TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11874, 25 April 1899, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The Presbyterian Church sale of work at Ashburton oh Saturday realised .£l2O. Mr Shrimptbn, of Burnett Street west, Ashburton, has an apple tree loaded with blossom and' carrying a new dress of foliage. ■ - «'

Afc Kaiapoi yesterday a temporary transfer of license was granted from J, A. Hansmann to H. Wright, in, respect of the Royal Hotel, Woodend. Yesterday was observed!' as St George s Day, and all the banka were closed. The Magistrate’s Court, , after a short sitting, also closed about twelve o’clock. Constable Willoughby, of Geraldine, will shortly be transferred to Fairlie, and his place will be taken by Constable Mullaiiey, who has hitherto occupied the latter station.

The. Te Aro boarding-house, for many years a landmark at the comer of Manchester and Hereford Streets, has now 'been removed to a fresh site on the Mile Road, Linwood.> That the building can still be used as a dwelling is a tribute to the quality of the picked timber used forty years ago in the construction of Christchurch Souses. ’

The stone pitchers of which the side channels in parts of Cashel, Manchester and High Streets . are formed, are being taken up, and will be replaced by concrete channelling. This is a much needed im-’ provement, as under the old system - the gutters could never be properly swept, a good proportion Of the sediment lodging in the interstices between the flags in the operation, to the detriment of the public health. At the meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College yesterday a ballot was taken for those members who are to retire from the Board, in view of the election which takes place on June 5. The following are those retiring:—Parliamentary roll, Hon E; C. J. Stevens; graduate?’ roll, Rev Gordon Webster and Mr W. Chrysta.ll; teachers’ roll,. Mr ,T. S. Westonj School Committees’ roll, Mr G. W. Russell ; appointed by the Government, Bishop Julius. The traiir from Little River on Saturday doming mirtowly escaped a serious mishap. WMIe running round the shore of Lake Forsyth the driver noticed a piece of rock lying on the rails, and managed to pull up the train within a few yards of the obstruction. The rock, weighing about 2cwt, -had commenced to roll some distance up the bill, arid after shattering several tree stumps and breaking down a wire fence, it had embedded itself firmly between the railway lines. , The work of removing it gave considerable trouble, and the train was delayed in consequence. ;

The Secretary of the Temuka and Geraldine Agricultural and Pastoral Association haar sent to.-' the Christchurch Meat Company specimens of some of the roots exhibited £t the winter show of the Association last Week, and grown with the aid of Islington fertilisers. They consist

of two gourds weighing respectively 951 b and 1061 b, dn enormous swede turnip weighing 2411 b, a derwent potato weighing 8 potatoes of the Ruby variety weighing 2ilb each, with a perfect shape, n white Belgian carrot 16in in circuraferencfe' and perfect in shape, • weighing 81b, and a number of other exhibited; tit ir--understood ■ that -the ,’Geral- , - dine Road Board district will compete for the Christchurch Meat, Company’s trophy . at the winter show of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

The small bay on the south-east side of Victoria Lake, known as Humphrey's "Comer, is becoming rapidly infested with , the-American, river weed, which has proved itself so’ great a pest in the River Avon. The weed has, evidently been transported from the adjoining river by some malicious individual. The weed has so far, however, taken root only round the bank, and it could be eradicated with little trouble if the work wore, at once, taken in hand. It will ' be remembered that before the water was turned in the Lake the Surveyor had the bed harrowed in order to destroy the weed which had been planted there, and several’patches were then discovered buried in boles in the, same corner. Similarly when, the City Council’s , tank in High Street was cleaned a few weeks ago nearly a dray load of the Weed was taken ■ .ut of it.

Mrs Cunnington lectured last night at ho Terrace Hall on Newton’s discovery of Jie law of gravitation. An unusual number of kingfishers are now bo bo seen disporting themselves in the lower reaches of the Avon.

Sir George Clifford and Dr Guthrie were passengers for the north by the Rotorua fast evening. Mr K. S. Garrick arrived from the-south by last night’s express. The new by-laws of the City Council came into force yesterday. Amongst other orovisions, the disfigurement of telegraph posts by advertisements or bills has been strictly prohibited.

A man was arrested yesterday at Halswell by Detective Cassells on a charge. of having stolen from a tent a razor, strop and other articles, the property of George W orthington.

The Gas Company, evidently wishing to give the City Councillors an object lesson, is now improving the lighting of the Municipal Buildings, and fitting all the jets with new incandescent burners. At Hawera recently an old clock which had never before been known to get out of order stopped at 6.30 in the morning. The death of its owner occurred at the same .hour of the same day.

Mr S. Fitch, Government Pomologist, inspected a number of orchards at Leithfield on Thursday, and in the evening gave an address on fruit culture in the local Oddfellows’ Hall. There was a good attendance. Mr Fitch was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

In view of the difference of opinion existing as to the time at which the rolls of municipal electors should be closed, the Progressive Liberal Association has decided to institute a friendly action, when opportunity offers, in order to obtain a judicial decision on ..the point. At this time of the year fish are generally plentiful outside Lyttelton Heads. On Sunday a party of fishermen went out in the steamer John Anderson, and in less than three hours had, taken sufficient fish to fill five large cases- The trip will be repeated on Sunday next if the weather is fine.

Entries are coming forward freely for the winter show -of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The Secretary, of , . the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association has written, offering to forward all exhibits from the Ashburton County at the expense of his Association.

Messrs J. and D. Tini, of Little River, on Saturday found a humpback whale, about 40ft in length, cast ashore at Ikeraki Bay, on the property of Mr H. D. Buchanan. It had evidently been thrown np during the boisterous weather of the previous Sunday. The bay was visited by large numbers of people yesterday.

It is stated in the “Gazette” that Mr J. M. Hickson has been appointed registrar of electors for the district of Timaru. Messrs S. Weetmaii and J. Rennie and the Hon W. Rolleston have been appointed School Commissioners - for Canterbury, by the Governor. Messrs W. D. Howell and D. Buddo are the Commissioners appointed by the Education Board.

The electric light has just been' introduced into a somewhat remote part of the district, the village of Staveley, formerly known as Springburn, at the terminus of the Mount Somers railway line. Mr J. Stephen has had an installation put into his house and general store of eight sixteen-candle power incandescent lights. The power is obtained from a water-race, whereon an undershot wheel has been placed. - ■ • Follow the crowd; you won’t go wrong. The Great Closing Sale is crowded daily. Marvellous Bargains. Further reductions from day to day. Last day, Saturday next. Come to-day, and secure tne great. Bargains in Clothing and Drapery at Woods, Free and Co.’s Closing Sale. 6134 Blankets, Flannels,, Rugs, and Men’s Lambwool Shirts and Pants. We are now showing a very special purchase of 500 pairs White Blankets, commencing at 8s lid per pair; 48 pieces of Flannels, from per yard; 25 Bugs, from 10s 6d each; and 20 dozen Men’s Lambwool Pants and Shirts, from 3s lid. See our windows for special show of these goods.—Shaw, Robinson, and Co., 213, Cashel Street . 92

There is a wonderful demand for the New Solar Acetylene Gas Lamp for Cycles at Oates, Lowry, and Co.’s. The entire shipment promises to be sold in a few days. 62 At the Canterbury Athletic Club’s sports, last Saturday, Waverleys again distinguished themselves by securing three firsts, one second, and one third, out of five events in the programme. They cannot be beaten for durability and easy running. Waverley Cycle Depot, 317 Colombo Street. 2396

One Hundred 1899 Stars.—Just received, ex s.s. Kaikoura, first shipment of 1899 Stars. New Westwood Rims; new multiplex Dunlop tyres. New collision frames with extra parallel tube for heavy and tall riders. New roller chain, one inch pitch and half-inch pitch. New large chain wheels, 26 teeth. New eccentric chain adjuster. All sizes of frames for ladies and gents, from 21in to 27£in. Call and inspect the new patterns, at 70 Manchester Street, and Colombo Street Depot, 198, Hobbs’s Buildings. Adams Star Cycle

Company. 781 A good opportunity to secure a useful mount for winter riding. The Anglo-New Zealand Cycle Company have several se-cond-hand machines for sale, good, useful bicycles, both ladies’ and gentlemen’s, from £4*los upwards. A special display of these is now being made at the D.I.C. Depot. A full range of the latest model Anglo Specials and Osmonds now being shown. Orders booked for the world-renowned Humber cycles. 278

Special Notice.—Crown Brand Tea prize competitions will be continued aH"this year round, and will close on the last days of April, June,. August, October, and: December in each year. Prizes of ladies’ silver and other watches, albums, workboxes, etc. Hubbard, Hall and Co. 2384

Evenden’s Patent Roofing and Fencing Nails, neatest and best; perfectly watertight. Recommended by architects, and can be obtained from all ironmongers. ! X 2414 Cyclists who require their machines well and carefully repaired should send them to the “ Premiers ” of the cycling trade. Boyd and Son, Gloucester Street. Telephone 658. 2374 Hanmer Plains. —Visitors to the Hanmer Springs will find the best accommodation at Mrs Lahraert’s, Jack’s Pass Temperance Hotel, for 37s and 20s week. Free conveyances from the Springs twice daily. X 2266 PLANTING THE SOUTH BELT. The report of delegates appointed by the City Council to confer with the Beautifying Association with regard to planting the South Belt, was read last night as follows “ Tour delegates have to report that after careful consideration it was decided to recommend that the belt be planted as an avenue in the centre of the belt from Colombo Street westward to the Lincoln Road, and eastwards from Waltham Road to the junction of the E.ist Belt; in the intervening portion the planting to be on the footpaths. The delegates .decided that plane trees would be-most suitable for tha purpose. The cost, including the necessary fencing to protect the young trees, was estimated at =£loo, towards which the Beautifying Society offered to contribute .£3O, and your Council is asked to pay its proportion of the cost.” The rej ort was adopted, provided the other bodies interested contributed to the cost. A VACANT CHAIR. Ti e proceedings at the annual meeting of householders of tha East Christchurch district last night were interrupted in an unusual manner. A point was raised as to the qualifications of the Chairman to preside. Mr A. Ayers was elected to the chair at the beginning of the meeting, and under his presidency the annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. He was then nominated for the incoming committee, when it was objected that he was not eligible. Someone promptly pointed out that if Mr Ayers were not entitled to be on

the committee he was ineligible to preside. Mr Ayers explained that he had been uncertain as to whether or not his residence was within the district, but had been assured that it was. A map and a statement of the boundaries of the district were produced, and it was found that he was not a resident. Some impetuous individuals called out to him to “retain the chair,” and a motion asking him to do so was proposed and seconded. It was pointed out, however, that if the Chairman were not qualified, the proceedings would bo invalid. Mr Ayers, who had all along wished to retire, vacated the chair ; and it appeared for a time that the occupancy of -that piece of furniture would be the subject of a lively contest. Several gentlemen were proposed, and it was evident that there was a feeling in the meeting that it was undesirable that any member of the retiring committee should preside. Finally Mr Joseph Taylor, who was not a member of the old committee, was unanimously voted to the chair, and the motion for adopting the report and balance-sheet was put and carried over again. OLD AGE PENSIONS. A meeting of recipients of old age pensions was held at Nelson last night, when it was resolved to send an address to the Premier and all who helped to pass the law, expressing their sincere and grateful thanks that provision had been made for the benefit and happiness of the deserving poor in their declining years. THE MAYOR AND THE SALVATION ARMY. At the meeting of the City Council last night, Councillor Loughnan referred to the correspondence which bad lately passed between the Town Clerk and the Salvation Army. He felt that a slight had been put on the chief officer of the city, and moved —“ That this Council regrets the action of the Salvation Army in asking anyone but the Mayor of Christchurch to welcome General Booth on behalf of the citizens, and considers that such action will tend to alienate the sympathy of many friends of the Army.” Councillor Hamilton seconded the motion. Councillor Gray opposed the motion, and said that when Mayor of Christchurch he had been treated discourteously on a similar occasion. He did nojf think the Army intended any reflection op the Mayor. The matter should not hare come before the Council. Councillor Mlrris disagreed with Councillor Gray, as fin every other city in New Zealand, me Mayor had been asked to preside at General Booth’s meetings. He thought the Council should uphold the dignity of its officer. Councillor Sorensen said that he would support the motion, which he considered a proper one. Councillors Payling and Andrews also supported the motion, which was errried. Councillor Gray being the only dissentient. DEER STALKING. Messrs J. H. Mitchell and Duncan MUnroe, of Waimate, have just returned (says the “Oamaru Mail”j from the most successful deer stalking expedition of the season. They left Waimate about a fortnight ago and drove to Morven Hills, and pitched camp near the Dingle. Not being very successful there, they shifted camp towards the Lindis, where they got some fine heads, and after eight days’hard stalking they came away with eight fine heads, including two royals. Deer are reported to be fairly numerous on Longslip, as many as eighty-three being counted in one herd. The country between Morven Hills and Lcngslip, where most of the heads were obtained, is very mountainous, and chiefly birch bush. An Australian sportsman had been on the ground for some time before the Waimate men arrived, and at the time of their leaving had obtained only one head. Ducks were plentiful, and on the return journey forty or fifty were shot. PLANTING A FLAG. The “ Journal de Jibutil ” gives a rather amusing account of the planting of the French flag on the Sobat. The Russian Colonel d’Artomanoff, who was in charge of the expedition, had only one Frenchman, Adjutant Faivre, in his company. A Swiss draughtsman, M. Potter, was, however, reckoned as a Frenchman for the occasion. On arriving at the right bank of the Sobat, Colonel d’Artomanoff planted the Abyssinian flag. He then desired to plant the French flag on the opposite bank, but the river was half a mile wide and infested by crocodiles, and the only means of crossing was by swimming. Adjutant Faivre was unable to swim and M. Potter was ill. None of the Abyssinians would undertake the task, but at length a negro was prevailed upon, and bearing the French flag he set out. Colonel d’Artomanoff watched him for some time, and then, somewhat ashamed of seeing the prestige of France reduced to such a level, he commanded three Cossacks to follow him, and plunged into the water himself. He reached the opposite bank in safety, planted the Hag, and returned. It was on the homeward journey that M. Potter was killed by a spear thrust. THE QUEENSLAND HURRICANE. Mr J. Hamilton, M.L.A., who has returned from the north, and who was close to the locality affected by the late hurricane at the time it occurred, tells the “ Brisbane Courier ” that afterwards thousands of both land and water snakes were found on the coast. Porpoises were discovered 40ft and 50ft above water level; bark was blown off the trees and grass torn up by the roots. In one instance, it is recorded that a spot whore there was previously a long sandy beach was found afterwards to be simply bare rocks, the sand having been wholly carried aWay. These facts give some idea of the force of the wind and water. Altogether, .the devastation wrought was. simply terrible. The worst of the hurricane, took a track about thirty miles wide, .but in q lesser degree bad weather was . experienced more widely. Rain fell at a terrific rate in many places. 1

THE CONDITION OF THE COLONY. In reference to the speech recently delivered at Riccarton by the Son W. Rolleston, in which he said that never during the whole of his political career had there been fewer unemployed, and that there seemed to be more real enterprise in the countrynow than ever, Mr Allan Orr, at the meeting pf the Wellington Workers’ Union on Friday night moved to the following effect: —‘‘That this Union congratulates the Hon Mr Rolleston in that he can rise above party feeling, and give credit where credit is due.” The motion, says the “ Post” met with a large amount of support, but was lost on the voices.