Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 636, 7 June 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

st * Aborting. — The Jockey Club advertise for tenders for clearing a galloping course on the racecourse, the tenders to be sent in not later than June 13. Theatbb Royal. — The farce " One touch of Nature" and the extravaganza " Beautiful Haidee" constituted the bill last night. Both pieces went off successfully. Bodt Found. — The dead body found in the Rakaia on Thursday has been identified as that of John Webb, advertised as missing for the last four months. An inquest will be held" to-morrow. Primitive Methodists. — The quarterly tea meeting in connexion with this church was held in the Hall, Manchester street, last evening. Mr Williams occupied the chair, and Messrs Watkins, Thomas, Scott, Pape, and Bennett delivered interesting speeches. The choir enliven ed the meeting by singing several pieceß in a very creditable style. The singing of the Doxology brought a very pleasant evening to a close. Total Abstinence Society.— The usual fortnightly meeting of this society was held in the Temperance Hall last evening. Mr Rogers occupied the chair, and Mr W. H. De La Mare spoke at some length upon the evils of the drinking customs, and the advantages to be derived from joining the Teetotal Society. Mr St. Quentin gave a reading, and the meeting was enlivened by several temperance melodies being sung by the members. ;' Inqubbt at Leithfield. — An inquest was held on Saturday, 4th inst., at Pagct's hotel, Leithfield, before Matthew Morris, Esq., Coroner, on the body of Ewen Cameron McMillan, a man about 30 years of age, who died suddenly on Friday last. The jury, of whom Mr Wopdtiouse was chosen foreman, after viewing the body, and hearing the medical evidence and that of Mr Walker, deceased's employer, returned a verdict of " Death from natural causes." Plantations. — A member of the Otago Provincial Council has given notice of his intention to move the following resolution: — That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that blocks of land to the extent of 50 acres should be offered to anyone willing to plant the same in forest trees, subject to regulations agreed upon by the Government, and that Crown Grants for such lands should be obtained in favour of such persons after the regulations so made have been fulfilled by them. x WrrrrT 1 rinfliiMrrT~ Council. — The Hokitika paper of {Tune 3 has the following :— A very warm scene, in which it seemed at one time as though the Sergeant-at-Arms, or his representative would have to be called in, came off in the County Council last night. The Roads and Tracks Committee brought up a report recommending that certain roads should be made as soon as possible, but they omitted one piece of road that urgently requires repair. The Chairman, thereupon, rated the Committee soundly for not having made more enquiry, and accused the members all round of geographical ignorance in reference to the County. One word brought on another, and a general wordy melee took place, in which strong language was used on both sides. After some time this sea of trouble subsided, and the report was received. Heathcote Road Board. — The Board held its usual meeting yesterday at the Board office, when there were present, Messrs Kennaway (chairman), Fisher, and Ensor. The Chairman occupied the chair, and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter from the Superintendent was read, requesting the Board to fix, in some conspicuous place, a list of the Educational Reserves which are to be let. A letter from Mr Fahr was read, complaining of the condition of the road known as Ollivier's road. It was decided by the Board to call for tenders for making this road, and the surveyor was directed to comply with the request made by the Superintendent, and fix the list of the reserves on the notice board outside the Board office. After passing accounts for work done, the Board adjourned until Monday, the 20th inst. Rangitata Bkidge. — Tenders for the erection of this bridge were to have been sent ia to the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works, on Wednesday last, June 1. When the Board met on Thursday, June 2, it was found that six tenders had been sent in. The whole of the tenders were found to be above the estimate given in by Mr Blair,' consulting Engineer to the Board. After a very lengthy discussion, it was agreed to accept one of the tenders conditionally. As, however, it was' not certain whether any of the tenders would be taken up, it was resolved to request the Press not to publish any of the tenders or the figures that had been used during the discussion. When the Board met on Friday, June 3, a telegram received from one of the tenderers was considered. After some discussion, it was resolved that all the tenders be refused, and that fresh tenders be called for, to be sent in on or before noon on July 7.

Christy Minstrels.— Despite the * inclemency of the weather, there -was more than an average attendance at the Town Hall last evening. On Wednesday Mr Bent, whose comicalities bear the impress of originality, will take his farewell benefit, and we hare no doubt there will be a fall house. The company will appear again to-night. Otago Land Laws. — The following resolutions were to be / brought before the Otago Provincial Council : — That in order to attract population to the province, both of the labouring/ classes and capitalists, it is desirable thai; the hind laws be amended, so as to embody the following principles, viz. : 1. That' all unsold lands be open for selection. 2. That 2s 6d an acre be charged for eight consecutive years, one payment to be made when the land is taken up, and every year an additional payment of 2s 6d until the sum of 20s is paid. 3. That so soon as the eighth payment shall have been made, the person making the same shall be entitled to receive his Crown Grant. 4. That within agricultural areas on the goldfields any person having already taken up land, or who may yet apply for land, instead of paying 20s cash under the existing law, may elect to pay 2s 6d an acre for eight years. 5. That within Hundreds already proclaimed any person may either purchase as at present for 203 cash, with depasturing rights, or, if so minded, may elect to purchase at 2s 6d an acre for eight years, without depasturing rights. 6. That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to cause a Bill to be introduced at the next meeting of the General Assembly to give effect to the foregoing resolutions. Industrial Schools.— lt appears that one of these useful institutions has been in existence in Otago for some time. The Inspector of Police reports on it as follows, on April 6 : — " I have to report that this school is admirably conducted, and the master (Mr Britton) deserves great credit for his untiring zeal and attention to the welfare of it ; and by bis good management and treatment of the children under his charge, he has caused wonderful reformation in them without in the least resorting to severity. Those children whose ages admit of it are being trained to industrious habits — viz., the boys are employed improving the ground by digging, draining, and planting it, and also cultivating portions of it, whereby they are now able to supply the school with potatoes and other vegetables without requiring to purchase any. The girls, under the supervision of the matron, make and mend all the clothes worn by the children, and assist in performing the necessary domestic duties relating to the school. The education of the children in a scholastic point of view has not by any means been neglected, and in some branches many of them (for their ages) are far advanced." The master in charge of the 'school, in his annual report to the Provincial Government, . gives the following information : — ". The total number of children at present in the institution is 67—34 boys, and 33 girls. The boys actually working on the grounds are 9, and during the year have cleared and prepared about 7 acres ; 1J acres of which are laid out as a garden which is in full bearing, and keeps the institution wholly supplied with vegetables. They have also constructed, under the direction of a labouring man, a roadway leading from the main line of road up to the building. Those of the girls who are able to work are employed under the superintendence of the matron, in making the various articles of clothing, both for the boys and themselves. They also do all the cleaning, washing, and ironing, under the supervision of the nurse. The junior girls are also taught needlework by the matron. Expenditure. — The total amount of salaries, wages, &c, amounts to £355 6s 8d ; this includes master, matron, cook, nurse, visiting surgeon, and also £20 12s 6d paid to two gardeners for sundry labour done. The cost of the establishment for provisions, &c, material for clothing, &c, amounts to £643 18s 6d ; this also includes items for various articles procured for the use of the Institution— such as iron tanks, drain pipes, seeds, manure, ploughing, planting hedge, and other sundries. I have received the sum of £33 10s during the year for maintenance, which, if deducted from the total expenditure, will leave £965 15s 2d ; showing an average of 55 children, the cost to be 29s 3£d per month per child." A somewhat similar institution to the above, called " The Home and Refuge," has recently been established in Nelson. A correspondent of one of the local papers furnishes the following description: — " This institution is an asylum for children of both sexes, who cannot be supported by Government, and yet need a refuge equal to orphans. Its purposes are to feed, lodge, clothe, and educate such children, Ist, Where the parent is incapacitated (through some incurable bodily sickness) to maintain his or her offspring ; 2nd, where the parent is living a profligate life, the objects being in this case twofold: to rescue the child from ruin, and to enable the wretched parent to flee a downward course and seek some service. In the first cose any child is admitted under . the age of twelve years; in the second case any child under the age of eight years. The children are trained to habits of industry, and educated on the 'home principle.' The boys are taught to be useful on the farm to fit them as servants of husbandry. When at tbe age of fourteen years, they will be placed out to service, or apprenticed to a trade for the term of four years, during which term the child will be under the guardianship of the Home, who will watch over the fulfilment of the term of apprenticeship. The girls are taught all necessary housework and needlework, to make them efficient house servants; and on arriving at the age of sixteen years, situations will be found for them, but they will continue under the protection of the Home, which will guard their interests and shelter them, when out of a situation, until they have attained the age of eighteen years."

German Immigrants. — It is stated in the Australian papers that the Tasmanian Immigration Commissioners hare received information from Mr Buck, their agent in Germany, to the effect that a large number of Germans are coming out to Tasmania in the Victoria, and that a continuous stream of emigrants may be expected from Hamburgh. j The Representation.— Westland is dissatisfied with the amount of representation it has in the General Assembly. The following resolution has been agreed to by the County Council:—" That in proportion to its population and revenue, and to the extent of the representation enjoyed by other districts in the colony, as compared with their population and revenue, the County of Westland is inadequately represented in the Colonial Legislature; and that a committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs Harrison, Barff, and the mover, to draw up a memorial for presentation to the General Assembly, praying that measures be taken during the approaching session to place the representation of this district on a just and equitable basis." Oxford Election. — Mr M. B. Hart met the electors at the drill-shed, Oxford, on Saturday evening. The meeting had been convened by Mr Hart and the Hon Mr G. L. Lee also attended. Mr G. A. White was voted to the chair. Both candidates addressed the meeting. At the conclusion of Mr Hart's address, the following resolution was duly proposed and seconded: — " That, in the opinion of this meeting, Mr Hart is the more fit and proper person to represent the district in the Provincial Council, and that this meeting pledges itself to use the utmost «ndeavour3 to secure his return." An amendment was proposed by Mr R. L. Higgins, and seconded by Mr Walker: " That Mr Lee is a fit and proper person to represent this district." The amendment, on being put to the meeting, was declared to be lost; the show of hands being 21 for and 38 against. The original resolution was, therefore declared carried amid loud cheers. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.