LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5862, 3 May 1897, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Some Interesting Figures.— During last week, the newspapers published by the Lyttelton Times Company had exceedingly large sales. Of Saturday's Star no fewer than 5000 copies were required, and of the morning journal 10,200. The daily average for the Lyttelton Times was 9708. Include ing the Canterbury Times, the total number of newspapers printed and circulated by the Lyttelton Times Company last week reached the splendid total of 84,400. These/ facts must prove gratifying to advertisers in the journals in question. Popular Concerts. — MrW. Mackenzie, who commences his series of weekly popular concerts next Thursday evening in the Opera House, will very generously place 25 per cent of the net proceeds of each concert at the disposal of the Relief Committee for the benefit of the sufferers by the recent disastrous floods in Hawke's Bay. - MrMackenzie has arranged with the Mayor to have a member of the committee present on each occasion to check the receipts. ' Patents.— Notice of the acceptance of complete specifications is gazetted as follows:—Messrs G. T. Booth and W. Scott, engineers, Christchurch, improved' cyclepropelling mechanism ; Messrs E. R. Standfield, medical electrician, and T. de Renzy Harman, solicitor, Christchurch, improvements in bioycle supports. Provisional specifications :— Mr A. J.Cuming, journalist, Christchurphi means for preventing puncture of pneumatic tyres j J.. T., Allsop, accountant, Timaru, an attachment for fixing shares or plates on the springs or tines of cultivators; 1. Danks, engineer, Chriatchurch, improvements in hydraulic rams. Musical Union.— The society will begin rehearsals this week in preparation for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert, when the .Hymn of Praise will be given to subscribers, if possible, on the anniversary night.- - . :. -■■. ■ ■•■ ' Morris-tube Shooting. —On Friday evening the members of the Christchurch Working Men's Club rifle class fired another competition at the 300 yds range, for presented .by Messrs 'Mason, Struthers and ' Co., Ashby, Bergh and Co., Fletcher, Humphreys and Co., the : Saxon Tea Company, the Crown Brewery Company and Mr W. W. Collins. The following were the highest scorers : — E. Barlow (3) 35, W. A. Caldwell (3) ,35, D. Ashton (1) 84, G. Jones (2) 34, R. C. Wells (scr) 33, C. Lummis (3) 33. • Mb George Rignold. — The advent of Mr George Rignold, after an absence of over eleven years, is an event of considerable interest to the theatre-goers of Christchurch. Mr Rignold has decided to open his Christchurch season with one of the most celebrated of modern plays, the Lights o' London, in which he originally appeared, at the Princess Theatre, London. The leading lady of Mr Rignold's company is Miss Emilie Hughes, an English actress of high repute. The season begins on Monday next, and the box plan will be open at Messrs Milner and Thompson's on Wednesday morning. Sunday Lecture. — In the Lyceum last night Mr W. W. Collins gave a lecture on "The Trail of the Serpent." At the conclusion of the lecture Mr Collins was asked to repeat it on some other evening, and the meeting unanimously passed the following resolution :— " That the publication by the newspaper press of the revolting details of murders and other crimes is a menace to social morality, degrading to national life and tends to foster crime; and in the opinion of this meeting Parliament should at the earliest moment possible pass a law rendering such publications illegal and pnnishable." Chrysanthemum Show. — Since the entries were received for cut blooms and pot plants the stewards have been busy allotting space for the different classes. Messrs Nairn and Son will take up the whole of one end of the large room, and the groups in the open class will be ranged along the • eastern side. Most of the remainder will be devoted to cut blooms. In the new room Mr Jones, of Exeter Nurseries, will stage - his usual group. The amateur groups will go in the remaining corners, while Mr Anstey will stage a circular group in the centre. Along the side will be staged the cut blooms in the inter-club competition and the President's Cup.' Entries for all exhibits must be lodged with the Secretary by two o'clock this afternoon. Visit of Mrs Barney. — A meeting under the auspices t of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, was held on Friday afternoon, to make arrangements for Mrs Barney's mission. Mr Gr. J. S-:nth. M.H.R., occupied the chair. Mrs Siieppard produced credentials, consisting of a letter from Miss Willard to Mrs Schnackenbere* the Now ?p« Wd president of the Women's ''bmtian Temperance TT ion and als ■> <m nxtract from the London Temve.rav ->. Times, written by Lady Henry Som«"*«««K It was mentioned that Mrs TSnrney, on her way from America, called at Honolulu, where she gave ten addresses in ei^ht days. She has also just concluded a successful mission in Auckland, and will arrive in Christchurch on the morning of Thursday, May 5. It was decided to hold a reception on Thursday evening next. A request was received from the Kaiapoi Union, asking for an afternoon visit from Mrs Barney, for the purpose of addressing a meeting. The time and place of meetings will be advertised. Valedictory Conversazione.— A largely attended meeting of the general committee of the conversazione to be held in the Art Gallery this evening ,to bid farewell to the Right Rev Bishop Grimes on his departure to^Rome, took place in St Joseph's schoclrocm yesterday afternoon. The Very Rev psitherCummings, V.G., presided. Eeporta •wore received from the various sub-com-mittees, shp .ving that there wouldbe alarge attendance, and that the arrangements were being very atisfactonly carried out, It; was announced that the members o the Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society would attend in regalia to form a £uard ol honour, and would present an addics? tc his Lordship, who would bo received at i,hi entrance by the re eption committee at s quarter to eight o'clock. A very gooc musical programme will bo givon, compris. inw items by Mesclames ßobinson and Kollj and Misses Moir, Bryant, Hayward anc Evan and Messrs A. Young, C. Read anc G Cronin, arid an orchestra under Mr fl Rossiter. ' Miss Funston will act. as accom mnist During an interval in the inusica pro-ramme, addresses will bopresentad l t< L° Lordship, who wiU re y. and thei refreshments- will be served There will b, n snecial performance o c the " Nationa Anthem " with orchestral accompammen at the dose, on account of he Recor< Reign.

Australasian Fruit Conference. — Messrs Morrison (Mahurangi), Campbell (Roxburgh) and Murphy (secretary, Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association), have been selected by the Department of Agriculture as delegates from New Zealand to the Intercolonial Conference of fruitgrowers to be held at Brisbane, opening on June 18 next. Two officers of the Agricultural Department will also attend. Mr Blackmore (whose address is 300, South Belt, Christchurch) will be glad to receive the assistance of fruitgrowers in forming a collection of fruit°for exhibition at the show which forms a feature of the gathering. City Mission Home.— Mrs Herrick will be glad to receive gifts of wood suitable for fire-kindlers, and will accept offers of trees tobe felled, case-wood or any timber suitable for this purpose. Personal.— The Hon J. Carroll (Native Minister), Sir Arthur Douglas, and Mr G. Fisher, M.H.R., were passengers by the Government steamer Tutanekai for Wellington on . Saturday night.— Sir . James Hector and the Eev Father Galerne were passengers from the north on Saturday. — The Hon W. D. Stewart arrived from the north by the s.s. Manapouri yesterday. v Theateß Royal. — Mr Carl Hertz will arrive from the south this morning, and will make his reappearance at the Theatre Royal this evening for one; night only. Mr Hertz will doubtless meet with an enthusiastic reception from a crowded audience. In addition to a special programme by the clever conjurer, the cinematographe will produce a complete series of fresh pictures, including "The arrivalof the Czar in Paris," which is described as a magnificent spectacle. Mr Carl Hertz departs for the West Coast to-morrow morning. Saturday spoke to the people through our bill of fare. They most generously, liberally responded, filling dining-room again and again. Opposite Ayers, Beauchamp, Cashel Street. — [Advt.]