LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1947, 2 June 1874, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Christchurch Land, Building, and Investment Society, No. 2.— The monthly meeting is advertised for this evening. Journalistic. — The first number of a new evening paper entitled The Globe, was published by The Press Company last night. Provincial Government Gazette.— A Gazette, dated May 30, contains, the speech delivered by his Honor the Superintendent at the opening of the Provincial Council. Inquest.— An inquest was held yesterday afternoon in tho Lyttelton Gaol, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., Coroner, on the body of David Adams, a prisoner who was killed by the fall of a quantity of clay. The jury, after viewing the body and hearing the evidence, returned a verdict of " Accidental Doath." Colonial Bank op New Zealand. — A meeting of persons favourable to the establishment of thi3 institution was held at the Clarendon Hotel, yesterday afternoon ; Mr K. Wilkin in the chair. It was resolved to adjourn the meeting until Thursday next in consequence of a number of tho provisional committee not being present. Lyttelton Breakwater. — The great blast of powder, which has been for some time anxiously looked for, was fired on Monday evening, at 7.30, by Mr Woodford, with only a partial success, only two of the five chambers being fired. It is estimated that about five thousand tons of atone wore dislodged. As soon as this is cleared away, the remaining chambers will be fired. Durham Street Wesleyan Ciiurch:. — The bazaar committee havo invited the mombers of tho congregation to meet at tho end of the week, with a view to making definite arrangements for the bazaar in aid of the fund for completing the school and making alterations in tho church. Tea will bo provided, and it is hoped that a large attendance will accrue. A large number of fancy articles have been received from England for the bazaar, which, if taken up with the spirit the object in view deserves, should be a great success. Tho new organ for tho church is on board tho Ballochmyle, which arrived from London yesterday, and every effort will be made to got it erected without delay. Presentation to Inspector Pender. — A numerously and influentially attended meeting of citizens took place at Mat3on's buildings yesterday afternoon, for tho purpose of presenting Inspector Pender with a gold watch and chain, a silver tea and coffee service, and a box containing 250 sovereigns. The chair was occupied by Dr Turnbull, and the testimonial was presented by Mr H. J. Tancred, on behalf of the subscribers. Mr Harris, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, a}so presented an address to Mr Pender from the members of the Brigade and Fire Police. The address was vory artistically illuminated on vellum by Mr James Goodman, whose skill and taste in such matters are already well known to the public. A full report of tho proceedings will bo found elsewhere. Board op Education. — The weekly meeting of the Board was held yesterday, and the greater portion of the time was devoted to preparing tho estimates for the nine months ending March 31st, 1875, with a view to submitting them to the Provincial Council during the present session. Some routine business was transacted, and the B,oard decided to request the Government to introduce a bill to the Provincial Council, to repeal clause 70, of ! the Education Act, so as to enable tho Board to hand over tho management of the Book Depdt to some shopkeeper in the city. A letter was read from Mr Hill, inastor of the Avonside school, forwarding suggestions for furniture fp,r tho Bingslaud school. Tho Inspector's report on tjio same with remarks upon Mr Hill's suggestions was also submitted. The Secretary was instructed to forward a copy of Mr Restell's report and remarks upon Mr Hill's suggestions to tho East Christchurch Committee. Concert.— The Christchurch Choral Union gave a concert yesterday evening Jn the Canterbury Music HaU to an audience limited in number, owing to tho wretched state of the weather. The programme, which was a long one — too long in fact — was gono through vory successfully, some of tho choruses being especially well pel-formed. Solos were sung by Miss Eowley, Miss E. B.Eowloy, Miss Gapes, and Mr Jones ; duetts by tho Misses Rowley, the Misses Gapes, and Messrs Clarke and Smith, and Jones and Smith, tho whole being excellently rendered. Mr J. Rowley performed two elaborate flute solos in good style ;he alao sang a comic song. Mr Searcll, who preside;! ai tho pianoforto as aecompanyist during the' evening, also played on tho harmonium twp operatic selections, one on airs from '' Maritana, and the other from "Un Ballo in Maschera.'' Tho performance was brought to a conclusion by the singing of tho Now Zealand anthem, set to musio by Mr Leech, and a verse of tho National Anthem. The concert was under tho management of Mr J. T. M. Smith, who officiated as conductor during tho evening. Postal. — Tho following memorial requesting tho authorities to establish a daily mail "between Christchurch &ud Tjmg.ru, is now in circulation in the" ' Jailer 'place.— To tjio Hon. Poatiiiusfcer-Generalj Wellington— We tho ' undersigned inhabitants of the Timaru and Gladstone djsfrjcts, jn the prbyince'of Canterbury, respectfully desire to urge on your attention the desirability of establishing a daily mail between Christchurch and 'J'imaru. Your memorialists woujd pojn/; put that, as within a few days at furthest from the present date the railway will be opened between Christchurch and Ashburton, the coaching distance to bo travelled daily would bo no moro than about sixty miles by tho upper or Rangitata bridge route, and fifty by the lower or Coppin's ferry roiicl.' 'S'hdiiUt a daily m$H be instituted, your memorialist's Woulci suggest {.hut £ov php pouvenioneo of tho inhabitants residing on or in the vicinity of the roads before mentioned, the co,icl) should travel tho two lines on alternate days ot tho veek. In conclusion your memorialists would draw attention to tho great advantages that would accrue to South Canterbury generally, by daily communication with the provincial capital, and trusting tho matter to your favourable consideration would ever pyny."

The Claimant.— Those who participate in the profound' interest which eome people ta^Q in the doinga of '•' the Claimant," will \>e glad to learn that yesterday we {Grey River Argus, of .May 15) were shown a veritable bit of i.lio oakum which that distinguished impostor is now industriously engaged in picking. It was forwarded to n gentleman of this town by a member of his family who is one of tho Metropolitan Inspectors of Prisons, and who took it from a iieap tho " Claimant " had before him.

Te Kooti and the Land Question. — • T!io Smoke's Bay Herald of May 12 says : — It is reported Unit To Kooti has written a friendly litter to tho chinfs on tl\e East Ccast, asking tl.ein nol to sell all their land. It would appear therefore that Hcnaro Matua and his friends have found a valuable ally in the hero of the Poverty Bay massacre. Coal in Southland. — The jV t i?kw has been shown a sample of coal from a newly discovered seiin at the Nightcaps— about eighteen miles from the Winton station of the northern railway. In nppearance, glossiness, and density it was — although taken from witbia three feet of the surface— decidedly superior to the Kaitangata coal recently imported iu considerable quautites for household and steam purposes. Newspaper Property. — The following figures, compiled by a competent authority, show the income and expenditure of the Melbourne Argus : — Daily circulation, 7676 copies ; income derived therefrom, £58 17s j daily income derived from advertisements, £37 4s ; the entire mechanical and literary staff numbers 89 ; the annual income of the office is £92,365 12s ; the working expenses, £34,800— net yearly income, £57,567 12s. Serious Matter. — A correspondent from the East Coast informs (Hawke's Bay Times t May 15), that the number of scabby sheep belonging to the Maoris in that district u becoming very serious, as many as 20,000 of these diseased animals being now at large. There is a regular chain of European sheep runs extending along the Coast, and there 18 every probability, indeed, almost a certainty, that the pakehas' flocks will become infected. Maori Elkctors. — Tho Haw&e's Bay Times says that " tho Maori electors in the East Coast district are now so numerous as to be able to completely swamp tho European vote. In the district of' Tauranga this year there are 850 new claims to voto, of whioh 736 are Natives, who now form a two-thirds majority of the whole. And, in addition, they, with tho rest of tho Natives of this colony, have tho special privilege of another voto, which the European colonist possesses." The Late Floods at Hawse's Bay. — The Haioke's Bay Herald complains that " tho late floods hive again submerged over 8000 acres of valuablo land in the immediate viok nif.y of Napier, and destroyed tho feed for the winter 5 fences have been swept away, and valuablo stook has been drowned ; a. great deal of private and public property haß been damaged, and the lower levels of the town have been inundated." The Ngaguro bridge was much damaged. Its repair has been commenced. Vaccination. — Two hundred and fifty residents of Wellington have been notified that, in default of non-compliance with tho Bth section of tho Public Health Act, which relates to compulsory vaccination, a penalty of 40s may bo imposed by any Justice of the Peace after tho expiration of one month from the date of notice. We (Neto Zealand Herald) may be allowed to suggest that had a report to the effect (hat small-pox had broken out in tho city been promulgated, it would have been a lesß,?xp,en? sivo method of giving tho notices referred tot, and far more effectual. When will our Government study and practice, economy ? Sly Grog-selling — A Mongonui correspondent of the Auckland Evening Star. gives some particulars relative to sly grog selling by Natives at Ahipara. He says a house had been specially built by the Natives for tho salo of drink, but the Bench refused to grant a license ; — However, on th.p visio at the 8.9. Rowcna here on the 22nd ultimo, she brought a largo quantity of spirits, addressed to a trader at Ahipara, whp gav,e the Natives an order to receiye it from Captain M'Qregor. Several horso loads wore taken away by the Natives to Ahipara, where a considerable quantity of it was retailed by tho Natives in, the house built by them for that purpose. The Kesident Magistrate here, as soon heard of it, sent Mr Inspector Kelly a , constable to Ahipara to seize the spirits. B,uif notwithstanding every oxertion was made only two cases partially full could bo found. These were seized, tho remainder had no doubt been planted somewhere. Tho Natives further Nortli were only waiting to see how the Ahipara people supceeded heforp cominencinß in the same line, and fhere is li|<tlo doubt thaft if prompt measur.es ]$&& not bepn taken t^e whole of this district would shortly havp bepn in a state of tho wildest disorder. L ; e|; us hope that not only the Natives will be punished in this case, but that tho trader who it is well known inoited them to commit the offence, and sont for tho spirits for them, will meet with as severe a punishment as the law can give. There can be no excuse in this matter, as there is a well-conducted publichoiißO at Ahipara, where all things neceß6ary for travellers can be procured." MKSSKS BIIOGDEN AND THE ONEHUNGA RAILWAY. — Tho New Zealand Herald says .-—The amount of passenger traffic on the Auckland and Onobanga \i\)e during tfyq period it was worked by Sjossrs Bpogdpn and Sons— namely, from Doocinber 84, 18?^ to April 30, 1874, a period of four months and a week — will scarcely bo creditod by our readers when wo present them with the figures. These, however, wo have from the most reliable source, and they certainly are rather startling. During tho period .mentioned there were carried 8509 first class, and 18,262 second class. There were aleo carried 2G23 first class return, jjnd 6ipG pepond pjpwj reUrrri. : Theso return, ticketo would bo eqnM to carrying {Jllff p'adsongufs, thils bridging up 1 the total to 45,00!) as the actual number of passengers conveyed both ways'. The only 1 moral we can draw from theso figures' is that Messrs Brpgdpn'muefc have turned 'over 'a con'; sidcrahlo' sum of monpy, from whjc|}."tlipy secured a fair per e'eritatfe' of profit, inasmuoft as the only exponso they were at wftß tbp labour they employed and the fuel consumed. A loss accrued to tho Government in tho meanwhile from tho loss of tho monetary returns which would havo gone to pay the interest on tho Hue, and from wear and tear of rolling stock. In return, however, Messrß Brogden have introduced some excellent servants to' the : service, and inifju|;ed o|,hpr» m£o the work, besides puLting ! tho lino iA toftkilig order. We ai;o glad to learn that' Jihft Government hare had the wisdom fo refain the cervices of (beBQ men. Jn retajning' Mr, W. J. Smith' as" f-he statfqn-fn&stier, tliey b^yo also shewn a wise discretion. i![r Sinflb {8 8 gentleman well up to his work, having gained) liis experience upon the Great Western Kail: way, England. Ho is active ami onorgotfc, and will, we feel sure, be found in every respect a valuablo servant to tho Gorprninpnf.