Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4276, 5 January 1882, Page 2

Local & General.

re Avon Boad Boabd —Nominations for No. s One Ward of Iho Avon Koad Board should e j have boen mado to-day, ut noon, but the rateH payers of the Ward, appear to be too _ apathetic to trouble themselves either to i* nominate or to be nominated. At the time b, appointed the Beturninp Officer had not reEl ceived the expected document. }< Intercolonial Weather Exchange. — *•* The following message has been received :-— ~" " Sydney, Wednesday evening : Strong south- ' weßt winds prevail on the south coast of , Australia ; light north-east winds on the east _ coast. Barometer: Portland, 299; Sydney,. J 300." '3 7* Opening ofthe Addington Tramway.— h Carriates were run on tho Addington tram's way for passonrer traffic for tho first time, r to*day, and t< eline is now open lo tho public 2 Sydenham Borough Council.— A meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council wae held last evening. A considerable amount of Ij business wns transacted. A report will be found elsewhere. Funeral of the Late Captain Clogn stoun. — Tlie funeral of the lute Captain E, ), L. Clogstoun took pluee yesterday afternoon at . the Biccarton comot ery. lho service was perl. formed by tbo Kov 0. Bowon, and upwards of 60 mourning friends followed lho deceased gentleman to lho grave. Tnn Gband National.— Mr Saunders' r letter has had the effect of stining up the p Ashburton sporting men, and a meeting re 3 lho Grand Nalionul wns held in Sheorman's Botel yesterday, at which an amount lo be guaranteed waß fixed ; and it wa resc-Wed to • have tho Grand National Mooting in Ashburr ton this year. A Committee was appointed * to collect the needful eubecriptionp. | Bazaar at Sheffield.— A Bazaar, in connection with the Wesleyan Methodist ' Church at Shdll Id was held in Ihe Boad Board Offico on Monday. Mosdamoe But- | lodge, Judgo, Lilly, Sclimid imd Heighway, and Miss F. Aldred we o Ihe ladies who presided at tho various stalls. J lie display of goods was very c-r.dilable, and had a decidedly neat appeurunce. An excellent exhibition of children's clothes seemed to be the principal feature of the sho *.v, some of tho drosses being renlly nice. A good number of plants, exposed tor side, were ulso noticeable. Tho refreshment stall, presided over by Mrs Shipmun and Mine Grove**, did n first-rato business. Jhe bnziiar itself wob well patronised during tho day; and the receipts, £40, wero considered fait ly successful. For tho mi'.teriiil uid the Oommittee received fn-iu Christ church and other friends they wish to expics** lh«*ir »inccro thanks. Lyons' Tourists —There was a crowded houso at the G.*icly '1 hcutre Juet orcning, it being the final performance of Lyons* Tourists and also the occasion of a farewell benefit to Mies Amy Hort on, undor tho patronago of His Worship tho Mayor and Lieut-Colonel Pa ke. Tho pieces presented wero tho musical bui-letla "Tho Loon of a Lover," the burlesque " Islo of Tulipaiarn," and tho now well-known Christmas pantomime. A wcllchoM.n variety of songs was also introduced by Mhs Horlon. Tho whole of lho performance went uncommonly well, n-d merited the appreciation bestowed upon il, by tho auaienco. i'ho henffn-iaire was encored again and uj*uin ior her cscollent rendering of a number of comic songs, wliich the ever-exacting audienco insisted on being repeuted or supplemented with thoßO of a similar character, until ut lest their favourito was compelled lo doclino to comply. The Misses Tulloch and Fox wore also honoured with encores for their graceful singing aud dancing, aud this final performance by the Tourists may certainly bo regarded as a very eucecesful closo of a BUPcossful ecaeon. Tonipht. tho company aro announced to nppear at Ashburton,

- Obituaby.— lt will be noticed in our Beater's telegrams from London, to-day, that tlie death of one of the most prolific and popular of our novelists — William Harrison Ainsworth — ia announced, at the ripe age of • 77. IFor nearly two generations hiß pen haß been unceasingly at work in magazine and miscellany, or at novel writing, for he began hia literary career before he was of age. In Ua own particular domain of fiction he had no. rival, and his works have been translated into all the languages of Europe. " Jock Sheppard," of which many dramatised versions have appeared, and the " Tower of London," originally written for "B-ntley's Magazine," are, perhaps, hiß two most popular novels -nit h £oglish readers. Thb Pumping Station.— Another trial of the machinery at the Pumping Station will be made at 2 p.m. to-morrow. Mount Gbby Vital Statistics.— Births, 36; marriages, 4; deaths, 6, for quarter ending Dec. 31, 1881. Lyttkltox Regatta.— The prizes won at the Begatta will bs presented at the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton, at eight this evening. Iy quests. — At the inquest on the body oi tbe girl Ayton, killed near Waimate on Sunday by being thrown out of a dray, a Terdict of " Accidental Death " was returned. —The inquest on the body of John Lawrie, killed by fulling over a cliff at Timaru, reanlted in » verdict of a similar nature. Supbbme Coubt. — The criminal sittings of the Sup erne Court for January were concluded je-.terday. The three cades tried all resulted in acquittals. The Court, at a quarter past four in the afternoon, adjourned till Monday next, at 11 o'clock in the morning, when the Nisi Prius sittings will begin. YALUATOB FOB ASHBUBTON COUNTY. — Yesterday at the Ashburton Oounty Council, Mr Friedlander gave notice of a motion to recommend to Government the advisability of appointing a resident valuator for the County, and meanwhile to ascertain what the cost was to the Boad Boards of preparing rate rolls. Mbanb or £gbbs3 fbom Public Buildings. — At the meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council last evening, it was decided to empower the Works Committee to inspect all buildings in the Borough that are let for ' public meetincs, Ac., in order to ascertain -whether sufficient means of egress were provided. Bakbbs* Picnic. — A well-attended meeting of master bakers was held at the Commercial Hotel last evening with reference to the annual picnic. A sub-Committee waß appointed to interview the various millers for subscriptions and select a suitable place for the picnio, which it was decided should oome off on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Concbbtb Channelling in Sydenham. — lost evening the Sydenham Borough Council, acting on the recommendation of a joint report from the Works and Finance Comsuttees, authorised the Works Committee to proceed with the construction of side channels at. a oost not exceeding £1400, on condition that the ratepayers whoße properties abut on the streets where the channels were to be made pay one-half the coßt. AH Ashbubton Authob. —Mr Henry Honor, a gentleman resident in Ashburton, has at present in the Press a work of imagination entitled "The Great Bomance: by the Inhabitant." The tale is an account of a perilous voyage amongst the stellar worlds, the voyageurs being three men, and their Tessel a sort of half-and-half craft called the "Btar Climber." The first "volume," a booklet of 55 octavo pa**es has been issued. It has suffered a good deal at the hands of tbe printer, whose work is decidedly not productive of a thing of beauty. Wbathbb at Oxford.— The weather in this district during the past fortnight has been v. ry dry, and the crops require rain Tery much. It is feared that if rain does not oome within a few days the crops will be Tery light, and far below the average. The heavy nor'-west winds that have been blowing for the past week have done great havoc to the fruit. In many of the gardens the trees aro entirely stripped. Gra-a seed has been entirely thrashed out, and farmers who intended stripping the seed, do not now propose to trouble further with it. A f<*w small nor'Weßt Bhowera of rain have fallen, but the moißtcre haß disappeared almost at once. OxroßD. — The Oxford Dramatic Sooiety performed at the Town HaU, East Oxford, on Monday evening, to a crowded house. "Black-eyed Susan" was the piece of the evening, preceded by a farce entitled the "Illustrious Btranger." The characters in the farce were well sustained throughout ; Mr Thomson as Bowbell kept the audience in a good humour during the whole of the time. Bvery attention appeared to have been given to the scenery, dress, and effects in " Blackeyed Susan," and the various parts were all -well acted. Miss E. Thompson, who took the part of Black-eyed SusaD, played the part very well, being ably agisted by Mias Vernon as Dolly Maj flower. The character of William was also well taken, and applauded aeveral times. Fibbs ON THB Pbninsula. — Bush and grass fires appear to have dene considerable damage on the Peninsula during the last few days. The Akaroa Mail says: — "Mr W. Aahton, of Decanter Bay. has Buffered severely — forty acres of cocksfoot, one hundred and fifty acres of ryegrass, also one hundred and fifty acres of bush well stocked with timber having been completely destroyed. The damage has not even stopped here ; 50 chains of fencing, with the house lately occupied by Mr Ashwin, and the outbuildings, are totally destroyed, causing a loss of at least £250. Mr Mencies, of the same bay, has suffered considerably. In Little Akaloa, Messrs Pawson, Barker, and Bennet have been considerable losers, fencing to the value of £20 each being burnt to the ground. Large fires have also been seen for the last few dayß in the vicinity of Wainui and French Farm. Judging from the wido range over which it was seen to spread, the damage must be very ■erious. The only authenticated account come to hand at present is, that of Mr 0. Bates, who reports having a twelve acre paddock of richly-cropped cocksfoot entirely consumed." Thsatbs Boyal. — At the Theatre Boyal last night the company appeared in the well-worn emotional play "East Lynne," but their version of it differed in some respects from that usually performed. The interpolations were undoubtedly great improvements, serving as they did to relieve in •ome degree the prevailing Badness of bo much of the drama. Miss Louiso Pomeroy was at her best in the role of Lady Isabel. In the first act she was charmingly natural, even to the pettish grimaces of a spoiled young bride. Her singing of " When other lips," in which she accompanied herself on the piano, was full of artistic expression. In the Becand 3Ct, the varying emotions of womanly indignation at tho proposals of the would be seducer, of intense but ill-regulated love for her husband, and of wayward techiceas, were expressed with wonderful power. Tho crojs-examination of her husband, one portion of which was accompanied by an air on the piano made to indicate her changing moot!-*, was illustrated as much by look and by-play as by word. The realisation of tlie fact that she was jealous was grandly effective, and the abandonment of herself to the desire for revenge was equally good. In the third act, she exhibited intense emotion, -and utter self-abasement, concluding with a burst of hysterical passion absolutely electrifying. In the fourth act, the suppressed feelirg-i of the pretended governess wero admirably shown by tho restless hands ; while the agony of the mother at witnessing the dealli of hor child was painfully, but not unduly, elaborated. Jn the fifth act, the death scene was ■niifieiently realistic, without being orerwroughC ; the last look on hor hus bind and the glazing eye being in the tithes.', decree praise wort ny. Mr Flommin*» •was as good as over aa Archibald Carlyle, and the same may be said of Mr Hamilton, as Sir Francis Lavkon. Mr Hoskins was Lord MountsevtrD, and played with dignity and feeling. Mr Jewett did all that was needful as Bichard Hare, but, by a strange oversight, neglected to wer.r the black whisker** mentioned as his dicguise by his sis er. Misß Lizzie I tu-rence bu a pleasing Barbara Hare. Miss Be***id Tiviaa'a Cornelia Carljle will never be forgotten hy those who havo once •seen it. The other characters were very fairly pliyed. The audience showed their appreciation of the acting by calling before the curtain, Miss Pomeroy, four times; Mr Flemmirg, three time? • Mr Hoskins, onco ; and " La. petite Wishj," once. To night, "As Yon Liko It" will ba performed, with Mm Pomeroy a* Rosalind, Mr Leafco as Jaques, Mr Hosting as Touchstone, and Mr Wallace a* Adair. Tie Hocte Stc-wari of Christchurch Hoi-pitn.. begs to ncl-iiowledi'o the rcc-ipt. with thanks, of a parcel of wearing apparel for tho useof the patients, trom Kr Wntherel. Cave Hook Hotol, Sumner; » quantity if fruit from the lion Mrs Hichordaon, sad a £1 note from fcnperintcnj^nt Droharo. The Snperintebdrnt of SnnnypMo Asylum desires to acknowledge the receipt of £i 2s from Mr Walter Spiin-f. io aid of tho patients' recreation *fui*4 t

An Eminent Fhilanthbopist. —Mr Henry Fay Durant, an eminent Amerioan lawyer, who founded Wellesley College for Women in the State of Massachusetts, has just died. This College, which is designed for the higher education of women, was • uilt ond equipped at an expenditure of a million of dollars, and since it" was opened, six yeare ago, has cost its founder not less than 50,000 dollars a year. All the professjrs are ladies.

Explosives in Cotton Bales. — Attention has again been attracted to the discovery of exploaives in cotton bales which h ive arrived in England from America. The most recent instances have occurred at Oldham, where in bales of raw cotton, in addition to quantities of stone, sand, and rubbish, revolver cartridges were found. Had the cartridges come into contact with the heating machinery a fire would have resulted, ond in order to guard against the seriouß danger involved, great care has to be taken. The United btates Consul has made an urgent request that anything amiss in the cotton trade should be immediately reported to him. A Btbifb of Tongues. — A correspondent of the Pungolo of Naples writeß from Malta, as follows : — " A meeting has taken place at Floriana, at which 7000 Maltese were present, and a number of speeches were ma:e protesting strongly against. the unjust proceedings of the local Government in attempting to force the English language upon them instead of the Italian. During the meeting, and in consequence of provocation on the part of the police, many arrests wore made, and several police officers were slightly wounded. The Maltese as soon as the encounter was over ran about like madmen, shouting, 'Vival'ltalia ! ' * Viva la lingua Italiana!' 'Abbasso i selvaggi di i Kuropa ! ' Among the arrests is to be dei plored that of the editor of the Fede ed Azione newspaper. It is said that a petition signed by 15,000 Maltese is about lo be sent to Her Majesty Queen Victoria on the subject, begging that a stop may be put to the despotic proceedings of the heads of some of the department?. This letter is reprinted in the Boman papers under the heading of 'The Italian language in Malta.' " A Gibl with Telescopic Eyes. — The lost Yankee " yarn " we have come across i 3 the following, gravely told in a Connecticut paper: — Last winter, as the story goes, at Litchfield, a girl of sixteen went riding on a cold day. Beturning home she complained that her eyes pained her. They grew worse, and she was obliged to stay in a dark room. A few days ago she felt something ooming out of her eyes. She helped it out with her hands. Her eyes felt better at once, and her sight was recovered. Now comes the strangest part of the story. Six months ago the girl's eyes we.c straight and natural; now the girl is crosseyed, but she pays no attention to that. She sees things just the same as Bhe always did, but let her olose her right eye and look out of her left eye, and ehe can see a distance of eight or ten miles, and distinguish thinga as well as an ordinary person can only sixty rodß away. She is able to look clear to the lake, a distance of three and a-half miles, and identify anyone, deecrib* j ing their dress even. The distant hil.'a are brought close to her, and she can sea the farmers getting in their hay, even counting the number of heaps, which in an air line are seven miles from her. To test her a fieldglass was used, and her sight would far out* reach any object that could be seen with the glass. If she closes her left eye and looks out of the right, then ahe cannot see anything except close to her, but that eye is a perfect mioroscope. She is able to distinguish things that the natural eye cannot see. The point of a needle looks as blunt as a crowbar, and it is wonderful to hear her describe tbe beautiful colours of flies and other insects. Io her the hair a on a person's head look as large as darning needles, and in the finest pieces of linen she can count the threads as easily as one can count bean-poles. 'Ihe moment she opens both eyes they assume both cross-eyed expression or Bhape, and then she sees again as any other person. It is the intention of her father to take her to New York at no distant day to let some of the celebrated physicians see thiß wonderful phenomenon. The girl herself is a very bright pretty girl, but very timid.