Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6577, 20 June 1889, Page 3

Local & General.

| Masonic. — At the regular monthly meeting of Lodge Robert Burns, 604, S.C., Chriatchurch, 'the motion re the United GrandLodge for New Zealand, was declared . lost by a large majority. Chsistchubch Goldhining Cohpant.— There was a large attendance last night at the meeting of the Christchurch Goldmining Company that had been called, but as a quorum of persons and shares was not present, nothing could be done. Pabliamkntabt.— The steamer Penguin, which left Lyttelton for Wellington at 5.20 p.m. yesterday, took nearly all the Canterbury, and a few southern members of Parliament to the Empire city. Her passenger list will be found in our shipping column. Grocbbt Importing Company. — The Canterbury Grocers And Storekeepers' Cooperative Importing Company held a meeting last aight, which waa largely attended. The special business was to consider the advisability of forming a Co-operative Importing Company. After discussion, it was resolved — "That it is advisable to form such a Company." Provisional Directors were then elected to carry out the resolution, and the meeting adjourned. Lxcturs. — Last night the Rev W. Morley delivered a lecture in the Durham street Wesleyan Church to a large • audience. He chose for his subject, : "Church Life in England, and Preachers ' I Have Heard." The lecture, aa the title indicates, was just the sort of thing tha rev gentleman would handle well, and it need not be said that he thoroughly pleased his hearers. Changs of Weather, — The thaw which set in on Tuesday night removed all danger of the water-supply to Timaru being cut off, which a continuance of sharp frosts would have made extremely likely. A. number of men -were sent out on Tuesday to clear the race of ice, aud they succeeded in bringing down water to the reservoirs. The iron flumes were almost wholly blocked up, as the frosts could get at them all round, and the overflow of the dammedup water produced prodigious icicles nearly from the flumes to the ground, and the supporting trestles were hidden by masses of ice. Belfast. — A meeting of the Town Hall and Public Library Committee was held on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of closing accounts of the concert and art union in aid of the library, held on June 12. The balance-sheet showed a net profit of .£2O 158 6d. Thi3 has been the most successful entertainment given in the hall. The Committee are much indebted to Mr J. Cooke and his friends from Christchurch, who provided the vocal and instrumental part of the programme ; also, to the Belfast friends who subscribed towards the prizes for the art union. It was decided to h< Id the annual public meeting on Friday, June 28. Theatre Royal. — Last night the Simonsen Opera Company repeated Lecocq's favourite opera " Girofle-Girofla " with more than, ordinary success, the curtain having to be raised and the principals recalled several times during the evening. According to promise the manage* xnent announced during one of the intervals, the result of the election for Christehurch North. To-night, Balfe's old-favourite opera "The Bohemian Girl" , will be played. On Friday, Planquette's melodious "Les Cloches de Corneville" will be produced, and, as it is some years Bince we have seen this charming opera in Christchurch, it is sure to attract a very numerous audience. I Christchttbch Horticultural Societt. — A special meeting of the Committee was held last evening for the purpose of receiving report of members re special prizes,' and the revision of schedule 1889-90: present — Messrs A. W. Bennett (in the chair), Anstey, Appleby, F. C. Eaßt, D. Nairn, C. Marsh, A. Cant, J. G. Davis, Allen and C. Brooking. Apologies from Messrs H. R. Webb and D. Donald were received. Grand blooms of chrysanthemums were exhibited by Mr A. Cant— Japanese : Triomphe ; De la Sue de Chatelet Thunberg, and Mrs W. Shipman, incurved variety. The meeting adjporned until Wednesday next, to complete schedule and receive additional prizes. AsHBtTRTON' BOROUGH ScEOOL COMMITtek. — The adjourned meeting was held on Tuesday night for the purpose of recommending a candidate for appointment as headmaster. All the members were present. Before the business was proceeded with a discussion took place as to whether it was advisable to go on, it appearing that a member of the Education Board had privately expressed his opinion to the Chairman of the Committee that the proceedings at the recent meeting of householders were invalid. A majority of the members were of opinion that in the absence of official intimation the business should be gone on with, and a motion to this effect was carried. It was deoided to recommend the Board to appoint Mr E. U. Just, at present second master of the East Christchurch school. ! SOUTHBRIDGB TOWN BOARD. — The monthly meeting was held last Thursday evening; present — Messrs B. C. Burns, John Eilbride, L. Langeshwardt, andJ. Morrison. In the absence of the Chairman, Mr Burns was voted to the chair. Messrs C. Tilleyahort and S. Forsyth waited on the Board with reference to the lighting of the Town Hall. It was left to the Hall Committee and Clerk to procure lamps and nake arrangements for the better lighting of the Hall. The question of painting the Hall was left in the hands of the Hall Committee. The pay-sheet, amounting to JEIS 5s 4d, was passed, and the Board adjourned. Annat.— A public meeting was held at Annat on Saturday evening to consider the advisability of moving for a Post Office for the district. There was a good attendance, and Mr F. Heighway wag chosen chairman. Mr H. Patterson moved the first resolution— "That the Chief Poßtmaster be petitioned to open a Post Office at Annat," and stated that forty families would be benefited thereby. The resolution was carried unanimously. A petition waa then signed by those present. It was reßolved that the petition lay at Mr W. Barlow's shop until signed by all interested, to be then forwarded by the Chairman to the Chief Postmaster. County 801l Objbctbd To.— The Resident Magistrate at Timaru yesterday sat to hear an objection to the electoral roll of the Mackenzie County. Henry Batchelor objected to the names of three members of the firm of Gillinghaml Brothers being placed on the electors roll, seeing that they were partners, and only one had a right to be on the roll. He produced no evidence whatever in support of his objection, and admitted that all he knew of the brothers' affairs was they transacted business in the name of " Gillingham B rothers." In defence it was shown that the brothers Gillingham work an estate in common, but each has a separate homestead, which is separately assessed by the County and was separately treated by the Property Tax Commissioner after special inquiry. The valuation roll, from which the electors roll was compiled, was not produced by the objector, and as the Magistrate could not go behind that, he dismissed the objection on the technical point that he had no evidence to go upon. The Chrietcburoli Baseball Club's ma'ch for Saturday will be Cuff, Jactcman. Favitt. Lawrie, North, Eeevßß, Eyre;, M'lntyre. W. F. Moss, Meares and Denby v. Cant, Eidley, Jones, Batler, wading, a. E. Moss, Brock, Spaceman, Donald, jßapluel and Bruges,

. ■ Important to Fbuitqbowees. — On her L last trip Home the Doric took some cases : of apples forwarded by the Styx Apple > Company, with a view of testing whether ; soft apples would carry to England. The l different kinds sent were the Emperor i Alexander, Cox's Pomona, and the • Kentish Fillbasket. The experiment haa » proved entirely successful. The apples ; arrived Home in the best of condition, and , realised 15s to 20s per case, which, after i paying all expenses amounting to 7s, leaves i j a profit over what they would have brought here of 9s to 13s per case. This is of the greatest importance, as it shows that, properly packed and sent in a cool , chamber, all kinds of apples can be sent j Home. A few boxes of new potatoes were , j slbo sent. They arrived in excellent condition, bub the price realised was not good enough to induce growers to try the . experiment again. Waikuku School. — On Friday evening an entertainment was given in aid of the . prize fund, and, without doubt, was the best ever given in. the district. The I weather being fine, there was a crowded attendance. The scholars having been examined during the day, the prizes were , distributed by Mr M'Donald. The first ; items on the programme were given by , the scholars in a manner which showed that much care had been taken in training them ; the whole part song, " The Village Chorister," and a piano duet by May and Nellie Fear, being particularly well done. Then followed vocal duets and eongs, Berious and comic, a cornet solo, pianoforte selections and duets by the following: — Mrs May, Misses G. Gates, Adams, Hammond, Dr Parsons, Messrs Hammond, English, Do Vernet, Sharland, Whitehead. Mr Cookson, of Templeton, acted as accompanist. Votes of thanks and the National Anthem brought to a close a most enjoyable entertainment.