Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 382, 4 August 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

Prospecting. —We are informed that several parties are prospecting in the Ashley river bed, working up towards the hills. Winter Readings. — The sixth of the series will take place in the Colonist Hall, to-morrow evening. A capital programme has been issued. /<The Domain. — Considerable damage to the plants in this public resort is occasioned by visitors walking on the borders. The evil might be to a great extent remedied if anxious mothers would instruct their treasures of nurses to prevent their little charges from playing hide and seek amongst the shrubs on the borders, and charge their schoolboy sons not to play leap-frog in the same vicinity. However comical it might be to read of a poor lost little innocent being discovered in one of the traps set for the capture of the escaped hare, the reality would ' be doubtless undesirabhL

Pardon. — A- -free .'pardon was received yesterday by Mr Reston, for Mrs Emily Needham, convicted for uttering forged cheques , Discovert of a Body.— On Wednesday, July 28, a party collecting drift-wood on the river-bed of the Rakaia, about half-a-raile from Lavington station, discovered the body of a man lying high and dry on the shiuglebed. It had appareutly been lying there for upwards of six months, as it was a complete skeleton. Portions of the clothes were on the body, and the trousers were in a fair state of preservation. The remains are supposed to be those of a man named Doby, who was drowned at the Upper Rakaia ferry some time ago. The body was lying with the face downwards, and there remains nothing but the clothes by which to identify it. Steps are being taken to hold an inquest. Prospecting Company. — *A meeting of the committee was held at Mr Deßourbel's office at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mr D. Craig presided, aud all the members were present. Another pack-horse was ordered to be purchased. The mining manager's report was read, which stated that he had placed and visited three of the prospecting parties, and intended to proceed next day to visit the fourth party in the north. A long and warm discussion ensued concerning the recent action of the Government in reserving the land on tlie Peninsula. Ultimately, a committee, consisting of Messrs D. Craig, Ollivier, W. R. Mitchell, Deßourbel, Cowlishaw, and W. Wilson, was appointed to wait upon the Government to ascertain in what position the Company stands with regard to prospectors' claims, &c. Baptist Anniversary. — The first anniversary of the Baptist Tabernacle, Hereford street, was celebrated last night by a tea and public meeting. The former was laid at six o'clock* and upwards of two hundred persons partook of it, there being also a good attendance during the subsequent proceedings. The Rev W. Pole presided, and having remarked briefly upon the events of the year, called upon Mr Cricks to read the financial statement. From this it appeared that in addition to meeting all ordinary expenses connected with the Tabernacle, the debt of £225 on the building at the commencement of the year had been reduced by £100. This was regarded under the peculiar circumstances of the period as very satisfactory, and the Rev R. Powell, Messrs R. Pole, Norris, and i Maury (Akaroa), who addressed the meeting, urged the members of the church to continue j their endeavours to remove the debt, so that next year might find them free and untrammelled by pecuniary troubles. The meeting terminated with the Benediction about ten o'clock. Popular Entertainments. — Another of these entertainments was given at the Town Hall last evening. There was a very large attendance, arid the entertainment, to judge from the enthusiasm of the audience, was highly appreciated. The readings consisted of the soiree of the Footmen of Bath, to which " Sam Weller is an invited guest," by Mr Nottidge ; " The Coronation " from Ingoldsby, by Mr A. C. Cottrell ; and " Mrs Bs Alarms," from Household Words, by Mr Marshman. The drum and fife band of the Orphan Asylum played a couple of airs, which were loudly applauded. Miss Ward's song was encored, and so was the pianoforte duet by Mesdames Bird and Crawley. By far the greatest treat of the evening, was a trio, arranged from Boieldieu's, " Caliph of Bagdad," performed by Messrs Biinz (violin), Spensley (violineello), and Packer (pianoforte). It was charmingly executed, and so highly appreciated by the audience that it was re-demanded. Mr Zeesler sang "On the Banks of the Genesee," and was applauded ; and Mr CottrelPs Irish comic song (parody on the low-backed car) was encored, and responded to with "Widow Malone." The National Anthem concluded the entertainment. Riccarton Road Board. — The ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was held yesterday at their office, Cashel street west; all members present ; Mr Shand, chairman. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, A letter was read from the Board of Conservators, asking the cooperation of this Board iv preparing the necessary rate roll, and collecting the rates, and offering five per cent, to do the work. The Board resolved to comply with the request, provided that, should the expenses exceed the amount named in their letter, the Board of Conservators will guarantee the same. A letter was read from. Mr Fereday, complaining of the water being backed up upon his property ou the Fendaltown road, and requesting the Board to put a culvert across the road at the corner of section 1 8, so as to remedy the evil. The Board resolved that, as the road referred to was a private road and not dedicated to the Board, the inhabitants should subscribe the amount required for the culvert, or, in default, the Board would cut through the road and leave the drain open. The request of E. Hack for ten loads of gravel for his gateway on the Harewood road was granted. A letter was read from Mr Brunsden, offering his services to assess the distr'ct on the same terms as last year. The Board resolved that the sum of £10 be offered to Mr Brunsden to make the assessment, and, in the event of his not accepting these terms, that the Surveyor to the Board be empowered to do the work at the same rate.-iA letter was read from the Commissionerof Crown Lands relative to the reopening of the Carlton mill-race, and stating that he did not consider it was in the power of any person or body of persons to re-open the said mill-race, or to divert the water of the river from its proper channel without the permission of the Crown or an Act of the General Assembly. A numerously signed petition of the ratepayers of the district was presented, requesting the Chairman to call a public meeting to consider the advisability of ..reopening the Carlton Mill-race, which has been recently closed by the Board^ It

was resolved that a meeting, as requested should be held in accordance with clause 44 of the Roads Ordinance, 1864, and that the Chairman give public notice of the time and place at which such meeting take place. The Surveyor reported that in accordance with a resolution of the Board, he had made an arrangement with E. Jesson for the repair and maintenance of the Harewood Road for a {period of three months. Also, that the drainage near Dilloway's had been completed, and that the wheelrnts on the newly gravelled roads had been raked in. The Surveyor was directed to examine and report by next Board day on the best method of filling in the Mill-race road to its proper width, and' cost of same. The state of the Harewodd road, by Papanui, having been brought before the Board, it was proposed by/Mr O'Callaghan, seconded by Mr Shand, that the Surveyor be directed to make arrangements for about 100 yards of gravel to be spread where most required. After passing accounts for work done, the Board adjourned until Tuesday, the 7th of September next.