TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXX, Issue 8623, 26 October 1888, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Rangiora. —Mr H. Blackett, Mayor of Rangiora, returned from Melbourne yesterday in good health, having thoroughly ~ enjoyed his trip. Grain Freight. —lt is notified in an advertisement elsewhere that from Deo. 1 grain and other agricultural produce. Glass E, will be charged upon the actual weight. Selwyn County Council.*— A meeting of the Selwyn County Council will be held on Tuesday next at the usual hour. Some important business is to come up for discussion. Supreme Court. —His Honor Mr Justice Ward sat in Banco yesterday, and will sit in Chambers to-day at 11_ a.m. The list of applications set down will be found on the usual page. Lyttelton Regatta.— The adjourned public meeting, to discuss the question of holding the annual regatta on Jan. 1 next, will be held in the Colonists’ Hall tonight, at eight o'clock. The Committee meet at 7.30 p.m. A Ebcusant Probationer. —Under this heading will be found, on another page, the report of the proceedings taken yesterday in the Supreme Court to deal with a probationer who had failed to comply with the conditions of his license. Ellesmere Agricultural Show.— -The nineteenth annual Show of the Ellesmere A. and P. Association was held yesterday, and was a pronounced success, both as to the number and quality of the exhibits. The attendance was also good. A report appears elsewhere. Rainfall. —Therainfall at the Rangiora High School for the weekending Thursday, Oct. 25, was as follows: —Monday, Oct. 22, 022 in, wind North-east; Thursday, Oct. 25, 'oo9in, wind first South-west, then North-east. Total, *o3lin. The measurements are taken at 8.45 a.m. for the previous twenty-four hours. Mounted Rifles . The Canterbury M< unted Rifles paraded yesterday morning at the rifle range, Bromley, at five o’clock for volley and independent firing, under the direction of Major Newall. Thirty-two of all ranks turned out. Captain Reece, being in command. Major Slater was also on the ground. The men fired with their new carbines. Discharging Ships. —ln consequence of a paragraph which appeared in the shipping column of the Lyttelton Times some time ago to the effect that the work of discharging the cargo of the ship Marlborough was being proceeded with but slowly, a meeting of merchants will be held in Christchurch this afternoon to consider the whole matter of discharging cargoes at Lyttelton. St John’s.— To-night an entertainment, consisting of tableaux vivants, and instrumental and vocal music, will be held in St John’s schoolroom. Among the tableaux (which will he shown by the aid of Mr Crook’s lime light) are several new ones, as Blue Beard, the fish market, good-night and good morning. Another feature in the series will be the introduction of songs illustrative of the tableau. . Popular Sports Committee. —An adjourned meeting was held last night at the City Council Chambers. There was a fair attendance, and Mr W. E. Samuels presided. Several letters were received from Friendly Societies, on the subject of amalgamation, but as many of the Societies had not met since they had been written to by the Committee, it was decided to adjourn the meeting until Nov. 6, so that all may be heard, from. Entertainment at Opawa. What promises to be a most enjoyable entertainment comes off in St Mark’s Schoolroom on Monday evening. The programme consists of tableaux and a concert. _The former alone would be worth going a long way to see, and the concert is quite as good as a Christchurch audience is likely to hear for some time to come, such performers as Mrs Westmacott, Mrs Alan Scott, Miss Spensley, Mr Izard, Mr T. Acland, and Mr Day, taking part m it. A coach will leave Cathedral square at 7.30. Cathedral Organ Recital- —Mr Tendall announces a recital for this evening. The full programme is advertised, and it contains a list of some of the best works of the great masters, the principal items being by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Chopin, Raff, &c. Mr Millar will sing Gounod’s famous setting of “Nazareth,” Haydn’s “Now Heaven in Fullest Glory,” from the Creation, and a very beautiful bass song, “How Great, 0 Lord” from Sir J. Benedict’s “St Peter.” The recital is in aid of the Cathedral Music Library and ■Choir.Fund*

Richmond Rifles. —Last night this corps encamped at the Bromley rifle range, for the purpose of going through their annual course of volley firing at 5 a.m. today. Hailstorm. A heavy hailstorm passed over Lyttelton at 12.25 p-m. yesterday. Some of the stones were as large as peas, and as the air was rather cold the ground was soon coated. Cricket. —The cricket season was opened at Timaru yesterday, the Timaru Club playing a scratch match on their ground, and the newly-formed Zealandia Club a practice match on the Domain, where a pitch has been prepared by the Domain Board at their request. Charge of Larceny. —A man named Thomas Rooney, who has only recently completed a sentence of two years for forgery at Oamaru, was remanded at Timaru yesterday till Oct. 29 on a charge of stealing two blankets and a rug from the Ship Hotel, the property of a man named Tucker. Tucker was also in custody on a charge of drunkenness, and was remanded till the same date. Commission of Enquiry.— Messrs M. Murphy (Secretary to the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association), D. M'Millan, and H. Overton, have received notice from the Minister for Education that they are appointed by the Governor, a Commission to enquire into matters in connection with the Lincoln Agricultural College. The enquiry will probably take place during the latter end of November. The Metropolitan Show. —The catering for the luncheons, &c., for the forthcoming S®.ow at the Addington Grounds has been entrusted this year to Mr P. Burke, of the Southern Cross Hotel, Addington, who has proved himself an adept in this line. Mr C. Amyes has been caterer for the past six years, and has always given the greatest satisfaction, but his price this year warranted the Committee in accepting another tender. Mr Amyes will stilt continue to supply the needs of the patrons of the grand stand at the C.J.C. racecourse. Working Men's Club. Yesterday evening the dramatic class of the Christchurch Working Men’s Club played the comedy “ Equals,” and the farce “ Send Thirty Stamps.” The characters in the comedy were represented by Mrs W. E. Jerman, Miss Lilian Carlyle, Messrs F. Norton, J. S. Wykes, A. Ingleson, A. Hurst, G. Askey, G. Woodrough and J. Glanville, while the parts in the farce were taken by Mies Sara Porteus, Messrs W. E. Jerman and J. R. Davidson. There was a fairly numerous audience who were evidently much pleased with the entertainment. Accidents at Lyttelton. —Ah accident happened yesterday morning in Port to a man named Alexander Morris. He was engaged in putting wheat into the barque Phyllis, and was in the act of hooking a sack of wheat on the ’tween deck beams when the sack tore, and Morris, losing his balance, fell backward down the vessel’s hold, a distance of about twelve feet. He received a severe shaking. —'Yesterday afternoon an A.B. belonging to the ship Opawa was working on the ship’s rail, when he slipped and fell on to the deck. He received a severe sprain of the ankle, and was attended by Dr T. O. Guthrie.

Aeeest. —A man named Jainea Early, who has been wanted'by,'the police since May last, for fraudulently obtaining a suit of clothes and 10a from W. Mitchell, of Ashburton, was arrested at Eangiora yesterday by Mounted Constable Coatin. The constable bad reason to believe that the man was on the racecourse, and bearing that a person answering his description had left the course after the first race, he followed him to Eangiora, and after a patient search found him in the kitchen of the Eed Lion Hotel. On being arrested he admitted his identity with the man wanted. He had been working at the Teviotdale station, since the warrant had been issued for his arrest. Linwood Congeegational Chuech.— The anniversary tea and public meeting were held on Wednesday evening. The ladies of the congregation made a liberal provision of good things, which were duly appreciated. At the after meeting, the chair was occupied by the Eev C. H. Bradbury. The annual report, read by the Secretary, showed that steady progress had been made in all departments. Special mention was made of the gratuitous services rendered by the organist, Mr H. Dixon. Short addresses were given by various speakers. A very pleasant gathering was brought to a close by the Chairman heartily ihanking those friends who had come as visitors, and bad, by musical selections and readings, helped to make the meeting a success. Chtjbch oe St John the Evangelist, Woolston. —The fortnightly meeting of the Temperance Guild was held in the schoolroom, St John's road, on Monday evening last, and was well attended both by members and visitors. After a paper had bean read by the President, Mr ill. N. Smith delivered a forcible address, directing his remarks specially to the young. Songs were sung by Misses Moody and C. E. Buxton. Mrs Smith gave a most amusing reading, and Miss Amy Lowry a recitation. A dialogue by five members of the Guild was remarkably well given, and created considerable amusement, while it conveyed useful lessons. Arrangements were then made for the next meeting, and a highly attractive programme was drawn up. After the signing of the pledge by several persons the meeting terminated.

—ESWTWto . and influential meeting of citizens attended at the City Council at noon yesterday, in response to an invitation from the Mayor, when it was unanimously decided to invite His Excellency the Governor to a public farewell banquet, during his intended visit in November. The following gentlemen were appointed to carry out the object:—The Mayor, Messrs J. Connall, Weston, Cowlishaw, Banks, Acland, Lean, Wood, Webb, Stevens, Thomas, Peacock, Rhodes, Bowen, Pickering, Holmes, Harper, Deacon, J. Palmer, Eeeves, Eagles, King, Deans, Cooke, Wynn-Williams, A. J. White, and Chrystall, Judge Ward, Drs Frankish and Patrick, Councillors Crooks, Scott, Halbert, Gray, Goss, M'Laren, .Reese, Prudhoe, Cooper, and Brice. It was decided to fix the price of tickets at 21s, and limit the number to 250. . Cantebboby .

the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club holds the first day’s sports of their spring meeting. The racing this year promises to bo of an unusually fine character; for instance the Quarter Mile flat should result in a fine struggle between Messrs H. M. Eeeyes and A. B, Williams, and whoever wins will require to do the distance in something like 62sec. The Mile Walking Championship of New Zealand should also be a fine race between the local men, Messrs E. N. Thomas and A. L. Smith, and Messrs T. Kerr, of Dunedin, and E. T. Miller, of Invercargill. Those who like hurdle racing should not miss seeing Mr G. P. Shaw, who is the first hurdlo racer we have ever seen in Christchurch. Mr Morrison, of Timaru, is very fit, we hear, and should lower even his own time for the half and one mile events. Afternoon tea will bo provided for the occupants of the stand. L.O.L. No. 2 Purple Star held its monthly meeting in the Orange Hall on Tuesday evening, W.M. Bro 'lf. W. Pent old in. the chair. °There was a large attendance. One candidate was initiated and two were proposed. The balance-sheet showed the Iod«e to be in a flourishing condition. The customary votes of thanks were recorded. The installation was Conducted by the District Master, Bro W. Wmto, assisted by P.M. Bro Penfold, as follows: Bro W. J. Diffin; D.M., Bro J. M. Douglass; Secretary, Bro W. Bailey (re-elected); A.S., Bro G. E. Taylor; Treasurer, Bro White; Chaplain, Bro J. Hanna; Tyler, Bro G. Diffin; Committee, Eros J. Baliantyne, J. C. Hobson, G. Diffin, S. Hallingen, and E. Cunninghatn; Vigilance Committee, the W.M., D.M., Secretary, Treasurer, and Chaplain. Votes of thanks were recorded to the installing officer, and also to the retiring officers. The members and visitors then partook of refreshments, and after spending a very pleasant hour, the meeting*was brought to «^oafchy,flingcagr- , ‘'God.Savethß.Queen.”,

Draughts. —A draughts match was played at Lyttelton on Wednesday evening, between teams representing the Garrison Band and the Lyttelton Yonng Men’s Club, and resulted in a win for the Club by thirteen games to eight. Jones v. Spence. —ln Banco yesterday Mr Holmes, for defendant, in this case, applied for a new trial on the ground that the verdict at the late trial was against the weight of the evidence. After hearing Mr Holmes, and Mr Bowman, for the plaintiff, as also Mr Holmes, in reply. His Honor, with regret refused the application, with costs five guineas. An Old Folks’ Treat. —Our Timaru correspondent writes: —A quantity of provisions prepared for the Presbyterian anniversary tea, being left over from Tuesday, they were on the following day presented to the inmates of the Charitable Aid Board’s wards, where they were laid out, and distributed by some ladies of the congregation. The inmates were afterwards treated to a short concert, followed by more refreshments. The Chairman of the Board, Mr J. Jackson, presided, and the old folks had “a good time.” Little Akaloa. —The fortnightly meeting of the Band of Hope was held in the district school on Oct. 22. The Rev W. Ready presided. A service of song, entitled “Which side Wins,” was given by some of the members, the connective readings being given in a pleasing manner by Mr Wilson. Great praise is due to Miss Iffwerson, who presided at the piano, and also took an active part in the service of song. The attendance was very good. At the close the Chairman received contributions, amounting to several pounds, towards the cost of a new harmonium to be used at the Sunday services. Personal. —Mr W. H. Warren, who has been a resident of Christchurch for the past few months, left here for his old quarters, Wellington, by the Te Anau, last evening. During his stay here, Mr Warren has rendered good service to many institutions both in and around Christchurch, and in some of the country towns, by giving readings from Dickens in a masterly style, and wherever he has been kind enough to give those services, the audiences have testified to their merit by warm appreciation. Mr Warren has also been of considerable assistance in the Cathedral, where he has been one of the voluntary members of the choir during his stay. His presence in any case will be missed here, and we are only expressing a general feeling when we wish him " Godspeed ” on his departure.

Entertainment at Kaiapoi. —On Wednesday a most successful entertainment was given at the Kaiapoi Oddfellows’ Ball, in aid of the funds of the local Volunteer Fire Brigade. The house was cx’owded. The programme consisted of specialities by the Eobin Hood Combination, tha first part consisting of ballads and songs by members of that Company, ending with a _ most amusing piece of conjuring extraordinary. In the second part, songs by Messrs Ingleson, Petherick and Bates, were redemanded, the latter’s theme being tbe adventures of Mr Jonathan Eoberts, and provoking much mirth. Messrs George, J. Petherick and F. Norton, acted as Interlocutor, Bones and Tambo respectively, and the whole concluded with an Ethiopian drama, entitled “ The Virginian Mummy,” which brought down the house. The entertainment was followed by a dance, and the whole affair must have made a considerable addition to the funds of the energetic brigade. St Stephen’s Church, Ashburton.— Tbe consecration ceremony was performed yesterday by the Most Eev tbe Primate' The service yesterday forenoon was largely attended, although the weather was very stormy. His Lordship was assisted by the Eevs E. A. Scott (incumbent), E. P. Garbett (Longbeach), and H. Collins (Eakaia). The full choir, under the leadership of Mr H. Gates, took part in the service, and the altar, pulpit, desk, and font were beautifully decorated with lilies and other flowers. His Lordship was met at the gate of the churchyard by the Eev E. A. Scott, who read the statement of the incumbent and churchwardens, petitioning for the consecration. The procession then entered the church, and Psalm 24 was chanted, followed by Hymn 395, “Oh, Word of God Above.” The font, pulpit and altar were then in turn consecrated, and the Te Deum sung; after which his Lordship read the proclamation of consecration, and notified that it would be duly recorded in the records of the diocese. The service was then continued. The sermon was on Psalm Ixiii., v. I—4. His Lordship preached an impressive discourse on the attractions and benefits of public worship. The offertory was for improvements to the church, the incumbent announcing that it was the intention of the vestry to take steps to obviate the dampness which affected the walla in winter. Hymns 179 and 215 were also sung, and the Episcopal Benediction closed the service. A Communion service was afterwards held. The Secretary of the Christchurch Hospital begs to eoknow edire, with thanks, the receipt of apple j -illy from Mrs Bishop, Papanui; flowers from Mrs Wilcox; and old linen from a friend. Mr Herrick begs to acknowledge wit a sincere thanks the following Messrs Harris, Lane, and Cooper, moat; Mr Marks, vegetables; Mrs Williams, can curry; Friend, D. 1.0., two coats; Mr Henderson, two pair boots; Friend, milk; Mrs Fisher, quan'ity of milk; North Belt Band of Hope, scones; Mr L. Slater, £1; Friend, parcel clothing; Bread Co , bread. The following will represent the Rnngiora Eifles against tbe Canterbury Scottish Eifles at Christchurch to-morrow : Colour-Sergeant Torlesse, Sergeants Tyler, d’Anvergno, Corporald'Auvergne, Lance-Corpi rala F. E. Humphreys, Cd’Auvergno, JPrivates tiullivor, M‘Kay, Josling and Kennedy; Hmergenoy—Private Leech. The Eangiom Eifle limb will also Are against the Scottish Eifles at Hhe same time, and will be represented by Messrs Ml. Tyler, E. and C. d’iidvergno, H. M'Kay, J. and Joaliig, W. Konnoly, J. Sansom, F, Baker and Gulliver,

jiVoN Waldebse®. The Count von ilaldersee, the successor of General von llbltke, was born in April, 1832, and began h» military career in 1850 in the artillery. After serving with his battery during the Dfiaish war he was appointed to the general staff in 1866, and passed through thfflAustio-Prussian war with credit. In JaMiary, 1870, he was sent to Paris as miliary attach 4, and when the FrancoPrSlsian war began he was appointed Chlßf of Staff to the Grand Duke of Mfflklenburg- Schwerin, with the rank of Lwutenant-Colonel. In 1873 he got his biwade, and in 1876 his division. In 1881 placed on the Emperor’s personal stiff, and in 1882 he became Lieutenantmineral and Adjutant to the Emperor. Joan of Abc.—A movement is just now being set on foot for the erection of a gigantic statue of the Maid of Orleans in a prominent place in or near Paris. The peasant girl of Domremy, who led Charles Yll. in triumph to his coronation at Eheims, is already commemorated in a bronze statue familiar to many; mounted on a fiery charger, and holding her famous banner in he? gauntleted hand, she looks out from the centre of a small square just off the Bue da Eivoli on the Garden of the Tuileries. The Duchease d’Uzes has just completed a veritable work of art in which Jeanne is represented standing with her sword raised and her gaze fixed heavenward. It is suggested that bas-reliefs and other ornaments might also be turned out by the chisels of French ladies, the expenses being defrayed by contributions of Id or oven from the women of France. “ Egbert Elsmeke,”—Mr Labouchere writes in Truth “ A story of religious bigotry, which sounds strange enough in these days, reaches me from Ipswich. It seems that, in that slightly somnolent town, they have a circulating library managed by a Committee, which Committee have come to the conclusion that * f Robert Elsmere ’ is a dangerous book for an honest Ipawichian to read, and they have accordingly expelled the work from their valuable collection. The individual credited with the leading part in this piece of silly intolerance is Canon Turnock, a leading local ecclesiastical luminary. Perhaps this cleric is light in thinking that Mrs Ward is likely to move the Ipswich people more than their official teacher; but I think he may take it that the Gospel will stand against a good deal more than ‘ Robert Elsmere.’ I have already expressed my opinion on that work, which, I should think, will not do anything worse for the average novel reader than send. himAo sleep."

To Make Greek the Waste. A gigantic scheme has been proposed, by ■which the canons of the Rocky Mountains are to be dammed up from the Canadian boundary to Mexico, in order to form vast reservoirs of water to be used in the irrigation of arid lands, and so prevent floods in the Lower Mississippi. Major Powell, Director of the National Survey, estimates that at least 150,000 square miles of land might thus be reclaimed—a territory exceeding in extent one half of tbe land now cultivated in the United States. The plan is to build dams across all the canons in the mountains, large enough and strong enough to hold back the floods from heavy rains and melting snows, and then let the water down as it may be needed upon the land to be reclaimed. The National Armament. —ln an article on the national armament, in which it is forcibly shown that in neither our navy nor our army are we abreast of the times, the Daily Telegraph says it is absolutely clear that by the adoption of busi-ness-like methods, within two years the national armaments could be placed in such a condition that all peril would be removed, and threats of war and invasion provoke no fears for the safety of the Empire. The national short-cut to efficiency, according to “the last Commission, is to stop officials experimenting and jobbing to invent and construct weapons and material of war. Supplemented to this is the advice to depend far more largely on private skill and enterprise. ”If this were done ten or twelve thousand rifles a week could be made in Great Britain; scores instead of three or four ironclads; and _ hundreds instead of leas than one dozen big guns, in the courso of a year, with thousands upon thousands of smaller ones.” The Drought in Australia. —A correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald gives the following picture of the state of affairs in the Cobar district : —“ No words could describe the horrors of the situation through the whole of this district: nothing approaching it has ever been known within the memory of the oldest resident. On all sides is presented a scene of utter desolation, to say nothing of black ruin; and for three blocks of this wretched desert the Government make us pay a rent of nearly .£6OO, and yet every improvement on the place has been made and paid for by us. The frightful suffering and distress all round us is most depressingtravellers leaving their poor horses to their fate, to a most miserable ending, their eyes being picked out by the crows before they die, and the men themselves having all they can do to get water. Dried tanks, dead and dying sheep wherever you go, and the heat of summer rapidlj approaching. If rain does not come soon I can only say, God help us, for I don’t know what we will all do. The loss of the stock between here and the Darling alone must be tremendous, and there is little hope of any increase next year, as the sheep will not be in a fit condition. The state of the country requires to be seen to be believed.”