LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9303, 1 August 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Out of the only four Defence Cadet* selected ia the South Island to fire far Lord Roberta's prize at Wellington on August 27, two are from tne Rangiora High School corps, namely, Sergeant Cowans and Cadet O'Connor. f The other two are members of a Dunedia corps. '

The North Canterbury Jockey Cluh'ff race balL which was held in the Drill Hall at Rangiora on Thursday evening, was well attended, and was in other respects a successful function. Th« hall was effectively decorated, and thi music was supplied by Fox's Band.

The World-Wide Pictures Syndicate repeated its opening programme lastf evening, and the success attained on the .first production was more than equalled. The excellence ol the films, both in regard to. subject matter and production waft thoroughly appreciated by a large audience, the pictures of the America.il Fleet attracting especial admiration,The various picture-dramas and humor* ous films were again successful in interesting and pleasing those present. The programme will be repeated thi# evening.

The Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association has at last found comfortable quarters in the N,ew Zealand Farmers' Co-op. Association's buildinga at Rangiora. The room in occupation was ( the directors' room of the North Canterbury Stores' Company, and it is specially well adapted for the purposes or the Association. It is intended to adorn the Avails with portraits of tho past presidents and other prominent members of the Association, and . ta keep the tables furnished with up-to-date literature in connection with agricultural, pastoral and horticultural pursuits. At a moeting of the Association's committee held; yesterday, a gift of the portrait of the late Mr William Pearson, to whose energy' was due the acquirement of the show ground, was received, and Mr Clarkson read a list of over twelve other portraits promised.

An entertainment given in the Institute Hall, Rangiora, on Thursday evening by the Busy Bees' Society, organised by Mrs J. T. Pinfold, attracted a crowded audience. The Mayor (Mr C. W. Bell) presided. The purpose of the entertainment vraA to raise funds for local and mission work in connection with the Methodist Church, and the major portion of the programme was fiven by a company of young people nown as the Busy Bees, trained oy Mrs Pinfold and Miss Menzies. Tha children's contributions consisted of action and other, songs, recitations an 4 club swinging. The others who assisted were Mrs C. Ayers, Misses Wadey, Dia» mond, L. Rogers and M. Luxton, Messrs J. "W. Luxton,, R. Morgan, Chammon, and a Christchurch pa*** consisting; of Misses Rowe, Seed and Dutch. The programme was thoroughly enjoyed, and encores were frequent. Mrs Annie Besant, who is to visit. Cnristchurch next week, has been lee-, turing to largo audiences in Auckland, and many people, as in some instances in Australia, were unable to gain admission. In a recent interview Mra Besant remarked that, while most fair-ly-cultured people in England were acquainted with the outlines of Theo* sophy, the Australian people, though eagerly attentive, gave her the impress sion that Theosophy was not understood in the Common wealth, and that the line Qf thought was rather new to them. " Our one enemy," sh© said, "ii materialism, which narrows one'B life down to the life here. _ People who ioin the society, remain adherents of thei* own religion. In Spain, France and Italy most of our members are RomanCatholics. In England there are more of the Anglican people attaohed to us. We adopt the teachings of Ohristianitj in their mystical sense, as distinct from their crude form."

A meeting of the General Committee of the Northern Agricultural and.Pastoral Association was held yesterday afternoon in the Association's room© at Rangiora. There was an attendance of twenty, and Mr K. M'lntosh (president) was in tho chair. Two or three alterations in the regulations and in the prize schedule, recommended by th« Revising Committee, were adopted. In the carriage classes of the horse section a pair of horses was substituted for the four-in-hand team, and in the cattle section the classes for Polled A"gus and Hereford wer© struck out. The grand champion prize of £2.0. f0r the best two^-/year-old draught colt, filly or gelding, having been won right out at the last show, it was resolved to again include it in the prize schedule. The judged nominated by the Revising Committee were approved of. With reference t* the 50gs trophy presented to the A* sociation by th© trustees of tho late Sfijp K. M'lntosh, Mt Clarkson said thw whilst the trustees left it entirely at the disposal of the committee, it wa* their suggestion that it should' be given for the best stallion travelling tho district. Mr C. King reported that the levelling work done in the oral in the show grounds had turned out very -well, -the grass having made good growth.

M, tho concert in His Majesty's Theatre this evening Ivliss Doris Rtisbcll will play a 'cello obligato to Mrs 33. W. Pidgeon's eong " Hummer Night." ■ A Press Association message from Greytown states that Mr Thomas Kemr-ton, of Elmgrove, has offered, through the Borough Council, fifty jtcnas of land to the Government as a site for a new Parliament House. > The Mayor has received tho following co-ble massage from Mr J. C. WilliamWn, in Sydney:— "To tho Mayor, Christchurch .—Regarding theatre bysuggest postponing numbering of 'seats. Try limiting sale of tickets. ,tind ascertain seating capacity. Police van easily prevent -rushes by forming queue outside ticket-boxes." I A return euchre match played on Thursday evening between teams repre*enting the Christchurch Fruiterers jind the Sumner Fire Brigade resulted in a win for the Fruiterers by torty 'games to thirty-seven. During the svening musical items were contributed by Messrs Blood, Ewing, Hean, Cusack !*nd Phillips.

I There are at present on view m the ! -window of Messrs M. Sandstein and Bon, Caehel Street, /two handsome bracelets, manufactured by the firm to *he order of tho New Zealand Metroj 'poJitfrzi Trotting Club, for the Ladies Bracelet events at tho coming meeting. „one is of diamonds and emeralds, mounted in pretty scroll design, and }ho other is of diamond and eappliiro trefoil design. In addition to these the Club is presenting a special prize, a silver cup, to tho winner pr the Rational Cup, to commemorate tlie riait of th© American fleet to the dominion. The work of making the cup .jvras entrusted to Messrs M. bandeteui: I and Son, and it is also on v*©w m their window. The cup, which is surmounted 'with a model of a trotting horse, is 'about 'twenty inches high, and 40oz vi j. weight. ) During last month, says a Press Association message from Wellington, the ■ estates of 153 deceased persons in New Zealand were certified for stamp duty. fThe largest were those of John H. iVautier (Napier), £67,480; Hugh Craig !<Otago), £18,441; Kenneth M'Kenzio, £17,091; Caroline Seymour (Gisborne), £16,186 ; Thomas Tascoe Bryant (U ellington), £15,335; James Osborne (Canterbury), £13,959; William Cortello ((Canterbury), £10,149; Joseph Parkmmh (Canterbury), £9791 ; and John Wearing (Auckland), £9374. Among other Canterbury estates were:—William Fraser, £2683 jEfeaheth Stewart £2634; Frederick E. S. .Hall, £22/2, Thomas I. Joynt, £2270; William Gitto, £2039; Charles Dent, aSttrTOlliam Sims, £901; William Dale, £821, i.William Haigh, £808; William^Godfrey, £750; Edward Hoskm, £684.