NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9603, 18 December 1896, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

I Night Trains.— Night trains -mil be run '?• on 24th December from Christclturch to - -,• Dunedin, leaving at 10 p.m., and from ? Dunedin toChristchurch. J^* Rivßß Board.—Mr Boag having wit«> drawn from the candidature for the Riccar* ton Sub-District, Mr G. F., Carpenter, been declared duly elected. ' '*": School of Domestic Instruction.—-The :> ! annual conversazione iv connection with ' \ this School will take place on Tuesday even* ' ing at 8, when his Honour Mr Justice, Denniston will preside. There will be music and refreslunents provided by the k School. Buuwood.—The closing social in conneo- t tion with the Burwood Band of Hope wae * : held on December 11th. There was ft '< numerous attendance, and an excellent, was provided by Mra Palmer, for wbiok throe ringing cheers Were given to that led/* ' Songs, recitations, dialogues and readings v [ were given by Mesdames Grant and Palmer, ~ Misses V. and N. DeLaCour, B. Alexander, J. Richardson, L. Spencer, Masters E. and P. Palmer, Messrs Roberta, Wilson, Murray* Beckiugsalo, Dβ La Cour, W. W. and Roland Spencer. Caledonian Society. —At a epeolal meeting of the Directors of the Caledonian * Society last night it was resolved to hold a concert to commemorate the date of Burne'e birth—January 25th. A very excellent - programme is in coarse of preparation, and no doubt there will be a large gathering of ' the clans on the occasion. , > Wkddino at Lyttexton.—There was . quite a display of bunting at Lyttelton on Thursday in honour of the wedding ot Mr,. ', G. Sowtien, son of Mr J. Sowden, the wellknown Foreman of Works for the liytteltou Borough Council, and Miss Webb, oldest. daughter of Mr W. Webb, of WhitecliffiT. ■ *;The ceremony was performed by .the Rev. o.', Coates. A farce gathering of friends and" -[- relatives took place in the Oddfellows' x Hau £ in. the evening. There were over 100 " r beautiful and useful presents. '"' ~ ► AauEST.—A man was arrested at Glen -, .;. mark station yesterday by Detective JMad- ( dern\on a cliargc of stealing a cheduefor - v f£l2, Tt2s, the property of Eugene Joseph ! O'Contiter, at Braburn station, Murchiaonj,, on Julyk 17th last.—A boy, who ■ cently canvicted and discharged when before i j. the Coulfc for breaking into a shop "and; ' £ theft, wall arrested yesterday on a charge :v & of stealing a horse value £14, and saddle." gj and bridlo*volue £3, the property of .W v ffl. f ,, %> Smith, oflSt. Asaph street, <» DecW- . U berlSth. I • ' . ' \V -. |, SuppißMEVr. —With this isape is -given f' ■. | supplement Containing the particutare \A » f; special sale vkg Messrs W. Strange and Co.i gof 'Victoria EMmae. The items offered com.prise plain anS fancy dress fabrics, . | ; chene silks, walhing fabrics, ladies' $ clothing, g entlqbien'e mercery and a of bicycles. TMp sale commences tSdayic"™ <%> and no doubt thete will be keen © for the bargains (Hfered. ' - v *«'- i ,T Sttnday SchoA Picotcs.—The Son4*y : .-:V i\ School 'picnic i« connection With -Sfc .+ v Andrew's PresbywKan Church iodk place oto " . |. Anniversary Day, m. Mr W. Bo*g'e, B«m*' A g Bido, and there wa| a larger gathering pi ri | children and theirl friends than on'aoy: | | similar occasion. Mβ Boag entertained Wi/'i. | party in his usual hApitable style, beeiae*■•'"'■•! | organising a programme of sporto- ,;«W «•;. % g Highland games, for *hich he also provwea , | prizes. The gatheriA wae an uncru*!'" 6 " | p success, and 6n thej motion of the* | X Gordon Webster a heaftfcy vote of thanß* tc -it v MrandMrsßoagwasca%iedenthuejaetiow»y», - | —The annual picnic of fcfc c Sydenham Preiby* terian Sunday school jL-as held , vereary Day. The children, . by their teachers, procee«ed by special trA" 1 " ; -J- r| to Innes's road, St. Alftms, whence tf>ey \ J walked to a commodioit paddock kinHiy % <,S lent by Mr Johnston. «Here cricket w< , _ ** -'- other games were organoid, and.*»<*&;;? p ■ S '. prizes were run by the scholars. After, teftyj l ?'! -i \< Rev. R. Scott Allan calle*f O r three heeWV \ s cheers for Mr and Mrs Yfahnstqo, W S*«. ..| % were given lustily, and a sifcrt wasf 'madefw • \ | home, all seeming to havA thoroßgbJy c ?" . I joyed themselvee. A numfer of thep** 6 *";; : I and adult members of the congregation Wrt | Present the da]»_-Tse R*** , .*', '. £ 'resbyterian Sunday schKol , t annnal school treat at Alton etation' ?* •»| t Wednesday. Mr Allan, th«|Bianager of t f estate, kindly senfc five largl waggons_«!s*£; * , f traction engine to conveyl the childWjj*>\' ?>; teachers and friends to the! station, ' **&'_ < l • '.\ Salvation Army also, being jnvited ? .W ß <:- part in the amusements. \'. -' % Chkistmas Presents.—Choice $ pouches, walking sticks, eilven maten bpxe%;,.'✓ W* cigar and cigarette cases anfl holdere(''*fe'-\, I? A grand assortment at pries&c s& to.iw* , *y pockets. Davim and Lamb; 181 CoJo»d» : r ■treet. ' J n ?t -* : i' m - ,;.: k

Saimxo Race.—The Brighton Sailing Club will decide a handicap sailing raco ou galurday afternoon over the usual course. (Jhazino TF.NDK.fts.—As will be seen by a notification elsewhere, tenders are invited up to this 22nd insl. for tho right of grazing part of Horsley Down Estate for four months. PnouiniTtov League.—The annual meeting of the Christchurch Prohibition League will bo held to-night at the Oddfellows' Hall. Admission will bo by ticket only. The Committee are requested to meet at 6.30 p.m. Prkskntation'. —The pupils of Mr Woodhouse met last evening at his rooms and preBentcd him with a very handsome souvenir jn the shape of a silver-mounted travelling bag. Miss Julie Sandatein expressed the regret felt by them at his intention to leave Christeliurch, and on behalf of his pupils wished him evorj r success and bon voyage. Complimentary Concert.—A meeting of the Committee organising Mr H. Rossitcr's complimentary concert was held last evening at Mr F. Arenas's Cafe de Paris. Mr E. O'Connor was voted to the chair, and, judging from the reports handed in, the concert promises to be a great success. The tickets are going freely, end all the leading artists of the city have generously offered their services. Cemetery Boarp.—A meeting of the Lincoln and Prebbleton Cemetery Board was held in the Koad Board office. Present— Messrs J. W. Overtoil (Chairman), J. Osborne, P. Henley, and James Sinclair. Mr Henley moved, according to notice— "That the cemetery at Lincoln be named St. Peter's, and that at Prebbleton St. John's." Seconded by Mr Osborne and agreed to. It was resolved that the fence on the roadside be strengthened with barbed wire. After passing accounts £8 16s 5d the meeting adjourned. CUR"vrux— The annual school concert was held on Friday and was a great success. The first part of the programme, given by the children, consisted of a little "ketch called " Whittington and his cat," with eongs introduced. . This was under the direction of Mr Herbert. Then songs were sung by Misses L. Johnston, Young, J. Young, Lancaster and Mre Vaughan. Messrs Pearce, Burrowes, Hunt, Bennett and Templeton contributed items, mostly comic, which wore much appreciated. The Boating Carnival.—There was a very excellent attendance at- the U.R.C. Carnival last night, when a good musical programme was given. To-night, as will be Been olflewhere, the programme of music is more than ordinarily attractive. Tho items on the programme will be contributed by Misses Philips, Julio Sandstein, Samuels, Woodhouse and Moir, and Messrs Bryant and Woodhouse. The " Man." will be given with a chorus of hffcy, under the supervision of Mr Rowley, and the Engineers' Band will play Exhibition contest pieces. There will ue no charge for admission this and to-morrow afternoon from 2 to 3 o'clock.

Haxmkr Plains.—A new conveyance for visitors from the Jollies Pass Hotel to the Hanmer Sanatorium has just been received. It is well balanced on easy springs, and constructed on the principle of the palace tram cars, so that all the passengers sit facing the horses. The new vehicle will carry, sixteen persons and the driver. During the present season at the Hanmer hot and cola springs, the vehicle will be in great request. For some weeks the warm weather in town has been sending visitors to the genial climate of the Hanmer Plains, where the demand for additional baths is becoming daily more pressing, and Miss Cook has arrivud to take charge of the patients requiring massage treatment. Obituary.—Mrs W. D. Wilson of Ashley, an old resident of North Canterbury, passed away last week, and was buried on Monday "at Rangiora. The funeral cortege was a large one. She and her husband arrived in the colony in the fifties, and made a home on the northern bank of the Ashley river, their house at that time being the only one between Ashley Bank and Mount (Thomas. She was a staunch Presbyterian, and assisted largely in the erection of the church in her district. She was the mother of fifteen children, nine of whom predeceased her, leaving three sons and three daughters to mourn her loss. Of late years she nad charge of tho Ashley Post Office. Working Men's Club.—An extraordinary meeting of the Christchurch Working Men's Club was held last night; the President, Mr E. Smith, in the chair. There was a fairly good attendance. Messrs W. A. Oaldwell and R. Irvine were elected to vacancies 'on the Committee. After a long discussion, it was resolved on a division to vote £5 5s towards the Collins testimonial fund, in recognition of Mr Collins's "able defence of this Club during the last session of Parliament." Ifc was further decided to report the above motion to the other similar Clubs in the colony, " seeing that Mr Collins during his Parliamentary career had lost no opportunity of -fighting against any undue,influence with the rights and privilegesof working men's Clubs, and this Club ventures to suggest that it would be a gracious act for every Club in New Zealand to contribute towards the proposed testimonial." Interprovinctal Bicycle Races.—The Committee of the Pioneer Bicycle Club met last evening, Mr Denby presiding. Correspondence was read from Gore, Greymouth, Dunedin and Timaru, stating that each place would be fully represented at the race meeting on Boxing Day. The Captain Btated that the railway authorities had agreed to delay the departure of the evening trains from Christchurch on the day of the meeting. The Secretary announced that _ the retail business firms had definitely decided to adhere to Boxing Day for the holiday, inetead of December 28th, as had been suggested by the Chamber of Commerce. It was decided to start all events punctually to programme times, whether competitors were on their marks or not. The catering was placed in the hands of Mr Edwards, and tho tender of Mr Fuchs for publican's booth was accepted. The question of arranging for publicity being given on the grounds in the event of records being lowered was left to the Advertising Committee, as was also the official programme. ■;- School Committek.—The monthly meet ing of the Woolston Committee was held on Monday evening. Present—Messrs Richardeon (Chairman), J. M. Douglass (Hon. Secretary), J. Anderson, F. Cleworth, M. Gimblett, T. Manifold, R. S. McDiarmid, and R. T. Thomas. The head master was also present. The Chairman referred to the death of Cr. Rennie. Several Committeemen also expressed regret for the loss to the district through Mr Rennie's death. The Secretary was requested to write a consolatory address .to tho widow and family. Mr Anderson reported necessary repairs, and.the Secretary was requested t6 write to the Board requesting immediate attention to them. A deputation from the Lawn Tennis Club was received, asking that certain necessary repairs should be done to the court during the holidays. These repairs were ordered to be done as requested. The head master reported that owuigto the small amount disposable for Exes attendance prizes could not be given, c Committee decided to give general jwuea for merit and special prizes for sewing, drawing, and marke based on the Inspector's and head master's report. The financial report was adopted, and necessary payments were passed. Mr Thomas said he understood that some friction had occurred oetween the Chairman of tho School Committee and certain members interested in the local option poll. Hβ would like the Chairman to explain. The Chairman gave a full explanation of his conduct, and a motion was carried unanimously on the Voices that his action bo approved of. By advertisement on front page Messrs Coates and Co., jewellers, draw special attention to their usual annual sale 1582 Notice.—Messrs Black, Beattie and Co.'s premises will be opened till 10 p.m. on Thursday, 24th, and closed all day on Friday and Saturday, 25th and 26th inst. 1568

Stranoe and Co. intimate that their premises will be closed all day Friday and Saturday, December 25th and 26th, and on *nday. January Ist, 1897, for the Christmas and New Year holidays. 1580 Save Yoitr Babies. — Use Townend s Tasteless Teething Powders. These powders cannot be excelled in allaying irritation in teething. All storekeepers. W. P. Townend, 183 Colombo street: 1982 *»erve.— The best brain and nerve tonic yvt discovered is Compound Syrup of Barnett and Co., Victoria •treet. 8693 Lovely Aka-roa—the prettiest seaside twort .n New Zealand. Boating, fishing, "irn-gatheriDg, tec. Every comfort at Grunge's Family Hotel, on the Beach.— Advi.}

j Chhtstmas Holidays. —An advertieei ment appears in another column, notifying that the Holiday Committee of the Chamber i of Commerce has altered ita decision as to I Boxing Day. The date originally fixed was 5 named on the representation that Saturday r would be a market day, and, therefore, compel the retail business houses to opeu on ■ that day. Arrangements have now been i made that there will be no market on Saturday, and the principal wholesale bouses, . and also the drapers, ironmongers and k grocers have arranged to make Boxing Day a close holiday. We have received a num- ■ ber of letters on this subject, but their pub- ■ lication 13 now rendered unnecessary. r Scmner.—Ayery successful smoke con- ; cert was held in the Town Hall, Sumner, J last night, to bid farewell to Messrs W. s Kitson, the retiring Mayor, and J. J. J Collins, a retiring Councillor. Mr E. R. Deacon, the Mayor-Elect, occupied the F chair, and proposed the toast of " The • Queen." Mr S. Pratt, one of the oldest \> Councillors of Sumner, proposed "Our Guests," and referred to the many valuable , services rendered to the Borough by Mr ; Kitson. The toast was drunk with musical 1 honours, and cheers for Mr and Mrs Kitson ; and family. Mr Kitson replied, thanking I the company very heartily for the honour they had done him. Mr Deacon proposed ; " Our Representatives," and Mr J. Joyce, ? M.H.R., responded. Thanks are due to ■ the following gentlemen, who contributed to . the musical programme of the evening— . Messrs Ernest Hollow, Gilpin, Wood-Jones, ■ Partridge, Pinkerton, Morton, Monk, t Wiggins, Hayward, and Jennings. Mr . Bert Hollow played the accompaniments. I Swimming.—On Wednesday a couple J of swimming contests were held under I the auspices of the New Brighton : Amateur Swimming Club. There were about 250 spectators on the river ; banks, and Mr Nichols officiated as judge and Mr A. Owles as starter. The fifty ' yards junior racee, for whicli there were ten 1 entries, resulted as follows : — Hiorns 1, 1 Smythe 2, Hardy 3. For the Senior Fifty i Yards race there were twelve entries. Fol- ! lowing were the results :—First heat, Trus- . cott H. 1, Clark 2, Bain 3. Second heat, . Truscotb A. 1, Truscott F. 2, Eastwood 3. . Final, Clark 1, Truscott H. 2, Truscott F. f 3. The Campers Band played a number of selections in capital style, and the antics of 1 a Darktown team considerably enlivened the . proceedings.—The following is the result of I the Anniversary Handicap of the Sydens ham Swimming Club, which took place last 1 evening : —First heat—C. Cameron 1, E. J Grovor2. Time, 35sec. Second heat—B. t Midgley. Time, 47sec. Third heat—C. A. , Chambers. Time, 46£ sec. E. Grover, ; being the fastest second, was allowed to I swim in the final. Final heat—C. Cameron, i scr, 1 ; E. Grover, 3sec, 2 ; B. Midgley, • lOsec, 3; C. A. Chambers, lOsec, 4. Time, / 36sec. The final was one of the finest races - seen in the Sydenham bath, and reflects I great credit on the handicapper, Mr J. A. Caygill. National Association.—An important i general meeting of the members of the . National Association will be held this I evening at the Oddfellows' Chambers, where s several addresses will be delivered.

Tub Nkw Council Yard.—At the installation of the Mayor of Christchuroh, yesterday, the retiring Mayor, Mr H. J. Beswick, referred to the proposal to establish a new Council yard, and expressed the hope that the citizens would see their way to agree to the proposal. * The City Mayoralty. —Mr W. H. Cooper was yesterday installed for the second time as Mayor of Christchurch. The proceedings were of the usual formal character. Supreme Court.—His Honour Mr Justice Denniston will sit in Chambers today at 11 a.m. The Holiday.—Anniversary day at Kaiapoi is usually devoted to school treats, the scholars of the Wesleyan Sunday School taking their annual treat at Mr R. Evans , , Waverley ; while those attending St. Paul's Presbyterian School gathered in the Kaiapoi Park. Contrary to custom, few persons visited the beach, the majority preferring attractions provided elsewhere. The Mayoral Chain. —The links of Messrs W. H. Cooper and H. J. Beswick have been added to the city Mayoral chain, which is now becoming quite a formidable weight. Drainage Board Nominations.—Mγ R. M. Taylor has been nominated for re-election as a representative of the borough of Sydenham on the Christchurch Drainage Board, and Cr. W, E. Samuels has been nominated as a candidate for the representation of "the city on the same Board. Police Court.—At the Police Court yesterday, before Messrs G. Coleman and W. W. Collins, J.P.s, a first offender for drunkenness was convicted and discharged. Christmas Holidays. — Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co. announce in another column that their warehouse will be open all day and until 10 p.m. on Thursday, December 24th (Christmas Eve), and closed on Friday, December 26th (Christmas Day), and Saturday (Boxing Day).—The D.I.C. advertise in this issue that the holidays observed at that establishment for -Christmas will be from Thursday evening (Christmas Eve), till the following Monday morning. Fire at Methvkn.—Between two and three a.m. yesterday a fifteen-stalled stable, buggy shed, feed house, two race horses, and saddlery, &c, weie burned down. They belonged to Mr James Nee, Methven Hotel. The total value was about £600. The building was insured in the National Assurance Office. The fire is supposed to have been caused by a swagger who slept in the stable. The Unemployed.—ln connection with a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor of Christchurch (Mr Beswick) two of the Councillors took occasion to express their entire concurrence, from a national point of view, with the action taken by the Mayor on the unemployed question. It was pointed out that the Council having affirmed the carrying out of a certain line of policy in tho matter, Mr Beswick, as Mayor, had no alternative but to carry it out. One of the Councillors also took occasion to refute the charge of want of sympathy made against the retiring Mayor. LO.G.T. Picnic—The members of the Hope of Christchurch Lodge, LO.G.T., held their annual picnic at Mr Evans's, Waverley, Kaiapoi, whither they proceeded from town in conveyances. The weather was fine, the attendance good, and the picnic enjoyable. A programme of sports was gone through for prizes presented by Messrs Ashby, Bergh and Co., A. J. White, Wardeli Bros., J. Barrett, J. Brice, A. Butcher, Dixon Bros., H. Burson, and J. M. Douglass. In the races which took place the following were the winners:—Youth's Race— J. Jonnston 1, J. Pegley 2. Women's Race— Miss Pegley 1, Miss Ashbolt 2. Married Men's Race—Orr 1, A. Fellingham 2. Girl's Race—Miss Hays 1, Miss Nicholls 2. Sack Race—Grose 1, Pegley 2. Girls' Race—Miss E. Jones 1, Miss E. Martin 2. Youths'Race —Grose 1, Pegley 2. Women's Race—Miss Nicholls 1, Miss Hayea 2. Three-legged Race—Grose and> Bowen 1, Johnston and Pegley 2. Boys' RaceEvans 1. The prizes were presented by Bro. Fellingham, C.F. Afterwards cheers were given to the donors and Mr and Mrs Evans for their kindness and assistance, and the party returned to town, which was reached at 9.30 p.m. Christchurch Presbytery.—A pro r< nata meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery was held at St. Paul's schoolroom yesterday to consider the resignation of the Rev. P. R- Monro, of Rangiora, for the purpose of taking up a position on the staff of the Outlook, the organ of the Presbyterian Chnrch. There were present the Revs. W. J. Gow (Moderator), P. R. Monro, G.Webster, R.S. Allan, W. Scorgie, A. H. Treadwell (clerk), R. Erwin and R. McCully. and Messrs D. B. Bowie, J. Grubb and W. Burgess. The Rev. Mr Monro stated his reasons for resigning, and Messrs D. Buddo and Keir attended on behalf of the Rangiora congregation and expressed regret at Mr Monro's resignation, and said that the majority were in sympathy with Mr Monro and his work. The Rev. Gordon Webster moved —"That the Presbytery accept the resignation of Mr Monro, and in doing so record their high sense of tho value of his services to the Church, their regret at losing him as a member of this Court, and their earnest hope and prayer that he_niay be greatly blessed in the new work which he is about to undertake and in whatever work he may be called to in the future, the resignation to take effect from January 12th." The Rev. R. Erwin seconded the motion, which was spoken to by several members and agreed to. The appointment of Moderators of the Rangiora and Waikari charges was deferred till next meeting of the Presbytery. Christmas Tree.—Hubbard, Hall and Co.'c Gigantic Christmas Tree, covered with beautiful presents, is the admiration of everyone. 383

THE FACTORIES ACT. Miss Scott, Inspector of Factories, paid the factories and workrooms in Timaru a visit on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Timaru Herald learns that the visit was a kind of caution to employers and employees, and that out of over thirty places visited, charges for breaches of the laws might be laid against the majority of them. AN APPRECIATED MAYOR. At Auckland yesterday the Mayor, Mr Holland, in retiring from office, stated that in December, 1893, the overdraft was £22,646; now it stood at £15,726. Mr Holland was presented by Councillor Trenwith, on behalf of the Council, with a spirit case, salad bowl an<i set of carvers, all suitably engraved, and Mrs Holland was presented, through her husband, with a dozen fruit knives and forks. A TOO CONFIDENT BICYCLIST. A young woman employed in one of the Wellington dressmaking establishments met with an adventure on Sunday. Feeling confident of her ability to ride her bicycle along the narrow concrete top of the breastwork of the Thorndon Esplanade, she foolishly made the attempt, but losing her nerve allowed the machine to run over the edge. Her position would have been awkward enough if she had been left free to struggle in the water, but unfortunately her dress caught in the spokes of the bicycle, and she would have been drowned but for the assistance of a passer-by, who had great difficulty in hauling her and the machine together on to the breastwork. A PECULIAR CASE. A peculiar case caane before the Supreme Court in Dunedin yesterday. Some years ago, a tradesman, when entering on new business, decided to settle some property on his wife in case reverses overtook him. Instead of going to a lawyer, he a*ked an aceoimtant to prepare a document. His friend copied out the framework of a deed in his - possession, filling it up with new names and figures, and it was duly signed without being read. On coining across the document the other day, the tradesman found that instead of the property being made over to his wife it was placed with trustees, with a life interest to his wife and a number of other conditions. The action was brought yesterday to rectify the deed but, on the Judge's suggestion, it was decided to nullify it.