TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12398, 11 January 1901, Page 7

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Both expresses 1 ' last evening were very light. The second express will cease running on Saturday. Mr Allan Saunders, who Ims been on elds leave for some time past, went to Wellington last night by the Rotornaluina, to ' resume his military training at headquarters. The annual meeting pi the Samaritan Home subscribers, which w r as to have been iheld in the City Council Chambers last evening, lapsed for want of a quorum, and was postponed until Jan. 24. . Much-needed ruin fell in South. C .interbury during Tuesday night, nearly half an. inch at Tiraaru and three-quarters of an inch at Pairlie, Yesterday morning another and heavier rain fell. -Respecting a telegram from Martinborough about a missing man said to be a nephew of the late Captain MTntosh, of the Wairarapa, a brother of the captain says that he had no nephews. The Executive Committee of the Yew Zealand Champion-hip Regatta met in the jC.-B.C. boatsheds last evening for the purpose of passing a number of accounts in Connection with the recent regatta at Little

Additional search lights are about to be obtained for the forts in Wellington and Lyttelton. Entries for cycling and athletic events at the New Brighton gala will close with the secretary, Mr E. J- Rig Mon, City Hall, Cambridge Terrace, on Saturday evening. At the Lyttelton Police ‘Court yesterday morning, before Mr J. T. Brice, J.P., William Bard was convicted, of drunkenness, and fined ss, with the usual alternative in default. The weather in the Ellesmere district took a sudden .change yesterday morning, when the heat of the last few days was succeeded by heavy showers of rain, which continued ail day. The River is in heavy flood. There was a succession of heavy rain storms in the Methven District yesterday, and hail also fell between Moeraki said Birch Hill. The heavy crops were very much beaten down, and there is little chance of their rising again. Speaking at last night’s smoke concert to the Canterbury troop which is about to leave for South Africa, Colonel Slater mentioned that only two men of the First Contingent how Remained with their oflicers, both of them being members of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles. ' The Conference of Chambers of Commerce met again yesterday, and sab until 5.30'p.m., when an adjournment was made until 10 o’clock this morning. A large amount of busmens Was gob through, but there is still a lengthy order’ paper, and it is not likely that all the subjects set down will be discussed. A meeting of cyclists was held in the Orange Hall, Ashburton, on Wednesday evening, to consider the question of forming a cycle track to Fairfield. _Mr A. A. Carson was' voted to the chair and explained the object of the meeting. Messrs A. A.' Carson, Schwartz, Hillier, Adams, C. Carson, Malcolmson and P. Orr were elected a committee to draw up a report of the cost.

The organ recital at the Cathedral last night was given before a veiy largo congregation. Mr R. J. Shanks, sub-organist of St Paul’s-Cathedral, Melbourne, was the player, and in addition to exhibiting the capabilities of the Cathedral organ, provided an excellently played programme of devotional music, compiled from the works of Bach, Guilmant, Merkel, SterndaleBenriett, Lux, Widor, Tschaikowsky and Schumann.

Eleven brass bands have entered for the contest to bo held at Wanganui in March, under the auspices of the North Island Brass Bands Association. An entry from Gisborne arrived after the stipulated date of closing, and the opinion of the bands entered is being taken as to whether the entry should be allowed. The contest will last four days. No effort is being spared to make it a success.

The touring branch of the League of Wheelmen’s North Canterbury Centre has drawn the attention of the City Council to the necessity for erecting a railing near the General Post Office for the convenience of cyclists while attending the Telegraph and Post Offices. Hundreds of cyclists daily, while sending telegrams or letters or calling at the .private letter-box office, find it exceedingly inconvenient to have to lay their cycles in the gutter or leave them on the footpath.

Yesterday morning the expressmen of Timaru, with their wives and families, set out in ten expresses to hold a picnic at Winchester. They had not gone far, however, before they were overtaken by a heavy rain, and by the time they reached Temuka the party were wet through, so they pulled up there for the day. Most of the vehicles were florally decorated at starting, a few of them quite elaborately, a prize of a whip having been offered by Mrs S. M’Clelland for the best decoration, the Mayor of Timaru being judge.

At the Jubilee flower Show in the Exhibition the following will act as judges in the Canterbury Horticultural Society’s classes: —Messrs G. Knowles and Proctor (pot plants), Messrs J. Gray and J. Lewis (cut flowers), Messrs Coates and G. J. Smith, Ashburton, (fruit, and vegetables). Messrs J. Guntrip, Thos. Allen, C. E. Gibbons and W. T. Mitchell will act as class stewards and staging committee. Intending exhibitors are reminded that the exhibits in the Home Industries Classes will be shown on the second day only (Jan. 17), and in the Canterbury Horticultural Society’s classes on both days.

Yesterday afternoon an expressman drove into the Avon at the watering place near Market Square, but when he attempted to come ashore again his horse refused to move. Whip and coaxing alike failed to induce the perverse animal to make a start. A crowd gathered cm the river-bank, and numerous horsemasters explained to bystanders how easy it would be to make the beast go, but did not attempt to demonstrate their abili-. ty to do , it. The horse sat down calmly, ■ but, finning the water chilly, stood “up -again. The expressman got on to the horse’s back, .and a small boy, mounted, came to the rescue by giving a lead. The jibber gob as far as the bank, and pulled up again, kicking out in an aimless sort of way with one leg at a time, but at length was persuaded to bo led up on to the road. The crowd of sightseers then dispersed, apparently well pleased with the entertainment.

■ A telegram from 'Auckland states that the present unsatisfactory position with reference to the drainage of the Thames goldfields has directed 1 attention to the method of fixing the contributions made by the companies towards the cost of pumping. At present the contributions are fixed by the Drainage Board, and as the Board is composed of representatives of various interested > companies, there is, naturally a tendency on the part of each member to endeavour to secure the lightest assessment possible for his own company. At a meeting of the Board yesterday, it was suggested that the assessment -sfnou.d be made by the Government, and this matter will be urged on the Minister of Mines on his arrival in Auckland next week. Meantime the pumps have been stopped, and the water ha« risen- 37 feet Tiio decision of the Warden on a point debated- before him as to the Board’s titlo to suo j s being awaited, and there is no likelihood of pumping being resumed until this matter has been cleared up. r^ 0 4.^ e ci ln essrs Death and Co.’s Great Hummer Sale commences to-day. Enormous reductions -in all departments, bargains everywhere. There is sure to be a great rush, shop early. ' This popular firm s sales are always crowded. See cabaloguo to-days ‘Press.” 5393 Crown Brand Tea Prize Competition. See result on Page 2of this issue. X 2747 Ideal Tyres are popular throughout Australasia, because they are honestly constructed from Moseley’s celebrated rubber and fabric, are resilient, durable, and carry a liberal twelve months’ guarantee New Zealand Depot, A. G. Healimr and Co 222, ; Cashel Street, Christchurch. X 2721 Dunlop Tyre Covers from’lss. Enamelling from 12s 6d. General repairs unapproaohed for quality and fair prices. Boyd’s Cycle Works, 191, Gloucester Street, Christchurch. 44 Presentation Bicycles.—Beautifully made little bicycles, for boys or girls, for Christmas gifts. Only a few unsold. Oates, Lowry and Co., Zealandia Cycle Works, Christcurch. X 1571 The Anglo “ Cob ” bicycle is designed for the use of elderly and nervous riders, who wish to mount without using the step. A number of these machines have been supplied to the order of prominent Christchurch citizens, who speak very highly of the latest Anglo production. Inspection invited. The Anglo-N.Z. Cycle Company, D.1.C., and 226, High Street. Xl9lß Handsome Christmas and New Year Pregents.—We have Just received a special shipment of beautiful and useful goods. We arc making a splendid show in our window’s; everything marked in plain figures. We defy competition. Fletcher Bros., Direct Importers, High Street, - Christchurch.

piio animal meeting of local bodies to fix the statutory half-holiday for the current y ea r will be held at the City Council Chambers at 8 o’clock on Wednesday evening. SETTLERS FROM AMERICA. Attracted by information, regarding New Zealand supplied to an Illinois paper by the Hon W. T. Jennings, M.L.C., a large party of Americans, numbering about one hundred families, are inquiring through Mr Jennings what inducement in the way of providing umvorked land will be given by the Government to enable them to form a special settlement in New Zealand. The matter has (says the Wellington ‘'Post”) been brought' by Mr Jennings under the notice of the Acting-Premier (Hon J. G. Ward). INSPECTION OF DAIRIES. phe inspection of dairies by Government officials will, begin next Monday. An expert E to be appointed for each of the four large centres and Stock Inspectors will act in ffie country districts. Dairy farmers will require to register their premises by April 1. HARVEST PROSPECTS. Mr Ritchie, the Secretary to the Agricultural Department, has returned to Wellington from the south. He states that the crops there are looking well, bub it is not expected that the average yield will be equal to last season’s. The Harvest will he later than usual. THE VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICE. The Postmaster-General says that doubtless an offer will be made to get the Vancouver steamers to make New r Zealand a place.of call. We require, in his opinion, both the Vancouver and San Francisco services and rivalry between tho two lines would have a healthy effect. The inclusion of New Zealand in the Vancouver route would necessitate the dropping of the Queensland connection to ensure anything like a speedy mail service. The subsidy now. paid by Canada, Queensland and New South 'Wales is in round figures £40,000 per annum dnd the contract will not expire till 1902.* If reasonable terms are proposed he has no doubt that the Government will favourably consider them. Notwithstanding the effects of the American navigation law, Mr Ward thinks New Zealand should continue to maintain the San Francisco line. . , BOER ADVANTAGES. Surgeon-Captain Thojnas, of Timaru, writing to Airs Thomas from Klerksdorp on Nov. 23, cays-.—" New Zealand and English papers seem to 1 consider the war is practically over. I wish I could think so We have met with more opposition from the Boers and had more sniping and small fights during the last month than we had two months ago. The Boers are not nearly so sick of it as we are, because they have not had anything like the hardships to contend with that we have. Their intelligence department is perfect. They know exactly where all our columns are, and on a web night the bulk of them sleep in farmhouses, where they know they are quite safe. Any house is their home whenever they like to turn in. Ave, meanwhile, doss down on tiie veldt. vVet or fine, the bulk of them sleep under cover and have a good breakfast, go out sniping for the day, with a bit ox biltong in theii' pockets, and return to the nearest house in the evening for food and. sleep. They do not wish for anything more than biltong and mealie meal, of which they have plenty. I don’t see how we are goin-r to bring.things to a close as long as their leaders are at large, and as long as they remain in the hilly country they are I 'Sticking to now, it is impossible to catch them.”

ADMISSION TO RAILWAY STATIONS. Notice appears in tho ‘‘ Gazette ”• stating that a new by-law has been made for regulating the admission of persons to a railway platform. Under this by-law- it shad not be lawful for any person to be upon a railway platform fifteen# minutes before or after the arrival or departure of a tram unless holding an admission ticket, for which twopence has to be paid.

EATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES. At a meeting of the Auckland! City Coum oil, a letter was read with reference to rating on unimproved values, stating that a petition -had been signed Ly considerably over 15 per c-enfc of the -ratepayers requesting tlhat a poll should be taken- on the question. When the matter was before the Council some weeks ago, the opinion was expressed that it was expedient that a notice should be sent to each ratepayer setting forth the rates the ratepayer at present pays under property rating, ami what he would pay under land value rating. As the maximum time allowed by law between the pre-sentation,-of the' petition and! the taking of the poll would possibly be insufficient to enable the Council’s officers to perform the clerical work and leave , time for -tine ratepayers to inquire into the matter before voting - , the letter suggested that the Council should immediately authorise the preparation of tie notices, and in the '-meanwhile the petition would be held back. The Mayor said that it was a question whether the office -should be burdened by this work, and wlliether under the, new Act the cost of supplying the informatioin- could be legally charged. The letter was referred to. the Legal Comrnifcts-s to consider the Council’s position in the matter.