LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4015, 3 March 1881, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thb Japah Lily.— A really magnificent specimen of Lilium Auralum, the goldenrayed lily of Japan, has been grown this season by a resident in Clare road. The original bulb, obtained four years ago, has produced a considerable number of offset's, wbioh have been given to friends ; and this year the original stook has produced a grand clump, showing about 90 perfect blooms. In another garden to the north of the city there are between 30 and 40 good flowers upon one stalk, though in this case the anastomosed stem presents an abnormal growth, to which somo classes of plants appear, in this climate, to be peculiarly liable. Yet Anothbb Nbwbpapbb.— A company is now being formed, to establish a new morning paper in Greymouth, under the title of "The Westland Herald and Grey Valley Advertiser." The list of provisional direotors includes several Chrischurch names, and we are informed that at a meeting held at KHgour'e hotel over SOO shares were subscribed. To this it may be added that the capital has been fixed at £2000 only, in £1 shares, " payable, ls on application, Is on allotment, and the balance by calls not exceeding ls per month per share. Hotbl Employbbb Picnic- This picni took place to-day. The party, a numerous one, together with the Railway Band, went down to Port by the 9 a.m. train, and on [arrival there assembled at the Lyttelton Hotel. After a brief stay there they embarked on board the s.s. Lyttelton for Governor's Bay, where a most enjoyable time was spent. Tlio party return to the Lyttelton Hotel this evening, where the day will be finished with a dance* Iyttbltob Naval Bbioadb— Some of the uniforms for this corps and a number of carbines were received from Wellington thie morning. The Brigade turn out for the first timo on the arrival of his Excellency the Governor. Tub Govbbkob's Tisit.— A telegram was received last night by bis Worship the Mayor from the Hon Jobn Hall, stating that lii's Bxcellenoy the Governor will leave Welling* i ten on Wednesday evening next. J

m „ =^=====a-==a2Ss> Thb DBriDs.~The Anchor Lodge hri* their usual formally meeting al !thX lodio room, Woobton, last evening! There was* * fair attendance of members. Two members were initiated. An official Ti.it wm received from the Pioneer lodge. Borne routine business having been transacted, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the visitors for their attendance that evening, which was responded to by P.D.P. Bro Swinnerton, A.D., and the Lodge was closed in due form ; after which the visitors were mcst hospitably entertained to supper before their return to town. Thb Fibs.— ln connection with last night* fire, details of which appear elsewhere in this issue, we learn that Mr Taylor's insurances, in the Victoria office, were £1850 on stock and £160 on each of the two cottages Halt of the total amount was re-insured in the Union offioe. Thb Bicyci- Contest.— The privileges for * the BicycleClubcocfeet were sold byauction afc Mr H. E. Alport's rooms this morning. The . Eublican's booth was purchased by Mrßaven*ill for £2, and the confectioner's booth by Mr Bobinson for £1. Three of the Dunedin representatives, Messrs Cuttea, Rob*rt#on,e_d ' Morrison arrived by the s.s. Te Ansu this morning. Yoono Wombn'b Homb.— lt was recently announced in theae columns that, **v the in* strumentality of a Committee of tidies, ft Temporary Home for Young W- men waebeing established in this oity, and thit a commodious houso bad been rented in Montrealstreet near Cashei street. Applications sord now being invited for the position of matron. O-fobd Backs.— This annul gathering will take place as usual on St Patrick's Day. The number of entries exceed) that of' previous years, and if the weather is pro* pitious, a most successful meetire is antiopated. " South Bakaia Bbsisbkt Magistb*w»# Cotot.— For the information of suitors, ik may be intimated that the usual sitting ot the Resident Magistrate's Court at South Bakaia will be adjourned to March 17, in coneeIquence of the District Court sitting in Christ* church. Death or Bin Cbacbovt Wixeos.— At» late hour this morning the news reached nt of the death of Sir 3. Craeroft Wilson, of Cashmere. The veteran knight was in his ,74th year, and his death musTbe considered sudden, as he was able to appear in pabticso late as Monday. Maoibtbbiax EHQFiBT.-At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lyttelton, yesterday, an enquiry was opened before the Resident Magistrate and Captain Jenkins. Nautical Assessor, regarding the collision between the Harbour Board's steam tug Lyttelton and th* schooner Aspasia, on the morning of Feb. 27. Evidence waa taken at great length, andthe Court will give judgment this morr.iog. OxroßD HoßTicronnsA- and Povxjtbt Association.— The Autumn Show of this Association is advertised to take place at th* East Oxford Town Hall on Tuesday next. Etc— effort is being made to make it no attractive as the Bpring Exhibition of last December, at the West Oxford Hall, which took everyone by surprise. The completo I collection of local ferns, whioh then excited so much admiration, will again be made « special feature, only on a much larger scale. 1.0.0. F., M.U.— A Lodge of the above order was successfully opened at BerrVe Bay, on Tuesday, the district officers being represented by P.G.'e Bims and Whitfield; assisted by a number of members of tb* Akaroa Lodge. Fifteen members wfte initiated in the new Lodge, which was formally opened and named the Loyal Per* severance Lodge. About 30 members of the Order afterwards sat down to a sumptnoue spread provided by the new mombers, followed by a ball, which was kept up till daylight. Ikstbwmbhtaj, Music— A band, under the leadership of Mr A. Hamilton (late bandmaster of the Bojal Military College), gave a few selections in Latimer Square last night, the different items being_ loudly applauded. The band consists of 20 instruments, ac foi* lows :— 6 clarionettee, 2 flutes, 1 piccolo, 3 tenors, 4 cornets, euphonium, trombone, bombardon, and drums. Another recital is to be given at a future date.— The railway band give an open air performance in Cathedral quare last evening, when the different items were rendered, as usual, in an admirable etyle. Bcwmbbs' Pionio.— We understand that MrF. O. Hall, of Sydenham, is trying so organise a picnic for the Christchurch newspaper runners, to take place on Good Friday next. This day Mr Hall has selected as the only day available, in consequence of the run* ners being then off duty. The idea is a remarkably good one, and deserve* every encouragement. Mr Hall desires it to be intimated that he will be glad to receive help from willing spirits. Mr Wynn Williams has kindly signified his willingness to act as treasurer to any fund tbat may be g^t together, and to do any thing in his power u> forward the undertaking. Death in a Bailway Thaw.— As the last train from Ashburton to Timaru on Tuesday night reached the Rangitata, a great deal of commotion was caused in one of the carriages by a ohild dying in its mother's - arms. The child was ten months' old, and it was the daughter of a Mr Bobinson, who was then travelling with bis wife on a journey from Napier to Dunedin. The child had been suffering from an attack of dysentery, but it was not considered dangerously ill. Its sudden and unexpected death distressed its parents beyond description, and great sympathy was felt for tbem by the other passengers in the train. An inquest was held yesterday, and a verdict of "Death from natural causes " was returned. Akaboa School.— A meeting of this School Committee was held in tne schoolroom on Tuesday last ; present, the Rev H. Btocker (Chairman), Messrs M'Gregor, Westerns. Kissel, and Sims. The paper* in connection with the attempts of previoua committees to inau»uratea district high school at Akaroa weio .cad, and the present Committee being of opinion that the publio war* not prepared to give sufficient support to the scneme.it was resolved that the sub-Committee be dieoharged. The Chairman was instructed to proceed against parents of oLi'dren not receiving instruction. It was recoived that an estimate be prepared of the necessary fencing required for the outbuilding. Several matters of routine were discussed, and the meeting adjourned. Nabbow Escapb.— At about 11 o'clock yesterday morning, as the 10.46 tram train to Sydenham was nearing the loopline in front of Mr Pavitt's house, on Colombo road, a dray with two horses came down the etreet towards the cars, and when the leading hono reached the engine, he suddenly took fright and turned round, striking up against the* drayman, who was walking by the side of the team, and causing him to stagger and fall directly in front of the train. The enginedriver (Braithwaite), fortunately saw theman fall, and at once applied the brake and: reversed the engine, whioh was stopped' instantly, and with such force as to snap the connecting bar of the carriage, the end of which was also pierced by a portion of the ironwork of the engine. Had it not been for the promptitude shown by the driver, the drayman must inevitably have beeu run over by the train and killed. Wbslbtah Chtooh, Colombo Boad.— On Monday evening last, the Bey 3. Buller delivered a very entertaining lecture on M Personal reminiscences of five years' sojourn inEngland." After describing his vcvage Bone in the Waimate, he narrated his impresrioneon landing after an absence of ovrr-Wyeersv The extremes of wealth and p verty were' noticed, and the Orphanages, a»<i other kindred institutions established by t::e benevolent, received due attention. The lecturer stated that his attendance at the ministers'' monthly meoting had afforded him an opportunity of mticing the growth of good fee_og" amongst the various religious bodies. Tha PwgWM «f Church work, as represented by tne Rev C. H. Spurgeon and other noted men, was duly considered ; and many interesting facts in connection with the Methodist Societies were related and commented upon. A collection and the u*.ual rote of thanks brought a very enjovabb evening to a close. TLo fo"owiijg wO play t„r iU AiMinirtoa C.C. amuut tho JJ.C.C.C. o:i Saturday „v the Christ, church ground t— Memrs Hopper, Parker. Jackito-. II li. Siinpeon. M'Murr-jr, Strange. Lodge. Baji man. Turner, Ugior, Thi»i-w>ii. J-'iuwrK«nei«*— ~ Hepworth and k\ bioipaou. The following will reprewnt the Pitas C.C. in their maten with tiuntiyelde n«»xt *aturday ud tho Batordiy following:— Ataisrtt Andrew, W.O.AUct Allardvflt*. Board, Brum, OoUw, Connor. Coatlev* Cant, Edmonds, and French, a conveyance wilt leave the Prm office at x o'clock sharp. The following wilt roprwent the Cantethtii* Yeomanry Cavalry in a game of orickot axainit thi Cbrhwhmroh Artfllory.To bo played ou thT W e . to ,V^°'7 >u ? d<> . n Mo 5 J «V. MM*b 17. commenciu, a.lO.aO.ptwfiDgin regimental troutera and tmui -Captatu Jslater (captain of team). LienL tfSta * Instructor Domiass, S,r*t .M.'?^ TrumJ2t« I Clark, Sergeant Dunbar, Sergeant CookwntW? Hopper. M Corpl Walt^r^^'lK^i and Wau»ey, B*n*!».mau Wheatlev t iS_2 r ancles- Troopers Andrews and o»Callif W^^

Tho following will play for Sunnyside v. The Harewopd toad 0.0., oa the ground of the former, at 11 o'olook to-day, tl-.«— Messrs Blake. Ataok, white, aioßßon, Turner, Seager, Bale, Morrlse, Moore, Dixon and FetTW, Ha Tbibd xo sa Honbbx.— The Sydney _7c/to_ tells the following story:— "A man went into a Sydney oyster saloon the other evening, called for a plate ' f oysters, and having eaten them, asked how m.,-ii there was to pay. ' A shilling,' wastherepl); whereupon tho oustomer asked for another dozen, and went on ordering and eating until he had finished Qvo plate of bivalves. Then he calmly informed the landlord that he had no monoy, and in response to a little übuse, wbioh was natural enough, he addedi 'Oysters should nofc be more than sixpence a plate. I came in here prepared to pay that for what I ordered, but when you at onoo put it out of my powor to be honest, and I anew that the law would have something to say in the matter, I was determined the law should have a obbo worth taking. Had I been as hungry as usual I should hare eaten ten plates.' This peculiar logio so Btaggorod the landlord that when his customer frowned sternly at him, and walked out, he oould make no attempt to stop bim " Coioniai BuoirEOOixr.— A writer in the Sydney Mail, dealing with the aotion of the late Intercolonial Conference in reference to reciprocity, says.— "The New Zealand delegate, Mr Diok, laid his finger upon the plain mattor of-faot defeot that the people of Australia want to hare remedied before they indulge in visions of federation, when he bM he thought that the Customs' duties wore one point on whioh there was a necessity for union to somo extent ; but he did not think we must be absolutely united on everything in the tariff before we oould be united at all ; and that he should like to see us unitod in reference to tho three or four articles of intercolonial consumption, and exchange those productions with one another. By-and-bye we should find out what other productions there were upon whioh we could unite for the purposo of introducing them into the different Colonies, free of oharge. With Mr Berry at one end of the rope and Sir Henry Parkes at the other, the ' tug of war' will continue with nothing more than an occasional alternate yielding of an inoh of ground} but if Buch sensible suggestions as those offered by Mr Dick and Mr Morgan are acted upon, both parties can meet midway and give a united pull for the common good of Australia. If they will nofc do that, let both extremities have as muoh rope as tbey like, and— woll, there will be ths usual consequence."