Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4605, 30 January 1883, Page 2

Local & General.

Mr W. Izard, 8.A., has been appointed Law Leoturer for 1883, at the Canterbury College.

A public soiree in connection with 6 1 Peter's Church, Ferry road, is to take place to-morrow evening.

An ordinary meeting of the Belwyn County Council was held to-day. A report of the business done will be found elsewhere.

A great bush fire has ooourred at Mount Lofty, near Adelaide. Three miles of market and other gardens have suffered heavily. The information laid by the Dunedia City Council against Mr Proudfoot, that the steam motors were a nuisanoe, was dismissed yesterday by the B.M.

Mrs Hampson will deliver an address this evening, under the auspices of the Youag Women's Association, in St Paul's Church schoolroom, Liohfield street. On Friday next (St Mary's Day) there will be a choral celebration of the Holy Comunion in St Mary's Church, Merivale, at 7.30 a.m., and a short service in the evening at 7.80. The house steward of Christchurch hospital begs to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of a donation to the destitute patients' fund of £10 from Mr George Gould, through Dr Prins.

A telegram has been received at Melbourne, from Suez, announcing that the steamer Orient had arrived at that plaoe, and reported that her refrigerating machinery was working quite satisfactorily. The Wesleyan-Methodist and PrimitiveMethodist Conferences at Auokland held a picnic at Bt Heliar's and Briok Bays. At the former one thousand were present. Dr Stephonson delivered an address.

One of the few monster trout secured this season was placed on view to-day by Host Kavenhill, of the Gaversham Hotel. This fine fish, which was booked in the Belwyn, is 31 inches long and 21 inches in girth ; and its weight ib close upon 20 pounds. The members of the Selwyn Oonnty Council have agreed to nominate the Hon. E. Biohardson and their Chairman, Mr B. J. Lee, to represent them on the Lyttelton Harbour Board. The formal nomination and eleotion will take plaoe on Feb. 12.

Amulet and Clarence left yesterday to fulfil their engagements at the Wellington Summer Meeting. Webster was also a passenger by the same boat, for the purpose of piloting Messrs Mason and Yallance's new purchase, Louie, in the Wellington Cup.

An old Blenheim settler named William Fike iras accidentally killed on Saturday. He was riding along a disused traok in Wairau Valley, when his horse bolted and ran. into a telegraph post, killing his rider instantaneously. A verdict of " Accidental Death" was returned at the inquest.

A correspondent calls attention, in the Timts of this morning, to the neglected state of the Avon near the New Brighton bridge. He asierts that the river is choked with weeds, and that for four months no riverman ha* been seen there. If auoh is the case, the contractors are simply left to do— or net to do— as they please.

A match was played last Saturday between tho Woolston C.O. and St Albans CO., whioh resulted in a victory for the Woolston C.O. on the first innings by 49 runs. The soores stood: — Woolston, 82; St Albans, 33 runs. Sedgewiok, 15; White and M'Kinnon, 10 runs each, batted well for the Woolston, and Lloyd 11 runs for 8t Albans. A man named Jeremiah Casey was admitted into the Ximaru Hospital on Saturday morning, suffering from rheumatic fever. In the afternoon during the übsenoe of the warder, he got through a window, and went towards the seabeach ; but was resoued just after entering the water. He was taken baok, but became very violent, and late on Saturday night he expired suddenly.

From Inveroargill has arrived a new aspirant to public patronage in the person of Mr John Dewe, who gives lessons and exhibitions in the art of bone taming, a la the world-famed Barey. Mr Dewe brings with him very high credentials from the journals of Inveroargill and Dunedin, in both of wbioh placet he recently gave exhibitions of his skill in taming vicious horses.

The Botorua from Fiji brings news of a great fire at Leyuk* on Jan. IS. The Leruka Hotel, Alceen Hotel, and Mr Grounds' chemist shop were destroyed. TheLevuka Hotel was insured for £1600 in the Transatlantic, South British and New Zealand offioes. The other insurances are unknown. The great storm on Jan. 12 and 13 did great damage at Tarinui and other places.

The valuation roll for the Borough of Ashburton has now been completed. It shows the total rateable value of property in the Borough to be £25,668. This of course is subjeot to such reduction as en appeal may be made by the Assessment Court. Last year after the roll had passed the Assessment Court, the rateable value stood at £24,678 12s, some £200 or so having been taken off the assessor's valuation.

The forty-third anniversary of the Auokland Province was celebrated with great iclat. The regatta passed off very suooessfully. The yaoht race resulted Arawa 1; Bita, 2, the latter carrying away her topmait. The merchant sailing vessels' gigs, Antares, 1 ; Border Ohief, 2 ; Aoioia, 3. The Famenoth also competed. Three man- of- war boats competed, all from H.M.S. Lark ; the first cutter won easily.

A telegram from New Plymouth, in our third edition of yesterday, stated that the steamer Penguin had anchored near Stoney River, her machinery having broken down. B ho steamed into New Plymouth harbour at 5 o'clock in the evening. On boarding her it was found that off Opunake her maohinery had become disarranged, and she was com* polled to stop her engines to put it in order. She took in her mails and passengers and left at 7 o'clock for Manukau.

On the occasion of the annual sports at Shefield, some ef the ladies of the district provided toy and fruit stalls for the purpose of aiding the ohuroh funds. Their praiseworthy effort realised £16 8s Id ; and this sum was handed to the church officers. There was already a sum of £13 in hand, the prooeeds of a concert given in September ; and the moneys have now been expended in repainting the ohurch, and in making some other muoh needed improvements. Mr A. H. Cunningham, of Bangiora, who has been a member of the Board of Education for the past three years, and who now retires by rotation, has been asked by no less than fourteen Committees to allow himself to be nominated in the interests of the country sohools. Mr Cunningham has consented to do so, in accordance with these requests. It may be remarked that Mr Cunningham has attended every meeting of the Board, except two, since his election, and on these occasions he had valid reasons for claiming absence. A Urge bush fire was racing in the centre of the township of Oartorton on Sunday, and several properties were in ieriou3 danger, which was only averted by the vigilance of the settlers. A large hole was burnt in ene roof, two families removed their household goods, and others packed up ready to move. The fire engine was got out, but was almost useless in the face of the strong wind blowing. At one time the beit part of the town was in imminent danger from the large pieces of fire drifted by the wind. About 100 acres were on fire, and the smoke was fearful to work in. Thore is no danger now unless from a gale of wind.

At a parade of the Ljttelton Naval Artillery last evening, 12 new members were sworn in. After the parade a general meeting of the Corps took place, when the rules wore revised for approval by the Government. The non-commissioned officers were appointed by the commanding officer, Lieutenant M'Lellau. At the oloie of the meeting Lieutenant Drape* field handed Lieutenant M'Lellan a requisition, signed by the officers and men, asking him to accept the office of Captain Commander. Lieutenant M'Lellan said he would take time to consider tho request ; but if in the meantime any other gentleman came forward for the office who was fitted to fill it, ho would retire in his favour.

On November 16, the Dora, steamship, of Sunderland, while oiT£Harboro, in equally weather, passed a large raft, which appeared to havo three or four dead bodies lashed to it, and the sea washing over them. The raft oould not be secured in consequence of the gale and high sea than experienced.

As the gas-fittings have now been put int the new hall of the Canterbury College, i will be availablo for evening leotures and 1 other similar purposes, from this time for» ward.

The New Zsaland Shipping Company has received cable advice of the sailing of the s.B. British Zing from Graveßend ou J»n. 26, with about 130 passengers. Tae>steamer did not leave on the advertised date owing to some delay which occurred in fitting her with refrigerating maohinery. On Saturday evening last, Jan. 27, as Mr 0. King's mare, harnessed to a buggy, wa» standing outside M'Lean'e Hotel at Amb'erley,. something startled the animal, causing it to bolt at a furious pace, and in trying to go through a narrow gateway, the buggy wa» left behind a perfeot wreok. The mare observing one of the side doors of the billiardroom open proceeded to take possession, and she was not removed without a little trouble. Mr Sing having secured another vehicle, proceeded to his home at Leithfield, where he arrived safely.

The head master of the Boys' High School, Mr Miller, has resigned his appointment, and will Ofiage his conneotioa wilh the establishment at the olobo of tha term of his engagement, the end of Maroh, 1884. Messrs Ohilton and Watson, assistant matters, having received more lucrative appointment*, have also resigned. The Board has appointed Messrs T. P. Arnold and F. D# Fergusion to be assistant masters, and hat authorised the College Committee to take the) neoeßsary steps for engaging a head masted on the same terms as the present bead mastee received. The salaries of the assistant master! have been raised to £285 per annum. J.Bjron, a resident in Kaiapoi,whonotlontf sinoe had the misfortune to have his house oi|< the Ohoka road burned down, was the viotinx of an extraordinary outrage on Sunday last* On returning hone with his wife he found that the furuiture which he bad purchased since the fire had been considerably out about and injured, and that a Bum of money amounting to about £27 in notes and silvee had been taken out of one of the drawers ia his bedroom. Ha at once communicated with the police, and Constable Leahy proceeded to make an examination of the premises. Nothing, however, could be traced or observed of the intruders, who must, if the supposition be correot, have very carefully concealed theu? ■teps.

A largely attended meeting of the member! of the North Canterbury Caledonian Society was held at the Crown Hotel, Amberley, oqf Saturday evening. Mr H. M'Lean, vioe-Fro* sident, in the absence of the President,' oooupied the chair. MrG. M. Adams, the Seoretary, sent in his resignation, which wif accepted. Mr W. H. Gibbß was then eleoted Secretary. A largo amount of routine buiji ness was traneaoted, and the Secretary in* structed to communicate with the several firms in Ohristohuroh, who gave speoial prize!) at the last gathering. A programme almocft similar to that of last year was agreed upon, bufc before being finally adopted it was deoided td adjourn the meeting for a fortnight. A vott of thanks to the Chairman oonoluded tht) proceedings. •

The third heat of the Senior double*' loolling race held in connection with tha Canterbury Bowing Club was pulled last sight, and after a splendid race resulted as follows :- Don, south bank : J. F. Grief* ■on and B. K. Spencer (W. Dunnage, cox), lf Dee, north bank: B. Wynn Williams and P. Haultain (A. Bees, cox), 2. The Dee was the first to get away, and at the Tannery wag leading by a length. Here Grieraon began to come up and got round Pratt's corner a quarter of a length in front. Wynn- William* was not yet disposed of, howevor, and being well baoked up by Haultain, he regained the lead and kept it to Oowlishaw's, where ft ■light mishap to one of his soulls enabled Gnerson to come up again and win the race after a splendid contest. The fical heat will be rowed to-night.

Those persons who are lovers of organ musifll hare a treat in store, as Mr Towsoy, the organist of St Paul's, Dunedin, will perform on the Cathedral organ this evening. There are few organists in the Colony capable of affording their audience as xnuoh enjoyment as Mr Towsey by a performance of this kind, because there is soarcely another who com* bines such perfeot execution with the faoulty of so completely expressing the soul of musio through his finger ends. With the generousj spirit of a true artist Mr Fowiey gives, we understand, his services gratuitously, and ai the offertory is in aid of the neoesiarily heavy expenses oonneoted with the choir wo trust that everyone who attends the perform* ance will aid Mr Towsey's kind purpose by substituting— cay the substantial naif-crown — for tho customary flimsy threepenny piece.

In the oourie of last week the members of the Paroohial and Diooeßan Board of Nominators for the parish of Kaiapoi received ■ letter from the Bey F. H. Long, who is in temporary charge of the parish, to the effeot that he must deoline to accept the permanent charge of the parish. Thore are many reasons whioh have been alleged for this, but one of the prinoipal is the unhealthy situation of tha parsonage. The grounds of the parsonage art frequently subjeot to overflow from the river, and there is occasionally some water found round and underneath the house. This is decidedly objectionable and dangerous t and there can be no doubt that the sooner ths ohuroh authorities dispose of the present property and prooure a more suitable site for a parsonage the better, and the sooner will • clergyman be induced to remain permanently in Kaiapoi.

On Thursday evening, Jan. 25, Hie James Beynolds, stationmaster at Springfield, who is about to remove to btudholme Junction, was entertained by his numerous friends at supper, and presented with an illuminated address and a clock. A capital spread was provided by host Cassidy, to which ample justice was done. On rising, the Chairman, Mr James Cunningham, in • neat speech referred to the manner in wbioh Mr Beynolds had as a publio servant gained the esteem of all with whom his duties 1 brought him in oontaot, and as a private individual had endeared himself to a large circle of friends, a few of whom were met together to present him with a slight memento of their regard in the form of an address, which ht would now read, and which it was proposed to have engroßied and illuminated. He also begged his acceptance of a clook, suitably insoribed. Mr Boynolds replied, thanking tho company for the handsome present they had giren him, and above all for the kindly feeling they had oxhibited, and the hearty withes expressed for tho future welfare of himself, bi» wife and family.

A meeting of hotel employees oppoied to holding the annual pionio at Sumner wh held last evening at the Criterion Hotel. About 24 persons were present, and Mr Fitzgerald occupied the chair. Messrs &• Long and Old ham waited on the meeting on behalf of those who had decided to hare the picnic at Sumner, and explained that they could not alter their arrar.goments. Considerable discussion ensued, and a good doal of dießatisfaotion wag expressed at the fact that no balance-shoot had been produced in conneotion with last year's picnic. It was finally agreed to make arrangement!) for holding a separate picnic elsewhere. Mr Fitzgerald! was appointed Secretary, Mr Olphert, Treasurer, and MesßH W. Tucker, J. Fitx« gerald, B. Fullarton, and J. Fitzpatriok, Oommitteemen. Messrs Tucker and Fitzgerald were elected to collect subscription! towards the fund, and it was resolved to in* vite the 00-operation of tho wino and spirit merchants' employees in carrying out the affair. Tho moeting then Adjourned to Friday evening next.

Our Northern correspondent writes : — The heavy and continuous rain which fell throughout the greater part of Sunday being unaccom» panted by the slightest wind, has done very little harm in the Northern district. After careful enquiry it has been found that the greatest amount of damage spoken of is presumptive* as it is expected that the grain will shell much moro readily, both in being h arrested and ia caso a wind should spring up before it is cut. There are soveral instance* of crops being laid, but a creat difforenoo exists between the laying of yesterday and that on Boxing Day. In the latter instance not only wu the corn laid, but the wind beat it about bo as to make it into a tangled mail. In this case, however, suoh crops as are laid— and these are few — are lying evenly and regularly in ono direction, the sheer weight of the corn having carried the straw over en masse. On the lighter lands where harvest is farthor advanced, soreral stacks hove been caught, but as most of tho farmer* have provided themselves with tarpaulins the damage is reduced to a minimum. With some fine weather for the next week or ten days no difference in the yield will be f eIU

A great grandson has just been born unto the Emperor of Germany. These German princes, stately though they are on State oooasions, are hiirgerlich enough in their private lives, one great reason why they are beloved by their people. So, irhen the dooisive hour approaohed, the Grown Prinoe walked impatiently up and down in front of his daughter-in-law's, just as any plebeian papa might have done. The "little Prinoe," as Prince William is popularly called, at last put his head out of the window, and called in naive ecßtaßy, " Papa, papa, it i* a boy after all." "Of course," ■hooted his father, in reply, "what else could it have been?" Great was the joy in the house of Hohenzollem, and aa soon as possible the four generations were photo graphed together, the old Kaiser with the tiny baby on bis knee, and the papa and grandpa beaming upon them from either tide. The "Four Emperors," as the pioture ifl called, is sold by hundreds all over Germany; and looking at them, one can J>elieve the future of the family is well assured, and oan understand, also, how it is that this royal family holds bo warm a place in the hearts of its subjeots.