Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 467, 15 November 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

HortTiccLTUßAL.— The Spring show of the Lyttelton society will take place to-morrow, in- the Colonists' Hall. There will also be au exhibition of poultry, local arts and manufactures, in the lower rooms. A promenade concert will take place in the evening. A special train will leave Christchurch at 7 p.m.,' and return at 10.30 p.m. Brcswicic v. Kaiapoi Borougii Council — The following private telegram has been received in Christchurch, with reference to the above case :— " Kaiapoi appeal dismissed, but without costs; Judge Johristone (dissenting) of opinion that declaration incunibly ; fe id, even after verdict, and that judgment must be set aside on writ of error. Appeal only dismissed because error was proper course." It would appear from this that the .^defendants, the Kaiapoi Borough Council, would have gained the decision if they had proceeded by error instead of appeal. Well may we say— Oh I the glorious uncertainty of law ! Kaiapoi Borough Council. — This Council met on Tuesday last, the Mayor, Councillors i Hall, Kerr, and Nielsen being present. The Council adjourned till Friday evening, at which time the Pound committee were instructed to bring up their report On Friday evening there were present the Mayor. Councillors Birch, Dudley, Hall, Oram, and Nielsen. Mr Day made the declaration as provided by the Municipal Act, 1867. The Pound committee obtained a further extension of time. It resolved that, at next meeting, the Council would take into consideration the advisability of memorialising the Government, prayiug for the line of railway to pass through or contiguous to the borough.

Poultry Show. — It has :b;een. resolved to hold a show.: of poultry iri the lower room of the Colonists' Hall, on the same day as the Horticultural Society's show. As this is the first show of this kind in Lyttelton, we hope it will meet with success. . The Ross. — The Ro s correspondent of our Hokitika contemporary says : —The Ross United Steam Drainage Company are getting along very rapidly. The whole of the woodwork of the engine-beds is completed, and they have to-day (Wednesday) commenced to put on the ironwork, and have started to prepare the boiler-beds for their reception. The whole of the machinery is now on the ground, and they expect, if the weather is at all favourable, to be able to get up steam about Christmas. — We understand that a meeting of representatives of the various rowing clubs and others interested in boating, is about to be held in Christchurch. The business proposed is, to make arrangements for the regattas at Lyttelton, Christchurch, and Kaiapoi, for the present;__seasoji3i There is no doubt that the interest evinced at the recent contest in England will give additional zest to the competition among our boating men this season, and bring the full share of. public support to our national pastime. Mining Reserve. — A ■ provincial Gazette issued on Saturday notifies the following reserve under the Canterbury Temporary Mining Reserves Act, 1869:— Six hundred and forty acres, more or less, partly situate on run No. 333 in the Upper Waimakariri country, commencing at a point south-west of Coralinn Station, and distant therefrom one mile thirty-two chains; thence following a straight' line bearing S. 88deg. 30min. W. (mag.), a distance of eighty chains; and extending south-westerly a distance of eighty chains in a rectangular block; so as to include quxrtz reefs. Thh Puii.hahsio.vic Society.— At a general meeting of memb'e-rs held on Friday evening, the president- (Mr Rowley) after giving a sketch of the progress of the Society since its establishment, said that although commenced under no great pretensions, it had increased in members until there were now 100 on the books, twenty new ones having joined that evening. He expressed a desire to resign his office in favour of a gentleman whose social position would enable him to lead the way to still greater prosperity. He would therefore suggest that the Rev. G. Eraser be requested to accept the presidency of the Society. A motion to this effect was theu put and unanimously carried, a committee also being appointed to wait upon Mr Fraser. This was subsequently done, and we are glad to learn that the invitation of the Society was complied with. It has been decided that the oratorio Judas Macabams, should be next taken in hand by the members. The Moonlight Reefs. — The Greymouth paper says:— Very satisfactory news has been brought to town from the Golden Hill claim, which adjoins the famous Moonlight claim, and also holds ground on the opposite • side of the creek. Practical miuers have been at work for some weeks 'going over this company's ground, and last week they came across two quartz reefs, one of them three feet wide, on the opposite side of the creek from the- Moonlight claim. A piece of quartz, large enough to be easily carried in the hand, was knocked off the reef and brought to town. It was tested by experienced persons in a mortar, and gave a first-rate prospect, fine gold being seen in abundance. The result was considered so very satisfactory that men have been put on to sink on the reef and drive, in order that it may be fully tested. The whole of the company's ground lias riot yet been gone over, and something better may yet be struck. Spouting. — By our latest Australian files, we learn that in the first day's racing, Misfortune was not placed in the Hotham Handicap, and that Peeress was second in the Essendon Stakes, Warrior, winner of the cup being first. The Australasian of November G, describing the race, says : — On the fall of the flag, Warrior and the favourite got off first, with Peeress last, but before they had gone 100 yards the New Zealand mare was tap in front, and led past/ the stand, with Warrior close at her heeljgf Paladin last, outpaced. Going along the river side, the two leaders close together went right away, and at the old stand were n dozen lengths in front of Glencoe, who was labouring to keep up a respectable position with his heavy weight, the Fair I- Hen filly and Saladin all behind. They raced thus to the two-mile post, when Warrior forged ahead of: Peeress, and coming, up the straight M'Glashan called on Peeress without effect, as Warrior won hands down by a length and] a half. No others were placed. Time, 3m ' 5 1 sec. The distance was two miles. Tnu New Rhefs in Otago.— " An Old Reefer," in an Otago contemporary, speaking of the Bendigo Gully reefsj says:— The last sensation up to this date has been the successful striking of a reef in continuation of Goodger and Co.'s, and situate some quarter of a mile from the Aurora, running in v parallel direction, the stone of which surpasses everything yet discovered in this part of the country. The lucky shareholders— Messrs Gillies, Hughes, Charnock, Ryan, Hawthorne, aud Atfield— have great expectations. The stone has been tried nearly the whole length of their claim (600 ft), and in every instance where prospected very rich specimens have been extracted. Numerous visitors from Clyde, Cromwell, and other places, have come down from this with small mantelpiece ornaments, in the shape of golden specimens, most of which have come from this recent discovery. Being acquainted with the shareholders, I selected a small piece of stone weighing four ounces, . and ou my return pounded the same, when it yielded two and a half grains, "or a total result of 460z 13dwt to the ton. I was informed that Goodger and Co. had proffered a trial crushing, and when this

takes place there is no doubt that the result will surpass any previous crushing in Otago. One of the original shareholders in the claim, named Hughes, after working only eight days, was offered the sum of £250 for a working share, being one-sixth, which he immediately accepted. Mr Brian Ebden of Goodger's party was the purchaser. Al though very tempting offers have been nude to the other shareholders in the claim, none of them have felt disposed to accept. I may mention that a bona fide offer of £600 has since been refused for a share. During my stay I visited several claims just marked out, whose owners appeared very sanguine of success. The ground was taken up some two miles along the supposed line, and everything had a very busy appearance. Reefs at Taipo.-^-Ouc Hokitika contemporary of Nov. 10 says : — A party of men, who have been out prospecting for. Dr Dermot, returned to town yesterday, bringing with them a very fair specimen of quartz, in which the gold was plainly discernible. The stone was got from the same reef as that shown by Blake and party, -who have applied for a lease of a large quantity of ground in its vicinity. It appears there are three parties on the same reef, which is a very extensive one. The same paper has the following on Nov. 12 : — Some specimens of stone from the Taipo were shown in town yesterday. We understand they had been taken from the same reef, but at a different part, as that from which specimens were brought down by Blake and party and Dermot. and party. The gold is plainly discernible in the stone, but it is not at all rich, but we believe the specimens shown our reporter were not as good as some which had been got. We have seen some specimens of quartz from the Taipo, recently brought to Christchurch. The specimens showed a very fair quantity of good gold.