LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3862, 2 September 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sydenham Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Association. — At the usual meeting of this society held on last Wednesday evening Mr 0. Bay read an essay on " The mind and its management." The subject was ably dealt with, and received due criticism from the members present, tho number of which, together with visitors, Compared favourably with any meeting of the session. The next debate will be upon the question of " The best means for reforming the criminals of New Zealand." Council Nominations. — The nomination of candidates for tho vacancies in tho City Council took place at noon to day, as follows :— North-Eaßt Ward, Edward Thomas and Henry Thompson ; North-Weit Ward, Nelson K. Cherrill and John Paßcoe Oliver ; South-East Ward, Albert Cuff ; South- West Ward, William Vincent. The nominations at the Sydenham Borough Council oflices wero as follows :— William White, junior, Edward Pavitt, William Stewart Sh'ierlaw, Sidney Day and William Merritt. Lyttblton Colonists' Societt.— At a general meeting of members of this Society, held last evening, it was decided that the subscription to the reading-room alone for residents in the town be 2s 6d per quarter or Is per month from date of first payment. This will no doubt be found to answer very well indeed, and should incrcaso tho list of subscribers very materially. Officers nnd crews of vessels will be admitted free, but no residents in the port. Concbbt. — A concert in aid of the Catholic Organ Fund is announced in our advertising columns. A musical programme, under the leadership of Mr Towlo, followed by the operetta "Cox and Box," will probably draw a good house. The Maori Pbisonebs.— The Maori prisoners in Lyttelton Gaol are reported to be as quiet and appaiently contented ac possible. Perhaps this satisfactory condition is partially owing to the fact that Mr Philips has considerately provided them with the "Fifteen puzzle."

Aknual DiJWßn'.op'THß Fibb BniOADFr --lhe annual dinner of the Eire Brigade will ISS , S fl . th . i 8 eveni "g afc Foresters* i anu. lhe invitations ore strictly confined to members, their wives, and families. Ltvttbwon BononoH Council. _ Tho «~ „« t0 . 0^ Place to-day, when the following wero nominated .-Thomas M'Chtchie, WifBoSn wl Jo,m GrCm QM > ta «" Licensing Coun T .-The qua- terly meeting.-, of the Licensing Court wiH bo held next Tuesaay at noon, m the Resident, Magistrate's Oourt-honee. An Old Colonist Betubning. —Dr William Donald returns to Canterbury by the New Zaaland Shipping Company's ship Bangitikei, which left London last month. Inspection Pabadb.— The local Armed Constabulary force went through an inspection parade yesterday, undor Superintendent Broham. The men wore afterwards marched out into tho drill-yard. and put through squad and company drill by Sergeant-Major Kaiapoi Fibb Brigade,— Tho time of the Borough Council was considerably taken up , on rueeday evening discussing matters in ■r m. , connection with the Fire Brigade. A Conncdlor stigmatised the whole thing as " a * , storm in a teapot," which to an outsider certainly appears an apt allu B ion. A full report of the discission appears alsowhere. Jewish Church,— At the arnual 'general meeting of the Canterbury Jewish congregation, held on Sunday last at the Synagogue Chambers, the following gentlemen were elected officers for the ensuing year : Mr M. Harris, President; Mr Herbert Davis, Treasurer; Messrs M. Sandstein, S. Cohen, D. Davis, Committeemen ; and B. S. Raphael, Hon. Seo. Oantebbuby Wheat.— A correspondent i J writes :— A shipmentjof White Straw Tuscan . sold in London in June, ox Euterpe, on account of Mr Matthew Dalziel of Bramdean, near Amberley, iB very favourably reported t on by tho brokers. It is deoeribed as an . extra choice long berried wheat, and realised ___t_\\ [ 53s per quarter, equal to 6s 7id per bu£^fc|^| Tub Second Coming ov Chbibi^^^^^H , night Mr H. Brunton conductedJ^^^^^H reading in the room at tbe back <?C(i^^^^^^H Building Society's office, on theßfliPi.^^^H > " The Second Coming of Chi int." The roo^^H , was crowded to its utmost capacity, many^^| , persons not being able to obtain ad mission. Mr Brunton was listened to with rapt ' attention. 1 The Theater Oopybight Casb.— lh© decision will be given to-day in the oase 3 againßt the Theatro Eoyal Company. The . action was confined entirely to legal argumeAt on either side. Further summonses * have been served on Mr Geddes for the peri formance of " Pygmalion and Galate*," and 5 other rieces, without paring a feo. We may > mention that " His last' Legs," the subjeot of the present suit, bas actually run within ono year of copyright time, its am hor liaving died ■ 41 years ago. » Supposed Case op Dbowmko.— Tho . steward of the chip Loch Awe has been _ misßing eince Sunday night, aud is supposed to be drowned; his cap was found floating in the harbour yesterday. His name is , richardaon, aud he came to the Porfc as I socond steward of the Geraldine Paget, waa j dieoharged from her, and shipped as steward of the Loch Aire. The police were searching for tho body yesterday. f TnEATEB Koyal.— " Tried and True" t continues its successful run ut tho Theatre 3 Boyal, but will shortly be replaced by other . novelties, a new drama being announced for Saturday night. To-night, and to-morrow 1 night will, 'therofore, be the only opportunities - playgoers wiil have of seeing Mr Beynolds in ; the character of Lord Fitzeußtace. For toj morrow, which is to be " a grand fashionablo night," the management have been promised 1 the patronago of Sir Cracroft and Lady 1 Wilson, and of other distinguished citizens, i The Theeatbnbd Bailway Stbikb.— At j a largely attended meeting of delegates held laat evening, it was resolved to cease work after the arrival of tho last train to-nighfc, if at noon to-day (when the notice from the ; men expiree) tho announcement of the 10 per cent reduction has not been withdrawn. Fuller particulars will be found in another column. The following telegram was received at the Christchurch Station this morning from Dunedin :— "Mr Oliver wires Fish and Stout, notico will be given of reduction to wages men. Stout meets Conyers again to-day. Lettor to follow." Another message will be found in the later (olographic news. At noon | to-day, some of tbe delegates had a long in* terview with the Traffic Manager, Mr Back. | Sumnee Bailway.— We are informed that a Company, with a large provisional ; directory, is being formed to undertake fche construction of this line, and that a prospectus will be isßued in a few dayß. It is proposed to conneot the new lino with the Lyttelton and Chriatchurch raUway near the waterworks at the VaUey, tho Government | having agreed to fiud the rolling-etook and work the lino wben constructed. This railway should be a great boon to the inhabitant! ' of Christchurch and suburbs, as it will afford i them a Bpeedy and cheap means of having ' a run to the Bea tide upon every favourable 1 opportunity, of which no doubt great numbers ■ will gladly avail themselves. The cost of " construction is estimated at a remarkably > moderate figure, and us a large passenger » traffic ehould be developud, the line ought to 1 prove a very profitable undettaking to the * shareholders. ' Thb Altebbd Time-table.— There were ' several awkward mistakes made yeßterday by 1 travellers who, unaware, or forgetful of the alteration in the Btarting of the trains, found out their mistake too late to rectify it. In the northern district great dissatisfaction exists at the amended time, as there dees not appear to be any warrant for making the , trains earlier during the summer evenings, 5 when they have been half-an-hour later* during the winter. The new time-table, is . particularly hard on the proprietor of the line of coaches going north from Amberley. 1 It seems doubtful if he can, without being - very hard on his team, keep within the times, as the train arrives later and leaves earlier now than it did previous to the alteration. It appears that the alterations carried into effect emanated from tho Commissioner's [ Department, and that the local authorities i here had no cognisance of them till they had , been definitely arranged. Entbetainmbnts.— Last evening, at fche St. Asaph street schoolroom, an entertainment was held in connection with the United i Methodist Free Church Sunday School, ■ consisting of readings, recitations, vocal numbers, kc, by Sunday-school teachers and members of the churnh. The schoolroom was well filled, and each item on ' [ the programme was well given. A collection was made at the close in aid of cleaning _^/L '■ and decorating the schoolroom. The Bey B. Wr. 0. Perry was in the chair, and his brother \ presided at the piano. — The usual monthly entertainment was held in the schoolroom, Brookside, on Tuesday last, under the auspices of the members of the Pride of Brookside Lodge, No. 208, Independent -Order of Good Templars. There was a very fair ottendance. The chnir was taken by Bro Barnet, of the Leeston Lodge. Tho programme consisted of songs, recitations, readings, and n-^.esses, and wns as a whoio well received. "Ei- j W. Watson proposed a vote of thanks to the speakers and tho performers ; and the proposition twj seconded by Bro J. Withel. A vote of tluiuks was also accorded to tbe Chairman, and tlie meeting terminated. Tho qoartorjy meeting of tho members of the Canterbury Licensed VictuallorH* Association will be held this evouing, at Morton's Ho el, at halfpant eight, y A New Gun. — A now gun, which can fire 5000 shots in 13 minutes, was recently tested ■ in Washington. Tho Gardner is a Hiachiß%^.| gun, like the Gatling. It has two barrels made of steel, encased in brass. This is an auxiliary to small arms, and is simply a gun which, by the ingenuity of the designer, is • calculated to do the work of a number of muskets, and do it moro rapidly and effectively. It cannot, probably, shoot bo accurately aB a musket, but, if properly handled, must be fearfully destructive, especially whon directed against a lino or an advancing column. Ite calibre is 0.45 inch, nnd tho eumo cartridges are used as in ordinary prnclico. Tlie charge is 70 grnins of powder, and tho bnll weighs 405 grains. It is mounted on a Bmall field carriage, and is light; enough to be carried by two men. Tho whoio length of the gun is only four feefc. It can be fired 500 times in a minute, its eupacity in this direction being only limited by tho rapidity with which it. can bo fed. If steam could apply the motive power, aurt if it could be fed fast enough, there is no telling how rapidly it could bo fired. Tho firing is dono by turning a crank in the rear of tho gun, and it is fed through a flat-shaped box, into which the cartridges are placed in blocks holding 20 each. They fit down neatly into the box, which holds about 50 cartridges, and as fast

<^^^— — . ar the crank i« turned they drop down into a channel and are carried forward for discharge, snd the empty cartridges returned and dnpptd beneath. 6000 shots were fired in 18 minutes, three men relieving each other at the crank. GoodShootihg. — Corporal Tillotson, of the Victorian Engineers, reoently made 100 oui of a possible 105, at 400, 600, and 600 yards, which is referred to in the Argus as the beßt on record. Ib Loan Bbaconsfibld to bb Mabbikd ? — Vanity Fair hints at a coming change in the life of the Karl of Beaconsfleld. It says : — " It is not often that a man after 73 yeara of aotive life commences to turn his thoughts to matrimony as a serious profession, yet I am told that the evergreen Earl has almost made up his mind." Perhaps someone will find in this another reason for the sudden solicitude about the Deceased Wife's Sister manifested at Home. Mb B. H. Pbooiob.— Mr Proctor, the astronomer, is creating a furore in Sydney. Telegrams from there in the Melbourne papers say that the tickets for his first course of lectures were bought up several days be a r fore the series was begun. After his N.- w Bouth Wales engagements are concluded Mr Proctor goes to Dunedin. The last joke abont him is tha* he bas just found a new goldfield— in me sun. A Popt/lAB Pbinobss.— Great crowds of people visited Kensington Bouse when it became known that tlie Princess of Wales would assist in the aale of the fancy articles for the Kensington Industrial and Training Sohool for Girls. People pressed up to the counter where a beautiful lady in black stood handing to the buyers little vases of coloured glass or Doulton ware, each with a flower in it, and receiving in exchange a few shillings ; groups of thoae who had passed and made tbeir purchases talking excitedly to their friends or to perfect strangers, " I have seen her," " the Princess sold it to me," " I had it from her own hand*" — such was the scene j but the crush became a little dangerous ten minutes after the Princess of Wales began to ■Wf (between 5 and 6 p.m.) Two ladies and at first it was impo»Bible to clear for them, and give them air. The Teck, however, went forward, and but pushing crowd gave way V^t once. The takings at tho royal stall on the two days amounted to about £400. A" Mobt Impobtant Point. —An important ruling was recently given by the Speaker of the British Houbo of Commons. On Friday, June 4, Mr M. Henry asked the Speaker whether, in order to keep a seat by placing a hat upon it, the hat should not be a real working hat. (Laughter.) He objected to an hon member depositing one hat on his Beat and walking about with another on his head. He also wißhed to know whether it was not against the rule of the House for a member to endeavour to keep a seat by placing a piece of paper or card npon it. The Speaker: The usual practice of the House lias been that a member may retain a seat for the night by placing his hat upon the seat before prayers. The practice has prevailed for a considerable number of years, ond the idea has always been that when bo acting the member is in immediate attendance upon the Honse, or on a committee. With regard to the retaining of Beats with papers or gloves, that has never been allowed. No member Can retain a seat for the night by placing hia card or gloveß upon it betore prayerß. Bb Cabbpui.— Printers (says the Printers Register) like other folk, hold their own peculiar notions with regard to tho favourite beverage beer. A "typographical" acquaintance of mine sometimes enjoys his glaas with a slight seasoning of ordinary pepper. This weakness placed bim in a somewhat embarrassing poaition the other day. Dropping into an hotel, he ordered his beer, and being served, drew from his coatpocket a small paper packet, in which he carried his pepper. He had carefully opened the paper, and was in the act of depositing the contents in his glass, when Boniface, who had been closely watching my friend, made s frantic snatch at his hand, and demanded to know what the packet contained. An explanation having been given, together with a request to exercise hia olfactory nerves, Boniface was satisfied that his chatomer had no suicidal intentions just then. Women's Bights.— The Hen Convention was in session in Chicago during the BepubBean and Greenback gatherings', but whereas the former would not listen to a plea from woman on behalf of her right to vote, the Greenbackera listened to a speech, although Denis Kearney protested against such folly. "If I vote for giving women a vote," ex- . claimed Denis, "my 'wife said she would with a flat-iron on my return." — V I know now," shrieked Mis 3 Anthony, " who wears the breeches in the Kearney household." The laugh was against D.X, but whether iS was this unhappy allusion to the breeches, or the inherent "cusaednees " of the sex, the Woman's Suffrage Convention broke up in a row. Miss Crooker called Sister Anthony a " person," which raised a squall. She then eaid many wicked and unclean things, which exasperated the Suffragists, who put her bodily out of the hall, kicking and screaming, and report hath it that the Woman's Convention broke up in a free fight. — Correspondent Otago Daily Times. CoiOiTiAi Poison. — An analysis of spirits retailed by certain well-known publicans in Sydney, made at the instance of the AEvening News, resulted in the following discoveries : — *' Brandy wns fonnd to be ' locally manufactured, and composed entirely of potato spirit, burnt sugar, hydrated oxide of ethyl (fusel oil), spirits of nitre, and flavoured with essential oil of cognac? Oil of cognao is described aa 'of German manufacture, largely exported to the Colonies, and easily procurable in Sydney and other places.' A Bmall phial of ib wil ' flavour a hogshead.' Whisky was declared to be a compound ' white spirit, oil of tar (creosote), and saccharine matter.' Bum vas said to contain 'sulphate of copper (blueßtone), cayenne pepper, and amylic ether.' Gin was found to be ' white spirit, ■•strongly flavoured, with oil of juniper and Strasburg turpentine.' Of two samples of •oolonial beer, one contained ' salt, grains of paradise, and chloride of sodium,' and another ' salt and pricotoxine, or the active iprinciple of cocculus indicus, or India berries.' " Thb Blub Bibbon ov the English *CJrviL Sebvicb. — A Treasury Clerkship ia one of the few of the Civil appointments under •the Crown wbich still attracts the attention of ■first-class men. Not only doea the post, if .gained, bring its holder a salary of £250 per .-annum, rising annually till £600 iB reached, but it is amongst the Treasury clerka that the ipick of the Stuff appointments of the Servioe •are.given. They .first are chosen as private seeretarie* by the Ministers of the day, and then, when their chiefs go out of office, they-get vary often some snug berth of £1200 •or -JBISOO a year. The present DeputyMaster of the Mint, tho Controller of the National Debt Offices, the Treasury Bemembrancer for Ireland, the Deputy Paymaster (General, the Ohairman of the Board of •Custom?,. tho Financial Secretary of the Postoffice, to name a few of the more recent instances, were all treasury clerks, and moat •of' them bad beeit. private secretaries. And *hen (there iis the" case of Mr Primrose we have alluded to before,, who goes to India as jLord Ejpod's secreta*'/ from the Treasury. •Tlhe.two clerkships in that department to be 4hrowa open, to competitors shortly are well ■worth therefore, and are expected to attract abrilhant gathering o£ competitors. JPigaro. '-. BmwE Nuisances. — Colonists who have -visited London are well acquainted with the street nuisances of the metropolis, but for the information of those who have not yet seen Old England, a contemporary relates tho experiences .of a correspondent — a resident in .one of the best and most expeneive streete in the West End, anrl they will eeo how much they have ta be thankful for :— 'B.s. — Organ. ■9.ls— Brass band (for twenty minutes). 9.50. — Organ. 10.10. — Brass band (this one not in uniform). 10.30. — Two organs. 10.50. — Punch and Judy. 11.0.— Organ (driven by .donkey, and ground by man without legs). 1JL.20. — Bagpipes. 11.40. — Organ, with two bgbies attached. 12.20.— Organ, played by an "Old Soldier." 12 35. — Organ, by a blind man. 12.50. — Organ, by dirty-looking Italkn ruffian, who aigo hopped about at intervals. I.lo.— Organ, by a man who "lost one arm wliile building tho Charing Cross Hotel." 1.50. — Hurdy-gurdy and monkey. 2.20. — Organ (round the corner, but as audiWe as if in ihe street). After lunch be went out, and reU/rned a little after 5 o'clock. 6.3o^— Brass bwid at one end ; organ at the other, 6.o.— Organ, with two girls in peasant costume, one ringing the bells of tho houses while the other ground. 6.20. — Organ at the other end of the street. 6.-00.— Organ. 7.5. •— Oraan, At 7.20 went cut to dinner, and <9ftlareCQrd. no moi e experiences.