Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1725, 6 September 1873, Page 2

Local and General.

«. Cantebbuey Bowing Club. — The annual general meeting of members will be held at Warner's Hotel, this evening, at 7.30. National Insurance Company. — The number of shares applied for up to last evening for Christchurch amounted to twenty-fire thousand. Lbciuee. — The Rev A. F. Douglas will deliver a lecture at the Kaiapoi Institute, on Friday next, on "The Rebellion of 1745." The lecture will bo illustrated by songa of the period by a choir under the leadership of Mr Clarke , and Mrs Long has promised to preside at the pianoforte during the evening. Thb Immigrants ex Columbus. — The barracks were opened yesterday for the engagement of these immigrants, and nearly the whole met with engagements. The number of single women by this ship was unusually small, and many porsons were again disappointed in obtaining domestic servants. All the single men, with the exception of three, found flituatione at good wages. The whole of the married men, except six, were also engaged at from £60 to £70 per annum and found ; for married couples, farm servants, 30s per week, with cottage where the man's services only were required ; carpenters, 10s per day; single men, ploughmen and farm labourers, £50 per annum and found ; boys, 8a to 12s per week ; single women, general servants and housemaids, £25 per annum ; housekeepers, £35 ; nurses, £20 to £25 ; nurse girls, £12 to £16. The six married men still open for engagement include — 2 farm labourers, |1 general labourer, 1 house painter, 1 tin worker, and 1 stone mason. The three single men not engaged are— l fitter, 1 bricklayer, and 1 hammer man. The immigrants by the Columbus are of a very suitable class, and the few atill remaining will doubtless soon find employment. Nearly all the Mary Shepherd's immigrants also are now employed ; seven married men only, out of the sixty-three who arrived, remain open for engagement ; these include— -2 farm labourers, 3 general labourers, 1 miner, and 1 wheelwright. The Punjaub, bringing upwards of :?00 immigrants, including a number of Danes, v now daily expected. ZZ^'^^mi^^^^

Supreme CoußT^The -Registrar Bat in Chambers at 11 a.m. yesterday, and fixed the last examinations for the 16th October, in re William Frew and Charles Francis Searle. Provincial Cottjtcil Obdinances. — It is notified in a Provincial Gazette issued yesterday, that the following Ordinances, having been laid before his Excellency the Governor, have been assented to : — " The District Koads Compulsory Land-taking Ordinance, 1873 ;" " The Reserve (No. 74) Ordinance, 1873 ;" "The Eeserve (No. 304) Ordinance, 1873 ;" " The Eeserve (No. 424) Ordinance, 1873." Registrar's Returns. — The number of births in the City of Christchurch for the month ending August 31, was 36 — 17 males and 19 females ; for the Chrisfcchurch district, 58 — 37 males and 21 females. The number of deaths in the city was 16, and in the Christchurch district 18 ; the numbe r of marriages being 14, and 5 for the city and district respectively. During the corresponding month in 1872, the births in both city and district were 118 ; deaths, 42, and marriages 25. St. James' Band of Hope. — The fortnightly meeting of members was held in the church last night ; the .Rev G. Bond, president, in the chair, and a large number of members in attendance. Eecitations were given by Masters H. Williamson, Shierlaw, Davidson, J. Causey, Merritt, Misses .E. Archibald and Boyd • a part song by Messrs G. Daltry, Harper, Leßreton, E. Murphy, the Misses E. Causey," E. Priestnall, and Midgley ; duets by Messrs G. Daltry and Smith, and Messrs Harper and Daltry; a reading by Mr G. Daltry • and addresses by Messrs J. Shierlaw, F. Green up, and Davideon. The proceedings were terminated by the chairman pronouncing the benediction. ' Educational.— The Board of Education return for the quarter ending June 30, notes 78 schools in the province, 68 of which are district schools. These are conducted by 176 teachers— 94 male and 82 female. The highest number of scholars on the books was 7132, and the average daily attendance 4658. The school fees paid at the ten "aided schools-" amounted for the quarter to £339 16s 3d. The following are the schools referred to: — Addington ; Avonside ; Convent, Christchurch ; Eoman Catholic, Boys ; Eangiora, Boys ; Sangiora, Girls ; St Andrew's, Christchurch ; St Michael's, Christchurch ; St John's, Christchurch ; St Luke's Christchurch. Kaiapoi Native School. — The first Anniversary festival of the Native day school at St Stephen's Kaiapoi, took place on Thursday, Sept. 4. The programme of the day began with the examination of the children by the Rev. Canon Dudley, the result of which was very satisfactory, more especially as 12 months ago the children knew nothing of English. After the examination was concluded the children were engaged in sports ; Mr Rickera, jun., acting as judge, and Mr Aporo as starter. About 120 prizes were distributed, most of them being given by pakeha friends. About 5 p.m. the tea was ready, and the schoolroom filled very quickly. It was nicely decorated by the Maoris with evergreens and mats. There was also a goodly display of greenstone. One piece alone being valued by the Natives at £300. There were five tables presided over as follows :— No. 1. Mrs Rickers, jun., and Miss M'Quillan. No. 2. Miss Bunker and Miss Horrell. These were reserved for the the English visitors. The three remaining tables wore appropriated to the Maoris. No. 3 — Mrs Silk and Mrs Dudding : No. 4 — Mrs J. Thompson, Mrs Horrell, and Miss Hicks ; No. s— Mrs Wooding and Mrs Stackwood ; each table being also supplied with helpers too numerous to name. The tables were filled three times, and notwithstanding this severe test, the resources proved amply sufficient for the 300 persons who sat down. After the tables were cleared, a platform was erected, and the children being placed in their appointed seats, the room again filled, about 400 in all being presont — Martha Pihawai then recited, " The young mouse " ; Te Ata Hopa, " The voice of Spring " ,• Te Hira Hutu, a poem, each of them receiving vociferous applause ; after which all the children received some reward. The Rev. J. W. Stack then addressed a few words to the English visitors, and called upon the parents to give a vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs Reeves for the very efficient manner in which they had performed their duties, which was immediately responded to. He further proposed that, considering the great success which had attended this first anniversary, the parents should keep it annually. This, too, was greatly approved of by the "Natives. Mr Barnard then exhibited a Magic Lantern, which, by the constant laughter and applause, seemed to give great pleasure, after whwh the Rev J. W. Stack proposed a vote of thanks to the managing committee and the ladies who had presided at tho tea, calling special attention to the zeal of Mr and Mrs Riokers, Junr., this vote was carried uproariously. Rupene Kuri then sang a native song, and W. Aporo convulsed the audience with a comic Maori song in character. A large bonfire and a discharge of fireworks then brought this firat anniversary of tho school to a cloae, after having given unbounded satisfaction to every one. The whole affair was conducted under a managing committee consisting of the Rev G. P. Mutu, and Messrs Reaves, Ricker, and Martin, and they certainly deserve great credit for the way in which everything was carried out. English papers state that the steamship Great Eastern has just completed the shipment of a new Atlantic cable, consisting of 2453 miles of wire. She has left Sheerneas for Portland, from whence she will proceed to Valencia, from which place aho will lay the Ciible to Heart's Content, on the completion of which she will return to the apot where the damaged cable of 1865 lies. She will stop there until the cable is repaired. This being completed, she will return to Sheerness, and take on board a section of a cable to be laid from St. Vincent to Pernambuco, a large section of which is already laid. She ia commanded by Captain Halpin, the staff of officers on board being those who were gene»lly engaged in laying the 1865 cable,

Deaths of Thoroughbred Sto'c£— Mr Watt, of Auckland, has lately lost three valuable thoroughbred horses. The first was the mare Nebula, well known on the Nelson turf, when she ran in the colours of Mr H. Stafford. The second is Mizen, a young mare by Malton, out of Wetsail, another Nelson celebrity. The third loss was that of Tara, a colt by Malton, out of Ladybird. Volunteer Inspection.— Col. Packe held his monthly inspection of the head-quarter volunteers at the Drill-shed last night. The Engineers mustered in strong force, and the Artillery were creditably numerous, but the other corps did not show to advantage in this respect. The inspection passed off satisfactorily. Next week a new arrangement will be entered upon with respect to drill, or rather art old arrangement will be revived. It is in ; the direction of weekly battalion parades, and there can be no hesitation in pronouncing it a step in the right direction. The only regret is that they were not re-commenced long ago.