TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12159, 24 March 1900, Page 7

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

At eight o’clock this 1 evening a special edition of the “Star” will be published. It will contain the latest cablegrams respecting the war, particulars of the departure of the Fourth Contingent, and reports of events occurring in the colony during the afternoon. The following auctioneers’ announcements appear on page 11:—W. R. Harding, F. S. Malcolm and Co., W. Butss, Ayers, Baggs and Co., Wright, Stephenson and Co., North Canterbury Co-operative Stores Company, Guinness and Le Cren, and Abraham and Williams. To-day’s “ Star,” which, as is customary with Saturday’s issue, will consist of eight pages, will contain the following special features: —Tales and Sketches— Purple and Fine Linen, Reverses that Led. to Victory, Strange Disappearance of Miss Cummain, Argentine Horses and Horsebreakers, A Man of To-day, Economic Seabirds, A Shaken Attachment. Ladies’ Page—Alice I A Vignette, Prills of Fashion, England’s Chief Woman Writer, Jealous Husbands, Household Hints, Woman’s World. Reading for Everybody— Notes,; and Notions, Chess, Brief Mention, Fun and Fancy, and latest telegraphic and general news. The Timaru Harbour Board has fixed the rate levy, for the current year at £6OOO. Last year it was £7500. The Mayor of Lyttelton and Mrs Radcliffe left for Dunedin yesterday to attend the farewell to the Fourth Contingent. Sergeant Lyons and a number of suburban policemen went south yesterday morning by the express train, to assist in keeping order at Port Chalmers on the occasion of the “ send off ” to the Fourth Contingent. f The trawler Doto made a trip from Timaru to the mouth of the Rangitata on Thursday, but got very few fish. On Friday she started out towards Oamaru, but as a southerly storm came up, she returned to port early. The mails which left Auckland by the Mariposa on Feb. 19, were delivered in London on March 22, one day late. The Mariposa, with the British mails of March 10, left San Francisco for Auckland at 9 p.m. on March 21, the due date. Owing to having to wait for the southern excursion train, to cross at Rolleston, the express train from Dunedin did not arrive in Christchurch until nearly 10.30 o’clock last night. Although the train was drawn by two of the largest engines, there were not many passengers.

Rain began to fall in Christchurch yesterday at 1.30 p.m., and there were showers during the afternoon, and last evening. The same weather seems to have prevailed over almost all the province. It will do much good in the* country, which has suffered from the continuous dry weather. At times, the wind blew with the force of a gale, and the teleghaph lines between Relies ton and Barfield were down last night. A carrier had an unpleasant experience at the Christchurch Railway Station last evening. He entered one of the luggage vans standing in the Lyttelton Dock at 6.15 p.m., in search of some luggage. Almost immediately after he had entered, the door was shut by a porter, who was unaware of the presence of the carrier. In spite of vigorous kicking at the door, the latter failed for over an hour to make anybody hear. Ultimately, the door was opened by a passing porter, and the imprisoned carrier was released. Tho annual meeting of the Canterbury Referees’ Association was held in the Clarendon Hotel last night. Mr F. T. Evans presided. members were struck off the roll, and three new ones were elected. Mr F. T. Evans was elected chairman, and 'Mr W- G. Garrard secretary. The chief business which occupied the Association was the discussion of decisions by the International Board of the United Kingdom, the English Rugby Union, the New Zealand Union and the New South Wales Referees’ Association. Kaitangata is the favourite Gcal in Otago, and you can get it at Richardson and Stokes’s yard, 5, Cashel Street, near East Belt. The firm also keep in stock Coalbrookdale, Newcastle, East Greta and Malvern Coals, Coke, Slack Coal, and Firewood in long and short lengths. Telephone No. 472. 7319 Now Ready.—Another lot of Juvenile bicycles, beautifully finished and fitted with Dunlop tyres. Prices from £7 10s. Oates, Lowry and Co., Zealandia Cycle Works, Christchurch, Ashburton and Timaru. 1988 “ Repairs a specialty ” is what the AngloNew Zealand Cycle. Company advertise at their new shop, No. 226, High Street, next door but one to Petersen’s. Ladies or Gents can rely on getting their bicycles attended to here at the very shortest notice: The largest stock of lamps and bells in town, and at the very lowest prices. 1988 Cycle Bells at all prices, acetylene and oil lamps in immense variety, cycle locks and all the latest bicycle accessories at lowest prices at the Waverley Bicycle Depot, 217, Colombo Street, Christchurch. X 2396 The best place for Bicycle Repairs is Boyd and Son, Gloucester Street, Christchurch. Telephone 658. Quick despatch. Best Work. Reasonable prices. 1988 Mason’s Extract of Herbs —Original and only genuine extract. 8 gallons delicious beer for Bd. Refuse any other. Beware of mean and fraudulent imitations. 29 gold medals. 2583 Tea sets complete for six persons 7s 9d, boxed dinner sets, 20 pieces, from 12s sd, 32 pieces from 17s lid, 54 pieces from 26s 8d ; bedroom sets from 11s 9d, earthenware cups and saucers Is lid half-dozen; W. and G. China 2s lid. Fletcher Bros., Crockery merchants, High Street. 1897 Toitoi Butter. —Tho favourite Toitoi is now to be had fresh every morning at Kincaid’s G.I.CL

A produce gift auction in aid of the R-angiora .Church of England, on Thursday, brought in £l7.

A lady in Auckland received a letter bearing the Honolulu postmark- The communication began:—“Dear friend,—l am writing this in the Honolulu hospital. Just recovering from the dreadful bubonic plague.” She read no further, and dropped the letter into the fire.

The applications for sections jn the Pa-re-ora No. 2 Settlement, which has been purchased by the Government, have been coming in fast, and there are now 216 applications in hand for the thirty-two sections. The ballot will be held next Friday, at Timaru.

Mrs Donald M’Lean, who has just earned the proud distinction of being the first native of New Zealand to obtain the degree of Bachelor of Music, has composed a patriotic song, entitled “ The Old Flag,” the music being set to the stirring words of Vincent Pyke’s poem of the same name. The song, which has been copyrighted by Mrs M’Lean, will be published next week. The following statement shc.wis the amount of Customs duties collected at the port of Lyttelton during the week that ended yesterday:—Spirits £1315 15s, cigars, etc., £267 Is sd, tobacco £931, wine £7B 12s Bd, beer £BO 12s, tea £222 ss, coffee, etc. £59 19s, isugar, etc. £462, weight £989, ad valorem £9409 14s 6d, other duties £514 6s lOd; total for the week £14,330 6s sd. The total fe.r the previous week was £4342 18s.

The Railway Department advertises cheap excursion fares to Waipara on Wednesday in connection with the turning of the first sod of the Cheviot-Waipara section of the main trunk line of railway. A special train will leave Christchurch at 10.30 a.m., returning from Waipara at 4.30 p.m. The sod will be turned by the Minister of Public Works, at 1.30 p.m., and the ceremony will be followed by a luncheon in a large marquee in the railway station yard.

. The express train for the south yesterday morning took away a large number of people who intend to be present at the “ send off ” to the Fourth Contingent at Dunedin today, Amongst the - passengers were a number of Christchurch volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Sommerville, Captain Lindsay, Captain Harcourb Turner, of the Wellington College Rifles, Veterinary-Lieu-tenant M. Edgar, who will go in charge of the horses on the Monowai, Messrs C. Harris, J. C. Maddison, G. Anderson, W. G. Foster, A. A. Thornton, W. Hoban, F. Egan and H. Lowe.

A number of the friends of Dr A. C. de Renzi met in the Clarendon Hotel last night, and decided that the doctor should not be permitted to depart for South Africa without receiving a small token of the esteem and respect they had for him. Messrs J. M’Namara (chairman), J. C. Brown and C. Deal were appointed a committee to arrange for the presentation of a gift. It was decided that the ceremony should take place at the Chamber of Commerce, if possible, on Tuesday evening, as it was understood that Dr De Renzi was required to leave for Wellington on Thursday. Mrs A. W. Bennett has much pleasure in acknowledging, with many thanks, the receipt of'old linen, underclothing, etc., for the troops in South Africa, from the following ladies:—Mesdames Bridges, Davidson, Tripp, Stopford, Belcher, Bridge, ActonAdams, Irving, Schneider, Hardcaistle, Ross, R. Dobson, Gidley, Aciand, Cotterill, Nairn, Murphy, Dudney, MTntyre, Turner, Cocks, Worsley, Harrap, Cabot, E. Currie, Croaedaile Bowen, G. W. Hall, Brittan, Monday, Allison, Cook, Bassett, two parcels from Glentunnel, and some unnamed. Mrs Bennett has sent to Lyttelton, for the s.s. Waimate, six Sacksfull, three of old linen, two underclothing, old and new, and one sack of clothing and linen.

The Matron of the Samaritan Home acknowledges, with thanks, contributions of clothing from Mrs Berry, Mrs M’Millan Brown, Mrs Newton, and Mrs M’Pherson; clippings from the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory ; vegetables from the Burnham Industrial School; fruit from Mrs Mantle, Mrs Whitaker, Mrs Aitkin, Mns Newton, Mrs Hurst, Mrs Bean, Mrs Beverage, and the Baptist Church harvest thanksgiving services ; cakes and groceries from the Loburn Christian Endeavcurers; sandwiches and cakes from Messrs Beath and Co.’s picnic; cakes from Mrs Freeman, Miss Broadway, the Patriotic “ social,” and Mr Hansman ; meat from Mr Baker, Mr Hopkins, and a friend; a bath fi’om Mr M’Dougal; and magazines from Mrs Lees. The Matron would be glad to receive old books for the use of the inmates.

A meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Society of Arts was held last evening. The Hon E. C. J. Stevens, president of the society, was in the chair. It was decided that at the annual exhibition, on March 27, there should be a conversazione for members of the society. A programme will be arranged, and those who are not members of the society will be charged 2s 6d,for admission. The exhibition will be open daily from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m., and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Members’ tickets will admit members’ families on the opening night, and throughout the exhibition. A musical programme has been prepared for each evening. Tickets for the art union will be 2s 6d each. It was stated at the meeting last evening that the number of pictures which had come to hand was satisfactory, and that there was every reason to anticipate a successful exhibition. The Council judged the competitive work, and the results will be announced later on. Mrs Cobham, Mrs O’Rorko, and Messrs E. J. Ross and D. M. Ollivier have been elected ordinary members of the society. The annual meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in the Art 1 Gallery last evening. There was only a small attendance. Mr G. L. Greenwood, who presided, gave a short address, and on the motion of Canon Knowles, seconded by the Rev J. J. North, the following resolution was passed That this meeting acknowledges with great thankfulness God’s blessings bestowed upon the work of the Bible Society and similar societies during the year, and looks forward with humble confidence to the continuance of that blessing.” The report of the committee, stated that the contributions and collections fur the year had amounted to £175 15s 7d, as against £ls*s 6s lOd for the previous year. The following officers were appointed: Treasurer, Mr W. Chrystallsecretary, Mr E. Y. Cox; committee, Messrs G. L. Beath, J. T. Brown, J. Curtis, F. W. Dowdney, W. Gavin, W. R. Hargreaves, J. M. Heywood, J. Mannings, J. C. Prudhoc, J. H. Twentyman, and H. R. Webb. The Rev F. H. Spencer then gave a limelight lecture illustrating the work of the Society in Malaysia. MAJOR DAVIES AND THE BOER. A Capetown paper tells a story about Major Karri Davies, who was wounded while fighting gallantly with the Imperial Light Horse at tho Tugela. Major Davies Wits one of the few who have fought in both Boer wars, and in the 1881 campaign an elderly Boer named Koch and he had some interesting experiences together Koch and Davies fell in with each other at a distance of about two hundred yards one day, and each promptly dropped down behind a rock, with rifle ready. Presently Davies, thinking the Boer would be off his guard, raised his head above the stone, and promptly got a bullet which grazed his neck ' and drew olood. Down he dropped out of j sight, and the old Boer called out jubilantly in taal, “Got him that lime.” Davies, however, unexpectedly cropped up from behind his rock, and put a bullet through Koch’s hat, shouting “ Sold again.” Koch

: bowled ovei’ as if he had been shot, and j Davies, thinking he had pinked his man, I rose again from behind his rock. A bullet I immediately penetrated his left arm, and Kooh gave an exultant whoop as his man dropped, as he believed, for the last time. He whooped too soon, however, for Davies somehow managed to pot him in the leg, and when other of our men came up, they found both the warriors hors de combat. The two men were afterwards excellent friends. MRS SEDDON ON WOMANHOOD SUFFRAGE. Some time since the advocates of womanhood suffrage in Melbourne wrote to Mrs Seddon, asking her opinion of certain statements made in the Legislative Council there when the Bill was last rejected by the Victorian, Upper House. Mrs Seddon has sent a reply, from which the following passages are extracted: —The statement reported to have been made in the Victorian Legislature to the effect that the granting of the suffrage to the women of New Zealand had resulted in the election of men of immoral character to seats in the House of Representatives, is not true, and is an undeserved reflection upon the women of this colony. The moral tone of the present House of Representatives is equal, if not superior, to that of any of its predecessors, and the Legislative Assembly and Council of Victoria might with advantage take a lesson in regard to decorum and procedure from New Zealand. It goes without saying that a candidate whose moral character is tainted, or who has not been good to his wife and children, will never get the women’s vote. This fact is well known, and has a restraining influence in preventing men, otherwise well qualified, from standing for seats in Parliament. As a matter of fact, they will not face the ordeal. Being a Victorian by birth, I am surprised to find one branch of the Legislature of my native country is afraid to trust the women in matters which vitally affect them. The vapourings of a few misguided individuals, who by accident have found a seat in your Legislative Council, will not, I hope, deter you from your efforts to gain your rights. My ow husband was amongst those who doubted -the wisdom of extending the franchise to our sex, fearing that it might cause family dissension, and tend to the neglect of family affairs. Time and experience, however, have proved that his fears were groundless. It is largely owing to the women of New Zealand that it is in the van of progress and social reform. The enfranchisement of the women of New Zealand was the result of years of hard fighting. Success crowned onr efforts in the end, and the result has been so satisfactory that you never hear any suggestion that these rights should be taken from us.” AN APPRECIATION OF NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEERS. Mr I). Macfarlane, Peel Forest, has received a letter from Captain Tosswill, now resident in England, an extract from which may be of interest to volunteers in Canterbury. Speaking of the war. Captain Tosswill says :—“ As an old New Zealand soldier I never had a doubt or thought of anything but praise and honour for our volunteers if ever they had the chance of active service. And now I am glad to see they have their opportunity. It is grand to read of New Zealand’s loyalty and of the magnificent way that the colony has come forward. It is most difficult to know what to admire most in the whole affair, the magnificent bravery of our troops, the way in which our reserves have come to the front without a man missing his duty, the way that every colony has sprung forward to the support of the Empire, the spirit of the volunteers, and the united feeling of the whole Empire in showing such a noble temper under defeats and disappointments. Whatever the cost of the war may be (and it will be enormous), I believe that it will be for “ full value received” in its after consequences of teaching us all, and the world at large, the real meaning of the power, strength,.wealth and cohesion of the British Empire. ' I can well understand the old blood tingling in your veins when this war is on your mind. It has hold of us all, pretty hard here. Many thanks for sending me the ‘Lyttelton Times.’ It is very nice and gratifying to find that some of my old comrades of the First Canterbury, after all these years, continue to remember me with kindly thoughts. I should like to know who, if any, of my old corps are now in South Africa.” PLAGUE AND PRAYER. Mr D. W. Virtue writes to the “ New Zealand Times”:—Your very kind insertion of my short note in your issue of Thursday morning emboldens me to ask you to publish also the following particulars. Some years ago, scarlet fever of a very severe add fatal type visited Hokitika ; it was in nearly every house where there were children, and many died. There was no respect of persons. Indeed, so fatal and alarming did the plague become, that the late Mayor (Mr Jack) was waited upon and asked to set apart a day for humiliation and prayer. He at once complied, and a close holiday was kept; every place of business was closed, and all the churches were opened. I may say that, at least formally, the day was more strictly kept than Sunday, Well, what was the result? From that day not another case occurred, and those who were ill of the disease recovered. So remarkable was the case that a short account of it appeared in some London journals. Dr Mabyerly, on his way from England to Sydney, called upon me at Hokitika to get fuller particulars. Yet how slow- we are to publicly acknowledge God when His judgments are abroad in the earth. Why do we wait? I do not suppose we are anxious or think it necessary to have the plague more in evidence than, it is at present. A NARROW ESCAPE. The Hon W. C. Walker, Minister of Education, had a, narrow escape from a serious accident yesterday. At the invitation of the Ashburton County Council he came from Wellington to be present at the opening of the Ruapuna water-race. The party drove out to the head-works, thirty-two miles from Ashburton, and had just started on the return journey, when the waggonette containing the Minister and four other gentlemen was driven over a small rock, and capsiscd. The waggonette was smashed, and the party .penned inside, but they got out none the worse for the mishap.