Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 660, 5 July 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

: _* Ltttelton Winter Readings.— The fifth of the series will take place to-m"rrow night, at the Colonists' Hall, when a first-rate programme will be presented. The Mackenzie Countrt. — The Timaru paper of July 2, says : — A correspondent, writing this week, says that recently on the •south side of the river Tekapo the flats were covered with snow, whilst'the tops of the hills were clear. On the north side snow was lying, and it was feared that the sheep tthere would suffer. Bankruptcy. — The Registrar sat in his Chambers at 1 1 o'clock this morning, and made orders of adjudication in re Edward Pilbrow (Mr JCowlishaw) and William Collins. (Mr Bariford); creditors to meet at 11 and' 12 o'clock respectively on the 13th inst. In re James Rosscr, the last examination was fixed for Thursday, the 28th inst. • • • -•• Total Abstin ence.— The usual fortnightly meeting in connexion with the Christchurqh Total Abstinence Society, was held in the Temperance Hall last evening. Mr Gayg-lH occupied the chair, and Messrs Merriman and Davidson .addressed the meeting. There was a good attendance, and during the eveping the mcc* s ng was en'ivened by the mem-;' bcrs singing scvcivil temperance melodies. J§£

American Independence. — Yesterday, July 4, was observed as a holiday by American citizens resident in Christchurch. Theatre Royal. — There was a fair attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening. The programme consisted of " Leah," which was reproduced on Saturday night. Barnard's Repositort.— This establishment, with which the public are so familiar, yesterday passed into the hands of Mr Joseph Bennett, of Christchurch, and Mr Bird, late of Dunedin, who will carry on business as auctioneers, and stock and station agents, under the style of Bird and Bennett. (TFisn. — The Timaru paper of July 2, says : —Lately a large ndknber of rock cod have been caught off Timaru: On Thursday a party went out in a whaleboat, and in a few hours landed about 170 of these fish, some of very large size. On Thursday evening the fish were left on the beach, covered witha tarpaulin, the owners intending to send them up country the following day. Yesterday morning, however, it was discovered that about 50 fish had been stolen during the night. Oddfellowship. — The Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge, No. 4602, assembled at the Oddfellows Hall, Lichfleld street, last evening. Present— M. B. Hart, jun., N.G. ; Taaffe, V.G. ; Napier, G.M., and a large number of members and visitors. Mr Joseph Exall, Shorthand Reporter, was admitted as an honorary member of the Lodge. A balance-sheet was read, which was pronounced as being satisfactory ; it showed that the receipts for the half-year had been £102 5s 3Jd, and that the total balance to the credit of the Lodge (exclusive of the Lodge regalia and furniture) was £662 2s 7d ; also that the net receipts from the concert in aid of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund, amounted to £15. The report was received, and its adoption postponed until a future meeting. Bros. Paton and Brass were presented with a framed certificate of merit for the faithful manner in which they had discharged the duties of their respective offices. Each brother returned thanks. The Lodge was then closed, and the chairs were taken by the District Grand Officers. Brother Parry, P.G.M., then presented Brother T. Grantham, P. P. G. M., with a gold medal (manufactured by Messrs Coates and Co.) bearing the following inscription :— " Presented to P.P.G M., T. Grantham, as a token of respect, by the members of the North Canterbury District, N.Z., M.U.1.0.0.F." Brother Grantham read his reply, which was received with applause, and the Lodge members toasted the health of Brother Grantham in a manner appropriate to. the occision. Ltttelton Borough Council. — The Council met at the usual hour on Monday. Present:— His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Allwright, Bunker, Young, Stout, and Chalmers. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the Clerk stated that he had received the amount of £23 5s 9d during the week. A letter was read from his Honor the Superintendent, with reference to a Bill about to be brought forward in the Assembly to empower the Councils of each borough to levy a rate, not to exceed 3d in the pound, for the maintenance of a fire brigade. His Honor wished to have the opinion of the Lyttelton Borough Council on the subject. After some discussion, it was unanimously resolved that a reply favourable to the bill should be sent to his Honor. It was the opinion of the Council that it would be advisable to have the power of levying such a rate, should it be required. The consideration of a requisition from the inhabitants of Salt's Gully, praying that their road might be repaired, was ad journed, in order to ascertain if the inhabitants would contribute a sum towards the work. An application from Mr Bruce, to deposit some earth on his property was granted, subject to the approval of the Foreman of Works. A letter from Collier and Co., complaining that a atone step in front of their premises in London street had been removed, and that unless it was immediately replaced, further proceedings would be taken. The stone in question was stated to be a nuisance, and the Council resolved to do nothing in the matter. The report of the Foreman of Works was read and approved of, and those works requiring attention were referred to the Works Committee. The Inspector of Nuisances' report was read and passed, and the weekly paysheet, amounting to £32 10s, was passed for payment. The Council then adjourned. , The Ladies of Lima. — The following is from the Riverside Magazine (America) : — The Alameda . is the public garden and promenade of the, city. Imagine a long and narrow strip of land enclosed by an iron fence, with a broad path down the centre, bordered with handsome marble statues, and marble Vases containing plants, a narrow plot of highly-cultivated garden between the path and the ratling, and you have the Alameda. To this should be added the majestic background of the Andes. As you approach, the Square pavement and the elaborate gateway, adorned with four statues on the gate posts, for pedestals, present an imposing appearance; but in spite of the statuary and the flowers, the Alameda is really far from attractive. It is something like a drawing room, the furniture of which is too hard for comtort and too elegant for .use. The walk is Bborb and varying ; there are no pleasant side paths to turn down, no "ramble." to wander about in. You must walk down one straight path, and back again. This can be repeated, but soon becomes tiresome. Not unf requently, however, in the afternoon, the Alameda is thronged with pedestrians, of whom, generally, ladies form a fair proportion. All of them are dressed gracefully, some handsomely. Not, many years ago, the drees of a Lima lady was very peculiar. They wore, universjrfly, the " saya y manto." The saya was a fightfitting skirt, clinging close to the person, and restricting the gait very much. At the waist ivas fastened. a white shawlj passing round {lie body; and . hang'ng down in front ; and pvserthershoulders and head was thrown the

manlo, which is a long black' scarf, about three-quarters of a yard wide. It covered the head completely, and was held up with one hand, so as entirely to conceal the face, one eye alone being visible. Nowadays, crinoline has usurped the place of the saya, but the manto is still indispensable. Every lady in Lima wears the manto instead of bonnet or hat, but it is no longer a general fashion to hide the features with it. Still, a great many ladies draw it about the face with one band, leaving only two flashing black eyes to establish their identity by. These veiled ladies, or " tapadas" as they are called, are especially frequent in the Alameda. They are supposed to be young ladies, fond of amusement, and willing to enjoy for an hour all the privileges of a mask, and are always ready with a repartee for any pleasantry. They ail have large, expressive black eyes. Indeed, the women of Lima are celebrated for thenbeauty, and justly. Perhaps the privilege of the " tapada " is taken advantage of sometimes by those whose eyes are their only claim to the general reputation. At the theatre all the ladies in the parquette are always closely veiled — an eyelash being the only feature exposed. In the row of boxes above, however, is all the elite of Lima. The ladies there are all in full ball-room dress, in rich silks and glittering jewels, and present a line of dazzling beauty. A stranger would acknowledge that the fame of Lima's daughters was fairly won. Going to church, the fair one draws her manto closely over her face, and followed by her little Indian servant, with a ru r , she enters the temple to kneel before the shrine of some favourite saint.