Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6695, 7 November 1889, Page 3

Local & General.

Hugo Minstrels.— The Hugo Miastrelo attracted a good audience last night. The various items of the programme were received with every token of favour, and in many instances encores were insisted on. Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association. — The ordinary monthly meeting lapsed last evening owing to there not being a quorum. There were present — Measrs I. Ibbott, J. Elliott, and Thorn § Gordon,- Secretary. Whitnbt'b Ammunition. — The Victorian Parliament have passed a Bill granting to Captain Whitney the lease for 999 years, at a peppercorn rental, of five acres of land near Melbourne, on which to erect an ammunition factory. The Government have also agreed to pay to Captain Whitney .£SOOO on delivery of the first 500,000 cartridges, and to purchase what ammunition is roquired, estimated at about 2,000,000 annually. Intbrpeovinciaii Band Contest. — The Interprovincial Band contest begins this evening at the Palace Sink. Thirteen bands have entered, and the lovers of spirit-stirring music should be able to spend a couple of pleasant evenings in the Kink to-night and to-morrow night. The building is admirably suited for the performance, and the prices of admission have been made very reasonable. Opening of the Wool Sales. — This morning, at ten o'clock, the Loan and | Mercantile Agency Company held the first wool sale of the season at thejr Durham I street Warehouses. Tho catalogue to be j I submitted includes a large quantity of < j superior cross-bred, half-bred and other j descriptions of wool. The presence of foreign buyerß in town points to the fact that considerable interest is attached to tho sale, and also favours the supposition that vendors' clips will meet keen competition. Fkank Lincoln. — This renowned humorist met with another hearty reception from a full house in the Oddfellows' Hall last night. His powers of mimicry and ventriloquy, and of keeping an audience in a roar of laughter for over two hours, were fully demonstrated, and the time passed only too quickly. Mr Foster added greatly to the enjoyment by the cleverly - played accompaniments to tho various songs, and by two instrumental selections. United Methodist Fancy Fair. — The Fancy Fair in the United Methodißt Free Church Schoolroom, St Asaph street, wa3 visited by a goodly number of people yesterday. There is still a quantity of goods to be disposed of. In the evening a concert took place, at which vocal and instrumental selections were given by Mieses Dewsbury and Thiel, Messrs Dewabury, Gott and Petrie. Thiß evening Mr Corrick's band will perform, several ladies and gentlemen will sing, and Mr Tait will exhibit and explain a calculating machine. New Zealand Fisheries, —Mr J. Tunnage, fish-curer, of Port Chalmers, has established a new industry in connection with his businesu, by which he utilises the heads, bones, and entrails of the fish cured by him for a manure. The refuse is taken from the curing sheds and placed in coppers, which have a capacity of 380 gallons. It is then boiled to a pulp, taken out and drained on a platform, dried and put into bags ready for being ground to powder. This process will occupy about a fortnight, and with his present appliances Mr Tunnage can produce about ten tons a month. It is claimed chat this description of manure is superior to ordinary bonedust. Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club. •—Thiß Club's Eace Meeting commences tomorrow, and everything at present points to a very successful meeting. The entries this year have been more numerous than those of any previous year, while the class of competitors has also unproved. The bicycle events, two on each day, have secured the entry of the best Canterbury riders, and will no doubt alone be worth going to see. The Spanish Students will perform on Friday and a band on Saturday, while afternoon tea will be dispensed by \ lady friends of the members to the j occupants of the stand on both days. His Excellency the Governor will be present during a portion of the day on Saturday. Mr Wells' Motett Society. — This Society gave a repetition of their performance of Mendelssohn's oratorio "Elijah" at the Palace Bink yesterday, when His Excellency Lord Onslow was present. The principal soloists were the same as those who SO aucceasf ully took the leading parts in the Oratorio last month — Misd Bell, Mesdameß Gray, Hunt and Rout, and Messrs Prouso and Gibson. These soloists i of course sang their music excellently, while the large orchestra and chorus I showed the effeot of the thorough and conscientious training of their conductor, Mr Wella. Owing to strong counter-attrac-tions the attendance waß not nearly bo large aa might otherwise have been expected, the audience numbering about five hundred; but these must have thoroughly itoajoyed Mr Prousa's fijußhedebei^pffwe^ •oart Di-BlHaij. ' . > i