NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10940, 16 April 1901, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A fierce and very hot nor'-west wind blew at Ashburton yesterday, suddenly changing to sou'-wesb about five o'clock in the even-

"The application of electricity to the tower clock has been a failure," said Or. Clarke last night, "and we must go back again to gas, much as I regret it.''

At Oxford Magistrate's Court, on Monday, Messrs Hawker and Pii.hard were sworn in as Justices of the Peace for the colony.

At Oxford Old Age Pensions Court, on Monday, Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., p-ranted six pensions in full, one at £13, and ono £7.

Lisut. H. Merton, Christ's College. Rifles, has becfl appointed Acting-Adjutant of the North Canterbury Battalion, in place of Captain Hobday, transferred to the District Staff.

The motion of Cr. Cooper, that the resolution passed by the Comicil re the retiring allowance of the Town Clerk and the Assistant Town Clerk be rescinded, was negatived last night by 8 to 5.

The City Council last night complied with the request of the Royal Reception Committee, and voted the sum of nine-eighteenths of the expenses of the Royal visit, which is calculated as likely to amount to about £3000. The contribution of the City Council will amount to something like £1350.

At the Pensions Court yesterday thirtytwo claims were renewed for £18, 4 for £15, 2 for £12, one for £11, one for £9, one, for £8, one for £6, and one for £5. One renewal claim was refused, and three were adjourned. Tw*o new claims were granted for £18, and one for £17, while four were adjourned.

"It. wasn't fair, your Worship," was the plea of a young man charged with riding a cycle on the fontpatfa yesterday, "the two policemen who caught mc hid behind a bush and were in plain clothes." "Well," replied his Worship, looking severely at the young man over his spectacles, "you must i_*_enib?r that cyclists have .become so wary that it is difficult to catch them. The policemen have to do their best to catch offenders, and if you can't get away, so much the worse for you."

All the Acts passed in Last, session of the New Zealand Parliament have been assented to by .ibis Majesty the King, except. "The Defence. Act Amendment Act" (which is under the consideration oi the Colonial Defence Committee), and "The Deceased Husband's Brother's Maxriag. Act," and "The New Zealand Ensign Act," which are reserved. It is for the latter reason that the colonial ensign has not come into common use, and that th. New Zealand flags hay. not b.en supplied to schools as intended.

Last night, at the City Council meeting, a presentation of a certificate of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand was made to Mr H. G. Carlyon, one of the Council's workmen, for an act of bravery performed by him on 19th November, 1900, in rescuing a child from what appeared to be imminent death from a runaway horse. His Worship highly eulogised the. courage displayed by Carlyon, and pointed out that such bravery was "the mark of a true citizen and a true man. The presentation was made amidst cheers from "the Cou'ncillare. Mr Carlyon briefly expressed his thanks for the presentation.

There is a very pretty song, which we have heard on more than one occasion in Christchurch, "When sparrows build." In poetry and song, no doubt, the romance of the building by the sparrows is exceedingly fine. But when it comes down to the practical hard matfcer-of-fact, the sparrow-build-ing in connection with the tower clock in High street is rather more a. nuisance than otherwise. For the second or third time during th. past few months the clock was stopped yesterday by the string which the sparrows' had carried up to build their nests, and this had hung down and caught the hand of the clock, this stopping it. Mr Gundersen, who has charge of the clock, had the result of the sparrows' building removed, and the clock went on again as before.

A pretty and novel wedding was solemnized on Saturday morning la.. at Little Akaloa Church, when Miss Constance Gardiner Menzies, daughter of Mr J. H. Menzies, Menzies Bay, Banks Peninsula, was married to Mr Francis Harvey Thorpe, son of the Yen. R. J. Thorpe. The visitors from town were, conveyed by the s.s. John Anderson, gaily decorated with flags, to Menzies Bay, where the bridal party joined them,'and then on to Little Akaloa. They were driven from the jetty to the church in waggonettes. The church was tastefully decorated and Mrs Kay presided at the organ. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Hu;,h Northcote, assisted by the Rev. W. Kn'owk-s. The hymn, "The Voice that Breathed o'er Eden"' was sung as thra bricta entered the church with her father, who gave her away. She was attendd by Miss Marjorie Menzies and Master Htr.rv 'Menzies, niece a.nd nephew of the bride" Mr Thorpe, was accompanied by Mr Charles Tendall as hest man. The bride wore a pretty white delaine dress with train, and veil of Limerick lace, and she carried a Ixiuquet of white flowers. The little bridesmaid Was dressed in Puritan, costume, and .the pa<je as "Little Lord Fauntlerov." The "Wedding March" was played as' the bride and bridegroom left the church. After the ceremony the bridal party and guests were entertained at "Glen Mon'a," Menzies Bay, the residence of tho bride's mother.

i _; ____ ■ "• t I 'CAMTJgton contrib.itio&s %_, -. f Queen's Statue Memorial F _»& «. w _sL_ Y ' £1500, or half of the sum rapiS-M. |a In Dunedin to data £1502 h_ s b-. n collected for the memorial statue, to Qntaj Vj.pl toria. It is estimated to cost £3000. |# Mrs Fen wick has forwarded M- R _ M j Wigram a cheque for £2 2« for th" ,}■ U J? s | Memorial and Queen's Statue Fund, '" "•' ? 'M I A man w*as arrested by Detective Chiv '? tall yesterday, upon a charge of _._„b" n „ lady s bicycle, the machine being vai_4 _| *IP A Dunedin telegram states that Fr : r . % Trelacon, one of the crew vi .]■.. V..J: 1 £7aSo: had dropFd in for a le *** y '*s I A poll of ratepayers of Petone ha, ,„ 1 thonsed tho Council to borrow £,<n w A 7' § water supply. £7000 for streets Mrff__f 1 paths formation, £2500 for dr._m a * tt f Z' 1 -ion, and £2000 for gasworks exicnW. I

A man named Henry Wilson alias H . 1 Walker, was sentenced to three m im ]t 1 imprisonment at the Ashburton x»V.'* J Court yesterday, for' _ f Mr J. 'Moison, and attempts »to _,<.-- _ till. * J -*** | Cr. Payling, last night at the .it? : I Council, called attention to (tie fact t_-V I though the Council had refused to ? t _*. g permission for ice-cream vendors to _t ___ i in the square, three stands were still _.ia- I business there. "• I

Speaking at St Michai.l _ pari, h m.*ti_, yesterday evening, the Rev. A. W. .verif said that instead of the attend.in"c ",»t the Sunday School falling off it had so in.rea.__ that the present schoolroom was bsr.lv larce enough.

A Dunedin telegram states that th. t_\. 1 lowing candidates have been nominated n. I the vacancy on the Conciliation Boar.' 1 caused by the retirement of Mr J. \ M.lla_ 1 M.H.R.: —Patrick Halley, William Hood' I and Alexander Judge. ' |

It was resolved at a 'meeting held laj. evening at. Mr W. RobinWs that th Championship Draughts Touraauu-nt b* held next Easter in Chri.tchui.h, providethat the draughts players of Cauterbury will give their support.

Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, who has been nominated as 'Mayor of Christchurch f f , r the ensuing year, was present aa a visitor at the sitting of the City Council [_[ night.

W. J. Hanlon. J. H. Wagg, and R, Jf. Johnston were each fined £1 and £1 \_ costs, besides 7s fare, for having travel.d on the Wairarapa regular tram on tecuxs.,. tickets.

The Wellington railway station wjj | burglariously entered on Sunday, and abcss i £35 in cash "stolen from the safe. Tjsb was evidently opened with a skeleton k. and a safe key that had been kepfea tin premises used. A conference of lib. different sections interested in the promotion of free sv.or.c_rj education will be held in Tin\aru, probata on the 22nd inst., when a request- by di Timaru Main School Committee, to have j their school raised to the status of a District High School, will be fully discussed. . The Government Poultry expert s_t.i that the. order recently received for pouhry for export to South Africa could not b. fulfilled. He says tilia* th. demand for birds from Momohaki farm is greater than the j supply. Over a ti!-nusand fowls and ducb have been ordered this season. Some extraordinary notions appear to pro j vail at Homo regarding clerical life aai work in the colonies, for the Rev. A Julius stated yesterday evening that, clergy ' men coming out here from England look ' forward to rough work and a hard life altogether; ."but," continued the spc.ike-r, "I seem, to have come out to v% pnri-.li bi«S with all manner of religious luxuihs." Mr L. F. Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, reports that the bottom of |i)te Kaipara harbour is well adapted lot' j trawling, and fish is abundant, but owing in the many mud banks on which a trawler is I unable to work a seine, nets would be most suitable. A Dunedin telegram states that practically all the damaged wool, etc., hns been removed from tho holds ot the Strachgryfe, ' and the lead ore included in her cargo ha? been re-baggedi She will be placed in drvk . for survey for the purpose of a_!Pitain_i_. what amount of damage to the v.w.l lim been done by fire, which it is thought ii" not very serious. Cr. Andrews has decided not to offer M .- self for re-election as a member of the City ■ Council for the south-west ward, us he contemplates leaving on a trip to luigiani Last night, at. the conclusion of the bi ._■_• of the City Council, the Deputy-Mayor spoke of Cr. Andrews's retirement, and expressed the regret of the members at bis severing his connection with the Council after so many years' service. Mr Henry Scott, tho Otago enginoer, vrha has returned after a lengthy stay in tlis Old Country, in the course of an interview said be was" convinced there wan a sphudid future in the d.velopment of electrical engineering in this country, owing to the abundance of' water power, We lat-ely visited Canterbury College Engineering School in Chris-church, the" laboratory ■xi wh:«h he describes as highly creditable to the institution. Mr G. H. Normington has b:m appointed Professor of Music at, the Uni.crHty « Minnesota, U.S.A. His numerous frierms in Christchurch will also bs phased to U«"» that Mr Normington has achieved great success as a conductor in the twin riti« a Minneapolis and St, Paul; the local _."«' speaking in the highest terms of n, iwcffl performance of the "Eljah," by his r-t. Paul Choral Club. Mr Normmgtnn 1* conductor of several other choral socifttf. « well as being organist and choirmaster o St. Mark'B Church, Minneapolis. All church curate, do not find tbenwlw cast upon beds of roses. The *f r '.f Julius related at St. Michaels last,W» that while in England a friend of &«*• turned from a curacy at Brisbane, wl«« mappeared to have had some rather rcnw.s able, experiences. He had to go round, J* in hand, to the members of the parsalt. i« order to collect money, not only fw '}•■■ church, but also for his own stipend- J J J ono occasion lie had the unspeakable prf* sure of presiding at a meeting *<**?? anhicrt discussed was whether tlw pi'should pay his salary or that of theorgw .•• Messrs Meason and Marohanfc, Civil E-M'" neers, Timaru, have reported on. and b-'_ an estimate of, the cost of bndgmir. *m*> : Opihi, near Pleasant Point, at a the Hanging Rock, onpo.dteDr. the report will be £id before the !<»*-» County Council at its next meeting. report states that a bridge could rMMU - erected at the Hanging Rock, tn . h»J- ; being in even* way »uit-ablo for 4_j'. They estimate the cost of a stock hr.dtf. * wide, at £840. but this figure couldit**, duced by £150 if some old matcriM *;•; used, which thevdid not recorom->«- • .'- ---cost of a traffic bridge, 13ft ™^J£3 t .. mate at £1640. This would pro.Wi entirely new structure. On Sunday Messrs Adams, E. H. James, and F. W. P»» le [:' j; Christchurch in their motor car a. -v. ' and arrived at Banpora (20 miles it*** 11.45, doing the journey in ten min_A _: than the lAin takes. A splendid rnß Oxford and View Hill, brought the rfv the Waimakarin Gorge Bridge, al 4-*>r h a total run of 60 miles without a stop. start waa made for home at . .J route being through Sheffield. Kinvee, West Melton. fi Along some of the beautiful ••-'-££,,,_ these parts the car sped along **$% rate, and tho return journey of » was accomplished in 2 hours. 25 »«» making a total of 103 mi.es in 6 lg minutes, or an average pace of oj.r w _ f , an hour for tho whole journey, a. » <L : farthing per passenger per mile- ' j. e attracted a great deal of attention afc»_ road - ,_ i*,!M The Justices on the Bench aCourt yesterday evidently believed in h- f . adage," rather altered, thst w*hat is-•'« ( the gander is also sauce for the goo*. j had before them a young lady " riding a cycle on the footpath, "™L%__\ "Guilty."* 'We can maks no announced the presiding '»u s,! C*'.„ bftV e l 3 the boys and the girls, so you win.. .j, pay a ten-shilling fine and rc '\-;V t ,_ ... Clerk of the Court promptly mltw money.

{<• w -ia no public business at the » Court yesterday. fru&e_j n City Council next, week will the advisability of running trams todays, between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. only. ectives Cn__.[* and Livingstone arf a man at Riccarton yesterday morning , charge of indecent exposure.

W. If. Oorrican has been appointed •master and crindu .or of St. Mary's, Chester street.

o civil business was taken at the Magis%4 Court yesterday, as Mr R. Beetham is Hgf'd hearing old age pension applicant

i the (ourse of repairs to the Lands ~ t Sur ▼« -. Department yesterday, it was ' nd tl.it ffae totara thnber wiw still as md .» w hen first used forty years ago. t ' 'ii in int .-view with the Mayor of Dunj! n Ii Mn»on suggested that Dunedin ■~, oul.l rect. a morgue like the one just _». ft** n i .iristchurob. which he describes *' i-iv ...ih up-to-date. * l •' -'» -° -' X " absence from town, owing "it > .> iw- "•' ins Honour Mr Justice Dennis--1 m '•"■ •J *•''.> ring in of several of the new % _-t »vof tin' I .;« . has had to bo deferred. ? *\ -_ft* r.'!• rs have been received for the || tr p.»rt <• the postmaster's refidenc/- -ir !» R.i Una mo tivn for that of a safe for the ii Stamp offic. and a strong-room t.,r •' L 'nd Transfer office. Government has considered the re(,i». of the Stratford Chamber of ComTn «- thit th. Coal Mines Commission I 54jih. 1 inspect the coal deposits at WlimI jjf'itinin_, and has decided that it has f u '«j?wf-r to extend the scope of the Com-i-joii in th™ direction suggested. be rare taker of the borough Lamps at i-ipni yesterday morning wa_ confronted , h .1 rnn.-.irlerable lamp-post gatluring at .mi load. The multitude, in the shape of a jk,'K fiwanu of Ik-'*, took clwirge of the i jup aid di/iid all municipal authority for ' renty minutes. Then Mr Gough, by a it I* to f, managed to disperse the crowd, ii 4ww able to trim th* l lamp. Very elaborate arrangements are b_ibg mad. ior the installation of R. W. liro. A. _. Husnell as Grand Master of ths New Zea» /land Constitution, which taken place on the . [25th inst. The ceremony will ba held in ithe Choral Hall, a building excellently ! j adapted for the occasion, and where the inJrfalWion of H.W. Bro. Right Hon. K. J. J Seddon took place. A very lurge gathering j of the brethren of the craft is anticipated on - i I tha oceaaion.

Soma time ago a conference wan arranged to take place between the Executive of the JJeautiijing Society and the Reserves Committee of the City Cotxncil as to planting the South Town Belt and other matters. Up to the preaent, so far as is known, no such conferenc- has ta_em place. The nlanting Bsaso_ i_ rapidly going by. Tiara was a small skirmi. h yesterday in th" Police Court between Mr Donnelly sad .' .! * -Inspector Black. The former was urging that it was unfair to his client, a young girl, to send her to Lyttelton Gaol on remand for a week, when the remand might a. easily ba made to the next day. In tho course of the discussion that ensued . üb-lnspjctor Blade urged that there was no ner.dfir-- for Mr Donnelly to be so hard on ti.., o_--. Utimately Mr Donnelly got his *»y, the Bench remaniling the girl until today.

Mr Hamilton, J.P., announced yesterday in the Police Court that the Justices would have to consider a revision of the scale of fines in connection with cycle riding on footpaths. At present it costs half a sovereign and costs to ride on the footpath, but the Justice intimated I o one offender that the nest tuna he came before him the fine would be doubled. "If you will have nice smooth paths to ride on," ;uid his Worship, "w/u must he prepared to pay for them."

A diminutive donkey and its somewhat heaw-weit»ht rid'r cauw d considerable mirth in Tnum'street vestsrday morning. The ii*iim;d is destined to be a future "artist" at Bix's Gaiety Company, and the perfermnntf'R this morning while being ridden wtra full of promise. Every cart he met he promptly attempted to run into, and every horse in the street shied at him. Thereupon the wise animal took to the footpath, and am usee! himself by strolling into every stable and timber yard in the i street, much to his rider's dirgust. An attempt to walk into the public bar of the ! Wellington Hotel was prevented with some ! 'trouble before the rehearsal concluded.

That the leniency of the JitMtoes the other day in connection with a well-known female offender, who Las been so often convicted of drunkenness, was misplaced was amply proved by the result. Twenty-four hour's after bavin*; been disc barged, on condition of at once hnviug the city, she was once more ia durance vil. ytslrrd-iy morning, wlienhefo;e th?> Bench, she asked for another chance, again promising to leave. 'I he presiding jnatk.l was, however, made of sterner stuff than his colleague of the previous occasion, sad-he tersely informed the offender that he .ottld give h?r a t.ianc., but that it would to to go to Lytti-H' n gaol for a month, and after that she might go wh.re she liked. A peculiar case bus just <. >m« before the ROtic. of the police. The wife of Mr Percy Wither, hod gone out. for the day on the 11th inst., leaving all doors and windows O-efuMy locked. On her return she found w.rything ns *h. had left it, with the Mcqitbn of thirteen .billings left by her <* ttw> inante.pvee., and about thirty gajrDh'ot- and. other .utieles, from different *»rdi.bc*. which had mysteriously disappeared. They had been taken from locked oners, which were -till locked, and none <rf the window, had in any way been tamj«ced with. The police were informed, and tiro or throe, days ago thief Detective Chry»t.a!» made inquiries which it is said !*d him to suspect a girl named Jane Manntf, living next door to Mrs Withers, of th* offence. Her effects were searched, *tth the alleged rm_t that Constable McWorn and the Chief Detective found bottles ft scent and various articles of underclothtttjf, among them, which are said to be F*it. of the stolen property. The girl was Mere the- Court yesterday and remanded. £105 5s cd was the total amount of duty frtid on tea in Christchurch for the week «ding April 12th. Of this sum Ridlev and .Son contributed "£54 9s ed, representing HBBlb of tea. or more than half, wh*vb *iH give the public a little idea of the ennraioiM demand for their teas. j_ On hire for wedding, birthday parties, *-te., cups and saucers, tumblers, cake*t»nds. knives and forks and spoons, dinner »rd t?» sets, etc.. at reasonable nrices. Fletcher Bros., Crockery and Glassware Iniportfr., Lower High street, Christchurch. —'Advt.) Two thousand Cycle Lamps just landed The line:. variety we have ever shown, at all prices from the "bobby"' dodger at 3.. W to Lucas, best at 15..-Oat_s, Lowry and Co., Christchurch. [Advt.] Mr Griwbaber, jeweller, who has removed to new premises, 155 Colombo street oppo*iw City Hotel, is having a clearing'safe of his whole stock at greatly reduced prices.— (Advt.)

Benjamin Gum enjoys a very large sale "_, New Zealand, and that its fame is spreading » Fwed by the fact that the proprietor. o( th. popular cough remedy have this seaKm secured orders from Westralia, Brisbane, Ad««ide, Sydney, Melbourne, and Fiji. Ad."Race New "Zealand.—(Advt.)

1 klr W. E. Sorrell, the popular photo* i?*p_.r, was badly troubled with unbroken ■'iUblains. He soaked his feet in hot water 'hw» times, and applied Loasby's Koolibah "tsr .ach fomenting. Result, a complete .re—(Adrt) Swallows gold twin brooches 6s 6d, solid _i>sd long chains from 455, 18ct extra heavy Redding and keeper rings 235. Clarke and w>- are also best for engagement rings, 5W to .elect from, 10s to _40, lovely gold wtwehes. bangle*, watches, spectacle., etc. for *_teh, clock, and jewellery repairs we «* reliable. S. Clarke and Co., 143 Co-i'-'rabo .treot. —(Advt.) •Unbroken chilblains almost drive the suf- ««« sjlly. Jhe irritation is often v_ry pat. Loasbys Koolibah relieves almost IX*j- tl T- reduces the swelling, and comI ? ! «*ly cures in a very short time.—(Advt.) i • iJ^- 0 - s P e < , >«d Bicycles" contain all _ '_*[■ , and experienced 1 2 '""i' 11 "-*. and give immediate and per--1 «i»nt attraction. Sole makers of "An- , 1 .csa.l Cycles," and New Zetland I »p.it. lor "Ikeston Humber" Cycles, the 1 ."v-m Ne , vr Zealand Cycle Company, a *'I.C, and 226, High street.—(Advt.) "

Lt 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 doz.. any extra charges are for vignetting, groups, large mounts, also the various methods of printing, etc.—(Advt.)

Tui Extract of Soap. Save your money and your temper by using Tui Extract. For washing clothes, scouring floors, and housework generally. Ask yonr grocer. Don t take any substitute. H

THE WARD SYSTEM. That the members of the City Council a« at present constituted are strongly in favour of the aboLtion of the ward system was proved last night. One of the Councillors Stat,-, that in his opinion it would U a good thin- if the ward system were tn V arnJi. h*L and there was a loud chorus of "Hear, hear," all roar.d the Council table.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. A Hamilton telegram states that Messrs Souter and Co. have been instructed by Messrs Williamson Br.'*., to subdivide the Rukuhi,. E-tate of 26X00 acres into suitable farms for close settlement, All classes of land are included in the estate, nearly all suitable for dairying. OUR ROYAL VISITORS. The Duke of Cornwall and York is look ing anything but strong, writ.* a London correspondent. J saw him only a few days ago, and was neir enough to see that hi'i his projected tour been abandoned his health was in grave dangf-r of suffering from som. more permanent harm than the attack of German m..i_les which was tn_ primary cause of h;s late idites-s. His Royal Highness looks so dispirited and depressed, hushed, and far troni weil lam sure the wisest thing for him is to get away fo set and be quiet till he is stronger. The Duchess of Cornwall and York is undoubtedly a handsome woman, worthy to be "mother of our kings to be." Of fine height, with a good carriage, and fresh complexion, and sunny blue eyes, she is sure to be much aximired as she does the, round of our countries across the seas." Once the Duchess breaks through the iron ring of shyness, winch is her bane and her trouble, she is a bright, clever, amusing woman. But her shyness people who know her well tell mc is very trying ; it makes her awkward and difficult with strangers.

A PIONEER AKAROA SETTLER.

The late Mr Waeck.rle, whose death we announced in yesterday's issue, arrived at Akaroa by the French emigrant ship the Comte de. Paris in 1810. Our readers may remember that in that year the French Government made an attempt to secure Akaroa for a penal station, 'lhe frigate L'Aube, commanded by Commodore Luvaud accompanied the Gouite de I-ifis to take formal posse., .mi of Akaroa, but the emigrant ship was a very slow sailer, and Commodore Lavaud put in to Auckland to await her arrival. While there it leaked out that she had come to take possession of Akaroa, and Captain Hobson, then Governor of New Zealand, forestalled him by secretly sending Captain Stanley, of H.MS. Britomart, to declare the Queen's sovereignty 6ver the South Island. So when the Comte de Paris arrived the French emigrants were in an English colony, though they did not knew that till some years afterwards. They were allowed land on which they settled, and 'unongst these was Mr Waeckerle. He built thei first flour mill, and for some time ground all the flour for the settlers, though it is said that if a bushel of wheat was taken there the owner had to wait eight days for the flour. He also owned a shoeing forge, and put up the hotel with which his name was connected, in 1862. At one time alse he supplied meat to the settlers when beef was 2s 6d per lb. For several years he was a member of the hVst Akaroa "and Wainui Road Boaa-d. and was one of the first mayors of Akaroa.

CHR.S_Y_I_URCH'S NEW TOWN CLERK.

The City Council last night decided to appoint'Mr H. R. Smith, the present Town Clerk of Linwood, as Town Clerk of Christchurch, and Mr J. Matthews, tjtae present rate collector of the City Council, as Assistant Town Clerk. Mr Smith has been associated with Linwood since its severance from the Hoathcote Road Board and formation into a Town Board district. He was appointed Ckii-k to the Town Board, and subsequently, on the borough being formed, h_ became Town Clerk, a position he still holds. Mr Smith is greatly respected by the Council, and the district generally will sustain a loss by his removal to the higher position to which he ha* been appointed. He possesses a thorough knowledge of municipal law and government. and was second in the appointment for the Town Clerk of Auckland. The ratepayere of Christchurch have in Mr Smith "a thoroughly good official. Mr Matthews has been rate collector ior nine year* for thß City Council, and has gained, many friends by bis courtesy and thorough attention to the duties of the office.

A SENSATIONAL STORY

It will be remembered that some months ago a rather sensational arrest took place at Maori Hill, when the wife of a respectable resident was taken away by an officer of the Queensland police to answer a charge of bigamy in Queensland, says the "Otago Daily Times." The circumstances of the case were rather peculiar. Th* woman was married to an old Italian in reduced circumstances when at the tender age of fifteen, and it was stated that influence was broug-t to bear on her to compel her to become the wife of the man. His treatment of her was such that ?he subsequently took her destiny in her own -hand, and left him. Some years afterwards she married in Dunedin, and lived happily with her second husband. Meanwhile a change for the better in the fortunes of the Italian came about, and he sought out his wife and endeavoured to get her back by the means already mentioned. Of the rights and wrongs of the case little can be said for want of particulars, but the fact that the woman has been acquitted by the jury before whom she was tried when"taken back to Queensland will be received with a great deal of satisfaction by her friends on this side of the water, who strongly sympathised with her throughout the recent turn' of events.

THE LITTLE PRINCES

I am sorry, adds the same correspondent, that the little Prince Edward does not go with his parents. He is a splendid little fellow, with no shyness or seif cojiscionsiifss about him. Direct and sturdy in manner, he promises well for the burden to be. laid upon him. lam told that he was the one great grandchild entirely without fear of the iate Queen, who was devoted to him. He early learnt how to approach her Majesty, and did his ceremonies perf.ctly. He would approach her with a low bow. kiss her hand, and then step back a pace or two and make one bound with his arms rouod her neck. He wa. sometimes alone with her down at Osborne, and the story goas (this comes irom an intimate friend of the Duchess of leek) that on one occasion the Queen drew i mice Edward* attention to a squad of bluejackets passing under the windows. ! \j me ' ,P ay - v ' come aQ d look. You love 1 £___". I T \. PrinC * Wt his Wets S came to.her Majesty's side. "We ikes wed soldiers, not blue soldier*," w_s hi. .comment on the evolutions pro.«dT_g in he courtyard below. He X ad „*_£ the salutes of the people w i th __>._ punctihownws. His b'rotLr. G.e '3-. * nUd f from his ~irh_. babies. Princess A ictor aof York is ton voting to do more than stare H ■ w When, when they raise their hand, to their hat. ,n tokai of acknowledgement They are all three fine strong children to_ grown, and cc.re__lv brought up