Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4713, 3 August 1893, Page 3

Local & General.

• ! Ellksmebk Eoad Board.— Mr Robert ' Lockbead has been elected Chairman of the Ellesmere Bead Board, in place of the late Mr Milsom Jones. Fbndalton School. — It is intended, if possible, to re-open the Fendalton school on Monday, provided sufficient children are able to attend. Collie Doas. — An interesting paper by "The Kennelman," on "The Roughcoated Collie," forms part of the contents of the kennel columns of this week's Can- < terbury Times. Cantbbbuby Rugby. Union.—" Quid* nuno" in this week's Canterbury Times . has some trenchant remarks upon the - attitude adopted by the Canterbury Rugby , ; Onion towards the New Zealand Rugby ; Union. Auction Sale.— Messrs Bowman and Son will hold another of their popular j auction Bales of furniture at their rooms ! to-morrow. List of goods to be sold will i appear in to-morrow's " Times."" | Football. — Followers of the winter game will find in the Canterbury Times this week an abundant supply of interesting football gosßip, a number of subjects of especial interest just now being fully dealt with. j Aebob Day.— At the meeting of the : Board of Education of North Canterbury this morning, the Secretary, Mr Colborne- ; Teel, reported that eighty School Com- : mittees had applied for trees to plant on j Arbor Day and that 14,845 trees had be«n distributed. 1 Dbamatic. — Mr B< A. Underwood leaves Chrißtchurch for Auckland to-day, having accepted an engagement as manager of the Gourlay and Walton Musical and Dramatic Company, which is at present making a tour through the Colony. The Company is well spoken of in the northern papers, and iB expected to open here on Sept. 6. A Reminiscence. — A contributor sup* plies the Canterbury Times with an incident . that happened in connection with the stealing of Gainsborough's famous picture, "The Duchess of Devonshire." The recent confession of one of the thieves called the incident to memory. j Mutual Impbovement Society.— The fortnightly meeting of the Woolston Mutual Improvement Society was held last Thursday. A " mock Parliamentary election " took place. The three candidates were Mr W. T. Thomas (Government), Mr T. M'Haig (Independent) and , Mr Yates (Opposition). The voting re- j suited in Mr M'Haig being returned. > Sporting. — The commencement of the new racing season and other interesting * subjects are dealt with in the sporting columns of this week's Canterbury Times, which aho contain a full budget of English, foreign, Australian and New Zealand sporting news, and statistics relating to New Zealand horses in Australia j last season. Trotting, couraing and hunt- j ing news is aIBO fnll and interesting. Hibernian "Social." — The members of the Southbridge Hibernian Society celebrated their third anniversary with a concert and ball in the Southbridge Town ; Hall laßt night. The room was nicely decorated, and there was a very large attendance. A very pleasant evening was spent, songs and dancing being inter- > spersed. Mr Harry Rossiter's Quadrille Band supplied the music, and dancing was j kept up till an early hour this morning. The Victobia Disasteb. — An ex-naval I I officer has contributed to this weefe'a | I Canterbury Times a vindication of BearAdmiral Markham'a action in the circum- j stances attending the collision between the j Victoria and the Camperdown. The article ' is interesting, not only for its hearing upon ' the particular case, but also for the light which it throws upon the discipline which must be observed in the Royal Navy. The Late Me John Ollivieb.— -Before proceeding with the business at the Chrisfcchurch Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, Mr R. Beetham, Resident Magistrate, spoke feelingly of the death of the late Mr John Ollivier, and referred in eulogistic termß to the deceased gentleman's : connection with the magistracies of the Provincial district, and the Christchurch Courb in particular. As a mark of respect to Mr Ollivier's memory, Mr Beetham ordered the Court to be closed at one . o'clock. Mr OUivier's funeral took place at the Heatheote Cemetery this afternoon. Sheep-breeding.— A verbatim report of the address given by Mr Henry Overton at the meeting of paetoralists in Sydney, ; before the recent stud sheep sales, on the ; subject of cross-breeding Bheep, is published in this week's Canterbury Times. This iB one of the most valuable contributions yet made to the discussion of a most important question, and we commend it to the perusal of all sheep-farmers. Lbctube at Kaiapoi.— On Wednesday evening a lecture was given in the Social i hall in connection with the Kaiapoi Prea- ! byterian Church by the Rev P. B. Monro, entitled "Scottish Humour and Character." j There was a capital attendance, the hall ' being full* The RevW. J. Gow presided, ! and introduced the lecturer, who kept the audience deeply interested for two houra, proving that wit and hutt©ar were admitted qualities both in Scotch men and women. A collection was taken ; a vote of thanks to the lecturer was cairied, and it was announced that the Rev P. R. Monro would deliver another lecture at a future date in the same place. Direct Veto. — Mr Niman Melville, who represents the Northumberland dis- ' trict in the New South Wales Parliament, ; will arrive here from the south to-day. , He is on a temperance lecturing tour, and laßt evening addressed a meeting at Ash- < burton. He will speak on the direct veto { at the Tuam Btreet hall this evening, and arrangements are in progress for him to visit other centres. Fendalton.— At the Fendalton schoolroom, last evening, a public meeting was held to consider the establishment of a I swimming bath. Mr H. Hepburn presided. The matter of the bath had been considered by the School Committee for some I time, and a sub-Committee had reported j thereon. The information gathered by the j ! Committee showed that a bath in the j schoolground would coßt some £500, j which sum would be very difficult to raiße 'in the district. This report had received 1 the consideration of the general Committee, and had been partly adopted. The Com- | mittee further conoluded that a bath could be constructed at much lobb expense in the gravel reserve near the creek in the Bchoolground,and permission to utilise the reserve had been obtained from the Selwyn ! County Council. This scheme was set before the meeting and discussed, and the conclusion having been arrived at that a suitable bathing place could be constructed ! for £150 in the gravel reserve, the Com- \ \ mittee was empowered to call another ' meeting, action in the meantime to be ! suspended, owing to the small attendance ■ and the generally unsettled condition of the ' district. . I Acknowledgment. — Mr Superintendent ! Turton deeires to acknowledge the receipt of £2 from Mrs Stewart, for services ' rendered by the Brigade at the late fire in Lichfield street. i Fibe at Cheviot. — A grasß fire which started on the Tormore block of the Cheviot eßtate last week, burned across on to the Hurunui block, which is at present leased by Mr W. B. Clarkson. About 2000 acres of the lessee's feed were burned, as also were about 200 sheep.

ODDPELLOwsHir. — The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Addington Juvenile Lodge, No. 6544, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held last night in the Oddfellows' Hall, Lincoln read. There were present about sixty members, including visiting officers and brethren from the Loyal City of Christchurch and Volunteer juvenile Lodges and several members of *the Volunteer and Addington senior Lodges. The meeting was presided over by N.G. Bro Mnrray. After transacting some business the Lodge adjourned for refreshments, and during the evening some very good songs were given by Bros Voyce, Ferguson, Skinner, Saunders, Midgley, and Burgese, of the Volunteer Juveniles ; Bros Harrison and Tapley, of the City Juveniles 5 P.G.s Bro Lester and Fabian, N.G. Bro Spicer, of the Volunteer Senior Lodge; and P.G. Bro Kinsman and Bro Aequith, of the Addington Senior Lodge. P.G. Bro Fabian returned thanks on behalf of the visitors for the way they had been entertained, and proposed the toast, " Success to the Addington Juvenile Lodge," which was drunk with musical honours. N.G. Bro Murray responded. P.G. Bro Kinsman gave a very instructive address, and presented the retiring G.M. Bro Landells with a framed Grand Master's certificate on behalf of the Addington Juvenile Lodge. Bro Landells suitably responded. G.M. Bro Harrison (City Juveniles), N.G. Bro Voiteh (Volunteer Juveniles), N.G. Bro Spicer (Volunteer Seniors) P.G. Bro Kin&man (Addington Seniors) returned thanks for the third Bentiment on behalf of their various Lodges. Ivey Memorial.— Mr A. B. Cambridge baa received a commission from the Memorial Committee to paint in oils a portrait of the late Mr Ivey for presentation to the Board of Governors, to be hung in the dining-hall of the School of Agriculture. Shop Hours Bill.— A meeting of shopkeepers of Christohurch and suburbs will be held in the Corn Exchange at halfpast seven to-morrow evening, for the purpose of protesting againßt the compulsory clauses in the Shop Hours Bill now before Parliament. E Battsbt of Abtilleet.— The annual Morris-tube match between the past and present members of this Battery will take place at the gun-shed this evening, commencing at 7.30. After the match the ex-members will be entertained in the orderly-room by the Battery, who will parade in uniform. A Stranger.— A small fin-back whale, 15ft to 20ft long, visited the bathing ground in Caroline Bay, Timarn, yesterday morning, and was circling about in shallow water for some time. A party went out in a boat to try and shoot it, and the animal then made off. Cantebbubt Women's Institute.— An interesting lecture was delivered laßt night, under the auspices of the Canterbury Women's Institute, by Dr Lomax-Smith on "The Bival Claims of Idealism and Materialism." The lecturer began by giving definitions of Materialism in the words of several of its exponents. He showed the bearing of the eubjeot on that of Spiritualism, and referred to the now widely accepted theory of Monism. The lecturer concluded by asserting that Materialism was merely an influence from the mental world. A very hearty vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs W. Wilson seconded by Mrs Cunnington, and carried. The Fabmers' Paper.— Besides the usual large quantity of valuable and interesting information on agricultural and pastoral subjects contained in £he Canterbury Times of to-day's date, that popular weekly deals specially with many questions of importance to farmers and pastoralists, among them being that of a three days' show, noxious weeds, grain-growing at Longbeaoh, pedigree sheep, and many other matters affecting the farm, the dairy and the station. The supremacy of the Canterbury Times over all competitors in this department is strongly marked. A Wabning to Cyclists. — The Hon Secretary of the New Zealand Cyolista' Alliance has received the following letter from the Clerk to the Akaroa County Counoil :— "I have the honour by direction of the Council to ask you to bring under the notice of the members of your Clubs the several narrow escapes from serious accident that have occurred on the main coach road from Little River to Akaroa through horses meeting bicycles unawares, especially at sharp turns and angles on the road which occur on the several hills. While pointing out the necessity for precautions in a district where horses are quite unaccustomed to strange machines, the Council has every desire to encourage trips to Akaroa and other parts of the Peninsula, &c." Philosophical Institute. — The ordinary meeting of the Philosophical Institute was held at the Institute rooms last evening, Professor Bickerton being in the chair. Mr Speight, the Secretary, read papers by Captain F. W. Hutton on Conchothyra parasitica, and by the Hon Walter Rothschild on a new rail of the Auckland Islands. Mr Brown read a paper dealing with three species of mosses of rare genera, which excited a good deal of discussion. At the request of the President, Mr Brown promised to make further enquiries and researches as to the means of generation of these plants. A long discussion took place on the spontaneous ignition of . charcoal linings in freezing chambers. Mr Webb suggested that it would add to the usefulness of the Institute if members would bring forward for discussion any interesting scientific facts which they might meet in the course of their reading. Political. — Mr George J. Smith, a candidate for one of the Chrißtchurch seats at the approaching Parliamentary elections, addressed a well-attended meeting of friends and supporters in the Oddfellowa' Hall, Sydenham, on Tuesday evening. Whilst touching briefly upon the leading public questions of the day, Mr Smith declared himself in favour of the land and taxation policy of the present Government, maintenance of the present system of education, revision of the Customs tariff with a view to render assistance to Colonial industries, direct popular vote on the licensing system, industrial legislation, compulsory arbitration, and a modification of the present system of railway management in the direction of giving Parliament some measure of direct control of the railways. At the close of Mr Smith's address a Committee of about thirty was formed, pledged to use every effort to secure his election. The Committee adjourned until Monday evening, when it will meet for the election of ' Chairman. '

Commerce and Laboxtb.— The Chairman of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce (ftlr K. Ramsay) speaking at the annual meeting of the Chamber said :— The Post-maßter-General is entitled to our beet thanks for his management of the Poßtal and Telegraph Departments of the Colony, and I am Bare we all congratulate him on hia deserved promotion to the Colonial Treasurership. * * With reference to the question as to whether it is better to devote the surplus to useful public works than to the reduction of taxation, I advocate the former in the belief that it^ is more to the advantage of the community generally. We have, unfortunately, the unemployed difficulty in serious form with us throughout the length and breadth of the land, and the evil haß been intensified this winter by the distreßß in Australia and the consequent arrival of maDy needy ones from there. Employment must be found, as far as possible, for men able to work. No one can be allowed to starve. The finances of the local bodies will not admit of much help from them in finding work for the unemployed, and all the burden of providing for them cannot be thrown on the charitable institutions of the Colony or on the charity of private individuals. It would be wrong to do bo from any point of view from which you may look at the question, and I know of no better object to which the surplus can be applied than in giving employment ts deserving p^ 1 ople on necessary public works. Farmers and country visitors to ' s I.iu'oji are requested to call nt C. H. Manning' tndio and see the large display of Photos of ; 1 1 .Early Settlers of Ciuitorlmvy now on view, sindto j ear in mind that C. 11. Manning's well-known, artistically finished Cabinet Photos are reduced iv price, and can now be obtained at 15s per dozen, any stylo or position. 150, Colombo scrcet, opposite pq . Kecce and Sons.— [Advt.3