LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3597, 21 October 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Arrival of tiib San Francisco Mail. — Wo havo received a telegram from our Auckland correspondent, informing us that the mail steamer from San Francisco was Bignailed this morning at 10.55. Ancient Order of Shepherds.— ln another column will be found a notice that in consequence of Mrs Walter Hill's benefit] taking placo on Sanctuary night (Oct. 27) the next meeting will be held, on Nov. 24. Metropolitan Snow.— The entrio3 for the various classes at tho November Exhibition aro already beginning to come in freely. All entries must be made with Mr Murphy, secretary to the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, not later than Friday, October 31. I ■ Lyttblton Mayoralty. — This morning ' Mr Adam Chalmers was waited on, and presented with a inemoiial signed by a large number of tho ratepayers, requesting him to come forward as a candidate for the mayoralty of tho Borough for tho ensuing year. Mr Chalmers consonted. Mr H. Allwright, M.H.E., wo understand, will also offer himself for re-election as Mayor. More Flower Stealing. — The locality of Ahe Enat belt seems etill to he tho favourite /ground with flower-stealers. La9t night a I gentleman living on tho East belt had his garden entered, and some choico blooms, bulbs, and [ all of the lily tribe stolen. In this, as in many instances which, have lately occurred in the i same neighbourhood, the thief was aome--1 what of a connoiseur, as he picked the choice bulbs out from a largo bod containing others iof less value. If ono or two policemen were Iplaced on duty in that direction for a little while, possibly an example might bo made of this garden Bpoiler. '

Rifle Shooting.— Several old members of the Canterbury Bifle Association proceeded yesterdaj to the Cashmere range to have a day's shooting in honour of the return to Christchurch for a short visit of Mr Kohn, of Messrs Petcraen and Co., an old resident and member of the Association. The day, though fine overhead, was very unfavourable for shooting, as a cross wind _ was blowing at intervals from different points of the range. Tho principal event of tho day was a conte3t for an exceedingly handsome and valuable cup presented by Mr Kohn, one of many a siinilur kind which that gentleman has presented at the various Association competitions. The 1 conditions were, 200, 300, 400," and 500 yards, five Bhots at each range. This was wen by Sergeant Dill (Artillery ) with 65 points; Sergeant Buckley (Engineers) coming nest with GO points ; and Quartern aster-Sergeant Fox (Artillery) 57 points. A feature of this match was Sergeant Buckley making four bullteyes in succession at 400 yards, thus scoring the possible number at that range. The other event was a sweepstakes at 200 and 300 yards, fire shots at each range. The result was as follows :— Sergeant Buckley 33, Sergeant Hill 33, Sergeant-Major Judge (C.V.C.) 31. In firing off tho ties Sergeant Hill made a, centre ; Sergeant Buckley made a bullseye and won. There were a good number of entries for each event. After the first match the company adjourned to lunch, and at the termination of the cup event a return was made to town, after spending a very enjoyable day. Drainage Board. — At the usual fortnightly meeting of the Drainage Board yesterday, a largo amount of business was got through. A report appears elsewhere. Timaru Snow.— Messrs Maclean and Stewart sold by auction yesterday tho right of booths on the ground on the day of the Agricultural Show. They realised a total of £91. / Gorse Fences.— The City Council has lecided to put into force the Ordinance compelling owners of property within tho city boundaries to remove gorse fences which are within a given distance of any dwelling. Theatre Royal. — The second performance of "H.M.S. Pinafore" was witnessed last night by a large audience at the Theatro Royal. The opera was as pronounced a success as it had been on Saturday, tho applause being very enthusiastic. /Lyttelton Gaol.— A change has been /nade in the dross worn by some of the "prisoners confined at this gaol, for tho purpose of distinguishing at a glance those undergoing 'penal servitude. Iho dress now worn by the latter is grey knickerbockers and stockings, with short jacket. TnE Spectrescope.— There was but a moderate attendance lust night at tho Oddfellows' Hall. The entertainment was similar to that of Saturday, and was received with equal favour. The same programme will be repeated this evening. To-morrow there will be a matinee commencing at 2 o'clock. Eoeough of Sangioba. — Tho extraordinary vacancy in the Council of the Borough is not causing any excitement, tho only candidate y e t spoken of being Mr Burt. A requisition asking him to stand for re-election was being circulated yesterday, and it was intended to present it to him last night. There is not likely to be any opposition. /"the Geraldink Count?.— Petitions are being circulated for signature in tho Mount Cook, Mount Peel, and Geraldino portions of this County, asking Parliament not to agree to the petition for the constitution of the proposed now Timaru County. Mr J. Studholme, member tor Gladstone, will be asked to take charge of the petition in the House. "Board of Conservators fob tiie District NORTn OF THE KIVER WAIMAKARISI. +-The Committee appointed at the late meeting met on Monday at the Kaiapoi Borough Council chamber and drew up a rough sketch of the proposed district, embracing the town of Kaiapoi, a portion of the island, and part of the Eyreton Road District bordering on the river. They also decided to employ an engineer to report fully on the whole matter, which report it is intended to lay before a public meeting to be held shortly. The meeting then adjourned. Foot Race at Ashburton. — Some excitement was caused in Ashburton on Saturday by the running of a foot race by two local aapirants for pedestrian honours, Meesra M'Farlane and Ouohten. The race was for £3 a side for the winner of the best two out of three, races of 100, 150, and 200 yards respectively. The distances actually ran were the 100 and tho 200 yards races, both of which were won with ease by Oughten. The runners were clad in orthodox athletic costume, and the affair attracted a large number of spectators. Cricket at Asiiburton.— A match was played in tho Domain on Saturday between the County and tho Borough Clubs. Tho day was fine, and a good many visitors found their way to the ground in the coui'se of the afternoon, including many well known local cricketers. The Borough men scored 16 in their lirafc innings, and the County 52. The second innings resulted in a score of 34 for tho Borough and 31 for the County, the County Club thus winning by 33 runs. The bowling was tolerably equal on both sides, but the County members displayed the best batting. / New Convent BriLDiNGS.— The designs /or a new Convent for the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions, in Barbadoes street, have been approved of by the Superioress and have been sent to Wollinjjton for final sanction. Tenders for the building will almost immediately bewailed for. The proposed Convent is of three- storeys, and will be constructed of brick, with stone dressings. The first storey will be 14ft from floor to ceiling, tbo second 12ft, and tho third lift. The frontage will be 100 ft long, and the depth 50ft. Tho style of architecture is Gothic, and the designs are tiy Mr Theodore B. Jacobsen, of Hereford street. | Colonial Printers' Register. — We havo ■eceived the first number of this publication, vhich has taken the placo of the Press News. [t is htill published at Dunedin, and now appears in the form of 1G small pages, each of them surrounded by a neat red border, /which gives a very attractive look to tho paper. The Register contains a very large amount of news about newspapers aud the craft, in Now Zealand, besides general information of an interesting character. It is printed by the proprietor, Mr Griffin, and is, as it indeed should be, an exceedingly creditable production. c AsnumtTON Firb Brioade.— Tho momjbers of the Ashburton l'"ire Brigade aro actively engaged at present in canvassing tho district for subscriptions towards paying for tho erection of a new bell-tower. The site selected is in Baring square, close to tho new County Council offices, and is much more eligible in every respect than the present one, which is in quite an obscure part of the town. The present tower ie also very badly adapted for its purpose, on account of its excoading lownes?, tho present boll being hung so low that its peal is almoEt inaudible. The new bell weighs scwt, and it is to be hoped that the money to build tho necessary tower for it will not be long wanting. / The Mayor's Honorarium:. —At last /evening's meeting of the City Council, Councillor Cuff's motion to make the amount of the honorarium given to the Mayor "any sum," as might be voted from time to time, was negatived. Councillor Ayers, who spoke warmly upon tho subject, held that the Mayor, whoever he might be, was bound, if he drew the amount allowod him, to spend the same strictly for Mayoral expenses. He expressed the opinion that a Mayor who drew the money for any other purpose would be morally guilty of misappropriation of tbo Corporation funds, but at the same time lie urged that tho Mayor should never bo subjected to tho miserable position of having -small Bums doled out to him. Executing a Search Warrant.—Considerable excitement was occasioned yesterday afternoon when it became known that Inspector Hickson, with six constables, were engaged in executing a search warrant in the •office of a well-known Christchurch solicitor, with tho view of finding an alleged forged deed. The warrant had been issued by tho Timaru Bench, and sent up here for execution. Having searched all the papers about the office without success, two large iron safes valued at £140, next engaged the attention of tho officers, and. notwithstanding numerous protests, two stalwart blaoksmiths, whose services had been secured, had commenced their work of destruction with hammer and chisel, in tho absence of tho keys, when the missing deed was handed over under protest. A good number of visitors were present frorii time to iimo during tho process of search,

A It is rumoured that owing to Mr Whitefoord hating been appointed Hesident Magistrate at Poverty Bay, Mr Beswick will fill his place at Kaiapoi,* while the Resident Magistracy at Lyltelton will be given to a gentleman who has been resident in Lyttelton for many years. Supreme Court.— His Honor Mr Justice Johnston and a special jury were occupied II yesterday with the case of Wright v. Wilson, in which the plaintiff sought for equitable relief in the matter of a conveyance of land to the former by the latter. The evidence was of a most conflicting nature, amounting to positive contradiction between the parties, both of whom were examined on oath. The verdict was substantially for the plaintiff on nearly all the issues. Runaway at Ashburton.— On Sunday afternoon Mr Max Friedlander and a friend started for a buggy drive. The horse was young and skittish, and hardly allowed the drivers tj get comfortably seated before it bolted at a rattling pace down Tancrcd street. A capsize ssemed eminent, but Mr Friedlander fortunately managed to keep a firm hold of the reins and guide the vehile clear of posts, &c. The horse was allowed to make pretty nearly the circuit of the town before it p\i!led up, out of breath. Horse and vehicle escaped injury, and the drivers with a, severe Bhaking. The Excuses of Drunkenness.— At the Police Court, yesterday, a woman who was charged with drunkenness pleaded that she hid only just left the Addington Gaol, that she met a few friends, and that she sat down on a doorstep. Of two mon charged with using obscene language, one pleaded being " unconscious," and the other being " tight." A woman pleaded drunkenness as an excuse for having stolen two umbrellas, and Inspector Hickson was inclined to think that this woman must certainly have been under the influence of drink, or she would not have stolen the umbrellas from the front of a house and have offered them for sale immediately afterwards at the back door. A meeting of the Sp >rts Committeo will be hold at the City Couuoil Chambers this afternoon at 4 p.m. A public meeting will be held at the Jnnotiou Hotol, Ohoka. at 7.30, for the election of a Committee for the OhoVa and Eyreton Races. A match, will be played on Saturday nest between the Ashley County Cricket Club eleven and Twenty-two Colts, on the Kangiora ground. Play to cominnnco at 10 a.m. According to advertisement in another column, an entertainment, consisting of songs, recitations, and dissolving views, will be given this evening in St Luke's Schoolroom. A capital programme is prepared for the last entertaiument at St Mary's, Merivalo, to-morrow evening. Amongst the pieces is a Shakespearean recitation by Mr Hoskins. A meeting of those interested in the laud sports in Lyttelto-s on New Year's Day will be held at the Empire Hotel this evening at 7 30 p.m. The following have been chosen to reprosent the M.C.C. Club against the U.C.C. Clnb on Saturday, Oct 25. and Nov 1 and 8 :-8. Alpo, H. A. Anderson, W. Beard, A. Beanmont, Fawcott, J. Fowler, Fuller, Morice, M'Donnell, G. A. Turner, G. Watbou. Emergencies— Monck, F. Pavitt, and Thompson. Divorce Cases in Ambbica.— The Vermont Chronicle has collected borne startling facts concerning divorce in Maßßachuseette, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont. For the last few years the ratio of divorces to marriages in these four States is 1 to 16 in Vermont, 1 to 237 in Massachusetts 1 to 13 in Rhode Island, 1 to 104 in Connecticut. In the year 1877 there were granted 1331 divorces in those States. If Maine and Now Hampshire have a lika record of temporary marriages, not far from 1800 divorces are granted annuilly in New England. Brutal Conduct of an Officer.— On the night of Sunday, July 6, at Prague, an Austrian regiment of infantry was being paraded (preparatory to some night manoeuvres) in the yard of Karolinenthal Barrack, and the soldiers inspected by the regimental officers. Lieutenant Wondracsek espied one private, Franz Franek, whose cravat seemed to him to bo too high. He seized the soldier by the collar of his tunic, tore the cravat off his neck, and struck tho unfortunate man a blow over the left eye with the buckle. Tho soldier put his hand to» his eye with a loud shriek, and the regimental surgeon coming up at the moment, ascertained that the eye was destroyed. The bucklo had literally knocked out tho ball of the eye. The man was taken to the hospital, and the officer placed under arrest. The Kellys. — A Benalla (Victorian) paper says, in referring to tho Kelly gang, that there "is no longer the marching and tho counter marching of armed mon, which at 'one time gavo the town tho appearance of a garrison settlement in war country, and matters have settled down in a very humdrum condition, the Kellys being all but forgotten. The murders of tho polieo took place on Oct. 25 of last year, so that close upon 12 months have elapsed. During that time it is not pretended that tho gang havo ever been seen by the police, and now that pursuit has slackened it dops not appear that they will ever bo. Many are of opinion that they have gone out of the Colony altogether. One of the common boliefs of tho public mind, also, is that the Kellys have made away with Hart and Byrne, and have managed to get away." A Heavy; Sleeter — A boy in tho service of Thomas Fawcett, of Ga'.e, I ngland, lately accompanied his master in shooting all day upon the moors, and on returning in tho evening his master told him to make the best of his way home. The boy proceeded on foot, but being much fatigued, sat down and fell asleep. How long he remained in that situation was uncertain, as, when found, ho was in his own bed asleep, and a neighbour passing on the ro<id early next morning, found his clothes scattered in various directions, nearly half a mile off. The account he gave was that he dreamed he liad been at a neighbour's house, at a good supper, after which ho supposed he went to bed there. It appears he actually walked three miles, though in a profound sleep the whole the of the time, during which ho stripped off his clothes and walked home naked, passed the gato and went upstairs to bed, being thowholo of the lime asleep. Tub Banking Bill— The Standard says the necessity for the Banking Bill (under discussion in the House of Commons) was convincingly Bhown in tho able and practical speeches of Mr Forstor, Mr Cross, and Mr C. E. Lewis. Parliament has not been called upon to legislate under tho influence of panic. If the law is not altered that will follow which was foreshadowed by more than one speaker. Solid and stable holders of stock will withdraw from undertakings of this nature ; the shares will be transferred to men of straw, and whenever a crash comes the creditors will find themselves in a worse position than- if they had trusted to Banks whose liability was strictly limited. When no advantage is to bo gained by upholding a system of unlimited liability, what is the use of retaining it ? Tho business of Banking, as Mr Lewis justly observed, forms no inconsiderable part of tho commercial life of tho community. It pervades every department of our mercantile system. Wp in»st have Banking institutions of somo kind or other, and joint stock Banks have secured no small share of public favour. Unless it is sought to destroy them, it becomes tho duty of the Legislature to strengthen them in every possible way, in order that they may command publio confidonco. A Trunk Explodes in a Depot. — A singular explosion occurred at tne depdt of the Boston and Providence Bailroad at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoop, and the escape from fatal results to two human lives was almost miraculous. John Coles, a transit express messenger, called for a trunk at tho inward baggage-room. Presenting the check, the haggage master showed him the trunk, and Coles took hold of it by the handle, and was in the act of dragging it to his wagon, when an explosion, which resembled the discharge of a cannon, took place, reverberating through the train house and causing a momentary panic among the passengers. Coles was; thrown into tho air a distance of 20ft, and alighted upon terra firma with only a strap, or the trunk in hia hand. A little boy who was passing at the time was blown across tlio street, being picked up insenßiblo. A crowd of people soon gathered, and investigation showed that thflre was nothing but omall pieres left of the trunk, which had been, filled with gunpowder, shot, cartridges, andi other sporting materials, including a double-bar-relled shot-gun valued at £200. Tho cause of the explosion is supposed to bo the- ignition of the powder or the discharge of a cartridge. Colea had his eye-brows burned off and face blackened,, but otherwise escaped injury. The boy recovered consciousness, and was found not to be injured. It is impossible to ascertain to whom the trunk belongs, as there is not anything left to identify the owner, but undoubtedly this publication or the delay in the arrival of his trunk will cause him. to make himself known. A valise near the trunk was blown to pieces, tho shot-gun fell to the ground, but is rendered valueless. The goneral impression at tho first souna of the accident was that a locomotiro had, burst.— Boston Glofc t

Exported Timber. — The Manawatu Times states that several trucks laden with. baulks of timber, having the name of the wood and the measurement painted on each baulk, were sent by rail last week from Fieldng. Tho timber was on its way to Wellingon, where it will be shipped to England per takaia. It seems that Mr Malcolm, of the tfakino Mill, being anxious to test the value if New Zealand timber in the Home market, tas determined to send to London a trial hipment of totara, rimu, and matai. There an ba no question that some of our native

woods are for furniture purposes equal to any [roods in the world, and we fancy that their value only requires to be known to ensure a ready market for any amount we can export. Ghbw the Wood fob His Copfin. — A. romarkablo story is told of the late Captain Stone, of Moundville, who was buried at the beginning of this week. Thirty-five years ago he came from Nbw Orleans to Moundville to mate hia home, and brought with him two seeds of a mahogany-like tres that flourished Dear his former home. Theße ho planted, remarking to his family that he would have his coffin made from the tree. One of the seeds died, but the other flourished and grew. From a shoot it became a sapling, and finally, in the course of thirty yeara, grew to a fine tree. About eighteen months ago a severo wind storm paesed over Moundsville and Captain stone found his tree laid prostrate. He had it dried, sawed into lumber and Bent to a Pittaburg firm. In a short time it was returned to him in the shape of a beautiful coflin, and for four months it was preserved in his residence. About two months ago he contracted a sickness that culminated in his death, and, his desire being fulfilled, he was laid away in the coflin he planted thirty-five years ago.— Wheeling (W. Va.) Register. Socialist up to a Certain Point.— l was travelling in a department of the south, after the revolution of February. I met ono day a Mayor of a village, proprietor of a metairie. "Sir," said ho tome, "what do they mean down there at Paris by that word Communism ? It is some sluggard's business, is it not ? So, at least, our curate says ? " "It is a system of partition," ropliod I, " invented once on a time by a dreamer." " What did ho mean ? " " That tho man who has a million should share it with tho Commune." His eye brightened. " Not a bad dream, either," said he. "But, further, 5 ' I resumed, " that the man has 100,000 francs should abandon tho half to his neighbour." " Well, he would still have enough with tho other half." " Then, that tho man who has 50,0(J0 francs should como down to 25,000 francs, through spirit of fraternity." The face of the Mayor assumed a thoughtful tinge. " That may stiil do." " Lastly, that the man who possesses 25,CD0 francs — " "Twenty-five thousand francs," he interrupted, springing up with a bound, " that's the value of my farm ; let him who would have a vine Btock belongiug to it, come and seek it. He will see how I will receive him, at the end of my musket." — Les droits de Vhomme.