Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4996, 7 July 1894, Page 5

Local & General.

» The "Stab."— In the columns specially devoted to the discussion of matters of first interest to women will be found " Misß Colonia in London " and " Woman's World." "A Dead Man's Secret" and " Mad Sir Uchtred of the Hills" will be found on page 1. In the general columns thera are some "Queer Experiences at Sea," "Motley" by " Jack Point," "Forgery as a Profession," " Fun ahd Fancy," and the editor supplies his usual budget o? "To-Day." In addition to all this •' Tomtom" plays a merry tune for bandsmen and musicians generally. "Stray Leaves," by " Notus," are left over. H.M.S. Rapid.— -This war-ship will be thrown open to the pnblic to-morrow (Sunday) afternoon, and to meet the timeß the s.a. Canterbury will run off to her at the reduced fare of sixpence. Personal.— *Hio Worship the Mayor of Christchurch returned from Wellington this morning. While there his Worship made enquiries as to the Benevolent Society of the northern city, with a view to the establishment here of an institution on similar lines. The Lyceum. — A lecture entitled *' Thomas Paine and John Wesley ; their ' lives and teachings compared," will be given by Mr R. White to-morrow evening. Mr White will also givo an open - air address and move a resolution on the subject of " A State Bank " in Cathedral Square this evening. The Gothic. — Owing to the pressure of work on the vessel, the agents announce that it will be impossible to admit the public on board the s.s. Gothic during her stay in Lyttelton. The cargo inwards and outwards haa to be worked, the cabina cleaned, and this will absolutely prevent any such thing aB visits from the publio to the vessel. The Talmage Lectures.— Full particulars of the arrangements for the Christchurch lectures are published in our advertising columns. They include tho ; issue of course tickets for the reserved ' seats. Dr Talmage had an enthusiastic j reception in the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, ' on Thursday evening. Large numbers ) of people came from Invercargill and Oamaru to hear the famous orator. Tomorrow he will preach in the Knox Church. On his arrival in Dunedin he was welcomed at the Grand Hotel by a large and influential deputation representing all the Presbyterian churches of Dunedin aud suburbs. The Hon W. Downie Stewart i acted as spokesman. A Convivial Evening. — On Friday night, at the invitation of Mr George Agar, one of the oldest residents of Lyttelton, a party of friends assembled at the Canterbury Hotel to spend a convivial evening in celebration of the thirty -sixth anniversary of Mr Agar's arrival at Lyttelton. An excellent suppar waa provided by hoßt Brown, and after the cloth had been cleared harmony was indulged in, and, aa wbb only to be expected, reminiscences of the good old days of Lyttelton formed a prominent part iv the evening's proceedings. Mr Agar, who has been engaged in hia present business of first boatman, and then, as the port grew, launch proprietor, has made a large circle of friends by his plain and outspoken manner, and the few who gathered together on Friday night honoured hiß health in real enthusiastic fashion.

nui and St Albans Wesleyan Churches services _ in memory of the late Mrs J. Pattrick will be hold in the morning and evening respectively. The Eev W. Morley and Mr J. Broughton will conduct the former, and the Rev J. A. Lux-ord and Mr J. Broughton the latter. At the Druids' Hall, the Chrietadelpbians will hold their worship ab 11 a.m., and there will be the usual lecture at 6.30 p.m. The Bible Christians will hold morning and evening services, when the Eev A. Mitchell will preaoh at their church, Lower High Street. Tho Primitive Methodist cervices will be held morning and evening At Cambridge Terrace, and nt Linwood in the afternoon at three. The Eev T. H. Lyoa will conduct all three services. Fire. — A woolshed and stable and chaffhouse containing harness, horse feed, &c, and belonging to Mr A. E. Inwood, Dunsandel, were .burnt down early yeaterday morning. As far as can be learnt there is no insurance. The loss is estimated at . .£250. \ The Customs Taeiff. — A largely at- \ tended meeting of the committee of the i various bodies interested in the revision of the Custom, tariff was held last night in Inglis _ Buildings. Correspondence was received from Wellington, Invercargill, Napier and Auckland, agreeing to cooperate with the corj-ciittee. It was j resolved to have a petition available for signing in Cathedral Square to-night, and ; that the whole of the petitions and parI ticulars should be forwarded to Welhng- - ton before Wednesday next. i Gaekison Libeabt. — The monthly meeting of the Garrison Library was held last night. Thero was a good attendance, and Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon presided. Major Slater read a paper giving suggestions for making the Garrißon Library meetings of more practical value. He pointed out that a hostile attack on our country was possible, and even probable, and that volunteer officers were bound to spare no trouble in preparing their men and themselves for such an event. At tho meetings of tho Garrison Library, therefore, paperß should be read, which, whil.t bearing on the special work of the different branches of the service, should deal with the force as it really exists. Discussion should be invited on the methods cf ; employing the force, iv its present oon- : dition, over our own country. It waa j decided that tho officers of the various j corps should co-operate in preparing a !' military map of the country around Chriatchurch. The Volunteer Decoeatioit.— A private : letter from London, dated May 25, and j received in Christchurch on Thursday, ' Btateo that an order extending to ; colonial volunteer officers the privij l?ge of wearing the Volunteer Decora- ! tion, granted fov long service, was to be gazetted oa the following day. Hitherto only officers of the volunteer corps of Great Britain were eligible for the decoration, and it haa long been felt an injustice that colonial officers, who have discharged their duties under far greater disadvantages than their comrades in the Old Country, and some of whom have seen active service, were debarred from receiving thia mark of distinction.