Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 619, 17 May 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

Excursion.— The s.s. Lord Ashley is advertised to sail on Wednesday next for Dunedin, return tickets being issued at single fares. Queen's Birthday. — A Provincial Gazette published yesterday announces thafc the offices of the Provincial Government will be closed on Tnesday, May 24, in honour of the birthday of Her Majesty. Sbfton Election.— Mr Hood addressed the electors at Saltwater Creek on Saturday evening, repeating the same views as at Leithfield and Ashley Bank. Through some misunderstanding he could not get the use of the schoolroom, and had. therefore to adjourn to the large room at Messrs Cameron's Hotel. Poundkeepers. — A Provincial Gazette published yesterday, proclaims that the Lincoln Township Fair Company's Yards at Lincoln shall be taken and deemed to be a public pound, from and after May 28. Mr Howard Charles Jacobson is appointed pound keeper. Mr John Lee is appointed pound-keeper at Oxford. Total Abstinence Society. — An entertainment was held last evening in the Temperance Hall. Mr John Caygill occupied the chair, and Messrs W.H.DelaMere,Bennetts,andDr Florance gave readings. Mr Cutler addressed the audience, and Mr Tremayne and others enlivened the meeting with vocal and instrumental music. ' No. 9 Company C.R.V., Woodend. — The above company fell in opposite the old parade ground on Sunday evening, and were marched to the Woodend Church, where the services were conducted by the Rev B. W. Dudley. The company mustered 23 rank and file, and were commanded by Captain H. Hinge. We believe the company intend to hold a church parade on the third Sunday in every month. Waitanoi Election.— From the Timaru paper we gather thafc Mr G. B. Parker was nominated on Friday last, to represent this district in the Provincial Council, and there being no opposition, he was declared duly elected. The same journal also states that Mr A. K. Matson is the only known candidate for Mount Cook district. The nomination was fixed for yesterday, but owing to the telegraph line being down, we could not obtain the result. Theatre Royal.— The inclemency of the weather interfered with the attendance afc the Theatre Royal • last evening. To-night, Mr Willis, scenic artist, takes his benefit under the patronage of his Honor the Superintendent. A reference to our advertising columns will show thafc the programme is of a highly attractive nature. Mr Willis is well known to the Christchurch public, not merely in connection with the present company, but as artist for the first opera troupe that visited our shores, and we have no doubt that on the occasion of his benefit he will be greeted by a bumper house. The Govern3ient Assurance and Annuities Scheme. — We understand it is proI posed to extend the advantages of the Government scheme of assurances to the cases of doubtful aud diseased lives. In this class of cases instead of adding, as is usual with companies, a number of years to the actual age of the insured, it is proposed to charge the ordinary rates and to endorse on the policy a sum equivalent to the risk which the Government incurs in the insurance of such lives. Should the insured die before the value of premiums paid by him amount to the sum assured, the amount endorsed on the policy will be deducted when paying the claim. In computing the value of the total premiums paid, the commissioner will take each payment as if it had been invested at compound interest, say, at 4or 5 per cent. The advantages to the insured under this system is, thafc should he live to the average age, he will have been charged only the ordinary rates throughout life, and he will have escaped altogether the extra charge which under the ordinary arrangements would have been imposed on him.