Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7427, 23 November 1892, Page 3

Local & General.

New Zealand and Australasian Steamship Company. — The monthly timetable of the intercolonial steam service conducted by Mesßrs Huddart, Parker and Co., is to hand. Fall details of the movements of the Company's Australian and New Zealand steamers are given, and the booklet contains much information of interest and value to tourists and travellers. Alleged Eobbeet on Board a Steamee. — It was reported to the police at Lyttelton yesterday morning that a passenger by the Wairarapa from Wellington, named George Hyde, had been robbed of £23. Sergeant O'Malley investigated the case, but the particulars gleaned by him were not sufficient to justify an arrest. Supreme Court. — The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were concluded yesterday. John Hampton was found guilty on a charge of stealing sixteen pigs, the property of Mr W. van Asch, and was sentenced to six months' hard labour. Edward Carlyle, a lad of fifteen, was convicted of indecently assaulting a girl under fourteen years of age, and received a sentence of three months' hard labour, with a whipping. New Brighton Excursion. — The Canterbury Engineers' Band will play the following programme of music en the New Brighton Pier this evening: — Overture, "Symphonia" (Victor Bnrk); Valse, "Meadow Sweet" (D. Godfrey); Schottische, " Mississippi " (Jubb) ; Quadrille, " Town and Trade " (E. Bobinson) ; Fantasia, " Linda di Chamouni " (Donizetti) ; Waltzes, " Sonneschein " and " Schatten " (Earl Keller) ; Grand Selection " La Sonnambula" (Bellini) j Galop, "Post Horn" Koenig. Analyses of Liquors. — In consequence of Borne complaints which had been made as to the quality of the liquors supplied at hotels within the Christcburch Police district, Mr Inspector Pender recently caused a number of samples to be procured at hotels in Christchurch, New Brighton and Sumner. These were eubmitted to the public analyst at Wellington. Mr Skey's report on the twenty-four samples of spirits and alea is now to hand. In it he states tbat the analyses proved that there is nothing of a deleterious nature in any of the samples, which have all proved to be of excellent quality. In one case, a sample of rum, the admixture of water with the spirit* was largely in excess of the quantity allowed by law, but with this exception the samples were good, wholesome and unadulterated. Voluktebr Inspection.— Colonel Fox inspected the E Battery and the Canterbury Engineers at the drillshed last night. The former corps mustered fifty-three, under Captain Jackson; and the latter thirty-eight, under Captain Webster and Lieutenant M'Gee. The Battery was put through squad drill. The Engineers did company drill under Lieutenant M'Gee, and went through their work very well. Colonel Fox, addressing them, said that he was well satisfied with what he bad seen. 1 He had found in several instances that companies which had special work to do also did very well in their infantry drill, and this one was no exception. On Friday evening Colonel Fox will inspect the Queen's Cadets at the Volunteer Drillshed. Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club.— At a meeting of the Committee of the Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club, held last week, the programme for the annual aquatic exhibition to be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, was drawn up. It includes diving, surf, board and cask races, maid and masher race, and water polo match, and also the 100 yds inter-club race for a three-guinea trophy presented by Mr Davis Hunt. It wbb decided that admission should be by ticket only, to be obtained from any of the Club officials. Entries for the inter-club race will close on Nov. 30. Mr J. M. Watson was appointed delegate to attend a meeting called by the local consul of the Association to discuss championships, polo rules and other swimming matters. It was decided to accept the East Christchurch Club's challenge to a friendly game of water polo, and to invite the Club to a return match on the exhibition day. Last year's polo teams it was agreed should represent the Club in the matches. Labour Demonstration Committee.-— There was a large attendance at the weekly meeting of this Committee last evening, Mr W. I. Ballinger in the chair. Members reported the result of the canvass for subscriptions, which was of a most satisfactory nature, and it was resolved that the Finance Committee should meet on Friday evening and arrange a programme. It was decided to communicate with the employees of the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory, with a view of ascertaining whether a sufficient number would attend the demonstration on Dec. 16 to warrant the Committee in arranging for a special train from .Kaiapoi. A sub-Committee was appointed to confer with the Pioneer Bicycle Club regarding cycling events. An offer was received from a band to supply music for the day, but the Committee considered that all the local bands should be afforded an opportunity of ( making offers, and instructions were given to intimate to the various secretaries that the Committee would decide upon a band at its next meeting. The feasibility of " supplying free tea, or tea at a minimum charge, was discussed, and a sub-Committee was appointed to make enquiries and report at next meeting. The Exhibition Committee presented an interim report, from which it appeared thab a varied and interesting programme wonld be provided. Meeting of Cbbditoes.— -A meeting of creditors in the estate of Wm. W. Walls, wheelwright and blacksmith, of Kaiapoi, was held yesterday afternoon. There were seven creditors present. The debtor's statement showed unsecured creditors £415 16s 3d, made up as follows :— Bank of New Zealand, Kaiapoi, £92 12s 7d; Mason, Struthere and Co., £91 19a 10d; Morrow, Bassett and Co., £27 12a 2d; ABhby, Bergh and Co., £18 3a 6d ; Langdown and Co., £5 10s 2d; Williams, Stephens and Co., JE3 13a; W. Say, £3 18 3} P. and D. Duncan, £3 Is 2d ; Produce and Milling Company, Kaiapoi, £1 Is 9d ; John Sima, £19 12s 3d; Wm. Fraaer, £15 ; H. Weston, butcher, £14 2s lid ; W. E. May, £8 2s Id ; W. Eckersly, £20; Geo. Coup, £22; E. W. Jenkins. £64 7s 2d ; E. Wilson, £3 Is 9d ; F. W. Cone, £1 18 a. Secured : H. Wyatt, £297 12s. The assets were : Threequarters of an acre, with house thereon, at Eangiora (mortgaged to H. Wyatt for £240, with interest accumulated, totalling £297 12s) ; stock-in-trade £200, estimated to produce £150; book debts £121 6s 2d, estimated to produce £60; cash at bank £43 17s 3d ; total, less value of securities, £253 17s 3d; deficiency, £151 19a. The debtor stated that he had commenced business eight years ago with a capital of £350. He had done fairly well until July last. Previous to that he was in partnership, and had bought out his partner's interest for £120, of which £50 was still unpaid. After the bankrupt had made a detailed statement, the Assignee was instructed to realise on the estate as soon as possible. Mr J. Jenner Weir gives an interesting account in "Nature Notes" of the extraordinary collection of birds at the residence of Mr W. Ingram, M.P., at Weßtgate, living happily in every variety of condition ; in confinement in very large cages, in spacious volaries, in the waJJed-in pleasance, and lastly, with perfect liberty and undipped wings. There is one class of birds in which Mr Ingram is particularly rich— he has ten albinos, viz., three white jackdaws, three white blackbirds, a white thrush, a white starling, a white hedge sparrow, and a pure white variety of the herring gull, caught in the neighbourhood. One of the white jackdaws will go with the members of the family to the seashore and follow them about. What is even more wonderful, this affectionate bird is taken by Mr Ingram in the autumn to Over Stilton, in Yorkshire, where she takes long walks with a member of the family, flying from tree to tree. " Upon the whole," says Mr Weir, "I deem this white jaokdaw to be the moßt charming bird it was ever my good fortune to meet with." Marriages between Chinese labourers and European women of the poorer classes are, it is eaid, becoming, more and moire requent in New York.