TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14981, 29 April 1909, Page 6

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday adopted a recommendation, by the matron of the Hospital, that Nurse Graham should be promoted and Miss Macann should be appointed to the nursing staff. The B.ev W. J. Mayers and the boys from the Barnardo Homes gave an entertainment in the Oddfellows' Hall at Kaiapoi last evening. Thero was a large audience, and a well-selected programme was thoroughly enjoyable. At a meeting i of the Hainpstead Town Board on Tuesday evening the question of lighting some of the streets was considered, and it was decided that six lamps should be procured and the work of lighting the streets should bo proceeded with. Notices aro being sent out by tho Agricultural Department, requesting sheopowners to make the annual return of sheep on their properties on April 30. About 4000 notices are being despatched from the Christchurch Office, and the return has to be completed by May 14. Detectives Ward and Gibson yesterday afternoon arrested a man on a charge of breaking and entering a dwelling-house, and stealing from it two gold rings, a watch and a clock, to the value of £6 15s. They also arrested a second man charged with receiving stolen property. Yesterday tho house surgeon of the GhristchurcH Hospital reported to the Hospital Board that during March 136 patients had been admitted to the Hospital and 120 discharged, and 11 had died, leaving 111 remaining on March 31. During the month 113 operations had been performed under anaesthetics, and there had been 13s 7 attendances at the outdoor patients department. A P&lmerston North business man, in conversation with a " Manawatu Times" reporter, stated that when on a trip to Napier and the surrounding district last week, ho was impressed with the extraordinary slackness of business in those parts. After passing Onnondville, and leaving the dairying district behind, trade docreased, and when he got into the agricultural and sheep districts, he found business simply stagnant. This slackness was particularly noticeable in Napier*, The Spit and Hastings. . A fortnightly meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance Union was held yesterday, Mrs Blythe presiding in the absence of Mrs Cole. A visitor attended from the British Women's Temperance Association. Reports on the school committees' elections and on work by superintendents of departments were presented. It was decided to arrange for holding a " Cradle Roll At-Home" on the last Thursday in May. A committee was appointed to arrange for collecting parcels of clothes, to be sent to the poor of London.

A reply has been received from the Hon J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways, to the telegram of protest forwarded by some of the grain merchants of Dunedin, in regard to the shortage of railway rolling stock for the carriage of grain. The Minister stated that he was sorry to hoar that any inconvenience had been caused, but pointed out that there was an abnormally heavy demand to meet: He promised to look into the matter. It is pointed out says the " Otago Daily Times." that had the required cornsacks been available there would have been a very much greater quantity of oats threshed in Southland than has been the case, and the position, bad in all as it was, would have been very much accentuated. As indicating the very much heavier sowing in oats this year as compared with last year, it may be mentioned that the estimated crop for 1908-9 is 17,095,554 bushels, while last year it was 13,531,910 bushels, and in the previous year 11,211,789 bushels. As far as the Otago coal mine-owners are concerned, the position has very much improved within the last day or two, and a great deal mora rolling stook is being made available to them than was the case last week. With a supply of eighty horses and carts at their disposal, J. M. Heywood and Coy., Ltd., are in a position to undertake any carrying work entrusted to them. Telephones 550 and 1241. X 4039

The Lyttelton Marine Band, 'will play a programme to-morrow evening at the corner of Norwich Quay and Canterbury Street. The caretaker of the Sailors' Home, Lyttelton, has received gifts of illustrated and other papers from Messrs C. J. W. Cookson and W. Guise Brittan.

The governor of Lyttelton Gaol has received parcels of magazines and periodicals, presented 'to the institution by the Young Men's Christian Association and Mr W. Guise Brittan.

At the Canterbury Lands Office yesterday the leases of two pastoral runs were disposed of by auction. "Tho Spit" run of 2021 acres at Akaroa was purchased by Mr Alfred Wiiley, Irwell, at tho upset rental of £SO a year for a term of seven years, and " Springburn," a run of 1800 acres at Ashburton, was sold to Messrs J. H. and 11. D. S. Burgess, Stavely, at £79 per annum, or £29 over tho upset. The auctioneer was Mr G. H. M'Clure, District Surveyor.

The work of improving the Avon is proceeding apace, and rowing men are expressing gratitude towards the Floral Fete trustees for their donation towards the cost of improvements. At Cowlishaw's Corner tho-work of widening has been finished, and about four hundred loads of spoil have been taken away to fill up a bend at Swaun's Hoad, making a much better course than before .for' the use of the rowing clubs which hold races on the Avon. The improvement has exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the rowing authorities. Work will bo continued further down the river, and equally satisfactory results are anticipated. The Wellington " Post," in an article <m " Industries Week," .highly praises the efforts of the Canterbury Industrial Association to foster the growth of the New Zealand industries. The "Post" says:—"From Christchurch, where the display was remarkably successful last year, news comes that an even creator success is anticipated now. The energy of the Industrial Association of the southern city has only to be imitated here in order' to enable Wellington to do equally well. We trust that the reports of the Christchurch week will provide the necessary stimulus to bring a number of our local doubters to the aid of the Association before it is too late."

The Napier burgesses yesterday voted on loan proposals totalling £134,250, with the result that all were carried by large majorities as follows: —Forming and metalling borough boundary roads £2750, carried by 819 votes to 137; permanent road formation £15,500, carried by 794 votes to 150; duplicating water works plant and installing destructor and watermeters £15,000, carried by 291 votes to 81; erection of municipal theatre £25,000, carried by 754 votes to 203; borough park in Napier South, £SOOO, carried by 816 votes to 147; installing electric tramway's and electric lighting £35,000, carried by 825 votes to 134; new fire station, £IOOO, carried by 746 votes to 203; drainage construction £35,000, carried by 882 votes to 77. The following are the allocations for contributions from the local authorities in the North Canterbury Hospital District to the North Canterbury Hospital Board for the year ending March 31, 1910:—Boroughs—Auaroa £3l, Christchurch £4337 5s lOd. Kaiapoi £B3 5s 6d, Lyttelton £221 18s, New Brighton £55 6s, Rangiora £92 lis, Sumner £157 10s Bd, Woolston £163 13s 7d; total £5142 13s 7d. Road Districts (Ashley County)—Amberley Town District £l4 18s, Ashley Road District £l9l 10s 4d, Oust £lO2 5s lOd, Eyreton £253 3s 2d, Kowai £392 16s Bd, Mandeville and Rangiora £337 4 s Bd, Oxford £233 14s, Waipara £874 6s 9d 0 West Evroton £llß lis sd; total £2518 10s lOd. Counties—Akaroa £892 Is Sd, Amuri £644 lis lOd, Cheviot £4lB 2s Bd, Kaikoura £372 0s 9d, Mount Herbert £143, Selwyn £4479 18s Sd; total £6949 15s 7d. Grand total, £14,611. One of the elephants employed at Wirth's Circus an Sydney narrowly escaped losing several joints of his tail one Saturday night recently, when they were chewed by the big brown bear. The elephant was'engaged in hauling tho bear's cage into the arena, when a fly led to his swishing his tail through the bars. The bear instantly pounced upon it, and, holding it in hie paws, proceeded to try to eat it. Tho elephant pranced wildly, and his roars were, pathetic. _The attendants seized animal forks and all sort of implements, and the peanut boy dexterously juggled a whole basket of nuts near the bear's nose; but only the severest proddings compelled him to let go. Fortunately, the elephant is an animal that takes troubles philosophically, but the following day he spent gazing dejectedly at" his tail, which now resembles ' a piece of ancient rubber hose.

The "New Zealand Times," referring to the fact that the Bumham institution farm will probably be one of the first of the poultry farms to stop operations under the Government's retrenchment scheme, says that Burnham has been probably the most successful and best-managed poultry plant in the Agricultural Department. "If there is any of the poultry establishments which could bo run to' show a profit," the "Wellington journal says, it is this, even allowing for the great loss of time taken up in attending to visitors on State establishments. The plant itself is probably one of the most complete in Australasia. It covers an area of about ten acres, all of which is occupied with well-laid-o'ut runs, together with all the necessary appliances for the conduct of the business 'on the most approved principles. During the past season five acres of land were added to the station. A. new oil-ongino was installed, and a complete water ej-stem provided. The object of the extension and improvements was to provide accommodation for such a number of birds as would return a maximum of profit for a minimum of labour, so that the plant would pay for itself. The plant has been very capably managed, and altogether" has been a credit to the Department. The chief object of the Burnham plant has been to produce tested layingstock from the best Australian and New Zealand laying' strains, and in this work it has undoubtedly rendered valuable service in raising the egglaying standard of the poultry flocks of the dominion. Altogether, the Burnham poultry. plant is the best demonstration centre of the kind established by the Departnint, though it would have been of greater utility had it beeji connected with one of the experiment stations." Preserving Jars—Just arrived. Mason's pints, quarts and half-gallon; Atlrs jars, wide-mouth, pints, quarts and half-gallon ; glass jars, 3 in nest, Is 2d; white jars, 4 in nest, Is 4d; tumblers, 2s 6d dozen; preserving pans, cast-iron enamelled, 5s 9d, 6s 9d. 7s 6d; light wianiel, from 3s 9d. At Fletcher Bro»., Impoiters, Lower High Street. True patriotism does not find expression in hooting, yelling and vituperation. The True Patriot is the man who is prepared to Do something for his country—something that will influence others to follow his example. The truest patriotism, therefore, v is expressed by tho immediate purchase of one of Butcher's 18-ct. Gold Wedding Rings. 210, High Street. ' X 3157

.On Thursday night a Young Men's Bible Class was formed in connection with the Durham Street Methodist Mission. Officers for tho ensuing year were elected, and those present took up the work enthusiastically.

A sale of work and produce was held, ou Tuesday afternoon and evening in St Paul's Presbyterian Church, Kaiapoi. Tho stall-holders offered a number of attractive wares for sale and did very good business. The,sale was. 4 well attended and the proceeds amount- ' ed to about £34. . '

The Rev J. W. Burton, of the Methodist Mission to Indians in Fiji, '/■■ gave an address to a large audience in the Kaiapoi Methodist Church on Tuesday evening. Mr Burton has just visited India, and he spoke interestingly of Indian affairs. The Mayor of Kaiapoi, Mr J. H. BlackwelL was in the chair.*

The summer number of the Boys' High School Magazine, just published, is quite up to the standard of its predecessors, and reflects great credit on its editors. There are the usual, school notes and reports of the doings of the various departments of the institution. A party of scholars who spent a holiday cycling oyer the West Coast giva an excellently written descriptive article of their tour,' which is very entertaining. An- Old Boy contributes an article "From London," and five pages are devoted .to the doings of old boys. A full-page illustration of the firsts eleven, winners of the Heathcote Williams challenge 6hield, appears on the 1 first page. Tho children of tho East Oxford School held their annual picnic at Mr R. Daily's bush on Monday, in excelr lent weather. The committee, under the chairman, Mr H. Campbell, worked energetically to make the day enjoy-, able, and the ladies attended to the re-, freshments. During the day the East Oxford Cadets, under Captain Bourke,' fired a champion and a handicap match at 200yds, for prizes presented by Messrs G. Witty, M.P., H. Campbell, J. W. Smith and T. J. Hunter. Some very good scores were registered. .H. Smith won the championship, with* a / score of 25 out of a possible 28. W. Hopkins won the handicap match with 25, including his handicap of 3. It is intended to hold a concert on Friday, May 7, to raise funds for new uniforms. The range is to be put in order and the butts improved by voluntary labour. ..'.--..

The usual fortnightly meeting of tho Loyal Volunteer Lodge, M.U.,1.0.0-F., was held in the Friendly Societies' Hall en Wednesday, April 21. N.G. Brother J. A. Adamson presided. There was a good attendance of officers and -.brothers: Visits were received from the district officers and tho Loyal JRiocarton and Papanui Lodges. G.M. Brother Kent and Prov. D.G.M.* Brother Maurice responded on behalf of the district to the third sentiment, and congratulated the lodge on its progress. P.P.G:M. Brother-. Morgan and N.G. Brother Eston also responded on behalf of the Papanui and' Riccarton Lodges. e After tho meeting a card match was played, the visitors proving victorious by twenty-six games to twenty-five. After the game the visitors were entertained at a social evening.' Items were' given by Prov. D.G.Mr Brother Maurice, Brothers Exton, Wraxworthy and Spker. At the Magistrate's Court at Geraldine on Tuesday, members of the legal profession and local Justices off the Peace met to welcome Mr V. G. Day, the new Stipendiary Magistrate for the district, who paid/his first visit to the Court. Mr A. P. Barklie' welcomed Mr Day, and said that the legal profession in Geraldine had had very amU cable relations witli Mr Day's prede-< cesser, and they had no doubt'the same good feeling would continue. Mr Day thanked Mr Barklie, and said that he was sorry that his visit that day was so hurried. Ho hoped, however, on a future occasion to have a look round the district* He had always heard thatfit was a very prosperous and lawabiding locality, and he had no. doubt it would maintain its reputation. MrW. A. Sherratt, on behalf .of the Justices of the Peace, also welcomed Mr Day, who, said, in reply, that he had received great assistance from the unpaid magistrates in other parts of the dominion, and their assistance was always ivolcome.

A correspondent telegraphed front the Bluff yesterday:—On April 29, 1881, the Tararua was wrecked on Waipapa Point, and over one* hundred lives were lost. To-day I visited the cemetery, where in one long grave sixty of the victims of this tragedy of the soa sleep their long last sleep. The grave is surrounded by a picket fenoe, and a tombstone erected by the' school children of Fortrose School and , district marks the spot. The cost of the funerals and the erection of the fence was paid for by the Government of tho day, it being understood that the local authorities were to see to tho spot being kept in order. The place is in a disgraceful state, and is all overgrown with a dense growth of coarse grass" and weeds. The' fence has evidently not been painted for years, and a spot which should arouse the deepest sympathy in the breast of the visitor in its present condition, can only rouse a sense of indignation at the indifference of those who are responsible for the preservation of a. sacred spot.

• The Rev F. W. Isitt has taken exception to the manner in which Mr J. l Vigor Brown, a prominent citizen of Napier, referred to Mr T. E. Taylor at a meeting in that town recently. Ina letter' in the " Hawke's Bay Herald," Mr Isitt says:—"Will you permit me through your columns to ask Mr Vigor Brown, whom I have always heard spoken of as<courteous and kindly, whether he would like'.Mr T. E. Taylor to publicly refer to him ad 'Jonny Brown?' I know no reaeoß why Mr T.* E. Taylor should not call Mr-J. Vigor Brown 'Jonny Brown il Mr Brown calls Mr • T. E. Taylor 'Tommy Taylor.' I only know that Mr Taylor is incapable of being so discourteous, and that while he does not troublo himself in the least what he is called, many, of the hundreds of those who know, hint best and respect him moso highly, regard such references to him , as Mr' Brown indulged in as, at least, bordering on the impertinent. I believe that Mr Vigor Brown would not be deliberately impertinent in his reference to any man, and that he did. nob realise that he was speaking disrespectfully of a man whom he could not fail to respect if he knew him. however much ho might, differ from his opinions." Eyestrain Headaches.—Mr E. M. Sandstein, F.S.M.C., D.8.A.0.. Opnthalinic Optician, may be consulted on all cases of defective eyesight remediable by glasses. Fifteen years' special study and experience. The most up;todato and completely-equipped PPticaJ parlours in the colonies. Caehel Street W. (next Ballantyne's). Hours, 9.30>*& 6. Telephone 397. .v 1898 Winter, with its long evenings, is drawing near, and consequently one has now time to devote to reading or studying, which perhaps would- in summer time be spent in outdoor pursuits. When the print is blurred and the 'fitters seem to run into each- other, thjas showing a defect which can be remedied by consulting John R. Prootor, Oculists' Optician, 180, High Street. < i.,.-... .'■' X 2681 v Ladies' Gold and Silver Watches. Engagement Rings, Muff Chains and all other classes of Jewellery too numerous to mention at greatly, reduced prices. K. Grieshaber, 155, Colombo Street. X 3370 j

The. river report at 9 a.m. yesterday was Ashley, Waimakariri, Ashburton, clear; Selwyn, Rakaia, llangitata, Opihi and Waitaki, fishablot The training ship Amokura returned to Auckland from the north yesterday, having completed her class-firing. Two Auckland boys, named Talbot and "Woods, head the list. « An Auckland Press Association telegram says that the Electric Trams Company has been advised that at the annual meeting in London, on May 4, the directors will recommend a 6 per cent dividend. On Tuesday evening a card match was played between the Amateur Rowing Club and the Yorkshire Society, in the rooms of the Society, resulting in a draw. A very enjoyable evening coneluded with danoing. At< the Magistrate's Court at Kaiapoi yesterday, before Messrs 0. Hansen, J.P., and J. H. Blackwell, J.P.., James Gallagher was charged with using obscene language on April 17. He was fined £2 and costs, and a prohibition order was issued against him. A prohibition order was granted against another man. ; The Horticultural Society's chrysanthemum show, to be held in the Alexandra Hall on May 4 and 5, gives every prospect of being \ successful. The blooms this year are said to be of exceptional merit and keen competition is promised. Musical items will be given by Mr Kennedy's orchestra and the Linwood Orohestral Society. Entries will close on Saturday at 8 p.m.

A special meeting of the subscribers •- of the Tai Tapu Library was held in fche Library room on Saturday, to conaider the advisability of holding a social gathering soon. The president, Mr R. A. Forbes, was in the chair. It was decided to hold a concert and dance on May 20, and Miss E. Forbes, Mrs W. K. Watson and Messrs C. M. Suckling and W. L. Morgan were appointed a programme committee. The Christchurch Garrison Band will play the following programme on,Victoria Square Rotunda to-day, commencing at 8 p.m.:—March, " The ' Staffords" (Ord Hume); overture, "Paragraph III." <Von Suppe); selec- ' tion, "II Trovatore" (Verdi); aubade, . " Neapolitaine" (Aletter); selection, "Miss Hook of Holland v (Lehar); waltz, "Gold and Silver" (Lehar); Scotch diversion, "She was Giddy" (S. Douglas); cake walk, "Mr Hioksof New York " (Ord Hume). The New Zealand Locomotive Enginedrivers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association is taking steps to join the Federated Railway Locomotive Enginemen's Association of Australasia. A ballot recently taken among the Federated Association's members resulted in - favour of a proposal to issue a "Locomotive Journal" for the members. The Federated Council, which sat in March in New, South Walesj decided to take ehe necessary steps for the early issue sf a highly technical publication. A representative of the General Labourers Union appearing before the Council o'f Conciliation yesterday stated ' that unless a company was working under . an award it could employ bricklayers and labourers' at whatever rate it liked. The Commissioner (Mr J. R. Triggs) questioned the statement, and asked whether, if he desired to build a house, he could employ carpenters and others 'at his own rate. The labour representative . asserted that he could, saying that the Court had laid it down frequently that unless a man was mentioned as a party he was not bound by an award. The Commissioner replied that in the labour representative's view, therefore, every man who employed any labourers at any time should be cited. The annual meeting of subscribers of ' the Marshland Library was held on Friday. The balance sheet showed a credit balance of £7 7s 4d. The following officers were elected:—President, Mr J. Fitz Patrick; vice-presi-dents, Messrs T. Quaid, C. Gcttermeyer, C. W. "Markham and F. Self; librarians, Messrs T. Morton and J. Herkaskie; secretary, Mr Markham; treasurer, Mr Fitz Patrick; committee, Messrs J. Hannan, W. Myers, J. Morris, J. Faults and F. Self. It was decided that the library should be open on Wednesday evenings from 6even till nine o'clock, and that £5 be spent on the' purchase of new books. Messrs J. Fitz Patrick, T. Morton, F. Self and J. Gerkaskie were appointed to select • new books. A vote of thank 3 was passad to the retiring officers. In the case of the Commissioner of Crown Lands of Taranaki y. J. B. Bennie, Mr Justice Chapman gave ,a judgment of some general interest at Wellington. The defendant had obtained a lease for 999 years of 244 acres of heavy bush land, but his right was restricted to the surface, and the Crown specially exempted minerals, metals, or stone in the subsoil. Three years afterwards the Act .of 1907 gave a right to purchase the fee simple, and the question arose whether such a purchase included the surface only or everything underneath. The Judge was asked for a declaratory judgment, and his decision was that the lessee, had a right to purchase in the fullest sense, and if he did • so the right of the Crown to minerals reserved by the lease was gone. THE FLAX INDUSTRY. The Greymouth correspondent of the "Lyttelton -Times" writes:—Mr W. Lindop, of the Otira line flaxmills, speaks more hopefully of the flax trade than anyone else has done" recently, and produces figures to show that there is stilt money to be made in the industry and .that it is increasing, in value. His latest returns from Wel- • lington show that his merchants give \ him £lB per ton for fair graded flax, and £22 for good fair grade, while the value of tow has. gone up 16s a ton recently, being now worth £5 per ton. These prices are f.o.b. at Wellington. It is to be hoped that a new era is about to set in with the'flax, as it will afford employment for a number of hands profitably if these prices are maintained. A recent sample of dress-l ed flax that he put through his hands measured, after scutching, 14ft 2in in length, and was exhibited in Greymouth the other day as a specimen of whatheight the phormium tenax will attain in certain localities.

AN OPENING FOR THE COTTON INDUSTRY, ■" The West Coast is an ideal place for the cotton, industry to thrivo in and prosper," said a Lancashire man to a "Post" representative in Wellington. " You have every advantage there.. You have the climate., plenty of rain to keep the- air humid, and then you have the other essential, cheap coal. You might make the West Coast the Lancashire of the southern hemisphere, certainly of Australasia. You need ' not have the alums and the evils of factory life wo , .have in Lancashire. They are a 1 legacy from our fathers. Lancashire was the the pioneer of tho factory system, and has to pay heavily for her enterprise in the injury done to the physique of her people. That is unnecessary in the light of our experience now. Thing 3 are very much better. There is no v reason why a cotton factory or a cotton town should be an unhealthy place, if you can keep the steam out. That's what spoils the mills in other countries. You ' don't warrt humidifiers on the West Oast. . The rain will do it for you. The conditions are simply' ideal. The . -„«abtishmen* of suoh an industry or-wald lead to the establishment of other kindred manufactures. You might get your hematite and your ironwand to go then. Speaking, of course, «s a stranger to your beautiful coun-

try, I can tell you there is a great opening for enterprise in the establishment of the cotton industry on the West Coast."

THE RESULTS OF THE MOTORCYCLE RELIABILITY TRIAL.

Christchurch to Akaroa and return. Distance, 114 miles; 19 competitors.— The motor-cycle reliability hill-climbing and petrol consumption trial was run on March 6, and resulted in a sweeping victory for the 34 h.p. Triumph motors. Everybody knows how the Talbot cars wiped out 36 competitors in the late motor-car trials, and again .we have the pleasure to report to the public that the Triumph motorcycles, in competition with seven well-known makes, have repeated the victory of the Talbot team by winning all the premier prizes. Mr R. English, the judge, awarded the prizes to the 3j h.p. Triumph riders as follows:—For reliability, open class: Ist, W. Blundell; 2nd, F. Howarth. Private owners' class: lstj C. Bailey; 2nd, A. Beken. Hill-climbing, open class: G. B. Brown. Private owners class: F. S. Barnett. Lowest potrol consumption, open'class: W. Blundell. Private owners' class: A. Beken. Best performance in hill climb: G. B. Brown. Highest aggregate marks, for reliability, _ lowest petrol consumption and hill-climbing: "' B. Brown. Making a total of eight iirst prizes awarded to riders of Triumph motor-cycles. What a victory for Triumphs! A world's record 1 All other makes of motor-cycles wiped out. The success of the Triumphs in the trials is our reward for selling to the public the highest class goods. .Fifty Triumph motor-cycles now arriving, price £7O. Adam 6 Limited, sole New -Zealand agents, 138-140, High Street, Ohristohnrch- 1988