TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 7927, 2 August 1886, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Hotel Changes.—Mr H. G. Sheppard, well known in connection with hotel management in Christehurch, has taken the Palace Hotel, Gloucester street. Supreme Court. —The hearing of the special jury case, Hornsby and Sons v. G. King and Co., will be resumed at the Supreme Court this morning, at half-paet ten o'clock. Volunteers. The three nine-pound Armstrong guns, with which the E Battery New Zealand Artillery are to be armed, arrived from Wellington on Saturday morning by the Bteamer Hawea. They were landed and sent on to Christehurch during the day. The Glassblowers. —Judging from the attendance on Saturday, the popularity of Professor Woodroffe'a exhibition is not by any means on the wane. Both in the afternoon and evening the room _ was crowded. The present week is positively the last of the Professor's stay in Christ, church, and this afternoon, as well as this evening, a number of presents will be distributed among the audience by art union. Farmers' Club.—A well-attended meeting of gentlemen interested in the formation of a Farmers' Club was held at Timaru on Saturday afternoon, Mr Page presiding. A Committee of nine, representing the districts of Waimate, Makflrihi, Timaru, Washdyke, Pleasant Point, Geraldine, Fairlie Creek, and St Andrew's, were appointed to take the necessary steps to form a Club. The meeting then terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. Saturday Popular Concerts.—The Oddfellows' Hall was again crowded on Saturday night, when the third of the series of popular concerts, given under the auspices of the Blue Uibbon Temperance Association, took place. Mr V. W. Isitt was in the chair. In the course of an exceptionally good programme of vocal and instrumental music, the TJev Thomas' Williams, of Lyttelton, introduced a short' but earnest address on the subject of "The First Glass." The absence of printed programmes precludes anything'like a detailed notice of the concert, exeellentas it was, "being given.

Petition.—A petition praying that the townships of Sheffield and Waddington may be formed into a Borough has been signed by a large number of residents, and forwarded to the House of Representatives. A Meteob.—A meteor of unusual size and brilliancy passed across the Northern sky immediately after eight o'clock on Saturday night. It travelled westward and downwards, and vanished a short distance above the horizon. Mb Cotton Reported Sake.—lt is stated that a private telegram, received in Christchurch late on Saturday afternoon, conveyed the welcome news that Mr Cotton had been found alive after his long walk in the Hot takes district of the North Island. ■ '. Vital Statistics.—The fpllowing are the vital statistics for the City of Christchurch and district for the month ending July 31:—Births, 187; marriages, 28 ; deaths, 75. The numbers for the corresponding period of last year were 154, 33 and 43 respectively. The Magdalen Asylum.—Yesterday at the Eoman Catholic Church, Barbadoes street, the Sisters of the Order of the Good Shepherd were welcomed with much ceremony, and an address was delivered to them on behalf of the laity. A report of the proceedings appears on another page. Miss Ada Campbell, the Freethought and Social lecturess, just arrived from Wellington, announces that she will deliver a social lecture at the Oddfellows' Hall next Wednesday evening, the subiect of the lecture being," Evil in the Light of Science; its Cause and Cure." Advance Kaiapoi. A gentleman at Kaiapoi has informed us that by the last English mail he has received a letter from a friend living in London, stating that the Kaiapoi Woollen Company's exhibit of tweeds and cloth has attracted universal admiration, as a proof of which he says that H.E.H. the Prince of Wales has ordered a suit of it from a West End tailor. Healing by Faith. Mibs Shepherd, who has obtained some little notoriety in connection with some remarkable cures said to be effected by faith, is at present assisting at evangelistic services at the Wesleyan Church, Temuka. The services have been well attended' hitherto. It is currently stated that Miss Shepherd has effected a cure on a lady almost completely bedridden, but there is no authentic information on the subiect to hand. Eichmond Libbaby.—The Committee of this institution met a few days ago. After the ordinary business had been transacted, a long discussion ensued upon the financial position of the Library, and it was found that the rent and other current expenses were steadily absorbing the income, so as to leave little or no margin for the purchase of new books. It was therefore de> cided to take the necessary steps to convert the institution into a circulating library only. Lascab Smuggles.—At the Lyttelton Eesident Magistrate's Court on Saturday, Goolam Mahmet, one of the Lascar crew of the steamer M'Beth, was charged with smuggling some fancy goods off the steamer. The evidence elicited by Mr Rose went to show that the man offered the goods on the steps of the Custom House, and therefore must have been ignorant of the law. The case was heard before Mr J. G. Fyfe, and was withdrawn, the goods being ordered to be confiscated. FtJNEBAL.—At Eangiora, yesterday afternoon, a very large funeral procession followed the remains of the late Mr M. Miller to the Church of England Cemetery. The deceased having served for some time in the Eangiora Fire Brigade, the members, and also about 40 firemeD, from Chrietchurch, Lyttelton, and Kaiapoi, headed the procession in full uniform. Deceased was an old pensioner, having served his country in India and Afghanistan during the greater portion of his life, which closed at the age of 68. Bubial.—The remains of the late Samuel Baird, senr., ware interred in the Balcairn j cemetery, on Thursday last. The deceased i gentleman, who was in his 89th year, was an old settler in the Kowai district, having resided in it for the past 22 years. He was followed to the grave by one of the largest and most imposing processions ever seen in the district. As evidencing the universal respect shown to the deceased, the tradesmen of Sefton closed their places of business during the hour that the procession passed through the township. - I Mb Geobgb Eignold.—To-night, at the Theatre Eoyal, the second and farewell season of Mr George Eignold and his dramatic company begins, and, as already announced, " Called Back," by Hugh Conway and Comyns Carr, will be the opening piece. The season just closed in Wellington has been one of the most successful known. The company arrive this morning, and as the mechanist and his assistants have been at work all the week, .there is nothing more to do than wish them a bumper house. It may be as well to note that the performance begins at a quarter to eight o'clock. A Welcome Addition. Mr J. M. Thompson, who has charge of the reference library of the Working Men's Club, has just received a welcome addition to the library, viz., the report of Mr Blair, Engineer-in-Chief,upon the West Coast Railway, The report is accompanied by four maps, which have been suitably framed, and show the extent of settlement" the land leased, sold and for sale, the forests, and the mineral wealth of the districts through which the line will pass. The whole forms a very handy reference in connection with a subject in which all Canterbury settlers take a great interest. Milk.—The Inspector under the Adulteration Prevention Act has lately been obtaining samples of milk, and, in one instance, it was found that the sample submitted to Professor Blckerton, Colonial Analyst, for examination, contained no less than 20 per cent of water. It was also below the standard required by Schedule 2 of the Adulteration Prevention 4-ct of 1883, in the percentage of milk solids and butter fat. It is probable that a prosecution will be instituted against the vendor of this milk and water. At the same time it is gratifying to know that Christchurch milk has generally come out of an ordeal of chemical analysis with highly satisfactory results. A Nabbow Escape.—The suburbs are very badly lighted. This, for many reasons, demands attention. There are also other dangers, equally as serious, perhaps, of quite a different character, to which the publio are exposed. There are the bad condition of the river fences, which are in some places in a deplorably rotten state; indeed, the term is not strong enough when applied to certain portions of these fences, especially that which divides the road and river on the north-east belt, near Mr Bowron's estate. Here, in some places, it is completely torn away or broken down, rendering the narrow road which skirts the river exceedingly dangerous to foot passengers i or, in fact, to traffic of any kind; and singular to say, where the bank of the river is most dangerous, owing to its steepness and close proximity to the road, the fencing is most unsafe. Several mishaps are reported to have occurred here during the winter months, and what, might have been a very serious accident took place on Saturday evening. On -that evening a lady and her son were proceeding along thiß road. The mother walked on the side nearest the river. The night was dark, and there were no lamps. The path is winding and narrow. When they had reached the bend near Mr German's the mother suddenly disappeared, sinking into the earth, it seemed to her sen. It turned out, however, that the lady was in the river 5 having failed to see the defective fence she had slipped down into the water. But for tho timely help of her son, serious consequences might have ensued. As it was, the 'lady escaped with «, 'ducking. Perhaps,

after a few people have been served in this way, measures will be taken to repair the fence and supply light. Confibmation.—The Eight Eeverend the Primate held a confirmation at St Michael's Church, yesterday afternoon, at the three o'clock service. There were fifty-two candidates. A meeting of the Education Board of the District of North Canterbury will be heid at the Board room on Thursday, a ugust 5, at two o'clock. Are you at all weak>ohested, or" inclined to be consumptive, with a touch of cough now and then ? Lose no time but procure Bonnington's Carrageen or Irish Moss, and stop the cough.—[Advt.] Politics in the Music Hall.—Here is a stave from a new music-hall song in London : Dear Sister Erin, your shamrock so green Must still with the rose be entwined; I'm sure that your thriftiest children have been Like us both in heart and in mind. Then let's cling together, and work with a will: Hemember, should you go alar. We shall be weaker, but you weaker still, So let us remain as we are. Chobus. We're much better off as we are, my boys. We're much better off as we are; Wrongs cannot be righted unless we're united, So let us remain as we are 1 Dying like Flies.—ln the excitement of the elections, says an English paper, the fact that our brave soldiers : are dying like flies on the sultry frontier which they are guarding from the rush of the sons of the desert is conveniently forgotten. But the sacrifice to I the sun of the Soudan goes on—lso deaths have recently occurred from heat, apoplexy, and enteric fever; 710 invalids are under orders to leave for Cairo; 10 soldiers dropped dead with sunstroke at Assouan on Whit Sunday. Generals July and August are still to make their attack on the garrison decimated by General June. If they do their worst there will be nothing to stem the northward rush of the dervishes but a barricade of graves. ' The Need pob a Matrimonial Bxteeau. —A correspondent of a London paper, calling himself" Light," cordially endorses the observation made by "Evacustes" on the above subject. Speaking of his own experience, he says:—" I am a young man close on thirty without many social opportunities. I have only a small circle of female friends, and I desire in vain to make the acquaintance of a member of the opposite sex who might ba a desirable partner for life. I see plenty, but society could never tolerate a lady being spoken to by a stranger, no matter how respectable he might be or honorable his intentions. We do not want matrimonial gazettes ; I have had a little experience in that way, and they seem to but be a ' draw' to make money. I think the Church might do more, and respectable people could do much, by encouraging what * Evacustes' advocates and what you draw the attention of the public to." Cast Thy Beead, &c.—A curious incident in the life of the late M. Victor Hugo has been just made known. When after the ccup d'etat of Dec. 2 he managed to escape from Paris disguised as a workman, he took the name, and carried in his .pocket the livret, of Matthieu Lanvin. It now appears that this choice of a new name was by no means a matter of chance. Eight years before the poet had befriended an ouvrier named Matthieu ] Lanvin, and had procured, for him a situation. When, after the Empire had been proclaimed, Victor Hugo was proscribed, and had to fly, it was doubtless the same Matthieu Lanvin, who not only suggested a name to his benefactor, but by giving him his livret enabled him to support his assumption of it in a manner most likely to allay the police suspicion. The bread had been cast on the waters to some purpose in this particular instance. Sia Michael Hicks Beach.—A London Parliamentary writer thus depicts Sir Michael Hicks-Beach :—Sir Michael HicksBeach is a " poor creature " —there is no doubt of it. On a great occasion he stands absolutely alone in the petty platitudes and trivial sarcasms which do duty with him J for serious political discussion, but as leader j of one of the two great parties of the House of Commons, especially when one reflects that Mr Gladstone is leader of the other, he is positively absurd. There is a certain facility for the humbler trickery of debate which places him occasionally on a level with his fellow-members, as it did the other night in the scene with Mr Parnell. The scene sprang from Mr ParnelTs calm assurance to the House that he had received from a Conservative statesman before the general election, a pledge that the Tories would give him a measure of Home Rule so large as to include power to protect Irish industries. This statement created what .is known as a *' sensation." That is, there arose a buzz of excited conversation in low tones, which quite ignored the'member who had caused it, and compelled him to cease speaking for a minute or so tiH it had subsided. . Even if one did not happen to recollect the evening of the vote of censure on the Egyptian war on which the Government so narrowly escaped defeat, and when Mr Parnell and Mr Eowland Winn held an hour's intimate and extremely private converse behind one of the statues in the outer lobby, one knew that Sir Michael had a hard case in attempting to answer the charge. But it was just the case for the one talent he possesses, and so, while Lord Eandolph bobbed up and down like a parched pea on the seat beside him, the leader of the Tory party apparently denied the charge with great candour and some sarcasm. In fact, however, he only denied it with qualifications, which forsan olim meminisse juvabit —since Mr Gladstone's Latin is contagious. Sonnet.—The following sonnet by the poet Whittier to George Puller, written expressly for the memorial volume, will be read with interest:— Geoeqk Fuller. Haunted of Beauty, like the marvellous youth Who sang at Agnes'eve I How pissing fair Her shapes took colour in thy homeßtead air! Bow on thy canvas even her dreams were truth 1 Magician 1 who from commonest elements Called up divine ideals, clothed upon By mystio lights soft blending into one Womanly grace and childlike innocence. Teacher 1 thy lesson was not given in vain. Beauty is goodness: ugliness is sin; Art's placo is sacred; nothing foul therein May craw or tread with bestial feet profane. If rightly choo»iog is the painter's test, Thy choice, O master, ever was the best.