TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11558, 20 April 1898, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

“ Tub Cantebbuby Times.”— The current number of this popular weekly is trimful of attractions. The illustrations*, besides.. Mug most:.arti3tically executed^

are of general interest; they include portraits of the winners of the principal races at Eicearton last week, and a number of snapshots taken on the course. The Canterbury—Otago tennis match, _ the Championship Eegatta, the Kaiapoi Friendly Societies’ Fete and other events and incidents also supply subjects of pictures. There is the usual large volume of special articles of fiction by leading authors. The Sporting columns include reports and reviews of the race meetings held at Eicearton, Auckland, Sydney and elsewhere during the holidays, and anticipations for the forthcoming South Canterbury, Wellington and other meetings. In Trotting Notes a suggestion for the reconstitution of the South Island Trotting Association is mentioned, the Lancaster Bark Club’s recent meeting reviewed and a quantity of notes are given. In the Agricultural columns the important question of “Fanners and Politicians,” •* Carriage of Frozen Meat,” “ Trade with Manchester”, and other subjects are discussed; the Stock Notes contain much important information upon stock and kindred matters, and the Farm and Dairy Notes give items of news and information from Home and abroad. Some sound hints upon poultry-keeping and a number of homing notes appear under “ Poultry and Pigeons,” and Mr J. Joyce’s paper on “Tree and Shrub Planting ” appears at length in the Garden pages, of which “Work for the Week” is a most successful and highlyappreciated feature. All the other departments of the paper are also well supplied, the Canterbury Times providing the best of reading for everybody. Meetings.—The following meetings will be held to-day:—Board of Education, 11 a.m.; Christchurch Domain Board, City Council Chambers, noon; Amateur Athletic Association Council, Occidental Hotel, 8 p.m. ; St Michael’s Parish Meeting, 8 p.m. Eoad Scares. —A number of announcements of annual meetings of ratepayers and annual Eoad Boai’d elections are advertised in this issue. Foots ale. —The East Malvern Football Club opened the season in <the Sheffield Domain, on Saturday afternoon. Sides were captained by Messrs G. Eutherford and D. M’Millan, and the game resulted in a win for Mr Eufcherford’s team. The afternoon was unpleasantly warm for football, but some of the men showed very fair form. Rangxora Each Privileges.—The privileges in connection with the North Canterbury Jockey Club’s race meeting were sold by Mr W. Buss yesterday as follows : —Publican’s booth to Mr H. C. J. Bailey at £ls; luncheon booth to Mr F. Harvey at £2 10s ; fruit and oysters to Mi" W. Broad at £3 10s ; horse yards to Mr F. Harvey at £2 10s. Total, £23 10s. Cricket.—A cricket match took place last Saturday afternoon at Eotherham between a scratch team composed of Waiau residents and the local flax-mill hands against the Eotherham Cricket Club. The scratch team defeated the club by an innings and 23 runs. Goodfellow was the principal scorer for the mixed team and Laing for Eotherham. New Auctioneers. —Mr Harry Macdonald, who has been for some years connected with Messrs Pyne and Co., made his first appearance as an auctioneer at the Eangiora Market yesterday, having taken the position of salesman for Messrs Pyne and Co., rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr A. Wachsmann. Mr W. F. Watson, who has been with Messrs H. Matson and Co. for a number of years, will make his debut as an auctioneer at the Addington Market to-day. Natural Enemies.—Yesterday morning. Dr Brittin, from his residence, noticed an unusual commotion amongst the sparrows and other birds which frequent the roof of the Papanui Town Hall. Watching for a few moments he saw a strange object in one of the water-spouts of the building, and shortly the animal ran up the roof and over to the opposite side, showing it to be a weasel. It is unusual for these vermin to be seen in such a situation, and it suggests that they are becoming extremely daring. One was shot in a garden in Bligh’s Eoad a few days ago.

Presentation. —On Friday evening Mr and Mrs Allan were entertained at the Dorie Schoolroom by a number of friends and old Acton settlers, Mr J. Lambie, who presided, presented Mr Allan with an illuminated address, and Mr H. J. Harrison presented him with a gold watch-chain, whilst Mrs Allan was presented, by Mr J. Duncan, one of the oldest residents in the district, with a diamond and sapphire brooch and ring. Mr Lambie introduced his phonograph and gave some selections; songs and recitations were given by Miss Hardie and Messrs Boyce, Lambie and Wright. Theatre Royal. —The Theatre Royal is to be reopened on Monday next by Mr John Fuller’s Myriorama Company, which has tonred New Zealand for the lastthiee years with great success. The entertainment is of the kind that is so popular at Home at present—Travel, Music and Song, pictorially .illustrated. Mr Ben Fuller, the business manager of the company, was in London as recently as last November, and no expense or trouble was spared to make this Myriorama as complete as the best there. The company play to popular prices, and a box plan will be opened to-morrow at Messrs Milner and Thompsons.

Cycling. —A meeting of the committee of the Christchurch Cycling Club was held, in the club rooms, Cashel Street, last evening; present—Messrs W. E. Thompson (captain, in the chair), J. H. Tompkins, C. H. Cotton, A. Hobbs, T. Clarkson and W. G. Williams. Several matters in connection with the Good Friday race meeting were dealt with, and it was decided to refer two alleged offences to the League, together with the stewards’ report thereon. Mr W. G. Williams was authorised to expend an additional £6 per annum on literature for the club rooms, and it was decided to purchase a new set of billiard balls and cues. Some important questions were dealt with in camera, and the meeting terminated. The Rev Father Cummings. —A largelyattended meeting of the combined Executive and Entertainment Committees, who have in hand the arrangements for giving a suitable farewell to the Rev Father Cummings upon bis leaving Christchurch, was held at the .. Pro-Cathedral Parish Library last evening, the Rev Father Lemenant des Chesuais occupying the chair. It was decided that the entertainment should take the form of a concert at the Opera House on May 3, on which occasion the Rev Father Cummings will be presented with an illuminated address. The various sub-committees were appointed, and a draft programme was submitted and adopted, which included the names of a number of the leading artists of Christchurch. It was resolved to hold a meeting of the general committee on Tuesday next, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

It is an Agony of Agonies. A torture of tortures. It is an itching and burning of the skin almost beyond endurance. It is thousands of pin-headed vesicles filled with an acrid fluid, ever forming, ever bursting, ever flowing upon the raw, excoriated skin.' No part of the human skin is exempt. It tortures, disfigures and humiliates more than all other skin diseases combined. Tender babies are among its most numerous victims. They are often born with it. Sleep and rest are out of the question. Most remedies and the best physicians generally fail, even to relieve. Such is eczema, the greatest skin humour of modern times. If Cdtictjka did no more than relieve eczema it would be entitled to the gratitude of mankind. It not only relieves, but relieves instantly. A warm bath with Cuticuba Soap, a single anointing with Cuticuba (ointment), the great skin cure, followed by a full dose of Cutigoba Resolvent, greatest of blood purifiers and humour cures, is sufficient to allay itching and irritation, soothe inflammation, remove crusts and scales, peimit rest and' sleep, and point to a speedy .cure, when all else fails. Truly Cuxicciba; ■Works-Wondera. I*l7 (

Ashburton Convalescent _ Ward. — The contributions towards this ward to date amount to £2BB 2s 4d. The Weather.—A sharp frost was experienced in Ashburton on Monday night, and there was a heavy fall of snow on the ranges. The Strength of the Police Force.— The total strength of the New Zealand police force is 500 men, not 740, as stated in the report of the proceedings of the Police Commission yesterday. Kaiapoi School Committee. —The following gentlemen have been nominated for the committee;—Messrs Moore, Feldwick, Caverhill, Butcher, Young, Coup, Clark and Armitage. Acettline. The Timaru Borough Council have accepted the offer of Tyree and Co. to light the Council Chambers with acetyline gas for three months, free, except for the cost of the carbide. Political. —Mr W, H. Montgomery, M.H.R. for Ellesmere, will address his constituents at the Town Hall, Sonthbridgo, on Tuesday evening next, and at the Town Hall, Leeston, on the following evening. Christchurch Golf Club. —At a meeting of the committee of this club held on Monday, it was decided to hold a handicap competition on Saturday next. Messrs Turnbull and Wood were appointed a handicapping committee. New Zealand Defence. —It is understood that Colonels Gordon and Webb have gone to Wellington in order to attend a conference of commanding officers on the defence question. Colonel Bailey assumes charge of the Canterbury district during Colonel Gordon’s absence. Industrlvl Settlements. —The delegates from the various labour bodies and political organisations who have been drafting a scheme for industrial and farm settlements for the purpose of absorbing the unemployed labour of the colony, will meet on Friday evening in the W.C.T.tI. Rooms. Larceny. —At Timaru yesterday, Henry Gough, railway fireman, was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for stealing articles from an unoccupied house on March 7, and wai? also committed for trial for stealing a cash-box containing £7O from the Commercial Hotel on Friday night last. Chrysanthemum Show. The annual show of the Chrysanthemum Society will beheld in the Art Gallery on Wednesday, May 4. The Timaru and Eangiora growers are exceptionally strong, and there is every indication that all classes will be as strongly represented this year as they were last year. Political. —Mr E. Meredith, M.H.E., addressed a well attended meeting of his constituents in the Waiau schoolroom on Monday evening. Mr A. W. Eutherford occupied the chair. The address was on the lines of those given in other parts of the electorate. . A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Meredith at the conclusion of the address.

Personal.— The Hon J. M’Kenzie, accompanied by his private secretary, arrived by express last night, and went north by the Rotomahana. Colonel Webb arrived by tbo same train, and witb Colonel Gordon went to Wellington by the Rotomahana. Mrs Louisa Blake and Miss S. M. Henderson went to Wellington by the Rotomahana, in order to attend the annual meeting of the Women’s Council. Borough Loan. —A poll is to be taken in Timaru to-day on the question of borrowing .£4OOO under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, to construct drainage works, channelling streets, and concreting the main gully ditches. It was first proposed to make closed drains for the gullies, but at a meeting on Monday night, the Borough Council determined to substitute inverts, to be arched over by property owners as required. Water-supply fob Eangiora. — A conference took place, at Rangiora yesterday afternoon between representatives _of the* Town Council and the Waimakariri-Ashley Water-supply Board with reference to a supply of water from the Board’s system for the borough. .It was proposed that the 'supply should not he less than one hundred thousand gallons per day, and the cost and other conditions were agreed upon for confirmation at meetings of the Board and Council next week.

Liberty League, —A meeting of the Council of this League was held in their rooms last night. There was a full attendance. Owing to the large increase of Council and members it was resolved that more commodious premises for the holding of Council meetings should be engaged, and that the offices should be removed to Chancery Lane. An interesting lecture on “ A Tour in China and Japan,” illustrated by the oxy-ether limelight, was given by a councillor, and the meeting terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer. A “Horse-Fiend” Scare. —Last evening there was some little excitement when a report was circulated to the effect that a horse had been stabbed in a stable in Cashel Street, and it was at once surmised that the horse-fiend had again commenced his depredations. The police were communicated with, and a representative of this journal went to make inquiries into the matter. The result of the inquiries led to the fact that a mare, the property of Mr T, M’Callum, who resides at the corner of Cashel and Barbadoss Streets, had been wounded in the neck. Examination, however, showed that the wound had been inflicted by a projecting nail, against which the animal had evidently rubbed itself.

Poultry Society. —A meeting of the Ashburton Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society was held on Monday evening. Mr J. Tasker presided. Correspondence was read from the Christchurch Poultry Society, stating that the proposal of the Nelson Society to petition Parliament would prove futile, and from the Sydenham Society, stating that they did not intend to hold an art union. After some discussion on the subject of art unions, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Willis, seconded by Mr RestelJ, that an art union should be held in connection with the Society. Two judges were appointed. Subject to their approval, Messrs Anderson, Cox and Willis were appointed a Schedule Committee, and were recommended to make several amendments in the schedule. Open-air Music. —The Lyttelton Brass Band, under the baton of Mr G. E. Collins, wi’l play the following programme of music at the comer of Oxford Street and Norwich Quay this evening, commencing at eight o clock; —March, “ Step by Step ” (C. Howarth); waltz, “True Lover’s Knot”( Linter); schottische, “ Mayflower ” (W. Mellon); overture, “The Lyttelton Band ” (F. Childs) ; waltz, “ Little Sweetheart ” {T. H. Wright); schottische, “Florrie” (J. Jubb); quadrille, “ Renfrew ” (W. V. Scholes) ; waltz, “ Love's Greeting ” (T. H. Wright); march, “ Dashing Dragoon ” (J. Cavill); National Anthem. —The Engineers’ Band will give the following programme of music on the rotunda on Thursday evening, commencing 7.45 p.m. : —Overture, “Salutation” (Villiers) ; contest selection, “Nabuco” (Verdi); va.lse, “ Genevieve ” (A. Paul); fantasia,"“Beauties of Scotland” (Edward Newton); schottische, “Adelina” (J. Parker); trombone solo, “The Brave Englishman ” ; quadrille, “ The Carnival ” (Edward Newton); quick march, “ Robin Adair ” (J. Jenkins); National Anthem. Dunlop tyres and Dunlop Welch rims are tlie fastest and most reliable combination in the world; guaranteed for twelve months.—f Advt.] 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

Quality Tells. —Telegrams to hand announce that the Hawke's Bay Wheel Race and one-mile at Napier, two, three and five miles at Westport, three miles at Blenheim have all been won on .£3l Zealandias by bond-fide purchasers. Oates, Lowry & Co., Makers, Christchurch.—[A dvt.] Buy a gramophone, the latest and most wonderful home entertainer ever invented. Call and hear it. Barlow Cycle Co., 48,. 31fcmchsster.Bkeot,mexh,Coker’s. - 2164 t -

Chrxstchttech Dog Trial. —As showing the interest taken by the northern shepherds in the Christchurch dog trial, it may be mentioned that a Christchurch committeeman who visited Rangiora yesterday received no less than eight entries. Sunday School _ Anniversary.— The anniversary services.m connection with the St Asaph Street Methodist Sunday school were held on Sunday, when there were crowded congregations. Last evening a tea and public meeting wore held. Mr G. J. Smith presided, and there was a good attendance. An address on “The Possibilities of Child Life” was delivered by the Rev C. Porter. Au excellent programme of songs and recitations was given, the singing of the children, under Mr Robson and Miss Corrick, being very creditable. At the conclusion a vote of thanks was accorded to those taking part in the meetings. A DIFFICULT CHOICE. The defendant in an affiliation case which was heard yesterday morning at the Magistrate’s Court, was bound in sureties amounting to .£SO to provide for his unborn child’s future maintenance, with the alternative of four months’ imprisonment. Mr Beetham then gave him his choice of bard labour or simply imprisonment in the event of his being unable to find the sureties. If he chose hard labour he would be entitled to double rations, but simple imprisonment meant that only single rations would be served out. The young fellow, after conferring with his friends for a short time, said he would take the hard labour. He applied for a week’s time to enable him to get the sureties and so obviate the necessity of his going to gaol. Mr Beetham said he would be sorry to send the defendant to ga*ol on a charge sdeh as this, but he had been duped so oftejsroofore through granting a week’s grace and the defendants making use of it to disappear that he had no other course but to curtail the time. He granted defendant until the rising of the Court -to get the sureties. AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE. At Lyttelton on Saturday afternoon there was an experience of a somewhat exciting nature. A local Justice of the Peace who has recently fallen under the fascination of model yacht - sailing, took some of the members of his family into the inner harbour to engage in his favourite pastime. Model yacht-sailing, however, except to the enthusiast, is not productive of much excitement, and as the afternoon wore on, and the novelty of the sport wore off, one of the juvenile members of the party became possessed of desire for something with more “go” in it. This desire. found vent in a wish to be put on top of one of the large iron mooring buoys which are placed in the harbour. Eventually, after much persuasion, the Justice agreed to comply with the child’s wish. Now, to gain the top of one of the buoys from a small boat is no easy task. The buoy is buoyant, and inclined to tilt upon the application ,of weight, and, moreover, its sides being -smooth afford no hold to the foot. The consequence was that the attempt to scale the buoy had not been , long in progress when both father and son were floundering in the water. It was soon seen that their position was serious, for neither could swim a stroke, and, but for the timely aid of another occupant of the boat, both would probably have been drowned. ATTEMPT TO WRECK A TRAIN. The Hastings™ Standard ’’ reports having received information of a deliberate attempt being made a few nights ago to wreck a train between Hastings and the Tomoana freezing works. Three sleepers were found on the line by butchers proceeding to work at five o clock in the morning. It is thought that the perpetrators hac| a design upon a special train which was to have run through at an early hour in the morning. The police are investigating. . Blf|i?LES v. PIANOS. An Australian who is pr ying a flying visit to Christchurch, states that while in conversation with the manager of one of the great piano warehouses in Melbourne recently, that gentleman told him that the craze for bicycles had dona an immense amount of injury to the piano trade. Where previously people in moderate circumstances had invested in a piano on the time-payment system, they now preferred to have a bicycle, which could be bought on just as easy terms. The children, instead of practising the piano at home, are sent to the music teacher’s, where they are accommodated with an instrument. TYPESETTING MACHINERY. At a meeting of the Wellington Typographical Union, the President (Mr F. A. Vaney) said that during the last few years machinery for typesetting had received much attention in America and England, and many kinds of typesetting machines were now in the market. Though the linotype was first in the field in the Australasian colonies, it was by no means certain that it was the best, for a London lithographer named Schumann, in conjunction with a cute Yankee “ comp,” had in hand a machine which promised to outdo anything yet invented in the way of newspaper production. Both the linotype and its rival, the monotype, produced surfaces in relief, but the new invention of Schumann was an advance of the lithographic art, by which printing was done from a smooth surface. The matter was first written by a typewriter and then transferred to a zinc plate. This plate was bent round a fast-running web lithographic machine, and the newspaper was then run off at a speed equal to that of typographical machines. The new process admitted of drawings and sketches being produced with greater speed, saving the labour of engraving and stereotyping, and.it practically shut up the composing room with its expensive plant and numerous workmen. The President suggested that members of the union should seize any opportunity that might offer of changing their occupation, and said that newspaper proprietors would probably act wisely in delaying expenditure on costly machines that might ere long be displaced by more, advanced methods. THE NEW STAMPS. Further consignments of the new stamps will, says the “ Post/ come to hand by the Rangitira and Waimate. It is expected that in a few weeks there will be sufficient in hand to meet the public requirements at all post offices, and the old issue will be gradually stopped. After a time the work of production will be canned out in the colony, but certain necessary appliances will have to he imported before such can be done. The old system of surface-printing has to he abandoned and a process of steel engraving adopted. The quantity of stamps used during a year is almost incredible, those of a penny in value being generally utilised, and of these fully 26,000,000 are printed annually.

AN OFFICIAL VIEW OF PRISONGATE HOMES.

A prominent official, who was asked by a representative of the “ New Zealand Times ” for his opinion on prison-gate homes, said : “1 don’t wish to make any invidious allusions, nor to hurt the feelings of the Salvation Army officers, who are earnestly carrying out what they consider to be very good work, neither do I wish to dry up the wells of public sympathy against discharged prisoners who arc anxious for reform, but I cannot help telling you candidly that I look upon prison-gate homes in general as criminal academies.” “ Yon would not he favourable to the proposal to open a shelter

in Wellington to accommodate sixty men then ?” “My experience,” said the official, “ is that such a step would be undesirable, to say the least, in many ways. Men who want to reform—what I call decent prisoners —will not go into any of those places where they have to herd with a lot of ruffians. The only difference between a prison home and a gaol is that in the former they are not under restraint, in the latter they are. lou can imagine the effect of a lot of men coming together in this way. They play the hypocrite to perfection with the good people placed in charge of them, not hesitating to take part in hymn-singing and prayer meetings, but experience tells us that robberies and all sorts of villainies are concocted in these homes to be carried out abroad. Instances have been known in which advantage has been taken by criminals of laying their heads together and tinning out skeleton keys and all sorts of appliances. “ But the general impression is that these places are reformatories from which criminals ,are sent out honest men.” “The man who wishes to reform never goes there. He wants to get away from criminal associations and go away into other parts where lie is not known. Especially he does not want to meet again anyone who has known him in prison. Mind you I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings in unliving these remarks. I am speaking in the interests of deserving prisoners, bub more especially on behalf of the public generally whom the encouragement and perpetuation of these academies of crime menace.”