Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4619, 15 February 1883, Page 2

Local & General.

Our to-day's shipping news, we regret to say, oontains intelligence of three deaths at sea, including two apprentices who were washed overboard from the barque Thurso, from Lyttelton.

Mr J. B. Jaoombs has been appointed to the position of Bate Collector to the Christohuroh District Drainage Board.

Messrs H. Matson and 00. announce an auction sale, at 2 o'clook on (Saturday, of two sections fronting on Carew's stables, Addington.

The late Cavalry Band will perform in the grounds of the Working Men's Club tomorrow evening, under the leadership of Mr Button.

Nomination! for the vacancy in the Hjdenham Borough Council must be tont in by Feb. 23. Tht election takes place on Maroh 6.

The Wooliton Town Board ia preparing a statement of the road maintenance worki likely to be required in the district, and tho

A grand concert is to be given at the Oddfellows Ball this evening, in aid of th» family of the lato W. Taylor, who w*t drowned while bathing at Bumner.

Bichard Chamberlain, a young man, was •entenoed to three months' imprisonment at the Magistrate's Court this morning for robbing a man named Lynch at the Eltesmerd Arms Hotel on Friday laet. It is pleasing to have to record that the diffi. oulty in connection with the Chemical Engine' Company has been satisfactorily adjusted*, and in the event of a fire the Company will take the engine out at usual. A meeting of the Committee of the West Coast Railway League waß held laet evenine when a deputation -whs appointed to wait on the Hon the Premier with reference to the West Coast railway question. Two German schooners, coming to Port Chalmers from Hong Kong, are now 143 and 141 days out respectively. Their names are the B. H. fcteonken and the Siederhof. The) former was heard of on Nov. 25.

The entries received for the various event* of the regatta to be held on Saturday next, afc the Estuary of the Heathcote, are published elsewhere. From the number and character of these, a very good day's sport may ba looked for.

Mr A. Hill Jaok, genoral manager of th© National Insurance Company, was entertained at lunch yesterday by the Directors at Don* edin. He leaves far Europe, to-day, intending also to visit America, in order to develope the> business of the Company. A good deal of exoitement and amuse* menb was occasioned in Gloucester street last evening by the trial of one ol! Oarmalt's fire esoapee, fitted up in a bed* room, at Mr Olphert's Criterion Hotel. A number of persons descended to the ground with the greatest ease, to the delight of a crowd of juveniles.

The grain ie already beginning to come freely into the railway stations on th« Southbridgor line. At seme of these the sheds contain con* siderable quantities stored up in readiness tot transport to Lyttelton. The first parcel received this year in Leeston was stored yesttx* day by Mr W. Jameson in his private shed. It consisted of eoino 400 bushels.

A oase o! some interest to those who tuflj gas engines was heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr J. Bti GressoD, solicitor, sued Mr Ferd, printer and engraver, for damages on account of the in* convenience and loss plaintiff states he it caused by the noise and smell arising chiefly from the working of a gas-engine oa defett* dant'e premises. The evidence in theoaa* was of suoh a contradictory nature that Mr Whitefoord, the presiding Magistrate, deter* mined to inspect the premises himself to see if any real nuisanoe existed.

The usual fortnightly meetingof the Canter* bury Tradesmen's Athletic Club was held aft the. Wellington Hotel last evening, Mr J. B. Macgregor in the chair. A discussion took place on tho advisability of holding a concert} in aid of the funds of the Club. It was de* cided that a concert should be held at a-* early date, and that a meeting Bhonld ba called in the course of a few days to make arrangements for the same. Mr J. Osborn* was eleoted a member of tho Olub, and* donations wen* roceived from Messrs B m Allan, T. 8. Lambort, G. Harpe-, and Ward and 00.

As yesterday was the time-honoured feast of St Valentine, the number of letters carried through the Post was considerably greater than on ordinary dajs. Ifc was not, however, nearly bo large as on Vrtlen'inc's Day « years gone by, when tho rum) lugs were/ swelled by many thousands of additional epistles. Either the old custom of sending complimentary effusions ant! >\iricH.tures to* acquaintances and friends is W.'rmr.gextinofc. or the " hard times " so muoh o-.. plained of just now will not allow person-, to make even, the comparatively Bmall expend' ore neoessary for the purchase of theso tnflua. At a meeting yesterday (as reported in on? third edition), the arrangements for Sir W, Jervois' reception on hia visit next week wexa> made. His Excellenoy will be met at the railway station on Tuesday by the Mayor, and the Volunteers will form a guard of honour. A triumphal arch will be erected in Manchester street, but no procession will bd formed. The came afternoon the Governor will hold a leva's, and on Wednesday the Mayor, in his official capacity, will give m banquet to welcome the Governor to Christchurch, the invitations to whioh will be confined to persons holding some offioial position in Ohristohuroh.

The Directors' report of the Permanent Investment and Loan Association of Canter* bury, to be submitted to tho members and shareholders at the twelfth annual meeting to-night shows a credit balsnoe for the year, on profit and lose, of £2701 17s. The aharec •f the fourth issue have matured and bees paid during tho year. In oonsequenoe of tho> plethora of money in 1881, and the diffioulty of making investments oonaequent thereupon, the profits for the past year have been lower than at any previous period of the Association's existence ; the directors, however, look forward with confidence to better results during the ensuing year.

At the Distriot Court yesterday several wit* nesses for the plaintiff declined to give their evidence unleis their expenses were paid. For • moment there seemed to be a probability oC things coming to a standstill, but the learned counsel who had called the witneises wan equal to the occasion, and guaranteed the money out of his own pooketT This involved a total of abont two guineas • and as the plaimtiffis an uncertificated bankrupt, and, moreover, wae nonsuited, and ordered to pay the costs ef ten witnesses on the other side, the probabilities ara that he was not a profitable olient.

The arrangements for freeing the Wanganui bridge are approaching completion. Tht Harbour Board, in whom the bridge is vested, decided to accept the £17,000 on the estimate, and abolish the tolls, on oondition that tho loss sustained by the Board from tho bridge revenue was made up by the) County Council, Borough Council, and Harbour Board contributing one-third e»oh. The) Borough yesterday, and the County to-day, agreed to this course, the third eaoh being; £236, to be continued for 22 years, unless) Government in the meantime relieves tha local bodies of theso payments by giving tha Board a further endowment. The arrange* ment between the three bodies* has to T>» confirmed by Aot next session, but it is pro* bable the Harbour Board will throw th« bridge open on April 1, when the oxisting lease of the tolls expires.

Mr J. M. Thompson, President of the) Ohristohurch Working Men's Club, haf received a letter from Sir John Hall,, requesting tho Committee to accopt ft oopy of the Royul Atlas, and alto ths latest edition of Chambers' Enoyolopasdi* oampleto. Sir John wroto : "My own use o£ the to works induces me to hope that they may be found useful to the members of the* Club, and I shall be pleased if the Committed will accept them as a testimony of my in* terest in tho institution whose affaire they administer." It is almost needless to remark that the genorous gift was accepted by thft Committee with thankfulness.

At a well attended meeting of stono masons held at the Foresters' Hotel lut evening, at which aleo a deputation from tho plasterers attended, it wna determined to hold the annual picnic at Suraner on Saturday next. It was arranged that the stonemasons should meet at tho Foreelors' Hotel at 8.80 a.m., and tho plasterers at the Wellington Hotol at the »amo hour, both parties to rendezvous in Cathedral square at 9 a,m. f and proceed to the spot selected. It is in* tondod to givo a large number of prizes for races to children and adult*; the various employers having subscribed liberally toward* the prizo fund. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, Me George Muschamp.

A meeting of members of the Oxford Farmers' Club rrne hold in the Boad Board office on Monday evening last to oonsider a letter from tho Secretary of tht Oxford Horticultural Society, suggesting tho advisability of the Club holding a ehowof agricultural produots, Ac, in connection with tbe next horticultural show, to bo held on March 8. There wbb a fair attendance, the President. Mr W. 7. PoarioD, occupying the chair. It was docided that the suggestion should bo carried out, and Mesors Kngelbrccht, Parlane, Wright, Skurr and Aldridge were appointed ft Committee to co-oporato with the Hortioul* tural Society. £5 was voted out of the fund* of tho Club towards the object, and a subscription Hit opened, and a considerable) amount promised in the room. Tho meeting lh*n adjourned*

James M'Brearty was yesterday committed for trial at Wellington on a charge of forgery and uttering.

Thomas Watson, proprietor of the Southland Hotel, Gore, hanged himself yesterday. 2To cause u assigned.

The employees of the Crown Brewery Company held their annual picnic yesterday. After spending a very pleasant day at Lam4owne, they reaohed* town about eight o'clock.

The Union Insurance Company issued yesterday a fire policy, the premium on which amounted to £1016 lls. This is stated to be the largest fire premium ever reoeived south of the Line.

The cable telegrams this morning announce the death of Wagner, the great German composer, author of "Lohengrin," "Tannliauser," and other well known examples of the " music of the futuro ;" nnd of Cardinal M'Cabe, Archbishop of Dublin. Death has been very busy with famous men lately.

Mr A. Evans, who has for three yeara occupied the position of Secretary to the Christofeuroh Tramway Company, has been appointed by the Directors, General Manager of the Company. The many friends whom Mr Eviuie has made in Ohristohurch will doubtless be glad to hear of his advancement.

The principals of the Tambour-Major Company left town yesterday for Ashburton, where (hey p'ay two nights. Thence they go to Oamara, playing there two nights. The rest of the Company join them at Dunedin, where they are to open on Saturday week.

Tawhiaowill go baok to his settlement muoh rioher than when he left it. At every pah he has visited on the Coast (says the BangitiJcei Advocate) substantial presents of £1 notes have been offered for his gracious acceptance, and he ha* very generously deigned to receive the offerings of his people. At Turakina he " accepted." a considerable sum, and at Te Beu Beu and Kakarika similar offerings were made, while at Awahuri— the principal meeting in the district— it is asserted that at least 600 £1 notes will be given him for feis condeMention ia visiting his " subjeots " at that pah.

She Auckland Herald states that M. do Oesare, who has been sent out from Malta with a viow to inspecting the Australasian Colonies as a suitable field in which the surplus population of the little Mediterranean Islands might find a home, has declared that the Auokland province is, as far M regards climate, the most fitted that he has yet seen for this purpose. Malta, which is literally nothing but a bare sandstone rock, every atom of aoil thereon having been imported, manages to support a population of 1400 souls to the square mile, and it is now found that th«re is just a little difficulty in providing food for this dense mass of people. Ihs Maltese is ingenious and thrifty, he is a splendid sailor, and also has a varied experience of the many agricultural methods used- in Mediterranean countries, whose climate is not unlike our own. He should make a good colonist.

There are signs (writes a Home paper) of the fast approaching dissolution of the Turkish Umpire. Austria, Busßia, and Germany are beginning to wranglo among each other as to the manner in which the Ottoman territory is to be divided. Hence the noise about the visit of M. Giers to Prince Bismarck and -his marked attention to the Pepe. Germany does not want any part of the Sultan's dominions. But if Austria pushes on to the Bosphorus Prince Bismarck a reaolved to advance all the way to Trieste. Bussia will not be satisfied with extension merely in Asia. France, the nation which should not be confounded with Bourse rings, is paoifio. tihe ia indifferent to what goes on in Tunis und in Egypt. But were Germany suddenly to extend herself from the Baltic to the Adriatic, we might eipeot the Frenoh to put in a claim for the provinces lost in 1870 71. It is therefere t» be faurcd that the disruption of the Turkish power will be a signal for military strife on the Continent.

The year 1882 will be memorable, if for nothing elae, as the year of manias and their exposure. No more remarkable instance of mania and its collapse has ever been presented to the world than that of the eleotrio light business. It was only in April that the rise in "lights" really began. On the 16th of the following month the mania had readied the zenith of its madness. On Nov. 1 we (Money) wore enabled to write of it as, except in the losses it had inflioted, a thing of the past— as having utterly collapsed. The completeneeo of the smash may bo most easily shown by the quotations. On May 16 Brush £4 sharei wero quoted 31. On Nov. 1 they had fallen to lOf, and to-day are marked 61. Hammonds, £2 10* paid, on the same day were run up to 21, foil to 6 in Novomber, and to-day are 3i. Ilia abures in the minor Companies are' at a discount, and generally unmarketable ; and it is clear that whatever may be the f urure of the light itself, ninetenths of tba existing Companies must collapse.

According to the Boston Journal, this was the way in which the American President had his message pub in print and yet kept from the publio until the proper time. About two weeks before ho sent for Mr Bounds, publio pr nter, and gave him part of the M.S., enjoining upon him the utmost secrcoy. Mr Bounds set up the matter himself, assisted by Captain Brian, foreman, and Mr Taylor, chief clerk, i'he reßt of the M.S., when ready, was given by Mr Bounds in vory short "takes" to a few trusty compositors. Mr Bounds read the proofs himself, and made the correction?, and kept all the M.S. proofs, and galleys, when nob in use, locked up in a burglar-proof gafo. As a result not a line leaked out, and even the " guesaers" were so far baffled that when Mr Bounds was visiting the President to carry proofs and get copy, they imagined that the President was going to remove him and had sent for him to tell him bo, and they made a serious announcement to that effeot.

At the Milford Petty Sessions, Donegal, recently, Lord Leitrim took his place on the Bench with Captain Feel, 8.M., and attracted aiuoh surprise by appearing with a revolver suspended from a girdle. The fact was explained by the following singular charge :— A woman with an infant in her arms was brought up in oustody, and charged with intimidating his Lordship, who came down from the Bench when the case was gone into, and, buying been sworn, said it was a charge under the Prevention of Grime Act. On the previous day he had met the prisoner coming out of hi* farm gate. He asked her where she was going, and she said she was going to some of the houses around. He told her sho must turn bock to the public road. She replied, " Oh, Lord Leitrim, you would not be tuning mo back." He repeated his injunction, and she then turned to the publio road, and at the same time said, " Tou should do mure good to the poor. Take care of yourself, or you'll meet with the same fate as your undo." Sho begged his pardon, and asked htm to let her off. He gave her into the hands of the police. In reply to Captain Feel, Lord Leitrim Raid the defendant did not belong to the County Donegal, nnd her husband was not a tenant of his. She was a stranger. The woman's husband, an active, intelligent- looking young man, about 23 years of age, was in Oourt. The prisoner was remanddd for eight days.

The burning of a theatre might be supposed to pub an od-1 to applications fur orders, but with some people Ihe desire to visit the ploy without pay wont is unquenchable. One of these persistent individuals had received a ticket for ti.o Albambra for one evoning subsequent to the fire, but even the destruction of the houßO did not reconoile him to his disappointment. Ho addressed a letter to Mr William Holland, whioh, commencing with words of condolence, ended by a reference to the order, and the expression of a hope that he would bo able to change it for some other theatre !

A good story is told of M. Grevy, who is an epioure in coffee. One day, out hunting, he entered a roadside wine-house. "Have you any chicory P " he asked. " Yes, Bir." " Bring mo some." The man of the house returned with a small can of chicory. "Is that all you have ? " asked the President of the Bepublic. "We hare a little more." "Bring mo the rest." When he returned with another can of ohioory M. Gre'vy said : " You have no moro P " " No, sir." " Very well ; now go and make me a cup of coffee."

An unusally large number of seals hare made their appearance in the Baltio, a few milei north of the Samland coast. Nature •ays that should these animals make that •pot their permanent residence, the talmon fisheries would be in a sad plight. On the. Pomeranian coait the damage to the salmon fisheries done by the seals i* very considerable.

To-day Messrs S. P. Andrews and Co. sold half an aore of land frosting on Barbour street, Wilson's nuraery, together with a two storeyed house of eight rooms, for the sum of £640. There was a good attendance at the sale.

The City Council workmen were engaged to-day in making the framework for the triumphal aroh to be erected at the junction of the South belt and Manchester street, on the day of his Excellence's arrival. It will be a Boman aroh, about 40 feet in height, with turrets at the sideß.

At a meeting of the members of St Andrew's congregation, held reoently, it was resolved to request the Trustees to obtain possession of the ohuroh as soon as possible. It is stated that the Bev 0. Frasor has called a private meeting of members of the congregation to consider the position.

A soheme has been formulated by the president of the Wealeyan Conference to ereot a Memorial Chapel, School, and Manse at Epworth, the birth-place of John and Charles Wesley. The premises are to be erected at the estimated outlay of £7000, which amount is to be raised by lady col* lectors.

Human hair out from the fair heads of Swedish and German girls, and amounting in value to £400, has reoently been stolen from the premises of a firm in Birmingham. Ernest Lodge, a discharged clerk of the firm, has just been arrested charged with the robbery, and remanded. Prisoner, as alleged, sold 91b of the valuable material to a local hairdresser for a sum considerably below the price paid to the girls who cultivate their flowing locks for the market. Fine hair, SBin in length, it was explained, realises a sovereign an ounce, whilst the weight of the hair stolen was 871b.