Christchurch.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 17, 22 July 1893, Page 5

Christchurch.

(prom our own correspondent.) THE STERLING CONCERTS. The Sterling season came to an abrupt and unlooked for conclusion on Monday evening. A good house had assembled to hear the famous contralto sing “ The Chord,” and when the announcement was made that Madame was unable to sing much disappointment and displeasure was felt. Seeing that the management knew that Madame Sterling would be unable to keep her engagement for the evening, some notice of inability should have been given. The concert was, of course, robbed, of its chief attraction hence the disappointment. In criticising the concert the Press speaks with disapproval. It says —■“ Except Miss Webster, the other vocalists supporting the star were not by any means equal to our own amateurs. . . . and apart

from Mr Wallace’s violin-playing and the singing of Miss Webster the concert was below mediocrity.” It must be gratifying to the Christchurch amateurs to find their musical status above that of the company in support of England’s greatest contralto, is it to be wondered at, then, that the Christchurch public is so phenomenally hard to please P I may mention that Mr F. M. Wallace, the leading violinist here, was pressed into service to fill the gap caused by Madame Sterling’s indisposition. On the following Tuesday she left Christchurch by express for the South, and on the same day the rest of the company sailed in the Talune for Dunedin, where they were to join Madame and immediately return to Adelaide. Though expectations have not been realised in regard to this great lady’s singing, it must be admitted she sang under very disadvantageous circumstances (having lately received news of her husband’s death in Adelaide), and it would be unfair to pass judgment upon her solely on the strength of her Christchurch season. EDRN GEORGE'S LATEST. Though Mr Eden George’s efforts in the direction of civic reform have not always been crowned with success, he is nevertheless determined to persevere. Despite the opposition his endeavours have always met with, he has not yet lost heart. This, time the newspaper boys are the objects of his solicitude. He considers, the newsboy nuisance has assumed such alarming proportions that in order to deal successfully with the difficulty the boys should be licensed and wear distinguishing badges. At the Council meeting Mr George said that newspapers should be sold at certain comers by licensed men, or boys with widowed mothers to support. Such a chance of making smart “copy” was not of course missed by the alert Truth, which paper was kind enough to devote nearly two columns of playful criticism to the affair. It consoled the Mayor by remarking that he had only “ to propose any measure to the Council to ensure its rejection.” The way of the reformer, like’ that of the transgressor, is hard. THE N.Z. LOAN COMPANT. News of the suspension of the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. came as a surprise to the general public here. Confidence is, however, expressed that-the difficulty is only of a temporary nature, and that the company will eventually right itself without prejudice to its reputation. Messrs E. S. Harley, E. G. Staveley, and James Callender, manager, produce manager, and accountant respectively announce that they have opened a special trust account for dealing with moneys coming into their hands, and thereby keeping the new business distinct from the old. At the Addington saleyards on Wednesday Mr Staveley said that clients would not be subjected to any inconvenience, and that the business would go on as usual. His remarks were of a re-assuring character, and were well received by all present.

LICBNSING NOTSfi. Again I have to report exceeding activity in the licensing world. During last week two speeches were delivered on this burning question. Mr T. E. Taylor lectured in reply to Mr W. W. Collins, and on Friday evening Mr Mortimer Davie lectured from a moderate drinkers’ point of view. As all shades of opinion on this subject should by this time have been expressed it is to be hoped that the Christchurch public will be given a brief respite from this continual speechifying. The temperance party is delighted with Mr Justice Denniston's decision with reference to the granting of a writ of certiorari applied for in the cases of the Crown, Sandridge and Southern Gross hotels, which houses were recently opened by the new Licensing Committee. The decision means that the three hotels are to be shut up unless an appeal is made. His Honour based his decision on the fact that no local option poll had been taken for the new district, and that in a new district no new licenses can be granted until the local option poll has been taken. Local option poll or not, the licensees have paid for their licenses, and are still selling. THE UNEMPLOYED. A number of the unemployed have, lately been holding meetings in Cathedral Square, to discuss the best method of obtaining work. It is pleasing to note that in discussing the question the men have adopted more reasonable and plausible language, which is an, improvement on the meetings held some time ago. At a meeting held this morning a rather amusing incident happened. One of the speakers, a Mr Fleming, took exception to the remarks of one of the speakers after the meeting held on Saturday. The speaker in question, it appears, xvas a lady, and had strongly advised the single men not to remain in the tow T n, but take their blankets and seek work in the country. Now this lady resented criticism, and when she spoke this morning in reply to Mr Fleming the meeting was ungallant enough to resent her, and refused her a hearing. Then, taunting the unemployed who, by the way, rather enjoyed the affair, with the words, “ and this is what you call fair play,” she pushed her way through the crowd, and left the meeting to its own devices. Strange to say, the meeting came to a satisfactory ending without any feminine assistance. THE MEASLES. Christchurch has not escaped the measles epidemic, but has, oh the contrary, been pretty severely afflicted. In consequence of the severity of the complaint, some of the public schools, notably East Christchurch, and Richmond, have had to close. Tho number of cases reported to the local boards of health is City Council, about 300; Sydenham, 260; Linwood, 70; St. Albans, 16. CO-OPERATION. The twelfth annual general meeting of the N.Z. Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association was held on Saturday last, Mr C. Ensor, Chairman of Directors, was in the chair, and about 250 shareholders were present. Much interest was taken in the proceedings. The annual balance-sheet and x'eport was read and adopted. The ballot for the election of directors resulted in the return of Messrs C. Ensor, J. Gough, W. Henderson, J. Haydon, T. D. S. Heave, W. S. Campbell, G. Jameson. The Association is calling applications for the issue of a thousand new shares, decided upon at the meeting.