Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 184, 14 December 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

Lyttelton Regatta. — A meeting of the committee will be held in the Colonists' Hall, this evening, at 8 o'clock. Confirmation. — The Lord Bishop of the Diocese intends . holding a confirmation at Kaiapoi in the early part of the ensuing year. K.-iAroi Annual Sports.-— A meeting of the committee .will -be held this evening at the Pier Hotel, to make the necessary arrangements. Legal. — It is not unlikely that a new trial will be moved for in the case of: Bell v. White, on the ground of the erroneous rejection of evidence. Supreme Court.— Wednesday next, the 1 6th instant, being the Anniversary of tnis settlement, and a public holiday, the offices of the Supreme Court will be closed after 12 o'clock. •: <y Magisterial. — At the Christchurch Magistrate's Court, this morning, Enoch Smart, alias John Clark, was brought up on remand Charged with having stolen a saddle belonging to Mr Blythe, Prebbleton. Conclusive evidence was given, and prisoner 'was committed to six weeks' imprisonment at hard labour. Railway Rowing Club. — An ordinary monthly meeting of members was held at the boat-shed, on Saturday afternoon, but the only business transacted, was the election of some new members, and the appointment of Mr J. F. McCardell, as custodian of the boats and other property of the club. We understand that the new racing boat will probably arrive hy the Omeo. Cricket — Albion v. United Canterbury. — A match between these clubs will be played on Wednesday next, the 16th instant, on the Hagley Park ground, play to commence at half-past ten. The following players are selected to represent the Albion — Messrs Alington, Calvert, Dawe, Hobbs, Maples, Murray, Odell, Souter, Taylor, Turner, and Wood. The Japanese. — Day and evening performances were given on Saturday, and both were largely attended. At the former, juveniles very considerably predominated, but there were also many countiy visitors present. The programme was slightly altered from that of the previous evening, but without the introduction of any new tricks. The usual applause Ifras freely bestowed, and there could be no do^bas to the full appreciation of the skill and Vukepidity of the performers j by the audience. iWJPhis evening, the troupe will appear in a special entertanment for the beijtefit of the Lunatic Asylum, and we may faiS^elaira the support of all in so good a VThe Town Hall.— The new room about being added to the Tovrn Hall is progressing very rapidly towards completion, and from its appearance will undoubtedly prove a valuable acquisition to the present pile of build- 1 ings. It is forty-seven feet in length by^ eighteen in width, and has a 13 feet stud. The north end is conjoined to the new hall^ with doora leading to the stage and gallery and the east side runs parallel with the old | hall, to which access is gained by three separate doors. The foundation is composed of stone piles, and the floor is of great strength, the boards being one inch and a quarter in thickness. The whole of the interior is to be match-lined, and a moveable partition will so divide it as to afford not only accommodation for pprsons using the stage, but also an excellent room suitable to committee or other small meetings. Two of the doors communicating with the old hall will respectively afford communication with what Ls known as the judge's withdrawing room and the body of the hall, whilst the third being on the folding principle, will enable the two buildings to be thrown into one. Altogether the plan of arrangement appears to provide for every necessity, and Mr St ' Quentin, has certainly made the beßt use of the space at his disposal. The exterior of the structure is composed of corrugated iron, and the cost of the whole will be some few pounds under the estimate of £200. Messrs Rankin and Greig are the contractors, and give every promise of carrying out the work in a most satisfactory manner. Oxford. — About four or five miles of the main road, between Oxford and Rangiora, in the Oxford district, were formed last year by the Road Board; this has now been metalled and culverted, leaving the Board only about two miles more to make to carry this important work to the boundary of their district. Several other improvements effected by the Board are also apparent in the township. A Mechanics' Institute is in course of erection, the contract having been commenced on Monday, • the 7th, by Mr Petrie, the contractor. Subscriptions , in cash, land, and timber to the amount of £60 are already raised, the land valued at £5 haying been given by, Mr Thomas Broom and Mr J. C. Boys. The erection of this institution is a decided step in the right direction. A subscription list has been opened for building a Baptist chapel, and a tea meeting, in furtherance of this object will take place this day. A Congregational chapel is also to be erected shortly. On Wednesday last, the 9th inst., the Inspector of Schools visited Oxford, the attendance at both schools was good, and the examination' we understand satisfactory. For Oxford races a subscription list has been opened and liberally responded to — they are fixed for New Year's Day. A meeting to make arrangements for the Oxford annual sports waS held lately at the Harewood Arms. It was decided to hold them as usual on New Year's Day. A con-; siderable sum is 'already subscribed, and the following committee was appointed : — Messrs. R. Johnson, J. Pegg, Hathaway, Cummin, i Bluett, A. Smith, C. J. Sale, F. Luersj (Treasurer) R. Aherne (Hon. Sec.)

Early Harvest. — Mr John,, Macfarlane, of Coldstream farm, Rangiora, is cutting a fair crop of about 100 acres of barley, situate iv the Sefton district. ££he Weather.— A succession of cold winds has lately prevailed with occasional heavy showers of \*riain; much damage has been done to the crops of early fruit, and horticulturists complain of the ininrmxlone by the winds in -the flower garde_j&l~ At Lyttelton the heavy N W weather experafenced last week was succeeded on Friday evening by a S W gale. During the whole of that night it blew heavily, and snow fell heavily, so that the ranges on the Peninsula were thickly . covered. , .On the back ranges the snow is lyiiig to a considerable de^hi and it is to be hoped that its disappearance will be gradual or heavy freshes in the river must be looked for. Meetings of Creditors. — Adjourned meetings of creditors in the estates of Robert McKenzie and Charles Frederick Worth, were to have heen held on Saturday last, but lapsed through non-attendance of creditors. The estates therefore vest in the provisional trustee. A meeting of creditors in the estate of David Scott was held before the Registrar at noon. The liabilities are estimated at £3842 14s Bd, and the assets at £4894 18s, shewing a surplus of £1052 3s 4d. Creditors proved to the amount of £993 6s. Mr J. E. Graham was chosen trustee, and Messrs Alexander C. Fyfe, and * William Pratt, supervisors. Mr Wynn Williams is solicitor for the bankrupt.