LOCAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 211, 19 December 1896, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS AND NOTES.

A silk sunshade lost between Bathgate House and Murray's store is advertised for. Even ot this late hour it is confidently asserted that a race meeting will he held hero sometime in February. Mr W. H. Herries, M.11.R. writes that he will will he in Eotorua on Monday evening next, will stop over Tuesday and leave by Wednesday' morning's train.

3fr D. Griffiths has been appointed local representative for the Spa Hotel Coaching Co's line between hers and Taupo. Mr Griffiths will shortly open an office in Arawa Street. After considerable delay, occasioned by the unwillingness of contractors to leave the busier centres at the present time, a start has been made with the erection of the new hotel at Atiainuri. Mr T. Chapman is the contractor and the house will be ready for occupational about six weeks. During tl.c past month over 300 tons of sulphur have been despatched from here by train. Mr Maedonald, of Messrs Macdouald and Boord informs us that he has entered into a contract foi 1 the supply of 000 tons and should the qualitybe up to the required standard a succession of similar orders may be looked for. The Christmas number of the Observer is to hand. It is full of illustrations, humourous and otherwise, and contains a number of &liort tales appropriate to the season. The supplement illustrative of a Christmas dinner at Rotorua and entitled " Kapai to kai," by Mr T. Ryan, is in that artist's best style. Mr R. Reaney, district road surveyor, loft for an extended tour of inspection of the worts now under construction and in process of being surveyed in the Urcwera Country from Te Wliaiti onwards to Lake Wai-aronioana. Mr Reaney has taken his camera with him and the result of his trip to this (comparatively) term incnognita will be looked forward to with interest. Sir F. A. Franklin, G'.E., of New South Wales, a last y&itf'svisitor, and one who took a practical interest in the advancement of the town, is again en route for this district. He leaves Sydney by the Mono wai on Monday and after Visittlie Si .unds and loitering for a week or two amongst the colder charms of the sister island may be expected here early in February. The Railway Department announce by adverticement in another column that excursion tickets will be issued at the rate of 2d per mile Ist class and 1(1 per mile 2nd class from any station to any station 011 the Auckland section from December 21st to January 2nd neftt. Available! for return up to February 2nd. The mileage is counted one way only and the time may be extended for a fortnight 011 t .e usual terms. Mr R. D. Danscy, Postmaster notifies that the following arrangements have been made in regard to Christmas day and New Year's day:—On Christmas day and New Year's day the office will he closed in all its branches. On Boxing day the office will be open in all its branches from i) a.m. to 10 a.m. Mails usually despatched 011 Friday will for the 2.11 h i 1 isc ami Ist proximo ho closed at 7.30 the previous everting. A race meeting is announced to take place at Galatea on Thursday December .'slst and the programme weieh comprises eight events has received the sanction of the racing authorities. The nominations for the principal events close to-night and Messrs A. Munio and H. J. Fox are authorised to receive same up to 9 p.m. There are post entries for the Maiden Plate, Hack Race and Maori Women's Race. Mr R. E. Jefferson acts as lion.' sec. and no effort will be spared to make the meeting successful. Ever since the express service commenced running the Monday and Wednesday ordinary train lias been most uncertain in its arrival here. Wednesday night it. did not put in an appearance' till i) - lo p.m. thus' entailing a wait of over 1.1 hours 011 the long suffering public. As the train does not seem able on account of the excessive shunting to rim up to time it is understood that an alteration is about to' be made in the time-table. An officer of the Department who came up on the train expressed himself to that effect. Mr Shaw, ex-mayor of Adelaide, likewise of Coolgairdic, is flow repeating his customary yearly visit to the Hot Lakes.He brings fa vorable reports of several of his last year's companions who are still piling up the shekels, in that Western land of sin, sweat, and syndicates and states that they may be looked for here later on. Mr Shaw himself does not look as if the world had gone badly with him during the intervening twelve months. He is as racy a raconteur as ever and a perfect mine of practical information.Mr Shaw's' family again accompanies him. The removal'of the fence round tlieresorve opposite the post offiice is a much greater improvement than woiiJd have been supposed and residents and visitors have not been slow to take advantage of it. Seats have been placed here ind there and a circular track is now 111 proceqf of being formed of which the fast increasing local army of bicyclists will no doubt take full advantage' Paths have also been formed running transversely through the ground and certain work is being done which will give the concrete basin with its jet of water a more pleasing appearance. Summonses have been issued against I five native women of Waiotapu and two native men the former being charged with obstructing Mr Baber in his survey of iiioek Nu -i ii i ,• Faei-oa East by pulling up the survey pegs and taking possession of certain tools', contrary to the Native Land Court Act, ISO4v The mtefl are' charged with threatening to obstruct the srirveyor. The offences are alleged to liaVc occured on December St.li. The cases are set down for hearing on Tuesday next, and for that reason Mr Brent, J.-P, attended at the Court 011 Friday and adjourned the' ordinary infantilis business' till Monday, so as to enable Col. Roberts to take the''regular business 011 that day and the' Waiotapu cases- 011 Tuesday. The November number of the Jir-view of Ileviims is to hand. Its contents* are as interesting as ever and comprise besides the usual amount of homo and colonial information articles of acute critical taste on the literary developments of the month. Mrs Humphry Ward's " Sir George Tressady" which has been running through the pasres of the Century Magazine is the " Book of the Month," and is vei'y ably reviewed.- Mr D. J. Quinn contributes a highly interesting paper 011 " Artists and Artistic Taste in Aufcralasia," in which several of the sixty odd " musketeers of the brush " in New South Wales have their work capab!y reviewed. Wo shall look With pleasure to the promised continuation of Mr Quinn's papers. £SO, £lO, £lO, £5, Given away for a single guets. Send stamp for particulars mid circulars to Box 170, P. 0., Wellington.

The current, number of the New Zealand Graphic is not lacking in interest. The illustrations .comprise a series of sketched in the vicinity .of Lyttelton, a full-page photo of the Auckland stock and mining brokers, a continuation oi the mining sketches, numerous portraits of prominent people, &c., and a couple of humourous sketches. The Society Notes are as usual kept up to date. Copies may be had at the CHRONICLE Office. The performance given by the Tuhourangi Brass Band 011 Sunday last as a compliment to the Sanatorium patients was eminently successful. Not only were the inmates of the hospital gratified but a lai'ge attendance of the general public testified to the estimation in which this recently established band is held. Mr H. Stewart conducted and an excellent programme, consisting entirely of sacred selections, was gone through in a most creditable manner. We trust that the Tuhourangi Band will not be sparing in their attendance at the Sanatorium Grounds during the season. ST. BERNARD DOGS. These, as is well known, carry rhertns of rescue to stricken wayfarers; Wolfe's Schnapps carries with it health and robustness!