Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 170, 27 November 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

Japanese Troupe. — Owing to the nonsacrival of the Rob Roy, Mr Smith has postponed the first appearance of the troupe until Monday evening next. -JURitnaavay Horse. — An accident, fortu--Beaely attended -without loss of life, occurred .j- Lyttelton this morning. It appears that at man named Kelly was in Dampier's Bay !**-.__ his h6rse and- cart: selling produce, and dMing his temporary absence three children 3«_ into the cart and began screaming. The 2_oue startled the horse/who bolted. The f-Mlciren then lay down in the cart. Several jeraons tried to stop the horse, but were unable. Fortunately 'ifc> was stopped near Hargreaves' store without damage to any one. ;

Lyttelton Regatta. — A 1 meeting, to receive the'balance-sheet and make arrangements for the forthcoming Regatta, will be held in the Colonists' Hall this evening. Wilson's Stab Company. — This company gave a performance in Lyttelton last night. There was a very small audience, three parts of the Colonists' HaU being empty. The company left this afternoon for Dunedin. Concert. — A crowded house at the Town Hall last night, pleasingly demonstrated the bond of union existing amongst the volunteers, and the readiness of the general public to assist in cases where tbeir sympathies have been evoked. The accident to Gunner Hart during the recent sham fight could scarcely fail to do this, and it is with some regret we state that he is still unable to resume his business. The battery to which he belongs took the matter in hand with a ready promptitude, only equalled by the alacrity with which they were aided by their comrades of all branches of the service; and the eclat with which the whole proceedings have been carried out. The hall was very profusely decorated with flags festooned round the walls, rifles with fixed bayonets in the window recesses and on the platform, the regimental colours displayed in the centre of the gallery. These gave the room a very imposing appearance, which was further added to by the mixed nature of the audience. All the head quarter corps were represented, and the uniform of the Lyttelton Battery of Artillery also formed a prominent feature in the attendance. Altogether the result in this respect was equal to the most sanguine expectations, and the manner in which the programme was carried out met with the approval of all. The applause was loud and general after each piece, and encores were demanded to an entent bordering upon the unreasonable. A repetition was persistently demanded, in by far the greater number of items, and although the programme was a long one, most of them were good-naturedly complied with. The Yeomanry band opened the concert by the Cavatina " II Staniera," and this together with a selection from '* II Trovatore," given at a subsequent period of the evening, was played in a style showing that the members continue to progress. The Vocal Union, under the leadership of Lieut. Stansell, and numbering eighteen voices, sung the choruses " The Skylark's Song " and •' The Comrades Song of Hope" with pleasing unison and effect. Miss Lavinia Taylor played fantasias from " La Figlia del Reggimento "and" Guillaume Tell " on the English concertina, in a manner showing how complete is her musical proficiency and command over the instrument. Mr iH. Thompson's " Knowest thou the land " was given in very correct time, and he was loudly applauded. His solo of 11 Autumn Winds," the Vocal Union sustaining the chorus, was perhaps as nearly perfect as it could be, and he merited the encore which he received. Miss Ada Sinclair Taylor sang "The Forest Fairy," but her voice does not possess the compass to give it effect in a building like the Town Hall, and the beauty of the composition was to some extent lost. She was nevertheless encored, as also for '■' When we went a gleaning," in the second part. Mr Rowley, junr. sang •• King Christmas " with tolerable corre«tness. Mr Rutland sung " The Emigrant," and Capt Lean commenced a reading from " Vanity Fair;" but was compelled to desist by the repeated, interruption of an inebriate at the opposite end of the room. Lieutenant Stansell, -wno officiated as conductor during the evening, returned thanks on behalf of Mr Hart, and the concert was appropriately closed with the National Anthem.