Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 720, 13 September 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

"•" Magisterial. — There were no criminal cases at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court this morning. Heathcote Rowing Club. — A general meeting was held on Monday evening at the schoolroom, Ferry Road, and, considering the state of the weather, there was a good attendance. Mr F. Pavitt occupied the chair. The committee appointed at last meeting brought up the rules, which were considered, and, after a few alterations, were adopted by the meeting. Mr Francis Pavitt was elected commodore of the club ; Messrs J. Sheath, G. Clark, F. Hill, J. W. Davis, and T. Roberts, as a committee ; J. C. Lea as treasurer ; and 11. A. Bamford as honorary secretary. Messrs Hill and Sheath were appointed a deputation to wait upon the Christchurch clubs to make arrangements for a procession of boats at the opening of the boating season. Since the last meeting many new members have joined the club. It was decided to purchase a four-oared boat, and commence practice at once. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting was adjourned to Wednesday week. Lytielton Borough Council. — The Council met at the usual hour on Monday, Sept. 12. Present : Councillors AHwright, Bunker, Chalmers, Young, Reed ; his Worship the Mayor presiding. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk reported that he had received during the week rates and rents amounting to £49 3s 6d. The correspondence was read, but called for no remarks. A protest by Mr W. H. Cummins against the validity of the late election of Councillors was read, and the reply of hi 3 Worship the Mayor thereto. His Worship said it was a personal matter, and the election was perfectly valid. Mr Cummins had his remedy. A letter from Mr J. Haydon was read, asking the Council's permission to take some earth away from D tmpier Bay road. This was agreed to on certain conditions. The Foreman of Works' report was read and received. It stated that certain works ordered to be done had been completed ; some culverts were required, one especially in Voelas Road. During the past week some damage had been done to the lamps of the town. The cost of repairs would amount to 355. s-ome discussion ensued on the latter affair. His Worship said the contractor was liable for any damage, as he received the lamps from the Council in good order. It was resolved that a reward of £5 be offered, on the conviction of persons destroying the Municipal property. Councillor AHwright again brought forward the memorial that had been received from the inhabitants residing in Salt's Gully. The matter was left in the hands of the Works Committee. Councillor Allwright Baid Mr Barton had spoken to him about his fence. The Council had cut the road so near to it, that it had fallen down. The matter was referred to the Works Committee, to report thereon. Council Allwright, a3 Chairman of the Works Committee, tendered their resignation. They were immediately re-appointed. Accounts amounting to £5 12s 6d were passed for payment. Councillor Grubb asked the'amount of overdraft at the Bank. It was stated to be £319. Councillor Chalmers suggested that the Council should try the cheap means of asphalting, as recommended by the committee, as soon as fine weather set in. His Worship brought forward the motion, of which he had given notice, with reference to the engagement of the Town Clerk on a fresh agreement. It was resolved that a committee, consisting of his Worship the Mayor, Councillors Allwright and Bunker, be formed, and that they report on the matter. Councillor Grubb called the Council's attention to the number of stray cattle about the town at night. It was resolved that the police be written to on the matter. The Council then adjourned. Lecture.— The first of a series of lectures on a very interesting subject— as will be seen from an advertisement— will be delivered in St. James' Church, Montreal street, to-mor-row evening, by the Rev. A. R. Fitchet. Pedestrianism. — Young Austin, who has been prominently before the public, both in Australia and New Zealand, and whose reputation as a " ped " stands high, will make his first public appearance in Canterbury on Monday next, at the Plough Inn, Riccarton. Total Abstinence Society. — The usual fortnightly meeting in connexion with the above society took place in the Temperance Hall last evening. Mr Rogers presided, and in a brief address called upon Mr W. H. De La Mare, who read a popular explanation of the permissive bill for the suppression of the liquor trafßc. Mr Davidson also addressed the meeting, and Miss Cutler and others sang several temperance melodies during the evening with good effect. Federation op the Australian Colonies. — The Governor of Victoria has appointed a Royal Commission to consider and report on the necessity of a federal union of the Australian colonies — a question to which recent events has given increased urgency and importance. The commission consists of Sir Francis Murphy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; the Hon. T. H. Fellows, the Hon. C. Gavan Duffy, the Hon. Captaiu MacMahon, the Hon. John Macgregor, the Hon. J. F. Sullivan, the Hon. Edward Langton, the Hon. J. J. Casey, the Hon. G. B. Kerferd, the Hon. Graham Berry, M.L.A.'s, and the Hon. J. Graham, M.L.C. Mr Duffy i 1 ? chairman of the commission.

The Customs. — It has been notified by the Commissioner of Customs that the duties collected in excess of the tariff in force before June 29 will be refunded. Postal. — The following is from a Melbourne contemporary : — A peculiar fatality seems to hare attended the course of the June mails which left here by the Malta on the 19 th of that month. The breakdown of that vessel will be remembered, in consequence of which the mails were placed on board the Avoca at King George's Sound for conveyance to Galle. The Avoca reaching Galle too late to deliver the mails to the boat bound for Suez, they were transferred to the Orissa and sent on to Bombay, that they might catch the weekly steamer leaving that port for Suez. The mails got to Bombay on July 20, when they were transhipped to the China, then about to start with the homeward mail, and which had been detained for 12 hours to wait for the Orissa's arrival. Four days later the China put back to Bombay with her screw broken, and the mails were then placed on board the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamship Golconda, which left for Suez at 5 p.m. on the same day, and it was hoped that she would reach Suez in time to meet the corresponding steamers on the home aide, which would doubtless be kept waiting for a day or two if necessary. Should she succeed in doing this, the mails from Australia would be delivered in London within nine days of the date when they were due, in spite of the two breakdowns. The City Council Cup. — The final competition for Mr Bishop's silver cup, by representative squads of the Christchuroh Volunt ers took place on Saturday last, on the new rifle range. The competing corps were the Artillery, Engineers, and No 6 Co. Rifles, each of which had won the cup once, in the order of precedence given. The conditions first imposefl were that the cup should be won twice by the same corps, before becoming the property of any corps, and that the number of representatives in each squad should be five, each having seven shots at 200, 400, and 500 yards, respectively. The squads on Saturday fired on anything but equal terms, that of No. 6 being composed of veteran shots, whilst those of the other corps were composed either of much younger or less distinguished ones. The result was thus a foregone conclusion. The weather was very unfavourable, rain falling heavily almost from the first. The following are the scores: — Artillery — Warner, 16, 13, 18, total 47; Snell, 20, 11,3, total 34; Fox, 14, 24, 12, total 50; Harrison, 14, 4, 5, total 23; Johnson, 24, 10, 19, total 53 ; squad total, 207. Engineers — Beattie 15, 23, 3, total 41 ; Smith 17, 4, 4, total 25; Urquhart 18, 22, 16, total 56 ; Pavitt 20, 15, 6, total 41 ; Innes 21, 24, 16, total 61 ; squad total 224. No. 6 Rifles— Jackson 20, 17, 21, total 58 ; Gulliver 24, 21, 21, total 66 ; Frew 21, 22, 20, total 63 ; Wolfe 20, 9, 9, total 38 ; Paton 21, 19, 16, total 58; squad total 281. The cup now therefore belongs to No. 6 Rifles. The War in Europe. — On again referring to our Victorian files we find it stated in an Adelaide telegram that the leading South Australian paper strongly urges on the Government of that colony the necessity of following the example set by the Victorian Government, and of making arrangements for the defence of the colony. A passenger to Adelaide by the Rangatira mail steamer asserts that when he left London thousands of Germans were throwing up their occupations and leaving to join in the anticipated war. '1 his news caused great excitement amongst the Germans in Adelaide. We find, also, that the Government of New South Wales intended to bring a Militia Bill before Parliament at once. A meeting ©f German residents of Melbourne was convened for the afternoon of Sept. 3 to take means towards raising a fund on behalf of their countrymen wounded in the war, and the widows and orphans of the killed. A considerable sum has already been subscribed, and much enthusiasm has been exhibited by the German citizens of Melbourne on the subject. Similar meetings of Germans were announced in Adelaide and Sydney. The Argus advocates the establishment of a fortnightly mail service via Galle, to which it thinks the other colonies would readily subscribe. Our contemporary says: — Since the war news arrived business has been almost suspended in some of its branches through the holders of goods being quite in the dark as to how their value had been affected by the outbreak of hostilities. And similar difficulties will be constantly occurring, to the great detriment of our trade, if we content ourselves with a monthly mail throughout a protracted European war. Lyttelton Boating Club. — The following is the Annual Report of the Commodore and Hon. Secretary and Treasurer conjointly upon the doings of the Club last season, and its present position, financially and otherwise, submitted at the meeting held on Saturday evening last : — " Shortly after the opening day of last season the working members of the club settled down to fair practice, and in the course of a few weeks the Commodore was enabled to decide upon a crew for the coming regattas — the Snowdrop and a hired waterman's boat being used for practice. The new, but damaged boat received from Melbourne was handed over to Harrison, boatbuilder, for repair, according to a resolution passed at the last general meeting. Your committee carefully inspected the repairs and were fully satisfied with the work executed by Mr Harrison. On the 27th November, 1869, the boat was launched and named by the Commodore's lady the Hare- 1 bell. The launch took place in Dampier Bay, and at which several members and visitors were present. As you are aware the Club did not achieve any great amount of success during the past season. At the Lyttelton Regatta, in the gig race, the Harebell was found to be too long for the short turns, and too heavy for ihe crew she carried. The pair-oared race was won by the Club in Mr D. Mills' Stranger, and built !>y Mr Har-

rison, kindjy lent by that gentleman — Messrs A. Cuff, Jno. Plimraer, and A. Brunsden being the crev. The Club visited Kaiapoi Regatta with the Stranger, and were successful, taking second prize in the pairoared race. In December, a mishap unfortunately occurred to the Snowdrop. She was left moored in the stream after morning practice, the weather being quite calm ; about j mid-day, a severe gale Bprung up and ■ swamped her, and it was only after great difficulty she was got to land, when it was found that her gunwale and thawts were broken, and the canvas covering, fore and aft, completely destroyed. The property of the Club is all in fair condition, except the Snowdrop, as above noted. The boats are stored in Mr A. Cuff's store, who deserves the thanks of the Club for the boat accommodation for the past season. For the convenience of members going into practice this coming season, it would be advisable to hold a survey upon the Snowdrop, and, if considered expedient, have her at once put into good repair. The position of the Club financially may be considered, under the circumstances, satisfactory. From the Treasurer's statement of accounts it will be seen that the amount of £35 18s 9d was grossed during the season; £25 18s being amount of subscriptions and £10 prizes, against which £11 10s has been paid Mr D. Davis, being balance of the sum due for new boat from Melbourne; £15 repairs to boats; £11 18s expended for ordinary .club expenses, and which leaves a debit of £2 9s 9d against the Club. This, as before mentioned, may be considered satisfactory; for, although the statement does not show a credit balance, the members may congratulate themselves that the position of the club is far more healthy than at the commencement of the previous season. United Canterbury Cricket Club. — The following are the Report and Balance Sheet presented at the meeting on Saturday night : — " In accordance with the suggestion contained in the report, read at the last annual general meeting, the committee engaged Mr A. Stewart to take charge of the ground from the Ist September, 1869, to Ist September, 1870, for the sum of £60. They have every reason to be satisfied with the manner in which the ground has been taken care of during that period, and are convinced | that such an arrangement is far more satisfactory than the plan previously adopted of paying by the week. The following abstract of the accounts for the last year shows a reduction of the debts by an amount of nearly £40. The balance of the sum due to Mr Stewart for originally laying down the ground has been paid off, as well as the extra sum for levelling the centre of the ground at the end of the season of 1868-69. It should be mentioned that a considerable portion of the reduction above alluded •to waß effected by a subscription, which was agreed to at the last general meeting ; but, irrespective of this, an amount of about £20 has been paid from the ordinary revenue of the club towards the reduction of the debt. Receipts: Balance from last year, £4 16s Id; subscriptions — -playing members, /£SB ss; honorary members, £12 9s; country members, £8 8s ; lockers, £2; donations towards paying off old liabilities, £20 Is; contributions by other Clubs for preparing ground, £4 4s;— total, £110 3s Id. Expenditure: Ground expenses — rolling,"£6; Me Williams, £8 13s lOd; Stewart, balance of old account for forming, £18 14s 8d; ditto, for repairing, £12 10s; repairs to grass machine, £1 10s; subscriptions refunded £5 ; materials and expenses of matches £20 6s ; sundries, £2 10s 6d; Stewart, on account of contract for care of ground, £25 — £100 5s — balance in hand, £9 18s Id;— total, £110 3s Id. The following is a statement showing as nearly as possible the present debt of the clubsLiabilities— A. Stewart, £35; Cooke and Co., £4 10s; Simpson, £1 Is; Prebble, £3 Os 6d; Bailey, £2 7s 3d; Oram, £6; Page, £3; Anderson, £2 12s; Fleming, 15s; total, £58 5s 9d. Assets— Balance in hand, £9 18s Id; subscriptions, &c, outstanding, £8 ss ; total, i £18 3s Id. Balance Dr, £40 Is Bd. In coni elusion, the committee would point out that it has been only by using the strictest economy that they have been enabled to reduce the debt of the club at all, and that certain expenses will have to be incurred very shortly which cannot be avoided. A supply of materials is urgently needed, and some repairs to the pavilion, namely, mending windows, lockers, painting the building, &c, are immediately necessary. An estimate of the cost of such repairs prepared by a competent person will be laid before the meeting this evening."