TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11556, 18 April 1898, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Meetings.—The following meetings will held to-day:—New Zealand Natives’ sociation Committee, Mr W. Reece’s ice, Colombo Street, 4 p.m.; City Council, iO p.m.; Sydenham Borough Council, 0 p.m.; League of Wheelmen’s Execue. Clarendon Hotel, 8 p.m.; New Zealand imming Association Executive Comttee. Clarendon Hotel, 8 p.m.; Panciers’ ib, at rooms, Cashel Street, 8 p.m. CbLEGBAFJIXO INTERRUPTIONS. The legraph Department has received advice im Bombay that the Teheran route is errcpted between Kertch and Odessa, 1 that the Bangkok line is interrupted. The Police Commission. —The Police mmission finished its sittings at Timaru " Saturday, and the sittings in Christarch will open at the Provincial Council ambers at 10 a.m. to-day. The Comasioners, with Mr Kane (secretary) and :ee shorthand writers and Commissioner nbridge. Colonel Hume, . Inspector oham and Mr T. E, Taylor, M.H.R., ived in Christchurch by Saturday night’s )iesa train.

1 Fernseoe. — Miss Glanvillo has been recommended for appointment as mistress of tbeFemside School. Methven Collie Club Trials. — There are sixty-two entries fortMs fixture, which will be held at Methven on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 19 and 20. Theosophical Society. —At the meeting of the Theosophical Society yesterday afternoon a paper was read by Mr Harre, entitled “ Reincarnation.” Personal, —Mr John Studholma and Miss Studholme returned to Christchurch on Saturday. Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.R., arrived from the south by the express train on Saturday night. Miss M. B. Vartha leaves for Dunedin to-day by the Waihora. Magisterial.— The only business conducted at the Magistrate’s Court bn Saturday morning was a charge of drunkenness against Kate Ford. In consideration of her having been locked up since Friday morning, she was convicted and discharged. Mr was on the bench. More Remunerative. —At the Arbitration Court on Saturday morning, Mr Fraser, for the Union, asked Mr J. L. Scott how he would like to go back to patternmaking, Mr Scott said he was indifferent about that. Pattern-making was, at all events, more remunerative than standing in a witness-box. Sydenham Poultry Society. —At the usual weekly meeting of the committee Mr .bobbins presided, and there was a good attendance of members. It was decided to add a class to the schedule in the pigeon section for tumblers, long-faced, muffed, any other colour, mottled, or rosewing. The Treasurer reported that the sale of tickets was extremely satisfactory, St Paul’s, Papanui. —The first of a series of monthly concerts, in aid of the organ fund of St Paul’s Church, was held in the Town Hall on Friday evening. There was a very large attendance, the hall being crowded. The programme included pianoforte duets by Messrs Thomas and Matson, Barlow and Searelle, songs by Miss Bridge and Mr Hair, and a series of kinematograph views by Mr W. E. Mills. The Antiquity of the Saw. —At theArbitration Court on Saturday, machinery was under discussion, when Mr Fraser, who : appeared for the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, remarked that Noah probably used a circular saw when preparing the timber with which to build the Ark. The witness appearing to dissent from this opinion, Mr Fraser said that at all events the Patriarch must have had a pit saw. A New Rowing Trophy. —At the Union Rowing Club’s prize distribution on Friday evening, the secretary,. Mr F. Craddock, said that their chairman, Mr A. Loughroy, had intimated his intention of presenting a trophy for a single scull race, to be rowed during the ensuing season. Mr Loughrey’s offer was greeted with loud applause, and indications were not wanting that the race would be fully entered for and well contested. Free Distribution of Meat. —The Christchurch Meat Company, at their several shops on Saturday night, had a busy time of it cutting up and distributing nearly one hundred carcases of mutton. All who came with a letter of recommendation had a joint of meat given them for their Sunday dinners, and, judging from the number who thronged the shop, the liberality of the Company was much appreciated. Arrests. A telegram was received from Oamaru on Saturday morning to the effect that a man had been arrested there on a warrant charging him with having deserted his wife at Christchurch. He will appear at the Magistrate’s Court today. On Saturday Detective Marsack arrested a young man on a warrant issued at Timaru on a charge of being about to leave the colony without making provision for an unborn child of which he is reputed to be the father. Farmers’ Meeting.— On Saturday afternoon Mr W. Harker addressed a large meeting of farmers in the Orange Hall, Ashburton, on the, subject of the .price of wheat,. Mr Donald M’Lean was voted to the chair. Mr Harker dwelt upon the enormities of the grain ring, and predicted that “ within eight weeks wheat would he quoted at 8s per bushel, oats at 3s 6d per bushel, potatoes at ,£8 5s per ton and onions at .£l2 per ton.” A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.

Victoria Lake. —The Victoria Lake continues to make satisfactory progress. The wells have now added to the depth of the lake in the shallow part by over a foot, and the fine sheet of water which it presents contributes in no small measure to the Tbeauty of the Park. Considerable crowds gather on the banks on Thursday and Saturday afternoons to watch the young people sail their fleets of model yachts, some of which have a very creditable appearance. Complaints are made, however, of the practice indulged in by some youths of damaging the banks by digging up clods of earth and throwing them into the lake. A Troublesome Goat.— Much amusement was created yesterday afternoon by the antics of a goat which had escaped from its tether on the river bank near the Eire Brigade station. At Cook and Boss's corner the broad back of a young mao proved a temptation too strong to be resisted by the goat, but the pedestrian saved himself from a second assault by catching the. animal by the horns. A crowd soon gathered, and a constable who attempted to capture the goat was ignominously put to flight, the animal returning to attack the crowd at the corner. The policeman’s second attempt at capture, however, was* more successful than the first, and the goat was taken to safe quarters. The Bet Father (Cummings.— With reference to the meeting to be held shortly to say farewell to the Eev Father Cummings, who is leaving Christchurch shortly on account of ill-health, a deputation waited upon him on Saturday with a view to ascertain what date would be most convenient for him to receive a testimonial, and in reply he stated that May 3 would he the most suitable date. A meeting of the Executive and Entertainment Committees in connection with the function will be held at the Pro-Cathedral Library at eight o’clock to-morrow evening. It is understood that the farewell will take p’.ace in the Opera House, and an excellent programme is being arranged. Father Cummings intends to go to the Hamper Springs for a few days before leaving Canterbury. Catholic Mission. —St Mary’s Catholic Church, Manchester Street, was crowded to excess at all the services yesterday when a Bedemptorist Mission was opened. The mass at 11 a.m. was taken by the Eev Father Marnane, the music being Parmer’S' in P, in which the principal solos were taken by Miss L. Grady. At the conclusion of the mass, the Very Eev Father Barry, C. 5.5.8,, opened the mission. At 3 p.m. he addressed the children, and in the evening he preached, when the services consisted of Eosary sermon and Benediction, The mission will he continued all through the week with mass at 6.30 a.m. and 7.30 p.m. The Eev Father Mangan will arrive to-day to assist the Eev Father Barry, and the Eev Father Sherman will also be here to join the mission in the course of a day or two. Quality Tells. —Telegrams to hand announce that the Hawke’s Bay Wheel Eace and one-mile at Napier, two, three and five miles at Westport, three miles at Blenheim have all been won on £2l Zealandias by bond-fide purchasers. Oates, Lowry & Co., Makers, Christchurch.— [Advt.]

Jones and Sons, Watchmakers, Jewellers, Engravers and Opticians, Cashel Street. The cheapest firm in New Zealand. Onr work is second to none.—[Advt.] Dunlop tyres and Dunlop Welch rims are the fastest and most reliable combination in the world; guaranteed for twelve months.—lAdvt.l Excelsior Bicycles, guaranteed for twelve months, are the highest of high grade. Send for artistic catalogue. Barlow Cycle Co,, 48, Manchester Street, (next Coker’s), 2164

Art Gallery. —The Art Society’s Exhibition was concluded on Saturday. There was a large attendance, both morning and evening. West Lyttelton Church. —The annual parish meeting in connection with St Saviour’s Church, West Lyttelton, will bo held in the church this evening at eight o’clock, Road Board Elections. Several announcements appear in this issue as to the closing of nominations for members of various Road Boards for the annual election of members. Supreme Court. —The case of Friend’s Steam Generator and Imporous Butter Box Company v. Dunlop will be taken before his Honor Mr Justice Dennistou and a special jury of twelve at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow. School Committee Elections. —Nominations for members of School Committees can be made with the present Chairmen of the various committees this evening. Further nominations, however, can be made at the meetings of householders which take place on Monday evening next, when the annual elections will be held. Ministerial. —The Hon A. J, Cadman, Minister of Railways, arrived from the south by Saturday night’s express train, and is staying at Warner’s Hotel. This morning he will visit the Addington Workshops, and at 2 p.m. he will go to Lyttelton, where he will receive deputations, leaving for Wellington in the evening. ' The Lyceum. —At the Lyceum last evening Mr W. W. Collins delivered an address on “ Profit and Loss : The Advantages and Disadvantages of Honest Thought,” in which he reviewed the progress of the Freethought movement during the last twenty years. Yesterday was the eighth anniversary of Mr Collins’s first lecture in Christchurch. The Arbitration Court. —The Arbitration Court, which has been engaged in hearing a dispute in the engineering trade, sat again on Saturday. As Mr-Justice Edwards has to leave for Wellington today to attend a sitting of the Appeal Court, and as the cases were far from being finished, it was arranged to adjourn the further hearing until May 25.

Mtbiorama Company. —Mr John Puller, who was well known here in musical circles some few years ago, will return to Christchurch shortly with his Myriorama Company, and will open for a short season in the Theatre Royal on Monday next. The company has done excellent business in the North Island, and is well spoken off by the northern newspapers. Samaritan Home—A meeting of those who signed the petition praying that the Samaritan Home might be made a separate institution under the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, will he held at the City Council Chambers to-morrow evening at eight o’clock, for the purpose of appointing some person to represent them upon the Commission of Inquiry which is to be held into the matter.

Morris-Tube Shooting. —On Friday evening’ the members of the Christchurch Working Men’s Club Rifle Class fired another competition at the two hundred yards range for prizes presented by Messrs Mason, Struthers and Co., S. Manning and Co., Ashby, Bergh and Co. and Vincent and Co. The following are the highest scores :—J. Hastie (scr) 35, J. A. Lummis (1) 35, A. C. Greig (2) 35, E. M’Millan (2) 35, R. G. Forgie (3), 35, G. Blake (I) 33 and E. Barlow (2) 33.

Conciliation Board. —The Board of Conciliation for the Canterbury district will sit at the Provincial Council Chambers at 10 am. to-day to consider an industrial dispute in the bootmaking trade between the New Zealand Bootmakers’ Union and Messrs Suckling Bros., of this city. On this occasion Mr W. H. Cooper, who has recently been appointed chairman of the Board, will sit for the first time, as will also Mr J. Greig, who has been elected by the employers to fill the seat vacated by Mr J. A. Frostick. OLD AGE PENSIONS. At the annual meeting of the Ashley District Oddfellows held at Rangiora on Saturday morning, when nine lodges were represented by delegates, it was unanimously resolved “That the Secretary write to all the Oddfellows’ districts in the colony requesting them to urge their parliamentary representatives to support the Old Age Pensions Bill to he reintroduced by the Premier at the next session of Parliament.” This motion disposes, as far as the Ashley district is concerned, of the rather prevalent idea that the friendly societies are opposed to old age pensions as inimical to the interests of such organisations. ILLEGAL BARS. A rather peculiar incident happened at the sitting of the Police Commission at Timaru on Saturday afternoon. A clergyman had made a statement before the Commission to the effect that a certain hotel in the town had, contrary to the Licensing Act, a second bar opening on to the street. Commissioner Tunbridge despatched a member of the police force to ascertain whether the statement was correct, and upon the officer's return with the answer, the Commissioner asked the clergyman if he would be surprised to hear that the bar alluded to had been closed for fully twelve months. The reverend gentleman replied that he would be very much astonished to hear such a thing, as he knew that it was open at the present time. Shortly after leaving the witness-box, the minister returned and asked to be re-sworn, as he had further evidence to give, and upon his request being complied with, he announced that he was prepared to produce evidence that the bar complained of was still open, and he produced a flask of whisky which he had but a few minutes previously purchased from the attendant at that particular bar. This announcement astonished the Commissioner, and other officers were immediately sent to report on the matter, the result being that an information was at once laid against the publican for a breach of the Licensing Act. Mr T. E. Taylor obtained the flask of whisky from the minister and has brought it with-him to Christchurch.

MILITARY DRILL OP SCHOOL-BOYS. The committee of the Wellington technical school has decided that military drill, in accordance with the revised regulations, should bo taught in all schools in the district. Companies of from forty to one hundred boys, not less than 4ft Gin in height, are to he formed m large schools. The head teacher of each school or (in the case of a combination of the largest schools) his nominee is to be actingcaptain of bis company. WELLINGTON SWIMMING BATHS. While presenting prizes at the Thorndon baths on Saturday, the Premier said he looked forward to the time when, in the interest of the physical health and education of all, it would be compulsory for boys and girls to learn swimming. Ho thought that mothers should see to it that their daughters, as well as their sons, acquired a knowledge of that invaluable and invigorating art. Mr Seddon further observed that on the continent of Europe the public baths were absolutely free to the people, and he expressed a hope that this would ere long be the case throughout New Zealand, and that in every community there would be free public baths equal to the popular requirements. Our Wellington correspondent states that an effort is likely to be made there to “ continentalise ” the public baths in another respect by making them simultaneously open to both sexes. As yet the matter is

spoken of only privately, but the advocates of the change are likely to propose it publicly ere long, oa the ground that it will promote not only health, but healthiness of sentiment.

THE RABBIT PEST. Probably the only case on record in which a landowner summoned for not keeping down the rabbits has got off without a penalty occurred at Balclulha on Wednesday. Some time ago Mr Moore was fined because trapping had nob proved effectual in keeping down the rabbits on his farm on Manuka Island, and on Wednesday, after systematic poisoning, he was again charged with failing to comply with a notice to destroy the rabbits. Inspector Bree admitted that Mr Moore had honestly tried to kill the rabbits by poisoning, but pollard poisoning had failed and no other means were taken. It was not bis place to suggest means ; what he insisted upon was the absolute destruction of the rabbits. The Stipendiary Magistrate said he did not think this was a case, in which he should fine. Perhaps defendant had not done all that was possible or all that he could have done, bub he thought he had taken all reasonable means to destroy the rabbits, and the case would be dismissed. TEA AND TEMPER. During the hearing of two cases of alleged assault after a soiree at Tahatika, which came before Mr. Hawkins, S.M., at Balclutha, his Worship, after hearing most of the evidence, was constrained to ask what made people so bad tempered at soirees. Was it tea or whisky they had? The witness replied that it was tea. His Worship remarked that then it must have been bad tea, and Mr Stewart suggested that a crusade would have to be started against tea drinking. AN ENTERTAINER’S EXPERIENCE. On the authority of a professional entertainer giving his evidence in the Dunedin Magistrate’s Court on Friday, forty-five miners are worth a population of about three hundred harvesting people. Evidently it is not among the agricultural community that the entertainer looks for his particular harvest. The same authority, says the '* Otago Daily Times,” made the remarkable statement that for show purposes Shag Point is “ the most certain town in New Zealand.” He had, he said, had a lot of experience of Shag Point as a playing town, having been there seven or eight times, and ho had never made a loss there. It subsequently transpired that the largest profit which the witness had made at Shag Point on any entertainment was £7 and the lowest £3, but the hall was of a size that, as he nut it in professional measure, would hold £ll. INTERVIEWING A WITNESS. The “ Oamaru Mail ” of Friday says : The Police Commission adjourned in a body this morning to the house of a. witness who was ill in, bed, and who, it was stated, was prepared to give evidence in the charges against Sergeant O’Grady. After a hot climb up hill and down dale, the Commission and the accompanying officials arrived in a limp and perspiring condition at the lady’s back door, and sheepishly presented themselves foi admission, feeling about as comfortable as a glass of whiskey in a temperance stomach. The übiquitous Mr Taylor entered the premises, while the remainder of the Commission tried to look unconscious, and adopted a sudden interest in horticulture and cows and other available accessories. A shrill shriek from the ulterior heralded a storm of hysteria, and the Commission, after a moment’s startled silence, stood not upon the order of its going, but “ got ” at once.