TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXII, Issue 7414, 3 December 1884, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

AccioanD CiuexifTKitu.--The Auckland Cricketers Imre finally decided not to mnd a team South thin year. Cauu>o*un Swim.—Mr Peter Cunningham, the President of the Canterbury Caledonian Society, in expected to arrive la Christchurch from Dunedin this evening, He will lie present at the annual supper of the Society, which i* to take plane at Arena#' Cafe do Pari* at 8 p.m. to-morrow.

lUnvaaa,—The weather in the Malvern district on the whole haa tocn favourable to the crops, sauiu of the wheat especially looking very promising. Still, the season hi a remarkable one. Besides the damage done to the potato crop by the frost on Friday, the jam crop sdtomi more or law, and the young clover sown this season in some pweea was ouito destroyed. One farmer eatimates his loss from this cause to bo Boost lMuo«Tttr.—Moasm Andrews and Heaven, id, Christchurch, did remarkably well in the prise list at the (Hugo Agricultural Show, In Dunedin, where they took first prises in the cl amt* for ritalfcuttors and corncruslims, the only ckM« for which they entered, touting four other competitors In both instance*, the repretentative of the firm speak* in high toms of the courtesy extended to himself and the other visitors from Canterbury, by the Committee of the Otago Aasociatlon.

Ashburton laaKvotsrr Aseociairim. A meeting was held in the Ashburton Arcade Chambers ms Monday evening, to lorn a Benevolent Society. Them was hut a poor attendance, and Mr Ward occupied the chair. It was decided to form a Benevolent Society, and the following tmnUemea were appointed a Provisional &«lttoe:-Beva fctt and Nixon, and Mowers Ward, Mayo, and Jones. It was snorted that Jli was available as a SuT fond for the Society to operate Hpqfr,

FABMAMRItT OUT OP Mr K. Wakoflald addressed a crowded Minting of hi# constituent# on Monday, night in the IsMMtatt Town Hall, Hi# speech lasted just two hour# and a half. At it# close ho received a vote of thank# and confidence. The proceeding# on the whole worn very orderly. A wmbmand rapjgLglijiajyßiH I Nrw linumroN ttemico to the deputation f« the City Council on Monday night, relative In the ■imposed forinatioaOf n «Vonpany for eon* Ed met ing a tramway to New Brighten, Mr [William Wilson wishes a correction to ha ftnade. He I# reported to have said that 1 there were .‘MI» “ householders " In Use f locality. The word " landholder# ’* should MWpWwsion passing south $ weatlmr gen»rally fine, with posting shower"; wind* north-west and went, moderate. AustraliaI#»w phMsora pasulng fo south, and high pressure to north (and north-west s wind# variable, overcast. Ilaramotora—New ’Am* land i Wellington, 2lHl i llluff, »» 5. Aug irallat Albany and Sydney, 211*8 j Hobart* SMHIi Cortland. 20*7. Southbbn Cbocm Prmoi.BUM Company. —Tho Directors of the above Petroleum Company report that, in order to raise tho email pipe#, It wo# found necessary to procure special appliances from Auckland. Thww aro now at the work#, and tho following telegram ha# been received from tho manager " Pipes will he lifted this day Saturday." When this is done, It is anticipated that work will he carried on without further interruption. Lyttelton Row-imo Ci.ub.~A mooting of the above Club was hold on Monday night. There was a large attendance of members, and Mr If. Allwright, M.H.R., occupied tho chair. The following crews will represent the Club at tho A karoo regatta t~fSenior Double Bctilb—W. T. Taylor (stroke), O. Graham (bow) j Junior Double Sculls—Neil Galbraith (stroke), J. Held (how) ; Senior Poir-ooml—C. Fitxttimmon (stroke), T. Uarkiss (bow). It was decided to call the new double•culling boat, just built to the order of the Club by Mr f>. Rees, of Christchurch, the Takapuua. After some rontino business, the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Tub PBBMiBB.~Xho Hon Robert Stout arrived at Lyttelton from Wellington in the s.s. Wainirupa yesterday morning. He came on to Christchurch, and together with the Hon E. Richardson, had an Interview with Dio promoters of the East and West Coast Railway. The proceedings were of a private nature, but it may he stated that active steps are being taken with a view to settling prclihinaric* for a contract for the construction of the line. Messrs Stout and Richardson also had an interview with some members of tho South Waimakariri Board of Conservators concerning certain matters connected with the election of tho Board. The Premier left Christchurch for the south in Hie afternoon, and the Hon E. Richardson will proceed to Wellington by the «. s. Hauroto to-day.

Tat* Bart and Wwrr Coakt Railway.— A Committee mooting of the projectors of the East and West Count railway scheme w m held yesterday, when the business transacted was chiefly of a private and confidential nature. The question of routes was considered, but no definite decision arrived at, and the Engineer’s report on the Arthur's Pass line, in answer to that by Mr Blair, contained in papers laid before Parliament, was ako received. Later on a deputation of members of the Com* mittoe waited on the Premier (the Hon Robert Stout) and the Minister of Public Works, and received from them the assurance that the Govcrment would place every facility in the way of those who desired to carry oat the project. Wo understand that Messrs Harper and Harper have been instructed to prepare a preliminary contract, which the proposed Company may submit to the Government. Pom nut SrostTS.— A meeting of the Popular Sports Committee was held at the City Council Chambers lost night, when there was a good attendance. In the absence of the Mayor, Mr 8. P. Andrews took the chair. Mr Robert Lane was elected a member. Apologies were made for Messrs Walk don and T. Hobbs. Mr Walkden wrote, stating that the Ground Committee had let the work of preparing the course, Ac., to the same contractors who did it last year for an amount slightly less. A letter was read from the master of the Burnham School, regretting that the children of the band could not attend, as they bad been previously engaged for Southbridge on that day. It was resolved to write to tire authorities of the Orphan Asylum, inviting the children who might be considered old enough to come. Mr Haskins suggested that a platform should be constructed for open air dancing. The meeting resolved to request the Ground Committee to make arrangements fordpnce music, and for preparing the ground, AcAfter disposing of some other matters of detail, the meeting adjourned till next TudMay. Horobata Jockit Ci.UB.--A meeting of the stewards was held on Nov. ail, at Napier's hotel j present—Messrs Oliver, Cresawell, Broughton, W. Baker, Fountains (in tiro chair), Q. Baker. The Chairman stated that the Ground Committee had put out tenders for ploughing, harrowing, and roiling gallop, and Mr 'Brownlie haa done the work, and that Mr Keltic had got the tender for enlarging the saddling paddock, and post and railing. A letter was read from Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin rs totalisator, and it was decided to accept their offer to work their machine. M r Brough ton moved, and Mr Oliver seconded—" 1 hat the shelves and counter in the bar of booth bo purchased from Mr Napier at valuation." Carried. Mr J. Brown interviewed the stewards r« picking stone* off ploughed gallop. -Decided to give him «s per day to do the work, and to clear off any stones lying about, and also to put up posts, ropes, and hurdles for the races. It was decided to call for tenders for the purchase of gates and right of sports, members with horse, trainers and racehorses, and children under Iff years, admitted free. It was also agreed to call for tender* for publican's booth, a deposit of M to accompany each tender, to close on Deo. 15.' AH nominations for handicap will clow* on Dee. 15. After transacting buslntes of a routine nature, the meeting adjourned to Deo, 15.

Araociova Outiuok. Wind apjwmu to have lawn a moot brutal outrage on a woman waa oowmittod by town young wen about half'paet 12 o'clock on Monday night The neighbourhood of the mu way elation »#i startled at toU late hour by fearful scream*. Amongst those who hoard them wan Constable Ihllow, who wm on duty in Manchester street south, near Alton street, Ha at wm* »a» toward* too spot whence toe arias evidently those of a woman seemed to After turning tot .-■ «w» by ’ the Terminus llotol, he proceeded to a wIM of Urn Howto Halt. near Jtogers* towding'lMHttti. end thorn found a woman struggling with town men. The constable apprehended m» of too won. Austin Tym 11. and he was brought unat too JAM. Court and remanded to Friday unit About 11 tt,m»y«tor(toy Detective O'Connor awwtod two others, John Arthur Cotton awl William Xfemoak, who am supposed to be Tyrrell's companions in crime. From the statement of the womim, who, it may bo remarked, has only recently been dMuwod from the Hospital, it would seem that tore® men «wl««d her as too was going home from a friend's house and dragged her over a low gone fence into toe paddock before mentioned. Hero two of town in torn held their hands over her mouth while toe outrage was committed. Notwithstanding tots, her cries were heard by several of toe neighbours and* by the constable who ran to her assistance. -

Mis#- Gbwkvirvb Wash.-—llls Etd« l««y the Governor ban granted his patronage to the coming dmmalio monos, mid will he nrvMrnt at tit** performance on Monday night, The opening night b Friday. Avvtnttr Amt Mwprhw Msoic,—The iMMfefitn thin subject, which is to he given Theatre to-morrow night, hy the BmV T. do# Chennai*, B.SL, in aid of the Bunds of tin* Benevolent Association, Humid proto, if we may judge hy the |n»r■ctilarit appearing in an sulr«<rtiw>m*«nt Bsewhere. moat Interesting. In alt ago* Ben have endeavoured to hold commmnraBon with the world of shadows, The groat prray of fact# collected hy ancient and Bii <h fo writer# of repute afford# material nor #tudy and reflection. In bygone age* f the mysterious art w»a called magic; in moilero time# it I* known hy a variety of mums. Tim two divirion* are dealt with hy the lecturer under the title " Ancient and Modern Magic." Is the flint he deal#, we observe, with the historic oracle* of the ancient world—with the apparition#, charm#, enchantment*—recorded hy ancient writer#! with spiritualistic manifestation#, and the performance# of the tahleturnor# and the sleeping mediums of the old world. In the second ho treat# of mesmerism, nnimai magnetism, clairvoyance, slate writing, table-turning, spirit apparitions, magical performances, and the doings of I ho convalslonists, modem sybils, mediums, sminatnliaiists, and such like people. There is also a disquisition on the extraordinary phenomena of Buddhism, and New Zealanders will be Intereited to know that they oan, by attending, leant something about the strange and unaccountable doings of the Maori Tohungas, of which old settlers have many a story to tell. The interest that belong# to this great subject should of itself Ihi sufficient to draw a large audience. The fact that the lecture is tor a great charitable object, will, no doubt, Wove an additional incentive. A string hand, under Mr Udnx’s leadership, will be in attendance. Anrsnjjwm<mt* are Wine made for Um> delivery of s lectors on Tuesday srsnts# nest, ty Mr Edward Waksfleld, M.M.R., on the ** how and Poetry of of Uroster Hrltntu.” The tocturn will W taster the auspices of the Christolmr«b Yoons Men's Christian AmocUHod. Attention is drawn to an advertisement of a now stylo of album, appearing this moralo#. The »t»ielalty I# that ouch leaf is hinged on to a metallic Wok, and can be taken oat of the book if desired. The album can bo reduced or enlarged, as deni ml. A rymnasUe competition for prises for hoys attending the public sebooltt, under the control of the North Canterbury Education Board, will W held at the Normal School, <m catnrday, Deo. 13, atll.ada.rn. A meeting of persona interested In the formation of a Bicycle Club in the Northern district, will be held at the Junction Hotel, Haoifiora, tomorrow, at 7.30 p.m. The usual monthly meetinc of the St Augustine Masonic laxtge, will be held this evening, at 7 JO. A meeting of the members and adherent# of St Andrew # Church will he held in the schoolroom, at 7,30 this evening, to take into consideration the recent action If the Fraehytery, r« legality of ministers and office-bearers. The installation of the Right Worshipful Master and officers of the Canterbury Kilwinning I*odg«, NIS, ikotllsh Constitution, will take place at Lyttelton, at 7 o'clock to-morrow evening. The Canterbury Caledonian Society's annual supper will take place #1« o'clock to-morrow evening. at Annum' Cafe.

Kihainu tub Weoxo Childbbm.—A good story is told of a political candidate who, alter affectionately kissing and probing an assortment of eleven children, and marvelling at the resemblance they bene to. a matronly lady, who blushed the while, then requested, with aby-tho-way air, that she should mention to her husband that Mr So-and-So had called. “ Ala#! good sir/* quoth the Indy, " I have no husband." " Bat these children, madam ; you surely are not a widow ?" “ 1 feared you were mistaken, sir, when you first came up. These are not my children; this b an orphan asylum!"

Thb "Watchman” Aoain.— ltbamoet extraordinary thing to notice how people, in spite of repeated warnings, persist in allowing themselves to be gulled. The swindler who was chased out of the Christchurch showgrounds on two different occasions has turned up at Wellington, where he has been repeating bis trick of selling pound notes for less than twenty shillings and afterwords palming off dummy watches on the crowd gathered at the races. The pranks thb man has played have been telegraphed all over tho Colony, and attention repeatedly called to his proceedings in the newspapers, yet he seems to have no difficulty in finding victims wherever he goes. The public appear to have token things in good humour at tho Hutt course, and so there was no display of the revolver thb time.

Pihb-Haisino is A uelaidk.— A telegram in the Melbourne Herald from Adelaide »ay« With regard to tho recent conflagrations and the Government rewards, amounting to i&OOO, for information which way lead to the conviction of the incendiaries, it b freely stated in public and private circles that Socialists or Fenian instigators are at the bottom of the outrages. Similar statement* have also been made in the newspapers. A general panic exists among house-owners, and business men owning inflammable properties are employing special night - watchmen. Mounted police patrol the streets of the city and principal suburbs all night On Saturday evening it was generally believed thot another destructive conflagration would take place, and unusually largo crowds filled the streets in consequence. The police were on the alert, and the fire brigades were ready to move at a moment’s notice, but fortunately no alarm occurred.”

PRomninoifor Baby Show*.— The Pam correspondent of the Sydney Jfemuif Herald, writing oh Sept. SSI, s»y«“The Prefect of Police, acting upon the conclusions of a Medical Committee appointed to study the question of the baby thow which war to have been opened »on»e ten day* hence, has issued a proolafbation forbidding the affair, on the ground that It was not likely to prove of any utility, that it might injure the health of the children, and that it has been promoted and accepted from merely mercenary motive* or from vanity. The parent* of the 3000 infante whose name* have been entered on the competition list at a cost of two franc* per head, and who have all been at considerable expense for the dainty little dresses in which their darlings were to have been shown to the eye* of an admiring publle, are all m a •(ate of angry excitement. The Prelect having authorised the show last spring, to severely blamed for the tardine** of Wa action, and the disappointed exhibitors, committee, and parent* are threatening to bring an action against the Prefect of PoUce«witlii a view to obtaining damage* f,*r th«r low to which they have thus been subjected." llamciNu Ova,—'the tendon oonespondmii of the Melbourne dry** write* “ Mr Howard Spetuley, alter demonstrating the jMsmibuity of hatching herring ova in captivity, has hitherto failed to retard the process of incubation for a period sufficiently long to render it m*> wide to convey the ova to Colonial water* in a condition fit tor hatching there. He ha* recently kept several open gtea* botth* containing the jelly-like ova to toe, in order to retard the hatching process tor 80 day*, but ha* not succeeded in hi* experiment, the ova having apparently lust it* vitality. He now propose* to try two fresh plan*. He will enclose the ova in hermetleally-<w«le«l glaaa bottle*, which, however, will bo fitted with an apparatus! which will enable a mmmt of air to be passed through at will. These bottle* will be kept In *o k# cairn tor 80 day*, the temperature being maintained at a little above fremrfnir point. Mr Bpemdoy alao prepowa to utißae the told dr principle which wa* found *o useful to iwmeelion with the trenwort of salmon ova to New Zealand. to rrancia Hell and the lari of Uuderdak to James Mitchell), who la a wdebwtod

pisciculturist, hope to «««() oat « fnwh mmignmmi of salmon ovate Now Zealand by the s.s, lonic in Ifmmmlmr,” N«w (Ibimsa.— lt Is stated In tho Baalish ptpm that Mr J. W. Bn<»{, who ha* explored Iliwwla and HiWla, will *tert from Now York next spring with a party of fifty men, for tho pnrp-***< of exploring hW (It: inco, A tnllll'rtialre of that »>it» will boar tho whole of the cost. when will inrbob- tin* purchase and cq at patent of a #eb«*mtrr.

T«« l , Ropo«i:ii ('aMtnmtritt or o.vrots.— It u rpportol. «»y* » London papor, that matt, it not all, <>l tho loading jointstock Imnk* hate d«*» bh>d not to anwft the offer of the Chancellor of the rixchrtqnrr. They will not. In other word#, convert their consol# into vteek tearing a lower rate of interest. Tim private banka hate front the first been decidedly opposed te thl# measure, and the alight ad VMtee whieh haa taken place In the price of loanable capital will now probably decide waver ora in many case* to follow this lead. At the moment, therdWe, it look# a# if the contention project would he a failure in any largo »•«,«>, and that the amount of stock contorted would not errand a few million*.

Stbri, Tim.*—The employ merit of steel in the manufacture of tin plate I* rapidly Increasing, owing to the cheap rate at which steel can now tie produced, and it i* likely to lead to excellent results in a direction which was not contemplated. The American cannol and tinned meat trade has long been aware of the danger* te health that are frequently incurred hy those who a*e this class of provisions. and is beginning to insist that the tins should be marie of steel instead of iron as heretofore. It is considered probable that many tinned foods, and especially fish, which were formerly tainted, as It was thought, from defective soldering, are realty made injurious to the consumer through the use of faulty iron in the cans. The can production has now assumed such gigantic proportions that the employment of mild steel in this direction will necessarily be on a large scab; also. Aj'M.iCAnaw or Coma Sheatwiso to Ikom Ships. —lf there Is any truth in the rumours which are now current In Swansea —the seat of the copper trade of the world —there are prospects that this mice flourishing and lucrative business will shortly show signs of vitality which it has not known for very many years past- When wooden vessels were all in vogue the copper trade was in full swing, for most vessels were sheathed with copper ; but the introduction of iron nod steel ships and steamers paralysed to a very great extent the copper trade, os It was found impossible to sheath iron ships with copper sheets to prevent the fouling of the bottoms of the ships, a most serious detriment, more especially when long voyages had to be undertaken. The difficulty has now, however, according to the Mining Journal, Wen overcome. Tho value of copper sheathing for vessels has never been lost sight of, and it is stated that Sir Hussey Vivian, Bart., M.P. (whose firm may be said to be the father of the copper trade in Great Britain) has at length succeeded in overcoming every difficulty, and that by means of a layer of gutta-percha upon the iron, and the fastening of the copper sheathing with a patent composition, the problem has been solved, the copper {dates being fixed with a tenacity which resists all wear and tear. So much importance, at all events, is attached to the matter, and so confident is Sir Hussey of success, that an ires ship is being sheathed with copper, and the Admiralty has recently sent down a special officer to Swansea to investigate and report thereon. Should this experiment prove successful, of which there appears no doubt, it will be of national importance, and will give a much-wanted impetus to what formerly waa oo« of the moat important metal trades in the country. Han lax. —A member of the Melbourne Frees recently had a chat with the redoubtable sculling ex-champion, and thus records results.—“Mr Hanlan accounted for hia defeat by saying be was not in the best form to begin with on the morning of the race, and was upset, and received I some nerve shock by the start of finding the steamer just upon him. He thinks that but for that he would have woo the race, in spite of not being in his best condition. He believes that the beating has done him good; thinks that constant success had perhaps made him a little cardans. Since that time he has bees resting: to lie fallow abttle Is beneficial. He will shortly repair to Hobart, where it Is not so hot, and go into regular training there. He will row on hi* merits, and does not care how many people watch him when training. He baa an adviser, but no trainer } has adopted a certain course of action while preparing for other races, and will adopt the same now. As soon as he was beaten he cabled for two more boats. Has no doubt that Australians can bal’d boats, but has a fancy for a Canadian production. These boats ought to he here in time for the races with Clifford and Beach, the former being on the 7th February, 1885. and the latter on the 28lh March. He does not think that these two events are too near together, as they give him time to go home and rest a week and train again. Given good room, and he thinks he can beat both Clifford and Beach.’*