TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6501, 28 December 1881, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

ApronrcxsßT. Mr George Ffceemnn Bawling* boa been gazetted u the Deputy* Begietrur of Marriages, Births, and Deaths for the district of EjuapoL Hsathcotb Boad Distbiot.—Mr J. 6. Mooch has consented to allow himself to be Dominated to represent No. S (Sumner) Ward in the Heatnoote Bead District. Sblwyh Ooum Coimoite—An ordinary and a special meeting of the Selwyn County Council were held yesterday. A report of the proceedings will be found elsewhere. AiHDPBTOH AMATIFB DBAKATTO OMTB. —'Xha Ashburton Ameteur Dramatic Club played to a good house oo Monday night, weir places being “Betsy Baker,” and “Nan the Good for Nothing.” A CoasaonoK.-Mr D. Beggarly wishes us to slate that be took the first prise in the novelty slooe gathering race at the Friendly Societies* f&te, and not o. Hewitt, ae elated in our issue, of yesterday.

Tbaviio ok Boxnro Dae.—The total number of persons who travelled on the various tramway lines on Monday was about 12,000. Large numbers of persons also left town by train on excursion trips. iBDDBTBun Association.— At a meeting of the Industrial Association's Committee held last evening, It was unanimously resolved to invite the co-operation of the Oitissne* Committee in preparing for Messrs Joubert and Twopeny'e exhibition. A report of tho proceedings appears elsewhere. Mount Sohbbb Soaooi*—lMxee wens distributed to tho most meritorious scholars attending the Mount Somers School, on Christmas Eve, and the annual treat took place on the same day. Mr I. B. Taylor, of Buocleueh, and others addressed the children, and after tea some songs were sung, and then a dance look plsee, „ . Thbatbb Boval— At the Theatre Boyal last night “ London Assurance" was repeated with even greater euoeais than en Monday night. In yesterday's notice of this perform* ante the name of Miss Maud Douglass was inadvertently omitted. Her impersonation of Fort was one ol considerable merit, and won for her due applause. To-night M ingomar and ” The. Handsome Husband "will be the attractive programme. Oawpm ov a Bba»k,— Ad exciting capture was mads at the Tlmaru breakwater oo Saturday morning. Two men, Messrs Armstrong and Toney cliffs, were standing o» the ledge of the foundation Mocks Awing with strong lines, when one of them hooked a shark. It proved so strong that the second fisherman bad to hold on to ale companion to prevent his bring pulled off bis perch. After a good tussle the shark was pulled close in, and then a boat hook was stuck into him, and by means of it the brnte was putted partly into a crevice between the Meeks. Two of the contractors' men gave their assistance and despatched the fish with an adte. It measured 7ft 6in in length, and when opened 31 young ones, some of them a foot long, were found inside St,

South OAstsaavav Oauudoniav BoOtar it's Hfouts.—Tbo privilege# conoteUd with three sports mditod £S23. llottOAT.—Vetterdsy ws« observed m » psrtial holiday in town. All the booh# ssd effim were closed, a# wall s» most of the shops, and the business done at those which were open was very trifling. Noam Bst.t FaassrrxaiA* Cncacn.— The services at the North Belt Presbyterian Church on Sunday Inst bad special reference to the Ohristtnas festival. An eloquent sermon was preached fey the Her Dr M'Oregor, formerly Professor of Theology ok the University of Edinburgh. Vouiffvasa It ana.— I The following Volunteer corps wore formally disbanded on Deo. 31 1— Ihe Canterbury £ogtfi#«ra, the Ciilwn (Oamaru) Biflo Cadets, and the CHtborne Artillery Cadets, The following coni missions have lapsed, under tho Volunteer Act. 1831 1 —Jainca Godfrey Warner, late captain, Canterbury Engineer# i Arthur Appleby, late lieutenant. Canterbury Engineer# * Allan ITGorkiDoale, late captain, Oamaru Bifle Cadet#. AcoinaxT At Baxoioea. Y##terd*y afternoon, a# Mr Hampton, grain merchant, of Christchurch, was driving to Baogk>r» s hi# buggy upset, and ho wa# thrown oat, meeting with a very bad fracture of the right leg below the knee, berids# dislocating hi# ancle badly. He wae removed to the Bed Lion Hotel, and Dr Ore&den wae promptly in attendance. Subsequently, Dr* Ovenden and Gordon attended, and set the limb. The leg wa# very badly broken, and chloroform had to bo anslied* CBBMTMAfI DIUKWi AT Tfll FOtlCi Diror.—The annual dinner of the Christchurch police force wa held at 1 p.m. on Christina Day at the deett. A capital spread wa provided by UrX Osborn, caterer to the force. The messroom wa very tatefally decorated with evergreens and fbwsrt. Aboat 35 men sat down to dinner, the Choir being occupied by Sergeant Wilson, and til* ViceChair by constable M'Devitt. After ample Justice bod been done to the viands, a number of teats ware duly honoured, end a very pleasant afternoon spent. Hosts But BnxißxmiAir Suivdat Bonoos.—Xhe annual treat of this School took place at Merivale on Monday iut, in the grounds kindly Isnt for the ooossion by Mr Cunningham. The children arrived on the grounds about 11 xm>, and during the day various sports and amusements were freely Indulged in. Alter tea, previous to disparting, the scholars assembled together and sang a verse of the hymn “Shall we gather at the river P " after which chan were riven for Mr and Mrs Cunningham, the visitors, th# Superintendent, and the teachers.

South Mabvssh.— Tbs Bev T. Hantegtoo delivered his farewell lecture on Monday last in the South Malvern Baptist Charon os "An Evening with Dieke&x” The nv lecturer dealt with his subject in a masterly manner, giving first a review of the life of Dickens, and then dealing with his works and the influence they bad excited in the world. The lecturer gave several extracts from the works of Dickens, and concluded an able lecture amid laud applause. At toe close, a vote of thanks was accorded the Bev T. Harrington for his able and instructive lecture, Avon Boaxh Bqabs Exaction-—Nomina-tions of candidates to fill the vacancies in Nos. 1 and 3 subdivisions of the Avon Bond Board District, caused by toe retirement by rotation of Messrs J. I. Wilson and flasher, were received at noon yesterday at the Hoad Board office by the Beturaing-Offioer, Mr G. Grierson. There was no candidate nominated for Ho. 1 sub division, and fneh nominations will be called for in due coarse. Messrs X. 8. Smith and Joseph Broadlsy were nominated for Ho. 8 sub-division, and a poll will he taken at the Bingsl&sd schoolroom on January 4 next.

Jouhna l o7 ScntHCß.—Tho prospeetus hoe been ironed of a Hew Zealand Journal of Science, which it is proposed to publish bi-monthly in Dunedin. The stated intention of the promoter* is to devote themselves to the furtherance of natural and applied science throughout the Colony, without seeking for any prospective financial advantages. It Is therefore highly rolls factory to learn that “the scheme has met with the cordial approval of most of our scientific men," and that “ very gratifying promises of assistance have been received from every part of Haw Zealand." The editorial chair will be filled by Mr George M. Thomson, FM Tistimokiax.—A meeting wot held at Mr Mardon’a rooms, Oxford, oo Monday, Bsc. 28, for toe purpose of presenting a testimonial to tiro Bev B. E. Oarbett, who has lately been ordained and appointed to Governor’s Bay. Mr Holder, who waa in the choir, presented MrQorbett with a handsome watch on behalf of mora than 100 subscribers, and concluded by wishing him many happy and prosperous years in his now sphere of duty. The Bev J. Sheldon expressed his regret at the loss the district would experience, and concluded a very kind and complimentary speech by wishing Mr Gar belt God speed. The Bev B. F. Oarbett, in reply, thanked his many friends for the useful present, which he should always value in memory of old times. He thought it the date of every man to do what he could to help in church work, and trusted that when he left, others would come forward to take his place. The meeting then concluded. Qxiitv Thiatkb,—Last night the programme at toe Gaiety Theatre was the same as that of Monday night. In the first piece, "An Hour in Seville," Miss Annie Lyons, Master J. S. Farlato, MrJ.B. Farron, Miss Jessie Leon and Miss Hina Tnlloeh sustained a number of characters, In which tho last two young ladies appeared to great advantage. In the second piece, “ The Isle of TuHpatem," the company, including now Miss B. Fox, Miss Amy Horton and Master 8. U'Lsan, kept the audience in a state of perpetual merriment, by their excellent delivery of the dialogue and their capital acting. The harlequinade woe a remarkably elever performance by the following:—Miss Bmuy Vox, Harlequint Miss Hina Tullooh, Columbine; Matter J. S. Farlato, Fsntaloou t Master B. M'Lsan, Clown; and Mr J. 8. Farron, Policeman. At intervals daring the Pantomime, Miss Amy Horton song several of her character songs, including the "local "song of which melruon was made yesterday, and which seeurod an encore. The dancing and S staring of Miss Fox and Mist Tnlloeh, and e fooling of Masters Farlato and 8. M'Lean were often and loudly applauded. The drocies and otoeiLmpointmente of this entertainment or* and toe whole programme is one which cannot fall to attract during the holiday season. All who have visited the Gaiety this week are unanimous in praise of Mr Lyons' " Pleasure Party." The programme of last night is to be repeated OnaiSTHAfl at SrwtNOWON.—Christina* in this district wae observed with all the usual honours. The task of decorating th* church was undertaken by an efficient band of workers, with most successful results, simplicity with great taste being the feature! noticeable. The Bov J. F. Tcakle preached appropriate eemone, and toe hymoa and anthems, which were well rendered by the choir, were thoroughly appreciated bv large congregations. Christmas Day, which was the fifteenth anniversary day of tha foundation of the Wesleyan Charon in Spriogstoo, wae also observed with groat honour by tool congregation. The Bev J. S.SimUey preached impressive sermons both morning and evening, and Christmas anthems and hymns were rendered by the choir, to toe thorough enjoyment of the large congregations present. On Boxing Day, toe anniversary tea meeting, at which there was an overflowing attendance, was held. Tablet were provided for by Uesdamee Smalley, Wilts, Cramp, Lawry, Wain wrigbt and the bachelors. After Justice had been done to the good things provided, an adjournment woe made to (ho ehepei, when toe Bev J. 8. Smalley took the chair, and toe meeting having been opened by prayer,MrW.Lawrygave a roeuradof the rise and progroee of Wesleyanism in Spring•ton, and stated that with toe proceed* of the tea this beautiful and commodious chapel wae practically free from debt. The Bevs Messrs Gillam and Brook, and Messrs Wilson and Smy the then addressed the meeting, and after vote* of thanks had been accorded to the ladles, speakers, bachelors and the choir, the meeting woe closed with the benediction.

The petty were well supplied W wfmh* meatTand notwithstanding the teteuw brat the children eremed to thoroughly f>Joy themmlres at the usual games of crwket, tine, ecrambtee, Am A very plraraat day e entertainment concluded with hearty cheer* being given foe Mr TreMider tot hie wads***. Ut?n?s«Ajf IwacstifAi. Stwooiw—Use an* nual Christmas treat of tbo tbore nM w» held on Deo. 2& The children, who were all to holiday afire, nod, tod by tbeif tons* head, marched to a paddock adjoining.. the school. During the day they were by meet, cricket, Ac., for pttoea which were fobeeribed by »mm liberal Meade. A tery happy day we* epenl, all lb* ehfldroa cojoy* tog themselves thoroughly. la the etctlffif they adjourned to lie schoolroom. Here a largo Christmas tree, roost tastefully deep* rated by the Matron,.wee loaded with pro* sent* for each child in the school. At night a pyrotechnic. display tennisated a very WSm W ta* Waupa.—lt must hate been remarked by oar reader* that Beater** Agency ha* been ideal about the toe* of the Waipa store the bar* telegram aonoooclog her- wreck wae rewired. ■ ¥eetard*y we received a note from the N.Z. Shipping Com* pany, etaliog that they had received no toll* nation whatever of anything having occurred to the tees*!. During the eventog, however, a telegram came from Wellington, dating that (ha Company had received a cable ntee* •ere, dated one nay later than Beater**, re* porting the arrival of the Waipa, and making no mention of any caetudty. It aiay turn out, after all, therefore, that the ongiaai telegram wae a mistake —a belief which the noa-receipt of particulars tends to itrvDSthMi* Waiaijr Souooi,—Mr John ItoUne, of lyndos, and Captain Harter, of Btoh field, examined thle school on Friday,Deo. S 3, la the evening an abosdaot feaatwa* enjoyed, after which the ptixee were preeented by Mr Ttoltoe, who expreeeed hie ralisfactloa with the attainments of the children. The highest places were gained to the aealor division wEltoabetii Eraser (let), Samuel Mitchell (2nd), Nelly Neville (3rd) % and to the Junior divi.ioo by Letitia Nevflla (let), George Mitchell and Charles Neville, aqua! (tad), and John Gaekfll (3rd). Before the meeting oloecd three hearty chaen wave alven for Mr TtoUna and Captain Barter, lor Mr Donald DtvideoO| lho anas ter, MraQac* kill and the ladire who provided the treat, and for Mrs Wardale, teacher of the Sunday School. A concert will be rtren to the Oddfellows'HsU, Woolstoa, on VfMiy evwsia* cert, to aid of the families of the two ami Kerr aadOuretoll, who w«-*4rownra la thsltsalhsote recently. The Xstoreißg-Ofiser tor the Onmaga Poard Elections aotUSto that eatnmrdlnary emeanelM KJB.. Chriatchoreh W.W„ gad aptnyOcn, aoalaa. Hone tor the aaldaahdlatotota wol be neetoed by the Betontoff-Offleer.al hie Office, Armagh street west, before boob ob rrlday.Jas. B*. The Her Pntoaeor Mrangor wfH dallvsr a lecture ia the North Belt grertytottoa Church oa Thareday eveato*. Jan. SO. cm "John Kaoat aad the nm BeiormaUoß.”

An extnotdhwry vacancy Harisy oeeamd for nb-dhriatos Mo. 1 of the Area Bead Hoard JDintrfet the Betorttiaf'Oaear notifies that nmlmtiotm win bo received at tha Avon Xoad Bond OflSoa hr noon on Thursday, Jan. 8. Tha poll. It wseeeesry, will ta taken on Jan. 19.

The parents of the ahQdrao la tlui lodaelrtal School at Baniuua ars r.-ijasetad aot to viatica the ordinary daro Ikia qwtar. They win be ad> mltted oa tin second JCoadar tad Tuesday fa January instead. SatriM for tha Sooth Caatarhtuy Caledonian Society's Sport* doea today. Tho (ollowiiur wffl play f« Isateestar Hark against "Our Country Coashu w aa Thazsday:— mSm* Alack, Wilding. H. CottariQ, 1L Im&am, W, Lou»h«aa, C. Loojlaua, J, Sata O. BssneuV? HaroUtan,D.lhml^nda.Baaaal. fkyta«fa» «* 10.(5 ahanw The fottawtag wBl-|isyloe tha hub# dab agatnat tba Cirialawk Staves oa. Sri* day aad Saturday *—Mmsm Stows*, W, P. neewta, WUdtof, XalsMETtanaetl, MtitawrtL *. lough, aaa. H. Lour boats, H. GoUcrQt, ThyW. aad ear other. On an thro# days a charge ol m wm bo aada at the fatal to sott-iseiabcrt, aad. aa aaiao excellent crlaket may he expected in the eecna ol the aatoW It. Is aot too sack to ask Croaa thosewhowkhtospead anaftanwon to the Park.

Oamitoxops Ann.—The ants of Am* tralia seem to he very fond of human flesh. It was only the other day an old ««■»» waa nearly eaten alive bytbeee vorackms little ioaecto somewhere in Victoria, and aJacelhan a boy baa nearly ebartd the some fete. A telegram to the Sydney E&tnimj Btwt says: —" A boy named Spasm, residing % mmt Ips* wich, waa sent oat to bring in soms.oows, nod not returning, the neighbours searched the country for forty muse round. In the evening the bora mother beard a faint •cream in tha paddock near the bouse, and on going to the spot found her boy with hie left am broken, his spine injured, and Ms face, arms and bands eaten raw by ante, which were found carrying away small particle* of skin and flesh. The boy is getting on pretty favourably." A Labs> Town*.—The largest turtle ever yet offered to puUio inspection is in the enjoyment of health, high spirits, and an astounding appetite. The huge animal was captured a few weeks ego by Captain Hines, of the steamer Humphrey, while lastly son* sing itself on the sandy seashore, ft is seven feet long, forty* three inches broad, three feet high, and weighs within a few pounds of a ton. its mighty paws, or ins, measure nearly four feet in length. It Is now in New Fork Museum. The giant turtle endures captivity with singular complacency, only displaying a certain degree of ponderous excitement when its daily meals of water* melon skins and live fish ar« served out to it It waa probably drifted by the Quit Stream from tropical latitudes to the North American waters, from which Captain Hines carried it off In bondage. BoaneU’e scoured it within a few hours of its arrival in New York, at the extraordinary low figure of sixty pounds—a great bargain—and it has bean drawing crowded houses ever rinse.—" American w XsccATtOK At Hoxx.—As an evidence of the progress of higher education, the Pall Mall Q<mtt« observes-.-“ The return of the number of freshmen el the different colleges have been published, and that tha unattached students, whose returns are not complete* have not fallen off, the remit is the largest matrioulaMon ever known, estimated at 885 students. A like increese may be expected at Oxford, which Is subjsot to pretty muoh the Sana in* fiueaese aa Cambridge. In both Dmmeiiwe acomperison of the numbers with those of 1871 or any earlier date will showanamaring increase. The most remarkable thing about this popularisation of tha Vniverritise is that it is coincident with a vast multiplioatian of other academical bodies. The lasi decade bee witnessed the creation and development of half-adosen flourishing colleges la different parts of the country, hut their success is far from having been prejudicial to the older institutions. In many eases, indeed, the new Universities have acted as feeder* ol the obi So far ae mere number* go, the higher education has never known a period w prosperous as the present." Xtroax or tki Bkolwh Mm Mwt, —The fVwwsays tha Prime Minister uttered a lew pertinent words on (he question, which is, peratpe, destined before Jong to be an urgent ooe, of Xnglish land. Two rironm•lances, says Mr Gladstone truly enough, have co-operated to bring this subject into ite present prominence i one is the recent IsglriaUoa tor Ireland, the other ie the agricultural depression in Xnglend. It la satisfactory to find that these two o breamstances are sharply separated in Mr Glad* •tone’s mind, ae, Indeed, they art. or ought to be, In the mind# of all reasonable men. It is not altogether a duedvantege that, aa Mr Auberon Herbert has lately pointed out, toe opinion* and principle* of toe prime Minuter do not always change with bis policy. He has accepted and recommended legislation for Ireland which, but for the exceptional and unfortunate rircumrianoes of that country, be would probably rtill be the «m toeon* demn la toe abitracU As similar circusastances do aot exiet in Xnglend, he ie .sen* •latent in the beet wsae of (he word ip firmly refuiios to apply the remedy which, for want of a bettoJ.hehw oon.«ked toapply in Ireland, On tole «übleot Mr Qtadrione •peaks plainly. The QUMtom of Xnghsh land ifdtieult enough j but it ia not by the consideraUoc* which apply inlfreland, and wo are content with Mr Qfaristone’a

emphatlo declaration that the Irish Land Art of last eoetom mm Isgislatkm for Ireland Moee, justified only by rienmnetaww* which, beppuy, do not extol to Nttgtood or Scotland, and that it* mtoriplw cannot bo applied to ium mm of the realm. ■ A» AWKWUtn ' SltUATJOW.—Things do happen “deuced awkwardly** eometitsee. An officer betongtog to' a eo m tPiliit was oa duly at Xdssatohaa. lie had been twenty, four hour* to smifom, and hie desire for a tub amounted almost to msdoras. H« warmed, debuted with himself, bat et tort, unable to control ki* impulse, ho rapidly divested himself of hi* garments; aed sprac* into hie tub. At thle very instant a staffofficer enter* to tell him that Panel! to about to arrive, and. that ho must be prepared ia cm* of a riel. Tableau! Staff-officer to not Sparable**, but Very much the other way, with wrath i the unguarded Goardsman shrink* into' his lab in an agony of oosluaion, wwl Is then and there put under arrest. 1 hate reason to believe that be ««* i*tow«d later, am) allowed, to complete his toilet m World, Cdirvtwisircv or the BradDngh epleode to the Mouse of Cbsmooe (cays the London eorresponelml of the As*} the togecions of all creed* and races have been using the arcameete of those who mid the elected member lor Northutpioa wae ** unfit'* to sit aad volt to Farltomeist, as a means of ehuffiaf out of their publie duii«e a*Jurymen,"Ae. The old proverb *«;i “ what to aauce for the (pee to ram for the gander,** aed, if no religious belief-or a peculiar religtoue beW— unfit* one man from enjoying toe why should it cot unfit other* Iron perforating their obligation*? During the prat six mouths, I dare say, a doses sms bare eaeeewleUy escaped the trouble* of jurymen by avowing fhsmseivse atheist*, despite the grumbles of their more devout or tees iogeetoo* fellows, who seemed always to envy the oonveutoitt disbelief which ensured sssmplkw. A Jewish gsuikmas ha* recently discovered an togsuioes and equally valid ground for refuting to tern on a coroner** jury. Being, eeba said, a descendant of Aaron, th« Btgh Frtoet, be wae forbidden by bto roltotoQ from being to the presence of any dead body, onto** it wae one of hto nearest kindred. 1 % wae manifest therefore that ha could take so part to the “ coroner** view,** and therefore had no alternative but to claim exemption. Other Hebrews, who were cm the jury, seemed to* dined to rtyto the aUegeo descent from Aaron by th* expressive, if caoomphtseetory, tom of bunkum, but the eoroosr thought It belter to let the reoaldmst Juror of serving*