Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 168, 25 November 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

Theatre Royal. — The performances last night were for the benefit of Mr Wilson. The house was well attended, and both pieces passed off successfully. The Japanese Jugglers.— By a telegram from Dunedin, we learn that the troupe were to leave for Christchurch to-morrow in the Bob Roy. They played last night to a house crammed in every p?"t. Acknowledgement. — We have been requested, on behalf of John McDougall, of Kaiapoi, to thank those wlio so kindjy subscribed a sum towards his assistance and support after the severe accident sustained by him some two months since, which sum he has duly received from Mr William Harris, who collected it. Kaiapoi Borough Council. — This Council met last evening. Present — the Mayor, Councillors Newnham, Kerr, Dudley, and Oram. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. In consequence of the Public Works Committee failing to report on the subject of Mr J. L. Wilson's application to connect' his premises with the well in Cookson street, the application was adjourned. The Clerk reported a balance to the credit of the Council of £63 3a lOd. Councillor Kerr gave the following notice of motion for next meeting : — " That the Clerk write to the Secretary for Public Works, respecting handing over the pound to the Borough Council, under clause 62 of the Municipal Corporations Act." The Council then adjourned. Avoxside Entertainments. — The last of the series of entertainments in aid of the Aronside School Fund took place in the schoolroom last night, and was numerously attended. Mr Hennah presided, and after remarking upon the pleasure it give him to do so, briefly noticed the benefits accruing from such gatherings. The programme was opened by " The Harvest Home," which the Heathcote choir rendered in a very pleasing manner. Mr A. Lean then read "The Curate's Walk " with good taste, and in his usual excellent style. He was followed by Mr Appleby, who sang, " Thy Smile is near Me" in a very creditable manner. Mr Kennaway read some selections from the " The Lady of La Garaye" successfully; and Mr Long sang " The Arab Steed," for which he was encored. Mr F. E. Wright read a selection from " Cuthbert Bede," and Miss Ness sang " Watching for Thee," with good taste and success; the chorus being also ably rendered. The Rev. W. J. Habens followed with a reading from "The Professor of the Breakfast Table," and Mr Milner played some pretty selections from Moore's Melodies on the pianoforte. Mr Epsor then read an ' amusing sketch from ' " Valentine Vox," "and .the entertainment was brought to a successful termination by a glee, in which Miss Davis and Messrs Appleby, Davis, and Thomson took part. The Key J. C. Bugshaw, incumbent of the parish, then delivered a brief concluding address. He first remarked that the entertainment was originally intended to have been given some days previous, but was postponed in consequence of the melancholy news lately received from Poverty Bay. In that disaster some relatives of a family residing in the parish had perished, and he thought it would have been contrary to the f eelings of his parishoners to have permitted the entertainment to take place immediately after the receipt of such news. There were times when joy or hilarity was out of place, and the occasion he referred to was certainly one of such. They had all enjoyed themselves during the series of entertainments brought to a close by the gathering that evening, and as too much laughter was not good, he thought it would be better that they should cease for a time. He hoped, however, that in future the entertainments would commence earlier in the season than had been the case during the present year, and he considered they might be carried out at least once a fortnight with profit both to the fund and those who attended. Colonists especially required relaxation. In conclusion, he begged to thank those who had assisted in the entertainments, and hoped they would act in a similar manner on future occasions. The National Anthem was then sung, and the proceedings terminated; -:^'-' j*^"

Kaiapoi Improv*ments. —^-The heavy floods of February last evidenced. the necessity of storage in Kaiapoi, at a higher level than was. previously deemed necessary. The merchants, acting upon the experience gained upon that occasion, are either raising present structures, or building new ones at a height considerably above that of the level of the highest floods on record. Messrs Birch and Co. have lately shifted one of their grain and wool stores on to high piles, and now have the framework built of another of great holding capacity, erected on driven piles where the first-mentioned one formerly stood. Messrs Revel! and Co. some time since had a large store built at a level secure from innndation. Mr Joseph Beswick, of the Island, is now having the floor of his store raised to a safe height, and there is little fear in future of wool or grain suffering from a flood of even greater magnitude than that of February last. Considerable improvements have also been effected in the wharfage accommodation of ■the town. Messrs Belcher and Co. having taken another of the river reserves, have extended their wharfage nearly the whole of their frontage, and Messrs Revell and Co. have done likewise. These improvements will be a great advantage to coasting craft, and the public generally. In addition to this, we understand that Mr J. Matthews intends shortly to erect a new wharf and store on the south side, and Messrs Newnham and Co., a wharf on the north side. Volunteers for the North. — The enrolment of volunteers for service at the Front still continues, and the number of recruits given in our last notice has now been increased to thirty. These have all been sworn in at Christchurch. The report of a number having been mustered in Lyttelton proved on enquiry to be incorrect. Drill continues every day, and a tolerable degree of efficiency in the more useful branches has been attained. On looking over the list of recruits we found the whole to be young, and in every respect suitable men. Their ages range from 17 to 30, but they are principally about 23 or 24, whilst in height a very good average is shown, and their previous avocations hare with one or two exceptions been such as to make them most suitable to camp life.^Several have already seen active service, and that of no trifling character, whilst all are unmarried. Of those who have previously " stood fire," we noticed one who served with the Rifle Brigade in the Crimea and during the Indian mutiny; one who was through the American war ; ■ one who had served in ' the Royal Navy ; and several who have figured in former operations against the Maoris in the North IslaaJ/ Three, it may be remarked, are new arrivals by the Hydaspes, and all appear in the best of spirits with the prospect before them. They will be despatched from Lyttelton in the s.s. Rob Roy, on Friday next, but a still further increase in number is expected before then, several baring already applied to be enrolled. Mr Swinley, formerly Lieutenant drill-instructor in the C.V.C. goes up in command of this detachment, he having, we are informed, received a commission in the Colonial force. No. 2 Company C.R.V. — A special general meeting of members was held at the Clarendon Hotel last night, Ensign Papprill in the chair. The committee brought up their report, from which it appeared that Colonel Packe's refusal to recommend the acceptance of the resignation of the officers had originated in a misunderstanding, and that he had since expressed his willingness to do all he could to forward the interests of the company: that the company was in debt to the extent of £19 4s, but that the capitation grant, when received, would more than cover it: that there was property belonging* to the company, amounting in value to £240; that a new uniform should be adopted, to consist of scarlet Garibaldi, grey tweed trousers, with green facings and the present shako, aud that a lieutenant-ensign and colour-ser-geaut should be elected at once, but the remaining offices kept open until the most competent members could be selected. The report was received and discussed at length. A feeling was generally expressed in favour of paring off the liabilities before incurring any expenses for new uniforms, and several members offered to advance the amount necessary for doing so. After a lengthened discussion the matter was, however, left to the Committee, who were recommended to consider it in conjunction with the provision of new uniforms, the meeting recommending a concert as the best means for raising the funds. The election of officers was next proceeded with, and Ensign Papprill was unanimously appointed Lieutenant. Private Hebden was then proposed ■to fill the vacant ensigncy, but declined.' He afterwards agreed to assist the company by temporarily fulfilling the duties on condition that it should not at any time verge into a permanent appointment. Private Martin was recommended as colour-sergeant, and Wednesdiiy next being fixed for the next parade of the company, the meeting dispersed. '■■;'.:■-. High School Lectures. —Dr Haast, F.R.S., delivered last night his fourth lecture on geology to the pupils of the High School, and the members and friends of the Literary Institute: Mr Dobson in the chair. The lecturer treated of the tertiary formations, explaining the meaning of the terms eocene, jniocene, and pliocene, as the three main divisions of that period are called. He also gave an account of the animal and vegetable life, which, in those distant days, inhabited the earth, and which are either entirely extinct or have only a few representatives left, often in far distant countries. A considerable portion of the lecture was devoted to the so-called glacial period, which, in both hemispheres, and at a considerable distance from the poles, plays such an important part in the formation of the present outlines of the surface of the globe. He explained the causes by which fields of perpetual snow are accumulated, the formations of glaciers derived from them', and gave a lucid expla-

nation of the glacial phenomena, past and present of New Zealand. Dr Haast also pointed out when man firit made his appearance on the earth, 'and although only furnished with rude stone weapons slew the huge elephant and the rhinoceros, which lived then in England and on the Continent of Europe. At the termination of the lecture he remarked that the same agencies by which all the changes in the earth's crust hare been brought about are still at ■> work, although almost always imperceptible to our eyes. The lecture was both instructive and interestingj and the lecturer was listened to very attentively and frequently applauded. Canterbury Rowing Club. — A general meeting was held at White's hotel last night. Present : Messrs Herdson (captain), in the chair, Churton, A. F. N. Blakiston, Mounier, C. Grierson, Thomas Murray, and T. Grierson. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed, and Mr T. B. Acland was elected a member of the Club. The treasurer submitted his report, and the new rules were finally approved of and ordered to be printed. The Chairman reported the progress made by members in practice to be very satisfactory, and the meeting shortly after adjourned.