LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1992, 24 July 1874, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

*- Meeting of Ratkpavers. — A meeting of the ratepayers of Christchurch will be held in the Oddfellow's Hall, this evening. The Recent Cash; of Drowning in Lxttelton.— Tho bociy of the boy named George Green, who was drowned in Corsair Bay, Lyttelton, on Wednesday last, was recovered this morning. It was found by a man named Newton within about ten yards of where the accident occurred. An inquest on the body will be held to-morrow. Postal. — English letters were received today per b.s. Wellington from Auckland, having come per Hero from Sydney. These letters came by Torres Straits mail. The Domain.— The petition to the Legislative Council, against the bill for the erection of fche Canterbury College in the Domain, has been signed by 132.6 persons. Football.— The match, Fifteen v the Club, will be continued to-morrow, A. Ollivier taking charge of the Club as before. Colours — Club, red ; fifteen, blue. The following are the Fifteen : — J. Anderson, C. Bolton, Booth, E. Cotterill, R. Dobson, Hartland, Loughnan, Lewin, Macquarie (Capt.), Mathias, L. Ollivier, J. Thomson, 0. Thomson, Waxman, and T. Chapman. S. Luke's Winter Entertainments. — The fourth of these entertainments was given in the schoolroom, yesterday evening, to a large audience. An excellent programme was carried out, consisting of harmonium solos by Sir J. S. Jameson ; songs, &c., by fche Misses Stringer, White, Roy E. A. Lingard, Messrs Walcot, Prico, and Feldwick ; cornet solo, by Mr T. Tankard j recitations, by Messrs Waymouth, Stapleton, and Cottrell; and readings by Messrs Pincotfc and E. M. Johnson. Mrs Lingard and Mr Dugdalo acted as accompanyists to tho musical pieces. At the conclusion, the usual vote of thanks to the performers- was moved by the Incumbent, who announced that the next entertainment would bo given on July 31, in order to avoid clashing with tho Wesleyan festival fixed to take place on the Thursday evening. Was this Language Parliamentary ? — The following is a gem from the Parliamentary report in fche Sydney Morning Herald. Mr Robertson, referring to tho Colonial Secretary, Mr Parkes, used the following language, to which no particular objection seemed to be made : — After tho manner in which the hon gentleman had addressed the House to-night they might think ifc necessary to compel him to go to the country. They were ready to go to tho country and let fchem go, for that was the propar remedy for their present troublo. (Hear, hear.) Ifc was no uso talking like a lot of flshfags at each other across the table. The hon gentleman went out of his way to blackguard the hon member for Camden, whose boots ho was not fit to clean. The hon member had not the courage to remain in the House while he was speaking, but was forced to run away. (Hear, hear.) The hon and cowardly, sneaking, snivelling, cringing hound could not stand fire, bufc slunk out of the chamber ! Ho listened to the hon hound's abuse, but tho hon hound now sneaked away. [A tteu ti°n called to the state of tho Houso, and a quorum was formed.] The hon member tho Premier, who had delivered himself of the grossest falsehood that had ever fallen from tho lips of any snivelling whining fellow, now ran away. [Attention called to tho state of tho House, and a quorum formed.] If thero wero any truth in this boasting impostor he would go to the country. (Opposition cheers.) The Russian War Trophies in Melbourne.—The Daily Telegraph exclaims :— Mr Guilfoyk is labouring hard to make our Botanic Gardens " a thing of beauty and a joy for evor, : ' and we are happy to assist him with a hint. Thoße Russian guns that occupy the pride of placo in liis domain — they should bo removed. In a botanic gardens they are particularly out of place, and their exhibition anywhere ii a paltry piece of bravado, fcho more particularly as tho allies had nothing fco bo specially proud of afc Sebastopol, where the defence was so heroic, and the critics Bay more skilful than tho attack. In England the work has jubl; been commenced. Colchester returned her guns to the Royal Arsenal in April last, and her example is being generally followed by thetowns which obtained cannons from the captured fortress j and in tho Royal Arsenal itself only a fow pieces of professional interest are preserved — such as a gun with a ball fired from the British batteries jammed in its muzzle. In our land, and in our Botanic Gardenß in particular, we wish the foreign visitor to see no token but those of " peace on earth and good will to men." The Russian trophies, afc all ovents, havo had their day. Steamer Racing. — Tho New Zetland Herald says : — A correspondent writing to our •local evening contemporary, the Star, narrates wo know not wifch what truth, tho particulars of a raco between the stoamahips Phcebo and Albion, in which tho latter was beaten. Wo could only wish thafc our colonial marine law for this very serious offence was as stringent as ifc is in England, whero the masters of these vossels, had the charge been" substantiated against fchem, would have each receivod throo months' imprisonment, with hurd labour. Racing in colonial waters has from timo to (imo resulted in vory serious consequences. Witbin the last seven'ycars, exactly this number of vossels havo been wrecked, and in two instances several lives sacrificed through racing. If captains aro regardless of tho safety of vessels entrusted to their command, the law afc least should interfere to protoct tho lives of crews and passengers from boing jeopardised by what can only bo looked upon as a most unseamanlike act. An American Reporter "Taking Stock" of Prince Bismarck. — This reporter found the " man of blood and iron" a very formidable character — oven to describe. Prince Bismarck, he says, is " a rollicking, overbearing man, and will not listen to remonstrance, still less to contradiction." And he is shocked that bo great a man should caro so littlo for appearanco. Ho tells us that this man, who makes or deposes Emperors, eats old sausages and black bread, served without a tablecloth, for breakfast. His dinner is of mighty meats in plenty, washed down iv large goblets of strong Burgundy. Ho smokes and works and talks perpetually. His homo is like a volcano in constant eruption. His secretaries cannot stand his work long ; they nre obliged to give in from sheer exhaustion. Of courso he speaks of the Chancellor in health. He is constrained to allow thafc Princo Bismarck can bo " very funny " when pleased ; bufc takes care to stato that when not pleased he is very rash and very formidable — adding that the Princo is " very impudent at all times." Thero is something amusing in theso criticisms of a modern statesman by a man who has gathered his " notions " from the books written about old-fashioned diplomatists.