Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5180, 9 December 1884, Page 3

Local & General.

Clark and Ryinan's Minstrel Company begin a two nights' season at Lytteltou this evening. The rainfall at Chertsey for the month of November was 457 i n; for the week ending Dec. 6, 370 in. The usual sitting of the Ashburton District Court has been adjourned from Dec. 10 to Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. Mrs Craddock, of 285, St Asaph street, begs to return her sincere thanks to the men who saved her little grand-daughter from being drowned on Sunday morning. The Lyttelton tradesmen have decided to hold their annual picnic at Southbrook, in a field attached to Mr C. Goldstone's Masonic Hotel. Mr E. Wakefield, M.H.K., lectures this evening at the Oddfellows' Hail, on the "Prose and Poetry of Greater Britain," under the auspices of the V.M.C. A. As reported in our second edition of yesterday, the inquest on the body of the prisoner Herman Hempton, who died in the Christchurch Hospital on Saturday last, resulted in a verdict of " Death from heart disease." The Tinwald Town Board met on Saturday evening, when all the Commissioners were present. A tender by Mr C. Jephson was accepted to do all the Board's official work for .£2O per annum. The next meeting was fixed for Friday, Dec. 26. His Honor Judge Ward was occupied all yesterday in the District Court with the argument on a nonsuit point, &c, in the case of Fanny E. Cochrane v. J. Henderson. At the close of the argument, His Honor postponed his decision till to-day. On Sunday last the Eev W. J. Williams, of Lyttelton, conducted the anniversary services of the Kangiora Wesleyan Church, there being good congregations, notwithstanding the bad weather, A children's floral service was held in the afternoon, and being something new to the place, the church was crowded. The flowers used were carefully preserved, and sent to the Christchurch hospital. The local troupe of minstrels gave an entertainment in the Heathcote Vallley School on Thursday evening, in aid of the annual school treat and the prize fund. The room was well filled considering the inclemency of the weather. The programme, which was of the usual minstrel order, was well received, and at the cloae dancing was carried on till midnight. OwiDg to the detention of the s.s. Wakatipu at Wellington, and to her having to bring transhipments ex s.s. Kaikoura, from Port Chalmers, on her return trip, it has been decided by the Union Company to withdraw, her from the Alcaroa trip. The Penguin will, therefore, make the excursion, and although not so large a steamer, she is in every way a suitable vessel. A meeting of the North Canterbury Caledonian Society was hold at Amberley on Saturday last. The weather was very much against a large attendance. Mr Hugh M'Lean presided, and read an apology from the Secretary for his unavoidable absence. It was resolved that the Society hold a ball on New Year's Eve in the Oddfellows' Hall, and the subject of having a concert in connection with it was left till the next meeting, to be held next Saturday. A meeting of the Leithfield Sports Working Committee was held on Saturday evening- There was a large attendance, Mr Ehodes, jun., in the chair. Various details in connection with the sports were discussed and agreed to. The proposal that a • quoit 3 tournament be added to the programme received support, and it is probable that substantial prizes will be given in the event of the match taking place. It is expected, from the favourable reports of those gentlemen canvassing the district on behalf of the sports, that the Committee will have a sum of over £30 at their disposal for prizes. It was agreed that the final meeting of the Committee bo held in the Leithfield Library on Friday, when all subscriptions are to be paid in to the Treasurer, in order to enable the prize list to be made up. i

The election of three members to represent the policy-holders on the new Board of Management takes place on Jan. 7, the nomination being advertised for Dec. 20. Particulars of the way in which the election will be carried" out have already appeared. Six candidates have announced themselves. Of these, Mr George Fisher is at present member for Wellington South in the House of Representatives, and has four times been elected Mayor of Wellington, an office which he holds at present ; Mr H. D. Bell is a partI ncr in a well-known firm of Wellington j solicitors ; Mr G. S. Graham, until lately, was Manager of the Colonial Insurance Company, and, therefore, possesses special knowledge of the duties of the post to which ho aspires ; Mr E. W. Mills is one of the principal iron-masters of Wellington ; Mr J. Kitchen is a manufacturer, of Wellington ; and Mr R. Aherne is the only Christchurch candidate that we have heard of. There a,re other candidates, but they have not yet formally announced themselves in Christchurch. A serious accident happened yesterday afternoon to Mr J. lMley, of the Oxford Hotel. He was driving a trap along Colombo road, Sydenhain, and when opposite Mr Forrester's butcher's shop, the horse became troublesome, and Mr Batley was thrown out, falling heavily on the road. In the trap was Mr Bailey's son, a little boy, and as the horse bolted off, the j child was in imminent .danger. MrDawson, junr., son of Mr Pnw6on, maltster, saw the I accident, and by his presence of mind and prompt action, no doubt saved the boy ! from harm. He jumped on a butcher boy's horse, and galloped after the runaway. Heading the bolting horse once or twice, he made it slacken speed ; then he sprang from his horse and secured it. Thus, the boy escaped hurtj but it is feared that Mr Batley's injuries are serious. He was carried to his sister-in-law's house j close by, and medical aid sent for. From enquiries made last night, it was ascertained that Mr Batley has sustained severe injuries to the chest, the ribs having been splintered in several places. One of the inventions to be seen at the Healtheries was a box with two compartments — the one containing post card 3, the other stamped envelopes, with a sheet of note paper enclosed. By dropping a penny into a slit on the post card side a drawer underneath is unlocked, and upon pulling out this drawer a post card is found inside it. In the same way, by dropping two pennies into two slits on the letter side of the box, a drawer containing a stamped envelope, with sheet of note paper, is unlocked. Nothing but a penny-piece will unlock the dr?wer, so that these boxes cannot be tampered with, and when the drawer is put back it locks itself ; and the same operation is repeated until all the post cards and envelopes are exhausted. The mechanism is simple and ingenious. One of the Boer robbers named Van Niekirk has invaded Vryburg, and arrested and brutally ill-treated two loyals who were British subjects. He opened all the canteens and stores, and allowed the Boers to help . themselves. The principal loyals fled from Vryburg to Taunga for protection. A regular system of highway robbery is now going on along the trade route to the interior, and the Boers seize goods, waggons, and oxen from every trader who passes. The Boers are marching on Taungs, and have built a laager nine miles off. It is stated that they are maturing a scheme for exterminating the native tribes to the north of the land of Goshen. Alarmist reports are daily being received regarding the serious state of affairs in Bechuanaland, and the feeling on the subject is running very high at Capetown. Yet the Cape Premier has had the courage of his opinions to openly stand up and avow his sympathy with the Boers. Mr Uppington must be a brave man.