Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 829, 23 January 1871, Page 2

Local and General.

O> St. John's, Ltttrlton. — A meeting of the congregation will take place on Wednesday evening in the above church, the business being to take steps towards obtaining a minister. ft Obituary. — We regret to learn that the ISev Dr Burns, minister of the First Church of Otago, and Chancellor of the University, died this morning at two o'clock. Dr Burns came to the colony in the Philip jLaing in 1648, and was thus one of the founders of the province. He was a native of the county of Ayr, and the son of Mr Gilbert Burns, a brother of the poet. Dr Burns had been in delicate health for some years, and was prohibited by his medical advisers from preaching. He, however, always took his seat at the meetings of the Presbytery when his health permitted. Theatre Royal. — The " Streets of London " was repeated to a fair house on Saturday night. Band of Hope. — A public meeting is announced to take place this evening in the Temperance Hall. Colonists' Hall Lyttelton. — The farewell benefit to Miss Rowland and Mr Collins will take place this evening. Aquatics. — The new racing gig for the Heathcote Club arrived on Saturday in the a.s. Omeo. New Zealand Institute. — In the New Zealand Gazette of Jan. 1 6, it is notified that his Honor the -uperintendent has been duly elected a member of the Board of Governors by the Canterbury Philosophical Institute. Volunteer Church Pabade.— Colonel Pocke has issued orders for another church parade on Sunday next. The Cavalry and Cadets, the Lyttelton and Christchurch Artillery and Cadets, Nos. 1 and 2 Engineers aud Cadets, No. 6 Company Rifles, and the Royal Irish Rifles art* included in the order. School Tkeat. — The annual treat to the day and Sunday school children belonging to the church of Holy Trinity, Lyttelton, will tako place on Wednesday next. The children will meet at half -past nine o'clock. Mr Banks (Messrs Miles and Co.) has kindly ■ i*l'ven the use of the ss. Gazelle for this occasion, and the spot selected is Mr Stoddart's across the harbour. Imperfect Drainage. — The Sanitary Committee of the City Council would do well to inspect the open drain in Gloucester street at its junction with Manchester street. It contains a qaantity of stagnant water with a scam on the top, und the stench arising from it last evening was intolerable. Surely something ought to be done at once in order to abate the nuisance. Thb Dickens Panorama. — The attendance was rather thin on Saturday evening. Mr Daniels sang two songs, which were much admired, viz., " The Old Sexton" and " The Schooner on the Sands." During this week a camber of «nftswill he distributed amongst the visitors to the panorama, after the plan pursued at the panorama of the " Apocaivpse" when it was exhibited in the Town Ball. Tuapeka Racbs. — It appears that Canterbury horses have carried off the greater part of the stakes at the Tuapeka Race Meeting, which commenced on Thursday last. On that day the ■ urdle Race (£6O) and the Ladies' Purse (£35) were won by Mr M. H. Gram's Sir Taiton. The Tuapeka Handicap (£80) was won by Mr M. H. Oram'a Backhiiet. On the second day Mr R. Reay's Siotikpo!^ won the Pu.U3.oanß' Purse (£3O). The i own Plate (£75) and the Flying Handicap (£SO) were won by air Oram's BackfciSeir. We have not been informed of the result of Saturday's racing.

The Inter-Provincial Cricket Match. — A Calcutta Sweep, on the highest scorer in the first innings of this match, was drawn at TattersalPs on Saturday night. There were only twenty suhscribers, at 10s each, and the bidding, which followed the drawing, was very languid. The following were the prices realised for those that were sold : — Collinson (Otago) £2 ; Fowler (Canterbury) £1 10s ; Cotterill (Canterbury) £l ss; Odell (Canterbury) £ I ; Lee (Canterbury) £1 ; McFarlane (Otago) 15s ; Ollivier (Canterbury) 15s ; Mainwaring (Canterbury) 15s ; Reade (Otago) 15s. The value of the sweep is thus £15 17s 6d. Timing Earthquakes. — The telegraph clerks in Canada have found out how fast an earthquake travels, and they put the pace at about 200 miles a minute. At Mimouski, when the late earthquake came upon them, they sent at once to Quebec, a distance of 200 miles, to ask, "How do you feel?" While the operator there was at his work, the shock arrived. He at once sent, to Montreal, about 200 miles further on, to ask if they had felt it. They had just time to say " No," before the earthquake came up. We suppose this is the first instance on record of men talking across the edge of an advancing earthquake. Horticultural. — A meeting of gardeners and amateurs took place on Saturday night, in a room kindly lent by Mr Dann, of the Garrick Hotel, when a sweepstakes took place among a few amateurs for the best collection of vegetables, to consist of six varieties. Some very good collections were staged. The awards of the judges were as follows : — Ist, Mr Jackman ; 2nd, Mr Crooks ; 3rd, Mr Ash ton. A collection of potatoes from Mr Crooks, verbenas from Mr Spicer, and dahlias from Mr M* William, were staged in good order, and highly commended. The exhibits were inspected by numerous visitors during the evening, who expressed themselves highly satisfied. Ashley District. — Mr John Evans Brown paid a visit to Leithfield on Friday evening last, and although no previous intimation of his coming had been given, his arrival was speedily made known in the place, and at once a strong rally of his friends, who had for some time been anxious for him to present himself as a candidate for the General Assembly, came forward to welcome him. I It was arranged that a meeting should be held the following day, for the purpose of forming a committee who would undertake the necessary working details in connection with the election in this part of the district, a numerous and influential list of names being anticipated. Mr Brown expressed his gratification at meeting with so cordial a reception, and announced his intention of addressing the electors in the various parts of the district during this and the ensuing week. Meeting in Cathedral Square. — A second meeting called by Mr McPherson was held in Cathedral Square, on Saturday evening last. There were about 600 persons present. After Mr McPherson had addressed the meeting, the following resolution was carried : — " It is resolved at a meeting of the working men of Christchurch, that a Society be formed, to be called the Working Men's I Mutual Protection Society. For the objects in view, the following men have formed themselves into a committee for the purpose of considering the preliminary steps necessary to the organisation of the above Society. A report will be given of the committee's future proceedings. The committee is co nposed as follows : — Chairman, Mr James Killburn ; Messrs W. Woodhouse, W. H. Moody, F. M'Cleary, F. Ashford, P.'Patsey, John Carter, James McPherson, (Secretary pro. tern.) • Ltttelton Regatta. — A meeting of the committee was held in the Colonists' Hall, on Saturday evening ; Mr P. Cunningham occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meetings were read and confirmed. The Secretary stated that he had received several letters respecting the entries for the four-oared gig race, requesting the entrance monies to be returned. He had also received a letter from Mr Thomas, Secretary of the Heathcote Regatta, asking the committee to allow the four-oared gig race to be pulled for on the Heathcote on February 18th, and stating that in the event of this being arranged, the clubs had agreed not to press for a return of their entrance fees. The Treasurer said he had not brought up a balance sheet, as accounts had not yet been sent in, and there we several prizes to pay, but as far as he could tell at present there would be a balance of nearly £50. The letters from the clubs were considered. Mr Nalder said he objected to the entrance monies being returned. If the members would recollect that at the meeting on the day of the regatta there was evidently a combination of the clubs to prevent the race being rowed for in Lyttelton ; had it not been for this, the race would have come off on the Monday, for the Black Eagle's crew would have competed. The weather on Saturday was such that it was impossible for the race to come off, but that was no reason why it should not have been contested on Monday. He moved — " That the entrance fees be not returned to any of the clubs." Mr Carroll seconded the motion. Mr A. Cuff strongly opposed the motion. He considered if the race were not pulled for, the entrance money should be returned. He proposed as an amendment — " That the entrance fees be returned to the clubs." Mr Harrison seconded the amendment. The amendment was put and loßt, and the original motion was carried. Mr Packard moved—" That the prize for the Club's Gig Race not rowed for at the late Regatta be offered as a prize to ' be competed for at the Heathcote Regatta, to come off on the 18th February, and that the Secretary be instructed to inform the Committee of the Heathcote Regatta to this effect." Mr Cuff seconded the resolution, j A long and animated discussion ensued on this matter, some members being of opinion that the money was collected for the Lyttelton Regatta, and the committee had no power to vote it to the Heathcote Regatta. The

motion was put and negatived. Mr Norria mored — " That the money be retained until the next holiday, say Queen's Birthday, date to be decided by the committee." Mr Nalder seconded the motion, which was carried. As the committee had a large snm in hand, a discussion ensued as to paying the debts due by the Regatta Committee of 1869. Mr Ockford moved and Mr Allright seconded — " That the committee pay no old debts." Mr Nalder moved an amendment which was seconded by Mr Norris — " That before any accounts be considered, this committee be furnished with accounts." The amendment was carried. The committee said that it was entirely owing to the energy of the Vice-Commodore (Mr P. Cunningham), that the Regatta fund was in such a prosperous state. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.