Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6308, 4 August 1888, Page 3

Local & General.

— •> Postal. — In compliance with a request from the Rangiora Borough Council, the postal authorities intend to place a letter receiving bos at the Rangiora railway station. Dibect Mail. — Letters intended for transmission to England by the Rimutaka, sailing on Saturday next, must be specially addressed, as she does not carry a mail under contract. Fibb Alabh.— The railway whistle Bounded a fire alarm about nine o'clock last night, but it being ascertained that the cause was a gorse fence burning on Morton's run, the bell was not sounded, and the Brigade did not turn out. Juvenile Dbuids.— The Oak of Sydenham Lodge, No. 98, met on Wednesday, when there was a g-ood attendance j Bro J. Bush in the chair. Three candidates were initiated. After an interval for harmony, it waa decided to hold an entertainment in three weeks' time. St John's Literabt Society. — An entertainment in connection with St John's Literary Society was given in the schoolroom yesterday evening, when there was a fair audience. Songs were given by Misses Muff, Hyman, and Mackett, and Messra Barrett, Gibson, Bowles, and Johnson ; a piano solo by Miss Triggs, a violin solo by Mr Bishop, and recitations by Messrs Kirkcaldy and Moss. Later in the evening a small comedy was performed by members of the Society, with a fair amount of success.

Thb Sumnbb Tbamwat. — The arrangements are now all complete for the commencement of the tramway to Sumner, and the work will bo begun on Monday morning. It is let in three sections, and we understand tbe contractors are fully supplied with men. Chbistchurch Rifles. — The Christchurch Bifle3 have obtained forty stand of new rifles, the excellent Snider, formerly belonging to the Honorary Eeserve Corps. Members are requested to attend at the orderly-room on Monday evening, in order to exchange their present arms for the new weapons. Ashburton Hospital Boabd. — A meeting of the ABhburton Hospital Board was held yesterday morning. A revised system of collecting fees was adopted. It waa resolved to co-operate with the Southland Hospital Board in urging the Government to set aside an endowment of 250,000 acreß of land for hospital and charitable aid purposes, and to bring the matter under the notice of the members for the district. Timabu Poultry Show. — The eighth annual show of the South Canterbury Poultry Association opened yesterday with a good entry liat. Nearly all the pens were occupied. Mr M. Donoghue, of Christchurch, waß the chief prize-taker in game fowls. Oamaru takes some also, but the local bird 3 generally compared well with the visitors. The Bible Christians. — To-morrow the Eev J. Crewes resumes work in connection with the Bible Christian Churches of the Christchurch circuit, with a view of accepting their invitation to re-enter the Bible Christian ministry, and reside at Addington, ehould hia health prove equal to the work. He will preach at Addington in the evening, and in the afternoon he wili deliver an address in a mission service, in which the brass band, the Church choir, and the Sabbath school, with others, will take part. Particulars appear ia an advertisement East Belt Mutual Improvement Association. — An adjourned debate on the question " Should Chinese Immigration be Restricted " took place at the meeting of this Aesociation on Thursday evening. Messrs Clark and Armitage opened the discussion in the affirmative and negative respectively. Most of the members expressed their views on the subject in a mauner that clearly showed that the question had been thoroughly gone into. When the vote was taken, it was found that the majority of those present were of opinion that Chinese immigration should be restricted. Parliamentary. — Another interception of Supply yesterday afternoon, when Mr Tanner wanted once more to debate the school age question, and was " shut up " by a majority of fifty-four. Iv Committee the House made considerable progress with the Estimates. Theso. for the most part, passed unaltered, though the House decided to reduce salaries on board the Stella. Mr Walker brought up the report of the Privilege Committee in reference to Chief Judge M'Donald's letter, declaring — by a bare majority — that there had been no breach of privilege. Xhe matter is to be discussed next week. The Council forwarded various Bills, bufc evinced a decided objection to the Married Women's Property Bill. Christchurch Poultry at Wellington. — From a private wire received last night by Mr Jobn Goodman, we learn that the exhibits of poultry and pigeons sent to the W ellington Show held yesterday were eminently successful. Mr Dacre, of the firm of Dacre and Clark, had charge of all the birds sent, and the following prizes were obtained by the respective owners : — Mr B. Evans, four firsts, two special and the gold medal for Plymouth Rocks. Messrs Dacre and Clark, who gained the Champion Cup here for game fowls, received the same distinction there. They also took fourteen first and ten second prizes in other classes for poultry and pigeons. Mr Johnstone, Secretary to the Sydenham Society, also took four Brat prizes for tho four pens of fowls seat by him. Sudden Death at Governor's Bay. — At 5.30 p.m., yesterday, alad named James Pope reported to the Lyttelton police that his brother Harry, aged twelve years, had died at 3 p.m. rather suddenly. The father of the boys is James Pope, a settler, who has resided at Governor's Bay for some time. The lad stated that hia brother had been ailing for about a week, with what was thought to be a cold. He had attended school until Monday last, after which he stayed at home, and took to his bed on Wednesday. A family living close to them had recently had diphtheria in the house, and it is thought probable that the deceased met his death from that complaint. An inquest will probably be held. Surveyors' Institute. — A meeting of surveyors interested in the formation of an Institute for New Zealand was held last night in Warner's Commercial Hotel, fourteen representatives of the profession being present. Mr J. H. Baker, Chief Surveyor, was voted to the chair, and tbe circular from a similar meeting held recently in Wellington being read, the proposals contained therein were discussed, when it was agreed that a Committee, consisting of Messrs Baker, Kitson, M'lntyre, Hanmer and Bridge, be formed to thoroughly consider the proposal and report to an adjourned meeting, to be held at the same phice on Saturday evening, August 18. I.O.G.T.— Last night, Bro T. W. Glover, the Grand Chief Templar of New Zealand, paid an official visit to the Dauntless Lodge, No. 7, and was received with the customary ceremonies. Addresses of welcome were delivered by the D.D., Bro J. J. Parker, and the L.D., Bro Kenneally. The following officers were elected aud installed by Bro Glover :— W.C.T., Bro Oates; W.V.T., Sister Pickett j W.S., Bro Shove; W.F.S., Bro Ormanby; W.T., Bro Kenneally ; W. Chaplain, Bro Fisher ; W.M., Bro M'Connell; 1.G., Bro Henwood,--0.G., Bro Chapman ; A.S., Sister Shove ; D.M., Sister Oates ; 8.H.5., Sißter WigzeU; L.H.S., Bro J. Evans. Bro Glover delivered an interesting address to the members, referring to the satisfactory condition of the Good Templar Lodges in the North Island, and urging the brethren and sisters here to do their utmost to advance the cause of the Order. Two candidates were initiated, and another proposed. A quantity of routine business was gone through. It was reported that satisfactory arrangements were being made for the entertainment to be given in the Blue Bibbon Hall on Friday next, St Svtithin's Day.— lv connection with the rise in the price of wheat, and the unfavourable prospects of the English harvest on account of wet weather, frequent reference will naturally be made to the famous St Swithin theory. According to the legend, in the year 862 there passed away the Bishop of Winchester, who is kept in memory green as St Swithin. He desired that he might be buried in the Minster yard, so that the sweet rain of heaven might fall upon his grave. The monks, filled with enthusiasm, decided to remove the mortal remains of the saint to the choir, the date fixed for the ceremony being July 15. But the rain descended in earnest, and for forty days the downpour continued. The monks saw in this a mystic intervention, and abandoned their purpose. The old rhyme runs thus : — St Swithin's day, gif ye do rain, Por forty days it will remain ; St Swithiu's dny, an ye he fair. Por forty days 'twill rain nae mair. It may be added that other countries have their St Swirbins : Scotland, St Martin of Bouillons; France, Sts Medard and Gervais; Flanders, St Godelieve; Germany, the Seven Sleepers. St John Ambulance Association. — The first aid examinations have resulted as follows:— Of twelve ladies who presented themselves, ten were successful, viz., Miss Craig, Miss Donnelly, Mrs C. Hill, Miss Inglis, Mrs Kinsey, Mrs Milsom, Miss Townsend, Miss A. Campbell, Mrs Triggs and Miss Wesfc. They passed in the following order : — Nos. 5, 0, 4, 3, 7, 3, 10, 11, 1, 12. Mrs Garrard was unwell and unable to attend. Of the male candidates only five presented themselves, and of these Messrs Garland, Kennedy and Rosewarne passed; Mr Snow was absent. Dr Irving, ths examiner, reports of the men that Nos. 1 and 3 were particularly well up in most points, but not quite' well enough to obtain full marks in all

cases. Of the ladies Nos. 5 and 9 obtained within five of the maximum, viz., 145 out ot a possible 150. No. 4, too, was very good. Columbia Kink. — The attendauce at the Columbia Eink yesterday was very large, especially in the evening, when the floor waa crowded with skaters. The Otago University footballers turned up in full force, who were invited by Mr Costello, tho manager. The children's : grand fancy dress carnival takes place this afternoon. It is expected that over one hundred children will take part in tbe Grand Amazon March at 4 p.m. A practice took place yesterday afternoon, when the movements were really well executed by the youngsters. The Eink will be darkened during the afternoon, and lime and calcium lights will be employed during the march. Professor Wyman will give 1 one of hia clever exhibitions. In the evpning the Profeasor will appear for the last time, and give an imitation burlesque exhibition of a dude's first appearance on skates. Teremakau Quartz Mining Compant. — An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Teremakau Quartz Mining Company was held at the Corn Exchange last night. Mr J. H. Gilchrist, Chairman, presided, and there was a good . attendance. The following resolution, passed at a previous meeting, was confirmed — "The Directors may, from time i to time, make calls upon the membera in respect to all moneys unpaid on their i shares : provided that, unless the Company, in general meeting, otherwise shall determine, no call shall exceed the sum of one shilling per share per month of four weeks; and seven days' notice at least •■ shall be given to each member of aay call, specifying the time and place of payment, and to whom such call shall bo paid, provided that no call exceeding one shilling per share shall be made in any one month of four weeks." A second resolution, fixing the qualification for a seat on the Board of Directors at two hundred and fifty shares, was also confirmed. The Chairman stated that since last meeting the machinery necessary for carrying on mining operations had been ordered. The meeting then closed. The dials of the Westminster clock are 22$ feet in diameter, and contain 400 square feet each. The minute marks are 14 inches apart. The only larger dial in the world iB in Mechlin Church, which is 40 feet wide. The minute hands of the Westminster clock are partly counterpoised outside, making their total leugth 14 feet. Tne Pev C. H. Laws is advertised to preach at tha Darham street Wesleyan Church to-morrow morning on the tuhjecr. of *« A Philanthropist of tho Olden Bays," and the Bey W. J. Williams in the evening on " The Bitter Cry of Christchuich." Mr Duncan Wriirht, evangelist, who haa jast completed a. three montlx** evangelistic tour iv and arOUQd Auckland und U'e! Hug ton is advertised to conduct special services in North Belt Presbyterian Church to-morrow at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., •nd during the wdok at 730 p.m. Mr Wright's vißit to this congregation fifteen months ago ia well remembered, and ihe pastor end office-bearers aie hopeful of good results from this mission.