NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10882, 5 February 1901, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

According to the "New Zealand Times," 'the severe illness of Mr Thomas Gale, of Wellington, has assumed a phase that is causing anxiety to his many friends.

Captain Koir, of the Zealand.- Rifles; has been appointed staff officer to Colonel Penton, and was to proceed! with him to the Bluff to meet the Imperial troops.

The Sydenham Borough Council" has resolved to pay its employees for the time lost (a day and a half) in connection with the mourning at her late Majesty's death.

At Rangiora on Monday, a fire was discovered in the roof of an old house in Ashlev street, but was extinguished before the Brigade arrived.

Messrs W. Doubleday and W. E. Parnham have been elected members of the Waimakariri Harbour Board for the Borough of Kaiapoi. No nominations were received for the Mandeville district.

A special meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council resolved last evening to borrow £2900 to pay off its overdraft, and to pledge a portion" of the general rate to provide interest and sinking fund, the money to be borrowed for twenty-one years.

A witness in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, who was also defendant in a case, would persist in saying far too much, to the exasperation of his solicitor, who at last remonstrated in the following terms : —"You are not doing yourself a bit of good with all this talk; can't you say 'yes' or 'no' to my questions? You'are simply rambling about and tiring everybody. Don't make speeches • answer questions."

It has been definitely decided to hold the postponed regatta at Wellington on Saturday next.

The birth-rate in Wellington for January was the highest for that month during the last four years. There were 151 births during the month in question.

A-coording to a Wellington telegram, Archbishop Redwood and a party of visiting clergy left Wellington yesterday for Westport, and intend travelling overland to Christchurch.

The retreat of the Roman Catholic clergy of the Christchurch diocese is to begin this morning, and wiil continue till Saturday. A number of priests arrived yesterday from the various country districts.

At the last meeting of the Board of the Christchurch Building and Land Society, Mr Henry Allison was elected chairman of directors in the place of Mr M. Sandstein, deceased, and ilr Samuel Bullock was elected to the vacancy on the Board.

The Rakaia river was in high flood yesterday, and will not be in order for fishing for several days. The Ashburton was suitable for fishing, but though a considerable number were down at the mouth the previous day there were few fish taken.

The entrance examination in connection with Christ's College is deferred from 10.15 a.m. on Thursday next, as previously announced, to tlie same tim-3 on Friday next, on which date term commences at the school. Other notifications will be found in our advertising columns.

The Salvation Army authorities, who recenth- took in charge the little boy from Dunedin, who was before the Police Court on Saturday, have Ivid three homes offered him. The boy is to come before the Court this morning.

Tlie Sydenham Borough Council, in common with other local bodies, has protested against the Valuation Department's deman-i for revising the Valuation Roll, as excessive, and has asked the city representatives to endeavour to get tho charge reduced.

The two scholarships given annually at St. Patrick's College, Wellington, tenable for two years and valued at -10 guineas each, have this year been won by Masters A. Yenning and'V. Geaney, of the Marist Brothers' School, Timaru.

At the St. Albans Borough Council meeting last, night, several of those present were loud in their remarks against the overgrowth of private hedges. One otherwise law-abiding Councillor exclaimed that he had been almost brushed from his bicycle by this nuisance, while riding along the footpath of Edgeware road.

After tne thunderstorm on Thursday night there was a heavy slip on the Otira road, and some of the passengers coming through qn Friday, after getting past the breach, had to walk to the Bealey. It is expected it wi»l take some time to get the road at this slip into shape again, but a good gang is now hard at work on it.

Yesterday was a perfect harvest day, and good progress was made on several farms to secure tlie grain. Our Ashburton correspondent states that harvest operations were pushed on with great vigour in that district. Reaping, stooking, and threshing were going on through the Dunsandel district, where there are some particularly good crops, and an abundance of feed, though the rainfall has not been nearly so frequent or so heavy as has been the case south of the Rakaia.

Two trams from Papanui and Christchurch were delayed last night for some minutes, by a cab accident which happened on the lines. Coming round the corner by Unwin's store, in Papanui road, one of two horses in a cab slipped upon the tram line, and brought the other down with it. The time was about half-past nine, and the tram from Papanui was waiting at the North Belt for the other from town to pass it. went by, and finally it was decided that the two trams should exchange passengers, so that both could proceed without waiting for the impeding cab to ba shifted. This, however, was found to b- unnecessary, as the fallen horses proved to ba unhurt, and the vehicle was soon moved clear. Both trams then proceeded on their way; but several of the passengers for town had already got off and begun to walk. No damage was done by the. accident.

Mr T. S. Weston pointed out at yesterday's meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College that the College was without fitting portraits of past and present chairmen of the Board. In view of the death of the late Hon. JL B. Gresson, a former chairman of the Board, Mr Weston thought the present a suitable time for some effort ..ing made to acquire such portraits. In years to come such mementoes would not only be pleasant to look upon, but instructive, and would instil in the minds of students und others a reverence for the institution those present were assisting to govern. It some steps were taken to give effect to the suggestion the Board would be doing n" very useful public work. The Chairman, Mi* H- R- Webb, said ho had on one or two occasions asked Mr Malet to supply hia portrait, but he had not boen successful in obtaining it. The three portraits on the wall before them were the only ones they had. Mr Weston said the portraits they had. were ■not worthy either of the gentlemen they represented or of the College. The matter was referred to the College Committee for consideration and report.

Mr William Olliver, of Lyttelton, can boast of having lived under five British Sovereigns, Hi. is ninety years of age.

Mr A. H. Russell broke his ankle and fractured two bones in his leg whilst playing polo at Hastings some days ago.

Giptain J. W. Williams, of Wellington, has been appointed secretary of the Shipmaster-' Association.

The work of dismantling the .Exhibition was continued yesterday, und now the various annexes are gradually being denuded of their contents.

On Friday the Hon. C. Louisson, with Mrs Louisson and daughters, wil leave for Australia, en route to England. Mr Louisson will return in June next, to be sworn in as a member of the Legislative Council.

Mr Justice Edwards and Mr R. Bloxham went South yesterday to attend the sessions of the Supreme Court at Timaru, which begin to-day. Inspector Ellison and Mr M. Clearv also left for Timaru.

Air Colvin, M.H.R.. received a telegram last week from tlie Hon. W. Hall-Jones, stating that a detailed survey for the Reefton to Inangahua Junction line would be begun this week.

Those who have just come from Christchurch are, writes a gentleman at present on a visit to the West Coast, wearing black and whit- ribbons, as emblems of mourning for our late Queen, whereas we, on the Coast, wear black and purple ribbon, and those from Dunedin red, white, and blue, with black streamer-. Why this difference?

For over a week rain has fallen steadily throughout Southland, says a southern contemporary of Friday last. No worse spell of weather has been experienced for a long time; not even during last winter. All the rivers and creeks have been running b__nk and bank for some days, and, in the lowlying localities" much damage to crops has occurred through flooding

One of the dispensers of justice who was supposed to attend the Police Court yesterday did not put in an appearance, and proceedings were delayed for ten minutes. Captain McClatchie disposed of the cases of drunkenness, and after waiting about five minutes remarked that evidently his fellowjustice did not intend putting in an appearance. He did not like to take up the valuable time of cc_ns-l or of the Court; indeed, he felt that he vas wasting his own time. He would, therefore, adjourn, the Court till two o'clock. At this juncture, and before counsel had left, Mr W. E. Samuels, a justice of the peace, put in an aopeaT-osc-. He was not supposed to be on the Bench, but had come forward to fill the vacancy. The business then proceeded.

A correspondent who recently travelled overland to Greymouth forwards the followin! information":—Messrs Casaidy and Co., coach proprietors, are now erecting a twelve-stall stable, with feed and coach rooms, near the Otira Railway station. It should be finished by the end" of February. The Government are about to erect a suspension bridge for foot passengers across the Otira between the Otira Railway Btation and the hotel. Some of the workmen are alr«v!_dy on the ground. The erection of the bridge will be under the supervision of Mr Mcintosh, of Kumara. Tne bridge will cost about £600 or £700, and be about four chains long. It is expected to be finished by the end of March next.

Tlie committee of tie St. John Ambulance Association will meet in the City Council Library on Friday next, at 3 p.m., to adopt the annual report. -.

The many friends of Mr R. Struthers will learn with satisfaction that he is once more enabled to be about again, having pot rid of the somewhat serious attack of r_roiir.*.; t -._ which he has been suffering from. He \.a s much missed from the recent bowling tour. nament, and great regret was expressed 7 his absence. *'■

In accordance with the resolution of the Memorial Committee, his Worship the Mayor despatched by the San Francisco. mail yesterday an order for Mr Williamson's statue of the Queen. An energetic canvass will at once be instituted, for the purpose of providing the balance of the sum necessary Mr Hartnett, one of the viticulturists b«lo'nging to the Agricultural Department, I__. found a few vines in the Hawkes Bay chV trict affected with phylloxera. The diseased vines have been destroyed, and ill. ground in which they were growing disinfected. '■•-;,'■

Mr Grieshaber, jeweller, High street.whose lease has now expired, and as th» premises are to be rebuilt, announces $ clearance sale of his stock at great sacri* =: fice.—(Advt.)

Tui Extract of Soap. Savo your money and your temper by using Tui Extract. For washing clothes, scouring floors, and housework generally. Ask your grocer. Don't take any substitute. g

There is no linn to equal Oats, lowrv and Co. for built to order bicycles for per! sons of any age. height, or weight. Work* Manchester street south, Christclmrch' Catalogues free.—Advt. '

Make absolutely sure of the ccrr.ct time by having your watch repaired at the best sho-- in New Zealand. Clarke and' Co. 148 Colombo street. English watch., cfeaned, 4s; mainsprings. 3s 6d; Waterbury's, 2s 6d. Clarke-"and Co.'s wedding and engagement rings copied, but not equalled, by all the leading shops in New Zealand. *S. Clarke and Co., 148 Colombo street.—(Advt.)

Mr Morris, photographer, Colorabo street, Christchurch, finds it is not gqnerallv known that his charge for cabinet portraits of children and three-quarter-length pictures is 17s 6d per dos.. any extra charges are for vignetting, groups. laTge mounts, also tha various methods of printing, etc.—(Advt.)

"Famous Humber Cycles."—-A shipment of these celebrated macSiines has just- b.en landed by tho Anglo-New Zealand Cycl. Company, and comprises nil the newest models as exhibited by Humbc-r, Limit©!, at the great Stanley Show, London. L&jief are specially invited to inspect tlie new idfesj in fiiii-fli and equipment.—Tho Anglo-Net? Zealand Cycle Company, D.I.C, and ESfj. High street.—[Advt.]

For a few days only:—Jewelled safety Ems 9d per doz, cut steel buttons 9d per dot', airpins 9d per doz boxes, blouse uins 9d'p__ doz boxes, cut crystal) buttons 9d per 2 dog, Shaw, Robinson and Co., 213 Cashel street, opposite "Press" Office,—-(Adv..) '

Handsome Wedding and Birthday Prt. sents.—We have just received a special shipment of Beautiful and Useful Goods. We are making a splendid show in our window; everything marked in plain figures. W_ defy Competition. —Fletcher Bros., Direct Importers, High street, Christchurch. [Advt;]

Turnbull and Jones, 223 Cashel street, are now agents for Crosslcy Bros.' world renowned "Otto" gas engines. 6051

Loss of appetite, nausea after meals,,and headache are symptoms that the patient is suffering from" ind-ge-tion, the prevailing malady of modern life. This will lead to most disastrous results -unkss prompt remedial measures are taken. The one medicine which can confidently be i_e-ir.mei.d-d to effect a radical cure is Impey's "May Apple." Ask your chemist fur it. Price 2s.—(Advt.)