Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 685, 3 August 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

■'"- . "'J: : »v — — Magisterial.— No criminal business was transacted at the Ghristchurch Magistrate's Court this morning. Representation of Christchurch. — The writ for the election of a new member, in the room of Mr Travers, came down by the Rangitoto to day. We understand that Captain Mackie kindly delayed the departure of the Rangitoto from Wellington at the request of one of the Canterbury members, so that the writ might be sent on without loss of time. Theatrical. — We learn from our Dunedin files that Mr Willis, scenic artist in the company now performing at the Theatre Royal, has leased the Dunedin Theatre. Dramatic— Miss Rose Evans appeared at the Town Hall last evening in her miscellaneous dramatic entertainment, and was as successful as on previous occasions, though the attendance was somewhat limited. At the conclusion Miss Evans announced that the entertainments would not be continued. Bankruptcy. — The Registrar sat in Chambers, at 11 yesterday morning. In re Peter Whitelaw, John M'llroy, and Elijah Smith, the last examination was fixed for Thursday, the 22nd September. Orders of adjudication were made in re John Hart, George Fuller, Henry King, John Morgon, and William' Kelland : creditors to meet on Wednesday, the 10th August, at 11, 11.30, 12, 1, and 3 o'clock, respectively. ' Popular Entertainments. — A meeting of the Committee of the Popular Entertainment and Amusement Association was held yesterday afternoon, the Very Rev. the Dean presiding. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Crosbie, that the competition for the glees and ladies' solos should be postponed until the 23rd inst. The arrangements for the entertainment on Tuesday evening next were then made, and the committee adjourned. Theatre Rotal.— Unfortunately for the company, the weather last evening was of too unfavourable a nature to ensure anything like a good house, notwithstanding the fact that the programme was a very attractive one, comprising the " Corsican Brothers" and the burlesque of " Orpheus and Eurydice." In the former, the main characters were sustained with more than ordinary credit, and in the latter the Misses Nye and Forde had an opportunity of appearing in a line of j business more specially adapted to them than any other. The Late Fire in Dampier Bat. — An inquiry was held yesterday afternoon before J.W. S. Coward, Esq., coroner, on the late fire in Dampier Bay. His Worship the Mayor was present, and Mr H. N. Nalder appeared on behalf of the Lyttelton Land Building and Investment Society. The following evidence was adduced:— Sergeant W. O'Connor: lam a constable stationed in Lyttelton. About 20 minutes past 6 on the evening of July 12, I heard the fire bell ringing. I proceeded to Dampier Bay, and found a house burned to - the ground. A person named Galbraith had been living in it. I Baw Mrs Galbraith, and inquired how the fire originated. She said she heard a kind of a whirling noise in the chimney of the room she had been, sitting in. She got up and went into the kitchen to see the cause. She then perceived a large hole over the back of the fireplace of the front room burning. She tried to get back again into the front room but it was in flames, and she could not enter it. I left a constable at the ruins, and next morning I inspected the place. I examined the chimneys and found they were foul. There were cracks between the bricks, where the smoke had come through. By Jurors : I was informed . the fire took place in the front room. I saw cracks in the chimney; the mortar or mud had come away from between the bricks, and smoke was quite visible. I did not put anything in between the bricks to see if there were any holes', nor could I see a light between them, but any person could sco the colour of the smoke. Annie Galbraith: lam the wife of John Galbraith, and occupied the house that was burned down. At a quarter past 6on the evening of the 12th of July, I was sitting in the front room, when I heard a noise like steam coming from the boiler of a steamer. The same instant the servant girl called out " fire." I thought it was in the kitchen, and ran out into the back room. I then saw a large round hole with a mark of fire on the wall. This was at the back of the front room chimney. The place was not burnt through, but it was red hot. In a moment a Bheet of fire rushed out from it. I ran into the bedroom for my child, and then out of doors, but before I could return the house was in flames. It was about 10 minutes from the time I heard the noise I speak of and the fire breaking out. I thought at first it was the rats. I did not see to the chimneys when I went into the house. I had only been in it a fortnight. In about seven minutes after the breaking out of the fire/ the house was burnt to the ground. By the police: I had only had a fire twice in the room. The first time was on the Thursday previous. I was burning a lamp in the front room, but it did not explode or break. The servant in the kitchen was using a candle. The furniture was not insured. I only saved a dressing glass and table. The bed I got out of. the house was burned. Jeanette Sinclair, servant, and Mrs Mary Ann Hay, gave corroborative evidence. There was no explosion of kerosene or breaking of a lamp on the night of the fire. This being the whole of .the evidence, the Coroner said he could not understand why the inquest was called. He had come over at the request of the Mayor, but he really could not see why. The evidence given showed that it was purely an accidental fire. His Worship the Mayor said it was the Borough Council's request. He did not know their motive. Several of the jurymen expressed themselves strongly on the matter, as it had taken up their time for no good purpose. A verdict was returned that the fire was accidental.

New Zealand Flax. — The following is from a Southland contemporary :r-We-.were shown this week by a leading merchant a sample of imported Manilla rope, upon which, of course, a duty had been paid. When closely examined, it could be clearly seen to contain at least seven-eighths New Zealand flax fibre. This is not the first sample that has come under our observation. It goes far to explain why the rope-makers at home are so anxious to depreciate New Zealand flax, and extol Manilla fibre. They evidently appreciate, and push to its fullest extent, the maxim, " buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest market." Rifle Association. — The monthly meettng of the Council was held at White's Hotel, last night, Mr Bird in the chair. The hon. treasurer, Mr Bishop submitted his customary statement of accounts, and the amounts due by the Association were ordered to be paid. The hon. secretary, Mr Alport, was instructed to apply to the captains of troops, batteries, and companies for the contributions of their respective corps towards the expense of forming the new rifle range. It was also decided, on the motion of Mr Barnes, that Messrs Bird, Thomson, and the Secretary be appointed as a deputation to wait upon the Provincial Government, and solicit a grant in aid towards the same matter. The Council then adjourned. "Js>Louis Napoleon an Investor in Otaoo. '--It appears that the San Francisco correspondent of the Olago Daily Times had stated that Louis Napoleon had invested money in Otago, on which the Southland News says : — There, now, who would have thought that the august ruler of La Belle France had gone so far a-fleld with his modest savings ? Who shall say henceforth that New Zealand is an obscure colony ? Have " we not Prince Alfred of England speculating in mining shares in the North, and prudent Bonaparte laying out his spare cash in the South ? It is rather provoking on the part of that correspondent to tell so much and yet so little. Why could he not have stated the precise locality and description of property — whether station, mining, or agricultural ? We Bhould 11 so like to know, you know." There is an old and sound maxim, <f Princes should not engage in commerce," which these people appear to have forgotten. Perhaps not, however ; it may be that they read the signs of the times more closely than others, and have come to the conclusion that a " rainy day " is at hand. A Duel in a Desert. — The French papers contain an accountof a difficulty which recently took place in the Algerian desert, between a civilian and a lieutenant of the Thirty-eighth Regiment, in consequence of some insulting remarks which the former had made about the Empress Eugenic. A column of soldiers from Laghouat had been for two weeks in pursuit of a large number of Arabian marauders, and was encamped on the burning hot sand, having no other perspective than the endless horizon. Suddenly a spahi, covered with dust, arrived with the mail from France, Universal joy 1 Unfortunately, the news was of a very grave character. The officers along the whole line engage in an animated conversation about the political situation in France. A civilian who was present raised his voice and .attacked the Emperor and Empress personally. General indignation among the officers. "Sir," exclaimed a young lieutenant, "it is not my mission to defend here my sovereign, but I shall never allow outrageous remarks to be made in my presence about a lady, whether she is present or absent. If we were not in front of the troops I should have already pulled your ears." The civilian repeated his offensive remarks. " That is enough," said the officer, rising and advancing towards the civilian ; " look at the uniform which I wear, and if you want to know my name, here is my card, which will tell you where to send your eeconda to." He then boxed the civilian's ears, and walked away. Five minutes afterwards the duel took place. After a few rapid passages, the lieutenant wounded his adversary. When the champion of the Empress returned he was received by his comrades with shouts of Viv» I'lmpera'rice I and in the evening all the officers went to the quarters of the lieutenant in order to congratulate him oa what had been done. The Pays, which contains this account, says, in an article signed by Paul de Cassagnac, the great duelist : "We regret not to have been in the place of this officer, and we express to him our admiration and jealousy."