LOCAL AND GENERAL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6188, 26 May 1898, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A man was arrested by Constable CasseUs i this afternoon on a charge of stealing an ; opossum rug. ■ ■ A telegram has been received from his Honor Mr Justice Denniston, Btating that he will return to Christchuroh from Wellington on Saturday. A poll is being taken to-"day to decide whether the Waimakariri-Asnley Water Supply Board shall borrow another .£3COD to complete its water-rices. There are six polling booths, and the result will not be tnown until to-morrow. His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch left for Timaru by the express to-day. He purposes returning to-morrow night. The Key 8, was also a passenger for Titnatu, wtd Mr J. T. Lang, the Govern- ! ment Dairy Expert, left for Dunedin. There were a .considerable number of passengers for the south by the express this morning, ihe ordinary contingent : of travellers having been reinforced by several of the southern visitors to the Canterbury trotting meeting, who were returning tp their homes. • , Mr S. Weetman, Commissioner of Crown Lands, with Messrs K. Meredith and D. M'Millan, members of the Canterbury Land Board, left Christchurch by the express to-day for Timaru, in order to hold a sitting of the Board to inquire into a protest against the validity of a grazing run ballot. .^ Owing to, the very unfavourable weather there was but a limited attendance at Mr W. W. Tanner's meeting at New Brighton last night. The proceedings were of a conversational character, Mr Tanner discussing political matters wich those pre^ sent, and answering a number of quesions. . A confirmation service was held last night at Merivale, when, seventeen candidates presented by the Rev H ; Aivtvy Waiaon were confirmed by the Bishop of Chriatchurqh. , A largely-attended meeting of the Builders' Association was held lasi evening, when various matters in connection with the new conditions lately adopted by the Association were dealt with. A letter was received from Messrs Strouts and Ballantyne, declining to accept the conditions, and it ■was unanimously decided — "That the Association declines to tender in Messrs Strouta and Ballantyne's offices until they inform the Asociation that they will accept tenders ■under the new conditions." The proceedings at the .Caledonian Society's weekly social meeting' last night were enlivened by the presence of an enthusiastic and hearty Scot. Mr A. J. Burns, the first president and present •patron of the Dunedin Burns Club, after sinking several Scottish songs with an energy and verve which raised a veritable storm of sympathetic applause, made a speech, 'in which he thanked the members of the' Canterbury .Caledonian Society for their welcome ; and told how the Dunedin Burns Club, which began some eight years ago with soma forty members, had at its last gathering an attendance of 1200 people. The lady members alone, he aaid, numbered 250. It was, it appears only a few years ago that the club decided to admit ladies as members, and the procress it had made since that momentous ftep was well-nigh too great even tor Mr Burns'd powers of description, considerable as they aie. He concluded by cordially invitfng the members of the Canterbury CaledoSin Society to visit the Burns Club if S£ went toDunedin. Mr P. Campbell, on behalf of the Society, warmly reciprocated Mr Burns's remarks. The first annual meeting of the "Lyttelton Times" Horticultural Society was held •uifhemum &"£* jS iembership ! had acted as l^J^X-elected adopted Mr JX. WUMJ^ t and ; present, and was also tho forthcoming year. . votes couj" passed to the Secretary and Treasurer, anc -the Judges. 1

In fche event of- the' m&n charged with stealing an opossum rug to-day being com-: mitted for trial, a record charge sheet will be presented at the next Supreme Court sittings. At the close of a meeting at which an M.H.E. had been addressing his constituents, the usual vote of thanks was proposed by a gentleman, whto mentioned that he had given the honourable member two votes, when one of the audience remarked that " he would have to enquire into this statement/ 1 the latter speaker turning out to be the local registrar of electors. However, as the proposer explained that the two votes were his own and a near relative's, the registrar seemed satisfied. It is . needless to say that the episode caused * Considerable amusement. ] The installation of the W.M. of the Ashley Masonic Lodge, Eangiora, is to take place on Thursday evening next, and it is expected that, in consequence of the recent j recognition between the English and New Zealand Constitutions, the gathering of Masons will be a large one. A banquet at the Institute Hall will follow the installation ceremony. The officers elect are — Bro S. G. Smith, W.M. ; Bro W. Allan, S.W.; Bro W. Wadey, J.W. ; Bro E. Ball, P.M., secretary ; Bro G. F. Smith, P.M., treasurer; Bro James Johnston, S.D.; Bro A. S. Clarkson, J.D.; Bro E.Eeeves, I.G.j and H. Eule, tyler. „