Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 564, 11 March 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

-»Canterburt Sunday School Union. — The annual tea meeting of the Union was held in the Congregational Church, Manchester street, last evening. About 120 sat down to tea. A public meeting was afterwards held, under the presidency of Mr J. H. Twentyman. The annual report stated that there was an increase of one school ; that there were 225 teachers, and over 1 700 children connected with the Union. The report also stated that the quarterly conferences had been held, at which great interest was manifested iv the progress of the Union ; that a large quantity of books had been sent out by the parent society, and that the depot had been established at Colombo House, corner of Gloucester and Colombo streets. The meeting was addressed-by the Revs Habens, and Buddie, and by Messrs Booth, Newton, Pole, Low, and Farr, and the proceedings | were brought to a close by the singing of the doxology and Prayer. The public meeting was attended by upwards of 200.

The Carandinib.— The concert last night may be considered one of the most successful given during the present series. The first part was not received by the audience with anything like the approval it deserved as a whole, but in the second, full atonement was made by nearly every item being encored. " Jessie's Dream," in the former, enabled Miss Fannie to display her beautiful alto voice to the fullest advantage. The same may also be said of " Kathleen Mavourneen," encores being unquestionably deserved in both instances. " The Blue Bells of Scotland," arranged as a quartette for the company was one of the most exquisite pieces of harmony we have heard for a long time, and decidedly the most successful concerted piece given during the present visit. Miss Rosina, although not in her best voice, sung the valse brilliant — "L'llma" — and the almost too well known but beautiful -- Come Home Father," in her most expressive manner. In the latter piece this was the most noticeable, leaving absolutely nothing to be desired, and the piano chorus by the company was beautifully rendered. In the second part the most remarkable items were Madame Carandini's " Thou art gone from my gaze," Miss Rosina's " How to ask and to have," and the inimitable duet " Trust her not." " The Gypsies' Laughing Chorus" concluded the entertainment.

Legal. — His Honor sat in Chambers at 11 o'clock tbis morning. Re Theodore and Augustus Doyle : Mr Slater applied for an order of adjudication and meeting of creditors. His Honor made the order as prayed, fixing the meeting of creditors for the 21st inst., at noon.— Re Thomas Osgood East : Mr Slater applied for an order of adjudication and meeting of creditors. His Honor made the order, and fixed the meeting of creditors for the 21st inst., at one o'clock.— Re Edwin Burnell : Mr Slater applied for an order fixing the date of last examination and discharge. His Honor fixed the last examination, pro forma, for the 7th April.— Re the will of Thomas Overton, deceased : Mr Cowlishaw applied for letters of administration, with will annexed, to the widow. His Honor made the order as prayed.— Re Richard Turnbull : Mr Harper applied for an order confirming the choice of trustee, and fixing a date for the last examination and discbarge. His Honor made the order, fixing the last examination, pro forma, for the 7th April. - Re the will of George Hassal, deceased : MiHarper applied for probate to James Renn, one of the executors named in the will.- His Honor made the order, reserving leave to the other executor named.— Re the will of George Crauford Black, deceased: On the application of Mr Harper, his Honor granted probate to Mr John Bollard Wilson, one of the executors named. — Re the petition of the Bank of New South Wales, creditors in the estate o Edward Watson : Witnesses were examined by Mr Cowlishaw in support of the petition for adjudication and meeting of creditors, and his Honor granted a conditional order, debtor to shew cause within seven days.

of Hope. — There was a good attendance at the Temperance Hall last evening, but in consequence of the non-attendance of the chairman, the meeting was closed. The next meeting of the above society is fixed for Thursday next, at 7 p.m.

Ltttelton Borough Council. — It would appear that very few of the ratepayers aspire to the position of becoming a Councillor for the Borough, there being no nominations, yesterday for the vacancies caused by the resignations of Messrs Hawkins and England.

Barlow's Ctnodromi*. — This celebrated troupe gave a performance on Wednesday evening in Lyttelton on the reclaimed ground, aud although only a few hours' notice was given, the marquee was crowded by a delighted audience. The troupe left yesterday by the Phoebe for Dunedin. js/Thb Seat ow Government. — A private Tetter received in Dunedin from Auckland says that a circular is about to be sent by the Ministry to the various members of the General Assembly, for the purpose of taking their opinion as to the removal of the seat of Government to Auckland.

Magisterial. — At the Christchurch Magistrate's Court this morning, Joseph Miller, John Regan, and Charles Nelson, were ■se'f&v rately brought up before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M , and R. Westenra, Esq., charged with having been drunk and incapable last night, but, being their first appearance, were discharged with a caution.

Dinner. — Last evening the persons employed in the erection of tbe New Masonic Hall were supplied with an excellent supper by mine host Perkins, of the Albion Hotel. Nearly twenty were present. The contractor for the building, Mr Robert Bryant, occupied the chair, and Mr J. H. Thompkins the vice-chair. The usual toasts having been given and duly responded to, the company separated after a very enjoyable evening. At a meeting of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce to day, the following members were present : — Messrs Inglis, Gould, Lane, Montgomery, Palmer, Richardeon, Twentyman, and Walton. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. An application from Mr Hargreaves begging to be excused was granted. The Chairman reported that in- accordance with a resolution passed at last meeting, he had waited upon the Collector of Customs, who stated that he had no objection to have the Custom-house removed to any position favourable to the mercantile interests. It was resolved that the sub-committee appointed to consider the Bankruptcy Laws beauthorised to have their report printed and circulated among the members of the Chamber at least ten days before the Chamber meets to consider it. Mr Richardson moved that the Chairman request his Honor the Superintendent to apply to the Collector of Customs to have the return of exports of the province so extended that it will include all colonial produce ; that furnished at present only including cereals, — wool, flax, butter, Sec, being at present omitted ; and further to request that a return may be made of the same nature from Ist April, 1869, to date. The motion was seconded by Mr W. H. Lane, and carried. Mr Palmer drew the attention of the Committee to the inconvenience experienced by the community at large, as to the closing of mails for Foreign ports some hours before the departure of the outgoing steamer, and suggesied a remedy which the Committee adopted, by passing the following resolution : — " That the chairman be requested to communicate with the Postmaster in Christchurch, with the view of getting the time extended for the posting of letters up to the last moment, so as to avoid the present heavy additional postage charged on late letters." After passing sundry accounts the Committee separated.

Theatre Royal. — Last night tbe management made another effort in dramatic representation, and this time it must be said with great success. The selection of *- Aurora Floyd " had evidently been made with more consideration to the characteristics of the company than in the dramas hitherto produced, a more creditable representation naturally being the result. With an ordinary stock company we may indeed say that the general evenness of the acting and interpretation of the author's creations could scarcely have been excelled. So well was the acting balanced that no character was open to objection excepting the too youthful make up of Mr White as Mr Floyd. Miss Matthews could not improve upon her impersonation of the heroine, and Mr Wolfe made a most decided.hit in his remarkably accurate assumption of the half idiot character Steve Hargreaves, the Yorkshire dialect being also capitally given. Mr Willis' John Mellish was exceedingly creditable to that gentleman as an occasional performer, and Miss Herberte's pourtrayal of the officiously inquisitive Mrs Powell was one of that lady's best efforts. Mr Cripps as the " hupper " footman William was inimitable, and provoked considerable mirth. Mr Forde and Mr Inglis in somewhat unimportant parts made the best of them. The stage effects were, as usual with Mr Willis, most perfect, the scene in the copse by moonlight being exceptionally fine. At the close of the piece, the company were most enthusiastically called before the curtain, where they received a demonstrative repetition of the applause freely awarded during the progress of the drama. The burlesque " Fra Diavolo " concluded the bill, and although we cannot class this amongst the best productions of its kind by the company it was well received by the audience. Miss Nye being unfortunately a sufferer from a severe cold could not appear as Zerlina, and this militated very considerably against the success of the performance. We regretted very much to observe a large number of persons smoking in the body of the theatre during the intervals, and would remind the management that much discomfort is caused by this practice to those in the dress circle. " Aurora Floyd," we may add, is a most attractive piece, and well worthy of being witnessed by even good judges.