Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 353, 1 July 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

Diorama of the Apocalypse. — Notwithstanding the heavy showers and hoisterous wind last night, there was a large attendance at the Town Hall to witness this entertainment. The usual series of prizes were distributed. Hals-well. — The second monthly entertainment in aid of the school funds took place on Tuesday evening. Mr J. Murray occupied the chair. Mr J. Ollivier kindly exhibited bis sketches of a trip across the Channel, and the band of the Royal Irish C.R.V. added to the eclat by discoursing their strains to the appreciative audience assembled. The readings, &c, were in Mr Ollivier's happiest style, and the music was excellent. Notwithstanding the short time the Royal Irish band lias been in existence their playing is very creditable, and the time wonderfully good. They were led by Mr Baldwin, the bandmaster, who also gave two solos on the concertina, which were deservedly well received. The whole went off without the slightest hitch, and at the close Mr Murray moved a vote of thanks to Mr Ollivier and the band, which was carried with rounds of applause. The arrangements were ably carried out by Messrs G. Sandrey and Elwin. The room was crowded by at least 200 people. Board of Conservators. — The Board met yesterday, at 12 o'clock. Present : All the members, except Messrs Anderson and Peacock. In reply to a letter of the Engineer, the Board agreed to provide a portable house for his use while in the field. The tenders for the construction of Embankment No. 4, above Mr Brabazon's, were opened. The following were received: — Wm. Hall, ll£d per cubic yard ; John Jebson, Is do ; Charles Lewis, l!d do ; Thomas Partridge, ll£-d do ; Henry Jackson, Is do ; Rosser and Parish, ll^d do ; Wm. Secomb, Hid do. The tender of Charles Lewis was accepted, two months to be allowed for completion. It was decided that the advertisement calling for tenders for the construction of the proI tective works at the end of No. 2 Embankment,' should be inserted iv the Lyttdton Times and Press on July Ist, 2nd, and 3rd. The following accounts were ordered to be be paid :— F. Morse (wages as chaiunian), £9 9s; D: McCarthy (do), £12 12s. The temporary account with the Bank of New Zealand, was ordered to be paid and closed. The Board then adjourned to July 7th. XRiccauton Anniversary Festival. — Tuesday last, being St Peter's Day, aud the eleventh anniversary of the dedication of the Church in' Ibis Parish, was kept by the inhabitants with unusual rejoicings. Divine service way celebrated chorally to Tallis's music at ' six o'clock, the responses beiug rendered by the parish choir, strengthened by one or t\v"o gentlemen from neighbouring parishes. Proper Psalms were snug, and lessons read suitable for the daj^J The service commenced with some verses of Hymn 224, to the' fine tune by Monk (Hymns. Ancient and Modern), the other Hymns being '• Jerusalem the Golden," and " The Strain Upraise," from the same collection The Bishop was present, and before giving the Blessing, made a short address to the large congregation assembled, pointing out the suitableness of the service in which they had been engaged to the festive occasion which hud brought them together, and the duty of dedicating all their powers of body and miud to the service of God. The con.- 1 gregatiou then adjourned to the schoolroom, which bad been effectively decorated with flags and evergreens, and tea aud refreshments, generously and abundantly provided by a uumber of lady parishioners, were bauded round. This proved no easy task, as the room was' crammed in every part, and a passage whs with difficulty obtained. Tea being over, the Rev. O. Boweu briefly explained the occasion and objects of the present festive meeting, and then the company was entertained by a concert, in which glees and songs were sung by members of the parish choir. A noticeable feature in the programme was an appropriate song called " Winter Time," set to a pretty German air, in which the children took the leading part. Two performances by Miss Taylor on the concertina,' one with pianoforte accompaniment, were much and deservedly appreciated by the audience, the latter receiving an encore. Two' readings were given during the evening, the first a short paper by Mr C. C. Bowen on the cultivation of the sense of the artistic and beautiful in the concerns of cvery-day life in the colony, which contained a happy mixture of the light and the instructive, and was' listened to apparently with much interest. ' The other was Tennyson's 'Grandmother," admirably given by the Rev J. 08. Hoarc, which seemed to take the fancy' of the aildieucc amazingly. Before the close of the proceedings, the Bishop, in a few kindly' words, proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies and' "gentlemen who had provided the'entertsiinment, which was carried by acclamation.. After singing " God save the Queen," the party dispersed to their homes a little before ten o'clock by the light of the newly-riseß moon, much delighted apparently with the successful issue of their anniversary festival. There "were nearly 200 persons present. " ■■■-

Mandka. — A Nelson paper says that Mr Redwood's horse has grown considerably since he was in Canterbury, and that he is "really a magnificent animal." The Incoming English Mail. — The Suez May mail is due at Melbourne on Ji'\y S. It will be brought on to New Zealand by the Rangitoto, via Hokitika, and is due there on July 13.