Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 303, 4 May 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

«, . si«lUest. — An inquest was held at the iOarendon Hotel, at five o'clock yesterday r*s»_E-ing, on the body of Dr Willis, whose -•g__sfti from the effects of a fall from his horse S__Ca3hel street, on Friday last, we recorded *__ -yesterday's issue. The inquest was held Restore J. W. S. Coward, Esq., coroner, and 73__ Suddenklau was chosen foreman of the ■'A&ST- After hearing evidence, the jury reAewrßsd a verdict of accidental death. >{ Sew Flax Company. — A numerously at/^SescLeel meeting of persons interested in the "csoranation of a company for the preparation of '*'i_;__ on the chemico-raechanical principle, -•"-jess iheld at White's Hotel, last evening. Mr .J3L. Florance, surgeon, presided, and Mr 'W-sod-ord acted as secretary pro tew. The L_____man gave an explanation* of the solvent -Tj-c-Ki-h he proposed should be used by the •;ac_e*pany. A prospectus w„a discussed, and ordered to be printed for distri'Sh&iieiimm. It is proposed to raise 500 shares, at •525 -each] The meeting adj6tirrted until next '.X?R^-_ay week, at the same time and place. «v» 3>rroßCK and MATMMONiAL Ca^sks Act. b^-Jt. notice has been posted in* the Supreme ■^'Usiirt officrs, to the effect that his Honor Mr AJsMttice Gresson will sit iii' Court for the ■-Scspatch of business under this Act (which cs_£l be of a preliminary character) on every .ToEsdaj'- in each week, at 2, p.m , unless the ■Smut is otherwise engaged The Act does :vaE-3_ grave power to grant a divorce in the •in-rad sense of the term, allowing the parties •••to *__arry again . A j udicial Reparation only i-saabe granted, and that by .three judges aseafiug the suit. No rules : have yet been under the Act, but it is presumed •sr&ey.will be at the next sitting'of the Court - ;.*«_ Appeal. -Lyttelton Parish Gathering. — The •■■ iszajual gathering of parishioners took place <"• Zisusl night, in the Colonists' Hall. The " -itoMes were kindly provided and presided .-varby Mesdames Rouse, Nnlder, Hawkins, 'Wsati, Knowles, McPhcrson, Grant, 11. 11. ■ ..a_e»wles, Ellisdon, Taylor,. Eerrin, and MRs Stston. We were sorry to' notice a great 2ffl_Slugoff in the attendance this year ; no -s'&au-- this was to be attributed to the bad ■-*swt9_;her,it blowing a heavy gale from the sou'"^rast 'last night. After ample justice had Aiesen done to the good things provided, a -gs-fcSrc meeting was held. : The Rev. F. -ii&rcvwles occupied the chair. On the plat-■il-ZYn were the Rev. Canon Wilson, Rev. C. =_3=-wcn, Drs Donald and Rouse, Mr H. R. Webb &c , and the choir of Holy Trinity : £3_afcli After a short operiirig address by Vhs Chairman, Mr J. T. Rouse, church '■i-rartlen, read the financial report for the past j"?-'-.**-. He explained the cause of the falling -£ in the receipts, but the offertories had not .-alien off in amount. The church needed c-egairs -, the roof was in a very bad state, and cr-uld require £70 to put it in good repair. 'Mr Graham had most kindly offered his ser--trxexs. as church-keeper, free, for the ensuing year, in order to reduce the debt on the •sCranetery fuud ; for this he" was entitled to c&cir best thanks. During thc: past year, the •.swain window lmd been' repaired. Mr '3fe_lkin and other gentlemen, had •-soDected £33 16s. lie suggested a plan 3>->r raising funds, and that was by a ■•Sift auction. The meeting was afterwards •jtud__sse<l by Dr Donald, Canon Wilson, and '-*__- Rev C. Bowen, the choir singing several sjaeces of music at interval?. • Mr W. B. AJcieos gave a reading, which was applauded. cMt H. R Webb proposed a vote of thanks -so The churchwardens and vestrymen for • 7_H_r services during the past year, which <-*r__ carried by acclamation. . Mr Nalder .jWroposed a vote of thanks to Miss Ward, •jj-rganist, Mr_ Plummer, choir-master, and "ifee clioir, which was carried unanimously. "3__ Ho-usc proposed a vote of thanks to Mr ->*3aabam, church-keeper, to Mr vS ilkin and _iSr Childs; and Mr A. Bayfield proposed a f-ts_fe of thanks to the ladies for providing the ■•Sb'jJcs, which was carried also . by^ acclama- •'£_&*_. The proceedings terminated with the -ifesMr singing " Holiest, bra&the an evening -S__essing." ■ a. - -v HUfW' c.yy-

Roman Catholic Schools.— The concert proposed to be given on Wednesday, in aid of the Convent School, is postponed till May 14. | Thu Alliance Magazine. — The May number of this periodical, just published, fully sustains the reputation it has already earned. Address. — Dr Mackern, of London, jdelivered an address at the Old Town Hall last evening, on the subject of " The old creation and the new." There was a large and respectable attendance, and the discourse was attentively listened to. At its conclusion, Dr Mackern announced that in all probability he would deliver another address in the same place on Friday next Pi'Tty Sessions. — The Bench of Magistrates for the Ellesmere district have given notice that the Court of Petty Sessions will be opened on Friday, 14th May, thus supplying a want which has been severely felt ~n that large and important district. All cases hitherto have beeu carried into the Christ charch Court, and this has entailed very heavy expense upon litigants, besides great loss of time. At present, there is no police establishment in this district, but we understand that the Provincial Government are about to erect a lock-up and suitable buildings in the township of Leeston. The Road Board has giveu permission to the Court to hold Sessions in the office at Leeston, which is centrally situated in the district. Mr W. G. Luun has beeu appointed Clerk, and Mr A. W. Rowland, Bailiff to the Court, The Salmon Ova. — About thirty more eggs have gone bad since Sunday last, but neither Sergeant Quinn nor Mr Johnson, the curator, yet despair of the experiment being in a small degree successful. As we remarked yesterday, it is astonishing that even so many of the eggs have come to Canterbury in alive state, considering that they were .1-8 days on the passage. Some time ago, an interesting experimeut was made by Mr Youi, in Londou. He procured ova, and placing it iv three or four boxes, deposited them in the ice-house, where they remained undisturb d for a period of 135 days. On opening the boxes at the lapse of that time, only four eggs were found to be alive. It is therefore all the more surprising that, after so long a passage and so much handling, the boxes that have come to Canterbury on this occiision should contain so many eggs which give promise of hatching. Rifle Associatio -\ — A meeting of the Council was held at White's Hotel, at 7.30 last evening. Mr IT. J. Tancred, president of the Association, presiding. The chairman stated that the business of the meeting was to fix a day for the presentation of the prizes won at the Easter meeting. On the motion of Captain Simmons, seconded by Lieutenant Wolfe, it was resolved that the presentation of prizes snould take place at the Drill-Shed (if Colouel Packe permitted the use of it) at 8 p m. on the Queen's birthday ; the charge to be made for the admission of the general public to he left to the committee. It was also decided that Mrs Rolleston should be asked to present the prizes. The prizes selected by winners were then shewn, and were of a most miscelbmeous description. It was decided that. the prizes should be engraved at the expense of the Association, with the inserir tion " C.R.A.. to , ISG9" ; the winners to be. allowed to put any additional inscription on them wh'ch they pleased at their own expense. It was also decided that Mr Petersen should take charge of the prizes until the day of presentation. The meeting adjourned after passing a few accounts. ■ United Methodist Fuee ('hdrch. — The anniversary soiree in connection with the Sunday School was held in the Church, St Asaph street, last evening; Upwards of 20 > persons sat down to tea. Afterwards there was- a public meeting, at which the Rev T. R. Fisher presided. The Revs M. Baxter and — Powell were also on the platform. Tho chairman sa d he was glad to see so large an attendance, as it was an evidence of the strong sympathy which existed towards a great antl good work. He was glad, too, to sco so many of his own congregation present, and members also of other congregations. It afforded him pleasure to learn that the number of children attending the Sunday School had iucrcased during the past year, and it was an additional source of gratification to him to find that -. the school had: also au increased number of zealous, efficient, and devoted teachers. In addressing a few words to the latter, the chairman stated that there were four qualifications essential to a Sunday school teacher — perseverance, patience, punctualityj and prayer, without which their labours could not be thoroughly productive of beneficial results. He exhorted the audience to do all in their power for the spread of the good work the anniversary of which they had now been called together to celebrate, and concluded by calling upon Mr Clarkson, the secretary and- treasurer of the Sunday school to read the -financial statement. The secretary stated that during the past year, the number of teachers was 17 and children 109; average attendance — teachers — morning, 8; afternoon, 12; children — morning, 50; afternoon, 70. The year previous there were 12 teachers and 82 children; and the average attendance was — in the morning, 7 teachers and 40 children, and in the afternoon, 8 teachers, and 45 children. Consequently there was an increase during the past year of 5 teachers and 27 children. The committee, had commenced the year with £11 2s 2d in hand, the proceeds of the tea meeting and collections. The teachers made efforts during the year to establish a library for the use of the school, and had succeeded in obtaining 59. volumes. Most of the _uoney-^-£8 '0s — had been spent in the purchase of bo ks, and there was a balance due to the treasurer of £1 7s 3d. He trusted that contributions in the shape of books and money for purchasing them would be forthcoming. The meeting was then addressed by the Rev M. Baxter and the Rev — Powell, and the proceedings were interspersed by music.

Gazette.— We have received;.* Provincial Gazette dated May 3. It contains, inter alia the following notifications -.—That the enclosure erected upon rural section No 5 on the map of the Chief Surveyor of the Province of Canterbury, and being the western half of the stockyard, as well as the enclosure at the back of the stable attached to the Sawyers' Arms Inn Papanui, shall be deemed and taken to be a Public Pound within the meaning of the Ordinance from and after May 13, and that Joseph Fantham be the Poundkeeper. That Messrs J. Hay, Firmston, Hemingway, and Walters, the persons declared by the Chairman to be elected are now the legally constituted School Committee for the Pigeon Bay district. An Old Australian Settler. — News has reached the Messrs Learmouth, at Brcildoun, of the death of their father, Thomas Livingstone Learmouth, at Parkhsll, Stirlingshire, Scotland, on the Bth of February last. The deceased gentleman came to Victoria with his sons, T. L. and S. L. Learmouth, early in the year IS3B, having been some time previo tsy settled in Tasmania. The deceased was thus one oc the oldest of Australian colonists. Wanted, a Phrenologist.— Considerable amusement was caused in the United States' Senate on Jan. 27 by the presentation by Mr Howe of a memorial praying for the appointment of an able phrenologist to examine all candidates for Internal Revenue appointments, to see whether benevolence conscientiousness, causality, and comparison be their moat- prominent protuberances, to the end that the Government may no longer suffer from the frauds now so common in that department. The memorial was referred to the Committee on Retrenchment and Reform. The Pacific Railway. — According to the New York advice regarding the progress of the Pacific Railway the work will be completed by next July, and at that time there will be a continuous line of rail from New York to San Francisco — the longest in the world. A European passenger will then, it ia calculated, be able to leave Liverpool or London and reach Yokohama and Shanghai, via New York, at least 15 days earlier than by any other route. The time given is as follows :— From Liverpool to New York, 10 days; New York to San Francisco 6 days; and from San Francisco to Yokohama, 23 days. This latter time, it is said, can be cut down to 18 days, but taking it at 19 days the total will be 35 days from Liverpool to (/bina, while the shortest time in which the trip can now be made, going eastward is 60 days. At a recent meeting at Chicago, to consider the policy of establishing a direct trade between that city und the cities of Eastern Asia, a belief was expressed that an examination of the subject would show that goods could be got from sia to Chicago, at first hands, at a much less cost than they can be bought in New York. South Australia. — The Australasian has the following : — lur neighbours in South Australia always had good Lick in their dealings with their public lands. Under their new system they seem to have hit upon a method which at once tends to check monopoly and to secure to the intending settler a sufficiently large farm at a reas nable rate. The new regulations provide ihut, at sales by auction, all the land in a hundred shall be first put up in one lot, and that the highest bidder may select as much as 640 acres, provide! that the sections so selected form one block. The unsold area is again submitted to competition upon the same terms, and the process is continued as long as there is any demind. By this- means the large purchaser is impeded, because he is not likely to buy all the land in a hundred it the 'rate which thebest sections in itdemand,andif he attempts to buy In small quantities he is exposed to the repeated competition of those who are ready to run up a particular allotment higher than he chooses to go. Probably the advantages of this method would be increase! if the maximum limit of selection at each bidding were 320 acres, instead of the square mile. New Industries. — The Australasian of April 24 says : — vVe always rejoice to hear of the natural growth of new forms of industry, and new objects of Australian production. VVe noticed last week the growth of the sugar industry in Queensland. We have now to chronicle the issue of a prospectus for a Flax Company in fiouth Australia. The promoters are said to be local men of standing and influence, and from the promises of support already received, there is good reason to hope that tlie company will be quickly and successfully floated. The machinery required for the fibre-dressing is under offer to the promoters by a gentleman who stipulates that it shall be set up in Willunga. It has been proved that the flax plant will grow luxuriantly both in that locality and in many other parts of the colony, and thc-r-* is a ready market at good prices both for the fibre and the seed. We trust that the Willun«a mill will but be the flrst of many flourishing establishments, and that its projectors may reap the full advantage of a new staple of production, and a new article of export. Flax is not the only form of n iKcent industry that is now attracting attention in South Australia. There is a kind of flag whicli grows in endless quantities along the sea-coast, and which has for some time attracted attenti n as a promising material for paper. AMr Mullett, a stationer in Adelaide, thought this enterprise sufficiently promising to induce him to devote his whole attention to it; but in the course of his experiments he found that the flag would yield uot only paper but something much better. It app jars to afford an excellent substitute for hemp in rope making It is said to be firm and tough, and when twitted to be as strong as Manilla rope. It is also fitted to serve all the purposes of oakum, as the staple is good and tar readily adheres to it. Fibre is worth in London from £22 to £34 per ton, and St Petersburg hemp is considerably higher. Mr Mullett's hemp can be prepared for about £4 or £5 a ton, and so" then the undertaking looks promising. Mr-Mpllett has

established a factory at Lefevre's Peninsula, where he has an abundant supply of his raw material. Nothing is required iv the preparation but the use of steam and labour. Mr Mullett finds, however, that he hns not water, steam, or machinery, sufficient to carry out his views, aud proposes to form a company for working his discovery upon a large scale. It does not appear that a very large capital will be needed, and we hope that our friends iv South Australia will not illow so hopeful an enterprise to languish from want of adequate support. Mr Gladstone and 666. — The Rev. Thomas Huband Gregg, M.A., of Trinity College, Dublin, curate of Oradley, near Birmingham, who is the editor of a little magazine called Gilead, has discovered that the new Prime Minister is the veritable Beast of the Apocalypse. The following are his remarks: — " In the Greek language each letter represents a certain number. For example, in that verse (Rev. xiii. IS), where we find '• Let him that hath und rstaading count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred three score and six. There in the original the number 666 is expressed by letters, those letters representing this particular number. The same nuui ber, however, can be represented by different combinations of letters, and so wefind that tinfolio wing Greek letters (which I write in Knglish that all may understand) represent the numbers which when added together make exactly 666, ' the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred three score and six :' — G (amma) 3, L (ambda) 30, A (lpha) 1, D (elta) 4, s (igma) 200, T (aw) 300. O (micr-m) 70. N (eu) 50, I- (ta) 8. Gladstone, 6G6." Meteors. — When we are told that seven and a-half millions of meteorites, large enough to be visible at night, fall into our atmosphere in every twenty-four hours, and that ninety-nine out of every hundred of these never pass away again beyond its confines, the question naturally suggests itself — " How fur are we safe from the effects of so tremendous a bombardment ? " Granted that the major part of these missiles weigh but a few pounds, yet even so, we seem at first sight, to be but inefficiently protected. Fourpounder guns, for example, hive ere this worked serious mischief in bat ties and 9ieges. Nor will astronomers even allow us the comfort of supposing that hut few of the heavier missiles from outer space are hurled against our planet. On the contrary, we are told— and there is no reason for disputing the announcement — tbat many hundreds of the larger sort of aerolites fall in a single day into our atmosphere. The heaviest missiles n-ade use of on board our iron-clads or in our most powerfully armed forts are mere feathers compared to some few of the aerolites which are thus hurled at u -. There is now in the British Museum the fragment of one of these aerolites, and this fragment weighs nearly six tons. Modes of Gkeek and Eastern Burial — A Gieek, settled in Smyrna, thus describes the mode of sepulture followed by his own race, and some ol the people amongst whom his lot was cast: — -* ■ 'ur custom is to dress up the dead in his best clothes and put on a new pair of shoes ; the hands and feet are tied ; the body must be facing the east, tw>» long wax topers standing up alight nt the head aud feet ; and a small picture of tinHoly Virgin placed on the client. AU relations must call at the house and remain in there and taste no food of any kind until tinbody be buried. A cup full of wine i* brought into the mom, aud they wash the hands and the face of the corpse with the wine and deposit the empty c -p inside the waistcoit of the dead. As soon as the body is removed, a stone is placed on the, floor where the body was lying, and a small cup of wine, tinstone and the cup remaining on the floor for three days nnd three nights, with a wax taper burning tbe whole time. When the body is lowered into the grave, the priest ems>ties a large bottle full of wine. When a distinguished person dies, there is always a funeral oration recited at his tomb — a habit, m> doubt, handed down to us from our noble ancestors. On their return from the cemetery all the intimate friends and relatives return to the house, and have a regular feast, consisting of all kinds of viandi-ex'-ept flesh, with plenty of wine and raki. Three days afterwards we have n quantity of cakes blessed by the priests in church, and distributed to all the friends aud acquaintances of the deceased b)x»ct\y three years after burial we proceed with the priests and relatives to the grave and disinter the dead; if the body be found perfectly decomposed, we collect the bones and transfer them to a monastery or a church, for which we pa\ a fee of fifty piastres ; should unfortunately the body be found in go /d preset vation. through our sins < _ those of the de -eHsed, we replace the remains in the grave and have prayers read iv the church for the remission of our sins and the decay of the body of our relative. Our bishops are buried in a sitting posture, in an easy chair, and a wax taper burning; if at the three years, on opening the tomb, the taper be found still burniug, it is considered an infallible proof that the holy father has become a saint. When a Turk is buried the priest or liqzr puts in the grave a key and a copper coin The key is for the purpose of opening tludoor of paradise, and the coin for giving bagsish to the porter. Tbe Christians in Turkey believe that three ■ days after a Turk lins been buried he becomes a dojg, and walks out of his tomb; whilst they maintain that when a poor Jew is lowered into his grave, the earth throws up the corpse seven times, unwilling to receive in her bowels the body of such a wicked unbeliever ; b;:t that, after the seventh time, the body is deposited again, nnd a large stone placed on tho top of the tomb. This is be lieved by the uneducated portion of my coreligionists, who also believe that every Ea-ter the Jews steal a Christian boy and make use of his blood for seasoning their unleavened bread." -