NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10333, 29 April 1899, Page 9

NEWS OF THE DAY.

- A number of bad half-crowns have been put into circulation recently »h the Nelson district. It is said that no fewer than 41 were banded in at the totalisator office on the racecourse. ,

The North Canterbury RrTneaTion Board has jnst received,** grant of £927, for. school buildings (including residences} Jn newlysettled , districts. The Board is just completing two new schools at- Higbbink and M'Kenzie, both newly settled," which will cost over £700, *

It is Stat*;! that luring the pi**' r ent season 240,000 sheep have been drivpn from Hawker's Bay to Wairarapa and the West Coast,

The auction advertisements of the North ] Canterbury Co-operative Stores Company, ' R. Latter, Wra. Buss, Geo. King and Co., j and Friedlander Bros. wilibe*fouhd on page | 15 of this issue. -. i ' The attendance at the. Art Gallery still ' keeps, up welL The exhibition will be open ; to-day and this evening. Timaru Harbour Board has,rescinded the resolution to appoint a resident engineer, , and will return the six applications unopened. Tho 'Tarßnaki**Herald" reports that Mr • C. R. Beattie, of Midhirst, has. been appointed., si=-ereii_ry of the National Dairy Association, with his headquarters at Wellington. At the North Canterbury Cbjysanthemum. Show toe prizes for. the best decorated tables i were decided on a ballot in favour of Mrs ' Malcolm Macfarlane and Mrs H. Brown. The Fendalton School Committee have introduced physical training in their school, and Mr Tankard, Director of the Christchurch Gymnasium, conducts the classes for both sexes. Speaking in the Presbyterian Church at Hastings, the Rev. Mr Johnson, of Weapawa, informed his hearers that dancing was incompatible with a profession of Christianity, and nothing short of hypocrisy. The meteorological observations taken at the Lincoln School of Agriculture for the week enaing'Wednesday last, show that the highest thermometer record was 63.5de£ on Monday, and the lowest 34deg. on Friday, 14th. The total rainfall for the week wss 127 points, or .27m on the surface of the" ground. At Messrs Skelton and Frostick's yesterday a pair of field glasses was presented to Mr Darlow, who is going south for a trip to recruit his health. - The Waikari collie dog trie's were commenced yesterday, but the resoite wiE not be known till to-day. There were good entries, and the greatest centres in the work of the concluding rounds. The arrangements made on Mr Little's land for 1 the tests were perfect. The eight-page editions of "Truth" to be puDusned at 3 p.m. "and 4 p.m. to-day, ; will, contain an unusually interesting variety of reading matter, suitable to the tastes of all. Short stories and sketches will be a prominent feature, while news readers and votaries of all kinds of sport will be amply catered for. , Arrangements have been made by the trustees of the.Floral Fete to make a personal, inspection of the . line ,of country ! proposed to be* traversed under •Mr Smith's scheme. for improving the river Avon. Mr Cufchbert,* and probably the City Surveyor, will accompany ; the party. The following Road Board elections have taken place: —-Messrs J. $'. Evans and Kain, las members of the Malvern Road Board; Messrs L. J. Fleming and W. Teed, as mem-' bers of the Port Levy Road Board* Messrs i John Smith and Isaac Waiting, as members ;of the West Eyreton Road Board; Messrs 1 W. F. Con-way and R. D. Atkinson, as mcmi bers of the Cust Road Board.

Acting on the supposition that the individual whose long hair and startling attire co disturbed the equanimity of Christchurch the other day was a celebrity, and as he seemed anxious to see the schools, the Secretary of the Education Board in good faith gave him a note of introduction to the head teachers of the town schools, asking them to grant him facilities for visiting the schools. There was nothing said giving him. permission to address the children as he did.

An application for letters patent referring to apparatus employed in wireless telegraphy haß just been received from Gugliclmo Marconi, by Messrs Hughes, Ray ward and Baldwin, the investor's patent agents in the. colonies. Sigoor Marconi's name has been prominent' before the public as the inventor of certain details of construction which gave practical effect to the labours and researches of Maxwell and Hertz. In the present invention the conductor is, no longer insulated, but is connected to earth through the primary of an induction coil, whilst the ends of the imperfect contact are connected to the secondary, one of the connections passing through a co-denser. A company has been formed in Louden to exploit Marconi's inventions.,

In reference to the point frequently made by correspondents on the denominational, school question that if children now attend- : ing Roman Catholic schools were sent to the Education Board schools it .would entail a larger expenditure on the part of the Board, it has been pointed out that on the contrary as far as North Canterbury is concerned there is sufficient accommodation at most of the tchools for all' iho children in the neighbourhood. In some cases additions would have to be made, bu( having regard for the fact that the Board's capitation grant would be brgely increased,it would really be the gainer and not a loser. The city schools alono could easily provide for five or six hundred more children among them. - ' r ' Your wise investment in bicycle pleasure for 1899 demands that you read the beautiful Waverley catalogue, now ready. You will also find on Inspection that these are the highest grade whees that money can obtain, and the*latest stock of sundries kept on hand. Waverley «Cycle Depot, 217 Colombo street, Christchurch. 5362 To-day we are showing a very spscial purchase of 50 pairs men's saddle tweed trousers, original price-.-_6s 6d, for 12s lid,' a great wearing trouser* 39. ladies' macintoshes from 10s 6d\ each ; and a special purchase of ladies' new mantles and jackets ait cosh prices. *• Shaw, Robinson and Co., Cashel;street.—(Advt.) ' Hard Luck—The end ,has come. Today is the last day of Woods, Free and Co.'a great closing sale." All country .people should visit this sale to-day; it is genuine. The bargains are irresistable. Clothing and drapery must be so?d this day. Still further reducteons at The Hal for the lastday. This is your only chance; as we close finally at 10 p.m. to-night. There was a great rush yesterday for the bargains: Shop early as the rush will be greater than ever to-day. 5477 Cycle Capes, —The season of the year is now on when it is advisable' all cyclists should possess a Cycle Cape. ' Our stock is new and fresh, and comprises various colourings, length 36 and 40 inches, thoroughly waterproof. Price from 7s 6d. Austral Oycle Agency, Limited. 3626 ■ A comfort' to learn to the homes of j the working man, who is unable to pay cash' for a good cycle, should call arid inspect i thej Wf rverley bicycle, and also learn the special easy terms they can be obtained on. Everything thoroughly guaranteed from the Waverley Cycle Depot,' 217 Colombo street, ChTistchurch. " 5232

Blankets, flannels, rugs and men's lambswool undershirts and pants. We are' this week showing a very special purchase of 500 pairs white blankets, commencing at Ss lid per pair; 25 coloured rags from 10s 6d each; 48 pieces white and coloured flannels from BJd per yard; and 20 dozen men's lambswool shirts and pants from 2s lid. ■ See windows for special show. Shaw, Robinson and Co., Cashel street. 94

Cyclists, who require their machines well and carefully repaired, should send them to the "Premiers" of the cycling trade—Boyd and Son, Gloucester street. Telephone, 658.

There is a wonderful demand for the new Solar Acetylene gas lamps for cycles at Oates, Lowry and Cos. The entire shipment promises to be sold in a few days.

lo sufferers from asthma, bronchitis, &c —Gould cud Co.'a Asthma Cure is prepared from the formula.of a London specialist in these complaints. Price, 2s 6d per tin. The cheapest and best in the market. Hobden and Cole, chemists, next Ballantyne and Co.—-{Advt)

Special Notice.—Crown Brand Tea Prize Competitions will be, continued all the year round, and will close on the last days of April, June, August,.October, and December in each year. Prizes of ladies' silver and other watches, atoiims, workboxes, etc.— Hubbard, Hall, and Cp.—(Advt.)

. Woodford Tea 'Booms, Lyttelton, nearly opposite Post Office, Norwich Quay, open all day and every evening until after departure of last steamer. Travellers can obtain tea, coffee, sandwiches, etc. . 4198 If you require a trmic take the best— Syrup of H-rpopbosphates. Baraett, Chemist, lib bottle. 4s 6d; .lb, 2s 6d. 16

It is stated that the Temperance people of " Dunedin have ordered 10G0 copies" of Shel- ] don* "What would Jesus d6V for free car- "' dilation during, the coming campaign. At the stipendiary Magistrate's Court yesterday, .the adjourned case Darnley v the Hcathcote Road Board, a claim of £21 as" compensation for injuries sustained by the plaintiff falling into a hole in, or by the side of, a footpath, was further adjourned till May Bth. ■ The Dunedin "Star" of Wednesday "says: —"We hear that the New Zealand business of the Austral- Cycle Agency CJompany, Limited, has; changed hands, Mr.D. Haynes, of this cityi being ~e'purchaserl The sum mentioned is £10,000, Mr F. Sutton writes to the ''Southland News" suggesting that the Acclimatisation tv C tf 3r Bive a Ixiai to *"*** Australian and j Ijnglish snipe, black game and grouse instead ;of importing partridges, which on account of poison, hawks, and cats have in the past proved failures. Messrs Best and Trenwith, of Victoria, j left Wellington last night for the south, for the purpose of ixwrpecting the large estates acquired Government from, private ' owners. They will also visit the dredging , claims in Otago, and afterwards return north to visit the West Coast. : Miss Mabel Tendall, L.G.A. and Diplomee i of the National School of Cooking, has been appointed teacher of cooking at the Girls' , College, Nelson, and begins her duties in June. Messrs John' Deans and. J. A. Hanson , have been declared elected as members of the Riccarton Road Board. Messrs McHaffie, Geo..Scott, and W. H. R. Dale have been elected members of the Heathcote Road Board. A man was arrested by Detectives, Fitzgera.d and Fatey last night on a charge of having stolen a valuable gold watch and chain, and £13 in money, Irom the person of, James Ayres, a Westport hotelkeeper, who was spending a holiday in Christchurch. Enquiries made by Mr-HiH, school inspecj tor for Hawke's Bay, "show that at eight schools in districts where there are dairy factories, 160 children milk 656 cows. The majority get up before 5 a.m., and some i bring in the cows, milk them, take the milk to ,the factory, and then walk as much as four and a-half miles to school. I A -female accused at the Police Court yeterday morning found some diffii culty in determining whether her' case should be dealt with " sumImarily or heard before the Supreme Court, but a female witness for the proj seciition, who was in the box, .came to a I decision, and said: "I should like it heard before the Supreme Court." j In connection, with the recent testimonial | benefit .tendered at the Bijou Theatre,'Mlbourne, to Miss Pattjc Browne, before her departure for England, it will be interesting |to old time theatre-goers to know that Mr J. F.. Cathcarfc played Moody in 'The Country Girl" with Miss Browne. Mr Fred , Gardner, who was here with the Pollard I Opera Company, also played a trombone solo on the occasion. * t In view of the many accidents occurring i to.shunters by getting their feet caught in the rails, Mr Stevens has just patented an', invention which will obviate this. The idea is a wooden or metal block fixing into the space between.the points, so that there is no room for aVfo'ot'to go in, and also filling up between the flange and the head of the rail.' At the far cad of the point, too, a slip block is provided,' which will add to the-efficiency of the invention: Mr Stevens, it is understood, has.shown the model to Mr Burnett, who speaks highly of it, The invention has been patented throughout the colonies.

The ordinary meeting 0 f the Committee of the Canterbury Industrial Association was hekl iaat night, Mr W. W. Charters (president) occupied the chair, and there was a full attendance' of . A vacancy on the Committee, caused by the resignation of Mi'.F. Duncan,' was filled by the appointment of Mi' Moon. ', One member of the Association was elected. A letter was read from Messrs G. H.- Elliot, S., H. Seager, and L. B. Wood, giving the results of the examinations for the. scholarships given by the Association, for which twenty-two compe_ito_s ej-bered. , On the' motion of, Mr E-. Smith, seconded by Mr Hart, a. vote of thanks was accorded to the examiners. The meeting then closed. '

Tyro youths were -arrested, by Detective Livingstone yesterday on a charge of having attempted to bum a house at St. Albans, owned and .occupied' by Mr T. J. Parker, on the- 26th _oit. " It appears that the iajnily were, aroused about two o'clock in the mbnung through hearing a window smash, and. on getting up found' the kitchen on .fire and the tablecloth and other belongings burned.- The "fire was put out before it had gained.a strong hold.- It is understood th&t other charges will 'be laid against the prisoners'"in connection with • fires, at St. Albans, dating as far back •as eighteen months ago. ;i ■' Rather an - extraordinary mushroom find ! was made on Thursday by Mr W. yßain,' -the ! local representative of Messrs Reid and Grey. He was out on the hills at the back of Sumner, and on a high rockjr peak ho noticed a peculiar white patch, .which on investigation proved to be* a "family" of mushrooms. They numbered thirteen, and were growing on a patch about 12ft square. The largest was 26in. in circumference and lOin. across at its widest part." Five of the others were each 16in. in circumference, and the. remander were only a trifle. smaller. Our Maori friends (says the Wanganui "Chronicle") are occasionally as smart as Yankees. Recently a ; native pa, or pah,, chartered a parson,- regardless of cost, to celebrate a wedding. When the blushing bride stood up to be married, the pah introduced with her another ghi who wanted christening.. The minister rather demurred to this,side show" but let his contract cover it; but when, after the ceremony, a small coffin was introduced and he was invited to I carry out an impromptu funeral he broke i down. i Occarionalry the Bench and Bar have "a i few words"—especially so is this the case 1 when Justices sit in judgment. At tho Greymouth Court the other day when the "tote case" was being hoard counsel for the defence "regretted" that the case was not being heard before those who coukl understand it "You mean,"" queried the bench, "that the bench is not competent to deal with the ease." "I mean that they have not got legal knowledge," retorted the solicitor. Bench: ,"We may get that knowledge. We are masters here and Mill maintain that position." A few more sharp passages followed, and then Benchiand Bar settled down to work. ','''. ■ •'; I School teachers, like other public servants, have doubtless discovered the impossibility of pleasing everybody. Mr Hawkins, S.M., was recently very severe on a teacher for using the-strap. 'The head inspector of the Auckland Education district has censured the master of a city school for just the opposite. The master, Mr Scott, thought the censure uncalled for, and demanded an inquiry. A committee was set up,-and evidence was taken, and it was demonstrated that.the management had erred on the side of clemency, and that before the advent of Mr Scott the school had earned a reputation for rowdyness. One, of the female teachers deposed that when she sent boys to the headmaster for punishment, they would come back smiling, so that "ordered to the office" degenerated into a farce.

[ There are, it appears from what was stated j at the Harbour Board meeting on Thursday, i comparisons as to the comfort of ports as places of detention. The dredge Manchester, from the cables of the Agent General, was proposed to remain at Queenstown until the monsoon season, through which she would t have *oass, was over. The Board, however; though it would be much better if she was ordered on to" Aden, to remain there until tlie time arrived for sailing for her destination. "Aden,',' said anautical member of the Board, "is by no -means so comfortable a port as Queenstewn, and we shall get the dredge here quicker it she is ordered to the latter port, than if.she remains in the former." The Board listened to the voice of the cliamier, and ordered the dredge to go on to Aden forthwith.