LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3360, 15 January 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Weights asd Measures Fees.— ln accordance wifch a provision of the Financial Arrangements Act, the former Inspector of Weights and Measures used to place all fees received by him to the credit of the City Council. Since the appointment of the new inspector these fees have been paid in to the public account ; and representations having] been made to the Government by the Town! Clerk, instructions were received this morning/ by the inspector to pay all fees into thi municipal account as formerly. The Stewart Family.— This talented family gave theiv very popular entertainment " Rainbow Revels " at the Odd Fellows' Hall, Lyttelton, last evening. Thore was a very large audience, notwithstanding the threaten ing aspect of the weather, and every one appeared to be most thoroughly delighted with the extremely clover and highly entertaining performance. The performance will be repeated this evening, and as the Stewart Family leave for Wellington to-morrow, we would advise all wlio have not seen them to avail themselves of the opportunity ef enjoying a capital evening's amusement. <s Yesterday's Floods.— Although there' was a large body of water along the South Hue yesterday, the only damage done was the washing away of the ballasting south of Rakaia and at the South Rangitata. At the fdrmer place the water broke through with great force, making a clean gap in the earthwork. Men were quickly placed on at the break, and and through patching the line with sleepers, made the damaged part sufficiently secure to allow the up trains to safely pass over. The damage at the Rangitata was temporarily patched in a similar manner, and liaving superintended repairs, the General Manager came on in the express train, which arrived afc the Christchurch station only 18 minutes behind time. The South express train did not reach Timaru until 2.20 p.m., and after a short delay continued its journey safely on to Dunedin. TN Defective Roof.— The long drought hail oaused! a shrinkage in the timber; of U ;th« Supreme Court roof, the result of which was] shown yeßterday by two shower-baths in un/ pleasant contiguity to the reporters' table.

Escaped Lunatic Captceed.— Morgan Harper, a lunatic, who escaped from the Asylum on Dec. 19, was yesterday discovered and arrested at Timaru.

ccur M^ RTHA "— It is announced that Martha" will be produced to-morrow night, with Miss Sherwin as Lady Harriet. The rest of the cast will be the same as on Friday, and, bearing in mind the completeness with which the opera is produced and the attention paid to the choruses and minor parts, the performance should be one that will long be remembered. "^ Sale op Land Near T-MArit.— The township of North Beaconsfield, situated about six miles south of Timaru, was sold by Messrs Maclean and Stewart at the Grosvenor hotel, Timaru, on Saturday last. The whole of the sections were disposed of afc most satisfactory prices. The land was thei property of Mr Chivers, and realised anj average price of about £70 per acre. if The Polich at Rangiora.— Afc the orcfPl

nary sitting of the Magistrates at Rangiora, the Bench took occasion at the conclusion of the hearing of a case in which some reflections were made on the action of the police in arresting an offender, to say that the small amount of drunkenness in Rangiora was to a greafc extent due to the exertions of fche police in that behalf, and gave them great credit for it. Rangiora, they said, was freer from drunkenness than any similar town in New Zealand, and in consequence they felt bound to support the action of the police in carrying out then? duties. . '

Mb J. F. Graham's Benefit.— Our readers are reminded once more that Mr Graham's benefit and farewell performance takes place at the Theatre Royal to-night. We believe that his " Love's Young Dream" is a piece original in more senses than one, and remembering that Mr Graham has already appeared with much success in the character of a dramatic author, his lateat production should be watched with some curiosity. The imitations of well known actors are a novelty, anel will probably be warmly welcomed if anything like faithful portraits. Altogether, the programme is a very attractive and promising one, and with fino weather we hope to see a crowded house.

East Beit Wssleyax Church— The anniversary of the Sabbath School in connection with the East Belt Wesleyan Church was celebrated on Sunday, when sermons were preached to large congregations — in the morning by the Rev W. B. Martin, and in the evening by the Rev A. Luxford, Last evening there was a public tea meeting, which, in spite of the weather, was numerously patronised, followed by a meeting. At this, addresses were delivered by Mr Martin (superintendent), the Rev Smalley, the Rev Tinsley, the Rev Luxford, and Mr Hodder. The school is in a flourishing condition, the number of scholars being about 160.

Street Lamps.— The last reporfc furnished by the Surveyor to the City Council contains a suggestive item. He says: "The Works Committee requested me to draw the attention of the Council to the fact thafc a bill from the Gas Company was passed this morning for £43 lis, for repairs to lamps during the past six months." In ofcher words, the I larrikins of Christchurch have within a period of six months contrived to smash nearly £50 worth of lamp glass, and under such circumstances it is but little wonder that the Council .should think seriously of appointing a special constable or cifcy ranger, whose dufcy would be to look sharply after the public property. The difficulty of detecting offenders of the class in question is, however, proverbial, and whenever occasion has served, Inspector Hickson has requested the Resident Magistrate to inflict severe punishment.

Me Henry Varley.— The Bible reading, as announced to take place yesterday afternoon afc the Oddfellows' Hall, was well attended, in spite of fche heavy rain that was falling afc the time. The subject of the reading was " The Personality, Presence, and Power of the Holy Spirit," and if any evidence were wanting of the growth of interest in Mr Varley's meetings ifc was shown in fche fact of fche well-filled hall on such a night of heavy downpour of rain, which experience has generally shown will damp the ardour of most city audiences. After the usual singing, Mr Varley gave a powerful address from a portion of the text found in St Matthew, xxvii., 22. Mr Varley expressed the pleasure he felt at seeing so many at fche meetings yesterday. The subject for fchis afternoon's reading is " The Lord's Second Coming," and there is to be again a special address in fche evening at 7.30. All the meetings this week will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall. _

Fire Prevention.— lt was intimated in our columns some time since that steps were being taken to establish telephonic communication between the various public buildings aud institutions and.the Fire Brigade stations ; the scheme also including telephonic communication between the stations and the residence of Superintendent Harris. At the meeting of the City Council on Monday ovening a letter was read from the General Manager of the Telegraph Department, stating that the work of connecting the Fire Brigado stations was now being proceeded with. The Government is undertaking this work, and the similar connection of the public buildings, leaving oufc, however, the important link in the chain — the telephonic connection between the stations and the Superintendent's house. This omission has been spiritedly taken up by the Insurance Association, and thafc body has agreed fco defray the entire cost of the work. The Government's reason for! declining it was, we understand, that the telephonic line would lead from the stations to private property only.

The Legal Story from Rangiora.— The story from Rangiora of a certain person having concealed property, which should have beon handed over fco the creditors of his estate, has so far proved true, in that the police yesterday arrested the defaulter, Mr James Bassingthwaite, on a charge of defrauding his creditors. The amount of the money found in Mrs Bassingthwaite's possession was £810, in notes, which were sewn into an article of dress worn by her. A sale of the effects in fche estate was held yesterday, at which there was a large attendance, the prices fetched being highly satisfactory ,- but prior to the salo a thorough search was instituted by Detective Benjamin, though with no further result. The accused will be brought up in Christchurch during the week. The money was discovered secreted in the following manner :— Twenty £20 notes sewn in one of Mrs Bassingthwaite's under-garments, one £10, two £5, and five £1 notes in a purse in her pocket, five £10, two £5, and three £1 notes in a canvas bag suspended round her waist, twenty-two sovereigns and three shillings and ninepence in a chamois leather bag enclosed in tho canvas bag, and three hundred sovereigns in a box. in her room. As may be supposed, the creditors of the imprisoned Bassingthwaite are by no means chagrined at the prospect they see of an early dividend in the insolvent's estate. |

A New Language.— The Eastern unsettlemenfc (says an English paper) threatens to create yefc another nuisance — a new European language. The Albanians, in asserting their nationality, claim that Albanian shall be tho official language of their country. The Albanians have two chief languages,' the Tosk and the Guegh, and they cannot read them when otlier people write them, so they use Greek for written communications. -v

A New Torpedo Boat.— A torpedo boat of novel design has been tried at Birkenhead, invented by the Rev G. W. Garrett, Manchester. It is propelled by a treadle worked by men on board, bub compressed air or other motive power can be applied. The boat is intended for the fixing of torpedoes on to the hulls of an enemy's ships below water, or for the clearing of a Channel of those destructive engines. It is lighted by electricity internally and can direct rays of light in any direction under water. One of the most interesting features in the invention is an apparatus for purifying fche atmospheric air taken down in the boat, so as to enable the men to remain afc work several hours under water. This novel apparatus was severely tested and worked satisfactorily. Ifc could be used by divers apart, from a torpedo boat. The boat answered her helm readily, was moved easily, and rose and Bank fco any level required, the men remaining for four hours under water.