Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 730, 24 September 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

♦ \ Db owned. — By a telegram from Kaiapoi, we learn that a man named Patrick Coskelly, recently in the employment of Messrs Belcher and Fairweather, was thrown from his horse and drowned while attempting to ford the Ashley yesterday afternoon. The body had not been found. Engineer Volunteers. — After parade last night a meeting of all the members of this corp3 was held for the purpose of electing a second lieutenant vice Pavitt promoted. The selection fell on Sergt.-Major Urquhart, who wa3 unanimously appointed to the vacancy. Capt. Lean then gave a very interesting description of the seat of war in Europe. Canterbury Jockey Club. — It ia announced that a general meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club will be held at Tattersail's on Saturday next, Oct. I— to receive nominations for the Canterbury Cup and Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap, and for general business in connection with the approaching Metropolitan race meeting. A list of performances must be sent along with the nominations for the Jockey Club Handicap. Kaiapoi Mutual Improvement Association. — A meeting of this Association was held at the Wesleyan Schoolroom, on Thursday evening. The Rev R. S. Bunn occupied the chair, and the attendance was unusually large. The subject under discussion was, " Is scientific farming more applicable to this colony than mechanical farming." The discussion was opened by Mr E. A. Lock, who expressed himself in favour of the former system. Several other members spoke in favour of the view taken by Mr Lock. The debate was certainly very instructive to those present, and in some instances highly amusing ; but from the want of opposition the subject was not so well ventilated as it might have been. On the feeling of the meeting being tested, the scientific system was unanimously agreed to. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. Agricultural and Pastoral Association. — A meeting of the committee was held yesterday afternoon : present — Messrs R. Blakiston (in the chair), John Shand, Wm, Norman, Andrew Duncan, D. Graham, A. A. Fantham, H. Washbourn, "W. Bosg, J. Miln, D. Gebbie, J. Evans Brown, R. W. Fereday, and E. B. Bishop (hon. sec). The judges for the next show were appointed. A letter was read from the Flax Association, having reference to the prizes they intend to offer for the best exhibits in flax, at the Agricultural Show, as advertised. The secretary was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter, and state that the committee would be happy to assist in carrying •ut the views expressed in the letter. The secretary was requested to advertise that the competition for Mr Rhodes' prize for cheese would not take place till March, which would be a more suitable time for that kind of dairy produce, and in all probability there would be at the same time an exhibition of grain and root crops. The Fijis. — Among the most satisfactory signs of progress in the Fijis is a movement recently set on foot at Levuka for the purpose of establishing a Steam Navigation Company to trade among the Islands. The Fiji paper of July 23, received by last mail, contains an advertisement calling a " preliminary meeting of persona wishing to form an Inter-insular Steam Communication in the Fiji Group." Alluding to this matter, the paper says : — "We hope that the meeting will be numerously attended, as the time is now arrived when steam is very much required, owing to the large increase in our trade and passenger traffic. By issuing shares at a low figure there is little doubt that such a company will meet with the support of the whole of the residents in the Fijis. It will be one means of centralising Levuka as a seat of commerce, and by a regular communication with the islands to windward and leeward, immense benefits will accrue to the planters." A letter received in Dunedin by the proprietor of a steamer says :— " If you have not sold your steamer, you cannot do wrong in running her down here, and the sooner the better, as a meeting is to be held to-night for the purpose of forming a Steam Navigation Company to trade among the Islands. Mr Butters thinks, with myself, that you could get your own price for her without any difficulty, or do well in running her between the different islands. If you bring good stock with you, it would pay well. I have been offered £40 for my two young cows, which cost me about £12 each."

Magisterial. — There was no public business at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court thia morning. — At the Lyttelton Court, before W. Donald, Esc[., R.M., Thomas Haynes was charged with having been drunk and disorderly. He was dismissed with a caution. The Netv Secketabt op State for the Colonies. — The appointment of Earl Kimberley to the office of Secretary of State for the Colonies, is commented upon by the Times as follows: — "LordKimberley's claim to the seals of the Colonial Office, which must have been formidable in any case, became irresistible when the only persons who could be named in comparison with him (Mr Forster and Mr Chichester Fortescue) were thus disqualified. Lord Kimberley has had considerable official diplomatic experience, besides discharging the responsible duties of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland during a most critical period, and in his place in the Upper House he has been ever ready as an able and zealous coadjutor to his chief. It has been a matter of regret that his active temperament should be wasted in the sinecure post of Privy Seal; and the public will see with satisfaction the transfer of his energy and abilities to the Colonial Office." The welcome of the Daily News is very cold : "Against Lord Kimberley personally nothing can be said, except that he is not perhaps absolutely the best man who could have been found. He is a man of good business talents, of considerable official experience, and of ample self-confidence. A certain crudity and want of nice and delicate perception are perhaps traceable in him. His habit of mind and speech is somewhat that of a dogmatic schoolmaster. The fault is not very serious in itself, but in conceivable circumstances it might have serious consequences. The Colonies are not in the mood to receive quietly pedagogic lectures. They have been fretted even by Lord Granville's tact and courtliness, and the iron hand without the velvet glove will not be pleasant touching. Mr Gladstone has doubtless been influenced by considerations which are entitled to the weight he has given them, though they may not admit of being publicly set forth." Pedestrianism. — Yesterday afternoon Pentecost, of Rangiora, ran his match against time on the Hagley Park cricket ground. The stakes were £10, Pentecost backing himself for jES to run one mile in five minutes, and Young Austin, the Australian pedestrian, betting the same amount on time. Pentecost is well known in amateur circles, and it was generally believed that he would prove a winner, but, as will be seen below, this was an erroneous judgment. A large number of persons assembled to witness the event, and a course nearly half-a-mile in circumference was marked out by flags. Though the grass was tolerably close cropped and the ground fairly hard for such an early period in spring, yet it was scarcely fit for a long race against time. A part of the back stretch was also bare, and still softer than where grass prevailed, thus making the chances still greater in favour of time. On coming to the scratch Pentecost did not strip so well as was expected, but showed too much flesh and an evident want of work. A good start was made, with the betting level. Time for choice. This was, however, altered to 3 to 2 against Pentecost before he had completed the first quarter of his journey, and at the end of the half-mile still greater odds were offered with no takers. The time showed, indeed, that Pentecost was losing his chance slowly but surely, and although he put on a fine spurt in the final 100 yards, he failed to breast the tape until 21 sees, beyond the five minutes had expired. The result was a great disappointment to most of those assembled, although but little money beyond the stakes changed hands. The time really made is, however, far from being bad for the distance, and there cannot be a doubt but Pentecost would have done the distance within the five minutes had he run on a properly formed pedestrian ground. We are informed that Pentecost originally made the match to run upon a public high road, which certainly would have been better for him than the turf of the cricket ground, but that Austin objected to it, and he then gave way.