NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10057, 8 June 1898, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

His Excellency the Governor is to !eav* .'r Dunedtn for Invercargill to-day. While in , k< ■ Dunedin yesterday, Lord Ranfurly visited . ft the Industrial School. - f. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister of ' I. Public Works, reached Springfield by yes- tKterday morning's train, and" during the day , Jp paid a visit to the Midland Bailway works. ', at Patterson's Creek. >' I An old Canterbury resident, Mr William >, Graham, died early this morning at LytteU .. ton. Mr Graham landed at Lyttelton in ?| 1851 from the ship Sir George Pollock, ana -• a ived in the Canterbury district ever since. v The news of his death will be read with ( ■;, ? regrefc by a large circle of friends. His *■ £, wife died about nine years ago. , Is 5s a week sufficient to keep a man sng- f^ plied with the necessaries of life? i* r ■■" * Stanford, S.M., is apparently of the opinioo -v | that it is (remarks the " Taranaki Herald') . for he plainly told a defendant in the Police r Court that that amount was quite sufficient ' . s for him to live on. The man, he added, had , . '' lived in luxury, while hie wife and children ■; I were starving. T«i • The fire escape ladder of the local Brigade v was brought out last night for the purpose .; ,"' of several new members of the Brigane " »_ being instructed in its use and consti-uction. ~ The ladder was run out to the top of the - ■ top storey of the Worcester street elevation * ; of the A.M.P. building, and the company - ; had an evening's good practice under the t Superintendent and in the presence of c '. very large crowd of the public. ' \ i TO'Diorrow a meeting of the General • Committee of-the Industrial Association 'i will be held for the appointment of the \% Early History Committee in connection with M jubilee celebration of 1900. Thonjjh it may -" M seem a long time to get ahead, it is neces* eary to start early in order to get together . -, £ the necessary material for the history. ;^g

Our Malvern correspondent writes that the long spell of hard frosty weather was broken yesterday by a threatened rain from the south.

On reconsideration the Minister for Jvluoation has withdrawn hia opposition to a district high school at Weatport.

A sample of coal found at Port Robinson by Mr J. Sinclair was on exhibition at the list meeting of the Cheviot Settlers' Association.

The Riccarton Road Board has paßged a resolution expressing the opinion that it is Inadvisable, for.»anitary reasons, that public abattoirs should bo erected in so thickly populated a locality as Addinglon.

Hard fro3ts and warm sunny weather have prevailed in Cheviot for the past week, an <\ the settlers are busy in putting in the wheat crop.

A remarkably fine sheep dog, the property of Mr Hnmer, wa3 released from quarantine by Mr Holderne3s yesterday. The dog is almost a pure white colour.

The funeral of the late Mr J. Hinett was largely attended yesterday at Lyttelton. The service was conducted at Holy Trinity Church and at the Church of England Cemetery by the Rev. C. Coates.

The eases of the toto betting shops in which Mr Beetham, S.M., recorded a conviction and sentenced -Messrs Taylor and Hipgins to two months' imprisonment, will come up before his Honor Mr Justice Denniston on appeal at the banco sittings to-dayj

Apparently the Opposition party in the Mataura electorate (remarks the Dunedin " Star "') are reconciled to the fact that Mr W. F. Ward's education views are not palatable to the constituency. Already it is announced that Mr Thomas Mac Gibbon will be a candidate at the general election.

The finely-engraved picture of the town of Nelson, given in this week'B " Weekly Press," together with the many other varied pictures, make it a suitable number for despatch to friends at a distance, by the 'Frisco mail going to-day. The plough team of six horses is not only an uncommon picture, but a highly artistic one, and is certain to attract n great deal of attention wherever it is exhibited. There is also a spirited portrait of the champion trotter Fritz.

The many friends here of Mr D. A. Watt will be glad to learn of his success as the Secretary of the important Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association, in carrying out his onerous duties. At the annual meeting recently the President and Mr Pirani spoke in the highest possible terras of the work of Mr Watt. Mr Pirani proposed— «• That this Association accord a hearty vote of thauks to Mr Watt, for the manner in which he has carried out his duties during the past year." This resolution was seconded by the President and carried. The auditor also spoke in very high terms of the admirable manner in which the books were kept. When it is remembered that Mr Walt took up the duties in the middle of the year and had to face the consequent on the annual show almost at the commencement of his work, the success achieved is the more creditable.

At the monthly meeting of the Cheviot Settlors' Association it waa decided to send to the County Council the petition with reference to' tho Rating on Unimproved Values Act. It was resolved to write to the Cheviot County Council, drawing attention to the condition of the streets in the M'Kenzie township. Mr J. Gibson was appointed the delegate to the Association at the Agricultural Conference in Christchurch. The Association resolved to hold the next show on Queen's Birthday, 1899, preferring not to alter the date. A considerable amount was offered in the room for prizes. With a view to the improvement in the bread of cattle in Cheviot, it was decided to offer five guineas for a first prize and two guineas for a second for the best shorthorn bull under three years old, to be the property of a Cheviot settler, and to be exhibited at the next show.

Tho captain and officers of H.M.S. Tauranga, now in the dock at Lyttelton, yesterday entertained a party, consisting of the Mayors of Christchurch and New Brighton, tho Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and the President of the Chamber of Commerce, at lunch on board the ship. Capt. Hamilton Browne, in proposing the health of the Mayor of Christchurch, expressed the pleasure with which he and hia officers visited this port, as they were always so kindly and hospitably received. After his Worship had replied, the party were shown over the vessel, and her armament explained to them. A submarine mine charged with about 351b of guncotton was in position near the shore, and, on Mr liouisson pressing the button, this mine exploded with fine effect. A smaller land mine was also fired. After watching some of the crew at revolver practice, and trying their own skill also, the party returned to town.

During the past few weeka there have been several complaints made of sheep being worried in the neighbourhood of Christchurch by stray dogs. Several visits have been made to the Cashmere estate, and on Monday night a stud English Leicester ewe Was among the victims of these troublesome curs.. The manager of Cashmere therefore notifies that any persons found trespassing on'tho Port hills or flat portion of the estate, or on the Wilderness farm, in pursuit , of game or otherwise will be prose-

cuted, and all shooting permits over the estate have been withdrawn. Two three weeks ago, Mr W. Roberta, who has a farm on the Lincoln road, at Spreydon, had a nice draft of fat lambs ready for the factory, and on the morning he intended to aend them into Addington ealeyards he found they had been badly knocked about during the night by dogs, while several had to be destroyed. There is evidently a pack of aheep worriers in that district that needs being got rid of.

Christchurch cabmen as a whole are a respectable body of men, but there some of them who are given to indulge in very questionable practices. Occasionally, by means of the courts, light ie thrown on their little ways, as happened yesterday »t the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court, when one of the craft waa charged with illegally appropriating a watch from a passenger. The charge \va3 fully proved, in a way, however, different to what might have been expected from the allegation on the charge •heet, which was theft. Failing to receive his fare cabby received the watch as "security for payment." The passenger •aid the cabman took it out of his pocket; the cabman said the passenger rather forced it on him, and there was sufficient evidence toehow that something like that happened. While acquitting the man of robbery the magistrate read him a lecture on another S>int. "Don't you know," said Mr eetham, " that in taking the watch you did a very wrong thing? It was quite illegal; no on? but licensed pawnbrokers have the right to accept anything in pledge." The man said he waa not aware of it; it Mas quite a common thing with cabmen ! "Itis a practice, then," said his Worship, " which may lead the offenders iato serious trouble."

At the D.I.C. dress and mantle sale now proceeding, a very choice selection of winter evening wraps, opera capes, cloaks are added to the list of unusual bargains which ate still attracting so much attention from the ladies. 3882

Mr H. Qnane, the New Zealand representative of Mr Conrad William Schmidt (F. A. Glaeser), varnish manufacturer, Stratford, London, informs us that this firm, which has for some years past supplied the Royal household, has now Deen appointed, «y Royal warrant, varnish and enamel manufacturers to her Majesty the Queen. We understand that this distinction has not been accorded any other varnish maker during the reign. 3919

Pure.—There is now on view at Mr Charles Clark's rooms the finest and largest *<wortment of fure ever offered to the Cariatchurch public. A lafge number of pereone inspected them yesterday, and all •greed as to their excellence. They will be on view again to-day, and will be sold by taction without reserve to-morrow (Thursday), at noon. 3874

The " Triad" for June contains numerous Pprtrait.3 of the popular Pollard Opera Company, as well as other well executed nioetrations, while the reading matter is as °P to date as is usual with this popular periodical. A music supplement of two *ell chosen selections are given with this Particulars of the current £10 prize competition are also supplied, which infor* "nation appears elsewhere. We wish our *ell-conducted contemporary continued Proeperity. 3915

Mr W. H. Cooper has resigned the Chairmanship of the Conciliation Board. His Honour Mr Justice'Denniston sat in Chambers and in Bankruptcy yesterday, and disposed of the cases on the list. His Honour will Bit in Banco at 11 a.m. to-day. "The representatives of the Danedin Tailoresses Union who attended the confereno between the tailor-esses and pressera here last week went south to Danedin by the express yesterday. Messrs R. Hannah, of Hannah and Co., Wellington, and Mr R. Allan, of Christchurch, went down to Dunedin yesterday to attend the sittinsr of the Arbitration Cvurt in connection with the bootmakers' dispute. The license of J. Homer, Kaiapoi Hotel, was renewed at the annual licensing meeting on Monday, aa also that of the Junction Hotel at Ohoka. The resolution proposed at the meeting of the St. Albans Borough Council, to the effect that the projected expenditure of the loan be carried out by contract, waa not carried as reported yesterday. Consideration was deferred until a special meeting next Monday night, At Mr Charles Clark's auction rooms yesterday town section 175, having one chain frontage ou Pcterljorougb. street, together with a four-roomed houso, was disposed of to Mr John Barrett, the price paid being £375. A property of 3 acres, together with a six-roomed house, situated on the North road, Papanui, was sold to Mts E. E. Knott for £360. Mr W. Bash, of Cashel street, who is an indefatigable collector of early history curios, has on view in hi- shop a great curiosity in the shape of one of the original placards issued by the Canterbury Association in 1849 asking for emigrants to the colony of Canterbury, New Zealand. There is a significant note at the end of the the placard to the following effect:— " No emigrant will be accepted who cannot produce evidence of strict sobriety and good moral character signed by the clergyman of the parish." It is no wonder that a province founded under such auspices should have been a success. One has heard of large potatoes, phenomenal gooseberries, and a number of other products of tho silly season, but a potato which has arrived from Papanui —that land of potatoes and pretty girls— fairly takes the record. It is a fair-sized potato, but it ha 3 grown exactly into the likeness of " the gintleman that pays the rint." There is nothing more striking than the likeness in every respect, and Dr. Brittin, to whom the potato was shown, was so struck with its peculiarity that he decided to bring it to town. It is certainly one of the moat remarkable likenesses to the head of a pig that could well be imagined. Special.—lf you require a tonic take the best—Syrup of Hypophosphites. Barnett, chemist, lib bottles 4s od, _lb 2s 6d. 2200 Gifts.—£lsoo to be given away free in prizes of ladies' watches, albums, workboxes, work-baskets, &c, for Crown brand tea coupons by Hubbard, Hall and Co. Next competition closes last day of June (this month). For seven days only—Shaw, Robinson and Co. are showing some wonderful bargains. Tweed dress lengths from 3s lid, velveteens from Is, blankets from 7s lid, colonial flannel B£d, table damasks 9_d, sheetings from 9_d, ladies and children's mackintoshes at half price, flannelettes from, ls lid per dozen, men's tweed trousers from 6s lid, worth 8s 6d, colonial tweed suits 24s 6d, knitted sox 4_d, and working shirts from ls lid. 213 Cashel street, opposite Pbess office. "" 2852 Are you Removing?—lf so, employ the N.Z. Express Company, who have skilled men and large furniture vans. Removals undertaken by road, rail or sea. Good storage accommodation. Corner Manchester and Hereford streets. 3842 In addition to a large manufacturing trade from 30 to 50 bicycles can be repaired daily at the Zealandia Cycle Works—Oates, Lowry and Co., largest makers of cycles in New Zealand.—[Advt.] PAPERS FOR THE MAIL. Nelson, the Sanatorium of New Zealand, is illustrated in this week's "Weekly Press," forty odd scenes and portraits having been specially photographed and engraved. Other subjects treated are Famine and Desolation in Cuba, the dreadful consequences of the fiendish policy of "concentration" being exhibited in the portraits of starving Cubans, emaciated to mere skin and bone; United States Warships in Action Last Week; President McKinley, Francis Scott Key, the author of the "Star Spangled Banner," and a verse of his lines in facsimile. Don Carlos, the Spanish Pretender; The Battle of Atbara, a Gladstone Postcard, the Champion Trotter Fritz, and a fine plough team, six horses, belonging to a- well-known farmer of Templeton. In 'Bullseye's" notes appears a full report of the Nelson Rifle Association Meeting, In the Fanner is discussed the breeding of lambs for export. Some clever short stories and a large quantity of other agreeable reading are published in the literature section, and an the Ladies' Magazine appears Miss Gertrude Ivey's gaper on Domestic Economy and a story of Banks' Peninsula, containing an uncommonly fine description of a wild ride over rough country, SYDNEY FRUIT CONDEMNED. A quantity of oranges and lemons brought to Wellington by the Talune from Sydney were infect 2d with scale, and condemned. BICYCLES ON THE RAILWAY. In reply to a deputation from the New Plymouth Cycling Club, complaining of the j new regulation .*>-quiring passengers' bicycles to be at the railway station fifteen minutes before the departure of trains, Mr Cadman said the rub had been made foi the public advantage, but he would have the matter csrefully considered on his return to Welling ton, and would see if the time could not be reduced. He said he also had under consideration the means of carrying bicycles, and had sent to various parts of the world for designs, and as soon as the best mode could be ascertained it would be adopted.

THE "CAPPING" DEMONSTRATION. Tlxe Otago University Council experienced a good deal of trouble in dealing with a letter from the Secretajly of the Students' Association, asking the Council to give their sanction to the "capping" ceremony being held this year in one of the public balls in the city. It appeared from the discussion (saj*9 the "Otago Daily Times") that some members of the Council felt that it was incompatible with the dignity of the Council to in any way. countenance the usual entertainment by the students, and the Vice-Cnancellor frankly admitted that lie had no sympathy witn the "tomfoolery," which, he contended, served no useful purpose so far as the University was concerned. Mr White, on the other hand, expressed a good deal of sympathy with the students in their desire for a bit of fun. After a good deal of discussion the Council compromised matters by resolving that, if any change be made, the ceremony of handing diplomas to graduates be held in the University library ps heretofore, and that the students be at liberty to hold a meeting afterwards at any place they may think fit.

BRITISH ENTERPRISE IN THE EAST.

British enterprise in China ia by no means resting on the laurels of Hhfi past. According to the "Daily Telegraph" a British syndicate has secured a concession which will place in British hands for the next sixty years "the greatest coalfield in the world. ' Thie wonderful field, situated in the province of is said to be 250 miles long and 40 miles wide. It is situated between 2000 ft and 300 )ft atove sea level, and is estimated to contain coal sufficient to supply the worid for the next 2100 years. jHence the peopleof the present, who concern themselves as to the possibility of tibe world's coal supply giving out, need be under no immediate ap-prebeneio-i. The importance of the concession is immense. Iron as well as coal exists in enormous quantity, and the field can, without grave difficulty, be placed in touch -Titfi\ Pekin on the one hand, and Wei-hai-wei on the other. The concession means, if the whole si cry is not a romance, an almost undreamed of development of British commercial, industrial, aud strategic opportunity in the Far East. Italy apparently is associated with Great Britain in the >iiatter In oicier not to rouse the suspicion* of Britain's,

rivals, the services were secured of the Marquis di Rudini's son and Signor Lazzati in the negotiations with tsh,e Chinese Government. Clearly all the apples in Uie Chinese orchard are not to fall into the Ru&sian and German baskets.