TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12423, 12 February 1901, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

There was no business set down for the; sitting .fixed for Monday of it-he K-aiapcj Magistrate's Court. . !; It was decided at last night's meeting oJ.;. the City, Council that' ithe " Lytteltori; Times " should be the -official paper for the : year. 1901. . ,We learn on very good authority (says tie "Waimaite Times") that the union of the (two Presbyterian Churches is likely to ha ;• agreed to by the General' Assembly of tha :, Northern Church, about to meet fa ,Wanga( .;. nui. : V\ •;/■ The. Diocesan Board of Nominators ha-vej ':-' , nominated the Rev Joseph Campbell, M.A.,; .;. as Vicar of the Parish of Papanoi.in suw ~; cession to the Rev H. T. Purehas, M.A.* \ "; resigned, and the Bishop of Christchurch has .: accepted the nomination. On Friday afternoon last the, scholars oi :; the Rotherham school were f presented witS ■:,.:■■ : standard prizes and attendance certificates -: : by the Chairman of the Committee, Ifr :'- 1 Murray. After the presentation of pwst ■'■': the children gave three cheers for the com-} : ; mittee and the master. *. : At last night's meeting of IJhe City Counj . .: cil Councillor Cray moved tha* copies of Mr Dobson/s report on the Waa* ; makariri 'River scheme should be priniodj and that copies should be supplied to ratej ; payers on application. This was seconded by Councillor Payling, and -carried. , "..; Mr J. W. Thomas, to whom has been enJ trusted the work of erecting the bridges orf the first sections of the Waipara-Chevioii ; . Railway, is now getting his men and gear] , : together, and expects to make a start -\yithj y the Omihi bridge, in a few days. He will use both steam and .horse pile drivers tol .; cairy out the work expeditiously; and it expected that the plate-laying will be com-! menced a t the. Waipara end very shortly.: . .- . With regard to a letter from Mr E. Dob J : /: son, M. Inst. C.E., disputing Mr Gk P. Wilj liams's claim to be the senior member oS the Institute of Civil Engineers practising, in Christchurch, Mr Williams explains that; he recognises Mr Dobson to be a very old;.. , and respected member of the profession.;. _ Mr Williams adds that he was not aware ; Mr Dobson was still in practice, and thae the latter admits Mr Williams is his senior! ' as a member of the Institute by two years. , A most enthusiastic meeting- was held ini i the Mechanics' Institute, Woodend, on Sa*-.-urdey evening, to consider what steps shomd be taken to establish a creamery m the <te trict There was a good attendance, and; Mr R Pe-trie, sen., occupied the cnaar. .lit: E Evans' of Kaiapoi, one of the directora of the Central Dairy Factory, was. present;* . and stated the conditions on which a cream-; ery would be erected by 'Ms company ati, Woodend. A strong committee was formed . to canvass the district, and report; at a future meeting. .'•_': On Friday evening Trooper "A. Fear, who} has just returned from active service, -inf- - ■, .: South Africa, was entertained at a " social'^;,. .; and dance in the Oddfellows', Hall, Wood- i end. There was a numerous attendance, .:,. and' Sergeant J. Damnier Crossley occupied the chair. After supper, the usual loyal \--i\ and patriotic toasts were duly honoured,;; s and the health of Trooper Fear w«s: drunk . with musical honours, and musical items■;,.;:.; were rendered. After this the hall was cleared, and a dance was held, the.- music . ■'; being supplied by Messrs Bennetts and Hos-;- ;-■; kins, and so ended a very pleasant gather* : y r;,:. ;•! ing. ■■'-.' ,j i : ; :> .■"; /: At a meeting of the Christchurch of the General Synod, convened by ths^, , : ; Bishop, the following telegram, was forij, :; :, ; warded to Mrs Jacobs, the widow of ,;• lute Dean :—'-',We desire to express our re*'V'u snectful sympathy with you in your be* : ; : ; reavemeiib, our deep appreciation of -your!::-': . i husband's' high character, and of hisigreatij:. ,\ services- to the. Church in many capacities.;:: - :ii We greatly regret that absence from: Christy .;' church deprives us of "the paving' our ■ last tribute', tendance : itt■': 'hjs'' funeral;.■/■ (Signed;: ),;-i;GY p;s% Ohristenwrch,. mondeley,C. H- Gosscfy W;> s.^^^, :^'V^.

; Tlia University Senate will'meet in Auckland on Wednesday week. '.The By-laws Committee reported to the City Council meeting last evening that it pad included in the by-laws a section, regulating the traffic of traction-engines. _ At last night's meeting of the City Counjsil a letter was received from the widow of tihe late Councillcar M. Sand&tein, thanking the Council for its expression of sympathy witi, her in her recent ibereaveme&t. The Government trawling steamer, Doto, with Mr Ayson, who' 'is in charge of the surveying operations, left Gisborn© yesterdav .inoruing to make a complete exploration of IJfche waters between Mahia and Tologa 'Bay. • The Hon J. D. Ormond declined to stand lor re-eleotion to the Napier. Harbour Board,.faf which he has been chairman since its) [establishment, on account of the Board having decided,to reduce the wharfage dues jand largely increase the rata on property. : At last night's meeting of the City CounMl Messrs Mason, Struthers and Co. applied for permission to sink a deep well in !a right-of-way between Tuam and Lichfield Streets.- The matter was referred to jibe chairman of the Works Committee and 'the Engineer, with power to act. ; Councillor Samuels, at last night's meeting of the City Council, said Richmond Ward had been looked upon by some councillors, when it was first joined to the jcitty, as a white elephant, and after it had ) been joined they had tried to make the ;white elephant black. Messrs J. Rennie and W. Dunlop were yesterday re-elected by the Selwyn County (Council to represent that body on the Lyt'telton Harbour Board. The election of a ; member to represent the united boroughs of jWoolston, Linwood and Sumner on the Lyt•i'telton Harbour Board also took place yesterday, and Mr J. Connal, the siting member, [defeated Mr W. Rollitt, mayor 1 of Sumner, |)y 83 votes.

Mr Henry Richard Webb, F.R.S., died . iat ■ -his residence, Merivale, last evening. :He had been ailing for many months past. ■Mr Webb was principally known through his connection with Canterbury College, being the oldest member of the Board of Governors. On the resignation of Mr C. Malofc, in 1894, Mr. Webb was appointed jchairmait of the Board, and continued to 'hold the position until his death. Mr Webb was seventy-two years of age. At the- meeting of the City Council last , evening "the Council's debit balance was reported to be £1983 14s Id, and expenditure £549 4s. The receipts were £215,' on tfhe Cemetery account £2B 2s 6d, suspense ' account £l7 4s 2d, interest' account. £643 13s 6d, loan account £36 13s 6d, and on ifcho Cemetery account No. 2 £5. The general rate amounted to £13,669 13s 9d', ol jwhich £12,718 9s 9d had been collected,

leaving £951 4s outstanding. • An ordinary meeting o ; f the City Council jwas held last evening; present—His Wor.j&hip the Mayor (Mr W. Reece), and Coun-

icillcirs. Cray, Samuels, Appleby, Clarke, ■Cooper, Green, Morris, Lough nan, Payling, Prudhoe, Smith, Scott and An'drews. An apology for absence was received 'ifram. Councillor Wood. The question, of anunicipal representation on u population jfcasis was considered, and several 'other

■matters were dealt with. .-.' Mr P. A. F. Cox, honorary secretary of • 'the Indian Famine Fund, writes from Cal- : ! eutta, under date Jan. 2, to Mr Francis .Shaw, honorary secretary of the Wellington Fund, acknowledging receipt of the remittance of £232, sent on Nov. 6, and .thanking the Central Executive Committee iov the generous sympathy displayed by the inhabitants of Wellington and districts for the sufferers from famine in India. In all (savs the "Post") Wellington sent to India in famine relief £3232 through the trustees, and £27 subsequently through the Mayor. During the Wellington Naval Artillery * practice 'with the big'guns oil the Miraniar peninsula last week, two of the missiles found their way to the eastern shore.. On Wednesday a plugged shell, weighing 2101 b, ricocheted and landed close to the ..Gollan's Valley Road, passing unpleasantly 'near to a number of the Naval Artillery who

,!ia<i been, told ofl to -warn people against get[t£ng in the line of fire. On Friday morning !'(says the "Post") another shell glanced off ! the crater and ploughed up the ground in 'the same locality. Neither of the shells has Ibeen recovered.

When the criminal sessions of the Sutpremß Oorsrt were opened yesterday morning, (several of those who had been summoned |to serve on the Grand Jury asked that they [should be exempted. One person pleaded [that he was sixty-one years of age, and was 'over age, and his application for exemption •was granted. "Later on another asked thai; pie should be exempted, on account of being lover si&ty years of age.' Mr Justice Edjwarda then said that surely, in 'a place like Christehurch, there could be •obtained an adequate number of citizens [to senve on a . jury. To grant so many applications for exemption would be !unfair to ether jurymen, who were not [exempt from serving, as am additional burjden would be thrown on them. At last' night's* meeting of the City .Council there was a discussion on the City Surveyor's report recommending the acceptance of tenders for maintenance metal. .Councillor Appleby said the Council should possess its own stone quarries. Councillor "Samuels said .the stone was required, and jthe Council had hitherto been getting it .below its vaZu'e. Councillor Scott said the .'metal was being obtained at what was only "■o fair price. Councillor Appleby said the Council would, according to the tenders, be •'called upon to pay £4OO more for the road :metal than was paid last year. He woul'J ;move that fresh tenders be called. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder, and the .tenders of the Harwell and! Heathcote quarries for 4000yds each at 5s 6d a yard, were accepted.

Messrs Strange and Company inform, us that they are delighted with the success of their present great clearing sale, which continues to fill their spacious warehouses daily with buyers and the friend's of buyers. Very special attractions are promised: for this week, genuine bargains, being obtainable in ail departments. The sale will be resumed at 10 o'clock this morning. , ■■ . 9193

We note Messrs Beath and Co., the

'popular drapers, issued with yesterday's [Paper a catalogue of sale bargains, as they (are making further reductions, in order to teffect an. entire clearance of ail. summer ■stock, we -would strongly urge our many leaders to pay 'them a visit at once. 1988

. "Famous Humber Cycle.?."—A shipment) [oi these justly celebrated machines has just :been landed by the Ango-New Zealand Cycle Company, and comprise all the newes t models as shown by Humbers, Limited, at the recent Stanley Cycle Show, London. .' Inspection invited at the D.1.C., and 226, High. Street. " Xl9lß Bicycle repairs equal to the best English factory work. Bearings renovated to run equal to new machines. Boyd's Cycle Works, Gloucester Street, Christchurcli. 44 Built to order bicycles lit the rider, cost no more, giW complete satisfaction, aro rapidly superseding the " stock-built" bicycles. Oates, Lowry and Co., Christchurch, largest cycle works in New Zealand. X 1571 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. NewZealand Depot, A. G. Healing and Co., 222, Oashel Street, Christ church. X 2721 "Preserving Jars, I'letcher Bros.' stock The largest°assortment of fruit jars in Christchurch. • Masons from 2s 3d, jam jars la 3d, Tumblers Is 3d per half-dozen, preserving paais from 2s lid; delivery daily. Fletcher Bros., High Street. X 2565 imperial Notice to Anglers and the Public generally.—That J. Trist's, 230, Cashel Street, opposite Zetland Arms Hotel, is the best house in town for all anglers' requisites. The largest stock of rods in New Zealand to select from. Just landed, ex lokomaiu, hew flies, minnows, casts, etc. Note address ir-J. Trist, Cashel Street, Christchurch ; lata, Ifoj.. Alp* " X 2743 ,

After the conclusion of the City Council business last evening the members agreed to meet next Monday afternoon'and be photographed in a group.

The members of the chorus of the Musical Union .will meet if or practice this evening, when Beethoven's "Ruins of Athens" will bo put an rehearsal. At 4.45 o'clock yesterday afternoon, all waiting jurymen were relieved from attendance at the Supreme Court, until 10.30 o'clock this morning. At Oxford, on Monday, Mr Bishop, S.M., granted seven renewals of Old Age Pensions in full, and one each at £B, £l3, £l4, and £ls. Two applications were withdrawn. The south express train yesterday morning was a heavy one, twelve passenger cars being fully loaded,.-and over a hundred and fifty passengers were on board for various stations.

A French newspaper, the " Annee et Marine," states that the French warships Aube and Eure, both of which have visited New Zealand waters, are to 'be disarmed at Noumea and used as hulks.

A run-away horse collided with a laanppost on the Lincoln Road, near Clarence Road, on Saturday, and broke it off close to the ground. The Council's men were engaged yesterday morning repairing the damage. Under a clause in the Appropriation Act of last session, the Government has deducted £254 3s 8d from the subsidies dud to the Wairarapa South County Council for the expenses of the returaiing-officers at the licensing elections! of 1897 and 1900. There is a very ugly patch of weeds in the river between the Cashel Street and Hereford Street bridges. The weeds are just above the water, and, of course, catch sticks, etc., floating down, thus quite spoiling the effect of the pretty grounds on the bank.

At the meeting of the City Council last evening the City Surveyor, Mr Dofosou, reported that the lowest tender for the East Belt Bridge was that of Mr A. Swanston. The amount was £IB9O 19s, aind the Council resolved to accept the tender.

A constable visited a certain house in Linwood, wlhiqb wais stated to be overcrowded. He reported that it was not overcrowded. There were four rooms, and a scullery in the house, arnd it was occupied by a woman, five children and a male boarder.

At the Supreme Court yesterday anorning, a, witness interrupted counsel several times and also attempted to interpolate when Mr Justice Edwards was asking Mm a question. " You will please answer my question,"" said his Honor, " and when I am speaking you should 'foe listening; it is- my place to speak, not yours." The Lands and Survey Department has prepared close on 1000 maps for the use of the sub-enumerators who will be employed in taking the census. The maps contain a great deal of detail, eo that the population can be marked off in' very small blocks, and the figures made use of in connection wdth the framing of districts under the Representation Act.

.' At last night's meeting of the City Council, the Mayor? said the .time had now come when a loan should be raised to cover the cost of the city abattoirs, and the destructor. He would ask' the Chairman of the Finance Cbmimittee to consider what amount would be necessary, and under what conditions the Council'could borrow the money, and report to the Council. The ground between the Hospital and the South Belt, where the Lincoln Road drain has been filled in has become a forcing bed for all kinds of noxious weeds. The "fat hen " is waist high, docks are much in evidence, and there is ' also a good crop of thistles. The seed from this growth, unless preventive measures are taken, will cause trouble to those having gardens in the vicinity.

At last night's meeting of the City Council Councillor Gray stated! that the two horses presented. to the Oity, on condition that they should stand in the Lichfield Street Station during the day in. case of fire, had been taken) out to work. He moved that the two horses should be kept in (readiness in the Lichfield Street Station all day and every day. This was seconded by Councillor Sorensen, ? and carried.

Mr T. Arthur, Traffic Manager at Christchurch, has received the following telegram from Mr T. Ronayne, General Manager of Railways:—"l have received a telegram from the Minister, expressing his appreciation of the excellent manner in which' the troop trains have been worked: in the South Island. Please convey to the staff concerned the Minister's acknowledgment of- the zeal and ability displayed and the good work done by them." At the meeting of the Linwoodi Borough Council last evening, the Mayor remarked that the Council could mow see the fallacy of trying to effect permanent improvements in the district from the 'Ordinary revenue. The result had beeini the .present overdraft, which would, in a measure cripple the Council for the next two years, while the St Albans Council, which had not attempted improvements from the same source, was now triumphantly investing its surplus in a steam-roller and fire-engine. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were opened yesterday morning, before Mr Justice Edwards. The Grand' Jury returned true bills in five cases, and 1 no bills in two cases. Sentence was passed on accused persons in cases of breaking and entering, breaking, entering and theft and! assault. A case in which James Middletcn, of Springfield, is charged with having assaulted William Power, of the same place, occupied the attention of the Court, when an adjournment was made m the afternoon at 4.45 o'clock. When the Court sits again at 10.30 to-day, this case will be resumed. There are still to be dealt with charges of damaging property, breaking and entering, indecent assault and unnatural offence.

A combined accident and life assurance policy has recently been issued by the Mutual Life Association, and the following example wl illustrate the benefits to be derived from/ this innovation:—At age 30 the premium on a. policy for £IOOO is £26 10s per annum. The sum assured is payable at death, and in the event of assured incapacitation from accident, compensation, will be payable as follows:--£1000 on permanent total disablement, £SOO on permanent partial disablement, and £5 per week during temporary total disablement. As long as the assured confine » the payment of premiums the full accident benefits will attach t') the policy. The accident benefits are also attached to endowment, assurance contracts, and ■all policies participate in profits. The numerous members of this progressive office will be pleased to know that 1900 was one of the most satisfactory years in its history. TRIAL BY JURY. ■ A curious incident at the 'Supreme Court yesterday, illustrates the vagaries of juries. A Maori named Tune Horomona had been brought beifore the Magistrate's Court at the Chatham Islands on a charge of forgery and uttering. He pleaded guilty, and was sent up for sentence at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court in Christchurch, opened before Mr Justice Edwards yesterday. Owing to the committal having been info.rmal, however, Mr Stringer, the Crown Prosecutor, found that it was necessary to make a fresh indictment. In consequence of this, the.case'went before the Grand Jury, and a smile went round the Court when it was announced that no bill had been returned in the case, in spite of the protestations of the accused that ho was guilty. THE IMPERIAL TROOPS. The latest great national event, as directly affecting New Zealand, has been the visit of the Imperial troops—a visit that from the Bluff, all along the line, has naturally evoked unbounded enthusiasm. And all along the line the übiquitous camera has been with "the troops, specially in the interests of the "Canterbury Times." In this ; weJ2sv iwelvedMt&e illustrated! aij>jflemen±,

wliich is presented gratuitously with the popular weekly journal, there is a splendid series-of'"pictures;' "fully'." illustrating the triumphal progress of 'picked'.representative,';—a thousand strong—-of that army which thrills every Briton with pride. In the admirably reproduced photographs one sees the landing at the Bluff, and the entraining scene at the railway station there; the thronging of the 'main-ways of "High Dunedin," the scenes at Oamaru, Timaxu, and other places en route; the arrival of the men in Christchurch; the thrillingly imposing procession through the streets of the Cathedral city; the great picturesque review in Hagley Park; the daint-ily-arranged tables whereat the representatives of the might of a mighty nation were so well entertained. These, and more. The camera picked out typical groups: it picked out individuals, and the result has been the bringing together of a unique series of pictures, forming a worthy memento of an occasion whereof the people of this Brighter Britain, are justly proud. A LONDON FOG. On Dec. 23 London was enveloped by a. fog, and some idea) of what 'this means is given by the "Daily News." During the whole of September, October and November there had been no fog, a circumstance without precedent during thirty previous autumns. But when the fog did come, cold, damp, and raw, it was all the more unwelcome for its long absence. During the day of darkness communication between ships of war in -S'heerness Harbour was totally suspended. Accidents in the street were frequent, and at a rough estimate 200 cases were treated at fourteen London hospitals. As could only be expedited, the log was readily taken advantage of by Hooligans in their robberies with personal violence, as it gave them an easy escape from pursuit. The police were informed of a number of cases of watch and purse snatching, as well as parcels and other belongings being stolen from off vans, and from the fronts of shops. In two cases the victims of these outrages were left insensible, and were found by passers-by stumbling over their prostrate bodies. In each case the injuries were not very serious, and they soon receovered, but the amount of money lost was considerable. THE MELANESIAN MISSION. A public meeting in connection with the Melanesian Mission, which has now been established fifty years, was held in Napier on Wednesday last. In the course of an address Bishop Wilson referred to the fact that the Anglican and Roman Catholic missions in the South Seas are not permitted to compete against each other. An island in the Shortland group, Lafaukiki was purchased as a mission station, but the policy of the Government did not permit it to sanction the purchase, the Roman Catholics having in the previous year established a station in the group, and bought islands apparently all round by purchase. Whichever mission, the Anglican or the Roman. first establishes itself in Melanesia, holds the ground against the other, the two not being allowed to work in tile same neigh-' bourhood. THE SLATE AND DISEASE. Is the use of slates at school likely to be abandoned? An English School Inspector, Mr 'Cooper, of Southampton, says: "Im these clays when paper is so cheap I am glad to notice that it is superseding slates, even with the younger children. Slates are for obvious reasons far from wholesome. When someone has leisure to make some) bacetriological investigations into the surface of a well-used slate, I think the results will prove unpleasant. A little book, entitled ' The Flora, of a Slats),' will be published one day, which will show the details of the bacteria, whether harmless or malignant, that manifest themselves under suitable conditions on school slates." THE SIBERIAN RAILWAY. It is stalled on expert authority that many portions of the Trans-Siberian Railway line l will shortly have to be relaid and partly rebuilt. The haste with which some sections of the road was constructed is only to a certain degree accountable for this necessity. , The wholesale and rampant system of speculation which obtained! among many of the contractors for the supply of first-clasp building material, and! the notorious scamping of the work on some sections, are chiefly responsible. The Committee of Construction made a primary mistake in laying rails of only 4glb to the foot. Such feeble material will not long bear the wear and tear, and weight of the heavy traffic of the railway. It is owing largely to this and to the fact that the rails are simply riveted together, and •stapled l down to the sleepers, that over some sections the locomotive drivers are not allowed) to travel mors than five miles an hour. Through corruption and peculation a large number of the sleepers are of soft and perishable timber, instead of the oak and other hard and durable wood contracted for. Another standing danger to traffic is the flimsy and insecure structure of some of the smaller bridges, and many of the culverts. FIRE UNDERWATERS' ASSOCIATION. The Council of the New Zealand Fire Underwriters' Association concluded its sitting at Dunedin on Saturday, after a six days' conference. During its deliberations it transpired that the claims par.d for fire losses throughout the colony for the year, ending Dec. 31 amounts to over £250,000, by far the larger proportion n.f this sum going to the North Island: Since the beffinniiK 1, of this vear claims had arisen aggregating" £120,000, the North Island again being'the chief claimant. Mr Pickering, of Auckland, was re-elected president.