LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2611, 7 August 1876, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

iNTBBPBOTINCIAIi FoOTBAIiI MATCH. — It will bo seen by the report of the meeting hold on Saturday that the proposed visit of a Groterbu:/ football team to Auokland and other Provinces is in a fair way to be brought about. The subscription lists are, it appears, well filled, and there will be no difficulty in getting together a strong team of players willing *-) take the voyage. It is to be hoped that the dovotod band will contain the very bost players that Canterbury he* 1 , for they may be sure that they will find it no child's play to deal with tho Auoklanders on their own ground. Tho latter are certain to retain still a vivid memory of their former defeat, and will make an extraordinary effort to retrieve it. The Canterbury men, on the other hand, will now have to oon* nd with similar disadvantages ♦> those from whioh the Auokland team suffered last year, namely, a sti^nge ground, and, possibly, the prostration of eea< sickness. If it o.n by any means be arranged, even at an inoreased expense, that this mat )h should not fike placo until a fair time had boon allowed for the recovery of the voyagers, this should certainly be done.

More Hydropathy. — The fire engine " Extinguisher "was thii movaing brought out fortho purposeofr loustomingthenewengineer f 3 h?i work. A number of meddlesome men and ohildren endangering the safety of the hose, a fireman was told off by the Superintendent to wave them away. This he did effectually by turning the jet on to the meddlers. One man who got a damping returned fire with a stone, for whioh be received a second and larger dose of the oiyetcl fluid. He then oxhibited a tendenoy to pugilism, but the arguments of Mr Harris prevailed, and the fireman is still alive.

A Pious Fraud,— Some difficulty having arisen respecting the lioensing of public* houses on the Kumara rush, the publioans have, aooording to the West Coast Times, adopted the style of " vendors of coffee and painkiller" The agony experienced in that dietriofc must have been terrible, if the ran upon painkiller may be taken as a criterion. Kumara is now proclaimed a licensing distiiot, and it is expected that the innocent modioino in question will go out of fashion. A Sad Jbst. — Tho following dialogue ooourred at a Canterbury railway station the other day. Buslio Traveller, to lloket Olerk, "Two for Timaru." Olerk, "Single, SirP" Traveller (blißsfully), "Single, be banged 1 We're just rotuiuing from the honeymoon !" Olerk, "Ah! I see! Suroingled!" He felt with Orlando, " how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes," and in his despair he shainefuHy (unaed. Hokitika MAYOBALT7.—The Mayor of Hokitika, Mr Taburt, has resigned in conse* quenoe of the behaviour of tne public at a meeting called to ooneider the present uneatiefactory b'-Uo of the river. At the laid meeting tho ox-Mayor was Chairman, there was f nsidorable uproar, and the lights were turned 0$ by somo gay spirit before tho proceedings terminated.

Tub Pbbss Aobkot.— lt is stated by a Wellington papor that the Press Agenoy have commenced an aotion for libel againtt the New Zealand Serald for aoouiing the Agenoy of " misreporting and short reporting," and of showing favour to the Government.

BOROUGH of Akaboa —September 1 has been appointed as the day upon whioh the first olootion of Councillors for the Borough of Akaroa shall take place, and tho election is to bo held by Mr Aylmer. Mining Accident.— AnotVv • '•' dent happened in Weskland ou Wedneaday last, when a man named Westropp bad bis thigh fearfully smnhed. No. 3 Building Sooibtt.— The usual monthly meeting of this society, for receipt of subscriptions and other monies will be held at tho office to-morrow.

U.A..O.D.— The Pioneer lodge will, for the futuro, moot in tho Templar Hall, Worcester •treat.

MeteoboiiOCHCAl.— -The following report has beon sent to us from tbo Observatory : — Tho gale from the South-west, commencing about 12 a.m. on Friday, and testing until tho morning of August 5, was the strongest experienced in Ohrisfcohuroh for eotne years, excepting the great storm of June last year. Tho wind gauge reoorded for the twenty-four hours ending 9 a.m. on Saturday, 691 miles. Oooasionally tho wind travelled a mile a minute, whioh would give a force of 181ba por square foot. The ozonometer during the galo was remarkably low, standing at 2, though for some days previously it had re* corded 7, 8, and 9. The scale ranges from 0 to 10.

Education.— Tho report of the Minister on Education in Canterbury during the year ondod Ootobor 16, 1876, has just been pub« Hshcd. It contains much information that has already boon published in one form or another, euoh a* lists of pupil teaohers, soholarship examinations, &0., but there are some interesting eritemonts of payments in detailed appended. From them we find that the maintinanco of the sohoolsof the Province cost £29,349 11s ss, and tho expenses of the department amounted to £3219 10s 4d. The sum expended on scholarships was £904 10s lid, and on tho purchase of books £863 16s 7d. The expenditure on sohool buildings reached £31,619 5s 2d, boeides ££373 3s lOd for the Normal sohool. Of the Brat-mentioned sum Ohristohuroh East absorbed £8415 4s 3d, Ohristohuroh West, £130/ 9i 2d ; Colombo road, £2382 8s 8d • Kaiapoi, £2085 7s 2d; Lyttelton, £2612 10s 9d; Timaru, £1829 16s lid; and the rest muoh smaller amounts. Planting sohool sites oost £225 da lid. Voluntaiy oontri* butions for building purposes brought in £699 19s 2d, and the speoial rates for the same purposes amounted to £5212 18s 6d. The total expenditure in ail was £76,155 7#M.

Pbiss Club.— -A meeting of gentlemen favourable to the formation of a Press Club was held at Warner*! Hotel on Saturday evening, for the purpose of discussing the question of the formation of a Press Club in this city. Mr F.-ei Digby ocoupied the chair, and, briefly explained the object of the meet* ing. One of the gentlemen present, recently connected with the Dunedin Olub, gave a sketch of its formation, rite, and progress, and ultimately, after some discussion, a Committee was formed td see what arrangements could be made to carry out the object of the meeting, and to bring up a report next Saturday evening at the, same time and place. The question of a Dramatic Club in connection with the Press Club was also mooted, and is likely to be carried out.

St. Albans School Committee.— The uaaal monthly meeting took place on August 1. Present — Meters J. L. Wilson (chairman), Diokenaon, Philpot, and Morley. The Head Matter's report was read and considered. Correspondence was read from the Minuter of Education, informing the oommittee of ccies of scarlet fever in the. district at reported by Dr To wend. The committee directed theHead Matter to exercise strict attention to any cases of this nature, to prevent the ohildren coming to tohool. AUo, asking for separate retains for side eohool whioh (he Head Master was directed to make. Some complaints about the cleaning of the side school was left for the Chairman to see to at once. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Baatrick, and the meeting adjourned. Accidbnt.— An aooident, fortunately unattended with fatal results, occurred between North and South Rangitata on Saturday. A passenger named Mr J. il'Donald, outfitter and draper, of Lyttelton, jumped out of the morning train when nearing the South Bangitata Bridge, and was severely hurt. The train was stopped, and ho was brought on to Timaru. He was expecting to meet some friends at the North Rangitata station, and not finding them there went on by the train. A short distance ahead of the bridge he taw them walking up the line and jumped out, thinking to alight without injury. On examination it was found that Mr M 'Donald had put his shoulders out of joint, besides being badly out about the face. He was attended to by a doctor, and m progressing favourably. Oantbbbttby Hunt OMTB.—The tecond drag hunt, held in the Bangiora Distriot under the auspices of this Club, took place on Saturday last. The meet was at the Plough Inn, and at the time appointed a very large number of horsemen appeared. The first run was from a paddock close to the hotel, to the farm of Captain Parsons at Fernside. The hounds worked well, and most of the fences were cleared in good style by the field. There were several spills as a matter of course, but no serious accident happened to any of the horsemen, although one horse fell, and died shortly afterwards. At the conclusion of the run, all hands were entertained by Captain Parsons, who provided a most liberal spread. After full justice had been done to it, another run back to the hotel was taken, and the sport of the day was brought to a close. Dramatic.— Toole, tha great oomedian, has been engaged in London, by Mr George Coppin, for a six montW tour in Australia, for the sum of £700 per week—for seven performances weekly— commencißg early in February next. Akaly bib <w Surra tbox thb Bichmoitd Hill Minb.— Mr Masters, of Grahamttown, oalled Bt our office, says the Auckland Herald, and showed us the produce of the silver ore from the Biohmond Hill mine, Oollingwood, Nelson, upon wbioh he has been engaged for several weeks past. There are 430» 2dwts of the silver, whioh will be sent by the Southern boat to Nelson. Mr Masters, after a visit of some duration to the mine, had two tons of the ore sent up here for treatment at the Thames, where the facilities for working were much greater than elsewhere. The treatment has only now been completed, and, in addition to the quantity of silver mentioned above, about 2ozs more are to come when the prcoets is quite finithed. Toe two tons of ore gave 6owtt of regulufl, or molten ore, and the 43ozs 2dwts have been obtained from lowt of that. Copper has also been obtained, but we are not able to state the per centage. The silver obtained has been at the rate of 140ozs to the ton of ore, or 900ozs to the ton of regulut, whioh is not so rioh as was expected, bu,t is still far above the paying point, silver being worth 4s 4jd per ounce at present. It is a magnificent smelting ore, and each ton can be reduced to about two or three cwfc of regulus, and that will contain nearly the whole of tho silver in the original ore. The copper will go a considerable length towards paying the ex* penset of the mine. The ore treated by Mr Masters was just as taken from the mine, and was only a fair sample of the lode. Thb Nbw Thbatbb at AroxLAiri).— This building, of wbioh a description appeared in our columns some time ago, is now almost completed, and will probably be opened on Augu»t 14. From the New Zealand Herald tome further particulars are gathered regarding its internal appearance. The act-drop is a massive gold frame, surmounted with recumbent figures, and presents a gorgeous appearance. The picture u to be a Watteau composition, with terrace, and medtaval fortress, and lako, and will, when finished, be the largest and most richly painted picture In any of the New Zealand Theatres. The proscenium is surmounted by the Boyal Anna, underneath whioh are figures of Cupid, deoorated with bouqueta'of flowers, in the side panels of the proscenium. Over the doors are representations of Etruican vases and flowers. The proscenium is most delicately ornamented with tints of lavender, salmon, and gold, being more in the drawing-room style of decoration than the glaring and gaudy tints too often seen in the lower olasset of theatres and concert halls. The dome has perforated apertures, handsomely panelled and gilded. The stage scenery, which U being I prepared, consists of a drawing-room in the Frenoh internal decorative style, and a street (Stookstreet, Antwerp.showingthecathedral of that city), both of wbioh have been just completed, and a Gothic room, with wings. The opening of the proscenium is 27 feet wide in the dear, and 20 feet high. The depth of the stage is 43 feet, the width being 60 feet. The scenes are 16 feet high, and the rollers of the act-drop are S3 feet long. These rollers will be completed in about eight days heooe. There are eight dressing rooms wider, and three on the stage behind the proscenium. Over one of the dressing rooms it a water tank, capable of containing 800 gallons, and incase of fire occurring in (he building • ■apply of water will that be readily available, The dreis circle and the stalls are seated for a thousand persons— fire hundred each-* whilst the pit will accommodate six hundred* The front of the gallery is unbeUishedjwith baluetrading, surmounted by crimson velvet

cushions. The seats in the drew circle ar» varnished and cushioned with velvet.

Grtbbax Grant Ohabobo with DwnncBSMBSB. — The WMhiagtoa Capitol certainly cannot be accused of toadying to the Freddent of the United State*. The following specimen of Yankee journalistio personality caps everything we bare ever seen :— lt is , well known about Washington that General Grant, vexed and worried over late developments, ha* resorted to his old remedy for relief. In other words, he has beea so under the influence of intoxicating liquors as to be at times incapable of seeing visitors or transasting business. Upon last Sunday we dror»by the asylum for lunatics at the moment when General Grant came out at the gate and started to walk to the city. There was no mistaking the flushed and bfoated face and unsteady gait. Wo take no pleasure in thus pubj liahing so sad a fact ; but we are struck with ! the superstition that so hedges in a President that the matter is spoken of with bated breath and kept from publication as if oar President were Hu Sacred Majesty, God's anointed, not to be spoken of in personal comment ' or criUoisna. The sooner we get ourselves out of this sickening flankeyism, and return to the old Jeffersonian doctrine, qf republican simplicity, that regard* the officeholder as a citizen, the healthier it will be fas the President and the better for as If this eficial does not respect his office, we do not intend respecting him. Excess o? Ijcmiqbatioh to Qxtbbhslahs. — What are we to do with our immigrant* t asks the Bruhame Courier. It is not too, much to say that this is now becoming a serious question. Every day brings fresh complaints that the work to be dose in the Colony is insufficient to employ the number of bands that are waiting for it. From Daiby we hear that Messrs Orerend have appliosw tions from three times the number of mm that they could possibly employ ; in Brisbane the labour market is well supplied ; and is Maryborough the expected arrival of anothss) shipload of immigrants has almost created a pasio. This is a bad state of affairs, *ni does no credit t<> the foresight of our leaden. It should not have been difficult to discover that, if our publio works were diminished, our immigration- -of mere labourers, at all events — would require to be reduced in proportion. As most of the peoj^f we ixaporl are labourers, having no capital of their own on which to subsist* it is evidently, use* less to introduce more than can readily Snd employment. The connexion between immigration and public works has always beea recognised by the Liberal party, and their old cry was — immigration to populate the country, publio works to employ the immigrants on arrival, and the lands open for them to settleupon when they have saved the means to do so. Within a few days the Premier will fast* to decide whether immigration shall be stopped or a scheme for the construction of public works be brought forward. The matter is urgent, and must be decided promptly. If we stop our immigration suddenly it will do us serious injury, which we may not recover for years; it will betoken as a confession that the Colony is unable to support more than 3» present small population, and will probably prevent us from ever /eassnming the position which we now hold in the eyes of the migmr tory population of the world.