CANTERBURY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3228, 17 June 1871, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

(Times and Press.) The banquet of the Canterbury Lodge in commemoration of St. John's Day, will take place on June 22nd, at the White Hart Hotel. "We are informed that something more than 400 tons of preserved meats and tallow have been forwarded for shipment from the Meat Preserving Factory since the commencement of the present season. Some few days ago, the ornamental fountain near the Bank of New Zealand had a very narrow escape of serious damage, a horse and dray having bolted between it and the Bank of New Zealand and shook it somewhat. The damage dote, however, was slight, and has been repaired. To-day Mr Stock, the contractor for the railway bridge over the south branch l L^ of the Waimakariri, intends driving the i first pile. Twenty-five or thirty of the piles, which are from thirty-six to forty feet in length, have already been deposited at the site of the bridge, and everything is in readiness for the work to proceed. The average depth of the river at this point is about fourteen feet. Great damage hag been done to some of the property in Lyttelton by the late xains. At the orphanage we hear that

the storm-water has completely spoilt the hoys' garden. In Sunnier Road, there has been a heavy landslip. The crown of the road in Oxford street is being destroyed, owing to the gutters being choked up by stones and clay. The new gullies are standing their work well, and arc a credit to the surveyor and contractors. A few days more will see the work completed. We (" Press") recently inspected a specimen of colonial manufacture in the shape of a Masonic jewel, which reflects very great credit on the firm of Messrs Coates & Co, who have just completed it to order. The jewel is that of the Red Cross Knights, and is a sevenpointed star in gold, with a green enamel centre, upon which is displayed the badge of the degree, — two cross swords colored red. Hitherto any of these jewels have had to be procured from home at a great cost and loss of time, but the present one has been executed at a far cheaper rate than it could have been imported, while the workmanship is fully equal to that of those sent out from England. A further meeting of Germans favorable to the formation of a National Society for the relief of the sick and needy, was held at Burrctt's Hotel last night. Mr J. Gr. Suddcnklau presided, and there were over twenty others present. The establishment-, of the society having been resolved upon, it was agreed that the monthly subscription should date from that evening, and that the officers afterwards to be appointed should act as a committee to revise the rules of the original society — formed in 1864 — for the guidance of the present society. The election of officers then succeeded, and resulted in Mr Ruddenklau being appointed President, Mr P. Tisch, VicePresident ; Mr Zinckgraff, Secretary; Mr Schmidt, Treasurer; and Messrs Yogel, Nashelski, and Kissel, Committee. All those present enrolled themselves as members of the society, and it was agreed that the monthly meetings should be held on the first Monday in each month. The committee were requested to meet for the revision of rules on Monday next, and a resolution in favor of holding an inaugural dinner during next month was unanimously agreed to. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.