TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CII, Issue 11948, 20 July 1899, Page 5

TO WN AND COUNTRY.

1 In the course of a short sitting yesterday jrfternoon the Legislative Council passed several Bills through their first stages. Jn the House of Representatives miscelJinepu# business was transacted during the afternoon sitting. In the evening the Removal of Women’s Disabilities Bill (Mr Taylor) passed its second reading. There was a long .discussion on the motion for the eaoocd reading of _Mr Taylor’s Bill proyjdjng Mr a colonial option vote on the licensing question, but shortly after midnight a proposal to adjourn' the debate was carried on a division. Mr G. J. Reakes, M.R.C.V.S., and Mr ’A. H. Turnbull were passengers for the south by yesterday’s express. Mr H. Rossiter has composed for Mdlle. Trebelli an “.0 Salutaris,” a hymn of praise smxg in the Catholic Church, which she has accepted, and which she will aug at the earliest opportunity. The piece, handsomely bound, was presented to Mdlle. Trebelli yesterday. Messrs E. G. and B. S- Fulton, and Messrs P. Hercus and J. Jackson were, passengers from the south by last night’s express train. Messrs W. W. Charters, E. Smith and H. B. Kirk left for Wellington by the Westralia last evening to wait upon the Government, to endeavour to secure a subsidy for the Jubilee Exhibition to be held at Christchurch next year. Messrs M. Sandstedn and Son have on view a-very handsome diamond bracelet, wMch will be given as the first prize in the Ladies Bracelet Race at the Grand National Meeting. The bracelet was manufactured at Messrs Sandstein’s establishment, and is what is known as coronet setting, the centre being a large opal, of the best quality, set in a circle of brilliants, the shoulders being diamonds, arranged in'the form of a scroll, the back being a plain knife edge. The bracelet is a handsome one, and is a very creditable piece of work. At the Addington Yards yesterday, there was quite a sensation when the first purebred Highland beast ever offered at this market was submitted to competition. The animal was a barren heifer, a prize-taker at the Royal Agricultural shows in England, and was imported by Mr G. H. Rhodes, of Claremont, Timaru. Bidding started with £lO from a well-known dealer, and thenceforward the competition, was in the jhands of two of the leading butchers. Mr 'J. Knight’s bid was £ls, and tEe Christchurch Meat Company going 10s better, Mr Knight raised the price at one bid to £2O; bis opponent putting on 10s more, he quickly came with a bid of £25, and the Company putting on another £l, secured the animal at £26, the highest price ever paid for an animal at Addington. Some half-bred Highland cattle imported strain, were also offered, and Mr Knight secured one heifer at £7 15s, and a steer and two heifers at £7 each. Have you seen our Silk Plushes at Is 3id, worth 2s 6d; if not, do so ; also Black Silk Dress Net for evening wear, 6s 6d and 7s 6d, for 2s 6d per yard. Blanket Brugs, large size, 2s 6d. Thirty Dress Pieces 21s, 22s 6d and 24s 6d, all at 10s 6d each; forty dozen Ladies’ Straw Sailor Hats selling at 3d, 6d, 9d and Is each, worth four times the money. Red and Black Flannelettes, Bid, for Shaw, Robinson and Co.’s Gredf Sale, 213, Cashel Street. 1875

Bicycles re-enamelled and nickel-plated 1 from 255. Hay© your bicycle made equal to new during the bad weather ready for spring. Oates, Lowry and Co., Zealandia Cycle Works, Manchester Street, Christchurch. 883 Hammer Plains.—Visitors to the Hanmer Springs will find the best accommodation at Mrs Lahnxert’s, Jack’s Pass Temperance Hotel, for. 37s and 20s.week. Free conveyances from the Springs twice daflv. X 2356 Butter —Fresh factory 10d, Femleaf lid, Black Swan Is, prime fresh dairy Bd, 9d and lOd, pastry 7d; fresh eggs lid, mild cured hams 8d per lb. Hubbard, Hall and . Co. 2384 i Most perfect and up-to-date bicyelefor 1699, which has just arrived per s.s. Ribston, is the Waverleyv Bicycle; also latest stock of accessories in New Zealand. Repairs a speciality. Inspection invited at Waverley .Cycle Depot, 217, Colombo Street, Christchurch. .. 2396 Evenden’s Patent Roofing and Fencing Nails, neatest and best; perfectly watertight. Recommended by architects, and ( can-be obtained from all ironmongers, X 2414

' DECREASE IN SCHOOL ATTEN- ... DANCE. The continuous decline in school attendance was discussed at a meeting of the Otago Education Board yesterday. Several of the teachers wrote that there was no prospect of an increase for some years to come at. least, as there were no young children in their districts. Country registrars reported •that very few births were being registered. The Chairman, Dr Brown, said that it was alarming to study the vital statistics of the colony. The Chairman and Mr Callaway were appointed a committee to make inquiries. , Three months notice was ordered to be sent to one teacher in each of twelve schools, dispens ng with, their services, the schools now being over-staffed, the attendance having been down for two quarters. Notice was sent to seven other schools in which the attendance has been down one quarter that if it has not improved by Sept. 30 assistant teachers will be withdrawn. POSTAL RATES AND MAIL SERVICES. The Council of the Wellington, Chamber of Commerce intends to urge the Government to establish a penny post in the colony, and a regular fortnightly mail service with England. CHASING A WHALE. A large whale, says the “ Post?” disported itself dose inshore between. Worser and Scorching Bays, on Sunday afternoon, and went through all manner of gambols untji darkness hid it from view. An amusing incident in connection with the aquatic exhibition was provided by two Maoris, belonging to a party camping in.Karaka Bay. The men' went out in their small boat to “ have a, try to catch , the big fellow. When the boat got close to the whale it apparently got scared, for it disappeared, staying down for about a quarter of an hour. Then it came up for a breather, and dodged the Maoris up and down the coast, and even coaxed them out into the open, but so far 1 the whale has not been converted into oil. DEATHS BY CANCER. In reply to the representations of the Insurance Institute, tjie Registrar-General has promised to meet, ,as far as possible, the Institute’s wishes that more detailed information as to deaths by cancer should be given in the yearly departmental statistics,- A special. table will be prepared at the, end of the/year containing as much infonpation as can 1 be procured. .