NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11190, 3 February 1902, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The new tram system being introduced in Sydney is said to give the traveller an instructive tear through the slums. An Australian paper remarks that stranger* coming from civilised lands will find this first taste of Sydney very impressive.

According to the "Timarn Poet," a rab"ttit pack belonging to a rabbiter working in the Brother? Range, near TPairlie, put up and captured a splendid specimen of either a kangaroo or a wallaby the other day. The rabbiter was not sure what the strange animal was when the it first, and he bad great difficulty in saving it from hie dogs, it seemed, perfectly tame, and when the fuss was orer, it fed quietly alongside the rabbit-er, and made no. attempt to escape.

A most extraordinary scene was witnessed in Colombo street Noitfch on Swtarday. A gentleman, driving a small pony in a ponycart, stopped to talk to a friend, who was in charge of a large and' ferocious bulldog. Suddenly the dog flew at the pony and dragged it to the ground, and then attempted to tear it to pieces. The pony was "badly cat β-nd bitten, and the bulldog was only polled; off with difficulty by its owner and a number of other people. The affair created quite a sensation in the neighbourhood, and a large crowd collected to watch the proceedings.

At the recent Australasian Science £ongress at Hobart the following resolution re forest conservation was adopted, in special- reference to Australia,: "That it is advisable that suitable forest areas, especially at the sources of rivers and streams, should be Tendered inalienable, and vested in permanent boards, whSch should control the nee of the timber thereon; and that other forest lands, wholly or in part denuded of timber, should also, be vested in such boards for the improvement of existing timber areas or natural regeneration of foreste." .

Placing law the mxpe of grain, which were rapidly ripening, has (writes our northern correspondent) been a work performed with marvellous celerity in that district during the past) week. 'Many of the fields were fully matured, but a large portion of the crop will have to finish the ripening process in stook or stack, or both. It-is an unusual thing to see a field of standing corn, except each as is late. There will be an effort made to thresh from the stook, bat others will prefer to pub the wheat through the process of stacking. Of early oats threshed, a large percentage of second growth has to be taken out in threshing, as leaving it in the sample affects its value if required for milling, since the weaker grains have to be taken out. There is a fair quantity of straw, and as threshing of wheat will commence next week, it may then be possible to arrive at the return of yields. Pasturage of all kinds is satisfactory. The bean and potato crops are looking well. The clover crops promise good returns, taking the season into account.

Some men of foreign birth axe proud to live under the Union Jack, and appreciate the precious privileges which that nag ensdres ffor all over wlsom it float*. Mr Peter Larsen, a Dane, living aa. Invercargill, contributed a letter to die columns of tjie "Southland Times" the other day in which, as a foreigner, he repudiated* the calumnies of our German detractors, and bore testimony to the beneficence of British rule. Mr Lareen has banded the "Times? , a letter from a compatriot in an up-country settlement under whose notice Mx Laraen's letter in the press felL The writer says: "1 may alto claim to be a ria-uEch admirer of that freedom and justice under which we are governed, and, indeed, which i* extended to every part of the British dominions."

The Sydenham and fife. Albans Borough Councils will hold tsheir ordinary meetings to-night.

It is rumoured in Southland that tfhe Castle Bock estate, in the neighbourhood of 'Lumsden, is under offer to the Government.. The iprapert<y was owned for many years by the We Hon. Mathew Holmes.

Although Maoris are barred from the New Zealand contingents they Sre admitting Australian blacks into the Federal Contingent. The Sydney "Telegraph," in reporting the enrolment of the contingent, lately says:—'"Two black tTaekers —E. Davis and F. King—were taken on the strength. ,.

Mr E. B. L. Dickens, youngest son of the famous novelist, died at Moree (New South Wales) last week, after an illness of some months. Mr Dickens came to Australia some years ago, and engaged in pastoral pursuits, with foist indifferent success. He entered Parliament, but did not find the poMtical sphere congenial. For the past two years fee had been chief police inspector of ttbe Moree Land District, and had gained a wide circle of friends. His funeral in the Wesleyan portion of the Moree Cemetery was. largely attended by Government officials and residensts of "the district.

The contributor to "ftod and Gun" in the Wellington) "Post" has the following: — "While- in Christchurch the other day I took a walk in the Gardens, and visited the fish—l was going to say *ponds,' bat they are not ponds; they are "baskets, , fish, baskets made of weeds covered with water, and with a few trout tangled up here and there in them. I confess I was aghast when I saw those 'fish ponds.' They look as if they had not been attended to far about ten years. Each one is a mass of green American weed 1 , with, a few 'portholes' here and there in which the fish may occasionally be seen crowding round to have a look at the light. Such are the Christchnrch fish ponds. The river, too, is pretty full of weed; but this ie better attended to. I saw some nice fish in the river, but- was surprised at the scarcity of fishermen."

The engagement is announced of Miss Dora Meeson, formerly of Christchurch, to Mr George Coates, the Melbourne artist who succeeded Mr John Longstaff as holder of the Victorian travelling scholarship, and who, after some years of study in Paris, is now settled in London. Miss Mcesou (adds the London correspondent of the "Australasian") has exhibited at the Paris Salon and at Monte Carlo, and while at Julian's studio, in Paris, secured two first mentions against all students, men included. Miss Ruth 'Meeson, who, under the uonvde-plume of "Regent Minor," has contributed a umber of stories to the English magazines, is to be married this month to Captain Gor-don-Hall, of the Ist Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry! He fought with distinction in the Tirah frontier war, and was with Methuen at Magersfontein, and as far as Lindley, where he was wounded. The Meesons live at Wimbledon, where Miss Dora has a studio, within a short distance of that to which Mr Coates recently removed, to complete his "scholarship" picture.

Tie members of tihe 'Musical Union have presented Afi.is Pacfcer, who was for so long leader of the orchestra, -with a purse of sovereigns, the purse tearing an inscription. The following letter accompanied the purse:—"3otih January, 1902.—Dear Miss Packer, —I regret you were -unable to be present at the annual meeting, when same of your friends desired tb give expression of their appreciation of the valued services you had rendered to 'the Society in tihe position of leader of the orchestra. Your retirement last year was a matter for great regret, but whiisb tfhe Committee ■were enable to grant your request for Tstmineration as being too grave a from tihe rules ■wiherein all must give their services gratuitously, it was felt that you should nob be allowed to sever your connection with an association in whiclh you, bad done each good service in the interest of music vritihiout some recognition from your friends. I have, therefore, itihe pleasure to ask your acceptance of the accompanying puree of sovereigns, subscribed by individual members of the Committee, meanibers of the orchestra, and other friends, as evidence- of their appreciation.-—I am, dea-r Miss Packer, yours faithfully, TJios. Garrard.. Hon. secretary." The parentage of infant found in a ditch et Xanwood stiH remains unknown.

No fface' has been found of the person who stole -the cashfoox from the' Strainer Pos*t Office on Thursday, and the cashbox itself has not yelb been discovered.

: rJtjnsu* went to Jihe police station on SatardaVg., and volnnrfaarily stated that lie had stolen "an jovercoat from a house on \hs> iSoutt belt. He is now in one of the police cells while enquiries are being made v Lovely weatlvei -favoared the annual picnic of the Zealandia Boat Factory, which was Iheld on Saturday at Glentunnel. The eixnirsiomste left Chrisbdmrch by a special 'train at 9 o'clock.

Several extra carriages had to be attadbed to the express for the Sooth on Saturday, owing to tie large number of exourekraitß, many of wtiom ■were returning from the North Island. There were three van-loads of luggage, and one of these was almost filled with bicycles.

The Board of Conciliation will sit at Ohristchurch on Thursday week to h«ar a dispute between the Christohurch Tailoring Trade Industrial Union of Workers and the Chrirftcharch. Master Tailors' Union. The dispute is with regard to the time statement and conditions of labour.

Two homing pigeons belonging to Mr R. Pounsford, "of the Auckland Flying dub, ■were liberated on Monday, 13th ult., at Ohrisfcohurcb. One' of them Reached home safely on Tuesday, the 21st ult., after flying 470 miles airline, wlfieb. is the longest distance yet flown to Auckland.

The two Swass geologists wto have been in New Zealand mating researches, toid a "Press"' reporter that they were wry much struck witfo what tibey considered the extreme honesty of the New Zealand country people. It appeared <to them most re* marbaibie that men should be able to leave their swags by the roadside for * few hours and return to find everything- intact and untampered with. At Lytitelton Police Court on Saturday, Daniel MoDavkt and John Gallavin were charged with using abusive language whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned. The former was fined 10e and the latter 6s, with the usual alternatives. Mary Wynne, for travelling from Wellington by the Rotomahana without paying her fare, was fined £1, with the alternative of seven day*' imprisonment, and Edward Stanley, charged with being absent without leave from the Lake Erie, was remanded till to-day.

The Chinese of the United States are preparing to make a vigorous fight against the re-enactment of the Geary exclusion law (says a San Francisco paper). A proclamation hag been issued by tie Chinese Six companies requiring every Chinese in the United State to contribute at once the sum of one dollar, the fund thus raised to be used in the effort to defeat exclusion. In order to compel the payment of the assessment, tie proclamation states that" if payment is not made within one month the amount exacted will be doubled, and delinquents who fail to pay "within two months will have their assessment doubled once more.

The Rangiora Borough Council met on Friday evening. Present—The Mayor, and tTrs. Gannidhael, Belph, Bell, Wilson, Hille, K«r, and Jennings. Mr W. T. Robinson oclawwiedged with thanks the receipt of £45 Hβ 9d, collected in the borough towards the Cheviot Belief Fund. A circular was received from the Sydenham Borough Council with reference to the Government Valuation Department's high charges for compiling and revising rolls. The town clerk stated that th« charge for revising the- Rangiora roll for the past year had been reduced by about one-half of the previous charge. The receipts for the month were reported to be £222 9s Bd, and the bank credit balance £580 15s. Accounts amounting to £140 9s 5d were passed. Cr. Jennings gave notice of motion that the by-law respecting bicycles carrying lights at night be suspended. On the "motion of Cr. Bell a committee was appointed to consider way* and means of providing the borough with a system of dealing with the night-soil with modern appliances. Cr. Jennings suggested that a grant be made to the Rangiora Brass Band as an inducement to give open-air music at frequent and regular intervale, and promised to bring up the matter at the neju meet,iag.

Some genuine bargains in Boots and Shoe* may be had just now at Strange and Company's establishment, where, as everybody knows, the firm's great bi-annual clearing sale is just now on. The entire existing stocks of boots and shoes (including many strikingly attractive and novel lines) will bs offered (during the sale) at very substantial reductions in price. " 4^

Messrs Strange and Company's great tn<i-of-summer clearing sale attracted crowds of buyers again on Saturday. This <*i e appeals to everybody, because the reductions extend to pretty nearly everything the firm makes and sells, an d fashionable millinery, mantles. dresses, underwear boots and shoes, furniture, bedding f ur ' nishings, etc., are all offered at heaviVre. duced prices. The «lc will be resumed at 9 o clock this morning, and will bs con tinued at the same hour each morninir in future until the closing day. 4254 Wanted to sell, second-hand lady's W tioria Bicyvie, low frame, Dnnlon tvr*<! ';„" good order. £8 ca*, or £10 t«r4 Warn,? Star Cycle Company, 198 Colombo S near Cathedral. • f?/i Star Cycles, fitted with aj] kt patent* ftyde free-wheel, nmairtfoii itc rows of beJB-bearmg*. without the l e «2 fnrtion The best iree-wbed in tie *££ Eadie, front, nm brake, very powerful •posrtivelv safe. Call and InspSHTtw 70 and 198 Colombo street, near the Carl,*' dral, Chnstehtavh. 4^ Only half the number of bicycles are now imported compared wkh five years a~o Cyclists now realise they get a "better artil cle in g<ood colonial-made machines—especially Atalantas aaid Zealandias. mads by Osites, 'Lowry, and Co., thus giving em.ployment to our own people, and ke-pins the money in the colony.—(Advt.)

The main object of the enormous reduce taons at Beath and Co.'s end of reas-on sale* is to effect a genuine clearance of their existing stoak, so as to enable all departnwuta to commence each season with entirely now. up-to-date goods. H.S. handkerchiefs, half dozen, 2s 9d for Is sd; sunshades 6s lid for 2s lid; neck frillings, for 4Jd; lovely dress lengths, 45s for 19h lid; silk. Is 9d for Is; men"is tweed suits, 26s 9d for 19s lid; prime, assorted blues, 6id for 5Jd; charming blousings, Iβ for 7|d; Swiss musHns, ll£d for Beath'e Great Sale. See windows. Wonderful bargains. 3723

Pianos from 50 guineas, organs from 10 guineas. Lowest prices, easiest tennt,* Milncr'and Thompson. Don't buy ©leei where until you have seen our stock. '2146

Preserving Season.—Fletcher Brim. bw» all kinds of jam and fruit jars, lib size, Is 3d; 21b size, Is 9d; Mason, 2s 3d; tumblers from Is 3d half-dozen, lletchei Bros, allow no one to undersalTtbem. High street.—(Advt.)

It stands to reason that when yon hare money to spend, you like to get the best value for it. Butcher, the jeweller, will give you reliable goods at prices thet will astonish you. Most of the goods we eel] are manufactured by us, and we give kb absolute guarantee with everything. Aβ immense selection of suitable Christmas present*. Cell and admire them> anyhow; there is no compulsion to boy. Butcher, jeweller and manufacturer, High street, Christchurch,-—(Advk)

The number of accidents that have recently occurred through hike accident*, kicks from horses, and sprained ankles have served to emphasise this fact—that wherever pain or inflammation is present Loasby'a Koolibah ' stands - unequalled. Hundreds of testimonials, prove this.—Advt.

Do you make pictures? We mak? frames and supply Artists' Colours, Canvasses, etc., Cameras and Photographic Goods. Call today and inspect' our engravings. The P.O. P. Camera and Fine Art Store, High street, facing Clock" Tower. Advt. Benjamin Gum enjoys a very large sale in New Zealand, and that its fame is spreading is proved by the faci that the proprietors- : of the popular cough remedy have this season secured orders from Westralia, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Fiji.—Ad- . vance New Zealand.— (Advt.) Bell Cycles—The .most reliable tn6 honest machine built' in New Zealand. Manufacturers, Bell Bros., 170 High jut paefr.jCHock Tower;- Special attentions" to repairs. 5223 ■ Pot bicycle Repairs we specially recom- s mend cycliste-'to Boyd and Son, who are • combining first-class work with modent* F charges.' 191 Gloucester street, Christ- i church. Telephone 47. . 2S Mr Grieshaber, jeweller, who has re. moved to new premises, 155 Colombo street, opposite City Hotel, is having a clearing . sale of his whole stock at greatly reduced price*.—(Advt.) The wise young man will kill two birds with one stone by making the engagement . ring the Christmas present, and the wise young woman will commend his economy. No suoh pretty selection of engagement nngs elsewhere in city as Clarke and Co., 148 Colombo street, are now showing; rings at all prices—but every one a beauty. iAdvfc.),

DEATHS UNDER CHLOROFORM.

The Melbourne City Coroner last week, ■ : in rerviewing the evidence tendered at the r inquest concerning the death of a person . •under chloroform, drew attention to the - fact that such cases were increasing «fc . an alarming rate. The Stat* Solicitor- : General, Mr Agar Wynne, has since gone into the subject, and he has found, ne save, that the number of deaths from chloroform in Victoria is far above the average in English hospitals. Hβ self' attributes Die cause to then» ( * \ jtmtke charged with anrostlrctic, and J*.'.-;, feele so strongly on the rubject that-he hw; a-rranged in future to have the Government represented by a competent medkal mMr at all loquef^s.

AN INTERESTING RELIC. An interesting relic of Major Eddy, m Victoria, who lost his life in the South African war, has been recovered by M*je* Mclnerney, formerly of Melbourne, ;ia now a resident official in the TiansraSl. This ie a pair of fiel<i-glaesea wmch was presented to Major Eddy before his departure from Victoria by his brother offioere. Major Mclnerncy having heard that the glasses were in the poM*sson of a Boer commandant named Lombard, interviewed Mm repuding them. The commandant declared that b* bad paid £10 for them to a nun who had taken them from Majer Eddirß body.but Major Mclnernsy ins&tefl that this lirthod ef-etot«maß tbwj wa* robberr pure end simple, and that tw? should be returned. He euc<*ed*d in carrying hi* point, and h«* forwarded tt* bS brother Dr. Mclnernev, M.L.A-. **? wiU «»nd them to Mrs Erldv without ddg. The glasses, which aj-e inscribed « P 7?h#" tation terns, will b« prized as one rfig last object* Major Mdy must hare had « hda hands on the fatal day.

THE PRINCE'S SPEECHES. The majority of Royal persona*.* do nflft compose the speeches they deliver in public (eavs the London correspondent of tse "Age""). They We the *rardensome t«rt of composition* a™i the « rific^'^?L f to nimble secretaries. « busy aristocrat* in the House «rfO»nmo« do with tßeir speeches, and ths *ta« vocate ia compelled to do. at W » *j gar*, the materials of argument. WW Romell of Killowen. according to hi* Wo gSher. was "devilled" for by •• WJJ Sz of his lntal satellite at one Umfc Wj Prince of Wales, it W™ himself the convenience* of tbe wo* 1 «g road to oratory- H » Jfo. course of cbe discussion of h» *™**-£L ring speech at hie reception by A*^**" , Corporation that all 3m p»*l* utt foj* to the «nall«t particular, are pre pared by Ixmueif. Th» was the only with hi* Guildhal £ with everything of a.foniwl "»*«**? he aid or vrrryte dm-.ng h» btatjur. A Royal pe.rsonage who n no* afraJd to pu. somVcoTour inTo fa» languwte » a noT«ltv tha-t his fiaure public appearances !riuSitched wiA *• s«f« The Prince ia a r!cre rtedent of SSn S « frrfrtM with ■ toleraMy full SowTedge of evervrhing that go« Downing street. Like his f*-t.h*r. h* w also iSSd?reader of the daily newspaper*.

a tragedy jn' beal life. Mr* Clement Scott in a recent issue ot the "Free Lance" gives the following account of the circumstances ai tending U»e death of Walter Montgomery, who will be

_«J1 remembered by all old playgoers in uLrbourne. Mr Scott writes as follows:- ------$£ September. 1371. London was startled tohear that Walter Montgomery had commit ted Ml ■<"!<*« |W0 da - Vg aftPr bl * mama S e Jst- Hanover square, on August Mb 1871 " The act woe incomprehensible V a il Walter Montgomery's friends. It jL now r*en explained. It appears that .h«n Walter Montgomery was -starnny in AB«iral.» he fell in love with a charming riri who w»* an heiress. He proposed to £r tra-i *-cept#d. but the mamag* wms 2J nek objected to by the father of the Snfe,/ The actor, piqwd. disappointed. Lj apparent v heanbroken, sailed from Australia- tn England. On board ship he ,» fa-cuiMed by another lady, and he married her directly the ship arrived at home. A hours kfier the marriage Walter Mnnfcnurv receired * letter from the t>l tlie Australian girl, saying, that "he" had reiented. that bis danghrer whs dying of a broken btaiL and that, he was to hurry to .Australia to claim hi* bride and her fortune. Remorse, disappointment, despair 'affected :h* han.lsome actor's brain, and he jwhed up t<. his room and put a bullet through his temple .

-LIVKS OF THF. T.UPTRIOUS. -,

Snme very nf.it '■kits are contained in a tbiilin: parody of the Dictionary of National Biography, published under the title of -Liree of the Lustrinus." The following are specimen*: — Mr Hall Cairo's resemblance to ShaketptaTf- is so striking that on landing at New York on a religion.- trip to America, the late Lnjatius Donnelly, a total stranger, ad2e««d him as. "Urd IWnn. I pres-ume! ' ilr Anthonf Hope, ""senior partner in Hope Brotheii, Hosiers to the Court of BenttM." invented the Zenda Vesta or Runaway Match, "dramatised by Mesdames Brrant * and Edna May." His motto is "Beautiful Anthony Hope is read." , Mr Andrew Lang, we are not surprised to find, was born in "the Oolf Stream," "but emigrated to the Southern Pacific, his jojourn being commemorated in the touching chanson, "Maori had a little Lang.' ,