LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3655, 29 December 1879, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■» ClTy CouKCir,.— The ordinary meeting of the City Council will be held on Monday evening next, and not this evening, as has been intimated. Nbw Year's Eve.— There will be a midnight service at 8t Mary's, Merirale, on NewYear's Evo. The usual watch-night Borvice* will also be held in the various Methodist Churches. / Confirmation.— Next Sunday confirmaJftion will be administered by Bishop Bed- ■ wood, and on the same day the foundation I stono of the new Convent will be laid, the I sermon on the occasion being preached by hi» ILordship the Bishop oE Dunedin, Dr Moran. /the Waimatb Plains Sohbmb. —Mr ffreadwcll waited upon the Hon Minister of 'Public Works this morning with reference to the proposal of the Co-Operative Company to occupy tbo Waimato Plains. Mr RolleStOU said he could hold out no hopes thattho proposal would be. favourably considered by Governmont. SrDENnAM Bobottoh Election. — The nomination of a candidate to fill the vacancy in the abore Borough, caused by the election of Mr J. T. Brown as Mayor, took place this morning. Mr W. S. Shierlaw was the only candidate nominated, and was declared duly elected by the Returning Officer. ]f Human Skeleton Found.— About halfr paßfc seven on Saturday evoning, some children playing on the Sandhills at the top of Parish's road, Prebblc ton, uncovered the Elrcleton — evidontly long burried— of what appear* t6 havo boon a Maori. The remains were brought into town this «f tercoon, by Constable kConnor. Fire at Lower Sydenham.— Information has been received by the Police, l>y letter, from Mr John Sandford, of lower Sydenham, that early on the morning of Boxing Day, his man's house, stables, harness room, and cow shed, wero burnt to the ground. No particulars as (o tho "origin of tho firo, or whether the property wa» insured, aro given. / Wobk9 Committbe.— At a meeting of the ["Works Committee, held this morning, tondera wore accepted for coment and timber. I Tenders for Bhiugle an 4 Band were accepted, subject to approval of samples. Tho Committee dooidod lo wait on the Tramway Company and request that the surplus water from the Company's deep well might bo allowed to t bo led into the Cathedral-squaro fire tank. Sabbath Scnooi Trbat.— The Papamu Presbyterian Sabbath School hold its third annual treat, as usual, on Boxing Day, in a paddock which was kindly given for the purposo by Mr D. Kruße. On the whole, thoweathcr was very favourable, and the ordinary games, raceß, cricket, &c, wore engaged in with spirit by the children and (heir friends and teachers. A very abundant provision wng made for the enjoyment of the guests, and a very pleasant holiday thoroughly appreciated. At tho cloio, a few words of encouragement and counsol to all concerned were spoken by Mr Colin Moore, one of the teachors, and by tho pastor, tho Bev W. H. Homer. Hearty cheers were given to Mr Kruso, and to the tcaohors, and tho meeting was closed with the eiuging of the Doxology. ■ Oaktbbbuby Tjiamways.— We are informed by Mr Alfred Evans, the Scoretary of the Canterbury Tramway Co., that one of their engines has been the first to fulfil the requirements which have j ust been passed by the Government Inspector of the Board of Trade in Great Britain. Tho last engine is complete, but as some (rials are about to take placo, tho engineors propose to keep it for a week or two to show what can be done by it, and to prove to tho Colonies bb well at to ihe people in England tho ndvontage of steam power on tramways, and Hie excellence of the engines manufactured. Two have arrived in the Wailara, and will be erected at the Compauy's workshops in the course of a week or so. Wbslbvan Scnday School Picnic.— The children attending the Colombo road Sunday echool, to the number of 300, accompanied by their teachers and f Hem's, held a picnic on Boxing Day in Mr W. W. Charter*' grounds, Oj.awa. Tho smaller ohildran were convoyed in traps, the others marching down from tho church. On arrival refreshments were distii K utcd, and then games of all kinds commenced for the children, the teachers v. elder scholars inprovsing a cricket match, which was won by the former by 80 runs. Messrs Itunrile, Daltrj, Dawson, and Billons wero indefatigable all day in their efforts to atnuso the children. Bhortly after 5 o'clock toa was sfrvod, and at 6 p.m. tho children fell in for a start for homo. Before starting, Mr Paltry moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs Charters for their kindness during tho day, and for placing thoir house, grounds, and paddocks at the disposal of iho Commiltoo. • Tho vote was carried with loud cheers. Opera Season.— Wo haro beon requested to notify that tho opening night of tho opera season will bo on Monday, Jan. 12, and not on Saturday, Jan. 10, us tho steamer only arrives on that day, which does not give sufficient time to recover from tho effects of a sea voyoge. The following operas will be producod : —Monday, " Un Ballo in Maschera ;" Tuesday, " Bohemian Girl ;". Wednesday, "II Trovatoroj" Thursday, "Lucia." Tho opera season has been a great success in Dunedin. Tlio followiug'mombers will rqpresout the C.C.C. in Thoir matches with first and socofid olovens of tii<> Sydonhsm Youths, on Jan. 3 and 10 s— First elorou-Monßrs Aimon, Wlioatley, Washer, Fisher, Cayjcill, Turner, D. Lusk, A. Marshall, Mayne, white, at d Arthur Johnson, Seooud olovon— Meß.rs Thompaou, Johnson, CaygUl. Collier, 80l-

Voitthtbeb TnouDLEa.— lho Grejtown • volunteers do not appear to bo a pnrMcularly happy family, judging from the following, which wo " extract from the Masterlon journal :— l! Some little excitement was ooca--flioned at the Greytown volunteer parade on Tuesday night. Corporal Bonaldion and Private Gregg were ordered by Captain Macara to fall out and givo up their arms to Sergeant Jackson, and consider themselves (suspended until they had been before tho commanding officer of the district for their mutinous condust.The men were rather taken by surprise, but did not ask for a deGnition of the charge, or when ifc was to be heard. Tho captain then left without further remarks, and Lieutenant Porter stopped forward, and gave notice that Captain Macara had been granted six months' leave of absence, and had handed the company over to his charge, and in a few well-chosen words said he hoped that the company would obey orders, and while at drill consider themselves under hi3 command. The men then gave threo hearty cheers for Lieutenant Porter, atid upon some one outside the ranks calling for thrco groans for Captain Macara, tho call wa3 responded .to, notwithstanding the efforts of the officers to prevent it. After parade three hearty cheers were given by the men for their suspended comrades, and altogether tho proceedings were pretty warm."