Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 188, 18 December 1868, Page 2

Local and Ge neral.

■- • *& r— _ School Examination.— The annual examination of scholars attending ht John's day school took place last night, but the lists were not fully made up for publication. V Two oared Gig. — Mr boatBuilder, of Lyttelton, has just completed and launched a pretty racing gig ; it is made of cedar throughout, and is a, credit to the builder. - * Lincoln School. — ~At tea ; and concert in connection with the above are to be h,eld at the School House on Tuesday next, the 22nd. Some of the best local singers, together with . several from town have promised to assist and some good singing may be expected. y' An Auckland View of tub Panama Sebvice.— The New Zealand .Herald of Dec. •12 -says :— Amongst . the;, telegraphic, news -received is that of tbe determination to wind ■' «p the two steam compares— the Panama - 'Company and the Neir.Zsaland .S.tean^^Navi-, ' gat|on Company. One-^f;, (}»e,|'anama^Com T .. pany's bouts has been, it is 'said, seized in Sydney, and a biil has been filed in Chancery '••' for winding up the Gompuny.,- This will bo & - windfall for the colony., |£j it be, wjse enough to profit by the escape from a useless and costly postal service. The £55,000 'ami odd saved to the revenue would pay interest and sinking, fund <oh .a. w.a.rr loau< of a million • sterling, which might end the great incubus -aof the colony for ever. '

Kaiapoi TFesleyan Schools. — A treat to the children attending the Day and Sunday schools took place on Monday. The children assembled at 10 o'clock at the schools, and proceeded thence to Mr Stanton's paddock, Kaiapoi Island, where sundry games, suited to the juveniles, were arranged for them by their teachers. The children during the day were regaled with tea and cake. Broadfields Chapel. — A tea meeting in connection with the Wesleyan Chapel at Broadfields was held there on Anniversary Day. Trays were provided by Mesdames Early, Lloyd, Glyde, Aiken and Craighead, and a numerous company attended. The Rev Mr Bavin presided in the evening, and some suit-able speeches were delivered by Messrs Lawrie, Lloyd, Early, and others. The Weedon choir sang some good pieces during the evening, which were highly applauded, and the financial statement was read by Mr . May shewing, a balance in hand previous to the meetiner. We understand the proceeds of the meeting were about |£11. The party dispersed soon after nine o'clock. There is in connection with this place a day school, numbering 37 children ; a Sunday school with an average attendance of about 45, and the church members, who are rapidly increasing, number about 20. Presbyterian Bazaar. — The Colonists' Hall was crowded with visitors on Wednesday evening, and the amount taken at the stalls was considerable. The attendance in the early part of yesterday was limited, but in the evening the hall was filled with visitors. An Art Union, with valuable prizes, took place during the evening, and was very largely patronised. The Artillery Band again gave their valuable services, and the bazaar was brought to a close soon after 1 0 o'clock. The prize for dairy produce, of which there was only a small quantity exhibited, was decided yesterday afternoon by the judges, Messrs Hawkins and Merson. A cheese exhibited by Mr Chalmers, made we learn by Mr Graham, of Lyttelton, obtained the prize, but one exhibited by Mrs White, Pigeon Bay, was in superior condition. The prize for butter was given to Air Dunlop, Ileathcote. The exhibits were disposed of for the benefit of the bazaar. Lawyers' Fees in America, — The Boston Post states: — In the matter of professional fees the giants of the New York bar, not to speak of the pigmies, are as fortunate, if we may believe report, as they are skilful. In the Jumel will case, for instance, Mr Martin, who appeared for the defendant, received a fee of .£IO,OOO, while O'Connor, who gained the suit, pocketed 50,000 dollars as his reward. These will cases, often involve the labour of weeks and even months in their preparation, and requiring arguments of an interminable length, seem to be peculiarly profitable. The leading counsel in the Ross will case probably received a fe«t of 50,000 dollars ; and in the Parish suit, involving a property of 2.000,000 dollars, 200,000 dollars were paid in the same way. The late Daniel Lord numbered John Jacob Astor among his clients. He drew up ths will of the millionaire and was one of the executors, drawing as his share for the lattsr service 10,000 dollars. Many of the best speculators in city property are found among the members of this profession. J. R. Whiting owns Broadway property renting for 27,000 dollars, and Mr Marbury returns an income of 54,000 dollars, mostly from the same sourcs, it is reported. But large as these incomes may stem, they are generally the fruit of hard and long continued labour. Mr Lord struggled for years without a sign of success, and at the age of 35 wa3 on the point of, giving up his profession for something which would afford him a living. It is generally the same story of the triumph of real ability after long trial. The Dkstiny axd Dynasty of France. — The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post writes : — His Excellency, M. Pinard, the Minister of the Interior, has sent to the prefects throughout tlie empire the usual circular which precedes tne Emperor's fete day. The wording of the circular, however, is more demonstrative than usual, and more urgent in a desire expressed that the religious and military authorities should cause this August 15 to be celebrated with unusual solemnity. The Minister in his circular says, " In mingling your prayers and thankfulness for the national glory and internal peace which have followed each other, and " &c, adds, " as in the past, so in the future, you witness the desiiny of France firmly identified with that of the dynasty ; you unite and mingle such with the names of the Emperor and Empress, and the Prince Imperial." Of latethe Emperor gnd bis Government have spoken more of dynastic claims than formerly. This new phase of imperial utterances commenced with the pamphlet compiled at the Tuileries, and tended to remind France what Napoleon 111. had done for her in so many way* since universal suffrage gave him the throne; and thus restored the Bonaparte dynasty. This manifesto at the time was supposed to be an electioneering address prophetic of the general election. Many indications come out from time to time which shew a certain amount of anxiety as to the state of public opinion in France as regards the estimation in which the Emperor's personal rule of late is held. At all events, the severities practi ed on the newspapers, the ,early interference of the authorities when public meetings are proposed, and the aojtivity Government displays when an isolated election takes place, are all indications of a certain amount of uneasiness. The Emperor will address the nation with dynastic claims at the next general elections, and perhaps endeavour to make the people vote a -personal and dynastic vote rather than a constitutional vote. We must gather from these indications how little .the ruler of Franca anticipates any'further Vpproach towards laliberte, the responsibility of Ministers,.- K and consequent return to the old parliamentary system. If his Majesty ever really contemplated crowning the edifice, beseems, from the direction of the; present flying straws of imperialism, to have abandoned all such ideas in 1868.

Ltttelton Regatta.— A meeting of the Committee will be held in the Colonists' Hall this evening, at half-past seven. Lyttelton Choral Society. — A full rehearsal will take place in the Colonists' Hall this evening, at half-past seven o'clock. Rifle Shooting. — The second All-comers' subscription match -will be fired on the new rifle range to-morrow, two squads going down at 5 a.m., and 2.30 p.m. respectively. Should the weather prove favourable, some good shooting and close competition may be expected.