Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5508, 5 January 1886, Page 3

Local & General.

_. Government intend expending .£I2OO on the Mount Cook track. The Kaiapoi Rifle Club opened their new range on Saturday, last with a match for Mr C. B Richards 1 ' cup. As quite a number of riflemen were present the prize wa3 keenly contested, Mr Becker, with a score of 40, is the present holder. The first annual meeting of the St John Ambulance Association was held last night, when His Excellency the Governor distributed the certificates of those who have passed the examinations. A report of the proceedings will be found on our fourth page. The fourth competition for the Lincoln Rifle Club's challenge trophy took place on Saturday last. A fierce wind blowing across the range during the match rendered good shooting impossible, and Mr Buckley's top score of 53 points was a most creditable performance under the circumstances. At 20 minutes to one o'clock this morning, an alarm of fire was given by the bells and the railway horn, and the chemical and hand engines turned out. They were not required, however, as the cause of the alarm was but a burning gorse hedge on the property of Mr C. B. Scott, in the southern part of the Borough of Sydenham. Last evening the members of the East Christchurch Football Club met Mr W. H. Atack at the Cd_omercial Hotel, for the purpose of presenting him with a souvenir of his connection with them during his residence here. Mr Fuller, the Captain, in handing to Mr Atack a handsome silver inkstand on behalf of the Club, expressed the general appreciation of his frequent services as umpire, and his kindly intorest in their welfare. Mr Atack made a brief acknowledgment, and the "proceedings terminated. "Madame Angot" was repeated at the Theatre Royal by Majeroni and Wilson's Opera Company last night. The performance wont with great spirit, and was received with much applause by the audience. This evening the " Bohemian Girl" will be produced, with Miss Gracie Plaisted aa Arline, and Mr Charles Harding as Thaddeus. Judging from the previous performances of the company, Balfe's sparkling opera should be rendered in a stylo which cannot fail to be appreciated by the lovers of the work. On Sunday night the meetings in connection with the week of prayer were com- ' menced at Trinity Congregational Church, where a united communion service was held. The pastor of the church, the Eev John Hoatson, presided, and there was a large attendance. An address, appropriate to the occasion, was delivered by the Rev R. Erwin. The meetings will be held throughout the week, that to-night being at the St Asaph street Methodist Free Church, where the Rev J. J. Lewis will deliver an address.

The operation of trephining was successfully performed at the Timaru Hospital on the man, John Lewis, who was injured by the hammer at the Caledonian Sports on Saturday. There are hopes of his recovery. A Church parade of the Kaiapoi Rifle Corps was held on Sunday. The com pany mustered under command of Captain Whitefoord and Lieutenants Wilson and Miller, and marched to the Presbyterian Church, Kaiapoi, where a most eloquent and suitable sermon was delivered to them by the Rev R. M'Gregor, the text being selected from Revelations, chapter xxii. verse 9. A very large congregation wa3 present. Thirty new rifles have been forwarded to this company and will be served out at the next drill, which is fixed for Wednesday evening. The rifle 3 are medium Sniders with sword bayonet.