Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1592, 28 March 1873, Page 2

Local and General.

Provincial Council. — Ifc is understood that a special session of the Provincial Council will he convened for the despatch of business on Friday, May 9. Lights in Rail-wax Carbiages. — The lights in the carriages on the Lyttelton and Christchurch, railway are certainly not so good as they ought to be. In many instances the trimming of the lamps is defective, and it is comparatively rare that a good illuminating power is provided. Catiiedbal Squabe. — The petition in favour of reducing the curve on the western side of Cathedral square, so as to correspond with the eastern side, and the asphalting of the footpath, is being very numerously and influentially signed. It will bo presented to the City Council on Monday next. Accident. — An accident of a rather peculiar nature happened at Eangiora yesterday morning to a horse, the property of Mr T. Lewis, surveyor to the Mandeville and Rangiora Road Board. The animal had been feeding on a piece of ground belonging to Mr Gulliver, on which is an old draw-well, with a wooden cover that had become very rotten from age. The horse must have travelled over the well during the night, and its weight being too much for the covering to bear, it fell to the bottom of the well hind part first. Mr Gulliver went to the well to draw some water, and his astonishment may bo imagined when he saw the horse in the well " sitting up looking at him." He at once communicated the fact to its owner, who obtained a gang of about a dozen men to excavate a sloping cutting to the bottom of the well. The men made a passage in a very short time, and the animal was extricated from its novel prison house. The well was about 12ft deep, but the injuries sustained by tho horse from the fall only consisted of some bruises on its back and hind quarters. The Domain.— lt is to be regretted that the metal labels recently adopted for displaying the names of the plants and shrubs in the Domain, continue to be removed, and although very strong suspicion attaches to several boys, no positive proof of their delinquency has yet been obtained. The boys are not ignorant roughs who, perhaps, might to some extent be excused for such conduct, but are well educated, and should be tho very last to be guilty of malicious destruction of property. Tho labels are a very great convenience to the public, but unless tho boys in question discontinue their pranks tho whole of them will have to bo removed by tho gardener, or a watch set to detect tho offenders. The first plan would entail a loss upon the public, as there are many shrubs in tho Domain of which visitors would like to ascertain the names, but could not do so without hunting up the gardeners, if there were no labels, and the second plan would entail a great deal of troublo and expense ; therefore it is to be hoped tho good sense of the boys will prevail, and that no more labels will be removed and thrown into the river, as hitherto. A further caution is also necessary with reference to the quail in the Domain. A day or two ago several boys wore seen to kill one by throwing stones purposely at it, but as they are known and will be brought to justice, that will perhaps bo the best kind of deterrent that could be applied.

Skylarks. — A telegram has been receive from Mr Bills, who went to Nelson fq the purpose of obtaining skylarks, to tbj effect that he has secured one hundred, an will probably return to Lyttelton by the ne^ steamer. Three of the recently importe rooks have unfortunately been found dea during the recent wet weather. Horticultural Societt. — A meeting c the committee was held last night. A repoi to be submitted to the annual meeting wt brought up and adopted. The treasurer rea a balance sheet, which showed afconsiderafr deficiency. It was resolved that the annuj meeting be held at the Clarendon Hotel o Thursday, April 1. Theatre Eoxal. — There was a numerov audience at the Theatre last evening i witness the final representation of " The Ui equal Match," which passed off very succe3 fully. An excellent bill will be submitte to-night, the curtain rising toßulwer Lytton beautiful play of the " Lady of Lyons," i which Mrs Hill will sustain the part < Pauline, and Mr Douglas, that of Claude Me notte. Playgoers are reminded that durii the season the curtain will rise punctually s B p.m. . Fire Tank.— The subject of a tank at tl junction of Colombo and Lichfield streets ffl fire prevention purposes, was warmly takJ up again after the recent fire in that localitj but f as on the previous occasion, it appears I have subsided into a very undesirable stai of quiescence. While an instance of dania J to property is fresh in the memory of thol interested great enthusiasm is displayed, b« as time moves on this rapidly cools dowi until perhaps the agitation is altogether fol gotten. The importance of the present cai should, however, prevent such a result, ai it is much to be desired that the delay in i adoption of practical measures will not co tinue much longer. Canterbury Tonic Sol-fa Associatio — This Association is about to remove fro the Foresters' Hall, and the members w hold their practices in future at the Cryst Palace Buildings — a much more centi position — on Monday evenings. They ha progressed very favourably since their form tion, and hope the friends of the Bysteni w come up in greater numbers. They intend appear before the public in May next, wi the Ode to Labour and the Dettingen ' Deum, which will be a very good trial of t talent they have at command. They haß likewise engaged Mr J. T. M. Smith, wheflj skill and energy have proved very successS as their conductor. The Association hayS good chorus of about 40 voices. Bj Volunteer Inspection. — Col. Packe h<B an inspection of the Christchurch, Lytteltfi and Heathcote Volunteers at the Drill-shH last night. There was a very good mustfi and, in addition to the Cavalry band, tfl Orphan Asylum boys, who came throujfl with the Lyttelton Artillory, were in atterH ance. After the usual inspection routifl Col. Packe thanked the volunteers for thß attendance in such strength, expressed S satisfaction with what had come unqß his notice during the evening, and oxplaiqK what arrangements had been made for tH annual encampment. The whole of the co were then marched through some of the pi cipal streets, with both bands playing, sub quently returning to the Drill-shed, wh they were dismissed. Silver Coins. — The scarcity of small ail coins in Christchurch has become a vserious annoyance to the public, and it is bo regretted that some of the banks do : take measures for removing the cause of cc plaint. To obtain a sixpence at either asi or hotel, is a most difficult matter, the sh man or barmaid as the case may be, resortH to every possible device in order to prevffl parting with coins which it is well-known cflj not be replaced without great difficulty. H is a common occurrence for a customer to H called upon to turn out all his or her loH silver, with a view to making such an exchaJfl between half-crowns and shillings, as iS avoid the extraction of v sixpence from Bj person behind the counter. All this is ffl| unpleasant, and if the banks are not tefl looked to for help, where can the public atffl for what is required ? Something muetbedjfl in the matter, and soon. jj The Pilot Station at Lxttelton- Hb-^S — The necessity of an additional man b(fl| employed at the pilot station, Lyttelton,™ for a long time been very unpleasontlyflß parent. The signalling of vessels underH present arrangement is very imperfect, |9 of such a contradictory nature that BH same vessel is often signalled four or five tiH — each successive signal differing from its Hj decessor — before the proper description coJH to hand. This necessarily is very puzzJ^B and gives great annoyance to those intereHß in such matters, whilst no amendment carJu made without an additional hand beingHß ployed at the pilot station. At present t|H are only sufficient hands to man the boat.Bßjj what is required is a man to remain behinHfi the look-out, so that when the pilot getfiß board the vessel he can throw her up in 818 wind and show her number, which can (39 bo signalled to Lyttelton. The importandHj the matter should induce the G-overnrueraH pay early attention to what is required. HH Telegraphic Costmunication -wHS Europe. — The New Zealand Heraldgm March 11 says : — lt has been stated thauflß Vogol and Mr Reynolds have, by an arraßM meut into which they entered while in Syd|B committed New Zealand to a pecuniary Wm/k bility for the construction of an electric ctMB but we are authorised to say, that thJHH rangement with New South "Wales KB! Queensland — which is the only one ofjßß kind in existence — is expressly subject t<BBB approval, first of the Government and HB of the Parliament of the colony. UnleegHß so approved, New Zealand is not in anyflH pledged to adopt the arrangement, and VSR cannot be any liability, pecuniary or 088 wise. We understand that particulars sn the matter will bo published in a few dayflH