LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5732, 27 November 1896, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Holiday. — This afternoon the shops and offices in town .were closed, and .a'half-holiday observed on account of the Australian cricket match. Sale op Fruits.— Messrs Ayers, Beau- . Champ and Co. will hold an auction sale of fruit to-morrow morning. Messrs Clarke ;and Co. announce sales for to-morrow and 'Tuesday. ' Christ^s College. — Candidates for entrance scholarships are reminded that applications must be forwarded to the Bursar of Christ's College, on or before Tuesday, Dec. i. City Gouncil. — The election of a Councillor for the North-west Ward in place of Mr W. H. Cooper will take place on Dec. 18. Nominations will close on Dec. 9. Mr Chisnall, of the firm of Chisnall and Stewart, is mentioned as a probable candidate. Complimentary Concert to Mr Wells. —The next rehearsal of "The Messiah" will take place on Monday next in the ; Wesleyan School, Durham Street, the Musical Union giving up their, practiceroom on that occasion for the : of the large 'number who are -assisting in the coniplhnent tc Mr Wells. -....■•>•. : A False Alarm. — Shortly after 1 p.m. a loud explosion was. ieard in Messrs Whit-^ combe and Tombs's printing office in Cashel Street, and a number of people collected under the idea that there had been a gas explosion. It turned out, however, that the noise had been caused .through the accumulation of an unusual quantity of " exhaust " gas, which ignited with a report when the engine was started. Prohibition Meeting at JCaiapoi. — Last evening, theEev L. M. Isitt delivered a lecture on prohibition. There was a very large audience. Mr Ward was in the chair, and the Eev W. J. Gow, Presbyterian, occupied a" seat on the platform. The audience gave a very attentive hearing, and applause was frequent. A number of questions having been answered, a vote of thanks to the Eev L. M. Isitt closed the meeting. Obituary. — A familiar figure will be missed from the Theatre Eoyal by the death of Mr John Tracey, which took place early this morning. Mr Tracey, who was seventy-six years of age, was taken ill on Sunday, and was removed to the Hospital, where he died as above. He came to Christchurch from London about thirtyfour years ago, and during the best part of that time he was connected with the Theatre, where, for many years, he has had charge of the stalls door. Deceased was a widower, and leaves a grown-up son and daughter. Swimming. — A committee meeting of the Sydenham Swimming Club was held last night, Mr A. Denham in the chair. A protest was received from W. J. Byrne against rehandicapping in the Prince of Wales Handicap on Saturday last. After discussion it was decided to forward it to the Christchurcli Delegates' Conference for decision. Messrs Kent and W. A. Hall were appointed delegates to the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. It was decided to hold the 50yds Anniversary Handicap on Dec. 17 ; also to apply to the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association for the Polo Championship. Old Age Pensions. — Last night Mr H. L. Eogers, by invitation, addressed a meeting of the Eangiora Friendly .Societies at the Oddfellows' Hall, on Old Age Pensions. There was a moderate attendance, Mr J. Marshall presiding. Mr Eogers spoke for nearly two hours, dealing with the subject from all standpoints, and entering fully into his own scheme which he has advocated for some years. He was listened to with close attention, and on concluding his address was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. It was decided to hold another meeting after the elections and invite members of the House of Eepresentatives to attend. City Council. — The election of Mr W. H. Cooper to the Mayoral chair leaves a vacancy for a Councillor for the Northeast Ward of the city. Dog Poisoning. — Mr E. Pearce, of Barbour Street, Ferry Eoad, has been the victim of a dastardly action, by which he lost two valuable sheep dogs. One of the animals was poisoned whilst on the chain in his owner's yard, and the other was found poisoned a short distance away from the house. Acknowledgment.— The Matron of the Samaritan Home desires to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of .£l2 12s from Mr W. Hockley, being the amount subscribed by brewers and wine and spirit merchants, and other friends, towards the purchase of a harmonium, prayer and hymn-books for the use of the inmates of the institution. Aquatic— The Young Men's Christian Association Eowing Club's trial pair-oar race took place on Wednesday evening, when Gr. Robinson and H. A. Hoult defeated F. A. Saxton and J. Wilkinson. Yesterday evening the final heat between G-.' Eobinson and H. A. Hoult and W. Musgrove and J. Finlayson was rowed, the former crew winning after a good race. N. Battery Artillery. — Last evening the N. Battery went in\x> barracks for fourteen days' instruction at the fort on the north ride of Lyttelton Harbour. There were forty-two men present under Captain M'lntyre. The following is the daily routine : — Eevoille 4.55 a.m., drill 5.15 a.m., breakfast 7 a.m., tea 6 p.m., drill 7 to 9 p.m., first post 9.30 p.m., tattoo 10 p,m., lights out 10.30 p.m. Captain M'lntyre has associated with him Lieutenants Palmer and Smith, and Sergeant-Major Wardle, in charge of the Permanent Artillery, whose instructors are kept very busy. The city of Mexico has the highest death rate of any town in the civilised world — forty per thousand. This is attributed to its defective drainage.