Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6049, 4 October 1887, Page 3

Local & General.

» Rangiora Horse Parade. — The entries for the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association's annual horse parade, to be held at Rangiora to-day, numbers 14, made up as follows : — Ponies, 2 ; draughts, 5; thoroughbreds, G; hackneys, 1. Last year the number of entries was thirteen. Inquest. — An inquest on the body of | Mrs Yardley, who died suddenly last Fri- | day, was held yesterday at the Junction Hotel, Halswell, before Mr R. Beetham, coroner. After evidence had been given, a verdict of " Death from heart disease " was returned. Fire Escapes in Public Buildings. — The Works Committee of the City Council i last night brought up a report suggesting numerous alterations in the Theatre, the Tuam Street Hall, and the Oddfellows' Hall, with a view to lessening the danger to life in case of a panic occuring when these buildings are crowded. The Representatives' Banquet. — Judging by the numerous promises of | support and the rapid sale of the tickets j for the banquet to be given to-raorrow in honour of the newly-elected M.H.R.'s for Canterbury and Westland, the affair pro- j mises to be a great success. Arrangements have been made for the musical portion of the programme. Tonic Sol-fa. — Mr . M'Burney, who has just returned from Dunedin, will repeat his lecture on tonic sol- fa this evening, at the V.M.C.A. rooms. A3 a result of Mr M'Burney's visit to Dunedin, a Tonic Solfa Association is about to be formed there, although its basis is not yet determined. Mr M'Burney gives the musical entertainment entitled •' Polyglottiana " in the same place to-morrow evening. Golden Wedding. — This day three weeks Mr John Ollivier will celebrate his " golden wedding." He informs us that his mode of keeping the anniversary will be by giving a garden party, to which he will not issue invitations, but at which all his friends will be welcome. If all Mr Ollivier's friends "accept this intimation," he will want a good-sized garden on the occasion., Ellesmere Licensing Committee. — A meeting of this Committee was held at the Road Board Office, Leeston, on Friday; present — Messrs J. R. Campbell (Chairman), J. Barnett, W. D. Lawrence, and J. Rennie. The police reported that the alterations mentioned at the last meeting to the Royal Hotel, Southbridge, had been | carried out. The Chairman reported having personally inspected the house, which was in a highly satisfactory condition. The police reports of the other hotels in the district were read, arid in the main cbnsidered satisfactory. Clerk to the Licensing Committee.— A difficulty has occurred between the Auditor- General and the City Council as to the payment of the salary 01 the Clerk to the Licensing Committee. Considering that the City Council derive a considerable income from the publicans' licenses, the objection of the Auditor- General appears to be somewhat unreasonable. The Council have referred the matter to the Departmental Committee, who will probably endeavour to enlist the sympathies of other municipal bodies to secure an amendment of the Act. Justifiable Stabbing. — In the Supreme Court yesterday a man was tried for stabbing another. Both parties were inmates of the same bedroom at the Old Men's Home, and had quarrelled because theSproseciitor was an inveterate snorer. The defence was that the prosecutor had inflicted the injury he complained of on himself, and the jury apparently sympathising with the accused, who had been kept awake many nights by the persistent snoring of his bedroom mate, believed the defence, or gave the accused the benefit of a doubt, and acquitted him. Christchttrch Ministers' Association. — The monthly meeting of thiß Association was held yesterday morning in Durham Street Wesleyan Church. There was a large attendance of members. A paper was read by Rev A. Dewdney on bazaars and gambling, and on the subjects treated, which were ably handled by the essayist, a free discußßion took place by those present. It was agreed to hold a special meeting ■of ministers and representative laymen at at early date, to consider the legal aspect of the gambling question, and to devise means to meet this evil, which Christian men •so much deplore. The Revs Monro and Lewis were appointed a sub-Committee to make the necessary arrangements. Complimentary Supper. — Last evening, in the small Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street, Mr W. P. Reevea, M.H.R. for St Albans, entertained some seventy of his friends aud supporters at supper. The chair was taken by Mr B. Bull, and the vice-chair by Mr Palmer, junr«, Chairman of the Central Committee. The caterer was Mr Biiggey. who fairly surpassed himself, the tables as laid out presenting a most tasteful ensemble. The toast list was kept within moderate limits, and for four 1 hours the guests enjoyed themselves most thoroughly. Needless to say, much hearti- ; ness was manifested, as well as much good humour. The gathering will, long be remembered by everyone who took part in it 1. with keen pleasure. ' I

Second Stratum Wells. — The Caahel street second stratum well, at a depth of 204 ft, gives a flow of 50 gallons a minute, the water rising to a height of 13ft above the ground. It cost ,£lB2. The City Council last night agreed to sink another Gin well near the junction of Tuam and Montreal streets. As a justification of the additional expenditure thus incurred, Councillor Hulbert stated that 50 per cent more of the city streets were being watered now than formerly, and the work was much more efficiently done. Several Councillors pointed out that this watering greatly reduced the wear and tear of the streets during the summer. The Selwyn Election. — On Saturday evening a number of electors gathered in Britton's Royal Hotel, Southbridge, at the invitation of Mr J. R. Campbell, on behalf of Sir John Hall. Mr Campbell stated that a somewhat similar gathering had taken place at Leeston on the date of the official declaration of the poll, and Sir John Hall, who was unfortunately not able to be present, had asked him to take his place that evening. The toast of Her Majesty the Queen" being drunk, jMr J. Low, a member of Mr M'Lachlan's Committee, proposed the health of the new member, Sir John Hall, which was drunk with musical honours. Mr J. E. Campbell, in a few words, proposed the health of the defeated candidate, Mr J. M'Lachlan. This toast was also well received. During the proceedings, which were kept up with vigour till a late hour, songs were contributed by a number of those present. Pharmacy Board. — A meeting wa3 held at the office, Grain Agency Buildings, last Friday; present — Mesßrs Robb (President), Skog, and Bonnington. A letter was received from Mr Pyle, accompanied by the declarations required by the Board. After consideration the Board concluded that it had no power to withhold a certificate, and it was resolved that he receive it ac£ cordingly. A certificate was issued to Mr R. H. Miller, Auckland, under clause 19 of the Act. A letter was received from the Deputy-Registrar, Dunedin, informing the Board that the Friendly Societies of that place had opened a dispensary, and asked that the legality of the business might be questioned. It was resolved — " That the Deputy-Registrar be asked for further information." The examiners having sent in the papers it was resolved that Mr Bonnington get them printed. The Registrar informed the Board that in all twelve candidates (one oi' whom is a lady) would sit for the examinatian to be held on Oct. 19. Obangeism. — The quarterly meeting of No. 7. District Lodge was held in the Orange Hall, Annat, last Friday. There was a good number of delegates from each Lodge present, the D.M., Bro G. T. Robertson, in the chair. Appeals from several Lodges were dealt with, and a quantity of routine business transacted. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted as follows : — D.M., Bro J. Dysart ; Deputy Master, Bro T. Wallace; D.S., Bro G. T. Robertson ; D.T., Bro J. Thorne ; D.C., Bro J. Cook ; Committee, Bros Mangin, Barlow, Cowan, Robinson, and Kirkpatrick. Bros J. Cook and M'Causland were appointed Auditors. The late Treasurer's balance-sheet being inaccurate, the Auditors were requested to get the hooks corrected. Bro W. Barlow was appointed Installing Officer, and duly installed the newly-elected officers. The Past D.M. gave a resume of the business of the district during hiß term of office. The business sheet for the next Grand Lodge meeting was freely discussed, and after a vote of thanks had been passed to the retiring officers, the meeting adjourned. Farewell Dinner. — Mr and. Mrs M'Nae being about to leave the Forsyth Arms Hotel, Little River, a number of their friends determined that they should not leave tho district without some recognition of the very worthy and able manner in which they have conducted their business duriDg their residence there. The result was a complimentary dinner on Friday evening last, at which most of the leading residents were present. The chair was occupied by Mr W. Coop, who, in proposing the health of the departing guests, Mr and Mrs M'Nae, testified to the praiseworthy manner in which they had conducted their business for the many years they had been resident at Little River, their uniform kindness to those requiring it, and the assistance they had always rendered to local objects. Mr M'Nae responded in a feeling speech. Teito Rapatini, on bohaif of the Maoris, thanked Mr and Mrs M'Nae for the many acts of kindness done by them to his compatriots. The other usual toasts were honoured, and a very harmonious evening was spent. Parliamentary Genius.— -Count Vitzthum thus discoursed in 1855, as maybe seen in his lately published Memoirs : — The boasted wisdom of Parliament would furnish food for ridicule if another feeling did not preponderate. The curse of mediocrity weighs on - the leaders of all parties. The dead forms of an antiquated and painfully pedantic routine are crushing out all life and spirit, and scantily conceal the ever-growing atrophy of the State. One looks in vain for fresh energies, in vain for men who have not yet been stricken more or less with the marasmus senilis. This very want of great characters serves to strengthen the suspicion that England has already overpassed the zenith of her greatness, and is now condemned to live only on the memories of paat renown — on the capital, not the interest, of the precious legacy bequeathed by stronger generations. The grasshopper plague is giving serious trouble in Algeria this year. The efforts made to destroy the eggs have proved useless. In one district 50,000 gallons have been collected and burned. This represents the destruction of 7,250,000,000 insects. The Secretary to tbe Charitable Aid Board desires to acknowledge with thanks tha receipt, per Captain Qarsia, of a donation of £5 from Mr John Addinell towards tho Queen's Jubileo Memorial Home. ____^^_________