Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 160, 16 November 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

* Wesleyan Anniversary. — The annual tea meeting announced to take place in the Durham street scholrooin .. this evening, haa been postponed until Wednesday next. Railway Rowing Club.— An ordinary monthly general meeting was to hare been held at Coker's Hotel on"Saturday night, but only about half-a-dozen members attended, and the business was accordingly deferred. • Northern Agricultural Show. — We are informed that the Judges hare, in concert with the Committee of the Association, awarded special first prizes to Messrs Petersen and Co. for silver manufactures, andto Mr W. Zeesler, for the manufacture of hats and caps. 1 The Southern Provinces Almanac. — We have. to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of this annual publication. Besides the matter usually found in almanacs, it contains a large amount of information which can hardly fail to be useful. The arrangement, printing, and general appearance of the almanac xre creditable to the publishers. Thb Cost Bkidgi. — Steps are being taken for the erection of a cart bridge over the river Cust, where the old foot bridge, which was washed away in February last, used to stand. Several loads of timber are already on th« ground, and we hear that the contractor, Mr Bowmaker, will proceed with the work as soon as he has finished driving the piles at the Ashley bridge, now in course of erection. The bridge, which is rendered very necessary from the dangerous state of the present ford, is expected to be open for traffic about the commencement of the new year. Presbyterian Church, Prebbleton. — The members and friends of the Presbyterian Church at Lincoln and Prebbleton, having recently built a neat and commodious manse for their respected pastor, -the- Rev. J. Campbell, at the latter place, inaugurated its completion by a tea and evening entertainment, on Friday last. Trays were provided by liesdames Campbell, Todd, Prebble, Slythe, and Glyde, in a manner highly creditable to the ladies, and agreeable to the visitors. After tea a public meeting was held. The church was crowded, whea speeches were delivered by the Revds. C. Fraser, G. Grant, R. S. Jackson, and J. Macintosh ; Messrs Pannett, Whitelaw, and others. The financial report was read by Mr Macpherson, from which it appeared that including the amount (upwards of £16) realised by the tea, there remained only a balance of £13 debt on the manse. The speeches were interspersed by pieces of sacred music of a high class, very fairly rendered by the i Lincoln choir, which' wore highly appreciated. y^TjiEATRE Rotal. — We are sorry to learn that the management have decided on bringing the season to a speedier termination than was their intention at the period of their arrival here, but nothing else could be expected, considering the inadequate Bupport which has been accorded them. In quitting Christchurch, Mr Wilson can rest satisfied that his ill-luck is solely due to causes over which he coiild have no control. There is no use disguising the fact that no efforts will ever succeed in restoring the theatre to the position wliicli it once held. Indifferent companies and indifferent management have gone a long way towards depriving it of the good reputation, which it formerly enjoyed, and the very locale of the house, to use a rather course but expressive phrase, stinks in the nostrils of who were once the mainstay of the theatre. It is now so thoroughly unpopular, that we don't believe even the appearance of the greatest " stars " would attract remunerative attendancesTMr Wilson has tried the experiment, tTQT^his endeavours have been attended with a degree of ill-success that could scarcely have been anticipated, even by those who were conversant with the feeling which existed out of doors against the Theatre Royal. A; really meritorious company has been' playing for the past fortnight, one! or two evenings exccpted, to almost empty benches ; and when efforts such' as those put forth by Mr Wilson have proved 1 unavailing, we cannot but conclude that the 1 house is irretrievably lost, bo far as dramatic representation is concerned. We believe that those who can spare the money are just as much inclined to go to the Theatre • (we do not mean the present building) as they ever were, but another site must be sought after, and such a structure placed upon it as will do credit to a city like Christchurch. We do not know that anyone is speculative enough to enter upon the undertaking, but until another house is erected, theatrical man? agers, will find it to their disadvantge to pay us a visit. When we say that " Our Amercan Cousin " was played before half-a--dbzen people in the dress circle, and about double the number in the pit and stalls, the truth of our remark, that the Theatre Royal has gained an ill-repute which no exertions can obliterate, will be adnitted. It must have been mortifying to the company to perform on Saturday night, and more especially to Mr Roberts and Mr Wilmot, who acted well in their respective parts — the former as Asa Trenchard, the latter as Binnie, which no one has ever played nearly bo well in Christr church as Mr Wilmot. Mr Bartlett terminates his engagement by a benefit to-morrow evening, and as he is a most deserving actor, we cordially wish him a house in keeping with bis deserts. Bulwer Lytton's play of "Money," a representation of Sergeant Bu^ fuz by the benejreiaire, and the farce, " Cool as a Cucumber," will constitute the programme. The pieces, " Not a Bad Judge,'!" and the "Chimney Corner," are on to-night's bills. .., ■ • .- ,

tocAL MANUFACTJO^ES k -~Wr'/'^e sorry to n that Mr Early^ofv V \t|Hs 'Mojw^d.-'Sjpwns, has lately experieniifed^-^OTS will for some time retard-Ms •progress in' the'-manu-facture of rope, Baiters/&"a, from thelinaeed flax. It appearsthst a darge i quantityr of :■" the flax which was out -bie^l^ghas been entirely blown away. by'a.i|ry ; higli wind.. Cricket. — A general meeting, of the various cricket clubs -iras/lielcD at the Clarendon Hotel on Saturday 'night/,ip)r' the purpose of arranging prelimina£rieß;fQr conducting interprovincial matches' during ttie : present season. Mr E.CJ. -Stevens occupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance of club representatives. A financial « statement was produced, showing a credit balance of £3 'Bs 4d to the general fund, and it was decided to appoint Messrt Lovell, Cotterill, Stevens, Allenton, Moxrah, Harley, and Odell, as a committee to conduct all the details in connection with matches. It was decided to play the match against Otago about the middle of January. ■ ■ - ■ . Times Minstrels — These amateurs gave their entertainment in the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton, on Saturday night, for the benefit of the Lyttelton Benevolent Aid Fund. The hall was well filled, and, no doubt there will be a good sum realised for the fund. We should be glad to see some alteration in the lighting of the hall ; the footlights, and nearly half the lamps were out, and the stage was enveloped in gloom. The programme was very nearly the same as that given at Christchurch. Mr Carder's song— " Weeping Sad and Lonely "—was encored, as also was Mr Poore'B solo on the Tin Whistle. " The Band of Brothers " caused roars of laughter, and was encored, together with the catch "A Little Farm," which was excellently sung. The entertainment proper concluded with the solo and chorus •Tramp, the boys are marching," the solo being sung by Mr Carder. This chorus was excellently rendered, and was rs-demanded. The National Anthem brought the entertainment to' a close. Dr Donald came forward, and addressing Mr D. Dunlop (Johnson), begged,,on behalf of the Committee of the Benevolent Aid Society, to tender to the Minstrels their hearty thanks' for the excellent entertainment they had given for the .benefit of their funds. . In response, Mr Dunlop said he craved the indulgence of those present if there had been any shortcomings on their part, as they were only young . beginners, .and laboured under great disadvantages in not being able to practise as often as they would like ; he was certain the Minstrels felt highly flattered at ihe kind and. warm reception they had received, arid also for the hearty vote of thankß which had been parsed to them. • Dr Donald called for three 'cheers „ £p the "Times " Minstrels which wej^moafc-'^e^rtily given.