TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12586, 22 August 1901, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Owing to the prevalence of dnfluensa, tha Richmond School will he closed from to-day' tjll further notice. A public meeting to consider the question of forming a branch of the Formers* Union in the Ellesmere district has been decided upon, and Mr Glass, the organising secretary from the North Island union, will be invited to he present. The Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association has decided that all exhibits must be on the ground by 11.45 on the morning of the first, day of th© «bow, and that the entries shall dose on Tuesday, Oct. 22. The milking test will be carried out under the same -conditions, as before' 1 s

VAt Wocdville, yesterday, a, man named

Barron Gardner was fined £3O and costs for fraudulently practising as a medical man. The Ashburton Beautifying' Association is Slaving tie fences round the Baring Squaw*, reserves repainted and tie flower plotavuttended to. To assist in raising fnna*-«ffae Association has arranged for an entertainment. by the Christchurch Bright Hours’ Children, cm u date to be fixed. At a. meeting of the registered dairymen of Lyttelton,, held at the Albion Hotel, Lyttelton, on Tuesday evening, it was agreed that the standard price for milk should he 4d a quart all the year round. • A meeting is to be held next Tuesday' evening for the purpose of forming a Dairy--men’s Union.

When a case, in which a man was charged with the use of insulting language, was called at the Police Court yesterday, the defendant, who was amongst the “audience,” did not come forward. On being spoken to, he explained that ho had had •o summons, and was present simply as an ordinary spectator. The-case had to be adjourned. f , ;.-i At the Supreme Court sitting yesterday morning a solicitor ;-cited sacase in,, argument, in which ,theplaintiff ‘was named Van, . AVinkle. “ That must be rather an ancient case,”

remarked another solicitor. Later oh the 1 first solicitor again referred to the case, and unthinkingly called- it “the case of Rip Van Winkle.” , . ' At the usual monthly meeting of, the Kaiapoi Borough Council on Tuesday evening, the windows were in mourning. A dog had been shut up in the Chamber, and, had evidently been hungry, as nearly all the Venetian blinds had been mutilated by . the nnamal’s teeth, and crape about a fo-ot'deep; was hanging <jn the bottom to ' hide the damage. The. dog has been destroyed.

The following is the Chamber list for the ■itting of the Supreme Court on Friday next:—ln re settlement J.. H. Sixne—Motion to appoint trustees (Mr Johnston). In re Donald H. Monro, deceased —Motion fox administration (Mr Cowlishaw). In re James Henry Wrenn, deceased —To consider. report (Mr Widdowson). In re Robert Edwin 'Stoddart, deceased—Motion for administration (Mr Loughrey). In re John Hancox, deceased—Motion for probate (Mr Johnston). ' .

In reply to a letter from the New Zealand Institute of Journalists thanking the Ministry and himself for the kindness, courtesy and facilities extended to the English Press representatives who accompanied the Royal party, the Hon Sir Joseph Word, Minister of _ Railways, has written as follows:—“I have to say, on. behalf of myself end colleagues, that we, were only too pleased to have the English Press representatives wifth us, and! we can only hope that anything we might have been permitted to d'o for them contributed in some degree) to the enjoyment of the tour.”

The condemned murderer M’Lean is now ftccepting the ministrations of the Rev A. 3EL Treadwell, and remains in much! the same condition-, calmly awaiting the time ■when Tie willy be called upon to pay the last- penalty of the law. It is understood that ile will leave a confession which will entirely remove the Stigma he cast upon one of his victims. As has Excellency the Governor will have returned' to Wellington to-day, at is more than probable that the warrant for M’Lcan’s execution will be mg-acd at cece. Upon its reaching Mr Bloxaan, the sheriff, he has to see the Sentence carried into execution within (seven Says.

", At the meeting at Leeston yesterday of the 'Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral iAssoowtion, wMe' advisablesxess of forming a Farmers’* Union, the question of labour legislation was brought forward by on* of the members. Mr Robert Lodhhead, on advocating the formation of a .branch of the Union, explained that the labourers’ interests were identical with those of their employers, the farmers, for if the formers were not 'doing yreH. they could not afford to pay the" labourers, and simply let the work'go undone!; and, again, labourers were free agents or freetraders, and took their labour to the best market. Fanners must also, by the nature of their products, |>a freetraders, as they had to compete in the markets of the world. ■For the annual dhow of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, to be held . in . i October, •the foH'owiog ‘ private prizes have been promised:—The President gives £4 4s to the winner of most points in all horse sections; £3 3s to the winner of most points in sheep sections; £2 2s to the winner of most points in ? cattle sections; £1 Is to the winner of most points in dairy produce. Mr J. Studhclme, jun., gives £5 5s for the best troop horse up to 16st, feot exceeding 15.2 Hgh; competition confined to the Ashburton County Mounted Corps. The Ashbuxtoni County Council gives £lO for the best plough, or implement adapted to deandne water-races. The Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Export Company, Limited (Belfast raid Fairfield), offers a prize of £5 6s for the best pen of five fat kheep fit for export, nob exceeding 651 b in weightalso £5 5s for the beat five fat lambs fit for freezing. Mr .G. MEae gives £1 la for the best pen of five half-bred l ewe hoggets, by Lincoln rama from merino ewes. Mr W. Anderson gives £1 Is for the pen or jperos of fat sheep best shorn, with shears.

During 'this week all remnants and toddxneots accumulated at Death’s great jEnd-cf-Season and Extension Sale will be thrown out on bargain tables at prices Which, are certain to clear tbe whole lob in fc few days. In dress department, ia best of bargains on remnant tables, in Manchester department, see centre tables packed with bargains, job baskets of remnants tod oddments in fancy department all brush be cleared. Men's and boys’ clothjog and mercery, special bargain Tote for this week, at Death’s clearance of remluuats. Shop early. Great bargains.

X 2867 For bicycle repairs we specially recombtend cyclists to Boyd and Son, who are combining first-class work with moderate charges, 191, Gloucester Street, Christchurch. Telephone 437. X 2588 ‘ Lodestar Carbide, petrol, arsenic, mineral fcaptha, benzine. Henry Markwald, Bow- - bon’s Buildings. Telephone 1044. X 2775 Anglo-Special Bicycles have several advantages over other makes. One of these being a 2-speed gear, changeable from high to low while riding at any speed, only Boz (added weight, and no extra friction. Inspection of the new models cordially invited to the Anglo-New Zealand Cycle Company.. iD.LC.,*and 226, High Street. X 1196. It isn’t the material which goes into your, (repaired watch that results in a perfect job,' jt is the know how. Anyoiho can buy the' fine kind of material that Clarke and Co. ttse, but the most valuable material that can be used in watoh repairing is skill, .and the bungler can’t buy iff Clarke and Co., Jewellers, 148, Colombo Street. X 1275 ■ Townend’s Bilious and Liver Pills— Keep in Health the Liver, Stomach, Heart hnd Kidneys, free the skin of blotches, and purify the Wood. Sold everywhere. Price Is. W. P. Townend, 183, Colombo Street, Christchurch. ’ X 2521 Good tyres fitted to a bicycle make cycling a real pleasure. Fit “Ideal " tyres pud y°u hiive an ideal cycle. Sis' years’ trial on the Australasian market nave given Ideal tyres a most enviable refutation. X 2771 Sun Brand Chutney—Piquant, Peppery, tod Pleasant. From all grocers. X 2776 The market is flooded at the present tame (with worthless preparations for the hair, Jnany of them .being injurious as well as (worthless, but Hendy’s egg-julep may 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, Christchurch, Who are also sole agents for Hendy’s Frizfcairs, or curling fluid. X 2533 Seeds, season 1901, Vegetable Seeds 3d per pkt., Flower Seeds Id per pkt., seed potatoes. Best kinds in stock. Agents |or Nimmo and Biair, Dunedin, standard iMdfl. Fletcher Bros., High Street. X 2565. > f ' ,•

The Wellington Fresh Food and Ice Company, has declared a dividend of 5 percent. ■

--The weather in, the - Ashburton district, which for the last few days has been warm and summer-like, changed yesterday, when a stiff sou’-wester, bringing up rain, set in, A telegram from Wellington states that the damage to the census papers through .Tuesday’s fife 1 was not so .great as was at first feared. Only tbs papers on which the clerks were working on tlhc day before the fire, and which bad been left on the tables, | Were affected, and those not irreparably. “ A" meeting of employers in the plastering trade will ba held at Otley’s Hall, Gloucester Street, at 8 p.m. to-morrow to appoint three employers to act with three journeymen appointed by the Operative Union as a committee to fix the ratio of wages of incompetent workmen in the trade. The annual social of the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade was held last night, in the Colonists’ Hall, Lyttelton. A certificate for three years’ service was presented to Foreman J. Bowden, and two years service bars to Fireman J. Graham, A. ':Fdbt;' : Ji ; Knowdes, P. E’alam, J. Fames, F. iMarshalli -F. Lurch and B. M’Donald.

Tuesday was observed as Arbor Day by the children of the Motuk-arara School. A belt of pines was planted on the inside of the present maerocarpa fence. Nearly all appeared with spades of some sort, and those who had no spades helped to pkuat. At the end of the day close on aSO trees -were found to have been planted. On Tuesday evening a match at euchre and cribbage took place at the Lyttelton Naval Artillery orderly-room, between members of the corps, and a party of the Blue-/'Jackets and Marines of H.M.S. Archer. The former won by thirty games to twenty-six. At the close the Volunteers entertained their visitors at a smoke concert.

A considerable improvement has recently been made in lighting the entrance to the grounds at the Christchurch Hospital. For many years there have been two large lamps over the gates,' and for some, time after their erection they were lighted by gas, but for the past year or so, whether from motives M economy on otherwise, they have been left unlighted. Now, however, eketrio lights have been placed in each of them.

It may not be generally known that Mr Andrew Carnegie, the' Americanised 1 Scotch multi-millionaire, has pensioned off for life seme of his -old schoolmates. According to the “ Otago Daily Times,” one of these recipients of his bounty is said- to be a-South-land farmer, who is ini receipt of am allowance of £260 a year, a.ndl less than two yeara ago madia a trip .Home to thank his benefactor in person.

The first meeting of the newly-elected 'committee of the Prison Gate Mission was held at Messrs Kaye and Carter’s office yesterday afternoon. The chair was taken by the Rev H. Airay Watson, and the Rev 0. Coates was elected chairman for the ensuing year, and Mr T. I. Smaill was appointed gaol visitor andi secretary. Several reports from visitors were read and discussed, and 1 accounts to the amount of £7 16s sd ! were passed for payment. A wel-atteuded meeting of farmers from the ’ Templeton, Prebbleten, YaWhurat, Harewocd Road and Upper Riccarton districts was-held at Templeton on-Monday evening, when, after discussion, it was resolved to form a branch) of the Farmers’ Union. ■ Correspondence -was read 1 from Mr A. G. Glass, organising secretary of the Union, and it was decided to call a meeting cf farmers to be held in the Templeton schoolhouse, on Thursday evening next, when addresses on the aims and objects of the Union will be given by Mr Glass and others.

At the inquest yesterday, Mr H. W. Bishop, district coroner, made some strong remarks with regard to hotel dives. He considered that they were n'othihg 1 better than traps, and if ho had Ibis way. personally he would not allow them. The conditions of the liquor traffic were such that men were certain to get intoxioated at times, and it was absolutely dangerous for a man under the influence to go up and down these dives. The matter Would, probably bo dealt with in the future by the Licensing Committee, ■ and if he had his way there would certainly be no dives in the new hotels that are to be built. The jury endorsed the Coroner’s remarks. Several delegates to the Tramways Conference last evening expressed their belief in the future of the motor. Mr T. H. Davey, Mayor of St Albans, drew a picture of numbers of motors, controlled by the municipal authorities, running through St Albans at regular intervals, and taking the place of the tram-cars. He said that when that state of affairs was brought about there would be no more cutting-up of the .roads by rails, and the motors, so far from doing any harm, would actually improve the streets on which they ran regularly. Mr C. M. Gray endorsed these opinions, and added that in some places in England motors were actually out-running the railways.

Tbe steam road-roller ordered by tie St Albans Borough Council will, arrive soon. When the Council was informed that 20 per -cent duty had to be paid on it, tie Mayor was requested to communicate with the Premier and 'Mr W. W. Collins, M.H.R., and ascertain if ’the roller could not be admitted free, or if, at any rate, a rebate would be made. It was pointed out that traction engines are admitted free. By changing wheels, the roller, may be used as such an engine, and in any case, it is being brought out for the benefit of the St Albana borough. The Mayor, Mr T. H. Davey, however, has received the following telegram from the Premier: —“The law does not permit road-rollers being admitted duty free, and the Government cannot interfere with the carrying out of the law.”

The jurymen at the inquest yesterday tried, apparently without much satisfaction to themselves, to solve the knotty .point of “when is a man drunk!'” A harman, who should have been an expert, thought that a man could, nob he called drunk while he could Stand properly and talk sensibly. 'H4 ’iftlghft"be drunk as to bis lower extremities and still fairly clear-headed, or, on the other hand, stupid or boisterous, and still able to walk. In either case he was drunk. An hotel licensee seemed to he of opinion that a man was sober as long as be could understand what was said to him. Other witnesses drew the usual distinction between the man who had “ had drink" and the man who was “drunk.” Altogether, the general opinion of those examined seemed to be that a man could nob be properly 'called drunk while not absolutely helpless, r The quarterly meeting of the Christchurch Fire Police was held ,in the City Council Chambers on Tuesday. Mr J. G. Smart was in the chair. Mr 0. Archer’s resignation, on account of his removal to Timaru, was received, and also that of Mr C. ill. Gray, who found himself unable to attend to the duties. Both of these resignations were accepted. The Secretary was instructed to write, thanking Messrs Archer and Gray for their past services. A report of fires since last meeting was read. Messrs G. M’llraith and P. Stain were nominated for membership. Mr J. H. Newbery was elected officer in charge for -'the North-west Ward, in the place of Mr C. M. Gray. Superintendent Smith gave the meeting advice as regards providing wire lines to keep the crowd back at fires. Those members who were present were resworn, in accordance with the Act, and it was resolved to leave the roll-book at the Council Chambers for a week, so that other members may be re-sworn when the Mayor is in attendance. manual Instruction. In response to the circular issued by the North Canterbury Education Board to headmasters with schools employing not less than two teachers, a number of applications have been received to have teachers in charge of lower Standards recognised by the Minister of Education as qualified to give instruction in manual subjects. These applications will be forwarded by the Board to the Department with the recommendation that the necessary, recognition should

be given as requisitioned, also that the necessary material for the carrying out of the project should be forwarded.

CHECKING AN ANNOYING PRACTICE. . On some occasions in the course of the opera season (says the Wellington “Post’), Herr Slapoffski has administered a silent and needed rebuke to late-comsrs by refusing to raise his baton till all were seated and quiet. Last nteht was an exception, for the exquisite prelude to “ Lohengrin was spoiled to half the audience by the rustle of dresses, the clatter of unfolding seats, and the fluttering of newly-opened programmes, not to mention the buzz of chatter on the part of those who regarded an opera overture as merely something to be endured until the curtain rose. But there are others who would wish to enjoy it as an integral part of the work, and these have to suffer from the faoughtkssness of the unappreciative. We would suggest to the management that, if the nuisance of late arrival continues, it should adopt a plan which is largely followed on the Continent—close the doors the moment the overture begins, and keep them closed till it is ended.

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL. The San Francisco Mail Agent reports that the long stay of the Sierra at Honolulu was .caused -by having to discharge 1000 tons of cargo. On the day before leaving San Francisco all the firemen and coal passers on the Sierra went out on strike, and the men engaged in their places were mostly inexperienced, and could not keep up a full head of steam. Owing to the strike, great difficulty was experienced in getting sufficient men to load and man vessels in port, A steerage passenger for Sydney, named Kennedy, was missing the day after the steamer left San Francisco. It is supposed that he jumped overboard in a fit of insanity.

A NON-RECOILING GUN. Mr Robert M’Gloin, of Lyttelton, has returned from Wellington, where he has been interviewing the Ordnance Authorities with regard to his invention of a non-re-coiling gun, and the Premier has sanctioned a report on the invention by a Government expert in gunnery. Mr M’Gloin has devoted several years to the study of gunnery, with the object of discovering a means by which- recoil after discharge cap be overcome. This question of recoil is one that has troubled scientists in, gunnery from the first use of gunpowder, and up to date there has been no satisfactory solution of the problem. Mr M’Gloin, however,, claims that by the principle he has discovered, and which is simplicity itself, the difficulty of recoil has been got over, and not only that, but if a gun can be made to bound forward instead. The principle is simply the meeting of the force that causes the recoil with a counteracting force behind it, and this force is provided by the same explosion. Mr M’Gloin has made very many experiment® with his discovery, and is perfectly sure he has got hold of the correct thing. While experimenting for non-recoil, and after he had satisfied himself of his success, he thought a slight alteration in his apparatus would have the effect of improving its working. This alteration he made, and its action gave to him another idea in gunnery—a quite fresh notion altogether in quick-firing guns. This idea, however, he is not pursuing with great energy as at present there aro plenty of quick-firing guns available to the world, but an idea for disposing of the recoil of present day ordnance is one that all gunners look upon as “a consummation devoutly to be wished.”