Christchurch, December 23rd. A serious case of stabbing occurred in front of the Theatre last night, shortly after ten o'clock. A man named Theodore Arnold weut into the private bar of Beatty's Hotel, where a gentleman named Arthur Faithful, was having a drink with a friend, and asked him tofgo outside. Faithful did so, but no sooner had reached the pavement than Arnold seized him by the throat with his left hand, at |the same time striking at him with his right, in which he held a knife, and saying, "I'll do for you now." A scuffle ensued, during which Constable Hughes, who had witnessed the occurrence, threw his arms around Arnold, whileJSergeant Wilson, who also was near at hand, seized Arnold's right arm, when a knife dropped 'to the ground. While being secured, Arnold said he had intended to do for Faithful, and had been waiting several days to pot him. Faith ful sustained three wounds, but they happily had not a very dangerous appearance Two of them were on the left jaw, one of which was not far from being serious. The knife appeared to have entered near the end of the jaw, and come out in the neck, within a hair's breadth of the main artery. The third wonnd was in the body, immediately nnder the lower left rib, and about an inch in depth. After being arrested, Arnold said that he was sorry he had missed Faithful's heart, but that his hand was unsteady, owing to the fact that he had been drinking during the past two or three days. He also statecT that his reason for stabbing Faithful was that the latter had robbed a man in his presence in Lyttelton and then charged him (Arnold) with it. They were both passen gers by the ship Langston, whioh arrived from London a few days ago. Arnold was quite sober when arrested. The knife, which originally belonged to Faithful, is a murderous looking weapon, the blade being about eight inches long. Arnold was brought before the Magistrate^ Court this morning, but as Faithful was not flfc to appear Arnold was remanded till De cember 30th. Arnold is a young man of re spectable and quiet appearance. The Shades Hotel had a narrow escape from fire to-day owing to a leakage of gas accidentally catching fare. 