TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13886, 21 October 1905, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The following auctioneers’ advertisements appear on Page loVictor Harris, New Zealand Fanners’ Cooperative Association, Wright, Stephenson and Co., Harding, Campbell and Co., Dalgety and Co., North Canterbury Co-operative Association, and New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency. ■ ■ The gardens and orchards on the ; Peninsula are showing a wealth of blossom, giving promise of abundant supply of fruit. Seeds and plants, however, are very backward, owing to ;the unsettled weather. - The annual tea. meeting of the Ashburton Presbyterian Church Was held on Thursday evening, when addresses were delivered by visiting ministers, and a long programme of musical items submitted. ... > The Sydenham Bowling Club was t® have opened its season at Sydenhans Park this afternoon, but the recent rains have kept the, greens unfit foj? play, and the has been post* poned until next Saturday. Miss Jeannie Anderson, of Timaru, . was a successful competitor in the Dunedin competitions. She (the only entrant from South Canterbury) .secured “ places ” in all four items entered fori first in sacred solo for ladies; in mezzo-soprano song and in Scottish song, and third in soprano song- Miss Anderson was “ coached ’ by Mr Coulson, organist of Trinity Church. Small birds, principally skylarks, are reported to be doing great damage to the young crops in the Mastorton district. Owing to the unfavourable weather the crops are, making practically no headway, and the birds are carrying out a work of destruction i y pulling the young shoots out of the ground. Farmers in the Maliaia and Opaki dis. tricts are suffering heavily in this respect. Convincing proof of the value w« give is in the wear and satisfaction which follows a purchase’at: our store. See our Black Voiles, at Is lid the yard, usually 3s 6d. Black, and Co., High Street* 8262

The superintending steward of the Lyttelton Sailors’ Homo desires -to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of a parcel of books from Mis Bishop, Papanui.

The patients at Avon Pine Sanitor}um and at Nurse Maude’s Camp were pleasantly entertained on Thursday evening by Mr H. Wilson, of the Elite [Band, and his friends.

At Dunsandel on Wednesday Mr H. M. Stewart lectured on the “ Failures and Fallacies of Prohibition” to a largo audience. The chair was occupied by Mr J. S. Boag, and at the conclusion of his address Mr Stewart was asked a number of questions. On the motion of Mr 6. Bheat a hearty vote if thanks was accorded to Mr Stewart Jor his address.

Among the numerous events at the doming show of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association will be a fencing competition. For this a special prize of £2 2s will be given. The fence must be 50yds long, and erected on the show grounds, and the prize will be awarded to the competitor erecting the best all-round stock fence. Entries will close on Wednesday. On Thursday the chairman of _ the Cheviot County Council (Mr T. Meikle) and the surveyor (Mr Cotterill) made a further inspection of the slips on the Port Robinson-Bluff Road, and cam© to the conclusion that it would be a waste of money to try and clear the road, it has. been decided to defer the matter until the opening of the railway, when it is expected the Minister of Public Works will.be in Cheviot.

Some very large trout have recently Ven caught in the Waipahi (says the Mataura Ensign ”) One weighing jL9JIb was taken in* the upper reaches J>f the river, and another weighing 211 b jxear the Otaraia Junction. Fish ranging from lOJtlb to 61b have also been caught on the same river during the past few days. The 211 b fish has been sent to Dunedin by its lucky captor to be stuffed.

.Messrs J. Jamieson, J.P., and W. Barnett; J.P., sat at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday and convicted and discharged two first offenders for drunkenness.. Eliza Le Strange, who appeared on a similar charge, was convicted and discharged. On a charge »f vagrancy, however, she was sentended to three months’ imprisonment. Annie Fraser, who was deemed to be a habitual drunkard, was also sentenced to, three months’ imprisonment. ' Both were allowed to go to the Samaritan Home for the term of their sentence. At the Congregational Church last (evening in Inglis’s Buildings, Mr bition and lecture on mission work in India were given by the Rev A. W. Brough, London Missionary Society, who is at present pn a tour of the colony on behalf of his society. The "pictures were intensely interesting, and Mr Brough’s .explanations were clear. There was a .largo audience, and during the evening a choir of children contributed a special hymn. Mr Brough will speak on' Sunday night, when the limelight pictures will again be bn view. ’

The'monthly forgatherin’ of members of the Scottish Society and their .friends was held on Thursday. Despite i the stormy weather there was a good 'attendance, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. The programme Included songs by Miss Craigio, a Highland fling by- Miss Mabel M’Donald, violin Solos by Mr Brown, and humorous dongs by Mr Malcolm, A short dance followed. During the evening announcements were made regarding' th© fourth .annual “gathering of the dans,” which, will extend over five days in Carnival Week, and for which the Governor, the Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, Major-General Babington, the Mayor of Christchurch and many other prominent gentlemen have granted their patronage. Heather has been received from nearly ‘every county in Scotland, and will be free; at-the piping and dancing competitions oh November 7 and 8. "-<■

A public meeting will be held in th© 'Cheviot Town Hall on Monday to arrange for the entertainment of visitors at the opening of the railway, which is to take place on November 1. The , following is a. copy of a letter, received jby Mr A. W. Rutherford, M.H.R., from tho Minister of Public Works in 'connection with public worksl jhav© the honour to acknowledge tbe ! receipt of your letter of September 29, 'forwarding resolutions passed 1 at a public meeting of Cheviot settlers held on September 23, urging that provision should be mad© on tbe supplementary estimates for a combined road and railway, bridge over tho Waiau River; also that an additional sum be provided for the more vigorous prosecution of work on the Blonheim-Waipara rail-, way. In reply I have to state that the Amount voted will permit of good prorsas being made with the railway, and regret that provision cannot this -year he made for thd bridge over th® Waiau.”

A successful trial trip on,,the Rio fcarton tramline, as far as'Clyde Road, was made yesterday, a party leaving Cathedral Square at 9.50 a.m. Among those present were Messrs Reece (chairman of the Board), Gray, Bengali, Pearce and Morgan (members of the Board), H. P. Murray-Aynsley (chairman of the Domain Board), S. A. Staples (chairman of the Ricoarton Road Board), J. L. Scott (superintendent of the Construction Company), A. E. G. Rhodes, EL F. Chamberlain (the Board’s engineer), Scott-Symington (electrical engineer), and other officers. The car ran very smoothly, and all the members of the party were delighted with the trip. At the railway crossing a number of schoolboys were met on the road. They accepted the invitation to jump up and have a ride, and swarmed upon the car, so that they nearly filled it. On reaching the crossing again on the return trip, the lads alighted, and one of them, raising his cap in an old-fashioned and courteous manner, called for three cheers for the Board and for Mr Gray, and his comrades responded heartily. The only bar to the opening of the line for traffic is the official certificate of the Government Engineer, which it is expected will be given as soon as Mr Holmes pays his next visit to Christchurch.

Two towers have ‘‘reared aloft” during the last few months—St Patrick’s Church and the Town Hall; thus from a distance Greymouth wears more the appearance of a modern town than hitherto. The work in connection with these two prominent buildings is making good progress, and both will be a credit to Mr Bell, the contractor, and his sub-contractors, George and Forward, for the plastering—a Christchurch firm, which is noted for its excellent work. This is evident by the work already done. Never before has it been equalled on the West Coast. St Patrick’s Church tower, for instance, is a work of art, and is very much admired. Every man, it is said, to his trade; these men are experts, and the work they are doing reflects great credit on them. 6578

If . you have the faintest suspicion that your eyes are not just right, if they bother you in any way, it’s best to have them examined at once. Do pot Jo to the average optician or spectacle seller, for he is unable to distinguish between optical defects and diseases, but consult John R. Proctor, 180, High Street, Christchurch, who will give yoi a thorough examination |tm of charge, 5.2681

A Methven correspondent writes that the recent rain and cold weather has caused much mortality among the lambs.

For to-day’s matinee the management of the Westminster Glee Concert Company has given an invitation to the inmates of the various Homes in Christchurch.

At the Magistrate’s Court, Methven, on Thursclav, before Mr W. Morgan, J.P., and Mr W. J. Dickie, J.P., William Thomas, an old ago pensioner, was convicted of drunkenness and two instalments of his pension were cancelled. The, annua! mooting of the New Zealand Veterans’ Association was held at Auckland yesterday. The Governor was re-elected president, and it was announced that the King had given his patronage to the Association. The meeting decided to take step,? to obtain annual contributions to the funds of the Veterans’ Home.

In a licensing case at Woodville, a man was charged with having been on licensed premises during prohibited home. He set up the defence that bo was in the stables, wliioh did not come under the Act, being leased by a pen-sen. not the licensee. The Magistrate held that the stables were licensed premises, and fined the defendant 41s and costs. In to-day’s “ Star "’ will appear the third and last of the series of articles specially written for th© “Star ” on the battle of Trafalgar. The articles have dealt with the whole of the circumstances connected with the battie from the first sighting of the allied fleet to the closing scene on the Victory flagship in the career of Britain’s greatest admiral.

During the past month the Salvation Army forces throughout New Zealand have been doing their utmost in order to raise funds for their rescue and missionary work, and have just concluded their week of self denial. The result has been very gratifying, and Adjutant Sonnie has organised a- band of collectors, who will be in the streets all day to-day soliciting subscriptions. Some time ago the Mayor, on behalf of the School of Domestic Instruction, gent a telegram to the Premier asking for permission to secure suitable premises for the school in the building that will he erected at the corner of Worcester Street and Manchester Street. As no reply has been received, and as there is a probability of the offer not being kent open owing to the delay, the Mayor has decided to send another telegram, askingthe Premier for a definite statement in connection with the proposal.

A meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Independent Political Labour League was held on Thursday evening last in Inglis’s Buildings, Mr J. A. M’Cullough (president) in the chair. Seven new members were elected. (The following resolution was carried; —“That this meeting desires to express its sincere sympathy with, the endeavours of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in its efforts to obtain some small allowance to tho—.in.mates of th© Jubilee Home, and expresses its disapproval of the remarks made by the minority of the members of the Charitable Aid Board, and resents the insult that was offered by certain members of the Board to the members of the deputation.” Yesterday was the busiest day in shipping matters which Lyttelton has seen - since a long time ago. _ Ten steamers, including four ocean liners, arrived, six took their departure from the port. Tbs arrivals were the Kuxnara and Bakaia, from London, the Mimiro, from Liverpool, the Paparoa, from Napier, the Waikare, from Sydney, via Wellington, the Moeraki from Melbourne, via southern ports, the Manuka, from Port Chalmers, the Pateena from Wellington, the Pareora from Greymouth, and the Baden Powell from Akaroa. The departures were those of the Waikare, from Melbourne, via the south, the Moeraki, Sydney, via Wellington; the Whangape, for Westport; the Pateena, for Wellington; the John Anderson, for Akaroa, and the Baden Powell 1 , for Cheviot, Kaikoura and Wellington.

At Melbourne On . October 7, as a train was about to be shunted off at Flinders Street Station, a porter found a man in a semi-conscious condition lying in one of the compartments. A constable questioned the man, and ascertained that his- name was John Jack, and that he lived at Brighton Beach. As he appeared to be_ seriously ill the constable removed him to- the Melbourne Hospital, where, the case was diagnosed as drunkenness. He was thereupon transferred to the city watch-house, A couple of hours later his condition led to his second removal to the Melbourne ■ Hospital, and this time the case was diagnosed as urramia. The v man was admitted for treatment, and died an hour and a half later. Deceased was a well-known _ sharebroker, aged sixty-six, and resided at Brighton. He had evidently been on his way to the city as usual on October 7, when he was seized with a fit in the railway car. He suffered from chronic Bright’s disease. .The tonnage of vessels in Lyttelton Harbour yesterday, excluding the tug, the dredge and the hulks, amounted to 42,350 tons gross, a larger figure than the total of mercantile tonnage on February 18 last, when tho_ aggregate register of the vessels in port assumed the record figure of 61,124 tons. On that occasion, however, no less than 20,015 tone was contributed by three men-of-war, the Euryalus, Challenger and Psyche, leaving the mercantile total at 41,109 tons. Yesterday there were in harbour eleven steamers, aggregating 40,794 tons, and five sailing vessels, totalling .1556 tons. The steamers comprised four oceanliners, the Now Zealand Shipping Company’s Paparoa. 6563 tons, and R'akaia, 5628 tons; the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s Kumava, 6034 tone; the Tyser liner Mimiro, 6235 tons; the Union Company’s Manuka. 4505 tons; Moeraki, 4392 tons; Waikare, 3071 tons; Whangape, 2931 tons; and Pate one, 1212 tons ; the Ba<3 en-Powell, 194 tons, and the Purau, 80 tons. The sailers were the barque Fleur de Lis, 1023 tons; the schooner Huia, 200 tons, Eliza Firth, 143 tons, Falcon, 98 -tons, and Morning Light,' 92 tons. The total of 61,124 tone on February 18 was obtained by including the dredge Manchester, 883 tons, the tug Lyttelton, 193 tons, and the steam trawler Mullogh, 46 tons. These vessels are not taken into account in computing yesterday’s aggregate. The record mercantile tonnage for Lyttelton was reached on October 23, 1903, when the vessels in port totalled 68,401 tons gross. Only one, the Antarctic relief ship Morning, was not a trading vessel.

It will be of great interest for many people to know that the greatest bargains in artistic millinery, dresses, blouses and general drapery are to be had from Armstrong’s at their famous low prices. Everyone is cordially invited to inspect. 6681 A bonus of 3s in the £ on every complete 10s spent. This is what Death and Co. are giving to you during the month of October on all cash •mirchases from their new season’s up-to-date stock of household drapery, fancy novelties, millinery, mantles, underclothing, house furnishings; also off furniture, tailoring, dressmaking, clothing and mercery. All goods marked in plain figures. Letter orders must be accompanied by remittance in order to obtain, the discount. Remember, for one month only. Death and Co., Limited, the people’s own warehouse, Cashel Street,

The Wakanui Road Board intends to improve the crossing at the bis guliy leading to the fishing camp at Rickard’s, Ashburton mouth, by making the grade one in thirty. There will be a largo gathering of marksmen at tho Ivedoliffs Rifle Range this afternoon, when tho junior and senior championship shield competitions of the Christchurch Associated corps will be held.

The evangelistic mission carried on in Ashburton by Dr Ton*, of Adelaide, for tho past week, was concluded on Thursday night, so far as Dr Ton* is concerned, but will be carried on by tho evangelical churches for another week.

Tho Ashburton Sports Association, has granted the Cush Cycling and Athletic Club a close day for the Domain on December 14, the charge to bo £B. Tho Combined Schools Association was granted November 23 for its annual sports meeting. Tho English Leicester one-shear rams imported by Mr Lusoombe, of Oraihi, wore brought by the s.s. Kumara to Lyttelton yesterday and sent to Quail Island to undergo the customary period of quarantine. They aro from the flock of Mr E. P. Jordan, of Eastbourne, East Yorkshire, and were landed in very good condition.

A lady in the Inangahua district petitioned Parliament recently for a grant of 600 acres on account of her having been tho first white _ child _ born in the Inangahua district. This 'remarkable feat failed to find approval from the Petitions Committee, which has now reported on it, remarking, with cold brevity, that it has no recommendation to make.

The Mayor has been asked by the Education Board to convene a meeting of the City Council to appoint six managers of Teclinical Classes Board. The Council’s managers will probably be appointed at the next meeting. After all the bodies have appointed their managers, the Education Board will convene a meeting of the Boai d or Managers to select a chairman and attend to other matters.

Tho Japanese Administration advises the Telegraph Department that the military censorship at Nagasaki, which has, been in force since February 10, 1904, has now been cancelled, and all restrictions on private telegrams from and to Japan, Formosa and Korea are wholly withdrawn as from yesterday. ' The missionary meeting to be held in the Art Gallery on Tuesday nest m connection with the Maori -Mission will bo addressed by Archdeacon Harper, o c Timaru, on “ Reminiscences of Maori Work in Westland”; by Archdeacon Averill, on “ The Responsibility of the Church in regard to the Maori Race” ;• and by th© Rev J. do B. Galwey on “ The Chatham Islands and the Spiritual Needs of 1 the Inhabitants. Other speakers' arc also being secured. The Bishop of Christchurch will preside on the occasion, the Synod adjourning for the purpose. The annual balance-sheet of the Gisborne Sheep-farmers’ Frozen Meat Company shows a net profit of' £9OBI. There is a sum of £17,917 to bo dealt with, which tho directors propose shall be allocated as follows;—To the reserve fund £SOOO, to reduction of mortgage £2500, to depreciation £1412, to leasehold sinking fund £SOO, to dividend £894, and to bonus £897. Tho balance, £6713, is to be carried forward. The report mentions that tho plant has been increased, and the business premises enlarged, and that th© lighterage business in which the company has embarked promises good financial results.

An echo of tho land question invaded th© Diocesan Synod last evening during the discussion of proposals foraltering the power# of the Church Property Trustees. sir John Hall made the suggestion that it might bo unwise to grant an extension of leasing powers so that the trustees might grant leases for ninety-nine years.. “In view of tho land policy prevailing and likely to prevail in this colony,” Said Sir John, “is it wise for th© Church Property Trustees to remain large landed proprietors? In view of the altered rating system and in view of tho graduated land tax, which falls with great severity on tho Church, property, are long leases advisable? Ap .soon as wo can profitably do so we should divest ourselves of land and invest the proceeds in other securities. W© were, very glad, some time ago to. get rid of an extensive property in the suburbs.” Sir John’s remarks were applauded by th© Synod. At th© recent meeting of the Exhibition Executive, it was pointed out that the Restriction of Aliens Act might prevent Japanese and other foreigners from attending the International Exhibition. The Mayor was asked to communicate with th© Premier and ascertain the position, and, at the same time, to inquire in regard to the legislative power required in respect to using the Park and raising the level of the Avon. The Premier has replied, stating that, under the Restriction Act, the Governor is given special power, by an Order-in-Council, to exempt visitors who come tg the Exhibition. He adds that provision will' be made in the Bill before Parliament to allow the executive to deal with the Park and the river. The proposal in regard to the Avon is that a temporary weir should be erected at the spot where it takes a bend near the Riccarton Road, so that deeper water will be secured where the river runs along the Exhibition grounds. It is thought that the weir may be made attractive aiid picturesque, and might be allowed to become a. permanent structure.

Mr J. M. Hat-trick, manager for Australasia of the Potash Syndicate (Agricultural Department), has concluded his tour of New Zealand, and left yesterday on his return to Sydney, via Wellington. Mr Hattrick has arranged for the carrying out of manurial experiments at Lincoln College with turnips, mangels and potatoes, - and Messrs R. and J. Reid, Darfield, have also undertaken experiments, while the offer is made that if the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association null organise experiments the Potash Syndicate will provide the manure. In other districts the following experiments have been arranged for. At Ashburton, four with turnips, and two in top-dressing pastures; at Tknaru, two with turnips; at Oamaru, two with turnips and one with mangels; at Gore, one each with turnips, mangels and potatoes; at Invercargill, six with potatoes, two with mangels and five with turnips. To most of the experimenters in New Zealand the manures have already been delivered, with instructions for conducting the experiments ,and recording the results. Much valuable information is expected to be gained, and will be promptly published for the benefit of farmers generally. It is also hoped to arrange an exhibition of the produce orowii. Mr Hattrick expresses his warm thanks.for the assistance which han been given him in his mission by the Department of Agriculture, the stock inspectors in the various districts having introduced him to leading farmers, who willingly undertook the experiments.

You have better crops and a cleaner farm after using a Benicia Disc Plough. Morrow, -Bassett and Co. X 3208

If you want a first-class bicycle at reasonable cost, go to Boyd and Son, 191, Gloucester Street, Christchurch, who are selling bicycles for £ls 15s equal or superior to any being sold at £2O; second grade £ll, with best Dunlop tyres, 1988

Despite the inclement weather all dairy factories in this district (says tho “ Eltham Argue”) have had a considerably better month (September) than was tho case last year. The Kaponga Dairy Factory will pay out about £IOOO for September milk. During tho same month the Eltham Co-opera-tive Dairy Company manufactured 70001 b more butter than during the corresponding month last year. The entries for the Timaru Show next week compare with those of last year aa follows :—Sheep (1904) 302-(1905) 364; cattle 39—41, horses 807—302, pigs 28 —44, dogs 55—43, produce 121 —HO; totals 852—504. There is a larger application for tent space. Tho detection of the agricultural Implement makers and agents will make a big gap in the show, only 100 ft of space being applied for in this section. Popular items for the people’s day include a rough-riding contest and a Lloyd-Lindsay competition. There was a largo gathering of Sydenham football clubmen and their friends at the rooms last night on the occasion of a dinner, given in honour of the success last season of the Senior and Junior B teams in winning the first and second grade championships. The usual lengthy toast list was _ honoured and entertaining musical items were ’ contributed. Several presentations were made to members who had distinguished themselves 911 the football field. An elderly man named James Lemman displayed considerable presence of mind and courage in stopping a runaway horse and trip on Wednesday afternoon. Tire horse had by some means-shaken off its blinkers, and was galloping out of Armagh Street on to Park Terraco, when Lemman promptly slipped off his coat and tnrew it over the head of the frightened animal. The librse was then easily brought to a standstill, and the young lady in the trap was able to alight in safety. . At a meeting of the Gisborne branch of tho Now Zealand Institute of Surveyors (says the “"'Poverty Bay Herald”) a question discussed was that of survey labourers acting as surveyors, and it was decided to send a delegate to the next general meeting of tho Institute, to be hold in December dr January, to make representations on the matter, and also to bring the matter under tho notice of the public. It was pointed out that the public interest was involved, inasmuch as no guarantee could be given of the accuracy or efficiency of tho surveys done by unauthorised men, who had no standing to make their surveys of value in the event of disputes arising.

The Band of Hope contests at the Choral Hall last evening attracted a large number of people. Songs, pianoforte selections, and dialogues combined to make an entertainment with which the audience was thorougly satisfied. The prize-winners on Thursday night were ~aa follow:—Piano solos, class C : Elsie May Dobbs (Cambridge Terraco) 1, Lillian H. Harper (Cambridge Terrace) 2, Elsie Butterfield (Crescent Hoad) 3. -Vocal solos, Class 0 ■ IVlauclo Stringer (Cambridge Terrace) I, Elsie Butterefild (Crescent Road) 2, Elsie M. Dobbs (Cambridge Terrace) 3. Action songs: Sydenham Methodist 1, Woolston Methodist 2, East Belt Methodist and , Knox Church, equal, 3. Tableaux: Knox Church 1, Woolston Methodist 2. This evening will be “the little one’s night.” ' Young children will give songs, recitations and piano solos. The Union Steamship Company’s annual cruise to the "West Coast Sounds will be mad© in January, by the steamer Waikare. This cruise, which has now become quite a "feature of the “Union Company’s annual programme, will occupy thirteen days from Dunedin and back. The Waikare will leave Port Chalmers on Saturday, January 6, for Preservation Inlet and the most picturesque of the West Coast Sounds, returning to Port Chalmers via the Blnii on the morning of January 19. She will leave Dunedin on Saturday, January 20, for East Coast porta and Auckland. Only saloon passengers will be carried, and fares from Port dialmens to the Sounds and back 7 range from £ls upwards. It is understood that several passages have already been secured by the local branch of the Union Company, and there is every prospect of a heavy demand for accommodation, as was the case last year. The programme of the tour is available at the ■ local office of the Union Company, where all information regarding the cruise may be obtained.

A tea meeting hold on Thursday, to celebrate the third anniversay of the opening of the St Albans Wesleyan Sunday Schoolroom was well attended. The tables were presided over by the teachers and members of tho young women’s and young men’s Bible classes. At the' after meeting, the superintendent of the school, Mr CJ. E. Salter, occupied the chair. The chairman said that ten out of the twonty-ono teachers and officebearers were former scholars in the school, .which would in three years’ time celebrate its jubilee. The Bov W. Baumber spoke of the good work befng done by former scholars In other places. Mr J. C. Prudhoe, president of the Sunday School Union, pointed out the need for aggressive work in connection with Sunday schools. Ho said that, according to the last census, there were 63,000 children in the colony not attending Sunday schools. It was, he said, not possible for the clergy to undertake tho duty of giving moral and religious instruction in the State schools, for the simple reason that there were 350 more schools in the colony than there were ministers. During the evening the choir rendered several of Mendelssohn’s part eongs, and Miss A. Brown gave two violin solos. Graham, Wilson and Smellie wish to intimate that, owing to tho Centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar being held on Friday, their establishment will be closed at 1 p.m. on that day, and open all day on Thursday. 3532 Wanted _ Known—l am selling the Best Reliable Watches, best value given in Engagement Rings, Wedding Bings, and all other classes of jewellery. All sold up to tho standard guarantee. I£. Grieshaber, jeweller, 156, Colombo, Street. X 3371 We desire to draw attention to our stock of Drapery". Everything required in drapery can bo obtained at one counter. Our reputation for . value is beyond dispute. See our sunshades, all silk, at 6s 6d each. Black, Beattie and Co. . 3262 Household Requisites. Fiotoher Bros, have a good assortment of baths, buckets, saucepans, kettles, fry-pans, brooms and brushes. '" W. and G. cups and saucers from Ss lOd, plates from 2s, meat dishes from Is, big dishes 2s 9d’, toilet sets from 8s 9d, lanrjDs, cutlery, glassware, etc. See windows. Fletcher Bros., Crockery and Glassware Merchants, Bower High Street. 1988 THE “ STAR.’’ In to-day’s issue of the “Star” there will appear a further instalment of Mr Stanley J. Woyman’s fascinating story, “Starve Grow Farm,” besides suoh other tales and sketches as “ Molokai,” “King of Millionaires,” “The Eldest Daughter,” “A; Case of Promotion,” etc. In the ladies’ column there will .appear “ For Spring oleaning,” “On a Great Rose Farm, “ Substitutes for Forgotten Wedding Rings,” “ Modern French Portrait Painters,” “A Russian Court Ball,” “Extravagant Economy,” Household Hints, Woman’s World, etc. In addition, there null be found the advice of (a practical gardener to his readers as “Work for the Week,” a (weekly contribution valued by .amateur and professional gardeners alike. There will be, of course, the usual column for bandsmen, the humorous column head- „ 7

c-d “The Week,” tbs compilations of humour headed “ Fun and Fancy,” a budget of multmn in patryo paragraphs, entitled “Brief Mention,” as well as a budget of general, local and telegraphic new®. THE CZAR’S NEW NAVY. Mr Charles R. Flint, who has been associated with Mr Charles in some big enterprises, returned to Now York from Europe on September o. Ho was informed that his absoenoo the story crediting either him or Mr Schwab, or both conjointly, woth tho task of “ rebuilding the Russian Navy” had been revived, and also industriously circulated in Europe. _ Mf Flint said he had been to Russia to canvass for orders. He was presented to the Czar by the Russian Minister of Finance. It was judged, however, from Mr Flint’s remarks that Russia would place her orders with due regard to economy, and tho question arose whether American yards, with such high wages as are paid, could build as cheaply as elsewhere. Although Mr Flint, like Mr Schwab, faded to got orders to “ rebuild the Russian Navy, or oven for “ the formidable line of battleships” which a Press agency report from St Petersburg rashly gave to Mr Schwab, he did not leave St Petersburg empty-handed. Confidentially ho told the Pressjrepresehtatives that tile .Russian Government had given him an order for ‘ ‘ several ships, but they are not battleships. OLD COLONIAL VESSELS. The oldest ship on the Australasian register is the Derwent Hunter, nearly a century old, having been built in the United States in 1810. She was in former days a whaler out of Hobart, and is now used as a wharf there. Two other old vessels, the Augustus land Proteus, are lighters on the Yarra and Hobson’s Bay. They were built in Java, the former in 1814, tlie latter in 1815. Another old Melbourne lighter is _th© Clover, built in Massachusetts, in'lß34. The oldest Australasian-built craft now afloat is the Royal William, a_ cutter of forty-thro© tons, built in Hobart in. 1833. She is still a woodcraft on the Derwent. Sixty years ago she traded between Hobart and Wellington, and carried her Majesty’s mails. Other old colonial-built veissels are the Ann (schooner), built in Tasmania in 1836, and the Italia (cutter), built in Melbourne in 1840. Two old traders out of Sydney are to be found in the Fanny Fisher, built on the Manning River in 1847, and the fifo’a, brig, built in Auckland the .same year. Prom fifty-five to fifty years sine© .the Moa was a regular trader between Sydney and Auckland, and mad® some very smart passages. Old steamers are represented by the Edina, built in Glasgow in 1854, the Havilah in Northumberland in 1853, the Stormhird at Whiteinch in 1854. A yet older steamer is tho Monarch, built in Renfrewshire in 1846. In her earlier history, she w'as a passenger steamer on th© Clyde, and prior to being laid up, ran for many years between Hobart and New Norfolk. A WHITE AUSTRALIA. A scientific plea for white Australia was the subject of a lecture delivered by Dr T. P. Macdonald, of the Bureau of Tropical Disease, Geraldton, Queensland, in Melbourne recently. Tho lecturer pointed out that th© Chinos© had possession of the banana industry, and if they also got possession of the sugar industry as they were likely to, unless something was don®, their hold upon the Commonwealth would become a danger. The policy of exclusion of aliens could only he defended on one strong .argument—precisely that used by the Japanese as a reason for war against Russia', that every nation was entitled to protect itself against encroachment by another nation to the',national detriment.—and the logical Japanese people would recognise this argument. Another danger to Australia was the clashing interests of Germany, which had a great naval station forming at New Guinea, and was attracting population from Queensland by the liberal land tenure it offered in its Pacific Islands. Ho _ asserted that under tropical conditions the white people could work and flourish. The old danger of disease had, to a largo extent, disappeared. North Queensland was growing a fine white race, many with the almost abnormal onest expansion of 7in. His observation showed him that the white gangs in the sugar fields are really healthier than coloured jgangs working under the same conditions. White men could not compete on tho same standards with the coloured people, but that was not reasonable. If the sugar industry would not pay white men’s ’wages, then wages must come down. If it was wrong to exploit alien labour, Australians must he prepared to pay \a little more for their sugar. The chairman, in commending the lecture, said that any large alien population would only lead to the physical, mental, and moral deterioration of the white races. A SENSATIONAL DISAPPEARANCE. A sensational story of the .sea is told by Captain Kennedy, of the barque Jordan Hill, which has arrived at Sydney from Hong Kong. He states that during the voyage from New York to Hong Kong three of his crew deserted. They were two Germans and an English apprentice, who, it is said, is heir to the estates of the Marquisof Ailsa. The incident occurred in the neighbourhood of tho Celebes Islands, in the Indian Ocean. Prior to their disappearance the men and tho boy were observed by their mates to be constructing a raft. When questioned concerning their operations the Germans joked about the affair, and nothing further was said. The real purpose for which the raft was intended was disclosed th© following morning, when it was found that the trio had disappeared. Search was made through the ship, but without success, and it is supposed that on the previous night, which was dark and ..-cloudy, the sailors and tho boy oast their raft overboard and jumped after 1 it. The nearest coast at the time was about thirty miles off, and apparently it was the intention of the deserters to make for it. Captain Kennedy was dumbfounded, when be heard of the disappearance, and, knowing nothing of the building of the raft, at first thought that the missing members of the crew were victims of foul play. When made aware of the fact that a raft had been used in the escape, he immediately put his vessel about and cruised in the vicinity of where tho men were supposed to have left the barque. He made (searching inquiries from those who saw tho raft being constructed. He is of opinion that it could not support the men and the boy. The sea in that neighbourhood, too, was infested with sharks, and the castaways wo hid indeed bo lucky, ho says, if they managed to reach the shore.