Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1533, 29 January 1873, Page 2

Local and General.

Aqttatic. — A meeting will be held at Coker's Hotel, this evening, at 7.30 to arrange for a crew to represent tbe Christchurcb Boating dubs at the Interprovincial Regatta to be held at Wellington. Seeing the great importance of the subject, it is to be hoped there will be a large attendance. Bankbuptcy. — The Registrar sat in Chambers yesterday to. hear applications in bankruptcy cases. The last examinations wore fixed for 13th March, in re Alexander Huntly Barron, Charles John Dunnage, and Isaac Pentecost, and for the 13th. February, in re John Dunkerley. An order of adjudication -was made in re Robert Manson, and the meeting of creditors -fixed for the sth February, at 11 a.m. Accident. — A serious accident occurred at I Kaiapoi yesterday morning at nine o'clock to Mr A. McDonald, butcher. He had been, riding a young horse, the property of Mr Sansom, for orders: He got off the horse at the Sheyd's Arms hotel, and on his attempting to remount the horse began to rear and plunge. The rider lost his balance and fell to the ground, whereupon the horse kicked him violently on the left leg and broke it a few inches above the ancle. He was carried into tbe hotel and a messenger was despatched for Dr Trevor, who arrived promptly, but the leg was in a such a fractured state that it could not be set properly before the afternoon. The patient seemed to be suffering great pain, but he was progressing favourably last evening. C.V.C— The filing for the district prizes for the above corps, came Off at Hillsborough yesterday with the following result :—Bandsman Hunsley, Ist j Trooper Judge, 2nd ; Sub-Lieutenant Slater, 3rd; and Sergeant Brittan, 4th ; but as there are two -or three more of the members of tho corps yet to fire amongst the casuals, this may not he the final award of the prizes. A strong S.W. breeze was blowing across the range which did not tend to improve tho respective scores. Lieut.-Col. Packe was in command, Captain Giraud, L.V. A., kindly superintended at the butts, and Captain Strouts acted as marker for the corps. After the firing was over, Mrs Rolleston, with a party of ladies, honoured the officers of the corps with their company at luncheon on the ground. Pbesbytebian. — A lecture will be given by tho Rev C. Fraser in St Andrew's schoolroom to-morrow evening upon the result which has accrued from the visit of the deputation appointed by the general Assembly of the Presbyterian Church during its recent session, to attend the meeting of the Otago Presbyterian Synod, and also upon the general state of the Presbyterian Church in this colony. The deputation, it should be said, consisted of the Rev C. Fraser, Christchurch, and the Rev J. Elmslie, Wanganui, who were commissioned to confer with the Otago Synod relative to the union of all the Presbyterian churches in tho colony, a proceeding which has been opposed by Otago alone, because of the endowments possessed by the Church in that province. The result of the conference was generally satisfactory, and tbe lecture will therefore be of a more than usually interesting character. Inquest. — An inquiry was held before Dr Coward on Monday, at the house of Mr W. Prebble, Prebbleton, touching the death of a i labourer named Henry Harding, who was killed whilst driving a team of horses on Saturday last. The evidence went to show tiiat deceased, who was in the employ of Mr | Prebble, was riding on a load of oate, when some of the sheaves fell on to the horse and made it jump forward. Deceased by this was thrown from his seat to the ground, and one wheel of the cart passed over him, inflicting injuries from which he soon afterwards died. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and deceased was subsequently buried in the local cemetery. Deceased was a single man, about twenty-seven years of age, and bore a very good character. One of his brothers came out in the Lady Jocelyn, but his whereabouts are unknown, therefore he could not be made acquainted with the melancholy accident, and was not present at the funeral. Peivate Hospital. — The establishment of a private hospital, where persons may be treated who have an objection to become inmates of a Government institution, is a want more or less felt in all important centres, and Dr Prins ' has taken measures for pro- J viding one' for Christchurch. He has for the present utilised the old dispensary premises in High street, but is endeavouring to procure a more suitable building, which will be fitted up in the most complete manner. Several patiente have already been treated, and there are"two j operations ; ..which deserve- special ; notice for their difficult nature and the success which has attended them. Both of these were for cancers, and of a very serious character. One patient was a labourer named Allen, who had been suffering from cancer in the right cheek for some, months. The cancer was increasing rapidly, apd there was no other resource but to remove nearly the whole of tbe right cheek and about a;third of the jawbone, which was successfully accomplished a few weeks ago. The second operation was on a person whose tongue was so extensively affected with cancer that the whole of the tongue had to be removed. This was attended with equal success, and the patients have not suffered pain since, whilst the wounds are now almost healed; '

Museum of Abt. — The statuary presented by Mr Gould will be open to view in about four weeks from now. The Recent Case op Gobing by a Bull. — It is gratifying to learn that the youth Grantham, who was severely gored by a bull last week, is in a somewhat improved state. Bishop Moeas>— His Lordship, DrMoran, will arrive in Christchurch on Friday evening next, and preparations are being made on an extensive scale to give him a befitting reception in this part of the diocese. Skylabks. — These birds are becoming very numerous in and about the township of Lincoln. Their thrilling notes are constantly heard in the morning, and one gentleman states there are at least half-a-dozen birds on his own farm. A.O.F. — The Foresters intend to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the formation of the Court, Star of Canterbury, by a dinner, on Thursday next, at 7 o'clock. It is expected that a great number of brethren from other Courts will be present. Collegiate Union.— The class rooms at the museum are in a forward state of preparation, and are to be placed at the disposal of the Collegiate Union for the current year. The next lecture term will commence on the first Monday in next month. OIAP of the Southeen Alps. — Yesterda^Mr McCardell completed a very excellent copy of Dr Haast's map of the Southern Alps, for transmission to the Vienna Exhibition, j Twelve choice views among the Alps are illustrated by large photographs on the margin of the map, and the locale of each is marked with red ink. The photographs executed by Messrs Mundy, Sealey, and Pringall are beautiful specimens of the art. Acclimatisation. — The perch and tench hatched in the gardens this season are thriving very well, as also the gold and silver fish, which it should be said are the first ever hatched out here. Mr James Wood, sen., recently returned from England, has presented four leverets to the society. They were obtained in Victoria, and appear very healthy. Mr J. T. Wallace, Haldon, Timaru, has presented a pair of the large description of native owls, -which are exceedingly valuable for exchanges^ Wind Pump. — It will be remembered that some time ago a description was given of an American wind pump which was constructed with a viewto decreasing the risk of breakage of the machinery when a gale occurred. The pump as then stated only occupies a space of four feet square, and the sails consist of sheet iron, which are fixed perpendicularly on iron rods in Buch a manner that as the wind increases in violence, so do the plates turn on the rods and offer a decreased surface to its action. Any increased force in tho wind therefore expends itself on the spring fixed at the back of each sail instead of upon tho machinery,^ and the pump cannot be worked above a certain speed, np matter how strong a gale may blow. The machine which had been purchased by Mr J. E. Brown, at the Sydney Exhibition, was erected on his run at Swannanoa, and ever since has worked in a most admirable manner, supplying alone the water for stock running on 900 acres of land. The saving to the machinery so long desired in this kind of pumps is. complete, and Mr .Brown has ordered a second pump, which is to be manufactured for him by Mr T. Williams, Oxford Terrace. It may also be said that Mr J. T. Peacock has procured one, and is equally pleased with its performances. v The price of those manufactured here is about the same as the cost of the imported ones. Theatbe Royal. — Mr J. B. Steele's farewell benefit at the theatre last evening was largely attended, all parts of the house being fully patronised. The piece selected for the occasion was " The Colleen Bawn," which has not been played in Christchurch for a considerable time past, and which, taken altogether, was creditably put on the stage last ! evening. In many respects, however, the cast was not so satisfactory aB could be tiedesired for the faithful representation of a drama so exclusively Hibernian in character. " The Colleen Bawn " has been played in Christchurch on many occasions, but never yet with anything like perfect success, and last evening was no exception to the rule. In the whole cast, there was no part so ably sustained as that of Anne Chute, by Mrs Howard. Of all others in the piece, she seemed to realise the true characteristics of the part entrusted to her hands, and made a better Anne Chute than has ever been witnessed on our local stage. Of Miss Anstead, as the Colleen, nothing further can be said than that she did her best with a part which was not by any means suited to her. Mr Steele, as Miles Na Coppaleen, was fairly successful, and the same may be Baid of Mr Keogh, as Danny Man. Mr Hydes was not the Father Tom that Boucicault intended, as there was nothing identical with the Irish priest in his conception of the character. Mr Williams, the scenic artist is to be congratulated on the excellence of the scenery, and the music incidental to the drama was creditable to the orchestra. Registbation of Votes. — A public meeting was held in Mr C. Clark's auction room last night for the purpose of forming a committee to promote the registration of votes. There was a moderate attendance, and Mr M. B. Hart was voted to the chair. The chairman having adverted to the fact that the meeting had been convened by Mr Wynn Williams called upon that gentleman to explain the business in hand. Mr Williams referred tb the importance of aU, persons registering their votes, and to the action he took last year for promoting it, adding that by his means 571 persons were placed upon the rolls of the province. He then moved — " That an association be formed for the purpose of registering claims to vote, tho association to be called 'The Canterbury Registration of Votes Association,' subscriptions to be os a year. The motion was seconded and agreed to. Mr Williams next moved—" That a committee be formed for the purpose of carrying out the

registration of votes for this year, 1873J the liability of members of the committee to be limited to 10s each. Every member of the cobamittee who shall contribute, shall be a member of the association. Five to form a quorum." Mr Ick seconded the motion, and it was carried nem con . Mr Williams then moved— "That the following gentlemen be asked to allow their names to be placed on the committee, viz :— Messrs Gould, Montgomery, W. Reeves, R. Cobb, Palmer, M. B. Hart, Ick, Inglis, Hennah, Sawfcell, E. B. Bishop, C. W. Bishop, W. Hobbs, Sutherland, T. M. Hassal, C. A. Blakiston, W. D. Carruthers, R. J. S. Harman,' E. C. J. Stevens, H. E. Alport, R. Walton, W. Wilson, L. E. Nathan, W. D. Wood, W. H. Lane, J. T. Peacock, F. J. Garrick, C. Clark, W. P. Cowlishaw R. Wilkin, E. J. Wakefield, — Studholme, R. H. Rhodes, Captain Bullock, W. Pratt, T. S. Duncan, J. P. Jameson, W. Calvert, J. Anderson, A. Duncan. J. H. Twentyman, T. D. Jones, T. Williams, F. Jenkins, Wynn Williams, J. A. Bird, J. L. Coster, H. H. De Bourbel, Leonard Harper, T. I. Joynt, M. Bing, G. Hart, J. T. Ford, S. P. Andre ws.. Captain Wilson seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. Mr G. Hart addressed the meeting at some length upon the necessity of registering votes, more particularly at the present time- when the north, in order to secure a preponderance of power were endeavouring to get as many Maori members into the House as possible/and when there were very evident designs upon our land fund. He also spoke upon the desirability bf simplifying the mode of registration, stating as his opinion that rate-rolls should be taken as the basis.^ Mr Williams also suggested that this subject be taken into consideration by the Committee, and pointed, out that the most feasible plan would bo to take the ratepayers' rolls as the basis of the electoral rolls, and that the officers of thevariousrmunibipalities should make up the rolls in their respective districts. Mr Wakefield also addressed the meeting on the same subject, and after tho usual vote of thanks, the meeting terminated. ' State of Fiji.— The dissatisfaction existing amongst a numerous section of the white population of Fiji may be gathered from the examination of ; almost any issue of the Fiji Times. Another member of Parliament, Mr Otty Cudlip, has been requested to resign his seat on the ground that no confidence can bos placed in King Cakobau's Government; andj in the same number of the Fiji Times, which g contains the announcement, we find the fol-j lowing :— "Truth is stranger than fiction," or! else we should utterly fail to realise that suchl depositions as tho following could be made, orj that the reason for making them could haven any foundation in fact. The following state- 1 mentsof the natives go to show how attempts! on the part of those who should know better! are made to prejudice the mind of the! native against the white man fori the accomplishment, of certain ends: — "De-1 Eositions made this day, the 10th Decern-! er, before settlers and planters of Ba.B The chief of the town of Nearalya, Ko Raogojg the Turaga ni lewa' of Sagunu, Ko Nasau ;| the chief Rairituba j a teacher, Saimoni ; Sai-1 kasi and others, stated that Mr Evans, thel secretary of Ratu Esikeli — the Governor off Ba and STasawas— had told them last Thurs-fi day and Friday, tho sth and 6th inst. — 1.1 That the whites at Ba Nadi and Fadroga wereß to be taken away by the so-called Fijian Go-8 vernment.to be hanged, and their land given! back again to the natives. 2. English men-B of -war would also come and take away saidß whites. 3. If the English should take Fijifi the natives would all be shot, or killed byS poisoned bread, just as they (the English) hadfl done to the natives in Australia and Newß Zealand. 4. If the Natives liked to, steal from! tho white settlers at Ba, they could do sojj and they could also burn their houses. 5. Ifg the white settlers did not like the present GoJJ vernment of Fiji, Government troops would! be sent down here to shoot them.' " ■■ The Rk3oubces of the Inangahua. — AW correspondent of the Q-rey Valley Times ol Jan. 4, writeB :— -The extreme distance of thes opened reef 3 in this district, from north ten south, is about 17 miles on the northern slopqa of the Brunner range, by a breadth of ahoutfi three miles. The opened lines of gold-bearineg reefs are 14 in number, about 2000 acres ofß land have been taken up for mining ; aboufm 400 have been prospected, of whioh, over 20Cs acres have proved to be payable. The mearffl height of the reefs above the riverbed iM about 500 feet. The number of machines erected is seven 5 two are worked by steamH and five by water power. The steam mag chinery represents a» aggregate, of 24 horsfi power, nominal, and the water machinery tn about 58 or 60. The cost per horse-powejß (steam) is £77 per annum, including fueM engineers, firemen. The coßt of a horse-powefl (water) is £30 per annum if the water ifi •brought at 9d per 1000 gallons. If thfl cost, interest, and tbe wear and tear on the steam-engine be compared with thfl[ water-wheel there will be a great balancfl in favour of the water power. Thosfl 24 horse power of steam will cost £1849 The same maohinery driven by watcH would only cost £1800,' and would do aboufl 36 per cent more work. The coal deposits o9 this place are pretty extensive, and belong, tS all appearances, to the close of the mezazoi, oH the camzoio period. It flanks the foot of thßj ranges nearly tho extreme length, and iH in many places on the river banks oB escarpements. There are also outlayers ofi the ranges, which are either cynclinal troughffl or form abutments on sharp spurs. There arm several seams, but only one of commercin value was exposed. The others may inflj Erove as they increase in depth, or unite anffl ecome compact and valuable. The breadt Hj of the thickest seam is from four to fourteeH feet. In quality it is not near so good as tliK Brunner coal, but for fuel it answers venH well. The approximate cost of raising thfifi coal, if the demand be great, need not excoefi 8b per ton. What the coal may be at a deptfi it is bard to say. The probabilities are that S will suit for foundry purposes. b|

... MASONIC. — The acting Commissioner of patents, England, has decided that Masonic -symbols cannot be- used as trade marks. Meat Pbeserving. — The Sydney Morning ■Herald states that a package of lOOlbs of beef has been preserved in pipeclay for six months with such success that a portion is to ■beeooked and eaten. FA Rabe Animal. — An entirely white lion has been captured and is exhibited in Buenos Ayres where £2000 was. offered for it by an •English merchant' for » the zoological gardens ■in London. ' How tq become >a Medium. — Mr Peebles' instructions. ;as to how to become a medium, are, according to the Telegraph, to keep the body clean, aaid-to abstain from pork, - intoxicating liquors, ,aud> tobacco. An Honest Man. — The Melbourne Argus of Jan. 9 says : — A pleasing instance of the . honourable wbicb is J fco ü bc found amongs t our traders here, as well as elsewhere, has just come under our notice. Mr Daniel Inglis, shipchandler, who was unfortunate enough to be compelled to compound with his creditors .a few years ago, having -since met with suffi- • cient success to enable him to do so, has this week paid off all his -creditors in full. Sanitary. — Dr Corfield, medical officer of Islington, in a recent report, says : — " It has ; been shown • that infection hangs about wail- . papers even for many .years ; and I am of opinion that, in all cases where a room has been occupied- by a ; person suffering from an . infectious disease, the paper should be washed . with carbolic -acid -andwater, and stripped off :the walls and burnt. This is done in all eases - of which we have cognisance." Sold. — The.Newißedford Mercury (Mass) •says the medicine chest of one of the abandoned Arctic -whalers was broken open by some of the natives, <who thinking they had found a prize, proceeded to swallow the contents of all tho bottles. The survivors describe the result as something startling, for the - doses were too large for the constitution of even an Esquimaux. Several of the partakers died, and others wanted to, but couldn't. Religion and Morals in San Feancisco. — .The 'Netos.Zetter^e&ya : — We are not able bo • keep correct account of the many new and splendid church buildings erected here. We ; are preached to by .a large number of eloquent, pious, and well-paid priests and ministers. Chistianity is spreading . cheeringly in our midst, and we are >also doing something toward the prosfelytizing of the heathen abroad. 1 Civilization is proud of our city a3 her fairest daughter. ; the-.Chureh and the State vie with 'each other in encomiums upon our splendid progress. It may be somewhat irrelevant to •add that there are some eight or ten murderers 'in our gaol, four of whom are boys under the : age of eighteen ; and that if any of them •should be oonvicted, we are likely to grant them a new trial. * ' " • The Growth of Berlin. — A French journal, the Francais, draws attention to the wonderful growth of Berlin during the last two centuries, ; and declares it to be the most important city in Germany, which is beyond • question. The augmentation of its population — says the writer — corresponds with each of the Bteps which the house of Hobenzoliern has made towards the domination of Germany. .In 1640, when tho Grand Elector arrived, it contained only 12,000 souls j in 1786, at the death of Frederick the Great, there were 145,000 inhabitants; in spite of the sufferings inflicted on Germany by tho Emperor Napoleon, it had increased to 175,000 in 1815 ; by the year 1860 the number had grown to half & million. Since the battle of Sadowa and the events which made Berlin the capital of the empire, the growth has been prodigious ; tho population of Berlin is now said to be considerably greater than that of Vienna, which numbers 800,000, and the last cal•culation made it approach one million. The Gbbe-k < Question. — Late telegrams from Europe have spoken of impending " troable to Greece, arising out of claims made by. the Governments of France and Italy on :beh'alf of -certain of their subjects to the Laurium mines. The New Zealand Herald •briefly gives the .particulars of the quarrel as ■follows : — Some. time since, a Frenchman and an Italian discovered that these old historical mines had not been exhausted, and they purchased them from the Greek Government for 10,800 francs. The mines turned out to be very profitable, and their development laid the foundation of Greek prosperity. " From Laurium .(we are told) spread ships, roads, and everyarenne of labour and trade." The Ministers of King George envied the fortunate speculators, and made an exorbitant claim on them for royalty, besides 2,000,000 francs back payment on the same illegal basis. The demand <was resisted, and the -diplomatic agents of France and Italy interfered. But •evil days fell upon Franco, and even -Greece .oould afford to disregard the representations of the : accredited agent of the once potent empire. Italy, at the same time, had her own hands full, between the Pope and the Italian Democracy; «o the Company thought it best to submit a proposal to the Greeks for purchasing their right to the mines. They asked 14,000,000 sterling, which was agreed to, subject to Legislative, sanction. But the Greek Assembly refused its sanction,. and the- Ministry resigned. The new Minister offered to submit the matter in dispute to the judges ; but as there was no question of law to determine, this overture was rejected by the Company. Meanwhile, France had recovered from her prostration, and Rome is now the capital of the Italian kingdom. Steps are being taken, therefore, to compel the Greeks to practise n little commercial morality ; and the presence of French and Italian squadrons in the Piraeus will go far towards effecting that desired end. England and Russia have advised their Greek ally to submit to the inexorable decree of Fate, as interpreted by French and Italian guns ; and if Greek is prudent, it will accept the advice and act upon it. Otherwise the consequences may be unpleasant."

Missionary Enterprise. — A. correspondent of ~ the Nelson Colonist gives the following incomes of the different foreign missions : — Church Missionary Society, £153,697 j ■ Wesleyan Missionary Society, £148,585 ; London Missionary Society, £114,306 ; Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, £97,603 ; United Presbyterian Foreign Missions, £36,671 ; Primitive Methodist Missionary Society, £32,280 ; Baptist Missionary Sboiety, £27,469 ; United Methodist Free Church Mission, £11,771 ; South American Missionary Society, £9352 ; English Presbyterian Foreign Missions, £7504 ; Turkish Missions Aid Society, £4500 ; grand total, £643,738. Fairs in England.— ln the 40 counties in England there are held annually 1368 fairs for the exhibition of horses, cattle, and agricultural products ; in the 13 counties in Wales, 244 ; in the 33 counties in Scotland, 449 ; and in the 32 counties in Ireland, 93, making a total of 2254. The largest number held in any one county in England is 135, in Cornwall j Carmarthenshire held the largest number in Wales, 43; Aberdeenshire, in Scotland, 63 ; and Cork, in Ireland, 15. These fairs are held at all seasons of the year when the stock and farm products are in the best possible condition for exhibition. The Hebo of Switzeeland a Myth. — Once more tbe romantic legends which enlivened the historical text-books of our boyhood are assaulted; but it is not often that they suffer so signal and, we may add, so painful an explosion as the legend of William Tell has recently suffered from the researches of the Historical Society of the Old Swiss Cantons. The conclusions arrived at on this subject by the learned body in question are thus stated by the Cologne Gazette : — " There never was a Landvogt Gessler nor a William Tell. Tell never refused to lift his hat, never fired at an apple on his son's head, although the very crossbow with which the deed was done is exhibited at Zurich ; he never crossed the Lake of Lucerne in a tempest of wind and rain; he never boldly jumped upon the Tell Platte, never spoke his speech in the defile at Kussnaet, and never shot the Landvogt. What is more, the inhabitants of Uii Schwyz and Untarwalden never met by night on the Rutli." Progress of the Colony. — The Nelson Examiner says : — The progress this colony is making was well exemplified by a few striking figures which formed part of an article in a | recent issue of this journal, showing how the colonies have gathered wealth from the fertile fields and rich mineral deposits of what was only a few years ago a comparative wilderness. It was shown how our live stock and our produce had increased ; how our imports of 1871 doubled those of 1860, while our exports, which amounted in 1870 to close on five millions sterling, were nearly nine times the value of those in 1860. We learn now, as an instance of. still growing progress, that Otago during the year 1872 exported produce to the value of £1,770,642, or about 22 per cent in excess of the exports of the previous year. And while these exports are a sign of prosperity, there is a further fact that they do not show. They do not by any means display the real value of our productions, inasmuch as a very large amount of these enters into home consumption, for, in addition to the ordinary articles of colonial manufacture and growth which provided for our own population, we are now lessening our imports by producing manufactured articles, for which we had hitherto solely to depend on the Mother Country and neighbouring colonies. As yet most of these manufactures are still in their infancy, but their rapid growth and great success, especially in some comparatively small articles, ., are' the best warrant of a hopeful feeling in the future that those manufactures, which this colony is so well adapted to produce, in consequence of its large mineral deposits, will one day, and that sooner than even sangnine minds may anticipate, exhibit a flourishing luxuriance. We may have times of depression/that is the fate of all countries, young and old ; but the material and the energy are within our borders, and the future of the country may be viewed with a feeling of trustfulness for ourselves and for our children who shall come after us.