NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10869, 19 January 1901, Page 7

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A sharp earthquake was felt at Nelson at three minutes past ten yesterday morning. The direction was north and south.

At a special meeting of the St. Albans School Committee, held on Wednesday evening, Mr R. Florence was recommended for the position of pupil teacher.

The monthly meeting of the Riccarton Road Board bis been postponed until Ftbruary 11th, on account of the continued illness of Mr N. Eilis, the secretary.

A number of drags, with about one hundred of the bowlers ar.d their friends, by invitation visited the Kaiopoi Woollen Mills on Friday afternoon, and after inspecting tho mills were regaled at afternoon tea.

The half-yearly meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Club, which was to have taken place last night, was adjourned, as there were not sufficient members present to form a quorum.

The Telegraph authorities advise us that the Great Northern Ccmpanv announce the interruption of the Slianghai-Amoy and Shanghai-Hongkong cables. Telegrams for Shanghai and other stations will be forwarded by steamer from Vladivostock.

Georgp Scott was fined £10 at the Wellington Magistrate's Court yesterday, for practising medicine ' without registration. His counsel stated that he was duly qualified, but his present name was not his real name, and for family reasons it was inconvenient for him to register just now. He wan, in fact, a traveller, who had fallen back on his profession for temporary support.

There was a mild form of sensation on the 8.30 train from Lyttelton last evening owing to the brakes of one of the front vans jambing against the wheels, and preventing the train making headway. The stoppage occurred near tho Woolston station, and the clanking of crowbars on .the rails in the endeavour to loosen the grip of the brakes aroused recollections of the train wrecker in the minds of the" passengers, many of whom left their places to discover what was going on. Something like a quarter of an hour was wasted before the train was able to proceed on ha .way to Christchurch.

The auction advertisctnsat* of Beauchamp and Co., A. P. Tutton, Taylor Cole and Co., and North Canterbury Cooperative Stores, will be* found on page 11 of this issue. Mr Champion, who is to represent NewZealand at the Australasian Championship Swimming Meeting at Melbourne, kft Lyttelton by the Moana yesterday. A number of the members of the Lyttelton Swimming Club met him and wished him good-bye. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, after visiting several places in the southern part of this island, reached Christchurch last night, and leaves this morning for, Waipara to go over a section of the newly-formed WaipuraCheviot railway. The Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr C. A. Wrav, held the annual sitting of the Old Age tensions Court at Axhbarton on Thursday, and granted 52 renewals and two fresh riDpli cat ions. At the Soutlibridge Old Age Tensions Court yesterday ilr Bishop, S.M., renewed one pension in full. While the clearing sale at Mr Kingsbury's, Cust, -was going on on Thursday, news came that a house occupied by Mr Vallance, Cust, had been burnt down during the night, and that Mrs Vallan<:e and her boy only escaped in their nightdresses. Mr Vallance being from home. Everything was burnt. Two ladies got up a subscription list, and in a very short time collected close on £7 amongst those at the sale.. The ladies got great praise for their noble act, which will ihelp to relieve the sufferers, who lost their all.

A meeting of the Executive of the City and Suburban Burgesses' Association was held on Thursday night. The secretary stated that the mombt-ra of the Burgesses' Association had received an invitation from the promoters of the public meeting re the Waimakariri scheme, to attend that metting. Some considerable discussion ensued us to the policy of the Association, more especially with regard to this scheme, and it was decided to postpone the next executive meeting to the Thursday immediately following the meeting to be held in the Agricultural Hall, and then to formulate a definite policy and prepare other business to ba submitted to a general meeting, to be held as soon as possible. The following resolution was passed, "That the Christchurch City and Suburban Burgesses' Association views with alarm, the att;mpt of the Oamaru Borough Council to practically render inoperative tha new Municipal Corporations Act by endeavouring to have it made optional and not mandatory for a borough to make a map of the streets and prepare a house list under the provisions against overcrowding, and this Association sincerely trusts that ths Christchurch City Council" will not support the Oamaru Borough Council in this effort. This Association considers that the prevention of overcrowding is a work of chief importance in every city and borough, and all legislation in that direction should receive the hearty co-operation of Councils." It was decided that a copy of this resolution should be forwarded to the Christchurch City Council and the Oamaru Borough Council.

The annual gala at Sumner will take place next Thursday.

Mr Cecil Rhodes has subscribed £3000 to the new Anglican Cathedra%at Capetown. The names of Lord Roberts and the late Prince Christian Victor are also among the list, of subscribers.

The total seal catch of the British Columbian schooner fleet in the Behring Sea, tin? season amounted to 35,882 skins, aa agjinst 36,470 in 1899.

A record in domestic service was aoLi.'Vfd by Miss Elizabeth Alsopp, who has just celebrated her hundredth birthday at JJramley, near Guildford. She was in the service of one family for seventy-four years.

"Banjo" Paterson has decided to cancel his southern engagements, and will leave Wellington en route for Brisbane on Saturday.

The Public Works Department has accepted Messrs Scott Bros.' tender i"or the manufacture and erection of the Patterson's Creek viaduct. Messrs J. Anderson and Cc-.'s tender of £4746 has been accepted for the manufacture of the Ongaruhe bridge.

The many friends of Mrs Hutchison, wife of Mr Wm. .Hutchison,. es-M.H.R. for Dunedin, will regret (says the Manawutu '"Daily Standard") to learn of her sudden death on Tuesday evening from a sharp attack of angina pectoris.

Two Justices of the Peace yesterday morning, convicted a woman for .drunkenness and- ordered her to pay the costs of the .prosecution. They discovered shortly afterwards that there w«re no costs, and they altered their sentence accordingly to one of conviction and discharge.

The Magistrate at Ashburton has a more kindly way of dealing with cyclists who are tempted to make use of tho footpaths than the local Bench. On Thursday Henry Daly, Thos. WaMhew, and W. White were each fined 5s and costs for this offence. It would at least have cost them £1 in Chrjstchurch.

By fhe outgoing San Francisco mail boat, Mr W. A. Recce (second* son of the Mayor of Ghristcbureh) is proceeding to America to commence hds studies at Cornell University. Mr Recce proposes to commplete the course necessary to qualify as an electrical engineer.

An Oroua polo team, consisting of W. Strang, J. Strang, and A. Strang met a H&wke's Bay team comprising Ormond, Nelson, Russell and McKenzie, at Palmerston on Wednesday. Tlis Oroua men had a rather easy win over thsir opponents by seven points to two. The winners were a heavier team, and won by clean, welljudged hitting.

The artesian well which is being sunk at the rear of tihe Art Gallery, for the use of that institution, has now reached a. depth of 300 ft. The well-sinkers, however, intend to go down another 50ft. but as the soil through which the pipe is now penetrating is very hard and stony, it will probably take a week before the additional depth is attained.

Mr Kennedy, the inspector of nuisances and ranger fee the Ab-hiburton Borough Council, is putting up a. record in brining before tli* Court "cyclists who will persist in using the footpaths instead of the roads. Scarcely a Court day passes but what cases are heard," and tbe InpectoT invariably secures a conviction. TII3 cases are now becoming so numerous, and some are of so flagrant a nature, that tbe Stipendiary Magistrate has intimated his intention of" increasing the hitherto modest fine of 5s and costs, if the borough, by-kiws are not more strictly observed in future.

After more than a year of existence (sars "New Ycrk World"), tho so-cailed Republic has shown itself able to defy both Brazil and Bolivia. Troops of the latte.country have defeated its forces, but .they are gathering again to drive their foes from the land they ckim. Should they succeed a new nation will have been founded in the Amazonian forests.

Some short time ago, says the "Wanganui Herald," we referred in cur columns to i. remarkable shearing feat in the Wairarapa district. We have to record in our own dis trict one more remarkable. Mr John Duncan has just finished shearing at his Otairi Station, where thirteen of the Wolseley machines are at work, and the thirteen shearers irx one day of nine hours put through: 2500 sheep, and one of the men—W. Keenan—relieved 254 sheep of their fleeces in nine hours. This, we think, constitutes a record fur the colony.

A sequel to the Jubilee celebrations will take pls&ed on. Monday rert, when the surviving passengers of the first four ships will be photographed! in iour groups, as a souvenir of mutual and general interest. The arrangements are in the hands of a committee consisting of Messrs R. C Bishop and S. D. Barker (Charlotte Jane), W. D. Wood and C. Hood Williams (Randolph), John Anderson and Guise Brittan (Sir George Sevsnour), and A. Dudley Dofcson and C. Thornton Dudley (Cressy). The photos will $>c taken by Messrs Standlsh and Preece at 2 p.m., the meeting place, by kind permission of the Governing Body of Christ's College, being in tie gTounds of tha College. Arrangements have b?en made to make use of one of the large schoolrooms, in which tea and light refreshments will 'be provided. Tha four pictures will be taken in the order in 'which t2ie ships arrived, and a final picture will include the passengers by all t&e four ships. Tto photographs will appear in the second edition of mc "Weekly Presa" Jubilee .Number.

Ih-? Kangitata F*iver is clear, and in good order for fishing.

Mr David Bick, one of the valuers under the Land Tax Department, is at present engaged on this in the Amuri district.

A Dunedin Prews telegram states that five references iE trades" dispute will come before the Conciliation Board there next week.

In order to mate some provision for the widow and family of the late Mr Frederick Mantell, fruiterer, of Sydenham, a meeting of residents will bs held on Monday evening at 7.50 o'clock, at Mr Mann's, tobacconist. The case is understood to be a distressing one, and it is hoped that there will be a large attendance at the meeting.

Make absolutely sure of the correct time by having your watch repaired at the best shnn in New Zealand. Clarke and Co., l'! 8 Colombo street. English watches waned, 4s; mainsprings, 5s 6d; Waterbury 's. 2s 6d. Clarke end Co.'s wedding and" engagement rings copied, but not equalled, by all the leading shops in NewZealand. "S. Clarke and Co., 148 Colombo street. —(Advt.)

Our Waiau correspondent •writes: —As showing the interest the Amuri Corps took in the recent match between the other mounted companies, two of them got up at 2.50 a.m., drive sixteen miles to catch the train, and returned the same night, reaching home at 12.30 a.m. All the other members of the team had to ride distances of 3 to 7£ miles to reach the railway the same morning. The Amuri Corps is naturally very gratified with their victory, as this was their first trial of strength with any outsids men. They have two other matches on the tapis. The teams wish mc to state that they had a most enjoyable day's outing, and were very pleased that Mr Dalgety's generosity brought the various corps "together under such pleasant conditions.

Mr Pasley, Collector of Customs at Gisborne, yesterday held an inquiry into the lass of the man Eckbard, who" fell overboard from the ship Grace Harwar on December 26th, Avhile caught in a storm off Hawke's Bay. The captain said hs saw him hanging on by the weather mainbrace, and ordered him aft to the poop ladder, which lie tried to reach, but slipped whilst taking off ena of his boots when lie went overboard. This was the lost seen of him. It was impossible owing to the heavy sea running to do anything to aye him. This was substantiated by three members of the crew.

At the annual meeting of the Christchurch Building r.nd Land Society, held yesterday evening, Mr H. Allison, the acting-Chair-man, in his opening remarks, said that he was very sorry that occasion' had arisen whereby some other than their Chairman for the last sixteen years should occupy the chair. Mr Sandstein was vice-chairman of the Society for same time previous to his taking the position of Chairman. He became Chairman in 1885, and occupied that position till his (Jeath. During that time he had shown a grteat deal of tact and business capacity, and the directors and shareholders generally must have been quite satisfied with his conduct of the business. At a subsequent stage a vote of condolence with the widow and family of thelate Mr Sandstcin was passed. Tho secretary was instructed to send a copy of the v<2*e to Mrs Sandstein.

A Wellington Press telegram says that it is not with the Government's concurrencs that the Federation Commission proceedings are closed to the Press.

Colonel Esfcill, Colonel Peart, and Major Knight, of the Salvation Army, left here for Dunedin yesterday morning to conduct special meetings there.

The formation of tho Eferiot-Edievale section of the Tapanui branch railway for a distance cf six miles will ba commenced next month, states our Dunedin correspondent. The completing of this portion of the line will make Edievale a temporary terminus.

The contract time for the completion of the new Law Courts at Dunedin expires on July 15th, and there are good reasons, our Dunediu correspondent states, for believing, that the buildings wjlj.be finished about the beginning of n»s± *fegust. ■,

At a meeting of the shareholders of Belk's Patent Rights Company, held at J?almerston North, it was decided to spend £60 in further trials of a propslhr, if some reasonable arrangement could be made with the inventor and extra capital subscribed.

A number of flax mills in the Manawatu district have resumed operations after the holidays, but, owing to the depressed state of the hemp market, the~industry has declined in comparison with the activity which marked it this time last year.

Councillor Barber has given notice that he will move, at the next meeting of the Wellington City Council that the Tramway Committee be instructed to consider, and report to the Council, as to the best means of furthering a scheme of "Greater Wellington."

A committee has been appointed by a public meeting at Masterton to go into the question of starting dairying on co-opera-tive lines in districts around the town.

Miss E. R>. Benjamin, barrister and solicitor, of Dunedin, who has returned from a visit to Australia, was in the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Thursday during the hearing of the Lillywhite-Blatch case.

The merits of chocolate as food for troops in the field appear to bs becoming rapHlr and widely appreciated (says a military journal). In the recent autumn manoeuvres o;' the Austrian Army, in Galicia, a chocolate ration was found to be equal to about five times its weight of tbo primest beef From Russia also come equally favourable reports respecting the use of chocolate, txvA now we hear from America that it tonr.s a, chief constituent of a new emergency ration with which trials nave been lately carried out. f

The annual report of the chairman of the New Plymouth Harbour Board shows the total trade of the port to be 40.408 tons, compared with 36,822 tons in 1839. The revenue from dues and wharfage is £6530, against £6081 last year. The expenditure on dredging is £1453, against £2970 last year, despite the fact that the latter item was the smallest since 1895. There is less sand than at any time since the breakwater was built. The report foreshadows the enlarging of the wharf.

Dr. Albert Martin, of Wellington, who Las just returned from the Scuth, was involved in an extraordinary accident in Piiie street on Thursday evening. Hβ was being driven down the street, when the horse bolted, and the vehicle gained such impetus that a swerve caused it to bz thrown over a fence into a garden. Lucidly the doctor and his groom ■srere thrown clear, and escaped with a shaking.

Those who have visited Beath's great drapery sals will tell you to go there at once. Genuine Bargains. Ail summer stock must hs sold. Shcp early and avoid afternoon rush. Beath's. * 3283

Merited success is the best of all successes, and after extensive preparations embodying thought and work, what can be more gratifying than complete success? Surely, then, J. liallantyna and Company must be content, for the immense crowd that throneed Dunstable House from the opening hour yesterday, and the ceaseless noise of. cash balls running overhead, point to the complete success of the ripening day of Bailantyne's first, sale of the 20th century. *3258

Preserving Jars.—Fletcher Bros, stock the Largest Assortment of Fruit Jars in Christchurch. Mason's from 2s 3d. Jam Jars Is 3d, Tumblers Is 3d per half dozen ; Preserving Pans from 2e lid. Delivery daily.—Fletcher Bros., High street.

[Advt.]

Mr Grteshaber, jewelier, H%h street, ■whose lease has now expired, and as the premises are to be rebuilt, announces a clearance sale of his etock at great sacrifice.—(Adrt.)

Result of Hubbard, Hall and Co.'s seventeenth Crown Brand Tea Prize Competition on page 5. 2984

There is no firm to equal Oats, Lowtt, and Co. for built to order bicycles for peVsons of any age. height, or weight. Works, Manchester street south, Christchurch, Catalogues free.—Advt-.

Tui Extract of Soap. Save your money and yoar temper by using Tui Extract. For washing clothes, scouring floors, and houseweek generally. Ask your grocer. Don't ta&» any iubftitut«. 8

Tusrnbuli and Jones, 223 Cashd street, are no - * , agents for Cross'ey Bros.' world renovrccd "Otto" gas engines. 6051

Mr Morr.'s, photographer. Colombo street, Ghristchurch, fiuds it is not generally known tlut his charge for cabinet portraits of children and three-quarter-length, pictures is 17s 6d per doz., any extra charges are for vignetting, groups, large mounts, also the various methods of printing, etc.—(Advt.)

The life of a popular song is not depen- J dent upon its musical merits so much as upon a catchiness of phrase which appeals to a fickle-minded public, consequently the vogue of such a production i 3 uncertain and shortlived, and "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay" and "I Don't Want to Play in your Yard" sink quickly into oblivion, which will never be the fate of the "Sonata Pathe.ique" or tha "Lieder Ohne Worte."- It- is just the same with medicinal compounds. The cheap, catch-penny medicaments, which are sown broadcast through the country, are shortlived because they possess no intrinsic merits. Lane's Oreasoted Emulsion, however, is a classic which only requires to be known to find an abiding place in all households. This is proved by the unsolicited testimonials which the proprietor is continually receiving, as witness the following: —"Eden street, Oamaru, 12th June, 1900. _lr E. G. Lane, Chemist and Druggist. Dear Sir, —I have. great pleasure in adding my testimony concerning the value of your 'Creasoted Emulsion of Cod Liver Oil," which I have regularly used for some months. I was unfortunately very susceptible to colds, which often compelled mc to be absent from business, and was recommended by a local medico to take your Emulsion. As a result my general health is much improved, my appetite is about 50 per cent, better, and I have increased several pounds in weight, and am now heavier than I have ever been. I find I am better able to throw off a cold. As you know this letter is entirely unsolicited, and, if it is of any use to you, please consider yourself at liberty to use it, for I believe your Emulsion is of great value to any who suffer from chronic colds, cr who readily take severe colds that weaken the system, and make life a little less pleasant than it might otherwise be.—Yours, sincerely, R. Milligjln (of Milligan and Bond)." 3 • WELLINGTON'S COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME. Numerous suggestions, telegraphs a Wellington correspondent, are being made as to where the Imperial troops should ba taken when they are touring New Zealand, but it is probable their commanding officer will consider the plans already mapped out to be comprehensive enough without any extension. The prospect before Wellington people is that they have to welcome tha Orient men, give a send-off to the Sixth Contingent, and receive and entertain the Imperial soldiers all within about a week. SUPPOSED RELICS OF CAPTAIN COOK. According to a Press telegram from Gisborne, Professor Morris, of Melbourne University, who is writing an Australian history of Captain Cook, paid a visit to Cook's Cove, T.loga Bay, this morning. At_ a s.pring on the "hillside, overgrown with hcrub, he found a substantial oaken cask, which is thought might have been placed there by the early navigator. Qn the papa reck, alongside another spring, are cut certain letters, believed to be the initials of a member of the crew of Captain Cook's vessel. THE JUDGE'S VIEW OP THE MATTER. "M.A.P." records a comment made by Sir Gainsford Bruce at an assize where he was presiding recently, which is worthy of Sir Henry Hawkins at his best. Two prisoners charged with fowl-stealing were brought before him, but were found not guilty by the jury. "You are discharged,'' said "the judge to the acquitted pair, "and I agree with the jury in giving you the benefit of the doubt, but I think you know more atonfethosu-fcwis than either I or the jury!" ARCIIBISHOP MAGEE'S HUMOUR, The late Archbishop Magee, when Bisnop of Peterborough, once humourously observed to an uncle of mine (writes a correspondent of "M.A.P.") that if he were asked what two things he was most tired of in his official capacity, he would unhesitatingly reply, "ihe hymn 'The Church's One Foundation,' and cold chicken for lunch—the two inevitable accompaniments of Church consecrations!" A LIFE SENTENCE FOR A FRIEND'S CRIME. Twice condemned to death for a crima he did not commit (the "Daily Express" says), David Rutter has recently been released from prison after.serving a term of twenty-seven years. It was in 1873 that he stood in the dock at Ipswich Assize Court with another man, charged with the murder of a gamekeeper on the estate of the Maharajah Duleep Singh. The whole burden of the guilt was assumed by Rutter, who exonerated his companion from blame, and. on his own confession, was condemned to death. Many, however, believed in his,innocence, and on the plea of a deformity in the neck, which would make hanging a horrible torture, a respite was obtained. Medical examination failed to confirm the theory, and he was again ordered for execution. Petitions still poured in, however, and at last his sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life. Now, on his release, an old man, he tells a sensational story. It was the other man who shot the gamake.per, battered his head in, and threw him into a pond. But there was a woman whose heart would liave bean broken, and whose children would have been left fatherless ; while Rutter was alone in the world. So he took the whole blame upon himself, and has just crept out from beneath the burden of it—endured for twenty-seven years. WANTED—LABELS FOR CELEBRITIES. At the box-office of one of the principal theatres, I overheard (writes a playgoer to "M.A.P.") the following conversation between a fine, soldierly-looking man who stood b_fore mc and tlie box-office-keeper: "I want stalls for this evening's performance." "Very sorry, sir, not a seat to be had." "Oh, come!" was the reply, "you surely have something left—depend upon it. you have some up your sleeve somewhere." But the man was quite inexorable, and repeated with emphasis, "Very sorry, air, but quite impossible." Nothing daunted, the soldierly-looking individual insisted, stating ho was a personal friend of the manager, and felt certain it could be arranged. Finally, however, he turned away, evidently much disappointed, saying he would return later to see if any tickets had been returned. As he left he handed his card to the man. He was scarcely out of sight before tha box-office-keeper, who was standing gazing at the card with a look of bewildered and mortified astonishment on his face, exclaimed: "Well I'm blowed, if that wasn't Sir Redvers Bulk-r just home irom the front, and I didn't let him in! If I had only known!" In the next morning's paper, however, an announcement appeared: "Sir Redvers Uuller was present at Tie performance of at the theatre last night." So the box-office-keeper was able to find a seat after all.

JUSTICES IN A PECULIAR POSITION,

When the evidence for the prosecution in a case of alleged conspiracy heard at Kumara last week, was concluded, counsel for the prosecution, Mr Hancan, said that acting under instructions he had to state that one of the Justices on the Bench was personally interested in the case, and he pointed out tliat if this were so, and : if an interested Justice deliberated with the other Justices as to the decision, even though, he did not vote thereon, the decision would be invalid. The statement made to him was that Mr Campbell, the Justice referred to, owned a residence area in Kumara, and was now building a. house on such area, and that Lawson (one'of the accused) had agreed to purchase from Mr Campbell such house and area when completed. Possession was to be given at the end of the month, and payment made. Under these circumstance. s ? it" was to Mr Campbell's Interest not to have a committal, because if a conviction followed, Lawson weuid not require Mr Campbell's house and sue, as tie Qovanuaeat would jrovjde him

with a residence. In reply, Mr Campbell said that hia action in taking a seat on the Bench had been a voluntary one. He had come into the Court and , taken his seat among the audience, when Mr Aitken, the chairman, requested him to take a seat on the Bench. His opinion was that a Justice should in his official capacity be above suspicion. After Mr Hannan's objection he would not continue to take any further action in the case. Mr Campbell here left the Bench, At a later stage, Mr Guinness, who appeared for orre of the accused, desired to call another of the Justices hearing the case, Mr Benyon, to give evidence, and said Mr Campbell had acted in a high-mind-ed and generous manner. Mr Benyon, in reply, flatly refused to leave the Bench at Mr Guinness's suggestion, as it appeared there was an attempt to defeat the ends of justice, arid to further statements of Mr Guinness that lie was an interested party, he gave an emphatic denial.

RAILWAY WORKSHOPS EMPLOYEES' WAGES.

"The Petone Chronicle" states that the Minister of Railways has now remedied, to the satisfaction of the Railway Workshop employees, a long-standing grievance of the Government paying less wages than private employers. An intimation has been conveyed to employes, embracing a considerable proportion of the staffs, that their wages will, in future, accord with the ascertained ruling rate of wages. This alteration involves a pretty general increase, of wages in several departments of 6d per day. A Wellington Press telegram states that some time ago the department decided to raise the wages of its day labourers by sixpence per day, and later the blacksmiths and bsilerniakers get a similar rise. The Minister has now decided to extend the increased remuneration to all artisans in the Government workshops. This means an increased annual expenditure of twenty thousand pounds.