Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4863, 30 November 1883, Page 3

Local & General.

The time of closing the entries fer the handioap events of the Canterbury Caledonian -Society's Athletio Sports has been extended to Deo. 10. Upwards of 1800 feet of space in the Industrial Exhibition have been applied for during the pait few days, making the total amount required over 26,000 feet. The following items appoar on the fonrth page of thii issue :-— Tale : " A Bretch of Promise Oase ;" Ohoir Festival ; Lyttelton Harbour Board ; a new Illustrated Paper ; Sill Eye in a Sawmill. The members of the Christ's College Bifle Corps intend having an outing to-morrow, when, they will prooeed to Quail Island for the purpose of holding a oamp of instruction nnder the command of Captain Scott. Henry Forris was, this morning, committed for trial apon a further oharge of obtaining .goods hy meanß of forged orders. This makes the third oharge of this nature upon whioh the acoused will be put upon his trial. The annual ball in connection with tho Christ■chnroh German Sooie y took plaoe in the Oddfellows' Ohambers las! night.and passed off very ■uooessfully. About 40 couples were present, -and danoing was kept np with muoh -pirit till a lato hour. The musio was supplied by Mr Bowman, and the caterers for tb\*» supper were Messrs Freeman Bros. The civio authorities are evidently determined to afford all the facilities in their power for the reserve set apart as a cemitery being used for that purpose. Plans of the .ground and its proposed division into allotments are now being prepared, and the levels ■are beina* taken preparatory to the formation of a road to the reserve. The HonE.Mitohelson arrived at Lyttelton yesterday by the Takapuna, and during the afternoon paid a viait of inspection to the Publio Works Offioe, Christohuroh. Mr Mitohelson left town by ipeoial train for Waikari at 9 o'olook this morning, and will return this evening. He was accompanied by Mr Maxwell, General Manager, and Mr F. Back, Traffic Manager. At the annual meeting of members of the Timaru Mechanics' institution, on Wednesday evening last, it was deoided to ask the Borough Oounoil to remit the amount of Borough rates on the property of the Institute. Mr Gibson (a Borough Oounoillor who was present) warmly supported the idea, and Messrs Foley, Watkins and West were appointed to interview the Coun* oil on the subject. About a quarter- past 5 o'olook this morning some scoundrel rang fire-alarm box So. 12, situated on the oorner of Viotoria and Salisbury streets. The. -fire bells at the stations were rung, and the brigade and -the polioe turned out promptly to deal with the supposed fire; It may be as well to remind the fublio that a standing reward of £5 is offered y the Oity Counoil for the oonviotion of any foolish scamp giving a false alarm by means of the boxes. The Kowai Boad Board held a speoial meeting on Monday last, at the Town Hall, Amberley, at whioh all the members were present. In the matter of the propoaed gravel reserve at Hursley Terraoe, Mr J. S. Woodhouse's observations upon the report of the Board's Survoyor were read and considered, and after some disoussion had en■usd, the Board unanimoualy agreed that the came did not require answering, nor had they any cause to alter their former decision. The Board then adjourned.

Mr J. Pilbrow's Weloome Jaok, Envious and Olarenoe, and Mr J. Lunn's Barbary ani Ugly Baok were' yesterday shipped, Sr Tarawera, for Auckland, to fultheirengagementi atthe ooming Summer Meeting. Last night the Free Methodist Sunday school was broken into, and a number of Missionary oolleotion boxes foroed open and robbed. The thief had evidently effeoted an entranoe by one of the windows. Deteotive Neil stopp.'d the progress of a runaway ooaple on the arrival of the 2 10 p.m. train from Timarn to-day. The gay Lothario, named M'Millan, is " wanted " at Oamaru, the oharge preferred against him being the laroeny of goods belonging to the husband of his companion. He will appear at the Police Court to-morrow morning. Mr Shaw visited the Bangiora Borough sohool yesterday afternoon and addressed the ohildren on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals subject. There were several adults present by invitation, amongst them being the ministers of the plaoe, of whom the Bert 3. Parkin and J. Bmith also spoke a few words. It is now the intention to form a branoh of the Sooiety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the plaoe, with Mr A. H. Cunningham at the head. Mr 0. T. lok writes to the Times of this morning relative to theMayoraleleotionas follows :— ln your report of yesterday's ©lection you say the majority in the preaent instance is said to be larger than that in any previous oontest. Permit me to point out that suoh is not the case, as, at the eleotion for Mayor in 1878, the numbers stood tb.us : — O. ~. lok, 601 ; H. Thomson, 343 ; majority for lok, 258, and, of oourse, there were not nearly so many on the roll as at the present time.. The annual missionary meeting in oonneotion with the Primitive Methodist Ohuroh, Waddington, was held on Wednesday evening last. Mr William Humm presided on the occasion. The Bey P. W. Jones read the General Committee's report, and stated tbat the amount collected by the ohildren oonneoted with the Waddington Ohuroh was £5 Oj 7d. Messrs J. Gills and J. Jebson, jun., and the Bey James Maxwell addressed the meeting during the evening, and, under the direotion of Mr J. Lord, suitable musio was contributed by the Churoh ohoir. A meeting of the Eyreton Sohool Committee was held on Wednesday evening last ; present— Messrs B. Miller (Chairman), Giles, Clothier, Beeves, Button, and Fairweather. The Ohairman stated that the chief business of the meeting was to decide matters with regard to the annual treat to the school children. After some discussion on the subjoot it was resolved that the ohildren be taken to Lyttelton, and that a oonoert and ball be held on Friday, Deo. 7, in aid of the treat fund. The Ohairman was requested to ascertain what the oharge of the trip to Lyttelton would be. It was also resolved that the door leading from the schoolroom into the library be altered, so as te open into the library instead of into the sohoolroom, and that a holiday be given to the ohildren on Friday, Nov. 30, on aooount of the Eyreton and Ohoka races. The fortnightly meeting of the Oak of Sydenham Lodge of Druids was held on Wednesday night in the Oddfellows' Hall, Celombo street. There was a fair attendanoe of members. The Pionio Committee were empowered to prooure the vehioles for the conveyance of members, their wives and friends, to Lansdowne, where the anniversary pionio is to be held on Deo. 17. The start will be made at half-paat eight from the Oddfellows' Hall, Oolombo itreet. There is every prospeot of the pionio being agreat suooess, the Oommittee having arranged all kinds of sports for both old and young ; and those going will no doubt spend a mcst enjoyable day. The thanks of the Committee are due to Messrs W. Walls, W. Barnett, F. 0. Bowler, and Staunton, for the various useful presents they have given for the pionio. Some other routine buainess having been gone through, and one candidate j being initiated, the Lodge was closed. A meeting of the members of the Christohuroh German Ohuroh was held last evening at Mr Ha_aman_'a Hotol, Addington. Mr J. G. Buddenklau presided, and about 40 persons were present, inoluding Messrs Erase and P. Tisoh, trustees. The Ohairman stated that tho meeting had been oalled to consider the question of whether the building formerly used as a churoh should be disposed of or not. After an animated disoussion, it was resolved — " That the German Ohuroh and bells shall remain intact the proporty of the Germans in this distriot." The question of letting the ohuroh was left in the hands cf the trustees. Mr J. Borgfield, of Papanui, and H. Meyer, of Tai Tapu, were eleoted trustees in the plaoe of Mr J. Gerken, deceased, and Mr A. Thiele, resigned. The trastees gave an aocount of their past aotion with regard to the churoh, which was considered satisfactory. A vote of full oonfidenoe in them was oarried, and the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Ohairman. The usual monthly meeting of the Sefton Farmers' Olub was held on Wednesday, in the Town Hall.. There was m good attendance ; Mr Smellie (President) presiding. Mr Diok, ohemist for T. 0. Moorehonse and Co., read a paper on the ohemistry of manures, and gave a very luoid description of the different ingredients oontained in superphosphate of lime, and its adaptation to the different soils and plants, with statistic! of suoosssful experiments made in England and elsewhere, showing the suitability of the nitro phosphatic compound for raising orops of different sorts in different soils. Iv reply to questions afterwards, Mr Diok explained its effects under oertain circumstances, and the various results following oertain orops of grain and other plants. Mr Diok, in acknowledging a vote of thanks, promised at some future time to read a paper on the properties of different soils. At the request ol the members of the Club, Mr Dick promised to try to have the paper he had read printed in one of the weekly papers. The meeting then adjonrned. A programme of good popular mnsio was provided for the entertainment of the audienoe at the concert given in th* Durham street Weslejan school by the ohuroh ohoir last evening. Certainly none of those present oould find mnch fault with the way that the programme was carried out, for the various items were rendered in a manner very creditable to the performers. Mrs 0. M. Gray gave two songa in her usual exoellent style, with much sweetnosß and expression. A duet, " Whispering Hope," by Meadames Gray and Searell, was also very auooessful. Mr A. Searell, who gave " The Boatman's Song," showed that he possesses a good voioe, to whioh, however, the song was hardly suited. Mr Barnes sang " The Vision" in a very creditable manner, with considerable feeling and a olear artioulation. The ohoir, under the baton of Mr B. Trißt Searell, sang a number of glees very nicely with great care and due attention to "light and shade." The instrumental items were quite a feature of the concert, being of great and uniform exoellence. The violin selections of Mr J. Coombs wero given with all that gentleman's usual taate and skill. Mr Withers, although a young player, who made his dSbut aB a soloist last evening, must be complimented on tho success of his flute solo. His playing was marked by a good deal of feeling, while his time was excellent. He had, it may be remarked, the satisfaction of reoeiving the only enoore of the evening. Mr B. T. Searell, to whom muoh of the suocess of the concert is due, played a couple of pianoforte -solos in a finished and artistio style, and also aoted as accompanist throughout the evening. "j_glos" in the Australasian makes the following observations : — " The landlord of one of the best hotels in a oountry township lately engaged a bewitching but unsophisticated housemaid. It was part of her duty to take oharge of the bar eaoh morning, this being the time when tho local oivil servants called to obtain the stimulants neoeasary to braoe tbem up for the day's exertions. Strange to say, after the advent of the fair Luoy, the daily receipts of the bar fell off seriously, and suspioion began to haunt the landlord's mind. Just as she was leaving her post one morning he entered the bar, pulled out the drawer, and found nothing in the till, although the callers that day had been exceptionally numerous. Pointing to the empty space, he slowly nid : ' Look at the till; how do you aocount for this?' She instantly exolaimed : ' Oh, sir, this is not tho till I used ; this is the one," pointing to the contribution box of the looal hospital whioh stood on the oounter ! The landlord waa dismayed. The Hospital Oommittee held the key of that receptaole into which had gone his receipts for a fortnight. But rather than apply to the Committee for a refund, and raise a laugh against himself, he resolved to pooket tbe loas, and perform an involuntary aot of charity, without even getting credit for hia generosity."

It bow appears, aocording to despatches recently published, that the Czar's . famous ride through the itreeti of Moscow, when entering tbo oity on tho occasion of the coronation, wai a sham, and that he was personated by an offioer of the Imperial Guard, made up to resemble him. Ihe fears for his safety entertained by the secret police were too muoh for bim, and he oonsented to the deception so skilfully and successfully oarried out. The seoret is said to have been discovered by the officials attaohed to the British Embassy, and tbey have not wholly maintained the silence whioh was enjoined on them. Something of the same kind was done during tho Alphonso esolandre in Paris, when a young Spanish noble personated the King in a oarriag for the benefit of the populace. In reference to the reoent interruptions of the submarine cable between Europe and Australia, the Oolonial Governments in* terested have reoeived ai letter from the Postmaster-General of South Australia containing the following statement: — "Mr Hesse, of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Oompany, says :— * We have done everything in our power to keep the two cables in thorough order, but the weather has rendered it impossible to complete the work. The s.s. Agnes hae been instruoted not to return to Singapore until the two cables are put right. Wo are aleo having constructed a long length of brass-ribboned cable (400 miles) to be laid in the old cable from Fort Darwin to the edge of the Sahal bank, where wo have experienced so much trouble with the teredo. By this action we trust the Oolonies will be satisfied that we are doing everything that is possible to carry out our part of the agreement with them.'" "Antony and Cleopatra" was repeated at the Theatre Boyal last night to a very fair audience, with the same amount of success as on the occasion of its first production. Miss Pomeroy appeared, if anything, to put more foroe and fire into the concluding portion of the play, while the first lost none of the peouliar power and interest with whioh she invests it. The whole slay appeared to go more smoothly from beginning to end than before, eaoh aotor seeming more familiar with his part. Mr Elliott again played Mark Antony with distinot suooess ; while, ; as before, Mr Joyce's enacting of the oharaoter of Enobarbus throughout the play, the interview between the three triumvirs, Mr Arrowsmith's dying scene, and also that of the two principal charaoters, must be singled out for espeoial mention as bright points in the representation. The usual number of calls before the curtain were received by the leading performers. "Masks and Faces," the dramatised version of Oharles Beade's novel Peg Woffington, with Miss Pomeroy in the role of the actreis, is announced for tonight, and the benefit of the leading lady. The story about the discovery of the Ark embedded in a glaoier on the slopes of Mount Ararat has gono pretty well all over the world, and it was, of course, attributed to the lively fanoy of some Amerioan oouain ; that is to say by those who did not believe it, for there were a few who undoubtedly discovered every willingness to put faith in it if they oould, and looked out with eagerness for further partioulars from the, "Turkish Commissioners who had been appointed to look after the preservation of the saored relic" It is not right that modest merit should go dumb, and we may as well state that the author was no American, but a New Zealander, who inserted the story on tbe firat of April last in the columns of some weekly gosiip in the Auokland Herald. As he himself says, there were some little touohes, particularly the introduction of/ Barnum's name, whioh should have put people on their guard. " Pollex's " tour de force was uncommonly well devised and equally well told, and the celebrity the ark story has gamed may be judged from the faot that within six months it bad bsen printed and disouised in every newspaper of note in the English-speaking world. A correspondent of the St Louis Globe Democrat relates among his personal remiriis'-enoes an amusing and, it is believed, hitherto unpublished anecdote of Mdlle. Fanny Elasler. During one of her tours in the United States the famous dancer visited tbe Military Aoademy at West Point, and remained at the encampment until long after sunset. As she was leaving the grounds, eßOorted by M. Sylvester, she was challenged by one of the cadet-sentinels, who, not having had the same leisure as most of his oomrades for admiring her, determined to make the moat of his opportunity. Poor M. Sylvester, terrified at the sight of the cadet's rifle at tho oharge, fled incontinently, and Mdlle Elasler was left to take oare of herself. " Advanoe, and give the countersign," commanded the sentinel ; but as the renowned danoer did not know what the countersign wae, she was, of course, unable to utter it ; and under the circumstances it was not difficult for the wily cadet to make her believe that, by attempting to pass tho lines after dark Bhe had rendered herself liable to instant death. He took care to explain to her, however, that he was anxious to save her life ; and that, in spite of the risk to himself, he would save it, upon condition that then and thero, in the moonlight, Bhe would danoe the Craoovienne on the dewy grass for his especial deleotation. Mdlle _lieler objeoted tbat there was no music j but the cadet whistled, and, ere M. Sylvester had time to return with assistance, the dance was duly gone through, before probably the smallest "houae" that ever witnessed a performance by the great artiste. The Spectator has thef oUowing: — The plan for employing female dootors in India, one of tbe few thoroughly sensible plans recently started by philanthropists, seems likely to be a success. A sum of £4000 has been raited in Bombay, to guarantee salaries for two or three years to Bnglish ladies— one of them is Mias Peohey, M.D., a most successful student, who fought through the great Edinburgh fight— and £20,000 to start a Native hospital for women; while in Madras, four ladies have been admitted to practise hy the local Medical College. One of these is that remarkable womaD, Mrs Koharlieb, who came to England to perfeot her medioal eduoation, and distanced all 'competitors at the London University. Lastly, Mr Bivers Thompson, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal — and we may remark, the firmest opponent of tho Ilbert Bill —in a Minute full of olear sense and sympathy for native suffering has over-ridden the opposition of the Counoil of the Medioal College, and ordered the admission of female students, if qualified by genera) education. The number of entranoes is oertain to be large, and in a few years eaoh of the Three Presidencies will havea staff of femalo dootors thoroughly familiar with the language and inured to the climate. They will reduce the sum of human misery far more than a dozen orders admitting lads with an English veneer ou them to positions for which they are hopelasaly disqualified. We are glad to notice also tbat tbe new dootors intend to make a buainesa of their work, to claim fees from those who oan pay, and to earn, if they oan, good incomes for themselves. One fortune made by a woman as a dootor in Calcutta will keep the supply more regular than any amount of philanthropy in individuals, who after a few years die out.