TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13936, 19 December 1905, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The Christmas number of the-“ Ca- - terbury Times ” -sill be ready for sale this afternoon. Notwithstanding the greatly increased cost of production, the Christmas number will be sold at the usual price of the popular weekly journal, namely, sixpence. The illustrations, which, have been prepared with skill, and which are really works of art, deal principally with New Zealand’s , glorious scenery. The reading pages not only record the doings of'the > moment in the usual columns, but they literally teem with sparkling Christmas stories from the pens of the most popular writers. The Christmas number of the “Canterbury Times” is a combination of illustrations and reading matter which, for the price, sixpence, has not been excelled in this colony, and subscribers will find it a most suitable magazine to send to their friends in all parts of the world. A. recount of the votes cast at the Kaiapoi licensing poll, will; b© held on December 22, before Mr T. G. Day, S.M. . The weather in Rotorua during the last week has been showery, but enjoyable, and holidaymakers are arriving by every train. The new Boys’ College at Nelson la being rapidly proceeded with. It will be in brick, and will be completed at a cost of some time next year. The Warrimoo, from Melbourne and Hobart, arrived at the Bluff last evening. Her mails should reach Christchurch to-night. The Telegraph Department has received advice from Sydney that South and West Australian telegraph business is subject to delay owing to interruptions of the lines. - • ■ The committee of the Musical Union lias secured the services of Madame AgriCs Paddon for their fourth subscription concerts, to be given in the Canterbury. Hall to-morrow and Thursday,

The estimated amount of the deficiency on the annual working 'of the Ashburton-Dorie telephone service via Elgin, Wakanui, Sea view, .Seafield and Kyle, having been deposited, it is exEooted the work will soon be put in and. . .. : The Ashburton-Mounted Rifles held a mounted church parade at St Andrew’s Church, Tinwald, on Sunday evening. The company mustered thirty men, under Captain Studholme ana Lieutenant Hardy, and'the Eov E. N. Blakiston, who is chaplain to the corps, preached an appropriate sermon. The Rotorua correspondent of the “Lyttelton Times” telegraphs that aa embarrassing, but somewhat- amusing, incident occurred at the Anglican Church on Sunday night. The. electric light suddenly went out in the middle of the service, and the congregation had to be dismissed in darkness. The collection, however, was not entirely overlooked, and the vicar announced that any who wished could contribute as they left the church. The work of the new office of Assistant Inspector of Schools, to which the appointment of Dr W. J. Anderson was announced yesterday, will* have to do chiefly with’ the inspection _of secondary schools, district _ high , schools and other institutions which are subject to the inspection of the Education Department; the drawing up of technical and other regulations, classification ‘and registration of teachers, and the conduct of examinations. ■ •Superintendent Smith and a party of firemen took advantage of the holiday yesterday afternoon, to test the Sydenham water supply as a fire preventive agent. As a large supply of water was .iu use it was found impossible to pump sufficient, in to the mains for the purpose of the test-, but pressure was obtained from the water-works tower, and the supply enabled a satisfactory test to bo made near Sydenham Park. Three lines of hose were used, and these were carried to the top of the brigade’s telescope ladder, a height of more toan a hundred feet. A strong flow' of _water was obtained at that height,' and Superintendent Smith was enabled to assure himself that the supply would be ample to cope with any fire that could occur in Sydenham. - i The Ashburton Mounted Rifles held their military sports at the Ashburton Show Grounds yesterday afternoon. The attendance of the public wm poor, and the following are resultsLloyd-Lind-say Competition—Sergeant-Major . Gp kon’s squad 1, Trooper Murphy s ; 2; Wrestling on horseback—Sergeant Hopwood’s quartet 1; Victoria Cross Race— Trooper Murphy 1, Corporal Blunden 3, Trooper Friedlander 3; Led section* —Trooper Irwin 1, Trooper Mu*> phy 2; Half sections over- Hurdles— Troopers Murphy and Irwin 1, Troopers Stoddart and .Smith 2, Troopers Bomfant and' Harper 3; Threading the Needle—Trooper Friedlander 1, Trooper Murphy 2; Led Hons© over Hurdles— Troppers Friedlander and Harper 1 J Night Alarm—Sergeant _Hopwood, Troopers Scaly, Ashton and Stoddart 1, Corporal Dolierty, Troopers Haiper, Bruce and Smith 2. The company also executed various evolutions in good style. ■ . Strange’s had a tremendously busy day again on Saturday, the special holiday attractions drawing crowds of visitors. Strange’s are now offering the most extraordinary in alldepartments, quantities of fashionable goods being sacrificed at half and under half their usual prices. In addition to this, Strange’s Grand Xmas Toy Bazaar and Fancy Fair appeals to all visitors, for it possesses wonderful attractions of its own. Here may; he found thousands upon thousands of toys and gift goods (real novelties) at all prices, and here may be seen (free of charge) Alma, the famous conjuror, late of. the Magic : Kettle Go., who gives sleight of -and entertainments at intervals during each afternoon. Strange’s want all the children to come "and see Alma. The entrance to the toy bazaar is by the new grand stairway, via the dress department, 1103

Brioes’s Corner is to be sold to-day at Messrs Dalgety anti Go.’s Land Saleroom. ■

The Wellington Lawn Tennis Association has decided to offer December 27 and'-January 2 or January 3 as the dates of the match with the Canterbury Association.

At the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, James Cook was convicted and fined 20s, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment, for drunkenness. Mr 11. Alcorn was the presiding justice. On Saturday a large number of anglers journeyed to the mouth of the Ashburton Rivet. The stream was, not in very good condition, and catches were few, although one enthusiast netted a fourteen-pounaer. A summer school for the teachers of South Canterbury was opened yesterday morning, with an attendance or 120. Dr Marshall, of the Otago University, lectured on Geography, and Mr Isaac on Hand Work. The school will be carried on throughout the week. If the Volunteer has not gone down in public estimation since the South African. War, he is at least not the hero that he - was before the Boers wore beaten. At one time the sight of a uniform would set the hearts of city maidens palpitating, hut it was noticeable yesterday that every man in khaki was passed-by r and even red-coats and blue-ooats, and stalwart defenders in glad raiment of various hues, failed to elicit th©' smiles and glances of yore. Mr G. Gibbs Jordan will give his first jrand organ recital to-night, at St Paul’s Presbyterian Church. The programme is a highly attractive one, including Wehy’s “ Scene Pastorale ’ (interrupted by a storm); Bach’s ‘ ‘Prelude and Fugue iu C minor”; Btistes “ Grand Offertoiro in D minor ” ; and other numbers. / Each item has been specially annotated for this recital by Mr Jordan, and this should further enhance the effect of the programme, At the Auckland Police Court, yesterday, William Richardson, a wellknown temperance lecturer, and James Dixon Ward, who is equally well known as an advocate of “ continuance,” wore charged with having, by lecturing in Queen Street, caused a collection of persons, whereby the footpath was obstructed; The evidence was to the effect that the defendants were lecturing under a verandah on a recent' Sunday afternoon. They were each fined £1 and costs 7s.

A very satisfactory report was presented to the Gisborne Harbour Board yesterday regarding the training-wall extension; which had given rise to much controversy. The overseer claimed that the wor£ (which was done well within contract offers) is a complete success, and every inducement to proceed with the scheme for deep water in the inner harbour. Ho was authorised to proceed to Auckland, with a view to getting better knowledge of Ferro-concrete work, which he recommended for all future wharf extension. Tho result of the general ©lection has impressed most New Zealanders, but probably ho one, whether Liberal .or Conservative, would extol the present Government as much as did the pub-

lisher of the souvenir programme of

yesterday’s ceremony at Hagley Park. • The wording may have been unintentional, but to the ordinary , citizen the programme read:—“ 11 a.m. ;■ Arrival of the Right Hon the Premier and Party, .Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G., etc., etc." Reception by the Executive.” The school children then led the Doxology, “Praise God Prom Whom All Blessings Flow.” The usual. agricultural statistics are published in -a special “Gazette,” which says that ’ the season has been very unfavourable, and ■ consequently the crops, are backward .and the harvest will be late. The following areas are . returned for threshing Wheat, 222,077; oats, 358,457; for chaffing, ensilage and feeding down, 236,682. Hie following shew ah increased acreage:— Oats 46,201, barley 896, rye 500, maize 1P94, peas 1834, linseed 205, hops 34, potatoes -277, turnips 20,088, other crops 662 J The following show decreases Wheat 36,289, beans 597, vetches 48, other corn crops 750, mangolds 1386, rape 476, 'beet 373. The net total increased acreage is 31,874. 'The Christ’s College “Register” for .the final term of the year contains a variety of information of interest to past generations as well as current inhabitants of the school. This number is specially valuable because it contains a plan of the elevation ob the proposed new buildings on Antigua Street, and the picture is certainly impressive. “The new building-scheme,” it is explained, “ is now thoroughly under way, ■ and the success, or otherwise, rests entirely with the Old Boys. Thor© are many wealthy ones amongst them who alone could ensure complete success, but ■it is desired that all should have a share in re-establishing the College on a firm foundation as regards buildings. It has been clearly shown that the College finances are unable to contribute anything whatever towards the re-building, and, as the matter is now absolutely necessary, it must be done by the Old Boys.” , , ..

The monthly, meeting of the Southbridge Town Board was held on Friday; present—Messrs W. G. Smith (chairman), J. Woods, J. S. Chapman, E. 'J. Cowan, E. G. Hubbard and. M. Twiss. . Mr G. Hannaford wrote with reference to the alleged illegal impounding of one of his horses. After some discussion it was resolved to return Mr Hannaford the pound fees. Mr W. S. Hill wrote stating that he had been advised by his solicitor to give notice to the Board to lay pipes across M’Connell Street, and asking for a satisfactory reply, otherwise he would go on with the case in regard to dam- : age to his property caused by flood water. Mr.T. G. Russell, solicitor for Mr..' Hill, and Messrs Izard and Loughnan, the Board’s solicitors, wrote on the same matter. The Board decided 9 to, act on the advice of its solicitors. Mrs Winter wrote objecting to water running into the Belfield Greek until un agreement had been signed by pro-perty-owners in the vicinity. It was decided to reply to the effect that the Board.could not see its way to do anything in the matter. The tenders of G. Hamilton for- forming Hastings Street, and of D. Gilmour for dogcollars, were accepted. Accounts amounting to £23 18s 6d were passed for-payment. Presents for Christmas just landed: Ladies’ companions 4s lid, 7s 6d, 10s 6d, chain purees Is 6d, Is lid,. 2s lid, hand mirrors 4s 6d, cs 6d, dressingcases 12s 6d, los, 21s, chain bags 3s 6d, 4s 6d, 6s 6d, fancy needle cases 9d, Is, Is 6d, Is lid, new motto handkerchiefs B§d, embroidered handkerchiefs, perfumes, gloves, etc., selected Christmas cards, witn envelopes, 6d, Bd, Is, Is 6d per box; post cards, large assortment, black and white Id, coloured 2d; domic post cards Id and 2d. Inspection invited. Beath and Co., Ltd., Cashel Street. 1988 At Black, Beattie’s, great bargains are in evidence. Dainty French Muslin 2s 3d, now Is' per yard; Ladies’ Fahey Straw Hats ,6s, 6d to 10s 6d, for Is each; Coloured Crash Skirts, 10s 6d, for 5s lid each. . 3262 ■' Household Requisites. Fletcher Bros, have a good assortment of baths, buckets, saucepans, kettles, fry-pans, brooms and brushes. W. and G. cups and saucers from 5s lOd, plates from 2s, meat dishes from Is, big dishes 2a Bd, toilet sets from Ss 9d. lamps, cutlery, glassware, etc. See windows. Fletcher Bros., Crockery and Glassware Merchants, Lower High Street. 1983

Some £3OOO has been circulated in Westport during the season now closing by the whitebait canning industry. A sitting of the Lyttelton Police Court was held before Captain Marciel, J.P., yesterday. A first offender was convicted of drunkennees and discharged with a caution. An Upper Clutha Railway League has been constituted at Cromwell, with the object of bringing pressure to bear on the Government -to carry the construction of the Otago Central railway to Lake Hawea. The Now Zealand Portland Cement Company shows a profit for the year of £7297 6s 4d. The company proposes to pay 7 per cent dividend, absorbing £2IOO, and place the balance to profit and loss, except £876 19s 2d, carried forward. The members of the Lyttelton Literary and Debating Society held their annual picnic yesterday. The party, numbering about one hundred and hicy, went by the s.s. John Anderson to Quail Island, where the day was pleasantly spent in the amusements customary at such outings. ■ ' The Eltham “ Argus,” in_ relating the increase in numbers of weasels in the back-blocks, and the audacity of the pests, states that at Punewhakau a few days ago a road worker was awakened in his whare by a stinging pressure on his throat. It was a weasel at his windpipe. The man’s neck and chest were covered in blood.

A peculiar incident was witnessed at Rongomai recently (says the Manawatu “ Herald ”). A settler saw a flight of starlings and sparrows frantically flying about a largo rimu tree. Presently he espied a stoat, which had evidently been bird-nesting, descend from one of the highest points of the tree, probably a distance of over forty feet.

Arrangements have been mads by Messrs Fuller and Sons for kinematograph films of the matches of the New Zealand football team at Home to be sent to the colony. A film of the match against Northumberland was to have been shown at Auckland last night. For the match against Wales a film 2000 ft long was used, and will arv rive in the colony with the first/ mail leaving after the game. Writing to tho Superintendent of the Tourist Department, a citizen of the United Statefe expresses regret that New. Zealand-was not represented at the exhibition at Portland (Oregon). However, he says, the work done by; New Zealand at St Louis will do more than Was hoped by even the most sanguine. He had met hundreds of people who got their first knowledge of New Zealand at the Exposition. “Everybody,” adds the writer, “wants to know something about the Exhibition at Christchurch.”

The Colonial Museum has (says the “ New/Zealand Times”) just received a valuable acquisition, in the form of a series of sketches of incidents of the Maori War of 1865, drawn'by MajorGeneral Robley, -now in England. During his visit Home, Mr Donne secured these sketches, which are about seventy in number. They depict the principal places at which engagements took place with the Natives during this war, remains of the old pas, and sketches of prominent individuals on both sides. .The artist has paid special attention to the tattooing of the , Maoris during those exciting times, and this adds to the interest and value of the pictures. The domestic animals that freqxient the “tramway area” are gradually learning something about'the possible pace of electric ears, and in most cases tho lesson is forcibly taught. A large brown retriever had an altercation with ia.nioth.er canine specimen in Colombo Road yesterday morning, and they sat down on the tramline to argue the matter out. Their colloquy was cut short by the hurried advent of an,electric car, which gathered in the brown retriever, carried him a short distance, and bundled him off without waiting to collect a fare. Without waiting to find out what had struck him that dog set out for home with'his bail between Iris legs and an obvious desire to get as far as possible away, from the tramline in the shortest time ; on record. ■

A bankrupt being examined before the Official Assignee in Auckland stated that he had to keep himself, wife and two children on £2 10s per week. Upon this a representative of a creditor present commented, “I am keeping a family of ten on £2 5s per week, and paying 14s a week rent.” • The bankrupt replied, “I don’t believe it; it cannot bo done at the present rate of living.” The creditor’s representative stated that he did it, and managed to make ends meet, to which the bankrupt answered: “ Then you’re a living marvel. I’d like to know how on earth you do it. Why", £2 5s with a family of ten wouldn’t keep body and soul together.” The other said that the bankrupt could see the household monthly accounts if he liked, and each .man stated that he only possessed one suit-of clothes in the world. In the recount of the Wellington East poll, Dr M’Arthur, S.M., validated twenty-eight votes declared by the Returning-officer to be informal. Twenty of; these had been rejected because they did not bear the official seal of the Returning-officer. Clause 137 of the Electoral Act passed, last session, however, provides that “ The Return- . ing-officer shall reject as informal all ballot-papers that do not bear the official mark, and that there is a reasonable cause to believe were not issued to a voter bv any Deputy Roturning-offi-cer.” The Wellington balMbpapere bore the imprint of the “ New Zealand Times,” and the date and number of the order; and Dr M’Arthur held that this gave reasonable cause to believe that the rejected papers had been issued to voters, and used in a legitimate way. It turned out that the twenty votes thus allowed were almost evenly divided between Mr Aitken and Mr M’Lean. The Act of 1901 made it mandatory to reject any ballot-paper not bearing the official mark, and in giving judgment in the Newtown Licensing casej Dr M’Arthur pointed out that it was unjust to deprive an elector of his vote through the negligence of a Deputy Returning-officer, hence the alteration in the Act of last session. It would be interesting to know how the Returning-officers in other electorates where the results were close dealt with the ballot-papers not bearing the official stamp. Christmas Hams.—We go one bettor than the Farmers’ Co-op. or any other Co-op. Our price for first prize Christmas hams is now reduced to 6d per lb no higher price. Every ham has been ‘passed by the Government Inspector. Over 1000 sold last week, and we still have a very large selection in all sizes. John Hall and Co., the cheapest and best store for groceries, provisions, crockery, etc. Clock Towel, Christchurch. 1134

We are giving the best value in bicycles ever offered in Christchurch. Pried from £ll to £ls 15s. Genuine English-built B.S.A. Bicycles £l2 10s. Ropa/re, unequalled in quality, at moderate prices. Boyd and Boa, 191, Gloucester Street, Christchurch. 1988 The great number who visited the establishment of Black, Beattie and Co-, this week is sufficient proof that the re. putation this firm holds for value is being more than maintained. 3262 Jewellery Sale. Best Reliable Watches, Gold Muff Chains, Engagement Rings, Gold Bangles, Gold .Brooches, Wedding and Christmas Preedits, all Sold at Great Reduction for one month only. K. Grieshaber. Jeweller, 155, Colombo Street. 1X3371

The Rangiora "Women’s Christian Temperance Union ] held its annual meeting in the Institute Hall on Friday. There was a good attendance. The Union donated £5 to the New Zealand Alliance. The treasurer reported that after all financial liabilities were discharged the Union had a credit balance of £0 15s Bd. The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, Sirs T. Fee; 'vice-presidents, Mesdames P. Kcir, Moore and Graham; treasurer, Mrs Methereil; secretary, Mrs R. Darling. An incident which occurred at the sittings of the Supreme Court at Sale, Victoria, has caused much local amusement. In its wisdom the jury_ brought in a verdict of “Not guilty” in a certain case, to the intense astonishment of the accused, who remarked that ho would willingly “ have taken three months without a trial.” He further facetiously suggested that hits “kind friends of the jury deserved six in a pies hop with muzzles on.” The unhappy jurymen are now going th nought an ordeal of banter at the hands of the townsfolk.

The agricultural statistics for Canterbury are;—Wheat, 155,209 acres, against 187,104 last year. The quantity of grain now in hand is 1,935,136 bushels. Oats for threshing, 152,186, against 137,782 last year; for chaffing, etc., 66,474,. a slight decrease; oats on hand, 920,364 bushels. Barley, 8879 acres, a sligli't decrease; on hand, 85,882 bushels. Potatoes, 6552 acres. Turnips, 164,584 acres. For Otago the returns show :—Wheat, 53,381 acres, against 63,653 last year; on hand, 952,666 bushels. Oats, threshing 166,919, against 167,025; chaffing, etc., 77,279, against 68,638 last year; on hand, 1,161,753, bushels. Barley, 4505 acres, against 8814; on hand, 90.020 bushels. Potatoes, 6839 acres. Turnips, 198,149 acres.

The “North Otago Times” says that rapid growth: is now being mad©' by the wheat crops in the Oamaru district, many of which are looking' very promising. Farmers who were in town on Saturday; however, say that close examination shows that the' prospects are really not so good as they appear to be. In certain localities, particularly the Papakaio Plain, the crops are patchy, duo, of course, to the very unfavourable weather in the spring and to water lying on the plain for some time. On the tables and faces with a favourable aspect the prospects- are distinctly good, but it is certain that there is not the area under crop that there was last year, and there wall not bo the same heavy yield. Oats are doing well, the wet season having favoured them. The area will probably be found to bo much the same as last year, for many paddocks which had,to bo reploughed after th© rain were sown in oats. As a proof that this year will not bs nearly so good as last; one farmer on Saturday said that ho would hardly get twenty bushels of oats per acre off a paddock which bore eighty bushels of Wheat twelve months ago. _There_ is abundance of feed, and stock ie looking well. In this industry, however, the are hardly so good as last season, th© grass containing too much water to make fattening food and, generally speaking, lambs, are therefore not so forward as this time twelve months ago. Dairy farmers find the milk test improving every week now. -The showers of the last week or _so have been welcome, the surface having become baked, but dry, warm weather, would now please most agriculturists and pastoralists.

CylindriuiS Oil is what you need for harvesting machinery. It is the best you can get. Morrow, Bassett and Co. ' X 3208

People will find some sensible suggestions in Messrs Graham, Wilson and Smellie’s advertisement, which appears in another column of this issue. The goods advertised-should make -most; acoeptable gifts. 3562 If you have the faintest suspicion that -your ©yes are not just right, if they bother you in any way, it’s best to have them examined at once. Do not go to the average optician or spectacle seller, for ho is unable to distinguish between optical defects and diseases, but consult John R. Proctor, 180, High. Street, Christchurch,- who will give you a ’ thorough examination free of charge. X 2681

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES. The arrivals in the colony during November numbered 3510, and the departures 1298. The figures, for November, 1904, were 3677 and 1193 respectively. THE EARLY DAYS OP MARLBOROUGH, The late Hon Captain Kenny, M.L.C., was, says a Picton paper, "the first man to interest himself in Volunteering in Marlborough, and was in charge of the defence arrangements when, over forty years ago, the infant settlement of Picton - was apprehensive of a Maori attack. There are settlors in our midst ■ who remember patrolling, under his command, the Waikawa dis-, triot for some anxious days and nights —weeks, indeed. In those days of difficult communication it was impossible to say when, or from what quarter, the apprehended attack might come, and all had to be on the ‘ qui vive.’ Had it oome, it would have been difficult to resist, for the supply of muskets—old Brown Bees pattern—and ammunition was scant, but- the settlers put a bold face on things, and such of them as had no gims or other effective means of defence patrolled . the threatened side of the town with flax-sticks over their shoulders, to look as much like the real thing as possible.” THE COMMUNITY’S “ GREATEST CURSE.” _ At Sydney, a few days ago, Mr Justice Pring, in dealing with a young man at'the Central -Criminal Court, who had pleaded guilty - 'to embezzling the sum of £lO2l, the property of the Commercial Banking Company, said the accused had given way to what his Honor had described, sitting there some eight or nine months, ago, as the greatest curse to the community. “ There is hardly a newspaper you pick up,” said the judge, “ but in it you see that some youngj man has been brought bo his downfall in on© State or another by- yielding to the cursed fascination of betting.” “You talk about drink,” his Honor went on. “It is not responsible for half the crime that gambling and betting are.” Ruined lives, and mourning wives and mothers were the result. “What about your poor mother?” said the judge, addressing the prisoner, “whom you have brought disgrace upon because you would _ not refrain from this pernicious habit? Seeing that you were a good boy until you wished to become rich without working for it, I will make the sentence as light as I can, and I implore you that when you get out you will never indulge in gambling or anything of the kind that will bring you in money without honest labour.”

THE KELLY GANG. At a meeting of the Salvation Army at Lithgow (Now South Wales) one of the converts, ..James Skillion, related his experiences as a “bush telegraph” in connection with the depredations of the Kelly gang. He said that his brother William married Maggie Kelly, eldest sister of Ned quent conversation, he said that when the bank at Euroa was stuck up and robbed, the proceeds were divided among 100 sympathisers. From tlie proceeds of different robberies Skillion nays lie received £3OOO, and spent it in* travelling through America and Great Britain with Kate Kelly and Kate Byrne, a. sister of Joe Byrne.

Skillion is now a member of the Lithgow corps of the Salvation Army. He speaks - freely of his connection with the gang, and, except that for some reason ho declines to disclose the name of the man who made Nod ' Kelly’s armour, ho is willing to give' all other particulars, including dates and places. LEPROSY IN THE ISLANDS. Some time ago Dr Ramsay Smith, Who was visiting New Caledonia and the New .Hebrides, was authorised by the Commonwealth Government to make inquiries there regarding sanitary conditions. The Prime Minister a few days • ago received Dr Smith’s report. The latter states that leprosy is prevalent at Now Caledonia, and that separation is not compulsory except in the case of prisoners. Hs recommends that tho principle and practice of quarantine applied by Australia to New Zealand and Fiji may be safely applied to Now Caledonia. Witu regard to the New Hebrides, a code of sanitary laws is urgently needed. There is at present no procedure for preventing the spread of diseases. There is no restriction whatever on, vessels other than British and French, and the disease, once introduced into the islands, spreads with great rapidity. He suggests that Elate- and Ambrym should be fixed as ports of entry in tho south and north respectively, and that all vessels should be required to be cleared there before unrestricted access is allowed to all parts of the group.