Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 658, 2 July 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

Ploughing Matches. — As the season for our annual ploughing matches is now coming round, the following remarks by Mr Cameron, of Bellarine, Victoria, a wellknown judge at matches, may be of interest. Ina letter to the local paper he says: — I think that the duties of the judges should be simplified by attaching a scale of marks to each of the various elements which go to make up good ploughing. Say, for example: —Correct depth, 10 marks; correct width, 10 marks ; good packing, 10 marks; good comb, 5 marks; good crown, 5 marks; good finish, 5 marks ; in and out, 5 marks. Total, 50 marks. The above or any other number of marks for each part would enable the judges to attain uniformity in their decisions. The rule and tapeline would be sure guides, and those who fail to take prizes would be able to see wherein they fail and be on their guard next time; and the character of the judges for impartiality cchild be upheld if their decisions were uniformly in accordance with established rules of the above kind. B-af&TT IafPBOVEMENTS. — The improvements Effected by the City Council in the appearance of the banks of the river between the Government buildings and Colombo street bridge have been a theme of general remark, and we are glad to note that another portion is rapidly approaching completion. The hard labour gang have been employed for a long time on the banks between the. Colombo and Manchester street bridges, ahd now the' terrace immediately in rear of the Oxford Hotel is in course of alteration from a rough, uneven, and dangerous thoroughfare to a properly formed roadway. This will complete the improvements in this part.v/It is impossible to appreciate the workfiof the City Council on the river too highly, and it is much to be regretted tbat the removal by the Provincial Government of the hard labour gang will cause a suspension, if not a final stoppage, of the works. The banks of the river, we should notice, have been planted with weeeping willows, and poplars; and the triangular block of land to the right' of Colombo bridge, on the north side, has also been levelled and shingled. Obdfellows, Ltttelton. — A special meeting was held last night at the Lodge, the business being to present Brother Edward Walker, who is leaving the province for Nelson, - with an order of merit. There was a good attendance of members. N.G. Joseph Hobbs presented to Brother Walker the following address : — " Brother Walker, I have, on behalf of the officers and members of this lodge, to express to you their sincere regret at your departure from Lyttelton. I can speak personally of the kind and able manner in which you have at all times conducted the business of the lodge, sparing neither time nor trouble in forwarding its interests, and we cannot but esteem ourselves fortunate in having had the assistance of so excellent and worthy a member of the order for the many years you have been amongst us. I have now to present you with an emblematic certificate, in the name of the members of this lodge, as a slight token of their friendship and regard, and hope that you may be long spared to enjoy the blessings of this life,- and to merit the affectionate confidence of your brethren in Oddfellowship. Though the loss which our lodge will thus sustain will be great, we hope the change will be beneficial to yourself and family."

Immigrants:-^ Air they reeeat arrivals by the Bhip .Ramsay, with the exception of seven families and- two single men, have met with engagements. These, we may also state, would hot have been left but that a large proportion of the immigrants were mechanics and artizans. The agricultural labourers of every description were readily engaged. Flunkeyism. —We take the following specimen of " Jeames " from an Auckland contemporary of June 13 :— Amongst the passengers by the City of Melbourne from San Francisco was a young gentleman from New York, who is in receipt of 400,000d015. per annum. He is the son of a wealthy New York merchant, and is making a tour through the world. Od»fei_lows. — The members of the North Canterbury district intend to present P.P.G.M. Brother Grantham with a gold medal, as a token of respect. The medal has been manufactured by Messrs G. Coates and Co., of Christchurch, and is an unusually favourable specimen of colonial workmanship, displaying excellent and characteristic design, and high finish in every respect. On the face of the medal is the emblem of the order, in bold relief, encircled by a wreath of oak and laurel frosted ; on the reverse, an appropriate inscription. Gaol Returns. — The chief gaoler in his report for the past month gives the number of prisoners in the Christchurch lock-up at 52—24 males and 28 females, and in Lyttelton 94, all males. The females of the Christchurch batch were 26 at hard labour, aud 2 ordinary imprisonment, the males being 21 at the former, and 3 at the latter. Of the Lyttelton incarcerations, 2 were for trial at the Supreme Court, 72 for hard labour, 1 1 for ordinary imprisonment, and 9 for debt. The discharges for the month were— Christchurch, 19; ahd Lyttelton, 24. Anti-Shouting Societt. — A society with the above title has been formed im the Waikato, and we learn from Northern papers that the Superintendent and Provincial Secretary of Auckland have joined it. An Auckland paper rather spitefully remarks:— The pledge not to treat or be treated in any public-house only extends to this province, so that the members are all right at Wellington. Templeton Ploughing Match. — A meeting was held at Taylor's Hotel, Yaldhurst, on Thursday last, for the purpose of taking preliminary steps towards the annual ploughing match. Mr Taylor, on taking the chair, stated the object of calling the meeting, and requested those present to elect a committee. The following were then chosen :— Messrs Bailey, Barter, Innes, Kemish, Kingdon, Marsh, Maddison, Parish, and Sinclair; the hon. secretary and treasurer, Messrs Stedman and Taylor were re-elected. After considerable discussion, it was resolved— that the rules of former years should be strictly adhered to, and that any teams coming from outside the district should pay £ I entrance fee; those resident in the district only paying 10s. The secretary stated that a balance of £7 15s remained from last year, and handed found a subscription list, which was partly filled to the amount of £11. Several gentlemen being named for judges, the secretary was requested to write to them and ascertain their willingness to serve. The committee then agreed to meet at the George and Dragon, Templeton, on Wednesday, July 6, at 7 p.m , and, after a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting dispersed. Theatre Royal.— Last night " Othello " was again placed upon the stage, but with an important change in the cast. Mr Steele, in lieu of personating the Moor, took the part of lago, Mr Wolfe making a corresponding change. To those who witnessed the previous performance of this tragedy, the change wai a very acceptable one, as affording an opportunity of witnessing Mr Steele's pourtrayal, not only of a widely different character, but of what is by many deemed the more important of the two. 1 The result was to increase the good, opinion which has universally been formed of Mr Steele's ability as an actor. The "Othello" of the first performance was one of the greatest successes Mr Steele has achieved during his present visit, but' we question whether his lago does not surpass it. We should not be justly critical were we to deny that one or two slight faults were perceptible, but tbey did not. materially detract from the success of the part. The conception of the character was extremely good, -the action was well judged and unconstrained, and _in nowise overdone, whilst the general bearing was in consonance with- the spirit of the character. The audience were not slow to observe these qualities, ; and though lago does not usually " take " so well as the Moor, flattering demonstrations of approval were mbre' than once bestowed. The Othello of Mr Wolfe displayed that gentleman's characteristic carefulness of study,' and did infinite credit to him. It is no injustice to say that the character is beyond his powers, in fact widely opposed to his natural line of stage business. This considered,'' 'he justly deserves praise for the manner in which he acquitted himself. In the. other characters there was nothing new, though Speaking generally we may note that one or two hitches, from what in a* second representation can only beseemed? carelessness, occurred. To-night " Leah/;' one .of Miss Bowring's favourite pieces, will be produced; Sporting. — From our Melbourne files, by the Rangitoto, we find that the weights for the Cup were not published when th* steamer left. Manuka appears to have, receded slightly in the betting. Duke pf yMontrose now heads the list in the Australian at 100 to 7, Manuka coming second, at 1 00 to 6, and his stablecompanion, Praetor /third, at 100 to 5, The writer of turf gossip in the Leader notes that Mr Studholme's Knottingley has been entered for the Tasmanian as well as the Melbourne Cup. He also\ gives us the following information : — That thoroughbred entire, The Peer, is for sale, and the terms are remarkably easy. Such a horse would be invaluable in some parts of the country.

and should boou command a purchaser: He has for some time been located near Kilmore, where he has not received the patronage he deserved! The fact is, the stud owners about Melbourne make the necessary provision for their high bred dames at home, and there are no good mares about Kilmore. That he is the aire of that grand horse Manuka should of itself be sufficient to recommend him, for it proves that when his blood does nick, the result is indeed a rara avis, and it is still a moot point whether Manuka is not the best horse ever bred in this hemisphere. Riccarton Road Board.— A meeting of this Board was held on Friday. The following members were present :— Messrs Pavitt (chairman), Nuuweak, and Inwood. * The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Captain Brown in reference to the assessment ot the district, the receipt of which was ordered to be acknowledged. A letter was read from Mr Searell requesting to be allowed to widen the Carlton mill-race, and offering to fence off the mill-race road. It was resolved that this Board decline to give permission to Mr Searell to alter the condition or to interfere with the road as suggested by him. The surveyor having reported on the condition and cost of forming the Kaiapoi and Prebbleton junction road, it was resolved that, on the sum of £20 being subscribed by the parties benefited, the Board would form the road from the river bed te the Coal Track (160 chains), or that they would form half the distance on receipt of £10. The monthly report having been read, the following works were ordered to be carried out: Highstead road to be repaired with 30 yards of gravel; the approaches to the bridge on the Riccarton and Papanui Junction road to be repaired; the Riccarton road to be repaired with gravel between Dilloway's and Frost's road. The Surveyor was directed to make arrangements for 100 yards of gravel, to be spread on the Harewood road. Mr Inwood, having reported on the state of the Papanui drain, it was decided to have it cleared out, from the Avon boundary to the Harewood road. The Chairman and Surveyor were empowered to make arrangements for the purchase of a horse and tip cart for the use of the Board. After passing accounts for work done, the Board adjeurned until Friday, the Sth August. Dinner and Presentation.— Upwards of forty gentlemen sat down to dinner yesterday afternoon at the Queen's Hotel, Lyttelton, the principal object being to present Mr E. Walker, late foreman of the Lyttelton Moorhouse Tunnel, with a substantial testimonial on his leaving the Canterbury province. Mr E. Richardson, M.P.C., occupied the chair, and he was supported on his right by Mr E. Walker. Amongst the guests we noticed his Worship the Mayor, Dr Donald, Messrs H. R. Webb, M.P.C, and E. A. Hargreaves; also a large number of the railway employes of the Government, and those of Messrs Holmes and Richardson. After the usual loyal toasts had been duly honoured, the especial toaSt of the evening was proposed— M The health and prosperity of Mr Edward Walker," which was drunk with enthusiasm and three timeß three. The Chairman said he had been asked a few days since if he would take the chair at a presentation to be given to their guest that day, and he had consented with pleasure ; but he must say that he was quite unprepared to see such a large assemblage. He only came in to have a parting glass with their old foreman, but he waß glad at the same time to see how well his fellow-workmen appreciated Mr Walker. He had been 14 years in their employment, and during the whole of that time there had never been a complaint, and this was saying a great deal. He was sorry that Mr Walker was leaving them and the province, and he must say ha attributed it solely to the fact that he had been in Holmes and Richardson's employ. He was certain if large works, such as were contemplated, were carried out they would find him (Mr Walker), if employed on . them, always to the fore. Mr Walker was about to leave them, and: on behalf of his tellowworkmen he had much pleasure in presenting him with their testimonial to his worth. The testimonial consisted of an elegant marble timepiece surmounted with a chaste bronzed figure, representing a child at prayer.- A silver plate under the timepiece bore the following inscription, "Presented to Mr Edward Walker by his fellow - workmen engaged in the construction of the Moorhouse tunnel, as a mark of their esteem." In proposing his health he hoped that wherever he might go he would prosper. (Loud and prolonged applause.) The toast was drunk with musical honours. Mr E. Walker, who seemed deeply overcome with the kind feeling displayed towards him, returned thanks in a few appropriate .words. 'Mr Pope said he hoped the clock would keep as good time as Mr Walker had ■luring the progress of the Tunnel, Mr E. A, Hargreaves proposed , the toast of " Mr W. S. Moorhouse, the projector of the tunnel." The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Dr Rouse proposed " Messrs Holmes and Richardson, the contractors of the tunnel." In reply, Mr*. Richardson apologised -for Mr Holmes' absence, and expressed his regret that he was not present. As one of the firm, he could only add to what he had already said that their foreman had had been an excellent one, and their workmen had done well under him. - The toasts of "Dr Rouse, surgeon to the tunnel workmen," "his Worehip the Mayor," and " Dr Donald, J ' and " Capt. Mackie, of the s.s. Rangitoto," were severally drunk, each of whom, in acknowledging the toast, bore testimony to the ability and thorough workmanlike capabilities of the guest of the evening." Dr Donald said he was certain that such a work as the tunnel, where so much gunpowder had to be used, had never been carried out with fewer accidents, and he had great pleasure in adding his testimony to what had been said of their guest. The work of boring through a

. . sm mile and a quarter of volcanic bluestone had sever been attempted before. Several other toasts were proposed and responded to. *. ' . ■■*»•■—**•—*—■*——■——■