Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4675, 20 June 1893, Page 3

Local & General.

j The Queen's Accession.— To-day being the fifty-sixth anniversary of tbe accession of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to the throne, was observed as a holiday at the Supreme Court. Ministerial.— The Hon W. P. Reeves attended at the Public Works Office this morning, and was fairly besieged with deputations on matters of local interest. He was kept busily engaged until two o'clock, and leaves for Wellington at 5.30 p.m. Canteebuby Catholic Literary. Society.—The annual meeting of this Society was held last week. There was a large attendance of members. Office-bearers for the ensuing twelve months were elected, and the President elect, the Rev Father Briand, S.M., will be installed into office to-morrow evening by hia Lordship Dr Grimes. Knights of Labour.— The ordinary meeting of the Linwood Assembly of the Knights of Labour took place on Friday evening. In the absence of the Master Workman, Mr W. W. Tanner, M.H.R., was voted to the chair. The report of the members appointed to attend the meeting of delegates from Trades Unions was received and it was unanimously resolved — " That the Assembly consider that the platform of the Canterbury Liberal Association meets all the requirements needed, and is sufficient^r all practical purposes." Wobk at Cheviot. — The express train from the south laßt night brought twenty men from Oamaru and ten from Timaru to join the Christchurch contingent of twentyfour men to proceed to the road works at Cheviot. Mr Hutton, who has been appointed overseer of the works, came up with the southern men, who were met at the railway station and taken to Bush's boarding-house, where arrangements have been made for tbeir accommodation. This morning Mr Lomas, the local agent of the Labour Bureau, mustered the men, when it was found that tbe whole fifty-four were preeent. They left by the 1.25 train for the Waipara, where they will be met by waggons and taken right on to the work, j Theatre Royal. — Last night Meg was played for the last time to a fair house, weather and counter-attractions considered. During an entr'acte a pretty gavotte, composed and arranged by Mr G. Garry, New Plymouth, was played by the orchestra. To-night Buckstone's musical comedy, for comic opera, The Child of the Regiment, will be produced. Many of the most popular comedy and burlesque actresses of the Old Country have scored succeßßeß in the part of Josephine, and Maggie Moore has been equally successful in the character on thi3 side of the world. Mr Forde is also Buited with a oapital part. The Child of the Regiment is regarded as, in many respects, the best piece on the Company's repertoire, and will, no doubt, prove aa attractive here as ib has been elsewhere. As an afteipiece, the extremely laughable farce, The Fool of The Family will be played, and in this also Miss Moore has a congenial part. New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association. — The balance-sheet of the New Zealand Farmers' Association for the year ending May 31 has been printed and circulated among the shareholders. From it we gather that the total capital paid up amounts to i£38,407, the uncalled-up capital being 16,320 shares at £%, 1&11 at : M, and 25 at £5, leaving a total of .£56.593 1 uncalled or unpaid. The freehold property

is set down at a value of £17,3(15 lis 4d, and tho leasehold at £4326 13s, or a total of £21,672 4s 4d for buildings and 1 property. Tho stock in hand and afloat is valued at £38,984 4s. £113,161 3s lOd has been advanced on produce shipped and in store, and £13,999 lis 8d is set down as due by debtors, tbe total : assets, including investments, balances, : machinery and plant, office furniture, &c, I amounting to £191,522 10a 6d. The profit ; and lobb account for tho year ending May , 81 shows that £64,94 16s haß been paid in I salaries, Directors' fees and expenses have ; amounted to £799 5s 9d, £496 la 7d has been written off for bad and doubtful debtß, the total expenditure for the year being £10,246 15a 6d, leaving a net profit for the year of £8437 15a 6d. The annual report is now being prepared in readiness lor tho forthcoming annual meeting. Sunday. Evening^ Social Hour.— At the East Belt Church last Sunday night an • innovation, in the way of a " sooial hour," was held after the usual service. A large i number of people were present, and the expectations of the promoters were fully j realised. The Durham street Wesleyan I Church choir, under Mr Searle, and the : East Bolt choir, under Mr Painter, each ! sang two anthems; Mr Pitachell sang a i couple of solo?, and Messrs Shelton and J. I Ballantyne gave two duets, and Mr Painter ! a violin solo. At the conclusion the Rev F. W. Isitt thanked thoae who had assisted, and announced that a similar gathering would be held in about six weeks' time. j Rechabiteb. — The quarterly summoned meeting of the Pride of Chrißtchurch Tent, No. 26, 1.0. R., was held on Monday evening in the Young Men's Christian Association's Rooms, Cambridge terrace. | There was a good attendance, and Bro F. Robson, C.R., presided. Two brethren were reported on the sick list, and the sick allowance due was passed for payment. One candidate was admitted to membership. It was resolved to ask Bro the Rev F. W. Isitt to preach a Rechabite sermon at an early date, and a Committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. Correspondence was received from the District Chief Ruler of New South Wales, and also from the Seoretary of the Loichhardt Tent, Sydney, thanking the Tent for kindness shown to a brother of that Tent recently, and refunding the money lent to him. A vote of thanks was accorded to Bro Palmer, the Seoretary, for his kindness to the visitor during hiß Btay in Christchurch. Correspondence from the distriot, in reference to the proposed new by-laws, was dealt with. The election of officers was , then proceeded with, and resulted as follows :— C.R., Bro J. Chapman j D.R., Bro W. White j Seoretary, Bro A. Palmer ; Treasurer, Bro J. Coombs ; Cash Steward, Bro J. W. Flesher; Levite, Bro F. CoombB ; Guardian, Bro J. Cumberpatoh j Auditors, Bros J. A. Flesher and Strack j Judicial Committee, Bros J. Coombs, W. Blewett, J. Pritchard and R. French. The newly-elected officers were duly installed. The receipts for the evening were over £50. Supreme Court. — The New Brighton ' libel case, Sefton v. Wyatt, occupied his Honor Mr Justice Denniston and a special jury from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. yesterday, the plaintiff gaining a verdict for £2 damages, whioh carried costs. His Honor held, however, that the case might properly have been heard before a common jury, and refused to certify. for a special jury. Richard. — The Oddfellows' Hall waa well attended last night, and Professor Richard treated four cases submitted to him, with apparent success. The usual entertainment at the conclusion caused hearty laughter. Professor Richard announced that he would close bis practice here on Saturday, July 1, and the final entertainment will be given on June 28. Next Sunday he will give his last free lecture in Christchurch. Political. — Mr Scobie Mackenzie will address a public meeting at Ashburton this evening.— lt is commonly rumoured about the town (Bays the New Zealand Times) that Mr George Fisher has arranged with the Conservative interest to come out as one of the Conservative trio at the next general election. It is the logical sequence of hia help to Mr Bell at the bye-election, and appears to entail exceptionally favourable treatment of Mr Fisher by one of the local Conservative organs. It is stated that the mayor, Mr R. Edwards, will be a oandidate for Palmerston North at the general election in the Liberal interest. He is also being asked to contest the Otaki seat. Good Templary.— The Flower of Woolston Lodge held its weekly session in the Bible Christian Church on Friday night, one brother being readmitted. The D.D.G.C.T. paid an official visit, and addressed the Lodge. Afterwards the Lodge went into harmony, the following contributing items : —Bros M'Diarmid, Hawkins and Bailey songs, Sisters Brooker, E. Williams and M. Williams song?, and Sister Gilbert a reading. — The Young Crusader Juvenile Temple held its weekly session in the Druids' Hall, Chrißtchurch, on Thursday evening. There a good attendance. Tho officers of the Bud of Woolston Juvenile Temple paid a fraternal visit, and occupied the chairs until the installation of officers, which was conducted by Sister Gilbert, D.S.J.T., assisted by Sister Turner, superintendent of the. Woolston Lodge, and Sister Eastwood, D. A.S. Afterwards harmony was indulged in, several of the juveniles contributing an excellent programme. Mutual Improvement. — The Springston Mutual Improvement Class met on Friday evening, the Rev W. Griffin presiding. The programme for the evening was the "Question Box," and various interesting subjects were discussed. — The weekly meeting of the Waltham Literary Society was held in the old Wesleyan church on Tuesday evening, Mr A. Clifford in the chair. There was a fair attendance, and five new members were elected. The business for the evening was the " Question Box." A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the following persons for their efforts in making the late "social" a success: — Mr and Mrs Owen, for the use of the piano ; MiSßes Bailey and Owen, playing the accompaniments. Messrs Raffills and Maddren, M.C.'s ; Captain Clark and Mr W. Langdown, use of flags ; to Mr Thoe, Hughes, and aIBO to the Lyttelton Times for inserting the Society's reports. — There was a good attendance at the fortnightly meeting of the Ashley Mutual Improvement Society on Thursday evening last. The subject was a debate on the question of the desirableness or otherwise of Home Rule for Ireland. Mr J. Douda led in the affirmative and Mr C. Whiteßide in the negative. An animated discussion followed, and on a chow of hands the verdict was slightly in favour of the proposal. The Eden George Company, Limited, are now producing far superior Opals than hitherto. Me j Binns, who has just arrived from WelingtoE, wil take direct charge of the Studio and Workrooms, ! so that the delay which his occurred in the com* ! pletaon of orders will shortly disappear, and only I Cabinets and Opols showing vost superior work, j _ _ nshio will be adowed -to cave the Studio.