TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6508, 5 January 1882, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

The Puhpino Station.—Anothnr trial of tho mnehinery at the Pumping Station will bo rondo at 2 p.m. to-morrow. City Guabds Band. AmMigemonto httvo boon mndo between tho Ohriitohuroh Oitv Guards and tho Bailway Band by whioh tho" band in to bo attached to tho Company, and will, in futuro, bo known as the City Guards' Band. Thb Addihgton TBAMWAT.—Tho Tramway Gompttny have received a notification from tho Govommont, that tho roport of the District Engineer, on the Addington line, is satisfactory. The lino will, consequently, bo opened for trafflo to-day. iNTBBCOLONIAIi WBATHBB EXOHANOB,— Tho following message has been received : "Sydney, Tuesday evening: Fresh northeast winds prevail in South Australia, northwest winds in Tasmania, and light south-east winds in Now South Wales. The area of high pressure is over Viotoria. Barometer, Sydney and Portland, 800; Hobart, 29'8." Fibh.—On Tuesday morning a fire ooourred at Nowlands, by whioh Mr G. Aston's house, stable, furniture, and provision stores were destroyed. Tho fire arose from a chimney firing the thatched roof; and a strong northwest, wind helped the flames. The neighbours worked hard, and saved the crops, reaping maohines, and horses. There was no insurance on the lost property. j Thb Gband National.—Mr Saunders' letter has had the effect of stirring up the Ashburton sporting men, and a meeting re the Grand National was held in Shearman's , Hotel yesterday, at whioh an amount to be j guaranteed was fixed; and it wai resolved to have the Grand National Meeting in Ashburton this year. A Committee was appointed to collect the needful subscriptions. St Michael's Pabibh.—lt is stated that the Bev Walter Harper, at present in oharge of the Bllesmere district, has aocepted the inoumbenoy of the parish of St Michael and All Angels, and also that the Bev W. 8. Bean, assistant curate under the Bev W. Harper, has been appointed curate of the same parish. The new inoumbent and curate will probably enter on their duties some time next month.

Assault.—Yesterday Patrick O'Shannasiy, publioan, and John Kellar, labourer, were oharged at the Besident Magistrate's Court, Ashburton, with having us.-aulted Biohard Chudley, gardener to Mr John Grigg, of Longbeach. The prisoners were committed for trial, but bail was allowed O'Shannaasy in £IOO, and two sureties of £BO each; and Kellar in £SO, and two sureties of £2B eaoh. A report of the case appears elsewhere. Election Petitions.—A petition against the return of Mr H. Allwright as member of the Mouse of Representatives for the electoral distriot of Lyttelton, has been lodged. The grounds of the petition are believed to be that some aliens voted at the election.— Mr Ivess' Committee have deoided to petition the Election Court against Mr Waaon's return for Wakanui. The Committee are sanguine that they can upset the election. Finbs Remitted.—Mr Edward Tipping, whose reoognisanoe as a witness in Charters' case had been estreated on Tuesday, yesterday explained, and apologised for, his absence from the Supreme Court. Fortunately for him his Honor had not directed the forfeiture to be recorded. After pointing out to Mr Tipping the impropriety of his negligence, his Honor excused the witness. Mr Bowers, the juryman who had been fined, also explained his absence, and was exoused.

Bazaab at Sheffield.—A Baraar, in connection with the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Sheffield was held in the Boad Board Office on Monday. Mesdames Rutledge, Judge, Lilly, Sohmid and Heighway, and Miss F. Aldred were the ladies who presided at the various stalls. The display of goods was very creditable, and had a decidedly neat appearance. An exoellent exhibition of children's clothes seemed to be the principal feature of the show, some of the dresses being really nice. A good number of plants, exposed for sale, were also noticeable. The refreshment stall, presided over by Mrs Shipman and Miss Groves, did a first-rate business. The bazaar itself was well patronised during the day; and the receipts/ £4O, were considered fairly successful. For the material aid the Committee received from Chris tohuroh and other friends they wish to express their sinoere thanks. Lyons' Totjbists.—There was a orowded house at tbe Gaiety Theatre last evening, it being the final performance of Lyons' Tourists and also the occasion of a farewell benefit to Miss Amy Horton, under the patronage of His Worship the Mayor and Lieut.-Colonel Packe. Tho pieces presented were the musical burletta "The Loan of a Lover," the burlesque " Isle of Tulipatam," and the now well-known Christmas pantomime. A well-chosen variety of songs was also introduced by Mils Horton. The whole of the performance went uncommonly well, and merited the appreciation bestowed upon it by the audience. The linificiaire was encored again and again for her exoellent rendering of a number of comic songs, which the ever-exaoting audience insisted on being repeated or supplemented with those of a similar oharaoter, until at last their favourite was compelled to deoline to comply. The Misßes Tulloch and Fox wore also honoured with encores for their graoeful singing and dancing, and this final performance by the Tourists may certainly be regarded as a very successful close of a successful season. Tonight the company are announced to appear at Ashburton.

Theatre Botal.—At the Theatre Royal last night the company appeared in* the well-worn emotional play "Eaat Lynne," but their version of it differed in some, respects from that usually performed. The interpolations were undoubtedly great improvements, serving as they did to relieve in some degree the prevailing sadness of so muoh of the drama. Miss Louise Pomeroy was at her best in the rSle of Lady Isabel. In the first act she was charmingly natural, even to the pettish grimaces of a spoiled young bride. Her singing of " When other lips," in which she acoompanied herself on the piano, was full of artistio expression. In the second aot, the varying emotions, of womanly indignation at the proposals of the would-be seduoer, of intense but ill-regulated love for her husband, and of wayward techiness, were expressed with wonderful power. The cross-examination of her husband, one portion of whioh was acoompanied by an air on the piano made to indioate her changing moods, was illustrated as muoh by look and by-play as by word. The realisation of tho faot that she was jealous was grandly effective, and .the abandonment of herself to the desire for revenge was equally good. In the third act, she exhibited intense emotion, and utter self-abasement, concluding with a burst of hysterical passion absolutely electrifying. In the fourth aot, the suppressed feelings of the pretended governess were admirably shown by tho restless • hands j while tho agony of the mother at witnessing the death of her ohild was painfully, but not unduly, elaborated. Jn the fifth aot, tho death soene was sufficiently ros»listio, without being overwrought j the last look on her husband and tho glassing eye being in the highest degree praiseworthy. Mr Flemming was as good as ever as Archibald Oarlyle, and the same may be said of Mr Hamilton, as Bir Francis Levison. Mr Hoskins was Lord Mountsevern, and played with dignity and feeling. Mr Jewett did all that was needful as Biobard Hare, but, by a atrango oversight, neglected to wear the blaok whiskers men* tioned as his disguise by his sister. Miss Lizzie Lauronoe was a plowing Barbara Hare. Miss Bessie Vivian's Cornelia Oarlyle will nover bo forgotten by those who have once seen it. The other character* were very fairly played. The audience showed their appreciation of the acting by calling before the curtain, Miss Pomeroy, four times } Mr Flemming, three times; Mr Hoskins, once; and "La petite Wisby," once. To-night, "As Tou Like It" will be performed, with Miss Pomeroy m Botelind, Mr Leake as Jaques, Mr Hoskins as Touolutone, and Mr Wallace as Adam.

Mount omi Vital Statistics.—Births, 361 marriages, 4; deaths, 6, for quarter ending Deo. 81,1881. LifTTßi/roN Hhoatta.—The priees won at the Regatta will be presented at the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton, at eight this evening. Svdbnhah Bobovoh Couwoit.—A meeting nf the Sydenham Borough Counell was held last evening. A considerable amount of business was transacted. A roport will be found elsewhere. Funbuatj or tub Late Cactain Ctoobtoiw.—The funeral of tho late Captain K. h. Clogstoun took place yesterday afternoon at the Biocarton cemetery. Tho service was performed by tho Bev O. Bowen, and upwards of 60 mourning friends followed the deceased gentleman to the grave. Inqphbts,—At the inquest on tho body of the girl Ayton, killed near Waimate on Sunday by being thrown out of s> dray, a verdict of " Accidental Death" was returned. —The inquest on the body of John L»wrie, killed by falling over a cliff at Timaru, resulted in a verdict of a similar nature. St/pbkkh Cotjbt.—The criminal sittings of tho Supremo,Court for January were concluded yesterday. Tho throe cases tried all resulted in acquittals. The Court, at a quarter past four in the afternoon, adjourned till Monday next, at 11 o'olook in the morning, when the Nisi Prius sittings will begin. Valuatob fob Ashbt/bton Cot/ntt.— Yesterday at the Ashburton County Council, Mr Friedlander gave notice of a motion to recommend to Government tho advisability of appointing a resident valuator for the County, ana meanwhile to ascertain what the cost was to the Boad Boards of preparing rate rolls. MBANS 02 EOBBSS BBOM PUBHO BUILDINGS.—At the meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council last evening, it was deoided to empower the Works Committee to inspect all buildings in the Borough that are let for public meetings, 4c, in order to ascertain whether sufficient means of egress were provided. Bakbbs' Picnic—A well-attended meeting of master bakers was held at the Commercial Hotel last evening with reference to the annual picnic A sub-Committee was appointed to interview the various millers for subscriptions and seleot a suitable place for the pionio, whioh it was decided should come off on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Conobbtb Channelling in Sydenham.— Last evening the Sydenham Borough Council, acting ou the recommendation of a joint report from the Works and Finance Committees, authorised the Works Committee to proceed with the construction of side channels at a oost not exceeding £I4OO, on condition that the ratepayers whose properties abut on the streets where the channels were to.be made pay one-half the cost. An Ashbt/bton Atjthob. —Mr Henry Honor, a gentleman resident in Ashburton, has at present in the Press a work of imagination entitled "The Great Bomanoe: by the Inhabitant." The tale is an account of a perilous voyage amongst the stellar worlds, the voyageurs being three men, and their vessel a sort of half-and-half oraft called the "Star Climber." The first "volume," a booklet of 65 octavo pages has been issued. It has suffered a good deal at the hands of the printer, whose work is decidedly not productive of a thing of beauty.

Wbathbb at Oxpobb.—The weather in this district during the past fortnight has been vry dry, and the crops require rain very much. It is feared that if rain does not come within a few days the crops will be very light, and far below the average. The heavy nor'-west winds that have been blowing for the past week have done great havoc to the fruit.- In many of the gardens the trees are entirely stripped. Grass seed has been entirely thrashed out, and farmers who intended stripping the seed, do not now propose to trouble further with it. A f*w small nor'west showers of rain have fallen, but the moisture hoB disappeared almost at once. Oxfobd.—The Oxford Dramatio Society performed at the Town Hall, East Oxford, on Monday evening, to a crowded house. "Black-eyed Susan" was the piece of the evening, preceded by a farce entitled the "Illustrious Stranger." The characters in the farce were well sustained throughout; Mr Thomson as Bowbell kept the audience in a good humour during the whole of the time. Every attention appeared to have been given to the scenery, dress, and effeots in " Blackeyed Susan," and the various, parts were all well aoted. Miss E. Thompson, who took the part of Black-eyed Susan, played the part very well, being ably assisted by Miss Vernon as Dolly Mayflower. The character of William was also well taken, and applauded several times. FIBIS ON THE PBNIHBtTLA.—Bush and grass fires appear to have dene considerable damage on the Peninsula during the last few days. The Akaroa Mail says:—"Mr W. Ashton, of Decanter Bay, has suffered severely—forty acres of oooksfoot, one hundred and fifty acres of ryegrass, also one hundred and fifty acres of busk well stocked with timber having been completely destroyed. The damage has not even stopped here ; 50 chains of fenoing, with the house lately ocoupied by Mr Ashwin, and the outbuildings, are totally destroyed, causing a loss of at least £250. Mr Menzies, of the same bay, has suffered considerably. In Little Akaloa, Messrs Fawson, Barker, and Bennet have been considerable losers, fenoing to the value of £2O eaoh being burnt to the ground. Large fires have also been seen for the last few days in the vicinity of Wainui and French Farm. Judging from the wide range over which it was seen to spread, the damage must be very serious. Tho only authenticated account come to hand at present is, that of Mr 0. Bates, who reports having a twelve-aore paddook of richly-cropped cocksfoot entirely consumed." The House Steward of Chrletohuroh Hospital beers to acknowledge tho rooeipt, with thanks, of a parcel of wearing apparel for the use of the patients, from Mr Wetherel, Cave Book Hotel, Sumner; a quantity of fruit from the Hon Mrs Biohardson, and a £1 note from Superintendent Broham, Tho following have been chosen to play for the U.CCO. in a matoh against tho Addington, on the U.C.0.0. ground, next Saturday :—Messrs Cox, "Wood, Baker, H. Fenwick, Beswiok, Paul, Harvey, Pixloy, Castotlt, Harm»n, W. G. Cotterill, Emergenoies—E. Griffiths and M'Farlano. Flay to commence punotually at 3.30. The Superintendent of Sunnysio'e Asylum desires to acknowledge the reoeipt of Si 2s from Mr Walter Spring, in aid of the patients' reoreation fund. Tho following will play for Lwcastor Park against tho first eleven of the M.C.C., at Hagley Park, on Saturday, Jan. 7 and 14 s—Messrs E. 0. J. Stevens. W. P. Beeves, F. Wilding, W. MiUton, A liongdon, H. lioughnan, F. lioughnan, E. T. M'Donnell, F. B. Malet, J. Taylor, J. Sale. The following will represent the same club against the M.C.O, second eleven, at the samo time and plaoe: MessrsV. Hamilton, H. Cottorill, 0, lioaghnau, O. Beeves, E. S. Harley (oaptaln), T. L. Smith, W. Bush, D. Dunlop, Dr Haoon, Lane, H. Hassal, Grant. Tbo matoh between the third elevens of the same olabs will be played at Lancaster Park on tho above dates. The li.P.C. team will bo announced in to-morrow's issue. Play will begin in eaoh case at a quarter to two.

Thr Itaiian Fbbss.—A groat development has taken place in Italian journalism within tbe last few years, in point of both the number of papers and literary excellence, At the beginning of last year 149 daily papers wero published in Italy, and 1305 journals <uid periodicals appearing onoe, twice, or thrice a week. The oldest Italian nowspaper was founded in Genoa in 1797. In 1836 the total number of Italian journals of all kinds was only 185. Of the existing daily political papers, 18 are published in Bomo, 16 in Naples, 13 in Palermo, 12 in Milan, nino in Florence, six in Turin, and five in Venice.

Expi.oßivjtß in Cotton Bams.—Attention has again been attraoted to the discovery of oxplosivea in ootton bales which h »ve arrived in England from America. The most recent instances have ooourred at Oldham, where in bales of raw cotton, in addition to quantities of stone, sand, and rubbish, revolver cartridges were found. Had the cartridges oome into contact with the heating maohinery a fire would have resulted, and in order to guard against the serious danger involved, Srcat oaro has to be taken. The United tates Consul has made an urgent request that anything amiss in the cotton trade should be immediately reported to him. Thh Channel Tttnnbx.—The work of removing the maohinery from the Abbott's Cliff heading to the shaft at Shakespeare's Cliff, in connection with the Channel tunnel experiments, is now complete, having occupied upwards of two months, and boring operation will probably be commenced again next week. The scheme is now in the hands

o! the Stmth-Bastem Bailway Company, who, we understand, have entered into a contract for the drilling to be extended another mile. For the present the boring will be continued in the direction of Borer. Several workshop* and iheds have been erected at the month of the shaft, and a powerful engine hat been fitted up. The arrangement* are now much more complete than formerly, and are calculated greatly to facilitate the progmf of the work. Xhe cuttings from the face of the chalk are carried to the rear of the engine by "cups," and afterwards conveyed in an iron " skiff " from the engine to the mouth of the abaft by mean* of pulleys attached to a brum, which it worked by machinery. With the present arrangement, the tame amount of work will be able to be performed with a considerable redaction of labour, about 80 men only being required instead of double that number, as at the Abbott's Cliff heading The Timsi, Kov. 3. A Stmfb of ToNOtrss.—A correspondent of the Pungolo of Naples writes from Malta, as follows:—"A meeting has taken place at Fioriana, at which 7000 Maltese were present, and a number of speeches were made protesting strongly against the unjait proceedings of the local Government in attempting to force the English language upon them instead of the Italian. During the meeting, and in consequence of provocation on the part of the police, many arrests were made, and several police officer* were slightly wounded. The Maltese as soon as the encounter was over ran about like madmen, shouting, 'Vival'ltalia!'' Tiva la lingua Italiana!' 'Abbasso i selvaggi di Suropal' Among the arrests is to be deplored that of the editor of the Fede ed Axiom newspapor. It is said that a petition signed by 16,000 Maltese is about to be sent to Her Majesty Queen Victoria on the subject, begging that a stop may be put to the despotio proceedings of the head* of some of the department*. This letter is reprinted in the Soman papers under the heading of 'The Italian language in Malta.'" Arab Dooroßfl.—lhe Arab Mohaddethin are learned doctors who have mastered the whole system of the Hadith—thtt is, of the sayings attributed to Mahomet, which form a* the Talmud does to the Pentateuch a sort of appendix to the Koran and supply a code of law* by which almost every act of life is regulated. But a Sadith ha* no authority unless it can be traced directly to Mahomet through various trustworthy persons, and to give it the proper sanction the name of each of the narrator* must be mentioned. Thus, if a scrupulous Moslem asks a Mohaddeth whether it is lawful to kill a wasp while he is on a pilgrimage, at which time he is forbidden to kill any living thing except the animal to be sacrificed at Mecca, the answer mill be something like this, "I hare heard from the Bev Dr Z. that the Bev Dr T. told him that he heard from X., who had it from W., and so ou through the alphabet till we come to Ali, Mahomet's cousin, that he heard the Prophet say that if the beast stung him he would smash it with his mitwdk, or toothstick, which the Prophet was very fond of using, and that, therefore, it must be lawful to kill the wasp." One story current about these folk is that a Mohaddeth and a Christian were in a sailing boat together, and the Christian, not feeling well, produced a bottle of wine, and, pouring out a glaßs, handed it to his Mahomedan companion before drinking himself. The Mohaddeth drank it up without reflecting, and asked, smacking his lips, what it was. "A glass of wine," innocently replied the Christian; whereupon the Moslem made a face—Moslems never drink wine, as everybody knows, since it is forbidden by law—and asked where he got it from. "From a Jew merchant," said the other; "my servant bought it for me." " What a credulous fool you are," replied the Mohaddeth j "we Mohaddethin have great diacussions about the authority of even such persons as Sufyau ibn Uyalneh and Yezid ibn Haritn, and am I .going to believe a Christian on the authority of a slave who had it from a Jew ? Give us another glass 1" St Gothabd Ivsssl.— The correspondent of the Times, who visited the great tunnel just driven through the Alpa before its completion, finds fault with the contractor's arrangements, whioh he seems to think were scarcely what they should be. He says . The means of access to the tunnel could be advantageously improved. There is too much delay in getting the shifts of men to their work, muoh valuable time being lost at the points where they have to change trains. Another thing struck me as being desiiable. There was a certain absence of clearing up in tho completed portions of the tunnel, and this, of course, necessitates needless expense in sending gangs of men to places where there should be nothing to do. There is nothing to prevent the ballasting being finished wherever the tunnel is completed, and the temporary tract, transferred to this improved surface, would bo muoh safer and fewer acoidents, with consequent loss of life and money, would occur. There is also an absence of scientific methods of lighting the great passage. Money would have been saved by a more general' system of illumination. In fact, the general impression made upon a foreign professional mind is that of " main strength and awkwardness" to a greater extent than one would expect to find in this highly inventive and suggestive age. There is no doubt in my mind that a large majority of the cases of injury to the employees has been due to the absence of a general system of lighting the tunnel, and or those more scientific detail* embraced in my phrase of " the niceties of construction." Thb Ibish Malcontbnts.—The words in which the Prime Minister described the present purpose of Mr Parnell and his adherents (says the Standard) were as forcible as the occasion required. "They wish", he said, "to march through rapine to the disintegration and dismemberment of the Empire." Mr Gladstone avowed his belief that with this programme the Irish people had no sympathy, |and throughout the whole of his speech he repudiated the idea that the chiefs of the League could be truly spoken of as the leaders of their countrymen. It would have been better if the Government had more emphatically recognised this fact, and had more truly discovered the true drift and ulterior purpose of the League a little earlier. " Our opponents," he said, " are not the people of Ireland. We are only endeavouring to rolievo them from a tyrannical yoke."