LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5761, 4 January 1897, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Bicycles.— An exhibition, of American bicycles will be on view at Mr Anderson's office, Triangle, during the week. : Druids.— A Lodge of Druids will be formally opened, in the 'Hornby School-, room on Friday evening next, at flight o'clock. ' Acktsowledgmbht. — The committee of St Mary's Home returns best thanks to Mr Hay ward for drag to New Brightoii on Now Year's Eve. Through his kindness the inmates had a moas enjoyable ''■picnic. Masonic.— The installation ceremoiiy in' connection with St Augustine Lodge < has been fixed for Tuesday evening, Jan. tlfc, at the Hall, Manchester Street. The Grand Master, M. W. Bro. Barron, Dunedin,!has notified' his intention to be present. ; Angling. — On Saturday night Mr Hamilton, of Richmond, made a very good basket' at Stewart'^ .Gully, on the Waimakariri, catching twelve trout, ranging froni jßa-lb " downwards. Eight ' of the' fish; weighing 27ilbj were placed on view at Mr Alpe's shop. , ■'■".■. / "V Meteorology.— rThe following are ; details of the meteorological observations at the Rhodes Convalescent Home during December ; — Highest maximum temperature 91deg, maximum mean 66 # 74deg, lowest minimum temperature 47deg, minimum mean 52 # 2deg. Eain fell on five days, total rainfall being 'Blui. . | Drainage Board Elections. — Ratepayers are reminded that Drainage! Board elections take place to-mbrrow, the candidates and polling places beHng as follow : — Christchnrch north-east, Henry, Laing and W. E. Samuels,. Orange Hall, Worcester , Street. ... ChriatchHrclv bouth-east, J. .W. M Alpine and Edward Smith, St John's Schoolroom. Sydenham, R. M. Taylor and B. R. Muffett, Borough Council Office. The hour 3 for polUng are from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m.

Theatrical. — Mr H. Stevens, avantr.ourcur for the Wood's Dramatic Company, has arrived in town to make arrangements for the company's spason in Christchurch, Avhich opens at the Theatre Royal on Monday evening next with "Hands Across the Sea." Mr C. Silbon, of the Silbon Family entertainments, &c, arrived in town by the Tasmania yesterday, to make arrangements for a Christchurch season' at the conclusion of their present engagements,at the Wellington' Exhibition.

. Visiting- ..Volunteers. —On Saturday evening the members of the team from the Dunedin City Guards, which fired' a rifle match on Friday with the Christchurch City Guards, were entertained (by the latter at supper at the Royal Hotel. Yesterday they were taken for a long drive through the country in the environs of Christchurch. They left for Dunedin by the express to-day. Though the conduct of the visitors has been excellent, a few of them presented a somewhat unmilitary spectacle by walking, about town attired in a mixture of uniform and plain clothes. The B Battery team, which fired against the E Battery on Saturday, also left by this morning's express.

ThwNbw Commandant.— Colonel Pole Penton, the newly-appointed Commandant of the New -Zealand Volunteers, and his aide, Major Madocks, appear to have made a very favourable impression on those of the force who have met them. It is also said that both officers were surprised at the knowledge of drill shown by the volunteer artillery at Wellington, and especially at the importance attached to fire discipline. They were, however, disgusted with the equipment. The volunteer artillery in New Zealand are armed with old twelve and nine-pounder Armstrongs, with a few Nordenf eldt guns on field carriages. Colonel Fox long ago recommended that new guns should be obtained, and it is hoped that ere long a few, at least, may be procured.

San Francisco Mail. — The steamer Penguin arrived at Lyttelton at 10.30 p.m. on Saturday with the San Francisco mail, the southern portion of which was sent on by special train. ( Vital Statistics. — The vital statistics of the Rangiora registration district for the past year are as follow : — Births 126, deaths 38, marriages, 27. The numbers for 1895 were:— Births 125, deaths 29, marriages 37. Bowling. — A meeting of the members of the Christchurch Bowling Club was held at the club's ground on Saturday afternoon, when it was decided to enter four rinks at the Bowling Association's totu-nament to be opened here on Feb. 1. A ballot was taken fpr the election of skips for the rinks, and Messrs H. Thomson, L. B. Wood, J. CjXJVtaddison and C. Jackson were selected. TJhese gentlemen will select the players to form the rinks. Organ Recital. — The organ recital to be given in the Cathedral this evening by Mr°Jesse Timson, of Dunedin, promises to be very attractive, and should draw a large attendance, Mr Timson's playing having proved so acceptable to the large number present at his last recital in Christchurch. The programme for this evening comprises the names of Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn, Westbrook, Grison, &c, and the vocalist will be Mr Hugh Reeves, who will sing "O God, Have Mercy" (Sfc Paul) and Gounod's "Nazareth." The offertory will be in aid of the choir fund. The Stdenham Sewage Depot.— The premises on the South Town Belt, from which the Sydenham Borough Council proposes to discharge the sewage collected m the borough into one of the sewers, are now approaching completion. The City Council will hold a special meeting this evening to consider a petition which has been lodged by a number of ratepayers in the city against the depot being placed so near the ; Cforistphvjrch boundary.