Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 535, 5 February 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

Postal.— lt will be seen, from a mail notice in another column, that mailß for the Northern provinces close at -9 o'clock tonight. ' OBiruAHY.— The mail- just arrived from England brings intelligence of the death of Mr William Rhodes of Doncaster, at the advanced age of ninety. * The deceased gentleman was the father of Capt. W. B. Rhodes, of Wellington^ and Mr R. H. Rhodes, of this province, both of whom occupy" a prominent place among the; pioneer colonists of New Zealand. %| Boating. — At a meeting held at White's Tlotel, last evening, a foui v oared time race was fixed for Saturday, 19th February; crews to be named on Friday, the Ilth, at a meeting at White's Hotel*' .Accounts were settled with reference to the sending of the criews to Wellington to compete at the late regatta;- The meeting was presided over by the Rev. J. 08. Hoare. - r '« Theatre Royal.— A good average audience assembled last night, the bill of the previous evening being submitted with no I material difference in the rendering of the i pieces. To-night a change will be made in the programme. It is the intention of the company to produce a pan'Omime in the 4arly part of the week after next; most probably" Cinderella, or the Glass Slipper." Mr Willis has already commenced to paint the scenery, and persons in business desiring fo avail themselves of the pantomime in the usual wav are requested to communicate wish Mr Willis.

Cattle DisEAfiisl-^We understand that it is the intention of the Government to remove the restriction at present existing' over the Native Reserve at Woodend, on the Ist of April next, by which time it is supposed that any infection which may exist, since the cattle have been cleared off, will die out.

Rakaia Gold Company.— We understand that the men employed by the Rakaia Gold Company have at ' last struck the reef which is to decide the merits of the mine. A quantity of the stone will be got out at once, and crushed at the machine now being erected in Mr Anderson's yard. The result of this test will no doubt decide the much vexed question of continuing operations or winding up the company. I fFLAX Dressing.— The scarcity of harvest labour, and the consequent high wages ruling, have had the effect of temporarily sopping several mills engaged in this industry at Kaiapoi and the surrounding district. But this temporary stoppage will have the effect of allowing a large portion of the flax recently cut to grow again, for considering the number of mills recently at work, and the enormous quantity of flax consumed daily, it is patent to everyone that in the absence of cultivation the mills would soon come to a standstill for want of material.

HoHTicctTimAL Society.— A meeting of the committee was held last evening in the side room of the Town Hall. Mr W. Wil-j son presided. Mr Crookes, one of the subcommittee appointed at last meeting to obtain permission for holding the last exhibition of the season, reported that the Drill-shed could not be obtained on March I,^ the date originally fixed, without iucon-' veniencing the volunteers, who drilled on that night, but that it could be placed at the disposal of the society on the following Thursday. It was resolved that the society thought it desirable to take advantage of the Art Exhibition, and hold their nex< show in the Government Gardens, subject to the approval of the Domain Board; that a committee, consisting of Messrs Wilson j Norman, and Duncan, be appointed to enquire into and report on Friday, Feb. 11. The following gentlemen were appointed judges for the next exhibition: — Pot plants and cut flowers — Messrs H. R. Webb, H. West, and J. Lowe; fruit and vegetables — Messrs Wilaon, Hislop, and Alport. The following stewards were appointed: — Pot plants — Messrs Armstrong and Stewart ; fruit and vegetables — Messrs Macf arlane, jon., and J. Dutton. The meeting then adjourned.

Riccabton. Road Boabd. — The Board held its usual .meeting yesterday, at the office, Cashel street .^'est. Present : Messrs Pavitt (chairman), Nnnweak, . and Inwood. The minutes of last. meeting were read and confirmed. Letters were, read from Messrs Pigeon and Costly, requesting the Board to clear the drain running through sections 10 and 145, as it was causing damage to their properties. It was resolved to clear the drains referred to bo soon as the Government drains through Hagley Park were cleared. The Clerk reported that he had written to the Government on this. subject, but had received no reply. Dr. Back's letter asking the permission, of the Board to lower the culvert on the mill-race road, so as to drain the low portion of that road, was re-considered.. . It was resolved that as the parties affected by the diversion of the water had, given their assen', the Board would place no obstacle in Dr Back's way, the work to be, under the supe vision of the surveyor to the. Board. ,In reference to Mr Searell's. letter respecting the Millrace road (the consideration of .which had been deferred), the Board decided, on the advice of their solicitor,, tp decline to alter the conchy tion of the road, in the . manner suggested by Mr Searell. In reply to. .a circular from Mr Maskell, chairman of a public meeting held at Saltwater 'Creek, asking if the Board would take some united, action by forming a committee to. insure the completion of the Northern railway, ifc was resolve • that this Board cannot .consistently entertain the pro . posal of forming a committee to consider the subject of the t Northern railway, knowing that the Government are. .using eve y exertion to forward the work. The surveyor reported that owing to the scarcity of labour the .contractors for works in . hand had applied for an extension of time until after harvest, which he had granted, know ing it to be the wish of the Board. The monthly report was read, and stated that the ditches on the Ricarton Road; had been cleared put, but in consequence of the foul state ofZthe Government drains through Hagley Park, the water was backed up. The surveyor was directed to place a new culvert across the Harewood Road, near the ' Rev -L. Moore's, also" to deepen the ditch on the south side of the Fendalltown and Harewood junction-road Tn accordance with the report. Tne Board directed the to make an esjimate^of works likely to be required, in the district for the ensuing year, also to report on the difference iv cost of stone and wooden culverts. After passing accounts for work done*,' the Board adjourned*.