Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 769, 10 November 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

Canterbury Muskum.— Yesterday being a public holiday, the Museum was open from 1 1 a.m. to 5 p.m., and, notwithstanding the many ai tractions elsewhere, was visited by a large number t,f people. A visit to the Museum, and a stroll round the Domain afterwards- the Domain is now a delightful lounge — is a treat which no other town in the colony can afford. Theatre Royal. — Last night the holidaymaking public thronged to the theatre till the house was crowded to the ceiling, to witness a series of entertainments in broad farce and burlesque, indicated by the racy titles of " Woodcock's Little Game," " Ports Chop," and " Kenilworth ;" all of whicl: were richly enjoyed. The bill will be re peated this evening. Society of St. Vincent De Paul. — An entertainment was given at the Catholic School-room, Ferry Road, last evening, undei the auspices of the above Society, for th« relief of the sufferers by the late fire al Lytteltou. The entertainment consisted first, of a concert, in which Mesdames Lloyt and Oakes, the Misse3 Loughnan, Sheath aud Rowley, and Messrs Rowley, Shanly P_oore, and Sheath took part. The variou songs and duets were well rendered, am some of them enthusiastically encored, a was also a solo ou the tia whistle by M

Poore. The evening's amusement concluded with the racy farce " A Kace for a Dinner," performed with good effect by members of the Society. There was a numerous audience, and all gave unmistakeable indications of having spent an agreeable evening. Pedestrianism. — The great ten mile race, in which Young Austin (the Australian champion) and several of our fleetest pedestrians were announced to contend, came off yesterday in the grounds attached to the Plough Inn, Riccarton, which, with some little improvements, would be very suitable for foot racing. The weather was favourable, and consequently a considerable number of admirers of this thorough English sport assembled on the occasion. The running ground, which is 270 yards in length, had been carefully attended to, and was in very fair condition. There were several minor events in the programme, but the chief interest was centred in the ten mile contest. The following men appeared at the post to start, viz., Austin, at scratch ; J. Shell, 600 yards start ; and Pentecost, 600 yards ; Porter, 1500 yards start, and Pollock, 1800 yards had entered, but neither of them appeared at the scratch. On the men stripping, the splendid condition of Austin was at once apparent, and it was evident he had been very carefully trained ; while Shell, on the other hand, appeared to have had little if any preparation. Penticost was in tolerable fettle, but did not appear to possess sufficient stamina for so loDg a race. The ground had to be traversed 65 times to complete the distance, and at 26 minutes past 5 o'clock the pistol was fired to a capital start, Shell leading the way at a merry pace. In the third lap, Pentecost retired from the contest, Shell still leading ; he was, however, quickly collared by Austin, who, running in beautiful style, kept close behind him till going round the back stretch in the 13th lap, when he put on a spurt and passed his man with comparative ease. Shell, however, repassed him, but evidently on sufferance, and maintained the lead till coming along the straight run in in the 16th lap, when Austin again shot ahead and soon placed a gap of 20 or 30 yards between himself and opponent. The pace now became very hot, and Shell's want of condition began to tell a tale, for in the 18th lap he was obliged to have recourse to the " bottle." Austin, evidently had the race in hand now, for although Shell persevered with great gameness, it was of no avail, for at the completion of the 32nd lap, Austin had again collared his man ; half the distance had now been completed, the time being S3 minutes. Austin who had had his coat on during the last 4 laps, now put on a terrific spurt, and in the succeeding lap passed his man in beautiful style, going as strong as ever. He had now only to keep in front to be certain, bar accident of winning the race, and in the next lap Shell, evidently done up, resigned the contest. For the next three laps, Austin rattled away at a clipping pace, his style of going seeming to delight nearly every one. After running 37 laps, or just under the 6 miles, in 38' minutes, he pulled up. The only other race of importance was by Pentecost, against time, he undertaking to run a mile in five minutes. He got off to an excellent start, and ran with great gameness, but he was unequal to the task, taking smin. 29secs. to complete, thus being defeated by the old scythe-bearer by 29secs. Various amateur races were afterwards got up. by those present.