Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5454, 30 October 1885, Page 3

Local & General.

* The sittings of tha Synod came to a close last evening, after a rather shorter session than usual. The number of entries for the Northern A. and P. Association's show was not made up by last night, but the Secretary approximated it as 700, or nearly 200 more than last year. The second lecture to the male members of the Rangiora Branch of the St John Ambulance Association, was given by Dr Gordon, on Wednesday evening. The subject taken up was the " Circulation of the blood," and during the delivery of the lecture the Doctor gave practical instruction regarding the means to be resoited to, in stopping hemorrhage. Dr Gordon delivered the same lecture to the ladies connected with the class on Monday afternoon last. N«. 2 L.O.L. Christchurch Purple St*ar held ita usual monthly meeting in the Orange Hall on Tuesday evening. There was a large attendance of brethren, also a number of visitors from Invercargill, Star of Ellesmere and other Lodges, it being the annual installation night. Bro Penfold gave an account of his visit to Wellington, and spoke very highly of the kind manner in which he had been received by the Orange brethren there. After a deal of routine business had been disposed of, the newly-elected officers were duly installed by the District Master, Bro R. S. Ward :— W.M., Bro J. Boyes ; D.M., Bro J. E. Tomlinson ; Secretary, Bro F. W. Penfold ; Treasurer, Bro W, White j Chaplain, Bro R. S. Ward ; Tyler, Bro J. Halligan; Committee, Bros W. Morgan, W. J. Sloan, T. Hogg, W. Pearce and J. Bowers. After the ceremony of installation had been concluded, the Lodge was closed by the newly-elected W.M., and the brethren adjourned for harmony and refreshments, and spent a very pleasant evening. The Princess Beatrice is celebrated for her artistic accomplishments, and so the members cf the Royal Institute of Painters in v/ater Colours offered her a weddmg gift in the shape of an album of drawings. Mr Linton, who made the presentation, has been knighted, and when there is another Royal wedding there will doubtless be a large increase in the list of presents from persons and institutions who have no connection whatever with the Court. The Crown Princess Stephanie of Austria has made Beveral pretty sketches for her husband's illustrated work on " The Scenery of Austria." The Prince and his felloweditors, unwilling to receive gratuitous contributions, have presented the Princess with a savings bank book with a deposit entered in the name of the Princess' little daughter, Princess Elizabeth. The Princess was affected to tears at the modeßt gift, as it is well known that the Empress and the Crown Prince Rudolph take a great interest in these children's savings banks all through the Austrian Empire. The Cairo correspondent of the Standard had a chat with one of Gordon's men, an intelligent fellow, who seemed to recollect the incidents of the siege. Amongst other things, his opinion was that "it was a great mistake in sending our steamers to Metammeh to meet the English. As long as we were there with our fleet the rebels could never get near the place. All our steamers are gone now almost. We used to build them and mend them there as well as you could do here in Cairo. They were a fine serviceable little flotilla. When we went down to Metammeh, Gordon came out in front of the palace and spoke to us in Arabic, which he had learned pretty well. He said we were sure to find the English either at Metammeh or Shendy, and if we did not find them on the first day of our arrival we were not to be discouraged, but they were certain to be there the next. When we got down to Metammeh we were fired upon from all bides. We lost two of our five steamers on tlie way down. We landed some of our gunß and mounted them on high places, and held our own, according to our instructions, till the English came. Then we heard that Khartoum had fallen. All our wives and families and possessions are, or were, in Khartoum. I have not even got my Gordon medal. If only the English had pushed on a little quicker, they would have got there before Gordon conceived the unfortunate idea of sending away his steamers to meet them. The Arabs were thoroughly frightened after Abuklea, and the English could have come up easily, I think." A most barefaced attempt at a large swindle came before the Police Court at Sydney recently, when a respectable-look-ing man named Alfred Levy was charged with obtaining goods under false pretences. Just before the hour of closing he had entered. a furniture warehouse, accompanied by a young lady, and, on being interviewed by the manager, he informed him that he waa about to be married to the young lady, who had a fortune in her own right of £30,000, besides an income of .£BO a week, all of which she had made over to him. The lady, he said, came with her mother from Christchurch, New Zealand, and they wanted to purchase a quantity of furniture. The Btory was a plausible one. Everything seemed en regie. The couple were shown through the rooms, and selected goods to the value of from £560 to £600, and then left. The following day the man returned with an elderly lady, whom he represented as his prospective mother-in-law, and made further purchases of furniture, which amounted in all to about £1000 worth. These he desired to be sent to his residence, "Oaklands," Balmain. The manager politely intimated that, as he was a stranger to them, some reference w*nld be necessary before the goods could be despatched, and he was at once referred to the manager of the A.J.S. Bank, accused at the same time handing him a cheque for £500 and taking his departure. Fortunately for the firm the goods were not sent, as the cheque, on being presented at ' the bank, was returned nulla bona. The prisoner was committed for trial. An interesting exhibit (says the New Zealand Times) was Bhown at the meeting of the Philosophical Society recently. Two very fine fish ', weighing OJlb each, were brought in on a tray. Dr Hector explained that one of them had been caught that afternoon in the Silverstream by Major Eccles ; the other had been caught in Lake Wakatipu, and forwarded to Government House. The fish landed by Major Eccles he believed to be the Californian salmon, which he (Dr Hector) had liberated in the Hutt River six or seven years ago. That would be about the time in which the fish would mature. If they had succeeded in acclimatising the Californian salmon in the Hutt River, it was very important in a commercial point of view, as it was very prolific and of great value. The fish from Lake Wakatipu was probably the English brook trout, but the 6pots had been changed to a silvery colour by tho deep waters of Lake Wakatipu, for it would be almost impossible for the fish to have gone to Bea and returned with the silvery spots. He could not give a decided opinion without a more thorough examination, and he did not think that Major Eccles should be a&ked to deliver up his fish for the purposes of scientific investigation. (Laughter.) In November last, Messrs Jules Renard and Co., wool brokers, obtained specimens of tho finest fleeces from some of the wool growers of Victoria and the neighbouring Colonies, for exhibition at the World's Fair, during last May, in Antwerp. The specimens were enclosed in a handsome case made of Australian woods by Messrs Boecham and Clark, of Melbourne, each fleece being tied with blue ribbon and labelled with the name of the grower and the make of the clip. For this exhibit, Messra Jules Renard and Co. havo obtained a gold medal, and silver and bronze medals were awarded to the growers. A wealthy Cuban has fitted out a Bteamer •solely for the purpose of catching sharks. His object is to make war on the voracious creatures, and Le expects to kill at least 5000 every year. According to a recent return, there are five Stato and eleven municipal gymnasiums in Berlin, with SCI7 scholars ; eight real gymnaaiumß, with 5552 scholars ; sir superior schools for girls, with 1375 scholars ; and one preparatory State dcbool, with one hundred and one scholar*.

South Canterbury will be represented by Messrs Jefferson, Smithson, Tosswill and Clark in the lawn tennis tournament at the Lancaster Park Fete. Among the ladies from South Canterbury will probably be the Misses Smithson. The names of the Rangiora and Sheffield representatives have not yet been sent in, but teams of both ladies and gentlemen will represent these districts. Messrs Armitage, Kimbell, and Starky have kindly consented to act as judges for the Polo pony jumping competition. The jumping will probably take place over three flights of hurdles, one topped with gorse, and the competition promises to be one of the most attractive features of the Fete. Tho Addington Brass Band has been engaged, and altogether the Fete will be one of the most successful ever held here. Last evening there was another excellent hcuc<? at the Oddfellowß' Hall, when Hugo's Buffalo Minstrels ie-jtat*l their programme of the previous evening, to the evident satisfaction of the audience. The encores were imperative and numerous. Miss Verne was especially successful in one of her most taking serio-comic songs, entitled, "Did 'em! Do." The double song and dance by Miss Ruby Clifford and Walter Gregory again elicited loud plaudits. Alfred Santley and Frank Stevens made their faree — *• Perplexities " — go off excellently; and Charles Hugo, both on the corner and in the concluding farce, " Hospital Patients," kept the audience in roars of merriment. To-night will be the last of a very attractive programme, and to-morrow there will be an entirely new bill. The monthly meeting of the Pioneer Bicycle Club was held last evening. There was a good attendance, Mr W. H. Langdown presiding. A discussion ensued as to the advisability of holding an evening race meeting, and it was agreed to hold one early in December. The programme for the Interprovincial race meeting, to be held on Boxing Day, was also drawn up, and ordered to be printed and distributed amongst the various Clubs in the Colony. The programme contains thirteen items, and includes the Cyclists' Alliance Five Miles Championship. Messrs D. Smart and J. Alexander were elected members of the Club, and accounts amounting to £29 10s passed for payment. The runa for November are : — 7, suburbs ; 14, Kaiapoi ; 18, moonlight, to New Brighton ; 21, Sumner, vifl, Governor's Bay ; 23, moonlight, to Sumner ; 28, paper chase. A paper chase will be held on Saturday next, starting from the Club room at 2.45 sharp. Mr Jenkins will act as hare. A meeting of the General Committee of the Courtenay A. and P. Association was held at Kirwee on Wednesday j present — the President (in the chair), and fifteen members. A number of letters were read from gentlemen consenting to act as judges at the forthcoming show. It was decided to accept Mr Bowles' offer of a drum and fife band. It was resolved to charge 10a 6d in all cases for stalls and games. The following special prizes were handed in : — Mr Howell, a bridle, value 30s, for best trap harnesß ; Messrs Miles and Co., £5 6s, for best pen of twenty fat cross-bred wethers, any age, the weight to be within the limit prescribed by the Belfast Export Company ; Mr T. Bunting, box of tea, for Class 11. in farm produce * Messrs Coates and Co., cup ; Mr Sandstein a cup. Mr Gough supplemented the prizes for table butter and home made bread, making four prizes, in each claßn, for table butter ; Mr Sandison also gave a prize for butter. Mr T. H. Anson gave £3, and Mr G. Seaton gave £3, to the funds. The prize list was then considered, and in nearly all caseß passed as printed. The Secretary was instructed to invite offers for sole right of holding publican's booth and confectioner's booth. Mr H. H. Knight was elected a member of the Association, and the meeting closed. The usual monthly meeting of the Sefton Farmers' Club was held on Wednesday night, in the Town Hall rooms, Mr John Vallance, vice-Presi-dent, in the chair. There was a moderate attendance. Correspondence was read from the Traffic Manager, acknowledging receipt of resolutions re railway rates, passed at the public meeting, but no other reply e has as yet been reoeived. Mr John M'Leod moved — "That, owing to some misunderstanding as to the date of the annual meeting, which should have been held that night, and to the paucity of members present, it be adjourned to the next ordinary meeting, the Secretary to write to the President, Mr C. Ensor, asking him to retain his present position." Seconded, and carried unanimously. The Secretary was requested to write to the Kowai Road Board, to ascertain if they would grant the usual assistance for the purchase of small birds' eggs. After considerable discussion on the continued importation of stoats and weasels— a matter that has been before the Club on several occasions— the motion passed at the late meeting of the Selwyn County Council , was highly approved of, and, further, the Club protested against what they consider great evils, and a pest which will in time need money and labour to exterminate. A copy of the resolution was ordered to be forwarded to the Council. A notice of motion was handed in by Mr T. Wylie, to consider the advisability of holding fortnightly, in lieu of present monthly, meetings, and also to consider the advisability of procuring journals and works on agricultural matters. After some general conversation, the meeting adjourned. Some curious facts, according to a Home paper, have just been published concernine French emigration. It appears that for some yoars past, while thousands and thousands of foreigners have elected to travel from ' French ports to the land of their adoption, the native Frenchmen who have emigrated have been limited to some three or four thousand annually. The number has been pretty constant, but with a tendency to diminish rather than increase. Nor is this all. More than half these French emigrants have gone, in preference, to Canada or the United States, the other half to various parts of the world, but scarcely ever to Colonies under French rule. In fact, Frenchmen driven to expatriate themselves carefully avoid their own possessions. All this shows pretty plainly how completely M. Ferry's great colonisation schemes have failed. After a couple of years of unremitting effort, by dint of armed force and unlimited outlay, the tricolor has been planted in a few out of-the-way regions, but not the slighte&t benefit haa accrued, or is likely to accrue, to France. Tonkin, a sepulchre for French troops; Madagascar conquered in the way Paddy caught the Tartar — these are the achievements of a policy that was useless and ridiculous from the first. Only now, at the eleventh hour, do tbe French statesmen realise tbat the French people altogether decline to avail themselves of the Colonial outlets M. Ferry was at so much pains to Becure. All lovers of naturo will thank Mr George A. Musgrave for hiß protest against the wicked cruelty by which millions of bright plumaged birds are so ruthlessly sacrificed to fashionable whim and caprice. "In April," says Mr Musgrave, " I went to an auction room, and, after looking at the bodies of hundreds of birds, ascertained that botween December, 1884., and April, 1885, there had been Bold GB2B birds of paradise. 4*974 Impeyan pheasants, 770 so-called Argus, 404,464 West Indian and Brazilian birds, and 356,389 East Indian birds of various kinds. Leaving the city, I went to another district, and thero saw the birds being mounted" for the milliners, upholsterers, and dealera in fancy articles. Pursuing the birds still further, I traced the breast of a lophophorus Impeyanus to a general servant's Sunday hat and some humming birds and a kingfisher to a shop in a popular watering-place, where cabinet photograph framea were adorned with three birds and a dead kitten. At first I was inclined to believe that, in epite of tho numbers of birds sold, tho demand for them was confined to people whose taste was gratified by a vulgar display of what j had. the appearance of costliness." In this belief, however, he found himself mistaken. | Just now there is, it Eeeins, a craze for yellow, and Mr Musgravo tells us how he heard of an order being given by a young ."Bnglish lady for a dress to be trimmed '

with canaries. We are humane, but thiß I young lady deserves to be pecked to death by Bharp peaked birds. " Fortunately, before the order was carried out, she, being capricious, changed her mind, so only eight little birds were sacrificed to the prevailing craze for yellow." The Melbourne Age, in mentioning the intention of the Victorian Government to introduce shorthand law reporters, talks of the system being adopted in New Zealand, where " experience has proved it to bo a great success." As a matter of fact, we have only got to the stage of having talked the matter over in Parliament, and if the Victorians rely on our experience they will have little to guide them. There wag a run upon the Bank of Ireland in Tipper ary on August 31 and Sept. 1. About thirty farmers were waiting from an early hour, and when the doors were opened they at once drew thoir deposits in gold. The run continued during tho day, and bofore tho hour of closing came th. p-tiil.. iiad increased, and the ollice waa crowded. One man drew .£520, bringing out tho gold in an apron. Others took it in their handkerchiefs and hats. The iun was so great that the two boxes of gold received had to bo supplemented by a third box. The run is gonerally regarded as the result of recent vindictive articles suggesting a run because the governors of the Bank of Ireland declined to make the advances asked for by the Munster Bank. Immediately after the opening of the office on the following day the hall and approaches to the building were filled with depositors. Nearly all the money drawn was lodged in the Provincial Bank. Invalided depositors actually sent their wives and children to withdraw their accounts. Ready-made statues is the name given to a piece of news which is certainly of a startling character in so far as its mere details are concerned. A chemist of Brest proposes to convert the remains of human beings into statues by a process of a chemical and electrical nature. The dead body is treated so that it becomes as hard as marble, and is thus rendered practically imperishable. What is to be done with the* remains after being so treated our chemical friend does not suggest. The possession of the bodies of our friends treated in this way docß not appear to present any agreeable or advantageous prospects, and on this account we fear the proposal will not bear practical fruit. An ingenious critic, however, has been equal to the occasion. He suggests that we may Bave the cost of statuary by converting the bodies of our great men into imperishable figures. It would certainly (writes " Health ") be a startling innovation on the ordinary process of embalming were the proposal ever carried out, and were we to place the veritable bodies of notable persons in our streets as incentives to the culture of great qualities amorg the people. But such a proposal is rather too advanced for adoption by the present age. More than a quarter of a century ago the Young Men's Christian Association of Chicago established a free bureau for tho benefit of employers and those wanting work. About four thousand are anaually employed through this agency. The freezing process employed to keep beef and mutton fresh on the voyage to England has been applied to a grim purpose in Paris. It is used in the morgue for keeping bodies longer than at present, to increase the chances of identification and assist the police in caßes where foul play is suspected. It iB stated that one result of Lord Carnarvon's recent peaceful progress through Ireland has been an enormous influx of tourists into that country. Fifteen hundred from England. Scotland, and Wales landed at Dublin on August 24. It is stated that in the last conscription throughoutthe Russian Empire no fewer than 30,108 men failed to appear, including as many as 15 732 Jews, more than half the number of delinquents.