LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5751, 24 December 1896, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The "Stab."— On Saturday, Boxing Day, an eight-page edition of the Star, full of interesting reading matter, and containing all the morning telegrams, will be published early in the afternoon. There will be no later edition on that day, in order that the printing staff may enjoy a few hours' respite. A Christmas Dinner.— His Worship the Mayor has arranged with Mr Priston, •ef the Foresters' Hotel, ,to provide a Christmas dinner for the old men in the vCharitable Aid Depdt, Armagh Street. The Towers' Subscription. — In aid of Mr and Mrs Towers, on whose behalf an appeal has been made in these columns, we liave to acknowledge the following sub-* jßcripfcions: — T. Armstrong 1 , 10s ; C.R.S., 58 ; Composing Staff, Lyttelton Times Com- • pany,42s; "Yes," 2s 6d. A Generous Offer. — Mr J. Knight, of the Christchurch Meat Company, will be 1 glad to give meat for a Christmas dinner to all who are unable to pay for it. Those wishing to take advantage of this generous •offer should apply at the Cashel Street shop after eight o'clock this evening. Rangioba Athletic Association.! — The committee of the above Association met last night, at the Corn Exchange, Mr C. •d'Auvergne in the chair. Arrangements for the New Tear's Day sports were completed, and it was reported that the entries were coming in satisfactorily. The secretary was instructed to advertise a reminder that entries close on Saturday next, Dec. 26. Weight-Guessing. — Mr W. Buss's prize show bullock, purchased by Mr G. Cone, Rangiora, for Christmas beef, and in connection with which there. was a weightguessing competition, was killed yesterday, and was found to weigh 10991 b. Out of nearly sixty competitors, Messrs H. McDonald, Thomas White and J. (Joates each guessed llCOlb, and divided the prize. Eangiora School Committee. — The monthly meeting of the above was held jlast evening 1 , Mr R. Ball in the chair. A . letter was read from the Rev P. R. Monro, resigning from the committee and chairmanship, owing to leaving the town. The resignation was accepted with regret, Mr ; Monro's work on the committee being referred to in appreciative terms. Mr H. Gillespie was elected to fill the vacancy on the committee. The master's report recorded a roll number of 461, and a lower average attendance than usual for the time of the year. It was decided to ask Mrs Monro and the Mayor to distribute the certificates of merit. The arranging of the annual treat was held over till next meeting. Mr R. Bull was elected chairman for the unexpired portion of Mr Monro's term. Messrs Poster and Hadecke were appointed a Visiting Committee for the month. Locusts in the River Plate Country. — The sheep farmers of the Plate, who are looked upon as among ,the most formidable •competitors with the sheep raisers of this country in the Home market, have to contend with one enemy which is even more -than the New Zealand rabbit — the locust. A letter from a correspondent at the Eiver Plate in the Australian Pastoralists Review of Nov. 16 states that locusts are devastating the northern provinces, that thousands of dollars have been voted by Government for the destruction of eggs and the recently hatched insect, but that neither the individual nor the Government has delayed bygone infinitesimal fraction of time the onward march of the scourge. The writer says, "It is about a toss-up, I should say, which is the worse evil, your rabbits or our locust 3. Your rabbits live among you always, and you may, by the outlay of considerable capital, keep them within a certain district, but how can we possibly limit the locusts, which breed in portions of the country as yefc unknown to civilised man ? * * ■ * They eat up all your alfalfa, the leaves and bark off your trees ; they get into your houses, and eat your tablecloths, sheets, or any linen thing they can find and get at — there is mo hope of their ever being satisfied/ I Acknowledgment. — The Secretary to the Charitable Aid Board desires to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of donations towards the Orphan and Destitute Children's Christmas Gift Fund from Messrs A. Carrick, Loughrey and Lane, C. Cuff, Aitken and Roberts, Charles Clark, E. Recce and Son, W. H. Cooper, Kaiapoi Woollen Company, F. Waymouth, D. H. Brown and Son, J. T. Bell, Fletcher, Humphreys and Co., Charles Louisson, J. J. Thomson, F. A. Cook, Mrs R. Heaton Rhodes, Mr 3 Nalder, Miss Fay Mathias, Misses May and Maggie Hunter, Norrie and Ruth Simpson, Bishop Julius and Dr Manning.

Okajjgeism. — The usual monthly meeting of No. 2 Purple Star Lodge, L.0.L., •was held on Tuesday evening. The W.M., Bro W. B. Bultitude, presided, and was supported by P.8.W.0-.M. Bro J. M. Douglass, G.S. Bro J. Caygill, G.T. Bro Diffin, G.C. Bro Dyson, P.D.M/s Bros White, Simpson, Hanna and G-. R. Taylor, and officers and members from Nos. 3, 4, 32 and 33 Lodges. After routine business had been disposed of. one brother was affiliated. P.M.'s Bros W. "White, T. Hanna and H. Skinner were elected as representatives to the Grand Lodge sessions at Timaru. A memorial card in respect to the late P.D.M. Bro H. S. Kennedy was received djroni No. 1 Maiden City Lodge, and ordered to be suitably acknowledged. Votes of thanks having been passed to the visiting officers and members, an adjournment was made to the refectory, where a pleasant hour was spent in harmony.

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Christmas Night Concert.— Tire Stanmore Band announces a concert iw the Theatre Royal on Christmas night. The Winter Show. — The Agricultural and Pastoral Association's sub-committee is busy revising the premium catalogue for the next winter show. Merry- ao -Eouni>. — The up-to-date steam riding gallery is now open in Gloucester Street, opposite th« Theatre Eoyal, and bids fair to attract a large amount of patronage. A Supposed Lunatic. — A man who had been fonnd wandering aimlessly about at Nortli Loburn yesterday, by Constable Copland, was brought into town to-day and examined by medical men as to his sanity. Christmas Decorations.— The display of Christmas goods in the shops to-day presented a very effective appearance, and some of the shopkeepers had their places of business prettily decorated with foliage and flowers. The great majority, however, did not make any attempt at decoration. • Chess Congress. — The annual New Zealand Chess Congress will begin at the Canterbury Chess Club's room, the hall of the Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday. The delegates will hold a meeting at 10 a.m., and play will be commenced on the conclusion of the business. The play will be continued during ten days, and will begin at 10 a.m. and be carried on, with intervals for luncheon and dinner, until half-past ten at night. On one evening, probably that of Tuesday week, there will be a novel feature in the shape of a problem solution competition. A Big Day's Work. — Thanks to the widespread popularity of the Christmas card, the *taff of the Christchurch post office yesterday did the biggest day's work ever done since there was a post office in i Canterbury. No fewer than 60,000 articles — letters, packets and newspapers — were pcsted. The work of sorting, in which a number of extra hands were engaged, lasted without intermission from five o'clock in the morning till nearly half-past ten at night. Over one hundred sheets of half -penny stamps, in other words, 24,000 stamps were sold over the Post Office counter diiring the day. These were, presumedly, all required for either cards or papers, and were sold direct to individuals, as dealers do not obtain their stamps at the counter. The letter carriers did not finish their ivovk till after seven at night, and carts had to be employed to take out the articles to be delivered, the quantity being far too great tor the men to carry. Concert. — A concert in aid of St Peter's Fife and Drum Band was given by Mr Albert Corrick on Tuesday evening, to a crowded house. Those taking part were, Mrs Corrick, Misses Corrick (2), Messrs Alan Young, Williamson",. Whitehead and Small. During an interval Mr Jameson related the history or the band, and eulogised the promoters, the Eev W. Scorgie and Mr M'Causland, for their energy in the band's welfare. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Corrick for his kindness. The singing of the National Anthem brought an enjoyable concert to a close. Hams. — Hams, Christmas hams, prime quality. Come one, come all, to the Smithfield Market, Christmas. Bon Bon cheese, 8d per Ib. Prizes in gold and silver. Tryyour luck. Christmas cake from Is. Smithfield Ma-Tcet, High Street. 1912 Another Rush! — Hubbard, Hall and Co.*B large grocery and provision warehouse was fairly alive on Saturday evening with customers eager to obtain a coupon entitling them to a present on their gigantic Christmas tree. Only four more days to obtain a coupon. — £Advt J