NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10215, 10 December 1898, Page 7

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Advertisements relating to auction sales from Messrs Tonks, Norton and Co., W. R. Harding, Macfarlane and Homan, Wm. Buss, John Ingram, and Wright, Stephenson and Co. will be found on page 11 of this issue. The Police School of Instruction in Wellington has started with twelve probationers. The Rakaia river is again in good order for fishing. The Rangitata is likewise clear. Detective Oassells yesterday arrested a man on a charge of havirig daring September and November stolen several sums, amount- j ing to £4 19s 6d, the moneys of Hopkins and Co., butchers. ] His Honour Mr Justice Denniston returned from the North yesterday, and will sit on Monday at Nisi Prius. *• What is a * dead bird '?" innocently enquired counsel of a constable in the Wellington Magistrate's Court after the witness had stated that defendant (a bookmaker) always pat his patrons on to " dead j birds." The constable promptly replied :— | ".It is what you think is a very likely winner, but what doesn't often win." I It is proposed that an agricultural ' museum should be established in connection with the new Agricultural and Industrial Hall, somewhat similar to the Botani- i cal Museum at Adelaide. Mr T. L. Smith has Seen nominated to fill the vacancy on the Lyttelton Borough Council, caused by the election of Council- | lor Radcliffe to succeed Mr A. Chalmers i as Mayor of the Borough. At tho meeting of the Christchurch Bowling Club last night six rinks were selected to play in the tournament of the New Zealand Bowling Association, which takes place here in January. ' The two first rinks, which are intended to show the strength of the club, were selected under the skipping of Messrs J. C. Maddison and R. Struther9. The, other skips who have yet to select their men are Messrs Jackson, Barnett, Manning and Dr. Brittin. Commandant Booth easily adapts himself to circumstances. At Otaki, among those gathered on the station platform was an elderly wahine, who* saDg a song of welcome, and, after rubbing noses with one of the staff, seized the Commandant's right hand, and raising herself on tip-toe endeavoured to perform the same operation with him. At first Mr Booth appeared a little bashful, but he speedily took in tho humour of the situation, and bending his head, submitted to the salutation, to the great delight of the assembled soldiers and the amusement of the onlookers. On the 12th January next the annual meeting of the voluntary contributors to the Samaritan Homo is to be held. One question to be faced, to which the chairman I yesterday referred, was the cost of j I knee of the institution. As the treasurer j had put it iv his letter of. resignation they • would be considerably behind at the end of j the year at the present rate of expenditure. jlt was remarked by members that the cost i had not been increasing, and that various i expenses would not be recurring. The i meeting decided that in the meantime they would be. as economic as theproper conduct of the institution would allow. At the last meeting of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, Mr MoHardy, speaking of the last Palmerston show, assured tho meeting that visitors expected a great deal j more accommodation, next year from the Association than that provided hitherto. Personally he believed it would be neces- j sary to provide £5000 for the workWbe "j done. A members' stand would have to be erected to accommodate 6000, and many other improvements would have to be made. A committee was appointed to consider the question. Some slight repairs were effected at the Samaritan Home recently by the Public j Works Department, which paid for them. Yesterday a letter was received from the j officer in charge here that he had made a | mistake in paying the amount, and asking that the Department should be refunded. The letter should have reached the trustees i some time ago, but the chairman explained ' that it was one of those which had been delayed in its delivery. On Wednesday evening, Mr J. S. Neville, who is being transferred from the Lyttelton railway office to that at Christchurch, was entertained by his fellow offi- ! cers, who availed themselves of the opportunity to congratulate him on his approaching marriage, and to make him a presentation. In. handing him a handsome set of {silver-mounted carvers, suitably inscribed, Mr Truman referred to the recipient's many excellent qualities and to the loss the Lyttelton staff would sustain by his departure. Messrs Taylor and McCarthy also spoke eulogistically of Mr Neville. » . The practice which has gradually come into vogue of giving the children from the different state schools, picnics, instead of the old formality of distribution of prizes, appears to be growing in favour. Several of the masters are almost enamoured of the system which, at a minimum cost, gives many children, as well as their parents, opportunities which would otherwise not reach them of seeing the country some miles away from the place of their abode. The system has many advantages to recommend it, two of which i are that it provides a healthy day's outing and an instructive day's pleasure. In the letter of the Secretary of the j Cheviot County Settlers' Agsoci—lion, read to the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, re the railway, some interesting figures as to the advance of Cheviot were quoted. , In a period of four years Cheviot has imported 2,500,000 ft of timber, 7600 tons general merchandise, 900 tons coal, and 15,700 fencing posts, and exported 7700 bales of wool, and 11,000 sacks wheat. The number of sheep leaving Cheviot last.year was 40,000 fat sheep andlambs. The Committee of the Chamber of discussed the letter, and during conversation it was pointed out that the altered circumstances of the past four years had materially affected the quantity of grain and produce reaching Lyttelton from North Canterbury. The opinion was freel- expressed that the proposed railway was a very desirable one, not only in the interests of the mercantile community of Christchurch, but also as affording the settlers in North" Canterbury reasonable facilities for sending their stock and produce to market. The trustees of the Samaritan Homo met yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs C. H. Bridge (chairman), M. Gavin, J. o\B. Hoare, H. B. Sorensen, A. F. N. Blakiston, and Mrs The last-named reported that in connection with the question of chronic cases from the hospital Miss Tripp had promised that the matter should be brought before the Lady Visitors' Association. The chairman stated that Mrs Neill had tpoken to him against the advisableness of admitting men, and pointing out that such institutions prevented the establishment of inebriate homes so long as they admitted cases which would otherwise be treated in them. The chairman reported the election of Mr R. Westenra to represent the Selwyn Council on the Board ; that the treasurer had written to the Colonial Secretary asking for repayment of the bill of costs to Messrs Stringer and Cresswell; and that in order to make room for the four representatives from the local bodies Mr Blakiston had resigned his seat and wished to be relieved of the position of treasurer. Mr Blakiston'a resignation was received with much regret, and he was asked to continue his office. Mrs Dunkley and Mr Sorensen were by ballot selected to be the retiring trustees; they are eligible for re-election. The balance-sheet up to date showed receiots to have been £384 6s Id and the expenditure' £317 15s 4d, leaving a credit of £66 10s 9d. The liabilities were £320 and the assets £209 8s lOd.

The Postal Department advise us that a mail is to be despatched from London, via Naples, containing all correspondence torNew Zealand (whether specially addressed or not) that may be.posted during the week after the despatch of the San Francisco mail from London. The first mail left * London on 25th ultimo. About seventy boys attending the Sydenham State school go into camp at Governor's Bay on January 3rd, and remain under canvas for a fortnight. They will be under the personal superintendence of the headmaster, Mr Baldwin, and are to be instructed by a member of the Permanent ArtHlerv. who has been told off for the duty. The boys go by train to Lyttelton, for which journey free passes have been granted by the Government. The lads have a marching tour to the Bay to-day. The Presbytery of Christchurch held a special meeting yesterday in St. Paul's, Dr. Erwin presiding to deal with a call from the congregation of Sefton to Rev. D. A. Anderson, of Tofcara Flat, Westland. Rev. A. M. Wright laid the call on the table, signed by forty-four members and sixty-six adherents. He stated that it was most unanimous and hearty. Messrs Carr and Boyd, elders, and Mr Wyllie, manager, appeared in support of it. On the motion of the Rev. A. H. Treadwell, seconded by the Rev. W. Scorgie, it Was agreed to sustain the and forward it to the Presbytery of Westland. Should Mr Anderson accept of it, his induction to the charge will take place early in the new year. A meeting of. the subscribers to the "Emily S. Foster Memorial Prize Fund" was held at Canterbury College last evening. The committee submitted its report, making the following recommendations:— (1) That two prizes should be awarded annually; (2) That the fo«m of competition should be an essay on a subject chosen preferably from general history or from natural history. (3) That the first examination should be held in February, 1900, the general scope of the subject to be announced in March, 1899. (4) That the competition should he open to girls leaving primary schools to enter the Girls' High School, one grize to be confined to girls from the West hristchurch School. The meeting decided that the subscription lists should close on Saturday, February 11th, 1899. In the great Dunlop 100 Miles Relay Road Race, won by the Christchurch Cycle Club, 80 miles were done on Sterlings, including the fastest times. At Lancaster Park on Thursday, Bth inst., at the Hardware Amateur Athletic Club Sports, Ken Bassett won all the bicycle events on Sterlings, including the Roadster Race of two miles. At Blenheim Sterlings were first in four out of six events, including wheel race and halfmile scratch. > 5583 •Do you ever think how much it would improve your bicycle to have it overhauled? We are sure you will see the necessity for this if you only think for one moment. The. Austral Cycle Agency, Limited, is the best place for repairs in Christchurch. 5125 The favourite place for cycle repairs is T. Boyd and Sons' Cycle Works, Gloucester street (between Colombo street and .Gas Company's office, Christchurch). All makes of machines equally attended to.—(Advt.) Morris, photographer, from Dunedin, personally takes all the portraits in Colombo street. Call and see new specimens.—[Advt.] When you think of buying a bicycle that will give satisfaction, think of Oates, Lowry and Co., largest makers of bicycles in New Zealand. Zealandia Works,- Christchurch. —{Advt.)- ! ""With the coming of Christmas we again purpose making it agreeable to our friends and customers, by giving, in addition to the very best value money can buy in the thousand and one lines that go to make up a soft goods stock, a present free of charge to every customer who lays out 5s and upwards with us within the next five weeks, commencing to-day, and continuing on till January 6th, 1899. A few samples of these gifts are on view in our large centre window, while our upstairs showroom is crowded with them. 10,000 presents for 10,000 customers. Shaw, Robinson and Co., 213 Cashel street, .opposite "Press" • Office.— CAdvt.] ' ;,/; If "you require a "fanic take the best—' Syrup of Hypophosphates. Barnett, Chemist, lib bottle, 4s 6d; £lb, 2s 6d. 16 Two Nuts to Crack.—Excelsior and Red Bird Bicycles.—Send for catalogues. Barlow Cycle Manufacturing Company, Manchester street.