TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14610, 18 February 1908, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lovers of a good story will find all that they may desire in this respect in the fiction column of that favourite household journal, the " Canterbury Times." The following are the titles of some of the leading storyettes which will appear in this week's number of the magazine:—" The Magic Circle," "The Charity Ball," "A Wicked Pirate," " Fainte Hearte Never Won Fayre Ladye," "The Wrong Man," "The Golden Calf," "The Way to a Wedding" and " Uncle Dewing's Executor," all capital tales for spare hours. Tlio Sketcher Column articles include the following:—"How Nature Cures," "The Black Hand Organisation," "The Electric Railroad," " Hard-up America" and others dealing with subjects of exceptional interest. Sensational literature is represented in a series of articles which is being published from week to week. The contribution this week is headed " Ex-Convict B'lore." The interests of the fair sex are carefully provided for in the popular illustrated magazine each week. The following .are a few of the leading features of the current number:— Special articles—" A Chapter of English History," " Lady Dorothy Nevill's Note-books," "Training of Children," "A Butterfly Ball," "The Wear and

Tear of Fashionable Life," " Paquin the Dressmaker," "Mark Twain's Wife," " Life in Sunny Spain," " The Young Girl's Bedroom " and Children's Reading Books." There will bo a large collection of correspondents' letters, the particularly acceptable news of the Social Bound, and general information on household matters. The Children's Column is also a popular feature of the magazine, and Aunt Hilda, who controls the column, has quite a numerous army of young correspondents, whoise letters are published each week. Parents are invited to interest their children in this column and to induce them to forward communications to its editress. The many other columns of the dominion's leading illustrated magazine are filled with up-to-date information and good reading mattor. A letter-box is to bo placed in the tramway shelter in Cathedra] Square, in order that passengers may post letters without crossing Cathedral Square to the Post Office.

Farewell meetings in connection with the departure of Commissioner and Mrs M'Kie, of the Salvation Army, will be held on Sunday next. On Monday evening a memorial meeting wili be .held in His Majesty's Theatre. Delegates from the North Canterbury, the South Canterbury and the Ashburfcon Hospital Boards will meet at the Ghristchurch Hospital to-morrow morning, to confer as to management of the Cashmere consumption sanatorium.

The Heathcote Boad Board, which has been complaining that the Opawa tramway line is unsafe owing to the. rails projecting above the street level, has informed the Tramway Board that it will not bo responsible for any accidents that may be caused to vehicles or cyclists.

At last evening's meeting of the City Council the manager of the City Abattoir reported that during January 1118 cattle woro slaughtered, of which ten were condemned;' 7717 sheep, of which four were condemned; 2382 lambs, none being condemned; 555 pigs, of which two were condemned, and 428 calves, which were all passed. A witness at the Magistrate's Court yesterday volunteered evidence, in passing, that the principals on the other side were absolutely the most unscrupulous people ho had ever come in contact with: " You have absolutely no right to come here and say that," said the Magistrate severely, " and it does your case no good. Your opinion on the subject is worth nothing."

The second of a scries of meetings in connection with the no-license campaign was hold in the Knox Church Presbyterian Schoolroom last evening. There was a fair attendance of workers, and committees were set up to work the surrounding district. The chairman stated that- the Christchurch Prohibition League bad commenced a campaign to secure 1000 new members this yeai\ and on March 16 it would commence a special effort ! to raise £IOOO for this year's campaign fund.

A cabman, in conversation with a reporter yesterday, said that the installation of electric trams in Christchurch had influenced his takings to the extent of reducing them by £1 a week. He had been driving cabs for years, and. in other cities had driven them before the telephone came into use. That had made a vast difference to the cabmen, and the electric cars had been the next "shock." Questioned as to the growing popularity of the motor-car, the cabman shook hie head sadly. The City Surveyor states that in order to form Madras Street, St Albans, properly, the peat contained in the soil there must first bo taken out, and the excavation filled with solid material. This, he suggests, might bo gone on with at once, and will make a good tip for the destructor clinker. The excavation will not be expensive, and the peat will be carried away for nothing. In fact, when once opened up a good deal of the peat would be dug out for the spoil. The City Couibcil decided last night, on the recommendation of the Works Committee, that the work should be proceeded with, the cost not to exceed £6O.

If, says a Press Association telegram from Auckland, the full story of the bush fires were available there is no doubt that many a. country settler could tell cstirring tales of risks run in trying to stay the progress of the flames. That there are risks is shown by the experience of Messrs Sinclair and W. Duncan a day or two ago at Drary. They had gone out from tho Drury coalmine for the purpose of seeing about, laying down a water-pipe, and had gone some distance up a creek. Mr Duncan remarked to his eonipanio7i that they must take care not to bo caught by a fire that was burning on. one of the hillsides. By and bye they discovered that the flames had completely hemmed them in. Their danger was also noticed by others, and a rescue party was sent out, but tho two gentlemen, by crawling down the creek, managed to get out of the fire zone.

At tho Kaiapoi Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr V. G. Day, S.M., and Mr 11. Moore,, J.P., 'William Wilson was charged with having annoyed passengers on the railway on New Year's Day, between Riccarton and Papanui. Guard Atkins stated that owing to complaints about the accused's manner ho had him put off the train. Ho appeared to be the worse for liquor. Tho accused was fined os and costs. Cases were brought by the Collector of Customs against John T. Ward, Henry C. Revell, Joseph Baker and John Robb, for using unregistered boats to catch fish for sale. Mr Hall appeared for the Collector of Customs, and stated it was not his wish to have a heavy penalty inflicted, but merely to emphasise tho fact that boats must bo registered for fishing purposes when catches wore for sale. The case against Ward was dismissed, evidence being given that lie had never been known to have caught fish for sale in his boat. Revell, Baker and Robb were convicted, and ordered to pay costs. . William Penwell and William Gallagher, two young men, were charged with, creating a. breach of tho peace by fighting in the street on Saturday evening. They pleaded guilty, and each was fined 10s and costs.

You can wear one pair of glasses too long. I strongly advise you to have your eyes tested at intervals of a year or two, as 1 can quicldy tell if your eyes require a change of lenses, and it is contrary to my principle to advise new glasses when they are not necessary. Walter J. Watson, F.1.0.C, D.8.0.A., London, Consulting Optician, 230, Colombo Street (upstairs), opposite Cook and Ross. 1 It is now possible to have a suit of clothes made to your measure in firstclass styJe at from £2 upwards by placing your order with George Davies, 184. Colombo Street. The materials used are similar to what you have been paying £4 and £5 for, and a written guarantee for a perfect fit is given with every garment. Mr Davies invites tho inspection of all who wish to Bave money and avoid exorbitant charges. X 3923 BETTER THAN FIRE,—The Sale of Turnock's Stock, bought by Messrs G. Shaw and Co. at 6s 5d in the £ on the original prices, will commence on Friday morning, Feby. 21st, when new, fresh, clean goods will be sold at considerably lower prices than theadvertised salvage stocks. Read tho circular, then go along to 213, Cashel Street, and judge for yourselves. Look out for Friday morning's paper. 696

Telephone stations, connected with? Uie Kaiapoi sub-exchange, were opened! yesterday at Coutts's Island, Clarkvillgf and Eyreton. r

Constable Jackson, who has been in' charge',of the Akaroa police station foil the past four years, has been red to Addington, and Constable Shepi herd, of Methven, to Akaroa. The town, clerk has been informed by. tha Treasury Department that a sum o( £3OOO, part of the loan of £4500 raised in connection with the scheme for pro* viding sanitary conveniences in tha city, will bo paid to the City Council's account within a few days. i Owing to a mishap to the engina drawing the express train from Culvert den to Christchurch last evening, tha train was delayed over half an hour. It ran slowly to, Waipara, where thflj Cheviot branch line engine was attach* ed to the train, and some of the lost) time was made up before Christchurcli was readied.

The Marino Department has decided to erect the new lighthouse on. tha north-east coast of the North Island at Cape Brett. The light will be a flashing light of the first order, about 000 feet above the sea. and vlsdbla. seven miles past the Gavallis to tM northward, and-southward down to ai lino drawn between the Poor Knights' and the Three Gables. The light is' expected to be installed within eighteen'' months. " i At a meeting of the East Christ* church School Committee on Friday evening the over-crowded condition of the Bhiihpstown school was mentioned. and it was resolved to ask the head< mistress to inform tb e parents of chih dren residing iu the vicinity of th« Moorhouse Avenue side school tha* there was mor e room at that school at present. Tho hope was expressed that the Moorhouse Avenue school would be able to relieve the congestion at Phillipstown.

At tho Domain Board's meeting ves* terday, Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., said that! it was much to be regretted that therol Was no catalogue of the plants grow-j ing in the Domain. It was most desirJ able that .the Board should know what! species it possessed, and a list would enable it to repair omissions. There; wore only two species of willows in the Domain, but there should be! twenty. The work could not be done; in. a week, but a start could be made.j Instructions were given to the head gardener to secure a book and com* mence a catalogue. . On Sunday a large number of visit-, ors, including many volunteers, attend-' ed at tho N Battery's camp at Forta Jervois, where, in Captain Brice's ab«! sence, Lieutenant Rattray was in/ charge. The Lyttelton Divisional Band (Lyttelton Marine Band) played an en<; joyablo programme of music. Yester-« day morning four rounds were fired from the 6in gun, and three from the Bin-, Lieutenant Rattray being battery" commander. This was for instructional practice, and ns far as is known, sixi hits were made. The camp, which had been very successful, will be struck oit Friday.

The "North Otago Times" state* that if the local fishermen are not! meeting with success in large hauls offish they are obtaining an abundance! of excitement with sharks, that are; Variously estimated to range front twenty to twenty-five feet long. A) shark that was a trifle longer than one; of the oil launches came alongside af boat last week and swam leisurely! round, casting a hungry look on the! occupant of the boat, who was aboutf five miles fiom land. The fisherman/ thought it time to shift his quarters.! Another shark about the same length,' in its efforts to drag the fish out of af moki net, got entangled in its folds, and tore tho net to pieces in its strug-< gles. Sharks, largo and small, been particularly numerous this season in the open sea. Public men with modern ideas ar<! behind the scheme for the establish) ment- of municipal baths at Napier, a(( a cost of £6OOO. The baths will bd built above th© low water level, and; "sea water will be pumped in. The con-' tents will be drained off four or fivrf times a week, and the pumping appara* tus will ensure a constant supply oj clean water. Provision is made foi* heating with hot pipes during cold wea* 1 , ther, and in other directions the enterprise will make for public comfort and'' convenience. The annexes will include!' a refreshment bar, with temperance drinks, tea rooms and Turkish bathsJ Every school will have a set time free: of all charges, to attend the baths, and the scholars will be taught how to swim. By tins scheme it is hoped that in af year or two ther© will hardly be a' ischool child in the borough of unable to swim.

Prior to the hearing of evidence injj a defended divorco case before Mr Jus- . tice Denniston yesterday, Mr Dougall,! counsel for the petitioner, asked hier .' Honor to rule that the evidence should' not be published, on the ground thai* thero was a newspaper in ChristcHurchi which used the evidence in such, cases* in a way that was calculated to pervert publio morals. His Honor said that itwas tho exception rather than the rulet, to prohibit tho publication of evidence.-., Ho had previously expressed himself regarding the newspaper in question, and)', there was no necessity to do so again. He found he could generally rely orn the discrimination of the reporters, anct in this case, in the absence of any spe-.' cial features in the case which might' warrant such a decision, he would noti make any order regarding publicationof the proceedings. If the past of the newspapers was altered, however,, he might have occasion to deal differently with future cases. The splendid fish that are known ta frequent the Whareama River, on thai Wairarapa east coast, are receiving much attention just now. For the past year or two th e Native reserve of 500. acres at the mouth of the river has attracted many people. Efforts have been made to secure the reserve and l . the fishing ground privately, but, sot far, the monopolist has been outwittedFor over a quarter of a., century thei reserve has been leased and locked up,, and some years ago the lease was newed or extended. As there is no< legal road to it, the place cannot ba reached except by trespass. There is a landing-place of a few ncre6 which tha public have the right to occupy, but, strangely enough, no road access toi. this seems to have been provided, j Some time ago a syndicate was formed j to work the river with trawlers, but: the absence of road access put an endl, to tho enterprise. A brisk agitation ia. now being kept up, with a view of securing the reserves and fishing-place fotf the general use of the community. Messrs Eugene Spitz and Co., Limited have received by the s.s. Papanui the' most exquisite materials for tailormade gowns, and it would bo advisable for intending.customers to make their selection early, as there is oidy on* costume length of each design. 3912 Ernest M. Saudstein, F.S.M.O, D. 8.0.. . (London), Consulting Optician, may be consulted on all cases of defective eyesight. Fifteen years'' special study and experience. The most complete and up-to-date optical J parlours in tho colonies. Consulting! rooms, CaGhel Street W. (next Ballantyno's). Hours, 9.30 to 5.30. Telephono 397. 6 The Papanui Immigrants: "So this is Christchurch, is it? Well, now show us Minson's. They told us on the boat that is tho shop wnere our money will go furthest." X 2613 . A decidedly original offer is made by our most enterprising jeweller, Butcher, 210, High Street, Tho first person to purchase a wedding ring from Butcher on a certain day in February, known only to Butcher and the Mayor of Christchurch, will be presented with half a ton of coal. Sample shown in Butcher's window. Result will bs pub* lished March Ist. 1888

" The telegraphed report on the Canterbury trout rivers yesterday was ias follows:—Ashley, Waimakariri, Selwyn and Ashburton, clear; Rakaia and. Opihi, fishable; Rangitata, in good order.

The Christohureh Regatta Club has Arranged for a special train to go to Little River nest Saturday, on the occasion of the adjourned regatta. The train will probably leave Christchurch after 1 p.m. The Wellington Harbour Board yesterday authorised the prosecution of works during the current year to ocst altogether nearly £120,000. The chief item is £43,000 in connection with the King's wharf and stores. ! It is intended to form a Musical Comedy Society for Christchurch during the coming winter. The first piece to be put into'commission will bo " The French Maid." The services of a wellknown actor have beon secured as Utage-mana'ger, and it is proposed to i begin operations at an early date. j A meeting of the Building Commit- : tee of the now Primitive Methodist Church was held at Annat on Friday 'evening after working all day at voluntary labour on the church site. Final ! arrangements were made for the opening celebrations on Sunday and Mon.day next, the Rev J. Olphert, of jTimaTu, being the preacher. j The following gentlemen have consented to act as the judges at the dahlia and fruit show in the Colosseum jon Wednesday and Thursday, March 4 and s:—Cut flowers and fruit classes — Messrs S. I. Fitch and A. E. Lowe; pot plant classes —Messrs T. Turner and J. T. Sinclair; table decoration land vegetable classes —Mr W. Jones./ ' At a meeting of the North Otago Chamber of Commerce yesterday, it was resolved that the secretary should communicate»jwith the Chambers at Invercargill, i)unedin, Timaru r ana Christchurch v on the subject of the weight of grain in cornsacks, and suggest holding a conference at Oamaru or other suitable centre, and also that the Chambers of Commerce at Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide should be asked to state the position in those places.

Some mischievous urchins (says the ■"North Otago Times") poss&Vd themselves of about a score of and wrapping them in a sheet of paper threw them into the swimming baths .■while the ladies were disporting themselves. Of course, the paper burst when it touched the water, and the frogs flew hither and thither, and for safety tried to climb on the backs of the lady Swimmers. The experience was an unusual one, and the ladies, with one accord, made a dash for the shore, diving, in their consternation, into the nearest reception rooms. Mrs Hunter, however, was equal to the emergency, and, obtaining the services of a number of boys off the street—probably the same young rascals who threw the frogs in—they soon cleared the baths of the reptiles, and transferred them to the creek. The following new regulations under ■the Explosives Act are gazetted :—(1) Every person shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £SO who smokes, strikes matches, or carries a light not approved by an inspector of explosives while engaged or employed in the landing, transhipment, carriage, removal or handling of any explosives other than those of the sixth (ammunition) class. (2) Every "person not so engaged or employed as aforesaid, being in the immediate vicinity of. any explosives which are being landed, transhipped, carried, removed or handled, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £SO if he continues to emoke, strike matches, or to carry* a light not approved by an inspector of explosives after being warned not to do to by any officer appointed under the Eaid Acts, or by any carrier licensed under the said Acts, or by any person engaged or employed in handling explosives.

''Can I appear for my son?" asked an elderly man at the Magistrate's Court yesterday when a civil case was called." "Is he under ago?" inquired the Magistrate. "He is just over twenty-one," replied the man. " Well, I cannot allow you to appear then," said the Magistrate. Nothing daunted, the parent briefly instructed a solicitor in Court, and the case was called later on. The case was soon outlined, whereupon the Magistrate observed that he did not see where the newly-instructed solicitor " came in," as the case was practically indefensible. " Well," replied the solicitor, apologetically, '{if I nuietly sit down and admit everything these people (indicating the defendant and his witnesses) will think they are not having a run for their money." The Magistrate smiled and allowed the solicitor to set the law into full cry for the edification of the expectant defendants.

I The Tramway Board decided yesterday ? -on the recommendation of the engineer, to secure sample sets of ref;ulatore "for use on the controllers of he electrio cars. Under existing conditions tho motormen can start the cans as quickly as they please, and some men, instead of applying tho power gradually by moving the controller handle from notch to notch, cover several notches in one movement. The .result is to place a heavy strain on the power-house equipment. A load (averaging 800 amperes has been found within a few minutes to rise from 800 to 1300 amperes, drop to 300, rise to 1100 and drop to 600. This means a iwaste of_ power and unnecessary wear 'and_ strain on the equipment, and the engineer recommended that regulators Should be employed. These instruments are attached to the controllers, and make it impossible for the motormen to avoid making a pause at each notch.

It is apparently not generally recog■riised that sunburns may cause death. Recently a young man who had been advised by a medical man to go in for sun-bathing and swimming to restore pirn to health died through sunburn jfeays the "Sydney Morning Herald"). He took his doctor's advice too literfelly, and, although his skin was white land peculiarly susceptible to the rays mi the sun, he made his first trip to a beach his last. He kept his body exposed to the sun in spite of the advice of friends, and was soon well burned all over. Next day lie suffered tortures, and very soon his body was one great blister, as if he had been plunged into boiling water. Usually the blisters caused by the sun yiold a watery fluid, but in his case they burst, and bloodpoisoning set in. Being in a low state of health, his system was unable to throw off the virus. Many who have Buffered from sunburn will appreciate the wisdom of advising beginnors to practise their sun-bathing with extreme caution.

Dinner and Tea Sets.—Fletcher Bros, bave just opened up a fine assortment, food value, 26-piece dinner sets from 6s 9d. Tea sets, 21-piece, 7s 9d tai"l7s Bd, 40-piece from 255; w. and g. china Jwips and saucers 2s 9d and 2s lid, pink belcite 3s 3d. 3s 9d; eartlieuware Is lid, •11 per half dozen.—Fletcher Bros., liower High Street. 1 A great number of people have a 'tendency to hold a book when reading at a greater distance from the eyes than formerly,_ consequently tho lines blurr and run into each other and the eyes are tired after reading. If you •ufier from them in this way consult John R- Proctor, Oculists' Optician, 180, High Street, Christchurch, who can also repair your spectacles with the best materials at moderate prices. 2808 Although the New Zealand Clothing Factory's temporary premises* 222 6asnel Streetj were crowded to overflowing all day yesterday and Saturday, yet the supply of clothing and mercery at straight out salvage prices is by no means exhausted. Now is the opportunity to purchase good clothing and jmeroery, only slightly damaged by J water, at half or. even less, than regular [jrieaa,, 778

Messrs Keene and Reid, of Wellington, who have entered into a contract to supply Tauranga with gas lor a period of thirty years, will leave for England next month to secure a complete gas-making outfit, and it k their present intention while at Heme to purchase a couple of 800 or 900-ton steamers with which to open up trade between Tauranga and Wellington.

"CHINAMEN'S PRICES." Despised of men as he is, the Chinaman (says the Sydney "Morning Herald'') can set his Christian brother many a lesson in humanity. One. of the greatest is in the treatment ofhis horse. It is proverbial that a Chinaman will rarely he seen with a poorlyconditioned boast, and even when fodder prices are highest his horse will bo sleek and fat, while the poor things in tho city cabs and 'buses seem almost like animate of a different species by comparison. The reason that it belongs to a Chinaman does not make a horse fat, it is because ho gets careful treatment and the best of feeding. Tn tho Sussex Street produce markets yon will often hear a buyer object to a price for the reason that it is a "Chinaman's price." The explanation is that when, a shipment of chaff arrives the yellow man will pay from 5s to 10s above the market rate to have his pick of the choicest for his horse.

SKIPPING FOR HEALTH. , A correspondent writes to the London "Chronicle":—As cue in whom the results of a sedentary life have been most pronounced, I would like to make known to thoso who are similarly situated the beneficial elfects I have derived from a simple expedient. Three weeks ago I arose with the usual languid, "liverish" feeling, etc., and went up to the attic, ifter taking my morning glass of water, intending to take a little gymnastic exercise, when I found a piece of rope that had been inadvertently left there. On the impulse of the moment I indulged in some thirty "skips"—window thrown wideopen. 1 was breathless on returning to my room to dress, but felt much improved during the day. On the third day the benefits were not quite so pronounced, and I feared the efrec's would be transient, after all; but at the end; of the week I was surprised to note the great improvement in health, and now, after tho lapse of three weeks, I am as " fit as a fiddle." Among the advantages of skippiug are that tho "briskness" induced cannot ho got from dumb-bell exercise; the time spent is only two to three minutes; the effects are immediate.

HOW TO DEAL WITH CRIMINALS. Judge Cook, of San Francisco, recently sentenced four men who had been convicted of robbery with violenco to terms of fifty years' imprisonment each. ■ Two days after imposing this staggering, sentence the Baltic judge lot off two other men guilty of the same crime with the light punishment of one year in the county goal. This may seem to have been the very acme of inconsistency. On the contrary, tho judge's action on each occasion was consistent and just. In the first case the guilty men, though young—the oldest of them was thirty-four—were confirmed criminals. Each one of tho four had been convicted more than once previously of robbery with the aid of firearms. Each of them was but lightly punished for his first offence. It was quite apparent that all had made up their minds to prey upon society for a livelihood. were past hope of reformation. Tito only party to be considered' was society at large. On this theory the judge imposed sentences which mean that society will, practically speaking, be for over rid of these pests. Another consideration was weighed by Judge Cook. San Francisco for some months past has been infested with footpads. The severity of the sentence was announced by tho judge as an explicit warning to others of the fraternity of what they might expect if they should be convicted. The warning was immediately barkened to. From the next day the police noted a diminution of such crimes. Another effect was that many .robbers already in custody pleaded guilty in order to obtain a mitigation of punishment. As to the two robbers who were given only one year in gaol, they wore first offenders. The crime they commilted was in itself just as heinous as that of the four who got fifty years each — in both cases a man was beaten and Tobbed.—but the mere fact that they had never, before been in trouble induced the judge to look at the matter from a totally different view point. ' In these two young men he saw the materia] of possible good citizenship. So, not only did the judge punish them with but a short term, but he refrained from sending them to the State prison, where they would herd with professional criminals, and committed them to the county gaol.

SALE OF BICYCLES. We are running a special sale of tho famous Star bicycles. Largo shipments have just arrived of the well-known Stai\s which have given satisfaction to the ridins public for tho last seventeen years. The Superb Star, made by the Eadie Manufacturing Company, England (tho best Star imported), ordinary price £lB, now reduced to £ls, and fully guaranteed for two years. To meet the demand for a really good cheap bicycle wo are putting on tho market the Special Star made by the Triumph Cycle Company, Coventry, England. This machine is fully guaranteed for two years, and is sold at the reasonable price of £l2 10s. The new Popular Star is meeting with ready sale, and at £lO 10s is excellent value, and quite out of reach of our competiOur sale of second-hand bicycles is still on, and we are offering a choice of a great number of machines at £4 each to clear. Adams, Limited lato Adams Star Cycle Co., 138-140. "High Street, and 198, Colombo Street, Christchurch, 1988

190 S NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.. Important organisation meetings:— Tuesday, 18th, Oxford Terrace Baptist School; "Wednesday, 19th, St Albans Wesleyan School: Thursday, 20th, East Belt Wesleyan School. 779