Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5035, 23 June 1884, Page 3

Local & General.

An alarm of fire was given on Saturday night, but it proved to be false.

The Addington Musical Society held its usual practice on Thursday evening. There was a very large attendance of members. A draft copy of the rules was presented, but consideration of the same was deferred to another meeting. It was resolved that an Elementary Class be formed in connection with the Society, to begin at the next practice of the Society.

At the Directors' meeting of the N.Z. Farmers' Co-operative Association, Limited, held on Saturday the balance-sheet for the year ending May 31 last was adopted, and the report to be laid before the shareholders at the annual meeting to be held on July 5> considered. The report recommends a dividend of seven per cent on the paid up capital. The number of shareholders on the registry is 1212, holding 5610 shares, value J§s each.

In a recent contribution to the Comptes Bendus, of the French Academy of Sciences, it is stated that at the village of Durfort workmen pass twelve hours daily in the midst of an atmosphere of copper oxide. Their skins, hair, and beards are coloured with copper, and the metal is even found in their bones after death. These men do not suffer from any special disease, as might be expected, nor do they enjoy any special immunity from infectious diseases.

At St John's Church yesterday the ervices, which were full choral, were onducted by the Eev J. O'Brien Hoare, who preached in the morning from Timothy, ii., 12 — " For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day ;" and in the evening from Matthew, xxii., 41 — " While the Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked, saying, What think ye of Christ P" There were very large congregations at both services. In the afternoon the same rev gentleman conducted a children's service.

The covered street in Milan, known as the Victor Emmanuel Gallery, is roofed with glass, and completed by a large dome, round the interior of which runs a chain of gas lamps. The lighting of these lamps, at a considerable elevation, used to present some difficulties, and was always a source of risk, until an arrangement was made for doing the work by electricity. A miniature railway has been constructed close to the gas-burners, on which runs a little electric locomotive, carrying a wick Bteeped in spirits of wine. When it is desired to light the burners, this, wick is set on fire, and the locomotive started on its career. It flies round, rapidly kindling the circle, and exciting great interest among the crowds that assemble nightly to witness the performance.

It is rather disappointing to find the Australian cricketers so easily beaten as soon as they again meet a representative team. The North of England eleven, mainly composed of well-known professionals, has defeated the Colonials in one innings, the batting of the latter being even more abroad than their bowling. Their chance of winning any of the great matches now approaching, against the Players, the Gentlemen, and, above all, England, seems very remote. Their chief hope lies in catching their opponents on a bad or wet wicket, when, as of old, Australian bowling will probably prove too deadly for English batting. Out of twelve matches, they have, so far, won seven, lost four, and drawn one. The last team only lost four during the whole tour. It appears . from a letter in one of the Australian newspapers that a Volunteer force was actually got ready to relieve Gordon. The correspondent says : — " The British public are getting into a great state of excitement concerning his fate, and the suggestion for a volunteer expedition to march to his relief has met with immediate response. The money waa raised and the volunteers, who were all men of good position and undertook to pay their own expenses, were enrolled ; but at present the expedition is at a standstill for want of a leader. A field officer of high rank had undertaken to conduct the expedition, but he received a very distinct intimation from the War Office that he had better stay at home and attend to his regimental duties. Under these -circumstances it seems almost n, pity that our gallant friend, General M'lvor, left this country. Had he remained behind, he might hare found in the Soudau the opportunity for distinction which he missed in connection with Not Guinea."

On Saturday evening the members of the dramatic class connected with the Young Men's Club made a presentation to Mr G. Hogben, in token of their appreciation of the efforts of that gentleman in forming and training the class. All the members were present, with tbe exception of two, for whom apologies were made. Mr Mason was voted to the chair, and called upon Mr Gamble to make the presentation, which, consisted of a very handsome writing-desk (bearing a plate suitably inscribed), and accompanied with an address, Bigned by the members of the class. Mr Hogben, who was somewhat taken by surprise at this unexpected manifestation of good-will, briefly replied, thanking the members of the class for their handsome present, and for the kindly feeling which had prompted them in giving it. He referred feelingly to the pleasant, and, he trusted, profitable intercourse that had passed between the members and himself, and spokeof the benefit likely to accrue to all from such kindly communion. He also expressed his willingness to continue to assist them in any way he could, as he hoped that even if the Young Men's Club were to be broken up, which, he feared, there was some danger of, the dramatic class could still be kept together. The Chairman having thanked Mr Hogben for his remarks and kind wishes, called for three cheers for him, which were given very heartily. The proceedings then closed.

On Saturday, at the Oddfellows' Hall, five children of the " famous Madame Blondin " gave an exhibition of their powers, which were certainly deserving of the applause they received. The children are of varying age, from the eldest, who is about 11, to the youngest, who is little more than four years old. They all vindicate their right to the name Blondin, which seems to be the recognised generic name for rope walkers, for they appear to be as much at their ease when in the air as their great prototype himself. The baby Blondin, whose balancing pole must be almost as heavy as himself, stands on his head, sits in a chair, and generally comports himself as a Blondin of such tender years may be supposed to do. Tlie eldest, Fanny, -who wears the blue ribbon, in addition to walking in baskets, wheeling a barrow, &c, on the rope, also accomplished no mean exploit on the floor of the hall, by walking, within twelve hours, more than fifty miles. She started at ten minutes past 9 on Saturday morning, covered her first and second miles in ten and eleven minutes respectively, and continued her long walk, with but two breaks, during the day, finishing it at half-past 8 in the evening, amid loud cheers from those present. She appeared in no way distressed by her prolonged effort, but afc once mounted the tight-rope and showed her proficiency as a funambulist, her performance on the rope being apparently a rest for her after her walk. Though this clever family may not succeed in attracting large audiences by their unassisted efforts, they should form a very desirable addition to any circus company, where they would contribute very considerably to the entertainment, and would rapidly become popular. They appear again to-night.

The fire at Whiteley's and other recent great fires cannot fail to increase the disfavdur with which even the largest and wealthiest insurance companies regard heavy risks. At the end of last year many companies increased their rates for large amounts, and at the same time developed a certain unwillingness to insure in such cases. The practice in taking large sums is to reinsure a considerable portion in other offices. The competing American offices established in this country have suffered greatly and been practically driven off the ground by taking the offered share ot risks in this way, for, as a rule, they have only had the most risky business offered them and have suffered in proportion. Of late large firms have been actually unable to find cover for their stock. One of the principal drapery firms even went hunting for cover in Prance ; but there the companies would not touch a risk of over ,£IOOO. Owing to this difficulty Mr Whiteley will probably be a very great loser by his fire, after all his insurance is paid. — Pall Mall Gazette.

According to a writer in the Cornhill Magazine, Harriet Martineau, chancing to be in London, consulted Mr Toynbee, the aurist, upon her ailment. He did her little or no good, but was very kind and gracious to her, which, it not being a usual habit with him, as I have heard, made a great impression upon her. She was so pleased, indeed, with the interest he had taken in her case that she resolved to leave him, by testamentary bequest, her ears. She announced this intention in the presence of Mr Shepherd, who observed, " But, my dear madam, you can't do that ; it will make your other legacy worthless." The fact was, in the interests of science, Miss Martineau had already left her head, to the Phrenological Society. I asked the doctor how he came to know that. " Oh," he said, " she told me so herself ; she has left .£lO in her codicil to me for cutting it off." There was nothing, of course, improper in such a bequest, but it was certainly very unusual ; and I never afterwards felt quite comfortable, even at cribbage, in the society of the testatrix and her doctor. I don't think I could play cribbage with the lady upon whom I had undertaken to perform such an operation ; but, then, lam neither a philosopher, nor a man of science. As it happened, the doctor died before his patient, who subsequently altered her intentions altogether. I never, at least, heard of their being carried out.

Twelve American millionaires have united to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem, so that it shall correspond exactly to that vrhich was destroyed by the Ron&ns, a.d. 70. The above item of news is being circulated in the religious papers in England, and was originally published in the Figaro, Paris. The Naples correspondent of the American Register calls attention to the absurdity of the statement and characterises it as a hoax. He is of the opinion that American millionaires would be sure to ascertain the probable cost, and next whether the undertaking would pay. It would be a greater enterprise than building a Pacific railway, and there would be no land grants, no cheating, and no twisting and doubling in mileage matters, and no bulling and bearing on Wall street, as a holy temple would not be a favourite stock for speculation. The temple destroyed was begun by Herod the Great, and completed in about 85 years. For ten years about 80,000 men were employed in its construction, and at the lowest rate of wages this would amount to the snug sum of .£25,000,000. It is safe to say that no association of American millionaires is likely to go into temple reconstruction. Independent of the practical and imroniantic way of looking at the matter, we fancy there is a religious side to the question. It is on record that bold spirits, undeterred by the Divine decree against re-construction, have at various times attempted to build a temple on the old site, but, according to tradition, work »vas always interrupted, and workmen sometimes killed by lightning, earthquakes, and balls of fire bursting from the ground. These incidents were always regarded as manifestations of Divine displeasure. At any rate, no edifice ever has been completed on the site.

A letter received in town on Saturday Btates that there is a probability of Miss Genevieve Ward visiting Christchurch about November or December next. She will probably appear at the Theatre Eoyal in " Forget-me not " and " The Queen's Favourite."

At Boston (United States) nearly ,£1,000,000 has been spent on the construction of sewers for the conveyance of the city's sewage to Moon Island, in order that it might flow into deep tide water, and so any pollution in the vicinity of the city be avoided.

Charles I3radlaugh, the infidel member of Parliament, has a brother who is actively engaged in evangelical work. The latter disclaims any differences with his brother, except in religious opinions, and though there is no fraternal companionship between them, he says he loves him as much as ever and confidently looks for his conversion to Christianity.

The great Mormon Temple at Salt Lake, Avlrich lias boon 28 years in hand, in now approaching completion. The walls arc 10 feet thick and 85 feet high. It lias already cost 4,500,000d015.

The prorogation is expected to take place on Tuesday. With an early sitting tomorrow, and the use of a little expedition, nearly all the business left should be cleared off. If it is not, lam afraid there will not be many members left to transact it. Southern members are anxious to hurry back to their constituents, and will do so by the Manapouri and Wakatipu leaving tomorrow and on Tuesday. Northern members are just as anxious, as in many cases the enemy is at work already in their strongholds. But the northerners will have to " bide a wee," for there is no steamer available for them for the moment. The Hinemoa is to be placed at their disposal, but will most likely wait Sir Maurice O'Rorke's pleasure, and of course his duties as Speaker compel his presence here until the very last minute, so the others have either to control their impatience as best they may, or take ship by the San Francisco mail boat.