Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5256, 11 May 1895, Page 5

Local & General.

Country News.— A number of items of country news will be found under a special heading in another part of this issue.

Febh Beading Booms.— Mr Herrick an* Bounces in this issue that for the benefit of the unemployed free reading rooms have been opened in the premises formerly known as the Junotion Hotel.

A Hobbi and Cast Found.— Last evening Mr Gosling, fish-hawker, telephoned to the police that he had found a horse and cart going along the Ferry Road at 7.80 without any person in charge. The horse and trap 'are now at the' Caver sham Hotel ■tables.

Ettohee.— A match was played on Thursday evening between teams from the Chrißtchnrch Cycling Clnb and the Pioneer Bicycle Club, in the rooma of the latter, and resulted in a win for the home team by twenty-nine games to sixteen. Arrangements were made for the return matoh, to be played this month at the Chriatchurch. Cycling Club Rooms.

South Canteebuby Amateur Athletic Club.— The annual ball of the South Canterbury Amateur Athletio Club was held in St Mary's Schoolroom, Timaru, on Thursday evening, and was largely attended. The decorations were exceedingly pretty. A capital supper was provided by Mr Budd, and Mr Harry Fleming's band contributed an excellent programme of music. The success of the gathering reflected great oredit on the management, and especially on the secretary, Mr Melville •Gray.

Tai^Taptt.— The weekly meeting of the Mutual Improvement class waß held on Wednesday evening. There was a good attendance of members and visitors, the vice-president (Mr S. Carleton) in the chair.. The programme for the evening ■was a debate, " Should Women receive the eame Pay for their Labonr aB Menj" Mr B. M'Cartney in the affirmative, and Mr E. A. Forbes in the negative. Both made capital speeches, and after the matter had been freely dißonssed, the jury gave its verdict for the affirmative. A well-merited vote of thanks was accorded to the debaters, and the meeting closed.

Thb Queen's Birthday Field-day.— A great deal of disappointment and disgust has been occasioned amongst the volunteers by the statement that the Defence Department has interfered to prevent the holding of a field-day 6n the Queen's Birthday. Very many of the officers and men were looking forward to the outing with an interest amounting to enthusiasm. There would, undoubtedly, bave been a good master, and useful, practical work would have been done. The, as yet, unexplained action of the Government in preventing the parade has annoyed and dispirited all ranks very much ; and it ia feared that the consequences on the morale of the force will be highly injurious.

Sunday Services. — At the Lower High Street Bible Christian Church the Eev B. H. Ginger will preach in the morning and the Bev J. Thome in the evening. In the afternoon a united service will be conducted by the Eev J. Thorne. At the Addington Bible Christian Church the Bev J. Thorne will preach in the morning and the Eev A. Mitchell in the evening. At the Primitive Methodist Church, Cambridge Terrace, anniversary services will be held. The Eev W. Scorgie will preach in the morning, the Eev J. J. Doke in the afternoon and the Eev E. Erwin, in tho evening. The Chrisfcadelphiane will meet in the DruidV Hall at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. The Sydenham Gospel Mission will hold meetings at 11 a.m. and ,6.30 p.m. Pastor Birch, in . oonnection with the Chrißtchuroh Central Mission, will hold services in tho Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield Street, at 11 a.m. and 6.45 p.m.

Aquatic. — The annual social gathering of the Y.M.C.A. Rowing Club will take place on Thursday evening next, when a programme including electrical experiments will be provided.

The Lyceum.— Mr W. W. Collins will give the second of the seriss of biological lectures in tbe Lyceum to-morrow, the subject being, " Micro-organisms, or Revelations of tho Microscope."

A Stobsi.— About 6 p.m. yesterday a •strong south-west gale sprang up, accompanied by heavy rain and a few vivid flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. The wind moderated within an hour, but the rain continued during tho night.

Gold Specimens.— There are now on exhibition at the shop of Messrs Coates and Co. a sample of quartz from the famous Londonderry mine at Coolgardie, showing gold in what may be almost termed masses, and a cake of retorted gold, 15on in weight, from the Zealandia mine at Kew, West Australia.

The Savage Cltjb.— On Monday evening next the Savage Club will hold the opening " korero " of the present season in the bail of the Chamber of Commerce, which haß been ongaged for the season. The inaugural ceremony of installing the newly-elected Chief Savage (Dr Jennings) will bo performed, and a very good programme has been provided.

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Hsathcotb Road Boabd.— Mr Henry Mace bas been elected, without opposition, to represent the Bromley ward on the Heathcote Road Board.

Bubglaey in Colombo Stbkrt.—Testerday morning it was discovered that the shop of Mr G. Piercy, grocer, Colombo Street, had been entered by burglars, and 1161b' of tobacco, valued at £32, stolen. The thieves had cut out a pane of glasß from a window of the cffice at the back of the shop, undone the fastening of the window and taken the tobacco from a shelf in the shop. The front window of the latter was not covered by a blind, and the night wa3 bright moonlight.

The Cunabd Family.— Thia company finished their Dunedin season laat evening, and will open on Monday at the Opera House. Their entertainment consists of song and dance, instrumentation, ' vocalisation and conjuring. It ia said to be unique of its kind, and seems to have been appreciated in Dunedin, where the company played both in the Theatre and at the City Hall. Miss Helen Gordon is the principal singer, whilst Mr Canard produces the newest London sensation in the " cabinet trunk trick."

Mobbis-tubb Shooting. — The Rangiora Morris-tube Club commenced a series of competitions for Mrs A. Y. Hay's trophy OS Thursday evening. There were a large number of competitors, and the highest scorers were :— R. Walker (2) 83, J. Garty (3) 33, A. Payne (4) 33, J. W. Wearn (2) 33, R. Cook (6) 33, H. Holoroffc (3) 32, H. Gulliver (scr) 31, C. d'Auvergne (scr) 31, G. Jordon (1) 31, J. Sansom (2) 31, J. Fraßer (6) 31. J. M'Kechnie (8) 31, A, Tyler (4) 30, W. Efford (scr) 30, M. Scott sen. (1) 30, B. d'Auvergne (scr) 30.

Mabbam Grass.-— Yesterday afternoon his Worship the Mayor, the Chairman of the Reserves Committee and Councillor Prudhoe, with the City Surveyor, visited the Shirley Reserve, in order to inspect the work which has. been done there in clearing and levelling. It was found that the marram grass whioh was planted there waß growing exceedingly well. A ton of plants of this grass haß been ordered, and it is intended to set part of them in a belt of the Shirley Reserve about twelve chains long and two chaihs wide, and to plant the remainder on the reserve at New Brighton.

Pboposbd Nkw Voluntbbb Cobfs.— For some itime past efforts have been made to form another company of infantry in Christchuroh, bo as to bring the number up to four, that required to constitute a battalion. Up to the present, however, no practical result has been arrived at. The chief obstacle is in conneotion with finance. It is estimated that the cost of uniforming a company of sixty men would be £300, and it appears that there is very little prospect of raising that sum. A gentleman who waß, in yeara gone by, a very effloient and successful officer, has been approached on the subject of raising and commanding the corps.

Chamber of Commerce.— The monthly meeting of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce was held yeaterday afternoon j present — Moßsrs G. Humphreys, president, in the chair, Roper, Struthers, Reece, Waymouth, Meareß, Gibbs, Booth and Chrystall. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs Kaye and Tyree. A sub-committee was appointed to deal with the question of letting the Chamber for meetings. The question of the importation of explosives was brought up, and it was pointed out that aa Lyttelton waß very seldom the first port of call, powder was generally unloaded at Dunedin, stored in the magazine there, and sent by rail to Christchurch, thus adding consderably to the charges. The form of income tax return was discussed at great length, but no definite decision was arrived at. The quarterly general meeting waa fixed for May 31.