Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 490, 11 December 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

» Accident. — An accident occurred a few 9 di\£s ago at the South Selwyn. It appears that Mr Watson's daughter, two years of age, was playing with the chaff-cutting machine along with her brother, who was turning the machine. She put her hand into the box to take hold of a piece of flax, when one of the knives caught her hand, and tore away por tfons of the fingers. Mr Miller, of Leeston, was summoned to attend the case, and he found that amputation of the fingers was necessary. Mr Miller amputated the four fingers at once, and the child has been doing well ever since. >f agisterial. — Mary Stayth, a young respectable-looking girl, was brought up before C; i\ Bowen,Esq.,E,.M.,at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court, this mornirig, on a charge of lunacy, and was committed to the ; Lunatic Asylum, on the joint certificate of ttrs.Deamer and Patrick. At the Lyttelton Court, before W. Donald, Esq., R.M., Richard Duggan was charged with deserting from his. vessel, the Hydaspes, on the 2nd November last. Constable Willis proved arresting the prisoner. Capt Babot stated that the prisoner left the vessel without leave. He was sentenced to 14 days' hard labour. '„■•' St. Paul's Schoolroom, Papaxm.— On Tuesday evening, Dec. 7, a parish tea meeting was held in the above room, to welcome the Rev John Foulger, who came out in the Zealandia to take part in the ministerial duties of the parish. It unfortunately began to rain just before the time appointed for the tea, which prevented a great many people from attending. The following ladies presided at the trays — Mesdames Abbott, Courage, Cox, Jennings, Lane, Moore, Mayo, Maddison, Norman, Rhodes, and Twentyinau; and they provided most ample supplies of good things, to which full justice was done by those who were not deterred by the ■w gather. Great credit is indeed due to these .iftdies, who, having promised to provide frrays, fulfilled their promise under such disadvantageous circumstances. There wereabout .150 persons present, who appeared to enjoy themselves very much. After tin tables had been cleared, the meeting was ad-

dressed by the Revds L. Moore, Foulger, Martin, and Mr Twentyman. Headings were also given, and between the addresses some pieces of music were effectually contributed by the united choirs of Papanui and Merivale, accompanied by Mrs Lane on the melodion, which was kindly lent from Merivale for the oocasion. After singing the National Anthem, the meeting broke up about half-past eight. ViPoblic Holiday. — It is notified in a "Provincial Gazelle published yesterday, that on Thursday next, Dec. 16, being the anniversary of the foundation of the settlement, the Public Offices will be closed. Bankruptcy. — His Honor sat in the Court Chambers yesterday. Re John McGregor — An order of adjudication was made, and the meeting of creditors fixed for Monday, the 20th December, at 11 o'clock. The three demurrers were adjourned in consequence of the indisposition of Mr Wynn Williams. j Rangiora Fair. — The fifth of these faya took place yesterday, and was not so well patronised as its promoters had a right to expect. Very fair prices were realised for stores. Most of the stock entered were in splendid condition. The number of entries were: — Cattle, 102; sheep, 50; horses, 50; pigs, a few. A good number of persons bent on business or pleasure were on the ground during the day. These were catered for by Mr Sinclair, of the Junction Hotel. Leeston Races. — The following are the entries for the different events at this meeting, which takes place on Dec. 16 : — Hurdle Race — Mr Marchant's Centurion ; Mr Ranger's Peckhara ; Mr Beecher's Trump. Trial Plate— Mr Blackler's Prince Charlie ; M. N. M'Lean's Gaspar. Ellesmere Plate — Mr Ranger's Peckham ; Mr Webb's Tantrums ; Mr Delamain's Atalanta ; Mr Barnard's Scandal. Leeston Plate — Mr S. Lemon's Little Folly ; Mr TO. Johnstone's Sea Gull ; Mr J. Blackler's Prince Charlie ; Mr Wm. M'llraith's Water Hen. Ellesmere Farmers' Club. — The members of this club held a dinner at Loe's Hotel, Leeston, last evening. There were several invited guests from Christchurch, including his Honor the Superintendent and Messrs E. C. J. Stevens, Jollie, and W. Montgomery. Altogether, between 80 and 90 sat down to a substantial dinner, served by Mr Loe. The chair was occupied by the Rev W. J. G. Bluett, and the vice-chairs by Messrs C. J. Bridge and A. Frankish. After the cloth was removed, the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were drunk with all the honours. The company was afterwards addressed by his Honor the Superintendent and Messrs Jollie, Stevens, and Montgomery. They all expressed themselves in favour of a light line of railway, instead of a tramway, from Rolleston station to Southbridge, following the route laid down by Mr Cyrus Davie; and a resolution to that effect was unanimously adopted. Ferxside School.— On Monday last, the children attending the Fernside Day and Sunday schools, commenced to assemble at the school at an early hour. Mr Blackett's coach and waggon, drawn by three horses each, Arere on the ground by 8.30 a.m. These, together with four other vehicles, accommodated about 80 of the children, aud the whole party, including teachers and a few friends, in all about 100, started by 9 o'clock a.m. for the sea beach, where most of the children had never been before. To the first coach was fixed a red, white, and blue flag, with the inscription " Fernside School," in large letters. To the second, a large b'ue flag with the very suitable inscription, " The march of intellect " on it. The children passed through Rangiora cheering and singing alternately, through Woodend, and when near Kaiapoi, the excursionists went down to the beach, where the children fully enjoyed themselves for the day, returning to Fernside about 7 o'clock. On Tuesday morning, the 7th inst., the inhabitants of this school district met for the purpose of receiving the report of the retiring committee, and to elect a committee to serve during the ensuing year. The report spoke highly of the progress of the school, and the thanks of the meeting was given to the retiring committee. The following committee was elected to serve during the ensuing year: — Messrs D. Mclntyre (chairman), A. Milne, W. Woodley, and J. Chapman. Akauoa and Wainui Road Board. — A meeting of the above Board was held at the Survey Office, Akaroa, on Wednesday evening, the Bth inst, Mr G. H. Saxton presiding. The minutes of former meeting having been read and confirmed, the Engineer read a letter which had been received from Mr H. S. Bushell, in which the writer stated that Mr Roberts was willing to allow a diversion of the Flea Bay Road through his (Mr R.s) property, and that such diversion of the road would give an easier and better gradient to the saddle on the top of Aylmer's hill, the writer also requesting the assistance of the Board in the matter. The Engineer was instructed to inform Mr Bushell that when the consent of the landowners on the present line of road was obtained to the proposed deviation, then the Board would consider the subject. A letter from the Chairman of the Pigeon Bay Road Board was then read, in which the writer enclosed a copy of a communication from Mr R. H. Rhodes, relative to the new line of road from Akaroa to Pigeon Bay. In reply, the Engineer was desired to inform the writer that in this district the question of compensation would be no difficulty or impediment, and this Board hoped to see the work at once commenced by the Pigeon Bay Board. In reply to a question, the Engineer stated that no communication had been received from the Government in answer to the letter sent from the Board relative to the expenditure oi money on the Little River Road. Tenders were opened for work to be done on the Robinson's Bay bridge, but as they were considered informal and excessive, the Engineei was desired to apply for fresh tenders. The next meeting of the Board was fixed foi Wednesday, the 22nd inst.

Aquatics. — The christening of the boat belonging to the Canterbury Rowing Club, which was to have taken place to-day, has been postponed until the arrival of the new boat now being built at Ly ttelton. Appointments. — In a Provincial Gazelle issued yesterday, it is notified that Mr John Edwin March is appointed Immigration Officer, and officer to administer the charitable aid fund ; also, that Mr Normau-jPlanta Thompson is appointed Assistant Immigration Officer. Both appointments date from Dec. 1. Westland Mails.— The Westland portion of the English mail, comprising seventeen bags, weighing in all eighteen hundredweight, was despatched overland by Cobb and Co. yesterday morning. The heavier portion formerly went round by the coast, but the steam subsidy being withdrawn, iF /must henceforth go with the letters by coach. jgSEßious Affair. —From the Kaikouras that on the 7th, a woman was seen there with one of her children under her arm with its throat cut. In the other hand she had a loaded revolver, and under the same arm a gun supposed also to be loaded. She had fired also at some children belonging to Mr Monk, of the Accommodation House at the Boat Harbour. Her name has not been learnt, but the police constable and men from Hartland's and Caverhill's stations were out, by last accounts, in search of her. The news was brought to Hawkeswoodby the Kaikoura mailman. The woman is supposed to have been landed from the Bee last trip, and is in such a state that she may have to be shot before being taken. Inquest. — The adjourned inquest on the body of the newly-born child recently found in the river Avon, was held yesterday afternoon at Mills Hotel, Oxford Terrace, J. W. S. Coward, Esq., presiding, and Mr J. L. Balestiee, foreman of the jury. The police had not ascertained any further particulars beyond what has already been reported j respecting the finding of the body, and the manner in which it was tied up. The only evidence adduced, therefore, was that of Dr Deamer, who had made a post-mortem exami- j nation of the body, and stated that the child had been born alive, and death had resulted from the umbilical cord not having been tied. An open verdict of " Found dead " was returned. Temperance Movement. — A meeting of the committee appointed at the last public meeting in the Town Hall was held in the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Present: — The Dean of Christchurch, Revs. Charles Fraser and W. J. Habens, and Messrs W. Reeves and J. S. Williams. Mr Fraser was appointed hon. secretary. It was resolved to meet every week at the same time and place, and subcommittees were named to prepare a resume of the present liquor Ibavs of the colony, and for other purposes. Some conversation ensued on certain parts of the resolutions passed at the public meeting, but no decision was come to beyond certain preliminary arrangements. The names of the Revs. Canon Wilson, J. 08. Hoare, and R. Powell were added to the committee. An Improved Plough. — Mr Woofe, now of Bedford, whom many people in Canterbury will remember, especially in the Northern district, is the successful inventor of improvements in ploughs. The Chamber of Agriculture Journal, of Sept. 20, thus describes Mr Woofe's patent : — Among the novelties at the Royal Show at Manchester, we saw tried in the field the latest edition of an old idea, now brought out by a practical inventor, Mr William Woofe, of Bedford. A circular knife or sharp cutting disc upon an upright axis is placed inside a plough body, that is, between the skife or landside, and the mould-board, the knife projecting through a horizontal slit in the mould-board. The effect is that the angular crest or harrowedge of a stiff furrow-slice is cut off and partially pulverised. In some conditions of the soil, and for certain purposes, of course this might be objectionable ; but in cases where it is desirable to break down the land as quickly as possible after ploughing, to prevent the surface turning cloddy, this horizontal skeith, or wheel-coulter, must greatly facilitate the work of after-crumbling by harrow. One of the defects in the performance of the common plough is the leaving of hollow spaces beneath the furrow slices. Sometimes the rolling and other methods of consolidation adopted to close up these hollows fail to accomplish their purpose thoroughly, and a druminy seed-bed occasions loss of plant ; and generally, the compression applied on the top damages the fine and open pulverisation of the surface-mould in which the seeds are to lie to germinate. But Mr Woofe attaches in the rear of the mouldboard a small conical press-wheel on a horizontal transverse axis, and so, by a side thrusting or compression, crumbles and tucks together the bottom of the f urrow-slice 3. We might call the two inventions together a contrivance for underground harrowing and for surface powdering, by additions to the ordinary plough. The expense of thus combining several tools in one is but trifling, as the knife costs only half-a-guinea and the press- wheel fifteen shillings. We saw these attachments upon a Ransomes, Sims, and Head's plough, working in ground rather too light and broken for Bhowing the action to advantage; but we could plainly see that on many soils, and for some purposes in husbandry, these rotary movements are worthy of trial. Great care has been take to secure the axles and bushes ag-inst the entrance of sand and dirt. A Staffordshire paper says of Mr Woofe's invention— this appears to be the nearest mechanical approach to spade husbandry which has yet been attained. Mr Cookson, of the Firs, Strefford, the gentleman to whom the first of these improved ploughs was Bold at the Manchester Royal Show, in ordering a second, Bays he considers it " the plough of the day." He congratulates Mr Woofe upon being interested in " so useful an implement." Perhaps some of our enterprising importers would find it to their advantage to look after the new plough.

Slaughtering Ordinance.-— ln a Provincial Gazette issued yesterday, it is notified that the following districts are constituted and defined for the purpose of slaughtering cattle : — Leithfield District. — Comprising that portion of the province bounded on the north by the river Waipara, to the summit of the pass north of runs Nos. 165, 166, 168, and a line from thence to Block Hill; on the east by the sea; on the south by the river Ashley to its source. Oxford District. — Comprising that portion of the province bounded on the east by a true north and south line drawn through Trigpole C 30 on the bank of the river Waimakariri to the south bank of the river Ashley; on the north by the river Ashley and the ridge of hills from Block Hill to Ashley Head; on the south by the river Waimakariri to a point in line with the boundary of run 270; thence ehsterly following that boundary to the Puketirake range ; thence northerly following that range to Ashley Head. Bealey District:— Comprising that portion of the province bounded on the north by the range of hills from Ashley Head to the Teremakau Saddle; on the west by the county of Westland ; on the east by the Oxford district ; and on the south by the River Waimakariri to the head waters of its westernmost source, and a true west straight line to the county of Westland. Leeston District : — Comprising that portion of the province bounded on the north by the River Selwyn ; on the east by Lake Ellesmere ; on the south by the sea and the River Rakaia ; on the west by the Great South Road. Ashburton District : — Comprising that portion of the province bounded on the north by the River Rakaia ; on the east by tha sea ; on the south by the River Rangitata to the source of its north-west branch and a true west line ; thence to the watershed forming the eastern boundary of the county of Westland ; and on the west by the county of Westland. Waimate District : — Comprising that portion of the province bounded on the north by the River Pareora to its westernmost source, and an east and west line from thence to the Hekateramea ; on the east by the sea ; on the south by the province of Otago ; on the west by the Hekateramea. Rural Sports.— The committee appointed to carry out the rural sports in Latimer Square on the 16th inst. met at the City Council Chamber last night. His Worship the Mayor was present, also Messrs Gordon, Wynn Williams, St. Quentin, Cuff, Mitchell, Crosbie, and Hart. The following letters were read:— From the City Council, granting permission to erect a grand stand in Latimer Square during the sports, but declining to contribute anything towards the funds of the committee; from Mrs Ann Bailey, applying for a site for a refreshment stall during the sports; from Messrs Jones and Tombs, asking for an authorised copy of the sports programme; and from Mr Wynn Williams, enclosing an account of the subscriptions collected by him, amounting in the whole to £70. Mr Gordon announced that he had personally collected £9, and that there was a credit balance of £8 in band from last year. An estimate of other receipts was also made and it was considered that quite £100 would be available for expenditure. The sum of £44 was appropriated for prizes. Mr Crosbie reported that Mr McKenna would undertake to provide a brass band of thirteen or fifteen performers— all well up in practice — for the sum of eight pounds, and suggesting that being volunteers, the Government might be asked to grant them a free passage to and from Heathcote, also that in order to prevent undue pressure from the crowd, a platform should be provided foe them. He also stated that Mr Giraud had promised the gratuitous services of the Orphan Asylum band. The committee scarcely thought it advisable to apply for a free passage for the Heathcote band by rail, and it was decided to pay for it from the sports' fund. Messrs Anderson, Hart, Gordon, Crosbie, St. Quentin, Mitchell, Cuff, Ollivier, Wynn Williams, and W. Hesketh, were appointed as ground stewards of the sports, and it was decided to request Messrs L. G. Cole and G. H. Wilson to officiate as judges. Messrs Crosbie, St. Quentin, Ollivier and Hart, were deputed to act as starters ; Mr J. Anderson, acting treasurer, to pay the prizes ; Messrs Mitchell and Giraud as band committee, and his Worship the Mayor as president. It was. decided to provide an American waggon as a platform for the bands. The committee adjourned to Tuesday next. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. — A Special meeting of the Council was held at the Literary Institute, yesterday afternoon. In the absence of the chairman, Mr Wynn Williams presided, and there were also present Messrs T. Nottidge (hon. sec), C. R. Blakiston, J. C. Boys, W. Wilson, R. W. Fereday, and Johnson (Curator). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Curator reported that Messrs W. Rolleston, W. Hawkins, G. Chisnall, J. O. Lord, J. D. Garwood, G. Haylock,j and J. B. Gresson had become members of the society, and that contributions had been received as follows: — From an old Canterbury settler, a collection of seeds from Brazil and the American States; Mr T. Hall, seeds and plants of the Norfolk pine, and Mr G. P. Clifford, ova transit boxes. The young trout had been removed from Dunedin,andare now in a thriving state in the fish-house at the gardens. On examination at Dunedin, previous to removal, the fish were not in so healthy a condition as could have been desired, upwards of 70 having recently, died, and a still larger proportion of the Otago batch had been similarly lost. Amongst the bitter there were a great many deformed ones, in eluding some connected together like Siamese twins. Details were given of some trifling alterations in the appliances for transit, and precautions adopted on the voyage. The turning out of some of the fish at Timaru and Akaroa had greatly facilitated the collection of subscriptions in those places, and the Curator had thereby been enabled to return with a credit to the balance of the

society, after paying all expenses of his trip. No charge was made for conveying the fish by the owners of the s.s. Maori, and the other expenses did not therefore exceed £8. The number counted out of the boxes at Dunedin was 457 ; of these, 12 were sold and turned out at Timaru, 54 at Akaroa, and 339 safely deposited at the Society's gardens; and of the balance of 52, some sickly ones were turned out at Timaru, 28 had died, and some few had escaped since being in the gardens. The fish had rapidly increased in size, and only three had died there. It was recommended that they should not be turned out for a few weeks, in order to make more certain of ultimate success. The report was considered. Votes of thanks were accorded to the owners and captain of the Maori for their gratuitous assistance in bringing the trout from Dunedin, also to the Curator, for his judicious conduct at Timaru and Akaroa, and toMr G. P. Clifford for having presented a portion of the transit apparatus to the society. The donations of seeds were ordered to be handed over to the Government gardener, and otherwise disposed of as provided for in a previous resolution of the socie'y. Applications were read from various gentlemen desirous of purchasing the young trout, and the following were each granted two dozen, subject to a standing resolution that the purchasers should acquaint the Council with the streams in which they intend to turn them out— C. Davie Rev. W. W. Willock, S. Bealey, J. W. Mallock, J. C. Wilson, E. Jollie, W. Robinson, H. P. M. Aynsley, and his Honor Mr Justice Gresson. One dozen were also granted to Mr J. Beswick, and two dozen to Mr Packer, on condition that he became a member of the society. It was decided that the fish should be removed from the gardens before the Ist of January next. A desultory conversation ensued as to the disposal of the balance that would remain in the fish-house, but nothing definite was decided before the meeting terminated.