LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2430, 6 January 1876, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Chbistohuboh Looas Boabd of Hbawh. — At a meeting of the Board of Health, this morning, Dr Deamer was appointed medical ofiloer to tho Board.

HonTiotri/rußAi. and Abbobiocmubaii Sooibtt, — ThoGommittee met at the Clarendon Hotel last night, Mr Stevens in the ohsir. The aooounts relating to the last show were passed. Arrangements were made for the next Exhibition,and the following judges were seleoted :— Messrs Webb, Fisher, ana Tunmer, for pot plants j Messrs Collins, Ivory, and Gibbs, for fruit and vegetables. After a short discussion on horticultural matters, a rote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings. Four-oabbd Challenge Baob.— Owing to the unfortunate conclusion of this race, the settlement was. on Tuesday night, agreed upon by both of the crews to be left to Mr J. 0. Boddington, who had on the morning of the raoe boon requested to act as umpire. After hearing the evidonce of Oapt. Galbraith, Starter, and Judge, the following deoision was given by tho Umpire :— " Having aooompanied the raoo from start to finish in the s.s. Mullogh, and having heard the evidenoe of the Judgo and Starter that the Eingarooma's bow passed the line of observation fixed upon by tho Judgo before tho Timaru's did so, I thereby deoido tho raoe to be won by the Ringarooma. The stakes wore paid over yesterday afternoon to the owner of the Ringarooma. Public Libbaby.— -A further consignment of books for the Circulating Library, arrived by the mail steamer Ringarooma, and are now ready for issuo. They comprise— Anderson's " Notes of Travels in South Africa," Barron's " Loaves from an Old Portfolio," Blake's 11 Zoology for Students," Burton's " Ultima Thulo, or A Summer in Iceland," Oastelar's " Life of Lord ' Byron, and other Skotohes," translated by Mrs Arthur Arnold ; Ousaok's " Bpeoohes and Publio Letters of 'the Liberator," Daneon's " The Dawn of Life," Dougall's " Shooting-— its appliances, praotioe, and purposo i " Fairbolt's " Tobacoo— its history and associations \ " Fogg's " Arabistan, or The Land of the Arabian Nights » " Garragh's " The Pilgrim of Scandinavia," Comte's " Systorn of Positive Polity," Harting'a "Our Summer Migrants," Jovons' " Money, and the Moohanism of Bxohange," Jones' "Linooln, Slanton, and Grant} " Kingston's "The Three Commanders, or Active Service afloat in Modern Days i " Mundy'a " Canton and tho Bsffue," Miohelet's " The Sea," Reade's « The Outoast," " The Autobiography of Sir Johnßennie," Sullivan's "The Provinces of India/ Zincke'e " A Walk in the Orisons."

Obiokbt.— The following will represent the 17.0.0.0. against the 0.0.0., on Saturday next: — Messn Blakiston, J. Baker, B. Cotterill, W. Cotterill, Cuff, Deacon, Mao* quarrie, Nalder, Parkerson, D. Thompson, and

Oasbs o* Fobobby.— ln sentencing three prisoners for forgery, in the Bupreme Court, on Tuesday, his Honor Mr Justice Johnston said that if moderate sentences had not the effect of oheoking the crime of forgery, it would come quite within the spirit of the Legislature in giving judges so large a range of discretion, if they passed upon prisoners oharged with this kind of offence the maximum punishment whioh the law allowed— namely, a long term of penal servitude. Axaboa Town.— Efforts are being made to have Akaroa proclaimed a Borough within the boundaries of the township as described in the Qatette, Several petitions with this intent have already been forwarded to the Government, but without avail, owing to informalities. Better luok is expected next time, and meanwhile particular residents are already talked of for the post of Mayor, while one person, it is said, is actively en« gaged in canvassing for that honour. The Town Council, when elected, will have their work to do in forming streets and making drains, for even now complaints are raised about the filthy condition of one or two spots, owing to insufficient drainage.

Bakbbs' Picnic— A meeting of bakers was held at the British Crown Hotel last night, to receive the report of the Committee, and make the final arrangements for the annual pionio on Thursday week % Mr Hopper occupied the chair. She Committee brought up a draft programme of sports, containing eighteen events, and it was approved by the meeting. The programme includes a trotting match for a whip, given by Mr Dunbar, Saddler} another horse race, and several foot races for men, women, and children | and jumping for men. It was reported that the millers had been very liberal in subscribing to the pionio. It was arranged that those who intended to take part in the picnic should assemble at the Post-office at 8 a.m., and proceed thence to Sumner, headed by the Cavalry band. The meeting then dosed.

Babb PiiANTS.— < Several rare flowers are in bloom at the seed and bulb grounds of Messrs Adams and Sons, Gloucester street east. Campanula calycanthema is a great, improvement on the old Canterbury Bell. The blossoms are nearly two inches in width, while an extension of the calyx forms an elegant cup round the base of the bell of the same beautiful colour as the corolla. Campanula turbinata elegans is a hybrid between 0. turbinata and C. carpatica, and is the most ornamental bedding plant of all the family of bell-flowers. It is a dwarf hardy perennial herbaceous Slant, yielding a profusion of blue and white owers during the summer months. Delphinium cceleetinum belongs to the formosa section of herbaceous larkspurs, and its bold spikes of sky-blue flowers are a striking object in the mixed border. Abronia arenaria is another acquisition. It is perennial here, and trails on the surfaoe of the soil, producing dusters of fragrant yellow flowers.

WhbIiHYAH Ohuboh.— The Oirooifc quarterly meeting waa held in the schoolroom, Durham street, on Jan. 4. There waa a large attendance of office-bearer! from the several Congregations in the Circuit, The Her James Bailer presided, and his colleague, tbe Eer J. Berry, was also present. The Sohedule of Membership showed a net increase during the past quarter of sixty-two, and twenty-eight remaining on trial ; the entire number of Church members being 339. The income for the quarter, after paving the sum of £123 to the several Trust ana other funds, amounted to £176 17s 2d, and the total expenditure £179 16s 6d, leaving a balanoe to the debt of the Circuit of £104 2s 4d. Various questions occupied the attention of the meeting till 10 p.m. Among the most important of these, was that of the appointment of ministers for the next year, whiob, after some disoussion, was left to the judgment of the Conference which will meet in Wellington next week. As this is the last meeting of the kind in whioh the Bey J. Buller expects to preside, he took his offloial leave of the brethren, recalling to memory the many happy years he had been privileged to labour with them, and the great kindness he had always received at their hands. He said that he expected to embark for England at no later date than about March 12, or it may be at the end of February, and as long as God spared his life, be would always bear them upon his heart and seek, as far as he could, to promote the interests of New Zealand generally, and of the Methodist Church particularly. The Circuit Steward proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Buller in acknowledgment of his faith* ful serrioes and expressive of their high esteem and affection, and this was carried unanimously, all the meeting standing. A resolution was then brought op by Mr. 0. W. Turner, and seconded by Mr Ballantvne appointing an influential Com* mittee for the purpose of providing a suitable testimonial to the Bey J. Buller, prior to bis leaving the Colony for the Old Country. Those gentlemen and others took the opportunity of giving utteranoe to their affectionate regard for him > Mr Tamer having known Mr Buller for nearly forty years, and Mr Ballantyne nearly twenty years • and others present had' bad his personal acquaintance, and had been officially connected with him for many years. The thanks of the meeting were given to the Bey J. Berry also, for bis valuable services during the year, and it was hoped that he would be reappointed to the Circuit The resolution that was passed at a special meeting in September last, recommending the division of the Cbristohuroh Circuit, was not adopted, as it was thought better to postpone that action for another year at least.

OHBISTU AS AND THB AUCKLAND POOB.— Tho New Zealand Herald of Deo. 23 says :— Owing to the kindness of Sir George Grey and the Provincial Secretary, directions have been given to Mr Graham, tire Believing Officer, to provide all poor families upon the relief list in the city, suburbs, and adjacent villages and towns, a sufficient quantity of meat for a good substantial Ohristmas dinner, varying from 41bs to 161bs, according to the number of persons in each family. This is ft genuine old English practice revived.

Sur bbihg Natvbaxi Liavbs ahd Flowbbs. —A very ingenious applio*tion of electro* metallurgy has recently been brought before tho notice of the Society of Arts m London. It consist* in the application of a coat of silver, by means of electro-deposition, on natural leaves and flowers. By this means very delicate ornaments are produced, since the precise form and texture of the natural leaf is preserved under the thin silver film. The special process by which these result* are attained is too invention of a Mr Denton,