TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13934, 16 December 1905, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

To-day is the fifty-fifth annivcrsaiw of the foundation of Canterbury. The following auctioneers’ advertisements appoa r oii page 15 : —Charles Clark, AVright, Stephenson and Co., Harding; Son and Co., Guinness and Lo Cron, C. A. Lees and C 0.,, A. E. Campbell and Co, and Baker Bros. As Monday will be observed as Anniversary Day there will be only one delivery by the letter carrier's, that which takes place in the morning. Copies of the Tourist Department’s “ Itinerary of Travel for New Zealand” are available at the Department’s local office They are dated _ November, 1905. and have just been issued. At Lyttelton yesterday, before Captain Marciel, J.P., and Mr C. Fernet, J.P., Soren Ludwig Larsen and John Brusill, seamen on the Norwegian barque Arthur, pleaded guilty to a charge of having deserted the vessel. They were ordered to be put on board and to pay costs, 7s each. The children of the Addington District School, with their teachers and friends, a party of about 350 persons altogether, had their annual picnic yesterday at Purau. They went to Lyttelton by special train, and were conveyed across the harbour in the steamers Purau and Canterbury. Yesterday, at a meeting of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand, a letter was (received from the president, Sir John Hall, offering a cup for school boys’ life-saving competitions. It was decided to accept the trophy, with thanks, and to ask the giver to allow the competitions to be conducted under the auspices of the New Zealand Swimming Association. The blight that is playing such havoc with the potato crop in New Zealand seems to be causing (according to the “New Zealand Times”) tribulation to growers in England. A resident of Maidenhead, near London, writing on October 27 to a AVelliugtonian who was recently in England, says r—“AVe have just finished raising the potatoes you saw; a very .-fine crop, but 20 per cent are diseased.” Messrs Bowron Biros, have written to Superintendent Smith, expressing appreciation of the services rendered by the Fire Brigade in connection with the recent fire at the firm’s works at AVooTston. They state that, had it not been for the efficient way in which the brigade worked, the destruction, of stock would have been much* .greater than it was. They enclose a cUeque for £ls 15b as a mark of their appreciation of the work done. At the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, AVilliam Meaclem was charged with being the father of an illegitimate child. ' Defendant admitted the paternity, and the Magistrate made an order,that payment should be made at the rate of 6s per week. George Palmer and John Cates were each fined 5s and costs for having ridden bicycles on the footpath, and in the civil case of Friedlander F<oe., Limited, v. Robert Black, claim £9 14s 4d, judgment was given for the plaintiffs by default. The Canterbury Automobile Association will present a novel programme at their first gymkhana, which will take place at the Metropolitan Trotting Grounds on Boxing Day. In addition to a number of novelty events and motor cycle races, the four principal events comprise. races for motor cars ranging from five to twelve horse-power and over, and as this class of racing is entirely new to the colony, the contests should prove very interesting. The entry promises to be a record one. The annual meeting of the New Brighton AVesleyan Church Horn© Mission Fund Committee was held on Thursday evening, the Rev AV. AVills, pastor of the church, presiding. The Rev AV. Ready gave a humorous and interesting address on .the subject of Home Missions, and violin solos were given by Miss Hanham and 1 Mr Snowball; song)fs, Misses Armstrong and E. Year, and Mr Smith; recitations, Mr Armstrong, and a reading, Mr O. Hall. ’ Two persons, charged with drunkenness, appeared at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr AV. H. Hargreaves, J.P., and Mr AV. Prudhoe, J.P. One a first offender, was fined 5s and costs. Frank O’Neil (Mr M’Connel), alias Beresferd, alias Kearney, who was making his third appearance within six months, was fined 10s and costs. He was treated leniently, on condition that he should immediately take out a prohibition order against himself and return to his work in the country. The proposed tunnel through the Onahau Neck to connect Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds, is still being freely discussed (says the Marlborough “Press”), and the report and the engineer’s estimate of the probable cost will he awaited with interest. Providing the scheme should he feasible, the carrying out of the work would be of paramount importance to Pieton, and, although the “Press” looks upon it as a fairly largo order, as a step forward in the direction of Pic ton’s future prosperity, it is a consummation to bo hoped for. Extra pay to Railway Men. What is the use of extra pay if you don’t look after it? Go whore you can get the best value for the money; that means —Go to Armstrong for your Drapery and Clothing. 936 If you have the faintest suspicion that your eyes are not just right, if they bother you in any way, it’s Dest to have them examined at once. Do not go 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 yo.’'. a thorough examination 1 sre« of charge.

The s.s. John Anderson is to run trips to Diamond Harbour and Purau on Monday. The s.s. Cygnet is to leave on a special trip to Akaroa. this evening, and will return on Monday, after tho regatta. Tho Union Steamship Company’s fine s.s. Rotoraahana is to turn tho Akaroa excursion on Monday, leaving Lyttelton on arrival of tho 7.20 a.m. train from Christchurch. In tho last “ Gazette” notice is given that the Governor has appointed Mr William, Ensoul, of Christchurch, an official visitor to the Sunnysklo Asylum, in place of the late Mr T. W. Maude. An invitation to the New Zealand Wheel Race Meeting, to be hold at Lancaster Park on Monday afternoon by tiie Christchurch Cycling and Motor Club, has been given to tho boys of tho Burnham School. Mrs Herrick desires to acknowledge with thanks the sum of £4 2s, being gross proceeds of an evening with Dickens, given by Mr C. E. Salter and tho St Albans Methodist Church Choir in aid of Herrick’s Homo. A general meeting of the members of the No. 3 Industrial Building Society of Canterbury was held last evening, to dispose of the hundred and seventeenth appropriation of £3OO by ballot, which fell to the lot of share No, 124. At last night’s meeting of the Technical Committee, it was stated that the Education Board would ■ probably appoint an expert in agriculture to supervise a small experimental plot in the vicinity of Christchurch for the instruction of students. A meeting of representatives of the building trades was held in the Druids’ Hall last night, when there was a good attendance. It was decided to hold the annual picnic, at Amherley Domain, on January 27, and the secretary was instructed to engage thei ground and make train Committees wore formed to look after the sports. Wainoni looked very beautiful last 'evening, when lib by eiectiicf light, bonfires, coloured fires and blazing barrels. _ The stillness of the night gave an exquisite reflection in the lake, and Professor Bickerton showed two now pieces of fireworks, achromatic feu da joie ; and a piece he called the “ chained devil.” The latter was one of the most effective designs seen in Canterbury for many years. The following is a statement of the Customs duties collected at Lyttelton for the week ended December 15:— Spirits, £2440 4s 2d; cigars, cigarettes ■and snuff, £328 6s lOd; tobacco, £IOB4 2s 6d ; -wine, £147 14s lOd ; beer, £122 ; tea, 5e 3d; coffee, cocoa and chocolate, £7 19s; sugar, molasses and treacle, £P4O; weight, £1383 Is lid; ad valorem,' £4779 4s 2d; other duties, £429 3s 3d; total, £10,871 Is lid. . Following on a petition from the chemists of Christchurch, a notice has been gazetted fixing the hours to bo observed by chemists anet druggists in the city. On and after Monday next, their' establishments will be closed at 8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays the shops will close at 1 p.m., and will re-open from 7 to 9 p.m., whilst on Saturdays they will close at 9 p.m. On Sundays special hours will be observed, according to the predilections of individual chemists. Tho ratepayers of Castle Point County have adopted the rating on land values system. The voting was: For the proposal 56, against 45. The ratepayers of the Miramar Borough have also adopted the system by a majority of 72, the voting'being 117 for the proposal, and 45 against. Messrs H. G. Ell, M.H.R., and P. J. O’Regan addressed a meeting of ratepayers in the borough last winter, when a resolution was carried by a large majority in favour of the adoption of tho new system. \ In view of the interest that is sure to be taken -in tb© matter of Mr Cyrus Williams’s report to tho Lyttelton Harbour Board in regard to tho feasibility of constructing a canal connecting Christchurch with tho sea, the address to bo delivered by Mr M’Oonechy at tho Chamber of Commerce on Thursday afternoon should be of great interest. It is well known that Manchester has benefited very much by its canal, and the . information Mr M’Coneohy has at his disposal) in this direction should bo of considerable value at this, juncture. Mr B. C. Aston, Government Analytical Chemist, was in Christchurch yesterday, making final preparations for his round of visits to the plots which are to be experimentally sown in turnips. His itinerary will embrace Quail Island and the “ Californian Thistle paddock ” at Papanui, and will cover a wide stret.ch of country. Sections have been offered by Sir John Hall (Hororata), and Messrs C. H. Ensor (Mount Gray), J. Stevenson (Flaxton), C. J. Harper (Valetta), A. D. M’llraith and L. Whit© (Rakaia), T. W. Adam® (Greendale), R. Reid (Darfleld), J. Deans (Homebush), John Rennie (Doyleston), and F. Overton (Lakeside). Speaking at the '‘breaking-up” in connection with Girton College, yesterday afternoon, Miss Freeman said that she did not agree with these who stated that there had been scenes of rowdyism in Christchurch on the night of the election. She had gone through the crowd in front of the “ Lyttelton Times ” Office and in- Cathedral Square twice, at 10.30 o’clock and eleven o’clock, and as far as her experience went, no man or boy had made use of a rude word, or behaved in a rude manner. She would like to bear her testimony in that respect. If any lady had asked a question of a man or boy, she would have received a polite answer. The state of affairs was a credit to Christchurch. She doubted if there was any other city which on that night had a crowd 1 which was so large and yet so courteous and so good-natured. A tradesman’s feeling towards 3ns patrons.—l intend holding a sale, which null commence to-day (Saturday) and continue every day for eight days only for tho benefit of my numerous patrons and the public generally. It was my intention to have presented each of my customers with a small present this Christmas, but owing to their number having so largely increased I find it is impossible to do so. Now, to still show ray gratitude towards you for supporting m© so heartily during the past two yeans, I intend holding a Christmas gift sale. I do not mean an ordinary clearance sale, but an honest reduction (for eight days only), which I hope will give my patrons and the general public an opportunity of securing a handsome present at a cost which will eclipse all others.. —Yours sincerely, Louis Fontenoy, Armagh Street Picture Gallery, three doors from Colombo Street. 1012 Sweethearts and wives rejoice over Christmas greetings, when accompainod by a useful gift. Chain purses, Is 6d, Is lid, 2s lid; Ladies’ Companions, 4s lid, 7s 6d, 10a 6d; Dressing Cases, 12s 6d 'ids, 21s; Hand Mirrors, 4s 6d, 5s (id’; Chain Bags, 8s 6d, 4s 6d, 5s 6d; Needle Cases, 9d, Is, Is 6d, Is lid; Choice Christmas Cards, 6d, 9d, Is, Is fid per box; Comic Post Cards, Id; I?ost Cards, English and Colonial Views, Black and 'White, Id, Coloured 2d; also Embroidered Handkerchiefs, Gloves, Belts, Perfumes, Purses, etc. Beatli and Co., Ltd., Cashel Street, See windows. 1988 Just to hand for the holiday season, a late shipment of novelty neck wear, right up-to-date. Silk ties Is, Is 6d to 5s lid each; collarettes, Is lid to 8s lid each; Lace ties, Is 9d to 2s lid Black* Beattie Go. 3269

The large trout, weighing over _ 101 b, sent to the Crystal Palace Exhibition, has been returned to the Christchurch Tourist Office. •It was caught by Mr H. 6. Berryman, in tho Ashburton River, and is a splendid sample of a fish.

Tho Superintending Steward of the Lyttelton Sailors’ Home wishes to acknowledge the receipt of three bags of books, and a number of magazines, from Mrs J. Bishop, Papanui, and of London “ Graphics ” and “ Tit Bits ” from Mr O. J. W. Cookson, Lyttelton. At the Palmerston North Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Alfred Butler, a bookmaker, was fined £2 and costs for betting on tho Kiwitea racecourse on December 1, and £5 and costs for betting with a person whom it was alleged ho knew to be an infant.

The Mandevillo and Rangkira Road Board intends to erect a temporary bridge for light traffic over the Oust River for use during the time the concrete bridge is being constructed. It is announced in an advertisement that the present ford through the river will bo closed for traffic all day on Monday. The police authorities in Christchurch have been informed that Constable Whatman has arrested a Maori named John Tanpoki, seventeen years of age, on a chargo of attempted assault upon a Maori girl named Rachael Stevens, eleven years of age. A remand has been applied for by the police to December 21.

There are now 5499 artisans and labourers employed on co-operative works in the colony. Of this number 3445 are on works controlled by tho Public Works Department, and 2054 are under tho Department of Roads, .riie largest number (1352) are employ- . ed’ on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. It is estimated roughly that a rate of 2d in the pound, levied over the whole of the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s district, which extends from tljo Hurunui to the Rangitata, -would bo sufficient to pay the interest on the sum of £1,500,000 required to make the proposed canal to Linwood. The Board has no power to rate at present, and depends upon dues and fees for its revenue. Mr W. Morgan, J.P., and Mr W. J. Dickie, J.P., presided at the Methven irate's Court on ■ Thursday. P. M’Menaman was fined for having permitted horses to wander ‘at largo at Highbank on November 26. Prohi'tion orders were issued against' two men, and a third case was adjourned for a month. Judgment was given by default in the cases H. T. Knight v. S. Hayward, and same v. N. Burgess. The agricultural products report leaflet for November shows that the following quantities were exportedButter, 31.7580 wt, . value £153,099; cheese 3765 cwt, value £9428; frozen beef, 1622 cwt, value £1963 ;• frozen mutton, 57,086 carcases, 26,206 cwt, value £36,352; legs and pieces, 81cwt, value £121; frozen lamb, 2890 carcases, 885 cwt, value £1638; wheat, 100,311 bushels, x value £16,143; oats, 135,847 bushels, value £14,221; hemp, 2249 tons, value £55,450. , The Mayor was approached yesterday in regard to the cadet camp, a hitch having occurred in the arrangements, and he telegraphed to the Premier as. follows:—"! understand that seven hundred school cadets disappointed at not going into camp Monday. Authorities helpless for Lack of tents, stores and portion of Government grant. Can you help?” Last night the Mayor received the following reply from the Premier : —“ gee Colonel Bauchop regarding cadets. If nothing bettor oan be done and you cannot get touts, let them camp in, the new drill-shed. Get some tarpaulins for the floor and straw for them to He. on, and the boys will be quit© happy.” A petition for the restitution of conjugal rights was taken before Mr Justice Denniston yesterday, and his Honor made some comment on the purpose of the action. The petition, he said, supposed the desire of man and wife to live together after having been separated, hut as a matter of fact the petition very often proved to be only a stexi to divorce proceedings. The Courts, however, had mad© a practice of shutting their eyes to the facts. The whole proceedings were based on a farce. In theory the petitioner wished to be compelled to fly to the arms of her reluctant husband, but it was understood in practice that neither wished for the reconciliation. “ I must follow, the practice of the English Courts,” said his Honor, ‘‘and grant an order for the restitution of conjugal rights, which, it is perfectly well known, one party does not desire and the other has refused in precise terms.” The Rangiora High School Board met on Thursday evening, Mr J. Johnston in the chair. The annual report of the headmaster (Mr T. R. Cresswell) was read. He stated the number on the roll to be 71—hoy® 35, girls 30, and the average attendance 90 per cent of the passible. This average was lower than usual owing toi the broken spring weather. The scholars, all round, had done excellent work. The school was now really a secondary school. Practically all the scholars had passed the sixth standard, and the school was now working up to the standard of the junior University scholarships, tho highest standard generally attempted in secondary schools. The cadet corps continued to be a useful and creditable auxiliary to the general work. There was no question as to the influence it had upon the discipline of the school, and the interest it gave the boys in their school. The members of the Board expressed their gratification at the prosperous condition of the school, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Cresswell and his assistants, Misses Howard and Martin, their efficient services during tho (year. A large quantity of correspondence was dealt with. According to the “ New Zealand Times,” a well-known New Zealand officer figured in the mishap which befell tho China Merchants Steam Navigation Company’s steamer Hsieh Ho, which was blown up on September 30 by a derelict mine in Eastern waters. | Mr M’Kay, who was second officer of j the ill-fated vessel, went to Japan as j chief officer of the Blackwall Com- 1 pany’s steamer Dingade© a few months ago. H© came out from England in tho Government steamer Lady Roberts, and was later second officer of the Pc~ tone and Dingadee., Mr M’Kay was amongst those saved, and fifteen out of eighty-six on board were lost. The vessel struck tho mine at 6.30 a.m., and a terrific explosion ensued. The Hsieh'Ho sank in a few minutes, barely permitting of the boats to be launched. The Chinese crow were panicstricken. Tho chief engineer had the , presence of mind to stop tho engines 1 and blow off steam when the shock occurred. Some of the Europeans were rescued by a passing steamer. Mr M’Kay hung to a floating hen-coop in company with tho third engineer, Mr Muir. The latter became exhausted, and, after shaking hands with Mr M’Kay, collapsed, and was drowned. For peas and clover buy a McCormick Daisy Reaper. Morrow, Bassett and Go. 53208 Messrs Graham, Wilson and Smellie report having had a most successful season in their millinery department, and announce in their advertisement to-day that all their present stock of beautiful trimmed hats is to be sold at about half-price. c d62

Largo quantities of wool aro now being shipped from Australia to Japan. Two cargoes have already been sent forward from Sydney, and it is understood that two more are to follow immediately.

An .attractive programme of athletic events has boon arranged to- take place at Lancaster Park this afternoon, under the auspices of the Pioneer Club. Trophies to the value of £250 will be competed for, and as several prominent athletes from Ashburton, Oamaru and T ; ma.ru have entered, the various events promise bo be very hotly contested. A heavy thunderstorm passed over tiro Mount Somers district on Thursday afternoon, accompanied by a tropical downpour. For an hour tho thunder was almost continuous, and fox* a few minutes largo hailstones fell. Sonne of the stones wore as large as pigeons egos, and great damage would have been done had the storm lasted much longer. The annual garden party of the Timaru Girls’ High School was held yesterday afternoon. The weather held fine, but a threat of showers kept down the number of visitors. Samples of the girls’ work in dressmaking, drawing and brushwork, and studies in botany, were displayed in the rooms, and a programme of girls’ sports and tennis matches added amusement for the visitors. Nurse Maude wishes to acknowledge the receipt of tlx© following donations for her consumptive camps:—Card No. 79, 18s; Mount Herbert County Council,, £4; Mr F. de 0. Malet,, IQs; collection box, 7s 6d; Kaiapoi Mothers’ Union, £1 8s 6d; 8t Albans Mothers’ Union, £2 7s; proceeds of cricket match, £3 18s 9d; a friend, £1; Mr Skog, medicine; Messrs Biggins, Webb and Bides, trout; < Mrs R. H. Wood and Mr A. Carter, eggs; friend, bam; Burnham School, vegetables. At the Southbridge Court yesterday, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., Joseph Butliffe applied for a maintenance order against his three sons. After hearing evidence the Magistrate mad© an order against the sons for the payment of 2s 6cl per week each. In a civil case, W. D. Owers and Co. v. W. Hintz, a judgment summons case for £4 10s, an order was made for payment of the amount forthwith, ixx default three weeks’ ' imprisonment, the warrant to bo suspended on payment of 20s per month. In answer to a telegram from the Mayor, tlx© Pi'emier has telegraphed, stating that lx© and Sir Joseph Ward will conform to any arrangement made in connection with tlx© Exhibition ceremony on Monday. He states that he quite agrees that the ceremony should be concluded by one o’clock, as the cadets and othei'S should not be kept on their feet too long. The proceedings will commence at 11 a.xn., and it is expected that the formal paid of the cei'emoruy, including the speeches, will bo over by midday. The cadet and Volunteer movements will occupy about another hour.

The area under potatoes in North Otago is not so large as year (says the “ Oamaru Mail ”), and, in addition to X--XS, some of the crops have suffered through the tubers rotting in _ the ground as a result of .unsatisfactory weather. However, to counterbalance this, thex-e are no signs of blight ©o far ais can bo ascertained, and should tlie present dry weather continue the potato disease should be little heard of in this _ district during the coming season. Still, it is certain that potatoes will command good prices from the outset.

Rabbits are increasing in myriads at CollarerKpkri, New South Wales, and doing much hai'nx to stockowners, but proving profitable to many others. Numbers of men are employed skinning rabbits. From one station alone SOLro are sent away every fortnight. Rabhitors are allowed by the station the free’ use of pits in return for keeping them clear of rabbits, which are piled in heaps a few yards from the pits, and left tbex'e to x'ot, each day increasing the size of the heap. No attempt is made to burn them. A drover was recently fined at the local Court for leaving a dead sheep on the road, but rabbi tax's appear to be exempt. At the Rakaia Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, before Mr 0. A. C. Hardy, J.P., and ,Mr Thomas Blackley, J.P., William Ireland was brought up on remand on a charg© of having stolen three fleeces of wool, of the value of £1 4s, from the Heelerton Station, in November, tlx© property of William Nixon. Accused, for whom Mr Donnelly and Mr Leathern appeared, pleaded not guilty. After hearing the evidence for the pi'osecution, Mr Donnelly said that his client would plead guilty, and he asked the Bench to deal leniently with, the accused. The Bench fined the accused £lO and costs £3 11s, in default two months’ inxpi'isonnient. , A second charge, of having stolen on© fleece, the property of William Nixon, was withdrawn. .

An attempt to swindle a shopkeeper, which failed, was the subject of a prosecution before two Justices at Timaru yesterday. Mr South, manager of the Timaru branch of "the New Zealand Clothing Factory, received a letter addressed^ —“ Now Zealand Clothing Factory, Timaru, urgent,” and dated as from Hadlovv, December 4, asking that several articles of men’s underclothing, “ for Mr Parkes,” and a few yards each of flannel and serge, should be sent in a parcel to a livery stable in town, for Mrs Parkes, wife of -the manager of Hadlow Estate; a friend of here would call for the parcel, and Mrs Parkes would call and settle the account next time she was in town. Mr South at once suspected l an attempt at a swindle, because lie knew that the name of the manager of Hadlow is Parke, not Parkes, and that he takes a bigger collar than the size asked for by the writer. On the advice of the police, ho made up a bogus parcel of rubbish, and took it to the stable. A woman named Foley, who lives in Timaru, fetched the parcel from the stable, w r as followed home, and was then arrested. The police prosecuted the woman under Subsection 4 of Section 28, of the Police Offences Act. Mr Raymond, for accused, urged that it had not been proved that accused wrote the letter, the means of the “ endeavour to impose upon ” the informant; and she bad not obtained any goods by false pretences. The Bench concluded that the accused was guilty, but, in view of ber state of health, thev merely convicted, and ordered her to be imprisoned till the rising of the Court. Balloons used in war, says Lord Roberts, are great. Balloons used as Xmas and New Tear present® are great, ears Little Jim. tire Boot Man. Every Customer spending over Is gets a largo 28-inch Balloon or Calendar free. 1988 Order to-day. ’tis madness bo defer— You have the Ball at your feet. . Gall at Armstrong’s for your Holiday Millinery, Trimmed Hate from Ps lid, ravishing creations. Exquisite Lace®, Gloves and Sunshades" at Sale Prices. Houtv' l Fnr'i'iehinws to suit every purse and homo. Suits for lame or email boys in sailors, from 3s. Tweed Conwavs 6s 6d. Nor folks 8s 6d. Gents’ Sint® from 14s fid, and made to measure from 39s fid. Armstrong's, High Street and Victoria, Square. 936 There is something worth consideration in the exceptional value we are offering in wide silk ribbons, all this season’s (roods, fashionable shades, were Is 6d. now lOid per yard; 81-ck, ' Kx —and Co. ®262

Yesterday afternoon, ‘ the Opawa Ladies’ Cricket Club played the Sumner ladies, on the latter’s ground, and won the match easily on the first innings. Rain spoilt the later stages of the game, but the dainty “ disciples of tlx© willow ” persevered in their attempts to handle a greasy ball in the dank slippery grass until nearly sis o’clock, when, wet through, they re* luctantly abandoned their efforts. The Canterbury District Volunteer Officers’ Club will meet on December 21. The order. of business is:—To receive the report of tlx© Special Committee sot up regarding field firing., To consider tlx© notice of motion by Captain Foster —“ That, inasmuch as very little interest seems to have been taken in tlx© club for some considerable time, and that it is doubtful if the club is fulfilling the object for which it was formed, a committee of five members should be set up to consider the advisability of reorganising or winding-up the club.” Captain F. B. Muir will read a paper on “ Tact in Enforcing Discipline.” Strange and Co. announce that their premises will be open all diay to-day (Saturday), but dosed 1 all day on Monday next, in celebration of Anniversary Day. Visitors to Strange’s will find a whole host of Special Holiday attractions awaiting them. 934 Who is Watson? The cheapest and most reliable watchmaker and jeweller. 230, Colombo Street. Silver, Green- • stone and Maori novelties. Watch repairing a speciality. SSOO Jewellery Sale. Best Reliable Watches, Gold Muff Chains, Engagement Rings, Gold Bangles, Gold Brooches, Wedding and Christmas Presents, all Sold at Great Reduction for one month only. K. Grieshaber, Jeweller, 155, Colombo Street. X 8371 Household Requisites. Fletcher Bros, have a good assortment of bathe, buckets, saucepans, kettles, fry-pans, brooms and brushes. W. and G. cup* and saucers from 5s lOd, plates from 2s meat dishss from Is, big dishes 2s , 9d, toilet sets from 8s 9d, lamps, cutlery, glassware, etc. See windows. Fletcher Bros., Crockery and Glassware Merchants, Lower High Street. 1988 PARLIAMENTARY REFRESHMENT. Consternation has been caused among Federal members by the discovery that for the year about to end the loss on the Parliamentary Refreshment-rooms will be practically £IOOO. A joint House Committee is considering a proposal to shut up the rooms altogether, and to make some other arrangement for the convenience of members and their friends. On© suggestion is that the refreshment catering should be let to a pxivate contractor, who would nan the rooms on business lines. Before, however, any drastic ston is taken the whole of the books of the existing re-freshment-rooms will be overhauled. It is considered that there must be something wrong with the management of the rooms when, with an average daily custom, when Parliament is sitting, of between seventy and eighty persons, the receipts and expenditure cannot be mad© to meet. The joint House Committee is expected to make some recommendation to Parliament on the whole position before the end of the session. THE UNSOPHISTICATED ENGLISH. The recent rising of the Arabs in Yemen is attributed by Professor Vambery, in a short paper in the “ Contemporary,” to the horrible misrule and tyranny from which the Sultan’s ■ subjects in the Arabian Peninsula suffer, and also to the extortion practised by the taxgathering officials. But certain Continental critics have accused, England of instigating the revolt. Nothing of the kind, says Professor Vambery. “I am very much astonished at the great degree of political’ foresight and wisdom, as well as skill in intrigues and secret machinations, .which the Anglophobes are constantly imputing to English statesmen. For fifty year® past I have closely watched England’s policy in the Near Bast, but I am sorry to say I could never discover any of these qualities in British diplomatists. On the contrary, I have found that England has been steadily outwitted by her i-ivals, and that the sometimes too open and straightforward behaviour of her statesmen has often been detrimental to hex- policy.” The Yemen Arabs, he declares, would have got the degree of political independence they have struggled for if England had taken a secret hand in the revolt. And the deliverance of the Arabs would be a good thing for England’s Indian interests. It is certainly flattering to leai-n that British statesmen,are too good for the wicked world of diplomacy. ’ NARROW ESCAPES. " Two serious accidents were narrowly averted whilst the second express was journeying to Dunedin on Wednesday (says the “Otago Daily Tunes”). The first occurred at a .road crossing tno line near Waiwera, wne.ro the driver of a vehicle allowed 1 his honse to get too close to the passing train before pulling up—in fact, several passengers were of opinion that the animal was struck on the nose by one of the carriages. This , caused the animal to plunge and swerve, with the result that the vehicle was backed .over the road embankment. No, serious damage resulted, however. When approaching Kaihibu the driver observed a trolly with two workmen proceeding along the line in the same direction as the train. Realising their danger the men jumped clear of the trolly a second or two before the_ train was brought to a standstill. Owing to the effectiveness of the Westdnghouse brake the train was pulled up just as it struck the trolly, which suffered somewhat from the force of the impact. . One of the workmen’s coats was afterwards found on the front carriage of the engine, and the opinion was expressed by several of the passengers that the effectiveness, of the brakes alone presented a serious. accident, as a curve in the line prevented the driver from seeing any distance ahead, the same cause likewise preventing those on the trolly from noticing the impending danger. THE “STAR.” In the “Star” of to-day there will appear a further instalment of “ The Master Criminal,” a tale by Major Arthur Griffiths. Amongst the other tales and sketches will be found “ The Progress of Cancer' Research,” “ The Kaiser’s Ambition.” “ Pappy’s Plan of Salvation,” “ Quick-firing Field .Guns,” “Beaten Generals• as Beggars,” etc. For ladies’ reading' the columns are very full, and amongst the items in the contents list will be found “ What _is Depression?” “The Geisha Girl of Japan,” “ Famous Folk in the Hands of Fortune-Tellers,” “The Princess of Wales’s Indian Dresses,” “ Petticoats in Paris.” “Some Tasty Dishes of Cheese,” Woman’s World, Household Hints, etc. There will also be, as usual, “ The Week,” the column! for bandsmen and gardeners, the column headed “ Brief Mention,” and the one composed of wit and humour. The eight o’clock edition will be pub> - lished as usual, containing the latest news from the x-ecreation grounds, and the latest intelligence by telegraph. The literary features of the issue ,wiU be many and varied.