Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5171, 28 November 1884, Page 3

Local & General.

*_ — _ — The Royal Commission, re unemployed, sat in the Council Chambers, Ashburton, yesterday. They heard the evidence of j fourteen witnesses. I A special meeting of the Lyttelton 1 Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon, to confirm the new scale of Dock \ charges, which is to come into force on ! Dec. 5. j The Board of Education have appointed j Mr H. W. Hammond to take charge of : the new school at Sefton. The buildings ; are all but completed, and the furniture j and school requisites being to hand, it is i probable the school will be opened very . shortly. | s Mr J. G. Rose, who has held the appointment of accountant at the Patea branch of the Bank of New Zealand, has been promoted to the Christchurch branch. j Mr Rose was presented on his departure • with a souvenir in the shape cf a Masonic jewel, amid many flattering expressions of regret at his removal from the district. > The monthly entertainment in connection with the Kaiapoi Church of England Sunday School, took place in the schoolroom on Wednesday evening. There was a large attendance. The programme, a lengthy and varied one, consisting of vocal and instrumental selections, was carried out successfully by the children, assisted by their parents and friends. The receipts were placed to the credit of the prize fund. A meeting was held on Monday evening, in the Harewood Arms Hotel, to make arrangements for the forthcoming annual sports at Oxford. There was a good attendance. It was decided to hold the sports on the same day as usual (New Year's Day). A Committee was then appointed to carry out the arrangements of the day. Mr E. Allpress was elected Secretary, and Mr W. Mitchell Treasurer. A subscription list was drawn up in aid of the sports, and a good sum was collected in the room. The meeting then adjourned. A meeting of the members of the Oxford Jockey Chib was held at Fisher's Terminus Hotel, on Tuesday evening. There was a large attendance ; Mr W. F. Pearson, M.H.R., in the chair. It was decided to hold the next annual races on March 17, St Patrick's Day, and to restrict them to district horses, the district to consist of the Oxford, Cust, and West Eyreton Road District, and the Upper Ashley Valley. It was decided, however, that, should sufficient funds be forthcoming, there shall be a race open to all comers. The Treasurer, Mr John Fisher, reported on the financial state of the Club, which showed a balance in hand from last year of £1 13s Bd. Mr John Fisher was re-elected Treasurer for the ensuing year, and Mr E. Allpress, Secretary. The meeting then adjourned until Dec. 20. At a meeting of farmers held at the Chertsey Hotel on Wednesday evening, the following resolution was earned : — "That this meeting of farmers desires to thank Messrs Macandrew, Walker, and Grigg, M.H.R.'s, for the support given by them during the last session to the scheme for enabling landowners to borrow money at a low rate of interest ; and also wishes to congratulate Mr Newlyn upon the success that has so far attended his efforts, which have resulted in a Government promise to make full inquiry into the practicability of starting a Land Bank; in the carrying of a resolution of the House of Representatives, requesting the Government to prepare a Bill to enable loans for improvements to be advanced to farmers ; and in the State sanction to the use of Government Insurance funds for mortgage purposes." Our Timaru correspondent telegraphs.—I went this afternoon to see the lad Mitchell, the jockey who was injured on j the Timaru racecourse on Tuesday. He is ' still lying unconscious at the Hospital, suffering from concussion of the brain. The doctors consider the case critical, but not hopeless. The poor lad has not been conscious since tho accident, but there are signs of slowly returning consciousness, and his general health appears to be good. — Dr Grabham visited and inspected the Timaru Hospital to-day, aud expressed his satisfaction with the building and all the arrangements.— The man Walton, who waa recently discharged from custody and sent to the Hospital, being in a very low - state, is now doing well.— The police are

B.ati-*fied that the late fire atthe old Presbyteriau Church was caused by the careless throwing about of lighted matches by some lads, who were smoking cigarettes in the rear of the building. Mr Peach, station master, Springston, has been transferred to Sheffield, and Mr C. F. Deuley h.os been appointed in his stead. An open .air concert was given by the Addington Band host evening in Cathedral j Square, Mr J. Pooley directing. The pro- j gramme, which has been published, was performed in a careful and generally creditable : manner, and the music was evidently appreciated by the large crowd which assembled. A severe test of official integrity was recently witnessed in a criminal court in the County of Limerick, where the judge sat in judgment in a case against his own son for felony, and sentenced him to five years' penal servitude. The young man had, at one time, been Sub Sheriff of the County, and had afterwards been allowed an ample income by his - father, though it proved insufficient for his. extravagant requirements. To force further supplies, he resorted to various j vicious practices, among them attributing Ito his own father the most infamous and i abominable offences, for which his after j excuse was a diseased state of mind. The | father did his duty with a courage and „ fairneßS that parallels the sternness of the old Romans. A final effort is now being made by j the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club ' to wipe off the old balance on the j " Ladies' Champion Challenge Cup," by an appeal to those ladies who have not been previously asked to subscribe. We under- • stand about .£4O is required to effect the '■ object in view. This sum the Club have had to pay, which has had the effect of considerably crippling their funds and prizes, and accounts for the annual ball not being given this year. We are glad to ; hear that Lady Jervois, appreciating the ' efforts of the Club to physically educate the rising generation, has become a subscriber towards ths "Ladies' Champion Challenge Cup." ; The anniversary tea meeting in connection with the Wesleyan Church, Swannanoa, was held in the schoolroom, on Wednesday evening. Tables were provided by, and presided over by, Mesdames Burgin, White, Atkinson, and the Misses Bailey and Dailey. Aftei*tea an adjournment waß made to the chapel, where appropriate addresses were delivered : by the Revs Cannal and Rowse, and Mr Preece. Mr Atkinson read the yearly report, and submitted a balance-Bheet, which showed a balance to the good of <£_ 15b. The proceedings were enlivened during the evening by the singing of some of Sankey's hymns, Mr Harper presiding at the harmonium. Votes of thanks were accorded the ladies and speakers, and a very pleasant re-union was brought to a close. Ihe Hon E. Richardson visited Kaiapoi yeßterday, in company with Mr W. H. Hannay, General Manager of Railways, ' and Mr F. Back, Traffic Manager. He was met at the Btation by his Worship the Mayor, a few members of the Council, the Chairman (Mr J. L. Wilson), and solicitor (Mr Marshall Nalder) of the Harbour Board, , and the representatives of other public bodies. Several matters of importance in ; connection with the affairs of the Borough ■ and district were discussed, to which Mr ; Richardson undertook to give attention, j The party went on to Rangiora for the purpose of making enquiries relative to the working of the special goods tariff be- ' tween Christchurch and Rangiora. Some of the Borough Councillors afterwards met the Minister at Mr Blackett's residence, . and in the course of conversation attention ' was drawn to the need of a new Post-office and Courthouse in the Borough. It was suggested that the buildings should be built in : one block. Mr Richardson said that Go- ! vernment would no doubt take the matter into consideration on receipt of an application from the Borough Council. The ■ visitors left by special train at 3 p.m. Messrs P. and D. Duncan have made an alteration in their patent seed and manure drill, which will add considerably to the usefulness of the implement. The drill has hitherto been found to work satisfactorily with most artificial manures, but when tried with Lawes' superphosphate it did not answer so well. The manure, it may be noted, is placed in a box, across the bottom of which run a number of chains, working tlix-ougli apertures placed at regular intervals, corresponding to the tubes of the drill. When the machine is set in motion, the revolutions of these chains carry the manure into the tubes, whence it falls to the ground. It was found that the superphosphate was not sufficiently disturbed by these chains, : which cut tunnels through the stuff, its ; adhesive nature preventing it from falling : as required. In order to stir it up, a re- ; volving rod passes lengthwise through the ' box, bearing piecos of bent wire. These i wires worked in the intervals between the chains, and were not found sufficient for the purpose, and accordingly they have been supplemented by other spikes, fixed immediately over the revolving chains, so that the manure has no chance of clogging i as before. The machine, as improved, was . tried yesterday afternoon, in Messrs Dun- . can's yard, with some of Lawes' super- ' phosphate, and was found to work admirably. Mr John Anderson's tender for ' a boiler for the Harbour Board's patent : slip has been accepted. The amount of the tender was ,£240. Mr Anderson's tender for two steel boilers, as per specifications, for the tug has also been accepted, the amount being -31530. The second annual concert by Mrs E. Price and her pupils took place in the Oddfellows' Hall last night. There was a large audience, who, judging from their applause and hearty demands for " more," appeared to revel in the performance, and in consequence the programme as given wa3 extended slightly j beyond that which was printed. Fifteen j items were set down, and out of these ' some nine or ten were enthusiastically redemanded. The performers were mostly of tender years, and gave their various pianoforte and vocal pieces in a manner calculated to show the training they receive from Mrs Price, who herself took part in several of the numbers. Miss Evans was asked to repeat the songs entrusted to her in each part,and Miss Price had to re-appear in answer to the plaudits of the audience, for her very spirited play- • ing of Thalberg's version of "Home, Sweet Home," and also for Sehulhoff's arrangement of the "Carnival de Venise." . Her clever execution of the first-named ' item won her a perfect shower of bouquets, ' and in response to the encore she played a setting of "Home, Sweet Home," for the left hand only. Mrs Price and Miss. Evans were encored for a duet from "Norma," and Mrs Price twice over, in the second part, for her solo, in response to which, in the latter instance, she gave a catching little song " Cooee !" The Misses Martin and Preece had also to oblige their admirers again in songs, and Miss Banks in a pianoforte solo "Oinbra Leggiera" by Brinley Richards, * on the celebrated waltz aria from " Dinorah." ; A novel way to increase the list of subscribers has been adopted by a French contemporary — tbe Gaulois. The proprietors ot this journal, so we are told, undertake to pay a sum of .£2OO at the decease of any subscriber who may meet with his death on a railway or tramway, or by being run over by a vehicle in the street. A proportionate sum is paid for injuries received. ' All that it is necessary to produce is the last receipt of subscription. The Gaulois alao ; pays compensation to any purchaser of a single copy, or his heirs, should he be • injured or killed on the day on which the . paper io bought. i An extraordinary being was a short time i ago to be seen at the American Hotel, London. A boy was living there whose • face bore a striking resemblance to that of ' a terrier dog. Every feature was hidden by silky hair, which was very abundant about his ears. He, wns 14 years of age, and was the son of a savage who was exhibited ten years ago as a dog- man, and who was caught with the child in a Russian ' forest. j An epidemic of sore throat which oc- I curred at Dover recently is attributed to a tainted milk aupply. J

On the motion of Mr Tosswill, the Harbour Board yesterday requested their Chairman to again urge upon tho Government the absolute necessity of providing a life boat at Akaroa. .Wo understand that the Rev T. Le Menant des Chesnais will lecture according to promise in the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening next, on "Ancient and Modern Magic." The subject, treated as it is by the rev lecturer, has always proved interesting and instructive, and has invariably secured large audiences. The proceeds, we understand, are to be devoted to the Benevolent Association. Last night the members of the Working Men's Club provided their lady friends and themselves with a very nice entertainment in their hall, which waa nearly filled, a large proportion of the audience being ladies. The programme consisted of several well played selections given' by an orchestra under the leadership of Mr Biinz ; pianoforte solo by Mr Gillies ; songs by Messrs El Wright, J. Glanville and J. Gent, who all received hearty encores ; and two capital recitations by Miss Nellie Harrison, a little mite who at a moment's notice volunteered to fill up a gap, caused by the absence of two ladies whose names appeared ori the programme but who, through indisposition, were prevented from attending. Mr Davis, with his "Thirty Minutes' Fun" provoked plenty of laughter, and brought a pleasant evening to a fitting close. A meeting of delegates from the friendly societies was held at the Foresters' Hall yesterday to make arrangements for the service to be held at the Cathedral on Sunday, Dec. 14. The Druids were represented by Bros Taylor, President No. 20 District ; Bro Bailey, President No. 13 District ; and Bros Sutherland, Tomlinson, Heggarty, Bennett, Silvester, Frederick Watts and Norman. The Foresters were represented by Bros Lockwood, Long, E. Watts, Evans, T. Strange, Crooks and Baker. Bro Crooks, P.D.C.R., was voted to the chair. It was resolved — "That the Orders represented take part in the service at the Cathedral as requested by the Dean of Christchurch, and that the members meet at 10.30, previous to the service, in Latimer square ; members to wear regalia, but not to use banners." Bros E. Watts, Bailey and Taylor were appointed Marshals. The advertising was left in the hands of the Marshals and Secretary. A vote of thankß was passed to the Chairman and Secretary respectively. There was a numerous attendance at the V.M.C.A. rooms last evening, when the Rev F. Langham, who for 27 years has been a missionary in the Fijis, gave a lecture on "Fijian Manners and Customs." The chair was taken by the Rev F. W. Tsitt, who introduced the lecturer. The Rev F. Langham, speaking with, a freedom which naturally followed from his long sojourn amongst the Fijians, described their peculiarities of manner and custom in such a way as could not fail to interest his hearers. Speaking of that most objectionable custom, cannibalism, he gave many harrowing details which had come within his knowledge. In connection with this subject he exhibited a " cannibal fork " and a " pine-apple club ;" the latter so called, not from its use, which has to do with felling men rather than pine-apples, but from its resemblance to the fruit in shape. The marriage customs and peculiar manner of showing respect, sitting instead of standing before those it was wished to honour, for instance, were also graphically described. One most singular fact mentioned was that some Fijians, when at all ailing, had the power of determining the day upon which they would die; having fixed it to their liking, the dread event invariably followed. The rev lecturer rejoiced at the spread of Christianity amongst the Fijians, and concluded with a reference to the successful labours on this behalf of a native convert he had known. On the conclusion of the lecture, which was illustrated by various objects brought from the islands by the lecturer, a hearty vote of , thanks was accorded to him.