Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 840, 4 February 1871, Page 2

Local and General.

The Gladstone Election. — We are informed that Mr E. C. J. Stevens has withibawn his nomination for the above distri-t. S. John's.— The institution of the Rev E. Bailey, as Incumbent of S. John the Baptist's, will take place to-morrow morning. There will be full choral service, with a celebration of the Holy Communion, commencing at 1 1 o'clock. The sermon will be preached by Mr Bailey, and the anthem will be Goss' " O Praise the Lord." Chbistchukch Hospital. — The return mentioned, in a paragraph which appeared in our Thursday's issue was for the quarter ending Dec. 3 ', and not for the month. Rifle Match. — A match, the result of a challenge from the Christchuroh Engineers, bas been arranged between the commissioned officers of that corps, and those of the Christchurch battery of Artillery. Theatre Royal. — Thrre was a much better house at the Theatre last evening than could have been anticipated, considering the heavy downfall of rain that continued throughout theatrical hours. The performances were for the benefit of Young Austin, the pedestrian. St" Valkntine's Dat. — The near approach of St. Valentine's day has already begun to produce its customary effect upon the shop windows of the stationers in the city. There is not one but displays the conventional valentine in more or less diversified styles, whilst some of them are completely dotheil with the sentimental, comical, and grotesque productions. New Buildings.— Mr W. Wilson has already commenced placing material for a new block of buildings between his present offices at the corner of High and Cashel streets, and what is better known as Barnard's Repository. The plan includes a seed shop fronting on to Cashel street, an office for Mr Wilson himself, and a suite of offices for a tenant. *! Colebidge Election. — Mr George Hart met the electors at tbe Hororata Schoolroom on Wednesday evening, Feb. 1. The Hon John Hall was in the chair. The meeting, owing to the farmers being busy with harvest, was thinly attended. Mr Hart made a short speech, dwelling chiefly on the Land taws, Stamp /*ct, and a railway to the Malvern Hills. He also expressed himself in favour of financial separation. Mr Karslake also addressed the meeting, saying he was opposed tc any reduction in the price of land in. this province, urging the necessity for the Southern members working harmoniously together so as to have justice done to this Island, and the desirability of narrow gauge railways being carried through the couniry ■wherever it was seen they would prove thoroughly paying A vote of thanks, pro posed by Sir John Cordy, to both candidates for their attendance, was carried, and the usual vote of thanks to the chairman ter- , minated the meeting. The poll for the disr tricfr w n . ' ol :eu to-day. Chess Dinner. — A dinner to celebrate the ches3 tournament which took place a short time ago between the Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Kaiapoi Clubs, came off at the Clarendon Hotel last evening. Owing to the very inclement weather, the attendance was not so numerous as would otherwise have been anticipated. Amongst the invited guests were his Honor the fuperiritendent and his Worship the Mayor of Christchurch. The chair was occupied by Mr H. J. Tancred (president of the Chrißt church Club", and the vice-chair was filled by the hon. secretary, Mr Martin. On the removal of the cloth the usual toasts were drank. The president, in a complimentary speech, presented Mr Hookham, of the Kaiapoi Club, with the first prize won at the late tournament, consisting of a purse of sovereigns. The second price was also presented to Mr W. I ». Wood, of the Christohurch Club. An illuminated address to Mr Hookham accompanied the presentation. Messrs Hookham and Wood returned thanks The former, iv an appropriate speech, pointed out the advantages of chess as a Mme. Tbe toasts of the Christchurch, Eyttelton, and Kaiapoi Cluba were drunk amid enthusiasm, and the proceedings were enlivened by aeve.al songa befitting the oc- ' easion.

Masonic. — The presentation of an exceedingly handsome P.M. Jewel to Brother F. W. Thiel, by the members of the Canterbury Lodge, 1048, E.C., will take place in the Canterbury Masonic Hall, on Thursday evening next. Presentation. — We understand that the ladies of S. John's parish, and other parts of the City, have combined to present the Rev J. O'Bryen Hoare with a valuable testimonial previous to his departure from Canterbury. Lyttelton Colonis s' Society — The usual monthly meeting was held in the Colonists' Hall on Thursday evening. The president stated that 58 new volumes had been added to the library. Mr Perrin, sent in his resignation as librarian. It was resolved that the resignation be received, and that a libiarian be advertised for, and also that the Mayor and Town Clerk be consulted respecting the amalgamation of the offices of librarian and town clerk. The matter was left in the hands of the president and vice-president. Inquest. — An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock, at Collins Hotel, before Dr Coward, coroner, and a jury, Mr H. P. Cole being foreman, on view of the body of Eliza Brown, a child 1 1 years of age, who died early yesterday morning, from injuries received through a kick from a horse on the previous day. Minnie Richardson, 13 years of age, deposed that she went to St. John's school ; knew deceased, who also went to the same school. Yesterday deceased was out in the playground, where a horse was tethered, and deceased touched the horse's hind leg with her finger. She was stroking it. The horse kicked at her, and struck her on the left side of her he<d. Deceased fell and cried out " Oh ." Witness saw that deceased was bleeding from the head, and called out for viiss Anthony, the school-mistress who came, and also the master. The ground where the horse was is fenced ofE from the playground. Did not know whether the children had instructions not to go near the horse. By the Jury : The ground is not fenced off from the school. One part of the ground is for the boys, and the other for the girls. Joanna Mary Anthony dep sed that she was mistress at St John's School ; knew deceased, who was a pupil at the school, and was there yesterdaj'. About 1 1 o'clock yesterday morning, Minnie Richardson told witness that deceased had been kicked by the horse. Found deceased lying on the ground in the girls' pi >yground, where the horse was tethered. ;-he was senseless, and wounded in the head. Witness sent for the schoolmaster, who carrie'l deceased into the parsonage and sent for Dr Ned will, who came. Was with deceased until she died, at 1 a.m. yesterday. Sometime < the horse, which is very quiet, was tethered in the boys' playground, and sometimes in the girls'. Was not aware that any child ever touched the horse, which belonged to Mr Hoare, and had been tethered there regularly for nearly two years. Dc Nedwill deposed that yesterday he saw the deceased at about 1 1 a.m., in St John's Parsonage. She was lying on her back, | with three wounds on the head. Two were about an inch apart and about an inch long. About two inches above and behind these there was another wound. Through each opening witness could detect a fracture, which, on a post-mortem examination, he found commenced at the left ear and extended round the he<d to within half-an-inch of its point of commencement. The brain was wounded. Death resulted from fracture of the skull. Francis Grostage, in the employment of Mr Hoare, deposed that his master was from home. Had been in the habit of tethering tie horse in the play-grou ds for 14 months. The horse was very quiet ; had never kuown it to kick. Witness tethered the horse in the girls' play-ground yesterday morning. By the jury: Never had known the horse to run at the boys open mouthed. Had known the horse when teased to run round and throw himself down to try and get away. Had never known deceased to tease the horse. Yesterday morning had told deceased not to go near the horse as he might kick her. Witness was riding at the time, and deceased was running in front of the horse. Was instructed to te her the horse in the children's play-ground by the Rev. Mr Hoare. Mr Lawrence, oue of the jury, said he had b en informed by one of the boys in the school that the horse had run at him with his mouth open, showing his teeth, and had frequently kicked. Mr Lawrence then, by permission of the tv-roner, wi nt with a con stable to the school to endeavour to find the boy. On their return, Benjamin Herbert Ashford, a boy twelve years of ape, deposed that he went to St. John's School. Yesterday he told Mr Lawrence that he had seen the horse rear up en his hind legs and strike out with his fore legs at witness and Arthur Ward. The horse seemed rather excited at the time. The jury returned a verdict of " accidental death," and added a rider to the effect that it was unwise to tether the horse in the children's play ground, and that they hoped the practice would be discontinued. The Coroner said that he perfectly concurred in the opinion expressed by the jury.