LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2597, 21 July 1876, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hibbbnicon.— Tho Hibernioon troupo will roßumo thoir entertainments at fcho Oddfellows' Hall this evening, whon thero will bo an entire change of programmo. Local Option Buii.— -Tho following telegram has beon forwarded to Wellington : — " At a publio meeting hold in fcho Oddfellows' Hall, Ohristohuroh, on Thursday evening, July 20, 1876, upwards of 800 persons boing present, ifc was unanimously rosoivod ; — " That fchis mooting heartily approves tho Local Option Bill, as proparod by Mr Stout, and exprossos a sincere dosire thafc fche same may bcoomo law. Tho meeting further requests thafc tho resolution may be signed on its behalf by tho Chairman.— J. B. Westbeookb."

Petition.— Tho potition in favour of Mr Townend's roloaso is being numerously signod inthe Oifcy.

Lyttelton Bobouoti School. — MrT. B. Mayne has been appointod third master in this aohool in tho plaoo of Mr Waddell roBignod.

Oity Impbovembnts. -Messrs P. and D. Dunoan havo taken possession of thoir now promisos in Tuam etreot, and a dinner to oommomorato fcho evonfc will take plaoo afc fcho Olarondon Hotel to-morrow ovoning. Railway Wobkshops,— Work has boon oommonood in the now fitting shops at, the railway station, though sovoral maohines have yofc fco bo fixed. Tho new maohinory now in use, comprises a latho, drill, and shaping maohino.

Chbisty Minbtbbls,— The Lyttolton Odd Fellow Amateur Christy Minstrels gave thoir third ontortainmont on Wednesday evoning. Considering tho wrotohed state of fcho woathor fcho atfcendanoo was very fair indeed. Tho programmo was thoroughly well givon, and the enthusiastic applause showed that tho efforts of tho performers woro highly opprooiated by thoso prosont.

The Railway— Tbore seems' to' bo a largo amount of dissaffeofcion among (he railway employe's wifch respoofc to one of tho heads of departments, and a potition for bis removal is now being signed. N *> Pbdebtbianirm. — W. Frith has boen backed to run Delanoy, threo distances, for £10 a-side, on Saturday noxfc. Tho oourse and timo of starting havo nofc yofc boen fixod. Tho distances are 100, 150, and 200 yards. Found Floating. — • Yesterday morning about half-past seven whilo Mr Shepherd, ono ef tho railway employes, was on the sorowpilo jetty, Lyttelton, ho obsorved a hafc floating on tho wator. Ifc was picked up, and undornoath was found a hondsomo silvormountod meorsohaum pipe. Tho oiroumstanoo was reported to the polioo immediately, but nothing furthor rolativo to tho matter transpired up to last evening. Funeral.— Tho funeral obsoquios of the lato Mr W. Guise Brittan fcook placo yostorday, and woro of a quiet, unostentatious oharaotor. The oortbge starfcod from tho dooeasod's late residence, in Oaahel street west, at threo o'olook iv tbo afternoon, proceeding along Montreal street fco tho Whately road, and thonco to tho Ohuroh of England oomotery, Papanui. Thoro was a numerous attendance of frionds in private oarriages and oabs, the formor inoluding tho Very Rev the Doan of Ohristohuroh, mombors of the Provinoial Exooutivo, Provinoial Government offloials, and professional gontlemon, who had known and esteemed Mr Brittan for many yoars. Tho funeral servioo was oonduofcod by the Doan.

s Fibb.— On Tuosday evening a firo ooourrod in a woolshed belonging to Mr Samuel Wilson, ab Rivormarsb, Rangiora, whioh totally dostroyod fcho building, only a portion of fcho oontonts boing rosoued. Tho firo is supposod .to. havo been oaueed by a lad in Mr Wilson's employ having left a lighted oandlo in a dangerous position On the ledge of tho shod adjaoontj whioh was aooidontally knookod down, and ignitod some straw. Tho flames spread rapidly through tho building, and before the neighbours oould manage to removo any quantity of the wool tho walls had fallen in. A contingent from tho Rangiora Fire Brigade soon mado an appearance on the soone, and rondored valuablo assistance in romoving moro of tho contents of the shed, and in carrying wafcor for extinguishing fcho firo. Tho engino was nofc called into request, as fcho distance from tho station was oonsidored too groat to render any benefit. It is stated that only a small amount of insuranoe had been offeoted on tho wool, and that tho shod had boen insured for £50. Mr Wilson's loss is thoroforo a hoavy ono, thore having boen thirty-ono balos of wool in the shed at tho time, besides oorn, saddlery, Ao. New Zealand Shipping. Company.-— The third annual mooting of this Oompany, in aooord anoo with a resolution passed at a general mooting held in July last year, will bo hold on Wednesday, August 2. Tho report and balanoe- shoot havo boen published in anticipation of the mooting, and from it wo gather that the finances of the Company are in a vory flourishing oondition. Tho balance- sheet shows a net profit of £48,177 10s lOd, whioh the direotors reoommend for appropriation as follows :— lst, to liquidation of balanoo at debit of profit and loss aooount on Docombor 31, 1874, £14,860 3s lid ; 2nd, to transfer to a roservo fund, £20,000 ; 3rd, fco pay a dividond afc oight por oent per annum for tho half-year ending Juno 30, £5000 j 4th, to oarry forward to profit and loss, now aooount, £3817 6s lid. Tho vessels comprising tho Company's floofc aro in a thoroughly efficient stato, and during the past year havo beon addod to by tho flno iron ships Orari, Otaki, Hurunui, Waipa, and Wairoa, all speoially built to tho order of tho direotors } and threo ofchor vessels — fcho Piako, Wanganui, and Opawa — oaoh of 1000 tons register, and of the highest olass, aro now being oonstruobed on tho Clyde for the Oompany.