Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 488, 9 December 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

<•*•*• Waimate. — Theßightßev. Primate visited this district on Sunday last, Dec. 5. His Lordship Jpreached two sermons, and the services were attended by large and attentive audiences. It iS in contemplation to place a clergyman in the district permanently. Music. — We understand that at their second concert, the Christchurch Musical Society will give " The Messiah." Wednesday in Christmas week (December 22nd) is the date understood to be fixed for the concert. The last practice for voices specially, is held this evening. Meetings of Creditors. — Three meetings were to have been held before Mr Richard Davis yesterday, but two of them— Re Jacob Waeckerle, who surrendered and obtained his protection, and Charles Berkeley Wells — were adjourned until Wednesday next. In the matter of Charles Turner, the estate was declared vested in the provisional trustee. The liabilities are £262 9s Bd, and the assets £449 7s 9d ; surplus, £186 18s ld. Thb Ross. — The Hokitika paper of Dec. 4 says : — From Ross we hear that the works of the Drainage Company are progressing most satisfactorily, and before Christmas, everything is expected to be completed. The pump shaft is down sixty feet, and three of the four boilers are in position; the fourth is en the ground, and will soon be in its place. The engine is being rapidly and carefully put together, and the manner in which the whole is being done, reflects the greatest credit on those engaged. Kaiapoi Bonotjon Council. — The usual weekly meeting was held on Tuesday last. Present : The Mayor, Councillors Kerr, Hall, Dudley, Newnham, Day, and Oram. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Copies of outward correspondence were submitted. The clerk laid a financial statement for 1869-70 on the table, together with a list of defaulters for rates. In answer to the Mayor, the clerk stated that the amount of outstanding rates recoverable was about £100. Councillor Oram took exception to the balancesheet published for the information of the burgesses ; he considered it had not gone before the ratepayers in an intelligible manner. The auditor's fees £1 ls, were passed and ordered to be paid, and the Council adjourned till Wednesday next, at noon, when the annual meeting for election of Mayor will take place. Board of Conservators. — The Board met yesterday at 12 o'clock. Present— the Chairman, Messrs Anderson, Fisher, and Peacock. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman reported that the works resolved upon at the last meeting had been constructed at No. 2 embankment, and that the bank was now safe. The following accounts were ordered to be paid : — Busb, sundries, 19s 9d ; W. Cudden, for corn-sacks, £1 16s ; Harrop, for the Spreydon rate roll, £2 2s ; Riccarton Road Board, for the rate roll, £2 2s ; W. Widdowson, balance for pile work, £112 15s. Repairs to No. 2 embankment, £131 16s ; Montgomery and Co., for timber, £12 7s 8d ; Cooper, for cutting scrub, £4 2s 3d ; Murphy, do, £5 3s 3d ; Redcliffe, for carting sacks, £2 ; Taylor and Co., for cornsacks, £31 5s ; engineer's salary to Dec. 7, £25 ; overseer's wages to Nov. 27, £14 ; Anderton, for carting, £2 10s ; survey labour, £13 6s ; W. Hall, for groin at No. 1 embankment, £43 7s. The Board then adjourned to Wednesday, Dec. 22, at the usual hour. Riccarton Road Board. — The ordinary meeting of this Board was held yesterday, all the members being present : Mr Shand, Chairman. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The following correspondence was read and considered : — Letter from the Board of Conservators, requesting a copy of the Rate Roll of the district, with account for same. The Clerk reported that he had furnished the Roll as requested. Letter from Dr Back, asking permission to lower the culvert on the Millrace Road so as to drain the water from the low place on the Merrivale Road. The Board resolved that they could not entertain Dr Back's request without the consent of the freeholders and tenants affected by the diversion of the water. Mr Ma ldison applied for an extension of time to the end of April, to clear the gorse on the roads fronting his properties. The Board declined to grant the request. Letter from the Provincial Secretary, stating that on the recommendation of the Board, his Honor the Superintendent had appointed the Surveyor to the Board (Mr N. Ellis). Thistle Inspector, under the Thistle Ordinance, 1866. A petition was received from Messrs Claridge, Buckley, Goodland, and twelve others, requesting the Board to form the road from Higham's corner to Buckley's. The Surveyor reported on the roads most requiring formation in the dis-

trict. Teridett'foHthe formation of the following were ordered to-be invited by Saturday the 18th .insfr:— The Middleton accommodation road,' a portion of the Kaiapoi and Prebbleton junction, road, and": the road referred to byythe above petitioners. The Surveyor reported that the contracts for the formation of Godwin's road, the Wairarapa road, and a portion of the Kaiapoi and Prebbleton junction road had all been completed satisfactorily ; also, that a portion of the Papanui and Washbourn drains had been cleared out. The Surveyor was directed to have the ditches on the Riccarton road cleaned out ; also, to report en the cost of a footbridge over the Avon, between Messrs' Duncan's and O'Callaghan's properties. After passing accounts for work done, the Board adjourned to Saturday, the 18th inst. j Eoropean News.— The Argus telegraphic summary of news by the mail contains seve- j ral items of interest not referred to in the telegrams furnished to the New Zealand! papers. From these we select the following: " The Earl of Derby is seriously ill, and gradually sinking. — M. de Lesseps has steamed through the entire Suez Canal in 15 hours.— The Cesarewitch Stakes were won by Cherie, John Davis second, Provider third. — The Emperor Napoleon has accepted the invitation of the Czar to visit Russia in 1870. — The consequences of conducting war under a divided authority are forcibly pointed out in Lord Granville's despatch by the mail to the Governor of New Zealand.— The cultivation of opium in China is said to be rapidly increasing. The trade is licensed by the Government, although prohibitions against it remain in force. — The prosperity of Mauritius is improving. The sugar mills are in active operation, and the weather is favourable for the manufacture. The yield equals expectation, while the quality is said to be superior to that of any previous year. The prices are remunerative, and average 2s more than last year."