TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12559, 22 July 1901, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

' The rain which fell in South. Canterbury to Friday had cleared off by Saturday morning. The fall was of great benefit in replenishing dams ami -water tanks/, and by thawing tie frost out of the ground. J

< The recent frost has proved very injurious to the asphalt footpaths in. Asli- , burton. Much of the good work done by the Council has been rendered: -useless, as : on some of the principal streets the smooth surface has been destroyed an-di pedestrians lhave to waide through large rmudiholes. i At the monthly meeting of the Jtangiora Borough Council, on Friday evening, it was decided to ask Mr Buddo, M.H.R., to bring under the notice of tie Government the antiquated nature of the passenger acDommodation at the Rangiora Railway Station,-and to ask for the erection of more -up-to-date buildings.

On Saturday Mr A. H. Joseph left a new covert coat hanging in the hall of /ilTattersall's Hotel while he was having -luncheon, and upon returning for it found that Ft nadi been removed. The loss is particularly annoying to Mr Joseph, as in the -pockets wers a,number of valuable business papers which he cannot replace. The police have the- matter in hand. ■* The Lyttelton Marine Band, under Band- , tßMist-er G. E. Collins, played a number of "selections in the railway yard, at Lyttelton', yesterday afternoon. A collection Was made by members of the Lyttelton Fire Brigade, during the performance, in aid of the Day family, who lost all their furniture and other property at the recent fatal fire on Brenchley Road. The passengers on- .the five o'clock tram from Sumner last night were much inconvenienced by-several intoxicated men who were returning from an afternoon at.the seaside. In one ear there -were two, and those of the ladies, present who were unable to find 'seats; in another car had to squeeze jhemselves up together to leave room for jfclie intaxioaioi ah#k 40 ro3J, ft«A./jestiqjilai^

In spite of the recent rains the snow still covers the ground in places on the hill tops.

The Cheviot Mounted Rifles held a successfull ball in the M'Kenzie Town Hall on Friday evening. There was a large attendance, and dancing was kept up to a late hour, to music supplied by Mr C. Fox. The electric tablet system, to ensure the safe running of trains between stations, is being brought into operation on, the section from Wellington to the Hutt. It will gradually be extended to otter lines.

Two first offenders were each fined 5s and costs at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning, and a decrepit old man, charged with vagrancy, was convicted and discharged, on condition that he went to the Samaritan Home.

The "Corrick Family" Bellringing, Biograph and Concert Company has arrived! in Chiistchureh after a successful 'tour of the North Island and West Coast. The company will perform in the Theatre Royal on Tuesday, and Wednesday, July 30 and 31. A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that Messrs Bay ley Brothers, tanners, of Green Island, intend to close their works, fearing the operation of, the Federal tariff, and because the lab'our legislation is having the effect of increasing the cost of production. According* to the- Wellington "Post," it is said that a* well-known clergyman in the colony not long ago received 22s 6d conscience money from an anonymous person, who averred that he had cheated him at cards years ago—before the recipient entered the church.

His Honor Mr Justice Denniston, who arrived from Wellington on Friday, will probably hold a Chamber sittings at the Supreme Court to-morrow. The next criminal sessions at Christchurch will open on Monday, August 5, and the nextcivil sessions on August 12. A' very large number of city and country school teachers attended at the Normal School on Saturday morning, when Mr E. C. Isaacs, Inspector of Manual and Technical Instruction in the public schools of New Zealand, gave an interesting demonstration lesson in technical instruction, in which ho dealt with several classes.

' A country teacher told her troubles to the Hawke's Bay Education Board the other day as follows:—"My house is almost a lake this morning, so bad that I am going to town to spend a comfortable Sunday, The leakage is from the chimney in the kitchen to the centre of the room. Yesterday morning I got wet while cooking breakfast, and last night I jcould Hot face the same again, so went out .and begged tea." "-Stone's Wellington, Hawke's 'Bay, and Taranaki Directory for 1901 has just been published, and will be in the hands of subscribers -immediately. This is the eleventh year of.. the directory's publication, and ■Messus Stone, Son, and Co. still maintain in.this guide to the three provinces dealt •with; the reputation for producing work both comprehensive and! exact which they have well earned. The directory is commercial, anxmicipail. and general, and while aiming almost wholly at usefulness, beauty has not been neglected', as the work is also a fine sample of printing. The City Morgue was used for the first time on Saturday) when the body of the late Charles Parkinson, which was found in the River -Avon, was taken there. Although the inquest room had been 1 furnished with chairs, it was found that no table had been provided for the inquest which was held yesterday, and one had to be brought from the station in the police van. 'No arrangements have yet been made by the city with outside boroughs to receive any bodies which come from their districts, and it is understood that a demand will be made on the St Albans Bonough Council for the sum of £1 Is for the use of the Morgue in the. present case, a? the body was found in »St Albans.

At Friday night's meeting of the Bangiora Borough Council, Councillor Bell brought up the subject of the Waimakariri harnessing scheme in relation to the northern boroughs. He could 1 not see that Christchurch should have practically & monopoly of a river power that was a provincial asset, and he moved to the effect that the Christchurch City Council should be asked to go no further in the matter until the question o-f joining {ill the boroughs within a reasonable radius of the source of power in the scbemV had been discussed. Some of the councillors agreed with the' mover in his main idea, but the motion was modified to simply asking the City Council whether in considering tone" scheme-any thought had been given to the' northern boroughs. An event of utmost importance to all classes of the community is the great Stocktaking Sale at Beath and Co.'s, the Popular Drapers. The high position they hold in\ public favour is entirely due to the superior value and quality of their goods. Just now the whole of their valuable stock of new fashionable drapery and clothing is being sacrificed in order to effect a thorough clearance. Sweeping reductions. See our windows and bargain tables. Remnants at ridiculous prices. Beath's Sale. Don't miss it. X 2867 • ... Damage's first annual sale second-hand bicycles now on. High Street, Christchurch. X 2705

No matter how muddy the roads, you can ride to business without getting splashed if you use Bleumel's winter mudguards, fitted or detached in one minute. You can get them at " The Anglo," 226, High Street, and D.I.C. Xll9B

Diamonds, Gold, etc.—Clarke and Co. buy for cash old gold chains, watches, jewellery, etc. Clarke's 25s 18ct. wedding rings ara, heaviest and best value in New Zealand. Clarke and Co. invite comparison 'of- their engagement rings, watches, jewellery, clocks, eiectao-pkte, etc. Jewellery made to order. "Watches cleaned 4s 6d, clocks 2s 6d. S. Clark© and Co.. 148, Cole-mho Street.—(Advt.) Tow-hend'g Bilious and Liver Pills Keep_in Health the Liver, Stomach, Heart and Kidneys, free the skin of blotches, and purify the blood. Sold everywhere. Price Is. W. P. Townend, 183, Colombo Street, Christehurch. X 2521

Good tyres fitted to a bicycle make cycling a real pleasure. Fit "Ideal" tyres and vou ,wiU have an ,ideal cycle. Six years* trial on the Australasian market have given Ideal tyres a most enviable reputation. X 2771

The* market is flooded at the present time with. worthless preparations for the hair, many of them being injurious as well as worthless, but Heady's egg-julepTnay be honestly recommended as a most reliable hair tonic for beautifying and cleansing the hair. Price, Is per bottle. This elegant preparation may 'be procured from Strange and Co.'s, drapers, Christehurch, who are also sole agents for Hendv's Frizzairs, or curling fluid. X 2533

lu the window of W. J. Dunlop's shop i;> to be seen a display of most beautiful jewellery. N.B.—Repadro of all descriptions done on the premises, 175, High Street, opposite J. Knight, Butcher, below Clock Tower. X 2815.

For bicycle repairs we specially recommend cyclists to Boyd and Son, who aire combining first-class work with moderate charges. 191, Gloucester Street, Christchuroh. Telephone 457. X 2588

Sun Brand Chutney.—Piquant, Peppery, and Pleasant. From all grocers. X 2775"

Lodestar Carbide, petrol, arsenic, mineral naphtha, benzine. Henry Markwald, Bowron's Buildings. Telephone 1044. X 2775

"Bicyc'es for everybody. Sale at Gamage's, High Street. Massey-Harris, Zealandia, Star, Atalanta, Kent, other makes cheap. X 2705 Zealandia Cycles.—The most up-to-date of all colonial cycles, good in every part, pleases every buyer, and good on all roads. Oates, Lowry and Co., Makers, Christchurch. X 1571

On hire for wedding, birthday parties, etc., cups, saucers, tumblers, cake stands, knives, forks and spoons. Dinner and tea sets, etc., at reasonable prices. Fletcher Bros., Crockery and Glassware Impqrters, Lower Bhrh Street X 2565

Mr James Cochrane, the only candidate, was, on Saturday, declared elected to the vacant seat on the Wakanui River Board. As White's Bridge is unsafe for heavy traffic,' it has been closed against traction engines.

Yesterday was the .fifteenth anniversary of the annexation of the Kermadec Islands by New Zealand.

''Classes- at-the School of Engineering, Electricity and Technical Science will be resumed on Monday, July 29. The subjects in, which instruction is given are advertised.

On Saturday flags were displayed at halfmast at the New Zealand .Shipping Company's office and elsewhere in Lyttelton as _ a, mark of respect for the late Mr J. T. Gifford, formerly chief clerk for the company in Lyttelton.

The Woolston Brass Band, under Bandmaster Lithgow, played a number of selections on the hand rotunda in Market Square yesterday, and the music was appreciated by a very large number of people who had.gathered. It has been found that. the trout in •Lake Taupo cannot be taken with rod and line. A proposal has been made that nets should be permitted in that locality. There is an abundance of trout in the lake, many running between twenty and thirty pounds.

An interesting programme has been arranged by Mr Clifford Walker for his recital in the Choral Hall on Friday evenin" 1 next. Mr Percy Denton, Mr H. M. Reeves, Mr J. W. Bunz, and Mr O. T. J. Alpers will assist, and the performance will include a one act comedietta, entitled " Old Cronies," in which Mr Walker has achieved considerable success in England and South Africa.

Owners of traction engines do not appear to be paying much attention to the new city by-law, which provides that they must pay a license fee of £5 for taking their engines over the streets of the city. Provision is made for a reduction in the fee in, proportion to the part of the financial year which has elapsed. The by-law will be strictly enforced. The rain of the past few days, coming after the surface of the soil had been thoroughly moistened by the snow, has penetrated to a sufficient depth to permit of ploughing being proceeded with. Whilst the weather has been just the kind to suit agricultural requirements it has been rather too severe for the early lambs, a good many of which are making their appearance on the North Canterbury farms. The following is a statement of Customs duties collected' at the port of Lyttelton during the week ended July 19:—Spirits, £2044 12s 4d;' cigars, cigarettes and snuff, £309 10s 3d; tobacco, £583 19s 6d; wine, £B6 3s Id; beer", £2O; tea, £Bl 2s 4d; coffee, cocoa and chocolate, £4 7s 6dj sugar, molasses and treacle, £203 5s lOd; weight, £248 10s 6d; ad' valorem, £1399 18a 3d; other duties, £263 13s 9d; total for week, £3245 3s 4d. The Rangiora Borough Council decided on Friday night to insure their workmen under the Employers Liability Act. It transpired in discussing the matter that just now there is keen competition between the accident insurance companies, and rates are very unsettled in consequence. For example, a week ago a local body paid £1 per cent for insuring their men, and the company is now prepared to do the same clasd' of business at 10s per cent. Mr G. F. Tendall, Mus. Bac, Oxon., will commence the lectures of the new term on Monday, July 29. The subjects chosen for study embrace the rudiments of music, harmony, counterpoint, form, composition and all other subjects required for the examinations of the Associated Boiard of the R.A.M. and R.C.M., the New Zealand University and Canterbury College. There will be a course of selections on the History of Music. The time-table, with .other particulars may be obtained at the College. About fifty 'persons attended w public meeting in Timaxu, on Saturday, to hear an address by Mr J. R. Scott, of Dunedin, in favour of establishing a dairy factory at Timaru, for South Canterbury. Mr Scott, who was attentively listened to, spoke very encouragingly of.the project. Mr A. C. Thomson, one of the provisional directors of the company, said they had almost enough » shares promised to justify them in declaring the companj' formed. ' He appealed to the public to help the scheme as one calculated to bsnefifc the whole district, the risk -of loss being trifling in proportion 'to the certainty of benefit if the scheme is carried out successfully. If it is not carried out' Al'bury and Fa.irlie were determined to establish creameries in connection with the Oamaru factory.

A STRANGE FIND. The Inangahua ft Herald" reports that a resident at Nelson some time ago found a kri-fe in a secluded: spot near what is known in that district as " Murderers' Rock," an the Maungatapu Mountain, the scene of the murders by the Kelly-Bur-gess gang in June. 1866. The knife, is of old-fashioned make, and evidently had been little used. Its handle is of wood on one side. The knife has evidently been exposed, but it must have been in a sheltered position or it would not t>e in so good a state of preservation -after a lapse of over thirty-four years. A SINGULAR CLAIM. ' A peculiar case is set down for hearing at the Gore S.M. Court (says the "Standard"). The plaintiff claims £l5O or the return of certain cattle. It is alleged that the defendant, finding the plaintiff's cattle in his crop, took charge of them and impounded them in an adjoining paddock, but next morning the cattle were missing, and, it is stated, have nob been seen since. The plaintiff has therefore put in a claim as above. . ■ ■ THE CAPTURE OF THE WEREROA PA. To-day is the thirty-sixth anniversary of an important event in the Maori war. On July 22, 1865, 'the famous Wereroa Pa, near Wanganui, was entered 'by the Imperial troops. It had 'been occupied 1 by about 100 men, as well as by a number of women and children. They were headed by Hariamona, a Ngararuru chief, who had 'turned a deaf ear to the arguments and offers of i'he Governor's ambassadors, and had declared his intention to hold l the pa to the last. On July 20 four Armstrong guns were sent round xo Waitotara, and on the following: day a Maori contingent, under Captain M'Donnell, captured a pa cailled Areiahi, close to Wereroa. Ninety-eight Maoris, among whom were three Uriwera chiefs who were concerned in Mr Volkner's murder, were 'among the prisoners. When the occupants of Wereroa became aware of the capture their hearts fell. At midnight on July 21 the friendly Maoris rushed the pa, and found in* it only one old woman. At daybreak the pa was occupied by the troops. NEWSPAPER CRITICISMS. Mr. G. J. Smith, at the "social" given in his honour on Saturday evening, dealt for a few minutes with criticisms levelled at him in the Christehurch newspapers. He said he could. not reconcile the facts that while in Christdvurch the opposition newspaper could practically find no good word for him, in. Wellington the "Post," which was a:n Opposition newspaper, although an independent one, on the after the election, said " the re-turn of Mr Smith is eminently satisfactory." If an Opposition newspaper in Wellington could judge a man's character in that manner; surely it was not too much, to ask a news-

paper in Christchurch- to bo tender in- its criticism. Of course, there were circumstances in connection with the local newspaper which rendered it difficult for the editor to express his opinion, and that being so, perhaps both the editor and the newspaper should be pardoned. Mr Smith went on to say that there was a danger in connection with political life, as letters which had appeared in the columns of both the daily newspapers in. the city were very unfair. There was a danger of allowing license to grow to such an extent in that direction that any man who had tenderness of feeling, or regard for his name or for himself, would not submit to being keel-hauled in ithe manner adopted toward*-) candidates at present. Being a candidate had its joys; it also had its other side. During the recent campaign there had been one or two things which touched him up. From the other candidates, however, he had received nothing but kindness, and had.extended the same consideration to them. Bub he desired to protest against the misrepresentation of little things that occurred at political campaigns. Perhaps that was hardly the time for him to mention the subject, but he desired to make a protest, so that at the next general election they might fight on broad general grounds, and not deliberately misrepresent one another.