LOCAL AND GENERAL.

\J Works Committbb.— At a meeting of the Wworks Committeo held this morning it was [/decided to arrango for a sufficient supply of Ibonldors to allow of twelvVof the old atone* I breakers being] kept at work at wages not to I exceed one guinea per week. As no tenders I had been received for sinking the deep well I in Whately rood, the Committee determined, I if they could make no arrangement with a I contractor, to perform the >rork by day I labour. It was mentioned that tho new fire* I bell tower was finished, and that the bell had Vbeon placed in position. VoliTJNtbbb Emquiby.— A Court of Enquiry was recently held before Major Lean to investigate a ease of careless and insubordination which occurred a little time ago at the Cashmere range. The carelessness consisted of the noncommissioned officer in charge of a volunteer squad, and who belongs to the artillery, allowing his men : to fire over the heads of a cadet squad who, were practising at a shorter range ; and the insubordination, in refusing to desist when requested to by the Sergeant-Major. After hearing all the cvi* donee tho Court severely reprimanded the , offending Sergeant. Piqbon Raob.— A pigeon race took plac< this morning from Lyttelton to Ohristchurch of the East Christohurch Flying Club. M W. Simmons liberated the birds, when ver; good time was made. The first bird wa liberated at 8.30 a.m. Mr W. Earnshaw, th Secretary, has taken great pains to make thi affair a success. There were 12 bii'ds in competition. LBOTtfBB.— -We have been requested to direct attention to tho announcement in an* other column of the lecture to be delivered to-night at tho Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfleld street, upon the laws of Sound and the theory of Musio, by the Very Rev J. O'Malley, B.J . A largo audience is anticipated. Jury List.— The house-to-house call in connection with the compilation of the jury list for 1830 has been commenced by the police Juryman ITinbd.— Mr J. S. M. Jaoobsen was called yesterday as a special juryman. He did not answer, and Bis donor directed him to be fined £5,- unless he showed cause. Imported Ektirbs.— The horsos on board tho Remonstrant have been passed by the Inspecting Veterinary Surgeon, and will be landed to-day. Harbour Dbfbnob.— -Colonel Scratchier will inspect the Harbour to-day, with tho view of determining tho host method .of defence for tho same. DißTßßss ik Irbcand and tub City Council.— On the motion of Councillor Hulbert tho_ City Council, lost night, formed thomselves into a Committee with power to add to their number, for the purpose of Col* looting funds towards relieving the distress in Ireland. Camera Obsofiu.— As the Cihy Council last night refuted to grant Mr Proctor, an extoneion of tho permission to occupy the tank reservo by the cathedral with his Camera Obscura, those who have not yet visited this interesting exhibition Bhould do to before it i-» moved to n lets favourable position. Watbb Spppiy.— The report of the City Water Supply Committee was brought up last night at the Counoil meeting but was not road. It is of groat length, and the Council deferred its consideration until they had had time to read copies of it, whioh were promised to bo provided tor them immediately. * LfiTTKBiNa tub Citjt Oherrill has given notice of; the following motion—" That in the opinion ,of this Conn* oil it is desirable to adopt a system of letter* ing the blocks of this city, and that it bo an instruction to the Committee, to have the work dono as soon as possible." > 'r Cur Cotmoii..-— The City Council held an ordinary meeting last night, when a good deal of business was done, a report of winch appears ehowhere. At the closo of the meeting Councillor Oherrill presented the Council with tho portraits of the members and officials. His Worship the Mayor, in accepting the prcsont, spoke in high termsof praise of tho excellence of tho portraits, which ho said reflected the highest credit on tho artist. Gouse NtfISANOB.— At last evening's /meeting of tho Sydenham Council, Councillor Charte^ called attention to the danger exist* ing within the Borough on account of the un* .trimmed gorse fences. He referrod specially to one fence, whioh was 11 or 12ft high, and I whioh was recently onflre,; Cn that occasion H several families had a narrow escape of being llburned out. It was understood that tho JlWorks Committco would take action in tho Matter. „ „... HABDons BOARD.—Tha annualmeeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board was held yesterday at noon. All the members were prosent oxcopt the Hon John Hall, who is at Wei* lington. From the report which appears in to-day's issue it will be Been that the Board's operations are .being carried on in a most satisfactory manner, contrasting very favour* ably with those of some other Harbour Boards. ?■■ Tho report contains a large amount of information of a very interesting character. SPBOIAI YOttfNTBBB INSPECTION. — A general order has been issued for tho head* quarter corps of Volunteers to parade in the Drili-shed at half-past seven o*clock to-mor-row evening, for inspection by Colonel Soratohley, 0.M.G., Royal Engineers. The E Battery of Artillery, tho Engineer*, City Guards, and High School Cadets will bo re* presented at tho parade. Tho riflo match, Artillery v. Engineers, has been postponod until tho following Wednesday. _ -*£££ The Nkw Zealand Brkuivb.— The Boy Gcorgo Wilks has transferred all right in connection with the New Zealand bar-framed beohire, to Mr William Lucas, Knightstown. Mr Lucas will tnako the hives in four sizes, holding 8, 10, 12, nnd 14 framos respectively, and with or without covers, to suit pur* chnsciM. As tho selling prices for tho plainly constructed hives will range from 5s tfd to 14s, it cannot bo pleaded that primary cost will deter pooplo from kooping bees. Tho hives will bo obtainablo from Messrs A. luncan nnd Son. Deputation trom Lincolnshire Fab* bbs.— -Tho lion E. Richardson on Saturday st telegraphed to Mr Rolleston, tho Minister ir Lands, suggesting that tho deputation om Lincolnshire farmers, now in tbo North iland, should bo urged to come to Cantor* nry to sco tho crops lioro beforo they aro lapccl. Mr Rollcston replied that ho had at ico telegraphed to Mr Wli i taker to the off cot iggcsted, and would do his'utmost to induco le deputation to lose no time in visiting antorbury. Crickkt.— A match was played at Sunny* eido on Saturday lost betweon tho Sydonham and Sunnjsido Cricket Clubs, resulting in a draw. Tho scores wore Sydenham 05, Sunnyaide 88, with ono wicket to fall. Tho bowling of Willett nnd Chambers for Syden* ham, nnd White for Sunnyside was good. Enslon 29 nnd Chambers 16, for Sjdonham, nnd Rulo 17, Whitloy 17, Whito 12, nnd Dixon not out 1G whero tho highest scorers. 1 —A match was played on Saturday last botweon tho St Albuns O.C. and Bohemian CO., i which rosultoi in a victory for tho former by 23 run?. St Albans, in their fl»t innings, ' intulo 46 runs, with only oight players, against tho Bohemian Etovoirs 23 runs. For tho former, Tolnu, 26 not out, was tho only ono making double Oguros, and for tho Bohoiniant , I'uah, first innings, 10, and Andrews, second innings, 19. The bowling of Tohu for the St Albans, and Piooco and Costloy for the 1 Bohemians, was Tory effective.

XThb Wbathbb.— Our Ashburton com* Spondcnt telegraphed last night that the weather wns unsettled, and a heavy south* west wind with flight rain had set in. ABHDMTON Jockey OtUß.— The annual meeting of this Club took place on Saturday last, when a very satisfactory balance-sheet was presented, and a unanimous vote of thanks to tho retiring officers was passed. Asubuhton Residbnt Maoisibatb's Coubt.— A man named Kelly was sentenced yesterday to a month's incarceration, for obtaining certain sutne of money from a person named Blair, with whom he was in partner* ship. The Government Works Inspector visited Ashburton yesterday, to inspect a site for a now Court House. Tub OPBfeA.— Wo obtorve that "Carmen" is announced for Friday night. 'This highly original open* has had such successful runs wherever it has been produced, that a great suocess may be oxpeoted for it here. In a future , issue we propose to publish sone account of ;tho plot and merits. Cauribbs' Picnic— A well attended meet* ing of city carriers was held laßt evening in the Temporanco Hall to consider the Bdvis* ability of holding the annual picnic Mr Cameron was voted to the chair. After consideration it was decided to hold tho picnic, weather permitting, on the first Tuesday in February in a paddock on the Lincoln road kindly offered by Mr.Hellewcll. A Committee was appointed to make preliminary arrangements, to report at another meeting to be held on Tuesday week. > Cittrßcn Wobk Socirrr.— The B«v W. 0. Harris, Organising. Chaplain of this Diocese, delivered two sermons on Sunday at StJohn the Baptist's Church, B»ngior*,on the formation of the new Society bearing the ' above name which has been established' in Canterbury. In the morning, the rev gentle* man dwelt upon the objects for which tho Society was established, and in the evening on the necessity for some parochial associations being established in connection therewith, urging the member* of the Church to assist in tho promotion of so necessary a branch of the work of the Church in New Zealand. The Yen Archdeacon Dudley con* ducted the services on both occasions, and the Bey 0. J. Morton presided at the organ. I •'Tub Russians ih Central Asia.— lt will Übe seen from our telegrams that the Russians ■have suffered very severe reverses in Asia. ■Their defeat by the Turkomans, so c&reViilly I shrouded in mystery as long as must I have been complete, for the Russians have I not! only retreated on to the Caspian, but I have actually been compelled to abandon their Colony at Tchikislar, with some of their [ war material. Tchikislar is at the month of the river Attrek, which falls into the Caspian near its south-east corner, and being the place whence the Russian expedition origin* L ally started, tho name has of late been f re* quently found in newspaper columns. Breech-loaders and the desert have been too much for even the Russians this time, and for the present Merv may breathe again. What effect this check to the Czar may have upon Afghan affairs remains to be seen. » Naming Stbbbts.— The question of flaming the streets within tho Borough of ißydenham has for a long period , been a jiweighty matter with the Council, all the jimembers apparently holding different opinions las to the kind of names which should be ■chosen. Recently the original Committee ■was dissolved, and a new Street-naming ComImittee Came into being. They held a meeting immediately, and their report was presented last evening, its recommendation being that the various streets should be named after modern authors, in accordance with the list which was annexed. One Councillor objected that thero was in several instances a surplusage of name, but Councillor Hall, who I had charge of the Committee's report, argued that if they hod to use such a name as Isung* ton Park rood, whioh he hod seen in an advertisement, they could surely do with Douglas Jerrold road or Oliver Goldsmith road. The objecting Councillor pleaded that if only the surname of the favoured author bad to bo painted up, it would save expense. Councillor Hall was prepared to hang the expense, for ho felt sure that there were many peoplo who— like him— could never separate Tom from Hood. Thereupon the Council adopted tho report, and Sydenbam may soon bo able to boast of the following thoroughfares, selected from the Committee's list :— Wilkie Collins street, Oliver Goldsmith street, Tom Hood street, Charles Lamb street, Douglas Jerrold street, Bulwer Lytton sheet, Btuart Mill street, Dean Swift street, and Iftotor Hugo ttreet. Tub Boot Upon Tits Othbr Lrq.— The Dean of Peterborough wai placed in a very embarrassing position tho other day. Ho was invited by the agents of tho United Kingdom , Alliance to tako part in a temperance meeting. He (.'tended, but, nob wishing to appear under false colours, ho spoke out plainly and to tho point— rathe* too plainly, in fact, for romo of his hearers. He agreed with tho preceding speakers r$ to the awful consequences of drunkenness, and he believed that total abstinence was the only cure for the habitual drunkard. But there, he said, ho must tstop, he could not go one atom further, He was not a total abstainer himself. He had tried it three times, and he believed if he had not taken stimulants, as his medical 'attendant told him. he should not ! have been there speaking to them then. He did not admit tho necessity for everyone to be a total abstainer, and could never admit what he believed to be an absolute false principle, that the abuss of anything wasnn argument against its use. They might just :as well soy tho polygamy of the Turk was an I argument against marriage; as that the abuse of drink, was an argument against its use. Although it was striotly a meeting of teetoItalers, the Dean wai frequently cheered, and , his remarks soemed to take them quite by surprise. .^ ' . ,; ;' ".' ! ,' Fbightinid to Dbatb. <-— A curious i tragedy was recently enacted at Littowk, on the Russian frontier, it we may credit the Austrian journal, the Fremdenblalt, It ap* pears from that newspaper's story that two Jews, father'and son, nad long lived on bad terms, and at last the son hired a peacant for 25 pieces of silver " to facilitate the departure of the old man from this vale of tears." On the day fixed for the execution of tho crime I the peasant repented, and going to the in* tended victim confessed all that had passed. The father made him promise to pretend to his employer that the crime bad been com* jmitted, and he then went to tho Babbi Joseph Beer, before whom he laid the matter. After due deliberation the rabbi determined to see Itho son &ni to inform him that his murdered ! father bad appoared to him in a dream, and 'he asked his murderer whether he would jappedr before a terNstrial or celestial jury. Tho son, quite overwhelmed, chose tho former tribunal, whioh was accordingly formed, and cousistea of ten influential parishioners. Tho father was placed behind a curtain. The 'Prisoner bavins been pi .cod at the bar, tho j Judges rose, and tho rabbi solemnly invited the spirit of the dead man to bring forward I his accusation. Hardly had the eon recog* nisod tho voice of his father when he was 'seised with terror, and fell down dead. Tho | Procurator of the Pro vie cc, on learning what • had passed, at onco caused the rabbi and tho ' other monibors of the Court to bo arrested. A Sensational Stficibß.—Moscowsociety, says tin* London Daily Telegraph would appear to be just now considerably exercised by tho Biiicido of one of its brightest orna* ments, the roung and lovely Countess Vera Koschclcff, who a short time ego suddenly disappeared from her palace, in the old Russian capita), only two days after her solemn betrothal to Count Heimann, which had been celobrnted with fostivo rejoicings upon an unusually magnificent scale. No ono could imagino whither sho had gono until her steward received a letter from her, written at her chateau in tho Crimea, whoroin she informed him that " she was going to bathe ii the river running through hor cstato, tnl should not return nlive from her bath." Sho also described tho exact spot near which her body would bo found in the water. Search was of couno made with all possible prompti* tude, and it resulted in tho discovery of tho boautiful young countess' corpse sewn up in , a lento straw sack and sunk in tho river. Tho , seams were found to be in the interior of tho , sack, proving that Vora Koscheleff had do* liberntcly sown herself up in tho oack on tho , ' river bank, nnd then cost herself into tho stream, In another lottor, addressed to ono of hor uncles, and recoivod by him somdimo , after her doath, sho gavo as hor reasons for enclosing herself in a sack previously to i drowning horaelf her extreme fear of crayi fish and wator-bcotlog. Few stranger and [ more fantastic suicides havo been recorded ) even in Russian annals of self-destruction, ) which are exceptionally rich in grisly stories of this particular dosenption.

A Niw Coxpoaiß.— At the Royal Academy of Music, London, the Mendelssohn scholar* •hip wos mined for tho flrtt time by * woman— a Miss Maude White, who is now at work upon an open which ia described aa "magnificently dramatic," Her libretto it taken from Lamartino's " Jocelyn s" and the young composer's ardont hope v that, when her darling work i* produced, she may be allowed to guide tho orchestra to the foil interpretation of her meaning by conductiat it in person. Oh mi Wiko.— Madamo Adelaide Bit* tori has formed the decision to make another trip round the world, and has collected a company of renr able aisistautsto accompany her. She will first appear in the Royal Play* houso in Berlin, and hat already signed the necessary contract. Afterwards she intend* to visit tho principal places in Europe, ami will also go to Australia, where she was co well received on » former occasion. Madame Bistort, having an ample fortune, couldw«n afford to livo at ease in her till* at Borne, but the attraction of the boards, representing the world, seems as strong in her case as in many other artiste, who we Tery averse to leave the footlights. Amimoaw Nicksambs.— Tho nickname* of pfople in the different States are wry amusing. The inhabitants of Alabama are called Lizards t of Arkansas, Toothpicks) of California, Gold-hunter* ; of Colorado, Rovers t of Connecticut, Wooden Nutmegs; of Delaware, Mu»k*rats* of Florida, Flynp* the-Oreeksj of Georgia, Bumrds; of IlGnoli, Suckers t of Indiana, Hoosieraj d lowa, Hawkeyet* of Kan*a*, Jayhawkmi of Kentucky, Corn Crackers » of Xouisia&a, Creoles; of Maine, Foxes* of Maryland, Craw Thumpers j of Michigan, Wolvennietj of Minnesota, Gophers 5 of Misjissiopi, Tedpoles• of Missouri, Pukes; of Nebraska, Bug»eaterßt of Nevada, Sage Hens; of New Hampshire, Granite Boys; of New Jersey, Blues, or Clam-catchers; of New York, Knickerbockers; of North Carolina, Tar» boilers, or Juckoe*; of Ohio, Buckeyes* o! Oregon, Webfeet and Hardcases ; of Pennsylvania, Penances and Leatherheade » ot Rhode Island, Gun Hints; of South Carolina, Weasels; of Tennessee, Whelps; of Texas, Beefheads ; of Vermont, Green Mono* tain Boys ; of Virginia, Beadless » of Wisconsin, Badgers. » A Fbabfcl Embbacb.— The 4e&th » announcid, in Paris, at the ripe age of 93, ol M. Dejeau, the proprietor of the circus in the Champ Slysees and on the Boulevards. . His career was a remarkable one* He started ia life as a butcher's apprentice, and his good looks drew all the cooks in the neighbour* hood to the shop of his master, who," 4b * retiring, left him the business. Having amassed a comfortable fortune, he started Ike circus, kept it going for half a century, and realised very large profits. He was remark, able for his herculean strength, and for bi» attachment to the Napoleon family, which the lato Emperor requited by making M. Dejeau an officer of the Legion of Honour. Of his strength stories are told that border o& the marvellous, in which fiction mingles very largely with fact Thus it is stated that am after starting the circus a tiger escaped f rota •/menagerie he was exhibiting and made straight for him. Dejeau quietly opened hie arms and then dosed them ; when he »•• opened them the tiger fell dead at his f ett, smothered in his embrace. The BrcstATO in C»xtral Afeu.— There is^no doubt (sayt the P«U Moil Bndsey that the difficulties which the Mm expedition have met with have much <4fe» couraged the Russians in their whole Centra) - Asian programme. The expedition cost them -according to their own journals, 8,000,000 roubles befora it started from TchittsW. Now it is back there again, utterly !«•»' organised, with most of the men either killed by the Turkomans or put kon de combat by the climate. Not only has further advance for the present been abandoned, but th* remnants of the force are threatened by Turkoman hordes who are raiding close to them, and seem to intend to attack the main body. Despite all this, of course, Russia, if she is resolved to make the needful uvorifiws, can take Merv as she took: Khiva ; and the talk abouttheOwnbwg»Tashkondßailwayanatl* . diversion of the Oxus into the Ca.pian, points in the direction of a steady determination not to abandon the g»mo in this direction. On the other baud, money, we know, ia scarce ; and it is by no means improbable that another Turkoman victory would have the effect of routing othor tribes t> attempt to shake off the Kussian yoke. Meantime, too, our success in Afghanistan counts for something. Hoxotra to Whom Hosoira is Dro.— A recent Gazette (says "Atlas," in the World) contained an entry that is memorable because of its uniqueness. For the first time in our "island story" has a British commander found himself called on to acknowledge the serrices in the face of an enemy of a newt* paper correspondent. Litera icripla m»»d and tho Gazelle had to print what General Tytler wroto ; bub it is undentwd in India that the officer in question was visited with the displeasure of his superiors because of hit un« welcomo innovation, and was, indeed, called upon to cancel tho portion of his despatch which commended Mr Forbes 1 cool purposeful conduct under fire. General Triler, havinga will of his own, and having named Mr Forbes on the pressure of officers of his column who witnessed and admired Mr Forbes' timely good services, declined to strike out the patsage. It is, of coursp, quite needless to observe that tbo gallant general's recommendation wiU bo^ utterly barren of effect.. _ Our authorities wisely regard it as a gross impertinence on the part of one not a soldier to be guilty of any service on campaign, no matter whether that service consists in savinr hunett life or in conveying important intelligence under tho most hazardous conditions.