Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 339, 15 June 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

.m Lyttelton Juvenile Entertainments. — The second of the series will take place this evening, in the High School, at 7 o'clock. Lyttelton Winter Readings. — The next of the series will take place in the Colonists' Hall on Thursday evening. A very good programme has been issued.

Lyttelton Borough Council. — The usual | meeting was to have taken place last night, but owing to the want of a quorum it was adjourned until Wednesday evening next. The Councillors present were : — Messrs Ward, England, Allwright, and his Worship the Mayor. Conversazione — This event, which is to come oft at the Literary Institute this evening, promises to be a great success. The committee have been indefatigable in their exertions to make it attractive, and we trust they -will be adequately rewarded by the public. Every possible arrangement has been made for the comfort of visitors, and the reasonableness of the charges of admission should ensure a full attendance. Medical Act. — We notice that a movement is on foot to take into consideration the desirability of repealing certain clauses in this Act. In compliance with a suggestion from the principal members of the profession practising in Christchurch and the neighbourhood, the Medical Assessor, Dr Turnbull, has called a meeting of the medical profession at the residence of Dr Deames^ to-morrow, at 2.30 p.m. yJIQ'HE _3IMIGRANTS BT THE CAROLINE 'Coventry. — The Right Rev. the Primate of New Zealand conducted Divine Service at the Immigration Barracks on Sunday evening, delivering a very appropriate address to the newly arrived immigrants. We are informed that all the single women have left the barracks. With the exception of those who went to their friends, all readily met with situations, the demand being very much beyond the supply. Wages ruled at former rates. Only three married couples and three single men remain in the barracks. Heathcote Road Board. — The Board held their usual meeting yesterday. The following members were present : — Messrs Kennaway, Ensor, and Kerr. The chairman (Mr Kennaway) occupied the chair, and the minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Commissioner of Police, stating that steps had been taken to find out who had damaged the artesian well at Avonville. The police were on the track of the offender, and as soon as proof could be obtained, he would be prosecuted. A letter from Mr Palairet, on the same subject was read, and the surveyor was instructed to write to Mr Palairet, and inform him that the Board, having done everything in ita power to settle the question in dispute satisfactorily to all parties, and meeting with no success, leaves the matter in the hands of the police ; but, at the same time, if the damage to the road caused by the overflow continues, the Board will give instructions to have the pipes pulled up. The surveyor was also instructed to inspect Mr Harris' artesian well, as requested, and to apply for the subscriptions guaranteed for widening Colombo street south. The chairman laid before the Board a copy of the new Road Boards Ordinance, and explained some of the material alterations. After passing accounts for work done, the Board adjourned until Monday, the 28th inst. VFire. — Last night a cottage belonging to Mi- B. Hughes, situated near the junction of the North and East Town Belts, was entirely destroyed by fire. The Market-place bell sounded the alarm a few minutes past ele\ en o'clock, and being quickly responded to by that at the White Hart Hotel, both brigades mustered promptly. !A large number of persons had in the meantime started for the spot, which was easily made out by the bright glare of the fire, and although many lost their way by taking the wrong bank of the river, with the unpleasant result of having to scramble through swamps innumerable, there was soon^lenty of willing assistance on the groundf Unfortunately the flames had obtained too strong hold for this to be of service, and the house being detached, was permitted to burn itself out. The only property saved was a few articles of furniture which Mr Hughes himself rescued. The London, Liverpool, and Globe engine, under its energetic captain, Mr West, arrived at the fire in a very short time, and was followed by the large hand engine under Mr Harris. The steam fire engine was also got out, and started for the fire, but its services were not required. A creek running near the premises supplied water in abundance, but it could only be used to quench the embers after the building was gutted. The origin of the fire is shrouded in the same mystery as invariably characterises these disasters in Christchurch, and we can only learn that Mr Hughes was awakened by the noise of the conflagration whilst in bed. He had left everything apparently safe when he retired for the night, and vrhen roused had barely time to get his family out before the bedroom was enveloped in flames. The house, we are informed, contained four rooms, and was insured for £140 in the London and Lancashire oflice, for which Mr John Lewis is agent. A Large Diamond. — The Mauritius correspondent of the Argus, writing from Port Louis on April 18, says : — A good deal of excitement has been caused in the Eastern province of the Cape Colony by the discovery of a very large diamond at Hope Town, near the Orange River Free State. It is of the flrat water, and weighs 83 carats, while its value is staled to be £25,000. It was sold by the Hottentot who found it to one of the colonists, for cattle, &c., worth about £150. During the last four years many diamonds have been discovered in and near the bed of the Orange River, and a number of natives are now regularly settled in the localities where they are found, with the view of searching for them.