Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4577, 23 February 1893, Page 3

Local & General.

The Weather.— Baia was falling at the Bluff yesterday* and in various parts of New Zealand the sky was overcast. Variable winds, and barometer falling slightly. Tbahway. Excursion. — Six tram-cars were well filled with excursionists to New Brighton last night. The Stanmore Band accompanied the party, and the season's evening outings were brought to a close very satisfactorily. Popular Science JjEctubbh.— Mr W. W. Collins has postponed his ÜBual weekly science lecture until to-morrow night, at the Lyceum, in order that it may not clash with the entertainment at the Theatre Eoyal this evening in aid of the Queensland sufferers. The subject of Mr Collins lecture wi)l be, "What We Owe to the Sun." Bichhond School. — A meeting of the Richmond Sohool Committee was held in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening, Mr J, Aberorombie being in the chair. A large number of applications were received for the position of caretaker of the school and swimming bath. Mr W. B. Mackenzie, caretaker of the St Albans sohool, was appointed to fill the position. Lkctubb.— The Eev A. Peters, of Wellington, who is on a visit to Bangiora, delivered a very interesting lecture at the United Methodist Free Church on Tuesday evening, the title being " Tit-bits, Bare bits, and Beautiful bits about Women." Mrs Bedstone occupied the chair, and the attendance was good. During the evening Miss Bedstone sang "Darby and Joan," and Mrs T. Withers "The Better Land," Mr T. Sutherland playing a violin obligato to the latter. The lecturer and the others who had given assistance during the evening were accorded a vote of thanks at the close, on the motion of the Bey H. B. Bedstone. Carp attain a great size on the Continent of Europe. A writer in an American contemporary says that one was taken at Deitz which weighed 38lb. In Prussia they frequently reach 401 b, and in the I Volga they are sft long. One caught { near Frankfort-on-the-Oder was 9ft long and sft in circumference, and weighed 701 b. Lake Zug, in Switzerland, has produced carp of 901 b.

A New Floobing. — A telegram from Wellington Bays that Sir W. Bailer will take Home- specimens of wood pavement for inside flooring, invented by Mr J. Freyberg, of Wellington, to diaplay in the New Zealand Court of the Imperial Institute and at the Agent-General's Office. The Public Library was the first building fitted with it. The Cheviot Shebf Sale. — Enquiries respecting the sale of the sheep on the Cheviot estate are becoming very frequent. To satisfy all interested the brokers announce that the flock sheep will be -submitted in lots of 1000 each with the option of taking not more than 5000 in one lot. The stud sheep will be sold either singly or in pens of five or ten as occasion requires. Buyers from all parts of the Colony havejecured tickets to enable them to attend. Defence. — A Press Association telegram received from Wellington last night says : — Colonel Fox is about to proceed to Nelson, the West Coast and South Canterbury, to complete his inspection of the defences o£ the Colony, and will furnish a supplementary report. It is doubtful whether the report now in the hands of the Government will be published until the second is received. Dibobdebly Behaviour.— -A man named Derrick, who said he had been rabbiting for the last twelve months, was sentenced at Timaru yesterday to fourteen days' imprisonment on each of two charges of having used obscene language and committed an unprovoked 'asßault at Waahdyke on the previous day. The accused, a powerful man, went to the Washdyke Hotel at midday, and, being refused liquor because he had already had too much, became violently abusive and " took charge of the place." The licensee, Mr Hood, found it necessary to get assistance and bind the man with a rope, and then locked him up in a loose box in the stable till the police arrived. Cooking Lectube.— Miss Wardrop gave the seventh and final leoture of the series in the Tuam street Hall last night, when she cooked a complete dinner for ten people. The hall was crowded in every part, and there was a larger audience than at any of the previous 'lectures. A table was most tastefully arranged on the floor o? the hall by Mr J. Freeman, the flowers for the decoration . having been supplied by Messrs Nairn and Sons, and as Miss Wardrop cooked the various dishes they were placed on the table as for an ordinary dinner. At the conclusion of the lecture the table was railed off, and for upwards of an hour the ladies assembled gazed upon the delicacies so temptingly displayed. Among the dishes cooked were soup vert, vol-au-vent of oysters, lamb cutlets a la petits pois, fillet of beef, poulard aux petites languea, geronflot a la Cannes and nougat baskets a la ere"me. Miss Wardfop intended to demonstrate other dishes, but time did not permit. Angling.- 1 Although the weather has not been favourable for angling, some good fish have been caught in the Ashburton district during the last few days. On Feb. 12 Messrs Shury and Anderson visited the Ashburton Lagoon^ the former gentleman catching nine fish, six of them large. On Feb. 14 the same gentlemen had an hour and a half nice fiehing with the fly in the Ashburtop, Eiver above the bridge- Dr Anderson landed ten and Mr Shury six fish, each about a" pound and a half in weight. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday Dr Anderson, Messrs Wigley and Beckett tried the ' Ashburton Lagoon again without much success, the weather being very unfavourable. They caught only three fish. On Saturday Mr Shury joined the party and caught one 51b fish, and Dr Anderson a three pounder. On the following day, owing to the north-weßt wind, the party could do no good at the lagoon, but, on going a few miles up the river, Mr Shury got eleven fish, the largest about 31b. The others' caught seven between them.