TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12536, 25 June 1901, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Arbor Day will be a Government holiday. It will be observed 1 on July 12 this year. “ «, The Sydney Exhibition) Building Iras been leased for four months from June 1 aa a winter shelter for the homeless. . Auckland up to -date has contributed £277 l9s 2d to the Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls, and the lists are still, open. . Y ■ A, football match is to take place to-day between;teams representing the Wanganui and the Waipawa Cadets, probably at Lancaster Park. The census returns for the Canterbury provincial district show the total population to be 143,040,, as against 135,858 id 1896, an increase of 7182,' or 5.29 per cent. The woodwork of tho Boyal casket'was the handiwork of Mr 0. Israelson, whose name’should have been mentioned in the dscriptive notice of the casket published last week. Boring for petroleum is still being continued at New Plymouth by Mr Samuel and associates'. The eighth bore is down 922 ft, but water is now troublesome, and experiments ate being made to shut it off. The following are the passenger rates to be charged! on tbe Tasmanian Government railways from Juino I;—First class single journey, 2d a-milej second class, per mile; return fares, 3£d) and 2£d respectively. | 1 A meeting of the Lincoln College Board of Governors has. been called for Saturday, June 29, at 11 a.m., to relieve Mr Bayne, and make arrangements for carrying on the work of the College till the arrival of his successor. The harvest outlook in New South Wales is depressing. The want of rain is Severely felt, and ploughing ban been, badly hindered. Much of the grain sown is perishing, and the rainfall is ' 400 points behind lost year’s at the same time. Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., yesterday morning disposed of sixteen charges of drunkenness at the l%lice Depot. To eleven who pleaded guilty he exercised leniency by entering up a conviction and discharging thein. Five who had been bailed but 1 and did not appear, were fined five shillings ' each. A young gentleman residing near tho ducal residence, having' constructed, a largo fire balloon, sent it up yesterday morning, . and it attracted considerable attention.'. After remaining in the air for some time it fell towards Biocarton, and the owner will be much obliged if the finder will return it to the office of this paper. Mr H._Boasiter, organist at St Mary’# Boman Catholic Church, - is forming a ladies’ minstrel club on similar lines to tho club in Dunedin. A number, of leading vocalists have joined, and others have signified their intention to become- members. A performance will be given at an early date. On Sunday the Cycle Band paraded the streets, playing appropriate music. The band was preceded by a motor-oar, while two other automobiles brought up ,' the rear. Many visitors to the city expressed surprise 'at Christchurch possessing sue! a novelty, and it is believed to be the only .cycle band in existence, i The .presentation of degrees and diplomas obtained •by the students of Canterbury College "in the November examinations of 1900, will take place in the Canterbury College Hall on Friday at 5 p.m. The public are cordially invited to attend, and graduates of the University are requested to appeal', in aeademic--costuine^

The Theatre Royal was well attended last evening, when Messrs Cooper and Macdermott brought their season to a close. ■ The meeting of the City Council that ' should 'have, been held ls«£> rsghC lapsed for want of a quorum; The adjourned meeting will ho held on Wednesday, at 7.25 p.m. A Wanganui paper says that at the Naive school at Koroniti (Corinth), up the ’Wanganui River, the Chairman of the local School Committee, Te Awe, is a diligent ">upil. “Wo venture to assert," says the paper quoted, “ that the fact of the chairman of a School Committee being a pupil of the school is a unique experience for even democratic New Zealand.” ’The Melbourne “Argus” is responsible for the statement that not a single telephone in the Commonwealth is equipped with the most modern appliances. -Melbourne is the most out of date, having at the central office a switchboard thirty years old. . It will cost £250,000 to bring the Melbourne system up to date, and it is estimated £1,000,000 will be needed to put right the telephones of Australia. A sitting of the Lyttelton Police Court was held yesterday morning, before. Mn W. Cook, J.P. James M’Gerty, charged with haring been drunk and disorderly, and with having committed a breach of the Seace, was fined 20s on each charge. Carl ilsen was fined 20s for having been drunk and disorderly. John Duffel was convicted of having been guilty of conduct intended to provoke a breach of the peace, and was fined 20s. The drain on the stock of Maori curios in connection with the visit of the Imperial < troops and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall has been very great, and the “Hawkes Bay Herald ” says that New Zealanders will soon- have to visit Europe to discover what were- the arts and industries of the Maoris. It asks whether something ought not to be done;by the Government to prevent the loss of what remains of the very remarkable and interesting arts of the Native race.

As the Bluff ! Guards were marching 1 from the Railway Station) up Manchester Street, towards' the; drillshed, about nine o’clock on l Sunday night, a cabman whey was driving in the opposite direction came into such close contact with the corps that Lieutenant Mosseth, on the outside, was brushed) against, and but for soma members of the corps supporting him, must have been knocked down. - The cabman, pursued his course, but two members of be corps fell out .and followed him, with :he probable result that more will be beard •about tha matter. The horrors of war are vividly depicted in a letter received at or© from a member of the Sixth Contingent. He relates that during a skirmish outside Pietirsburg, in which some Australian® were ingaged, ai Boer, dressed in ah Australian’s uniform, was concealed behind an ant hill. When the Australians rose to fire a volley, he stood tip. among them, and picked'‘off a man eaot time. In this manner be tilled ’.two- lieutenants, one attd E ' horsej?. .Eventually he was discovered,. and' begged for mercy. Instead he was' riddled with bullets, and the men tore, his arms •and legs off. “ The Australians are rough Members When they start,” adds the narrator, pensively. Some eighteen months ago, Senator Buckin, of Colorado, visited New Zealand, on >ehalf of the Government of his State, to ■ inquire into the land tax system obtaining jo. New Zealand. On his return, Mr ■"VucMin presented an exhaustive report to be State Legislature, ‘in which he strongly „;ommended the taxation of land values. A® a result,the Legislature has adopted a yetem of , local option in taxation, similar go that afforded by the Baiting on Uuimjroved Values Act in New Zealand. The fceasure has received the Governor’s assent, ■mt has yet to be referred to a: vote of she electors of the State. The poll is to ;ake place at an early date, and it is confider.ed certain that it will be adopted by a large majority. , ,

' A protest by a Melbourne business man* 1 who has found himself charged 2£d post- • age for each type-written circular be sends ■•to England, reveals the interesting fact that under the terms of the agreement of the Postal Union, the sending of typewritten circulars by poet is not encouraged. The agreement specifies that anything over a certain number of reproductions of a circular by the process of chromography or any such mechanical device may be sent by post to England at the rate of Id for every 2dz, but type-written circulars, however many in number; must bo charged letter rates. It seems that the object of the Postal Union was to encourage the reproduction of circulars in large number* by mechanical processes, but not to ex" tend the benefits ,of the lower rate, to the production of circulars by hand.

A large number of Volunteers and Cadets . . left for their homes last night. The Otago and Southland men, who all took their ‘-departure, were welL satisfied with the treatments they received; and with-the arrangements for the comfort of themselves and their horses. Five steamers left for the north with men ■ returning to their homes. In connection with the .display by the Cadets vat the review yesterday, too ' much credit cannot be given to Captain Lovaday, to whom is due : the excellent show which the boys made. Only, want of proper assistance was responsible for the hitches that occurred during the early part of their stay here. The services 1 of ’ the Caversham Industrial School Cadets and ' Band 1 were of great service in connection with the various duties requiring attention at the Normal School, all of which they carried out'in a soldier-like manner.

The imarket is flooded at the.present time with worthless preparations for the hair, many of them being injurious’as well as worthless, but Hendy’s *gg-julep may be honestly recommended as a moat reliable hair' tonic for beautifying and cleansing the hair. Price, Is per bottle. This elegant preparation may be procured from Btrango and Co.’s, drapers, Christchurch, who are also sole agents for Hc-ndy’s Frizeairs, or curling fluid. X 2533

For bicycle repairs we specially recommend cyclists to Boyd and Son, who are ■ combining first-class work with moderate barges. 191, Gloucester Street. Chrirtshurch. Telephone 437- X 2588 In the window of W. J. Dunlop’s shop is Iq be seen a display of most beautiful jewellery. N.B-— Repairs of all descriptions lone on the premises. 175, High Street, opposite J. Knight, ■ Butcher, below Clock tower. X 2815

Sun Brand Chutney.—Piquant, Pe apery, and Pleasant. From all grocers. X 2775 Genuine jewellery sale this.day at B. Clarke and Co.’s, 148, Colombo Street. All our new and fashionable stocks of engagement rings -from , 10s to £l6. Gold brooches, watches, high-classed spectacles, clock#, etc., are re-marked, and offered at tempting prices. See our prices, and you will hot purchase elsewhere. Clarke and C0.,-148. Colombo Street.—(Advt.) Townend's Bilious and Liver pilia Kasp in Health tic Liver, Stomach, Heart, Mnd Kidneys, free tho elan of blotches, and {urify the blood. Sold everywhere. Price r, W. P. Town-end, 183, Colombo Street, Christchurch. X 2621

The greatest aid to easy cycling under ail conditions of roads and weather, is the twospeed gear fitted to “ Anglo-Special ” bicycles. Gear changed instantly while riding at any free-wheef at will. , Call and see this' ingenious ‘mechanism at the Anglo-New Zealand Cycle Company, D.1.C., and 226, High Street. Xll9B Good tyres fitted to a bicycle make cycling a real pleasure. Pit “Ideal” tyres and you will have an ideal cycle. Six years’ trial on the Australasian market have given Ideal tyres a most enviable ropntaion, V v X 2771 Bun Brand Chutney.—Best in tile world. AH grocers. Lamps.—Wt hold a large stock of reading) tanging and hand lamps, and We guarantee to sell cheaper than any other Atm in Christchurch. Reading lamps from ,2a 6d, hand lamps le, chimneys from 3d ■ each, wicks from Id, at Fletcher Bros., Importers of Lamps, Chimneys, etc.. High Strut* X 2565

On arrival at'Tim-aru to-day, the Duchess of York will be presented with a bouquet by a little’ girl selected to represent the State schools in the town.

■ -The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall personally congratulated the Premier on his birthday. Their congratulations were not, as stated yesterday t conveyed by telegram. During the Royal visit, the Constabulary Force has been considerably augmented. Yesterday the official roll numbered! one hundred and forty-seven-, including officers, constables, piain-ctothes men and detectives. Fifty special constables, -wearing badges, were also doing duty. By permission of their Royal Highnesses, the band from the Royal yacht Ophir will give concerts In the Canterbury Ball this and) to-morrow evening. The band, which numbers thirty-four performers, is under the conductorship of Mr J. Wright, R.C.M.,' was' specially selected by their Royal Highnesses from amongst the premier bands of England to accompany them on their tour, and has met with enthusiastic receptions wherever it has played in Australia "and! New Zealand,

The Premier and Mrs Seddon the Christchurch Hospital,last evening for the purpose of seeing the of the cadet corps now in Ohristchnich who have been sent there for medical treatment. The hoys are suffering from only trifling ailments, and are all progressing favourably. After speaking a few kindly words to the lads, the Premier sent reassuring telegrams to their parents. The following is a list of the patients—Thomas White (Hastings), Patrowski (Waipawa), Stewart Campbell (Hunterville), Brown (Wellington), Robert Price (Nelson), Pertly Cox (Peatherston), and Arthur Stacey (Wellington). • A SHORT SPEECH. Probably the shortest- speech the Premier, the Right Hon R. J. Seddon, ever made was delivered at the luncheon- to the veterans and returned -members of - the. contingents at the Art Gallery yesterday. Before his arrival the assembly had commenced to execute justice cn- the choice array of viandsf before them, but upon the right honourable gentleman’s entry they desisted and stood up. The Premier was conducted to his seat, and after surveying the room, full of men standing, for a moment, he said, in a loud, clear voice, “ Proceed,” and sat down. The humour of ; the situation appealed to all present, and a cheer was the response. H.M.S. OPHIR. The Premier has received a communication from Commander Wi-ntioe, of H.M.S. Ophir, to the effect that the ship will be open to inspection- by the public between the hours of 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to-day. AUCKLAND’S NEW PARK. Cornwall Park, the princely endowment which Dr Logan Campbell, Mayor of Auckland, has just vested in “as a place of public recreation and enjoyment for: the young nation- of New Zealand,” is an estate with a history. _ In the pneEuropean days, One-Tree Hill, or Mangakihikihi, the central peak which gave the f roperty the name by which it is best nown, was one of the principal strongholds of the Maoris of the Auckland isthmus districts,- and riVal tribes repeatedly contended in bloody warfare for its. possession. The hill, which has three volcanic craters, was very strongly' fortified in the Maori fashion, and the remains of the old ramparts can be seen- to this day. In 1843, the -property, 230 acres in extent, was sold to Mr Robert Henry, then an Auckland merchant, and he in turn sold it in 1851 to Dr Campbell, who retained it intact until he the other day conveyed it to Messrs D; L. Murdoch, A. M. Myers, R. E-all and A. S. Bunkar-t, in trust for the public. Until a comparatively short time ago, the hill was crowned.by a fine totara tree, planted by the Maoris to commemorate the birth 'at that spot of a son of a chieftain. The tree was a landmark for miles around —hence the name One-Tree Hill—and it acquired a saoredn-ess in the/ eyes of the Natives, bub-soifle vandal of a pakeha destroyed it. Dr Campbell, howevej, planted a fresh grove of trees to replace it. . KING MABUTA DEPOSED.

A telegram from Auckland states that on. the Saturday "prior to the Moura’s departure, Tutu. Nihoniho, a Ngatipdrou warrior who received a sword of honour from the late Queen, delivered a speech to the assembled Europeans and Mabrip. • He commenced by stating that all the (Maoris had seen the King’s son, Mahuta being the only absentee. “Why should we bother about Mahuta?” said Tutu. The road to # Rotorua was easy, but no,' he would not join us. We have all been there. A right royal time’ we have had. The only one we trouble about is King Edward, not King Mahuta.” Tho speaker was interrupted by a. Gisborne chief, who remarked that the. less said about Mahuta tho better. Continuing, Tutu said,: “ “ Malhujrf* is dead. We must cart’him info- oblivion when we toUch upon this matter.” Tutu was loudly cheered by the Europeans and Maoris. A EECMRD. In his address to the Crand Jury at Blenheim yesterday, the Chief Justice said he had again to congratulate the district on the fact that there were no bills of indictment to present to them this, sitting. This, he believed, was a unique experience anywhere in. the colony. This was the third session over which he had presided in Blenheim at which no criminal business had 1 to be transacted, and he believed that was a record for the colony. He assumed that the fact was not due to any lack of zeal on the part of the police officers, but to the excellent moral tone prevailing in the district.