Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 162, 18 November 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

Alarm op Fire. — Shortly after eight J o'clock last night the fire bell sounded an' alarm, and the distinguishing peals denoting St Luke's Church as the locality in danger, a large crowd was speedily running in that direction. After many enquiries— for no reflection of fire was visible— it was found that the chimney in the house of Mr Coxhead, near the Oxford Hotel, had been on fire, but was extinguished shortly after the bell sounded the first peal. The Fire Brigade had in the. meantime mustered in strong force. Theatre Rotal. — Mr James J. Bartlett took his farewell benefit last night before a capital house ; and the performances, viewed altogether, were the most successful of the season. Lytton's "Money" was played in the most creditable manner. From the principal down to the subsidiary parts, the ladies and gentlemen in the cast performed with a will towards the accomplishment of one object, and their united efforts stamped the piece with unqualified success. Mr Bartlett, Miss Green, Mr Wilmot, and Miss Matthews were vociferously applauded, and had the honour of being called from the wings while the play proceeded. Mr Joyce was also lu'ghly successful, as he always is in characters similar to that undertaken by him last evening. Mr Bartlett appeared between the pieces as Sergeant Buzfuz, and his address to the jury created roars of laughter. The farce, "Cool as a cucumber," terminated what. we can truly designate as the most attracti ve programme that the management have yet submitted. At the end of the play, Mr Bartlett was called before the curtain, and loudly applauded. He thanked the audience for the flattering reception, which they have accorded to him, and stated that it was his intention to leave for Hokitika on Friday's coach, to make arrangements in connection with his Theatre in that town. To-night's programme consists of the drama " The Peep-Sliow Man," the " Regular Fix," and the " Limerick Boy." Mr Bartlett has consented to sustain the part of Hugh de Brass, and to recite Tennyson's '•' Charge of the Light Brigade '.' between the pieces. On to-morrow evening the drama entitled " The Flying Jib," by Mr R. P. Whitworth, will be produced. Some months ago this drama was played at Hokitika before crowded houses for a considerable number of nights, and again at Auckland, where its success was unbounded, to judge from the accounts published in the columns of our contemporaries in these places. The piece is full of excitement, and the plot has reference in a great measure to the Derby Day. New scenery will be painted for the occasion by Mr Wilson, who has not yet had an opportunity of displaying those qualifications which have earned for him so many enconiums elsewhere.

Wesleyan Home Missions. — The tea and public meeting in connection withthe above, which were postponed owing to the inclemency of the weather, will take place this evening in the schoolroom, Durham street. Complimentary Suppbr.—A complimentary supper was given last night by Mr Oram, of the Criterion Hotel, Gloucester street, to Mr Wilson's company, in anticipation of Mr Bartlett's departure from Christchurch. All the ladies and gentlemen forming the corps-dramaiiquc were present, besides a few invited friends. The supper was, to say the least of it, a highly creditable one, and while it displayed the liberality and kindness of the host, it conferred a compliment on the company of the most flattering kind. The good things were both choice and abundant, and the manner in which they were laid out was most creditable to those who had the matter in their hands. Amongst the toasts proposed were those of the Company, Mr Wilson, Mr Bartlett, the Press, the Host, and the Ladies, all of which were most enthusiastically drank. Some good songs were sung, and altogether the company spent a most agreeable evening, and their indebtedness to the host was given expression to by all in the most hearty, demonstrative terms. Lyttelton and Port Victoria Horticultural Society. — We are very glad to hear that this show promises to lie a great success, several applications have already been made for space for the exhibition of New Zealand products. The Government have acceded to the request of the committee, and will run cheap trains during the day, and a late night train. It is intended to light up the ball at night Avith the lime light. The committee are indefatigable in their work, and we feel sure will carry out the Jindertaking successfully. ,VnLECTUitE. — Last night Dr Haast delivered his third lecture on Geology at the Literary Institute, hut had scarcely so large an audience as on the previous evenings. The pupils of the High School were strongly represented, hut there were few members of ths Institute in attendance, and some astonishment was expressed thereaEJ A varied collection of diagrams'' and maps was again suspended above the platform, and mineral specimens were displayed on the table. The lecturer commenced his remarks hy referring to the formation of the Canterbury Plains. In this he said that Banks Peninsula had acted a very important part, by enabling the debris brought down from the mountains to more easily accumulate. The eastern chain of the latter form a segment of a circle, and were originally the boundaries of a large bay since converted hy the constant deposits from the mountain streams into dry land. He assumed the plains to be of recent formation, and then reverted^ at length to the physical features and internal construction of the mountains and volcanic rocks in the province, concluding hy stating that he should devote his next lecture to a short review of the tertiary strata. on Board the Ship Htdaspes. — The first voyage of this fine vessel to Canterbury was celebrated, yesterday, by a dejeuner. Invitations were issued by Captain. Babot to the merchants and shippers of the province, and although the weather was very unpropitious — a sou- west gale blowing, accompanied with heavy squalls of rain — nearly forty gentlemen responded to the invitation. The p.s. Novelty was chartered and soon after 1 o'clock the party embarked, and on arriving at the ship they were most warmly welcomed on hoard by the Captain and the Purser, David Robb. At 2 p.m., the party sat down to a sumptuous repast in jthe saloon. which was most tastefully decoratejp After the toasts " The Queen,'^ " The Governor," " The Superintendent and the Executive," and the "Provincial Council" had heen duly honoured, Mr Ilennah proposed the health of the enterprising owners of the ship Hydaspes, which was drunk with honours. Mr Hassal returned thanks on behalf of Messrs Shaw, Savill and Co. ; he was certain that this, mark of approval would be highly appreciated by them. The Hydaspes was one of a class of vessels it was intended to send to this colony. Previous to her amval it had been stated that she was an old tub, but it must be acknowledged by all that she was one of the finest vessels that had ever entered the harbour. (Cheers.) Mr 11. P. M. Aynsley proposed the health of ( 'aptain Babot ; he trusted he would become a permanent trader to Canterbury, and always have a load home. The toast was drunk with musical honours. Capt Babot in responding, said he felt proud of the way in which his health had been drunk, and also the flattering way in which his ship had been spoken of ; he hoped that the vessel would trade between England and the Port of Lyttelton for many years. After some local toasts 'had been proposed and responded to, Mr E. Richardson proposed " the oflicers of the ship Hydaspes," which was acknowledged by Mr Robb in suitable terms, ; The party returned from the vessel ahout 5 p.m. The Latest Improvement in TtpoGRAPur. — In an American paper we find the following : — " Among the many wonderful evidences of the ingenuity of mankind is the machine for setting and distributing type. Thin is now a. perfected that I have before I mc a book containing 21,093 ems of solid matter — or 34,225 ems of leaded mutter — the whole of which was both 'Ket' and ' distributed ' in six hours and thirty-nine minutes by this machine. This is .truly wonderful ; but I want to suy that the wonder need not stop here. By means of one of these machine- located in the large newspaper olKlvs in the principal cities, and connected hy telegraph with the Capital, the reporter or operator can set the type himself, the machine standing in New York or New Orleans and he being in the Capital ! Or, instead of setting the type, he may produce a matrix— by operating a series of arms or levers having type attached, aud made to strike upon a suitably prepared and moveable plastic surface — from which a stereotype plate may be cast ready for the press, in a few minutes

from the time the speech is delivered, or the action had, whatever it maybe. Speeches would still liave to be reported by shorthand, simply because no one could either write them out or set them up as fast as delivered. The composer, having the shorthand notes before him, could then set the type from them upon the machine at a distance, or, if required, the shorthand notes could be translated, as is now done tor the telegraph operator, aud then set up by telegraph. In the latter case the same labour of the operator that now sends the message would put it into type ready for the press, thus dispensing with the time and labour now required to write out the message and set up the type. This seems to be the next great step in the electrical progress of the ae;e; and there is nothing to prevent its being done at once. It is simply a question of time and money — that's all."