NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13334, 28 January 1909, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Ten applications have been received at the Land Office for five sections in the Culverden Township. Applications closed: yesterday afternoon, and the ballot will be taken at 11 a.m. to-day.

Tho poll of ratepayers in the area affected by the proposed extension of the drainage scheme in the St. Albans district resulted in GG votes being cast in favour of the proposal and 9 against it. The roll comprised some 150 voters.

New arrivals from England were present in Lyttelton in lar<je numbers yesterday. The Mararoa, from AVel"iinsitori, brought nearly one hundred, who came out from England in tho lonic. The Manuka, from Dunedin, had on board over three hundred immigrants, who cam© out from London in the Whakatane. Tho majority of the Manuka's contingent wer«* bound for North Island ports, and only a few left ber in Lyttelton.

To-day there -will be two polls taken in Sydenham with respect to the authorisation of loans in connection with the high pressure water supply. One of these loans is for £9500 for work in the original Sydenham district, and the other for £3500 for a similar purpose in the Beckenliam-Fisherton district. About five miles of streets in tbe original district and four miles in Beckenham-Fisherton require to be reticulated. It is urged in support 'of the loan proposals that they will not entail any additional financial burden on the district, and in addition to giving of the high pressure ivawr supply, will result in a reduction of fire insurance rates.

Mr Robert Pitcaithly has been nominated for a scat on tho I/yttelton Harbour Board, as a representative of tho City of Christchurch.

The proposal of the Hastings. Borough Council to raise a loan of £30,000 for sewerage extension purposes, was yesterday rejected at a poll by 319 votes to" 278.

The averngo attendance for the past quarter, at the schools in South Canterbury, constitutes a record —4763. Tho previous highest quarterly average was 4679. and this being for tho quarter ended December, 1890.

During last year the number of persons who arrived in New Zealand numbered 44.970, and the departures 30,709. The number of assisted immigrants for tho year was 4478. and they brought with them capital aggregating £99,362.

A cycle road race was held under the auspices of the Marshland Cycling Club last evening. Tho distance was ()•} miles, and there were eleven starters. The resuh. was:—J. Rboda (2miu 20sec) and J. Crawford (lmin 40sec) (dead heat) 1, G. Turner (scr) 3. Time, ISmin 4osec.

At the statutory meeting of local bodies at Wellington yesterday, Wednesday was selected as tho day for tho weekly half-holiday for shop assistants. A petition is in circulation in favour of Saturday, and if » sufficient number or signatures are obtained, which is very doubtful (says a Press Association, message), tho question will bo settleo l at a noil of the electors.

The total amount of salaries to be paid for the current year to teachers under the South Canterbury Board of Education, is £22,485, this being distributed between 171 teachers, as compared with £20,177 for 154 teachers in 1908. As a result of the Amending Act of last session, all but four of the teachers in tho Board's service have received an increase of salary, one of the four suffering a slight reduction.

The following is the order of sale in connection with the fourth local wool sale of tho season, to bo held at tho Alexandra Hall oiu Tuesday, at 9 a.m.: 1. New Zealand Farmers' Co-op. Association. Ltd 1 ; 2. Matson and Co.; 3. National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand; 4. Pyne and Co. ; o. Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd. ; «. Fried-lander Bros., Ltd.; 7. Dalgety nnd Co., Ltd. The catalogues close at 6 i>.m. to-day.

Henry Phillip Barry, Customs collector, pleaded guilty at tho Auckland Magistrate's Court, yesterday, to receiving between May (1908) aud December (1903) various moneys totalling over £800, wliich ho converted to his own use. In a written confession accused stated he was in the habit of detaining cheques for dues, obtaining cash from tho cashier and giving receipts from duplicate books. He was committed for sentence, bail being renewed in £800. Accused's fidelity was guaranteed to the extent of £800, while tho total abstractions amounted to £833 17s 6d.

A very attractive and well-stocked baswar in aid of the funds_ for a recreation ground for the district of Spreydon was onened in tho Snreydon school yesterday by Mr J. D. Hall. Mr Hall, who was introduced by Mr D. Sykes, drew attention to the fact of th© urgent need of a recreation ground for Sproydon, and expressed tho opinion that the sito chosen was all that could be desired. Ho trusted that the bazaar would result in sufficient funds being obtained to tike over the cround at once, and congratulated tho stall-hold-ers on their excellent display. Thebazaar will be open again this afternoon and evening. . .'" *v

At tho Magistrate's Count at Dunedin yesterday, John Learney, a ship's cook on hoard th© Whakaitane, was sentenced to two months' •imprisonment on a charge of entering a storeroom on tho steamer and taking therefrom twelve bottles of stout. It was stated that thirteen cases were missing from tho stores. Suspicion had been aroused owing to the number of men observed under tho influence of liquor, and the chief steward and the fourth officer hid themselves in the storeroom and caught accused red-handed. Accused asked why th© officer and steward had fired at him in the storeroom, to which the steward replied that they had fired blank cartridges to frighten him, as ho was dangerous when under the influence of liquor.

A heavy column of grey smoke rising out of _ Purau lost ©veninpg gave rise to the idea that a large grass fir© had started thero. The smoke had a very different origin, however, and rose from th© old coal hulk Marie, which had found her last resting place on th© little beach just insidie th© entrance to Purau. This old vessel, which had done many years' duty as a coal hulk, waa purchased! last year from tlie Westport Coal Company by Mr M. J. Miller, shipwright. Mr Miller dismantled the vessel, and the other day she was towed "to Purau end beached there in company with th© remains of tho old Menschikoff and another vessel. Mr Miller set fire to the vessel yesterday, as her timbers wero too old and rotten to be of any use. There is a large quantity of iron "knees" and other useful ironwork in the vessel, which will be salved; from the ashes.

With mouth open and eyes set on tho thrilling sentences of a sensational yellow-baok, a somewhat tired foot messenger, bearing an awesome-looking envelope, branded "Official Papers," strolled into the Treasury Building at Sydney one day last week (says the "Daily Telegraph";. Having tripped over tlie terminus of the linoleum, ho pursued' his sleepy way lo a door at tho far end of the passage. But before he reached it he was confronted with the back of a gentleman ascending tho stairs. Momentarily neglecting his "thriller," tho lad's face lit up with expectation. The change of expression betokened something joyous. Addressing the gentleman, the messenger said, "Say, hold hard, take this letter up-, will you?'' at the same time handing over the envelope, and turning to depart. But before th© boy could get in further good work on his book he was p.nterrupted: with the reply: "What are you paid for? Take it up yourself." Wheeling to reply, the boy met tho familiar features of a well-known Un-der-Secretary—excuses were, hopeless!

A remarkable accident • occurred at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, last week, as the result of which Mr Tom Payne, the well-known comedian, appearing iv "Cinderella," received somewhat severe injuries. The mishap was duo to Mr Payne's efforts to improve upon a feat he does when making his entrance in tho pantomime inside a hoop. It was Mr Payne's desire to roll down a deep incline on to the stage, and off at tho other side, and the trial to ascertain how this might bo done was arranged to take place to-day (says the "Araus"). Having been fixed to the inside of the hoof) by an ankle and wrist, the hoop was let go at the top of a rocky pathway which leads from a bridge to the level of the stage. At great speed the hoop dashed down tho incline, but so tremendous was the impetus that before it could be stopped, or the comedian get clear from the hoop, it dashed with a loud crash into tho footlights, and bo great was the momentum that it leapt into tho stalls. Th© explosion of the electric bulbs in the "floath" was followed by groans of pain, and it was found that tho performer had become unconscious. Ho was removed to his dressing-room, where ho revived, and was subsequently taken to his home. Though badly bruised and shaken, Mr Payne was able to appear in the evening, but his part had to be curtailed somewhat, particularly portions of tho acrobatic turns.

Tho social to Mr G. W. Russell, M.P., will take placo this evening at tho Alexandra Hall. Tho Hon. Dr. Findlay will represent tho Government on tho occasion.

At Auckland, yesterday, Harry Bvans and William Dalziell, charged! with sly-grog selling, were each sentenced to six months' hard labour. Both accused had previously been found guilty of tho same offence.

The South Canterbury Board of Education, now employ an itinerant carpenter to tro from school to school doing all necessary repair and painting work, and they, find this much more satisfactory as "well as cheaper than the old method of letting contracts for such work.

Phenomenal rain fell at St. Andrews late on Monday evening- Mr Geo. Lyall gauged 51 points for half an hour's fall. It was a douch fall. Smai birds were seen on grass paddocks fluttering about, unable to rise against the downpour. On Sunday over an inch fell at St. Andrews in 24 hours.

Messrs G. L. Stead, T. L. Cowlishaw, J. D. Hall, and K. Nea-ve, and Dr. A. G. Maitla-nd, leave for Timaru this morning in order to represent the Christchurch Polo dub in a match agaiust the Timaru Club, to bo played this afternoon a-t Mr F. S. Ehvorthy's station.

At the monthly meeting of the Springs Boad Board, held on Tuesday, a letter was received from the Canal League, asking the Board's co-opera-tion in effecting the objects of tho League. It was decided to reply that the Board had no sympathy with tho canal project.

Information has been received at Ashburton (says a Press Association telegram) that" a team of four horses, valued at about £200, and belonging to Mt. Possession station, wero drowned while endeavouring to cross the Upper AslvHurton River, which is much swollen with the recent rains.

Somo progress had been made with the kerbing and channelling at Kaiapoi, including Ranfurly street, which lead 3 to tho Woollen mills; but it is understood that the asphalting of tho footpath of that street will not be commenced this year. Tlie loan for the works is obtainable at the rate of £2000 a year, and it will require all this year's amount for kerbing and channelling

At a general meeting of the Kaiapoi Cycling Club on Monday, at which Mr 11. W. Farrar presided., it was decided to hold a sporta meeting at Easter. A programme was drafted, and £71 allotted in prizes for events, including a band quick step contest, Highland dancing, and several novelty events. It was decided to hold an evening sports meeting on tho second Wednesday of February.

Tlie Cheviot Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Show catalogue is now issued for the show to be held on Friday, March sth. The catalogue is far before any previous year's catalogue, both in number of classes and in prize money. Altogether, it comprises 19 sections, with 191 different classes. There are 31 classes in the sheep sections, and 37 classes in tho horse sections, 8 in cattle, 4 in pigs, 3 in dogs, .87 in produce, flour, etc., 9 in sewing, etc., and 12 in sports and competitions.

A garden party will bo held on Saturday between 3 and 5 p.m. at tho Home for Nurses, 137 Salisbury street. Tho Home is intended- for medical, surgical, mental, and massage nurses. Nurses, it may be stated, can bo obtained froß>>th© Home by private persons - as. -V*3l'' as by tho medical profession. The Horn© was formerly oondiucted by Misses Lloyd and Leiievre, but sine© January Ist has boon in charge of Missi M. J. Hood, formerly matron of Rockhampton Hospital.

It is understood that the Railway Department will make a satisfactory arrangement regarding tho despatching of th©_7.2o a.m. train from Lyttelton to Christchurch. Complaints have been made regaiding this train, which frequently is detained ott . Tuesdays-, Thursdays, and! Saturdays to allow tho special train carrying passengers from the ferry steamer Maori to get through the tunnel first. .''lt is proposed to despatch the Ordinary" train from Lyttelton at 7.15 on thdso mornings.

Mr H.. Forwiood, who is coHeoting funds for the 'additions and alterations to the Anglican BoadhtJhurch ait New Brighton/ repo«fc_ ihot ttio is obtaining very satisfactory . results, having been promised £201 lis 6d r.irw_<uding tho £110 10s, proceeds of tho sale of work (held on the pier) by seventy-six parishioners and friends. Up to th© present he has only covered about half tiio parish. Any who would Jik© pfoo (help in the work, pand have not boon called upon, aire requested to forward itlheir Rifts •to Mr H. Forwood, Lonsdale streot, Now Brighton.

Th© method adiopted by the police in securing ©vidlenoo of Sunday trading was sieiverely oondiemned by Mr Kettle, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Auckland yesterday (says a Press Association message). Mr Mays, Assistant Crown Prosecutor, admitted that tho police wero sent down to St. Helier'a Bay for the express pttrpose of securing a. conviction for Smndiav trading. |'Is this the practioe," asked the Magistrate, "to induce theso people to commit a .breach of tho law?" Mr Kettlo contended that offenders: should. l bo detected, not entrapped.

At yesterday's meeting of th© Seiwyn County Council, Mr G, Witty, M.P:, described tiio suggestion of the chairman (Mr W. Xhrnlo-p), that an effort should bo made.to secure uniformity of voting by. the Council's representatives on tho Lyttelton Harbour Board', as an attempt to make them mere delegates, with no independence and no opinions" of their own. "If this is carried/ tho speaker continued, "wo might as well, give the chairman threepence for each meeting of tho Harbour Board, and let him put a penny in the slot for each of tho other Council's representatives, as tending to save timo and trouble."

Tho majority of the representatives from tho various parts of the Dominion attending the annual convocation hero of the Supremo Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New Zealand hare return-, od home. They all spoke in terms of high commendation of_ tho arrangements mado by the various oommittees here for tJie convocation, which, wero most complete and successful in every respect. They also wished to record! their high appreciation of tli© hospitality accordpod to them by the Canterbury Companions. In connection with the installation on Tuesday night of the Grand Cluipter officers, it should have been stated, that the Deputy First Principal installed was M.___. Comp. Arthur Clothier.

In many instances assisted immigrants sent to Gisborne hai-c given complete satisfaction to all concerned, but in a eonple of recent instances, states tlie "Herald," the arriving . with excellent credentials, have turned out to be quite unsuitable for tho work offering. A few days ago two young men miners, arrived in Gisboni© and were duly forwarded on to the Public Works railway construction -works, where a special conveyance was engaged to take them on to the work. Shortly after their arrival at their destination, however, tho young fellows rolled up their swags and returned to town, apparently declining to tackle the jobs offered them. Again, three able-bodied young men, stated by tho passenger agent at Homo to be capable and willing to turn a hand to general farm work, were soon found, on reporting themselves at the Gisborno office, to ->c incapable of accepting the work offering, and they were accordingly foroed. to seek other employment in town. As long as this class of men ar© induced to _oek their fortunes in the Dominion there is bound to be some disappointment.

The Labour Department can" Hif employment for several _a-_npct«Btsll for ballast work. ■ .811 Derry's Private Band will D w -Sail; *jous on the Victoria soua.ro ™i_H2_s ii tnis evening. " T^Pe "Talking of lamb records," «.«%! Feilding man to a "Feildiajj preventative. 'I think this o_iTisl___!~' to beat. Mr D. L. Makmo. has 478 lambs. Their a_S age weight was af.iaib, and dS" weight of their wool was 31b 3_ lamb.' **« At a meeting of the Feilding Council on Tnesdav night, Dr. MaMRr sent in a report showing that "the Iff*"water was of excellent ouality +22 beiiiy no bacillus coli m the »2w' after it pawed through tho filt<s»2ptho reservoir. 'Jf. Tho Sydenham Bowling CkA|i> challenged tho Mayor and CountflS*." to a game of bowls on Saturday j2». | The challenge has been I the game will bo played on tho SjdJ?- I ham green. The Municipal I elude a number of expert bowlem _*> _1 a close game is anticipated, ■•^s' The funeral of tho lato Mr Emfl '«; Sko<r took place yesterday at tho'lS?--wood Cemetery. 11 was attended bf&h Consular representatives in tiLt-trl church, several of tlie members Canterbury Masonic Lodge (of vM? the deceased gentleman was a TOombS?'' and a number of private friends. {*': Francis Birtlcs, an Australian-Wjj'. distance cyclist, arrived at PalmewS North yesterday morning from ton, on a record-breaking journey tho Empire City to Palmcrston and back. Ho did the first half of <*« 100 miles in 6 hours 57 minutes, ahow. ing no signs of fatigue. •_%. "Money makes money" is a comaji' ; enough saying (says tho "Dominion. and in tho present lean financial <k£" tho possessor of money Ims Ws Onpnv, tunities. A growing practice (wjiccSifc? in tho count ry) is to raise money life insurance policies, and lend tri' tho proceeds at anything np to ten. &» oent. v? At a meeting of the GUcor* ' Borough Council an application bgt ' the Petone Borough Council for attain a nee for the British received. Th© Mayor said it would bo easy to raise a donatwiul 100 frozen sheer* from tho district, «j offered half-a-dozen on his count. The Council resolved to intS* 1 offers from pastoralists. '"__.< Jlr Haszard, a Government survey ~ has found in tho sand near M»j«tt" Bay (Auckland), an old Maori \tfjß. ■ shop for making stone eluding an anvil and axes, in vjtfioiP stages of manufacture. In additiooifc. this he found ovens in which cannMl feasts had been cooked. Many h33& had been split to get tho marr©wv«»;i find was mado near the pa, where about the year 18Q0 ,, 'l&ej Ngatihe tribe, to the number of lOKrj were slaughtered by tho NgtrtitniJ tern. -^ According to tho "Wairarspa _& Mr R. Tanner, of Longburn, na».__Si. is probably a record crop of Alg*t§j oats this year. He has just finiiM.; threshing, and tho crop from aapai thirty acres has panned out • at jjjl bushels per acre. This is all tbe juffif remarkable when it is taken intO'ife sideration that Algerian oats a'tViwif tlian many of the kinds sown, aadajK not, as a rule, yield so heavily-_*pif coarser kinds. The Average JiUJ per acre for oats is, roughly, tatjjmG 30 and 40 bushels perjure, \4 I sij| There will be great-doing* .|W hiti on July 14th. Tahiti beiilj French possession, • preparation* _f|i| being made to celebrate tho aam|H| nary-of the fall of the BastUle. v .Sjj| will bo native dances and otfaMfHi plays, and all the resources -OfxSH group -a ; ill be taxed to produce class island carnival. Throe rdfl will probably be at Papeete I*ijHra| time, namely, the Wellington, tho Tofua from. AneSSHj and tho Mariposa from San FrattjSji Threo stowaways—two: girl? **>4|l| discovered on- the -** J_m toria during the trip across fromaH ney to Auckland (says thofAnoMi "Herald"). On© 'of the. girls toBI pathetic story. She said-iA* 4;.sHj from Kogarnh, near Sydney,iand'M both her father and mother She had "been living, she said,,.wi»| brother, but owing to his ilt-ti <atjW of her rsho decided! to run having heard that there were goodjjgH I>ects of employment in New sho stowed away on tho ship. TbffiM sehgezs on board, subscribed. %y_H|*| to j>ay the passage of the two gh3£[w tlie" money was handed* over <toJM tain F.ntwisle, with the stippu_ai_Mi|jjl the girls should pfaoe the care of tho Salvation Army,anHH ties nntil employment was them. On arrival at AuaklpncmH male stowaway paid- his was set at liberty. - - d&m Tho re-election of Mr Henaro Kmj as M.P. for, tbe Western Maori -Mgf in December is to bo the Auckland "Herald")', one of ____ feated candida.te«, Mr Fopeno PS*T_m of To Kuiii; having lodged a ,!*«■ to ha-vo the election declared, petition declares tha.t noWo pollinc places were not publiaihoa J Sra| "Kflhiti" and "Gazette," as tihat 70 voting papers from the Jffj_ booth at Miuua wero returned'sWß out bho name of tho candidate votWSi being in any caeo writien tlborcont'ni no booths were opened in certaiß M as dotermined, and_ that, other._s_\ were used; that voting papers *__M issued as required, 'and that ip" e __M oi.her respects the poll was Tho peitition is addressed to SirJHMM Stout, Chief: Justice, and wiUS-SB tip for hearing in duo course. -'4JHK were five candidates for tiio -eatgS successful candidato scouring votes, and tho petitioner, second, between 1600 and 1700 r #s|§ What appears to be an been pointed out in connection ■*j?9jß first-class return fares > f Lj-ttelton to intermedipate ( the Chri-tch-trch-Lyttelton line. WW? | a passonger travels first-class, ****!; from I_yUelton to Linwood (six tom j for Is Id, it costs him Is Cd to -UWB j from Lyttelton to Opawa <nvejjOTH| first-class return. H© is 2d first return from Lyttelton to W|W| ston (four miles), a lesser distanwffigf to Linwood, to which station he is carried and taken W«SB Lyttelton for ono penny lews to«A|5B Lyttelton to Woolston nnd second-class fares are similarly-__*ffi! lous. From Lyttelton to W«?W a sj*S back oosts lOd. to Opawa ami s**2g and to Linwood and back 9d. local railway authorities being-eealgg gardng the mutter it was ascwMfflffl that tho reason for tho peculMUgW above-mentioned is that sul " ,rb ? n l?*S do not apply to in ter nieoia for tlie puriK_.cs of tho Chrst-WUSffij Lvttelton line, Linwood has bees. parently cons.k!ere<l ns part of church. When it was stated W_m reporter that some travellwi " are [* J ,«g chasing tickets for stations «o*E| their destination in order to bent-fit of the lesser fare, it Y B */* ed out that this is a breach n-gulations and that p<irson* ___U doing so were liable to !»*• their MJR forfeit«l and to be called «P™ ™,J*B the prop.-r fare fromi the s*i* l 9* JB which they bounded td, flft station nt wbich tl*y « - ***t , Bj I,peculiarities in regard t0 .. 1n * T intermediate .stat.on<; on *|* \gSS line do not apply only to that to «1! suburban sections. For a wrson can trawl from Kangiora to Chnstehn«Vj» Jg urban rates, for 2s b«t 2s lOd for a secon-.-class 1I ™»J"_!S|I Rangiom. to Pamnuu is that the suburban .rates only jmm ato between the tcrmim of tbe^<n>9| ban sections ate between a Mibnrfcan S an' intermediate station on -*^im

ffce official inspection of the new Port Chalmers dock takes place next SaturdayTh© Industrial Association intend Mauocnrinc work very soon in connection with the Industrial Week which it jsproposed to hold this year. It will be op tho same lines, practically, as tho oS » last year, which was so successful, though it is expected that the 6p)iero of operations will be considerably ni'dened.

Important to sheep farmers and land baver 8 - Thero is issued with our country edition to-day plan of Springfield Estate, which is for sale in blocks, fvirnsry 27th. Anyone wishing extra copy C3U obtain same from the agents.

Mothers who want pretty, seasonable millinery for girls, should see the sun liais and bonnets now sold at 6d. Is, and Is 6d. in muslin and linen, at "The People's __lc." Girls Crash Motor Caps cost only 6d here. Graham, Wilson, and Smcllie. 4

Travellers and Tourists! Make your trip pleasant by getting Now Zealand Express Company to handle your baggage. Baggage collected and forwarded fo any address. Our Porters meet Wellington boat. Sample rooms und storage always available. 6

Tho D.I.C. Great Removal Sale continues in all sections. To-day an exceptional sale offer will be made in Millinery. Further Reductions hay© been made in all Trimmed Hats, in consequence of which we shall otter h bout 40 Beautiful Model Hats at 10s td and los 6d each. These include on- latest imported Novelties for present season's wear. 6

Time is limited now for the securing of real genuine bj.rgaans in drapery, clothing, and millinery at "Th© People's Sato-" This sale, which has meant such decisive money-saving to the people of Claris-chu rah, oloses on Safauraay, bat till then it affords bigger moneysaving opportunities than ever. 6

In the early days Colonists hesitated v to whether they should take their furniture or no when removing to another part of the colony. Now they don't, but simply put it into the handset J- M. He>ywood and Co., Ltd., -who take charge of it 'rom house to boose. °

You tarn an extra furrow and get a good job with a Benicia Stubble Plough. W. Bassett and C, Christchurch. 4

Best Agricultural Harvester Engine Oil, Gas Oil, and Castor are obtained at McC.e.l_nd and Anderson, 224 Cashei atreot, Christchurch. _ All oils guaranteed. Our oils obtained from us and resognised agents. C

Eyestrain, Headaches.—Ernest M. Saodstein, F.5.M.C.,. D.8.0.A , London, Consulting Optician, may be consulted on all cases of defective eyesight Fifteen years' special study and experience. Latest methods and instruments. Consulting rooms, Cashei atreet W. (next Ballantyne's). Hours, 8.30 to 5.30. Telephone 397. 6 Simple ideas, if patented, often bring fortunes. Consult Henry Hughes, patent agent, 183 Hereford street (opp. United' Service Hotel). Consultations free. 6

The more the public are educated the more they recognise that the care of themselves is of utmost importance. One of the principal things to take car© of is the eyes, as without them you are practically useless. For spectacles eye aids consult John R. Proctor, oculists' optician, 180 High street, Christchurch. Sight Testing a specialty. 4

RIVERS REPORT.

The melting of the 6hopw on the mountains bad played havoc yesterday with the Canterbury rivers from an angler's point of view. Only the Seiwyn was fishable, the Ashley and Opihi being discoloured, and tho Waimakariri, Rakaia, Ashburton, Rangitata, and tvaitaJd dirty.

IRISHMEN AS SOLDIERS.

Colonel Nugent, commanding officer of the Irish Guards, at th© annual din-

ner of the Windsor and Eton Chamber - ot Commerce, told a Btoiy of an Irish soldier in the late war. At dusk of a day throughout which they had been lying under heavy fire an officer crawled np with orders for the battalion to assault, upon which th© Irish""So* np, shook himself, and said, "And why notP" On another occasion when a man screamed et the Ices of a finger on the battlefield a sergeant shouted to him, "Hold yer row, yer cowardly skut; there's a mon over there who's lost his head, and h© ... hasn't said a word."

PLEASURE TRIPS IN THE AIR

Tho "Figaro" of Deoember 2/th states that in four months there will bo four dirigible balloons capable of carrying fifteen passengers, tho captain, and two mechanicians, ready for pleasure emu** in France. Th© Trans' 11 n y i* undertaking th© work, and th© craft will have a gas v ~l, ropelled by 20 ° h -P- motors. Th© '■■ on alnminium : " __rk?f J2? ¥- *«»**** after the 'Si __._ T 8 .? lo °n' of a private yacht, -_^*K T t?- TraMaenan Company it ffiSfcmjifSLS * eri * s of Nations, Mealix «£T l j Sartronvill© and «t Vincenncs. j established at Nancy, thi „- says t_itt JA™'« ««i» P«>pl© might think, mi thl BWCffig ' blrt serious, solid fact 53,2? lpan y h! « been'formed by , onaness men and practical engineers. I

'TERPDCT, AND A_N ARTISTIC .__, JOY."

vr"* Number of "Eh© - -aSLr" of Hh*t»tiott and " Poßraph, ° and artistic beauty. ' 2^f_S., c _l ativps Md th « Sraifd ' ' «SE7' _.-*? ft, , h »" and fauna, the ' • Snd tl ' TO W*«*fe «fo of Ne£ Sv t« nt ***!? """W" most ««chan^ 'The AvLi? rtls __ c Prosentation, and ' «4 h of it"* - *>*»' always makes • Printf™. ■ "?"*«*. an« an artistio joy. *S , "L tl » attainments of one of 4_ re FXf ,,co "«t month not «,« *«P, 8 " of Tn ° Weekly Press,' ™*of the most artistic, but one most *rtfve with ar ' nvh ,'_ n memor 5' is ' «od «m„ • t 5- Wli - aII th * fiends, «"« companionship*, all the workine £?J 10, ? mB ' ■" th * experienced and J*^ that have p assed . After fcMfcS 15It?, Tl^T S in this isr_»dT+ ° v.«ekly Pros.,' we are «ady to agree with claims made in ■*W \JfrS" r ?!?°- t De P art '«*nt of ZmW • ?° Blth Resorts .' that New offiS V* country for travel, reST, ° rt ' hea,th and ™«P«™*w, and a pprman<?nt . - i lomp .> of New Zealand beinc of to. h?7 Ely v° r aU thp P*»Pl*. «I,sch • ftJ'°' ij ; aC, ' ,,? J cr thp of thr«?fi„ ? w " h m *mber. There are **£ XV™ *'PP>niente in this caching in New Zealand,' 'My Con-

fidante, and <He Tamaiti Pikau.' The first represent a Christmas Trio' by a ntei-ry load of eleven, besides 'the driver, drawn by a team of five horses, fording a rapid stream, while great hills and mountains afford tho background. Th© latter show photographs __.;♦! i na l' V v Iao ?' one of a "other wrth her bab© on her back, securely held by the blankets that wra-o both and the other two Maori ihaide'ns, one with her arms lovingly thrown around her •confidante.' "—"National Printer Journalist ' Chicago U.S.A., Cbri£ mas .Number, December, 1908.

T.\o GOOD SECOND-HAND tat BOTS FOR SALE AT REASOV ABLE PRICES. *^A&o.\The Talbot cars made by Mons. A Clement and Earl of Shrewsbury at the Ixmdon works are admitted to be thl £_tw ° \v m °t- Tehabl « make in th_ world. Wo have in stock two really good second-hand Talbots which have e _? \u P* rt P a y m *nt for higherFTi!.?* 1 - Talbota - , A .sood second-band iolbot is more reliable than most of the new cars sold in this country Wo give a guarantee with each car. ' Ono is a 10-12 h.p. two-cylinder, magneto and accumulator ignition, side entrance body to carry four or five, fitted with speed indicator, four lamps and many ox ?_. "J 118 " ual to "« w - The other, a 12-16 h p. four-cylinder accumulator and magneto ignition, side entrance body, to carry five, five lamps, Capo hooo, wind screen, and all extras, finish equal to new. Trials arranged. Adams Ltd., 138-H0 High street. Christ! church. q