Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 155, 10 November 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

Kaiapoi Borough Council. — The usual fortnightly meeting of this Council is postponed until to morrow, at the usual hour. \Addixc;ton t . — A tea meeting was held in the Addington Methodist Free Church last evening, on the occasion of the anniversary of the foundation of the Church in thia suburb. The building was very tastefully decorated, and nearly a hundred persons sat down to a capital tea supplied by lady friends. After tea a public meeting was held under the presidency of the Rev. T. R. Fisher. The other gentlemen on the platform were the Rev. Matthew Baxter, the Rev. W. J. Habens, 8.A., and Messrs GvJSooth, Ledley, J. Anuitage, and W. Flesherj The chairman, in oponing the proceedings, dwelt on the gratification he felt at seeing so large a number of people attend the meeting, as he looked upon their presence as an evidence that the progress of the Church in this district had been most satisfactory. He rejoiced greatly at the good beginning that had been made. The increase in the number of scholars attending the Sabbath School was a most gratifying fact, but the friends must continue to exert themselves, for they had yet a great work to do, and must recollect that the time for doing it was short. The chairman concluded by calling on Mr George Booth, the honorary treasurer, to read the balance-sheet. Sir Booth informed the meeting that a great many improvements had been made to the church during the past twelve mouths ; as they would perceive, it had been painted, varnished, and partially lined. The ground belonging to the church had been fenced, several of the members contributing posts and rails, labour, and money. There existed a sniall deficit against the building ; but by the liberality of some friends, the floating debt had been paid off, and the current expenditure was only now to be met. It was intended to pay off the deficit by the collections on the previous pay, and the pro-

ceeds of the tea meeting. Mr Ledley next addressed the meeting. He was always glad to have the privilege afforded him of attending similar meetings. He considered that it was the duty of everyone to promote the j extension of Christ's Kingdom on earth by every means in their power. Mr Flesher expressed the gratification wliich the financial statement had afforded him. He was extremely glad to find that the church stood in so good a. position, financially. It was an evidence that the congregation were earnest in their work. The Rev W. J. Habons made allusion to the recent cry that had been raised in the London newspapers with reference to long sermons. This cry appeared to him to be epidemic, for it had been started here. For his own part, he did not believe in lons sermons; he thought it quite .possible for a preacher to express all he had to say in half-an-hour. To him the cry against preaching appeared to -have no foundation, and those who made an outcry against it would be found to be the very persons who most needed instruction. Mr J. Armitage stated that he had preached in the Addington Church before, and he was very glad at being able to attend on the present occasion. He rejoiced at the feeling of kindliness which prevailed amongst the members of the congregation. The Rev M. Baxter, speaking on the subject alluded to by Mr Habens, said that the question of preaching might be very briefly disposed of. If a preacher had a head well supplied with knowledge, and if he joined to this qualification a heart impressed with the importance of his message, no one would have any ground for complaint. Ho looked upon Methodism as the sheet anchor of Protestantism. Here there was no ritualism to lead men towards Rome; no Deism to lead men towards the world ; no Swedenborgianism aud no Unitarianism. God's holy word contained the basis of the belief of those who were Methodists. The meeting was closed with prayer about ten o'clock. Several hymns were sung by the choir at intervals during the proceedings. Theatre Roy.il. — A much better house than usual greeted the appearance of the company last evening, and we were glad to notice in the dress circle many of those who were the best patrons of the drama in the early clays of the Theatre Royal, and whose support, we are convinced, was only withdrawn on account of the unenviable reputation which the house gradually acquired, and which Mr Wilson is striving all in his power to remove. Last night's attendance was a sufficient testimony tliat Christchurch playgoers will not allow the season to advance without giving practical demonstration of how they can appreciate a truly deserving company when it favours us with a visit. Mr Wilson, since liis arrival here, has endeavoured, as much as possible, to conform to what he believed to be the prevailing taste. Instead of tragedy, he has determined on representing some of the newest and best comedies, and he has gone to the additional expense of withdrawing them after a single representation, with the. exception of the piece which opened the season, wliich should have justified a much more extended run than it had. If patronage does not come all at once, the management must exercise a little patience, in the hope that as the merits of he company gradually become known, the proceeds will so increaseas to induce them to extend the season beyond the limited number of nights at present announcedXA city like Christchurch should certainly oe able to maintain a theatre, and the more especially so when the abilities of the corps dramatique arc such as to entitle them to the fullest measure of support that the place can affonpf Last night's programme was opeued by a comedy, written by Mr Tom Taylor, and entitled " The Babes in the Wood," for what reason we are at a loss to understand. The story can be told in a very few words. Lady Blanche becomes the wife of Frank Rushton, who has followed the course adopted through life by many others, of living beyond his means. It happens, as might be expected, that Lady Blanche's conduct in uniting herself to such a spendthrift as Rushton (who is always under the fingers of extortionate moneylenders) displeases her family, and more particularly a step-mother, who manages to induce the Earl of Lazonley to forbid the embarrassed couple entree to Ms house. The Earl's fondness for his daughter becomes subservieut to his pride, aud he devises many methods of assisting his son and daughter without their knowing who their benefactor is. At last he succeeds in getting the consent of his countess to admit Mr and Mra Rushton into her society, and to revoke all her past vows of hatred against her stepdaughter and Rushton. Therefore everything ends most happily. The couple are restored to independence, after having passed through a period which has taught to them many useful lessons. Frank P.ushton was played by r Roberts, and very creditably too, while Lady Blanche had an excellent representative in the person of Miss Dolly Green. Beetles was taken by Mr Wil mot, who, to judge from his performance last evening, irrespective of the praise which he has received in the newspapers elsewhere, appears to be a comedian of no mean ability. The scene in the " Queen's Bench," between Beetles and his better half, a genuine type of west-end boarding-house keepers, was irrestible, and earned for Mr Wilmot and Miss Matthews thunders of applause. The former was twice called before the curtain. The other characters are so unimportant as not to call for any special remark, beyond saying that they were all pretty creditably sustained. In the afterpiece Mr Bartlett appeared as Plumper in " Cool as a Cucumber," and his capital impersonation kept the audience in roars of laughter. The song " God Bless the Prince of Wales," was followed by an allegorical tableau apropos of the occasion. To-night's programme is the most attractive that has yet been submitted, and it is expected that there will be a crowded house.

Gas. — A correspondent of the Argus relates the following interesting little story about the Melbourne Gas Company: — "Can you or any of your readers explain to me the mode in which the Melbourne Gas Company reguates its charges ? To me it is a puzzle. As the days grow longer their charges grow higher. In June they charged me 6Jd per night, and in August 7jd; the number of jets used being the same in both cases, and mine is a small family where we never see company, and are of very regular habits. Again, one of my neighbours— a medical mau— uses seven jets, and is charged 22s 6d for the month. I only burn three jets, and for the -ame month have to pay 20s lid. When I apply to the office for an explanation, lam referred to the meter, which I am informed is infallible. Not being able to reconcile this statement with such facts as I have mentioned, I lately made the following experiment: I waited until the man came round to register the gas. As soon as he had gone I sealed up the meter, and did not open it again till he returned a month afterwards. During the interval the gas was never once turned on — we burned nothing but candles — and yet, would you believe it? I had a bill sent in for tbe month's consumption just as usual." The Cattle Restriction. — From our West Coast contemporary of Nov. 5, we learn that a deputation waited upon the Chairman of the County Council, the Hon J. A. Bonar, respecting the proclamation prohibiting the driving of cat-le to Westland over the Iluruuui Saddle. Mr Browne after alluding to the present high price of beef, and to the probability of a further increase in the price, said that the deputation had "een informed that certain mobs of cattle were detained on the other side of the Hurunui Saddle, ou account of a proclamation ihat had been issued prohibiting the driving of catile into Westland, in consequence of pltruro-pneumonia, having broken out amongst (he cattle in a portion of the Province of Canterbury. The deputation would be glad to know whether there was any likelihood of the prohibition being removed. Mr Bonar said that he had entered into a communication with the Canterbury Government, and he was happy to state that he had, succeeded in obtaining a reply from that Government, to the effect that the proclamation would be rescinded, so far as limiting the infected districts to that part where the infected cattle were located. As soon as that proclamation was issued by the Canterbury Government, he would take the necessary steps to communicate -With the General Government, to have the proclamation prohibiting the introduction of cattle into Weatland from Canterbury rescinded; or, if he possessed the power, as he believed he did, of doing so by virtue of his delegated powers, he would Issue the • necessary proclamation himself. He would state tha% so far from having any wish to continue the restriction that at present existed, he had been most anxious to have it removed as soon as it could be done with safety, and he was only too glad when he received the assurance that the restriction minht be removed. Re would state that^ th« portion of Canterbury which had heenfl closed to Westland was not the eourceH from which Westland drew her pvinoipalH supplies of cattle. Other portions of CanJH terbury were still opeu to her as welfl as other provinces. In reply t<fl questions from other members onH the deputation, Mr Bonar said thatjH he expected to receive the proclamatiorfl from Christohurch, rescinding the projH clamation so far as the Hurunui Di«iricS was concerned, and upon its receipt, if huH possessed the power, be would at once re-w yoke the proclamation prohibhing the im-fl portation of cattle from Canterbury ; orß if he had not the power, he would com-H municate with the General Government on ■ the subject. He believed that the prohibition! would be removed within a week. fi