Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 655, 29 June 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

Ltttelton Volunteer Artillery. — There will be a full inspection para !e on Friday evening, by order of the officer commanding the district. A full attendance is requested. Christchurch Gas Bill. — A private telegram has been received in Christchurch to-day, from Wellington, to the effect that the Standing Orders on the above Bill have been complied with, and that will it be read a first time to-morrow. yf The Hokitika Coach. — The coach which arrived in town from Hokitika on Monday evening, was delayed two days at the Taipo, in consequence of the flooded state of the river. Payment of Witnesses. — Mr Travers has obtained leave to bring in a bill to provide for the payment of witnesses for the defence on the same scale as witnesses for prosecution. The proposal seems only just. LiohthoußEß and Telegraphs. —In answer to a question from Mr HaU, Mr Yogel stated that it was the intention of Government to connect all the lighthouses with the telegraph as soon as possible. Washdtke Meat Preserving Establishment. — The Timaru paper of June 25 says : —Mr Buist, with nine assistants, arrived by the Maori yesterday, to superintend all arrangements connected with meat-preserving at the above establishment. The plant has not yet arrived. Total Abstinence Society. — The usual meeting in connection with the Christchurch Total Abstinence Society, was held in the chapel belonging to the United Methodist Free Church, Addington, last night. Mr Thompson occupied the chair, and Messrs E. Clarkson and W. H. De la Mare, spoke at length on the teetotal question. jf _ Arrest.— Some time ago a Mrs Lewis, re-c-v siding at St. Albans, eloped with a man named Whincop, who was a lodger in the house. They are accused of having taken some property away with them, and the husband laid an information against Whincop, who was arrested in Dunedin on Monday _ last. He will be brought before the Resident Magistrate on a charge of larceny. Avon Road Board.— A meeting of the Board was held on Tuesday last. The following members were present : — Messrs Abbott, Norman, and Lame. In the absence of the chairman, Mr Abbott was voted to the chair, and to act as chairman during Mr Peacock's absence. Leave of absence was granted to tbe chairman during the session of -the General Assembly. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A Hetter was received from the City Council, Agreeing to form the footpath from the Caledonian Road to Durham street upon the terms mentioned ; also suggesting, that the Council would form the Road from the Caledonian Road to Springfield Road, if the Board would pay one half the cost. The Clerk was directed to reply, declining to contribute towards tbe Road. Mr Norman reported that in accordance with the wishes of the Board at the last meeting, himself and the Clerk of Works had met a deputation of the Riccarton Board in reference to the drain at Papanui, and the decision arrived at was, that the deviation of the drain would be much to the advantage of the Riccarton District. The Board then adjourned until July 12.

The Ballot Bill.— The second reading of this bill was carried without division on Wednesday lost. The only Canterbury members who spoke against the measure were the Hon. John Hall and his Honor the Superintendent. Mr Hall opposed the bill because he thought it would not help to send the best men into tbe Assembly. Mr Rolleston objected to the measure upon moral grounds. Theatre Royal. — Another change of programme was submitted last evening, the curtain rising to " Lady Audley's Secret." Although there is little in the part of Lady Audley, it is made the most of by Mrs Steele, whose pourtrayal of the character is as good as could be looked for on any stage. Bnt after all, there is little in it that can be calculated to display the powers of any actress. Robert Audley is one of those parts particularly suitable to Mr Steele. He is a very careful actor, and plays without effort. The remainder of the cast was fairly represented. With regard to the mechanism of the piere, the fire scene was capitally managed. The performances terminated with the musical burletta, entitled " Waterman." There was a Mr attendance. X3niK Rakaia. — We learn that there has Been an unusually heavy fresh in the Kakaia. Mr Dunford says he has not seen such a fresh for the last six years. '1 he public will be glad to learn that, comparatively speaking, no damage has been done to Mr White's temporary bridge. One of the frames on the north side was slightly shifted, where the ground wns high, but the men had been able to put all right early on Monday morning, and traps and passengers were being crossed as usual. Had any such fresh been anticipated, the bridge might easily have been secured, so that not the slightest shifting could have token place. The river continued too high on Monday to allow Mr White's men to go on with their work at the main bridge. , Payment to Members. — Mr J. CracrofF 'Wilson, CB., asked his usual annual question on Wednesday night, whether the Government did not intend to reduce, or do away altogether with the payment to members. Mr Fox replied that in the present condition of the colony, he did not think it would be for the public good to reduce the honorarium, as there were very many able men in New Zealand, not rich enough to spend three months of the year in Wellington at their own cost. To carry out Mr Wilson's proposal would be simply to turn the House of Representatives into a rich man's club, a consummation tint would suit Mr Wilson and men of his stamp in more ways than one. If any change is to be made it should be in quite another direction. By increasing the pay of members, the country would obtain a wider choice of representatives, and therefore ensure a better selection, and by decreasing the salaries of the Executive, a strong temptation to fight for ofilce would be removed. The changes we have indicated would decidedly tend in the direction of good government. Fire Police.— The quarterly meeting of members was held at the Central Fire Brigade Hall, last night. Present — W. R. Mitchell (Captain) in the chair. Messrs Dobbs, Suffield, Fletcher, Harris, Martin, F. A. Bishop, Munnings Crowley, H. A. Davis Percy, and Hebden. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr A. H. Graham, tendering his resignation as a member of the force. The resignation was accepted. The chairman reported that the average attendance of members at fires during the quarter had been 31, but pointed out the great necessity of a more general adoption of uniforms for these occasions. He also noted that the swearing in of the new force for the ensuing year, would take place on the 26th of August next. Mr Inspector Harris bore testimony to the valuable services of the force at fires. After some discussion as to ways and means for the general management of the force and for uniforms, it was resolved on the motion of Mr Dobbs, that the chairman communicate with the City Council, with a view to procuring a grant of money in aid of the funds of the force. Popular Entertainments. — The whole proceedings at the Town Hall last night were a great success. It was wise in the committee to abolish the shilling charge for admission to the platform, and they had their reward in finding it occupied as they should always wish to see it. But the crowded audience which filled every part of the hall was no doubt owing to the novelty introduced in inviting competitors in recitation for a prize of five pounds. The first on the list of competitors was Mr Bird, who read Macaulay's " Virginia." The length of the piece compelled him to make so many and 80_ long omissions, that the gaps could not fail to be observed, and to give an utter want of continuity to the recitation as a whole. But, despite this shortcoming, and the additional drawback of a voice neither melodious nor strong, Mr Bird succeeded in rendering the meaning of his author with a force and completeness which were not surpassed throughout the whole evening. The audience evidently appreciated his recitation, and not a few thought the prize was* won at the outset. He was followed by Mr Bradwell, who delivered a speech from Byron's " Doge of Venice." The committee awarded him the prize, and there could scarcely have been two opinions about the decision. Indeed, Mr Bradwell shewed all the results of long and almost professional experience in such a way as none could fail to recognise. The action he employed was ample, yet chaste and appropriate. To him succeeded Mr Pascoe, who recited Hood's poem of " Eugene Aram," with great correctness and force, but in a somewhat weak voice. Mrs Williams then came forward and gave the Ingoldsby Legend, " Look at the Clock," with great spirit and aplomb, but somewhat hastily. Had the decision been left to the audience, instead of to the grave and impartial bench of which Mr Ollivier was president, we should have protested against the admission of ladies as

competitors, unless oh an evening reserved for themselves, and also against the admission of a laughable piece among others exclusively serious. Mr Ness, who came next, notwith standing noticeable imperfections, shewed a thorough appreciation of the spirit of his author, and very considerable skill in rendering it. Mr Gradwell was mentioned with commendation by the judges, and gave his piece, the combat between Fitz James. and Roderick Dhu, from Scott's "Lady of the Lake," in a manner which well merited it. Poe's " Raven," by Mr Crosbie, was unfortunately spoiled by a Blip of memory, after which Mr Crosbie seemed rather to read than deliver it. Mr Crosbie's voice is somewhat weak, and this caused some complaints from a few of the audience near the end of the hall, but he shewed both carefulness and taste. The last recitation was Hamlet's soliloquy, "To be or not to be," by Mr Miller. It was, of course, the most ambitious selection of the evening, and challenges judgment by a high standard. We are glad to be able to say that the delivery was marked by great correctness and no extravagance. Taken as a who'e, the recitations were exceedingly creditable, and were evidently relished by the audience. We hope that the effect will be to secure from those who, in the future, may give readings at these entertainments greater care in preparation, and a more independent selection of pieces— grave as well as facetious— with a wholesome relief from the farcical. The committee's decision was announced by Mr Ollivier, who stated that a prize of £3 was awarded to Mr Bradwell, and a second, of £2, to Mrs Williams, while Mr GradweU was specially commended. Mr Bradwell then came forward and announced that, while he accepted the award with great pleasure, he begged to offer the £3 as a prize to competitors under the age of twenty-four years, to be awarded at another of these enter tain- - N ments. This announcement was received with much applause. A few pieces of music were given during the course of the evening, of which we may specially name the overture by the band, and " Simon the Cellarer" by Mr Gradwell. Mr Anderson, the late Mayor, occupied the chair, and introduced the several competitors. We were gratified to find that his request for special silence and attention was so well observed.