Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4415, 19 June 1882, Page 2

Local & General.

Persons interested in the formation of a Young M#n'« Club in- Qt Albans are roqueated to meet in the Merivale schoolroom this evening. A half-mile race for £50 aside, between. O'Connor and Scrimshaw, will be run at three o'clock next Saturday afternoon, at Lancaster Park. His Honor the Chief Justice, Sir James* Prendergast, sat to- day in Chambers, in Bankruptcj, and in bane». A trotting matoh will take place on Friday next, at 2 o'clock, on the Biocarton road, between Mr Frank Eley's black horse Moobo and Mr Thomas Lester's bay mare Betsy, for £25 afiidff. The St Albans Wesleyan Sunday eohool, was re-opened yesterday, it having been closed during the past few Sundays on account of tho prevalence of diptheria in the district. In consequence of tho indisposition of Mrs Moore the lectures advertised to take plaoe on Saturday afternoon and evening could not be given. The Australian Jockey Olub will hold its Spaing Meeting on Sept. 2, 5, 7, and 9. There will be twenty-two events in the four days, and the stakes are enlarged by over £600. Mr W. V. Million was to-day admitted, by His Honor the Chief Justice, as a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. The Hon E. Bichardson will addresß the electors of Stanmore on Thursday and Friday next at the schoolroom, Phillipstown, and the library, Knightßtowa, respectively. Mr Oowlishaw addresses the electors of Stanmore this evening at Phillipßtown, and Mr Pilliet at the Bohoolroom, Bingsland. " Augur " eaya i — " Darebin, who won the Adelaide Birthday Cup so easily, will remain in the Bister Colony a week or more. After winning the Cup his old complaint of rheumaliam again attacked him, and Mr Dakin determined to leave him behind until the weather became more settled. I believe an at! empt was made to buy his half-brother Ffomethous, by Tubal Cain, but Mr Hounse* voll would not take a shilling less than 2000g5." How our New Zealand sportsmen, who let this latter colt slip through their fingers, must regret not having purchased him and his contemporary by Tubal Cain out of Progress' dam Coquette, when they were sent over hero for sale last year. Under the auspices of the different Masonic Lodges of Ashburton, a grand concert was given in the hall in Tancred street on Friday ovening. The night was an unfortunate choice, for the doors opened and the concert began jußt when tho excitement regarding tho result of tho Wakanui election was at its height, and when, to a great, extent, mystery surrounded tho finish, until the last returns came in, To ascertain the exact state of the poll many ticket holder* stayed away from the concert for a considerable time, hut they had rolled up in good force in time to hear tho second part, about two hundred being in tho hall. The programme was a long one and was vory credit* ably arranged, some of the pieces selected for performance being of a rather highor class than is usually found on such occasions, and tho performers bore evidenco in their treatment o{ tho pieces assigned to them, of great care and attention and pretty hard practice. The instrumental musio waß entrusted to good han Js, while tho vocal bolob in one or two casts wore moro than usually supericr. Xwo part songs and two duete wero vory well sung. Mr H. A. Gates was conduotor.

On the fourth pige of this issue will be found a story entitled "Who is he ? or, Love at Sight ;" a ladies column ; football, and Exhibition notes.

The comet was plainly visible and very brilliant last night at 5.30. It sets about 5.49 pjn. It ia to be eeen low down on the horizon, slightly north of west.

The nomination of persons qualified to serve as member for the Stanmore electorate must be made by f eon on July 5, at the Biohmond schoolhuuso, Einjsiand. Tho poll, if necessary, will be taken on July 11. A meeting of the Chriatchuroh Hunt < Club was held on Saturday evening, when* it was decided to hold a steeplechase meeting on Thursday, July -13, a few days before the olose of the Exhibition. A report of the meeting will be found in another column.

The number of doga registered at the City Council office up to date this year is about 300 less than at the corresponding date last jear. 3n consequence the authorities have determined to take vigorous measures against those persons neglecting to comply with tho Act.

We hear that MessTß Joubert and Twopeny are so well pleaded with the plans of the OhristchTirch Exhibition, of which Mr Lambert waa the architect, that they intend to take copies of them to Calcutta, and nee them in the erection of their forthcaming Exhibition building in the; city.

Mr "Weaton has, we understand, backed Why Not to run Oanard three miles over eight flights of hurdles, each horee to carry 32st. The backer of Canard is Mr B. J. Hale, and tho stakes are £100a-side. Mr Weston has obtained the consent of Mr Muir, the owner of Why Not, to allow hia horse to run, and in the event of the owner of Canard aUo agreeing, the match will come off about the beginning of next month.

The Italian community, and the few in our community who served under General Garibaldi in Italy and Sicily, intend to subscribe towards the fond now being raised by the great liberator'u compatriots to erect a monument in his honour. Mr A. Cracroft Wilson, tho Italian consul in Christchurch, will probably be requested to act as Treasurer, and to remit the money to Italy.

The Australian cricketers had a rest the last few days, which should have a good effect upon their play. Today they begin a return match with Yorkshire, at Sheffield, and on Thursday the first of the three great matches of the tour comes on, that against the gentlemen of England. €o far of the nine matches they have been engaged in, the Australians have won five, loet one, and three have been drawn.

The stoppage of the Weia Pass line of railway, which. has seriously militated against tho interests of residents in the North, has been so far surmounted as to warrant the expectation that the line will be open for traffic on Tuesday. Messrs Hill and Thonw, the con' ractors for the extension, have been very seriously inconvenienced by the stoppage, as they are compelled to get on with their contract, and have to cart the piles for tho Waian Bridge and the timber used in the railway from the Waipara, at considerable extra expense.

On3aturday the first traia from Springfield to Christchurch ran off the lina at the Aylesbury Station. Tho train ran off at the pours. It consisted of several trucks (the two first being empty) and the usual complement of carriages, which were well filled with passengers. Fortunately for the passengers the two empty tracks fell over ou their side, and as the train was going at a slow speed thus prevented anything like a bad shook. A messenger was at once dispatched to Kirwee, and another train was sent up from Bolleston to convey the passengers.

On Friday last, June 16, Miss Fawcatt, Who has 'finished her term as pupil teacher at the Ashley School and is about to enter the Normal School, was preiented with a handsome writing desk, the gift of the scholars. The master (Mr T. Or. Smith) made the presentation, referring in complimentary terms to Miss Fawcett's success in her studies and teaching, and conveying to her his own and the scholars' best wiahes for her future welfare. Three hearty cheers for the recipient terminated the ceremony. Misi 2. Barm, of Mount Grey Downs, has been appointed to succeed Mies Fawcett

On Friday a concert was given in the Oddfellows' Ball, Kaiapoi, in aid of the funds of St Bartholomew's Church, Kaiapoi. The -concert commenced with a selection by the local brass band, who also contributed other selections before and after the interval. Some members of the Choral Society tendered several items in excellent style, each part being well taken. These were interspersed with songs by Me?dame3 Champion, Bobins, Dudley, Moore, aad itfisses TTnwin and Winterbourne and Mesara Champion and Milsom. The audience, though not as large as the character of the entertainment merited, was very appreciative.

On the night of the Friendly Societies' ball at the Exhibition, a certain gentleman, with two ladies under his charge, wishing to Jet them have a good view of the procession as it entered the building, took them up into the reporters' room, from which, of course, they could look down comfortably, and see all that was passing. Mr Joubert, who saw them there, wob equal to the occasion, and daring a temporary lull of the noise, he called out from below, "Excuse me, ladies, but the Druids are going up there to undress." The hint was enough. Those standing near Mr Joubert laughed, and the ladies, with then* protector, evacuated the room in double quick time.

The roadway along a very considerable -extent of the tramway rails requires a deal of Attention very promptly. In many places the outside edge of the lines are two inches and more above the level of the roadway. Particularly ia this noticeable on the Papanui line and in Colombo street, where the curve towards the Exhibition is laid. The light wheels of a buggy, for instance, if caught against these rails, could easily be destroyed, as the spoke would be twisted out of the hub. In Buch a case who would be liable for the damage? The City. Council should see that the Tramway Company fulfils its contract, and keeps its portion of the streets in order.

In the bulb garden of Messrs Adams and Sons, Gloucester street, the rue Iris histrio ia in bloom, probably for the first time in the Colony. Max Leichtlin, of Baden, gives the time of blooming there as the middle of December, which would correspond with the middle of June here. Like its near ally, the netted Iris (I. retienlato 1 -), it has the fonrAngled solid leaves characteristic of this {•peciea of Xiphion Irids, but the bloom stems do not riae more than four inches from the ground. The prevailing colour of the flower is sky-blue, the lower petals or falls being spotted with dark blue along the outer edges, but the great charm of the flower is the stripe of gold down the centre of the petals. A ring of this Irid round a bed of Christmas roses (Helleborus) would form a delightful combination in the middle of whiter.

A serious accidont occurred on Sunday. Mr Charles ilakanini, hairdresser, was driving, a rather spirited horse In a buggy along Colombo street, about 1030 a.m., aod when near Brice'a earner the animal made a sudden turn and ran the buggy against a footbridge over the pide-channel. The sudden stoppage of the vehicle threw Mr Makanini out. His head struck with great violence against the comer of a telegraph post and a severe wound woo inflicted on the right side of the head, a large portion of ekin being torn loose from the crown to the e<ir. The sufferer was conveyed to hia residence near, and Dr Guthrie was called in. By hia direction, Constable Coles had the sufferer removed to the Hospital, where the wound was at once sewn up. On enquiry lost night, Mr Makaoini was progressing favourably, no concussion of tho brain having been sustained. An instance of how easy itis to procure timber of almost any dimensions and height from the West Coast was afforded during lost week. A well known " knight of tho cleaver," requiring three new butchers' blocks for his business, gave the order to Messrs Lloyd and Wicka, of this city. That firm being aware that the steamer Grafton was about leaving <Jreymouth, immediately telegraphed for a few blocka to be forwarded by her. Within a few hours a trse 142 ft in height had been felled, of yellow pine, from tho centre of which a log of 54ft was taken. This was divided into 18 blocks, which were at once transferred to the Grafton's hold, the order coming to hand within a weok of its being given. Tho blocks, which average 3ft 9in in diameter, can bo now seen lying in a paddock on the South Belt, and give a vory good idea of the enormous proportions of the tree when it was standing. It may be mentioned that tho tree was taken from the outskirts of a block of similar timber, 30 acreß in extent.

Te Whiti and Tohu, who have returned from their visit to the South, are at present quartered at the Golden Fleece Hotel.

At the Magistrate's Court to-day, a man named John Young was committed for trial at the next criminal sessions, on a charge of criminally assaulting a woman at Phillipstown. The promoters of the Exhibiti&n have decided that each exhibitor who was recommended for the industrial prize Bhall have the fact of that recommendation endorsed on his Certificate of award as an acknowledgment of the special excellence of his exhibit.

At this afternoon's meeting of the Drainage Board, Mr Napier Bell, who has returned from Tasmania, was specially questioned by the Chairman aB to the carrying capacity of the sewers. The Engineer replied that the pipes were more than sufficiently large ; that the admission of solid matter would be a mere bagatelle, and that the flushing power was ample. At the same time Mr Bell remarked that the flushing power could at any time be easily and economically increased. The progress of time has proved the correctness of the views of those who agitated to have the Beference Library opened to the public on Sundays. As the attendance-book shows, the number of those using the room is about twenty-five to thirty each day, and they mostly are quiet earnest-looking men, evidently bent on selfinstruction, and not merely seeking amusement or a way to wile away the time.

TheTionorary secretary of the New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals writes as follows :— The Committee of the above Sooiety desiring to^ prevent any misconception arising in the public mind as to their intended line of action desire me to state that the Society recognises the fact that it can only succeed in carrying out its objects by securing the respeot and support of reasonable and moderate men, and disclaim any intention of going to unreasonable extremes at any time ; but desires only to encourage the careful treatment of, and pment acts of flagrant cruelty to animals.