TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12422, 11 February 1901, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The Nelson City Council is considering a proposal to purchase the local tramways, ' The proprietor asks £ISOO. Tbe Woodville Borfoiugfh Council on Friday night decided to call a public meeting for the purpose of discussing, a proposal to raise £IO,OOO to obtain a gravitated water su]> ply. '.-. -

At a recent meeting of the East Christchuch. School Committee, it was decided to recommend the appointment of Miss M. A. Slocoinbe, Miss Annie Wright and Miss Maggie Foster to fill the vacancies on the ' pupil teaching staff. At the Lyttelton Police Court on Saturday morning, before Mr J. T. Briee, J. P., two first offenders were charged with, drunkenness. One was convicted and discharged, and the other, whose conduct had been more disorderly, was fined ss. A yacht race, for half-Taters, for a trophy presented by ,Professor Scott, took place in Lyttelton. Harbour on Saturday afternoon. Mr Sinclair's Bettina was first, Mr Kencett's Waterwitch second, and Professor Scott's Water Beetle third. A race baftweea Wator Beetle and Waterwitch, on .Thursday last resulted in favour- of the former.

'Messrs H. Matson and Co. on Saturday morning offered by auction severaliarms, in the Springfield, SpringEfton and Belasib districts. There, was a large attendance, and there was fair competition for all the properties. .The only one, however, to xeach vendors'. reserves was Mrs Stace's farm of 85 acres at Springston, which was purchased by Mr J. Powell at £27 10s per acre.'

At a meeting of the committee of the Timaru. Agricultural and! Pastoral Association on Saturday, the .action of the President was approved, in having acted on. a suggestion from the Waimate Association,

and written to the Minister of Public

Works, requesting him tostop public works ; as fat as possible during harvest, as labour ■for getting in the harvest threatened to be 'scarce.

The Canvassing Committee for the foitfh«ora:ng Fire Brigade Demonstration desires to acknowledge, with thanks, the following subscriprinns: previously acknowledged £259 6s "6d, Lyttelton Harbour Board £lO 10s, Canterbury Farmers' Co-op. and Aulsebrook and Co. £2 2s each, J. Murphy, W. White. Bavward Bros.. Bishop and Robson, Charles Clark. P. W. 'England, jun., and G. P. Frill £1 Is pach, Triggs andl Denton, J. H. Hfpk'ns, F. Vale and Deaunig Bros. 10? 6d each; total, £283 9s 6d. A few amounts have still to come in.

The first meetings in connection with Mr W. M. Oatts's evangelistic mission were held yesterday afternoon. Mr Oa'tts. addressed a meeting of young men in the . Choral Hall, on the subject of "Purity." and Mrs Oarts addressed a meeting of young women in St Andrew's Church. The mission will be continued on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in the Choral Hall, an! Bible Leadings will be held each day at 3 tv.m. On Thursday evening Mr Oatts will deliver a limelight lecture on "Palatine, England an- ocotland."

At rhe half-yearly meeting of the Canterbury Typographical Union, held on Saturday evening last, the following resolution was carried unanimously:—" That this • meeting of the Canterbury Typographical Union of Workmen respectfully protests 'against the action of the Waimate County Council in accenting a tender of 3d (threepence) per inch for" their advertising, and would point out that it is a "sweating" rate, not even allowing of a "living wage beiw paid to workmen." It was funther resolved that a copy of the resolultion should ,he forwarded to the said Council, and the .local Press.

Up to the'present, the season has been a faying one for farmers in North Canterbury, and the harvesting'is going on but slowly. In spite of the unseasonable weather, however the grain is reaping.well, and the showers which have retarded the harvesting are certainly preferable to north-westers, which, fortunately to-the present-have been conspicuous by . absence. A considerable quantity of oats, and some wheat, is already threshed, and the samples of both cereals are said to be excellent. The root crops and beans .continue to flourish, and pasturage is plentiful all over the district. There are also some very promising crops of red clover about ready for cutting.

The Timaru Harbour Board is pushing on the preparations for commencing* the. construction of the new eastern rubble mole. A start has been made with the pile-driving for the staging along which the trucks will run to tip the rubble for the mound, and a larg« number of men are employed in opening up the quarry. A few trucks of small stone have already been brought down to build a retaining-walL for the approach to the staging. A 20-ton crane, weighing about sixty tons, imported from Booth Bros., Leeds, is being put together in the quarry, and its erection is nearly compkted. A smaller crane is in use," and several others are to be obtained. A powerful locomotive, to haul trains of stone up a long incline of 1 in 40, rising from- the quarry, Is an eurly requirement, and when this, is in Position, 'regular deliveries, of ."tone can be hade, a large quantity-having been loosened. W blasting. - ■.■-;

This crimSinial sittings of the Supreme Count' wail open at 11 a.m. to-day. .The oaleonxliax ds a light one.

Those who have to pay income tax are reminded that all taxes unpaid after tomorrow will be liable to an addition of 10 pei cent.

The railway arrangements for the Canterbury Jockey Club's Meeting, which will take place at Ricear'ton on Thursday and Saturday, are advertised in this,issue. A public meeting will be held dn St Matthew's, schoolroom, St ATba.ns, on Wednesday evening at eight o'clock, to discuss the question of obtaining a recreation ground for the ißorough. Mr T. H. Davey, the Mayor, will preside. - In addition to those whose names have been made public, Miss Mary J. Charles, of Oxford East* and .Miss Jjucie Dash, of Christchuroh West, passed the North Oanterbury' Education Board's pupil .teacher examination with merit.

Captains 'M'Lellan and Murray, of iLyttelton, have been anointed to act as nautical assessors in the inquiry into the circumstances of the collision between the 5.6. Rotomahana and the ketch Kestrel. The date of the inquiry has Ibeen altered "to Thursday next. Detective Livingstone arrested a man on Saturday 'morning, charged' with assault. The charge arises out of" a figihlb . that took place on Friday evening outside the Queen's Hotel, when a man named Thomas Downey had a piece bitten out of his lip. The poll for the election of a raiiember to represent the united boroughs of Linwood, Woolston and Sumner on the Lytteiltom Harbour Board, will be held to-day. The candidates are Mr J. Connal, the sitting, member, and Mr W. Roffitt, Mayor of Sumner. At the public meeting of ratepayer? at Richmond on Friday evening, for ithepuvpose of protesting against the amalgamation of Richmond with any other ward, CouncillorClarke, seizing the opportunity, advised all who were eligible for a vote to register their names, and to advise their wives to do likewise.

The remains of the late Mr F. J. Ftiohs were interred in the Addington cemetery on Friday. A large • number of floral emblems were placed on the coffin'. At the grave-side Mr W. W. Collins, M.H.R.., in well-chosen words,-spoke of the kindly and cheerful disposition and nobility of character of the deceased. The GMwrne Liberal Association on Friday night gave notice that it intends to miove in the direction of nominating Liberals for all the local bodies at the elections. One member suggested that, in the event of such action being successful, it might make Liberalism the sine qua nan of ap-. pointment to office, and quoted the American practice as a precedent.

A man charged with, drunlvenness at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning, who had Ibeen convicted of the same offence several times lately, was. very anxious that he might be allowed to go to a clergyman and take the pledge. Mr Beetham, "however, bad more faith in the efficacy of a sojourn in Lyttelton Gaol, and sentenced him to fourteen days' imprisonment. Three places are being mentioned as likely to prove suitable for a site for the Queen's statue when erected in Wellington (says the "New Zealand Times"), Viz., the Basin Reserve, Parliament House grounds, aad the triangle opposite the General Post Office. The consensus of opinion seems to ba favourable to the lastnamed site, aid that is the one which will probably be chosen. During the discussion at the meeting held at Richmond on Friday evening to consider the ward question, Councillor Clarke said there was another .'.objection to amalgamation with any other ward. Richmond Ward was indebted, and other, wards might object to taking over the liability. Perhaps, however, the North-east Ward would' pay tie debt. "We haven't agreed to take you at all yet," said Councillor Payling. •

Mr 0. J. Reakes, who, in accordance: with the Act which provides that before the establishment of S/battoirs, the consent of the Government to the site shall be obtained, bad been deputed to inspect the proposed site for the Christohureh .abattoirs, visited the locality, together with his Worship the Mayor and several City Councillors on Saturday. Mr Beakes will report to the Government, and the Lands Department will communicate with the Council on the matter in due course.

The only Ibraajaesfi at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning was four charges of drunkenness. Alice Goodson and Jane Kennedy were each fined 10s, in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment); a first, offender was fined ss, in default fortyeight hours; and Patrick Ryan, a familiar figure at the Court, was. sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment. First offenders should be careful not to appear on a Saturday, as on that day the alternative to a 5s fine is forty-eight hours' imprisonment instead of twenty-four. If a twenty-four hours' sentence were inflicted the prisoners would have to be released at four o'clock on Sunday afternoon. Mr Edward Dobson, M. Inst. C.E., writes in reference to a remark made by Mr G. P. Williams, M. Inst, C.E., in an interview with a member of the staff of the " Lyttelton Times," published in Saturday's issue. Mr Williams said "' I believe lam the senior member of the Institute (of Civil Engineers) practising in Christchurch. I was elected in 1879." Mr Dobson states that he himself was elected an Associate of the Institute on March 1, 1842, and was transferred .by the Council to. the list of members on March 29, 1881." Therefore," he says, "Mr Williams's connection 'with the Institute commenced thirty-seven years after my election in England as Associate."

The Nelson Chamber of Commerce has written to the Union Steamship Company, complaining of the recent increase- of 10s per ton for 'the freight of goods shipped from Nelson to the southern- ports of the colony. It is stated that, in consequence of the 1 freight to Lybtelton having been increased from 15b to 255, some shippers of tomatoes who had been in the habit of sending produce to Lyttelton, thence to be forwarded to Dunedin, decided to risk the Wellington market. The result was that that market was glutted with tomatoes, which sold as low as 3s a case. Sctoo shippers who forwarded tomatoes to Dunedm by way of Lyttelton at the same time received 8s a case more than wais obtained in Wellington. , The Shipping Company derived no advantage, but these who shipped to Wellington sustained a loss. "Famous Humber Cycles."—A shipment of these justly celebrated machines has just been landed by the Ango-New Zealand Cycle Company, and comprise all the newest models as shown by Humbers, Limited, at the recent Stanley Cycle Show, London. Inspection invited at the D.1.C., and 226, High Street. "'XI9IB

Bicycle repairs equal to the best English factory work. Bearings renovated to run equal to new machines. Boyd's Cycle Works, Gloucester Street, Christchurch. 44 Built to order bicycles fit the rider, cost no more, give complete satisfaction, are rapidly superseding the " stock-built" bicycles. Oates, Lowry and Co., ChrisfcoTmrch. largest cycle works in New Zealand. X 1571

Ideal Tyre* 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. 6. Healing and Co., 222, Cashel Street, Christchurch. X 2721 preserving Jars, Fletcher Bros.' stock The largest assortment of fruit jars in Christchurch." Masons iron 2s 3d, jam jars Is 3d, Tumblers is 3d per half-dozen, preserving pans from 2s lid; delivery daily. Fletcher Bros., High Street. X 2565 Apropos of the fact that the London and North-Western Railway works at'Crewe have turned out an engine in twenty-five and a half working hours, it is interesting to record that the Great Eastern works at Stratford built a" six-coupled goods engine IJN'O. 930Wn? te«ihoiir^in^|c§pi l b^^ii , i :;J '

TEACHERS' PENSIONS. A plea for retired teachers is made (telegraphs the Dunedin correspondent of the " Lyttelton Times ") by Mr A. M. Barnett, schoolmaster, of Wadtahtma Gully, who points out that two public servants have re* tired during the past week. • Mr Gregor, schoolmaster, after forty years' arduous and faithful work, retires with a formal vote of thanks,' while a police sergeant, after thirty years' service, receives a substantial pension. Mr Bamett appeals to the great body of teachers to unite in efforts to obtain justice for their older and weaker brethren. FEDERATION ESSAYS. Prizes of five guineas and two guineas respectively are being offered by the Dunedin Branch of the New Zealand Natives' Association for the best essays on the question of the Federation of New Zealand with the Commonwealth. The essays are to, be in the hands of the Association by April 20, and are to bo judged by the Rector of the Girls High School, the Chairman of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce and the Editor of the " Otago Daily Times." The length of the essays is limited to 5000 words, with a minimum of 3000 words. FIRE INSURANCE. Representatives of all the fire insurance offices doing business in the colony have been in attendance at the annual meeting of the Council of the Fire Underwriters' Association, held in Dunedin, during the past week, under the presidency of Mr F. 11. Pickering, of Auckland, the General Manager in the New, Zealand Sun Office of London. / THE DUKE OF TOUR, More than thirty years have passed since the late Duke of Edinburgh made a tour of these colonies,- but the detective who "shadowed" him is still in harness, and has just been appointed to act in a similar capacity towards the Duke of Cornwall.. This officer's style and title .now is Detec-tive-Inspector J. M. Christie. He was a renowned athlete in Kk prime, and although the snows of time have now descended upon his head, not many men of half his age would care to tackle him. For a year or two he retired from the police force, and conducted'an "athletic academy" in Melbourne, but apparently he discovered that criminal investigation* was the more profitable employement. LARRIiaNsIFuNIFORM. When the Imperial troops marched through the, streets of Dunedin, on Tuesday last, a mounted rifle volunteer company was allotted the duty of keeping the lino of march clear. The conduct of some of these men, says the " Otago Daily Times," would "ssem almost incredible, were it not vouched for by a number of people whose evidence must be regarded as thoroughly reliable. Many of the mounted troops, instead of keeping the line'clear by moving back and fro in an orderly manner, literally attempted to ride the people down, as though they had been a pack of rioters, instead of a mass of well-conducted assembled to welcome the Imperial troops' with that enthusiasm for which the people of Dunedin are'characterised. Not content with ridifig through and through the massed crofd on the street line, these mounted men rode on to the side walks, and! appeared to take a special delight in hustling terrified women against the Avails, and even into doorways, with their horses. .4i.,/^ THE FRUIT CROP. " S

In the monthly report for January on the results and prospects of the fruit crop just issued by the Department of Agriculture the following remarks are made in regard to the crop ait Akaroa, Timaru and Waimate, the- only Canterbury districts from which particulars have been, received : —Apples—Akaroa, under average; Timaru, under average; Waimate, good. Aprioots —Akaroa, poor; Waimate, average. Cherries—Akaroa, good; Timaru, good; Waimate, poor. Currants—Timaru, average ; Waimate, average. Gooseberries—Timaru, good; Waynate, good. Grapes—Waimate, average. Nectarines Waimate, / poor. Peaches—Akaroa, good; Timaru, under average; Waimate, average. Pears— Akaroa, good; Timaru, very good. Plums —Akaroa, good; Timaru, average; Waimate, poor. Raspberries—Timaru, good; Waimate, average. Tomatoes—Timaru, average. Walnuts—Waimate, average. The apple and pear crops throughout the colony are generally good.