NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9919, 27 December 1897, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sharks. —Yesterday morning Ekin's party, when fishing at Sumner, hooked a shark fully five feet long, which they destroyed. Kaiapoi Firb Police.-—lt is intended to to call a meeting early to arrange for filling the ranks of the fire police, and the re-ap-pointment of officers. Lyttelton Regatta.—The following telegram was sent to the Premier on Saturday from the Lyttelton Regatta Committee :— "Right Honourable R. J. Seddon, Wellington—Officers and committee Lyttelton Regatta present their compliments, and would be pleased with the presence of yourself, Mrs Seddon and family, on January Ist. Wishing you all the compliments of the ■•won."

Frrnside School.-—lt is understood that the committee have decided to recommend the appointment of MrFergasson, of Belfast, to the Fernside school.

Fishing. —Yesterday, at Sumner, some good hauls were made, Ekin securing four large hapuka besides a quantity of rock cod.

Crown Lands.—By a misprint it waa stated that there wore tea applicants for the 1650 acre block at Shepherd's Bush. It should have read that there were no apolioants.

The Night Specials.—The trains from Christchurch to Dunedin and Dunedin to Christehuroh, which left the two oities, respectively, on Friday evening at 10 o'clock, were well patronised. Seven full carriages went down to Dunedin, and eight similarly laden came up. A Sad Experience.—Mrs Miller, the mother of the late Mrs Scott, of Rangiora, has just received an intimation of tho death of hor second son, James, at .ieehan. As her son George died in September last, three of her children have passod away during the past three months.

Woodend.—At St. Barnabas church the Anglican Bishop of Christchurch on Sunday morning conducted service, assisted by Rev. H. H. Mathias, and administered the rite of confirmation to a number of candidates. The church had been very well decorated for Christmas Day, and there was a lart-e congregation. Th FrKR Brigade Demonstration.—la view of the demonstration which takes place in Auckland in February, the local fire brigade is practising assiduously. Hitherto one set of men has been pitted against another, and the successful set has been the representative team. This year individual merit will receive greater recognition. The best five men will be chosen, after which they will practice together fop team purposes. Larrikinism. — Daring Friday night the stand pipes erected in Nuyland street, Sum* ncr, and at Monck's, for the convenience of the public, in connection with the Sumner borough waterworks, were broken by some persons, the consequence being that between 25,000 and 30,000 gallons of water had run to waste before the pipes could be plugged up in the morning. On Saturday evening some larrikins stripped the verandah of Mr Watson's store, Sumner, of all the evergreens, Chinese lanterns and flags with which it had been decorated.

Aquatic Sports at Kaiapoi.—A meet, ng was held at the fire brigade chamber on Wednesday evening, the Mayor presiding to discuss the question of holding a Saturday afternoon's aquatic sports. It was moved by Mr H. Parnham, seconded by Mr Driscoll—" That arrangements be made for holding aquatio sports at a date to be fixed in January." Carried. On the motion of Mr Donald it was resolved that the last Regatta Committee be asked if it would grant the balance of £20 from the last regatta to the object in view. Carriod. Police Changes.—The following police changes are announced .* —Sergeants Burke, of Temuka, and Skully, of Akaroa (both newly promoted from first-class constables), take the place at Christchurch of Sergeant McLeod, promoted to the charge of Sydenham. Constable Dougan, of Christehuroh, goes to Temuka. Constable Bird, of Coalgate, goes to Akaroa in place of Sergeant Skully, and Constable Crawford, ot Timaru, goes to Coalgate. Sergeant Mcleod will take charge of Sydenham early next month. Constable Dougan leaves for Temuna at a similar time. The date has not yet been fixed.

Farm Notes. —In the North Canterbury district the grain crops are being sustained by the heavy night dews, and some of them whioh were expeoted to go quite off have .rather improved in appearance during the past week. All farm work has been at a standstill for *.yant of rain.—Rain threatened at Ashburton all yesterday, and late in the afternoon a thick drizzle set in. A heavy downpour for a few hours would still be of immense benefit to many of the cereals, while to root crops and pastures it would do an incalculable amount of good. Turnips have been sown twice in many instances, but ia many other* oases there are really good strikes, and a night's downpour would bring them away on to a safe stage of .growth. Interprovincial Bioycle Races.—The annual interprovincial hicyole races of the. Pioneer Bicycle Club take place to-day'at Lancaster Park, and is sure to attract a very large attendance. The programme contains twenty-three events, the ohief races being the Pioneer Handicap, for prizes value £40 ; the .Two Mile Championship of Canterbury, for"which nineteen entries have been received; and the Multioycle race, which has produced a record entry ot ten. The firßt race will take place at one o'clock. The Dunedin competitors at these sports arrived in town on Friday night, among them Mr W. V. Kingston, the ex-amateur; champion, who will race in tha 220 and 44Q yards flat handicaps. Messrs Dorm (2), Quirk and W. Hall arrived from Timaru, and Bell, Pollock and Juriss from Wei- , lington. Swimming.—-At the Richmond Swimming -' Club's baths, on Christmas Eve, the first club race of the season, a fifty yards junior handicap, was swum, in_the presence of a large number of member. Mr T. Bassett (president) acted as starter, Mr L. D. Armitage (captain) as timekeeper, and Mr W.Suowball (vice-president) as judge. Each of the heats and final produced good racing, all the starters being close up at the finish. The results are as follows :—First heat— L. Shand, 4sec, 1 : G. W. Bassett, 3sec,2; W. J. Byrne, scr, 3. Time, 41j_ see. Second heat—C. F. Bassett, ssec 1; R. C. E. Atkinson, l_sec, 2; W. Mander, bsec, 3. Time, 42„sec. Final—C. F. Bassett, saec, 1; L. Shand, 4seo, 2; G. W. Bassett, 3sec,3. R. C. Atkinson, l_sec, also started. The, winner swam with splendid judgment and won a good race on the touch, all the others being very close up. Very good entries have been received for a seventy-five yards senior handicap, which will be swum at 5.30 p.m., next Wednesday evening. Fkkry Road School. — The annual breaking up of the children of the Ferry road school, Woolston, took place on Friday morning. Mr J. Richardson (chairman), and Messrs R. S. McDiamid and 6. M. Douglass were present. The chairman explained to the children that the annual picnic would be held at Amberley, but the date originally fixed for February 17th would have to be altered on account of the Christchurch regatta being held on that date, and arrangements could not made with the railway authorities. He spoke of the high moral tone which had existed among the children, and was sure that they would do nothing to bring discredit on the school. He concluded by wishing them the compliments of the season. Hearty cheers were t|ien given for the teachers and tho committee. At a meeting of tho sub-committee, held subsequently, it was decided to hold the annual picnic on February 10th if arrangements could be made with the railway department. Obituary.- In reference to the death of MiBS Rymill, of Rangiora, it is worthy of record that her kindly disposition brought her to New Zealand in 1012. Hearing that Mrß Maunsell, wife of the Yen. Archdeacon Maunsell, was in great need of helpers and had a young family and only native attendants around her, Miss Rymill expressed her earnest desire to come to the colony for a time. Leave beiog granted, in leß3 than three weeks she was on her, way out. The introduction to colonial life in a raupo whare, at the Waikato, must have been strange indeed to an English lady. That she had a warm welcome and remained many years a valuable assistant to the CharcU of England Mission is S roved by many letters and testimonies, iroumstances prevented her ever returning to England, though the death of the Archdeacon changed her residence. Having lived on the mission station at Tauranga over twenty years with Archdeacon and Mrs Brown as their companion and helper in mission and colonising work, for some time Miss Rymill lived with the Rev. Canon Stock, at the St. Stephen's mission, Kaiapoi, and her long residence of thirty years in Canterbury has ■ been marked by aeed3 of love and kindness. Her funeral took place on Thursday, tha Revs. Canon Stack, F. P. Fendall and F. Dunnage conducting the ceremony. Th« cortege moved from Miss Rymill's late residence* to St. John's Church, the coffin boing covered with floral wreaths and crosses, ana th interment took place in the Church of England Cemetery, Ashley street, in the presence of a number of very old personal friends of the deceased, the principal mourners being Mr W. Mrs and Miss Buss. Mrs Heywood, Mr and Mrs H. Brown, Mr and Mrs Simpkinson, Mrs Sinclair, Rev*. J. W. and Mrs Staak, while a number of residents of the town and dutriot also joined the funeral procea-iou.

Shooting.—A rifle match lias been arranged on the Bromley ratine between teams from the Dunedin ana Christchurch Ens; nners for this morning. i*.\nK Cyclk Tracks. —The construction of tlio IBm cycle tracks acmes the North Park is being pushed on rapidly. They are now receiving a coating of tar and sand. Tksuhsuton Parish Gatiikring. — The imntml jwrish gathering will be held in the 'jV<l<iinqlon recreation grounds on Thursday, DiMiemUor 50th, at 11 a.m. Si.'NRW Lecture.—Mr W. W. Collins in the Lyceum last night guvo an address on " Jvm- when Juaua was horn in Bethlehem of Jiulea in the days of Herod the A 15r.; Ordkr.— During the past fortnight over 2000 head of poultry have been nupv.lied at LytteUon to the Union Compuny's ilcuL by Mr F. Lnfaro, the contractor for supplying the company with poultry here. Society.—The regular guni'hvy afternoon public meeting of this society was held yesterday at the lodge room. A paper was read by Mr Rhodes entitled " The Lemnrians." Clakkville. —On Sunday, Bishop Julius consecrated tiie churchyard of St. Augustine church for the purposes of burial. It will be swi by a notice in this issue that this is now dedicated under the Cemeteries Act for the interment of members of the Church of Kn«lantl. T/n: Ckaokeu Nuisance.—Thanks to the vigilance of the police the cracker nuisance on Christmas Eve was all but repressed. H«re and there were isolated instances, but ou the whole there was a marked improvement on former years. Kajapoi School. —The statement that the attendance at this school last year was equal to 91 per cent, of the roll number requires correction. The atatenient made at the prize distribution was that 91 out of the wholo school (on roll 505) had not missed I single half day. CIIRINTOHUkUH TIIAMWAY COMPANY.— There was a large amount of traffic on the Chrietchurch Tramway Company's lines on Chrißtmas Day, numbers of picnic parties going to Sumner. To-day all ordinary timetablet and fares are suspended, and the time-tables arranged appear elsewhere. On the Suinner line there will be trams each way every hour, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. SociAh Gatkkkj.vo.—A social gathering In honour of temperance friends on board H.M-S. Mildura will be given by a few friends on New Year's Eve, in the Druids' Hall. The arrangements are well in hand, and an excellent programme of songs and dances has boon arranged. Polick Cociit.—Two women and a man wore arrested on Friday for drunkenness, and in the afternoon appeared before Mr R. C. Bishop, J. P. The women were Ellen Danby and Sarah Smith, and the man was a first offender, All were convicted and discharged. New CfIiCKKT Pavilion.—On the occasion of tho cricket match on Christmas Day between the Wellington Rivals and the Bydenbam and Addinsjton C.C., the Mayor of Sydenham formally opened the new pavilion, the funds for which were supplied by the club'a art union, which realised £314. Pro Cathedral Choib.—A pleasant little gathering took placo in the presbytery on Christmas evening, when the choir of the Pro-Cathedral were entertained by Rev. Father Cnmminga, y.G. The rev. father paid a high tributo to the work done during the year by the conductor, Mr Cronin ; the organist, Miss Funston; Mrs Kelly and Mtas Hayward and the other members of the choir. Tim Inman Company.—To-night, at the Theatre Royal, the Inman Company commence their season with the military drama •• A Yorkshire Lass." The principals, Miss Maud Appleton and Mr Robert Inman, are well and favourably known to Christchnrch playgoers, and they bring with them a company the members of which are highly spoken of elsewhere. Aβ to-day ia apublic holiday the plan of the reserved seats will be on view at the Theatre. The early doors will be open from 7to 7.30 p.m. As it is a holiday night, no doubt, there will be a crowded house. Wanton Cbpklty.— A day or two ago two High School boys going to bathe in the South Wftitimkftriri wore attracted by the piteous cries of a dog which they found tied by its hind legs on tho metals of the railway bridge in such a way that the poor animal would have been mangled by the first passing train. At the risk of a train coining at any moment the boys went on to the bridge and relieved the animal. Oddfkixows' Hall.--Mγ Russell Craufnrd will give tho first of two musical and character sketch entertainments at the OddfelloW Hall to-night. Mr Craufurd him■elf willgivesonieini personations, introducing oomis, coster and eharaotersongs. Miss Lillian Thompson and Mr Maitland Gardner will also contribute vocal items to the programme. Mrs Edgar will act as accompanist. Prohtbition PiONio.—The Christchurch Prohibition League's annual pionio will be held to-day at the New Brighton gardens. At 2 o'clock an open-air reception meeting to Rev. F. W. lsitt, Messrs G. J. Smith and T. E. Taylor, M.H.R.'s, will be held. Tickets may be procured at Mr Robinson's fruit shop, opposite Bank of New Zealand. Tkmperanck.— The quarterly meeting of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance, Elim Division, No. 22, was held on Thursday evening, Bro. G. Bolt, P.W.P., presiding. A great deal of important business woe transacted, and the ttieeting closed in the usual manner. Receipts £2819s 2d. Amalgamation of Small Grazing Runs.—At the Land Board on Thursday a tnemo. was received from the head office in Wellington forwarding a petition against toe decision of the Canterbury board regarding the amalgamation of small grazing wna at Burkes Pasa. The Board resolved that, having already considered and decided the matter, it did not see its way to reopen toe question. Military Tocrnamknt and Concert.— The military tournament and concert promoted by the X Battery and Canterbury engineers will be held in the drillshed and grounds to-night. Complete arrangements have Ijeen made to accomodate a large audienco and to ensure all the events being jarned out rapidly and without hitch. A wge number of entries have been received ror the competitions, the judges for which will be Lieutenants-Colonel Gordon and Francis, fr J °Z S !? ter » Captain Snow and Lieutenant the Earfof Seafaeld, assisted by SergeantM*jor Barrett. The bridge building competition between the Dunedin Engineers and Canterbury Engineers is creating a good *y v. interest, and promises to be one of we best items on the programme. Tho Uunedin competitors arrived on Saturday, *nd others are expeoted to arrive this morning. The Engineers' Band will play selections in the grounds during the evening. ■Uie concert will take place in the drill hall ■MMUtaneoasly with the tournament, and Will conclude in time to enable the audience w Wew the fireworks, which are timed to •**rt at 10 p, m . Competitors are requested w> muster in the E Battery gun shed at 7.45 . Christmas Prrsknts.—Real bargain* in jewellery. See window. Goods marked plain figures. David Bowman, 186 Colombo m tf "JMg'e.—fADVT.] Maoonochik Bros.' Maamaladr has a jorid.wide reputation. Made from the •***•*> Seville oranges it is always an ao oe P»ble appetiser at the breakfast table. Viators will find plenty of accommodation H«v*p Hanmer Plains now, as Mr R. W. **ood s new house is ready for visitors, mak«g» large addition to the hotel. 3622 Hdbbabd, Hall and Co. for Christmas J** 08 * Christmas fruits, preserving sugars, *•*•» and all kinds of general groceries at "west prices. 2159 fc>*KCML.—lf you require a tonio take the wat—Syrnp of Hypophosphitee. Barnett, gjnuet. lib bottle. 4e 6d, *lb 2> od.— SCHOOL FOR MAORI GIRLS. At a meeting at Auckland, at which the Primate (Bishop Cowie) presided, it was Meolved to establish a school to be called toe Victoria School for Native Girls, at a «»t not to exceed £300 for the first year. ±ne public are to be invited to subscribe. THE POULTRY~INDUSTRY. While in Nelson the Government poultry Wpett came across several instances of •"ghly successful poultry keeping. At Motuoka he saw a farm from which £300 *orth of eggs were marketed annually, the Owner being of opinion that hie poultry paid nim better than either his sheep or cattle. Another case was at the Nelson Hospital. "tt-traeUes four month* ago autboriMdu^

expenditure of about £22 10a for bnildinge and purchase of 108 fowls. Three months laying and the value of 140 chicks hatched, less cost of food, gave a net profit of £15 12s 2d. At the end of the fourth month the poultry will have repaid their own cost, and that of the buildings, out of profits. SIR JAMES HECTOR. Sir Jame3 Hector leaves on the 31st inst. for Sydney to attend the sesaion of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, which commences on January 6th. fle ia one of the vice-presidents for the session, and president of the geographical section. Hia presidential address will be on "Submarine Geography." CABLE~RATES. The committee of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce has resolvod, at the instance of the Canterbury Chamber, to urge upon the Postmaster-General that the time has arrived for a further reduction in the cable rates, and that such further reduction would in the opinion of the committee result in a still greater extension of the use of the cable and telegraph services. THE HAWKE'S BAY FLOODS. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants have raised £110 103 amongst themselves as a Christmas gift to the widows and families of those who perished in the disastrous floods of April last. The society consider that dividing it amongst the bereaved families at once will be more to the purpose than adding the sum to the relief fund. HEAVY POSTING. From figures kindly furnished by the chief postmaster, the following returns show the amount of postage done at the chief post office for the five days between December 20th and 24th, both inclusive : — December 20Lh, 11,559 letters, 6233 books, 1454 newspapers; December 21st, 9164 letters, 8519 books, 135b newspapers; December 22nd, 9959 letters, 15.300 books, 13,487 newspapers; December 23rd, 12,104 letters. 18,707 books, 5710 newspapers; December 24th, 13,180 lettere, 23,284 books, 7677 newspapers. The totals for the five days are as under:—ss,2ss letters, 77,048 books and 29,684 newspapers. The average throughout the year for five days was as follows : — 47,275 letters, 21,857 books and 24,947 newspapers. The extra correspondence posted and received during the five days would be about 120,000 over the average. THE MISSING OPAL. On Christmas eve M. Lyons, mine manager of the Record Reign Opal Mining Company, was brought up at the Ashburton Police Court and charged with the larceny of a piece of opal and opal bearing sandstone rock, value £10, the property of the Record Reign Company. It will be romembored that when the chief inspector of mines and a party from Ashburtou recently paid a visit to the Mount Peel opal fields, valuable stone was unearthed, and one piece given into Lyons's charge to bring down the hill, to be sent to the Minister of Mines at Wellington. It was discovered on reaching the Upper Rangitata bridge that the opal was missing and a big boulder had been substituted. The missing opal is the one Lyons is - now charged with stealing. C. W. Purnell, who appeared for the prosecution, asked for a remand, which was granted. The accused was admitted to bail, himself in £100 and one surety in £100.