrying their colours to the fore during the ensuing season. Sudden Death. — A man, whose name is unknown, was found iv a dying state in Stanmore Road, yesterday afternoon, and shortly afterwards expired. A boy, named Brunsden, was the first to observe him on the roadway, where he was lying down and struggling violently. At first it was a matter of doubt whether he was drunk or ill, but Brunsden at once ran for the police, and Sergeants Pardy and Beattie returned with him to the spot. On arrival the man was still alive but died before he could be removed. The body was immediately conveyed to Mills' Hotel. We are informed by the police that deceased is about 5 ft 8 or 5 ft 9 in. in height; has dark brown whiskers and beard, but no moust:iche; is dressed in a grey tweed suit, with black cap having a French peak, and has on a new shepherd's plaid shirt. Deceased appears to be about fort v years of age, and a bottle of liquid, supposed to be pain-killer, was found in his pocket. Soiree.— The Lyttelton Colonists' Hall last night was crowded, and the soiree in connection with St. John's Presbyterian Church, Lyttelton, was in consequence a great success The tables wore furnished gratuitously, and presided over by Mesdames DOyly, Flitt, Watson, Godfrey, McDonald, Hunter, Munro, Griffith, Molyncaux, Bidgood, Cathrow, McLean, Boyd, Grubb, and Grange, aud Misses Fyfe, Graham, Irving, Grubb, and Stout. After tea, the meeting was addressed by the Revs. C. Fraser, J. Campbell, F. Knowles, A. Reid, and Mr D. Thomson. The Rev. J. Mcintosh presided. A very pleasant evening was spent, and the proceedings were enlivened hy the choir singing several pieces of music. Capt. McLellan proposed a vote of thanks to the ministers present ; Mr Grubb to the choir ; and Mr Wright to the ladies who had so generously provided the tea. These were carried by acclamatiou, the benediction was pronounced, and the meeting separated at 10 o'clock.