LOCAL AND GENERAL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3649, 20 December 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

■» ■ Tnu Druids.— A Lodge under the titlo of tbo Ouk of Sydonham was opened at. the lodge-room of tho Pioncor Lodgo, Wellington Hotel, last evening by Bro. Oppenheiin, D.P. Fifty-threo wore initiated. District Court.— Tbo Clerk of tho District Court, Mr Walker, attended at tho Provincial Council Chamber at tho appointed hour this morning, and adjourned the Court till Monday at 11 o'clock. Thero was only ouo barrister present. BiiiiiE OunisTiANS. — The Rev .T. Crowes, who wbb appointed by the last Conferenco to lubour in this city, arrived bwt evening, and will conduct sorvico in tho Toinpiar Hull, Worcestor stroet, to-morrow evening, servioo to commenco at G. 30. Books provided for viaitorß. Industrial School.— Mr Mellisb, tho Resident Magistrate, has received the following Bums towards providing a Christmas treat for tbo children of tho Industrial School, Burnbani :— Wcsloyan Sunday School, Woodend, £2 ; amount collocted by Mies Allen (a young lady 13 years of ago), £2 3s. / Praiseworthy Forethought.—Mr-Syd-ney Disk, Chief Postma»tor of Ohristchurch, took three sorters with him to Lyttolton last night. Tho town portion was sorted ton minutes after the arrival of tho Penguin, so that the lotters for Ohristchurch wore ready for dolivery to tho letter enrriors on tho arrival of the first train from Port. /MEATncoTH Excus;— ltisproposod to hold r» rajo meeting in Mr Fonton'a paddock, noar tho swing bridgo on Boxing Day. There will bo fivo ovonts, four district races and one open race. Tho district races will bo one hurdle raco, one flat race, a trotting race, and a hack raco, and tho race for all comers will be a flat race of about two milos. Subscriptions aro coining in freely, and it is expected that this first meeting of tho kind held in tho district will bo a success. It is proposed to have an annual fixture, as a very good course has boon prepared for the purpose. A First Instalment.— Tho bill of one of the local engineers who reported upon tho Ohristohurch water supply scheme, has been sent in to tho City Council. It amounts to 1 rather more than £150.

Thb Wbka. Pass Eailway Wobks.— The number of hands employed on these works basbeen considerably reduced lately, and the 'men.;6vre to be paid up next Tuesday, when it is pVobable that the holidays will be taken advantage of. ; . Peobooation or Pabliambnt. — The House of Representatives agreed to the Council's amendments in the Public Works BiH, jnnA proroguod at half-past three yesterday till Feb. 5. Only fifteen members were present at the prorogation. IKQUBST. — An inquest was held yesterday afternoon on the body of Matthew Allen who died on Thursday evening, fromthe effects of. drinking" liquid-ammonia - in : mistake for medicine. The enquiry was -held bpfore Dr Coward, Coroner, and a jury of 12. A verdict of " Accidental death "was returned. :r 7 ~ / TnE Soura Cantbbbd-btt Hospitals.— IThe Government 'haye 1 'decided that the balance in" hand~ff6irr the" old limafu'and" Gladstono Board of Works shall be distributed to the South. Canterbury Hospitals in the following proportions :— Timaru HosL pital, £2900 ; Waimata Hospital, £500. Academy or Music— lt was originally the intention of Mr D'Orsay Ogden to open the Academy of Music (lately the Gaiety Theatre) this evening, but he decided to postpone the opening till Boxing Night. A§ the opening piece is a pantomime, the night he has chosen is a very appropriate one. DISTBIBtTTION OF PbIZES AT THB COITVENT Schools.— The annual distribution of prizes and exhibition at the schools which are under the supervision of the Sisters de Notre Dame des Missions, Barbadoes street, will take place on Monday and Tuesday, and are looked forward to with the greatest interest by the pupils. /■ Destruction of Milfobd BoilincDOWN Woeks.— At 2 o'clock this morning the Milford boiling-down workß, nearTemuka, ofcaed by Mr Eneor, were totally destroyed by fire. 7 Tke boiling-down plant, a- large quantity o't tallow in casks, and about 130' sheep in the yard adjoining the building, hrere 1 consumed. Ikis stated that neither the buildings nor plant were insured. The fire was the result of accident. Lunact. — Yesterday morning a man named Rowland Hill was received into the prison, Lyttelton, for medical treatment, as he was suffering from the effects of excesßiTe drinking. The man had been arrested by Mounted Constable Cartmill, of Waiau, who had found" him wandering abovit on the Plains. While being brought from Amberley he tore off nearly all his clothes, and had to be conveyed from the railway station at Lyttelton to the Prison in a cart. • * • • : ■ f Boad to' Lake Sumnbb.-— The- Waipara Road Board is engaged in laying out and making a dray track to this Lake, distant about 40 miles from the Waikari. When finished it will cost about £900, and will be of immense advantago to tho squatters in that neighbourhood, and will ultimately afford an outlet for the really magnificent -timber growing there. Mr Knight, the Surveyor to the Board, has laid off tho work in convenient sections. ' „ Conceet AT EaxgiobA. — The concert in aid of the Borough school prize fund was held in the Institute Hail on Thursday evening last. The attendance was very good. A programme consisting of songs, quartettes, instrumental music, &c, was carried through in a creditable manner. One of the most pleasing features of the entertainment was the singing of tho Bchool children, who rendered their songs in excellent time and tune, reflecting great credit on Mr J. G. L. Scott for the trouble he has taken in training them. The financial result was very satisfactory. »^ Lyttelton Regatta, 1880. — The Committee advertise inviting tenders from Licensed Victuallers for tho supply of a luncheon and refreshments on board the flagship on regatta day. They also notify that subscribers of half a guinea and upwards to tho regatta fund will be carried to and from the 1 flagship free of charge. Subscribers of half n, guinea will receive ono ticket admitting to flagship ; ono guinea, two tickets; two guineas, four tickets ; three guineas, six tickets, and so in proportion. Bitea for the erection of confectioners' booths, Btalk, &c, will bo sold by auction on the aground on Tuesday afternoon next. "The New Zealand Magazinb."— Tho second number of this publication liob just been issued. It bears no resemblance, as might bo supposed, to the high-class periodical once published under the eamej name, the little book, a copy of which lies before us, being devoted to music. The present number is a great improvement on its predecessor, and a better shilling's worth of music could hardly be desired. Amongst the 12 pieces forming the contonts aro tho Blue Danube Waltz, Sir R. H. Bishop'a " When green leaves como again," MillardV "Waiting," "The Gipsy's Warning" and two or three other prelty ballads. Tho " Magazine "is published by Messrs G.R. West and Co., of Duneain.and is an exceedingly creditable production. Vegetable Gbowtii in Steange Places. — It is nothing uncommon this season to see grass and corn growing on tho roof and in tho gutters of houses, on railway trucks, and other places, but to sco rows of salad growing luxuriantly in a tunnel about 10ft under tho surface of tho ground is almost incredible ; yet such a eight was yesterday seen by our Northern correspondent while on a visit of inspection to the "hole in the hill " at the Weka Pa:B Hotel, used at the cellar to tho Hotel. Though at that depth, and deprived of the light of the sun, the salad bide fair to make a palatable dish within a short time. At the same thero i 9 a healthy crop growing above tho tunnel, so that the -plan .or doubling the productive powers of tho land appears by this to bo feasible. Tub Bishop's Golden Wedding.— The following address, Bignod by tho Presbyterian ministers resident in and around 'Christchurch, has been presonted to Bishop Harper on the occasion of l»is golden, wedding : .-" To tho Most Reverend H. J. C. Harper, Lord Bishoo of Chrietchurch and Primato of the Church of England in Now Zealand. Dear Lord Bishop,— We, tbo undersigned ministers of tho Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, bog to offer our hoarty congratulations to yourself and Mra Harper on the occasion of tho fiftieth anniversary of your marriage day. Wo hopo that you may be long spared to discharge tho duties of your honourable position in tho church, as a good and faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that yonrself and Mra Harper uiay long be ablo to rejoico together in the spiritual and temporal wellbeing of your unmerous descendants." Rumowkbd Addition to the Mini6trt. — Tho Otago Daily Times correspondent, wires from Wellington:— Tho latest rumour is that Mr Goorgo M'Lenn is to bo tho new Otago Minister, with a seat in the Legislative Council, where tho Government aro, in great want of another representative, tbo work boing nltogotlier too ouorous for the Hon Mr Wlutakor to undertake alone, us well as drawing bills, &c. Failing Mr M'Lean, -the lion Mr Miller is tho most likoly man; but I liavo reason to boliore a strong effort will bo made to accuro Mr M'Loan, if possible. Mr Bain's namo is still moutionod, and would bo acooptablo to tho part}', as he is verypopular, nnd.muoh rospeoted as a thoroughly honournblo, straightforward politician ; but 1 understand Unit it is not likely ho will tako ofllce at present. Mammoth Minstrels. — Last night, on tho occasion of Mr W. Horaco Bent's benefit I thoro was a fashionablo aud wojl filled house at tho Tliodtro Royal, notwithstanding tho very great attraction of the Circus " over tho way." Tho programmo resembled thbso which this company has previously given during thoir prcsout soason, to a large extent being a repetition of that of Thursday night, A uotablo change, however, was tho " Swept by-aud-byo," sung by Mr Beaumont R«ad, with much finish, to a beautiful accompaniment. The chorus to the ballad was given unacoompaniod, and pianissimo, tho audience meanwhilo being absolutely noiseless, indeed apparently breathless, a compliment which was thoroughly well deserved by tho artists. The quarlotto singing subsequently was a great troat. Tho comio sketches of course went with the usual spirit. To-night tho Minstrels iiiake their farewell appearance at this Theatre, as they leave for Wellington at midnight. Tbo following morabors will pity for tho Avonvillo C.C. against tho BtAlhans to-day :-Mesßrs G. Flotolior, F. Mautioo, 8. Bnck&tt, A. Newman, Goorgo fiogors, P. Bowo, G. Plotcbor, W. Haddrdll, O. EaacHffo, "W, H. Smith, T. Thompkiuß. Emergencies — Cotton aud W. Wheelan. Tho match will bo played at St Albans, piny to coinnteuco at 2 p.m. sharp. - The following will represent the second eleven of tho Christoburch C.C. in thoir match with tUe A vousido C.C. :— Messrs W. Aehby, S. May no, A. Marshall, J. Boigruve, W. Hepworth, D. Nairn, W. Collier, 0. Caygill, A. Thompnon, J. Nevin, — Taylor. JSmorgenoies— J. Dougall acd Bcott. Play will oommenoe at 2 o'clock sharp.

y D0PMOATIONOFTHBOABI«»-m : DtoufcTV Postmaster-General of Victoria received »teleferami from Mr Todd, Poßtmaster-General of ■" Hontib. AQBtnlio, stating that ifc was expected flhat the laying down of the dnplicate cable between Singapore and Banjoewangie would bs finished in ten dajß from , Oct;' ,2s, and < that the continuous night and ' day service would come into operation when the necessary connection had been made with the station at Banjoewangie, and that would [probably be in a week or ten drfys after the cable was down. The same message states that the Berne Telegraph Convention hasdecided that telegrams in secret language iSriT?* 683 or P re " agencies will be pro- ' hibited. .*■..- The Tbottbles of thb Sraniahi -Pobth.— ThePaM Mall. Gazette of. Sept. 19 lavi-:— ... From ft private and trustworthy source •"' we, learn that v a catastrophe has iust been escaped in " Turkey— if/ indeed it haebeen, more than postponed. All well-informed" persons know that the pay of. the troops is£ several months in arrear, and that in conse-^ "" quence of - the misery "in whioh they are thus - , left the soldiers are deserting in multitudes, . ' <sarrving,olf, to turn into money, their arms « and^accoutremeDts. At., lust' the discontent engendered reached almost -to' the poifat^f : ; mutiny, and the military authorities: were ;, " obliged to represent urgently to the Porte fchafcif; eomepart of the arrears-. >as not forth- % coming in three dajs : they oould not answer. 7 . for what might happen. Ministers met, but tl|ere : waß not a pennyintho Treasury. Afterseveral failures they obtained a loan for ■ £100,000 from the Ottoman Bank ; but the S bank refused to advance another shilling, and •"' it stipulated that even this amount should be expended in lending home 60,000 men. •" There still remained 200,000 men threatening t to disband if they did not get their arrears; - r and to satisfy these £150,000 was raised dee* whe». The crisis was tided Over ; but what' is to happen when this driblet is spent ? The story, we have been narrating prorce the - jPprte to be very nearly at the end of its resource*. One after the other- it has been • : pledging the few sources of free revenue that remained to it ; and the difficulty it encountered in getting a paltry quarter of a million, . chiefly on its own depreciated securities; shows how few these now are. But when itß credit in Constantinople itself i* utterly at an • end what is to become of itp: The question* '.," is an urgent one for statesmen and traders,"