TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 11152, 29 December 1896, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Contents. —The Washington correspon- . dent of the Times states that the report of the warning given by the Powers to the United States in regard to intervention in Cuba has not been denied. The Secretary of the German Embassy in London discredits .the statement that Germany will side with Spain in the event of active interference by the United States. Rain is urgently needed in India to save the newly sown crops, and acute distress .in four of the central districts is feared. Over a hundred persons lost their lives by the derailing of a train in the United States. The cricket match Queensland v. New Zealand, which was concluded at Wellington yesterday, was .won by New. Zealand by 182 runs. Intense heat is being experienced in New South Wales. Several deaths are reported, and much damage to crops has been caused.

Meetings. —The following meeting? will be held to-dayLyttelton Harbour Board, 2.p.m.j Sydenham Borough Council, 7.30 p.m.

Cheviot. —The new town hall at Cheviot was opened on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Full use of the building has Oeen made since the opening, several concerts and balls and a bazaar having been held.

The Malicious Killing oe Houses.— By an advertisement in this issue, Messrs D. C. MTntyre and T. Watt offer a reward of £25 for such information as will lead to the conviction of the person or persons who killed their horses on Christmas Eve.

Angling. —Capital sport is now being obtained in the Temuka, Orari, Opihi, Waihi and Eangitata rivers, and there has been quite an influx of visitors to Temuka. Sport at the Eangitata is at its, best, thp fish being in grand order and taking freely. Fireworks at Sumner.—A display of set pieces and fireworks will take place at Sumner this evening. A special tram will leave Cathedral Square at 7.15 p.m. accompanied by the Garrison Band. Spectators are requested to keep away from the Cave Bock and the jetty.

Theatre Royal. —There was a good house at the Theatre Royal last evening, at the second performance by the Ada Delroy Company. The programme given on Saturday evening was repeated, and very successfully too. Alias Ada Delroy’s Eerio-comie : songs and her wonderfully clover dances were heartily encored, as were also her amusing musical medley and burlesque melodrama scene with Mr James Bell. This gentleman’s funnyisrns were very amusing. Madame Boll’s '‘somnoxnancy” or thought-reading appeared to impress the audience very much. The company will appear again this even-

FOE BABY’S SKIN, SCALP AND HAIR, nothing in the whole world is so cleansing, so purifying and beautifying as the celebrated Cutlcuea Soap, the most effective skin soap, as well as the purest and sweetest for toilet, bath and nursery. For distressing facial eruptions, irritations of the scalp, with dry, thin and falling hair, red, rough hands, with shapeless nails, and simple rashes and blemishes of infancy it is absolutely incomparable. — [No. 21. A DVT.]

New Brighton.—' The City and Suburban Tramway Company will run an excursion to New Brighton at 7.15 this evening. New Year’s Day. —The Railway Department advertises particulars of the train arrangements for New Year’s Day. Arrest. —Detective Benjamin arrested a man yesterday on a charge of having obtained money by moans of a valueless cheque. Fireworks.— The Timaru Fire Brigade has arranged with Mr Stokes, of Christchurch, to provide the material and manage a large display of fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Railway Officers’ Institute. The annual social gathering of the Canterbury Branch of the Railway Officers’ Institute will be held in the Sydenham Druids’ Hall at eight o’clock this evening. Sumner Borough Council. Messrs Mills and Joyce have been elected to fill the vacancies on the Sumner Borough Council caused by the resignation of Councillor Collins and Councillor Deacon s election to the Mayoralty. The Kaiapoi Licensing Poll. —The inquiry into the Kaiapoi local option poll will be opened at the Magistrate’s Court, Kaiapoi, at a quarter to one o’clock this afternoon, but it is understood that after the formal opening it will be adjourned.

The. Kinbmatoorafh. —Mr Hausmann has arrived in Christchurch to make arrangements for the appearance! for a short season of Edison’s kinematograph. Tho season will open in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield Street, on Saturday evening.

Imported Sheep.— The consignment of valuable sheep that arrived in the colony by the R..M.S. Gothic, a few weeks ago, was released from quarantine at Quail Island, yesterday., It comprised three Romney Marsh rams, imported by Messrs Bailey Bros., of Coalgate ; two English Leicester rams, the property of Mr James Little; and eight Shropshire Down ewes and one Shropshire Down ram, the property of Mr Duncan Macfarlane. The whole of the sheep were in excellent condition.

Presentation.— At the distribution of prizes at the Wai-iti School near Timaru, the residents of the district took advantage of a large gathering to present a purse of sovereigns to Air Wollstein, who has been schoolmaster there for ten years, and is now leaving the, school. Several residents spoke of the valuable and kindly services Mr and Mrs Wollstein had bean ever ready to give in cases of affliction and distress. The Rev W. C. Orbell, curate of St Mary’s, was present, and spoke of the valuable asdistance Mr Wollstein had given in maintaining divine services at Wai-iti.

Foresters. —Court Star of Canterbury held its fortnightly meeting as usual, the C.R., Bro H. J. Ranger, in the chair. There was a fair attendance. The woodwards reported fifteen members on tho sick fund, and correspondence was read in reference to sick brethren in various parts of the county. The final nomination of officers for the ensuing term was as follows; J.W., P.C.E. Bro Hofl’meister; district delegate, P.C.R. Bro Hoffmeister. P.C.R. Bro Weakley, P.C.E. Bro Bell and P.C.R. Bro J. Sears wore duly elected scrutineers. Correspondence having been read and sick pay passed, the C.E. closed the Court in due form. Receipts of the evening £2O 10s 4d. Annat Band of Hope. —The annual tea and entertainment of the Annat Band of Hope was held in the schoolroom on Christmas Day. The attendance was encouraging, and fou’ij tables, given by the members, were waited upon by Mesdames Nuttall, Teague and Hawke. The bachelors’ table was under the charge of Messrs H. Hawkins and H. J. Montgomery, The Rev T. H. Lyon presided at the after meeting, when an amusing and interesting programme was rendered. A hearty vote of thanks to the Rev T. H. Lyon, who is about to leave the district, for past services, and to all those who helped to make the meeting a success, brought an enjoyable evening to a close. During the evening four persons signed the pledge.

The Sydenham Sanitary Scheme. — The erection of the building and tank on the South Belt for the disposal of sewage from Sydenham, is being rapidly pushed on, and is expected to be finished in about a week’s time. Yesterday morning the Mayor of Christchurch, and Councillor Stewart (chairman of the Sanitary Committee of the City Council), visited the work in order to obtain information as to the system to ha carried out. They purpose making further inquiries into the subject. Several persons living in the vicinity are taking steps to obtain an injunction from tho Supreme Court. It is feared that, even if the operations at the building are innocuous, a nuisance will be caused every night by the carts employed in conveying the sewage to the tank, A petition against the scheme, signed by 250 Christchurch residents and ratepayers was presented last night to Councillor Stewart, as Chairman of the Sanitary Committee.

Concert at Little Eivee. — A concert in aid of the funds of the \V airewa Boating Club was held in tho Maori Hall, Little Eiver, on Saturday evening last. There was a large attendance. The chair was taken by Mr W. H. Montgomery, the captain of the club, who briefly referred to the success of the day’s proceedings on Lake Forsyth. Ho stated that he was very pleased to see that so many clubs had competed at the regatta, which he hoped would become an annual affair, and that in the future the Christchurch regatta and tho championship events would be decided on the waters of Lake Forsyth. Musical selections were contributed by Miss Savage, Dr Morris and Messrs Morris and Lewin ; songs by Mrs Pritchett, Misses Buchanan, Moody and .Tones, Messrs Corbet, Bruce, Raphael, Helbert and E. Coop. The different items were well received. The comic element was well represented by Messrs Raphael and Helbert. Tho accompaniments were played by Miss Buchanan and Dr Morris. The proceeds were very satisfactory. Christmas Tree. —Messrs Hubbard, Hall and Co. announce that the distribution of presents off their Christmas tree will bo continued to-day and to-morrow. There are .still some sixty-five coupons to come in, and tho large doll, “The Bride,” is still amongst the numbers not drawn. 8338

A Merry Christmas to All. —Hams, hams, hams; 500 hams for Christmas and New Year. New Fruits and Christmas Cakes, seed and plain, from Is each. Splendid display of Christmas goods. Come and see, at Srnithflelcl Market. Telephone 349. 1912

Cyclists who want Dunlop tyres (which are the best tyres) should always see that the Dunlop brand is on the tyres, and insist upon having it. 19 M

Hanker Plains. —Visitors to the Hanmev Springs will find the best accommodation at Mrs Lahmert’s, Jack’s Pass Temperance Hotel, for 37s,and 25s week. —[Advt. ! X 1693

Christmas Presents. Ladies’ gold brooches, lovely new designs, just out from England, from 7s 6d, guaranteed Hall-marked gold. David Bowman, ISli, Colombo Street. — [Advt.] At Lancaster Park, A. C. Wilmot, on an Atalanta, lowers the half-mile record for New Zealand to one minute three seconds. 1796

Always Ride tub Best. —Archer, the winner of the Pioneer Bicycle Club’s 20-mile Road Race, rode an Oates’s £2O Zealandia roadster bicycle, beating the second man by more than a mile. Works, Christchurch and Napier. —[Advt.]

The Baby’s Food. More than the Photo. Try new Health Food: watch Baby outgrow the Photo. Call or post for free Sample, and you’ll want more. Health Supplies Coy., 245, Cashel Street. 1823

Our customers arc kindly asked to note our only address is 213, Cashel Street (opposite /Vm Oiiice). — Shaw, Robinson and Co. —[Advt.]

Staxwsh ak» Prebck, Photographers by special affroiaiMUint to his Excellency the Governor and me Countess o£ Glasgow. Ssudio, High Street. Ciim.l

NATIONAL BANK. Cable advice states that the National Bank of New TTSaland has declared the usual dividend of 5 per cent per annum. THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS. A telegram from Invercargill states that tho weather there is sultry with a falling glass. Rain is much needed, the crops being - short and tho grass burnt up. The recent rain did not extend inland, where it was most required, A LARGE EEL. The Timaru Herald says that a large eel was caught in the, Waihi Creek last week by Mr Percy Shallard, which, turned the scale at 241 b. Inside the monster was found a trout more than lib in weight. A FLYING-MACHINE. Mr E. Sheen, of Petono, has after many years of study, succeeded in inventing a flying-machine. Mr Sheen writes to the Post that he recently made a trial to work this aerial ship from tho summit of the Wainui Hill, and is highly pleased with the results. Although the machine did not behave quite perfectly* the inventor claims to lie able to overcome the difficulty, and is perfectly confident of successfully navigating the machine at no distant date. A HEAVY CLAIM. Mr T. W. Hungerford, well-known on tho west coast of the Middle Island, gained an action against the New South Wales Government for breach of contract in reference to the Wollongong railway works. Tlio Supremo Court gave a verdict in his favour for .£12,800. Against this the Government appealed, but the Court of Appeal upheld the decision. A NEW FIBRE. Some excellent specimens of the fibre of the cabbage tree, a palm which grows well in most parts of the colony, have been shown to the Post by Mr Preyberg, the Government timber expert, who is taking a keen interest in the utilisation of many of the colony’s natural products. The fibre has been converted into a marketable article by a process so simple that it can be taught to anyone in a few minutes. The strength and softness of the strands are remarkable, and the material also possesses another merit — viz., that it does not fray like flax. Fishing lines, cordage, and fine brushes have been made from it, and there is no doubt that it will also he found to be very suitable for other manufacturing purposes. Mr Preyberg points out that little or no care is required to grow the cabbage tree, and he expresses a belief that if a leaflet giving simple directions for its propagation were issued by the Government, many vettlers would be induced to utilise portions of their land in its culture. AN AMUSING HOAX. Details of an amusing hoax, the victim being the editor of the Temperance World, are published by the Daily Mail. The Temperance World, quoting its information from a burlesque report in a Manchester humorous paper, announced that the Bishop of Chester had applied for a license for his new hotel, the Mitre, that he called witnesses to prove that he was a respectable person, and that • he had, upon obtaining the license, promised to consider the suggestion that he should “ employ as barmen some of tho most indigent clergy in his diocese.” After much indignation tho Temperance World continued: —“We wbuld suggest to the bishop that he should have a text on the sign—and think this might be appropriate: ‘Woo to him that giveth his neighbour drink.’ A gentleman who read this fearful onslaught wrote to the bishop’s chaplain to ask for full particulars of the working of his Lordship’s house. The reply said: ‘ I regret that I cannot furnish you with the-particulars for which you are good enough to ask, because there is no publichonso being worked anywhere by tho Bishop of Chester. From time to time the inventive editors of temperance papers insert a paragraph giving the details of the granting of licenses to the Bishop of 1 Chester, but they are without the smallest foundation.’” CYCLE SUNDRIES. Full stock of all accessories at low prices. Adams Star Cycle Company, 70, Manchester Street. Christchurch. —[Advt.]