NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10953, 1 May 1901, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A communication has boen receive t 1303inM« TC h, 1900. M! d2M4 p ™r3 our shores, as against 2548 Him a lot of prisms, 4™ £ wtf .'"""j Mr G. H. Harbroe, who w as for years manager ot tbe Wellington BranS& the Commercial Union Coif has been appointed attorney for X«ff 9 land for the .Magdeburg Fire" Insurance'fil The a.B Tongariro, with the retumW Contingents, is expected to arrive at Port Chalmers on- Munday night or early o h Tuesday morning. * va Detective Livingstone arrested a mm last evening on a charge of stealing fij & from the Wellington Fresh Food and Sun plies Company. oo r Colonel Hume Inspector of Prisons has been admed by the Government F or £ ter that the tree-planting operation*. *f prisoners, on land near Rotorua, are coin* The Premier will address hi s constituents at Hokntka on Friday evening, whw he will explain the financial" operations of tho past year, air Seddoa would not, tele, graphs our correspondent, definitely declare, whether 'he would unfold liis future policy but added that he supposed ho wotuxf have something to say about, it. The Christ-church Sailing Club held a handicap race over the usual coum? on tl»Estuary, of which the result, is as follows- — Maid Marian (C. G. Munck). 7n»n handicap first; Pareora (G. IM. Lorimer). 3min handicap, second , ; and Heresy (G-. G. Andrews) scratch, third. Mr H. E. Kennett acted as time-keeper. . The number of births for Christchurch and district during April numbered 76 for males, and! 56 for females, as against 70 and 76 respectively for the mmc month of 1900. The number of marriages was 72, against 69. The deaths totalled 28 for males, and 29 for females, us against 32 and 29 of the preceding April. The Government have asked the Platforms Committee to provide for the Royal .party, the suite, and others to the number of either 200 or 350. and* it has been decided to erect a special platform in the centre of the sealing in Victoria Square, the, Government dofraying the cost. Tlia city surveyor has been asked to undertake tho" work of supervising the erection of the platfornif^etc. Messrs W-. Strange and Co. have received official intimation of their appointment to furnish the Royal residences in Christchurch iv connection with thiit approaching visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. They have also secured the contract from tlie Government to furnish the railway carriages to convey the Royal party from Christchurch to Invercargill. The secretary of the Ranger Road Sweeper Company (Mr H. J. LuSford) has received intimation that the United ■ States Government have granted letters patent, without opposition, to the company's invention. Th.ia is a highly important lnattez , , as the American Government, before granting letters patent, mate exhaustive enquiries all over the world in order to ascertain if the invention is a bona ikle on', , . This is usually a matter that takes twelve months to settle. The machine has now been •brought to as perfect a state as possible, and a. public trial is expected to take . place shortly. The Platforms Committee of the Royal visit received somewhat of a shock at their meeting yesterday when a telegram was read from Mr John Holmes, the Executive Commissioner, suggesting that, the Mayor should invite a .number of officials and other personages to free ssats on the platforms which ths committee are erecting. These amounted to some 700 or 800. The committee; 'however, were quite equal to the occasion and agreed to a reply in effect t.bat .bayoiKl the" Royal visitors, their suite, and others mentioned by the Government,■ tickets would have to ba'purehased by those desiring to be seated on the platform. . With commendable promptness the May number of the Canterbury A. and 1\ Association's journal has been issued. There is a leading article on Federation, in which toe. opinion is expressed that the general sense of tha country, so far as there is any feeling in the matter', is opposed to Federation with Australia. The Agricultural statistics fof the year 1900-1901 are published, and there is an article interesting to treu planters, by Mr T. W. Adams, fin "Wattle Trees. A Gigantic Duck Farm," is tlie title of an article descriptive of the duck farm of Mr Ellis, Sydney. A number of useful and interesting illustrations complete a capital number. Additional subscriptions to the .Jubilee ■Memorial and Qufl-n's Statue Fund have been received from Canterbury Lnited Vistrict of Ancient Order of Foresters, T>er Mr T Gapes, permanent secretary, £5 ss; ><* R M. Maedonald (2nd contribution) *3 4s;Sprevdon School, proceeds keture by Air h. W Weager, £1 19s ; entertainment and collection, Boys' High School, £8 11s 4d Mr W W Collins, M.H.R., also acknowledges receipt of a dieque for £5 from the Umstchurch Working Men's Club, as *•«*«]£ tion to the fund. Some time ago Mr Cαlbra received contributions from the byaenham W.lM.'s Club, £5; and -Richmond W.il. 3 Club, £2. The winter vacation at the schools in the Wellington education district will take place this year during the Royal visit to the colon}. The only case of drunkenness before the Magistrate's Court yesterday was that of a first offender, who was hned the usua. penalty. , ~. I A Napier paper su«geste that the falhng birth-rate is due in a measure to the employment of too many female teachers in our schools. No less than thirty-six fever cases have been dealt with in the Poverty Bay district, this season. The record number was sixty in 1898. : The natives secured a thirty gaUjp cask of whisky last week, MipiW to hay. floated ashore from the wreck of the il.M * Tasmania. This is regarded is an indication that the hull is breaking up. The Cashmere HiH« '£ tended visiting Victoria Park 7*;*™**'Jβ inspect the pavilion, but owing to the coM weither, thl members postponed the tup till next Thursday. The "Wuinuupa Star" gi«* c,urency to a rumour that Mr A. W. Hffi -U.H.R-, jge member for Maatertou, is to be cahed to tM Upper House, and mad. the representative of the Ministry in that Chamber. ; The -Wainwpa **££*£ number of the eatue of Mr J. S tianj,, t have been lound shot, -" » thmight'they have been kilkd by deerstalkers. , Wellington milk retailers have a committee u> get a legal ducument dr up in the form of an agreement, with tW priw of milk set down at 4d a quart.

Tin; shooting season opens to-day, May Ist. TI.P installation of Mr A. E. 0. Rhode* as Mayor of Chrixtchurch. will take place on W«-.JnWidey next, Bth M*y. • Hi, Honour Mr Justice Denniaton sat in i i.™,» rv vi>«U»rdav, and disposed of ... m> .1 cation, to destroy books, modi by ,fc iMliJial Awign-. <**» wtre made jwpniyid in each ruse. Til-' hv»vv downpour of rain yesterday W ,i 1 tlw tffect of swul.ng » large iSnt'v of storm water into the Avon. rJ M ~f th* river * qnite discoloured, it 4 m a large quantity of water, ti* U EigWgh« tin for many month. **' L i who last week was, Court, comnntied fei months' mv JSmment with hard labour. TW W ill be a sitting in banco, before jj Sou: Mr Janice Denniston, to-day Court. j* just no* it subject ol .-iWjj.l , ' to-day than it w» «* *" on,hs ' l *"- An eUerJv huly remained rather too long wine friends on the .South K« vwu-rday. and to her consternaSI wai carried on. She ran out onto Sβ' platform of the carriage and caHed out to the officials to stop, as she was or, ♦he wronir twin." A« it appeared that in her excitement she might jump oil, one Dorur ran along and told her to go inside the carriage and stay there till the next stopping yl/ice. Many , complaints have been made lately M 'to the depredations of thieves who jjly their calling between New Zealand coastal porta. Pa.-sengpra on steamers have freyaentiy miaswt small articles and sums of ijionev, and in the crowds at the arrival jsd departure of steamers pickpockets have been busy. The latest victim is slt R. J. Mason, the well-known trainer, who, on his ; *W from Wellington in the Rotomahana. which arrived yesterday, was robbed of £30. After a considerable amount of delay, which it is to be hoped will not result in the Joks of v season, the Uity Council have agreed to the recommendation of this Beautifying Association with regard to the planting of the South belt. Thts trees are now, as is the ease in other cities, to be planted on the footpath, and it is understood that tha kind of trees will be selected which will not run tlieir roots* upward, sr> as to destroy the asphalt. Now that tine work is authorised, it is to be hoped there will be no more time lost, but that tlua very necessary work will be pushed on. At the meeting of the Wrstport unamter of Commerce", held last Thursday, Mi Bavfeild mo ml his motion re offering a suitable coal area on the flats in the vicinity of Sergeant's Hill to the Imperial tioTernmeut. He referred to the proposed change in the status-of the local volunteer eorp», mk! took it as a hopeful sign that the i<l«sv o? erecting defensive works at the port lad not been, discarded. In view of that, possibility and of increase in the Kavr in these waters, he tliought the proposal to assist the Imperial Oovernmnet by offering a cmvl urea, should be strenuously adhered to. JI« said it had' been urged tiat h) the event of the Government agreeing to the proposal the Harbour Board's finances would suffer, but he contended that that would not be- the caise, as the Hoard iryuM still receive royalty. After djscustion the motion was lost. Mr< W. J. Dunlop, w-atchmaker and jweller, h<'us now displayed at his new premises a splendid assortment of jewellery, etc., just, imported from London, and all of latest pattern. 175 High street, below Clock Tower. 1979 Mr Morris, photographer, Colombo street, Ckistclinrca, iind.s it is not generally fcrrown that bis charge for cabinet portraits cf children and three-quarter-length pictares in 17s 6d per doz., and extra charges for vignetting, groups, large mounts, also lie various methods of printing, etc.— (Advt.) Two thousand Cycle Lamps just landed. The finest, variety we have ever shown, at »U prices, from the "bobby" dodger at 2e 6d to Lucas's b;st at 15s.—Oates, Lowtv, and Co., Christehurch.—(Advt.) Mr Grieshaber, jeweller, who has reBwvetl to new premises. 155 Colombo street opposite City Hotel, is having a clearing ttk of this whole stock at greatly reduced prices.—(Advt.) t Benjamin Gum enjoys a very large sale ia New Zealand, and that its fame is spreading is proved by the fact that the Woprietors of the popular cough remedy ttive this season secured orders from Westtautt, Bmlxme, Adelaide, Sydney, Melwrnrne, and Fiji.—Advance New Zealand. H-Wrt.) Mr W. E. Sorrel 1, the popular photopaptar, witx badly troubled with unorofcsa chilblains. He soaked his feet in fc* water three times, and applied Loasop Koolibah after each fomenting. Re«Ht, A cornplet-e cure.—(Advt.) Tai Est.rju.-t of Soap. Save your money «W your temper by using Tui Extract. *or washmg «J»thtw. scouring floors, and Work generally. A.k your grocer. "*>t Uk« aay substitute. Q .Wow,, gold twin brooe]ies 6s M 5«iP ,1$ chaias from 45s - 18ct extra "Pfctac es. eto. For Wi^.h ftSJuan) md ' m Colombo *2f3? drive the .of. Bftlt T " v. - 'rotation >» often very (kV m a vor - v e,,ort time.—(Advt,) kS * l*TT*' l umWp ™. cakeft«cbw r! ' € A C " ,at «««»a»Wo "rices. *-tS!t) Hlgh Blroet ' Chrbtchurch. AN' DfTERESTIXO SERVICE. • ZS ,1 recently. wl«n fi* tOa "'ngrpgation of twenty. s?, beiriir hi «bereter ty, J ril ° heart of tl,(i had ea, ttn . ' sOft from tho Jr">»nd the twa wW^L 1 " 1 ' 1 ' 1,^,, i,n<l a m)f erected. diameter of 22ft.

**%."?■ > m *™<™-

fcepleted if Mr Sfddon wiJI hays /5 hth :iunive «ary of the «9ttj or " fOf Xw Zeulanrf. He occupies ® tfie «E P^ n % Brilisl » t^lrlV ,1 1897 ' ' Slr W - Laurier. of wl » W r are the only two •** W m *'? f , d wntinuoufJv in office. lrt P who has held **biim Ut f on fr ib* gen««J elec«W. He 7 !i ' s Io the lot ,)f tlae l >r<? - i. Poetically represented 61 i vear "- Jurin S 24 Msaione 1 thy Wwtlana local bodies in 1868.

Oa*terd 5 WATEK i'AMLVE.

nti ' m vva * caut * (l at Bairnsdale tWnT n T ltl y when it was found that **• b*T *° f tbe ttiWn vras "I" 110 salt - **» «r WI 111 " cx l wri «ic«l had caused a H*. s£f I," 3 " ¥ sak *«« from U)e **W no »J*T r Ua y <'"' *Jt «~at*r was Petanina . ream Borne dis *tance beyond %fyS^ g •• t i at " ,n ut B*im»dale. 'The *W .WiWToir U^ me lull o{ salt

fore the engineer noticed the change, and all the urate* in the town was us ualfe as tfee sea. The situation was very grave, ar.d, according to latest newspapers to hand, the only hope of averting a water famine rested in the possibility of a heavy rainfall. About three years ago - fears were entertained that the water supply in the town would become polluted, and a commencement was made with the erection of a dam across the stream at a point where it is narrow and walled with high banks below the waterworks. On that occasion a heavy freshet obviated all necessity for such a step. This y«ar the inrush of salt water was so sudden and unexpected that, there was no intimation of its presence until it was found in the supply pipes.

A MODERN ASTROLOGER

Tbo black art, as astrology was called in the oldtn days, is tabooed by the Postal Department. Accordingly, when letters are 1 addressed to any -person "engaged in receiving money tinder pretence of foretelling future events," hre or her name is placed on a bku-]< list in the mail-room, and the correspondence is returned to the writers. Recently the attention of the Postal authotitiee was directed to the large number of letters which were being sent irom Victoria to a man in Sydney, who advertised that \\<i would in return for eighteenpence- torward to the inquirers the name, age, and photograph of their future wives and husbands. The Sydney detective ottiee was communicated with, and it has furnished ths deputy Postmaster-General with the subjoined report:—"The man has oeen living at his present address for the last three months. On taking the house he stated that he had recently come from Melbourne. He advertises very largely, and receives Irom 20 to SO letters per mail. By yesterday afternoon's mail ho received 27 letters. mostly from Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, and one from Sydney. He calls himself 'the 'Celebrated Astrologer.' . . . Hs is over 60 years of age, and has a wife and two young children. He leads a very secluded and retired life. He is not known to the police, nor do the neighbours know anything about him." An easy multiplication sum will show what a handsome profit the "Astrologer" must be making out of the credulity of his fellow men and women.