Latest Locals.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5579, 29 March 1886, Page 3

Latest Locals.

There will be a special meeting of the Hospital Board to-morrow evening at 7.80. A letter of naturalisation baa been issued in favour of August Schulz, blacksmith, Addiagton. It was freely stated in town this morning, that Mr W. White, Jan., had resigned his seat for Sydenham. Fifteen persons were injnred im the recent railway accident on the Blue Mountain Zigzag. They were mostly Australians. A papular lecture will be delivered at Kaiapei this evening, in the Oddfollowß' Hall, by Mr H. Clapcott, Government Life Asemrance agent. The great libel case was finished on Saturday evening, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff, but with only one Bhilling •warded as damages. The trotting match between Our Pony and Narrow Change came off this afternoon on the Lower Heathcote Racecourse. Our Pony, ridden by B. Hale, won very easily. The Mayor of Christchurch, and Mr B. Walton were present »t the Police Court this morning in their capacities of Justices •f the Peace, but, owing to there not being r««m on the Bench when they arrived, they did not preside. In an action brought by the Commercial Bank of South Australia against the John D. Lamonte Smelting Company, for the recovery of £103,000, a verdict was given for the amount claimed. Defendants did not appear. i The recently formed Linwood Lawn \ Tennis Club appears to be making very satisfactory progress. Two offers of eligible sites for a ground have been received, and the Committee has decided to obtain an estimate of the cost of laying down an asphalt court. A Committee has also been appointed to receive the names of gentlemen wishing to become members of the dab. A requisition has been prepared in Lyttelton asking the Mayor to convene a public meeting for the purpose of considering the action of the Charitable Aid Board in connection with the Orphanage. Tho requisition further asks that in the meantime the Mayor will uae all possible means to prevent the dismissal of the Master and Matron from being carried into effect. The meeting will be held at 8 o'clock to-morrow evening. The following New Zealand applications for patents are gazetted : — John Ashton, of Ashburton, gardener, for an improved water-spreader. Thomas Dankß, of Christchurch, for a*n unbreakable wrought iron pump. R. H. Postlethwaite, of Geraldine, farmer, for a hedge-cutter. James Warbarton, of Lakeside, for an improved plane. E. A. Chapman, Grampians, for a wirestrainer. Robert Graham, of Wellington, for improvements in pistons for steam engines. Frank Hebden, of Christchurch, for an invention for, and improvements in, insulators for telegraphic and telephonic purposes. Daniel M'Kay, of Bangiora, for |an improved milk strainer. William Beeves, of Waikari, for an improved brake. F. S. Canning, Gore, for a joiner's benchjaw. Isaac Bailey, of Auckland, for a new amalgamator for metala.

Dra Stewart, Mickle and Nedwill are returning from Dunedin to-day by the express train. On dit, that Mr Beetham is about to resign his position as Chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. It is understood that Mr Beetham's reason for this step is that he has not sufficient time at his disposal to make himself fully acquainted with the details of business I transacted by the various Committees, and as to which he feels that the Chairman should be minutely informed. The German squadron, including three vessels, has arrived at Auckland. From a shipping telegram it will be seen that the squadron proceeds to Samoa, after having been the meanß of swelling the Auckland census returns by 1080. The annual Boiree in connection with the Durham street Wecleyan Church takes place to-morrow. The tea will be served in the Bchoolroom, and the public meeting will be held in the church. The occasion is invested with a twofold interest : it is the twenty-first anniversary, and the recently erected memorial tablets will be unveiled in the course of the evening. The Rignold and Allison dramatic season, which was to have opened at the Theatre Royal on Monday next, has been unavoidably postponed for a day. The advance agent, Mr Liddy, explains that the delay is caused by the extent of the preparatory work, the scenic arrangements of "In the Ranks " requiring more than ordinary time and labour. j Though "the weather! this morning did i not promise a very pleasant day for an j outing, the railway excursion to Little ! River was exceedingly well patronised. The train, which left Christchurch about half-past 8 o'clock, consisted of 25 caa riages, and took from the town and from Addington, nearly 600 passengers. It stopped at various wayside stations, where some additions were made to the number of excursionists. The Orphanage question has been advanced another stage. A public meeting j was held in the Oddfellows' Hall on Satur- j dny night, and, although the time mast have prevented the attendance of a large number of people, some 500 were present. The Bpeecb.es were of a decidedly spirited character, and the resolutions, it will be noticed, were «trongly condemnatory of I the action of those members of the Board j who concurred in the disaussal of the Master and Matron. A meeting of the local branch of the Railway League Committee was held at Ohoka on Thursday last, when the chairman was enabled to congratulate those present upon the rapidly growing itrength of the league. A supply of forma for the ' registration of votes was received. On the motion of Mr Vennell, seconded by Mr j Wheeler, it was resolved : " That it is desirable that a State Bank should be established." The Committee will meet at 8 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday in each month. The census papers which hare been distributed broadcast during the past few weeks, are supposed to be filled up with the names of all who passed last night under the roofs of the various houses at which the papers were left. Hence it appears that no persona who were bo unfortunate aa not to pass the night under a roof can be included in the census. They must, seemingly, be omitted from the population of the Colony — as given ia the returns — altogether. In this connection, it may be noted that at least two very estimable and conscientious individuals are just now in a state of much perplexity. They are a couple of shepherds in the employ of Mr John Mann, of St Albans, and were during the whole of last night on duty in the paddocka adjoining his house, watching for certain dogs which have of late been making havoc among the sheep. These men certainly cannot include themselves among the inhabitants of any house whatever, and bo must, perforce, be as it were effaced. The next census returns, when published, will show a most wonderful increase in the population of Sipa Island, an increase which, however, must not be taken to mdi- j cate any great extension of settlement to ! that locality. The Christ's College Rifles, to the number of over thirty, were quar- j tered last night on the island, and, in due compliance with law, a paper wa filled up with the names of the members of the ■ Corps, and signed by Captain Harper as head of the household.