Latest Locals

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5221, 29 January 1885, Page 3

Latest Locals

♦ At the sitting of the Land Board to-day, the Commissioners present were Messrs Kitson, Lee, and O'Callaghan, The business done was of a routine character, and \ of no interest to the public. The excursion by rail to the Waimakariri Gorge, of which so many people were baulked this morning, will be repeated on Tuesday, so that those who were this time ! so unfortunately precluded from making their holiday-trip will have another chance , of viewing the grand scenery. Nobody is out of the world nowadays. Everybody will soon be within a month or six weeks' steam of Westminster Abbey, j From advices received yesterday from Fiji, we understand that Great Britain's latest j Colonial acquisition but one or two will soon enjoy advantages of " direct steam " similar to ours here in New Zealand. A London firm has decided to institute a steamer service four times a year between London and Fiji via Tasmania. We also read that the Polynesian Gazette, published at Levuka, champions the annexation of the Colony to New Zealand. The railway excursion to Waimakariri Gorge and West Oxford, which took place to-day, was even more successful than that last week to Waikari. The train which left Christchurch this morning consisted of 34 carriages and three engines, and contained about 1200 passengers. The crush to obtain seats in the train was so great that the' station gates had to be locked, and some 300 people were left behind, disappointed of their outing. Mr F. Back, the Traffic Manager, went in the train to superintend the arrangements. The excursionists are to proceed to Oxford by way of Sheffield, stopping at the Waimakariri Gorge en route, and returning via Eyreton and Kaiapoi. A road has been opened in continuation of Madras street north, from the Town Belt to the Edgeware road, a distance of nearly half-a-mile. This will greatly improve the street, as, instead of terminating at the Belt as formerly, it now forms a fine walk or drive for a considerable distance beyond. It may be mentioned that two other roads are in course of formation between the belt and the Edgeware road ; one near the end of Manchester street, and the other to the eastward of Madras street. The Edgeware road itself is being widened from its junction with North road, so that it will be a chain in width, instead of, as in some places, only about 30ft. The annual meeting of the Loyal City of Norwich Juvenile Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., Lyttelton, was held last evening. There was a large attendanceof members. One candidate was initiated and three proposed for membership. The balance-sheet, showing an •increase of .£3O in the sick fund for the year, and the assets .£l9O, was received and after -whicH the election of officers was proceeded with, and the following elected : — G.M., Bro A. Riach ; N.G., Bro G. Gibbons; V.G., Bro J. Gardner ; E.S., Bro C. Kay. During the evening a handsome volume was presented to Bro. C. Clarkson for introducing the most candidates during the past six months. A valuable writing-desk was offered to the member introducing the most candidates during 1885. The manner of celebrating the anniversary of the Lodge was left in abeyance until the next meeting. A vote of thanks was accorded to P.G.s A. M'Willia*ms and J. L. Carrell for auditing the Lodge accounts, after which the Lodge closed in due form. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Anchor Lodge, No. 20, was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Woolston, on Wednesday, Jan. 28 ; A. D. Bro Phillips in the chair. A copy of resolutions passed at the Delegate meeting of Jan. 15 was received. After Bro Goldsmith, one of the delegates, had expressed the nature of reasons for the resolutions, the Lodge adopted them as per circular. Bro Rhodes wa3 nominated as the Representative of No. 20 District for the Grand Lodge meeting of March 3, to be held in Melbourne. The Lodge then proceeded to initiate a candidate. The ceremony was conducted by the A.D., assisted by P.A. Bro Goldsmith and P.A. Bro Penfold. After resuming business P.A. Bro Goldsmith announced to the Lodge that he had a very pleasant duty to perform, viz., to present P.A. Bro Penfold with a handsomely frprued P.A. diploma, in recognition of his many services rendered to the Lodge during the various terms of office. P.A. Bro Penfold responded in a few suitable words. Tt was resolved to pay an official visit to the Trafalgar Lodge, Kaiapoi, on March 5. One candidate was proposed. The Lodge waa closed in due form by the A.D. at 10 p.m. The following will represent the Upper Kiccarton Juniors CO. in their match with the Lancaster Park Juniors Second Eleven on Saturday, at 2.15 ■ Sni. -.— J. Hansom, F. Parsons, A. Lowe, H. ' •Oallaliifan, C Taylor (captain), H. Frost, B. Saville, 11, Word, F. Dykes, A. Pilbrow, and E. Lowe.