The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1881.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4165, 26 August 1881, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1881.

Held Ovbh. — We are constrained to hold over the leader. The long reports of the Synod, Parliament, and Chamber of Commerce, together with a sudden pressure of advertisements, compels this course.

Intbbcolokial Wbathbb Exoiiangb.— Sydney, Thurßday evening: The depreeeiou over Borda yesterday passed to tho south-east, and ia now reported from Hobart, with high north-west winds; elsewhere, light and variable -winds, with a falling barometer. Albany, 297; Hobart, 298; Sjdnoy, 30-1.

" Lyttblton Times " Deamatio Socibty. — It is announced that tho box plan for the annual entertainment of this Societty will bo oponcd on Monday. Seats may then bo rceervod for tho nights of performance. The Otago _ Football Tb am.— A description of the individual capabilities of tho Fifteen who will represent Otago on Saturday, telegraphed by our Dunodin correspondonf, will bo found in another column.

Tuk "Libkbty" Cask.— A subscription hus been started in Bangiora lo raiso the necessary funds to defray the fines and expenses incurred by t ho parties in tho recent atluck on tho Liberty office. A promising gum has already been subscribed.

Supbkmb Coubt.— Hia Honor Mr Justice Johnston sat in Chambers and in Banco this morning. Chess.— Mr Jacobßen has announced his intention to play a match against nine members of the Bangiora Chess Club on Monday next.

Thbatbical.— MißH Louise Pomeroy and her company are passengers for New Zealand by the Botomahana, which left Melbourne on Tuesday. Nkw Zealand Shipping Company. — The flfew Zealand Shipping Company has received cable advioo from London of the arrival of their ship Mataura. from Lyttelton. on August 24. Sydbkham Building Society.— The adjourned meeting of shareholders of the Christchurcb, Sydenham, and Suburban - Building Society (Permanent), which was to have been held last evening for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the Society, lapsed for want of a quorum.

NOBTHBBN AGBICULTOBAIAKD PASTOBii Association.— The Committee appointed to revise the catalogue for this year's show, met yesterday afternoon, in the commercial room of the Junction Hotel, H&ngiora, and proceeded with their somewhat important task. The result will be laid before the members at tV.p ; r n«T«; Trrotir-g on Sept. 8.

UHAjiua a op Commehcb.— Yesterday afternoon the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce held their annual general meeting, at which Mr W. Chrj stall was elected President for the ensuing year. The retiring President, when moving the adoption of the report, delivered an address full of interesting statistics, and Mr Ohryetall, when seconding the motion, added a quantity of additional figures. Both speeches will be found reported in full on another page. The Chamber hare resolved to build a hall and offices on their hind between Oashel street and Bedford Bow.

OXFOBD KOAD BOABD BLBOIIOK. — A meeting of ratepayera of the Oxford district was held at the Koad Board office on Wednesday, for the purpose of electing a member for the Koad Board to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr H. Marah. Mr Wilson Fißher, Chairman of the Board, acted as Returning Officer. Mr Gorton proposed Mr Henry Fitch, and Mr Pickering proposed Mr Parish. A show of hands was taken with, the following result— H. Fitch 9, B. H. Parish 10. A poll was demanded for Mr Fitch, which resulted as follows:— Henry Fitch, 112; B. H. Parish, 101. The Beturning Officer thereforo declared Mr Fitch duly elected. A vote of thanks to the Eo turning Officer terminated the proceedings.

CoUHXr COUNCIL ELECTION. — The election to fill the vacancy in Lhe Aehburtoa County Council caused by the retirement of Mr Alfred Saunders, took place yesterday. A pouring rain fell all day, but, notwithstanding, a large number of elector* came to the polling booths. The weather tended to keep down any excitement that might have arisen from the occasion, and the polling went off very quietly. Mr O'Beillj and Mr H. T. Winter were the respectira candidates. The polling began at 9 o'clock and closed at 6, with the following result :— At Ashburton Saleyards booth : Mr Winter, 241 j Mr O'Keilly, 37. At Longbeach : Mr Winter, 51 ; and Mr O'Reilly, 4. Mr H. T. Winter was thus elected by a majority of 261. Oifoed Ploughing Match.— A meeting of the Committee of the Oxford Ploughing Match was held on Tuesday evening at Paget's Commercial Hotel. There was a good attendance. After the arrangements of the match bad been disposed of it was decided that the Ground Committee meet on Tuesday next and lay off the ground, and that the dinner be held at the Terminus Hotel. Mr W. Mardon promised to give a bridle for the beat matched pair of hones ; Mr Ingram promised a guinea for the best groomed team, and Mr Oockbum j, set of swingletrees for the first finished lot in the field, on condition that the first finished be a prize-laker. The subscription lists were handed iv, whioh, showed that about £30 had been promised. The meeting then adjourned until next lues* day evening.

1.0.0.F.,M.U.— The new Bill introduced into the House of Representatives on August 5, and read a first time, has been sent by the Hon W. Bolleston to the Ashley district. The representatives of that distriot seeing that the provisions which their deputation recommended to the Minister and other members of the House are not inserted, have made the necessary alterations and returned the Bill, urging the adoption of the additions recommended. Ab the Bill at present etands» the registration of all Societies is. not com* pulsory, nor is it provided that they should enforce adequate rates of contribution —the point raised by the representatives of the Oddfellows' distriols in Canterbury. As* it has been submitted to the House it pro* rides merely for a consolidation of the 1877 and 1878 Acts, combined in that manner for facilitating the SUtute Commission.

A Colonial Abtisx. — Many of onr readers will be glad to learn that Mr W. M. Gibb, son of the well known artist of that name in this city, who was mentioned in a late iesue, has won distinction in Melbourne. Mr Gibb, junior, decided — about a year ago— to enter as a student at the Melbourne School ot Art. He q< ickly placed himself, by his meritorious work, in a foramost position, and was ultimately placed in charge cf the life-class of students, his duties being the highly important one of selecting the models and superintending the work of the class. He was also elected President of the Victorian Artists' Club. In the course of a few months Mr Gibb is to return to Ohristchurch, to follow the special line he hat selected — that of portrait painting. Meanwhile he has sent some of his productions, and so full of genius are they that commissions are already awaiting the young artist. Sunday Schools.— The following interesting facts respecting the Church of England Sunday Schools in the Diocese of Christchuroh are taken from the report of the Diocesan Inspector of Schools, the Bey W. C. Harris : — Total number of scholars on roll, 7250 ; average, attendance, two-thirds of total ; number of teachers, 558 ; averago attendance, five-sixths of total. The population of Canterbury and Westland is 120,000, of which the Church population (42 per cent) is about 60,400. The probable number of children of sohool age is 12,000, so that seventwelfths of such children were actually attending school. The Rev W. 0. Harris had inspected 48 schools out of seventy ; 615 soholars had been carefully examined, and classified according to merit ; 113 of these obtained a first-class certificate. It may bo mentioned that 31 marks, out of a maximum of 40, were required in order to gain a first* class certificate.

Episcopate of thb Pbimatb.— Ab August 10 last was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the consecration of His Lordship the Bishop to tbo Sea of Christchurch, tho Diocesan Synod, at its meeting last evening, adopted, on the motion of the Very Bevthe Dean, seconded by the Hon H. B. Greßson, a resolution congratulating His Lordship, acknowledging with thankfulness the many bleßßings enjoyed under his kindly rule, and heartily praying that a long continuance of health and strength might bo granted to him for tho discharge of his important duties as Bishop of this Dioceee, and Primate of the ecclesiastical Province of New Zealand. In moving the resolution, the Very Rev the Dean spoke in eloquent and feeling terms of the able and kindly manner in which the Bishop had discharged tho duties of his episcopate. His Lordship'a reply oxpraeed in heart.fi It terms his thanks for their vote of congratulation, and contrasted the present condition of the Colonial Church with that of former days. At tho conclusion of the Bishop's reply, the doxology was sung by the members of tho Synod.

The Weatheb.— The more than ordinarily heavy south-west rain, which continued during yesterday and last night, had the effect of causing a postponement of a number of meetings ; and between seven and oight last evening, when under favourable circumstances there is a considerable amount of animation in the streets, tho city presented quite a deserted appearance. The rainfall appears to have cau <"' comparatively little inconvenience, either »•• ilio city or suburbs, and as on somo former o.c-i«ionn, tho area has been somewhat limited. No rain foil in Dunedin, and at Timaru them wan only a drizzle until late in tho day. AtOiford, however, a very heavy fall of snow was experienced on Tuesday, and in the evening there was a uniform depth of coven inches — the heaviest fall during tho past two years. Throughout the northern district rain commenced to fall on Wednenday evening, and during the whole of yesterday there was not the sliglitost abatement. The rivers rose rapidly, and in tho afternoon tho Ashley could not bo safely crossed ncur Bangiora. Agriculturists are complaining that spring sowing is boinjr greatly retarded, and fearu aro entertained that some of the later aown. crops may Buffer eeyeroly.

GAS COMPANY. — At the adjourned special meeting of the shareholders in the Christchurch Gas Company this afternoon, the Chairman presented a statement showing the position and prospects of the Company, and innounced the intention of the directors to make a further call on the new (shares. The reaolutij^ ueclaring an interim dividend of 7 per cent was them unanimously agreed to. ABBBBT.— This morning Detective J. Neill arrested a woman named Catherine Birmingham, on a charge of being concerned in the same larceny aa the man Thomas Lambert, who, at the Police Court this morning, was remanded to Tuesday next.

WHnnf g Away wbabx Hotos.— During the " Stonewall " on Tuesday night a scratch entertainment was got up in one of the anterooms, where, says our authority; " Messrs Hurray and Jones discoursed sweet music on the fiddle, and singing and recitations varied the programme." A Labgb Lajtdownbb.— The largest of our great estates in this country becomes in•ignificant when compared with the P">P« Which has just come into the hands of Mr Hamilton Desson, a Philadelphia manufacturer* This gentleman has just concluded a contract by which he secures four millions of •crea fro™ th 8 Board of Internal Improvement of the State of Florida. He has thus made the largest purchase of land ever effected by oae person. His intention is to Trork out a great emigration scheme, which will have u^encieß in England, Germany and Jrance. America will now be able to boast that among her citizens is not only the richeßt man, but also the largest landowner in the world. — Land.