Latest Locals.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7340, 21 July 1892, Page 3

Latest Locals.

• "Canterbury Times." — Tho second of the series of " Punch" cartoons, "An Impending Catastrophe/ is published with the Canterhury Times this morning. It deals with the Provincial politics of twenty-seven years a^o, and represents the present leader of the Opposition in the House of Eepresentatives and one of his most prominent colleagues in a very perilous position. The other features of the paper, which are advertised in another column, are of exceptional interest, and make an admirable budget for despatch by the English mails. The Genbeal Election. — The cable messages to-day include a summary of the voting at ithe General Election. The result is that the Conservatives and Unionists are in a minority of 42. The Conservatives and Unionists returned 270 members in England and Wales, 21 in Scotland, and 23 in Ireland. The Gladstonian Liberals, Nationalists, and Parnellites returned 225 members in England and Wales, 51 in Scotland, and 80 in Ireland. Old Melbourne. —An article on "Making Melbourne," which will be of special interest to old colonists, appears in the Canterbury Times this week. Linwood Valuation Koll. — This morning Mr Beetham held a Court for the revision of the valuation roll of the Linwood Town District. There were originally only four objections to the valuation, two of which had been allowed by the Board. The other two objectors did not ar>pear when called on, and the Besidenfc Magistrate signed the roll as correct. Mr H. E. Smith appeared in support of the valuation. New Zealand Athletes at Home. — Full particulars of the latest doings of the New Zealand athletic team in England are given in the current number of the Canterbury Times. Parliamentary. — The Unclaimed Lands B'"l was amended in the Legislative Council yesterday, and the Oyster Fisheries Bill was again considered in Committee, the proposed export duty being opposed. The matter was further postponed. In tbe House of Representatives some new Billa were introduced, and the questions on the Order Paper were deferred in order that the financial debate might be proceeded with. Tai Tapu. — A meeting in connection with the Southern Cross Prohibition League was held in the schoolroom on Monday evening last. There was a fair attendance. Mr J. W. Miller occupied the chair. Two very interesting addresses were delivered by Mr Lowe, the President of the League, and the Eev A. M. Wright, of Lincoln, respectively. The choir, under the leadership of Mr H. N. Tanner, rendered a few pieces very nicely. Mrs Wills presided at the organ. Votes of thanks to the speakers, the Cheirman and the choir, brought a very interesting meeting to a close. Church op England Temperance Society.— Despit9 the wet weather, there was a good attendance at St John's Schoolroom on Tuesday night, when the usual fortnightly meeting of the Society was held. The programme was well got up, and the various items were loudly applauded. The following ladies and gentlemen took part :— MiBEe3 Watson, Partridge, Price, and Smith son, MiDyson gave a stirring Temperance address, and Mr Broad sang 1 two songs, which were well received. The meeting was brought to a close with hymn and prayer, after an enjoyable evening. Band of Hope.— The monthly meeting of the Sydenham Wesleyan Band of Hope was held in the schoolroom on Monday i evening, the Eev J. N. Buttle, President, in the chair. The following contributed to the programme : — Songs, Miss Derry, Messrs W. A. Hall, W. Trewern, and F. Mitchell ; recitations, Messrs H. Sheppardand H. Voyce; readings, Messrs A. Hulbert, T. Dacre and W. A. Hall ; pianoforte solo, Miss E. Phipps; pianoforte duet, Misßes Hall ; Miss Williams and Miss HaU officiated at the piano. The Benediction brought a very enjoyable evening to a close at 9.16. Brackenfield Hounds. — The Brackenfield hounds, which have been anxiously waited for in this district for some time back, made their appearance on Wednesday evening, and were kindly put Bup at Mr Henderson's, Ashley Gorge. Mr E. J. Parsons acted as huntsman, with Mr J. M' Donald as whip. t Yesterday morning, in the best of weather, all lovers of sport were early astir, wending their way to the farm known as " Snell's," where the start took place. Long before eleven o'clock a goodly number of riders were assembled, all on pleasure bent. Not much time was lost in making a start. The firßt paddock waa unproductive, but the next saw puss on her le#a with the hounds in hot pursuits. It, however, made towards the river bed, and the hounds were called off.' Without any delay another hare was started, and led the whole company at a swinging rate for fully two miles, during which good jumps were witnessed, also empty saddles. It was sow drawingnear lunch time, sotracks were made to the refreshment trap. After luncheon, Mr Parsons was heard calling for preparations for another spin. Pues waa soon started, and led the huntsmen over a beautiful piece of country. The majority of the horses took the fences in beautiful fashion, quite different to the sorry sight they made last season. Tbe day's sport was a most enjoyable one — no waiting for liaroß to present themselves. The only drawback waa their making to tho river-bed, which somewhat spoiled the sport. Special thanks are due to tho farmerß for so kindly placing their land at the disposal of the Hunt Committee; also to Mr Henderson, at whose place the hounds are staying. On Saturday the hounds will hunt the East Oxford

Supreme Court.— The argument on law points, in the case of Hadfield v. Tombs and others, waß concluded to-day, before His Honor Mr Jußtice Denniston. Judgment was reserved. His Honor will ait in Chambers at 11 a.m. to-morrow. Thk Sydenhabi Licenses. —It is rumoured that the former licensees of the Crown, Southern Cross, Sydenham, Sand- j ridge and Kingston Hotels, who were | refused a renewal of their licenses in June, 1891, by the Licensing Committee, oa the ground that the licenses were not required in the neighbourhood, will, through their solicitors, apply for a writ of certiorari for quashing the Committee's decision. It is also understood that a petition is to be preeenled to the Government asking for an inquiry into the action of the Sydenhani Licensing Committee, on the ground that it was biased. The object sought is the removal of the majority from office, on the ground that they are incapacitated by bias. : Mutual Improvement. — The Sydenham Wesleysu Mutual Improvement Association held its fortnightly meeting on Wednesday evening, July 13. The evening being arranged in the syllabus aa a "ladies' evening," all the tusine.-s was carried out by the ladies, with the exception of the Secretary. Miss Maginnis was in the chair. Tho folio win or contributed to the programme: — Song, Miss Billena; glees, the Mi?ses Billens, Smrrfc (2), Scotb (2), Dalfcry, Pbippi, Beare (2), Salisbury, and Watson; conductor, Mies Hall; pianist, Siiss N. Hall 5 recitation, Miss Maginnis ; paper on "Slang," Miss Peaccck; ripr oa " Drudgery," Miss L. Brockelhurst. At nine o'clock refreshments were supplied by the ladiei to about eighty members and friends. Two new members were elected and seven nominated for membership. A vote of thanks to the ladies brought a very enjoyable evening to a clo:e. Leithfield Library and Public Hall. — On Monday last the annual meeting wes held. The report and the balance-sheet of the retiring Comniittje showed a credit balance of over £7. The hall and library have been painted duiing the year, and over one hundred new books have been bought. The library now contains between two and three thousand books. A long conversation took place on the best means of increasing the usefulness of the institution, and certain suggestions were made for the new Committee to consider. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers and Committee, and the following were elected for the ensuing year :—President, Mr J. Smellie; Secretary, Mr A. Boyee ; Treasurer and Librarian, Mr Hawley; Committee, Messrs Hopkins, Shaw, Wilkinson, Russell, Homersham, Prazer, and the Rev H. East; Auditors, Messrs Dron and D. Bailey. The annual concert was fixed for the second week in September. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the President. Death of Mr C. Allison. — Some serration was caused at the Christchurch Working Men'B Club at noon to-day, through the death of Mr Charles Allison jn the pramises. The deceased gentleman was in tho habit of strolling down to the Club in the morning and spending a good portion of the day in the reading-room, ro-day, on account of the wet weather, ac had evidently been walking rather quicker than usual, as he complained af being tired. He had not b:en long seated in his accustomed chair ii front of the fire in the reading-room, when he fell aff to sleep— a sleep from -which he never iwoke. Mr C. Scholfield, who was in the room, noticed that there was something iinusual in Mr Allison's appearance, and :onsultod with some of the other members )f the Club, who concurred in the necessity for calling in medical aid. He therefore telephoned to half a dozen doctors, all )f whom were out. Dr Symes, however, was it liberty and attended forthwith. He idopted restorative measures, but in rain as life was extinct. Mr Allison was a colonist of many years' standng, and was aged 72. He will do well and favourably remembered in sonnection with the formation of the 3hristchurch Building Society, which he issisted to inaugurate, and of which he iarried on the duties of Secretary till vithin the past few years, when he found •Id age creeping on. As he had no necesity for work, he retired from the office rith the regret of all with whom he had ver come in contact therein. Mr Allison's wo sons, Charles and Henry, hold good lositions, the former being Town Clerk at iydenham, and the latter confidential lerk to Messrs Harman and Stevens.