Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 281, 8 April 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

<» Royal Inisu Volunt-ceiis. — A parade and general meeting of this corps were held at the Drill-shed last night, when several new members were sworn in, and sundry company matters of uo public importance arranged. This Oiu-han' Asylum. — The sum realised by the Conceit given on Saturday last by the 'limes Minstrels, in aid of the Library Fund and Band of the Orphan Asylum amounted to £23 18s 6d, and, after deducting the sum of £11 ' Os 5d for expenses, £12 18s ld was handed over to the above object. This, considering the inclemency of the weather, may be considered highly satisfactory. aa:

Bankruptcy. — The cases set down for hearing to-day were adjourned until the fifth of May.

Tub Gourlay Family. — These talented artistes appeared last night at the Colonists' Hall before a large audience. Nearly every song was encored, Master John coming in. for a very large share. They will perform again to-night in an entirely new programme i Reception -<f tue Duke of Edinburgh. — The Government have commenced to make preparations for* receiving his Royal Highness in Lyttelton. Yesterday workmen, under the superintendence of Mr Martindale, began the erection of a large triumphal arch. This arch will be subdivided into three, aud will be fixed on the reclaimed ground, near the watermen's landing steps. The watermen are determined not to be behind hand, and have commenced the work of painting their boats. The order of procession has been drawn out. As soon as the Duke is known to be within the Heads, the boats, conveying passengers, will start, and form into a double line for his Royal Highness to pass through. Each boat will have the royal ensivn flying at the stern. A small charge will be made to passengers going off to welcome his Royal Highness. Tub Alfred Medal. — In accordance with a generaUy expressed wish from the volunteers, Messrs Petersen and Co. have induced Colonel Packe to alter the conditions of firing for this prize. The ranges arc now to be 200 yards aud 600 yards, five shots at each, with Hythe position at the first, and any at the latter range. The original conditions were for three ranges and Hythe position throughout, but whilst the former rendered it probable that the firing would not be completed in one 'day-, the latter gave decided advantage to Hythe position marksmen against those preferring the "any "position. The alteration is therefore a judicious one, and the. adoption of one range at each position will certainly attract more competitors than would otherwise have been the case. Board, of River Conservators.— A meeting of the Board was held yesterday, all the members bein-' present. The Chairman reported that he had received the return of assessment of property in the district from the Avon Road Board. Tlie Chairman stated that he had communicated with the Trea surer of the Timaru and Gladstoue Board of Works, with reference to obtaiuiug from that Board a temporary loan on security of debentures, and had received a reply that the matter should be submitted to the Board at their next meeting. The Board proceeded to consider the applications, seven in number, which had been received, for employment as Engineer, and resolved that Mr 3. Crawford le engaged temporarily ia terms of his letter, and that the Chairman be empowered and requested to communicate with him to this effect. The Chairman was authorised to inquire of the Provincial Government whether they can supply funds' temporarily to the Board, and if so, to what extent. It was also resolved that Mr Crawford be requested to have prepare! by the 14th inst. specifications of the work proposed by the Government to be erected near Mr McLean's.

The R-jyal Visit. — The Reception Committee of the City Council having already sufficient work on hand, invited the chairmen of local schools to assist them in providing l'efre.shments for the children taking part in the procession, and a ready response being made, a joint-meeting was held at the Council Chamber, on Monday afternoon last. His Worship the Mayor presided, aud there were also present the Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch, the Rev. J. C. Chevrier, Mr S. C. Farr, President of the Sunday School Union, and G. Gordon. His Worship having fully explained the object in view, it was resolved that efforts should be made to raise a sum of at least £50 for the treat. The number of children likely to attend in Cathedral square was estimated at between 3000 and 4000, irrespective of teachers, and it was therefore considered that this sum would not be too large for their requirements. Mr Gordon was appointed treasurer, and the Very Rev. the Dean said he was authorised to promise a subscription of £6 from the St. Michael's School Committee. Messrs Farr and Gordon were appointed as a committee to make arrangements for the occasion, aud all those present were authorised to receive donations. The meeting then terminated, with an understanding that a further meeting should be held on Monday next, at noon, for the purpose of receiving reports of collectors, aud making additional arrangements fcr carrying out the proceedings. Scientific.— lt appears, from those English and Continental papers to which we haveaccess, that the series of terrible-earthquakes iv August last, the principal focus of which was situated in South America, while their effects were felt in distant countries, have attracted very considerable attention in Europe. The Nestor of European seismologists, Alexis Perrey, the celebrated French Professor of Natural Philosophy is on the point of issuing a consecutive account of the subject, from which we may be able to obtain a great deal of most valuable information, both of fact and. theory. That the account given by Dr Haast of the New Zealand occurrences, read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, and published in our columns, has not passed unnoticed at home or on the Continent of Europe, may be gathered from the fact that his memoir has already been translated and published in Germany, France, aud Italy. Some of the English papers have .giveu it in extenso. Scientific Opinion, a journal devoted exclusively to science, and published -weekly iv London, republished the first part of Dr Haast's paper in its issue of Jan. 6, prefacing it by the ; following remarks of the editor ;— We are indebted to Dr J.; E. Gray for the copy of the Lyttelton Times containing the report of this paper. Dr Haast is so well known as an able observer and profound thinker in geology that' we make nolapology for the length of his memoir. here are in some measure those, which will soon bellaid Toefore the Royal'Sbciety. HUiUIVIA-J ', -*?

Dram-Drinking. — At a late meeting of : the Auckland Total Abstinence Society it w.i 3 stated that the sura estimated to have baen spent in drink in New Zsalan I during the year 1868, was £1,1.31,270, or upward- 1 of £_i,755 psr week. It was also slated that during tlie last seven years the colony lias ex-ieudc I £3,400,000 for intoxicating liquors, &c. f and has remitted out of that sum £2,300,000 abroad for these imports, showing a weekly drain of our capital of about £7(00. Auckland — Grapes and melons grown by tlie Maoris* have of late found their way into the Auckland market in large quantities. The melons are snid to have been rcr.arkibly line, though lhe grapes were small. This result, however, is attributed tb their having been grown without shelter. It i- snid that when properly protected, grapes can be produced in Auckland fully equal to any in Australia, and the local papers look forward t*j the day when the making of wine will be one of the leading industries of the province. This Duke of Edi burgh and tiik Irish. — H.i-.H. the Duke ot Edinburgh h-is gained tho favour of the Irish residents in Sydney by a simple and graceful act, which is related hy the Herald as follows : — On the evening of •St Patrick's Day, the Prince aad tha Hon. .Eliot Yorke visited the Royal Viotoria Theatre, where Mr Walter Montgomery i-i playing an engagement. Th.re -whs a very large house. His Royal Highness wan receive i with loud and long continued cheering. It soon transpired .that, although unable to attend the p-cnic in h *n>ur of Erin's patron saint, His Uoyal Highness tho Duke of Edinburgh had. throughout the day, exhibited his ropp-ct and love for " Old Ireland" by wearing a bunch of shamrocks on the breast of his coat — instead of tlie bouquet, which he. usualiy wears. This expressive tribute of regard and thoughtful consideration was, oE coarse, deeply gratifying to every Irishman who saw it. Riccarton Road Board. — The ordinary meeting of this Board was held yesterday at their office, Cashel street, West. The following members were present : — Mr Shand (chairman), Messrs Pavitt, Nuuweak, and O'Calhighan. The minutes of last meeting having been read aud confirmed, the following correspondence was read : — Letter from Messrs Goodlandand Higham, requesting the Board to put a culvert across the road at the cast side of section 1000 ; and also calling attention to a gully crossing the road between Messrs Higham's and Peacock's lands. The Survoj'or was directed to have the culvert placed as requested, aad to report at next meeting on the state of the gully referred to. Letter from Mr John Reese, requesting the Board to clear the water-cress out of the drain at the end of- section 392. The Surveyor reported that this work had recently been done. Letter from the Board of Conservators, requesting a return of theassessed value of property in the district, which information the Surveyor wa3 directed to furnish. The Board agreed that the drain pipes on the Bush Inn Road be taken up, aud the ditch be left open. The forming of the Wairarapa Road was brought forward by Mr O'Calhighan, but as the letter of the Board to Dr Barker on the subject had not been answered, the matter was not taken into consideration. The Surveyor reported that the Government had cleared the drain through Hagley Park, and recommended that the continuation thereof through Long's and Washbonrn's paddooks he cleared, which was agreed to. The Surveyor wa3 directed to have the culvert at Buckley's corner removed to the low place near Buckley's gate, and also to repair the road across the river bed from the corner of Philpots' land to James Donald's section. It was resolved that the attention of the Avon Board be called to the state of the Papanui drain, and that they be requested to lower the same from the boundary of the districts at Mr Peacock's, to the North Road. The Surveyor reported that the repairs ordered to the Harewood aud Fendaltown Junction Road had been carried out, and also that Mr Claridge, the contractor for claying the Sawyers' Arms Road, had completed his contract most satisfactorily. The labour gang during the month had been employed iv repairing the Riccarton and Harewood Roads, and the Papanui and Fendaltown Junction Roads, clearing oufc drains, and placing a culvert near Mr James Wright's. The Surveyor produced the rate list for the current year, as ordered by the Board at their last meeting, in accordance Avith clause 3 1 of the Road Board Ordinance, which was approved aud signed by the chairman. The Board, after having passed accounts for work done, •adjourned to Weduesday; the sth May.