Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5991, 28 July 1887, Page 3

Local & General.

Amateur Atuletic Association. — A meeting of delegates from the various Athletic Clubs in the Colony will be held at Mr A. E. G. Rhodes' office at 11 a.m. to-morrow, to consider the advisablenesa of forming an Athletic Association for the Colony.

Theatre Rotal. — Messrs Moore and Ashton's Minstrels drew another good house at the Theatre last night, and a large number of the items wore redemanded. As the Minstrels stay is limited to two "nights longer, those who have not yet seen them should not lose the opportunity.

Boxing. — A boxing contest will take place in the Oddfellows' Hall this evening which should prove more than ordinarily attractive to lovers of the "noble art," as several well-known boxers, including Matthews and Murphy, the light andheavyweight champions, will take part in the proceedings.

Supreme Court. — The civil sittings of the Supreme Court for July concluded yesterday with the case Barkers v. Marks, which was scarcely opened when, by consent, it was referred to the Registrar. On Monday next the August civil sittings will begin. To-morrow his Honor Mr Justice Johnston will sit in Chambers.

The Colonial Treasures. — Tlia Hon Sir Julius Vogelh*^ 8 received a telegram from Dunedin, stating that a requisition, asking him to address a public meeting in that city, has been signed by upwards of 500 electors, and will be forwarded through the Mayor. He has also received an invitation to deliver a speech at Ashburton. Probably Sir Julius will accept both invitations.

SYDENHAM AND SUBURBAN Co orERATivE Money Club. — The half-yearly meeting of this Club was held at the Oddfellows' Hall, Sydenhani, last evening. The report showed that there were 210 members on the roll, an increase of 17 during tho year, representing 154 shares. A dividend of 14 per cent per annum was declared, and £41 Is 8d carried forward. Since the last general meeting, the Society has been brought under the Friendly Societies' Act. The ofiiccrs were re-elected.

Railway Fire Brigade. — The halfyearly meeting of the Railway Fire Brigade was held on Tuesday evening ; Mr Superintendent Ashley in the chair. The balance-sheet was read and adopted. Messrs Brown and E. Winter were appointed assistant engineers. The following members were elected on the Committee : — Me&srs M'llraith, O'Neal, W. Round, Brandon, Stewart, and Brown. Meßsrs Brandon (Auditor) and Norman (Bon Secretary) were re-elected for lie ensuing half-year. A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting to a close.

Harbour Board Revenue, — The following is a statement of the revenue of the Lyttelton Harbour Board for the six months ending June 30, 1887, compared with the corresponding period of 1886 : — Pilotage and port charges, .£3159 da Bd, against .£3104 5s 6d, increase .£55 4s 4d ; towage fees, £1106 8s 6d, against .£I2OO 2s Gd, decrease £93 14s ; use of warps, .£157 103, against .£lls, increase £42 10s. Dock dues, .£437 lGs, against .£355 10s, increase .£B2 Gs ; wharfage, ,£8686 2s, against .£8330 43 Id, increase =8349 17s lid; t0ta1, .£13,547 6s 2d for 1887, against £13,111 Is Id, increase £436 43 3d.

North Canterbury Steeplechase Club. — A meeting of the North Canterbury Steeplechase Club was held at the Crown Hotel, Amberley, on Tuesday afternoon; present — Messrs F. Courage (Chairman), Starkey, Coleman, Greenwood, Levton, Foster, M'Naught, and R. Parsons. The Club proceeded to the election of a h&ndicapper, Mr Griffiths having declined the office. Mr Foster proposed Captain Cotton, which was seconded by Mr Coleman. As an amendment, Mr R. Parsons proposed Mr Richardson, which was seconded by Mr Lewton. The amendment being put to the meeting was lost, and the original motion carried with the usual remuneration'

Personal. — The many friends of the Rev Father Binsfield will be pleased to learn that, in letters received from him by the last mail,- he states himself to be in excellent health., and to have thoroughly enjoyed his journey Home. He was on board the s.s. Britannia when that vessel was run into by the Celtic off tho American Coast. — Mr J. L. Leesmith sails today with sample stud sheep from some of our leading flockmasters, including Messrs John Reid (of Elderslie), G.irforth, Deans, Threlkeld, Royse and Anderson (of Hawke's Bay), Washbourne, &c. These go to the River Plate vik Rio de Janeiro, being, we hope, the precursors of a direct stock trade with that country.

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The Hon the Tbkastjekb. — Sir Julius Yogel has found it desirable to postpone for a few days his visit to the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory.

Buffaloes. — The Pythagorean Lodge of' Sydenham held a meeting for the election of officers on Monday evening, ' Primo J. Webb being elected again, after -which he installed the following officers : — City Marshall, W. Woodhouse ; City Physician, R. Knight; City Tyler, C. Webb; City Barber, H. Limb ; City Minstrel, J. Greer ; Alderman of Benevolence, Primo J. Richardson ; City Constable, J. Haig ; City Taster, D. Roberts ; City' Chamberlain, C. Heath ; City Waiter, J. Henderson ; City Secretary, L. Harris. The following Bros were elected for the degree of Primo .— Broa H. Limb, C. Webb, T. J. Green, L. Harris. The evening was brought to a close with some capital songß by Bros J. Haig, Allardyce, Holland, and Spangeur. The Lodge has just received its dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Surrey, England ; . also, one for another Lodge about to be started at the Imperial Hotel, St Asaph street.

Temperance. — A meeting was held on Monday evening in the small room of the Town Hall, Papanui, to take' into consideration the formation of a Temperance Benefit Society for the district of Papanui. The chair was taken by the Rev J. O'Brien Hoare, and a deputation from the Christchurch Division of tie Sons and Daughters of Temperance who were in attendance explained the working of that Friendly Society, pointing out the substantial advantages enjoyed by members of a Total Abstinence Benefit Society over those possessed by ordinary Societies. A number of questions having been satisfactorily answered by members of the deputation, it was resolved by the meeting that an attempt be made to form a branch of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance. The names of those intending to become members were then taken, and it was announced that on Monday week a meeting would be held to inaugurate the branch.

Lecture.— On Monday evening Mr R. Bell delivered a fourth lecture on "The Israelitish Origin of the British Nation," in the Baptist Chapel, Sydenham. There was a much larger attendance than formerly, and Mr J. T. Brown occupied the chair. The lecturar proved, from numerous references to Scripture, that the present religious condition of Britain, its numerous sects, its laws founded upon those of the Bible, ita immense missionary efforts, ie, all answered to what was prophesied of larael. He also showed that if the British were not Israel, then they must be prepared to give way both in things temporal and things spiritual to another people who were Israel. After the lecture, which was enthusiastically received throughout, some questions were asked and auswered, and different points were enlarged upon by Messrs Austin, Hutton, and Ciee. At the request of the audience, it was announced that another lecture would be given on that day fortnight.