NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10422, 12 August 1899, Page 7

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mr A. Kaye has Jbeen elected a> directorof the Christchafcli" Meat Comfi&Bf, in the stead of Mr J. Murgatroydy y <wH6 has re signed. The regulations governing the examinations for the Indian Civil .§eryic.e are published in the "Gazette." 5: f*t the Magistrate's Court, Rangiora, on Friday, before Air E. R. Good, Mayor, two first offenders for drunkenness were each fined 2s 6d and costs 2s. Tlie fire bells at Rangiora rang an alarm at 5.30 p.m. yesterday. The cause was nothing worse than a fire in a chimney at the junction of Victoria and High street& At the Amberley Court yesterday, before Messrs S. Coleman and Alex. Greig, J. P., a prohibition order was granted against a man in tlie Ashley and Kaiapoi wstricts. The tender of Mr P. Hyndman, for £300, for the erection of the manager's offices at the Burnham Industrial School, has been accepted by the Public Works Department. The atmosphere yesterday was that of spring, the change from the damp, foggy weather of the first part of the week being most agreeable. The quarterly criminal session of the Supreme Court well open on Monday next before his Honour Mr Justice Denniston. The calendar is of the ordinary character. One of the persons fined for having played "two-up" in the North Park, some weeks ago, having failed to pay the amount and costs, £5 16s 10d, was yesterday arrested by Detective Oassals on a warrant of commitment. At Oxford, on Thursday, an exciting athletic event took place, in which a dealer was. matched to run lOOyda while a fanner, of .View Hill, with a dealer of 14st 21b up, ran 50yds. The latter won amid much excitement among those at the saleyards. Mr W. Barnett, of Christehurch, pharmaceutical chemist,'.was the only candidate nominated to fill the extraordinary vacancy on the Pharmacy Board caused by stfhe resignation of Mr Renshaw, and was" therefore declared elected. The 'barque Tacora, which sightejl the missing steamer Waiikato on July 31W, was on her passage from London to'the Mauritius. She >is a four-masted iron vessel of 911 tons, and 'left London on May 27th, j twenty-three days after the Waikato. Mr R. Beetham, S.M., held a sitting-of j t'ho Pension Court yesterday. There were ; 20 applications. Of that number, 10 were' granted in full, seven were adjourned for further evidence, one was granted £12, one for £4, and one was rejected. The Singer Sewing Machine Company have offered a machine, valued at £13 10s, as the first prcze in the weight-guessing competition for a fat bullock at the approaching November Show of the Canterbury A. and P. Association. j The East Christehurch School Committee, on Thursday n:giht, decided to inaugurate, in connection with the work of the school, a cadet rifle corps, a guiid of courtesy upon the' lines of the "Good Manners Chart," and a penny savings bank, the chairman and Messrs Williams and the headmaster being appointed trustees. Persons shooting seagulls are now liable to a fine of £20. The Government have, in answer to the representations of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, decided to protect the birds not only in Canterbury but all over the colony. Whn the old Junction Hotel buildings had been razed to -t&e floors, quite an army of rats were driven from their entrenchments, and great Slaughter followed, in. which a contingent of school boys took a leading part. The corpses of the rodents were afterwards used to decorate the telegraph wires, which in the vicinity of the old hostelry, very much resembled an elongatedl gibbet. It is expected that the work of erectingthe Makohine viaduct will shortly be begun, the ironwork now being nearly ready. In this case the Ene will be opened to Mangaweka, by the end of next year, or six months earlier than anticipated. It is reported from Chicago (says die 'Tittsburgii Dispatch."} that the first Ohiaa- i man in the United States to take advantage of the bankruptcy laws, Hong Sling, filed his schedule there, showing liabilities 24.C00 dollars and assets 6,800 dollars. It appears thai Hang is progressing:, but is aot fully assimilated. If he were fully in touch with the spirit of American bankruptcy he would have asksd fcimself: "What is the use of putting in all these assets*" • *

In the.case in the Supreme.Court at Gisborne, in w&ich a man named 'Charles Harold Foster was charged with, stealing £40 from Mr Joseph Fynney,' theatrical agent, accused was sentenced on Thursday to twelve months , imprisonment. As Fynney was absent from the colony, his depositions in the lower Court weje admitted in evidence.

The members of the Christchurch Police Force, who attended the lectures on first aid given by the St. John Ambulance, Association, and padded their examination, are Sergeant AI. .Rogers, Constables B. Brown, J. H. Fry* J. J. Harvey, H. P. Lomax, T. J. McCormick, F. O'ConneU, V* Perneskie, U. M. Byan, A. A. Scullv D. G. Sinclair, S. Till, E. C. Trehey, and W. Wbrsley.

Intimation thas been received o! the sadden death of Miss Isa Craig, second daughter of iMr David Craig, general manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company in Auckland. Miss Craig had only recently returned to Auckland, having been on «. visit to Mrs McKay, 'her aster, at tie Bank of New Zealand at Kaiapoi. The report that Miss Craig died in the street is contradicted, as she died in her home.

From Monday next- watches, jewellery, &c, over 10s in valao, may be sent; in open packets at one penny for first Hot., and a halfpenny for. each succeeding 20z., providing the packets are registered. Jewellery, tfutehes, &c, may also be sent by parcels post if insured for at least a portion of their value, or registered. Parcels must not be closed against inspection, but so securely fastened as to prevent any of the contests going astray during transit. Packets and parcels not exceeding 10s in value need not be registered or insured.

According to the "New Zealand Times," the action of the various local authorities Ihoughoufc the colony in deciding to cope with the "tote-betting" evil by framing bylaws that will prohibit street loitering vrould seem, by the experience in Wellington, to be justified by results. Previously the bookmalcing element was more or less unsatisfactorihr dealt with under the Gamin;? Act, but the new machinery appears to be much more effective. Recent prosecutions in the Police Court in Wellington have resulted in the infliction of fines aggregating £10 10s upon footpath frequenters.

The headmaster of the East Christohurch school, in making an application for a grant of money to be spent in kindergarten material, laid before the Committee, on Thursday night, some samples of work done by the infants, .comprising stick-laying, matweavingrpea work, &c. The Committee were loud in their praise at the class of work performed, and congratulated the infant mistress upon the work of her young pupils. The Committee willingly passed the grant, and also decided to supply the required material for clay modelling.

A climbing feat just performed by two young ladies is worthi recording (says the Marlborough "Times.") The mountain in question is that known as the "Big Ned," in the direction of the- Taylor .Pass, and is about 3100 feet high, tae ascent being of a rough character. A party, including Misses B. Elbeck and L. Purser, made the ascent at the end of last week, and it is balieved that these two ladies are the first of the fair sex to reach the summit. On the top there was snow, and some snowballing was indulged in. The view from "Big Ned," taking in a wide extent of the Marlborough province, is said to be a particularly fine one.

A deputation comprising Messrs Fraser and Schumacher, representing the Linwood Recreation Committee, waited upon the East Christehurch School Committee, on Thursday night, with a request that the Phillipstown school ground might be allowed to be open before aud after school hours for children of school age. The deputation, in reply to questions, stated that the necessary supervision would be provided to prevent damage being done to the property, and also to prevent older boys from occupying the ground to the detriment of the younger children,,. The Chairman informed the djjmtatioiJ that the Committeewere*«ffitffi¥l* sympathy with the movement, and that th<?> request would be forwarded on to the Board, with a recommendation that it be granted. A request from the Linwood Riiie Corps for the use of the ground for drill purposes was granted.

The "New York Press" says that Peter Phelan, "the tea-drioker," is dead. He died recently in the Bellevue Hospital, where he had been taken, - suffering from nervous troubles, brought on by excessive tea-drink-ing. On a chair beside his bed was a cup of his favourite beverage. In death the change so marked in ordinary persons was not noticeable. He looked the same waxen figure that was admitted to the hospital for treatment when a spark of life remained that was fast being driven out by his favourite and only beverage. It is said he drank as many as thirty cups of strong tea every day. Had Phelan known of the experiments made in

France on condemned criminals, he would have known that he must die, as ho did, a mere piece of yellow bones. Thi experiment had 'been made long ago by French scientists on three condemned murderers. To one, cocoa alone was given, to another coffee, and to lihe third tea. .. Absolutely nothing else was.permitted, and.the vivacious,and at the same time morbid, Fremch, enjoyed the sequel. The tea-drinker died Srst, as Phelan died. The coffee-drinker lasted: longer, and the cocoa victim was the one finally to succumb.

The erection of a telegrapia line between New Plymouth and Auckland, which was completed a few months ago, has facilitated the carrying on of conversation by telephone between the latter cdty and Wellington, but even now the Post and Telegraph Department does not feel justified in allowing the public to use the line for telephone messages of a commercial character. Theline is about 500 miles long, of fifty miles shorter than the one which runs from Wellington to Auckland by way of Hawke's Bay, but until more powerful wires ara laid there can be no certainty that conversation can be satisfactorily on* l night recently (says the "PbstgyMr % X- I<ogan, Superintendent of Eleotritf»iijiß)2S, rang up the Auckland Telephone Exchange from his residence in Tinakori road, and conversed for some minutes with an operator thore. The conditions were very favourable, and the conversation was carried on without the slightest difficulty.

An illustration of characteristic Americanism has just come to hand in an account from Oklahama Territory of a town with a population of 800 having been entirely built within a week. The town has been named Mountain View. The site was a few miles of deserted ground, but a number, of settlers, unable to secure land for themselves in any populated part of the Territory, banded together and resolved to construct a town for themselves. They selected their ground conveniently near a waterway, and then started to work. Houses rose ■with extraordinary rapidity, "until more than 100 were erected, while a dozen stores sprang up in what was to be the ■heart of the future city. After attending to their personal requirements, all the men joined forces and built a municipal building, containing offices . for the c'tv officials, a Court-room, and a- legislative hall. In the same way a schoolhouse, a church, and a prison were erected, and one of the stores was made into a temporary Post-office. When all this had been accomplished, an election was arranged. The men divided into two ipartvea and nominated a full listr of municipal officers, including a mayor. The voting followed, and Jtali an hour later the result was declared and the inaugural ceremonies took place.

The system of sending mentally afflicted persons "to such places as prisons is (says the prisons report of Colonel H«me), much to be deprecated, even though their detention may be of only a few days' duration. . A reference to the Lunatics Act, 1882, Sections 67 and 68, clearly shows that the, intention of the Legislature when passing that Act was that it should be imperative on hospitals to have ward 3 for the temporary reception of lunatics, and so prevent the present pernicious practice of sending supposed lunatics and persons sufferin" from delirium tremens to gaols for medica? treatment. If the Hospital Boards continue to be indifferent in these matters, and such, cases,are to be treated ac crimes anil not diseases, and in prisons instead of establishments specially set apart for the treatment of their malady, not only may \re look in vain for cures, but before long some grave scandal will probably occur,

-'-The Association made a start last night towards the Jubilee Exhibition of 19CK), by appointing the various coinxnittees. In view ol being: the jubilee year, the executive committee lias been made larger than on the occasion of the last In* dustrial' Exhibition: The iflayoM of tshe different boroughs, the, presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, Murine Agricultural and Pastoral Association, fend the presidents of kindred bodies in other parts of the colony have been placed upon the committee. A large aiuriber of members of the various snorting bodies at Geraldine aad friends met Mr E. OfMalley at the Odtffellows'JSall on Thursday nifc--, to give him * hearty farewell on the eve .of his departure for Arnuri. Mr O'Malley was Secretary to the, $eraldine Racing 'dull, and the St. Patrick's Sports Association, captain of the Geraldine Footb&U Glub, and -lieutenant of the Geraldine Eire Brigade, On behalf of the Football CSub Mr J. W, Pjye presented Mr O'Malley ■with a neat (combination of a time piece ana barometer, and Captain Mcllroy, on behalf of the Brigade, handed him a very handsome travelling bag, wit9i .a suitable inscription on a silver plate.

The chief topic of correspondenta at the Chathams, when the Kahu left, -was the disappointment felt at the non-arrival of H.M.S. Mildura, which advices by the Kahu led. the islanders to expect this week.. As these stated, bis Excellency Lord Ranfurly had intended to pay tine dependency a visit, and very active preparations had been made at Waitangi for a fitting reception, A lady correspondent says that &s soon as the news was brought, the residents ransacked their belongings with a view of selecting their most fitting garments for the occasion, and all the available bunting and decorations were brought into requisition to honour the auspicious event loyally.

Even cyclists resort to deceptive moans to avoid an interview with the Justices. Yesterday, the police reluctantly applied to withdraw a case because the offender had given the wrong name. When stopped, wlhile riding his bicycle on a footpath, and •asked for his name, ho gave the Christian and surnames and address of a very respectalb-Io elderly gentleman, upon whom, to (his greab consteroaifcion, t!» summons was served. Succeedine in establishing the fact'that 'he .was not the person offending, the police did not -proceed with the information, end the deceptive one, for the time, has evaded the punisttunent meted out to those who acknowledged their error and most probably intend to be more careful in the future.

The remains of Hopa Taiaroa, third son of the Hon. H. X, Tsiaroa, were brought to Leeston from the Chatham Islands on Friday, and -were met by a large number of Maoris, who came from all over the South Island to attend the funeral and tangi. Six representative Maoris went to the Ch&fchams to bring back the remains of tine deceased, and these on arrival were anet and cordially welcomed by the 'Chatham Island Maoris, and the body was treated with all the rites usual to the position of a son" of a chief. Messrs George and Richard Taiaroa,. Rev, Mutu, H. Kahu, S. Ruebeii, ,Conner, and Walker comprised the party who went to .the Chatham IsSands. The funeral is to take place on Sunday at (the Native Qhurdi at Tamutu, when there will be a large assemblage of natives from all over the South Island.

"An American paper, referring to an operatic performance, said:—"Little Eva was encored at Atchison the other night in the death scene, and was compelled to die a second time." This is what we may expect to come from iNew York if the encore habit continues to grow. Some day we shall see Romeo and Juliet in Gounod's opera arise and go through it all again. Even that -would be 'better than Madame Patti's celebrated performance in Juliet when the curtain refused to descend at the end of the opera. After waiting a few moments, she opened her eyes, looked up, smiled, rose, ran down to the.foptHghts, and eang "Home, •sweet': hdSae,* 1 ' while Signor Ravelli, who was the Romeo, sat up, and looked like a ghost of Uinus. This occurred in the Metropolitan Opera House a few years ago, and the audience liked it."

The report of Mr James Stewart, C.E., to the Public Works Department, upon his reconnaisance survey for the. Gisborn© northwards railway, is published by the "Poverty Bay Herald." Mr Stewart explored two routes—one from Gisborne to Eotorua via Ruatahuna in the Urewera. country, a distance of 180 miles, and the other from Gisborne to Opotiki, 98 miles, thence 85 miles to Rotorua. Hβ strongly favours the Opotiki route, pointing out that the highest ridge to be surmounted is very little higher tnan the Manukau saddle in the Auekland-Rofcorua line, and is reached by a regular and. continuous grade equivalent to an average of lin in 50. The line, lie states, would pass through a large area of rich country already settled, and in the previously unexplored territory which it would traverse there is a valley with a width of several miles with scope for large settlement.

Speaking at a meeting in Gisborne at which .the .necessity for- railway communication with the district was urged, Mr C. de Lautour said he was lost with astonishment at-the fatuous policy of members of the northern portion of the North Island. The North Island had traditions—it had had great men—in the old \ days the representatives of the North had besn men with great aims and aspirations, and leaders of public opinion; but at the present time this was not so. All parties amused themselves at the expense of the members of the North. Island; they were playing with them as . children play AV'ith toys which they turned now this way and that way. Every pledge that had been mado to develop the country, to connect Wellington with.' Auckland by rail, and also to give them lines into the interior, was brushed aside whilst the members were amusing kind entertaining [Parliament. It was surely time, he said, that Auckland sent to Parliament men wno would assert the position of the North.

Sewage disposal has been engaging the attention of the Paris authorities, -who have decided that the river Seine shall cease to iba the recipient of the .sewage of this vast metropolis. It.-will all pour into one huge central drain, and be carried off to two immense suburban sewage •farms situated respectively at Trial and at Mery. The •latter is a high lying sandy plain, Jcnown in the district as the Sahara of Paris. With the- help of the sewage'it is to be converted into pasture lands, and it is hoped that when thus changed this now <sandy waste will aid the solution of the problem of supplying the metropolis with, pure milk. Sewage farms have already been tried on a small scale at Gennevifliers witJi such phenomenal success as far as the fertilising of the land is concerned, that it was ocesolved to deal with the entire metropolitan sewage in this fashion.

It is interesting ta notice that a comparison of the previously-convicted prisoners sentenced during the past year "with those sentenced in 1895, shows in those once convicted a decrease of. .31. .male's, and an increase of 2 females. In those twice coavicted decreases of 6 maJes a<nd,l3 females, and in those thrice or oftener convicted decreases of 9 males and 19 females. On this subject Colonel Hume's annual report on the prisons says: —• These decreases are considered satisfactory from every point of view, as indicating that the prison system at present in operation in the colony is at least a deterrent, which, should be the primary object sought for. In order, however, ta cany cat properly a deterrent system, it is absolutely necessary that, every prisoner (except, perhaps, in special medical cases) should be provided with a separate cell, but this is not yet practicable in" some of the priscms. What is required in dealing Tvflih criminals is work for his hands and occupation for his mind, and entire separation when not at work, so as to prevent his conoccting mischief and crime. The only system which has the'least chance of effecting reformation must inclucie separate treatment throughout the various classes and grades. To the vagrant who lives on settlers or pilfers from house to house, and never does any honest work, the gaol, as long as he has companionship* -is home; ho ia better fed and housed than. 'wKen free; and the larrikin who has no character to lose, is idle and srtrong enough, to laugh, at the prison hard labour; but separate either, and keep them by themselves,~and very soon the vagranb indifference, end the larrikin's cheek, will disappear, and neither of them ore likely to be found inside a prison again if they can possibly help it.

Prtmest hams and bacon. WardeU Bros, and Co.—(Advt.) V

Th^Qovernsn^ iriHe, , * coinpriainff 9747 acvee, the tKopartar ot Mr Waite, situate in the Waitefci distriot. •The price paid; for it ia understood to be £2 7s per acre, the original cost to the owner being £2 pec acre. The estate adjoins that of Wnikafeahi recently purchased by.the Government* fronting , the Waitaki river. The eastern boundary is two miles further up the WaifcaH Yallwr than tie back boundary of the Waikakahi estate. It is described as rolling hill country with plough' . able slopes and fiats. In accordance with, tits soheme of uni-. formity in the colour of postage etttnsps adapted by the Washington. Postal Conference, & new issue of postage stamps was to be made in Victoria on Ist August, The new stamps will differ from the current stamps in colour only; the $d stamp will* be red, the Id green, and the 2jd dark blue. The number of mea in America who in years to, come will sign "George Dewey" before their surname, is simply appalling. Already (according to a London, exchange) the Admiral himself declares that over 12,000 written indications have reached him of children being named after him, and as he has replied to many of these communications, his correspondence must have increased unduly during the last 12 months. We Mean Business.—Ninety-three bioyclea without reserve. Matson and Co, inform intending buyers that every machine offered today will be sold without reserve, twelve months' guarantee, easy terms or cash, beatti tiful bicycles, high-grade machines. 2459 • Bead this—Lace curtains 2s lid for la 9d, Turkish towels for 3|d, navy serges 10a 6d for 6s lid the dress, satins 3s 6d for Is 9sd, initial handkerchiefs 7id each now 3 for Is, long fur boas 2a lld f Kaiapoi macintoshes 29a 6d for 13a lid, colonial trousers 8s lid for 6s 3d, frame felt hata 5s 6d for 2s lid, ribbed l.w. pflnfcs and shirts os lid for 2a 6d, ladies , warm capes 19s 6d for 10s 6d, corsets all sizes 4s lid for Is lid, ladies' trintmed millinery 8s 6d for 3s lid. Beath and Co.'s Great Clearance Sale, Cashel street. 2404 The latest novelties in Fruits are advertised by Nimmo and Blair, of Duncdin, and inI elude the Strawberry-Raspbmy, Logan Berry, Goldmine Nectarine, etc, etc.— ' Advt. , Attention is directed to an advertisement by Mr E. G. Lane, chemist, of Oamaru. The preparation he advertises is the latest of its kind, and for lung trouble is found to be i extremely beneficial. 167 Fresh Factory butter, IOcL Wardell Bros,' and Co.—(Advt,) Austral Cycle Company having relinquished business, Swift, Humber, Singer, and. Triumph bicycles repaired .or altered at Oates, Lowry and Co.'s ZcaUaodia Cycle Works, Manchester street, Cbristchureo. 3 ■Those afflicted with lung trouble of any kind should read Mr E. G. Lane's advertisement. His emulsion has been very successfully used by many sufferers, and tihey are grateful enough to acknowledge the benefits received by written testimony.—(Advfe.} Don't buy bicycles offered by auction, but go and inspect the 1899 Pattern Waverfey Bicycles, where yon will get the best value for your money, and a proper guarantee, Latest stock of sundries kept on hand. Rβ* pairs also a speciality at Waverley Cycle Depot, 217 Colombostreet, Gkristchurch. 2242 Morrie, photographer, from Dunedua*' personally takes all the portrait* i* Colombo street. Call and see new ep*a« mens.—[Advt.] Best value for 2s, Orient tea. Wardell Bros, and Co.—(Advt.) Why Blend Tea?— Why blend anything? Does anyone seriously suggest that mUk should bs blended; the chances are that a good deal of it is diluted at the harmless but necessary tap. When milk is blended its bulk is increased with something that ia obtained without cost, but its.quality is : reduced acd the profit increased. Suratura tea is not blended with Indian or China Teas. Rambler Roses for climbing. Himmo and Blaar, of Dunedin, can now supply the four varieties —Crimson, Yellow, and Pink. Order early, and thus ensure fulfillment of order.—Advt. Mr Wm. Hams, who has opened the Excelsior Meat Market in St. Asaph street, close to the junction of High street, has most up-to-date premises. The building 3 are built of brick, and being on the north side of tlie street will be cooC and free from dust in the summer time. The shop is fitted up in modern style, the walls being tiled, and polished rails are Used for. hanging' the meat. In the centre stands a fine kauri block thafe came from the Kaipara, and measures sft 2m in diameter; It is Mr Harris's intention to supply only the best of meat, and as it ia killed at.Mr Wootten's abattoir it bears the stamp of the Government Inspector. At the shop yesterday there was an excellent display of meat, the central feature being a very prime body of «eef from a shorthorn heifer,' fattened by Mr S. Sparks, of Halswell. There were also quarters of prime beef from bullocks that came down from Featheretonj Hampshire Down mutton bred and fattened by Air M. Friedlander, Ashburton; crossbred mutton bred and fattened "by Mr W. Clinton, Darfield, the latter's sheep bringing some of the highest prices at Addington Tards on Wednesday; and pork from Mr McPhail, Opawa. There was also an excellent show of small goods, for. the manufacture of which there is a complete plant, and the premises aj-o in every way suitable for carrying on a. Buccetesful business. 128