LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6088, 27 January 1898, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

— : — *■ — ~~ j Sunday School Excursion. — The \ scholars of the Rangiora Church of England Sunday Sohool were given their annual treat to-day in the form of an excursion to Sumner. The party, including parents and friends, numbered about ] four hundred. A special train conveyed , the excursionists to Papanui, and the . tram thence to Sumner, where a pleasant ■ day was spent. General Synod. — The Anglican General Synod will hold its session in the Provincial Council Chamber, beginning at 3.30 . p.m., on Tuesday next. At 11 a_n. on that \ day there will be a celebration of the Holy • Communion in the Cathedral, when the Primate, the Bishop of Auckland, will be l the celebrant. A festival service, at which < the Bishop of Dunedin will preach, will be \ held in the Cathedral at 7.30 pan. „ An Old-Time Relic— -The clock that i forty years ago was in the frontage of the ' Post Office at Lyttelton, and that did duty ■ as a town clock, has for a long period' been in the possession of Mr George Cooper, Leeston. It is an eight-day striking clock of ordinary construction, and is still a good timekeeper. The suggestion may be made that the reversionary interest in this clock should be secured for the Museum. Presentation. — A "social" was held on Tuesday evening by . the members of the Durham Street Wesleyan Church choir, in the churoh parlour, for the purpose of presenting to Miss L. Gill, in view of her approaching marriage with Mr F. Asquith, a small token of the esteem in which she was held by her fellow-members. Mr Searell, in presenting the gift — a handsome hot-water jng — made a few appropriate remarks, which were acknowledged by Mr Asquith on behalf of Miss GiU. Supreme Court.— The Supreme Court, vacation will end with this week. His Honor Mr Justice Denniaton will hold sittings in Chambers and Bankruptcy on Tuesday next. The criminal sittings during the year will begin on Feb. 14, May 30, August 15 and Nov. 14. Sittings •for the trial of civil actions and divorce cases will commence on Feb. 21, March 28, June 6, August 22, Sept. 26 and Nov. 21. The criminal and civil sittings at Timaru will be held on Feb. 8, June 14 and Sept. 20. Rangiora School Committee. — The monthly meeting of the above committee was held last evening, Mr R. Ball in the chair. Notice of nominations to fill the vacancies on the Board of Education was received, but no action was taken. In i consequence of further improvements to the school buildings having been authorised it was decided that the holidays should, be extended for another week. The i Chairman's action in respect to the appointment of Misß Jessie Keir as pupil- ' teacher was approved. Intimation was received from the Board that Miss I. ■ Blackett, fourth-year pupil-teacher, had passed her examination and would be required to attend the Normal School. Messrs Foster and Rogers were appointed school visitors for the Jrionth, and the meeting terminated. Institute of Accountants op New Zealand.— The Canterbury Council of this Institute has arranged with Mr W. H. (xnndry to conduct classes of instruction in theoretical and practical accountancy, with a view to assisting intending candidates for the June examinations. Cabs at the Railway Station.— The authorities should certainly take some steps to regulate the movements of the cabs at the Christchurch Railway Station, otherwise there will continue to be great risk of a serious accident happening. A very large number of cabs go down to meet the express every evening, and the moment the train arrives numbers of them rush off the stand in their anxiety to secure a fare, with the result that it often happens that several of the inside cabs which have taken up their passengers are unable to get out, while the vehicles are packed so closely that it is dangerous for pedestrians to attempt to cross the street. A policeman is stationed on th 9 platform to keep order amongst the people who congregate at the station to see the train come in, but there does not appear to be any supervision outside, whoce there is most danger.

Cleastng- Salb. — Messrs Ayers, Beauchamp and Co., who are removing to new premises, advertise the continuation of their unreserved clearing sale. EUbthquake. — A slight shock of earthquake, preceded by a rumbling sound, is reported to have been felt at Eangiora at about twenty minutes to two o'clock this afternoon. Inspection op Slaughterhouses. — The Sanitary Committee of the City Council, accompanied by the city surveyor and Mr Jarman, inspector of slaughterhouses, left town at half-past nine o'clock this morning, on the annual visit of inspection to the slaughterhouses in the Christchurch district. Peesonal. — Inspector Broham has definitely decided to attend the Presbyterian General Assembly at Auckland, and wUI leave by the Westralia next Wednesday. — Mr J. Hbgben, headmaster of- the Timaru High School, returned from Sydney 'this morning, where he has been attending the sittings of the Australasian Science Conference. G-bowing in a Stbange Place. — A somewhat unusual place to find such things as tomatoes growing is in paved cattle yards, but such is the case at the Addington market, where a very fine plant has established itself in the dairy cattle pens. It is now about eighteen inches high, and is full of good-sized fruit. In another pen, and jtast under the platform, there is a very fine young white pine tree, which stands nearly two feet in height. As such things have never been planted there, it is supposed that the seeds have been carried there by animals, and as the pens in which they are growing are hot very much used, they were not noticed until the yards were being cleared of weeds this week. Old Age Pensions. — A meeting of " old age pensioners and sympathisers" was held in Cathedral Square last night. Over a hundred persons were present, and addresses in favour of continuing the agitation for granting pensions to the aged were given by Mr Powell and others. Sydenham Brass Band.— This band will play a programme -oif music in the Band Rotunda, under the baton of Mr W. F. M'Lean, bandmaster, to-morrow evening, when a coll.. ti6n will be made in aid of the Oxford and Birch Hill relief fund. The programme will begin at eight | o'clock. • I Mobspobk Celebrated Mild-cured. Hams and Bacon can be had in any quantities from Hubbard, Hall and Co., Manchester Street, next Milner and Thompson's. 2192