Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 733, 28 September 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

pEDESTßiAisrissr. — A running match at 200 yards, the stakes being £5 a side, has been arranged to he run at Akaroa on the 3rd prox., the competitors being James Annand and George Brough, both local residents. Kaiapoi Nominatiox. — At 4 p.m. yesterday, Mr Josiah Birch was the only person nominated to fill the extraordinary vacancy in the Borough Council, caused by the resignation of Mr M. Hall. He will therefore be declared duly elected on the day appointed for the election. St. Michael's Church. — An interesting feature connected with the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the new church to-morrow will be the depositing on the stone the collections made by the pupil 3 ,of the Sunday School and others. Collecting cards have been given to about 50 young people, and the amount obtained by this means will not fall far short of £50. It will be something to remember all their lives, that they contributed their share to the work of erecting the Parish Church. Mk Heller. — This celebrated entertainer gave performances at Lyttelton on Monday and last evening, on both occasions to crowded audiences, who gave hearty testimony of their approval. To-night Mr Heller will appear at Burnip's Assembly Booms, Kaiapoi ; on Thursday night he will give an entertainment at Leithfield ; and on Friday night he will again perform in Kaiapoi. We are also glad to hear that Mr Heller has decided to give an entirely musical evening at the Canterbury Music Hall, on Saturday next, before finally leaving Christchurch. The programme will consist chiefly of pianoforte music, varied by some solos on the harmonium by Mr Robert Parker, and some duets for the two instruments. We are sure that the musical public of Christchurch will gladly avail themselves of such an opportunity for enjoyment as will be afforded on that occasion. Supkeme Covet. — His Honor Mr Justice Gresson sat in Chambers at 11 a.m. yesterday. In re Alexander Scrimgeour, an order was made for the final examination and dischargo to be fixed for 17th November. la re the estate of Thomas Purdie, and re the petition of C. J. Foster, for the Registrar to tax bill of costs, and the same when taxed to he paid out of the estate, no order was made. In Thomson v. Walker, judgment was, on the application of Mr Wynn Williams, ordered to be entered up for plaintiff, for principal, interest, and costs. In Rhodes and Another v. Robinson, Mr Hanmer's motion for an order to show cause was allowed with costs. The application of Mr Cowlishaw — re the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway Act, 1860, and the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, and ex parie Edward Allen Hargreaves was ordered to stand for Friday. In the Law Practitioners' Act re Solicitor, -judgment was reserved. In re Graham v. Franks and others, leave was given Dr Foster to move at the next Chamber sitting in arrest of judgment, or for new trial. St. Albans Winter Entertainments. — The series of entertainments given during the winter in the St. Albans Wesleyan schoolroom was concluded on Tuesday' by a tea meeting, after which the choir rendered Fawcett's oratorio " Paradise." Trays were gratuitously provided by ladies of the congregation and by the bachelors, the latter having some amusing printed mottoes hung over their table. The room was well filled, many friends from town being present. After tea the proceedings were opened by the singing of a hymn, and prayer by the Rev. A. R. Fitchett. The chairman (Mr Garrick) made a few remarks explanatory of the object of the meeting, and expressed his pleasure at seeing so large an attendance, concluding by calling on the choir to commence their work. The oratorio is a very pleasing one, and, we think, hitherto unknown here. The choruses were certainly the gems of the evening, and showed an amount of skill and care which reflected great credit on the conductor, Mr J. T. M. Smith. There was nice attention to the pianos and fortes, and every voice seemed to be up in its part. The principal soloists were Mrs Peacock, Misses Gapes, Miss Watts, Miss Cumberworth, and Messrs Long and W. Smith, and others. Some of the solo parts were very well rendered, and the playing of the band was up to the average. Although not perfect, the performance, taken as a whole, passed off satisfactorily, and much of it would have reflected credit on our musical societies. Between the first and second parts of the work the chairman presented Mr Smith with a purse of sovereigns, as a recognition of the esteem in which he is held by the people of the neighbourhood, and gave a very flattering testimony to the services rendered by him. Mr Smith, who was greeted with very warm applause, replied in few remarks, returning thanks for the honour they had conferred upon him that evening. The Rev. A. R. Fitchett made some remarks upon the performance of the choir, and upon the efficiency of their singing, and thanked them in the name of those present for the great treat given that evening. The proceedings tprminnted about ten o'clock with the Evening hymn.

Lectors.— The third of the series of lectures on " Egypt and the Books of Moses " will be delivered in St James's church, Montreal street, this evening. Canterbury Educational Association. — The adjourned meeting of the promoters of the Educational Association will be held on Friday evening at the Canterbury Music Hall — to receive the report of the provisional committee and to form the Association. The Mayor of Christchurch has consented to take the chair, and the meeting will commence at 7 o'clock. Entertainment. — The "Irish Night" at S. John's schoolroom, proved one of the most successful re-unions yet held in the parish. Anticipation of the humour inseparable from anything generally relating to the Emerald Isle, was no doubt the great attraction, and the programme as carried out must have satisfied the most exacting in this respect. The recitations given were, " The Irish Fisherman," " Shamus O'Brien," and " Billy Malowney's taste of love and glory," by the Rev W. H. Cooper. The hitter piece, a most inimitable composition was to have been read by Mr Cottrell, but as it was in manuscript he had not sufficient light, and he substituted a short reading of a very humourous character. The other readings were " Barney O'Reirdan," by Mr Miller ; and " Mickey Free's story," by Mr Digby. Mrs Digby contributed much to the evening's enjoyment by her tasteful singing of " The last rose of summer," " The Minstrel Boy," and " Kathleen Mavourneen." Mr Cooke also sung "Erin's Isle," and another Irish song. The National Anthem terminated the entertainment. Ltttelton Borough Council. — The Council met at the usual hour on Monday night. Present : His Worship the Mayor and Councillors Aliwright, Bunker, Chalmers, Cummins, Grubb, Reed, and Young. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the Clerk reported having received during the past week— Rates, £15 14s 6d. The Works Committee's report of the 14th June, 1869, upon the footway on the east side of Dublin street was read for the information of members. The report of the Foreman to the Works Committee of works •xecuted during the past week was laid upon the table. Accounts, amounting to £29 8s lOd, were passed for payment. The Clerk was directed to write to the owner of the premises whose chimney caught fire on Sunday, and refer him to clause 4 of Part V, Schedule XIII, of the Municipal Corporations Act, as the chimney was stated to endanger the surrounding buildings, owing to its want of pointing. Councillor Chalmers moved, and Councillor Grubb seconded, that the members for the town — Messrs Richardson and Webb — be requested to endeavour to obtain from the Provincial Government a promise that should any part of the eastern end of Norwich Quay, adjoining the Council's property, be reduced to a fit level, they will lay thereon a line of rails, connecting it with the intended line to the breakwater. The motion was carried unanimously, and his Worship was requested to put himself in communication with the members for the town, and invite them to meeb the Council and discuss the matter. After some desultory conversation, his Worship declared the meeting to be adjourned to Monday next, the 3rd October, at the usual hour.