Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 702, 23 August 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

♦_ Theatre Royal. — The company will give a farewell performance to-night, prior to their departure for Wellington. The bill is one in which they cannot fail to leave a favourable impression. We understand that during the absence of the company in the North, the Theatre will be re-decorated and re-furnished. The company intend to return about the first week in November. We trust they will onjoy a profitable and pleasant trip in the interval. Bankruptcy. — Mr Richard Davis sat in Chambers yesterday. — Re Stephen Brooker : No creditors attending, the estate was declared vested in the Provisional Trustee. — Re Robert Bryant : No creditors attending, the meeting was adjourned until Monday next, at one o'clock. — His Honor Mr Justice Gresson sat in Chambers this morning. The final examination was fixed for Thursday, the 22nd September, in re George Fuller, John Hart, and John Morgon. — In re Thomas Laffy : his Honor made an order of adjudication, and fixed the meeting of creditors for Wednesday, the 31st August, at one o'clock. — In re Benjamin Clegg, deceased : Probate was granted to the widow and sole executrix. Alarm op Fire.— The fire-bell tolled forth its warning notes a few minutes before noon to-day, but fortunately the cause of alarm proved to be nothing more than a chimney on fire at Messrs Whitelaw and Dawson's furniture warehouse in Colombo street. Before the bell had been answered by any of the fire officials, active measures were taken, which speedily removed all fear of further danger. Mr H. Prince, with some others, mounted to the roof of the building, and by covering the top of the chimney with wet sacks, thus stopping all draft, extinguished the fire. Of course a largo number of persons assembled, Mr Harris, superintendent of the fire brigade, Mr Foreman West, Police Inspector Pender, several firemen and members of the fire-police, being among the earliest. IiYTTELTON* BoKOUGH COUNCIL. — The Council met at the usual hour on Monday, August 23. Present : Councillors Allwright, Bunker, Young, Stout, Cummins, and Chalmers ; his Worship the Mayor presiding. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and conSrmed. The clerk said he had received during the week rates amounting to £10 18s 6d. The foreman of works' report was read and received. It was resolved to order 200 more quicks for the bathing Bhed. A letter was read from Capt. Palmer, of the schooner Mavis, offering a quantity of stone shingle at 4 shillings per ton. The Council declined the offer, as they had no use at present for it. Accounts amounting to £14 Us 4d were passed for payment. Several of the Councillors called the attention of the Council to the state of the asphalt pavement. It was resolved to ask the Works Committee to bring up a special report of the state of the footpaths in Mr Smart's contract. The Council then adjourned. Heathcote Road Boaed. — The Board held its usual meeting yesterday, when there were present Messrs Kennaway (chairman), Fisher, and Earle. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. The following correspondence was read : — A letter from Captain Sproul, complaining of damage done to his fence through the deepening of a drain on Alwin's Road ; a letter from the chairman of the Board of Conservators, stating that a rate of one penny in the £ had been struck by the Board, and requesting the Road Board to collect and hand over the same less reasonable expenses for collection; a letter from Mr Blakistpn requesting the Board to take over the road from the Ferry Road to his farm, which has. already been made and metalled; a petition from Mr Rollo, requesting a reduction in the assessment of his property. The Boafd directed the Surveyor to inform Mr Rollo that when the new roll was cotnpl&ed he could appeal against the assessment if he thought fit, which appeal would be heard by the revising officer appointed by the Governor, sometime in October next. The chairman was requested to inspect the drain complained of by Captain Sproul, and to direct such steps being taken in the matter as he may think necessary. The Surveyor was instructed to report on the roads on Mr Blakiston's property. Mr Fisher directed the notice of the Board to a statement made by Mr Potts, member for

Mount Herbert, in the General Assembly in the debate on "The Sales for Non Payment of Rates Bill," on July 8, 1870. It was resolTed that the chairman be requested to communicate with the Hon. John Hall, as representative of the Heathcote district, and call his attention to a statement referred to by the Premier of New Zealand, as made by Mr Potts—" That the district of Heathcote was one that drew largely out of the revenue of the province, and contributed nothing towards the expense of constructing roads " and to furnish him with a correct statement of the rates, &c., collected by the Board since its establishment, and request him to take (if possible) an early opportunity of correcting so erroneous a statement in the House. The Board, after passing accounts for work done, adjourned until Monday, the sth September next. VJBlack Swans. — The Acclimatisation So««ty will be gratified to learn that a flight of black swans passed over Timaru, bound southward, on Thursday last, and another on Friday, in the same direction. Thi3 fact speaks to a large increase on the original sjock. S&A Model Municipality. — A Nelson conTemporary claims for that city the distinction of being the cleanest and best kept town in the colony. It also states that the only paid officers are the surveyor and secretary, and the inspector of nuisances and rate collector, and by this dual conjunction the salaries are kept down to the moderate sum of £354 a year, and concludes by saying that a community could not well be more economically or efficiently served than the city of Nelson is served by its Board of Works. Truly a model municipality. Total Abstinence SociETr. — An entertainment in connection with the above society was held in the Temperance Hall last evening There was a good attendance. Mr Butterfield presided, and Messrs W. H. De La Mare, Bennetts, J. G. Baker, and Dr Allen gave readings. Several songs were given during the evening in a very creditable manner, and Miss Cutler gave a recitation. At the close of the entertainment, the secre tary announced that Mr Wright would deliver a lecture in the Hall shortly.