TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10597, 5 March 1895, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Contents. The Japanese continue theiz advance in Chinese territory, and meanwhile the negotiations for peace are stated to be progressing favourably. A hundred and thirty bodies have already been recovered from the d&ris of the railway accident in Mexico; and a disastrous distillery explosion Is reported. In the final teat cricket match yesterday, the third day’s play, the score of the Australians stood at 414 for the first innings, and one wicket for 69 runs; the Englishmen, first innings 385. The fielding of the Australians is described as very loose. The inquest in the Port Hills shooting case was held yesterday, the jury regarding the death as accidental.

Meetings.— The following meetings will taka place to-day:—Drainage Board, 2.30 p.m.; parishioners St John’s, Latimer Square, schoolroom, 7.80 p.m.; East Christchurch Football Club, Clarendon Hotel, 8 p.m.; Association Football Club, Clarendon Hotel, 8 p.m.; New Zealand Athletic Association, City Hotel, 8 p.m. Christ’s College Rifles. Company orders for the Christ’s College Rifles are advertised in this issue.

Goldmining. A Dunedin telegram states that the Sew Hoy Company’s return is 490 z Sdwta of retorted gold for the past week.

Charge of Attempted Suicide.— Louis Blerig was tried for attempted suicide at the Wanganui District Court yesterday before Judge Martin. The jury was locked up for a long time, and ultimately returned a verdict of not guilty.

Mission.— ln continuance of the Rev Thomas Cook’s mission, the first of a series of evangelistic meetings was held at the Sydenham Wesleyan Church on Sunday evening. There was a large and attentive congregation. The Rev W. G. Parsonaon conducted the mission. The Easter Camp.— Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon has selected as the locality for the Easter Camp this year Kaituna Valley, subject to the consent of the owner being obtained. The ground is the property of Mr Parkinson, and is about two miles from the Railway station. A plentiful supply of water can be obtained from a creek close at hand.

Artistic.— Mr J. D. Perrett, whose name will ba familiar to frequenters of New Zealand art exhibitions, has just returned to Christchurch from a sketching tour along the Christchuroh-Hokitika road. Mr Perrett's paintings, which include a number of studies in the Otica Gorge and at Lake Brunner, will shortly be placed on view in Messrs Bowman and Son’s auction room, with a view to their sale. Lectures in Music. —The lectures in music at Canterbury College will commence on Monday, March 11. There will be classes for junior (first year), intermediate (second year) and senior (third year) students, and also an advanced class for those preparing for the Mus. Bac. degree. The theory of music now being one of the optional subjects for eau didates intending to matriculate at the University, Mr Tendall will so arrange his lectures for the first and second years that students attending those lectures may be specially prepared for the matriculation examination in music. At the end of the year the usual examinations in music will be held in the college. Band of Hope.— A special meeting of the Crescent Road Band of Hope was held on Friday evening. The items of a good programme were well rendered by Misses Moore, Butterfield, Shaw, Moor and Cooper, and- Masters Pbilpott, Howarbh, Fiddes and Pegley. Some of the members of the St Albans Band of Hope gave the dialogue “The Prodigal’s Return,” and about a dozen ladies gave the dialogue "Women’s Rights” It was the first appearance of the Band of Hope choir. Every item was well rendered, and received hearty applause. Although a charge was made for admission the church was packed. The chair was taken by Mr John Hanks.

Polo Tournament.— The following entries have been received for tho annual tournament for the Savile Cup, which is to take place on the Christchurch Polo Club’s ground at Hagley Park tho week after next, commencing on a date yet to be fixed, and which will be duly advertised:—Auckland Polo Club two teams, Warrengate Polo Club one team, Ashburton Polo Club two teams, Christchurch Polo Club two teams. North Canterbury Polo Club one team, Manawatu Polo Club ona team, Rangitikei Polo Club two teams. It will bo seen from the above that the* entry of eleven teams has been made, and in the event of Auckland only being able to send down one team there will still be ten teams engaged, representing, all the largest polo clubs in New Zealand.

Thu German Man-of-war. —Theta waa !B* very large attendance at the Art Gallery last evening, when the officers of the German man-of-war Bussarcl were entertained at a ** Geaalliger Abend.” The large room was nicely decorated, the national colours of the visitors being conspicuous. In the new picture gallery Mr Buggey dispensed light refreshments, and another room waa fitted up as a drawing-room. Captain Scheder and his officers were received on their arrival by Mr H. G. Simms, acting German Consul, and the Rev T. Meyer, on behalf of the committee. jL concert programme was gone through. Miss Allan, Mrs Weatmacott, and Messrs Barkas and Piisohel were the vocalists. Herr Max Hirechburg contributed a pianoforte solo, as well aa acting as accompanist, and selections were performed by the Estudiantina Band and the brass band of the Buseard. During tbe evening b number of Alpine views, descriptive of the trip at present being undertaken by Mr Fitzgerald, from the Mount Cook district to the West Coast, were shown and explained by Mr A. M. Ollivier. A pleasant evening was brought to a close by the Basaard’a ■ band playing “ Dio Wacht am Rhein ” and the British National Anthem. POWER’S POT STILL WHISKY. Fletcher, Humphrey and Co.

Cathedral Choir.— -Mr Lovell was the successful candidate for the vacant lay clerkship (tenor) in the Cathedral choir. Canterbury College.— Particulars of the lectures at Canterbury College for the first term of the present year are advertised.

The Codlin Moth. —The Dunstan Times learns that the codlin moth ia attacking tomatoes this year as well as apples, poaru, peaches and apricots.

Smoke Concert. —The annual smoke concert of the Christchurch Engineers will be held in the orderly-room at eight o’clock this evening. Culverden Sheep Sale.— A very large number of entries have been received for the annual sheep sale at Culverden, which takes place on Friday next. Abebst. —Detective Benjamin arrested a young man at Opawa yesterday afternoon on a charge of theft. Hd will be brought up at the Magistrate’s Court to-day. School Excursions.— Full particulars of the school excursions which will be run on Friday from Little River, Oxford and Ey reton to Christchurch and Lyttelton, are advertised. Medical Association. 1 — The tenth annual meeting of the New Zealand Medical Association will open in the Provincial Council Chambers at 4 p.m. to-dsy, when the President (Dr Jennings) will deliver an address. Political,— Mr W. H. Montgomery, member of Parliament for Ellesmere, addressed his constituents at the Town Hall, Southbridge, last evening. He will speak at the Leeatoa Town Hall at eight o’clock to-night. The Weather.—A very rough and cold rain storm passed over Timaru on Sunday afternoon. It came uo as a thunder-storm, but later on the wind rose to half a gale, with gusts of considerable force, and accompanied by heavy rain. Inland there was a considerable fall of hail in places. The rain would have done an immense amount of good if it had been general, but unfortunately it did not extend far from the coast.

Sumner.— The Stanmore Band will give a concert in the Cave Rock, at Sumner, this evening. The Christchurch Tramway Company will run special trams from Cathedral Square at 7.15 p.m. and the Cave Rook and surroundings will be illuminated. A good programme has been provided in which Messrs H. Weir, D. Sinclair, Lovell, Young, Ledsham and Ryan will take Dart. Mr H. Koaaiter’e string band will play selections and the Stanmore Band will also assist.

Melanesian Mission.— TheEight Rev tho Bishop of Melanesia preached two sermons in St Mary’s Church, Timaru, on Sunday, in aid of the Melanesian Mission. The church was filled on both occasions. In the afternoon his Lordship addressed the Sunday schools, and the young Melanesians accompanying him treated the children to some hymns in Mota. Yesterday the visitors were driven out to Mr G. G. Russell’s, Ofcipua, in tho morning, and in tho afternoon the Melanesians played a game of cricket with the High School boys. In the evening the Bishop gave a lecture in the theatre, with lantern illustrations. Sydenham Gospel Mission. The Sydenham Oddfellows’ Hall was, after the recent fire, bought by the Sydenham Gospel Mission, and has been re-roofed and renovated. Special services to celebrate the reopening were held on Sunday, and the congregations at all the services were good, and the collections highly satisfactory, Last evening was a “musical evening,” and a programme consisting of solos, choruses, recitations and selections by the band was gone through. This evening there will be a tea meeting at six o’clock, followed by a public meeting, at which the Mayor of Sydenham will preside.

Chess. —At the Otago Chess Club on Saturday evening, the President (Mr E. A. Cleland) presented the prizes to the winners of the handicap tournament which has just been concluded. Mr J. Soutar gained the first prize (a handsome dressing case presented by Mr Thomas Brown) and Mr Arthur M’Donald gained the second (a beautifullymade chess-board, club-size, made and presented by, Mr Wedderspoon). On the motion of Mr Irwin, seconded by Dr Stenhouse, a vote of thanks was accorded to the generous donors. Reference was made to the death of Mr W. T. Grinated, one of the oldes’t and most energetic members of the club.

Society of Musicians.—A meeting of the Council of the Society of Musicians was held on Saturday evening; present— Messrs Tendall (president), Lund, Wallace and Morton (hoa secretary), and Mieses Taylor and Packer. It was proposed by Mr Lund, seconded by Mr Wallace and carried—“ That ia futuro candidates presenting themselves for examination by the' society in practical music must previously have passed the second year’s theory examination at Canterbury College.” The Secretary was instructed to write to the Senate of tho New Zealand University, expressing the gratification of tho society at the inclusion of music amongst the subjects for the matriculation examination, and to the Hon W. P, Reeves, thanking him for the trouble he had taken on various occasions in the interest of music students with regard to railway fares.

Minister of Lands. —The Hon John M’Kenzie arrived in town last evening by the express from the south. He was mot at the station by Mr W. W. Collins, M.H.R., who represented to the Miniater that there was a very general feeling among the public that tho land recently acquired by the Government in the neighbourhood of Christchurch should be reserved for applicants who hold no other landed property. Tho Minister said that ha intended to exercise the powers conferred upon him hy the Act, and make regulations for the disposal of the land which would ensure its passing into the hands of the class of settlers indicated by Mr Collins. Mr M’Kenzie will ba engaged with departmental business at the Laud Office to-day, and, if possible, will leave for Wellington this evening. He has received offers of several blocks of land in Canterbury for settlement—some in the immediate neighbourhood of Christchurch—and intends, during his present visit, to prepare these for submission to the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners. Mr M’Kerrow, the Chief Commissioner, is also ia town, and will probably remain in this district for two oh three weeks. Chance fob the Boys. Juvenile “ Stars ” fitted with cushion tyres, bail bearings to all parts. Price £lO 10s ca-h. —Adams, Curties and Co., 70, Manchester Street, Christchurch.— [Advt.l

A Year Ahead of the Times. —We are now fitting to “Rapids” all 1895 Stanley Show improvements, namely, large tubing and chain wheels, detachable gear, narrow tread, swing chain adjustment and patent head-lock; finished second to none. Write for catalogue. Waller, Myhre and Co., 48, Manchester Street.— [Advt.]

The unanimous opinion is that Oates’s Zealandia cycles are the best possible machines, made of tbs best possible material ia the best possible way, and the price is only £2O, or £5 deposit and the balance to suit you. N. Oates, Zealandia Cycle Works, Christchurch and Napier.— [Advt.] Kent’s Jubilees still to the fore.—The Five and Ten-mile Championships of Now Zealand won by H. J. Pifcher, last Friday, at Napier, on a Jubilee. Kent and Co., Pioneer Bicycle Works, Bedford Row, Christchurch, New Zealand. — [Advt.l

Emphatically No 1 lam not to he persuaded to have my photo taken by anyone but C. H. Manning, ■whose work is simply a perfection of the art. His Bxomaline Cabinet Photos are only 15s per dozen, and 15 xl2 Opal Enlargements 20s each. 150,

Colombo Street. XI2IG Stan dish akd Preeck, photographers by special appointment to his Ezcollenoy the Governor and the Countess of Glasgow. Studio, High Street.— [Advt. i Time Payments—2s 6d per week, 2s 6d per week. 107 Sections, quarter and half-acres, the favourite place for picnics at Maw Brighton North. Trams j; nc times daily. To bo sold cheap. Small deposit, balance 2s Od weekly; no interest charged. Flan to bo seen and all information rt W. Thomson’s, 152, Colombo Street.— [Advt.J

City Mission Home. The mothers’ sewing meetings at the City Mission Homo will be resumed to-day. Homeward-Bound Mails,—A Wellington telegram states that the Mariposa’s mail of J;»n. 26 arrived in London on March 1, two day a late. Supreme Court. The case of the Mount Hutb Bead Board v. Dent, which was set down for hearing at the Supreme Court yesterday, has been adjourned to March 27. Stoke.-— The residents of Stoke held their picnic and sports ou Thursday in Mr Galletly’s paddock, and were favoured with fine weather. There was a good attendance, end a very enjoyable day was spent. The committee erected a large marquee, which was nicely decorated, ana provided a plentiful supply of refreshments. A programme of sports was wellcontested, the most interesting event being a trot won by Mr J. Gallefily’s hunter. Dancing, singing and other amusements wore kept up until midnight. A DANGER TO NAVIGATION. Captain Dowmo, of the Wareatea, reports that on Sunday morning the chief officer’s attention w.;a drawn to a large piece of timber about 14 feet long and about 2 feet thick fifteen miles south of the Heads, and right in the track of steamers coming from Lyttelton. The beam had apparently been part of the stem or stern of a small wooden sailing vessel. DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. The final distribution of distilled corn is neatly put by a Canadian “ Prom a bushel of corn a distiller gets four gallons of whisky, which he retails at 16 dol. The Government gets 3.60 dol, the farmer who raises the corn gets 40 cents, the railway gets a dollar, the manufacturer gets 4 dol, the retailer gets 7 dol, and the consumer gets—drunk.” A NEW MARKET POE BABBITSKINS. - Conversing the other day with a gentleman of world-wide experience in mercantile matters (says the Taieri Advocate) he referred to the necessity of more enterprise being exercised by New Zealand merchants in opening up new markets. The conversation then turned upon our export of rabbitskins, and ho expressed the opinion that in Canada there exists an enormous and profitable market for this branch of our exports. Furs of every kind are worn there as articles of clothing, and be ia firmly of opinion that a shipment of really good winter skins would realise high prices, and be the means of opening up a first-class market. He stipulates that only the beat skins must be sent as a trial shipment, afterwards skins of different grades might be seat, but the quality ia a bale must always bo even. Mixing summer skins with winter skins would only mean disappointment and loss to the shipper, and injury to a promising trade. THE LADY INSPECTOR OP FACTORIES. Commenting on the visit of Mrs Grace Neill, the Oama.ru Mail says Mrs Neill is taking full notes of all she sees, and will report to the Government at the close of her tour as to the manner in which the requirements of the Factories Act and the Shops and Shop Assistants Act _ are complied with. As Mrs Neill is a remarkably shrewd and intelligent woman of large experience, and is, moreover, keenly observant, her _ report is likely to ba much more interesting reading than official reports generally are. During her stay here Mrs Neill visited the whole of the establishments that come within tb os cope of her authority, and it is gratifying to learn that, though' fault was found in a few respects— juat such small things as a maa would be liable to pass over unnoticed —she expresses herself well satisfied with the manner in which the law is complied with by employers. In this respect wo have the pleasurable assurance that she places Or.maru ahead of all the other towns she has visited. Mrs Neill, it may be mentioned, speaks very highly of the provision made at tho Oamaru Woollen Factory for the comfort of the employes, hut regrets that some arrangement, ia not made whereby the females employed at the looms might be able to sit down, at any rate occasionally. PRESIDENTS AND TOBACCO. The French Society against the Abuse of Tobacco notes with regret that for the fuss time in its history Prance has a President who is a confirmed smoker. M. Felix Paure, it is said, smokes several cigars every day. M. Thiers had a detestation of tobacco which was almost fanatical. Marshal MaoMahon_ had been a great smoker, but he entirely gave up smoking after an. illness which happened long before he became President. Similarly, M. Grevy, in the days of his youth, had devoted himself assiduously to the colouring of meerschaum pipes, but had abandoned the practice before his election. M. Carnot not only did not smoke, but, like M. Thiers, disliked the smell of tobacco. Finally, M, CanimirPerier was not really a smoker, for at most he would, on rare occasions, juat light a cigarette, which ho would throw away almost immediately. PROSPECTING AT FAIBLIE. At a public meeting held at Fairlie on Saturday night it was resolved to form a prospecting association as contemplated by the Mines Act, and to seek financial aid from tho neighbouring County Councils and from the Government. For tho last eight years Mr William Close, of Fairlie, has spent more or less time each year prospecting among tho creeks and spurs of tho Two-Thumb Range, at the back of Sherwood Downs Station, being encouraged by tho discovery of some gold in several localities, but not as yet ia payable quantities. Tho association is being formed to enable him to continue his work on more favourable terms. A prospector, Mr O’Csllaghan, who has latterly been working with Mr Close, informed the meeting that there wore good indications of silver there, as well as of gold. An association was formed and a committee elected, with Mr j. Milne as chairman, Mr Banks ao secretary and treasurer, and Messrs Close and O’Callisgban as prospectors for the association. SEA FISHING. The North Otago Times eayaLocal fishermen state that sea fish were never so scarce as they are now. Moki and blue cod have practically disappeared, sad the reason they give for this is tho disappearance of the seaweed that grew on the rcefe which were the best fishing grounds of the local fishermen. There are several reefs, of, more properly speaking, boulder banks, off tho land near Camara, and several years ago the boats going out to these reefs used to make fast to the seaweed that grew from the rocks to the surface; but now there ia little or no seaweed to make fast to. Tho fish found their food and shelter amongst the weed, and now that it has gone they have gone too. Of course the seaweed may grow cs luxuriantly aa before, but-in the meantime ita absence accounts for the scarcity of fish. The local fishermen used to secure large hauls of moki, and these excellent fish found a ready market in Christchurch and Dunedin, but there are now no hauls like these of several years ago. Other boulder-bsnts or reefs may hold tho fish that are not now to be found in their accustomed place, but these have yab to ba found. THE LATE C APT AIM JOYCE. The Otago Daily Times eaye :—Another maa, coin a of the incidents of whose life add a picturesque chapter to Australasian history, was Captain Joyce, who until quite recently might be seen diligently working bis little vessel up to our wharves. Forty years save one mouth have passed since the barbarous murder of Mr John Price, who was battered to a jelly by the stones of a mob of tho vilest convicts in the hulks at Williamatown. Among those on the spot was Sergeant Joyce, of tho once famous wafer police, a man of small stature bub of unflinching courage. Another who was present and diatin-

guishad himself by his bravery was Mr Caldwell, our late gaoler, Mr Price, the Inspector-General, was a man of a very severe typo, but few now living have an idea of the class of ruffian ho had to deal with. He has had many detractors, and they have managed rightly or wrongly to give him a bad name; but as among them must be counted Burgess and Garrett, both of whom left" memoirs.” it, ia a uity that his reputation should suffer from such criticism. Mr Joyce lived and moved iu the days of tho Nelson robbery. So absolutely was tho secret of that affair kept and so absolutely inviolate has it remained that it has been the occasional theme of romancers. We think it ia in Par jeon’s "Gri?” that the tale is told of how the gang landed lifry thousand ounces of gold on the beach, and ladled it out in pannikins when dividing it. In those days it was not very difficult to got rid of gold. Tho gang might go up-country and pretend to return with it; now it ia by no means easy. The widow and sens of the late captain have received a number of telegrams and letters from all parts of the colony condoling with them on their bereavement. ARRIVALS jAND DEPARTURES. Tho arrivals in the colony during February were 2033, a&d the departures 2457. During tho samo month last year there was a net gain of 1274. THE HALF-HOLIDAY, Out of seventy-seven towns which have selected their weekly half-holiday, forty have chosen Wednesday, twenty-six Thursday, seven Saturday and two each Tuesday and Friday. STREET OBSTRUCTION. Owing lo complaints of obstruction of traffic by street preaching and other causes, the Wellington police want round on Saturday night and warned preachers, organ grinders, singers, &e. Tno Salvationists flatly refused to stir, but moat of the others moved away. The result is that informations will be laid for obstruction and playing instruments to tho annoyance of She public. SIX CHAPTERS. Chapter I. Nothing, if not progressive. The Lords of the Admiralty, Ministers of War, Kings of Commerce and Legislators must recognize progressive methods. Tho large gear wheels of the modern Star are a striking instance of progressiva improvement by reducing the stress ou the chain by 200 pounds. The uuaniraouß opinion of hundreds of riders ia that the new gearing increases speed, and when ridden against tho wind, ia tho long-wanted improvement. Cyclists invited to a trial ride on the modem Star, Come and see the novelties in cycles at the exhibition. Adams, Cutties and Go., 70, Manchester Street, Christchurch. — [Advt.]