Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7341, 22 July 1892, Page 3

Local & General.

______ Sale of Pictuees.— There was a large attendance at Mesßrs Bowman and Sons' rooms yesterday, when about seventy pictures, by local artists, were sold at satisfactory prices. Entertainment. — Mr J. D. Foley gave another of his entertainments at Sydenham on Wednesday evening. He will perform to-night at Papanui, and at Belfast on Tuesday next. A Generous Act. — It is stated on good authority that the late Mr Harry Allwright, of Lyttelton, provided in his will that a sum of _£300 should be invested by tbe executorß, the interest on whioh is^ to be spent on May 24 of each year iv assisting the deserving poor of the port of Lyttelton. Such a generous act is a fitting termination t o the many good works in which the deceased gentleman bas been concerned. Rapid Railway Travelling. — On Wednesday, during a visit of inspection of the . lir.e, the Directors of the Manawatu Rail- < way Company took occasion to teßt the • speed capabilities of the line, and particu- . larly of the newest of the Baldwin engines imported from America. Otaki, about 48 . miles from town, was reached in 78min, ' in spite of two steep banks. Tho run , from Otaki to Longburn, 37-} miles, was _ finished in 36mins. An average speed of . 60 miles an hour was maintained for fifteen i consecutive miles, of which three were . done in 59secs each, two in 58seca, and one \ in 56_}secs, representing respective speeds i of 61, 62 and 64 miles an hour. This has r never yet been authentically equalled on a t 3ft 6in gauge any where in the world. The nearest approach to it was 58 miles an

I hour onte expetimeatally attained by a similarengine on the Dunedin-Christchurch line. Ethical Society. — At tbe meeting of • the Christian Ethical Society in the Calet donian Society's rooms to-night, a paper , will be read on" The Tyranny of Custom." } Supreme Court. — floe argument on law . points, in the case of Uadfeld v. 'l'ombs and others, was concluded yesterday, before His Honor Mr Justice Denniston. Judgment was reserved. i OBSTRUCTING' ITft FOOTPATH. — The police have laid informations against several thopkeepers of Christchurch for obstructing the footpath by placing- goods thereon outside their shop fronts.- ! DUEHAJI 6TBEET WEBLEYAN CHURCH.— ' Owing to tho unfavourable weather, the performance of the oratorio, The Crucifixion, which was to have been given at the Durham street Wesleyan church last night, was postponed until a date of which ,' notice will be given. Personal. — Amongst the passengers by ! tbe steamer Penguin, which arrived at j Lyttelton yesterday, was Dr T. W. ( Pairman, who has just returned to New | Zealand by the E.M.S.S. Kaikoura after j an absence of six months. He brings his son and daughter with him, and his many j friends will welcome him back io the Port. Natural Soda Water. — A curious discovery, says the Wanganui C'krovicle, j appears to have been made at Castlecliff j (Wanganui Heads). Mr Shannon, in sinking a well on his ground, met with an effervescing water with a taste closely resembling the ordinary soda water of commerce. The supply is continuous, and is used and well liked tor household purposes. Canterbury Methodist Convention. — The meetings in connection with the Canterbury Methodist Convention were continued yesterday, when, though the weather was uninviting, the attendance was encouraging. Addresses were given by the Rev G. Hounsell in the afternoon, and by the Revs J. Orchard and W. Grigg in the evening. Foresters' " Social."— Last night the members of Court Star of Canterbury, with their lady friends, held a very enjoyable " social " in their hall, Oxford Terrace. Dancing was begun at eight o'clock, and was kept up till midnight, Mr H. Roasiter supplying the music. During intervals between the dances musical items were given by Misses Swindell, Smith and Langford, Mrs Swindell and Messrs Gale, Eldridgo and Wells. Queen's Cadets. — An inspection parade of the Queen's Cadets was held yesterday evening in the drillshed, St Asaph street. Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon waa the inspecting officer, and the Cadets mustered sixty-five of all ranks under the command of Captain Jone3 and Lieutenant Donaldson. There will be a parade of the corps on Sunday morning, when the Cadets are requested to muster at their drillshed at 10.15 a.m. to attend divine service at St John's Church. Oddfellowship.— The usual fortnightly meeting of the Ridgley Lodge, 1.0.0. F., A.C, was held in the Orange Hall, Worcester street, on Wednesday evening, Bro J. Nash, N.G., presiding. There was a very fair attendance of members and visitors, among whom were Bro Townsend, D.D.G.M., and Bro A. Townsend, T.G., of the Washington Lodge. One candidate was proposed for membership, and two old members were reinstated. A vote of thanks having been accorded to the visiting brethren, a very pleasant meeting waa closed. Railway Tariff.-— A deputation of members of the House of Representatives waited on the Kaiiway Commissioners yesterday with reference to the railway tariff, and urged a reduction in the charges, especially in regard to the carriage of sheep. A reduction in the cost of conveying rabbitskms, lime and wool was suggested. The Commissioners stated, in reply, that they were anxious to meet the farmers, and would carefully consider the Well at Coker's Hotel. — Messrs Taylor and Oakley, agents for Mr Job Osborne's artesian well boring apparatus, have succeeded in sinking a well to the fourth water-bearing stratum, on the premises on which Coker'B Hotel stands. Yesterday the work was completed, when a flow of sixty gallons a minute was obtained, and rose to thirteen feet above the surface. The well is a threeinch bore, and is to be used for supplying water, by means of a ram, to the additions to the botel, which are now being proceeded with. The Wairoa Poisoning Cask.— The people who were poisoned at Wairoa tho other day, at Poyzer's Hotel, were Messrs C. Badley (traveller for Messrs Robjohns, Hindmarshand Co.), Naylor, Webb and Logan, Mrs Poyzer and her three children, Martha Pilson (housemaid at the hotel), and Norah M'Mahon, the cook. The arsenic was in a pepper-tin on a shelf in the kitchen, and was used for baking powder by the cook. The tin had no label on it. For some time the lives of two of the children were despaired of, but they ultimately recovered, thanks to the unremitting care of Dr Ross. Wesleyan Methodist Property Trust Bill. — The Christchurch members of the Wesleyan Committee of Privileges, the President of the Conference in the chair, met yesterday morning to consider the opposition to the Wesleyan Methodist Property Trust Bill now before the Hou.e. It was resolved to communicate with the House of Representatives assuring the members tbat the principle of the Bill had been before tbe Wesleyan Church throughout the Colony for many years, and had been affirmed by several annual Conferences ; and that the la_t two Conferences by an overwhelming majority authorised the preparation of the Bill by the Committee of Privileges. Lecture. — LasteveningProfesaor Bickerton commenced a course of lectures on " Radiant Energy." The lecture was not exactly bearing on the proposed course, but gave a general idea of tbe experimental methods of science. This was rather fortunate, because it gave many who were not able to attend on account of the wet weather a chance of hearing the commencement of tbe syllabus. The lecturer took his audience through the simple experiments that prove the laws of gravitation, pressure, movements of the air and the force of steam. He also proved that sound and light were vibrations. The old and modern discoveries in matter, electricity and life were explained, aud the means of their discoveries illustrated. The lecture was much appreciated by the audience. The next lecture will be on "Music and tbe Ear." Obituary. — One by one the pioneers of settlement in Canterbury are passing away. Mr T. G. Chapman is another of the many early settlers who have gone to the grave full of years and amid tokens of profound respect from all who knew them. The infirmities of age have kept him confined to his house for many years ; consequently he is almost unknown to the younger generation who bave grown up around him. He was born in Lincolnshire in the first decade of the present century, and aB he grew to manhood was highly respected amongst bis neighbours for probity and honour. He came to New Zealand upwards o. thirty years ago, and settled at Templeton, where he resided for several years. On the opening of the Longbeach estate for sale, his sons, the Messrs Chapman Bros., took up a fine block of land in the present Willowby distaict, and be went with them to their new home. Volunteer " Social." — There was a good attendance of members of the Company recently formed from the Sydenham and Irish Rifles, at a "social" held last night in the Oddfellows' Hall, Sydenham, to celebrate the amalgamation. The ball was nicely decorated. Music was provided by several members of the corps, and dancing began soon after eight o'clock. Songs were interspersed with the dances, and the duties of M.C. were efficiently performed by Sergeant Board. Captain Whitesides was present, as were also Lieutenant Joyce of the Lyttelton Navals and several visiting Volunteers. The Bupper was provided by Mr W. Edwards. During the evening the gold and silver medals, given by Mr F. S. Parker, as prizes i in the Bhooting competition recently held, j were presented by Captain Whitesides to ! Corporal Harrison aad Corporal S&elton respectively.