Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 100, 8 September 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

The Suez Mail.— This month, the mail from England, via Melbourne, will be unusually early, that is, supposing the steamer arrives up to time. The mail is due at the Bluff to-morrow, and should be delivered in Christchurch on Saturday. Presbyterian- Chckch, Kaiapoi. — It is intended to hold a bazaar in the Scotch Church, Kaiapoi, about the end of next month, for the purpose of raisiug funds towards the liquidation of the debt still remaining upon the manse. Winter Entertainments. — Mr Ollivier announces his intention of giving an entertainment to-night at the Town Hall, iv the form of a lecture, which will comprise a tour from London Bridge to Boulogne. The lecture will be illustrated by views of the principal places on the route, and enlivened by appropriate songs and glees. Riflb Competitions. — The monthly competition by members of the Cavalry corps for their silver challenge cup will take place today at Hillsborough, competitors going down by the half-past twelve train. A match will alsp be fired at 3 p.m., betw een teams of eight men each selected from the Cavalry and Engineers, both firing with the same weapon. The conditions for the cup will be the same as on previous occasions, and those for the match will be five shots each at 200, 250, and 300 yards, with Hythe scoring, position, and targets. aConvent of Our Lady of Missions. — Tiie ceremony of blessing the convent, and the private chapel attached to it, was performed this morning, at nine o'clock, by the Rev. Father Chervier. After Mass, the children were invited by the Sisters to a feast in the school-room. The Sisters also issued invitations to various members of the Catholic congregation to attend the ceremony, and they had also an opportunity afforded them of inspecting the convent, every apartment of which is most scrupulously clean and well ventilated. The Sisters have commenced imparting instruction to boarders, and there is yet accommodation for about fifteen young ladies. Child Drowned. — A child, about five years of age, was accidentally drowned whilst playing in the back yard of the Caversham Hotel. Yesterday afternoon, Mi*s Moulde, its mother, was engaged in washing for the day at the hotel, and had taken the child with her. Shortly before 2 o'clock tho child was missed, and a search being made, it was found in a water butt sunk into the ground in the back yard. Life was quite extinct, and it is supposed that the child must have accidentally fallen into the water. An inquest was held at two p.m. to-day, before J. W. S. CoM'ard, Esq., Coroner. The jury, after hearing the evidence, returnee! the verdict " Accidentally drowned." Rifle Association. — A meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Rifle Association was held at White's Hotel last evening. Capt Simmons occupied the chair ; the others present were Messrs Mundy, Barnes, H. E. Alport, and Wolfe. Some discussion took place as to the fixing of the day for firing for Mrs Welel's cup. Ultimately, Mr Mundy moved, Mr Barnes seconded,, and it was agreed to — " That the consideration of the arrangements for firing for Mrs Weld's cup be deferred until the next monthly meeting of the Council." Mr Alport, the hon. sec, on behalf of Mr Hebden, reported collections of subscriptions in hand amounting to about £10. Mr Hebden stated that he did not expect to be able to collect any more money on account of this year's subscription. Accounts to the amount of £5 lis were ordered to be paid. | Volunteer Encampment. — The encamp- ! ment question has again- been raised in volunteering circles, and energetic steps are to he taken with a view to holding a general muster of that description during the spring montlis. When previously mooted, tbe holidays available for such purpose did not occur at a proper period of the week, but the anniversary of 11.R.H. the Prince of Wales's birthday, on the 9th of November, removes this difficulty. Falling on a Monday it is proposed that the various corps should assemble on the ground fixed upon for the encampment on Saturday evening, and remain there until dusk on Monday or till Tuesday morning. A plot of ground in the vicinity of the river Styx on the north road is at present tuggested, and from the facility such a selection would afford to the Northern corps for being present, it is worthy of consideration. The general arrangements of the meeting, if decided upon, are to be made on a much less expensive scale than those held at Hillsborough, and the work of preparation is to be equally distributed amongst the several corps. The Volunteer General Committee intend taking the question into consideration at their next meeting. The " Troorai>looral " Policy. — The following is said to be the text of the resolutions which the " Trooral-loorals " intended to submit to the House of Representives : — " 1. That the expenses of gaols, police, harbours, and other establishments shall be defrayed out of the provincial moiety of the consolidated revenue ; the taxation to be reduced by an amount equal to the sum saved. 2. That the partnership between the provinces and ,th« General Government shall

Ibe absolutely terminated. 3. i hat the land revenue shall be expended in those districts in which it is raised. 4. That the present provincial liabilities shall be assumed by the colony, anel that the provinces which have not borrowed so largely shall be allowed to borrow, or shall receive an amount of elebentures so that all chall be placed on the same footing. 5. That no money shall be voted to the provinces, and that power shall be granted to them to impone taxation within their own boundaries. 6. That a bill should be passed, allowing those provinces which refuse to tax themselves, to be administered by agents appointed by the General Government, or under a county system. 7. That provincial legislation, except iv unimportant i matters, shall be put an end to. /