NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10904, 4 March 1901, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

His Worship the Mayor has received the following additional subscriptions to the Memorial Fund.—The Misses Brown £2, Mrs A. C. Knight £3 3s. At Woodend on Friday Mr Winsloe, on behalf of the residents, presented Trooper Fear with an engraved gold guard and pendant on his return from South Africa. .Air P. Lynskey, of the Bank of New Zealand, Kaiapoi," an enthusiast in football and cricket, has been transferred to Akaroa. Mr Kirton, from Christchurch, takes his place at Kaiapoi.

The coal output from the Westport mines last week was 9307 tons 4cwt, of which 8501 tons 11 cwt were shipped by the Westport Coal Company, and 805 tons 13 cwt by the Westport Co-operative Company.

A strong sou-west wind which blew for half an hour across North Canterbury on Sunday morning, did great damage to fruit orchards, in knocking off the trees quantities of apples, pears, and plums.

On Thursday afternoon Mr R. C. Todhunter was presented with a silver-mounted matchbox and case of pipes by his fellowemplovees in the New Zealand Farmers Co-operative Association, on his retiring from the employment of the firm to join his brother, Mr J.*E.-Todhunter, in business. Mr J J Isbister made the presentation, lor which Mr Todhunter suitably responded.

(Mr D**vid Baxter, _ w_3t-fe_r>wn Dueed.* wine m®r-ha_rrt, and ai .prominent bowk* died suddenly on Saturday raewikig.' ' John Filmer, aged sixty, was found «h*._ dead at Onohuaga. He 'had been ill, _jj it is supposed he committed suicide. The University Stmate session closed c_ Saturday. T_e next annual session will I* held at Dunedia in February, 1902. The ordinary meetings of the St. Albsi_j._ and Sydenham Borough Councils will b« held this evening, at the usual hour. The City Council -will meet th-ia ev__. n ,, when several subjects of '—.po-fcujce will fc discussed. The offices of the Cant-rbury Agrioc_Ht. TO .i and Pastoral Association have now been x_ moved to the Agricultural and Industrial Hall. " *

A man named William Lawson was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital on &__,_. day, suffering from an injury to hi* ja*said to have been received in" a street row! The annual ram and ewe fair under ths -"- auspices of the Canterbury A. and P. Association takes place on Thursday and"?... day, 14th and 15th inst. The entries close to-morrow. Siam has agreed to receive letters from New Zealand at a penny per half ounce rate. Letters from Siam for the remain at an equivalent of 2_d per half ounce. A oon of Mr C. Gamble, of Waddington met with an accident which terminated fatally on Thursday last. It appears that "" while riding his horse fell with him and rolled on him. He managed to ride ou to his destination, where he died.

The residents of Ellerslie have presented Mr Justice Cooper with an address, the presentation being made at the railway station by Sir G. M. O'Rorke. The address con. gratulated the recipient on. his elevation w the position of Judge of the Supreme Court. During a sitting of the Federation Coir,, mission at Wellington, the Hon. John Roberts. C.M.G., stated that the records showed that in 1880, when the population of the ' colony was 271,000 less than in 1900, then, were 500 more births than in the latter year. Tha passengers from the West Coast on Friday required four coaches to accommodate them, and at least fifty persons pat < up for the nigh* at the Glacier Hotel, at : tha Bealey. Several tourists were includ. Ed an the number. According .to a gentleman who returned from the West Coast on Saturday night, the Greymouth hotels at .-present have some difficulty in finding accommodation for the influx of visitors. Wbahst ihe was in-tb_tt town some of the visitors had to ba sup-..""* plied with "shaJ-edowi:,*.'* . . •Mr Petorkin, who, it will be remembered, was here «ome years .ago in connection with the Canterbury Tramway Company and the railway, is at present in town, relieving Mr Jackson, of tine Railway Depart-mecc, who goes on holiday. Mr Peterkifl is at present stationed at Pet-one. The subject of the removal of the head- \ quarters of tbe H.A.C-B.S. in New from Auckland to Wellington, formed the. principal point for dliscussion at the recentgeneral meeting of delegates in Dunedin. The proposition was -ultimately withdrawn; It is stated as a peculiar coincidence thai, a number of the witnesses at the Magis-. terial enquiry at Waimate into the death i( the swagger Sullivan had preserved clippings of their evidenoe gfven at the previous . proceedings in 1895, which had appeared in the local newspaper. The Kaiapoi Football Club, as the Man- . aging Committee of the Park of that town reports, that last year's receipts were £37 15s 6d, and after erecting a new fence ou South street,, and other expenditure, tha balance in hand is £7 4s 2d, which is to be

applied towards- the sulking fund to repay the debentures raised to pay the cost of the

oval. The assets of the committee were estimated at £707. It may be stated that since the Park was purchased a total of £500 has been expended upon improvements. Tho accounts, as submitted by the secretary, -lr Beevor Roll, were adopted. The five guinea cup offered by the Ashburton Horticultural Society for "the winner . of most points has been awarded to Mr T* Pitt. Mr Pitt, whose exhibits wero of ._*;; very high order of merit and greatly «_•''' mired, also won special prizes for pot plant-?, cut blooms, and fruit in the open classes. Mr G. F. Dods was awarded a special for - pot plants in the amateur class, Mr H. Craighead took a similar honour for cut blooms. Miss Chalmers for fruit, and Mrs Bushel for ~ vegetables. jfjThe net Customs duties for Auckland■'_<___■;.February constitute a record for the colony. The amount received was £54,377 16s 10d, the highest total previously reached,: £54,000, being a record in August, 18&6. In February of last year the duty totalled £38,464 3s 9d, giving an increase for this year of £15,919. The beer duty was £1406, v a falling off of £135 compared with lasrc year. The gold exports were 15,7240z, valued at £57,437, an increase from 11,4560z, values at £40,691. ' ( The exhibits of clothes, etc., wortt by the deceased Sullivan, whose death was ths subject of the recent Magisterial enquiry at ■: Waimate, says the "Timaru Herald, have been taken care of by Detective Livingstone since the trial of 1895. Among them was some bread that was found beside the body, and this is remarkably fresh-looking alter its six years' keeping. The clothing was moth-eaten, but the bits of scones would have tempted some of our fellows m faouth Africa at times.

The North Canterbury School Committees Association, at a recent meeting, dis-U&sed tha question of teachers' salaries, and resolved:—" That the Association of the action taken by tfcNorth Canterbury Board of buu-, cation in connection with the scale or teachers' salaries forwarded to it from tlia Education Depart-trent, Wellington, and respectfully asks the Minister of Education ; . to pay over the grant of £919 10s aUoca««. to the Board, so that Ifce same can bs <S»r tributed pro rata on the Boards Be.fi?,. among the teachers of the North Cint&rbury district."' .'"■'" The Committee of the Christchurch School of Domestic Instruction request us to mn*m that owing to an oversight the annual report of the school did not state the fact that M.jss Annie Rennie had passed the nccewaw •«" animation with great credit, and had b-ra awarded a. certificate testifying to her competency as a teacher of cookery. Miss »: nic lias been accepted accordingly as a properly qualified teacher by tho Education department, and her name duly «»*«£;. I Miss Rennie has been in the school lot._»«• years as pupil and assistant, and we £■■ kuthorised to state that- she has f h <-f ceptional proficiency both in practical cry and in class management, btie ■«-..' ° third graduate teacher from the school. - A property sale was held on _e_J_ Mat/on and *>~ when a number atlots were quitted. The Deke bsute Papanui, belonging to the Mr H»nrv Matson which had been cut flections was oiTered Five ; * Matron's road were sold at £ib .. Campbell being the purchas . Ford bought U £43 and 2| acres at £J5; Mr A. Evans, U£i . at. £43 5s per acre; Mr ftscli. 5 acres ~ £60 per acre; and thirteen "ctimwj «,- purchased by Mr J- Campb-il or £230• Action on the South Town b t, tageand small hall, was sold to Venablea for £280. •: ■ The March number of the -£»!*gj , Agricultural and Pastoral Journal" hasten issued articles of the preIndustry," in which , «fo -| S_£_£ia Weed./ ««i «*jXf £ caarion t_wtm by W to local Farmsrs' Club. TheP?*" are , U H farming and gardening . of interesting information J£» h „ tions includes of a group of twelve^ on down ewes, imported by Mr .^ : with their record «op J» 0 EngV at foot w. thin eleven *W* land; feu- eight '»^_f T _ i m d e„Vfrom the sara. ewes «-»->OT a 7 Quee[U ». of - Cock o' th«, South" d , the celebrated Scotch * ia * k *™L cto»* » May Queen" was the winner of the U*» r ion Cup at Glasgow ia .IB .»•

Iffottse- rente continue high in Wellington. TVi ruling rent is at the rate of £10 per par annum, says a ooTreepondent. tffred Ravnor, who cut his throat at •'vJ> tTpper Hutt, was unable to appear at kg Magi'trate* Court on Saturday, and I übe is »till in hospital the hearing of 1 jj,fl charge of attempted suicide against him 1 put. of! till Friday next. 2 prior to the departure of the Canterbury I 'jsfrtion of the fteveot'h Contingent, a numI* jtfr ol the employees of Addington Workjiep. pre*&nted Mr E. J. Foster, a member ,J tlie Cbntingont, and fellow-mate, with a p_.,r of gk-sses and a shaving outfit, j._iu% insewbtd-. Mi~ Emily Marion Brott, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs Henry Brett, of Auck--lajuj.a juj. was married to Mr Peter Wood, of (•fcristehnrch, at Takapuna last week. The juidfwnaid.*- were Mjj.s Porter (a cousin), Miss n-mild, and two little nieces—Misses Wood isd Brett, Mr Fred. Roll, of Wellington, bring best man. n & Mr Mackley's beautiful homestead, Upper Grey Valley, says the Greymouth •fft-r," there is the finest specimen of a irjoakey-pu-irlo (Auracoria imbrocata) to be uts in New Zealand. Ihe tree is fully xgjft high, and perfectly symmetrical from lbs ground lo the topmost bough. It is about twenty years old. j The Minister for Lands is likely to visit •j,, Mount Vernon estate, between Waipra and YVa.ipukuro.ii, with tho object of jurtctaining its suitability for closer aett-le-ltffi t. The- Government h;ut been urged to ~& negotiations for Un purchase from the .rtstecs of tha late Mr John Harding. The thf .p industry seems to ho flourmh-

jillie Weliitigton province. At Palmerston sferth 50,000 cheep tvere yarded on ThursjJßr last. The- majority were locally owned, ufd were mostly Romneys and Lincolns. Thirty rams, con.sir_-.K_ to the New Zealand j/*a and Mercantile Agency Company, »•«« f hipped from Christchurch by tho p_3lomai»ana on Friday last.

al present matters connected with the KwftJ»" I > » v *'*' trade, have come to a standKill. The -Milling Company's vessel, the Kwtre-1, is not- likely to tai<e up the runmnU aff*i«- Mr Sims has sold the handiest sf his vessels as adapted to the purpose „l tbe river trade, ar.d hi* other two hs-vt. become regular tnKlers to Port. It mm as if, for all practical purposes, the Port of Kaiapoi might, now be declared f!<if«J, and its affairs might be merged in the man-gement of tho local borough council, writes our Kaiapoi correspondent.

On Saturday night the members of the "s'' Battery assembled at the Canterbury Hotel, Lyttelton, to bid farewell to Trooper ,J__«n M-Lellan. son of Captain Hugh J_rti,eltan. Captain Mclntyre, on behalf of the Battery, presented Trooper McLellan vith a handnome hunting crop suitably in6cr.b«d on the handle. Captain Mclntyre said four brother-' McLellan had belonged to the Hattery and he felt sure the comr*tfo. tho corps were losing would do his but to uphold its credit, and do hi» duty to th* Empire and New Zealand. Trooper _v%W!.»n briefly returned thanks.

jjia Town Clerk, on behalf of the Dunedin City Council, on Saturday ipplied to tho Warden for a license for a water-raco and dam across the Taieri River, for the purpose of obtaining a supply of water for the generation of electricity for power and lighting. Tho race is to cost £8500, and the dam £10,000. Several objections were raised to th_ applications being granted, chiefly because tho vast quantity of water would be a continual menace to tie protective works erected to avert floods. Mr Hay, civil engineer, said the dam would be so strongly constructed at the price that 30 danger need be anticipated.

Some interesting black and white dranv-ing-i havo been received by the Director of tlie. Wellington Technical School from Hews Casseli and Co., the English publiihejs, writes our own correspondent. They t_ow tho methods of some of the best iuurtraton. of books and magazines. Tho 'm-ving?, also show on their margins the i-Htnietrons regarding reduction and reproduction sent to the engravers by both the artist, and the editor. They include pictures drawn by mch well-known artists ss 11. I'ifford and J. 11. Bacon for "CasnnlTj Magazine": by Will B. Robinson for "Tfil Lif.-- and Times of Queen Victoria" and..'Police .and Crime"; "Quaint .Study cf a, .Spider's Web," by Ruby Williams, and Must rat bus for "Tho Quiver" from tho pen* and pencils of 0. Grenville Manton, T. H. Robinson, W. Rainey, and H. Birkless.

An much as £15 worth of fruit has been taken oil' <$c peach tree at Frimley Orchard, Hat-tings, .his year.

At the echw/J teach-re' drill class on SM.rd'iy momrng, Stall Sergeant-Major Coleman kwtructed 94 in company drill.

Altogether 2,000,00. tons of shipping were required last year to cany troops, arms, unmimition, and supplies to South Africa in .connection with tho war. Tho .Sumner post office \vill bo completed, it is expected, some time next week. The Government, are providing a clock, a flaeitaff, and flay. Temporary arangeme-nts have been made 8J the Lyttelton Harbour Board for the laxHng of sheep at Gladstone pier, pending »* completion of tho extension of the stock pi« at Naval Point. A -pedal train of fifty trucks on Friday conveyed 452 head of cattle to Little River w Mr T. 0. Hay, who purchased the whole of th« cattle on Mr Acton-Adams's Tarndale '»d Mo.eswr.rth ..station. Real mutes are on the increase in Ocrwrites our Bsrlin correspondent. "sera are no fewer than 6458 persons in where deaf mutes are specially io*#ickd. *n« German language is making rapid |mgm„ in Russia. The scholars of the *M*Un colleges may choose between Gerffl&n Mid French, aiid 70 per cent, choose berteaa, /Mtjws Buddo and Adams, members of mc 4'jtttterbury Education Board, with tho wrraj*r of works, are on a tour of in*»«t'on of the school premises of Cheviot *»4 Kaikoura.

Tlie American Naval Appropriation Bill at mm year carries £15,400,000, being an •«».•• of £2.200,000 over the nppropmw»,f..r the present .year. Tlie Bill orders »»'battleships and two cruisers to be Mil*.

_ Tha Canterbury Land Board will meet on iwsday to consider applications for sections Galae Lyndon estate, and will leave the same 6pt for Culverden, and the next morning W Waiau, where they will nit all day on *«lne«day examining applicants. The ballot *ul be held on Thursday.

Acting under the resolution passed by 'j* general meeting of the Canterbury Em-5-ajers' Association, held last Tuesday, the *cMai*y has forwarded a letter to the f "!»idt'*.t of the Trades and Labour Council j? wfercr.ee to the proposed joint council to ****«- labour questions.

Imih reference to tho destruction of the -?*«r beds by tho mysterious slime which IjMt.y visited the Nelson coast, tho • p x .. ••Argus" says it is stated that I ?***» must elapse before the oyster beds i**-3 regain their former position, and the is, therefore, practically exter"aiattdl for the time being.

JWiy, Johann Fabcr, who was practic- ,; JJj fftTiQder of the celegrated lead pencil I *t f, r.f>i;.i I rried on under his name, died at | on January 15th, in his fl vty-iWr_>h year. When as a young I j® ho succeedeti to hia father's I J* 31 ***, which turned out cheap pencils I ™ *»n inferior sort, be employed twenty I "*-& When he dkd over 1000 men J «>is_i«. at , [.jnc different factories. Faber I J f' ( * f d e d in driving English-made pencils, i_ * *".» tune almost in universal use, out of I "-^nrtajay.

, «n minager of the Union Steamship W i| - ny received advice from Wellin,?- ---... o Ht * ■"'•''*■** to a defect in the machinery, !-,- mtliTX> * be unable to leave Welhi»* '.?? n f<n/tlJr d*y night, as was originally ijr>- R "z c Rotornahana will arrive here ftj ll \ r ° r * o'clock this morning, and sail IW y afUr arriva! back ag™ **> Weln ' t I l ** l * B **""•> therefore, be no *M»r h«jc e to Wellington this afternoon, *PPoriunsty being by the RotomaJ*«, a«-r the arrival of the express to-

Fruit seems valueless in some parts of Australia this season. In Victoria the crop of raspberries would not pay for picking. The growers accordingly asked the Government for a bonim TM 1 rt&pberry pulp manufactured into jam, and obtained it.

It is reported that the mounted corps in the Nelson district will shortly be converted into a mounted battalion, and that Captain D'Arcy Chaytor, who not long since leturned from active service in South Africa, will take charge.

] Tlie montiily meeting of the Kaiapoi Band of Hope was held in the Oddfellows' Ha_l on Friday night under the presidency of Mr Drakeley, some 400 persons being present. Several interesting recitation* and musical items were given by.the members, and an address by the Rev. F. Stubbs on "Total Abstinence in Relation to Health." The correspondent of the Timaru "Herald" writes:—ln the St. Andrew's district there is a scarcity of harvesters, and in consequence most of the farmers are working shorthanded. Numbers of the loafer class are banging round the riverbeds and other favourite camping places, but men of the right ni<unp, who will accept Is an hour and do a fair day's work, are few and far between. According to the observations taken at the Drainage Board's pumping station for the month of February, rain fell on nine day*, | the total fall being 2.165'n, and the greatest fall was on the 24th, when .900 in fell. Rain fell on the same number of days in the corresponding month last year, but the total fall was only .600 in. During the past month tho prevailing wind was from the southwest. It is evident in the country districts that the people, having read so much about the Indian troops, scarcely want to see them, and there will not be "tbe interest taken in them which was shown in tho European troops. Persons in business, etc., are objecting to give holidays, and Volunteers, with harvest on, wiETnot get leave to take part in the reception. 4 Is trial by jury becoming less popular? Them would certainly seem to be some ground for believing "that it is, says the "Law Journal." The proportion of actions to be tried without juries in the Queen's Benoh Division during the present term is exceptionally large; the jury cases number 295, and the non-jury cases 190. Even more striking is the want of faith in trial by jury displayed by litigants in the County Courts. As showing the advance in the price of sheep during the past few years, and consequent profit to the owners, the following forms an interesting illustration:—ln stocking up a North Caniterbury mn in 1897, a lina of 3200 merino ewea were bought at 2s 2d per head, totalling £346 13s 4d. Last month 868 of the culls of this line were sold net. on the station for £300 18s. The purchaser has had three clips of wool and three lambs from the ewes, and the remainder of the line would realise quite 12s per head at ruling rates. What should ba done- with a bottle of whisky found on a man against whom the Kaiapoi bench had made a prohibition order? was a question laised by the, .police at the local Court on Saturday." The Bench bad no advice, however, to offer beyond tho remark that if the police gave it*back to him within twelve months they would be liable to a penalty for supplying him with drink. It is presumed the man's property will be retained till his prohibition has expired, and he is ready to make a fresh start, by which time the whisky should be mellow.

The Rangiora Borough Council met on Friday evening. Captain Alexander wrote stating that the Council's request, that the Governor should appoint the same numbar of Councillors for the borough under the new Act as at present, had been referred to the Ministry. The financial statement showed receipts £13 16s 7d, credit balance £512 8s 4d. Th© tender of the Auckland Cement Company was accepted for the supl ply of cement, aad Mr George Thompson's tender for kerbing and channelling was accepted. At Lytt.ltem on Saturday, before Mr J. T. Brice, J.P., Ernest Grey and George Reid pleaded guilty to a charge of having travelled from Wellington to Lyttelton, by the Talune, without paving their fare. They were.fined 10s each acid 14a 6d costs, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment. Joseph Enright pleaded "Guilty" to charges of having been drunk, and having travelled by the railway from Christchurch to Lyttelton without paying the fare. He said, howeer, that he had "bought a ticket, but lost it. On the first charge he'was fined ss, with the alt.rnatLe of twenty-four hours' imprisonment; on the second charge he was convicted and discharged.

The flogging and snooting of peace envoys in Do Wet's camp recalls one of the most striking and pathetic incidents of the war weged between the mother country and her American colonies. In 1780 a gloom was cast over the English army and nation by the sad fate of a most gallant officer, Major Andre, who had been ordered to negotiate with Benedict Arnold, an American General, who offered to desert his countrymen. Andre had gone at night to the American lines in uniform, but when day broke he was persuaded to change his clothes, and, being captured within the American lines without his uniform, was hanged as a spy. Nothing cast such a shadow over the fair fame of Washington as the execution of Andre.

In connection with the remarks of Mr W. T. Charl-wood on Friday night, as to the award of medals to th. New Zealand representatives at Paris. a rather funny incident occurred. The re-pres-ntatives from >New Zealand were thought by the French authorities, probably from their purely Britannic appearance or conversation, to b. representatives of some county in England, it was only when it was explained to those in authority that these gentlemen had come from a colony of the British Empire, sixteen thousand miles distant, that they, with their natural courtesy, at once recognised the situation, and awarded the medals to Superintendents Smith and Gilberd.

The inquest touching the death of Miss Hannah Hagerty a passenger for Lyttelton by the Rotomaihanar; who died in the Lyttelton casual ward on Friday morning, was held at noon on Saturday in the Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton, before Mr'R. Beetham, coroner. Dr. Pairman stated that he had attended the deceased on the Rotornahana on Thursday morning. She was in convulsions, and he had her removed to the casual ward. She did not become conscious, and died about 1.30 a.m. on Friday. He had made a post mortem examination, and found the kidneys diseased. After hearing the evidence of the steward and stewardess of the Rotornahana, the jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes."

Speaking before the Federation Commission in Wellington, says tho "Post," Mr T. J. O'Regan was unpleasantly frank in discussing the antipathy of the" white population in Australasia to black immigrants. Those who were averse to colour, he said, nevertheless turned out to see the Indian troops, and were proud of them. Also, many of our statesmen favoured the inclusion of coloured Fiji. If we wanted the black man to leave us alone, we should leave him alone. He ascribed the greater proportionate increase of the black population as compared with the white in the southern portion of the United States to the fact that the black man paid deference to the how of nature. The progressive white man did not. and by this means might cut his own throat.

u_F° r * past wwk (sa y s tie Hawke's Bay "Herald") a house in Clive has been "haunted" in a mysterious fashion. This place is about half a mile from the police station and loud knocks continually repeated alarmed.the family. Every endeavour was made to discover the source of the disturbance, but without avail. As the noise was repeated every night the police w>re communicated with, and on Tuesday night Constable Davy with three or four "friends kept watch. The house is raised on piles, and anyone could be seen approaching for s<me distance round. The rapping commenced, but the watchers could not discover how it was .caused. A crowd collected, and a cordon was formed round the buildup, but, though the knocking continued without intermission no sign of trickery cotdd be found, a thorough search being made until 1 a.m. The knocking ceased at midnight. Other methods are being adopted t__ get at the bottom of this "ghostly" visitation.

Much intereet was taken at the Fire Brigades' Demonstration at Lancaster Park on Saturday afternoon, in the working of Mr Stokes patent rocket signal. A rocket is shot up to a lieight of about 300 feet into the air, and then a coloured parachute is released, with flag attaclied. By using flags of various .colours in accordance with the international code, it is thought that this will prove a valuable method of signalling by day. At night a coloured light will replace the pennon. As the parachute will float a very considerable distance before falling, this property should also enhance the value of the patent. It should prove especially -useful to vessels in distress, whose means of signally axe generally limited to masthead devices, while a flag three hundred feet high would be seen over a much greater horizon. Two trials of the patient were made this afternoon, which certainly seemed to demonstrate its practicability.

With reference to grapes, it may be mentioned that both in quality and quantity the yield this year is much above the average, s*ys the Sydney "Daily Telegraph," of a recent date. Some exceptionally large fruit has been produced even in and around Parramatta, while in the grape country to the south and west specimens of almost abnormal size have been met with, some with berries like pigeons' eggs. The short-sighted policy of New Zealand, and the desirability of obtaining access to its markets, is "a thing never lost sight of by many of the growers who have been speculating as to how it wou'd be possible to enable ths lawmakers of Maoria to see the kind of fruit they might have at a few pence per l\ if their absurd anti-phylloxera regulations permitted its import. Nothing appears to have been done this season in the way of removing the restrictions, and it is now, of course, almost too late.

The attention of cyclists is directed to the latest two-speed gear as fitted to "Anglo-Special" " bicycles. The high or norma, gear, ranging from 56 to 99, can bo lowered one-fifth while riding at any speed. The gear also contains an extremely free-running "free-wheel," changeable instantly to a fixed wheel without dismounting. Inspection invited at the Anglo-New Zealand Cycle Company, D.I.C, and 226 High street. [Advt.]

"The Press" on Friday said that Medea's would be busy. So they were, and they were desperately busy on Saturday also. The crowds of buyer's found the Bargains at all counters were as real as advertised. Where to buy and what to buy—go to McClea's Sale of High-class Drapery today. Go early. Fresh Bargains this morning. 7023 Make absolutely sure of the correct time by having your watch repaired at the best sno" in New Zealand. Clarke and Co., 148 Colombo street. English watches cfeaned, 4s; mainsprings, 3s 6d; Water-2-i 6d. Clarke and Co.'s wedding and engagement lings copied, but not equalled, by all the leading shops in New Zealand. S. Clarke and Co., 148 Colombo street.—(Advt.)

Mr Morris, photographer, Colombo street, Christchurch, finds it is not generally known that his charge for cabinet portraits of children and three-quarter-length pictures is 17s 6d per dcz., any extra charges are for vignetting, groups, large mounts, also the various methods of printing, etc.—(Advt.) Cyclists who are unable to get satisfaction in repairs should try Oates, Lowry and Co. j Largest cycle works in New Zealand. 82 Manchester street, Christchurch.—(Advt.) Unbroken chilblains almost drive the sufferers silly. The irritation is often very great. Loasby's Koolibah relieves almost instantly, reduces the swelling, and completely cures in a very short time. —(Advt.) Mr W. E. Sorrell, the popular photographer, was badly troubled with unbroken chilblains. He soaked his feet in hot water three times, and applied Loasby's Koolibah after each fomenting. Result, a complete cure.—(Advt) Benjamin Gum enjoys a very large sale in New Zealand, and that its fame is spreading is proved by the fact that the proprietcp of the popular cough remedy have this sfhson secured orders from Westralia, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, and Fiji. Advance New Zealand.— (Advt.) Turnbull and Jones, 223 Cashel street, aro now agents for Crossley Bros.' world renowned "Otto" .gas engines. 6051 Mr Grieshnber, jeweller, High street, whoso lease has now expired, and as the premises are to be rebuilt, announces a clearance sale of his stock at great sacrifice. —(Advt.) Tui Extract of Soap. Save 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. 8

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 dfizen; Preserving Pans from 2s lid. Delivery daily. Fletcher Bros., High street.—(Advt.)

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Our Greymouth correspondent states that the Midland Railway Commission arrived there on Saturday, and will be all the week examining the line. They will commence to take evidence there on Monday, the 11th inst.

NATIVE LAND LEGISLATIUN.

A deputation of Maoris representing the tribes south ci the Manawatu River waited on the Premier at Wellington on Saturday, Avith a request that the new Acts affecting native lands, passed last session, should not be made to apply to their land. The Premier explained generally the effects of the legislation, and promised that the natives should be given the option of having their lands brought under the Acts or not.

PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

A deputation firm the Society for tho Protection of Women and Children suggested to the Premier on Saturday that there shou»i be a public institution in Wellington City to which certain mothers and their illegitimate children should be committed, nnd that firm steps should be taken to deal with men who desert their wives and families or illegitimate children. Th© Premier expressed himself generally in sympathy with the objects and aims of the society, and promised that Cabinet would give early considerations to the suggestions made by the deputation.

CANTERBURY'S GRAIN HARVEST.

Our Ashburton correspondent writes : — Reports of heavy yields of grain still continue to come to hand, and the average for Canterbury will be a record one, more especially in respect to oats, Which may be safely put down at an all round yield of 40 bushels per acre, the light and medium lands helping to swell the returns to a most gratifying degree. Mr John Grigg, of Longbeach, has just threshed mitf-a paddock of Duns grown on some of the lightest of the land on this famous estate, and the average is 90 bushels to every acre. To give some idea of wliat they were like, it may be "mentioned that it took 101b of twine per acre to tie them, and the land was what may be termed a bit of medium tussock land, near the homestead. Mr Stringfellow, of Chertsey. has just finished threshing a big paddock of Canadians, which averaged 60 bushels per acre.

BEAUCHAMP'S CAREER IN NEW GUINEA.

Lord Beauchamp, according to recent English files, had apparently a pleasanter time of it in the wild regions about Torres Straits than he had *fn civilised Sydney. The ex-Governor had a long tour through British New Guinea, under the guidance of the Lieutenant-Governor of that-possession, Mr Ruthven Le Hunte, and marked his gratitude in a commendable way when he returned to Thursday Island, by offering to make an endowment for regularly keeping and educating three native students at a theological college on Thursday Island which the Bishop of is starting.

A BRAVE YOUNG WOMAN.

Sergeant McMurtrie, of the Victorian Bushmen's Corps, writes to his father as follows: —"C squadron are going to present

a gift to a young lady at Woodstock, who did a very brave deed on the day of our fight at Coster. This young lady—l do not know her name—rode four miles through heavy fire to tell Colonel- Airey that 25 of his men were surrounded, and would have to give in unless be sent assistance. However, he could not help t*_em, and tbey had to get out of their fix as well as possible. I think she deserves a Y.C., for the Boers fired at her all the way, and it is a great wonder she was not hit."-

GUNS ___ADE _Nl GERMANY. In "Tbe Times" of January 10th appeared a note from a correspondent reporting that during the removal by train of a battery of the newly received field guns, made in Germany, from Woolwich to Aldershot, the trail's of two guns (oat of six) broke during the journey. If two out of six guns could not stand so short a train journey, what would happen on the field in active service? Sir Andrew Noble, the great Elswick expert, had a very good idea of the value of these guns produced by a third-rate German firm which had never before made such guns. For, writing to "The Times" on sth January, he complained of the slight placed on British gun making firms, and of the excessively strict supervision by the War Office in every stage of manufacture where British firms were concerned, and expressed a doubt whether any supervision,had been exercised in regard to the German firm's work. His doubts seem to have been only . too fatally fulfilled. The question is—Who is responsible for the gross blunder? It is not only the money loss, but the lives and reputations of British soldiers are concerned when they are called up to handle such inferior material.

A PROFITABLE PAPER.

It is stated that the profits of the "Daily Mail" last year were £80,000. Mr Alfred Harmsworth (the business head of the house and brotherhood of Harmsworth), who is now in America, in the course of an interview published in a New York newspaper, stated that more money is maSe by English than by American journals. This, he contends, is partly due to the more lavish payments of English journalists. "I pay my best man £15,000 a. year. I do not haggle over the price with a good man!" It is reported that Mr Harmsworth recently offered to purchase "The Times" for seven millions sterling. This offer was declined, which prompted an American paper to congratulate England on having one thing that could net be bought.