Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 766, 5 November 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

..' ■ •■ ■ ■♦— _ — Entektainments. — Mir W. H. Bent, who is very well and favourably known to the Christchurch public as lately a prominent member of the Rainford Christy Minstrel troupe, announces his intention of giving miscellaneous entertainments in the Canterbury Music Hall, on the evenings of Friday and Saturday next. All who remember Mr Bent's wit, huruour, and " grotesqueries " as a negro delineator, will look forward with pc:isurable anticipation to these entertainments. Pukz Mail. — The outgoing mail will close on Monday next. The b.s. langitoto is the vessel appointed to c Try it. LVTTBLTO.V Vbr.ONTKER ArTILLEBT. "We arc sorry to hear that this corps has sustained n serious loss by the late fire. A large quantity of shakos, arms, &c., were Btored in Captain Walker's building, and were thus destroyed. We understand the loss sustained is nearly £100. The Nuw Education Ordinance. — Mr W. B. Tosswill has given notice of his intention to move the re committal of this Bill. Sup.<emb Court — His Honor Mr Justice Gresson will not sit in Chambers on Tuesday next. Provincial Council. — The Council will meet on Tuesdny and Thursday next, at 7 p.m. There will be no sitting on Wednesday. Provincial Solicitor. — The appointment of Mr Wynn Williams as Provincial Solicitor i 3 notified in a Provincial Gazette issued yosferduy. The Selwyn District — In reply to a rcquis tion, Mr E. C. J. Stevens has announced his intention of offering himself for re-elec-tion at the ensuing general election. Wa&tk Lands Board — Mr Kennaway, Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Public Works, has been appointed a Commissioner of the Waste Lauds Board, in the room of Mr Jollie. Holiday.— lv a Provincial Gazette, issued yesterday, the Superintendent directs it to be notified that on Wednesday next, November 9, b?ing the anniversary of the Prince of Wales' birthday, the public offices will be closed. Masonic— Bro. J. W. Grain has been tL» ted W.M., Bro. F. W. Thiel re-elected '\ reasurcr, and Bro. Elvines re elected Tyler of the Canterbury Lodge of F. and A. Masons, 1048, EC, for the ensuing year. Fccr.ESiAsncAL. — The I ord Primateisnow travelling in the South, and as during his tour ];e will visit all the churches in that part of the diocese, he cannot return to Bishops-t-o'.irt until the first week in December. Voluntkkr Encampmext. — Mr J. Beswick Ir.ts yiven notice of his intention to move 1 hit iiis Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place tho sum of £.50 upon the estimates, to assist in defraying the vxpenses of a Volunteer Encampment. iuv M.vlvern Hills Coalfields. — Dr I luast intends to start on Monday next for the Malvern Hills district, with the riew of making a thorough examination of the coal deposits there, on behalf of the General Government. .Ptnuno-PsKDMONiA. — Mr J. Beswick has given notice of his intention to move that his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place such a sum on the estimates as will enable the recommendations of tlie Select Committee on Pleuro-pneumonia to be carried out. Lyttelton Firh Suffebebs. — The members of the old Canterbury Garrick Club intend to give a performance in the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton, for the benefit of the fire relief fund. It is supposed the performance wi<! come off on Monday week, undtr dis tiugui bed patronage.

Theatre Botal. — There was no alteration in the programme last night. St Michael's Chdrch Buildisg Fond. — The bazaar in aid of the above will be held in the Canterbury Music Hall on "Wednesday and Thursday, Not. 9 and 10. A concert vrill take place on Wednesday evening under the direction of Mr R. Parker, and on Thursday evening there will be charades and other attractive entertainments. Canterbury Railways. — Liberal arrange ments have been made by the Railway department for the accommodation of the public during the four days occupied by the Races and Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Return tickets at single fares will be issued at all stations on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The detailed arrangements will be found in an advertisement. Mendelssohn Society. — The public rehearsal of this society, held yesterday evening, was a very great success, and we are glad at being able to congratulate the society on having made so much progress since its last performance. Most of the items in the varied and interesting programme were admirably given. We are glad to observe that the concert will be repeated on Tuesday evening next. <^The Rakaia FrRRY. —Mr Studholme, member for the Ashburton district in the Provincial Council, has given notice of his intention to move for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the river rights granted to the contractor for the Rakaia bridge, the committee to consist of Messrs Tosswill, Rhodes, Parker, Knight, Hall, and the mover. The following are the charges at present enforced at the Rakaia Ferry : — Passengers, 2s ; horsemen, 3s ; vehicles, if punte), 7s 6d ; ditto, if forded, 5s ; wool per bale, 2s ; merchandise per ton, 10s. S^ROGRESS OF THE NORTHERN RAILWAY.— The fencing of the Northern Railway has been completed as far as Mrs Mathias 1 , Riccarton, and as the material is now coming in freely, there is every reason to believe that in about three weeks' time the line will be fenced as far as the Hare wood Road. The contractor for the earthworks from Addington to the Hare wood Road will commence work, we understand, on Monday next. Both the land and engineering surveys are being pushed forward with vigour, and in a short time the Government will be in a position to; invite tenders for the construction of the line as far as the south branch of the Waimakiriri. New Investment and Loan Association. — -We are informed that the committee appointed by a public meeting called for the .consideration of this matter has given very assiduous attention to the subject, and that it 'will very shortly be prepared with a scheme which will afford to those wishing to borrow facilities for doing so on deferred payments, for different fixed periods at a reasonable rate of interest, not hitherto to be had in Canterbury; also, that an equally good oppor tunity will be offered to investors of small monthly savings at a fair rate of compound interest. We believe that the proposed new association is intended to promote the welfare of the community generally. The Late Fire. — The number of houses destroyed by the late fire is 129, and the damage is estimated at over £1 00,000. : Temporary buildings are being erected, but; it is impossible to commence work, as the, ruins are still smouldering. The large heap of grain has been removed, a great quantity of it being uninjured. Mr Dransfield, of the? Shades, has erected a good sized house, and ; Mr Pitcaithley'a shop is approaching completion. Handsome shops will be erected on the sites occupied by Mr Bunker, : and Mr Ayers. We hear that Mr Pratt has purchased the ground on which Mr Walker's large stone building stood, and will erect commodious premises thereon. Mr Merson is clearing away the debris preparatory to building. The Government Engineer has not yet been over to survey the block, but it is expected that he will do so next week, when all the buildings will be pushed forward. During the past few days, several tradespeople have had to call meetings of their creditors, and amicable arrangements have been effected. Mr J. Kenner, coal and timber merchant, has most liberally given receipts to all his debtors who resided in the block. The sum amounts to upwards of £30. i Canterbury Museum. — At the present time, when the subject of education is. exciting such general interest, it is gratifying to observe indications that the public are quite alive to the support and_, encouragement of scientific institutions, as the following list of contributions to the Museum, for the past month, will testify ; for which we acknowledge our thanks to the indefatigable director, with the hope that he will continue to furnish us with a list of donations from time to time. Mr Hancock, Oxford terrace, 1 Chinese hat ; Mr F. H. Wilson, Cashmere, 1 New Zealand bat ; Dr Back, a Maori stone implement ; Master W. Hawkins, 3 Fiji implements ; Mr W. . Smith, 4 coins ; Mr B. W. Mountfort, a piece of silicified wood ; Dr L Powell, 5 drawings of New Zealand fish ; Mrs Robison, 9 coins ; Mr B. Simpson, 1 volume British Museum 1778; Mr J. Carder, Lyttelton, 5 fishes, 2 shells, from Lyttelton harbour ; Master V. Hamilton, 2 birds' nests; Colonial Museum, collection of fossil teeth, casts of Saurian bones-; Mr James Frost, a calf (/usus naturce) ; Master D. T. C. lines', an ostrich egg, an ornament of whales' . iejftfi of South Sea islanders. Deposits. ; -— Mr T. D. Enyß, 4 Maori stone implements, 1 English Celt; Wakefield Truitees, bust of the late Edward Gibbon Wakefleld. We understand that Mr Recce a few days ago presented to the Museum the model of a Fijian Temple, made of cocoa nut fibre, which that gentleman received from King Thakombau, and which is & very careful work of native industry!. j . Salmon fob New Zealand. — The plan of obtaining a snpply of salmon ova froto America, as the least expensive, most "ex peditious, and most likely to prove the most .•■••«. . •••;■; ■•- (

successful, appears in a fair way of being attempted by the supporters of acclimatisation in Otago. Differences of opinion exist as to the quality of American salmon, arising no doubt from the fact of there being several varieties in that country, and that only one variety is equal in flavour, and as good for sport as the English salmon. We understand that the Southland Acclimatisation Society will probably join in the venture, and shall be glad to hear that the Canterbury society have not allowed so favourable an opportunity to pass of introducing this king of fish. The plan adopted in Otago, of the Government subsidising the Acclimatisation Society to the extent of double the amount of subscriptions collected, works a- twofold good, by stimulating energy and affording the means. Halswell. — The truth of the adage, that practice makes perfect, was exemplified at Halswell on Thursday night last, at the last entertainment of the series given in aid of the church fund. It certaiuly. was by very far the best that has been given, and the hearty applause of the audience must have assured the performers that their endeavours were appreciated. The piano, under the hands of Mr C. Merton, did not exhibit those glaring defects complained of on previous occasions. The double quartettes were' given with great care, and were a pleasing innovation on the usual programme. Too much praise cannot be given to Mrs Bell, Miss Murray, and Miss Cole for the able and successful manner in which they have brought the series to a dose, and this, too, notwithstanding many unexpected obstacles. The programme was as follows ; — Duet (piano), Mrs Beverage arid Miss Dunbar ; song, "Mrs Jones' party," Mr Sheath;reading, " Frenchman's difficulties," Mr Restell ; song, ",To ; morrow," t Mrs Rogers ; chorus, " Love my Love ;" song, " Up in a balloon," Mr F. Brittan ; reading, "Upin a balloon," Mr G. Brittan ; song, " I'm afloat," Mr Ollivier ; piano duet, "What are the wild waves saying?" Misses Gifford and Restell ; song, "In my cottage by tfee sea," Miss Campion; reading, "The practical joker," Mr El win;, song, "Beautiful star," Mrs Bell ; song, " The mermaid," Mr Dunbar. Miss Restell here played an air from Martha in a manner which made all wish she had \ visited Halswell on other occasions. Song, "Janet's choice," Miss Murray; encore, "Gone are the days;" song, "Ghosts," Mr Blow.er ; reading," Half-a-pound of butter," Mr Restell ;J song, "Put it down to me," Mr Sheath ; double quartette, " Since" "first I saw your face; " National Anthem. The Rev. C. Bowen, the incumbent, presided. The proceeds were over £5. Riccarton Road Boabd.— The ordinary meeting of this Board was held. yesterday at the office, Caahel street west. Present: Messrs Pavitt (chairman), Gray, Nuhweakj Brunsden, Durey, and Inwbod. The minutes of the, last meeting were read and confirmed* The following tenders were received for forming; a portion- of the Avonhead road:— Claridge, 14s per' chain; Rennell, J4s ; Foster, 13s ; Merrin, 20s; Leatham, 12s 6d~ (accepted).' The Board directed that the drain on the! Riccarton road be cleared of watercress. The surveyor reported that the contract for gravelling the Riccarton road had been completed satisfactorily ; also, that the Papanui, drain had been cleared but to Recce's road ; and that-the repairs ordered to : Highsted's, Gardinerfs, and the Sawyers' Arms roads had been effected ; and that Frost's road was now! being repaired with gravel. The subject of the eradication of Scotch thistles in the district, which'had been deferred for the consideration of a full Board, was now considered: After much discussion, the following resolution was .proposed by Mr Inwood, seconded by Mr-Durey, and "carried, " That this Board declines to enforce tiie eradication of Scotch thistles by their i'flicer, unless an expression froth a majority of ratepayers requests them to do so." The following amendment was proposed by Mr. Nunweak, and seconded by Mr Gray, " That the resolution: passed by the Board on the Ist April, directing their surveyor to proceed under the 2nd and 3rd clauses of the Thistle Ordinance against all persons or neglecting to eradicate thistles on land in their occupation be carried out this year in the same manner as last year." The amendment iwaa lost. The surveyor was; directed to write to the several Road Boards, requesting to be" informed what action they proposed taking for the eradication of thistles in theit districts. After passing accounts for work done, the Board adjourned until Friday the '2nd.' December. !