Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 167, 24 November 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

*<^7 . % V Presentation. — The members of Tatter/sall's. and a large number of fripnds, / amongst whom we noticed Captain Jjwnes ' - White of the Blue Jacket ; the surgeon of that vessel, Mr McDonald; Captain Baljot of the Hydaspes, and Mr Robb, assembled yesterday afternoon at the Jockey iClub room for the purpose of presenting Mr W. D. Barnard with a handsome testimonial^ con- 1 sisting of an emu egg, beautifully mounted in silver, with a suitable inscription^ j The gift was manufactured by Mr Peterseu,jHigh atreet. After drinking the usual toasts, and after several highly complimentary speeches, the company 1 adjourned to dinner. A.O.F. — The members of the Widow and Orphans' fund of the above order met at their hall last night, P.C.R. Brother! Pine president, in the chair. A corrected balance, sheet of the last entertainment in aid pf the fund was received; and it was resolved that Brother W. B. Hobb's be exonerated from all blame in connection therewith, itt being an error of the auditors. The officers of the fund were appointed to wait upoii the officers of tlio Odd Fellows, on Thursday evening next,: at the Odd Fellows' Hall, to take into consideration the best means of promoting an entertainment for the benefit of the Widow and Orphans' fund of the two orders, the meeting -to take place at seven o'clock. ; Cricket. — A match between the Oxford and Kaiapoi Cricket Clubs took place on Saturday last, at Messent's Half-way tHouse, Moeraki Downs. The site selected for the J match was a paddock belonging to Mr Messeut, in the swamp fronting the terrace on which his house stands. The ground! was in very bad order, both 'for batting and fielding, nevertheless all the blame cannot be; laid to this cause, both clubs being evidently much ' in want of practice, neither of them -having made a creditable score. Of the two, Oxford's fielding was the best, the men backing up better, and "being also more judiciously placed. At eleven d'clpckj.the Kaiapoi Club, having won the toss, sent their opponents to the wickets, the game terminating about halfpast five in favour of Oxford. Mr Porter acted as umpire for Kaiapoi, and Mr Sale for Oxford. The scores were : — Oxford, first innings, 42; second, do, 47 — 89. Kaiapoi, first innings, 37; second do, 36 — 73.

Armstrong Guns. — Orders hare been received to send one of the Armstrong guns by the- next steamer to Wellington. Theatre Royal. — The management repeated " Flying Jib " last night, and the acting was geneerally very much improved. Japanese Troupe. — The farewell performance of this troupe at Dunedin will take place to-night. They are expected to arrive :in Christchurch on Thursday, and will most [ likely make their first appearance at the Town Hall on Friday evening. Ltttelton Horticultural Show. — On Wednesday next the first show of the season will be held in the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton. ! There will, no doubt, be a fine display of flowers, of roses especially, for which the bays are famous. Fruit and vegetables also will be well represented,as, from the sheltered position of the gardens of port, the season there is considerably in advance of that of the plains. Two large Nikau palms are to be shown, which will be interesting objects to many of the visitors. In the evening the show is to be illuminated by the lime light. A novel feature will be the department for New Zealand products, and judging from the applications for space it will be not the least attractive part of the exhibition. The Government have complied with the request of the Committee to run trains at half fares, and an additional train will leave Lyttelton in the evening at ten o'clock. Arrangements have also been made for facilitating the transmission of exhibits from Christchurch and its vicinity, by allotting special carriages for the purpose. Literary Institute. — The second entertainment in aid of the funds of the above Institute took place at the Town Hall last evening, and we are glad to say that the attendance was almost doubly as numerous as it was on the first occasion. The Rev Charles Fraser delivered the opening address, in the shape of a short reading on self-educa-tion, with regard to which he desired to give a few hints. The first question in connection with self-culture was, what was the great business of life ? In Ms opinion, it consisted mainly of two parts — what they were to make of themselves, and what they should do in the worid. Culture meant to make the best use of themselves, that was, to do all the good they could. The first hint that might be suggested, to those who desired to improve themselves, was to make themselves as thoroughly acquainted as they could with any science or scraps of knowledge connected with their professions and callings ; secondly, they should seize upon all the incidents and circumstances of life, so as to increase their interest in any kind or branch of knowledge; thirdly, they should take advantage of all special opportunities within their reach, such as lectures, museums, &c; fourthly, they should base all their knowledge and acquaintance on things, and not on words ; fifthly, young men should make notes of everything they learnt and everything that might be of importance to them; sixthly, they should select some special branch to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with. At the same time, let them not be afraid of faking up all sorts of knowledge that a good man could, but let them make some special subject their favourite study. It was intended that these meetings should assist in this way, they were meant to effect two results— to encourage men to read and practise music, and to take share in the entertainments. The committee invited those who desired to do so to send in their names, together with the pieces which they wished to sing or read, and he trusted that many would respond to the invitation. The opening address was followed by " Alas those Chimes," by the Cavalry Band, which was applauded. Mr Ollivier gave a reading, entitled "I told you so," which was read in that gentleman's customary pleasing style. Dr Haast sang " Adelaide," and was encored; Mr McCardell read "The Bottle Hill Legend," with considerable sprightliness. Mr Birdread a chapter from " Nicholas Niekleby," which received a fair share of applause. The only fault of the readings was, that they were each a little too long for such an occasion. Major Wilson played a flute solo and was encored; and Mr Zeesler had a similar compliment paid him. This gentleman sang at the stage appointed for an operatic selection by the Cavalry Band, a prior engagement having prevented it from attending until the end of the entertainment. Before the National Anthem was sung, the chairman announced . that the next entertainment would take place on Tuesday, Dee. Ist, if nothing intervened to prevent the use of the hall. Heathcote Road Board. — An ordinary meeting was held at the Board office, Ferry road, yesterday. Present : Messrs Kennaway (chairman), .Ensor, Garland, and Kerr. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. A petition was read from persons residing on the south side of' Colombo street, who desire the Board to fix a culvert over the side channel leading to an accommodation road. The locality being out of the district, and the road a private one, the request was refused. A list of subscribers, together with the respective amounts they had promised towards the repairing of the sluice gate in the Heathcote "Valley, was handed in and read, and the surveyor was instructed to apply to the Government for assistance towards the same object. /^. memorial from residents at Sumner and the Heathcote Valley, respecting the abolition of tolls so far as they were concerned, on the Heathcote bridge, was laid on the table, and Mr Sandford had an interview relative to the Bame matter. He urgently pointed out the unfairness to residents of the existing regulations insomuch as they, were not only called upon to pay a district road rate, but could not get to market without paying heavy tolls. Several members of the Board expressed their opinion "that it would .-always be necessary to keep some one to open and close the swing bridge for river traffic, and that it could not in justice, therefore, be made free to afi} Those who used it should pay for this, •and not the whole district, as would be the

case if it was chargeable upon the rates. They pointed out several instances where residents would be only too glad to pay tolls if they could get a bridge in continuation of some of the metalled roads on the river, and considered that the traffic facilities afforded to residents at Suraner and Heathcote Valley were good remuneration for the expense they were put to in crossing the bridge. Mr Sandford was ultimately informed that the Board would give the matter their earnest consideration, and, after he had left the room, it was discussed at some length, but eventually postponed until next meeting. The surveyor's report was read. Particulars of the condition of the road referred to by Capt Charlesworth and Mr Powell at the last meeting were given, together with an estimate for the works required to complete it. The first named gentleman had already formed half of it at his sole cost, and the work was very satisfactorily done. There was no unoccupied land in the district fit to be reserved for the purpose of gravel pits, and having been directed to report fully upon the matter, it was pointed out that Opawa, the only available site for such, caused a great expense in carting, and it was suggested that the Government should be applied to for assistance in the matter. The report closed with the information that the deepening of the Ferry road drain, and other works in hand, were progressing very satisfactorily. The Surveyor, in replying to the circular from the Secretary for Public Works respecting gravel reserves, was instructed to give the information contained in his report, and request that a sum of money should be placed on the estimates for assisting the Board to procure gravel. The formation of the road commenced by Capt Charlesworth was ordered to be completed at the expense of the Board, and as early as practicable. The surveyor, in reply to the letter from the Acclimatization Society, requesting a donation towards the importation, was directed to state that the Board had no funds to devote to such purposes. The list of ratepayers, prepared by the surveyor in accordance with clause 31 of the Roads Ordinance, 1864, was approved, and the chairman was requested to sign it in the prescribed manner. Sundry accounts were passed and ordered to be paid, after which the Board adjourned until the 7th of next month.