Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 350, 28 June 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

Meetings of Creditors. — Meetings of creditors in the estates of Henry Huhnke and James G rant were to have been held thi3 day, but were adjourned until Monday next. Mr Joynt is solicitor for the bankrupts. BANKftu.TrcT. — The Registrar has posted the following notice in the Supreme Court office: — " On and after this day (25th June), all first meetings and adjourned meetings of creditors, for the election of trustees aud supervisors, must be advertised three clear days before the day appointed for each meeting." Ltttelton Choral Society. — A general meeting of the members took place in the Colonists' Hall on Friday night, the object of the meeting being to decide whether a conductor should be engaged. After some discussion, it was resolved that, as there was no balance-sheet drawn up, the meeting should be adjourned until Tuesday evening. Accident. — About six o'clock on Saturday evening last, a trap, in which Mr, Mrs, aad Miss Harrison; and Miss Guinney of St. Albans, were seated, capsized at the corner of Montreal street and the North Town Belt. In the dark, Mr Harrison turned too sharply round, and one of the wheels coming in contact with the raised footpath, the trap was upset. .Miss Guinney sustained a severe sprain in the arm. Fortunately no bones were broken, a good shaking being the extent of the injuries received by the other occupants of the trap. ■y^rouTiKG. — By our latest Melbourne files we learn that the publication of the weights for the Melbourne Cup had caused a considerable improvement in the betting markefj a considerable amount of business having been done immediately thereafter. XThc horse that met with most support was Sheet Anchor, about whose chance many people appeared to be particularly enthusiastic. He was backed to win something like £10,000, at prices ranging from 1000 to 30 to 1000 to 50. Detective was backed at 100 to 6; The Earl at 100 to 5 ; . Marksman and Manuka at 100 to 4 each; Barbel Ie at 100 to 3; Freetrader at 100 to 3; Bar won and Shenandoah at 100 to -20 each;. vStrop, Cyuiba, Phosphorus, and Salem Scudder at 500 to 10 each. Manuka's weight is9st 4lbs; the Barb's, list 7lbs — top weight of all - Glencoe's, 1 1st; and Tim Whiffler's, lOst 71bs. Beet Root Sugar. — Another meeting of the provisional committee was held at the White Hart Hotel at noon on Saturday last, Mr Shand presiding. Several interesting papers were read. ■Mr Trent suggested that the promoters should form themselves into: a private company instead of appealing to the public to take shares. For his own part, he was prepared to plant as many as fifty acres with beet root, and to do all in his. power to bring the matter to a successful; issue, in conjunction with • other gentlemen." The consideration of this suggestion was deferred until next meeting* -. The Secretary reported that he had not yet received any replies to his inquiries from Melbourne, but he expected them by the Gothenburg. The meeting thereupon adjourned until Saturday next, at the- same time and place Magisterial. — Atthe Chr_st.;hurchMagistrate's Cou: t this morning, Henrietta C'avke and Ellen Dale were summoned before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M , for having violently assaulted Catherine Greaves on Friday night last.; The three were occupiers of . brothels near the Devonshire Arms Hotel, and, according to complainant's evidence, corroborated by two -witnesses, the two accused went to - her house about twelve o'clock, pulled her into the street, and ill-used her in a very violent mannor. Clarke denied being concerned in the matter, and Dale, who pleaded guilty, supported the denial ; but his Worship was satisfied that both were culpable, and fined them 40s each. He also stated that, iv consequence of the numerous disturbances and endless complaints from the locality referred to, he would imprison the next offender brought up without giving the option of a fine. ■ • Ti)': Dangers of Benzine. — We are indebted to the kindness of a lady correspondent for the following extract from the ladies' Journal: — Our lady readers should be informed that the fluid called benzine, wliich they use -so f _.eely for removing grease and stains from clothing, i 3 a very dangerous article. It is one of the substances o'istilled from petroleum, • aud is highly volatile and inflammable, and,, when the vapour is mixed with the. air, explosive. We have been frequently much alarmed upon visiting friends and neighbours iv the evening, to observe a vial of this fluid standing iii close proximity with a lamp or gas. flame, and the odour pervading the room. . A very small quantity is capable of doing . irreparable mischief. The contents. of a four-ounce vial, if overturned and vapourised, would render the air of a moderate-sized room explosive ; or if ignited, a whole family might be seriously burned or i lose their lives by it. It should never be used in the vicinity of flame ; and it is important,.to remember that, through the i medium.. of the .escaping vapour, when j the. i vial is uuporked, flame will, leap to it through [ a space.. of several feet. . [Benzine is sold . under several faftciful names, and therefore ': any article procured from the. druggist_B; for * removing oil or grease from 'fabrics should ) be bandied with the utmost care.

Diorama. — Bachelder's tableaux of Paradise Lost will be exhibited in the Colonists' Hall this and to-morrow evening. Conversazione. — The committee have decided to hold the next of the series in the Colouists' Hall on Friday evening next. Winter Readings. — The Entertainment Committee of the Colonists' Society met on Saturday evening, when it was decided that the next of the series should be given on Thursday, July 8. Football. — The match North v. South was played on Saturday last. Play was commenced by the South kicking off at 3 p m., and the game was closely contested on both sides until 5 p.m., when time was called, neither side obtaining a goal. "^The Reported Goldfield. — A conveysmre, capable of carrying eight persons, is announced to start from the White Hart for the reported goldfield on this day or tomorrow, should sufficient inducement offer. The fare there and back is twenty-five shillings. Lyttelton Colonists' Societt. — The new smoking and retiring rooms added to the building have just been completed at a cost of £65. The lower room is a most comfortable one, and will no doubt during the winter mouths be largely attended. A chess club is now in the course of formation. The upper retiring room has not been finished, but it is intended to complete it when the necessary funds have been raised. The Apocalypse. — Mr Bachelder's diorama has already attained a wide spread popularity. The crush at the Town Hall on Saturday night was immense, and long be fore the entertainment opened the building was densely crowded. Frequent rounds of applause were bestowed, and the large audience were evidently well gratified with their evening's amusement. A number of prizes, including a tea service and silver watch were again distributed. Proposed Canal between the Bay or Biscay and tub Mediterranean. — The project of establishing through the valley of the Garonne (France) a canal for large navigation, to connect the ocean to the Mediterranean has been mooted ; but there is now a new plan for this undertaking, under the auspices of M. Staal de Magnoncourt, late peer of France. The proposed canal will admit not only merchant ships of the heaviest tonnage, but alao men of war and transatlantic steamers. x\ port is to be established in the Gironde, just below Bordeaux, and another on the Mediterranean. The cost of the scheme is estimated at 442,000,000 f, and the cutting of the canal would occupy six yeare. Theplan, if cirried out, will matelially shorten the navigable communication between England, the north of Europe, and India, for it will in fact be a continuation of Suez. JVj-iINCOLN^COTTAGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, Cranmer Square.— The distribution of prizes at the school took place on Friday, the 18th inst. There were present the Very Rev the Dean of Christchurch, who presided, and the Rev F. Knowles, both of whom had assisted in the previous examinatioSL The Rev C. Bowen had also given his services in examining the" boys, . but was prevented by other engagements from being present at the distribution. The Dean expressed his pleasure in being present, and said he always had taken -a great interest in the welfare of the school, and hoped he should always be able in future to attend on such occasions. He need scarcely mention the merits of the school in the presence of so many of the scholars' parents. It was especially valuable to the College as. a means of preparing boys for their studies there, and he and others connected with that institution had long looked upon it. as the best means of training for those intended to be entered there.. At the time he was head-master, the want of such a preliminary course was very much felt, boys having to be received who were totally tinprepared for their work. He also alluded to the number of Provincial scholarships which had been obtained by boys whose first training was at this school, and to the prizes awarded to " them at the College and other schools, as. proofs of the thoroughness of their teaching. He had examined the pupils in religious knowledge and history, and their answers., considering their age, showed a good- -acquaintance with the subjects. The Dean theu proceeded to award the prizes, addressing a few remarks to each of those who_ received them. The following is the prize list :"»#First Class, Ist prize, H. M'Cardell ; 2nd, Second Class, Ist prize, W. Wood ; 2nd, L. Hawkes. Extra prize! for Industry, C.Clark. Third Class, Ist prize, H. Deamer ; 2nd, H. Tripp. Extra prize* for Industry, B. Moorhouse. Fourth Class, Ist prize, F. Pratt ; 2nd, F. Clark. Extra prize for good conduct, Ist prize, given by Master A. Morrah (an old pupil), W. Wood ; 2nd, H. Deamcjr^ The Rev. Francis Knowles said he was on the whole very well pleased with the attainment of the boys, judging by those subjects in whicli be had examined them, viz., the reading, spelling, geography, arithmetic, English grammar, and composition of the Ist and 2nd classes, and the English history in addition to these subjects of the 3rd class. If there were any exception, it related to the English grammar papers "of the Ist and 2nd classes, and the spelling .of the 3rd, which he said contrasted strongly with 'the excellence of their readings. He especially commended the English grammar of M'Cardell and Frost in the first class, the general proficiency of Deamer, the English history of B. Moorhouse, and the reading of A. Hawkins and H. Ward in the 3rd class ; and said that the general impression left on his mind was an exceedingly favourable one. H. M'Cardell then came forward and read an address to be I presented with a handsome inkstand" by the , boys,.,, to . Mr John_Wa_mer»._w_hQ_haa__ until lately been a teacher in the school ; Mrs Alabaster,; for- her brother.- Mr.r Warner, thanked tiieboys for tlieif aodresp ancj testi-I ; monial,' and .aftpr,.tbree. f cheers 7fof Vtbeir examiners and teachers, 'the boyi "were dis- 1 ' miaoed to their sporta. '

Runaway. — On Saturday evening, a horse yoked to a dray, took fright at Barnard's Repository, and rushed towards the right-of-way leading from the White Hart Hotel to Lichfield street. The men in charge managed to keep hold of the reins as far as the footpath, but fearing to get jammed in the right-of-way, they were obliged to relinquish thera. One of the wheels came off alongside the White Hart, and the progress of the infuriated animal was arrested. Mr Monck was unable to get out of the way in time, and received a somewhat severe injury to his foot in consequence of the wheel falling upon it. A New Malibran.— A Parisian journal makes a startling announcement with reference to a young American lady, named Violette Colville. " War tel," Bays our contemporary, "speaks of her with the enthusiasm of a true artist, and with the competent appreciation of a professor who thoroughly understands that of which he speaks. 'It is a Malibran I shall produce,' says M. Wartel, the professor under whom ahe is studying. ' She has the sacred fire. She always overcomes me. She apprehends too quickly. She has the most beautiful musical organization I ever met with in my life. I shall bring her out at eighteen, and I only ask Providence to bless me with life till then. In three years we shall have a Malibran.' " Miss Violette Colv'lle is, we believe, the niece and adopted daughter of Miss Mary Provost, who, during a brief career in London some years ago, left in the minds of playgoers many brilliant and touching souvenirs. The fact that her protege will enjoy the benefit of Miss Provost's histrionic skill and experienc* will increase the expectations which the debut of M. Wartel's new pupil will excite. The Queen's Bridesmaids. — Our lady readers possibly may feel interested in learning what has since become of the twelve young ladies whom Her Majesty some nine-and-t won ty years ago chose as her bridesmaids, and who carried the Royal train in the Chapel Royal on the day of her marriage to the late Prince Consort, February 10, 1840. Two of them wero married during that year ; Lady Mary A. F. Grimstdn to Viscount Folkestone, eldest son of the Earl of Radnor, and Lady Elizabeth A. G. Howard to the Hon. and Rev. F. K. Gray. Two others were married in 1841, Lady Frances E. Cowper to Viscount Joctlyn, eldest son of the Earl of Roden, and Lady Ida 11. Hay to Viscount Campden, now Earl of Gainsborough ; in 1542 Lady Sarah F. C. Villiera married Prince Nicholas Eiaterhazy : in 1843 Lady Catherine L. W. Stanhope married Lord Dalmeny, eldest son of the Earl of Roseberry ; in 1844 Lady Elizabeth West married Mr F. C. Hastings Russell, heir presumptive to the dukedom of Bedford ; in 1847 Lady Jane Harriet Bouverie married Mr William Ellis, and Lady Rleanora C. Paget married Sir Sandford Graham, Bart. ; in 1849 Lady Mary Charlotte Howard married Lord Foley, and Lady Caroline A . Lennox married the Earl of Bessborough ; aud lastly, in 1851, Lady Adelaide Faget married the Hon. F. W. Cadogan. Of these fair ladies three are dead — Lady Gainsborough, the Princess Esterhazy, and Lady E Graham ; one of them, Lady Jocelyn, is a widow ; and one of them, Lady Dalmeny, having remained some years a widow, is now '-Duchess of Cleveland. Dr. Livinß9tone. — The following letter from Sir Roderick J. Murchison, appears in The Times of April 20 : — The intelligence from the Cape of Good Hope which has appeared in The Times and other newspapers, that Dr Livingstone had arrived nt Zanzibar in January, and had proceeded homewards, is, I regret to state, entirely contradicted by information which I possess. I have a letter from Dr Kirk at Zanzibar, dated the sth of March last, and at that time no news whatever respecting the great traveller had been received for a long period. Judging from his own letters of December 14, 1807, and also from the intelligence, derived from Arab traders, I waa led last year to believe that he was proceeding along the eastern shore of the Lake Tanganyika, and that at the place called Ujiji he would meet with provisions, medicine, and letters, which were sent thither fromZanzibar. But this view can no longer be entertained, for Dr Kirk informs me; that j ivory traders have recently arrived from the very region in question and heard nothing of him. In this dilemma I may suggest the following hypothetical explanation :— lf Livingstone when at the southern end of the Lake Tanganyika satisfied himself that its waters were about 1300 feet above the sea, ns stated by Burton and Speke. he would necessarily infer that they could not flaw northwards into the much higher equatorial lakes. In this case he would abandon the northern route, in which it wos supposed he might find the waters of the Tanganyika flowing into the Albert Nyanza of Baker. Having alao ascertained that the Tanganyika was fed by rivers flowing from the south and the east, it would be evident under these circumstances that this vast body of fresh water (300 miles in length) must find its way to the west, and he would then follow the river or rivers which issue on the west coast of Africa. Under thia supposition he may be flrst heard of from one of the Western Portuguese settlements, or even from those on the Congo. If this view be entertained, we cannot be expected to hear of Livingstone for some time to come, as the distance he would have to traverse is vast and the region unknown. Again, this hypothesis explains why no intelliuence whatever respecting him has been received at Zanzibar, inasmuch, as he has been travelling through a vast country, the inhabitants of which havo no communication with the eastern coast. While, however, I correct the erroneous intelligence. which has just arrived, I beg your readers to understand, that I etill entertain a well-founded hope that my distinguished- friend— thanks to his iron frame and undying energy — will vjsßue from Africa on .the .same shore al; which, afteir a "very long "absence; ue reappeared aft*!, liis first great traverse of Southern Africa.

A Matrimonial Proposal. — The Southern Cross of June 15, has tne following • — lt has been left for a mere colonist at the antipodes lo mark out a new cou'se in the shape of an application for the situation of son-in-law. As our readers are aware, the discovery of gold at the Thames has made Taipari a very wealthy man, and, aa a perfectly natural result, many enterprising young bachelors have anxiously looked toward his daughters as highly eligible partner.-. Amongst others " a young Eoglis'iman of good testimonials and decent education '* has suddenly been smitten with a desire to place *' W. H. Taipari, Esq.." in the revered position o? father-in-law, and the following letter by •' T. P. C." (the " Young Englishman," &c.) has been addressed to that re • doubtable " chief:—" Sbortland, May 17, 1869. W. H. Taipara, Esq. — Sir,— -I have been informed that you were desirous to becomo acquainted with a respectable European with the view of contrnc.'ng a marriage wiih your daughter. Now, I have not seen auy advertisement myself, and if I have been misinformed by otheis I hops you will be kind enough to let me know by post whether such has been the case or not. If it has been the case, I, as a respectable young Englishman, of good testimonials, aud decent education, would be glad to. have further correspondence with you regarding the matter. Trusting you will pardon the liberty I have taken ia addressing you.—l am, &c. Address :T. P. C, P. 0., Shortlaud." Hoaxing the Pope with a Valentive. — A case has just come to our knowledge which is probably without parallel in the anna's of St. Valentine. Six young ladies in an English boardiug school — two of them hailing from the North — purchased a very pretty valentine, which they sent directed to "■' His Holiness the Pope, Rome." Accom« pariying the valentine was a letter, signed by all the young ladies, stating that they had seen his Holiness's condemnations of chignons and long dresses, and had been so impressed by it that they had given up both. The young ladies waited patiently, and in due time received a letter from Cardinal A ntonelli acknowledging receipt of valentine and epistle, which had afforded his Holiness much gratification. The letter was in French. The young ladies were delighted to get an epistle from such an exalted prelate. However, another post brought back their valentine, with the Pope's blessing, beautifully written upon it in Italian. His Holiness had not been accustomed to such souvenirs, and thought it would be doubly valuable returned with his benediction. The young ladies were immensely pleaßed, and are now having the documents lithographed for preservation — the originals to be given to the girl who suggested the affair. It may be added that neither of the young ladies had either taken down her chignon or shortened her dress oneeighth of an inch; the whole matter having been entered into as a joke, although it may seem to some that for a few girls to hoax Hia Holiness Pope Pius IX., and "his great Lord Cardinal of a secretary,: was hoaxing in rather high quarters. The Indo-European Telegraph. — The following ia from The Times : — The scheme projected for effecting communication between England and India by an overland system of telegraphs is likely to be completed within the present- year. When the great engineering difficulties encountered in the progress of the enterprise are considered, such a project must, to all who take an interest in such subjects, be a source of agreeable anxiety and surprise. The obstructions which have presented themselves in the way of transport, and the situation pf the port's from which carriage to required points could be arranged, are also to be regarded among the obstacles opposed to the speedy completion of the scheme. The line from London to Nordeney, which constitutes part of the' system, are in working order, and from Nordeney to Thorn, on the Prusso Russian frontiers, two wires are being constructed by the Prussian Government. From Thorn to Balta, vii Warsaw, the Bection will consist of 800 miles of line, which will be laid on pofts of heavy timber, principally of eak. From Balta the system wilt be continued via Odessa to Kertch, on through the Crimea to Ecaterneador, and thence to a point which will correspond with the northern end.of the Black. Sea cable. This section, which will, as far as regards the land part, be constructed on iron posts, will be about 750 miles in length, and will comprise two cables — one 16 miles long, which will be submerged in the Strait* of Kertch, and another; four mileß long, which will cross the river Dnieper. The continuation of the system proceeds towards -Tefiis and thence to Teheran, where it will join existing lines. In its course it may be added that it will- comprise a three wire cable of < about 100 miles in lepgtb, ending at Souchum J Kaleb, the conductors of which will be of stranded wire covered with alternate layers of the mixture now known among scientific men as Chatterton's compound and guttapercha, and will weigh a little over 2701 b. per knot. In ordtr that the meaus of communication with India may be as complete as possible, it iB intended to improve the Jineß at present constructed from Teheran to India. These agencies of correspondence proceed from Teheran via Ispahan and Shiraz to Bushire, on the Persian. Gulf, and from that point to Kurrachee. The improvements to which reference lias been made will include the substitution of iron for wooden posts on the lines from Teheran, the submergence of a cable about "soo"miles long, from Bushire to Jask, and the completion of. a land line from Jask to Kurrachee. The result of these extensions will be that two cablesbet ween Bushire and Jask and a cable and a land lino from I Jssk to Kurrachee. will duplicate the facilities ef communication through the whole of the Persian Gulf. The shore ends of the Black Sea cable, which will probably be laid during the approaching Bummer, are to be sheathed with lieavy galvanized iron wlre3 protected by tarred jute. -.The section-of which Teheran, will form the eastern -terminus will, it is expected; tre completed by tfae v end of next July. Meanwhile tha project for establishing com-

plete submarine communication between this country and India is being vigorously promoted. Of the probable results of the competition of the rival systems there are but few data at present upon which to erect an opinion. A Rich Bit. — An Auckland paper has the following: — One of tbe richest specimens ever taken from the Thames goldfield isa piece of quartz exactly io£ lb3 weight, taken from the lode now being worked in the Long Drive claim. It is broken in two piecea, and presents the appearance of stone completely saturated through and through with gold. The amount of gold contained in tliese two pieces of stone hss been estimated by the principle discovered by Archimedes, or, as it is best known by the teim specific gravity, and is. found to be ju*t S6 ounces. We have thus s'otie, and in no small quai.ity, yielding some 66 per cent, of gold. We should be sorry to see such stone broken up for tbe sake of the gold contained iv it, and would . recommend that it be sent, as found, to EngHud, where ifc will be an object oi no little admiration and interest, as coming from the the claim into which the Duke of Edinburgh . has bo recent'y bought a large interest. It will thus be seen by thousands of persons, and the very persons at home whom it will be desirable to impress with a favourable idea of the wealth and value of our goldflelds. All that we need lo render this province the largest gold producing country in the world, is the investment of capital on our miles and miiea of teeming reef", and no better evidence of the forLunes to be realised by such '--vestment can be found than the very claim from which this stone has been taken. ; Early when the Thames Goldfield was' opened, the Long Drive was commenced. For some time the original shareholders worked industriously along, ' but no return rewaided them. They drove far into the hill-side, and at last struck quartz in which a little gold could be seen, and but little. Still the claim continued to be worked, though by a different party, and still returned little, while others about it, more recently opened, gave good dividends. At last the lode was struck; shares not worth £5 rose to £50, and a claim which for eighteen months struggled hard to hold its way, can now boast of being second to none at the Thames, and even to surpass Hunt's claim ."itself. It was at this price that the Duke of Edinburgh bought in. He has left here ' but a short time, and shares have risen from ■fifty to seventy, and sland now st eighty pounds, with an upward tendency. We hear that the lucky shareholders will receive a dividend this week of about £7 per scrip. .- San Francisco and Austkalasia. — The San Francisco Bulletin has the following :— There has recently been a consolidation of coast steamship interests in this city, placing the ownership more largely in local hands, and the direction entirely so. It is strange that local steamship enterprise has not moved to occupy the new field whicli must soon open in the direction of Australia and New Zealand. The service between those coun- - tries and Panama haviug been abandoned by the English company which undertook it without sufficient capital, the way is open for an American company to put steamships on the shorter, more economical, and more promising route, between Australia and San Francisco. This route, would not only effect a saving of a week or ten days on each trip, and consequently a great saving in fuel and interest,- but it "would connect the flourishing cities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland with the metropolis of Western America, and with the most direct mail and J passenger route to Europb. All • the "facts in support of this . assertion have been too recently detailed in '' oflr column^ to need repetition. We refer to them- only to enforce tlie remark that the business" which aivaits the establishment of this line ought to be in American hands, and ought to be centralised in i-an Francisco. So . much Surpluß capital . is accumulating here now that there is no difficulty in the way of securing for this city the ownership of all tbe ocean steamship lines tbat may hereafter be needed. Our steam marine must constantly increase, and it offers one of the finest inducement fot wise local investment that can be magined. The example of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company Bhows how a colossal property may.be built up from comparatively ' small beginnings. The local company that will establish a steam line to Australia, may find it eventually far more profitable than investments in a score of uncertain mines. Congress could be positively relied upon to aid an enterprise , promising so much benefit to American commerce, and the traffic of what must one day be an independent English empire already invites it. A city with the advantages and aspirations of San Francisco ought not to be always dependent upon the ether side of the continent for the means of carrying on its commerce. It will realise more: rapidly, its imperial dreams when it becomes broader and longer sighted in its enterprise. The capitalists who shall first gain control of steamship routes on the Pacific, who shall first establish steamship building as one of the local manufactures, will lay. the foundation of immense fortunes ahd honourable reputations. It would be ; pleasant to see this opportunity embraced by those who have laboured here, and who have , risen with the State itself. If these refuse to do what they might, new-comers will be more • sagacious j for it is not in the fates that San Francisco should remain an appanage of New ■ Tork in respect to the means of conveying . . and .. extending its foreign business. As • : California has its Stanfords,Huntingtons,and Crockets in railways! so it should have its Webbß,'C6lliHses, and Vanderbilts in ocean 6teamers. • __^