Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 194, 26 December 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

- — -e-r-Upmsr SKL%v_.N-.^Wj-understand that it is 'the intentionypj-^the, \refltlents in the neighbour hood XffiipnQ iSelwyii railway station to erect a Government school, and that the necessary amount having been guaranteed by a resident, upon the understanding that the same be made good to him immediately after harvest, the building will be proceeded with at once.

J**The Races. — A meeting of the Jockey "Club was held at Tattersall's Rooms on Thursday afternoon, when the usual preliminary arrangements were made for the forthcoming races. It is now certain that His Excellency the Governor will be present, as a telegram has been received by His Honor the Superintendent to the effect that he will reach Lyttelton on the 10th January. We are glad to learn that the races are likely to be quite equal to those of last year, both in regard to the number and character of the horses entered. A new race has been added to the list, and will be run on the third day. The prizes consist of a saddle and bridle for the first horse, and whip and spurs for the second. These are the gifts of Mr J. O. Gilchrist and are to be competed for by members of the Cavalry Cadet Corps. . !**• Fire. — About a mile of fencing on the/ north side of the southern line of railway was destroyed by fire yesterday. The origin of the fire is not known, but it was [£r_t noticed amongst the tussocks and flax between the Leeston and Selwyn stations. Towards evening it appeared to die out, and nothing further was thought of it ; but the high wind prevailing yesterday morning must have fanned the smouldering embers into a flame again, for during the day the fire was observed to be making rapid progress in the direction of the Leeston station. The railway employes at the Selwyn, seeing the danger, at once collected all the sacks they possibly could and placing them on a " trolly," started along the line, and by dint of great exertions succeeded in stopping the flames when within a comparatively short distance of the Leeston goods shed. When our informant left at half-past ten last night, there was no perceptible clanger of the fira recommencing. V ___ Rural Sports Committee. — The general "committee met at the City Council Chambers at 7 o'clock, on Thursday evening, his Worship the Mayor in the chair. The treasurer, Mr Wynn Williams, announced that subscriptions to the amount of £63 had been already obtained. It was proposed by Mr Wynn Williams that an additional entertainment should be given in the Town Hall on Thursday evening, the 31st instant. The Times Minstrels had kindly promised to assist in carrying out the evening's amusements. The thanks of the committee were passed, and Mr Williams was requested to intimate this resolution to the hon. secretary, Mr Bradwell. Mr Wynn Williams undertook to arrange a programme of a miscellaneous kind, in order to afford an evening's entertainment, the prices of admission to be Is. The programme for the sports to take place in Latimer Square on New Year's Day was then passed as printed in our advertising columns. Lyttelton Regatta. — A meeting of the Committee was held in the Colonists' Hall on Wednesday evening, Capt. Gibson, Vice Commodore, in the chair. It was decided that the 2-oared race, with coxswain, at 2.40, should be for all comers, in watermen's boats, or boats of that class, instead of that previously advertised. It was also resolved unanimously that 125 feet of the sea wall near to the Railway Wharf should be enclosed, and seats provided, and the charge of admission be one shilling, the amount realized to go to the Regatta fund. It was also carried that as the reclaimed ground was to be the place of sports the following charges should be made for the erection of refreshment booths thereon: — Licensed publicans of Lyttelton, £2 2s ; unlicensed refreshment booths, £1 Is ; sports and games, ss. It was arranged that a meeting of the committee be called for Tuesday evening next, when the starters will be appointed, and it is requested that all collecting bookbe sent in by that day. Governor's Bay. — We have been requesto give publicity to the following report of the . Governor's Bay school committee. Owing to some mistake, the appointment of a new committee only very recently took place, hence the delay in the publication of this report, which was drawn up two mouths ago: — The committee appointed; by the owners and occupiers of land in the educational district of Governor's Bay north, on.' the 30th December, 1867, to carry out the jwishes of the inhabitants as to the establishment of a school, have to make the following report : — Since the appointment of a school committee, two buildings, a school-room and master's house, large enough to enable the_master to receive eight or ten boarders, together with all necessary appliances, have been erected at a cost of £461 Os 4d, of which sum £451 8s lOd have been paid, leaving liabilities still to be met of £9 lis 6d. The cost of these buildings has been defrayed partly by a grant of £300 from the Board of Education, the balance having been raised by contribu, tions from the inhabitants. The committee have every assurance that the buildings are constructed of durable and substantial materials, and well adapted for the purpose of a good boarding school. They are erected upon a site given by Mr. T. H. Potts, which overlooks Lyttelton Harbour, and is in eveiy way very healthy and desirable. A considerable delay having taken place during the negotiations of the committee with the Board of Education, as to the grant in aid of the building fund, the committee resolved to establish the school before the buildings were erected, and, having obtained the services of an elementary teacher, they opened the school in a cottage lent for the purpose by Mr Potts. The schoolroom having been completed in the month of April, 1868, tbe school was at once transferred to the new building. The services of Mr Cotton as elementary teacher being no longer required, his place was taken by the present master, Mr Digby, a gentleman whom the committee believe to be well qualified for the post of teacher, who entered upon his duties on the Ist July, 1868. The average daily attendance since that time has been 22, and the progress of the children has been remarkable during the short period which has elapsed since the opening of the school, aud reflects great credit upon both the former and present masters.

Concert.— A concert will be given in the Town. Hall on Wednesday evening next, Dec. 30, in aid of the building now in course of erection by the patients in the Sunnyside Asylum for their recreation. Kaiapoi Anneal Sports. — These sports take place on Monday next, in the Kaikainui paddock. The programme comprises races, &c, for men aud children; for the latter, cake and milk will, as usual, be gratuitously provided. A ball will take place in the evening * ws \C_Oxford Fire. — The bush-fire is stiu turning, although the quiet weather of the last few) day 8 has prevented it from spreading much-. / The north-west wind of last night hajtf however, sent it through Mr R. L. Higgins' bush, and it is now almost across the road. Hopes are entertained of still saving Mr Fenwick's shed. Sunday School Union. — The annual treat of the society will be commemorated in the usual way. An address will be delivered to the children in the drill shed, next Sunday, at 2 30 p.m., and a sermon to the teachers in the evening, at St Asaph street chapel, by the Rev. M. Baxter, service to commence at 6.30. On New Year's day, the several schools will assemble in Cathedral square, at 10 o'clock, whence they will march to Dr Prins' paddock, in Armagh street, where all kinds of innocent amusements will be provided; and no doubt a very happy day may be anticipated. Ample provisions will be on the ground to regale the children, and in the evening tea will be provided for teachers and friends. New Zealand Lodge of Unanimity, No. 604. — The annual meeting of the above Lodge, to celebrate the festival of St John the Evangelist, was held at the Lodge Lyttelton on Thursday last. The Lodge met at 3 p.m., and after the usual preliminaries, Brother Henry Newcoraen Nalder, Junior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Canterbury, i and Past Senior Warden of the Lodge of Unanimity, was duly installed as Master of that Lodge by the Right Worshipful the District Grand Master, William Donald, Esq. The following officers of the Lodge for the ensuing year were then invested with their insignia, and instructed in their duties: — Bro. John Thomas Rouse, P.M., as immediate Past Master; Bro. Edward s. Ellisdon, as Senior Warden; Bro. Wm. Mills, as Junior Warden and Treasurer; Bro. W. B. Jones as Secretary; Bro. Albert Cuff, as Senior Deacon; Bro. Hugh M'Lellan, as Junior Deacon; Bro. David Day, as Inner Guard; Bro. Thos. Hester, as Tyler. The Lodge was then called from labour to refreshment, and sat down to a banquet provided for the occasion, the R. W. D. G. M. occupying the chair. The usual masonic toasts were given and duly honoured, including the healths of the R. W. D. G. M. Bro. Donald. W. M. of the Lodge, and of the newly installed Bro. H. N. Nalder. The brethren, after passing a very pleasant evening, separated shortly before midnight. Acclimatization.— The following paper on the removal of trout fry from one place to another has been communicated to the Otago Acclimatization Society by Mr Morton Allport, of Tasmania:— The trout fry may be safely removed for four months after they lose the umbilical sac. To take them short distances (ten or fifteen miles), they should be carried by hand in tin vessels, each holding three or six gallons of water, and from 30 to 50 young fish. If water cannot be procured at short distances on the journey, a supply must be carried in a separate vessel, from which a small quantity must b. j poured from a height of two to three feet into the fish cans every quarter of an hour. The number of fish to every three gallons of water may be 50 in cold weather, 25 in hot, to carry the fish long distances by water as from Hobart Town to Melbourne, an apparatus was made, consisting of one large tin vessel, holding, some 15 gals of water, with a false bottom minutely pref orated. The bottom was covered with washed moss, and the whole was hung in a square wooden framework (cleeted to the deck) by a universal joint, so as to swing freely in every direction. A supply of water was carried in separate tin vessels, and was conducted from one placed on the top of the framework by a quarter-inch elastic pipe into the top of the vessel containing the fish, through a finely preforated tin rose. The water was then carried off by a waste pipe (also elastic) below the perforated, false bottom into a third tin vessel placed on the deck. When the supplying vessel was empty and the receiving vessel full, their positions were reversed, and tbe same water was thus made to do duty several times. 420 out of 450 fish were thus safely carried to Melbourne from Hobart ; | pwn. ,1 be sides of the vessel containing the fish were finely perforated near, the top, and the supply pipe was allowed to run a trifle faster than the waste pipe, so that the fish always had an adequate supplyif and the excess found its way down the sides) of the vessel, serving by its slight cvapora*] tion to diminish the temperature of the water inside the vessel. Memoranda : — 1. M ake all perforations from the inside, out so as not to leave rough surfaces to injure the fish. 2. Keep in the shade, or travel by , nigh.t if possible. 3. Scald all the tins and let them soak in clean water a day. 4. Soak all elastic piping, and let water run through it several days before using. 5. Regulate tbe supply, from piping by taps. 6. Cover all fish cans with a perforated lid. 7. Open the vessels containing fish as seldom as possible. 8. Remove dead fish as soon as possible.