NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8989, 31 December 1894, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Ciiristcucrch Tramway Company.— Elsewhere will be fouud tho special time- • . v table of the Christchurch Tramway Cuthpany for New Year's Eve aud Now Year's Day. Diamond Harbour.—As will be soen by a notification elsewhere a special permit huis been obtained for Diamond Harbour Park on New Year's Day. Mr Ptitlersou will therefore be -enabled to dispense other beverages baaitle3 tea on that day. Vital Statistics.—The following are the " vital statistics lor the month of December: —Births 89, marriages 48, deaths 45. Foe the same month' last year the figures ■• were :—Births 114, marriages 40, deaths 53. During 1834 there were 1551 birtlw, 437 marriages, ami 648 deaths; during 1&93 "' there were 1443 births, 433 marriages, and -'* 723 deaths. " Thr Blind Organist.--Mr T. F. Faulk'- % ncr, the blind organist, is about to take ; . charge of the organ in the Temple of Truth. New Year's Eve.—As to-night is theevt of the New Year, it is to he hoped some steps will be taken by the police to prevent the silly practice of taking'gatvs off hinges, &c, which seems to be regarded by some as the proper method of celebrating the advent of the New -Year. Theatrical. —A Maori Haka Troupe, of which Mr W. Mihaka is the manager, are toarrivo in Christchuroh early this week, and will appear for two nights at tho Theatre Royal. The Company have appeared in all the principal towns in the North Island, , and latterly at the Theatre Royal, Wellington. FißKWonir.9. — Inspector Broham has • issued instructions to the police to prosecnU any person or' persons found discharging - lireworks in the main streets and thorough, fares on New Year's Eve. The small hoy who sets off crackers for amusement's sake, and the larrikin who does the same kind of thing for a lark at somebody else's expense, should nobs the warning, and find less risky methods of enjoying Hogmanay. Tjie Missing Dog.—Mr Brodie, ot - Invercargill, has writton a long reply to Mr Council's letter. Iv the course of this Mr Brodies quotes a statement from his agent, that he (the agent) has not seen Mr Brodies dog since the first day of the Show. Mr Brodie says he does not call Mr Oonnell to ■ account for the loss of the dog, but for not giving him any information in the matter. Mr Btodio is very sorry that his letters to Mr Connell have given that gentleman . ■;' offence. - j

New Year's Gbeetincs. —The Press ■! "Chapel" have issued a very neat audexcellently printed New Year's card iv ? greeh and gold. The card conveys the . greetings of the "Chapel" to their fellow craftsmen all aver the World aud also to„. _~-•' their confreres in the numerous deportments of "Tho Christchuroh PnESS."- The card , contains the names of the printers of 'J'HH - *x Press and Truth, the "Father" of lh« v " Chapel" and the thirty comprising tht . ;' composing staff. , - Farm Noras.-—la the North Canterbury district the signs of early harvest, namely, early appearance of whitebait jn thespriug, , aud abundant crop'of phorminm'flower, are • >* this season being verified by the early • \\ ripening of the grain crops. In last week ,- ? oats have rapidly turned colonr, and are V| being harvested in several pacta to save »| them from the ravages of tho sparrows, | which are to be seen in thousands ou the < 1 crops which ripen first. Although the crops *, -*1| are healthy aud fresh looking, a rain for .■' ? twenty-four hours would fill out the cars, >,4| particularly so in respect of wheat. Most ' Jif of the hay and grass seeds crophave been put', ,'-;|= together in splendid Condition during the - -~M spelt of fine weather/shut now X some of the \i?fj pasture is losing its Bticculencey and on the'; -Hf| hillsides grass land Is looking brown, and ; the turnip.growers, too, are louking oufc'fot-.?.£?s showers'to give them a lift. All round rain would be welcome. The yields of cite are bo far light, bub there are heavy crops which are not yet ready for cutting. ■',:%§ Rrchabixes.—The half-yearly meeting tho Pride of Christchuich Tent, No; &>,*??s'•' 1.0. R., was held in the V.M.C.A. on Friday evening," wheu Bro. J. Robert**-/;?*; son, C. R., presided. The oieqtion of 'placers 1 £'£[ resulted as follows:—Cß,, Bro. W.* J. "??£jt. Trerise; D.R., Bro. W. Dean ; Secretary,v£fijj Bro; A. Palmer j Treasurer, Bro. . J»-J%-y£? Coombs ; Book Steward,, Bro. C. *'1V .\ifff Haynes; Cash Steward, Bro. W. man ; Levite, Bro. F. Robson: Gu»rdiaß'»%j|f Bro. F. J. Clarke; P.0.R., Bro. J. son ; Auditors, Bros. F. Bull, J. VV;'Reid,,v?MS and F. Coles; -Judicial Committee, Bi'oßo.j|||| W. Blewett, J.Pritchard, J. Cdouibs, Male, T. Wilson, '-H. ' Dymond,Flesher, and R. French. The officers then duly installed, and returned thanks: suitable terms. It was resolved that retiring O.K. be presented with a iranied-l&ra certificate. P.C.R. Bro. F. Coles W»af elected delegate to \ the next district ing, to be held in Blenheim in next. The following reaolut ion' yras unanimously That this Tent deeply dejjfH * pto'res'the amount of drunkenness in community, as evideuced by the number -$J||| v deaths caused by strong drink, and in i a shocking manner, during the past and would urge all members of the at ..*jfl||f re-double their energies in their 'efforts destroy this evil." The receipts cf / , evening were £45 16s lOd and the ; ture £18 6s: . ■.., r ■ <"JgN Sydenham Wbsleyan Suspa - —The annual Teachers' Meeting, tion with this schooL look place" in ffcffsßf schoolroom on Friday evening. - The W. G. Parsonson was in the chair, there was a fair attendance. The Secret*r||H j read the balance sheet of the past I anniversary, which .showed that the W, receipts were £40 5s 4d, and the «&&?ss& | ture £14lsl0d, the credit balance £foto*&m f ■ which was very satiafaetory, and was £4 Wfif P 7d better than last year's. The election , officers then took place' with - th&ftttotttfgisp result:—Sunday school tendent, MrH. Foston (reelected!;; tanb superintendent, Mr A. B^a^rt ..'| elected)? secretary, Mr Thos. (re-elected); assistant secretary, Adnam ', treasurer, Mr E. Baker ( n librarian, Mr J. Maginness (re-eleoted7?a»wS|l tant librarian, Mr J. P«sck visitor, Mr J. Badfield (re-elected) f examiner, Mr. Harinam ; psaoist^- 1 JPpMll Annie Smart (re-elected); A. Hall (re-elected; j represen^ttiyes l Sunday School Union, MisgesJ •A.*:riin* ft F. Pttipps; library committee, Cook, F. Phipps, and J.* Messrs J. Billons/ A. Huloert, Simpson. . Band of Hope «ificer»rslSlr presidents, Messrs' C. Simpson Baker ; secretary,' Mr MincuiUf'; treasurer, Mr J. Billens (re-elect^)-? trar, Mr R. Wright r Daltry; programme committse*- 1 Hulbert and E. Baker ; Messrs'A. Hulbert: S. Peck, Misses F. Piupps. E. Maginness. Tho following were committee to carry'oat an "i n^oOi stration, which it is proposed to scholars this* year in place of. Hj!&Pf_BHg_| picnio :—Messrs If. Foston, ASimpson, and jwcretary of Misses J,, Adnams, F. Fhipp% ' and Mrs KoWntree, '-",. VWd_^^H Business 'IsoTioa ~- jewellers, Colombo street, * advertising columos that they specialcasli discount aud as they are of goods trade.: are clcajpg ridiculous prices. -?A''W^''°^' aa^^^^^m^M

Larceny. cases of petty kreenv were reported at the cricket match at Raogiora on Saturday, two or three players losing all the loose cash left in their clothes in the pavilion. ••Hogmanay Nicht."-To-night there trill be a gathering of the clans in the rooms of the Caledonian Society at 10.30 p.m. to ,relcomo in the New Year aud bid farewell to the old.

Suddkn Death—At 2.25 p.m. yesterday .he tsetfenteon-inouths'-old daughter of Geo. JJarnett, baker, of Tuam street, died at tho Salvation Army camp at Sumner. The baby took convulsions about 11.50 a.m., aud was B ot free from them up to the time she *nccn»»bed, though remedial measures were promptly taken. Sydenham Baptist Church.—The school hi connection with this Church held its annual treat on Boxing Day, in a sheltered nook kindly lent by Mr Rogers, of Opawa. Iheie was a large number oi parents and friends, and the usual sports were indulged iv by both old and young. After tea had becu served aud hearty cheers had been given for Mr Rogers, the gathering dispersed. Ei.£CTRtCAr. Display.—Captain Falconer, *ho has arrived from Wellington to superintend the electrical display at Lyttelton on the occasion of the regatta to-morrow, purposes this year to give sightseers a treat. The display will be in the form of a Prince of Wales' leather. All the preparations are in course of completion, and no doubt Captain Falconer will be as successful as he lias been on former occasions.

SAtVATiox Army Camp.—The Camp of the Salvation Army at Sumner is now fairly started. Commissioner Coombs was received ■)0 Saturday evening, and yesterday services were held throughout the day. There is every large gathering of members of the Army at the Camp, and it is expected more 'ffiil arrive to day. A large number of visitors went down yesterday. New Brighton.—The New Brighton Tramway Company notify elsewhere the Arrangements for New Year's day aud evening. There will be a display of fireworks to-night by Mr Stokes. Trams will leave the Square on both evenings, as usual, at 7.15, a return fare of sixpence being charged. Lvokum Lecture.—ln the Lyceum last night Air W. W. Collins took for the text of bis address "Ring out the old, ring in the new; ring out the false, ring in the iruej-' and gave an eloquent funeral oration on the post year. Previous to the lecture the orchestra played some very pleasing selections.

RIFLE Shooting.-—On Boxing Day teams from tho N Battery Artillery and Port Chalmers Navals met in a friendly rifle match on the Lyttelton range. The Navals won by 3 points. . The conditions of the match were 200 and 400 yds, 7 Bhots at each range. The Navals scored 424 points and the Battery 421.

City and Soburbah Tramway.—Elsewhere will be found a notification by the City and Suburban Tramway Company with reference to a special time-table for New Year's Day. There will be a special New Year's eve excursion to-night to New Brighton for the fireworks display, leaving Messrs Edwards, Bennett and Co.'s corner *t 7.15.

Arrest.—A young man was arrested at Lyttelton on Saturday night by Constable Fitzgerald, as he was going on board tho Penguin, for Wellington, on a charge of breaking into the house of Harry Radford, of Gebbie'B Valley, on Friday last, and stealing £120 and a silk handkerchief therefrom, during the absence of tho inmates at some neighbouring sports. Akaroa Excursion.—ln order to afford the very large number of persons who were disappointed on Anniversary Day an opportunity of visiting beautiful Akaroa, the Union Company have put on their favourite steamer Rotorua for to-morrow. She will leave ou arrival of the 7.20 o.m. train from Christohurch, and will returu in time to allow of her passengers witnessing the display of fireworks in Lyttelton on New Year's night. : In addition to ths natural beauties of Akaroa, there will be the Horticultural and Industrial Exhibition, which should be worth seeing. Pigeon Flytno. — The Christchuroh Pigeon Flying Club flew off a race from Dunedin on Saturday. The winner was Mr Hart's Mercury, with a velocity of 1090 yards per minute. The Club desires to thank Mr C. Piper, of Dunedin, and also the stationmaster, for attending to and liberating the birds. The following are the placed ones:—Mr Hart's Mercury, 1030 yds per minute; Mr Earnshaw's Donovan, 1087 yds per minute; Mr Cooke's Red Whizzer, 1086 yds per minute; Mr Clarke's Volunteer, 1054 yds per minute, Lyttemo» Land SPORTB.«-In connection with the celebration in Lyttelton of New Year's Day to-morrow, the Committee has arrauged a series of land sports to be held in London Street. The programme includes the following events:—Lyttelton shop boys' race, handicap, 300 yards; girls' race, 200 yards; Lyttelton school boys'race, handicap, 200 yards ; sailors' race, around block ; Lyttelton married men's race, handicap, 200 yards; sack race (open to all comers), 150 yards; men-of-war's race, 440 yards; Pick-a-baok race, 200 yards; lumpers' handicap, 500 yards; girls' skipping race, under thirteen years; men's toco, open to all comers), 200 yards; three-legged race, 150 yards; etfg and spoon race, 100 yards; Maori race, 440 yards. There, will also be races for children for toys, &&

Swimming Bath At Leestox,—A meeting of householders took place in the publio Schoolroom on Thursday evening. There was a good attendance. Mr John Barnett, Chairman of the School Committee, occupied the Chair. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Brooke, seconded by the Rev. A. C. La wry—"That a swimming bath be constructed on the Leeaton achoolgrounds, to be available for the school children and also tho general public." It was deoided to canvass the district to find out what lands were obtainable towards the construction of the bath. Messrs J. Barnett, J. S. Gardiner, J. F. Donald, T. W. Durant, R. G. Brooke, and R. Young were appointed a Committee to make preliminary arrangements. Mr John McLaohlan, M.H.R., kindly offered to superintend the construction, and Mr W. G. Luan offered to prepare plans and specifications, and assist in other ways.

Tim Tyler Concert.—The final concert of the Cyril Tyler Company took place on Saturday night. Master Tyler's solos comprised "Sing, sweet bird" aud ''The Better Land." Mrs Oldham sang the solos "Caller Herrio'," and " I couldn't, could I," and with Mr Kitohske a couple of duets, of which the most enjoyable was " Life's Dream is o'er." Herr vallmor played three 'cello solos, all of which were very artistically given. Mr Nitchske's solos were greatly aporeciated by the audience, and altogether the concert was a most successful one. It is to be regretted that so excellent a company should not have received more encouragement from the music-loving publio of Christchuroh than was the cose. The company open to-morrow evening at Wellington.

Bless the Children. —Pastor Birch writes as follows:— We need more dolls. I haven't time to come round begging for them, nor should it be required of mc. May I ask every good soul who sympathises with the object to send us either dolls or money ? I don't like to ask individuals because I don't know who is hard-up and who is not. If the wholesale bouses, shops, or other friends can spare any . dolls I thonld be thankful for them to be sent to the Press office, the Major's Parlour, City Chambers, or put into the doorway of the Hereford Hotel, the A yon Refuge, or the tram office. Meanwhile, theD.l.C. have just senta guinea's worth of dolls, Messrs W. Strange and Co. and Mr Tonka have sent a guinea each to buy dolls, also Lady at Akaroa Is 6d, "Bushfeller" 2s, Bachelor (A.B, and Co.) 2s 6d, Mrs Cardalo Is, Miss Tynie Cardale Is 6d, Mr Hull 2s 6rl, Friends, Central Mission 10s, A Sinner, Pkess office 2s 6d, four Opawa little girls with four dolls 2s, M.L.B. with toys 2s,'Mi*s M. E. Burns 6s, the ladies of the workroom Messrs W. Strange and Co., several nicely dressed dolls, Mrs Acton-Adams, "the bride," and otters, which will be acknowledged later on "-most of them hod no name. Dolls' print frocks of any size would be useful May I once more repeat that the only object in this business is to try to brighten the lives of a few hundred little girls; and I believe that svcry man and woman of kindly thought and tender heart, if they cannot help, will rtleastsay, ?'Y4s, once in a year let us bless the children: 1"

Special Notice.—-W. Strange and Co. intimate that thiir business premises will remain open till 19.30 P.m. this (Monday) evening. | 9825

of %?^ H Kift? OM t- At •■■•P«*W meeting 22« * i n Fnda > weuiiig, it was Sri™. 0 ?? 7 dCCi^Cd to ™«>»°«_ d_E YJL ml 6 of assistant mistrees. 1 here were twenty applicants. It was unanimously decide* to recLtnend the appouitment of Miss Curd for the vacancy which will be caused by Miss Orr's promo* t m r twcnt y applicants for the position of infant mistress at the Rangiora Borougn School Miss Dick, of Southbridge, has been appointed. b A Dastardly Act—Between 8 p.m. on SSSrl*"? 4 a - m * OB SoQd *y moroiQ § * dastardly act was perpetrated on a valuable horse belonging to Mr VV. Thomson, Uolombo street, which was found with tho jugular vein severed. The wound was aboub ljm long, and 3 or 4in deep, and it was evident that some one skilled with horses had inflicted it. The matter boa been placed in the hands of the police. A reward of £5 is offered elsewhere for information.