TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7862, 18 May 1886, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Returning. —The Rev H. C. M. Watson, incumbent of St John’s, is expected to arrive this week, after his trip to the Old ~wnn«T»T tff

Municipal. —The meeting of the City Council, which, in the ordinary course, would have been held last evening, will take place to-night. ||r . rrr ordinary meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council was held last evening. It was decided to get some gum-boots for the Corporation workmen. One councillor suggested " boats.” A report of the proceeding appears elsewhere.

E.M.S. Eimutaka. —The E.M.S. Eimutaka le£t Auckland on May 6 -with the largest number of passengers that has yet left New Zealand in any one of the direct steamers. The numbers were:—Saloon, 65; second saloon, 78; steerage, 110; total, 253.

A Mean Theft. —During the interregnum in the racing at Ashburton, caused by the wet weather, the refreshment room of Mr Whittle, on the racecourse, was broken into, and much of the “ medical comforts ” removed. Yesterday, James Scott, caretaker of the course, was remanded by the Mayor, till to-day. Scott is charged with having been the culprit. Magisterial. —Mr Beetham sat as usual yesterday morning to dispose of the civil cases which might come before him. Monday is generally remarkable in the way of civil cases for long arguments by lawyers and a protracted sitting of the Court, but yesterday was an exception to the rule, as the only business done was to adjourn the case of Harper and Co. v. Henshaw and Madeley to May 25. Timaru Poultry Society. —A meeting of this Society was held on Saturday evening. The balance-sheet showed that the Society had a credit balance of £9 11s 7d after all expenses were paid. Thanks were voted to the various prizegivers. The number of visitors to the last July show was 1000 the first day and 1500 the second. It was resolved to give .£l2O 4s 6d in prizes this year, and to hold an art union, with prizes to the amount of £SO 7s 6d. The Cathedral. —Another addition is to be made shortly to the stained glass windows in the Cathedral. Mrs E. H. Ehodes has presented one to be erected in memory of her late husband, and it is expected to arrive shortly. Messrs Clayton and Bell have been entrusted with the task of making the window. Another section of the tile panelling of the lower portion of the wall will shortly be erected. The cost will be borne by the Cathedral Guild.

Rangiora High School. —A fully attended meeting of the Eangiora High School Board was Reid yesterday evening to consider applications for the post of head master to the school. Applications were received from nine candidates, and after carefully considering their testimonials, Mr Thomas Rowe, of Canterbury College, was appointed, subject to the approval of a deputation of the Board appointed to wait upon him. The meeting then terminated.

Scotch Concert!- —The Scottish Rifle Volunteers intend giving a concert in aid of the funds of their corps in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street, on Thursday evening next. The character of selections may be judged from the title of the entertainment, “ Twa oors 'mang oor ain' fowk,” and those who have attended the concerts given by our Scottish friends will be prepared for a treat of no ordinary merit. The programme is a very wellselected one. and some of the best amateur talent of the South Island has been engaged for the occasion. The Tweed Salmon Fisheries. —Mr S. C. Farr has received a letter from Mr D. C. Donaldson, Superintendent of the Tweed fisheries, stating that the quantity of salmon in that river last season was greater than had been known by the oldest fishermen. Ova was obtained in such abundance that, Mr Donaldson says, it could have been disposed of by train loads. He added an expression of regret that Mr Farr was not in Scotland to take some of it. Considering the loss just sustained by the Acclimatisation Society through the recent flood, Mr Farr probably shares his friend’s regrets. The Yacht Surprise. —The yacht Surprise, of Rhode’s Bay, which came to grief on Saturday in Nor’-west Bay, Lyttelton, was a clinker-built centre-board craft of about 9 tons measurement. She was built about three years ago in Rhode’s Bay, and sailed at the Akaroa and Lyttelton regattas of 1883-1884 as an open boat, and won both races with great ease. She was then raised on and decked in, and has since run with varied success, winning at Akaroa and Lyttelton in light weather, but in strong weather getting beaten by more powerful vessels. She was generally entered for her races in the name of E. Veal, of Purau. A few weeks ago, during the last match of the season of the Canterbury Yacht Club, the Surprise showed herself to be considerably the best boat in, Lyttelton in a light wind. On Saturday, last she ran away with her moorings during the heavy gale of that date, and is now lying in fragments on the beach of Nor’-west Bay. Town and Country Journal. —We have received the May number of the_ Town and Country Journal, which is as interesting and full of useful reading matter as ever. Mr T. H. Potts opens the ball with one of his “ Out in the Open ” papers, always a popular feature in the publication. With the somewhat discursive habit common to naturalists, Mr Potts covers a great deal of ground. There is a little word-painting regarding mountain-scenery; a plea for rearing and planting of native trees', as well as exotics, and for sparing native birds from wanton destruction; a note of suspicion and warning sounded about our once rare friend the humble bee, and some general gossip on Tiger beetles, trap-door spiders, walking sticks (Phasmae), stinging flies, and other notabilities of our insect world. ' The whole forms a pleasant and readable paper, which, after all, is a criticism which might have been taken’ for granted. Mr S. C. Farr continues his series of papers on the importation of the English salmon, and has now got well into the difficulties which beset him on his late expedition to the old country. “ Hermit ” is to the fore again with his sporting notes, written in his gentleman-like style. Extracted from Foreign sources, are articles on Agricultural Education, the English Cart Horse, Agricultural Societies, and the Victorian Royal Commission on Vegetable Products. The Poultry Yard, Farming, and Garden Notes and Gleanings, Science page. &c., &c., are as full of information as usual.

Illegal Voting.— lt is stated that proceedings will be taken against certain persons for voting illegally at the Sydenham election, by falsely representing to the Eeturning-Officer that they resided within the Borough. Rainfall. —The rainfall registered by Mr J. B. Stansell for the twenty-four hours ending at nine o’clock yesterday morning was only o’oß of an inch. In connection with the recent rainfall, it is of interest to note that the barometer chart is almost identical with the diagrams of 1885 and 1884.

Industrial Association, To-morrow evening a general meeting of the Association will be held at their rooms, for the purpose of hearing Mr George Hart read his prize essay on the “ Present Condition and Future Prospects of the Industrial Resources of New Zealand,” and to witness the presentation to that gentleman of the silver prize medal awarded by Sir Julius Vogel. The Recent Floods. —At a meeting convened yesterday afternoon by his Worship the Mayor, a Committee was appointed to make enquiries as to any cases of serious distress occasioned by the recent floods, and to report at an adjourned meeting on Monday next. The Mayor reported that he had already received a cheque for ten pounds and another for five guineas sfrom Messrs George Gould and A. J. White

|*®Bbistchurch Musical Society. —Last [night the members of the Christchurch Musical Society held a very successful rehearsal of the programme of the concert [to be given by them in the Oddfellows’ Hall [Mis evening. There was a full orchestra and a good attendance of vocalists. The solos were all rendered exceedingly well. The programme consists of a miscellaneous concert of high class music, followed by Rossini’s “Stabat Mater,” which, it is stated, has only been given once in Christchurch —by Signor Cagli’a Company in 1872.

Caught Napping. —Surely the travelling people will not object to the carriage accommodation for passengers on the Little Eiver branch of the New Zealand railways. The usually worthy and wide-awake M.H.E. for Akaroa found it so good that, on his journey from Little EiVer to Christchurch, on Tuesday morning last, he was enabled to sleep with such comfort (possibly dreaming of the pleasures of office) that he failed to awake, even on the arrival of the train at Lincoln, and was some distance on the return journey to Little Eiver before he opened his eyes and became fully aware of the fact that instead of being on his way to Christchurch he was being conveyed back to the place whence he started.

Ecclesiastical. —The annual congregational meeting of the Lincoln Presbyterian Church was held in the above church on Thursday, May 13, the Eev E. J. Porter in the chair. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather there was a very fair attendance. The Chairman congratulated' the members of the church on the success which had attended their efforts during the past year, and although the church had lost many of its members, he was glad to state that, numerically, they were now stronger than at their last annual meeting. He concluded by thanking all those who had assisted to promote the welfare of the church during the year. The financial report showed a total income for the year of £337 4s 6d; expenditure, £305 13s 3d, leaving a balance in hand of £3l 11s 3d. The' report also stated that at the beginning of the year there was a debt of about £SO, but this had been paid, and some £6O had been spent on the purchase of an organ. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Watson, of Tai Tapu, for his present of a handsome iron gate for the church. The following were elected as a Committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs Gilmour (Treasurer), Watson, Sinclair (Secretary), Todd, Smith, Brown, Eestall.—A sale of work and farm produce, in aid of the funds of the Eakaia Presbyterian Church, was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Eakaia, on Thursday, May 13, and although the weather was very unpleasant, being both cold and wet, the attendance of buyers was very satisfactory. The sale of apparel, fancy goods, &c., was superintended by Mesdames Bruce, Tucker, Sharp and Stewart; that of the farm produce by Mr Mutter, while the Misses Young, Bruce and Stevenson attended to the refreshment table. Everything was sold, and it was found that the takings amounted to nearly £SO, which is reckoned very good considering these hard times. The annual meeting of the Christchurch Horticultural Society wi!l be held in the Oddfellows* Chambers, Lichfield street, on Thursday evening, at S o'clock.

The W.C.T.U. will meet to-morrow, at 2.30 p.m., in the Booms of the Y.M.C.A. It is notified that the various corps at Headquarters, together with the two corps from Lyttelton and the Kaiapoi Rifles, will parade in review order at Hagley Park on Monday, May 24. A public meeting to consider the Charitable Aid question will be held in the Boad Board Office, Loburn, on Thursday, May 20. at 2 p.m. An election of two Auditors for the Berough of Sydenham for the ensuing year will be held at the Borough Council Chambers on Tuesday, Jnne 1, A meeting of the Eobert Burns Lodge, 604, S.C., will be held on Tuesday, May 18, at 7.30 p.m. The time-table on the Uirdlieg’s Plat and Little Biver section has been altered. Pull particulars are advertised.

A social gathering of the members of the Conyers’ Masonic Lodge, 1916, E.C., with their lady friends, will be held on Monday evening next, in the Canterbury Masonic Hall. A large number of tickets have already been disposed of, and a very pleasant gathering is anticipated. Meetings of the St John Ambulance, for men only, will bo held to-day. at 8 p.m., and for ladies on Wednesday, May 19, at 4.15 p.m. The House Steward of the Christchurch Hospital wishes to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of some jelly from Mrs Bishop, Papanni. and of .a number of books and periodicals from the Public Library. The Stanmore Brass Band, under the conductorship of Mr M’Killop, will play the following x>roframme (by request), weather permitting, in london street, Lyttelton, to-night, at 7.30 p.m. sharpQui<-j.step, “Battle of "Magei-ta" (B. Marie); pc.ua, “Mon Ami” (3, E. Bulch) x grand contest selection, Wagner, as performed - at Camara Band contest (H, Kduna); “Gloria,*’ from-Mozart’s Twelfth Mass, arranged (Haydn Mx'iars) ; valse, “ Bygone Visions ’’ (3_ Harris); g’and fantasia, “Joan of Arc” (H. Bound); fantasia, “Echoesof London” (S. Smith); valse, vocal, “Still Thine Own” (T. Metcalfe); uod Save the Queen. Satdbdat's Flood. —A large quantity of Millinery, Ladies’ Underclothing, Costumes and General Drapery were damaged by the late rains, and will be offered for sale cheap this week. C. B. Church, Draper, Cashel street, Christchurch.— [Advt.J

English Autogeaphs. —During a recent sale of autographs at Berlin the following were included:—Letter from James Watt, dated Birmingham, March 18,1793, for 41 marks ; letter from David Garrick, for 36 marks j letter from Benjamin Franklin, dated London, March 10, 1774, for 80 marks.

Magnificent Forgetfulness. Truth says :—Lord Dupplin is another loss to society. “ Duppy ” was cheery and goodnatured. He always managed, with no apparent means, to keep his head above water and to enjoy the fat of the land. I remember some years ago coming across him in Westminster Hall. “ What are you doing here ?” I asked. “ Well,” he said, “ I am a f co ’ in a divorce suit, and lam going to be called as a witness.” ,c Is the charge true ?” I asked. “ That,” he replied, “is my difficulty. I really cannot remember whether it is true or not.” I felt utterly dumbfounded at this magnificent forgetfulness.

[Viscount Dupplin, heir of the Earl of Kinnonl, died at Monte Carlo on March 9. It is rumoured that he committed suicide owing to heavy losses at the gambling table. He was 37 years old.]

Allotment of Ground. —The question of allotment of ground to the labouring classes in England, and on which the Tory Government was defeated, has been solved in a very practical manner by Sir George Wombwell. On his estates in Yorkshire, comprising 13,000 acres, nearly all the cottages in the important villages have three acres of grass let with them—some have more—and to every cottage is attached a cowhouse, piggery and garden of good size adjoining the cottage. The rent of cottage and garden is .£4 to £u, and for corf gate of three acres J 36. The present

system of allotments on this estate has been in existence more than fifty years. The owner increases the number of these holdings at every opportunity, as in practice they answer well. A Chinese Wedding in Paris. —The Paris correspondent of a London paper telegraphs:—The Chinese Minister has taken to himself a second wife. She was brought over from China, and is the daughter of a first-class mandarin. All the out-door processional* part of the wedding ceremonial which Chinese custom prescribes, was eliminated, and thus there was no Celestial pageantry. The late Ambassadress died at Berlin thirteen months ago. She left a daughter, whose arrival here in Paris caused a sensation at the terminus of the Northern railway, because she was so distinctly, funnily, and prettily Chinese, Her travelling dress, which she meant to be European, was of pink silk and white satin, embroidered in the brightest colours with flowers and birds. There was no European at the Ambassador’s wedding. The bride is turned 17. She will probably appear in society here during the after Easter season.

British Shipbuilding. —In a recent number of the Nautical Magazine, the shipbuilding of 1885 is discussed at length. A further decline in the industry is chronicled. Upwards of 200,000 tons less were built in 1885 than in 1884, but the great feature of the past year was the demand for sailing vessels. Prom 1880 to 1884 there has been year by year a decrease in the registered tonnage of sailing vessels, but in 1885 there was an actual increase, and that of the respectable figure of 36,781 tons. On the other hand, the increase of registered tonnage of steamers was never smaller than in 1885, when, though it stood at 84,328. tons, it was but one-fifth of the increase of 1884. The conclusion drawn is that sailing vessels are once more gradually coming into favour. It is also predicted by the writer that “shipowning, if not shipbuilding, has passed through the deepest period of the present depression, but to such an extent was overbuilding indulged in a few years ago that it is scarcely likely we shall see any sudden improvement in the shipping trade.” The percentage of steel vessels to the total tonnage built reached 48 in 1885 j in 1879 it was only 10£. A Perfidious Draper.— Thomas O’Connell Stenson, a draper’s assistant, of Charrington street, St Pancras, was charged on a warrant with having obtained from Miss Sarah Elizabeth Bailey, by false pretences, the sum of £IBO, with intent to defraud. From the information upon which the warrant was granted, it appeared that in June, 1885, the prosecutrix was employed as assistant in a draper’s shop at Westbourne Drove, and the prisoner was a shopwalker in the same establishment. At about that time Miss Bailey received a legacy of .£3OO, upon which the prisoner commenced paying his addresses to her with a view to marriage, and very shortly afterwards requested her to lend him .£2OO for the purpose of setting up in business on his own account. He said that the money was for the purchase of a lease, goodwill and fixtures; and believing his statement to be true, she paid the amount over to him, and received an assignment of the lease, &c., for which it was represented £IBO had been paid. In October the prisoner obtained the assignment, and the prosecutrix had not seen it since. It afterwards came to her knowledge that only £7O had been paid for the property, and that the money had been appropriated by the prisoner. He afterwards, by other representations, obtained from her further sums of .£IOO and. £3O. The prisoner was remanded.