TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9622, 14 January 1892, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Early Settlement.— This week’s Canterbury Times contains the usual supply of entertaining and instructive literature, but a special feature of the paper, an account of the foundation and settlement of this provincial district, comes at a particularly opportune moment, and will be read with absorbing interest. Prefaced by an allusion to our own anniversary, we have a reprint from the London Times of July 5, 1851, showing how the enterprise of the Pilgrim Fathers was appreciated at Home. Then there are accounts of the voyages of “the first four ships,” and graphic descriptions of early settlement, supplemented by sketches of Lyttelton and Christchurch as they appeard forty-one years ago. Finally, there is a long letter, written by Hr Barker, one of the best known and most active of the Canterbury pioneers, on June 18, 1851, giving a detailed description of his own struggles and adventures in the work of colonisation. The collection of papers is a moat valuable contribution to the history of the Colony. The Volunteers.— Company orders for volunteers appear in our advertising columns.

Unsafe Bridges.—lt io_ notified by advertisement that the bridges in the Cost Hoad Board district ore unsafe for heavy traffic such as traction engines. City Council Licenses.— -An advertisement in this issue reminds those who require to obtain licenses for various purposes from the City Council that the time-limit expires on Jan. 81. Wellington Regatta.— -At a meeting of the Wellington Regatta Committee last night it was decided to adopt the Mark Foy system in the yacht races, that is, that handicaps shall be taken at the start of races instead of at the finish as hitherto. Wellington Statistics.— The mortality in Wellington last year was 109 more than in 1890, the deaths being 592 against 483. The excess of births over deaths was 780, but births showed an increase of only XI on the previous year. Dunedin Tramways. The Dunedin city tramways report shows the year’s receipts to have been .£19,223, leaving a net profit of £2233; but this does not pay the year's interest. The number of passengers carried was 2,722,073, being more than half a million leas than in the previous year. The Invention op Printing, —Messrs Alexander Cowan and Sons, of Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, have issued for the How Tear an illustrated booklet, telling the story of the invention of printing. The illustrations are remarkably well designed and printed, and tell the story with much humour; though possibly accuracy is slightly sacrificed. Cricket.— The following U.C.C. sides have been selected for Saturday, play beginning at 2 p.m. :—Aldred (captain). Maxwell, Harris, D. Wood, Bowen, W. Harman, Batger, Hartland, Fairhurst, Tapper, Sanderson v. Beswick, Winter, R. D. Harman (captain), Day, Palmer, Westenra, Bennett, H. Wood, E. Kitto, Eobison, Tendall and Tomlinson. Any other juniors coming up will be picked in.

Oddfellowship, The annual meeting of the Loyal City of Norwich Lodge, I. was held in the Oddfellows’ hall, Lyttelton, on Tuesday. There was a fair attendance of members. The balancesheet, showing the assets of the Lodge to be £6BOO, was received and adopted. Prom the Secretary’s report it was shown that during the year £314 had been expended for sick pay, the heaviest experience of the Lodge, an average of 19s lOd per member. The election of officers resulted as follows; —G.M., Bro D. Moore; N.G., Bro J. T. Brice; Y.G., Bro W. Toomey; Elective Secretary, Bro .1. L. Carrell (re-elected); L.M., Bro H. Field; Warden, Bro E. M. Griffiths. The officers-elect were installed by P.P.G.M. Bro H. Baker. A framed certificate was presented to P.G. Bro Lurch, who suitably acknowledged the gift. After transacting a considerable amount of routine business, the Lodge was closed at 10 p.m. Rifle Shooting. —On Saturday next the return match between the Honorary Reserve Corps and the Alpha MartiniHenry Eifle Club will be fired on the range of the latter. The following are the teams selectedßeserve Corps: Private Wakelin, Sergeant Manning, Private Richardson, Corporal Miles, Private Banka, Sergeant Hibell, Private M'Kay, Lieutenant Stringer, Privates Pox and Hammond ; emergencies—Captain Harman and Sergeant-Major Evans. Alpha Club— Messrs T. H. Anderson, O. W. Turpin, J. J. Dougall, P. W. Francis, G. A. Tozer, S. W. Lester, H. S. Batchelor, A. Gunderson, A. W. Jones and B. Hardcastle ; emergencies—Messrs F. S. Parker and J. B. Butler. The ranges will be 200, 300 and 500yds, and the match will count among members of the Alpha Club as the fifth competition for the championship. Any member of the Club not included in either of the teams will also be able to fire. —The following team will represent the E Battery against the City Guards on Saturday, at Bromley:—Lieut. Jackson, Sergeant-Major Sinclair, Sergeant Were, Sergeant Henwood, Bombardier Berry, Gunners Lester, Cropp, P. A. Godfrey, Hewlett and E. Higgs. Emergencies Gunners Menzies and Robertson. The Addington Market. — The following is a summary of yesterday’s live stock market at Addington:—Store Sheep.—A very active sale, all classes of sheep being in demand. Two-tooth crossbreds sold at 10s, 11s 7d and 12s. Hoggets brought 8s lid. Dry cross-bred ewes (tullmontiied) sold at 10a4d; wethers and maiden ewes at 10s Id; ewes and lambs in large lines sold readily at from 5s 9d to 6s 9d each, all being counted. Merino ewes with cross-bred lambs realised 8s Bd. A line of cross-bred lambs was sold at 7s 4d, and some merino wethers brought 4s 4d and 5s 4d. Pat Lambs.—An entry of nearly _ 1000 lambs represented all sorts and conditions, from the light-weight, inferior descriptions to the prime fat lamb of over forty-five pounds weight. The beat realised up to 14a 3d, while a number of the smaller sorts sold at leas than 10s. Buyers for export were present, and all finished lambs wore rapidly cleared. Pat Sheep.—Over six thousand were yarded, which number was not above the requirements, as all good sorts met with a ready sale at full rates. Only second and thirdrate sheep were at all neglected. A fair proportion consisted of prime fat wethers and maiden ewes, which were bought for export, and gave their owners a shade over last week’s returns. Best wether mutton sold at from 2£d to 2|d per lb, freezing weights, and good sorts of ewes and primest merino wethers realised within a trifle of 2d uer lb. Most of the secondrate sheep sold at about last week’s quotations', but in some instances linos were withdrawn to undergo the necessary finishing touches. Pat Cattle.—The sale of beef since Christmas has been, and still remains, very unsatisfactory. Yesterday was no exception, as only one or two lots of very nice heifers and some prime bullocks from Burnside sold readily, while nothing realised above 18s per 1001 b. The general run of the steer beef was sold at 17s per 1001 b, and cows brought from 12a per 1001 b upwards. Store Cattle.—A much improved entry of store cattle shows that the season is very favourable to this section of the market. All kinds of young stock to hand sold well. Yearlings brought from 2Sb to 30a, year-and-a-half to two-year-olds from 35s to £2 7s 6d, and full-grown cattle realised s much better price than has ruled recently. The demand for dairy cows, excepting those with a character, was elack. Pigs.—Of the 120 yarded, the larger proportion were stores, which sold freely in one line. Porkers were in demand at Sijd to 3|d per lb, and the bacon pigs sold brought 2-J-d to 2-Jd per lb, according to quality. To Farmers.—New Turnip Seed, from London, to baud, for present sowing. W. Gimblett, 140, Colombo street. Telephone 184. —[Advt.] “Ask for Hyslop’s Indian and Ceylon Teas; bear smallest profits and are best values.”—[Advt.]

The Lyttelton Yachts.— Advice was received in Lyttelton yesterday to the effect that both Mascotte and Onawe had safely reached Wellington on Tuesday evening. Christchurch Peesbyteey^— The SaV Gordon Webster, who has filled the office of Moderator of the Christchurch JPreaby* tery since the resignation of the Eev H. Adamson in September last, was yesterday elected Moderator for the ensuing year.

Church Parade. On Sunday the members of the Coleridge Lodge, L0.0.P„ M.U., marched from their Lodge-room to the South Malvern Baptist church, where the Eev O. Griffiths delivered an appropriate sermon to a crowded congregation.: The Rev B. Armstrong concluded the' service with prayer and the Benediction. St Stephen’s, Ashburton.—The farden party in connection with St tepfaen’s, Ashburton, which was poet* poned from Deo. 16, on account of counter attractions, took place yesterday, at the parsonage grounds. The weather! was fine, but dull and cloudy. There was a large attendance, and the proceeds were quite up to the average. Bowling. —The following rinks have been selected to represent the Canterbury, Club in the match to be played on Saturn day next, on the Canterbury Green, agairat the Christchurch Club:—W. Pzndhoe,' J. Carl, H. Toomer, sen., and B. Bide! (skip) s J. lait, B. George, E. C. Ashby and W. Thomson (skip); A. Kirk, W. Bscott, J. G. Harris and E. Toomer (skip) , J. Mercer, D. Christie, J. M. Taylor aild H. Oakley (skip). Temaru Calendar. —We have received; a copy of the “ Timarn Calendar/* pub- 1 lished by Messrs P. W. Hatton and Co., Of. that town. Besides the usual information, the calendar contains nicely - executed views of the breakwater, the town itself. Mount Cook, the Atlas Mill, the High! School and the Convent. The lithographic work has been executed by Mr Willis, of Wanganui. The whole publication is highly creditable to all concerned. Ashburton School Committee:— The monthly meeting of the Ashburton School. Committee was held on Monday present—Messrs Craighead (chairman). Bean, Bcaddell and Paul. A deputation from the Hampstead School Committee waited on the Committee to discuss Mr Wright’s offer to provide a special train to convey the school children to Spring*’ burn or any like distance. Messrs W. H. Collins and Co/e tender for repairs m accepted. Messrs Bean and Paul were appointed a Visiting Committee. Business Competition. Competition is, we are told, tbe soul of business, and it would appear as though this fact had taken a complete hold of the tradespeople of Lyttelton. On the occasion of the arrival of a ship in Port yesterday she was boarded by some ten or twelve business people, eager to supply their respective wares at prices which would probably astound the ordinary everyday purchaser if he had been in a position to hear the prices quoted. The shipmaster extended a most hearty welcome to all, and went over- the cards seribtim, at the same time informing his hearers that they had but poor prospect of making anything approaching a fortune out of him or his ship, as he had been in the business for many years and intended to make the best possible bargains. West Melton School Committee.— The usual monthly meeting of the West Melton School Committee was held on Monday; present—Mr Triokett (Chairman), Messrs Hill, Legg, Bade and Wataon. The master’s report showed that the number on the roll was seventy-three, and the average attendance for the quartet fifty-nine. The Inspector’s report showed that forty-eight children were presented in standards, and of this number forty-four were successful. A memorandum prepared by the Chairman gave a comparative view of the results of the last three examinations, and showed that the school had made steady progress since the appointment of the present master. In 1889 the percentage of failures was thirty-two; ill 1890, eighteen; and in 1891, eight. The report was considered very satisfactory, and the Chairmen was instructed to convey the Committee's congratulations to the master and mistress. Consideration 6! the annual distribution of prizes was deferred till next meeting on account of the harvest operations. Whaling. —Referring to the subject of Antarctic whaling, the London correspondent of the Argus writes as follows in his letter of Nov. 27:—Captain Gray's assertion that there is a fortune for the man who first attempts to reopen the whale-fishing grounds in the Antarctic seas, has excited even more interest in Dundee than in Peterhead. The Dundee whaling skippers who have been consulted almost all regard Caption Gray’s project as feasible, and there is a strong probability of some of the whaling vessels of the port being fitted out for the venture. 1 Captain Gray himself is willing to risk four or five thousand pounds, bat he thinks the capital required would be £25,000, and he is now in London to raise it. The captain of a Dundee whaler, whose opinion as to the feasibility of the project has been sought, quite endorses Captain Gray's views. He sees no difficulty in the prosecution of the industry, nor did he expect to find that the fishing in the Antarctic regions would be attended with more difficulty than at Greenland or Davis Straits. Another skipper, who also hailed from Dundee, thought that there would be more drawbacks to whale fishing in the Antarctic, owing to the difficultyof following the fish when harpooned into the ice. Even if the fish were brought alongside it would be almost impossible to take them on board owing to the heavy swell in the Antarctic. Still be would like to see the scheme fairly tried, and thought that the waters to the south of New Zealand and Tasmania would be found moat remunerative, as the swell there would be diminished by the Australian continent. An Interesting Entertainment.— The Melbourne Argus says:—An interesting Christmas entertainment, rivalling the pantomimes in its wealth of laughter-pro-voking episodes, was given last evening at the Claremont Hotel, Collins street. The entertainment took the form of the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders and directors of the Jackson's Seef Goldmining Company No Liability, Kimberley, and there was a large and appreciative audience. Contrary to custom, the harlequinade was given first, and Mr Carr Boyd, who assumed the character of a dissatisfied shareholder, was received with frequent marks of disapprobation in a humorous monologue descriptive of his wrongs and of the iniquities of the directors. The remarkable passage beginning, "By the Lord Harry, I’ll spike your guns. I'll bring you up to the Supreme Court/* was interrupted by the Chairman, Who retired surreptitiously and summoned the policeman essential to the success of every pantomime. Mr Carr Boyd then withdrew, having drawn up a formid-able-looking document couched in the following terms:—"To Mr A. J. Allen, Stipendiary Magistrate and Chairman of Directors of the Jackson’s Reef Company,' —I hereby give notice that if any person or persons put their bauds on me at this meeting I shall take the law into my own hands and hold you responsible.—(Signed) W. Carr Boyd/' In the next scene Mr! D. Wilkie gave a graphic description of the rise and fall of the Company. " The workmen/' he said, "get Mi a week, work three hours a day, and when they have got : enough money they go on the drunk. That has been the history of the Company over since the beginning.” Mr Wilkie recommended that the Company should conduct crushing operations for the public, as. In the absence of labour, wood and water, they would never be able to make the claim pay for themselves. The Chairman then delivered a powerful eulogium on the mine, clenching his arguments with the reports of several experts, who were confident that it was one of the beat properties in Ana* tralia. The report and balance-sheet, which were cheerful though vague, having been adopted, and no dividend having been declared, the entertainment was brought to a close. , Beautiful Flowers. For the heai. floral work in Brida Bridesmaids* and Hand Bouquets, Wreaths, Crosses, Sprays and Button-holes at Naim and Sons Florists, Lincoln. Eoad,.Christchuroh. XB3

| Baptist Opuses.—A cable message was |]£qoi|y4([ yesterday from fibs Eev W. Stott, ■rfLwdoo, regretfully declining the pasr'tonte of the Oxford Terrace Baptist John Anderson.—Elsewhere in this issue will be found an announcement by the owhere of this TMM ] ( t» the effect that she is not being ion ia conjunction with any other steamer or eteiffierfl plying for hire or freight out of Lyttelton. T ia Governorship. A Wellington telegram states that the Government has asked Lord Knutaford, Secretary of Stale for the Colonies, that the names of posilble appointees to the Governorship of New Zealand should be submitted to it before a Anal selection ia made. United Methodist Church ConfekBHOa.'—The annual meeting of delegate! from the different United Methodist Fr**,'Churches in New Zealand will be opened at Eangiora this afternoon. Thirtysix delegates are expected to be present, and the proceedings will last about a week. VeHtuTKK* Officer’s Besignation.— Beece, commander of the Mounted vTq.p MB t jn bis resignation. It is understood that the condition of Captain Beewfs health is the principal cause of his . aetkWj, which is much to bo regretted, as he it one of the moat zealous and efficient in the district. M»t*o*olooxcal. —Mr T. W. Bowe, Ml.. master of the Eangiora High p f iM»Al r has prepared a very interesting diagram showing the rainfall at the Lincoln Agricultural College since 1882; aadi another, showing the rainfall at the Beagiom ■ High School since The diagrams are now on view in the window of fir 0. Shetland's premises at Eangiora. rtotjumr. Rite hue.-— The total revenue of Ihl Colony for the quarter ending Dec. 81 kail was £1»4i,680, made up as follows (shEHnga and pence being omitted): —Oostoms £376,770, stamps £123,334, post anil lekgrsph cash receipts £10,708, Property tax £209,809, beer duty £15,834, £266,096, registration and other laaa'£lß;4Bl, marine £5208, miscellaneous writtnle £4931, territorial revenue £15,567. Chbistchttbch Musical Society. A meeting of the Committee of the Christchuroh Muaieal Society was held on Monday, whin it was decided to hold the annual- meeting at the Durham street schoolroom oh Tuesday, Jan. 26 j and a SabrCommittea was appointed to prepare n topdrt, to be submitted for approval to an adjourned meeting, to be held on Jan. 21. Cordial votes of thanks were passed to all who had assisted the Society in making the Mcent representations of the Messiah such a success. Horticultural Society.— An ordinary masting, of the Committee of the Christchurch Horticultural Society was held at the rooms of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association last evening. Prtrtnt—The Hon E. C. J. Stevens, Messrs Donald, Brooking, Beaumelberg, Brimford, Ffitch and Thos. Gordon {Hon Sec.) _lt waa stated that the receipts in connection with the rose show amounted to about £22, and the expenditure, outside the prize money, to £15155. The Committee then appointedjudges and stewards for the autumn ■how. lb was decided to hold that show on March 3, and to make it a one day’s show. The question of arranging a musical programme for the show was left to the Committee.. t . , Pmmxtiti Methodist Church.— The twentieth ! annual conference of the PritnitiVe Methodist Church of New Zealand will he opened in the Cambridge tertace churoh this morning, and will be attended by over forty delegates. The aessiona will, it ia expected, continue till abOut the middle of next week, yesterday evinlng an open air service in connection with the conference was held in Cathedral square/kad was followed by a fellowship meeting in the church. The opening ■ermon will be preached in the ohnrch this evening by the Eev J. Clover. To-morrow morning there ia to be a missionary breakfast at half-past seven o’clock. The j- members of the conference and friends will f have a picnic at Sumner on Saturday afternoon. A soiree will be held on Tuesday evening. Bankruptcy. —The first meeting of the creditors of Albert Shaw, of Christchurch, boatbnilder, which was to have beeu held Stterdsy, lapsed for want of a quorum. 6 bankrupt's statement showed debts owing to unsecured creditors £164 11s 6d, the principal amounts being—£76 16s to FlOtcher, Humphreys and Co, £45 to Victor. Harris, and £l9 8s to H. TW«iv> and Co. The secured creditors were—Manning and Co., £4OO, and Gould, Beaumont and Co., £ll2 !9a 8d; total, £512 19s 'Si. These two amounts were secured by a bill of sale over boatshed boats. The only assets were book debts, estimated to produce £2 7s Bd. The bankrupt stated that he had been occupied as a builder and owner of pleasure boats for hire on the Avon. In July, 1889, he rented the Eoyal Hotel from IW.TiTnng and Co., and carried it on for a year and a half. He attributed his present position to his non-success as a hotelkeeper, and to loss of business in connection with the hire of boats caused by the lowering of the river through the removal of the Hereford street His income from the boat! had, he estimated, dropped from £SOO to £2OO per annum. Courtenay Eoad Board.—A meeting of tiffs Board was held on Tuesday; present —Mr J. Gough (Chairman pro iene.), and Messrs H. A. Knight, J. Dyseit, G. Rudd and G. Watson. Correspondence was read From the Selwyn County Council on the subject of a level croseing over the south railway line, between Burnham and Norwood, applied for by residents near Burnham. The Clerk was instructed to inform the petitioners of the present position of the matter. From the. East Malvern Eoad Board, requesting this Board to let gravel reserve 1536 at the boundary of the districts. The Clerk was instructed to reply that the Board was willing to do so provided the East Malvern Board’s portion of the , reserve was cleared of gorae. From Messrs T. Boulton, P, Eiordan, and G. Witty, applying for open crossings across roads for water-race water. The applications were granted on the usual conditions. From Mr J. Whall, asking to be relieved of storm-water accumulating in front of his residence. The Surveyor was instructed to attend to the matter. The Clerk reported that the rates collected to date amounted to £241 6s 2d. Accounts were passed for payment. , New Zealand Butter.— The Auckland Herald states that Mr James Osborne, the senior partner in the old-established firm in'. Glasgow of J. Osborne and Co., is now in Auckland to see what business arrangements he can make to get a supply of Auckland-made butter sent direct to his Glasgow and other stores. Mr Osborne states that for first-class butter there is practically an unlimited market in Britain , daring four months in the year, but to secure that market the butter must be of really superior and uniform quality. From the middle of December to the middle of April each year he says the British consumption of our first-class butter would only bo limited by the cold storage on board the steamers trading between New Zealand and Britain. Second quality batter in the British market, he says, has no chance at all against the very superior forms of artificial butter that are now produced at a cheaper rate. For butter from New Zealand and Australian grassfad cows the British market would speedily drop the Danish production, as there the cows have to be stall-fed a loog period in eadiyear, and the flavour of the butter so produced is not to be compared with, the ine butter which comes from rich and fertile pastures in a genial climate such as Auckland possesses. Already as much as 140 s per.owt.has been paid for Victorian batter, and Mr Osborne thinks that for really good New Zealand batter from 120 s . to 180 s per owb might always be expected M in the months named above, whatever ' ‘ quantity we are likely to send. Bridal Bouquets, Dress Bouquets, and Floral Wreath! iu any design, at T. Abbott’s, Exeter Nursery. Papanui road. Ctaristchuroh. Greenhouse and Beddiag--1 oat Plants in great variety. XSB9 "Hjalop’a Teas are direct from growers ioonauman* and are therefore best values WWdk.MAs>T7j 6

Lincoln Presbyterian Church.—At the meeting of the Presbytery of Christchurch yesterday, a call from the Lincoln and Prebbletoa congregations to the Eev A. M. Wright, M.A., of Palmerston North, was sustained and ordered to be forwarded to the Presbytery of Wanganui. School Picnics. —The children attending St Saviour's, West Lyttelton, Sunday School, and the Presbyterian Sunday school scholars were taken for their annual picnics yesterday. The former were conveyed iu Messrs Agar and Egberts, launches across the harbour to Rhodes Bay, while the latter went by train to Opawa. The weather being fine, most enjoyable outings were spent. Colonial Officers in England.—A circular has been issued from the Defence Office notifying that information has been received from the Agent-General that no objection exists to local Colonial officers, recommended by their Agents-General, attending any course or school of instruction in the United Kingdom, and also that there is no objection to the presentation at Court of such Colonial officers as may be, presented by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. , . .. New Brighton. —Notwithstanding the very large number of persons who have visited New Brighton of late, the tramway excursion last night waa no exception to previous ones, six cars being required to carry the excursionists. The Scanmore band (under Bandmaster M’Killop) accompanied the trio as usual, and the programme, which’included “Excelsior” and 'Songs of England,” was much appreciated. The extension of the pier, now under arrangement by the Pier Company, will form an additional attraction to this seaside resort. The resources of the Tramway Company have been taxed to the utmost of late to cope with the exceptionally large traffic. Amt Vaughan Company.— The Amy Vaughan Theatrical Company arrived in Christchurch yesterday morning, but the preparations which have to be made for the production of their pantomime prevented their opening last night, as was at first intended. Their first appearance will take place to-night, when the burlesque of Little Monte Cristo will be produced, together with a pantomime. Some details of the arrangements for the performance are given in our advertising columns. Miss Amy Vaughan’s “lightning changes” in the second act constitute a special attraction. There is to be a matinee for children at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday. Mr Wooicott, advance agent for the Company, will leave for Dunedin this morning by the Rotorua. Hampstead School Committee.— The usual monthly meeting of this Committee was held on Tuesday evening; present— Mr Crooks (Chairman), and Messrs Andrews, Bisect, Piokford and Sage. Accounts were settled in connection with the late concert, leaving a credit balance of £7 9s. Messrs- Sago and Pickford were appointed a Visiting Committee. The Board wrote, agreeing to pay half the cost of asphalting the paths iu the school grounds. Messrs Bean and Craighead waited on the Committee to discuss Mr Wright’s offer to provide a special train on the occasion of the school children’s picnic, and the nomination of two candidates for the Board. Accounts to the amount of £lO 16s 9d were passed for payment. A Patent Water Boiler.— The “Tarawera Water Boiler” was exhibited recently in the Queen’s Hotel by the local agent, Mr S. A. Staples. It is an ingenious contrivance for boiling water in a remarkably short time, and as such recommends itself specially to travellers, nurses and medical men, as it is capable of boiling a gallon of water in thirty-five seconds. It has also the merit of being clean and strong. The apparatus consists of a copper boiler fitted into a furnace, which is heated by means of a cast iron burner containing -mineralized cotton, which, when saturated with kerosene, naphtha or methylated spirits, gives out an immense heat. The trials proved the thorough efficiency of the boiler, and gave great satisfaction to the gentlemen who witnessed them. Amongst these were several leading hotelkeepers in Christchurch, who recognised the value of such a boiler for use in hotels, as well as for nurses and medical men, and Mr Staples effected numerous sales of this convenient invention. An additional feature to recommend it ia that it is of New Zealand manufacture. It is protected here and in the Australian Colonies by letters patent.

Death op a Prominent Freemason. — An Australian contemporary says:—Freemasonry, especially the branch of the Order in England, has sustained a great loss in the death of Colonel Shadwall Clerke, Grand Secretary of the English Grand Lodge of Freemasons. The announcement given by our cables comes as a surprise to the Masons here, no news of bis illness having reached the brethren on this side of the globe. Colonel Clerke occupied the position of Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge in England since 1880. He was in the same year appointed Grand Scribe E in the Supreme Grand Eoyal Arch Chapter of England, and waa also prominently connected with what are known as “the higher degrees” in Masonry. In his high offices very important duties connected with ceremonial work at the installations and other Masonic functions during late years devolved upon him, and he discharged his work with conspicuous ability and credit to himself and the Craft. Not long ago he assisted in the ceremonies relating to the degrees which were conferred upon His Honor Chief Justice Way during the LieutenantGovernor’s visit to England. The deceased Mason, who was held in high esteem by the fraternity, was a retired officer in the army, and we believe he was at one time Equerry in Waiting to H.E.H. the Prince of Wales. Irrigation Works in Victoria.—According to the Argus the year’s experience in irrigation and intense culture has not been at all satisfactory, more especially in the North-western Trusts of the Colony. Not that irrigation has in any way proved a failure, but the present stage of its existence ia undoubtedly a delicate one. The reaction after the first forcing is being felt, and as yet there is no return from it to counterbalance this feeling. The last two seasons have been so favourable that where wheat was irrigated damage rather than, good was done, and this untoward circumstance has unsettled a great many people. While the money for irrigation works waa being largely spent in the district, farmers chiefly doing the work and business men sharing in the profit, the prospect was entirely rose-coloured. Now the works are finished the obligations which have been assumed on account of them, are falling due, and no preparation has been made for meeting them, save by such indifferent methods as the irrigation in a few cases of grass lands. The first uncertainty as to a profitable market for produce has gradually been allayed, but this has been followed, more especially in. the Loddon Trusts, by a feeling of insecurity as to a permanent supply of water from the sources now provided, and until thio is assured there will be very little inducement to intense culture. The problem should in a large measure be solved during the coming winter, however, as both the Kow Swamp works and tbe_ Laanecoori© Weir on the Loddon will have proved their value. The worst sign ia connection with irrigation is that those Trusts who pump from the Murray for a supply, and have their plants complete, have not made progress at all commensurate with their opportunities, seeing that their land is for the most part good and the water supply pretty well assured. In the Goulburn Trusts things are altogether in a more satisfactory condition. Enterprising and intelligent men like Messrs Kavauagh, West, the Mason Brothers, and others have given a plucky and at the same time profitable lead, which is being largely followed. Vineyards and orchards are being freely planted, and altogether the Goulburn Valley has taken a sound load iu the matter of agricultural progress. “Hyslop’s Teas, whoa once tried, are always used in preference to any others,”— [Advt.l . 5 Christmas Holidays,—Tennis, oncke players, and other holiday-seekers should drink only “ Arab ” and “ Shah ” brand of Teas; refreshing, invigorating, and economical.

The Tasmanian Exhibition. —Mr F. Notley Meadows reports that the Launceston Exhibition, during Christmas holidays, was crowded with visitors who came from “the back blocks, the mining centres and the neighbouring Colonies.” The Launcesten Examiner , in a notice of the New Zealand Court, remarks: —Mr P. Notley Meadows, the official agent, has made the very utmost of the resources at his command, and has arranged a very tasteful court, whilst his general knowledge of statistics and natural appreciation of scenic beauties have enabled him to represent Maoriland most favourably to visitors. New Zealand may be congratulated upon having such an energetic agent, and one who, by courtesy and bonhomie, bas established himself as a firm favourite in Exhibition circles. The Examiner speaks in very complimentary terms of the fine show of timber made by the New Zealand Midland Railway Company, of Mr Walter Macfarlane’a merino fleeces, of Messrs Milner and Thompson’s grand piano fitted with their patent tuning attachment, of Mr J. Clegg's rubbertyred perambulators, of Messrs Wigram and Sons’ malt, of the Canterbury Seed Company’s seeds, and of Mr A. P. Osborne’s skill as an engraver. Piano Repairing. —Messrs Bowman and Son, who are now doing a large trade-in pianos, have added a piano repairing department to their business, and have secured the services of a competent repairer from London. As will be seen by an advertisement in another column, they are prepared to renovate old pianos at a small cost.

A Correction.— ln a recent paragraph referring to Mr T. N. Horsley’s pump manufactory, his place of business was spoken of incorrectly as being 194, St Asaph street, instead of 194, Tuam street, immediately opposite Messrs Nelson, Monte and Co.’s stores.

For Christmas. Grapes, cherries, currants, ripe gooseberries, raspberries, plums, &c., &c., fresh, from my own gardens. W. Qimblett, Colombo street. Telephone 184.— [Advt.] Mrs E. W. Humphreys writes to Me EdenGeorge as follows:—“The album of photographs of my young guests. In fa-'oy dress, has been handed to me by your London agents. I have greatly enjoyed looking through it, and consider the pictures most artistic; the backgrounds are so very appropriate, and I notice you have hardly used the same twice. We have shown the hook to many English friends, and they invariably remark how excellent the photos are, and express surprise at their beingtaken in Hew Zealand." Artistic,— Mr C. H, Manning has now on exhibition at his studio some spiendidly-finiahed photographs, imperial and cabinet sizes, of the Oeuntoss of Onslow, the Ladles Gwendoline and Dorothy, and the Honorable Hnia, As high-class works of the photographic art they do great credit to Mr Manning.

The Bona-fide Traveller. —The bondfide traveller problem (writaa the Kendal Mercury, an English paper) has exercised the minds of a Bench of Magistrates at Nantwich, who are to he congratulated upon the possession of discriminating insight that may be common to most Justices, bub is not often exhibited in so clear a light. They decided that some men from Crewe who had come to Nantwich for a definite purpose—the purpose of one of them waa to see his sweetheart—were bond-fida travellers; but that iu the case of a party who had driven over for pleasure they wera not entitled to refreshments, and were convicted accordingly. The acumen which led to the pronouncement of the distinction between a man going to see hia intended and a man who went on pleasure is worthy of acknowledgment. An Englishman’s Privileges. —lt is only perhaps by following the dicta of Judges in the reports of proceedings in our Law Courts (says a Home paper) that we can obtain an adequate notion of the extraordinary range of an Englishman’s privileges. In a case before Mr Justice Lawrence, at Manchester, thfct learned Judge observed that although “ to call a man a thief is slander, to call a man a damned thief is not.” The latter is, he remarked, “abuse merely,” and of mere abuse, however vulgar and reprehensible, the law of libel and slander takes no account.

A Big Building.— The largest office building in the world is now being constructed in Chicago. It will be known as the Masonic Temple. It is to be twenty storeys in height, and is to rise 370 ft above the level of the street. The lower floors will be used as stores, and the uppermost for Masonic purposes, a large hall to seat four thousand people being one of the principal features. Numerous doors will lead from this hall, one on to the roof, which is to be laid out as a garden. There are to be no less than fourteen passenger elevators and two freights, mail-chutes, telephones, electric and gas light, steam, heating, and every modem improvement.