CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 24, 5 October 1883, Page 11

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) October 1, 1883. Thbbe, seems after all, to be some hope that Mr. Jacobsen'B " diamonds " will not prove absolutely worthless, or, to speak, more precisely, that his stones, though only crystals, are yet the pioneers of real diamonds to be found beneath the surface of the Alford Forest fields. Such, at least, is the opinion of Messrs. Harris — two gentlemen of experience, who have lately come from the Kimberley (Cape) diamond field, and attended a meeting of the shareholders of the Pioneer and Kohinoor Companies' a few nights ago. They considered that the indications of the Alford Forest crater greatly resemble the Kimberley mines, and;that the crystals are as near diamonds as anything short of the real thing can be, and bear the same relationship to those precious stones as lignite does to coal. Instead of sinking shafts, the Messrs. Harris susrgest driving into the hills from the level of the river-bed. They exhibited a ring set with 26 of the Alford Forest stones, which was examined with much interest. Ultimately it was agreed that the advisability of amalgamating the two companies should" be considered by the directors,, who shall also take such steps as they deem right to thoroughly prospect the district. Steps are being taken to register the Alford and United Companies, which were started at tbe time of the diamond excitement. The discovery of genuine stone i would indeed be a great boon to the entire Colony, in these days of extreme depression, which seems, if possible, to become daily more intensified. The Gold workings at the Ninety-mile Beach are still carried on from Tumutu to Little Rakaia, a distance of about five miles, by a number of parties of two and three, altogether some forty men, who seem determined to test the workings thoroughly before giving them up. At present, however, their labours do cot give them more than bare " tucker." The Lyttelton Harbour Board have declined to take over the " installation " of the N. Z. (Brush) Electric Light and Power Company, as they think that the company have not carried out their arrangements in such a way as to enable them to require the Board to pay the contract price, and to accept delivery of the " installation " iv its present condition ; that the company have not shown that their lights are of the actual power of 2000 candles per lamp, and that the workmanship and material have not been uniformly of first-class quality ; also that they have not been able to supply the clear glass globes originally contemplated. The Board, however, empower their committee to negotiate with any company to light the harbour either by electrici y or otherwise. One of the members who opposed the Board's committing themselves to an expression in favour of the superiority of the electric light was — as was very natural, though scarcely impartial — Mrß. Q. Wright, Chairman of the Chi is tenure h Gas Company. A meeting of ratepayers opposed to the drainage rate has been held at the Commercial Hotel to protest against the excessive rates levied upon the rural districts, which derive no advantage whatever from the sewerage scheme. Mr. Fisher instanced K.S. 21, for which nothing in the way of drainage had been done, and yet the rating was as follows :— ln 1881 it was £5 14s 7d ; in 1882, £6 5s ; in 1883, £23 8s 9d. Capt. Fisher described the drainage done to his property by the drainage works, and he waj |jp.'sr required to pay £31 for rates. Mr. John Ollivier opposed the rate on the ground that it was utterly unconstitutional and illegal, and recommended that every man should subscribe his quota, and take the matter into court. A committee was elected to investigate the circumstances, and it has since decided to obtain a legal opinion ou certain points regarding the validity •£ the rate. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board have declined to agree to the proposal of the Drainage Board that the Hospital drain shall be connected with the main sewer in Cashel street. The estimate was £450 for work inside, and £461 17s 9d outside the ground. i Some of the members were in favour of the work, but considered that they bad no funds for the purpose, the Government having granted £1,000 for a new kitchen and offices, and the money should therefore be spent on the object for which it was granted. Mr. Joyce's resolution was carried — " That no person in the service of any institution under the control of this Board be permitted to receive any pecuniary or other presents. "—On Friday the Hon. Mr, Dick,

Colonial Secretary, and Dr. Grabham inspected the Hospital. Nearly two whole sides of the Zyttclton Times of Tuesday were filled with a report of the proceedings of the Canterbury College Board of Governors in Mr Miller's case. That august body spent a very considerable time in determining, first, whether Mr. Miller's request to be allowed to address them should be granted ; and next, what limits of speech should be given him ; and after the first knotty point had been at last decided in the affirmative, the conditions on which. Mr. Miller might be allowed to open his mouth were so stringent that one of the governors said he " would like to know what Mr. Miller would be able to talk about." Ultimately it was resolved that he should be at liberty to " elucidate " or to :i rebut " anything, but that he should not " make an attack on members of the Board." The edifying sp~ctacle then resulted of a number of gentlemen (?) (with a few honourable exceptions), attacking a defenceless man in the most unmeasured .and injuiious terms (they themselves being perfectly secured from any contra attack) : much on the principle that a troop of cowardly school-boys use in the case of a bullied small victim, — " Hit him hard, he's got no friends." The Lyttelton Tinws followed its proprietor, Mr. Reeves' suit, next morning, in what I have heard called a " Billinsgate " leader, but your readers have had some experience of the Times' idea of justice on certain points, and will, therefore, be chary of according it absolute credence. That Mr. Miller is almost the exact opposite of the " imaginative, irascible, inaccurate, and very insolent gentleman" depicted by that journal appears to be generally admitted. His real offences seem to be that he expected to be accorded the same position and consideration that are given to a master of his standing at Home, that he was not sufficiently subservient to, or, in other words, could not bring himself to toady the Board of Governors, and that he would not put up with a petty, but not the less irritating, system of interference and tyranny. He has, of course, absolutely withdrawn his resignation of the post of headmaster of the Boys' High School. Perhap3 the most interesting point in the whole case to Catholics is the incidental revelation of Mr. Montgomery, the Chairman, that when this school was established, the Board applied to Government for a grant, and received one of £9000. In 1878 they asied for and obtained an endowment to secure the maintenance of that school, but as to the amount Mr. Montgomery is, perhaps judiciously, silent. Councillors Hulbert and Ayers are candidates for the office of Mayor for the ensuing year, and their answers to theirrespective requisitionists are amusingly different in matter and style. Mr. Hulbert, while promising his best efforts to promo: c the best interests of the city, and the comfort and convenience of the ratepayers, is yet modestly diffident as to his own ability to fulfil the duties of the office so satisfactorily as previous occupants. Mr. Ayers, on the contrary, is delighted at " such a manifestation of public confidence and esteem ; which shows him more than, ever that when public services are faithfully rendered they are not lost sight of," his " devotion to the public interests has had weight with all," and his "impartiality, diligence, and care " may be relied on. I wonder whether the excellent electors will" appraise this candidate at his own valuation, or whether they will remember the time-honoured saw, " Brag may be a good dog, but Hold-fast is better.' 1 At the Industrial Association's meeting on Thursday, samples were shown of the work turned out by three machines invented by Messrs. Taylor and Oakey, for the purpose of saving labour, and expediting work in the tin-plate working trade. The tins, pannikins, billies, eki., manufactured, are superior in appearance, more quickly made, and promise to be more durable than those made by hand. The Exhibition Committee resolved to call for tenders for the Exhibition buildings in accordance with the accepted plans. Thore is to be a 12ft. avenue with 6ft. bays on one side, and 12ft. bays on the other. No exhibits are to be allowed to be sold for immediate removal, excepting articles made in the building, and for these a special permit must be obtained. Mr. J. Anderson has offered to supply an engine and boiler for driving the machinery on the ground, and Mr. W. Wilson coal for same, for, say, 18 days. It is probable that the New Zealand Electric Light Co. will separately, or together with other companies, arrange to light the building and grounds. There is likely to bs a larga exhibit of wines made from New Zealand grapes, applications for space having been received from Auckland, Wanganui, and Hokitika ; and considerable competition is expected both in woo.l and leather work . A very interesting invention of Messrs. Bird and Gegan, in the shape of a" Secondary Battery Cell, for the storing and conserving of electricity," will probably be exhibited. Many " extra attractions " are being arranged in the way of concerts, bands, dramatic performances, etc., and besides a flower show, there is every prospect of a capital dog* show being got up by the Canterbury and Papanui Coursing Clubs conjointly. The total amount of space now applied for is no less than 9641 square feet. Seven boys, runners of the different papers, were charged with stealing 77 copies of Society, which they were dividing when found by Constable Allen. The Resident Magistrate said that the cause of the trouble was the allowing very young lads to knock about the streets so late at nights. Two of the culprits, who had been before the Court on other occasions, were sent to Burnham ; the others were severely cautioned and discharged, and their parents also warned. Harry Jackson, who is undergoing a term of imprisonment for shooting Mr. Deans, of Eiccarton, has been sentenced to seven days' bread and water for disobedience, abus-ive language, and threatening to murder one of the warders at Lyttelton gaol. The head-warder described the prisoner as behaving more like a wild beast than a human being. Chief- Warder Ferguson and Warder Woolley of that gaol are about to leave for Wellington Gaol, where they will hold similai appointments ; and in the police force, Sergeant Mason, who has been in charge of the Christchurch district for the last two years, will take Sergeant Morice's place at Lyttelton, the latter returning here. The amount now collected towards the relief of the widow and family of the late Fireman Hillier has reached the goodly sum of

£550, a portion of which is to be devoted to the purchase of a cottage. We fondly hoped that we were beginning at last to creep, surely if slowly, out of the six months' winter which has this year been our portion. And, lo ! on Saturday another deluge, another sou'-\v«sterly " buster," aud severe cold, all of which had the effect of postponing the Military sports got up by the Christ's College Rifles, which were to have been held in Lancaster Park that afternoon, but will not come off till Wednesday, the 17th inst. The Midland Cricket Club were also prevented by the same cause from holding their opening meeting, doubtless much to the disappointment of the many new members who have joined this popular club. The only event that did come off according to advertisement was the Horse parade, and tubsequent sale of some of the equine competitors at Tattersall's. To say that Mr. O'Sullivan has been getting up an entertainment is just the same as saying that an entertainment has been an unqualified success, and that gentleman's exertions in behalf of the Canterbury Catholic Literary Society resulted in an immenselycrowded house at the Oddfellow's Hall on Thursday. The programme was most varied, including comic songs, stump speeches, recitations, sword dance, Highland fling, Irish jig, negro delineators, a seriocomic farce, and what was perhaps the most popular feature of the evening, an "eight-handed reel." Mr. Fleming's band played exceedingly well, and the audience were most liberal in their applause, and altogether it may be conjectured that the result was a handsome addition to the funds of the excellent association for whose benefit the entertainment was organised. Messrs. Redmond and Walshe arrived at Lyttelton on Saturday week, per Wanaka, and were there warmly greeted by a few friends. They remained in our city until Tuesday, when they left in the coach for the West Coast, where Mr. Redmond will deliver lectures in all the principal towns. They are expected back here in the course of a few weeks. The Rev. Father Devoy has. I understand, advanced as far as Ashburton on his collecting tour in aid of the new Marist College about to be erected in Wellington. Hard times and the reverse of plethoric purses will not, however, I fancy, hinder the much-respected and beloved Father from receiving from hi 9 old Christchurch friends a warm welcome and a generons contribution towards an object so deserving of the support of all true sons of our Holy Mother, the Church of God.