TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11539, 28 March 1898, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Meetings. —The following meeting will be held to-day Canterbury College Board of Governors, 3 p.m.; City Council, 7.30 p.m.; League of Wheelmen Executive, Occidental Hotel, 8 p.m.; City Rifles annual meeting, orderly-room, 8 p.m.; meeting to discuss matters in connection with the frozen meat trade. Chamber of Commerce, 8 p.m.

Presbyterian Chuech. —The series of evangelistic services which were held in the Presbyterian Church last week were brought to a close yesterday. There was a large congregation at both services.

Returning Excursionists. Two express trains came up from Dunedin on Saturday evening, and yesterday morning another long train arrived with a number of excursionists who had been present at the.Otago jubilee celebrations.

Presentation. On Friday afternoon Miss Scott, who is leaving the firm of Messrs G. Beath and Co., was presented with a handsome gold brooch set with pearls, as a token of esteem from some of her fellow workers and friends. Miss Scots suitably responded.

Obstructions. —The attention of the police was called on Saturday to two instances of tradespeople causing^obstructions by hanging samples of their wares outside their shops. In one instance a number of nails were driven into a verandah in front of a shop, and several pairs of boots hung thereon.

Honorary Reserve Cobps.—Subscriptions or trophies for the thirteenth annual prize-firing of the Honorary Reserve Corps, which is to take place on Easter Monday, will be received by Captain Harman or Sergeant-Major Evans. Firing is to begin at 8.30 a.m. Ammunition will be supplied on the ground, and no other is to be used, Members are to shoot in uniform, and How Zealand Rifle Association conditions will be observed.

Cricket Association Competitions.— Of the four competitions instituted by the Canterbury Cricket Association, the Midland Cricket Club has this season won three —the Senior Junior and President’s Cups—and its team in the Vice-President’s competition has performed very creditably. This performance establishes a record never before accomplished in the annals of Canterbury cricket. The Vice-President’s Cup has been won by the Sydenham and Addington No. 1 team.

The Police Force. —By the departure of Detective Benjamin for Napier to-day, to which place he has been removed, the tietective force has been left very much undermanned in Christchurch. At the present time it consists of Chief Detective Cbrvstal and a plain-clothes constable. Detective Macsackisat present in Dunedin in connection with the exhibition there, and Detective Fitzgerald is absent in Timarn, whither he escorted a prisoner who was arrested here and remanded to that own.

Easter Sports at Kaiapol —For the handicap events at these sports, entries, accompanied by lists of performances and fees, have to be in the hands of tlm Secretary by the evening of Monday, April 4.

Railway Employes’ Conference. —The annual conference of the Railway Servants’ Society will open at Wellington to-day. The Canterbury delegates left Lyttelton by the s.s. Rotomahana on Saturday night, Sunday Lecture. —Mr W. W. Collins, in the Lyceum last night, continued his addresses on “ Theistic and Antitheistio Theories,” and discussed the question “Is Nature Moral ?” There was a large attendance.

Our Father’s Church.— There were good attendances at the meetings of Onr Father’s Church in the Art Gallery yesterday, especially in the evening, when Mr O’Bryen Hoars replied to some criticisms passed on Our Father’s Church. Bowling. —The arrangements for holding a tournament between the Christchurch and Canterbury Bowling Clubs at Easter have fallen through, but it is intended to have matches among the members of the clubs, on their own grounds, during the holidays. Lincoln School. —At a meeting of the Lincoln School Committee, held on Friday night, it was decided to recommend Mr A. Cookson, of Templeton, for appointment as head-master of the school, in the place of Mr Banks, who has been appointed to the Belfast School.

University Examinations. —The special examinations rendered necessary by the loss of examination papers in the s.s. Mataura will begin in the hall of Canterbury College to-day, with the senior scholarship, engineering and bachelor of science candidates. Papanui Wesleyan Church. The anniversary services in connection with this church were held yesterday. Special sermons were preached by the Eev D. J. Murray, of Lyttelton, at both services. At the evening service the choir sang special selections of sacred music.

Linwood Quadrille Assembly. —The season of this Assembly was opened last Thursday evening, in the new Linwood Hall, Gloucester Street, and about forty couples were present. Light refreshments were provided, and dancing was kept up till the morning. The music was supplied by Mr Williams.

A New Football Rule.— The subcommittee appointed for the purpose of revising and adding to the rules of the Rugby Union brought up a new rule for consideration on Saturday night. It was to the effect that any member playing in a match and not wearing the registered colours of the dub for which he is playing, shall he ordered off the field of play by the referee. The rule was carried by a show of hands.

Funeral. —The funeral of another of the old identities, Mrs Norman, widow of the late Mr W. Norman, took place on Saturday afternoon at St Paul’s, Papanui. There was a very large attendance of old friends of the deceased. Mrs Norman arrived in Canterbury on Deo. 17, 1850, in the Sir George Seymour, one of the first four ships. The deceased was greatly respected, and her loss will be severely felt in church circles, where she was a ready and willing helper. Lyttelton Railway Men. —Representations were made to the Premier at Lyttelton that some of the men employed by the railway authorities wished to take up sections of land in the Heathcote Yalley, but they had hitherto been prevented by a regulation requiring them to reside in Lyttelton. This the men felt to he a hardship, and Mr Seddon promised to confer with the Minister of Railways and have the regulation relaxed so as to enable them to take up the sections in question.

Amateur Athletic Association. —It is understood that Colonel Gordon considers that the conditions of the military events at the forthcoming Amateur Athletic sports are satisfactory, and the events will accordingly remain on the programme as printed. They consist of a bayonet drill competition for teams of twelve men under a non-commissioned officer, and a marching competition for teams of sixteen men under a non-commissioned officer, who will have to march a mile and fire three volleys of blank cartridge at every quarter of a mile. The value of the prize in each event is J;5, Jubilee Congratulations. — The following telegrams passed between the Mayors of Kaiapoi and Dunedin : —“ Councillors and,burgesses join me in congratulating you on the magnificent success of your Jubilee celebration. We have clambed the hill thegither, and share your joys and hopes that New Zealand will be the proudest and happiest of the Queen’s dominions.—J. Lowthian Wilson, Mayor, Kaiapoi.” To this the following reply was sent by the Mayor of Dunedin: —“ I thank you, and those for whom you wired, for your hearty and sympathetic expressions of good will, which are much appreciated. We are glad you share our belief that New Zealand is the proudest and happiest of the Queen’s dominions—a dominion of which we hope the Empire will be prouder yet. I send all good wishes and hopes for the future prosperity of you all. —E. B. Cargill, Mayor, Dunedin.”

Young Men’s Christian Association.— The monthly meeting of the Board of Management of the Young Men’s Christian Association was held in the Association rooms on Friday; present—Messrs Kaye (who presided), Beaven, H. H. Smith, Callender (2), Roxburgh, Mitchell, Jewiss, Page, Menzies and the Secretary. Arrangements were completed for the carrying on of the winter classes, and it was decided to reduce the fees to Is per term for all classes per member. It was announced that the Bishop of Christchurch had consented to give an address to young men on Monday, April 4, at 8 p.m., and a programme for the meeting was drawn up and agreed to. Instructors were appointed for the gymnasium, and it was decided to hold the annual “social” in April. Several new members were elected, and the meeting terminated.

Canterbury College. —The annual general meeting of the Canterbury College Engineering Society was held at the College on Saturday night. There was a large attendance of members, and Mr A. E. Craddock presided. The annual report congratulated the Society on the success of the first year of its existence. The membership had increased to fifty. The report referred to the good work done by the various papers and lectures delivered during the year. iThe balance-sheet showed a credit balance, of ill 3s Bd. The following officers were elected: —President, Professor E. J, Scott; vice-presidents, Messrs A. C. Beatty, J. L. Scott, John Anderson, E, Dobson and E. Burnett; chairman, Mr J. B. L. Cull; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr C. N. B. Williams; committee, Messrs P. D. Barker, B, J. Marriner, A. E. Craddock, H. D. Dansey and F. Scott. Dressmaking. —Ladies are advised that in anticipation of heavy demands upon this department for this approaching season, a leading Melbourne dressmaker has been engaged to take charge of a room at the D.I.C. The styles introduced will be quite a departure from those in vogue in the Christchurch shops, with the further inducement that a specially moderate list of charges has been arranged for every model of gown made to order. 2228

Invalid Chairs. —We are sole makers of the celebrated Simplex Self-propelling Chairs. Highly recommended by medical faculty. Barlow Cycle Co., 48, Manchester Street (next Coker’s). 2164

Bicycles for Easter can he supplied from stock or built to order at a few days’ notice for £2l. Oates, Lowry and Co., Zealandia Cycle Works, Christchurch.— [Advt.] IViorefork Celebrated Mild-cured Hams and Bacon can be had in any quantities from Hubbard, Hall and Co., Manchester Street, next Milner and Thompson’s. 2192 Dunlop tyres and Dunlop Welch rims are the fastest and most reliable combination in the world; guaranteed for- twelve months. —£Ax>vr.]

Supreme Court. —The civil sittings of the Supreme Court will he opened before Mr Justice Denniston at 11 a.m. to-day.

Leeston Salk. —The date of the next Leeston sale has been altered to Thursday, April 7, in order to avoid the Easter holidays.

Arrest. —Yesterday evening Detective Chrystall arrested a man on a charge of having stolen a purse containing £2 from the pocket-of another man. Thbosophical Society. —At the meeting of this Society yesterday afternoon a paper was read by Miss Eogers on “ The Bible and the Secret Doctrine.”

' Art Gallery. —There was a good attendance at the Art Gallery on Saturday afternoon. The exhibition will be open again to-day, and a concert programme will be carried out to-morrow evening. The Premier. —The Hon E. J. Seddon arrived from Dunedin by the express train on Saturday night. He immediately went on to Lyttelton where a presentation was made to him, and then proceeded to Wellington by the Eotomahana. The Governor. —His Excellency the Governor, with Lady Eanfurly and Captains Alexander and Wellesley, arrived from Dunedin by the express train on Saturday night. Lady Eanfurly remained in Christchurch, and his Excellency went on to Wellington by the Eotomahana. Sydenham Band. —The Sydenham Band will play the following programme of music on the Band Eotunda this evening:— Grand march, “La Gaiilarde ” ; selection, “ Eossinipolka, “ Eippling Eill ”; valse, “ Loving and Hoping ” ; fantasia, “El Dorado ”; valse, “ Edinburgh ”; quadrille, “ Eoundabout ”; quickstep, “ Mignon.” Timaeu Building Society— The twentyeighth annual meeting of the Timaru Building Society was held on Friday evening, when the report and balance-sheet were adopted. The report recommended dividends of 7 per cent on capital shares and 5 per cent on subscription shares. The chairman, Mr John Jackson, said that the Society was in a sound financial condition. The retiring directors and auditor were reelected. Settling Accounts. —The St Patrick’s Day Sports Association, Timaru, met on Friday evening to settle accounts after the late sports meeting. The balance-sheet showed that, starting with a balance of .£ls 19s 7d, the total income was £227 15s 7d, and after paying prize-money (over £107) and various expenses, there remained a balance of £46 15s 6d, out of which an honorarium of £lO 10s was voted to the honorary secretary, Mr Dennehy.

Inspirational Lecture. —At the Choral Hall last night Mrs Harris lectured on “After Death; What Then?” Amongst other things, the speaker described the scene of the soul’s separation from the body, as seen by the clairvoyants, its meeting with those who had been friends or relatives on earth, its passage to the spirit world through intervening space, and the rest prepared for those who had passed through much suffering in the body.

The Jubilee Clock Tower. —ln reference to the protest made by certain ratepayers against the hoarding around the jubilee clock tower being allowed to remain, it is understood that the city authorities consider that they are justified in keeping up the hoarding, in order to protect the public, as during the progress of erecting the ironwork and completing other works, there is always some risk of accident. The work will not be finished for some time yet. Confirmation Service.— At the morning service at St John the Baptist’s Church, Rangiora, yesterday. Bishop Julius conferred the rite of confirmation on sixteen candidates presented by the Rev F. P. Fendall. The vicar and the Rev M. Smyth took part in the service, and the Bishop gave an appropriate address. The church was crowded. His Lordship addressed the Sunday school children in the afternoon, and preached at the evening service, when the church was again crowded.

Theatre Royal. —There was another crowded house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, when Mr Frank Thornton’s Company repeated the farcical comedy The Adventures of Miss Brown. The ludicrous situations into which the heroine contrives to get were ably brought out by Mr Thornton, and throughout the piece the audience were fairly convulsed with laughter. This evening will be the last opportunity of seeing Mr Thornton a,s Miss Brown, as to-morrow night The Private Secretary will be placed on the boards.

Baptist Church. —The anniversary services in connection with the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church which took place yesterday were very well attended. The morning and evening services were conducted by the Rev J. J. Doke, and in the afternoon a flower service was held, when an address was given by the Rev J. J. North. This evening there will he united valedictory services in the church, and a farewell will be taken of Dr Charles North. On Thursday evening the annual tea and public meeting will be held.

Musical Union. —The first concert of ; the new season is to be given on Thursday, April 14, and intending subscribers are reminded in another column that it is necessary that names should be sent in ; before April 1, so as to take advantage of | the new rule in reference to the drawing 'for reserved seats upon the plan suggested by the honorary secretary. Subscribers who may prefer stall seats are requested to advise the honorary secretary in advance of the drawing, so that their names may not be included when drawing for the gallery. The drawing is to take place on Monday, April 4, at 10.30 a.m., at Messrs Milner and Thompson’s, and subscribers are invited to be present. A Narrow Escape. —As the 7.5 tram from Papanui was coming down the incline after crossing Victoria Bridge, a horse in a hansom cab, which was travelling in the opposite direction, shied, and as the driver had to pull up sharply to avoid being run into by the tram, the animal fell in the middle of the tram lines. The driver of the locomotive pulled up so sharply that the passengers were jerked from their seats, and when the tram was brought to a standstill the front legs of the horse were underneath the footplate of the engine. The tram had to be backed off before the animal could rise, but although it had a very narrow escape nothing worse resulted than a few scratches on its legs. Personal. —Messrs C. Carter, N. Eeid and G. T. Booth were passengers for the south by Saturday morning’s express.— Among those who arrived in Christchurch by the express from the south on Saturday evening were Mr and Mrs J. Eoss and Miss Eoss, Mr Melville Gray, Mr and Mrs J. Jackman. The Hon Major Steward arrived from the south by Saturday night’s express and went on to Wellington by the Rotomahana.—-Major Sommer ville. Captains Alexander, Wellesley and Hannah, and the Eev J. Eadcliffe wore passengers for Wellington by the Eotomahana on Saturday evening.—Mr G. G. Stead returned from Dunedin by yesterday morning’s train. —Professor Gibbons was a passenger by the Westralia, which left for Dunedin on Saturday.—Dr Duff, of Glasgow, who has been representing the Presbyterian Church during the Otago Jubilee celebrations, is expected to arrive in Christchurch shortly. He will be the guest of Dr Elmslie, and will preach at St Paul’s during his visit. Dr Duff will return to the Old Country via Sydney and Melbourne.

Foe Baby’s Skin, Scalp, and Hair, nothing in the -whole world is so cleansing, so purifying, so beautifying as Cuticuea Soap, the most effective skin and complexion 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, roughhands with shapeless nails, and simple rashes and blemishes of infancyitis absolutely, incomparable. F 24

Fish Trades Picnic. —The committee of this picnic publicly thanks various gentlemen who presented prizes for competition at the annual outing of the trade.

The Hoese Mhedeb.— Up to the present time the police have obtained no clue as to the person who murdered _Mr U. Lewis’s stallion. Chain Armour. AVith detective force as short-handed as it is at the present time, it is impossible for the inquiries to be made in as thorough a manner as the case deserves. It would assist the police greatly if any person who was abroad on the Halswell roads on the night of March 19, when the crime is supposed to have been committed, would give information as to any persons seen in the locality in which the horse was stabbed. A VALUABLE PRIZE. A New Zealander named James Malone won a chief prize in the art union held at Sydney last week in connection with the fair promoted by the authorities of St Mary’s (Roman Catholic) Cathedral. The amount was .£SOO. a tragkTincident. A peculiar but tragic incident occurred at Hobart a few days ago. A Mrs Fisher was walking arm-in-arm with her husband across a yard where a mare was standing, when Mr Fisher remarked that he thought of selling the animal, and his wife said, “ No, not whilst lam alive.” She went to pat it, when the mare kicked her under the chin, causing instant death. The mare was a pet of the deceased. THE COOK STRAIT CABLE. A telegram from Wellington states that the Tutanekai experienced remarkably fine weather, and actually succeeded in laying the new cable, nearly forty miles in length, in twenty-four hours, work which was expected to take the greater part of a month. This is the first time the steamer has been used for cable laying. She was specially built for the purpose, and has been found in every way suitable for the work. THE NEW POSTAGE STAMPS. The successful designers of the new issue of stamps were: —H. W. Young, Auckland,- J. Grant, Wellington; W. R. Bock, Wellington; E. Howard and E. T. Luke, Melbourne. In the 2-Jd stamp Lake Wakatipu has been misspelt “Wakitipu.” The error will be corrected in the next batch, but for the present the stamp will be issued as it is. BEER AND BIBLE. A laudable attempt on the part of a Nottingham clergyman (says the London Daily Telegraph ) to practically illustrate to the working-class portion of his flock the combined benefits of religion and a tankard of beer has proved unsuccessful. The Rev Prebendary Denison started, for the social pleasure of his congregation, a club where the reverend gentleman or his curate went, after dispensing theological pabulum in the church, and served the members with beer and other corporeal refreshments. The idea was to keep them away from publichouses, and to afford them honest recreation with a reasonable amount of tipple. By the rules, no man could be served with liquor more than three times during the night. But the clergyman was unaware of the degree, if not of original sin at least of bibulous ingenuity among the rougher classes of Nottingham. They evaded the rule by clubbing together their twopences and treating each other, so that in the course of the evening a member was able to obtain half a dozen or even more drinks instead of three. The result was sometimes unpleasant, and the Prebendary has therefore reluctantly determined to give up the experiment.

WRECKED BY A GALE. A settler on Kurow Creek, named John Eayne, was a great sufferer by last Monday’s nor’-west gale. His house, 30ft x 12ft, was blown over and broken up, and the fragments of the house and all its contents were scattered far and wide by the gale. Mrs Eayne and her infant of five months were in the house when it went over, and both were much bruised. The furniture was smashed up and bedding and clothing torn and blown away to shreds.

BEITISH IDEAS OP THE COLONIES,

The Premier, in his address at Lytterton on Saturday night, told some ludicrous stories illustrating, from his own experience, the notions as to the colonies entertained by some of the good folk in the lands which colonials still call “Home.” Many persons in the Mother land seemed, he said, to think that all the people in the colonies lived very near to one another, and that a colonial Premier knew every other colonist. Apropos of this notion, he related how an old lady, to whom he had been introduced as Premier of New Zealand, was extremely anxious that on his return he should interest himself to secure the welfare of her son who was in the colony. He asked for the young fellow’s address, and she gave him the name of a street in Brisbane. On another occasion when a friend was commending him to the good graces of the steward of a certain steamer, and requesting that functionary to look carefully after the “ Prime Minister of New Zealand,” the man replied, in a tone of doubt, “ I’ll do my best, sir.” “ Why, what’s to prevent you?” said the gentleman. “Well, sir,” was the answer, “ I shall be at a great disadvantage when I can’t speak their language.” More amusing and amazing was the invitation to . a social gathering in Dublin, sent to each of the colonial Premiers, concluding with the words: —“ It would be very pleasing to us, and we should esteem it an honour, if you would attend in your native costume.” OVERCROWDED DWELLINGS. At the meeting in Cathedral Square on Saturday evening, Mr T. E. Taylor, M.H.E., when speaking on the question of the extension of the municipal franchise, urged that something should be done to see that the people of the poorer classes were decently housed. He said that in Wellington and Dunedin there were most deplorable slums, but that Christchurch was, happily, comparatively free from them. As an illustration he referred to a case which had come under his notice while in Wellington the other day. He said that a young man had come to him and asked for assistance, informing him that two months previously he left Christchurch for Wellington in search of work, taking with him his wife and two little children and his household furniture. He

had endeavoured in vain to obtain employment, and during the two months he had only earned 7id, having subsisted by pawning his furniture and wearing apparel, and that very day he had been compelled to pawn his wife’s wedding-ring to obtain food. In order that he might have ocular demonstration of the state of affairs, Mr Taylor accompanied the man to his dwelling, where he found no fewer than four families living in a .five-roomed co-tage. In one room upstairs he found an elderly woman lying very ill, with her little niece attending on her. In the next room were a man and his wife and three children, and in a room downstairs were the young man with his wife and two children, in an almost bare room, and yet another family in the next room, the other being used as a general kitchen.