LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3519, 22 July 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

/ Tns Phbsent Thout Hatching Season. / — The present hatching season for (rout profmises to bo equally as successful as was the case last year. On June 16 the work of I stripping was commenced, and up to the present time 35 female fish have in all been stripped, and five more nave yet to undergo that operation when sufficiently ripe. Of tho these fish 28 -were taken from the Society's ponds, and seven were secured out of the river. It is impossible at present to estimate the number of eggs obtained, but they have been sufficient to conveniently fill 30 hatching boxes in the new fish house, and 17 in tho old. So far the percentage of daily loss in eggs has been considerably less than occurred last yen', and judging by present appearances Mr J. Starkiss, the Society's careful curator seems likely to repeat his unprecedented success of last season. The epgs obtained from the river fish were of a beautiful, clear, pink colour, and are much stronger than tho pond fish ova, the latter being of a clear whito colour. One of the river fish was also very prolific and gave alone over 20CD healthy eggs. Tho eggs first obtained and placed in hatching boxes Nos. 1 and 2 have hatched out during the last few days and the boxes literally teem with tiny life. Tho hatching process in boxe3 3 and 4 looked yesterday as if approaching completion. All the little fellows, as far as could be judged, seemed to be exceedingly healthy.

The Abscondee Baenaed.— Tho Dunedin police authorities telegraphed up this morning for the warrant issued against the abconding sheop-stealer, W. Barnard. It seems that a man who gave tho name of Barnard had been sentenced to seven days' imprisonment for drunkenness and obstructing the police at Palmerston. After his conviction it was found that he was wearing false whiskers, and he is said to bear the description of tho Kaiapoi absconder. It is not unlikely that the man will be brought to Christchurch towards tho end of the week.

Wohks Cosimittee.— At a meeting of tho Works Committee held this morning, the Chairman stated that the design for the new Iraunicipal buildings forwarded from AuckRand, and which had been advised as being shipped on July 13 had been received and [grouped with the others. MrKnowles' tender for 1000 yards Bhingle was accepted. Replies from Melbourne and Hobart Town re cost of lighting those cities with gas were opened, and their consideration deferred for a future meeting.

Timabit Protective Wobks.— The Com-

Imissioner of Railways, accompanied by the Resident Engineer, proceeded to Timaru | to-day to inspect the Bea encroachment on the proteotive works now in progress there. Town Hali Designs. — Anothor design was received by the City Council yesterday, having left Auckland on Sunday, July 13, by the 8.8. Tararua. This makes a total of 24« received. The plana were hung up last night. /'A Runaway. — A horse attached to a trap [belonging to Mr Goodman, grocer, frightened by some snow falling from a verandah, in High ttrcot, yesterday, bolted, but was brought to a standstill before doing any damage The animal apparently does not appreciate "Beautiful snow," especially in the process of blending "with the filth of the horrible Btreet."

k>b Debtobs. —We have been assured on good authority that tbe person referred to in tlie paragraph which appeared under tho above heading in yesterday's issue, did not moke any application to any officer of tho Court for any warrant ; and that the Magistrate was in the office till 1 p.m., the usual hour for closing.

Tiieatbbßoyal.— "TheWomanin White" was repeated at. the Theatre Royal last night, but to a much smaller house than the merit of the performance deserved. This, however, may be accounted for from tho fact that a benefit entertainment on behalf of Mrs Walter Hill was taking place at the Oddfellows' Hall. The drama passed off as successfully as on the previous evening.

Pbebbleton. — The weather on Sunday last

[was such as has not been experienced for [years. Early morn brought to view the whole country covered with snow. It continued snowing nearly the whole morning, and about 12 o'clock there was about four inches of enow lying on the roads and fields. Bain fell in the early part of the afternoon, reducing the snow considerably. Towards evening a frost set in, and tho roads became in a most 'dangerous state for travelling.

' Wintee-geown Bablby.. — As evidencing ho grain-producing power of some parts of Canterbury, we may mention that we were shown yesterday a sample of b<trley which was sown at South Eangitata last January, md reaped during last week. As might bo ixpected, the sample is not of first-class quality, hut the fact that it is quite ripe ipeaks volumes for the mildness of the climate where it was grown.

Thhatbe Botal.— We observe that the Theatre Boyal will be offered at auction by Messrs Matson and Co., on Monday next. It is stated that this step has been rendered necessary through some legal difficulty having arisen between the proprietors.

J The New Telegeaph Office.— We have to inform our readers that this morning the Telegraph Department removed to the new offices in the Government buildings, Cathedral square— Mr Meddings and his assistants having been engaged during the night in completiDg the transition. The public office is on the ground floor; at the north-east corner of the building. Some further particulars will be found in another column.

U.A.0.D., Pioneeb Lodge, No. 47.— The members of the above Order held their usual meeting last night at the Lodge-room, Wellington Hotel, Tuam street. There was a fair attendance. _ Bro. Williams presided. The routine business having been disposed of, a member was then initiated into Druidism. A vote of thanks was given to Bro. Hose for his well appreciated services whilst in the office of A.D. Nine candidates were then proposed for membership, after which the Lodge closed with the usual harmony at 10 p.m. r STDBNTTA3i.— At last evening's meeting of ;he Sydenham Borough Council, it was stated that a deputation had waited upon Mr Dick, Chief Postmaster, with reference to the establishment of a post-office in Sydenham. That gentleman expressed himself as most favourable to the project, and recommended that at the same time the Borough Council should seek to introduce a telegraph office and post-office savings bank. An application ias now been made to the PostmasterGeneral.

Nabeow Escape.— One of the ordinary seamen on board the ship Soukar, named Withers, had a very narrow escape from a serious accident yesterday afternoon. He was standing at the combing of the main hatch taking in ballast from the barque Chile, whon a basket of ballast suddenly swung in, and knocked him over the hatch. The man fell right on to the floor of the vessel, a distance of about 24 feet. Dr Macdonald was summoned at once, and on examination found that beyond having received a very Bovere shaking the man *as unhurt.

Wes&byan Impbotbment Society. — The usual weekly ineeting was held last night, Key A. Raid, President, in the chair. Two new members were proposed. Messrs Atkinson and Brooker introduced the debate, "Should the Bible be read and explained in our State schools ? " the subject being handled in an able manner, and the whole question of State education coming under review. The debate, on the motion of Mr Hall, was adjourned until next wn*k. Twenty-nine members were present, and tho meeting closed in the usual manner.

f-Tnis Model Bobough.— The Sydenham [Councillors were much exercised last evening [respecting the moral tono of their modo [Borough. They have been justly proud of the statements which have appearod in tho newspapers throughout the Colony, that in their largo district a solitary police constable sufficed to maintain order. Quite a shock was therefore experienced last evening when Councillor Andrew tabled a notice of motion to the effect that an addition to the police force was urgently needed, and that the dire necessity must be impressed upon Superintendent Broham without a moment's unnecessary delay. Questions and explanations followed, and it wa9 with a universal sigh of relief that the Council decided the only drawback to bo the time honoured one, that the constable could not bo found when he was wanted. As, however, the Mayor and Councillors spoke in highly eulogistic terms of the zeal and efficiency of Constable Brooks, it was abundantly evident that tho only drawback they experienced with regard to him was that he could not be in two places at the same time.

f Nihilist Vengeance. — In April last, a ad of 17 years of age, a pupil in tho gymia9ium at Odessa, and son of one Martin Zaleski, a Polish landed proprietor in Volbynia, was murdered by his fellow-students because ho not only refused to comply Avith repeated requests to join the secret society of the Nihilists, but wrote to hiß parents informing them of these solicitations, and bef; seeching them to take him away from Odessa, [where ho was in daily fear of his life. The ' father went up to Odessa intending to remove his son, but found only his corpse. He had been murdered the day before.

Death Feom Toothache.— A Miss Stevens, of Walton, Delaware County, died on May lof toothache. Although this is a rare occurrence this is an undisputed case of death resulting from an excruciating toothache. The victim, who was a young American woman employed in a family at Walton, had suffered some days with a terrible toothache, which accompanied an ulcerated jaw. An attempt was made to extract the troublesome members, but her teeth were broken off and her face was too sore to permit their removal by the painful process of cutting away the gums. The girl suffered an entire nervous prostration from the extreme pain, and gradually sank under it until death ended her sufferings. An army surgeon, who attended her, pronounced her symptoms tho same a« those following the amputation of a limb.

A Poskb. — Tho American barkeeper easily understood what Lcontes meant in the

"Winter's Talo" when he said, "I have drunk and seen the spider." There is now an Australian version. Dr. L., of Ealrauald, is an industrious naturalist and is always collecting entomological specimens. He arrived tho other day at Braganza Station with a pickle-bottle full of beetles, grasshoppers, Ac, upon which he had poured a little whisky as a preservative. After dinner

he produced for inspection his bottle of specimens. Going out to the stables to prepare for departure he left his bottle on the table Just then a visitor came in, for whom lunch was laid. On the doctor's returning to the room he found the visitor witli a pickle fork and a wry face, wondering why they " put whisky in the chutney."

The BicnEST Peopib in thb "Woeld. — Americans will soon be prepared, if they are not already (remarks the Journal of Commerce), to compete for the honour of being tho richest people in the world. They aro fast gaining in tho race, and will soon pass France and England. No country has become rich as rapidly as this in the past twenty years. Tho last three United States consuses give the total (not asses sed){valuations ot real and personal estate, exclusive of Government property, in all the States and Territories as follows :— IBSO, 7,135,780,228 dols; 1860, 16,159,616,068d0ls 5 1870, 30,068,518,507d018. Between 1850 and 1860

the wealth of the United States more than doubled. Had tbo gain continued at the same pace since 1870 the coming ccdsus would put us far ahead of Prance, even allowing her to count in the national property, which we omit. But the known shrinkage of values in the United States for the past few years forbids us to expect confidently that this country will take the lead in 1880. But if she does not occupy that rank next year, she will surely do so at a time not remote.