TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13121, 8 May 1903, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Mr G. Leslie Rutherford has been, elected a member of the Kowai Pass • Domaia Board.

. ,The Christchurch branch of the Scottish! Society of New Zealand will hold the first general meeting of its .new session, in" its rooms to-night, at eight o'clock. Forty fine young draught torses, imported by Messrs (J. Holt and Sons for the Christchurch and Tiniaru arrived from the North Island yesterday • toy the s.s. Rotomahaaia. . " •

• '''.'' The jury that inquired anto the circumstances attending the death of Mrs Shannon, en Wednesday, refused to accept fees for their atteadauce, and donated fcbe sum to the Samaritan Home.

Arthur Holmes, charged on a provisional warrant with having committed fraud as an agent at Bradford, England, was broughfi before Mr B-. Beetham, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yeslerday morning. On the application of Mr Stringer, who appeared for. the prosecution, the case was further adjourned for seven days. ■ • ■ ' Mr 11. C. Field, writing to the Wanganui '"Herald" on the "Porirua Trust," stated;! —"A school for Maori children was 'actually conducted on the Porirua endowment for some years, but it was too far from the English village for. settlers' children to attend it, the only access being either_ by water or by traversing the rocky points and muddy bays of the harbour. Thusjj when the Ngatitoas migrated from Pori 1 rua to Otald, the school fell to the ground for want of pupils." • " Matters are still effervescing on the subject oif labourers' wages in this district, due to agitation by a few of the mora enthusiastic of the Union party," writes the! Milton correspondent of the "Free Press." "On • Saturday, night a crowd of a hundred ' of more men gathered in front of an hotel,, listening to the arguments 'between a wellknown farmer and a Union supporter, the former offering to baick himself against his opponent in any farm work obtainable fco> the extent of a ' fiver,' but when the cash: appeared the farmer' quietly backed out." The excitement engendered caused the polica to interfere, and indue© the meeting tq disperse. His Honor Mr Justice Denniston will siti in Chambars at 11 a.m. to-day, whenl the followini! business will bo' dealt with :! —Re Thomas Ross, motion for probate (Mil Mills); re Ross, and Austin, motion lon probate (Mr CbtteriU): re William Nahr n motion to discharge executors; re Ellen M--Reed, motion for administration (3W Hunt); Societe far Aaetions v. Booth, Macdonald and Co., summons for security for costs (Mr Bruges). His Honor will sit itf Banco in the afternoon, tie cases set down . for hearing being an appeal from the Magistrate's Court in the case of Stringer v.. England, and a motion for a. deed of ment in re John Deans, deceased (Mr Cotterill). ■ ■ '

A sale of -work was opened in the new schoolroom at the St Albans Wesleyaa 4 Methodist Church yesterday afternoon, by Mr A. F. Caarey, who congratulated the Trustees on the well-equipped building that has been erected. The baiaar, which lia3 been taken in hand 'by the Ladies' Guild, the trustees of the Church, and the teachers and pupils of the Sunday School,, is tastefully arranged. The main' hall is fitted with stalls, and the lecture hall at the back has been set aside as a> refreshment room. There are stalls for the sale of produce, plants and flowers, sweets and fancy work, and a/ stall under the control of the Laths' Sewing Guild, while the youn^ - men hav« supplied a variety stall. The sii* shows include a weighing machine, guessing competitions, a Christmas tree, bran tuba, and so on, and gramophone selections are given. The bazaar remained open last evening, and will be opened again this afternoon and evening. The object is to pay off ■ some liabilities in connection with ■ the building fund, and it is anticipated that the whole of the sum required will be obtained. Mr J. J. Kinsey, Belgian consul ia Christchurch, has received a,' communication from the Victorian consul for Belgium cevering a circular dealing with a.' universal and international exhibition, which will be held in the ancient city of Liege in April, 1905. The exhibition will include artistic," scientific, industrial, commercial, and colonial sections. In the colonial section there will be an exhibition representing the Congo Free State, which, it i« announced, will be given .prominence, so as to shoV the interest taken in civilising that country, a work which is due to the initiative of the King of the Belgians. There, will be temporary agricultural and horticultural shows, congresses, conferences, artistic and sportive fetes, and "competitions. The organisers intend to reserve a special spot for the purpose of reconstituting Old Liege. The idea is not to make a profit, but to celebrate the completion of large 'public works, and to worthily commemorate the 75th anniversary of national independence. The promoters want "to make their country appreciated abroad, and to win for it "the sympathy and esteem of other nations, which will always be the most valuable safeguard of Belgium's ind«s? pendence and free institutions*"-

The Auckland' dairymen hm& increased the price of milk, owing, they say, to tlio increase in the price of 'horse feed, wages, etc.

The company ■which has established paper-making mills at Riverhead, a few miles from Auckland, lias had a very successful year. Considerable additions are to be made to the plant.

Hyland's circus will open its Christehurch eeason on 'Monday evening. The combination embraces a number of clever/performers and a collection of trained horses and ponies. It is nineteen years since Mr Hyland went through a programme of horse tricks in Christehurch, and in the interval lie has successfully toured) Australia.

The Native Department has been informed that fever is spreading amongst the Maoris at Ohinemuri, Upper Thames, owing, it is believed, to the use of water from . a river into which the tailings from the Waihi and other crushing mills using the cyanide process are allowed to run. The Government is being urged to provide the natives with a supply of pure water.

The first step in the movement for a " Greater Dunedin " was taken last night, by the Oa\ersham Borough Council, when, in response to a petition by ratepayers, it was decided to take a poll to ascertain if the ratepayers were in favour of amalgamation. Nearly all the councillors are opposed to the movement, and an active campaign against it will 'be carried on between iiow and May,29, the date of the poll. The chrysanthemum show was remarkable for the absence from the list of competitors of many exhibitors who have been very prominent in former years. Many of the visitors noticed that there were no exhibits from Tiraaru, whioh has usually had a most important place in tlbe show. It is stated that the weather has been very much against Timaru ■ growers, and! they have been unable to get any show blooms. As a, consequence,, the annual. inter-club competition with) Timaru has been abandoned this year.

Yesterday several of the vessels at Lyttelton . -wens) decorated -with their ' 'bunting, and flags •were hoistedi on many of tbo flagstaffs of the town, on account of the marriage of Mr James Seville, of the Lyttelton Post Mid Telegraph Office, to Miss Lily Elizabeth Derbidge, second daughter of Mr S. Derbidge, inspector of works for the Harbour Board. : The marriage was solemnised in. the afternoon by the Rev Canon Coates at St Saviour's Church, West Lyttelton, in the presence of a large congregation. . The annual meeting of the Garrison Library -was held on Tuesday evening in the Civil Service Rifles' orderly-room, Colonel Porter presiding over a large, attendance. The ual balance-sheet, which .was of a satis, ory nature t was adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Colonel Porter, C. 8.; vice-pre-sidents, Colonel Gordon and Colonel Slater, V.D.; honorary secretary and treasurer, Lieutenant. Bishop; committee, Colonel Day, Major Snow and Major Cresswell. A paper prepared by Captain Stewart on the .Russo-Indian question was read by Captain Dougall and discussed. It -was agreed! that further discussion should be invited at the next monthly meeting, at which Colonel Porter has promised to read a paper.

In the course of an address at Hastings Mr J. G. Wilson, president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, strongly urged'that a farmers' co-operative fire insurance society should be formed. He asserted that the insurance companies Lad arrayed themselves against the fanner. The companies had put £400,000 into their business and taken double that amount out, of the pockets of the farmer, at profits ranging from 10 to 224 per cent. With regard to marine insurance, he had private information that instructions had been given to cut rates and so endeavour to shut out a Wellington firm representing Lloyd's, ■which had brought down rates to shippers from 32 3 6d to lis- 6d. The farmers' risk was the best of all, as his buildings were invariably isolated and there -was very little risk of fie. Tho present rates, he main-> fcained, were unreasonable.

New Plymouth has been agitating for a ciirect steamer service with Sydney. The bead office of ithe Union Steamship Company, replying to representations by its local agent, writes that it does nob wish to throw cold water on the project, but does not see that it is likely to lead to jurything satisfactory. The letter analyses New Plymouth trade figures for the past year, audi adds:—"The exports which go through' Sydney, including Newcastle and Queensland ports, only amount to 806 tons, while if it were possible to divert the whole of the cargo that goes to Australia to Sydney it would only amount to 170 tons a month. The imparts from Sydney only tun to about twenty tons a month, and it ia most unlikely that a direct service with Sydney would secure the trade of Hohart and Melbourne, but if it did ifcwould 1 still only run to fifty tons a month. I think these figures clearly-show that it will be impossible for the trade between New Plymouth and Sydney to support a steamer of any class. If we were to run. a small vessel of, say, the Upolu type, she would cos? at.the very least £ISOO a month, without making provision for depreciation. We do nob wish it to be thought that we are indifferent to the Irishes of the New Plymouth business people, and are willing to cake an experiment by sending in a steamer of the Whangape type when proceeding to Sydney from southern ports, pro-, tided* there is a reasonable possibility of. eecuririg, say,-2300 tons" The "News" Bays there is no present likelihood of the 2300 tons of cargo being forthcoming. Now is the time to book your order far an "Excelsior" plough, trial given. Mor. row, Bassett ad Co. X 3208

Black, Beattie and Co. are giving splendid value in White Colonial Blankets. Double-bed size at 17s lid, 20s 6d, 24s 6d, 27s 6d, 30s 6d. Call and inspect their stock before purchasing elsewhere. One shilling in the pound discount 'for cash. X 3262 Motor bicycle bargains. Three latest motor bicycles, used for giving lessons to purchasers, guaranteed in first-class order, reduced from £SO to £3O for spot cash. A genuine offer. Oatas, Lowry and C 0.,, Christchurch. . " X 1571 The latest creations in Ladies' Jackets end Paletots manufactured by the Kaiapoi (Woollen Co. for the autumn season pre now on view in the lea-ding showrooms. The universal opinion is that for elegance, Ktyle and beauty no imported garments can compare with these. The lovely cloths are soft and warm, while each garment has th 9 stylish," tailor-made effect peculiar to all Kaiapoi goods. See that your new winter purchase bears the special Kaiapoi ticket, which ia the guarantee of reliability. • X 3236 For repairs- to all kinds of bicycles there is no place in Christchurch like Boyd's Cycle Works, 191, Gloucester Street. Firstclass wort at moderate prices.. X 3196 W. Strange and Co., drapers, invite ladies to inspect the now stock of Hair Frames, Pads, etc., which they have just received from the manufacturer, Mr Hendy, Hair Specialist, Dunedin. They include all the latest designs, and. for the present fashions of hairdrasing will be found of great assistance. The prices range from Is to 2s 6d each. Also, sole agents for Hendv's celebrated Egg Julep for the hair, bottles Is. X 2896 Sheep netting, centre strand, at from 2|d per yd, pig netting, 2ft wide, from fowl netting, 3ft wide, 1-id. 6ft ' wide &M. Also in stock Strongest netting mad© for fences, netting for birds, pigeons, chickens, etc., in all sizes in 100 yd coils. Also black and gaiyaaised fencing wire, hog barb wire, staples, •nd nails. Our prices defy competition. Fletcher Bros, wire netting merchants, Lower High, Street X 3014 •

" I'll Hang My Harp on. a Willow Tree," and curl my hair with New Century Soft Kubber Hair Curlers. It is wonderful what a difference they make in one's appearance, and they don't damage • the

. The erection of an oven for heating the footwarmera to be used on the North line, is in progress at Waikari. The allowance of the Mayor of Wellington for the cm-rent year was last night fixed by the City Council at £4OO. At the request of the North Canterbury Education Board the Department has decided to shorten the duration of the teachers' drill classes from an hour and a half to an hour.

A mounted panel of a beautiful piece of mottled puriri, and also a specimen of figured totara and a variety in mottled rimu, have been presented to the local branch of ■the Tourist Department.

Preparations axe being made for relaying, the Rangiora-Oxford railway line with heavier metals. When the work is completed it is expected that the speed of the. trains will bo increased.''

The Christchurch Chrysanthemum Societv's annual show concluded at the Art Gallery yesterday, and was* moderately attended. The takings at the door for the two days were fairly satisfactory.

The officers of the Christchurch Garrison have decided' to hold the annual district officers' dinner on Empire Day, May 25. Captain Foster, Captain Maude and Lieutenant Batchelor have 'been appointed a committee to make arrangements. The Premier yesterday telegraphed to Mr G. Laurenson, M.H.R., stating that ho would leave Wellington for the North to-day, and would probably be in Canter-' bury on May 22. Mr Seddon may then pay his promised visit to Bank's Peninsula. The district electoral roll, prepared in connection with the Tramway Board, is open for inspection at the Board's offices in Gloucester Street. It may be inspected during office hours until Monday, and objections must be made on or before that day. Three Senior matches will be played at Lancaster Park on Saturday. The Rugby Union and Park Company intend prosecuting any spectator found inside the fence, before, during or after the game. The police will be in attendance to stirctly enforce the regulations. No. LII. of the Christ's College "Register" contains extensive information of all sections of school life, mental and physical. Cricket claims many pages, and the victories of the Champion President's team are interestingly reported. A photo of " The Eleven," with Mr Bannerman, the coach, forms the frontispiece of the publication.

Sir William Russell stated at the Hawke's Bay Education Board's meeting on Tuesday, that the. Mahdra school had been dumped down into the middle" of a paddock, and "horses and cattle could come up to the front door of the school, as the place was not fenced. The way in wmch the Board was carrying on now was a burlesque. At the Dunedin Police Court to-day, the licensee of the jCoaeh and Horses Hotel, Saddlehill, was fined £5 and costs for delay in admitting the police. Mr Carew, S.M., held that knocking ab the door and then in answer to the query ' who's there " the reply ' of Constable Findlay " open the door" constituted a demand for admission.

Judgment was given yesterday, at Wellington, in) tte case of Kerr (formerly a stock inspector) v. the •Crown,"a claim to receive four years' salary.''The•Chief Justice held that in lawwhatever merits there might 'be Kerr was not entitled to succeed on the grounds that if he had a contract with the Crown it was broken more than twelve months before he gave his notice. Judgment was given for the Crown, with' costs.

At the opening of the Magistrate's Court, yesterday, Mr Horace J. Weeks stepped up to the Bench, and asked leave to draw his Worship's attention to a mistake made at the last sittings of the Court. A case in which he was'to appear as plaintiff was struck oiit, on the score of " no ajjpearance," though he was in Court at the time. Mr Beetham: "Did you bear the case called':" Mr Weeks: "No, your Worship." Mr Beetham: " Very well; you must get it reinstated properly. Notice must bs given to the other side."

At the opening of the duck-shooting season, a well-known Woodend sportsman was camped with a friend on the Waipara, and had with him two live decoy Paradise ducks, which he had trained and used with much success for ten. years. The decoys were placed on duty, and were presently "potted"" by a stray lad. The owner caught the culprit, and demanded £2 for the damage done. The gun was taken as security, but, while the owner of the decoys was sleeping, the lad cut a hole through the tent, secured his gun, and disappeared. The ducks having been shot two hours before the season opened, the owner sought to. lay an information against the lad for shooting game out of season, but the constable to whom he applied refused to , proceed, seeing that the ducks, having been tame for ten years, could hardly be brought under the. category of game. Twenty attended a meeting held at Waikari on Tuesday evening, to consider a proposal to start a creamery or dairy factory in the district. Mr E. Young presided. Mr E. Evans, Kaiapoi, and Mr A. J. Bevan, Hawarden-, gave information about the establishment and profitable working of dairy factories. Offers were made by the Central and Sefton Dairy Companies to establish creameries, the former requiring a guarantee of 300 cows for five years, and 250 shares to be taken up ; and the latter a guarantee of 350 cows for three years, and 220 --;±S3, 'shares', £1 to be deposited and the balance paid at the rate of .5s per month. Capital being forthcoming, the meeting decided in favour of forming ai local company; and Messrs McDowell, mZ Lister and R. Young, agreed to canvass the district to ascertain the number of cows that would be available.

OILING STREETS, i Experiments have been made in Melbourne with tho Californian system of oiling roads with crude petroleum. A strip in Spencer Strest was and tho oil applied,, but, owing evidently to tho structural difference of American and Australian streets, the experiment was not successful. In America the petroleum successes were made on thoroughfares with soft surfaces, threa or four inches 'being soaked with the oil and forming a hard crust. In Melbourne, where there is only a fine impalpable powder of dust over a hard macadamised surface, the oil does not penetrate, and the dust is not deep enough, to bind properly with the road. DEHORNING OF CATTLE. At the annual meeting of the Dunedin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the question: of dehorning cattle was mentioned. It was stated that the Society was in communication with the Home Society on the subject, and when a reply came, the matter would be carefully considered. Mr John Roberts gave his experience, and said tha;fc he had seen cattle feeding a few minutes after the horns had been removed. He had seen cattle shockingly injured by other animals horning them. Mr Justice Williams said that they should be exceedingly cautious in the matter. Members of a Society like theirs were apt to fall into a mistake in treating animals as if they were human beings. There was an essential difference if a man was going to have an operation performed. He underwent suffering beforehand, and after it was performed, the thought of it was suffering. Mr Roberts said that cattle could- be seen grazing a few minutes after being dehorned. With human beings it would be quite different. What was really cruelty to a. human being was not necessarily cruelty to an animal.

They must, however, take care that the animals suffered no unnecessary pain. EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. The value of the imports to all ports of the colony for the quarter ended March 31 was £3,282,748, compared with £3,029;959 during the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The imports to the four chief ports were:—Wellington £1,042,436, Auckland £748,832, Dunedin £555,701, Lyttelton £520,050. During the quarter exports to the value of £5,405,031 left the colony. From Wellington the exports were valued at £1,983,711, Lvttclton £1,100,372, Auckland £733,144, Dunedin £458,203. The exports of dairy produce and meat for the month of April were as follow, the figures for the previous! April being given in parentheses:—Butter, 7683 cwt, £36,741 (20,888 cwt, £98,810); cheese, 8146 cwt, £21,804 (12,713 cwt, £26,965); frozen beef, 10,328 cwt, £12,801 (30,302ewt, £35,542); frozen mutton, 162,603 carcases, 79,242 c wt, £93,553 (197,050 carcases, 99,985 cwt, £105,366); legs and pieces, 6694 cwt, £7424 (10,143 cwt, £11,548) ; frozen lamb, 234,716 carcases, 74,674 cwt, £118,923 (332,674 carcases, 106,738 cwt, £160,117). AN UNUSUAL CASE. A chaa-£0 of an unueuttl character, said to bo the first ever brought.in, the colony, was heard at a sitting of the Police Court at Eltham. last week (says the " Taranaki Herald "). Subsection 2 of Section 98 of " The Post Office Act, 1900," provides that every person who fradulently states that ho posted a packet containing money or other valuable enclosure, whereas in fact 'he did not post it, shall be liable to imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years, with or without hard l labour; or to a penalty of £SO, or to both. Joseph Hotham, a butcher, was Changed with laving, on or about IMairch 14, fraudulently stated to one Franois John Howard' Andrews, of NbrniMiby, that he, the said' Joseph Hotham, had .posited' in tbe Government Post Office at El'lhiam a postal packet within the meaning of " The Post Office Act, 1900," containing money 'and! other valuable enclosupei, to wit, eleven: £1 notes and a small account ,book, whereas in fact Joseph Hotham d'fcl not so post the packet. Accused was foirther charged wi't'h. having, on Maixib: 19, 1903, made a similar fraudulent statement to Harry Bennett, postmaster at Eltham. Defendant pleaded "guilty" to both, charges. Evidence was given at lengtlb in support of the charges, and the Bendh decided that a iprima facie case had been established. Accused was fined £5 on each of the 'two charges, his previous good) chaa - acter being taken into aecount. THE NUMBER THIRTEEN. An amusing inbident dropped up at the formation of t'be Protestant Defence Association at Dunedin on Monday evening in reference to that most unlucky number thirteen, says the " Sta.r." The rules of the Association hod been adopted seriatim ond were being put as a whole, when am enthusiastic Presbyterian rose, and, looking at and scratching tlbe floor with, his right boot and with his h'andis on the baick of a chair, said : " Ah—ah—Mr Chairman, l—l—l'm not aupersti'tious, but these rules number thirteen, mad I don't —ah—like that. I'd rather the number was made twelve or fourteen." (Laughter.) The Oh airman aiogood job you told! us you wcr* not superstitious." (More laughter.) Another rose and stated that, in order to satisfy his friend's qualms, he would; move as a fourteenth rule—" That this Asociation's headquarters be made in Dunedin." Thie . lion-s'Vtpors-titious " gentleman eagerly seconded) this. Another ■motion was moved, but withdrawn. Then the Chairman feriously remarked that they wer.o not there that evening to fall in with superstitious notions. Th<at war what they wanted to put down. He asked whether the gentlemen concerned wished' to press the motion. For an answer he got a withdrawal, so that n.s the (rules of trie Association now stand they number.thirteen.