TOWN & COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9986, 15 March 1893, Page 4

TOWN & COUNTRY.

Contents. —The unfortunate fact that Mr ■Gladstone is suffering from an attack of influenza and tho announcement that the second reading of the Home Rule Bill has been postponed till after Easter, constitute the loading features in Imperial politics. In Paris there has been intense excitement regarding the Panana Canal cases, bub a vote of confidence in the Government has been carried by a large majority. Under the heading Slorm and Flood, the finding of more wreckage on the New Zealand coast is reported, and seme further details are given respecting the recent floods. The Ashburton County Council met yesterday to discuss the Wakanui Creek water supply question, and the Wellington .Chamber of Commerce dealt with the Native lands problem. Mr Meredith’s address to hia constituents at East Oxford ia reported in ihisissue.

Political.— lt is reported on very good authority that Mr J. C. Wason will probably he a candidate for the Ashburton seat at the next general election. Naw Journal.-— The first number of a »ew journal, the Paraekaetu Express, star tod in Huntervilie, in the Manawatu district, by Mr Joseph Ivess, reached Christchurch yesterday. College Rifles. The shooting competition fer tho Ladies’ Bracelet by members of the College Rifles will take place at tho Bromley range on Saturday next. Conveyances will leave tho square at 1.80 p.m. Aijkburton High School.— A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Ashburton Hich School was hold on Monday evening when the report oi! the Committee ou tho re-organisation of the school was adoptssd. Rawgiora Market.— There was a very large attendance at the Ranglora market yesterday, the weather having cleared up. The Central Saleyards were again crowded with sheep, and there was an increased entry of cattle. Lecture. — The Rev J. Hosking gave a lecture last night in the United Methodist Free Church, St Asaph street, descriptive of the life of Moses, which he illustrated by means of magic lantern slides of views in Palestine. There was a good attendance, and the lecture was listened to with attention.

South Eakaia.— -Some time ago Mr Lambie suggested at the Road Board’s meeting that all the members of the Board should make periodical inspections of the main roads together. Thus each member would see the state of the whole district, and it might be the means of stopping petty jealousies. The first inspection took place on Friday, when all the members and the Clerk made an early start in two wellhorsed conveyances. The roads east of the railway were first gone over, and, after soma slight refreshment had been consumed, the metalled roads west, of the railway ware visited. Taken as a whole the roads were good, the one requiring moat attention being that leading from the township to : Barrbill, and this it was decided to reshingle. For some months no maintenance ; j contractors have been employed, but only ; casual labour,-and it is possible that in the future this plan will be adopted, except in special cases-. It is f ho intention of the Board to make a further inspection after The grain carting isfinisbed.

Football.—The opening game of tha Butchers' Football Club will be held OW Thursday afternoon on. the South Park ground, at 2.30. BanqioeaGeain Maeket.—The business dona in grain at the Eangiora market yesterday was very limited, the farmers still holding back in the hope of an, improvement in prices. Land Settlement Association.—Wo remind our Ksdapoi readers that the adjourned meeting of this Association will', be held to-morrow evening to receive the' report and transact other business. Lectubb.—A lecture in connection with the St John Ambulance Association will be delivered this evening by Dr Lomax- ] Smith on “Quacks and Quackery.” The; lecture will be given in the City Council Chambers at 8 p.m. Bate fob South Eakaia Bo ad Distbict. —At the last meeting of the South Bakaia Board, a general rate of one-fifth of a penny in the £ was struck, payable March 81, and Messrs Lyttelton and Lambie were authorised to sign the rate roll. Cheistchubch Deaughts Club. A match will be played in the rooms, 158, Hereford street, this evening, between ft;, team of the honorary members , and the Club. This should be a very interesting match, as both sides are fairly strong. Visitors will be made welcome. Betbenchment.—The Timaru Harbour Board meets to-day, and it is understood that the Committee of Ways and Means, appointed at the previous meeting, will 1 present a report, recommending a series of redactions in the staff and in salaries, resulting in a largo annual saving. Cbickkt:—The married members of tha Papanui Cricket Club have issued ft challenge to the Veterans* Cricket Club to play a friendly game. Mr Willmer has accepted the challenge, and the match will take place on the Papanui cricket ground to-morrow, beginning at 10.30 a.m. Highland Cattle.—The cattle imported from Scotland some time ago by Mr B. H. Bhodes, of Timaru, were released from quarantine yesterday, and brought over from Quail Island in the a.s. Jane Douglas. A bull and three cows were imported by Mr Bhodes, and two of the cows have calved while on the island. The cattle wero objects of much interest when landed on the wharf. New Bbidge.—The railway authorities have just completed a new iron truss bridge for passenger traffic across the lines at the Christchurch railway station, froth; the south side to the South belt. The' bridge is entirely built of rails that have been used up for traffic purposes, but have' been shaped and bent to the required sizes for the bridge, the heavy ones being used, for the main trusses and the lighter for the braces and uprights. The structure is altogether a very neat, permanent one, and as a model of economy reflects credit on the department.

“ Old Canterbury Illustrated.”— Messrs E. W. Seager and G. E. Hart will repeat their combined lecture and entertainment, entitled “ Old Canterbury Illustrated,” with limelight views taken from negatives of the late Dr Barker’s, for the benefit of the St John Ambulance Association, in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street, on Wednesday, March 22. Mr Seager has added considerably to hia already extensive set of views of old Canterbury, and the patrons of the lecture will have one of the best evening’s entertainments that can bo provided. The music will be supplied by Mr H. Fleming’s Quadrille Band. The Rev H. C. M. Watson's Lectures. —The general synopsis of the Rev H. 0, M. Watson’s lectures will be found in our advertising columns. The series of four lectures will discuss important social and religious questions, based upon man’s nature and his relation to God, man's origin, whether created or evolved, and antiquity, the latest scientific results being given. The second lecture will deal with God and the efforts of the human mind to “ find out God,” especially as uufolded ia various Pantheistic opinions. The remaining lectures will be on “ Immortality” and " Woman,” and a farther unfolding of the two opening lectures. As the charge for the series is only eighteen pence a good attendance ought to be secured. Kaiapoi School Committee. The monthly meeting of this Committee was hold on Monday evening 5 present—Mr Moore (Chairman), and Messrs Feldwiok, Pashby, Cavcrhill, Fraser, Johnson, Coup, and Butcher. The head-master’s report showed the average attendance to be 477, and covered a list of absent children whose parents should receive the usual notices. The Secretary was instructed to attend to the matter. Letters were received from the Board of Education, notifying the appointment of Miss Menzies to the vacancy, caused by the resignation of Miss Veysey; also enclosing the list of applicants (42) for the position of assistant) mistress. The Committee went carefully through the certificates and testimonials, and finally selected Miss Gilmour of the East Christchurch school. Accounts, amounting to 7a were passed for payment, an«F the meeting closed. Bast Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club.— A Committee meeting was held last Monday evening; present— Messrs F. Creswell (Chairman), P. W. Hobbs, W. S, Wharton, P. W. Johnston, C. Le Mercier, C. D. Lightband, A. E. Taylor and A- Duncan (Hon See). Owing to some of the members being unable t» play in the Water Polo Championship of New Zealand, to take place at the East Christchurch school baths next Saturday afternoon, the teams were re-selected and will be played as under No. 1 team sA. Andrews, full-back; J. T. Daly and R. N. Duncan, halves; E. A. East, H. Lightband and S. C. Watthew, forwards; and E. A. Roper, first forward. No. 2 teams A, Duncan, full-back ; C. Le Mercier and W. S. Wharton, halves; H. J. Stringer, 0, Ebert and F. Truscott, forwards j and H, Dunnage, first forward. Accounts amounting to £7 16s, 6d were passed for payment, and after transacting some business of ft minor nature the meeting closed. Church of Christ Band of Hope.— At the entertainment On Monday evening, considering the state of the weather, the attendance was very good, about two hundred and fifty being present. Tho President, Mr H. Hannam, occupied the chair. Songs were given by Mr E. M’Diarmid, and the duet “Larboard Watch” by the same gentleman and Miss A. Marifold. Recitations and musical items were given by Miss L. Hannam, H. Feast, A, Hawley and E. Hannam. A quartette by Miss A. Manifold, Miss L. Haberfield, Mr G. Matfell and Mr B. M’Diarmid was nicely sung. Mr Cameron recited “Tho Stowaway,” and Miaa H., Denman “ The Shipwreck.” Two dialogues, “The Troubles of Mr Snooks” and "Tha Outcome of Firmness,” were ably rendered, the characters being sustained by Misses N. Hawley. E. Denman, L. Beattie and L, and Meesrs F. Jack, A* Goring* G. Joaea, E. Taylor, A. Thompson and J. Finlayson. The collection, which was a good one, will be added to that taken up ou Sunday last by the Church for the relief of tho distressed in Queensland. The Weather.— Yesterday morning’s reports showed that (mowers were falling ia the Wellington district, but that generally the weather was fine, with light southerly winds. There was a low barometer to the northward, the range being from 30*20 at Christchurch, to 29*70 at Auckland, and Captain Edwin predicts further stormy weather. A decided frost was experienced at Timaru on Monday night, the grass being white next morning. Tho range tops are well covered with snow. From the coolness of the summer and present conditions, it is anticipated that the coming winter will prove a cold one. Tho weather at Ashburton during the past week has beea very changeable. On Tuesday it was very warm, and continued so until Thursday. On Friday morning rain set in, and continued, on and off, until Saturday at noon, when it cleared off, and continued fine until Sunday, evening. Monday was very cold all day, and rain set in at night. Tuesday was a fine warm dcy. The hills present a very winterly appearance, being well covered with snow, an unusual thing 00 early ia tho season. There have been one or two quite sharp frosts. The changes and 1 variation of climate during the week have been remarkable even for the AehbnstsQ plains.

Mafjonio.—The installation of the W.M, • leleet *nd thuinvestitnre of his officers will ’take place at the «Lodge of Ooncord, No;. ;39, P&panni, this evening. . ’ WAKANUX CbEEK WATER SUPPLY. —This ' aubj eob wue dealt with at a apeciaUmeeting of t’Ao Ashburton .-.Comity Council yeeterdayr The proceedings are reported in another column. IJawabdbn Presbytery. -t- It is anr Booncod tbsb-at 7,p.va. to-xnpvron a bazaar. ' anid fancy fair will bo opened at Atnberley in; aid of the Hawarden Presbytery building fund. The bazaar will remain open uritjl Monday. Ashburton Building Society. —At the annual general meeting of the Ashburton ; Building Society, held at .Ashburton yesterday, a very satisfactory report and balance-sheet uvere presented. The report was adopted and the Directors were reelected. St John’s Parish.— The Ladies’ Work Society in Sib John’s -has arranged a social gathering ifbr Friday evening - , in the schoolrooms at which the drawing for the prizes procured by the Work Society-two valuable Taney work . quilts—will take place. Ijluaio, vocal and instrumental, will bo rendered daring the evening. Theatre Royal.—-The attendance at the Theatre Royal last night was rather below tb« usual number. To-night an entirely n'#w programme will be submitted, when h'feaers Wood and Emerson will present th eir funniest character sketches. Mr Prod .'Hardy, who is a solo violinist of repute/, will play Paganini’s famous piece, the “-Carnival of Venice.” Wallace - Bahnson Concerts. The first concert takes place to-night, at the Oddfellows’ Hal), ab eight o’clock, and a great treat should bo in store in listening for the first time to Madame SteinhauerBahnscji, besides the additional attraction of the ever-welcomo violin solos of Mr P. M. Wr illace, coupled with the assistance of some <it our best local talent. A special tram Ihaa been arranged for after the concert 1 6r Pananui. Coe buira Cricket Match,— Mr T. D. the Hon Secretary of the Canterbury Association, will ba pleased to r>#oeive the names of any local players to take part in the costume match *at Ha’gley Park against the Smersoa;Wbod Cricket • Club. At the same time tbfe "burnt cork” Club has notified its ’willingness to appear in costume aad play against a local eleven, even if the latter in ordinary cricket costume. 1 . Export of Machinery. Messrs Andrews and Beaven, of Christchurch, bare this week shipped one of their patent chaff-cutters and baggers to the order of the New South Wales ■Government. The machine will be used on the Government modal farm :at Hawkesbury. A leading sheep-farmer in . Southland, who has elready two of the firm’s chaff-cutters at work on his New . Zealand property, is so satisfied with the manner in which they have done their 'woork that he has ordered one to be made, packed and sent Home to Scotland for use on a large eheep farm in which he retains an interest. Ashburton Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society.—' The annual meeting of the 'Ashburton Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society was hold in tho Arcade Chambers on Monday evening. There was a fair attendance, and after some discussion on .the successful result of the Society’s work {last season, the election of officers was proceeded with. As several now members ■ are expected to join, it was decided not to close the lists of Vice-Presidents and Committee for a few days. For the positions of Patron and President Mr E. ,G. Wright, M.H.R., and Mr Hugo Fried-, -lander wore unanimously re-elected, sub- ■ Joofc. *to their ''Acceptance. Mr E. E. Tasker was re-elected Secretary, and was instructed to communicate with other Societies and with fanciers, with a view to ascertain the moat convenient date for the next show, and to call a meeting of the Committee at an early date. People’s Concerts.— The full programme of the second popular concert, .which is to take place in the Tuom street Theatre on Thursday evening next, is published in our advertising columns, and it will be seen that it is a highly entertaining land; varied one. . The- vocalists are Mias .Watson and ’Messrs’Weir, Edgar and , .Godfrey, whilst instrumental solos will be contributed by Miss M. B. Vartha and Mr C. H. C. Bttaz. Miss Baby Clifford will recite “Smiting the Rock;” a specially •choijea string orchestra will play several selections, and Mr Oscar Smith (of the iSteen-Smith Company) will give an entirely new ventriloquial entertainment. In addition to these artists. Miss Ada Fitaroy has ibeen specially engaged to appear in her mharming performance, entitled “ Lea Sil- - iouettaa,” and also to give an exhibition •of her marvellous memory feats. In view of the anticipated large attendance, the management has obtained five hundred more chairs, so that there is now seating accommodation for over 2000 people. Considering the quality of the entertainment and the price of admission is only sixpence, 'ikhe theatre will, in all probability, be crowded.

The Bot ply. —The horse bot-fly or horse tee is the subject! of No. 3 of the Agricultural Department's scries of “ Leaflets for Farmers." The leaflet states that the eggs of the horse bot-fly ate deposited ou the hair of the horse, usually on the inner side of the knee and foreleg, on the shoulder, the mane, and on the long hairs under the lower jaw. They are very firmly attached to the coat by a strong glutinous substance, and remain so till hatched by the warmth of the horse’s body, aided bv the moisture of his tongue as he licks himself. The tiny maggots are taken into tho mouth by the tongue and are swallowed with the food. They then, by means .of hooks, attach themselves firmly to the lining of the stomach. lu this position they remain for about nine months, at the end of which time they are nearly full grown, and about three-quarters of an inch long. In the spring they loose their hold, andare voided along with the excreta. By means of the bristles attached to their sides, they immediately burrow under tho manure into the.earth or under any other-shelter, where the change to the chrysalis stage is undergone. From tho chrysalids the perfect flies emerge in about sis weeks during the summer. The following precautions are .Tecpmpaanded for preventing ths deposition of eggs on the coats of horses-: —It is desirable that the long hairs on the kps *,nd under the jaw should be cut oil. Working horses should, after being groomed, be rubbed over with cv.rhoiiaed oil, kerosene emulsion, or other substance obnoxious to flies. Tho bast agent tor this is Little's Dip, one part of oip in from twenty to twenty-live of water. Presentations.— A pleasant ceremony took place yesterday afternoon in the West Christchurch baths, when the girls attending Mr W. Garrard's swimming class presented him with the following address and a purse containing a small sum of money -" Dear Mr Garrard,,-—We, your pupils, wish to express, before parting tor the season, our gratitude to you tor the useful accomplishment you have taught us, and for the pleasant hours we have spent in swimming practice. Wo beg you to accept the accompanying little gift as a token of our feeling, though it is very insufficient to express our sense of your untiring kindness in our ibehalf. —Your grateful pupils." (Here followed fifty-eight signatures.) Mr Garrard expressed his surprise, and thanked them all for their kindness. He assured them that they had given him by their perseverance and attention. He was afraid that onehalf of tho lessons they were taught in school would be forgotten when they left it; but should they not go near the water for twenty years, and an accident occur, the knowledge he had imparted to them might be the means of saving a valuable life. He bad to thank Mrs Foster for her great assistance to him in making the class so successful. Mr Garrard has during the season given bi-weekly lessons in swimming to the girls in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh standards without making any charge, and tho pupils subscribed amongst themselves for the presentation. -On Friday afternoon the teachers and pupils of tho Addington school presented Miss Campbell, late assistant mistress, with a bound book and % hand-bag ss tokens of their esteem.

’Mb E, Meredith at East Oxford. — Gn Monday night'Mr ErMeredith, M;H;E., •for Ashley, addressed-his constituents at tho East Oxford Town Hall, and a report appears elsewhere. A vote of thanks and .confidence was unanimously carried. Mose Stack Fires.— News was brought into Ashburton on Monday that Mr George Tait, of.Mayfield, was the last victim to the stack-firing mania. He had four stacks of wheat completely destroyed, and, unfortunately for him, they were not insured. Cycling at Ashburton. The first annual meeting of the Ariel Bicycle Club is to be held to-day at the Ashburton Domain. The track is in first-class order, and a large attendance is expected. The sum of £3B 10a is to be given in cash prizes. The Volunteer Capitation. —Three of the Volunteer corps in tho North. Canterbury district that have qualified for their capitation grant have not yot received it. A Statement to the effect that all qualified corps had been paid the capitation is not founded on fact. Msthven Shooting Case. —At Methven on .Monday, before Messrs Morgan and Chapman, J.P.’a, James Nee was charged with firing a revolver at Arthur Dobbs with intent. After a large number of witnesses had been examined, tho Bench dismissed the case. On the other charge, of being drunk while in possession of firearms in a public place, accused was found guilty, and fined £5 and costs. A Curious Discovery. —Mr J. Eutland has made what may prove a remarkable and important discovery at Ferndale, Kenepuru (says the Pclorus Guardian). On a previous visit, when the timber was felled on this laud, there was revealed a large number of mounds, and last week Mr Eutland, believing he had discovered an ancient burial place, carefully examined the interior of one of these, expecting to find a human skeleton. To hia surprise, ha found in tho centre a mass of ashes with large lumps of charcoal _ carefully covered to a height of five feet with layers of clay. So extraordinary was the discovery that a second mound was opened with like results. A portion of the ashes was carefully taken up, and has been sent to Messrs Percy Smith and Tregear for analysis, todisoover whether the ashes ate human remains or not. If they proved to be so, it will establish the fact that the ancient race practised the Cremation of their dead. There.is a legend that seven hundred years ago the old inhabitants of Kenepuru wore driven out and sought shelter ou the Chatham Islands; possibly the remains nre those of this ancient people. Should the examination of the experts in Wellington be confirmatory of Mr Rutland's own opinion, it is hia intention to examine another of these mounds in a more thorough manner. Implements, sttch as axes, &e., have also been found at the roots of trees different altogether in pattern from those belonging to the old Maori people, and giving further credence to tho idea that our Sounds were formerly inhabited by a; race far older than tha Maoris. ■

Cycle Accessories. Lamps, bells, waterproof capes, trouser-clips, toa-clipa, locks, Simplex safety stand, oils, pneumatic repairing outfits, balls, polishing paste, chain lubricant, enamels,- in fact, everything for on up-to-date rider can be obtained “at New Zealand Cycle Works, 70, Manchester street, Christchurch.— [Advt.J “ Health,” tho new method, 14s enemas from 4s 6d, fountain syringes, muscle rollers, &0., Dr Hall’s pamphlet ss, Df Sehussler’a and Marshall’s medicines. Arrived, ex Coptic, " Story of Jesus ” and "Moses Bible.” 177, Colombo street.— [Adtt] ' Tho Eden George Company, Limited, are now producing far superior Opals titan hitherto. Mr 'Bums, who has just arrived from ■‘Wellington, will take direct charge of the Studio and Workrooms, so that tho delay which has occurred in the completion of orders will shortly disappear, and only Cabinets and Opals showing most superior workmanship will be allowed to Isa/ve the Studio. The beautiful photographic studies now exhibited in Standish aki> Pheecc's vestibule, High street, are eliciting the highest encomiums.